Disney4me

It’s officially springtime in Disney World, which means Spring Break crowds have ARRIVED! It is CROWDED out there! Between the continuing 50th Anniversary Celebration and the 2022 EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival, guests are flocking to the parks to take advantage of all the fun! And, if you’re planning an upcoming trip, you might want to know about all the construction and changes going on throughout Disney World. So, let’s check out everything you need to know! Magic Kingdom TRON: Lightcycle Run We recently found out that the next phase of the TRON coaster would be starting soon — ride vehicle testing! And this week, we happened to spot ride vehicles on the track. It’s happening! This is known as the push/pull test, where sections of the train are slowly moved throughout the track to ensure they’re working properly. Check out this video to see it in action! Even though Disney has still not shared a projected opening date for this ride, we can’t help but hope this means we’re getting close! Here’s Everything You Need to Know About the Tron Ride EPCOT Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Last time we checked in on this ride, we saw some big developments on the queue entrance markers, and it looks like those are still coming along nicely with the addition of some plants too! Progress on the entrance to the attraction queue. And some weathering effects are being added to the Nova Corps Starblaster, too. It’s the little Disney details, ya know? We are on the edge of our seats waiting until summer 2022 when this ride will officially open! Click Here to Watch the FULL Sneak Peek Video of Cosmic Rewind Connections Cafe and Eatery A big update happened over at Connections Cafe last week — the sign went up! This is a good SIGN that construction is coming along! And this week, crews are finishing up painting on the exterior of the building. We can’t wait to dine at this new eatery! Disney announced that Connections Cafe and Eatery would be open in spring 2022, so stay tuned for more updates on an official date! Click Here to See the Full Opening Timeline for Connections Cafe Moana: Journey of Water We got an incredible shot of the progress on this attraction from the monorail that shows just how huge of an area it will encompass! Moana Construction For now, it looks like crews are still busy clearing out the area and laying the foundation for what will eventually be a brand-new, immersive attraction. Click Here to See Everything We Know About the Moana Attraction Disney’s Hollywood Studios Toy Story Mania Gift Shop The gift shop that once greeted you as you exited Toy Story Mania is no more, but it is in the process of being transformed into something BRAND NEW — we just aren’t totally sure what’s going in its place yet! What is going on?! For now, Disney is keeping us out of the loop and the gift shop by covering the entrances with scrims. We’ll keep you posted on any updates from this location! Click Here to Find Out What’s Coming to Toy Story Land Disney’s Animal Kingdom Expedition Everest Expedition Everest remains closed in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, but we’re counting down until the scheduled maintenance is completed and we can ride it once again! Expedition Everest If all goes according to plan, there should only be about a month left in this refurbishment process as Disney has stated Everest will be open once again mid-April 2022. Disney Resorts Yacht Club There’s quite a bit of work going on over at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, but it appears to mostly be on the exterior of the buildings. Disney’s Yacht Club Resort Cast Members weren’t able to confirm just exactly what was going on here, but it looks like routine maintenance to us! Exterior building maintenance We’ll be sure to keep you updated as the work on this hotel progresses. Contemporary The front desk at this OG Disney Resort hotel is getting a little bit of a makeover — we think! There was a black curtain up blocking the desk from view on our last visit. There’s something going on behind there, we just don’t know what yet! We’ll keep an eye out for updates on this project — so stay tuned. Grand Floridian Construction has begun on the new DVC Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa! Construction on the DVC Villas The Big Pine Key building is being transformed to make way for the new rooms. Disney expects the renovations to be completed sometime during summer 2022. Click Here to Read More About the New Grand Floridian DVC Villas Polynesian Village While the construction technically hasn’t started just yet… we thought it was important enough to mention the new DVC Villas coming to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort in late 2024! ©Disney Disney stated that they would be sharing more details soon, so be sure to stick with DFB to get the latest updates! Click Here to Read More About the New Polynesian Resort DVC Villas And, that’s it for all the construction updates from Disney World this week! Be sure to check your My Disney Experience app for the latest attraction closures on your next visit to see if anything you plan to do or see will be impacted, and stay tuned to DFB for all your Disney World news needs! Check Out the Updates Coming to Disney’s BoardWalk Inn Here Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Which Disney World construction project are you looking forward to being completed? Let us know in the comments! The post PHOTOS: TRON Testing, BIG Hotel Changes, And MORE Updates in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Since 2020, we’ve seen Disney Parks close due to the ongoing global health crisis. ©Shanghai Disneyland Resort Some parks have closed and reopened, while others have closed, reopened, and closed again. Now, one Disney Park is closing its doors completely to guests as of tomorrow due to the situation with COVID-19. According to U.S. News & World Report, Shanghai Disneyland Resort will close as of March 21st due to COVID-19. The last closure at this Disney resort was in fall of 2021 when Shanghai Disney temporarily suspended entry into the parks. Although this closure is not yet reflected on the main page of the Shanghai Disneyland website, the resort’s calendar is not showing any hours for the park indefinitely. ©Shanghai Disneyland Resort We also did not see any tickets available for the park until March 23rd. ©Shanghai Disneyland Resort Shanghai Disney Resort recently added a COVID-19 testing requirement to enter the parks — guests must present a negative test within 24 hours of arriving. Disney also added that the parks are operating at a limited capacity, rides will operate at a lower capacity, and all shows are temporarily suspended. ©Disney Shanghai Disney has not made an official statement, so it is unclear exactly how long this closure will last. We’ll continue to monitor the situation and keep you updated if anything changes! See the Shanghai Disney Surprise That Took 20 Months to Make Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Have you ever been to Shanghai Disneyland? Let us know in the comments. The post NEWS: Shanghai Disney Resort Closing Again Due to COVID-19 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We know, we know. You only get to Disney World so many times each year and you might have a long list of reasons why every trip you’ve simply GOT to hit up that one beloved spot. But, what if one year your go-to spot doesn’t have any reservations available? Or maybe you’ve got some in the group who are begging you to change things up, just this once! Well, whether you’re looking to explore a new spot, need to find another reservation, or want to change things up but not change them up too much, we’ve got a very special tip! We’re so content right now There are some incredible ice cream spots around Disney World, and you don’t even have to enter a Disney Park to get to some of the best! If you’re a diehard Beaches & Cream fan, you might think that going to ANY other ice cream spot on property is blasphemous! But hear us out — have you ever been to The Fountain? Both locations serve retro ice cream parlor vibes, classic diner eats, and huge portions of ice cream and sundaes. It’s not a question of which spot is better, but if you do love Beaches and Cream, here’s why you might want to visit The Fountain during your next trip. Before we can get into why you might want to try The Fountain, let’s break down each restaurant and their specialties. Breaking Down the Restaurants Beaches & Cream Soda Shop Generally Beaches & Cream, located at Disney’s Beach Club Resort hotel, serves classic diner food including HUGE ice cream sundaes and over-the-top milkshakes. Beaches and Cream It has beachfront retro vibes and there’s even a to-go counter for quick service! Retro vibes Beaches & Cream is famous for its giant Kitchen Sink Sundae, which has scoops of vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, cookies ‘n cream, and mint chocolate chip. It’s topped with hot fudge, peanut butter, pieces of Snickers, and a fresh-baked brownie. Then it’s essentially SMOTHERED in every additional topping they’ve got. Basically, it’s paradise. The Kitchen Sink Sundae is meant to serve four people and it’s not for the faint of heart. The Kitchen Sink Sundaes at Disney’s Beach Club Resort But, this spot isn’t just about the ice cream. You’ll also find a variety of entrees here, pretty much along with the likes of what you’d find at a diner. Good sammies HAVE to come with a pickle And don’t forget that while the Kitchen Sink is the star, there are also specialty shakes and smaller sundaes that’ll still satisfy that sweet tooth. Try the No Way Jose, just trust us! Read our review of Beaches & Cream! The Fountain Generally The Fountain is another ice cream shop located close by, in the Disney World Dolphin Resort hotel. Like Beaches & Cream, The Fountain features retro diner eats and hand-dipped ice cream cones and sundaes. The Fountain Entrance The Fountain is styled with 1950s soda shop decor and it also has a to-go counter. The Fountain You can Create-Your-Own-Sundae or go for a boozy milkshake like the Grasshopper, made with minty chip ice cream, Bailey’s, crème de cocoa, whipped cream, crème de menthe, and a grasshopper cookie on top. Grasshopper Shake at The Fountain in the Disney World Dolphin What’s better than a regular ole milkshake? A boozy milkshake, of course! Philly Cheesesteak and Fries Again, like Beaches & Cream, this spot also serves up some fairly standard eats like chili, burgers, and a grilled cheese. Click here for our review of The Fountain! Atmosphere Both restaurants serve throw-back diner vibes, with Beaches & Cream giving a little more of a beachy, boardwalk feel. Beaches & Cream has a brighter, lighter interior… Inside Beaches and Cream …whereas The Fountain’s interior is a little darker. Beaches & Cream tends to be busier, probably because of its overall popularity and its proximity to the Stormalong Bay pool area. Chili cheese fries and an ice cream sundae seem like the perfect fuel for a day-long pool adventure in this sandy-bottom oasis! If you’re planning to stop at Beaches & Cream, it’s best to plan for an advance reservation. The Fountain Because it’s a little more tucked away within the Dolphin Resort, The Fountain can usually accommodate walk-ins. But you could look into getting a reservation for this spot as well. Both restaurants are located in the EPCOT resort area, which makes them accessible to people staying in nearby hotels, or people who don’t want to enter a Disney Park for a special ice cream treat! Here’s a specialty milkshake The Fountain has featured in the past! Menus The prices for both shops are fairly comparable, and they’re both some of the cheapest options for table service in Disney World. Both ice cream shops obviously serve ice cream (of course!), and they also serve diner-style food. Beaches & Cream features classic diner food entrees, such as an Angus Beef Burger for $19 and Grilled Cheese for $14… Beaches and Cream Lunch Menu ©Disney …whereas The Fountain has quite a few more entree options, including several different burger options, a Classic Hot Dog for $12, a Grilled Chicken BLT for $15.50, and more. The Fountain’s prices for burgers are about the same as Beaches & Cream, and there are a few more options for a range of palettes. The Fountain’s menu also includes salads, if you want to eat some greens before nomming on ice cream. The Fountain Menu ©Disney Both menus also include sides (or starters & shareables as The Fountain calls them). Beaches & Cream has various Tater Tot Sides for $9 and there are some fries and other things for around $6. Beaches & Cream Menu ©Disney The Fountain’s starters are just slightly lower in price and there are a few more unique options, like the Soft Pretzel Bites for $7.50. These menu options are a reasonably priced option for families who enjoy ordering lots of side dishes. The Fountain Menu ©Disney Both restaurants include a kids’ menu as well with some classics like cheeseburgers and mac and cheese. Beaches & Cream and The Fountain also offer classic ice cream, sundaes, shakes, and even alcoholic spins on shakes and floats. They usually feature seasonal flavors and special limited treats at times. Beaches & Cream specializes in sundaes, and they have a number of sundae concoctions ranging from $8 all the way to $35 for the Kitchen Sink Sundae. Beaches and Cream Menu ©Disney Beaches & Cream also features double hand-scooped ice cream, waffle and sugar cones, malts, shakes, ice cream soda, and specialty shakes. Their ice cream flavors are pretty standard, including classics like Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, and Mint Chocolate Chip. But the combination of classic flavors and delicious toppings makes some of these creations beyond special! Beaches and Cream Menu ©Disney The Fountain specializes in shakes and sundaes, with tons of unique options for guests, including the PB&J Shake, which has Peanut Butter and Strawberry Ice cream, for $8.50. (Just for comparison, shakes, and malts at Beaches & Cream, in comparison, cost around $8.) The boozy Grasshopper milkshake at The Fountain costs $12, and you’ll find some other alcoholic shakes here as well as over at Beaches & Cream. The Fountain ©Disney The Fountain also has hand-scooped ice cream and a lot more flavor options. You’ll find your classic ice cream flavors here, but you’ll also find more unique ones like Banana Walnut, Caramel Cappuccino, Cheesecake, Rainbow Sherbet, and even Yogurt options. There’s also soft-serve ice cream, sauces, and toppings, which you can get on ice creams in a range of sizes costing from $5.50 to $8.50. The Fountain ©Disney Unlike Beaches & Cream, The Fountain also has a bakery counter where they typically sell fresh cakes, cookies, brownies, and pies for fairly reasonable prices. Cookies and brownies cost $3, and slices of cake and pies sell for $4.50. Fountain Bakery Counter What it really comes down to (for ice cream purposes) is whether you’re looking for a ginormous sundae like the Kitchen Sink Sundae, or a smaller portion of a milkshake or float with some more unique flavors. No Way Jose at Beaches and Cream If you’re a fan of retro ice cream shop vibes and diner food, you will probably enjoy Beaches & Cream AND The Fountain. If you’re looking for a reservation that’s not as difficult to grab, try The Fountain! You Will NOT Believe What Ice Cream Disney Almost Created. Where Should You Choose to Eat? Both of these dining options offer retro diner food and vibes, and are even generally around the same price point (both pretty economical when compared to other table service restaurants in Disney World). Beaches & Cream gets a lot of love and fame for its over-the-top Kitchen Sink Sundae. Couple that with some other really tasty treats here and its smallish (though recently expanded) dining room and this can be one tough reservation to secure. The noise level here can also get a bit high since it’s just off the Stormalong Bay pool area and that pool energy can sometimes filter into the restaurant. Let’s Go! The Fountain is a little more tucked away and quiet, but still delivers in terms of nostalgic eats and ice cream treats. It’s usually a little less crowded and doesn’t have the noise level of being near a pool. It also has some more unique ice cream flavors to pick from and more in terms of appetizers and entrees as well. Pretzel Bites and Dip from The Fountain Beaches & Cream has a high-energy & more excitable atmosphere, while The Fountain provides a calmer and tamer environment. But, rest assured, both restaurants give you the opportunity to consume excessive amounts of delicious ice cream creations and diner-style food. Vanilla Mickey Confetti Milkshake On any given day, it’ll likely be easier to get a reservation for The Fountain (or sometimes just walk on in!) over Beaches & Cream. (But remember you can try to grab something from Beaches & Cream’s to-go area if it’s a must-try for you!) Still, we think that if you like Beaches & Cream, you’ll likely also enjoy The Fountain and who knows?! It might just become your new must-visit spot for upcoming trips! What do you think? Are you a fan of Beaches & Cream, The Fountain, or both? Which do you prefer? Tell us in the comments! Keep reading DFB for all your Disney World food tips and updates! Click here to see our ranking of ALL of the ice cream spots 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. Have you ever tried The Fountain? Tell us in the comments! The post If You Like Beaches and Cream, You Might Also Like the Fountain in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s time for the $1,000 question (sometimes literally) — are you staying on-property or off-property at Disney World? Pool at Club Wyndham Disney World resort guests get certain perks, like being able to enter the theme parks early and use free transportation like buses, Monorails, and the Skyliner. But a lot of the hotels outside of Disney World are a LOT cheaper and are just as nice as (if not nicer than) those on-property hotels. So if you DO decide to stay off-property during your Disney World vacation, how can you tackle the theme parks to have an awesome day without the added perks? We’ve got a few tips for you to make the most of your Disney World day and get on the most popular attractions even if you are staying off-site. Slinky Dog Dash is a popular roller coaster! Before we get into that, though, we want to remind you that many non-Disney-owned hotels have some of the same perks as the Disney resorts. Guests staying at the Disney Springs-area hotels and the Swan and Dolphin hotels qualify for Early Theme Park Entry, and select hotels also qualify for Extended Evening Hours. To see a full list of which hotels qualify for each of these perks, visit our page on extra theme park hours benefits. Click here to see the Extra Theme Park Hours Benefits page. But if you don’t qualify for the bonus time in the theme parks or you’re wondering how to handle the parks with non-Disney transportation, we’ve got some advice to help you out. Let’s dive into how to attack the theme parks as a non-resort guest! Be at the Parks EARLY Our first tip is actually one that we tell everybody, no matter which hotel they’re staying at: Be at the theme parks EARLY. If you don’t qualify for Early Theme Park Entry, make sure you’re still at the entrance of the park at least a half-hour before opening time. Magic Kingdom entrance In Disney-speak, this is called rope-dropping. In the past, Cast Members would let guests into the parks and keep everyone near the front of the park by holding a rope across the walkway. When opening time hits, the rope would drop and everyone could head in to find their favorite attraction. EPCOT rope drop crowds without Early Entry Now, the same thing happens where guests are usually admitted earlier than the actual opening time and then held at certain places in the park before the park fully opens. There isn’t always a rope involved, but it’s the same idea. Being there early means you’ll be more likely to be inside the park at opening time, and you can be ahead of the big crowds that are there to start the day. Animal Kingdom entrance Guests who qualify for Early Theme Park Entry get to go inside and start getting on rides a half-hour before opening time, but not all of the attractions in each park are open for this extra time. So there are a couple of different possible strategies if you’re NOT using the early entry. Should You Take the Monorail to Rope Drop EPCOT? Here’s What We Experienced! Which Ride Should You Head to First? Most early entry guests will race to the most popular attraction in each park. These are Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Magic Kingdom, Rise of the Resistance or Slinky Dog Dash in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Avatar Flight of Passage in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Test Track or Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in EPCOT. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure To avoid the early entry crowds, you can head to other popular rides that didn’t open with early entry, so the lines there are more likely to be shorter than the attractions that did open with early entry. In Magic Kingdom, that could be Jungle Cruise or Splash Mountain (only Fantasyland and Tomorrowland open with early entry in this park) and in Animal Kingdom try Kilimanjaro Safaris. Most attractions open early in EPCOT but things like Figment and Three Caballeros do not. Jungle Cruise Most of the popular Hollywood Studios rides do open with early entry, so your strategy there will be a little different. You could still head to Rise of the Resistance, because that attraction gets a VERY long line later in the day, so you’ll still have a shorter wait if you go straight there once the park officially opens. Rise of the Resistance entrance Or you can avoid the early entry crowds at Rise and go to other popular rides that will have longer waits later in the day, such as Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run or Tower of Terror. Just know that the Rise of the Resistance line will likely not get shorter later on in the day. So if you want to go on that attraction, you should head there first or plan on paying for a Lightning Lane (which we’ll talk about more later on in this article). Inside Rise of the Resistance If you do go to the rides that aren’t part of Early Theme Park Entry, you can get on the most popular rides later on in the day (the ones that opened early) by purchasing a Lightning Lane or waiting until near park closing time. Sometimes wait times will drop at the very end of the day. See a list of rides you should NOT visit first (because you can easily ride them later). Leave Plenty of Time for Transportation Before you even rope-drop the park, you’ll have to get there! Be sure to plan for plenty of time for transportation to the Disney World parks. You don’t want to be stuck in traffic when the theme park opens, which would put you behind all of the big morning crowds. Driving to Magic Kingdom Parking at all four Disney World parks opens an hour before Early Theme Park Entry, which is an hour and a half before the park’s official opening time. Be sure to take advantage of that and give yourself a LOT of buffer time to get to the entrance. Parking Lot Some non-Disney hotels also have shuttles to and from the parks, so talk with the front desk at your hotel to see what transportation is available, how much it costs, and what the hours are. And don’t forget that ride-share options like Uber and Lyft can also get you to the parks! Rideshare pick up zone Also, remember that if you’re going to Magic Kingdom, the shuttles will drop you off at the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC), not the front entrance. This is also where you’ll need to park if you’re driving yourself. From this center, you can take a Monorail, bus, or ferry to the main entrance of Magic Kingdom. Be sure to plan for that extra time required for travel. TTC Some Disney Springs-area hotels are even close enough for guests to walk to the bus station there and use the free Disney transportation. For example, the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista hotel is just a 15-minute walk from the Springs bus station. Disney Springs Bus Station Note that the buses at Disney Springs do not usually run to the theme parks, but you can hop on a bus to a nearby resort and then walk or use other free transportation to get to the parks. For example, you can hop on a bus to Disney’s Contemporary Resort and then walk to Magic Kingdom. This may take longer than using a car or Uber, but it’s free and is a little more direct than visiting the TTC. Just be sure those buses run as early (and late) as you want them to. See everything you need to know about parking in Disney World here. Get an Early Breakfast Reservation In the Parks One way you can sort of hack the system is by getting an early breakfast reservation inside a Disney World park. These reservations are sometimes available even before the parks open, so you’ll get to go in before other guests. Royalty Only, Please The restaurants with early breakfast reservations include Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom, Hollywood & Vine in Hollywood Studios, Tusker House in Animal Kingdom, and Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (when it reopens) in EPCOT. Mickey in Tusker House For example, you could snag an 8AM reservation for Cinderella’s Royal Table on a day when Magic Kingdom opens at 9AM. Then you’ll be inside the park ahead of most of the crowds, even though you may not leave the restaurant until around 9AM (or whenever you finish eating). But you’ll be closer to the attractions and thus more likely to hop in line ahead of other guests. At a Nearby Resort Most resorts don’t allow you to park in their parking lots unless you’re a guest there OR have a dining reservation. So you could make an early breakfast reservation at Chef Mickey’s at the Contemporary or ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Resort, which are both on the Monorail line for Magic Kingdom. Chef Mickey’s Once you finish eating, you’ll be able to hop on a Monorail and skip the TTC visit because you parked at the resort instead! Monorail at the Contemporary If you’re looking to visit EPCOT or Hollywood Studios, try an early dining reservation at one of the EPCOT-area hotels. For example, breakfast at Ale & Compass (at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort) begins at 7:30. You can eat there and then walk to EPCOT’s International Gateway, which is another entrance that’s actually closer to Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Frozen Ever After (two very popular attractions) than the main EPCOT entrance. Directions to resorts and International Gateway The Yacht Club hotel is about a 30-minute walk to the entrance of Hollywood Studios, but if you go early enough, you can still beat many of the crowds. Disney transportation doesn’t usually start running to a park until about 45 minutes before each park’s opening. But nothing is stopping you from walking to the entrance before the buses even begin their routes! Learn how to make advanced dining reservations here. Use Genie+ and Pay-Per-Ride If you’re concerned about getting on enough rides, you can always purchase Genie+ and pay-per-ride attractions. Both of these are ways to skip the line and get on rides with a much shorter wait time. Frozen Ever After Lightning Lane You do not have to be a Disney World resort guest in order to buy Genie+ and/or pay-per-ride attractions. Genie+ costs $15 per ticket, per day and it allows you to skip the line at many attractions in each park. See a full list of the included attractions here. But note that you need to reserve your spot at each attraction, and you can only book the next one after you’ve entered the one before it. Click here to learn how to use Genie+ in Disney World. Pay-per-ride is similar to Genie+, only it applies to individual rides. So you can pay to skip the line at certain attractions that are NOT included with Genie+. These are usually the most popular rides in each park. For example, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is not included in Genie+, but you can pay extra to skip the line only at that ride. Pay-per-ride costs anywhere from about $7 to $15 for each ticket at each attraction. Click here to learn how to use pay-per-ride in Disney World. The difference between being a Disney resort guest and staying off-property only applies to pay-per-ride reservations. For Genie+, all Disney World guests (staying on- or off-property) can buy Genie+ for each day beginning at 12AM, and you can make your first Genie+ selections beginning at 7AM. Lightning Lane For pay-per-ride reservations, Disney World hotel guests can start making reservations at 7AM, but guests staying off-property can start making reservations when each theme park opens. For example, if Hollywood Studios opens at 9AM, that’s when guests at non-Disney hotels can start buying pay-per-ride reservations. Some attractions sell out quickly for pay-per-ride (like Rise of the Resistance), but we have seen availability remain open until at least park opening time pretty often. Rise of the Resistance Lightning Lane Check the availability on the My Disney Experience app during your visit to see if the ride you want to visit has open reservations. Learn the BIG Genie+ rule that everyone gets wrong. Schedule Time for Rest Our final tip is to schedule in time for rest at the theme parks. Because your off-property hotel may be more difficult to get to from the parks, you might not have as much time to go back to your room for a midday nap. But you still want to make sure that you’re giving yourself and your group the needed downtime! Take a break to recharge! You could make a dining reservation for a late lunch or early dinner so that you’ve got designated time to sit down and relax during the hottest part of the day. Or just plan on finding a bench in a shaded area and munching on a snack for a while. Grab a Mickey bar and take a break! We know it’s tempting to go, go, go all the time during a Disney World trip, but burn-out is REAL and can definitely happen if you don’t take care of yourself! See SECRET spots to relax in Disney World here. That’s it for our tips on tackling the Disney World theme parks if you’re NOT a Disney resort guest. We hope this helps as you plan your upcoming vacation! Keep following DFB for more planning tips and the latest Disney news. How do Disney World hotel prices compare to off-property resorts? 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 prefer to stay on- or off-property at Disney World? Let us know in the comments. The post How to Attack the Disney World Parks as a Non-Resort Guest first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival has just kicked off, but there is already so much to do! 2022 Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival From tasting a variety of delicious snacks from food booths to the Alice’s Wonderland Bakery Unbirthday Party for Kids to live entertainment, the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival has something for everyone. There are also tastings and seminars, including some at Disneyland hotels — and one is even at Trader Sam’s! Here is a list of the seminars at Disneyland hotels you can attend: Education and Tasting Seminars Location: GCH Craftsman Bar at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa Guests must be 21 years of age or older to attend and purchase or consume alcoholic beverages; a valid photo ID is required. $95.00 per person, per seminar (not including tax and gratuity). Check-in begins 15 minutes before each seminar at GCH Craftsman Bar. GCH Craftsman Bar Description: Learn from beverage Industry experts in these 45-minute Beverage Education and Tasting Seminars. Each experience will include a guided tasting selected by the presenter and paired with upscale hors d’oeuvres. Seminars also include a special commemorative gift. Tuesday, March 22nd, 11AM – Golden Road Brewing (Beer) Tuesday, March 29th, 11AM – Peltzer Family Cellars (Wine) Tuesday, April 19th 11AM – Nova Brewing Co. (Sake) Mixology Seminar Location: Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar, Disneyland Hotel Guests must be 21 years of age or older to attend and purchase or consume alcoholic beverages; a valid photo ID is required. $75.00 per person, not including tax and gratuity. Check-in begins 15 minutes before the seminar at Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar. Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar Description: Learn from expert Trader Sam’s bartenders in this 45-minute Mixology Seminar. The seminar includes guided instructions for crafting a cocktail and the opportunity to make your own. Includes a special commemorative gift. April 12th, 10AM UPDATE: This seminar is currently sold out, however @enchantedtikibar on Instagram said that management is aware of how popular these events are, so hopefully we will see more of these in the future. Winemaker Reception – Silver Oak/Twomey Location: Rose Court Garden, Disneyland Hotel Guests must be 21 years of age or older to attend and purchase or consume alcoholic beverages; a valid photo ID is required. $275.00, not including tax and gratuity. Check-in begins 15 minutes before the reception at Rose Court Garden. Disneyland Hotel Description: Experience culinary action stations paired with the acclaimed wines of Silver Oak and Twomey. Director of Winemaking, Nate Weis, joins the Disneyland Hotel Culinary Team for an evening of wine education and interactive small plate delights. Includes a special commemorative gift. April 6th, 6PM All seminars include complimentary 3-hour self-parking validation at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, except for the Mixology Seminar which includes complimentary 3-hour self-parking validation at the Disneyland Hotel. Space is limited, so reservations are highly encouraged — you can make those here. We’ll be sure to let you know about any other events happening at Disneyland AND Disney World, so stay tuned to DFB for more news! Only True Experts Will Recognize ALL of the Easter Eggs in Disneyland’s Newest Shop! Do You? 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 Will you be attending any seminars during the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival? Let us know in the comments! The post Did You Know There's a Mixology Course at Disneyland's Trader Sam's? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Okay, listen here. We know that Disney, as a company, is all about them SECRETS! Magic Kingdom They’re constantly hiding little Easter eggs in their movies, adding little nods to important attractions or people in their theme parks, and, over the years, we’ve seen our fair share of hidden Mickeys EVERYWHERE. But there are some little details that only a Disney MASTER will have picked up on, and today we’re sharing our list of the top 16! Disney World 1 — Hear that Knocking?? Next time you’re in Animal Kingdom, head to Asia to check out a special Imagineering detail. Above the Dawa Bar, you may hear a knocking sound. Dawa Bar It’s meant to be the landlady knocking on the doors of the students who live above the bar. Apparently, they haven’t paid their rent! Click here to learn about 25 details you NEVER knew about Animal Kingdom 2 — Star Wars Fun For these next two, you’re going to need a little bit of Star Wars knowledge. Think back to the trash compactor scene in Star Wars: A New Hope. The creature that was living in the compactor that our heroes got stuck in can now be found in Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. You’ll find him in this water fountain from time to time! He’s what’s known as a Dianoga and you can find him above the water fountain in the marketplace. 3 — Look at the Trash Cans! And speaking of that trash compactor scene, make sure to check out the trash cans when you’re in Galaxy’s Edge! Each one has a number on it, and they all match the number of the compactor where Luke Skywalker and his friends got stuck. Check out the trash cans! Guess that tells you where the trash is going! Click here to see more easter eggs in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge! 4 — A Hidden Mickey Made of…Pans? Heading over to EPCOT, you should definitely check out the new ride — Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure — on your next trip. In the ride’s queue, you’ll walk through a room with Chef Gusteau on a sign, and every few minutes, he delivers a little speech. It’s a little fuzzy, but do you spot it?! Look carefully! Sometimes during his speech, he holds two pans up to his head to make Mickey ears! Click here to see the hidden Ratatouille details you won’t want to miss in the France pavilion 5 — The BEST Hidden Mickey? Continuing with the hidden Mickeys theme, let’s talk about what may be one of the BEST hidden Mickeys in all of Disney World. There’s an incredibly cool hidden Mickey as you go through the efficiency scanner room in EPCOT’s Test Track. Did you know about the DIGITAL Hidden Mickey in Test Track? Look at the blueprints on the wall — and find the URL there. If you type that into your browser, you’ll be directed to a website with a little Mickey outline. It’s a digital hidden Mickey! AMAZING! Click here to see the hidden Mickey we spotted that you’ll NEVER see again! 6 — A Mickey of Rocks! Continuing on the hidden Mickeys trend, let’s take a trip over to Splash Mountain. Next time you’re on the ride, take a look to the left as you’re riding up the large hill before the drop. See It?! Just as you’re about to go over, you can spot a side profile of Mickey Mouse made out of rocks. How cool! Click here to see where we found LIVING hidden Mickeys! 7 — It’s Always “Night” Staying in Magic Kingdom for a minute, you know we just HAVE to drop a fun fact about The Haunted Mansion. If you look at the top of the building, there are a bunch of chess pieces adorning the roof. But one important piece is missing…the knight! Haunted Mansion That’s because it’s always “night” at the Haunted Mansion. Get it?! Think you’re a Haunted Mansion expert? Read this! 8 — A Nod to All 4 Parks And finally, to end our Disney World section, let’s take a stroll to Storybook Circus. Did you know that here, you can find a nod to all four theme parks in one place? That’s right! If you look at the years on each of the circus cars at the Casey Junior Splash ‘n’ Soak Station, each one is numbered. Those numbers are the years that each of the four Disney World parks first opened. 1971 is the year that Magic Kingdom opened! It’s easy to miss little details like that, even though they’re hidden in plain sight! For Your Ultimate Guide to SECRET Menus in Disney World — Click Here! Disneyland Resort But don’t worry West Coasters, we’ve got some Disney MASTER details for you too! 9 — Mary Blair Doll! First up, we need to talk about the Mary Blair doll at Disneyland. Disney Legend Mary Blair did much of the general design work for “it’s a small world” and there’s a nod to her on Disneyland’s version of the ride. As you enter the Western Europe showroom, look back at the Eiffel tower and you’ll find a doll modeled after Mary Blair! ©Disney She’s the one with short, blonde hair, holding a balloon, and wearing a floral dress. Be sure to turn around and look UP to find her! 10 — Are Those Blinks Going…Slower? In Cars, there’s a scene where Fillmore tells Sarge that every third blink of the traffic light is slower. Sarge doesn’t believe him, but the Imagineers did! They incorporated this small detail into Cars Land when they built it at Disney California Adventure. Make sure to watch that traffic light! Stop and look closely at the traffic light. I’m telling you man…every third blink of the light really is a teeny bit slower! 11 — A Hidden FIGMENT! Also at Disney California Adventure, you can spot a beloved EPCOT character hidden in Avengers Campus. In the queue for Guardians of the Galaxy Mission: BREAKOUT, look up high in the room with all the cages. Here, you’ll find Figment in a box among The Collector’s prized items. Figment?! Oh no! How’d you get up there Figment?! He’s a bit difficult to see, but if you look closely at one of the cages in the queue you’ll see the outline of his arms. Poor Figgy! Click here to see 7 of the best pieces of trivia we’ve heard from Disney Cast Members 12 — A Nod to Walt And finally, let’s head back to Disneyland Park. If you board the railroad in New Orleans Square, you may notice the telegraph station sign nearby, and you’ll even hear it tapping. New Orleans Square Train Station What’s it saying? Well, it’s tapping out a paraphrased portion of Walt Disney’s opening day Disneyland speech in Morse Code. How cool! Click Here for 16 Disneyland Secrets Even Locals Don’t Know Disney Movies And last on our list, we have to give a special mention to some of the next-level Easter eggs in Disney movies. 13 — Mickey is Under the SEA?! In The Little Mermaid, when King Triton arrives at his daughters’ concert, look at the crowd. There, you may notice Mickey, Donald, and Goofy among the masses of people. ©Disney via Insider It’s a blink-and-you-miss-it moment so consider pausing those screens! 14 — There May Be Something There…You’ve Never Seen Before While Quasimodo is singing “Out There” in The Hunchback of Notre Dame he looks out over the rooftop of the cathedral and down into Paris below. Among the people in the streets is a girl in a blue dress with “her nose stuck in a book.” ©Disney Who do you think that could be? 15 — WANTED In the police station scene of Big Hero 6, take a look at the wanted posters on the bulletin board. ©Disney Among those wanted by the cops, you may spot a familiar face — Hans, the villain from Frozen! Have you spotted these easter eggs in Pixar’s Luca? Click here to see them! 16 — A Famous Puppet And finally, let’s talk about the “I’ve Got a Dream” scene from Tangled. Here, they’re in the Snuggly Duckling tavern among thieves and ruffians, but there’s one guest you may not have noticed. If you look up in the rafters of the building, you’ll spot a famous wooden puppet — Pinocchio! ©Disney There you have it — 16 of Disney’s biggest Easter eggs and hidden details. How many have you seen before? Keep following along with DFB for all the latest news and Disney info that you need to know! According to Science, Here’s What Being a Disney Fan Really Means — 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. Which of these Disney secrets surprised you the most? Tell us in the comments! The post Think You're a Disney MASTER? Think Again. first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Five wetlands, hundreds of native trees and no interstate noise. View the full article

Gatorland's photographer pass allows shutterbugs early access to the park and the rookery set on the alligator breeding marsh, which attracts great egrets and other birds to make nests and lay their eggs. View the full article

Ever found yourself sobbing in the theater or on your couch as you watch a Pixar movie? Actually, is there anyone who HASN’T? ©Disney/Pixar To our readers on Facebook, we posed the question, “Pixar knows how to cue the waterworks. Which Pixar movie do you need a box of tissues for?” We got a variety of answers. Some made us laugh, some made us cry, and all of them pointed to some of the most sob-worthy Pixar films of all time. Toy Story 3 One of the most popular answers in the comments was Toy Story 3. The third installment in the Toy Story series has a few totally heart-wrenching moments that our readers couldn’t stop mentioning. One reader said, “If I need a good eyeball washing, Toy Story 3, makes me cry like a baby.” ©Disney/Pixar One said, “When they all hold hands about to go into the incinerator. Sobbing.” Another reader noted, “My daughter grew up with “Andy” and when he left the toys with Bonnie and drove away, that got me.” ©Disney/Pixar This movie is definitely one that hits home for a lot of our people and a few of our readers shared how saying things like, “I think about it every time I trip over a toy or wish for less clutter and a neater house. It brings me back to reality and reminds me how precious this time is.” ©Disney/Pixar Some of our readers have even opted NOT to watch Toy Story 4 after the tears of this movie, “I haven’t been able to bring myself to watch Toy Story 4 because I still feel traumatized by 3, which I watched 11 years ago. I vowed then to never watch it again. That’s really dramatic, but I said what I said.” Click here to learn about the Toy Story restaurant coming to Disney World! Coco Another of the most popular responses was Coco. One reader said, “I saw this at the theater with my daughter-in-law and granddaughters not long after my husband had passed. I started to tear up. Next thing I knew the older girl leaned her head against my shoulder as the youngest climbed into my lap and hugged me. I still can’t listen to “Remember Me” without crying.” ©Disney/Pixar Okay…so, now we’re crying. This one hit home for a lot of our readers. One said, “I cried for an hour after watching it for the first time. I lost my dad when I was 11 and it just hit every nerve. Will never watch it again but it’s an amazing film.” ©Disney/Pixar For many, Coco just really speaks to feelings of family and loss. “All of them for real,” one reader said, “But Coco is the one I can watch over and over again and will always cry.” Want to see the new Coco scene on Mickey’s PhilharMagic? Click here! Up And the last of the more common answers was, you guessed it, Up. One reader put it clearly, “Everyone knows it’s the first five minutes of Up.” Another reader said, “I can’t watch Up. The scenes with Carl and Ellie just hit too close to home.” ©Disney/Pixar We really liked how one reader put it, “The beginning of that film is the epitome of what Disney/Pixar does well. Heart-wrenching emotion followed by Carl waking up and cracking his back. The juxtaposition between sadness and humor is beautiful.” ©Disney/Pixar It certainly stands that Pixar does a good job of capturing real human experiences. One reader said, “Carl and Ellie remind me of my grandparents and the love they had for each other every time!” That can be pretty powerful! Another noted, “At one time I had the montage theme as my ringtone but I cried every time my phone rang.” To see a RARE Up meet and greet in Disney World, click here! Toy Story 2 Those three were certainly the most popular answers, but a few other movies were mentioned regularly as well. Toy Story 2, for instance, had several callouts. ©Disney/Pixar Specifically, a lot of folks talked about the scene when Jessie talks about her previous owner. One reader said, “I can’t listen to ‘When She Loved Me.'” Click here to see more BELOVED Disney sequels! Inside Out Some readers talked about Inside Out, especially “When Bing Bong disappears.” ©Disney/Pixar This one was a more sneak attack of emotion. One reader said, “I wasn’t prepared for Inside Out to hit my feels as hard as it did. When Bing Bong vanishes, straight up tears.” Want to see Inside Out wishables? Click here! Finding Dory Sometimes sequels are the real tear-jerkers. One example? Finding Dory. ©Disney/Pixar Readers specifically called out, “When she follows the pebbles and finds her parents,” and “Every time baby Dory gets swept down the drainpipe.” To learn more about the new Nemo musical coming to Disney World, click here! Onward We also saw a few heart-wrenching stories from our readers, especially those who have lost a father or husband figure, when it comes to Onward. ©Disney/Pixar One said, “Onward is another ‘one and done.’ It’s banned from my house because of how sad it is.” Click here to see how movies are taking over Disney World. All of Them! But really, some of our readers pointed out ALL Pixar movies bring the tears. One said, “I think each of them made me cry at some point LOL. Pixar just has a way of tugging at your heart strings.” Another noted, “I even cried with Cars!” ©Disney/Pixar Well, if you need us, we’ll be opening another box of tissues to dry up the tears from talking about these Pixar favorites. If you want to join in more of our social questions, follow us on Facebook to share your Disney knowledge and opinions! Click here to see more Disney movie thoughts from our readers! 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 Pixar movie do you need a box of tissues for? Tell us in the comments! The post 6 Pixar Movies That Make Our Readers SOB 😭 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We know it’s hard to pick between your favorite Disney World snacks, but we still ask you to do it anyway! Did your favorite snack make the cut? Why? Because we love seeing which snacks come out on top! Now, we’ve been taking your votes for the DFB EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Snacks bracket and we’re officially through the first two rounds, but now we’ve got the round 3 results in! We’re just down to eight snacks now — did your favorites make the cut? Let’s find out! First up, we’ve got Toasted Pretzel Bread from the Bauernmarkt booth vs. Crispy Mojo Marinated Pork Belly from The Citrus Blossom. Toasted Pretzel Bread vs. Crispy Mojo Marinated Pork Belly This one was almost no contest — a whopping 73% of you voted for the Toasted Pretzel Bread! Read our review of the Toasted Pretzel Bread here! Next up, it’s the Char-Grilled Bison Rib-Eye from EPCOT Farmers Feast vs. Grilled Street Corn on the Cob from Flavor Full Kitchen Hosted by AdventHealth. Who came out on top? Char-Grilled Bison Rib-Eye vs. Grilled Street Corn on the Cob This one was a little closer, but the Grilled Street Corn on the Cob reigns supreme! Check out our review of the Grilled Street Corn on the Cob What happens when the Croissant au Fromage de Chevre Herbes goes up against La Vie en Rose Frozen Slushie, both from Fleur de Lys? Croissant au Fromage de Chevre Herbes vs. La Vie en Rose Frozen Slushie This one is almost too close to call, but the Croissant au Fromage de Chevre Herbes came out ahead — barely! Here’s our review of the Croissant au Fromage de Chevre Herbes Are you ready for a rumble? It’s the Tupelo Honey and Sweet Corn Spoon from The Honey Bee-stro Hosted by National Honey Board up against the Poppy Flower Margarita from Jardin de Fiestas. Tupelo Honey and Sweet Corn Spoon vs. Poppy Flower Margarita This was another close one, but in the end, there can only be one winner, and it’s the Tupelo Honey and Sweet Corn Spoon. Read our review of the Tupelo Honey and Sweet Corn Spoon Here We pitted the House-made Cheesy Crab Wontons from Lotus House against the Boudin Bites from Magnolia Terrace, but who came out on top? House-made Cheesy Crab Wontons vs. Boudin Bites This was no contest — you overwhelmingly told us it’s the House-made Cheesy Crab Wontons for you! Read our review of the House-made Cheesy Crab Wontons Here There’s a Dole Whip competing in this bracket, so how does it fare? We put the Dole Whip with Mango Liqueur from Pineapple Promenade vs. the Bombolini from Primavera Kitchen. Dole Whip with Mango Liqueur vs. the Bombolini And the winner is…the Dole Whip with Mango Liqueur. Boozy Dole Whip FOR THE WIN. Here’s our review of the Dole Whip with Mango Liqueur Next up, it’s the Pomegranate Mimosa from Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina vs. the Strawberry Fields Refresher from Joffrey’s. Two drinks have entered the ring, but only one can remain. Pomegranate Mimosa vs. Strawberry Fields Refresher This was another close call, but the winner is the Pomegranate Mimosa! Here’s our review of the Pomegranate Mimosa In the final battle, it was the Blueberry Lemonade Soft Serve from Refreshment Port vs. the Fried Cinnamon Roll Bites from Sunshine Griddle. Blueberry Lemonade Soft Serve vs. Fried Cinnamon Roll Bites The Fried Cinnamon Roll Bites left its competitor in the dust! Our readers have spoken! Check out our review of the Fried Cinnamon Roll Bites Here That’s it for Round 3 of the DFB Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Snacks Bracket. Be sure to visit our Instagram to vote on more of your favorite snacks — there will be more snacks to vote on soon! Check back here to see the results! Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for more! Click HERE to See All the Updated Details for EPCOT's 2022 International Flower and Garden Festival! Ready to Plan for Your 2022 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Trip? Order the DFB Guide to the 2022 EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival e-Book today! This 200+ page guide to the Festival offers insider tips and advice as well as all of the details you need to know to plan your best Festival visit ever. Your purchase includes several bonus items as well -- including a full daily schedule of events at the Festival and a printable Outdoor Kitchens Booth Menu Checklist to carry with you as you Eat around the World! Order your 2022 edition today! Don't miss a moment of the fun! Use code SPRING at check-out to get $2 off the cover price! Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Did your favorite EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival snack make the cut? Let us know in the comments The post Which Snacks Made It Through Round 3 of the DFB EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival Bracket? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

No matter how hard we try, we can’t control the weather (or the crowds) in Disney World! For all you serious vacation planners out there, we know it can be frustrating to plan out your entire Disney trip, only for a thunderstorm to roll in and ruin your plans. Believe it or not, though, some of the BEST memories can come from the most unexpected moments; you never know what might happen in Disney World, and that’s what makes it so much fun! Magic Kingdom If you’ve got a vacation to Disney World coming up in mid/late March (congrats, by the way!), you might want to check the weather forecast before your trip. It’s been pretty overcast and rainy in Orlando lately, but maybe the sun will come out tomorrow (did you sing that?). Let’s find out as we take a look at the upcoming weather forecast in Disney World! Weather Forecast A new week in Disney World means new merchandise, new announcements, and new circumstances — you never know what you’re gonna get! Last week, the temperature reached a high of 87°, with lows in the 60s. This week, prepare for some nice (and cloudy) weather. A rainy day in Disney is better than a rainy day at home, right? For now, the overall chance of rain seems pretty low, but that doesn’t mean a random shower won’t blow through. According to The Weather Channel, you can expect your days to be nice and warm, with lows hovering around the 60s all week. Sounds good to us! March 21st Monday, March 21st, starts off the week with a beautiful day (hopefully)! The temperature will be around 79° during the day, and it will go down to 62° in the evening. Pack your sunglasses — it’s going to be a sunny spring day! ©The Weather Channel | Screenshot as of March 16th There’s only a 5% chance of rain during the day, which is GREAT news — especially if you were hoping to catch the Festival of Fantasy Parade in Magic Kingdom! March 22nd On Tuesday, March 22nd, you should be in for another nice day! There might be a little bit of wind and some humidity, but other than that, the forecast is clear. ©The Weather Channel | Screenshot as of March 16th THIS is the kind of spring weather we love; it’s not too hot, not too cold, and not too humid! March 23rd On Wednesday, March 23rd, there’s a slightly higher chance of rain. Even still, there’s only a 23% chance of precipitation during the day. Even with only about a 20% chance of rain, we still recommend packing a light poncho you can throw on just in case it starts to drizzle. Better safe than sorry! This is also the hottest day of the week, with a high at 90°. ©The Weather Channel | Screenshot as of March 16th Don’t forget to take note of the humidity! On Wednesday, the humidity hovers around 62% to 74% throughout the day, which is lower than what we felt last week. March 24th On Thursday, March 24th, the temperature reaches 87°. The low is 67°, with 60-70% (ish) humidity throughout the day. The wind is predicted to come in at 10 to 20 mph, and there’s a pretty low chance of rain. We’ll take it! ©The Weather Channel | Screenshot as of March 16th When the weather is this nice, we could stay outside all day, which is good news, because Disney World involves a LOT of time outdoors. March 25th For Friday, March 25th, expect to see the temperature reach around 83°. It’s going to be another cloudy day, but the sun is always right behind those clouds, so don’t forget that sunscreen! ©The Weather Channel | Screenshot as of March 16th It seems like the daily forecasts are all VERY similar for this week! March 26th On Saturday, March 26th, there will be a high of 84° and a low of 61°. There’s a low chance of rain again on Saturday, which would make this a great day to hit the pool! ©The Weather Channel | Screenshot as of March 16th All week long, the temperatures should be around 80°, so you can probably pack mostly shorts and short-sleeved shirts! Don’t forget to pack a rain jacket or a poncho, though, just in case. March 27th Finally, Sunday, March 27th, ends the week with a high of 85° and a low of 63° at night. This is definitely one of the better forecasts we’ve seen lately! ©The Weather Channel | Screenshot as of March 16th If the forecast stays the same for the rest of the week, expect some GREAT weather in Disney World! Overview of the Week Here is a full overview of the week from The Weather Channel. The temperature will range between 79° and 90° during the day, then drop to the 60s at night. Keep in mind that the weather predictions can change, but for now, this overview should give you an idea of what to expect for the week. ©The Weather Channel | Screenshot as of March 16th We checked a few other websites, like Click Orlando News 6… ©Click Orlando 6 | Screenshot as of March 16th …and WESH 2 News. It looks like everyone is reporting fairly similar forecasts. ©WESH 2 News | Screenshot as of March 16th Remember that Florida weather can change at any time! Keep your eyes on the forecast throughout the week. How Should You Plan? Now, let’s look at a few ways you can prepare for the week ahead! Find a comfortable park bag While your trusty old string backpack is great for quick trips, we recommend investing in a nice park bag with comfortable straps. Look for a bag that won’t bother you all day! From personal experience, those stringy straps can really dig into your shoulders after a long day in Disney World — opt for a mini backpack or crossbody bag instead! Twelve Essentials You NEED in Your Disney World Park Bag! Look for a lightweight rain jacket or poncho Speaking of park bags, it can be SUPER annoying trying to stuff a bunch of bulky ponchos in your backpack. Look for small, easily foldable rain gear that will fit into your bag without all that hassle. Rainy day! Another tip: Disney’s ponchos are great, but they’re VERY expensive! Buy some ahead of time at a local store or on Amazon to save yourself some money. PHOTOS & VIDEOS: Take a Rainy Day Disney World Walk With Us That covers today’s update on next week’s weather! Enjoy spring break and have fun celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day! As always, stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney tips! NEWS: The Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show is Closing Permanently 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 planning a trip to Disney World soon? Let us know in the comments! The post Is the Rain FINALLY Gone from Disney World This Week? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Have you seen Turning Red yet? We Love Turning Red! We are OBSESSED with that movie. First, you’ve got an adorable red panda (with even more adorable merchandise available). Then you’ve got the boy band 4*Town (yes, we all have a favorite member). Then you’ve got a touching story about the complicated relationship between teen girls and their mothers. Now, you can bring Mei as the iconic red panda STRAIGHT into your living room. How? Google has an AR filter that puts a dancing red panda, aka Mei, into any scene you choose. Here’s how to access it: first, do a Google search in the Google app for “Turning Red.” ©Google Scroll down and you’ll see “See Red Panda Mei in your space” — you’ll want to click on “View in 3D.” ©Google Dancing Red Panda Mei will appear on your phone’s screen! But what you really want to do is click on “View in your space.” ©Google You’ll be prompted to move your phone a certain way and then Dancing Panda Mei will appear right in front of you — for example, in your living room! (Note: the following is a screenshot, but in the AR, she is actually moving and dancing — and it’s hysterical!) ©Google You’re sure to have a lot of fun with this, and yes, you might lose an hour or two playing around with Dancing Panda Mei. But we won’t judge — it’s super fun! We’ll let you know about other fun Disney features and tech like this, so be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all your Disney news! Here’s The NEW Food In Disney World for Pixar’s Turning Red! 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 tried the Google AR Turning Red filter yet? Let us know in the comments! The post Here's How To Bring a Dancing Disney Character Into Your House! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We don’t think we’ve ever met anyone that actually ENJOYS super long lines at Disney World, but hey, those people could be out there! AH! So many people! And, if those people do exist, they would be SUPER happy with how Disney World has been lately. Long wait times and big crowds are the norm these days thanks to the Spring Break season! So, what was the damage this week? Let’s take a look at the average wait times around Disney World! Magic Kingdom Let’s head to Magic Kingdom! This week, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train had the longest average wait time with 91 minutes! Mine Train! After that, we had Peter Pan’s Flight at 65 minutes, Jungle Cruise at 65 minutes, Space Mountain at 64 minutes, Splash Mountain at 56 minutes, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at 49 minutes, Haunted Mansion at 45 minutes, Pirates of the Caribbean at 37 minutes, Astro Orbiter at 37 minutes, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin at 34 minutes, and Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh at 34 minutes. Frontierland Next, we had “it’s a small world” at 28 minutes, Barnstormer featuring the Great Goofini at 26 minutes, Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid at 24 minutes, Magic Carpets of Aladdin at 24 minutes, Dumbo the Flying Elephant at 23 minutes, and Tomorrowland Speedway at 22 minutes. Dumbo Then, we saw Mad Tea Party at 17 minutes, Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover at 16 minutes, Mickey’s PhilharMagic at 16 minutes, and Prince Charming Regal Carrousel at 14 minutes. PeopleMover And rides that only had wait times in the single digits were Carousel of Progress at 4 minutes, Tom Sawyer Island at 4 minutes, and Country Bear Jamboree at 3 minutes. Rides with no waits were Hall of Presidents, Enchanted Tiki Room, Liberty Square Riverboat, and Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse. EPCOT Over in EPCOT, the ride with the longest average wait was Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at 96 minutes. Remy’s! Then, we had Frozen Ever After at 77 minutes, Test Track at 73 minutes, Soarin’ at 42 minutes, Mission: SPACE at 35 minutes, Spaceship Earth at 20 minutes, The Seas with Nemo and Friends at 18 minutes, Living with the Land at 16 minutes, Journey into Imagination at 12 minutes, Turtle Talk with Crush at 11 minutes, and Gran Fiesta Tour at 10 minutes. The Seas The theater shows in EPCOT all 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 144 minutes. Rise of the Resistance After that, we had Tower of Terror at 127 minutes, Slinky Dog Dash at 104 minutes, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster featuring Aerosmith at 82 minutes, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at 74 minutes, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway at 66 minutes, and Toy Story Mania at 61 minutes. Slinky Dog Dash And finally, we had Alien Swirling Saucers at 41 minutes, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue at 28 minutes, Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy at 15 minutes, Muppet*Vision 3D at 10 minutes, and Walt Disney Presents at 7 minutes. Animal Kingdom Hopping over to Animal Kingdom, the ride with the longest average wait time this week was Avatar Flight of Passage at 110 minutes. Flight of Passage Queue Then, we had Na’vi River Journey at 59 minutes, Kilimanjaro Safaris at 57 minutes, DINOSAUR at 29 minutes, and Kali River Rapids at 23 minutes. Rhinos! Following behind was Triceratop Spin at 13 minutes, It’s Tough to Be a Bug at 11 minutes, The Boneyard at 0 minutes, and Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail at 0 minutes. Hey, buddy! That’s your look at the average wait times around Walt Disney World this week! Last week, the wait times had actually gone down slightly, buuuut now they’re back up. We’ll keep an eye on things and let you know if anything changes, so stay tuned to DFB for 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 is your favorite to rope drop at Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post Send Help — Wait Times Are Increasing Again in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Do you love Festival of the Lion King in Disney’s Animal Kingdom? Festival of the Lion King You certainly aren’t alone! The fan-favorite show returned to Disney World in May of 2021 and has had an interesting journey since then. The show returned under a new title called A Celebration of the Festival of the Lion King and a few things were missing like the iconic birds flying in the air and the tumble monkeys (which are set to return soon!). Showtimes for this fan-favorite attraction have been fluctuating recently, but several shows were canceled today. That’s right, Festival of the Lion King has canceled showtimes for the rest of the day. Festival of the Lion King A Cast Member at the show told us that this was “due to technical difficulties.” This happened about a week ago where the show unexpectedly had its last performance at 1PM. There are typically 8 shows per day, however in April the showtime schedule will change just slightly. The Cast Members did not go into detail about how long Festival of the Lion King would be affected by these technical difficulties, but the regular showtime schedule is still listed on the Disney World website for tomorrow. We’ll be sure to let you know if the schedule changes tomorrow. Screenshot from Disney World website We will continue to keep an eye out for updates at Festival of the Lion King! If this is an absolute must-do for you, we’ve noticed that the afternoon performances are canceled when technical difficulties occur, so consider seeing this in the morning! Stay tuned to DFB for more updates from Disney World. FULL List of Showtimes in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Have you seen Festival of the Lion King recently? Let us know in the comments! The post Fan-Favorite Disney World Show Cancels Performances AGAIN Due to Technical Difficulties first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s time for another weekly roundup of park hours and Park Pass Reservation availability in Disney World! Partners statue in Disney World Spring break is in full swing meaning that Disney vacationers are out in full force right now! We’ve been seeing high wait times for attractions and shoulder-to-shoulder crowds in the parks. But, will the trend continue into next week? The park pass availability seems to suggest just that! So, if you’re visiting Disney World next week, be sure to keep on reading so you can head to the parks with the most up-to-date information! Disney World Park Hours the Week of March 20th Magic Kingdom will be open next week from 9AM to 11PM. And, if you’re staying at a Disney World Resort hotel that qualifies you for Extended Evening Theme Park Hours, you can take advantage of those on Wednesday, March 23rd from 11PM to 1AM. Magic Kingdom Park Hours ©Disney EPCOT will be open from 8:30AM to 9PM Monday through Thursday, with Extended Evening Hours taking place on Monday, March 21st from 9PM to 11PM. And, don’t forget that the Flower & Garden Festival is going on right now too! EPCOT Park Hours ©Disney Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be open daily next week from 8:30AM to 9PM. Disney’s Hollywood Studios Park Hours ©Disney And, Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be open from 7:30AM to 8:30PM each day. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park Hours ©Disney So, it looks like Disney World’s park hours are continuing to remain consistent with what we’ve seen in recent weeks — but as the spring break season continues, it’s possible these hours could change! Disney has extended hours in the past, so be sure to check those calendars before you head to the parks! Thinking about purchasing Disney Genie+ during your trip? Learn all about it HERE! Current Disney Park Pass Reservation Availability the Week of March 20th Select Resort Hotels Once again, we’re heading into another week with limited Park Pass Reservation availability! For guests staying at Select Resort Hotels, park passes are completely booked for March 21st and 22nd and only EPCOT has availability on March 20th, 23rd, 24th, and 25th. All parks are available on March 26th. ©Disney Theme Park Tickets The same goes for guests with Theme Park Tickets, who have no Park Pass availability on March 21st and 22nd, limited availability on March 20th, 23rd, 24th, and 25th, and full availability on March 26th. ©Disney Annual Passholders Finally, Annual Passholders looking to visit Disney World next week have completely wide-open Park Pass Reservation availability from March 20th to 26th with Incredi Passes able to book any day next week… ©Disney …along with Sorcerer Pass holders… ©Disney …and Pirate Pass holders. ©Disney However, Pixie Dust Pass holders will only be able to book park passes March 21st through March 25th as March 20th and 26th are blockout dates. ©Disney As always, you’ll want to triple check those Park Pass Reservation calendars ahead of your Disney World vacation, and be sure to book your reservations as early as possible — ideally right after you purchase your park tickets for your trip! And, be sure to follow along as we continue to bring you weekly updates on Disney World’s park hours and the latest Park Pass Reservation availability! Check Out Our 10 Tips to See Disney World Fireworks WITHOUT Crowds HERE! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Are you going to Disney World next week? Let us know in the comments! The post Will Crowds STILL Make It Hard To Visit All Four Disney World Parks Next Week? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Happy Valentine’s Day from Disney World! Valentine’s Day Minnie Ears If you think that it’s a little too late, you would be right. But holidays seem to be mixed up at Disney World right now — we’re still seeing NEW Christmas merchandise pop up at the parks, as well as Halloween stuff that just kind of lingered. Now, though, we’ve seen a poor plush that has arrived about a month too late. Today, we found a brand new Valentine’s Day Plush — and we’ll admit this made us sad because this adorable plush just did NOT make it to the party on time. It’s a plush of Mickey and Minnie, each holding one half of a heart. How sweet are they? What’s even sadder, though? The hearts say “Happy Valentine’s Day 2022.” So they’re no longer very relevant or can be used for next year! Our best guess is that these are late due to the supply issues that are affecting many companies around the world, but who knows for sure? TOO late Perhaps some guests will still want to buy this beautiful couple, though, and if you’re one of them, there are plenty of these Valentine’s Day Plushes available at Sunset Couture in Disney’s Hollywood Studios for $39.99. We’ll let you know if any other holiday merchandise arrives late in Disney World, so stay tuned 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. Would you buy this Valentine’s Day Plush? Let us know in the comments! The post A Cute Disney World Souvenir is Making Us...Sad?! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Guess what? There’s a NEW snack at Disney World! Sommerfest Now that’s something to get excited about. Yes, new snacks arrive ALL the time. But we get excited about all of them, especially when they’re delicious, like the new Pluto dessert at EPCOT, the Hot Cross Buns at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and the Mint Cookies and Cream Shake at Disney Springs. So yes, we’re excited about a brand new Bread Pudding that’s arrived at EPCOT. This isn’t traditional bread pudding, though. It’s Pretzel Bread Pudding, and it’s made with what we think is leftover pretzels (like traditional bread pudding is made with leftover bread). It’s also topped with Caramel Butterscotch and a White Cream Sauce. Yes, it looks VERY appetizing. Yum! PRETZELS in our bread pudding Okay, first, we are super excited to have a unique snack that isn’t related to a festival. The main flavors with this snack are caramel and cinnamon plus a few other baking spices — but the caramel is really the standout flavor here. Looks SO good The white cream sauce tasted kind of like a crème anglaise — it’s very subtle. One thing that we would add to this dessert if we could is MORE of that sauce. Needs more sauce Why do we say it needs more sauce? Look at this! This is a VERY dense snack — you can even see the pieces of pretzels inside it. It’s VERY dense We did ask for extra white sauce, but as it comes pre-prepared, that wasn’t an option. However, the Pretzel Bread Pudding is still a tasty AND unique treat and we hope it sticks around. You can find it at Sommerfest in the Germany Pavilion for $4.79. Don’t forget that you can Mobile Order at this location! We’ll continue to let you know about ALL the new food at Disney World, so stay tuned to DFB for more reviews. 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 bread pudding fan? Let us know what your favorite is at Disney World in the comments! The post REVIEW: Disney World Puts A Unique Twist On A Classic Snack (and It's UNDER !) first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Welcome back to DFB, friends! It’s time to take a look at what’s new at Disneyland Resort! Pixar Pier There are some exciting food and merchandise updates we’ve GOT to share with you! From new souvenirs that honor a classic Disney movie to churros that taste like pie, let’s dive in and check it all out. Downtown Disney Food Updates California Churros We tried the NEW Pot o’ Gold Churros at California Churros for St. Patrick’s Day! The two churros cost $6.99. Let’s dive in! They’re plain churros rolled in Key Lime-flavored sugar served with a white chocolate sauce and whipped cream. These were a fun spin on the classic original, and the Key Lime pie sugar stood out as the most prominent flavor. Click here to read our full review of the Key Lime churros. Downtown Disney Merchandise Updates Wonderground Gallery The new Alice in Wonderland merchandise collection has dropped in Downtown Disney, and there are SO MANY goodies available, like this Alice in Wonderland t-shirt for adults for $39.99. Adult T-shirt There’s also this tank top for $34.99… In case sleeves aren’t your thing. …a magnet for $9.99… So many magnets! …Alice in Wonderland Minnie Ears for $29.99… How cute are these?! …a kids’ shirt for $29.99… Youth shirt …a reusable cup with a straw for $19.99… Stylish and environmentally friendly! …this ADORABLE bucket hat for $24.99… Alice in Wonderland bucket hat …a reusable water bottle for $19.99… How WONDERful …a crossbody purse complete with a teacup designs for $39.99… We love the teacups on this bag! …a glass cup for $14.99… Alice in Wonderland cups …and finally, an Alice in Wonderland zip-up hoodie for $54.99! Alice in Wonderland hoodie There’s an Alice in Wonderland item for everyone on your list. Disney Home Store Who doesn’t love bringing the magic of Disney into their home?! We loved this adorable Floral Minnie Trinket Tray for $17.99. Perfect for odds and ends. If your pet is a messy eater, check out this Mickey Pet Food Mat for $19.99. Perfect for your messy pet. And, if you’ve got a green thumb this spring, you may need the Winnie the Pooh Herb Markers for $19.99 as well. Our thumbs aren’t so green. You’ll have a full harvest in no time! Pin Traders We spotted quite a few new pins over at the Downtown Disney kiosk, like the Winnie the Pooh 45th Anniversary Pin for $17.99… Winnie the Pooh pin …the Transformation Story Pin for $19.99… Transformation Story pin …a Mulan Florals Pin for $19.99… Mulan pin …the Dopey Springtime Pin for $19.99… Dopey Springtime Pin …and this Turning Red Pin for $15.99, which celebrates Pixar’s newest movie. Turning Red pin If you’re a pin collector, you should head on over to check out the new pins. World of Disney Over in World of Disney, we spotted this Mickey Mouse Sling Bag for $34.99. So cute! It’s roomy enough for all your park day essentials! Hotel Food Updates Holiday Cart at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel Over at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, we stopped by the Holiday Cart to try the St. Patrick’s Day Whoopie Pie for $10. St. Patrick’s Whoopie Pie The chocolate cake here was moist and rich, and the filling was super fluffy and sweet. But is it worth the stomach space? Check out our review to find out! Click here for our full review of the whoopie pie. Disney California Adventure Food Updates Corn Dog Castle If the bright green bread doesn’t scare you, you might be interested in the Green Corn Dog ($9.79)… Green Corn Dog …or the Green Cheddar Cheese on a Stick ($8.99) from Corn Dog Castle. Cheese on a stick! These two snacks tasted exactly like their regular versions (you know, the not-green kinds), they were just dyed bright green in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day! Click here for our full review of these BRIGHT green foods. That about sums up our look at all the new things at Disneyland and Downtown Disney! Stay tuned with DFB for more updates from the Disney parks. A popular Disneyland ride is now closed for a LONG refurbishment. 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 Would you try a green corn dog? Let us know in the comments! The post What's New at Disneyland Resort: A GREEN Corn Dog and a Decadent Dessert first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Heading to Disney World this coming week? Before you get to the parks, you should probably know which attractions, rides, and hotels are NOT going to be available during your trip! Cinderella Castle Disney is consistently updating things at the parks and hotels, which means that sometimes certain attractions will be closed for a while. To help you avoid disappointing surprises, we’ve compiled a list of everything that’s scheduled to be closed next week. Of course, there could still be some surprise closures (due to technical issues or bad weather), but at least with the information here, you’ll be ahead of the game in knowing what’s available and what’s not. Let’s start out the list with Magic Kingdom. Magic Kingdom The Walt Disney World Railroad is the only ride that’s scheduled to be closed in Magic Kingdom. We don’t have an opening date for this classic attraction, but it’s on the refurbishments schedule through mid-May (which is as far as Disney’s calendar goes for now). WDW Railroad station But the good news is that we spotted some more testing for this ride in the park recently! This testing could mean that the attraction will open soon, but it’s more likely that Cast Members are running the train to keep the engine in good order. According to one Cast Member, the stretch of track from Fantasyland to the Main Street, U.S.A. station has been removed for construction on the TRON: Lightcycle Run roller coaster. Spotted testing! And speaking of the upcoming TRON coaster, we spotted some ride vehicle testing over there as well! This is a big step for the project, which also doesn’t have an opening date. TRON Coaster Testing We’ll keep an eye out for specific opening dates for both of these attractions! See a video of the Walt Disney World Railroad testing in Magic Kingdom! Disney’s Animal Kingdom In Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Expedition Everest is closed for refurbishments. This roller coaster is expected to reopen in mid-April 2022, although Disney hasn’t given a specific return date. Right now, it’s on Disney’s refurbishments schedule through the end of April, but it’s likely that Disney has just not updated the schedule with the exact reopening date. Expedition Everest Finding Nemo: The Musical is closed as well. When this show returns, it’ll actually be reimagined as the NEW Finding Nemo: The Big Blue…and Beyond! Finding Nemo: The Musical The new show will feature characters and a storyline from Finding Nemo‘s sequel, Finding Dory. Fans of the original musical in Animal Kingdom will be relieved to hear that some of the OG songs will be returning in the new show, such as “Go With the Flow.” Learn about 2 seriously UNDERRATED snacks in Animal Kingdom. EPCOT The gift shop Souk-Al-Magreb is closed in the Morocco pavilion at EPCOT’s World Showcase. Souk-Al-Magreb This spot has been closed for a while now, and Disney hasn’t announced a reopening date. However, the gift shop disappears from the refurbishment calendar on April 24th, 2022. So it’s possible that the store will reopen on that day! But keep in mind that this shop has disappeared and then returned to the calendar before, so we don’t know for sure. We found a $2,700 (!!) mask in EPCOT. Disney’s Hollywood Studios Disney’s Hollywood Studios has a couple of long-term closures that are continuing for all of this coming week. The Voyage of the Little Mermaid show is closed right now, and it doesn’t have a reopening date yet. Voyage of the Little Mermaid And the nighttime show Fantasmic! is also closed. This show will return sometime in 2022, but Disney hasn’t given a more specific timeline yet. Fantasmic! When it does return, there will be some updates, such as new characters and stunts. Learn more about the changes coming to Fantasmic! Disney World Water Parks Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park is closed right now. We don’t have a reopening date for this park, but Typhoon Lagoon (Disney’s other water park) is currently open! Typhoon Lagoon So you can still head in to enjoy water rides, pools, and more. Check out a Disney World hotel that has its own mini water park. Disney World Hotels Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort has not reopened yet, and it’s the last Disney World hotel to return after the 2020 closures. All-Star Sports is reopening soon! But it’s going to finally open on March 31st, 2022 (which is coming up soon!), and reservations are available now if you want to stay there once it returns. Learn some pros and cons of staying at a value resort in Disney World. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is still open to guests, but Disney recently began refurbishment on 200 new DVC Resort Studios, which will be located in the Big Pine Key building. The new rooms DVC members can now book their stay for the rooms. Non-DVC members can book their stay at the new rooms beginning March 31st. The new rooms, which have a Mary Poppins Returns theme, are expected to open in the summer of 2022. Take a virtual tour of the new rooms here! Hotel Pool Refurbishments Several Disney World hotel pools are currently closed, so be sure to see if any of these closures will affect your upcoming trip. The Cozy Cone Pool at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is currently closed. It’s expected to reopen sometime in mid-April 2022. Cozy Cone pool is closed right now. While the Cozy Cone Pool is closed, the Flippin’ Fins Pool and Big Blue Pool remain open for guests at this hotel. But the Righteous Reef Playground area in the Finding Nemo section of the hotel is currently closed for some refurbishments. Construction on the Righteous Reef playground At Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, the Martinique Village pool and Fuentes del Morro Water Play Area are both closed for refurbishment. Martinique Village Pool The pool is expected to reopen in mid-April 2022, and the water play area is expected to reopen in late March 2022. Other pools at this hotel are still available for guests, including the Fuentes del Morro Pool. Fuentes del Morro pool At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, the Samawati Springs Pool (at Kidani Village) is closed. It will remain closed through April 2022. Guests at this hotel can head to the Uzima Springs Pool (at Jambo House) instead. Samawati Springs Pool And finally, the Grandstand Leisure Pool at Disney’s Saratoga Springs is closed right now, and it’s expected to remain closed through mid-March 2022. Other pools at this hotel, such as the High Rock Spring Pool and the Paddock Pool are still open for guests. Saratoga Springs Pool That’s it for our report on all the closures in Disney World next week! Keep following DFB for more updates as you plan your upcoming vacation. In Case You Missed It: 6 Disney News UPDATES You Need to Know About 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 7 Attractions You CAN’T Visit in Disney World Next Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Spring has officially arrived at Disney World! Goofy Topiary And with that, the Spring Break crowds have arrived, along with spring weather (hello, storms!). But spring also brings the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival with all its beautiful topiaries. Just recently, one of those topiaries got a bit of an upgrade! If you haven’t seen the Mickey and Minnie Topiaries, this is what they previously looked like. It looks like Minnie is supposed to be holding something in one hand, but she isn’t. Mickey and Minnie Topiaries! Last year, Minnie held a paint can (as you can see below). Topiary from 2021 Recently, though, that mysterious item appeared — it’s a blue Watering Can. Minnie’s watering can But that’s not just any old watering can — it’s actually a 50th Anniversary Watering Can! 50th anniversary watering can! The new watering can has a gold 50 on it, along with a gold spout. Watering Can Detail Although this addition was just a tad late, we are excited to see another 50th anniversary touch around EPCOT. So there’s another detail to be on the lookout for if you spend some time at EPCOT in the near future! We’ll keep an eye out for more updates and changes at Disney World, so be sure to stay tuned to DFB!  Click HERE to See All the Updated Details for EPCOT's 2022 International Flower and Garden Festival! Ready to Plan for Your 2022 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Trip? Order the DFB Guide to the 2022 EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival e-Book today! This 200+ page guide to the Festival offers insider tips and advice as well as all of the details you need to know to plan your best Festival visit ever. Your purchase includes several bonus items as well -- including a full daily schedule of events at the Festival and a printable Outdoor Kitchens Booth Menu Checklist to carry with you as you Eat around the World! Order your 2022 edition today! Don't miss a moment of the fun! Use code SPRING at check-out to get $2 off the cover price! Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Will you be visiting EPCOT during the festival? Let us know in the comments! The post PHOTOS & VIDEO: Have You Noticed the Latest 50th Anniversary Addition in Disney World? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’re going to Disney World and won’t have access to a car, you’ll need a way to get around the resort. Rideshare sign And although Disney World has an excellent transportation system, sometimes you might need to book a rideshare, especially if you’re in a rush or need to travel quickly from one Disney World location to another. We use rideshare services at Disney World A LOT, so we’re going to break down our best tips and tricks based on everything we’ve learned along the way. Make Sure You Know Where Pick-Up And Drop-Off Spots Are Rideshare services aren’t always able to drop guests off at specific Disney World locations. So you’ll need to know where to catch rideshare, as well as where you’ll be dropped off. Rideshare can be faster than Disney buses When it comes to the parks, you might wonder why you’d even need a rideshare — but at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and EPCOT, you can be dropped off in front of the entrances. This could make the difference in making it to a park in time for an advance dining reservation or rope drop. Rideshare can get you to Animal Kingdom faster But here’s what you need to know if you’re grabbing a rideshare FROM the parks — where to find the pick-up locations: Animal Kingdom: front of the park to the ride side of the parking lot Hollywood Studios: last row of the bus station EPCOT: right as you get into the parking lot on the left Magic Kingdom: at ticket and transportation center (we’ll get to that in a bit) Disney Springs – Marketplace Bus Loop on the east side and loading zones 8 and 9 of the West Side Bus Loop Resorts: front entrance Rideshare services can drop you off and pick you up at hotel entrances. Most locations have signs pointing you to rideshare pick-up points, so be sure to look for those. And you can always ask a Cast Member to point you in the right direction, in case you don’t see those signs right away. This Is The ONE Disney World Planning Tip You *Can’t* Forget About in 2022 Be At The Pick-Up Location BEFORE You Book Your Ride Don’t book your ride until you are near the pick-up location. Here’s why — if you book your ride from your hotel room or somewhere that’s not anywhere near where you need to be picked up, you may miss your ride, especially if it gets there quickly. Rideshare Pick-up at Animal Kingdom So study the list above so you know where the pick-up locations are, go there, and THEN AND ONLY THEN book your ride. Here’s The Disney World Planning Advice We IGNORE. You Can’t Be Dropped Off or Picked Up Directly at Magic Kingdom If you take a rideshare to Magic Kingdom (or need to be picked up there), you’ll be picked up and dropped off at the Ticket and Transportation Center. You’ll need to then take the Monorail or Ferry to and from the park. However, you can walk from Magic Kingdom to the Contemporary Resort and take a rideshare from there. Ticket and Transportation Center This may not work both ways, though — rideshare drivers can only drop off guests at the Contemporary (and other resorts) if they have a room booked there or a dining reservation for a resort restaurant. Here Are Important Facts About the New Mears Connect Magical Express Replacement at Disney World Give Yourself Plenty Of Time to Get to Where You’re Going After Disney World reopened, it started to take a little longer to book a rideshare, although that has improved recently. But we will always recommend booking your ride with PLENTY of time to get to wherever it is you need to be, whether it’s for rope drop, an advance dining reservation, or something else. ©Uber We have seen waits of just 7 to 10 minutes, but during busier times, you could wait as long as 40 minutes for a rideshare, so make sure you account for that possibility in your plans. Here Are 10 Problems You’ll Have To Solve In Disney World RIGHT NOW If You Have Children And Need a Car Seat, You Can Request One Not all rideshare drivers have car seats, so if you have children and need one, you can indicate in both the Uber and Lyft apps that you will need a driver with a car seat. ©Uber However, note that this might mean you could wait a little longer for a ride, so as we previously suggested, give yourself plenty of time to find a driver with a car seat to pick you up and get you to where you’re going. Do You Follow All These UNSPOKEN Disney World Rules? Pick Priority Mode with Lyft When It’s Available If you’re really in a hurry, you might want to consider Lyft for your rideshare service, which has a “Priority” mode. If you choose that mode, it encourages drivers to pick you up faster, especially if there aren’t other eligible drivers in your immediate area. This will cost you a little more, but you’ll get picked up a lot faster. Priority mode can get you picked up faster, so you can get to EPCOT faster! There’s even a guarantee that if a priority driver can’t get to you in time, the upcharge for the priority ride is removed from the total cost of your ride. Though this isn’t the most budget-friendly option, it does give some peace of mind knowing that there is an option available if you’re in a super big hurry! Here’s How the Cost of the Magical Express Replacement Compares to an Uber to Disney World Rideshare Is a Good Option When Disney Buses Are Taking Too Long Sometimes, Disney transportation is slower than we would like. Sometimes, buses aren’t running too regularly (which is often the case in the middle of the day). Sometimes the Skyliner has been shut down or delayed because of weather or another problem. Sometimes the Monorail gets closed or delayed due to technical issues. Sometimes Disney transportation just isn’t fast enough If you’re waiting on Disney transportation and it’s just not arriving to pick you up fast enough, rideshare will get there quickly and you’ll be on your way a lot faster. These options are particularly appealing when you just can’t take that Florida heat another minute and need that air-conditioned ride ASAP, or after your 14th loop around World Showcase, when your legs just can’t hold you any longer! A Disney World Bus Got a 50th Anniversary Makeover! Check Out Photos Here! Rideshare Is the Best Option When Traveling From Resort to Resort Believe it or not, Disney transportation from resort to resort isn’t that great, unless you’re staying at a Skyliner or Monorail resort and traveling to another Skyliner or Monorail resort. So rideshare is often times the best option if you need to travel from somewhere like Disney’s Boardwalk Inn and Resort to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. If you’re traveling from resort to resort, rideshare is your best option. You could always travel from one resort to Disney Springs and then transfer to another bus to get from one resort to another, but rideshare is faster and more convenient. This Is The BIG Problem With Disney World’s Moderate Resorts If You Take Rideshare to the Parks In the Morning, You Might Have to Wait If you take a rideshare to a theme park in the morning, maybe for early entry or rope drop, you’ll need to understand that cars that aren’t Disney transportation are held at the main gate until a specific time every morning. You may get held up at the gate early in the morning until it officially opens. So be prepared to wait WHILE in your rideshare if you call for it super early to get to the parks. Parking lots are generally open to the public around 60-90 minutes before a park’s official opening time, so this is usually when cars are allowed to drive through the main gate. So keeping an eye on park hours can also come in handy! Here’s Everything You Need To Know About Parking In Disney World Busy and Peak Times Will Cost More It’s the basic rule of supply and demand — more demand means that cost goes up. And that’s the case with rideshare. During busy times — like park opening and park closing — you’re going to pay more for a rideshare than you normally would. This also comes into play on the weekend evenings at Disney Springs, too! Bus Line at Magic Kingdom Here’s a tip — if you see a price that’s a lot more than what you expected on the rideshare app, just wait 5-10 minutes because that’s all it might take for that price to go down. Also, be sure to check both Uber AND Lyft to get the best price. And if you are traveling in a group, check on multiple phones. The prices can and will vary. Here’s Everything Coming to Disney World in 2022 So those are our top tips for using rideshare at Disney World, and we’ll continue to share all our best tips and tricks to make sure you have the most magical time possible on your next Disney World vacation. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Have you ever taken a rideshare at Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post 10 Disney World Rideshare Tips We Learned the Hard Way first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There’s one thing we typically recommend you take to the Disney Parks — a reusable straw. Reusable straws are a must! Now that Disney Parks are relying more on paper straws (which don’t work so great with things like milkshakes and thicker drinks), a reusable straw can save you a lot of hassle. But what if you don’t have one? Well, at Disneyland, select guests will soon be able to grab a reusable straw FOR FREE. If you’re a Disneyland Magic Key Holder, you can pick up a FREE Magic Key-themed reusable straw as of March 21st. You’ll find the pickup location, which is available daily from 2PM to 6PM, at Disney California Adventure near Silly Symphony Swings. ©Disney Note that on March 23rd and March 24th, the pickup location will only be available from 2PM to 5PM. Pick-up near the Silly Symphony Swings You will need to have a park pass reservation to enter California Adventure, and you’ll need to show your Magic Key Pass to get your straw. This offer is available for as long as supplies last, so the sooner you can get there, the better! We’ll keep an eye out for more freebies for Magic Key Holders, so stay tuned to DFB for more news! No Show Policy Now Enforced for Disneyland Magic Key Passholders — Here’s What You Need To Know Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! Check Out Important Details about the 2022 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival Learn About Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland See the Latest Updates About Disneyland’s Face Mask Policy Check Out What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Check Out Our Disneyland Restaurants Guide Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure See More About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Learn About the Disneyland Mobile App Get All the Details About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program What’s Going to Be Different About Your Next Disneyland Trip? Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Are you a Magic Key Holder? Let us know in the comments! The post Only Select Guests Can Grab Disneyland's New FREE Souvenir! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’ve all been there — you book your next Disney World trip 1 year out and then that’s ALL you can talk about. Your coworkers know that you’re going to Disney, your friends know, heck, even your distant great cousin Nancy knows. Because a Disney trip is EXCITING! Cinderella Castle But, along with all that excitement can come another emotion — FEAR. No matter how hard you plan, there’s always something that could go wrong. Will your room be ready when you arrive? Will Florida’s one week of winter hit while you’re visiting and you’ve packed all wrong? We’ve felt ALL of these fears and more, but rest assured, there are a few things that you can do before and during your trip to chase away the scaries. Canceled or Delayed Flights We have found ourselves being a little afraid that we’ll have trouble just getting to Disney World when we’re flying, but in 2022 it’s almost naive NOT to plan for a flight delay, or worse, cancellation. In fact, in the 2021 holiday season, we saw THOUSANDS of flight cancellations EVERY DAY — so, yeah, not unreasonable to be afraid of this one. But, here’s what to do if this happens to you. First of all — don’t panic! There are ways we can handle this. Make sure you’re staying on top of checking your flight’s status so you can know as soon as possible if it gets canceled or delayed and change your travel arrangements right away. Most airlines have a cancellation policy, so read up on that before your travel date to be the most prepared. Lines can get long at Orlando Airport If you’re already at the airport when your flight is canceled, try to book a new flight as soon as possible. Get in line for the airline’s desk and/or call your airline carrier to get on a new flight. You might even be able to change around your flights with the airline if you’re facing a long delay as well. Orlando International Airport 50th Anniversary Display But, it’s not just flights that you have to arrange when yours is canceled — what about all those Disney World plans you spent months making? Well, if your new flight time will mess up your plans at Disney World, don’t worry — many of these plans can be rearranged! Start with your hotel reservation and then take things step by step. If you’re staying at a Disney World Resort, you can try to modify your reservation online. This won’t always work, so you can always call Disney at (407) 934-7639 instead. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa If you need to move the days of your theme park tickets, know that you can modify your ticket up until 12AM EST the day before the first valid use date. You will also need to change your Park Pass Reservations. Note that the same parks you have reservations for might not be available for the new days you’ll be visiting, so, before you go ahead and make any changes to your tickets, double-check that all of the days you plan to be in the parks are available on Disney World’s Park Pass Calendar. Once you’ve confirmed that there are park passes available for those dates, you can change your ticket dates through your My Disney Experience account under the “My Plans” section of your app or the website. Read more about how to do this here. Magic Kingdom entrance And, if your flight problems have messed up some of your dining reservations, those can be modified, too! You can cancel or modify your reservation online through My Disney Experience up until the day before usually. Each restaurant at Disney World has its own cancellation policy, which you can find in the email confirmation for your reservation. Keep in mind that restaurants do charge a cancellation fee for no-shows or reservations that are canceled after the designated cancellation period. Cinderella’s Royal Table If you need to change or cancel a reservation within 24 hours of the reservation (aka when you’ll likely be charged to cancel), the best way to do this is to call Disney at 407-WDW-DINE. Remember, explaining the situation to a Cast Member may help when it comes to cancellation issues — but, nothing is guaranteed. Read more about what to do if your flight to Disney World gets canceled or delayed here! Your Favorite Ride is Closed Ugh, isn’t it such a bummer when your favorite ride breaks down or unexpectedly closes? Or, when the ride your kid has been dreaming of going on for the first time isn’t available? This can definitely happen while you’re in Disney World, but there are some solutions. Expedition Everest First of all, make sure you study up on the planned ride closures in Disney World for things like routine maintenance or renovations BEFORE your trip, so you’re not caught off guard by them. Disney is usually pretty on top of their game and publishes any refurbishment closures months in advance to help you plan. We also write both a weekly and monthly refurbishment post that covers everything from attractions to pools. So subscribe to the DFB newsletter to get all of those details straight to your inbox. But, there are still unplanned ride closures that can happen due to bad weather, technical difficulties, and more. The main culprits? Splash Mountain and Rise of the Resistance (though that’s not to say that this can’t happen to any attraction at any time). Yes, Rise of the Resistance Is Going to Break in Disney World. Here’s What to Do When It Does. So, what should you do if this happens? Well, if you had a Lightning Lane reservation through Disney Genie+ for this particular ride, you can go speak to Guest Services and they should be able to help you out. You could get compensated with things like an extra Lightning Lane reservation. Tower of Terror Lightning Lane In the past, we’ve seen these extra Lightning Lanes applied automatically through your My Disney Experience app when a ride breaks down. So, if you notice the ride is closed, check your Genie+ through My Disney Experience and see if you were given another Lightning Lane reservation you can use for that day — this saves you time standing in line to speak with a Cast Member. These kinds of Lightning Lanes can usually be used at multiple different rides instead of just one, so you could end up skipping the line for a ride you weren’t able to grab a reservation for earlier! But note, this may not always be the case. A closed Splash Mountain is a sad Splash Mountain If you’re not using Genie+ and find that a ride is closed down, don’t lose hope! First, come prepared with a plan on how long you’re willing to wait if an attraction breaks down while you’re in line. We’ve all been caught in a line for WAY longer than we’d hoped because we thought it would just be “5 more minutes” until it was running again. And, if you’re not in line when the ride is deemed “temporarily unavailable,” be sure that you’re checking the My Disney Experience app often. This will not only make it so that you don’t want all the way from Tomorrowland to Frontierland just to find that Splash Mountain is indeed down, but it will also help you know when the ride is back up and running. Click here for Our Step-by-Step Guide to Using Disney Genie+ Terrible Weather Now, when we talk about terrible weather, we’re not talking about the daily afternoon rainstorm that inevitably hits Central Florida every day in the summer — we’re talking about bad weather that doesn’t let up! It is not super fun to do Disney World almost completely in the rain because many rides close down, you can’t get the pictures you want, and entertainment can be canceled. But, on the bright side, this could also mean lower crowds for the things that are open! Tomorrowland on a “Severe Weather Warning” day So, don’t be the person that has to go back to their hotel for the rest of the day because they didn’t come prepared for the weather! Check weather apps ahead of your trip to see if the weather will be bad — that way you can manage your expectations and pack the necessary supplies in your suitcase. If there is a lot of stormy weather predicted for your trip, bring ponchos, umbrellas, rain jackets, waterproof shoes, extra socks, etc. so that you can power through the rain (and save on those WAY overpriced Disney ponchos)! Those clouds are rollin’ in And, while Florida weather is certainly unpredictable, there are times of the year when you’re more likely to face bad weather in Disney World. For example, hurricane season takes place from June to November so you’re more likely to experience some storms during this time compared to mid-December. Knowing this in advance helps you either plan your trips for times when there is likely to be better weather or just understand that rain showers might be in the forecast for your trip and prepare accordingly. Bring your own rain gear to prepare for these days! If you’re committed to going to Disney World when the weather could be more temperamental (because let’s face it, some of us can ONLY travel over summer break), come into your trip with a backup plan! One way of doing this is to schedule an open day during your vacation when you don’t have any set plans. You can then use that day to do things that might have been rained out previously. And, if you don’t end up needing this day to do rained-out activities, you can just use it to re-do things you really liked! Talk about a win-win! Just make sure that you have park tickets that will accommodate this plan, and make a Park Pass Reservation in advance for the park where you think you might need it — you can always change it closer to the date. Click here to see ALL of the rides that shut down for rain in Disney World Getting Sick/Hurt During Your Trip Yeah, this one would really REALLY not be fun to experience! We are definitely scared of getting sick or hurt right before our trip, or even worse DURING our trip. And, while you won’t be able to rest in your own bed at home if you end up sick in Disney World, there are a lot of resources to help ya out. Look out for first aid locations in the parks! First, know that there are First Aid locations in each of the Disney World parks. You can find them: In Magic Kingdom — First Aid is located between The Crystal Palace and Casey’s Corner, as you’re walking towards Adventureland. In EPCOT — First Aid is located in the Odyssey Center between Future World and the World Showcase, near the Mexico Pavilion. In Hollywood Studios — First Aid is located in the guest relations building on Hollywood Boulevard, right near the park entrance. In Animal Kingdom — First Aid is located in Discovery Island right next to Creature Comforts. These First Aid centers can help you with a wide variety of issues like cuts, the annoying headache that you just can’t get rid of, and more. They have sample sizes of all kinds of common medication, and it’s FREE! Just keep in mind that the medications they carry are standard basics, like antacids, pain relievers, etc. If you need more specialized meds, you’ll be directed to a gift shop. Hopefully, you won’t need too many of these on your next Disney World vacation! Each First Aid Center also has a licensed nurse who is equipped to treat you. For allergic reactions, First Aid Centers have EpiPens, and nurses are also able to administer injections for illnesses like diabetes. And, if you need a prescription filled but don’t want to leave the parks, you can have them delivered to First Aid Stations through Turner Drugs (but they are PRICEY) or straight to your Disney World hotel by utilizing Disney’s new partnership with AdventHealth. You can also get your prescription filled at a local pharmacy like CVS and take your car or an Uber over to pick it up. Hollywood Studios First Aid If you need to see a doctor, there are now many Telehealth services where you can set up a virtual appointment so you won’t even have to leave Disney World (obviously, in a medical emergency, call 911 or have a Cast Member call for you). Plus, through Disney’s new partnership with AdventHealth, there is now a new suite of virtual services available for those who may find themselves in Disney World with healthcare questions. This includes things like Emergency Room resources as well as Urgent Care and Virtual Care. You can even have a doctor come to your room with the new Doctor2Me service. Also, note that Cast Members all over the parks are also trained to assist you in an emergency. So, if you get hurt or sick, find a Cast Member immediately and they will be able to help you. Read more about Disney’s new partnership with AdventHealth HERE Not Being Able to Get a Park Pass Reservation Moving on to something less serious than becoming sick — what if you can’t get a reservation for the parks you want to go to in Disney World? Park passes HAVE booked up completely before (especially around the holidays), and it’s not fun to have your vacation fully planned out and then realize that you can’t even get park reservations. But, with some foresight, you likely won’t face this issue at all! ©Disney The BEST way to prevent this from happening is to book your park passes ASAP — like, literally right after you buy your tickets. Disney does require that you first purchase park tickets for the dates that you plan to visit, but as soon as you have those in hand, make your park reservations. And, if you know you’re going to Disney World around the holidays, buy your tickets and make your reservations WELL in advance — and we mean MONTHS in advance. If you come to find that the parks you want to go to aren’t available, keep checking back! We have seen Disney add more availability from time to time and people are constantly changing their park plans so you never know what might open up or when. Even Annual Passholder can get their reservations booked up! Our biggest advice is to book SOMETHING, even if it’s not your preferred park. You can upgrade your ticket to a Park Hopper and go over to the park you originally wanted to visit after 2PM (so long as it’s not at capacity). If the day sells out at all four parks completely, you won’t be able to go to any park at all — so, it’s better to at least be able to get into a park and then park hop rather than having no options. Click here to learn more about Park Pass Reservations and how to make them BIG Crowds Just LOOKING at a picture of people packed onto Main Street, U.S.A. like sardines for Magic Kingdom fireworks can be scary, but what if you ARE one of those sardines?! REAL scary! But, it’s not just the fact that you might be a little uncomfortable watching nighttime entertainment when it’s crowded, it’s also what the big crowds mean for the rest of your park day — like high wait times and lines galore. People, people everywhere The best thing you can do in these situations is to be prepared! Have a game plan for your park days and your must-do rides, make dining reservations you know you want well in advance, and manage your expectations (there will undoubtedly be A LOT of people around you). You can also use Disney Genie (the free portion) to make an itinerary with all the rides that you definitely want to hit and spots that you want to eat at. The service is designed to give you suggestions as to what you should do while you’re in the parks based off of crowds. Plus, you can even see the forecasted wait times of rides in the app, so you can plan when to ride each attraction with the lowest wait times of the day! YIKES You can also consider buying Disney Genie+ for your trip, or at least for a couple days. This way, you can make reservations to skip the lines of certain rides using the Lightning Lanes. You might not be able to do this over and over and over again if the parks are really busy (since reservations can get booked up), BUT having a few long lines that you can skip throughout the day can be a big time saver. Just keep in mind that Genie+ will cost ya $15 per day, per person in Disney World and select pay-per-rides will be a separate cost. Lightning Lane You can also spend some time away from the crowds by taking breaks from the parks! Hang out at your hotel’s pool, shop around Disney Springs, go fishing on Bay Lake — there are a lot of activities you can do outside of the parks. Pool at Beach Club And, if you are looking for a break from the crowds in the parks, use secret walkways! Yes, there are many secret walkways in Disney World that aren’t very popular and therefore will save you some time and/or get you away from a lot of people. See our list of secret walkways around Disney World HERE! So, there are some things we’re scared of leading up to a Disney World trip, BUT there are also solutions and actions you can take to help alleviate or prevent these issues! Overall, only worry about what you can control, make preparations in advance, manage your expectations, and have a backup plan. That way, you know you did everything you can and can get back to feeling excited instead of worried about your upcoming Disney World vacation! And, be sure to stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World news, updates, tips, and info! Click here to see our top 50 ALL-TIME BEST Disney dining tips! 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. Is there anything else you’re scared of leading up to your Disney World vacation? Let us know in the comments! The post 6 Things We Fear When We Have an Upcoming Disney World Trip 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. Have you taken advantage of Disney’s huge online sale yet? It’s time to go shopping! If you haven’t, you don’t have much time to save big on EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival merchandise, the BaubleBar Princess and the Frog Minnie Ears, Turning Red merchandise, and more! That’s right — you’ve got less than 24 hours to take advantage of the latest sale on shopDisney. The Sitewide Savings Sale can land you the deal of 25% off on all orders $75 and up, 25% off on all orders $100 and up, and 30% off on all orders $150 and up. So if you’ve been eying those EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Orange Bird Ears, now is the time to grab them! ©shopDisney This adorable headband has orange slices for ears! You can get it now for $29.99. Click Here To Buy The EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Orange Bird Ears If you need some luggage for that next vacation, the Mickey and Minnie Mouse Tropical Rolling Luggage sports a pattern that will make it easy to spot on the baggage carousel. Plus the design is just fun! ©Disney Doesn’t this just make you want to book a Disney cruise or trip to Aulani? The luggage is $69.99. Click Here To Buy The Mickey and Minnie Mouse Tropical Rolling Luggage The Minnie Mouse Flower Loungefly Mini Backpack is perfect for spring with its pastel colors and floral embroidery design. And doesn’t Minnie look so sweet on it? ©Disney You can get this backpack now for $75. Click Here To Buy The Minnie Mouse Flower Loungefly Mini Backpack If you’ve been collecting the Stitch Crashes Disney pins, you can also grab the Stitch Crashes Peter Pan Jumbo Pin on sale! ©Disney Look at Stitch’s fairy wings! So cute! Grab the pin for $24.99. Click Here To Buy The Stitch Crashes Peter Pan Jumbo Pin Remember that you can get these ALL on sale if you order at least $75 in merchandise. Just use code SAVEMORE when you checkout. Also, don’t forget to use code SHIPMAGIC to score free shipping! As we previously mentioned, this sale ends tonight, so better get to shopping! We’ll be sure to let you know about other Disney sales, so stay tuned to DFB for more news! Here Are 10 Disney World Souvenirs We DON’T Regret Buying 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 grab anything during this sale (or have you already taken advantage of it)? Let us know what you’re buying in the comments! The post SHOP NOW! Disney's Massive Online Sale Ends TONIGHT! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Need to catch up on the most recent Disney Parks news? We’ve got you covered! Skyliner Some exciting things happened in Disney World this week like vehicle testing on the brand new TRON coaster in Magic Kingdom and the announcement of brand new restaurants and new hotel expansions! There was also a change in mask policy for select transportation and SO many more updates this week. Buckle up for a roundup of the biggest news from Disney this week! By the way, have you subscribed yet? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to the channel and never miss a single video! 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: TRON Coaster Testing, New Mask Policies, Hotel Expansions & Restaurant Openings first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article