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The Ice Age franchise has been one thrilling quest and comedic twist after another, and through the years, the Ice Age films continue their legacy of laughter and adventure. Now, Disney+ is the official home of all-things Ice Age, and on Jan. 28, Disney+ got a little more “Wild.”View the full article

What happens when your favorite ride or show is CLOSED in Disney World? Expedition Everest If you’ve been planning a trip for a while and getting everything in perfect order for this vacation, the last thing you want is to show up in the parks and realize your favorite attraction is not available. To prevent this unexpected disaster, we’ve compiled a list of all the closures next week in Disney World, from hotel pools to roller coasters and more. We’ll begin our tour of the closures in Magic Kingdom. Magic Kingdom Walt Disney World Railroad The Walt Disney World Railroad is still closed, we don’t know when it might reopen. Walt Disney World Railroad We have spotted trains testing in the park, but this testing appears to be more focused on just keeping the train’s engine in good order and not actually a sign of its reopening. Fantasyland Station of the Walt Disney World Railroad Construction happening in Tomorrowland prevents the train from passing through this area. The construction is for the upcoming TRON: Lightcycle Run roller coaster. TRON construction We don’t have a return date for the Walt Disney World Railroad, and it likely won’t reopen until construction on TRON finishes up. You should probably avoid Magic Kingdom on one day this May. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Expedition Everest Expedition Everest is still closed in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This roller coaster is scheduled to be closed through mid-April at least, but we don’t have an official reopening date for it yet. Expedition Everest We’ll be sure to keep you updated about a return date. Finding Nemo: The Musical Finding Nemo: The Musical is also unavailable in Animal Kingdom. Signs for the show have also been covered up in the park. Finding Nemo: The Musical is getting some changes! Finding Nemo: The Musical is going to return as a reimagined show called Finding Nemo: The Big Blue…and Beyond! It will debut sometime in 2022. Learn about a wild snake encounter in Animal Kingdom! Disney’s Hollywood Studios Voyage of the Little Mermaid The Voyage of the Little Mermaid show is closed in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It doesn’t have a reopening date yet, but we’ll let you know as soon as we learn about its return. Voyage of the Little Mermaid In the meantime, you can head to Magic Kingdom to ride the Journey of the Little Mermaid attraction instead! Fantasmic! Fantasmic! is a popular nighttime show in Hollywood Studios. You can’t watch it right now, but Disney has announced that it will return sometime in 2022. Fantasmic! When it does return, there will be a few major changes. We don’t have all the details yet, but we know that some stunts and characters will be different. Learn how you can get on a popular Hollywood Studios ride AFTER the park closes. EPCOT Souk-Al-Magreb The Souk-Al-Magreb gift shop is still closed in EPCOT’s World Showcase. This shop is in the Morocco pavilion. It’s been closed for a while now, and there’s no word on when it might reopen. Still closed This shop is scheduled to be closed through mid-April at least, but Disney hasn’t announced an official reopening timeline for it. See what’s new in EPCOT this week. Disney World Hotels Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort has still not reopened yet, but you can make your reservation now if you want to stay there after it reopens on March 31st, 2022. All-Star Sports Resort This hotel is one of the three All-Star hotels in Disney World, which are all Value resorts. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Some DVC Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa have been getting a few updates. Grand Floridian These villas are getting new pull-out beds and more. There will be more extensive renovations at this hotel later this spring, which will involve turning a whole building into 200 DVC Villas. 1-Bedroom Kitchen ©Disney That renovation will begin on March 1st, 2022 and is expected to finish sometime this summer. Click here to learn more about the Grand Floridian DVC Villas project. Disney World Hotel Pools A couple of Disney World hotel pools are currently closed, but there are other pool options for guests staying at these resorts. The Flippin’ Fins Pool at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort (in the Little Mermaid section) is also unavailable, and it will remain closed through late February. We’re expecting this pool to reopen sometime this week, although we don’t have an exact opening date. Flippin’ Fins When it does reopen, the Cozy Cone Pool (in the Cars section of the hotel) will close. This closure is expected to last through mid-April. While the Cozy Cone Pool is closed, the Flippin’ Fins Pool and Big Blue Pool will be open for guests at this hotel. Cozy Cone Pool The Schoolyard Sprayground near the Big Blue Pool is also closed right now for refurbishments. It’s expected to reopen in mid-March. Schoolyard Splashground at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort The Grandstand Leisure Pool at Disney’s Saratoga Springs is closed right now, and it’s expected to remain closed through mid-March 2022. Don’t you wish you could jump right in? At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, the Samawati Springs Pool (at Kidani Village) is closed. It will remain closed through April 2022. Samawati Springs Pool Guests at the Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village can visit the Jambo House area to use the Uzima Springs Pool instead. See 10 Disney World hotel room essentials! Disney World Water Parks Blizzard Beach is closed right now. Disney hasn’t said yet when it might reopen, and the schedule currently shows this park remaining closed through late April at least. Blizzard Beach There is still an open water park in Disney World, though. Typhoon Lagoon is open right now, although it will occasionally close if the weather is too cold. Typhoon Lagoon So be sure to check Typhoon Lagoon’s schedule to make sure it’s open before you visit! Check out details about Typhoon Lagoon’s reopening here. That’s it for this week’s updates! Keep following DFB for more of the latest news from the Disney World parks. See more information about refurbishments and construction in Disney World! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Will these Disney World closures affect your trip? Let us know in the comments. The post Several Closures With No End Date in Sight Continue Next Week in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney is ALWAYS working on new technology! We’ve been theorizing about what’s going on with a mysterious patent for a few months now, plus there’s that crazy-cool new character tech we saw at a D23 event. And don’t forget the “real” lightsaber we recently obsessed over back in October! But there’s one area where we haven’t seen any innovation in a LONG time: Minnie ears! Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Listen, we love a new pair of Minnie ears. Lately, we’ve seen everything from bright green sequined ears to Alice in Wonderland Minnie ears, but now we found ANOTHER new pair of ears that come with a surprise! It’s been a BUSY day in Disney World, and it’s not even noon! We already showed off these stunning sequined Minnie ears that just arrived in the Magic Kingdom, but we’re not done yet. It’s a good time to be in Disney World — there are new ears popping up EVERYWHERE! Disney’s Art of Animation hotel has a NEW pair of Loungefly Minnie ears! These aren’t any old ears, though. Remember how we said we wanted some innovation in the Minnie ear department? Well, our wish came true! Disney’s new Art of Animation Minnie ears are super cute! They include all the characters featured throughout the Art of Animation resort, like Ariel, Simba, Nemo, and more! It’s got all the Art of Animation Resort icons! Turns out there’s more to these ears than we thought. When exposed to UV, they change color! One word: WHOA! This is NEW! Of course, we high-tailed it out the door (after paying, obviously) to see how this color-changing fabric worked. After a minute or so in the sunlight, they turned this pretty magenta color! What a FUN surprise! WHAAAAT?! You can buy these new Art of Animation Loungefly Minnie ears for $39.99 in the Ink & Paint shop. In the meantime, stay tuned for more Disney news, reviews, and more! Disney World Found Another Way to FUEL Our Obsession with SPARKLY Minnie Ears! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What do you think about these new Minnie ears? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney World's NEW Art of Animation Resort Minnie Ears Come with a SURPRISE! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

How can you elevate your beverage from a refreshing treat to a drinking experience? Disney may have cracked the code! Pym Test Kitchen The Disney parks are no strangers to fun specialty drinks. Hey, the Fuzzy Tauntaun at Oga’s Cantina even goes as far as making your mouth NUMB! One place at Disney California Adventure that’s known for its inventive menu items is Pym Test Kitchen, located in the Marvel-themed Avengers Campus. Pym Test Kitchen is inspired by “Pym Particles” which, as Ant-Man fans may know, allow food to be grown and shrunk down. That’s why there are uniquely sized items like the ($100!) Family-sized Pym-ini on the menu. It’s the $100 Sandwich!!! But this spot serves up more than just interesting sizes! There are also some items with fun ingredients that help us feel our inner superpowers. That’s where the Popping Particle Punch comes in! Popping Particle Punch The Popping Particle Punch is a non-alcoholic carbonated pineapple hurricane with grenadine and flavor bursts. It’s topped with an ingredient that really made it pop…Pop Rocks! The drink had a slightly tart taste from the pineapple, followed by a sweeter taste. The Pop Rocks added a super fun element to the first few sips, but they did stop popping after a few minutes. Pop Rocks Add Another Layer of Fun! If you’re looking for a unique, non-alcoholic specialty drink, this one could be right up your alley! Although heads up, the flavor is pretty pineapple-heavy, so if that’s not your jam you may want to avoid this one. Another Fun Menu Item from Pym Test Kitchen! You can snag the Popping Particle Punch for $6.49 at Pym Test Kitchen. We’ll continue to be on the lookout for more fun menu items around the Disney parks, so stay tuned to DFB for all the latest updates! From La Casita to California — Find Out How ‘Encanto’ is Coming to Disneyland Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! Check Out Important Details about the 2022 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival Learn About Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland See the Latest Updates About Disneyland’s Face Mask Policy Check Out What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Check Out Our Disneyland Restaurants Guide Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure See More About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Learn About the Disneyland Mobile App Get All the Details About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program What’s Going to Be Different About Your Next Disneyland Trip? Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe What’s your favorite specialty drink from the Disney parks? Let us know in the comments! The post REVIEW: Are Pop Rocks the Secret Ingredient for a Fun Disney Drink? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Ever since we first saw the picture of blue shrimp at Disney World’s new Star Wars-themed hotel, we have been intrigued about the food onboard the Halcyon (that’s the name of the Galactic Starcruiser ship). Definitely bizarre We recently stayed at the Galactic Starcruiser as part of a media event, where we made sure to check out ALL the food onboard. We ate that infamous blue shrimp, along with a scotch Meteor Egg wrapped in cake batter, a tube of Miso Soup in a cup full of salt, and several other dishes that were inspired by planets around the Star Wars galaxy. Some of the bizarre dishes were delicious, and others weren’t our favorite. But what if you’re looking for some “normal” food during your trip to space? Does that even exist on the Halcyon? The short answer to that question is that some normal food can be found on the Galactic Starcruiser. Before we dive into where to find the “Earth” food, we have one very pressing question that demands answers immediately: Do french fries exist in space? Fries! We’re big fans of Disney World’s french fries (you know, the ones that taste just like McDonald’s fries only better because they’re infused with Disney magic?), but we regret to inform you that these thin and crispy beauties were nowhere to be found on the Starcruiser. Don’t give up all hope, though! There were still some fries — they just looked very different than most fries you’ve seen. Younglings Menu During our first dinner in the Crown of Corellia Dining Room (where you’ll eat most meals on the ship), we saw that the Younglings Menu (kids’ menu) included Crispy Sliced Waffle Fries. Bingo! These are available as a side option. Rather than lots of little waffle fries, you get two large ones. They reminded us a lot of hashbrowns since they were so much thicker than normal fries. There they are! But there’s also a sneaky waffle fry hiding in plain sight on the Halcyon — the Crispy Tuber Waffle from breakfast on Day 3 is basically a big waffle fry as well! We see you, Disney… . It’s a waffle fry So, yes, there are french fries (albeit unusual ones) at the Star Wars Hotel. But what other foods will satisfy the more choosy eaters in your group? If you don’t want to dive headfirst into the blue shrimp, there are still several options for kids and adults alike. That Younglings menu has several familiar choices for dinner, such as Cheese Pizza, Grilled Tip Yip Chicken Swords (grilled chicken), and Fried Tip Yip Chicken Chunks (chicken nuggets). Kids’ Meu Items From what we understand, adults should be able to order off the kids’ menu. You can likely order a couple of different entrées from that menu to make it a full adult meal since all of the food is included in the cost of your stay. Check with your server to see if this is possible during our trip — it never hurts to ask! Kids Rice Paper Roll (like a spring roll!) In addition to the dinner menu, you can find some familiar options at the Sublight Lounge, such as a Little Flatbread (which is basically a fancy pizza). Flatbread The breakfast and lunch buffets also have some variation on pizza-flatbread dishes, like the Tikka Tip Yip Chicken with Paneer Cheese at lunch… It’s…pizza. … and the Breakfast Meat Pie at breakfast. Like a pizza The Dipped Tip Yip Chicken With Cheesy Noodles (available at lunch on both days) should please picky eaters, too. It’s pretty much chicken nuggets in mac ‘n’ cheese! A kid-pleaser! Breakfast options include Waffles — no, they’re not Mickey Waffles, but they’re just as tasty — and you can also grab some Maple Syrup to pour over them. For a bigger breakfast, you can grab a combo plate with a Waffle, Sausage, and a cheesy omelet. A breakfast that should satisfy picky eaters If you’re still concerned about the food onboard, you can also bring your own snacks and food. We saw several guests with their own food, and we brought some charcuterie along with us (because that’s how we roll). You’re welcome to pack your own lunch for the Starcruiser! So don’t worry — there is food on the Halcyon that should please picky eaters. But if you have concerns, you can always talk to a Cast Member! And ask your server or other Cast Members if you have questions about the food names on the menus. Sometimes very normal dishes are given bizarre space-language names, even if they’re not actually unusual foods. Breakfast Buffet Label Stay tuned because we’re covering EVERYTHING about Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser. Read our ULTIMATE Guide to the Star Wars Hotel here! Star Wars Hotel -- Galactic Starcruiser News and Information Check Out Our COMPLETE GUIDE to the Star Wars Hotel We’re Breaking the MYTHS from Inside the Star Wars Hotel Rooms What to Get (or AVOID) at Breakfast on the Star Wars Hotel We Ate EVERYTHING for Lunch at the Star Wars Hotel See Our FULL Review of the Entire Dinner on Night 1 of the Star Wars Hotel Yes, Dinner on Night 2 at the Star Wars Hotel is Different. See Our Full Review Is the Captain’s Table Worth the Extra Cost? See How the Fireworks at the Star Wars Hotel Will (and Won’t) Surprise You Get Our Full Thoughts on the BLUE SHRIMP See What Snacks Look Like in Space Some of the Best Food in the Star Wars Hotel is Hiding! Get a Look at the Exclusive Star Wars Hotel Merchandise Learn About What’s Included When You Leave the Star Wars Hotel for Hollywood Studios Take a Look at the Pricing for the Star Wars Hotel Watch Our DFB Video About Our Experience at the Star Wars Hotel Click HERE to See More About Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Do you have a trip booked on the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser? Let us know in the comments! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. We were invited by Disney World to attend their media preview of Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ The post The Million Dollar Question: Are There French Fries at the Star Wars Hotel in Disney World? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

From Minnie’s EAR-idescent dress to the colorful nighttime lighting of Spaceship Earth, we love things that SPARKLE! By now, you probably know that Disney releases new merchandise about as often as we think about planning a trip to the Magic Kingdom (meaning it happens all.the.time.). EPCOT Right one cue this morning, we found some sparkly new Minnie ears in Disney World! Let’s all admire them together. The West Coast actually saw these new Amethyst Minnie ears first; we found them in Disneyland and online earlier in February. Finally, though, these ears made their way to Disney World! We found these chunky sequined Minnie ears in the Emporium on Main Street, U.S.A. early this morning, but we have a feeling they will sell quickly! The ears are made with large iridescent purple sequins and a velvety purple bow — they’re so pretty! Look at that SPARKLE! Like most other Minnie ears, you can grab these for $29.99. Unfortunately, they are currently sold out on shopDisney, but you never know when they might pop up online! What do you think? We love finding new Minnie ears; it’s sort of like a treasure hunt! If you love shopping and Disney World as much as we do, be sure to stay tuned for more Disney news and park updates! The New Minnie Ears in Disney World Give Us DIY Vibes Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. How many Minnie ears do you own? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney World Found Another Way to FUEL Our Obsession with SPARKLY Minnie Ears! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Hey, friends! We’re back with another DFB Video covering all the latest Disney news! The Halcyon Atrium WE WENT TO SPACE, nighttime entertainment is coming BACK to Disneyland, and more meet and greets are popping up all over Disney World. Buckle up my friends, all of the latest Disney news is starting right now! By the way, have you subscribed yet? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to the channel and never miss a single episode! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/subscribe.png So check out the video and then let us know: Which Disney news are you the most excited about? The post Latest Disney News: Star Wars Hotel, Encanto is Coming to Disneyland's Electrical Parade & MORE first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser has a lot of activities you can do while you’re on the ship, like playing sabacc, interacting with characters, or trying the fun drinks in the Sublight Lounge. The Sublight Lounge But, one of the activities that we’ve been the most hyped up about (as we’re sure other Star Wars fans have been, too) is the lightsaber training! We know we’re not alone in saying that we’ve wanted to wield a lightsaber (and actually FEEL like we’re using it) since seeing the movies years ago. Is there even a cooler weapon in cinema?! Well, we finally got to try out the lightsaber training aboard the Galactic Starcruiser, and we’re here to tell you if it’s worth the hype! Everyone aboard the ship will have a scheduled time in their itinerary for lightsaber training — make sure to check your schedule so you don’t miss it! When it was time for our session, we headed over to our designated lightsaber training pod. We’ve been waiting for this! Walking inside, there is some pretty dramatic lighting, which is perfect to set the scene for training with a lightsaber. The pod Let’s take a look around! Here you can see the training devices There are spots on the floor so you know where to stand. More on this in a minute! We also noticed these circular devices on the wall, which will come into play later! Do you know what these are? Each training session is led by a Saja, which is the title for a lightsaber trainer. She showed us the way! You’ll be lined up for the training stations. The first round will only be 4 people in the front with the lightsabers, but they will arrange everyone in a rotational system, so everyone gets a chance to train! Training in progress! These lightsabers feel like lighter versions of the Legacy sabers you can get in Galaxy’s Edge, but they did still feel like metal. The Legacy Lightsabers are heavy enough to make you feel like you need to be really careful with them, and we didn’t feel that at all with these sabers. However, they were heavy enough to feel “real” enough in the training sessions. And, they’re light enough that almost anyone should be able to hold and swing them with ease. Shields and lightsabers For the lightsaber training, a blue “tracer” light beam will come out from the training device indicating where you should place your lightsaber. Follow the beams! Then, a faster light will shoot out and if your lightsaber is in the right place, it will light up and you’ll feel the fire hit it! Gotta be ready! After everyone has a chance with a lightsaber, shields will be handed out to the people standing behind those with the lightsabers in the rotational system. Time for shields! This way, you get a chance with the shields AND the lightsabers. The shield These shields also light up! Our shield The people with the shields follow the light pattern just like you would with a lightsaber, so that if the person with the saber in front of you messes up, the light will hit your shield. Hold it up! The training gets harder and harder as it goes on, so be prepared to possibly break a sweat! The first half of this training session is pretty fun, but it does kind of feel like you’re in a gym class or a group fitness class. It’s entertaining, but definitely not the most fun activity you can do on the ship. Training hard Once you’ve trained for a while, your Saja will begin talking about the force and a recognizable voice will start talking overhead. This voice echos through the room and talks about using the force to train with your lightsaber. Use the force… So, the tracer lights are turned off and you have to “use the force” in order to know where your saber should go. Don’t worry though, there are some twinkle lights that will help you out! May the force be with you This part with the force and the twinkle lights was fun, but we think Disney could’ve done a bit better with making it feel more real and less cheesy. The twinkle lights don’t really give off the feeling that you’re using the force — it’s just you looking at sparkles. The whole thing with the force in the Star Wars universe is feeling it, not seeing it. If something like sound effects were used instead, we think it would’ve been more impactful. Your Saja will also talk about the force! This was still a fun experience, but it didn’t really match the level of immersion we encountered during other activities on the ship. So, because of that, the story arc during lightsaber training didn’t quite feel right. Lightsaber training Toward the end, our Saja ended with a passionate and emotional speech about how inspiring we had been during the training process. She did a fantastic job, but because the immersion wasn’t built up enough in this experience compared to others, it was kind of confusing. If you’re really into Star Wars this could be moving for you. But for the more casual fan, it might seem a bit more confusing or out of place. The end! There you have it — that’s what training with a lightsaber is like on Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. If you’ve always wanted to use a lightsaber and are a big fan of Star Wars, this will probably be your jam. Even if you’re not a Star Wars fan, you should still enjoy the training aspect of this activity. Just know going in that it’s not going to be as immersive as other experiences on the ship and maybe treat it more as just getting to play with a lightsaber. Stay tuned to DFB for more from the Starcruiser. Click here to see our ULTIMATE guide to Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Star Wars Hotel -- Galactic Starcruiser News and Information Check Out Our COMPLETE GUIDE to the Star Wars Hotel We’re Breaking the MYTHS from Inside the Star Wars Hotel Rooms What to Get (or AVOID) at Breakfast on the Star Wars Hotel We Ate EVERYTHING for Lunch at the Star Wars Hotel See Our FULL Review of the Entire Dinner on Night 1 of the Star Wars Hotel Yes, Dinner on Night 2 at the Star Wars Hotel is Different. See Our Full Review Is the Captain’s Table Worth the Extra Cost? See How the Fireworks at the Star Wars Hotel Will (and Won’t) Surprise You Get Our Full Thoughts on the BLUE SHRIMP See What Snacks Look Like in Space Some of the Best Food in the Star Wars Hotel is Hiding! Get a Look at the Exclusive Star Wars Hotel Merchandise Learn About What’s Included When You Leave the Star Wars Hotel for Hollywood Studios Take a Look at the Pricing for the Star Wars Hotel Watch Our DFB Video About Our Experience at the Star Wars Hotel Click HERE to See More About Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Do you think you would be good at wielding a lightsaber? Tell us in the comments! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disney World to attend their media preview of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ The post PHOTOS: Find Out What Lightsaber Training Is REALLY Like at the Star Wars Hotel in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We strive to create a culture of inclusion, where everyone is welcome and ideas and contributions from our diverse workforce help us grow. Across the globe, our cast members come together around shared identities, interests, and pursuits to form employee resource groups or affinity groups. Today, we’re excited to feature D’Yanna Craighead, founder of Black […]View the full article

You could be paying around $6,000 total for a single room at Disney World’s new Star Wars-themed hotel. So that cost should cover all possible expenses during your stay, right? Apparently not. Galactic Starcruiser One of the reasons a stay at the Galactic Starcruiser is so expensive is that it’s more like a cruise experience rather than a hotel. Most meals and activities onboard are included in the price. But not quite everything is included — let’s take a look at what will cost you EXTRA during your visit to a galaxy far, far away. The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is an immersive experience that takes guests into the Star Wars universe. The concept is that guests are boarding the Halcyon — a luxury cruise spaceship — and traveling around the galaxy. The ship will dock in Batuu (Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios) for an excursion there as well. Atrium For 2 days and 2 nights, guests can actively participate in a storyline on this ship that involves interacting with characters, going on secret missions to fight (or aid) the First Order, taking part in lightsaber training, learning to fly the ship, and more. Lightsaber Training All of those activities are included in the cost of your stay, as are most of the drinks, snacks, and food on the ship. A breakfast buffet, lunch buffet, and family-style dinners are all included. So what does that $6,000 price tag NOT cover? Alcohol First of all, alcoholic drinks are NOT included in the cost of your stay (for the most part). If you want to grab a cocktail at the Sublight Lounge, you’re more than welcome to — but you’ll have to pay extra. Bespin Drink Most of the drinks cost between $13 and $23 for a cocktail, beer, or wine on tap (with most cocktails in the $15 to $18 range). Getting a bottle of wine will cost more, with options at $55 up to $140 per bottle. Fiery Mustafarian This is also true if you want to get an alcoholic drink at dinner. Cocktails and other drinks are available at dinner time, but they are not free. Drinks Menu The only exception that we’ve seen to this rule is in Galaxy’s Edge. Guests are each given a quick service meal credit (kind of like a Dining Plan credit) to get lunch at any quick service location in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Our Docking Bay 7 Meal This lunch is included in the cost of your Star Wars hotel stay — you won’t have to pay extra for it. For our meal at Docking Bay 7, we ordered a beer as our beverage, and it was included in the quick service credit. Beer in Galaxy’s Edge Most guests go to Docking Bay 7 or Ronto Roasters (the quick service locations in Galaxy’s Edge), but you could really use that credit at any quick service (NOT table service) location in the park. You can get totchos if you want! Nothing is stopping you from escaping space for a while to grab Totchos from Woody’s Lunch Box! Read more about what’s INCLUDED during your trip to Batuu here! Specialty Drinks Some other specialty drinks are not free, such as mocktails at the Sublight Lounge. However, you can try out the Cantina Chronicles experience for free, which is basically a flight of mocktails (although you only get a small taste of each one). Each drink has a backstory, so it’s interesting to hear where they came from and test out the different flavors. Cantina Chronicles But if you want a full mocktail, you’ll have to pay between $7 and $8 extra. More of the Menu The drinks that ARE included in your stay are soft drinks (such as Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Fanta Orange, etc.), Blue and Green Milk, and some juices during breakfast time (orange, cranberry, apple, and grapefruit). Soft drinks Note that Blue and Green Milk are unlimited during breakfast and lunch hours, but even if you wanted some at a different time, you can ask a Cast Member and they will likely bring it to you. We did this at the Sublight Lounge in the evening, and the Cast Member was very kind to get us some. Blue and Green Milk We were also surprised to find that certain drinks at Galaxy’s Edge (during our Batuu excursion) were free as well. We purchased a Thermal Detonator Diet Coke from a snack stand, and the Cast Member included it in our meal credit even though it wasn’t part of our lunch (it was at a separate location). So we did not have to pay for that bottle of Diet Coke. This was free during our Starcruiser excursion. We aren’t sure if this is an official policy or not, but it was our experience during our visit to Galactic Starcruiser. We’ll let you know as soon as we can confirm this information. If it is the policy, then soft drinks may be free at Galaxy’s Edge for Starcruiser guests during their excursions. Read MORE about our experience at the Lounge on the Star Wars Hotel HERE! Captain’s Table Experience Although both multi-course, sit-down dinners were included in the cost of our visit to the Starcruiser, there was a special dinner experience that cost extra. The Captain’s Table is a special table in the Crown of Corellia Dining Room (the same dining room as where everyone else eats) that is located at the front of the room, near the stage. Captain’s Table You can pay $30 per person to have dinner at the Captain’s Table on either night of your stay. Guests there get some special interactions with certain characters (such as the Halcyon’s captain) as well as extra courses in their meal that aren’t available to other guests. Character Interactions This table will still get the normal courses served to the rest of the guests, but there are a few extra dishes and drinks here. The additional drinks include a red or white wine pairing with your meal and champagne (to raise during the Captain’s toast). Wine Pairing There are some additional appetizer options, such as the Red Fruit Pillow (which is almost like a Caprese salad). Red Fruit Pillow The Intermezzo is also unique to the Captain’s Table, and we had a Miso Shooter for this course. Miso Shooter Additional entrées for this experience include Lee Rosemary Seared Scallops or Lobster Tail (these may be different during your visit). Scallops Finally, there is a specialty dessert called Umi Yumi Chocolate with Caramel and Yuzu. Umi Yumi Chocolate So if you’re looking for a particularly VIP experience on the Starcruiser, you can book the Captain’s Table for some extra-attentive service and additional dishes. Keep in mind that the seating at this table is very limited, so reservations for the experience may be difficult to get. See our full review for the Captain’s Table here. Merchandise There is a gift shop on the Galactic Starcruiser with special merchandise made for this experience. There are pins, keychains, t-shirts, and other normal souvenirs as well as Sabacc games, model Halcyon ships, and replica Star Wars weapons. Gift Shop You can also find a lot of costumes in this shop, which you can use during your stay at the hotel. Costumes This merchandise will cost extra if you want a souvenir from your stay at the Star Wars hotel. Click here to see all the merchandise available at the Star Wars hotel. Memory Maker (Photos) There were some special photo spots onboard the Galactic Starcruiser, as well as PhotoPass photographers to take your picture. However, we were informed that those pictures are not included in the cost of your visit. Atrium PhotoPass here works the same as in other areas in Disney World. You can get your picture taken for free, but if you want to download any of the images, you will have to pay for them. You can purchase Memory Maker for unlimited photo downloads during your trip if you’d prefer that. The Bridge A Cast Member also told us that there would be an extra, individual photoshoot available for purchase (like the Capture Your Moment photoshoots in the Disney World parks). We will share more on this as Disney shares more information. Anything You Buy in Galaxy’s Edge In addition, you’ll need to pay extra for anything you buy in Galaxy’s Edge during the Batuu excursion (except for your lunch and possibly other soft drinks). Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge If you want to visit Oga’s Cantina, you can do that (with a reservation), but you will have to pay for your drinks. Oga’s Cantina Any special experiences like building your own lightsaber or droid will also cost full price. These are not included in the cost of your Starcruiser stay. Building Droids Note that if you do buy a souvenir during your excursion to Galaxy’s Edge, you can immediately take it to the Cast Members outside the Starcruiser entrance (where you came in for the excursion), and they will take it back to your hotel room for you. That way, you won’t have to carry it around in the park. Tips Some tips are included in the cost of your stay, such as gratuities for food service. Food tips are included However, other gratuities such as for valet parking or housekeeping are not included in the cost. Valet Parking Disney encourages guests who want to tip Cast Members for these services to do so at the time of service. Guests will not be asked to include a full gratuity for these services at the end of their stay. Cast Member That’s it for the things you’ll have to pay extra for at the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser! Stay tuned with DFB, because we’ll be bringing you ALL of the information about this new experience. Read Our ULTIMATE GUIDE to the Star Wars Hotel HERE! Star Wars Hotel -- Galactic Starcruiser News and Information Check Out Our COMPLETE GUIDE to the Star Wars Hotel We’re Breaking the MYTHS from Inside the Star Wars Hotel Rooms What to Get (or AVOID) at Breakfast on the Star Wars Hotel We Ate EVERYTHING for Lunch at the Star Wars Hotel See Our FULL Review of the Entire Dinner on Night 1 of the Star Wars Hotel Yes, Dinner on Night 2 at the Star Wars Hotel is Different. See Our Full Review Is the Captain’s Table Worth the Extra Cost? See How the Fireworks at the Star Wars Hotel Will (and Won’t) Surprise You Get Our Full Thoughts on the BLUE SHRIMP See What Snacks Look Like in Space Some of the Best Food in the Star Wars Hotel is Hiding! Get a Look at the Exclusive Star Wars Hotel Merchandise Learn About What’s Included When You Leave the Star Wars Hotel for Hollywood Studios Take a Look at the Pricing for the Star Wars Hotel Watch Our DFB Video About Our Experience at the Star Wars Hotel Click HERE to See More About Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Would you stay at the Star Wars hotel? Let us know in the comments. Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disney World to attend their media preview of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink.You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ The post Everything You'll Pay EXTRA For at the Star Wars Hotel in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Planning a trip to Disney World next week? Just curious to know what park hours look like right now? Living vicariously through all others that have Disney trips planned for the immediate future? Whatever situation you’re in, we’ve got the info you need right here! Let’s take a look at park hours this week! Disney World has been unusually crowded this month, and Park Pass reservations have been starting to fill up. If you’re planning a Disney World trip for next week, we’re here with ALL the updates about park hours, as well as Park Pass availability! Park Hours First, let’s check out Disney World park hours for this upcoming week! Magic Kingdom Park Hours Next week, Magic Kingdom will be open from 9AM to 9PM on February 27th and 28th… ©Disney …and 9AM to 9PM from March 1st to the 4th, with Extended Evening Hours for Deluxe Resort hotel guests on March 2nd from 9PM to 11PM. On March 5th, Magic Kingdom will be open from 9AM to 10PM, so you get an extra hour that day! ©Disney Now let’s head to EPCOT! EPCOT Park Hours EPCOT will be open from 10AM to 9PM on February 27th. On February 28th the park will be open from 8:30AM to 9PM, with Extended Evening Hours from 9PM to 11PM. ©Disney From March 1st to March 5th, EPCOT will be open from 8:30AM to 9PM. That gives you a few extra hours in the park in the morning! ©Disney Next, it’s time to look at Hollywood Studios! Disney’s Hollywood Studios Park Hours On February 27th and 28th, Hollywood Studios will be open from 9AM to 9PM. ©Disney Hollywood Studios will continue to be open from 9AM to 9PM from March 1st to the 5th. ©Disney Let’s check on Disney’s Animal Kingdom hours! Disney’s Animal Kingdom Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be open from 8AM to 8PM on February 27th and 28th. ©Disney On March 1st, 4th, and 5th, Animal Kingdom will be open from 8AM to 8PM, but on March 2nd and 3rd, it will close an hour early at 7PM. You might want to avoid park hopping to Animal Kingdom on that day. ©Disney Let’s see what Park Pass reservations look like for this upcoming week. Park Pass Reservations Theme Park Ticket Holder Reservation Availability If you have Theme Park Tickets, park pass availability is limited on February 27th and 28th. On the 27th, Magic Kingdom is unavailable, and on the 28th, only EPCOT is available. ©Disney On March 1st, Magic Kingdom is unavailable, but from March 2nd to the 5th, all parks are available for those with Theme Park Tickets. ©Disney Now let’s look at the availability for Resort Guests. Select Resort Hotels Reservation Availability Select Resort Hotel Guests actually have the same park pass availability as theme park ticket holders, with Magic Kingdom unavailable on the 27th of February, and only EPCOT available on the 28th. ©Disney Magic Kingdom is unavailable on March 1st, but all Disney World parks are available for reservations from March 2nd through the 5th for qualifying hotel guests. ©Disney It’s time to take a look at Annual Passholder park pass availability! Incredi-Pass Holder Reservation Availability Incredi-Pass holders have limited park availability on February 27th, but all Disney Parks are so far open for reservations from February 28th to March 5th. From what we saw, Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom are both full for Incredi-Pass holders on the 27th. ©Disney Sorcerer Pass Holder Reservation Availability Just like with the Incredi-Pass, Sorcerer Pass holders will find the parks wide open for reservations from February 28th to March 5th, but there’s limited park availability on February 27th. Again, it appears Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom are full on that date. ©Disney Pirate Pass Holder Reservation Availability Pirate Pass holders have the same situation as both previous passholders, with full park availability from February 28th to March 5th, and limited availability on February 27th. Again, it looks like Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom are the parks busy on that date. ©Disney Pixie Dust Passholder Reservation Availability Pixie Dust Pass holders are blocked out on February 27th and March 5th, but reservations are open at all parks from February 28th through March 4th. ©Disney It’s generally a good idea to schedule your park passes as early as you can, and check Disney World’s calendar so you know exactly what time the parks will open and close each day. Just keep in mind that park pass availability and park hours can change so be sure to continue to check for updates. And stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World news and updates! Here are 14 Disney events to put on your calendar in 2022! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Are you visiting Disney World next week? Tell us in the comments! The post Going to Disney World Next Week? Don't Miss These Updates first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Don’t forget to check out some of Disney World’s hotels for exclusive merchandise and incredible restaurants! View at Disney’s Riviera Resort We’re here with all the updates from Disney World hotels, so check out what we’ve seen — including Disney World’s newest “hotel!” Disney’s Riviera Resort Riviera Construction Update Riviera Resort is getting some painting done! We noticed this cute sign with Stitch near Le Petit Cafe. Wet paint! Now let’s check out some merchandise! Riviera Merchandise Updates We found a new Riviera Resort Glass for $14.99 in La Boutique. Riviera Resort Glass And we also found Donald and Daisy dressed in their Topolino’s Terracce clothes, in keychain form! Donald and Daisy keychains Let’s head over to Caribbean Beach Resort! Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Caribbean Beach Merchandise Updates Caribbean Beach had a new Koozie for $9.99, with the name of the hotel on one side… Koozie …and “Banana Cabana” on the other side. Banana Cabana There was also a new Towel with the Caribbean Beach name, starring Minnie in some tropical clothes… Caribbean Beach Towel …and Mickey too! Other side Should we hop on the Skyliner to get to Pop Century? Disney’s Pop Century Resort Pop Century Merchandise Update Pop Century had a new Mickey Phone Ornament for $22.99, with a kind of retro look and the Pop logo on the bottom. It’s Mickey! Let’s take a short walk over to Art of Animation. Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Art of Animation Construction Update There’s some construction happening at Art of Animation, like the Schoolyard Splashground splash pad that’s closed for refurbishment. Closed to little fishies! And over in the Cars-inspired buildings, some construction was being done on the exterior of the building. Construction Now let’s get to the gift shop. Art of Animation Merchandise Update There was a new Art of Animation Tumbler for $29.99, with lots of artwork from themes you can find around the hotel. Tumbler side one We can spot characters from The Little Mermaid, Cars, Finding Nemo, The Lion King, and more! Tumbler side two It’s time to take a trip over to Polynesian Village Resort! Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Polynesian Construction Update The Polynesian Resort had a refurbishment sign near the entrance, but we didn’t see anything changing yet. Refurbishment Sign We’ll keep an eye out for changes there! Disney’s Contemporary Resort Contemporary Construction Update In the Contemporary Resort, BVG now has a construction wall placed in front of the entrance and exit closest to Outer Rim and Contempo Cafe. BVG construction wall You can still get inside BVG though, so come shopping with us! Contemporary Merchandise Updates In BVG, there was a new line of Mary Blair-inspired items, like this Contemporary Towel for $26.99. Towel We also found a sheer blue Tank Top for $36.99… Sheer Tank Top …a solid blue Tank Top for $34.99… Solid Tank Top …and a new Hello Sunshine T-Shirt for $36.99. T-Shirt There were new Coasters for $24.99, with Mickey and Minnie and the resort on one side… Coasters …and “hello sunshine” and Minnie on the other side! other side! And you can find the same artwork on this new Mug for $19.99. Mug There was also a new Magnet for $12.99! Contemporary Various Update The Contemporary Resort had a new Snack Time Trivia sign out. Do you know the right answers? Trivia! We have a few more stops to go! Disney’s Beach Club Resort Beach Club Merchandise Update We spotted a new Beach Club Hoodie for $36.99. Beach Club Hoodie That’s it for Beach Club, what about Coronado Springs Resort? Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Coronado Springs Construction Update At Coronado Springs, construction walls were put up and a tarp was placed in front of an entrance area. Construction We’ll be watching this hotel closely for more construction updates! Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort Wilderness Lodge Merchandise Update Mercantile had a cheeky new Beaver Sleep Shirt for $29.99. It says, “dam tired,” and the beaver is wearing a rather stylish pink bathrobe. Sleep Shirt That’s pretty funny! Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort Fort Wilderness Merchandise Updates Meadow Outpost had 50th Anniversary Playing Cards for $14.99, with the resort on one side of the cards… 50th Trading Cards …and Chip ‘n Dale on some of the cards, as well as Fort Wilderness signs! Chip ‘n Dale! And Settlement Trading had an anti-theft Portable Safe for $39.99, which could come in handy if you’re traveling with valuables. Portable Safe Let’s make one more stop. In space. BONUS: Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Although this is not exactly a hotel, we had to include it! In case you missed it, we were able to visit the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser (also known as the Star Wars hotel) this week and we’ve prepared the COMPLETE guide for visiting the hotel and getting everything you can out of the high price tag. Galactic Starcruiser We ate blue shrimp (!!!), shopped for merchandise, and lots more. The hotel officially opens on March 1st, 2022, so stay tuned for more Star Wars hotel news and tips! Check out the complete guide to the Star Wars hotel here. That’s all the news from Disney World hotels! Are you surprised by any of this news? Keep reading DFB for more news and updates! 13 Disney World tricks only the insiders know! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What Disney World hotel is your favorite? Tell us in the comments! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. We were invited by Disney World to attend their media preview of the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ The post What’s New at Disney World Hotels: LOTS of Construction and a Mary Blair Collection first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We may be talking about traveling to a galaxy far, far away A LOT right now thanks to the new Star Wars hotel opening in Disney World NEXT week, but there will soon be another way for guests to travel to space in the parks — just in a different universe (or should we say multiverse)! Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Concept Art ©Disney The brand new indoor roller coaster, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, will finally welcome guests onboard THIS summer and we’ve been bringing you along with us for allll the updates on the ride vehicles, when filming for the ride took place, and we even got a look inside. We’ve also been keeping a close eye on the construction progress (at least, what we can see of it), and today we’re another step closer! This afternoon we hopped onboard the highway in the sky to see what was happening behind the construction walls and spotted something NEW at the entrance! We spy something with our little eye Can you see it? Look again! The queue signs have arrived and are poised up above the entrance! These signs will eventually help guests identify where to go for the standby line and where to go for the Lightning Lane. There are new signs hanging above the entrance! It’s important to note that Disney hasn’t yet revealed whether Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will be included as a Genie+ attraction or will be deemed an Individual Attraction Selection, so that second sign could also be for something else. Maybe even a single rider line! Click here to see if Disney will use a virtual line for Cosmic Rewind once it opens! We’re still waiting on an official opening date for this thing, but we can’t WAIT to ride it once it is completed! Of course, we’ll be on the lookout for more updates on the attraction, so be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest! And, if you want to learn more about this roller coaster that will take you on an intergalactic adventure with the Guardians of the Galaxy and is said to be one of the longest indoor roller coasters ever built, check out more of our posts below! Ride Testing Has STARTED on the New Guardians of the Galaxy Ride Coming to EPCOT! NEWS: Filming Has Begun for the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Ride in Disney World! PHOTOS: The Guardians of the Galaxy Ride in Disney World Reaches a BIG Milestone and MORE! TIMELINE ANNOUNCED: When You Should Visit Disney World to Ride the NEW Guardians of the Galaxy Attraction PHOTOS: We Saw the Guardians of the Galaxy Ride Vehicles With Our Own Eyes in Disney World! Plus, you can learn more about all the NEW things coming to Disney World in 2022 in the video below!  Want MORE Details About EPCOT’s MASSIVE Transformation? Future World Will Transform Into Three New Neighborhoods — Learn More Here A Revitalized Club Cool Is Now Open in EPCOT The New Creations Shop is OPEN and Has Replaced Mouse Gear Go Inside Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure With Us Check Out All of the Tasty Details About EPCOT’s New Crêperie Get a Closer Look at the New Nighttime Lights Coming to Spaceship Earth See More About EPCOT’s Upcoming Nighttime Spectacular -- Harmonious Learn All About Space 220, Which Has Officially OPENED in EPCOT What’s Been CUT From the EPCOT Transformation? See More Here! Learn More About the New PLAY! Pavilion Coming to Epcot! See All the Details You Need to Know About the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Coaster Coming to World Discovery Learn More About Journey of Water -- Inspired by Moana, Coming to World Nature Click HERE for All the News and Details about EPCOT’s Transformation! Join the DFB Newsletter To get all the latest Epcot transformation news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Are you excited to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind? Let us know in the comments! The post A KEY Part of Disney World’s Guardians of the Galaxy Roller Coaster Has Officially Arrived! 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. HIDE your credit cards — even MORE Disney merchandise has arrived online! Who wants to go shopping? We’re constantly seeing Disney drop new products based on our favorite movies, shows, and characters. Sometimes we get special accessories that are perfect for a day in the parks and sometimes we get items that we can’t wait to add to our homes. And if you’re a bit of a Disney shopaholic like us, then you’ll want to see the full list of new items that dropped this week! Disney Castle Collection Throughout the past several months, we’ve seen Disney release several castle collections of merchandise, themed to the homes of some of our favorite princesses! This week, the Belle Castle Collection landed on shopDisney, and it was pretty popular. ©Disney In fact, some of the items online have already sold out! So if you’re interested in the pin, the puzzle, or the matching journal, you’ll want to hurry and get your shopping done. Click Here to Check Out the Whole Collection! Disney Cruise Line Items Planning to sail away on a Disney Cruise sometime soon? (Perhaps on the new Disney Wish?) Well, we’ve got just the thing for you! New Disney Cruise Line items arrived online this week, including a tropical pair of Minnie ears and some fun Dooney & Bourke bags. ©Disney We love the fun, beachy prints on these items, and can we just say…Mickey and Minnie look GREAT in hats! If you want to add any of these accessories to your collection before you sail, check out our full post. Click Here to See All the New Cruise Line Items! 50th Anniversary Merch We’ve seen hundreds of 50th Anniversary items in Disney World and online over the last few months, but a very unique collection landed online this week! The retro park map items are made to look like an old map of Magic Kingdom, and with the products online, you can make a whole outfit out of the ensemble. Park map Crocs! Currently, there’s a bucket hat, a pair of Crocs, and a matching spirit jersey available to order. These things were a HIT when they landed in the parks, so hurry if you want to snag them! See All the Retro Park Map Items Online Here! Dooney & Bourke Bags Calling all Dooney & Bourke collectors — have you SEEN Disney’s newest collection? These new bags came to the parks and online this week and they feature the mouse that started it all…in Steamboat Willie form! Okay we definitely like the crossbody! The black and white print is simple and stylish — the perfect match for any Disney parks outfit. However, they’re not cheap! The bags cost between $228-$268 each. Click Here to See All the New Bags! Winnie the Pooh Home Items And finally, there are new items for fans of our favorite chubby little cubby all stuffed with fluff. We’ve spotted the adorably irresistible Winnie the Pooh home collection in the parks already, but now some of those same products are online for all to shop. ©Disney You can get everything from storage containers to wall decor — great for some casual touches around the home or for your kiddo’s bedroom. The whole collection is seriously precious! Click Here to Shop the Whole Collection! That’s everything new that landed online this week! Thanks for trusting DFB as your source of Disney news, and stay tuned for more merchandise updates throughout the week. Click Here to Shop All the 50th Anniversary Items Online! 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 items would you add to your cart? Tell us in the comments! The post 5 New Disney Collections Dropped Online This Week! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Heard any good Star Wars news lately? Lightsabers at Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiquities We laugh because for the past few days we’ve been in Star Wars Hotel land, getting ready to share our experiences with you. Today we got to reveal all kinds of details about the experience, including reviews of the food we ate, a look at the merchandise you can buy onboard, what the fireworks looked like, and more. But there’s some more news to report from Batuu (a.k.a. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios). Specifically, today we found a NEW Star Wars item that is SO fancy, you’ll have to buy it before you’re allowed to even hold it! If you’ve been to Galaxy’s Edge, you’ve likely seen the lightsaber hilts in the display case at Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities. Today, a special and expensive lightsaber hilt caught our eye! What’s the hilt at the top? Upon further inspection, we saw that it’s the Jedi Temple Guard Hilt! This lightsaber is SPECIAL. How special you ask? Well, for starters, we couldn’t just walk into Dok-Ondar’s to check it out. In order to even see it, we had to join a virtual waitlist. At the time, there were 113 parties ahead of us! In the Virtual Queue After some time waiting, we were called back and were finally able to see it. According to a Cast Member we spoke to, only 1,000 of these lightsabers were sent to Disney World, 1,000 were sent to Disneyland, and 1,000 were sent to be sold on shopDisney. Only 3,000 were made in total — a.k.a. very limited! And when we asked if we could hold that lightsaber hilt to take pictures of it or just have the Cast Member hold it for us, they told us that wasn’t allowed! Because it is such a limited edition item (and is PRICEY! More on that in a second) the Cast Members wouldn’t let us hold it and they wouldn’t take it out of the case! Talk about some fanciness! Jedi Temple Guard Hilt We did, however, get to see the box the hilt comes in, although the Cast Member wasn’t allowed to open the box to show us how it was arranged inside. TALK ABOUT SOME EXCLUSIVE! We even asked if it came in several different pieces, but couldn’t get an answer because the Cast Member wasn’t allowed to open it. Fancy box So this is a REALLY fancy lightsaber, and its price certainly suggests that — it costs $375! That’s some serious space dough. As you may know, these hilts are considered collectibles for Star Wars fans. But would you pay $375 for something you can only look at through a glass display case before buying? Tell us in the comments! We’ll continue to keep an eye on all the new merchandise that pops up at 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. What do you think of this new lightsaber hilt? Let us know in the comments! The post Got 5 Laying Around? THAT is How Much Disney World's New Item Will Cost You! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

So West Coast readers (and those planning to visit the Happiest Place on Earth soon), is everyone happy that Disneyland parking trams have finally returned?! Dumbo at Disneyland We bet the answer to that is mostly “yes” because the walk from the parking lot to the Disneyland Resort area can be a lengthy one. That aside, there’s a lot of other new stuff to report on from Disneyland, so let’s get to some updates! Disneyland Food Updates Troubadour Tavern We got to try out the Caramelized Apple-filled Hand Pie that is available for the Celebrate Soulfully event at Disneyland. Caramelized Apple-filled Hand Pie It was delicious with a gooey apple pie filling! Learn More About Disneyland’s Celebrate Soulfully Event by Clicking HERE Disney California Adventure Merchandise Updates Backlot Shop Marvel Comics fans might just fall in love with this Comic Book Covers Phone Case. Comic Book covers! Grab it now for $29.99. Here’s How Select AAA Members Can Save BIG on Disneyland Tickets for a Limited Time! Elias & Co. Is Black and Gold THE color combo at Disney Parks right now?! It might just be thanks to these gorgeous Black and Gold Minnie Ears priced at $29.99. New ears! You can also nab a matching Black and Gold T-Shirt. Here’s the front. Front And here’s a look at the back! Black and gold is HOT This tee is $36.99. Here Are ALL The Menus For The Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival! Downtown Disney Merchandise Updates World of Disney We’ve all embraced the comfort of sweats now, right? That’s why we’re totally into these Mickey Mouse Sweatpants for $49.99. Mickey sweats There are also some new Play in the Park merchandise items, including a Mug for $14.99… New mug! …an Ornament Set for $44.99… Ornaments …and a Diorama! How fun! The diorama is $16.99. From La Casita to California — Find Out How ‘Encanto’ is Coming to Disneyland Wonderground Wonderground had a fun Celebrate Soulfully Display dedicated to Tiana from The Princess and the Frog. Celebrate Soulfully Display The display had prints, pins, and more Tiana merchandise available. Here’s When Nighttime Shows Will Return To Disneyland! Those are all the updates we have for now, but we’ll be back soon with more, so check back with DFB often! 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 When was the last time you visited Disneyland? What did you do? Let us know in the comments! The post What's New at Disneyland Resort: Minnie Ears, a Park-Inspired Mug, and More first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We know that your mind (like ours) might feel like it’s full of space info thanks to all the things we’ve shared recently about Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, but let’s take a moment now to leave our spaceships and get an update on the Disney parks on earth! Disney’s Animal Kingdom We’ve seen some incredible crowds around Disney World lately, and President’s Day this week certainly didn’t help! So (aside from some crowds, which you likely expect) what new things are there to check out in Disney’s Animal Kingdom? We’ve got all the updates for you right here. Animal Kingdom Merchandise Updates Riverside Depot There were quite a few new items at Riverside Depot this week! We think Disney might want us to drink more coffee (hey, we won’t complain!), because there were FIVE new mugs we spotted, including this Color Changing Mickey Mouse Mug. It changes color! When exposed to hot liquid, the Mickeys transform from black and white into Mickey’s different colorful outfits! You can get it for $19.99. We’re seeing MORE than double! If you’re a beast before you’ve had your coffee , or you’re just not quite cheerful in the mornings, maybe you’d like the Beast Mug or Eeyore Mug for $19.99! Somehow we think these two would get along. If gentle giants are more your thing, the Dumbo Mug we spotted might be just the thing! You can get it for $19.99 as well. Dumbo mug Fun fact: did you know that Dumbo recently celebrated its 80th Anniversary?! Check Out the Disney Mug Made for Dads In other Disney dishware news, we love this new-to-us Mickey Mouse Casserole Dish! Everything has to taste good when it’s made in this thing right?! You can use this to make your next potluck a little more magical for $34.99. We love that detail! There were also several pins we spotted for the first time at Riverside Depot, like the Float Down Main Street Winnie the Pooh Pin ($20)… We’ll float with you, Pooh. …the Spring Break Stitch Pin ($20)… Spring Break Stitch …a Droid Depot Pin for $20… Droid Depot Pin …a Star Wars: Episodes I-III Pin Set ($75)… Star Wars Pin Set …and a Star Wars Trilogy Pin Set for $54. Star Wars Trilogy Pin Set And of course, we can’t forget about the Series 2 50th Anniversary Statue Pins! Each box is a blind pack so you won’t know what character you get until you open it. You can get one of these pins for $21. Which character would you want? The pins resemble the 50th Anniversary Character Statues from around the parks! Find Out How to Get Disney’s RAREST Pin Last, but not least, at Riverside Depot were these awesome little Viewfinder Keychains! Hey Mickey! There was one that had Cinderella Castle on it, too. Cinderella Castle But the coolest part about these keychains is what happens when you look into the viewport! How cool is that?! Keep a little bit of magic on your keys for $12. Island Mercantile We spotted a slew of new paper fans for $12.99 over at Island Mercantile, like this 50th Anniversary fan! Celebrate the 50th and beat the heat at the same time! We also spotted this fabulous Minnie Mouse fan… The MOST fab! …this very accurate Donald Duck fan… If the glass slipper fits… …this Tropical Mickey & Minnie fan that just screams “summer”… Cool off in style. …this Colorful Mickey Mouse fan… The many faces of Mickey Mouse …an Inside Out fan, also for $12.99… At least it’s a happy fan! …and a Finding Nemo Seagull fan that features “MINE!” in multiple languages. Each of these fans was $12.99. MINE! While at Island Mercantile we also found the 50th Anniversary Vault Collection Denim Vest for $70! Vault Denim Vest We had spotted this item online and in another park, but we’re excited to see it at Animal Kingdom, too! Click Here to See Every Item in Disney’s Retro Vault Collection Windtraders Over in Pandora, we stopped by Windtraders and saw that the Build Your Own Necklace or Bracelet Station was back! Build Your Own Necklace or Bracelet For $19.99, you can customize your own bracelet or necklace. There’s a decent selection of beads to choose from, and it’s a way to ensure you come home with a unique souvenir! More info on how you can build your own! This was the custom bracelet on display when we stopped by. It’s so pretty! Animal Kingdom Food Updates Zuri’s Sweets Shop While this isn’t technically a food update, it’s an update about something at a food location…which totally counts! The souvenir cups are back in stock at Zuri’s Sweets Shop and are available for $10.99! Get a sweet treat and a souvenir all in one! And that’s it for this week — a whole lot of new and new-to-the-park merchandise. Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news and updates. Check Out Our COMPLETE Guide to Disney’s Star Wars Hotel Here Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Have you been to Animal Kingdom recently? Let us know in the comments! The post What's New in Disney's Animal Kingdom: Mugs and Pins and Fans, OH MY! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’re anything like us, your running sneakers that you packed so you could get some cardio on vacation just sit at the bottom of your suitcase for the ENTIRE week you’re at Disney! But for a VERY motivated group of people, those same shoes will actually get to complete an AMAZING feat… like the Disney Princess Half Marathon! ©runDisney Did you know that THOUSANDS of runners take part in events ranging from a 5K to a FULL marathon each year in Walt Disney World? runDisney hosts multiple different race weekends throughout the year, allowing participants to navigate courses through Disney parks in the early morning hours. In fact, the super-popular Disney Princess Half Marathon takes place this weekend! Whether you’re ready to hit the 13.1-mile course or you just need some sparkles in your life (don’t we all?), we’ve got the perfect activity to keep you motivated! Thanks to this dazzling craft from runDisney, you can get your finisher BLING before you’ve even completed the race! (Or from your couch — no judgement!) Before you lace up, check out this super-fun DIY project guaranteed to put some pep in your step with a Cinderella-inspired sneaker glow-up! ©runDisney There are only a few supplies to grab to get this craft started. Here’s what you’ll need! Supplies: Silver Craft Gems Industrial Strength Craft Adhesive Tweezers Running Shoes ©runDisney Once you have your supplies ready, it’s time to get your BLING on! Directions: Using the back of your tweezers, add glue to your shoe section by section (if covering the entire shoe) or in a small area of your own design. Pick up the craft gems one by one using the tweezers and place them on the glue. For a more effective design, vary the size of your gems used with smaller gems on the outside of the design and larger ones towards the wider areas. Once you have added your desired number of gems, let the shoes dry overnight. Now it’s time to run in royal style! ©runDisney And just like that, you’ve got Cinderella-inspired shoes to help push you across the finish line. No mice needed! ©runDisney Follow us to stay posted on the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend and other runDisney events! You need to make this cute runDisney tutu for your next run! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Will you be adding some bling to your running shoes? Let us know in the comments! The post No Glass Slippers? No Problem! Add Some Bling to Your Disney Sneakers Instead first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Are you sitting down? No? Okay, well grab a seat and a blanket and get comfy, we’ve got a WHOLE BUNCH of big Disney news to share with you! Star Wars Hotel Entrance From ALL the details about Disney World’s newest experience (the Star Wars Hotel) to Disney Genie+ changes you need to know about ahead of your next trip, there’s a lot to get through. So buckle up. Right now we’re talking a look at the most important Disney news from the week that you can’t miss out on. 1 — Star Wars Hotel The Star Wars Hotel (Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser) will officially open in just a few days, but recently we were lucky enough to get a FULL look at this hotel during a media preview event. YES. We went “into Space,” tried the blue shrimp, trained with lightsabers, and more! We tried our best to experience as much of the Star Wars hotel as possible so we could give you a comprehensive look inside and answer your questions about this experience. Atrium Want to know about the food at the Star Wars Hotel? Click here for our FULL review of the Captain’s Table experience See what to get (or AVOID) for breakfast at the Star Wars Hotel Click here to check out everything on the lunch menu in the Star Wars Hotel Get a full review of dinner on night 1 at the Star Wars Hotel Time to Eat Wait…dinner on night 2 is DIFFERENT?! It is! Click here to see our full review of dinner on the second night at the Star Wars Hotel It’s hereeee…check out all of our thoughts on the BLUE SHRIMP(!!) See why space snacks look awfully familiar at this hotel See where some of the best food is HIDING at the Star Wars Hotel Blue. Shrimp. But wait…there’s more! Want to learn about the fireworks in space? Click here! Get a FULL room tour for the Star Wars Hotel (and see as we dispel some of the myths about the rooms there) Check out all of the exclusive merchandise you can get at the Star Wars Hotel Learn about what is included if you step off the hotel and go on that excursion to Batuu Click here to see the only complete guide to the Star Wars Hotel you’ll ever need! There’s a queen bed in this bedroom, along with a pull-down bunk. There is a LOT to know about when it comes to the Star Wars hotel and we’re working on providing you with answers to all of your questions! Check out our video below for more info! If you have questions that aren’t answered by our posts, be sure to leave us a comment so we can get that answered. We can’t wait to hear your thoughts on this unique experience. Click here for our ultimate guide to the Star Wars Hotel! 2 — Genie+ Changes In more big news, we saw 2 important changes when it comes to Disney Genie+ (the paid service that has replaced FastPass+ in the parks). For starters, Disney has made a change when it comes to adding Genie+ to 1-day tickets. It’s a tiny word change, but it can make a big difference in your plans. According to Disney, guests who want to buy Genie+ for single-day use must now purchase the service through the My Disney Experience app on the same day of their visit. Click here to see more about this change. Lightning Lane sign at Princess Fairytale Hall In addition to that 1-day ticket change, Disney has also announced some limited-time changes coming to its lineup of rides that are available through Genie+ (the general $15 per day service) versus Individual Attraction Selection (the accompanying service that allows you to buy access to Lightning Lanes for select individual rides). Lightning Lane sign at EPCOT’s Frozen Ever After For a limited time starting today and ending in early August, 3 popular rides that are normally only available through Individual Attraction Selection will change to being available through the regular Disney Genie+ service. Specifically, the rides impacted will be Space Mountain, Frozen Ever After, and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. Click here to see more about this important Genie+ change! 3 — Flower and Garden Festival Menus & More The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is officially over for 2022, and we’re just days away from welcoming the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival! We’ve already started to see a number of topiaries and booths show up in the park for the festival, but this week we got even more exciting news! Mickey and Minnie Topiaries! First up, this week we got the FULL list of items that will be available as part of the Garden Graze challenge in EPCOT. Eat these 5 foods and you’ll get a FREE prize. Last year’s graze had some great items. We also got the FULL menus for all of the food booths coming to the Flower and Garden Festival! From returning favorites to new treats, there will be a whole bunch of deliciousness to enjoy at this year’s Festival! 2022 Booth We also recently got a sneak peek at the 5 merchandise collections coming to the Festival! Figment fans — get ready! ©Disney The Flower and Garden Festival starts on March 2nd and we’ll be there on opening day to bring you FULL booth reviews and more. Be sure to check back with us for all of those details. Click here to see the FULL menus for the Flower and Garden Festival! 4 — Lots of Disneyland News! But Disney World isn’t the only one with big news stories this week. We also got all kinds of updates from Disneyland! If you simply cannot wait for the return of nighttime shows at Disneyland, you’ll be glad to know that dates have been announced for the official return of various nighttime shows at Disneyland, including the Main Street Electrical Parade, the Disneyland Forever Fireworks, and Fantasmic!. Plus, we got a peek at a NEW float coming to the Main Street Electrical Parade and it’s got some amazing characters on it (including characters from Encanto!). ©Disney In other great Disneyland news, parking trams are BACK at the resort, so you can give those feet a rest ahead of or after a long day! And finally, in exciting news, the FULL menus for the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival have been announced. ©Disney This Festival begins on March 4th and we’ll be there to check it all out for you and bring you full reviews. Be sure to check back with us for all the latest details! Click here to see the MENUS for the DCA Food and Wine Festival! That’s our wrap-up of the biggest stories from this week, but we’ve got even MORE to share. Check out those stories by clicking the links below: Thunder Mountain has reopened in Disney World (after closing for a brief refurbishment) See how to navigate Disney World during a SOLD OUT holiday weekend Anna and Elsa are now meeting in the Royal Sommerhus again in EPCOT Disney is FINALLY selling themed scented candles (and you’re gonna want ALL of them!) It smells like honey! What’s going on with the Citrus Swirl in Magic Kingdom? We have an update New Annual Passholder magnets are coming and Disney is going to use a virtual queue for them See registration dates and prices for some upcoming runDisney races, including some races in 2023! You should probably AVOID Magic Kingdom on one day in May — here’s why Showtimes have been announced for the return of the Festival of Fantasy Parade in Disney World And that’s it for Disney news this week. We’ll keep an eye out for more updates and share those all with you. Hong Kong Disneyland has extended its closure — click here to see 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. When will you be visiting Disney World next? Tell us in the comments! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Recently, we were invited by Disney World to attend their media preview of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ The post 4 HUGE Disney Updates You Need to Know About Before Your Next Trip first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Listen, it’s totally possible to SAVE money on a Disney World vacation. Magic Kingdom Disney runs deals all the time on hotel rooms and packages, and we’ve got a list of discounts and affiliate programs that you can use to cut down the bill in the parks, hotels, and Disney Springs. But sometimes, we find an outside discount that’s an absolute knockout…and today that deal comes from Costco! Right now, Costco is running a limited-time deal for Walt Disney World Resort that may help you save on your trip! They’re offering a special package deal that includes 5-day Park Hopper Disney World tickets, accommodations at the Swan and Dolphin Resort, the daily resort fee, and all applicable taxes wrapped up in one price. Walt Disney World Swan Hotel Along with this package come some special benefits! First of all, you’ll get a complimentary double room upgrade to a Balcony Resort-View Room (which will be reflected in the price). And if you’re traveling with little ones, up to two children aged 3-9 can eat free from the kids’ menu at select restaurants and dining outlets for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (with a paying adult, per room, per stay). You’ll receive additional information on the “kids eat free” perk when you check-in at the hotel. Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin These deals are valid for travel dates from May 1st-December 23rd, 2022. Prices will vary depending on when you stay and how many people are in your party — you can price your vacation on the Costco Travel website. When we ran the numbers through the Costco site, we priced a trip for 2 adults traveling May 1st, 2022 – May 6th, 2022. With those parameters and a 5-day Park Hopper ticket, the total price was $2456.70. Pricing a similar package through Walt Disney World’s website for the same dates at the Dolphin Hotel came out to $3495.80 in total. These savings aren’t guaranteed for every trip, so make sure to price your vacation on both websites before booking to see which works better for you. Keep in mind that the Costco deal is only for Costco members. Swan and Dolphin Resort We’ll keep you updated on any more travel deals and offers that are coming soon, so stay tuned to DFB for the latest news from Disney World and beyond! Click Here to Learn About Current Deals from Disney! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Have you ever booked with Costco Travel? Tell us your experience in the comments! The post You Could SAVE on Your Next Disney World Trip if You're a Costco Member first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Meet Jamil, a Sales Guide with Disney Vacation Club, as he shares his story and how his family helped shape the future of diversity, equity and inclusion within Disney. One of Jamil’s earliest memories as a child was coming to Walt Disney World Resort with his family. “At a young age, my uncle instilled the […]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. If someone tells you that you cannot channel your Star Wars villain alter ego through your daily makeup look, just turn the other way ’cause you don’t need that negativity in your life! Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser We have been coming in hot with news about the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel lately, with details on everything from the food to the space fashion! Are you in need of some makeup to take your Star Wars Hotel look from drab to fab? Or maybe you can’t afford a trip on the Starcruiser but are still looking for a way to let the world know you are the BIGGEST Star Wars fan? Well, we recently found some Star Wars makeup online that would make any Sith Lord swoon and it’s something you won’t want to miss! We’ve got Star Wars on the brain these days, and apparently so do our friends over at Colourpop Cosmetics! They’ve come out with some great collaborations with Disney in the past, like the Frozen collection. ©Colourpop It features every item you would need to look like an Ice Queen! Get it for $84. Click Here for the Colourpop Frozen Collection There’s also a Baby Yoda Mandalorian collection (as if you don’t have enough Baby Yoda things already!). ©Colourpop Turns out Grogu loves earth tones and so do we. This set can be yours for $75. Click Here for the Colourpop Mandalorian Collection But, recently we spotted a NEW eyeshadow palette that even the most peaceful Jedi Knight might need to snatch up — it’s the Colourpop Darth Vader Shadow Palette! ©Colourpop It features nine colors inspired by the dark side and is sure to make you look out of this world! ©Colourpop You can get it from Colourpop for $16! Click Here for the Colourpop Darth Vader Shadow Palette If you’re looking for something to spice up your space look, we think this just might do the trick! We’re always looking for ways to bring Disney into our daily lives, so for more news like this be sure to stay tuned to DFB! Check Out Our Complete Guide to Disney’s Star Wars Hotel! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Would you wear this Disney makeup? Let us know in the comments! The post Will YOU Turn to the Dark Side and Snatch Up Disney's Latest Item? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney has been making a lot of live-action adaptations throughout the recent years, and they’re not slowing down any time soon! Lion King Photo Op We’ve seen The Lion King, Mulan, The Jungle Book, and more get live-action remakes, and there are a lot more in the works right now. There are also live-action films adapted from Disney rides, like the incredibly successful Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise and the more recent Jungle Cruise movie (which is getting a sequel, BTW!). One movie coming up has the unique distinction of being adapted from a ride AND being a remake — do you know what it is?? It’s The Haunted Mansion! Disney made a live-action movie from the ride back in 2003 starring Eddie Murphy, and it didn’t do too great a the box office (although, it does have some fun moments!). So, they’re trying their hand at it again and making another movie about the ride, and it JUST got a release date! ©Disney Haunted Mansion is scheduled to be released in theaters on March 10th, 2023, according to Deadline. They say that Disney already had the date on hold for an untitled event movie. And, no other major studio releases are dated for that weekend right now, so maybe the film will do better at the box office this time. Haunted Mansion in Disney World The screenplay was written by Katie Dippold and the film will be directed by Justin Simien. It will star Tiffany Haddish, Owen Wilson, Rosario Dawson, Danny DeVito, and LaKeith Stanfield. So, yeah — the cast is pretty stacked with talent (and actors who are no stranger to Disney projects!). We can’t wait to see what it’s like! ©Disney || Owen Wilson in Marvel’s Loki Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney entertainment news and updates. Click here to learn more about the upcoming Haunted Mansion movie! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Do you think this movie will be better than the first Haunted Mansion film? Or do you like the original? Let us know in the comments! The post RELEASE DATE Announced for Disney's NEW Haunted Mansion Movie first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Do you ever want to just run off to Paris for the weekend? We understand. The City of Lights is an exciting place with art, culture, history, fashion — oh, and Disneyland Paris is located there, duh! ©Disney || Disneyland Paris Well, it’s not directly in the city, the resort is about 20 miles east, but you get the picture! Running away to Disneyland Paris for the weekend isn’t realistic for everyone, but it’s about to be a whole lot easier for people located in the U.K. — London, in particular! The train service from London to Disneyland Paris is returning soon! Eurostar is bringing back the service starting this Sunday — February 27th, 2022. ©Disney There are 3 options you can choose from for your train journey — Standard, Standard Premier, and Business Premier — each at different price points. ©Eurostar Trains leave from London St. Pancras International Station and go all the way to Marne-la-Vallée Station, which is right where Disneyland Paris is located. Note that the DIRECT service is not returning until March 25th, 2022, but you can book an indirect trip for February 27th until then! The direct journey straight from London to Disneyland Paris is estimated to take about 2 hours and 49 minutes, according to Eurostar. Disneyland Paris 30th Anniversary Now you can get from London to Disneyland Paris with ease by using the train again! Maybe even book a journey so you can be there for the start of the 30th anniversary celebration this year. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney news and updates! Click here to learn about Disneyland Paris’ 30th anniversary celebration coming up soon! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Have you ever been to Disneyland Paris? Let us know in the comments! The post NEWS: The Train Between London and Disneyland Paris is Returning SOON first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The Downtown Disney District has been the home of Celebrate Soulfully offerings through music, food, art and more throughout the month of Feb. One of the most popular experiences has been live chalk art installations by Disney Live Entertainment Senior Production Artisan Marcella “Marci” Swett. “I’ve been doing art all of my life, and I […]View the full article