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Hello from Walt Disney World! Mood: Tree of Life on a sunny day It’s the end of January, so you would think the parks wouldn’t be very crowded, right? WRONG! We saw some big crowds this week in Disney World and we were very confused. But, did those crowds lead to long wait times around the parks? Let’s take a look! Magic Kingdom Let’s head to Magic Kingdom! This week, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train had the longest average wait time with 84 minutes! Woohooooo After that, we had Peter Pan’s Flight at 73 minutes, Jungle Cruise at 59 minutes, Space Mountain at 45 minutes, Haunted Mansion at 41 minutes, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at 37 minutes, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin at 37 minutes, Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh at 36 minutes, Pirates of the Caribbean at 35 minutes, and Astro Orbiter at 31 minutes. Some baby elephants under a full moon Next, we had “it’s a small world” at 28 minutes, Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid at 26 minutes, Barnstormer featuring the Great Goofini at 24 minutes, Dumbo the Flying Elephant at 22 minutes, and Magic Carpets of Aladdin at 20 minutes. Let’s go under the sea! Then, we saw Tomorrowland Speedway at 19 minutes, Mickey’s PhilharMagic at 17 minutes, Prince Charming Regal Carrousel at 16 minutes, Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover at 15 minutes, and Mad Tea Party at 15 minutes. PeopleMover And rides that only had wait times in the single digits were Country Bear Jamboree at 6 minutes, Carousel of Progress at 5 minutes, Tom Sawyer Island at 3 minutes, and Liberty Square Riverboat at 2 minutes. Rides with no waits were Hall of Presidents, Enchanted Tiki Room, and Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse. EPCOT Over in EPCOT, the ride with the longest average wait was Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at 80 minutes. Remy’s! Then, we had Frozen Ever After at 67 minutes, Test Track at 50 minutes, Soarin’ at 29 minutes, Journey into Imagination at 15 minutes, Mission: SPACE at 14 minutes, Spaceship Earth at 11 minutes, The Seas with Nemo and Friends at 11 minutes, Turtle Talk with Crush at 10 minutes, Living with the Land at 10 minutes, and Gran Fiesta Tour at 9 minutes. The old Figment can’t come to the phone right now The theater shows in EPCOT all had zero waits this past week! These included: Awesome Planet, Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along, Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival, Impressions de France, and Reflections of China! Hollywood Studios Moving on to Hollywood Studios, Rise of the Resistance had the highest average wait time this week at 112 minutes. Rise of the Resistance After that, we had Slinky Dog Dash at 71 minutes, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway at 56 minutes, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at 55 minutes, Toy Story Mania at 50 minutes, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster featuring Aerosmith at 46 minutes, and Tower of Terror at 46 minutes. Hold on! And finally, we had Alien Swirling Saucers at 32 minutes, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue at 17 minutes, Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy at 14 minutes, Walt Disney Presents at 12 minutes, and Muppet*Vision 3D at 10 minutes. Animal Kingdom Hopping over to Animal Kingdom, the ride with the longest average wait time this week was Avatar Flight of Passage at 86 minutes. Flight of Passage Then, we had Na’vi River Journey at 56 minutes, Kilimanjaro Safaris at 39 minutes, and DINOSAUR at 27 minutes. A group of zebras is called a dazzle! Following behind was Triceratop Spin at 11 minutes, It’s Tough to Be a Bug at 10 minutes, Kali River Rapids at 5 minutes, The Boneyard at 0 minutes, and Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail at 0 minutes. Kali River Rapids That’s your look at the average wait times around Walt Disney World this week! Stay tuned to DFB more Disney news and updates. Click here to see what’s new in Magic Kingdom! Check out our 2022 ULTIMATE guide to EPCOT! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Which ride do you wish could get a makeover in Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post 7 Rides Had Average Wait Times Over an HOUR in Disney World this Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

At DFB, we LOVE Disney World’s plastic cheese. You know, that golden, plastic-looking cheese that comes with Mickey pretzels and corn dog nuggets. It’s the kind of cheese that isn’t necessarily the world’s finest cheese, but it does exactly what it needs to do. What can we say — it’s a classic! And while you won’t find us disparaging plastic cheese very often, we do feel obligated to inform you that there is a HUGE difference between plastic cheese and beer cheese. Plastic Cheese is a favorite of ours! Ok, so what’s with all the cheese talk? Well, the latest victim of Disney’s supply issues seems to be cheese. Let’s investigate what’s going on! On a normal visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, we love to recommend the Bavarian Pretzel with beer-cheese fondue and spicy mustard at BaseLine Tap House. It’s salty, warm, and the dips are SO good! You can buy it for $9, which is pretty good for a large pretzel and two (quality) dipping sauces! Bavarian Pretzel with spicy mustard and beer cheese fondue Here’s a closer look at the beer-cheese fondue. Let’s be honest, you can just tell this is good cheese based on the picture! Beer Cheese Fondue During our recent visit to BaseLine, we (of course) ordered the Bavarian Pretzel. At this point, we were informed, according to an apologetic Cast Member, that Disney is currently out of beer cheese! Instead, we were given this (substandard) plastic cheese that tasted like melted American cheese. It was NOT as good as the normal cheddar dip. It was also different from that classic plastic cheese that we all know and love. That’s not the beer cheese we know and love! We had a similar experience over at Pongu Pongu in Disney’s Animal Kingdom! When we ordered the Na’vi-sized Pretzel, we were given something closer to plastic cheese instead of the regular beer cheese sauce included with the snack. The pretzel served here is $11.29. The same thing happened recently at Pongu Pongu! We’re hoping that this beer cheese shortage is over soon — we already miss that incredible dipping sauce! In the meantime, stay tuned for all the latest Disney news and park updates! The BEST 7 Pretzels 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. Would you still order these pretzels without the normal cheese dip? Let us know in the comments! The post The 🧀 CHEESE 🧀 Update You'll Want to Know About If You're Visiting Disney World Soon! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The first month of 2022 is coming to a close, so it’s time to recap the best and worst things we tried in January around Disney World! EPCOT Festival of the Arts January is one of the months of the year where we try a ton of new dishes at the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, so there were some top (and bottom) picks that you’ll find on this month’s list. But there were a few additional items we wanted to make sure we included as well! Let’s dive in and review the food and drink items that stood out to us from this past month, for better or for worse. The Best Tomato Soup with Bacon, Apple, and Brie Grilled Cheese – Pop Eats, Festival of the Arts If there’s any location in Disney World that knows how to make a mean grilled cheese, it’s the Pop Eats booth at the Festival of the Arts. Last year’s Tomato Soup with French Onion and Bacon Grilled Cheese made our Best of the Fest list as well as being one of the TOP picks for food items we ate in 2021. And this booth handily delivered once again with their Tomato Soup with Bacon, Apple, and Brie Grilled Cheese. Tomato Soup with Bacon, Apple, and Brie Grilled Cheese Pop Eats was the place to be the first weekend of the festival, as it was the singular spot you could purchase the now-infamous Figment Popcorn Bucket. The souvenir sensation has since sold out, but you can still find this winning food combo for $6.25. Click here to read our full review of Pop Arts from EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts Deconstructed Key Lime Pie – The Deconstructed Dish, Festival of the Arts One of our top dessert picks from the Festival of the Arts is the Deconstructed Key Lime Pie, which you can find at the aptly named Deconstructed Dish booth. The components of a Key Lime Pie are all present in this dish, including flexible key lime curd, a “Key lime” mousse, graham cracker cake, and meringues. But it’s the “deconstructed” presentation that makes this dish as memorable as it is tasty. Deconstructed Key Lime Pie At $4.75, this dessert is sweet, tart, refreshing, and delicious. Definitely don’t miss out on this dish if you find yourself at the Festival of the Arts before it concludes on February 21st. Click here to read our full review of Deconstructed Dish from EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts House-made Chorizo and Potato Empanada – Vibrante & Vívido, Festival of the Arts One of the booths we were looking forward to visiting the most at this year’s Festival of the Arts was Vibrante & Vívido: Encanto Cocina. The booth is inspired by Disney’s new animated film, Encanto, and it features a variety of Colombian-inspired dishes, including the colorful and savory House-made Chorizo and Potato Empanada. Chorizo and Potato Empanada Not only did we enjoy the taste of this dish, but it’s also a great value. At $6.50, you’re given a rather large empanada that you could easily share with a friend! Click here to read our full review of Vibrante & Vivido from EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts Hei Hei Cone – Snack Shack Let’s take a short break from chatting about the Festival of the Arts to talk about some of the other memorable items we tried in January! Typhoon Lagoon reopened this month after a nearly two-year-long closure, and it brought with it the return of our beloved Hei Hei Cone! The Hei Hei Cone is back!!! This frozen treat inspired by Moana’s fine-feathered sidekick is made with a blue cone, pineapple soft serve, raspberry soft serve, sugar “eye” pieces,” and a sour candy “comb. You can find the cone at Snack Shack for $5.29. Click here to read more about the return of the Hei Hei Cone! Doodle Muffin – Boardwalk Bakery We knew a few Festival of the Arts dishes would wind up on our “Best” list for the month of January, but we were pleasantly surprised to find the Doodle Muffin from Boardwalk Bakery on this list as well! Look at that shimmering sugar! Boardwalk Bakery comes up every now and then on our “Best” list for the month, and for good reason! You can find a lot of freshly baked goodies here. The Doodle Muffin is inspired by snickerdoodle cookies and is made with a vanilla cake muffin with a cinnamon-sugar coating all over the outside. It only costs $3.99, making this a truly sweet deal. Click here to read our full review of the Doodle Muffin! Mad Hatter’s Unbirthday Tea – Cheshire Cafe This month, Disney World released several new 50th Anniversary Celebration treats, including the Mad Hatter’s Unbirthday Tea at Cheshire Cafe! This frozen beverage is a mixture of frozen black tea with mango and frozen sour apple on top, garnished with whipped cream and a white chocolate 10/6 piece to resemble the Mad Hatter’s hat. Mad Hatter’s Unbirthday Tea This drink comes in at $5.99 and is a great mixture of flavors — but you have to make sure you actually mix them all together with your straw. We will mention that this drink is probably even more well suited for the warmer months, so hopefully, it sticks around through the summer. Click here to read our full review of the Mad Hatter’s Unbirthday Tea! The Worst Crooning Flower – Aloha Isle While the Mad Hatter’s Unbirthday Tea was an example of a new 50th Anniversary Celebration treat that we enjoyed, we, unfortunately, cannot say the same for the Crooning Flower. Aloha Isle had a strong showing this past October with their anniversary treats, which included our fave Tropical Serenade. Crooning Flower This Dole Whip float is made with lime and vanilla soft-serve swirl over pineapple juice and topped with a blue chocolate feather (ours came with a pink sugar flower). While Dole Whip float flavors typically go well together, we couldn’t get ourselves to enjoy the lime and pineapple combo. If you’re curious and want to give it a try, it costs $7.49. Click here to read our full review of the Crooning Flower! Frozen Rusty Nail – Gourmet Landscape, Festival of the Arts We’re back at the EPCOT Festival of the Arts for a few not-so-pleasant selections. Gourmet Landscape in the Canada Pavilion is where you’ll find the Frozen Rusty Nail — which in all honesty isn’t doing itself any favors with a name like that. Frozen Rusty Nail This cocktail is made with bourbon, tea, and topped with a chocolate nail. Its very strong chai tea flavor was too overwhelming, and the overall flavor came across as medicinal. Definitely not what you want as an aftertaste, and for a whopping $15, you’ll want something at least halfway pleasant. Click here to read our full review of Gourmet Landscape from EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts! Gnocchi Poutine – Refreshment Port, EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts This next item ranks high on our “most disappointed” dishes for the month of January. Refreshment Port is open year-round at EPCOT, featuring their signature Poutine. But for the EPCOT festivals, they typically add a special poutine dish to the menu (and it’s usually pretty stellar!). That’s why we felt so let down by the Gnocchi Poutine. Gnocchi Poutine with red wine-braised beef, cheese curds, basil, and burrata This plate of deep-fried gnocchi with red wine-braised beef, cheese curds, basil, and burrata came off as really dry, and the cheese curds and burrata combo left us with a very odd texture. A for effort, but the execution kind of fell flat. If you want to try it at the festival this season, it costs $9. Click here to read our full review of Refreshment Port’s menu from EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts! Cherry Blossom Funnel Cake – The Funnel Cake Stand, EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts Another huge letdown this month was the Cherry Blossom Funnel Cake from The Funnel Cake Stand! This location has had some bold funnel cakes in previous EPCOT festivals, and we’re always curious to see what they’ll come up with next. This season’s creation is a chocolate-chip funnel cake topped with cherry ice cream, rainbow whipped cream, chocolate chips, and a maraschino cherry. Chocolate chip funnel cake topped with cherry ice cream, rainbow whipped cream, chocolate chips, and a maraschino cherry Our biggest issue with this funnel cake was the cherry ice cream had a very “fake” flavor to it, though fortunately, it blended with the other flavors. If you’re big into artificial cherry flavors, then you actually may enjoy this! But for us, we prefer the real deal. This funnel cake costs $10.50. Click here to read our full review of the Cherry Blossom Funnel Cake from EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts! That’s a wrap on the best and the worst items we tried in the month of January at Disney World! We’ll be back next month with another roundup of the top and bottom Click here to read our Best of the Fest picks from EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts! 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 in 2022? Let us know in the comments! The post The BEST (and WORST) Things We Ate at Disney World in January first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We would live at Disney World if we could! Magic Kingdom! Well, some people on our team live in Orlando, but we’re talking INSIDE the Disney parks day in and day out. Like breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the parks, and then going to sleep on the hub grass, trying to tune out the faint sound of the ‘it’s a small world’ animatronics, churning away in the night. Unfortunately, Disney has a problem with people living in the parks, which is understandable, but we want more park time! Sure there’s Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours, but if you’re not staying at a Disney resort, then these aren’t available to you. Well, gather ’round friends, because we just noticed some of the parks changed their hours for February, and you’re gonna want to check it out! There have been some changes to the Disney World schedule for the week of February 13th-19th. We made a post a while back talking about theme park hours for the next few months, but some things have shifted, so let’s start with Magic Kingdom! Cinderella Castle Magic Kingdom Park Hours: For the week of February 13th, Magic Kingdom’s opening hours have stayed the same, but the closing times have changed! Now, the park will close at 10PM on February 13th, 14th, 17th, 18th, and 19th. On the 15th and 16th, the park will be open until 9, with Extended Evening Hours on the 16th. ©Disney Those are all of the changes at Magic Kingdom, so let’s check out what’s different at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! Animal Kingdom Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park Hours: Disney’s Animal Kingdom has had some changes in the opening times as well as closing, so let’s go through them! Animal Kingdom will be opening an hour earlier at 8AM on February 13th, 14th, 18th, and 19th. The park will close an hour later at 8PM on February 13th, 18th, and 19th. ©Disney Those are all of the changes at Animal Kingdom, so let’s check out EPCOT! Spaceship Earth! EPCOT Park Hours: There’s a lot going on at EPCOT right now with the 2022 Festival of the Arts happening right now! There’s only 1 change to EPCOT’s schedule, but hopefully it’ll give you a little more time to experience everything the festival has to offer! EPCOT will be opening 1 hour earlier at 9AM on February 19th! ©Disney Those are all of the changes to the Disney World schedule that we saw, but we’ll keep you updated if anything else is different! Stay tuned to DFB for more! Click here to see which Disney World Park just got a NEW Perk! 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 gone to the Disney parks before they opened in the morning? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney World Park Hours EXTENDED on Limited Days in February first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Part of planning a Disney World trip is knowing which rides and attractions you want to visit while you’re there. There are all kinds of options, including shows, roller coasters, boat rides, and more. Walt Disney World Railroad Sometimes these attractions will be unavailable for a while when Disney is working on some refurbishments or improvements on them. To make sure you know what to expect before your trip, we made a list of everything that will be closed in Disney World next week. Check it out so that you aren’t caught off guard during your vacation! Magic Kingdom has a couple of refurbishments going on right now, which means that two popular attractions are currently unavailable. Magic Kingdom Splash Mountain Splash Mountain is one of Disney World’s iconic mountain attractions. It’s located in Frontierland, and it takes guests on a boat ride that ends in a thrilling drop into the Briar Patch. Splash Mountain Construction Right now, this ride is closed due to scheduled refurbishments. Splash Mountain Scaffolding No, these aren’t expected to be the updates that will transform it into a Princess and the Frog-themed attraction. We can’t wait to see that re-theme, but it will probably take a lot longer than the current closure. Splash Mountain is closed right now Splash Mountain is scheduled to reopen in about two weeks, on February 11th. Walt Disney World Railroad The poor Walt Disney World Railroad is on our list every week because it has been closed for a very long time. WDW Railroad station The closure is due to both updates on the attraction and construction happening in Tomorrowland on the upcoming TRON: Lightcycle Run roller coaster. TRON construction The TRON roller coaster doesn’t have an opening date yet, so we don’t know when construction might be finished there. On our recent trips to Tomorrowland, it looks like the progress is coming along well, though! TRON Progress We’ll let you know as soon as we hear of an opening date for either TRON or the WDW Railroad. Click Here to Learn Which Attractions Close for Bad Weather Disney’s Animal Kingdom Expedition Everest Another mountain ride is closed, this one in Disney’s Animal Kingdom (it’s just a rough time for the mountains in Disney World!). Expedition Everest is unavailable right now. Expedition Everest is closed Everest’s refurbishments will last for a few more months. Disney announced that it will reopen in mid-April 2022, but there isn’t a specific opening date yet. It’s very quiet over here right now! On the refurbishments calendar, this ride is scheduled to be closed at least through April 8th, but that’s as far as the calendar goes right now. Finding Nemo: The Musical Finding Nemo: The Musical is also closed in Animal Kingdom. But this show is actually not going to return — at least, the old version won’t return. ©Disney A reimagined show called Finding Nemo: The Big Blue…and Beyond! will debut sometime in 2022. Finding Nemo: The Musical It will be similar to the original Finding Nemo show, with puppets and musical numbers. Some of the original songs are even going to carry over into the new version. But the story will be completely changed, as it will follow the timeline of Finding Dory. Click Here to Learn Everything You’re Doing Wrong in the Animal Kingdom Disney’s Hollywood Studios Voyage of the Little Mermaid The Voyage of the Little Mermaid show is still closed in Hollywood Studios, and it doesn’t have a reopening date yet. Voyage of the Little Mermaid For all the Ariel fans out there, the Journey of the Little Mermaid ride is still open in Magic Kingdom! The attractions aren’t really the same (since the Voyage of the Little Mermaid is a show and the Magic Kingdom attraction is a ride), but both feature the story and characters from the movie. Fantasmic! Fantasmic! is a beloved nighttime show in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It hasn’t played since Disney World reopened in 2020, but Disney has announced that it will return sometime in 2022. Fantasmic! Like the Finding Nemo show, Fantasmic! will have a few major changes when it comes back. For example, we know that there will be some new stunts and characters in the show. Click Here to Learn How Your Phone Can Help You Skip a Merchandise Line in Hollywood Studios EPCOT Souk-Al-Magreb The only attraction that’s missing from EPCOT right now is actually a gift shop. Souk-Al-Magreb is located in the Morocco pavilion of World Showcase, along the promenade. Still closed! This store has been closed for a while, but it’s finally reopening soon! It should open its doors on February 6th, which is next Sunday. Click Here to See Everything NEW Coming to the 2022 Flower and Garden Festival Disney World Hotels Although all Disney World hotels are now accepting reservations, there are still some refurbishments going on that you should know about. Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort has still not reopened. But you can book your reservations now for when it finally returns on March 31st, 2022. Mighty Ducks section of Disney’s 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 Certain DVC Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa are closed right now for a few refurbishments. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Disney is adding new pull-out beds to these rooms. ©Disney Note that the Grand Floridian Spa reopened recently, and they are currently taking reservations for spa treatments. Grand Floridian Spa You can book your hair appointment, massage, manicure, or more now! Disney World Hotel Pools Whether you’re returning to the hotel for an afternoon of rest or heading for a late-night swim, the hotel pools are an important part of Disney World resorts. A couple of these pools are currently closed, but they each have a backup option for guests staying at their respective resorts. At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, the Samawati Springs Pool (at Kidani Village) is currently unavailable and will be closed through April 2022. Samawati Springs Pool at Kidani Village Guests at the Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village can head over to the Jambo House area to use the Uzima Springs Pool instead. Animal Kingdom Lodge Pool The Flippin’ Fins Pool at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort (in the Little Mermaid section) is currently closed, and it will remain closed through late February of this year. Flippin’ Fins Pool If you’re staying at this hotel, you can use the Big Blue Pool (in the Finding Nemo section) or the Cozy Cone Pool (in the Cars section), which have both remained open. Click Here to See Which Disney World Hotel Has the Best Rooms Disney World Water Parks It’s been pretty chilly in Disney World lately, which might explain why the Typhoon Lagoon water park has been closed for a few days this month. Typhoon Lagoon is showing times for next week, which means that it should be open for guests. We’ll let you know if that changes in the near future. Typhoon Lagoon Blizzard Beach is still closed in Disney World, and Disney hasn’t announced an opening date for this water park yet. Right now, all of the attractions are listed on the refurbishments schedule for at least another month. Blizzard Beach on a sunny day We’ll keep an eye out to see when this park might reopen. Check Out the Reopening of Typhoon Lagoon That’s a wrap on our update for what’s going to be closed in Disney World next week. If you’re heading to Disney World soon, we hope you have an awesome trip! Keep an eye on DFB for all the latest news and announcements from Disney. Check Out the Progress on a Mystery Project, 3 Roller Coasters, and More 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. Which Disney World attractions are on your “must-visit” list? Let us know in the comments! The post 3 Rides and 3 Shows Will Be Closed in Disney World Next Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew in Disney Springs, since its opening just a year ago (it feels like it’s been around for way longer, maybe because we love it so much!), has been serving up delicious, creative donuts and cold brew. However, there’s more to this spot than the average donut or coffee: the seasonal flavors, donut breakfast sandwiches, and loaded fries have blown us away at this Disney Springs spot. Everglazed Donuts and Cold Brew Today, we’re taking a look at a new limited-time flavor that’s perfect for the Valentine’s Day season! Starting today (January 29th), Everglazed is offering a limited-time Strawberry Cake Donut! This is a lightly glazed cake donut made with real strawberries and that’s sure to be a crisp, satisfying bite. Be sure to head over to Everglazed as soon as you can to get this new flavor, it’s only available for a limited-time! When it comes to seasonal flavors, we’ve seen some of these limited items disappear in a flash while others stayed around for a couple of days or even weeks. Mmm…Donutssss We’re excited to get our hands on one of these new donuts! We might have to make a trip over to Disney Springs just to grab one. If we do end up getting one, we’ll have a detailed review for you! Didn’t Think Disney World Churros Could Get Any Better? Think Again! 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 this new donut flavor? Are you going to go to Everglazed to get it? Let us know in the comments! The post A Fan-Favorite Disney World Donut Spot Has A NEW Limited-Time Flavor! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney’s infamous supply chain issues strike again! We’ve seen everything from holiday collection Minnie ears to ornaments showing up around the parks and resorts lately, and we have a feeling all this Christmas-themed merchandise was meant to be released back in December… Either way, we’re always happy to see something new in Disney World! Hey, Chewy! Today, during our visit to EPCOT, we found a new Star Wars-themed mug! Disney’s Starbucks mugs and tumblers are usually pretty collectible items (looking at you, 50th Anniversary Starbucks tumbler), but the question is: will people rush to buy the newest Star Wars Starbucks mug? New mug alert! Disney’s new Starbucks mug is based on a Star Wars holiday called Life Day! (Think of it like Christmas but in space!) The new mug was found at the Port of Entry store in the EPCOT World Showcase. As you can see, Chewy is all decked out in his special Life Day outfit! Happy belated Life Day! Inside, the mug has some sweet Life Day words, including “Family, Joy, and Harmony.” We’re feeling the holiday spirit all over again! This is a sweet little detail! You can buy this new mug for $19.99 in Disney World now! Be sure to follow along for all the latest Disney news and park updates! HURRY! A Life Day ‘Star Wars’ Starbucks Tumbler and MORE Are Now Available 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. What do you think about this new mug? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney World's Newest Starbucks Mug Celebrates a Holiday You Might Not Know! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Listen here, friends: it is COLD in Florida right now! We’re not even talking a little chill or a cool breeze…our reporters have been FREEZING in the parks. If you’re planning a trip to Disney World in the next week, you might not be prepared for the cold temperatures, which is why we’re here to help! It’s been COLD! Don’t underestimate the sunny state of Florida — this winter is no joke! While you probably won’t need your snow pants or your thermal underwear, you should still pack some jackets and be prepared to layer up! Now, let’s take a look at next week’s weather forecast in Disney World! Weather Forecast We’re in the middle of winter, so it’s no surprise that the cool temperatures are here to stay (at least for now!). Last week, the temperature average was in the mid-60s, with lows in the 40s and 50s. This week, we might see the high temperature reach 70°! Let’s GO!! Could the weather in February be a little more bearable? According to The Weather Channel, you can expect your days to be cool and cloudy for the first week of February, with lows ranging between the mid-40s to the low 60s. January 31st Monday, January 31st is expected to be a chilly day. Luckily, the wind won’t be too gusty, and there’s a very low chance of rain pretty much all day. Don’t forget your sunglasses; even if it looks cloudy when you leave your hotel, the sun could come out later in the day! ©The Weather Channel We suggest that you wear pants or a long-sleeve shirt (or both!). As a rule, it’s always a good idea to dress in layers so you can adjust throughout the day! February 1st On Tuesday, February 1st, it should be a little warmer! The low is only 56°, which is a big improvement from the low-40s we saw in January. ©The Weather Channel It might be a little windier, though, which could make a 70° day feel cooler! February 2nd Halfway through the week, the temperatures are even warmer! Wednesday, February 2nd, has a 77° high and a 63° low, which should make for a beautiful day at Disney World! ©The Weather Channel While the temperature may not look chilly, pay attention to that wind prediction! The wind can be the silent-but-sneaky force that really changes the weather. February 3rd On Thursday, February 3rd, the temperature is expected to go all the way up to 79°! Even the low is only 63°, which is great news for people looking to escape the colder weather up north. ©The Weather Channel So far, it’s shaping up to be a pretty nice week in Disney World! February 4th For Friday, February 4th, the weather looks pretty similar to the rest of the week. It might feel a little chillier than the previous few days (the low is 49°) but 73° in the middle of winter is pretty good if you ask us! ©The Weather Channel There seems to be a pretty consistent 24% chance of rain for a few days in a row. We still recommend that you pack an umbrella or two, just in case! February 5th By now, you can probably get a pretty good sense of what to expect for Saturday, February 5th! There’s a 24% chance of precipitation (again!!), winds at 5-10 miles per hour, and humidity in the high 50-70% range. ©The Weather Channel Between the breezy winds and the high humidity, it can be hard to predict exactly how cool or warm you’ll feel. This is why it’s best to bring a variety of clothing options so you can feel it out and decide what to wear when you’re in Florida. February 6th Finally, Sunday, February 6th ends the week with a high of 65° and a low in the evening of 52°. ©The Weather Channel We’re liking the way this weather is looking, don’t you agree? Overview of the Week Here is a full overview of the week courtesy of The Weather Channel. The temperature will range between 65-79 degrees during the day, then drop to the 40-50s at night. Keep in mind that these predictions might change between now and then, but for now, this should give you a pretty good idea of what to expect. ©The Weather Channel We checked a few other websites, like Click Orlando News 6… ©Click Orlando News 6 …and WESH 2 News. It looks like everyone is reporting similar forecasts for the week. ©WESH 2 News Of course, it’s always important to remember that Florida weather can be unpredictable! Keep your eyes on the forecast throughout the week so you know what to expect! How Should You Plan? Now, let’s look at a few ways you prepare for the week ahead! Bring OPTIONS! Maybe one day you could find yourself in a t-shirt, while the next day you’re bundled up in a hat and pants! Our point is, don’t limit yourself to only one type of clothing. Wear a t-shirt, but layer a hoodie on top — that way, you can just take off your sweatshirt if you get too hot. By the way, it’s almost Valentine’s Day! If you’re worried about taking up too much space in your suitcase, look for tops in a nice midweight material — they’re a great compromise if you hate the idea of layers. (Spirit jerseys are a great example!) The Ultimate Packing List Of Tried and True Gear For Disney World — Tested by the PROS! Warm-up with hot chocolate! If you’re feeling especially cold in Disney World, drink (or eat) something warm! Many spots in Disney World serve hot cocoa when the weather hits a certain temperature, and you might also find special drinks like Hot Mint Tea from Oasis Sweets & Sips in the Morocco pavilion of EPCOT. Mmm, hot chocolate! There are several different quick service locations in Disney World that serve hot cocoa, as well as your typical spots like Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea kiosks and Starbucks locations! Where to Find Good Soup (Yes…Soup!) In Disney World And that covers this week’s update on next week’s weather! We hope you have some FUN at Disney World in February! As always, stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney tips! Our Top 50 ALL-TIME BEST Disney Dining Tips! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Are you planning a trip to Disney World soon? Let us know in the comments! The post Could the First Week of February Bring WARMER Weather to Disney World? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’ve got to hand it to ya, Disney. You’re KILLING it with the Disney+ content! Between all the new Star Wars movies and shows and the EPIC Marvel series like WandaVision and Loki, there’s constantly something new to check out! ©Disney Speaking of new content on Disney+, have you heard that Disney is working on a new Santa Clause series? We still don’t know too much about the upcoming Santa Clause series on Disney+, though we do know that Tim Allen will return to reprise his role AND serve as the executive producer of the series! Production is set to begin in March! The Santa Clause ©Disney It’s time to pass the torch! The series will follow Scott Calvin (played by Tim Allen) as he sets out to “find a suitable replacement Santa while preparing his family for a new adventure in a life south of the pole.” ©Disney Now, we found out that another classic character is returning to reprise their role! According to Variety, actress Elizabeth Mitchell will return to play Scott Calvin’s wife Carol Calvin (Mrs. Claus). ©Variety We’re so excited to see so many members of the original cast join the new series! In the meantime, be sure to stay tuned for all the latest Disney news! Click here to learn more about the NEW Santa Clause series! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Are you planning on streaming this upcoming show? Let us know in the comments! The post The NEW Disney+ 'Santa Clause' Series Will Feature ANOTHER Familiar Face! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney+ has been up to big things lately! From Emmy and Grammy award-winning shows to a whole slew of new Marvel, Star Wars, and Disney series around the corner, there are a lot of reasons to be excited about the streaming service’s future. ©Disney Today, we found out about a MAJOR expansion coming to the service that will take Disney+ worldwide! According to the Hollywood Reporter, this Summer, Disney+ is expanding its service to 42 countries and 11 territories in the Middle East, Europe, and Africa! This is a major step for the service, which has been rapidly expanding since its launch in 2019. ©Disney Here are some of the notable countries included in this new expansion: Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Montenegro, Morocco, North Macedonia, Oman, Palestine, Poland, Qatar, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Vatican City, and Yemen. Whether this will be under the name Disney+, Disney+ Hotstar, Star, or something else, is unclear as of now. ©Disney | Wanda and Vision in the 70s The service will also be arriving in the following territories: Faroe Islands, French Polynesia, French Southern Territories, St. Pierre and Miquelon Overseas Collective, Åland Islands, Sint Maarten, Svalbard & Jan Mayen, British Indian Ocean Territory, Gibraltar, Pitcairn Islands, and St. Helena. This might not seem like a huge deal for us in the states, but this is a major step forward for Disney+ that could help the Walt Disney Company recover from its losses during the pandemic. ©Disney We probably won’t know the full effects of this expansion on the Walt Disney Company until later this year, but this could mean great things for Disney+! Of course, we’ll keep you posted on what happens next and what it means for Disney+, Disney parks, and beyond. We Have a DATE For Disney’s Q1 Earnings Call 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 this news? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney+ Expanding to Over 40 Countries This Summer first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World is full of hidden Mickeys! See the hidden Mickey?! Some of them are pretty obvious, while others you reallllly have to look for. Others, you won’t notice unless they’re pointed out to you, like the one on Splash Mountain. You can find hidden Mickeys in both the hotels and the parks, and even go on scavenger hunts to look for them. You may think you know where all of the hidden Mickeys are in Disney World, but we know about one that most people don’t notice! Over in Animal Kingdom, there’s a really fun hidden Mickey that you pretty much have to know about to spot. Inside Discovery Trading Company, there’s a painting of the Tree of Life located in the Footprints Room above the door. Look up! The actual Tree of Life has hundreds of animals carved into it, but this painting includes an additional famous mouse! Do you think you can spot Mickey? Look very carefully…do you see him? He’s pretty hard to find, but once you do find him, he can’t be unseen! Find him yet? There he is! Right above the waterfall, lurking in the shadows. Honestly, Mickey looks a bit creepy compared to the rest of the picture! Mickey, you’re kind of scaring us So, now you have a super fun detail you can point out to your friends and family on your next Animal Kingdom trip. We’ll be on the lookout for other fun hidden Mickeys, so stay tuned to DFB for more! Click here to see the hidden Mickey most guests never get to see in Disney World! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Do you have a favorite hidden Mickey? Let us know in the comments! The post PHOTO: This Hidden Mickey in Disney World is Freaking Us Out first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The churro. It’s a magical, crispy treat that’s one of the best parts of our job (seriously, who doesn’t want to eat some yummy churros?). We’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to churros, so we’re kind of churro connoisseurs at this point! Apple Pie Churro Today, a popular churro spot announced a new seasonal flavor and we’re so ready to munch on it! Over at Sunshine Churros in Disney Springs, you can get the new Dulce de Leche Churro! This delicious treat is a Churro rolled in Powdered Sugar and topped with Dulce de Leche caramel. Just when you thought churros couldn’t get any better, Disney puts caramel on them! Sunshine Churros, which has two locations in Disney Springs, is known for putting a gourmet twist on the classic fried treat we know and love. Year-round, they have all sorts of creative flavors like watermelon and Fruity Pebbles as well as dipped and gourmet churros, but the real star of the show are those seasonal churros, like this new Dulce de Leche flavor! Sunshine Churros In the past, we’ve enjoyed seasonal flavors like the Key Lime Pie Churro and the Thin Mint Churro, even if things got a little messy while we were eating them! We’d definitely recommend stopping by Sunshine Churros and checking out their latest seasonal bites. Key Lime Pie Churro We’re always excited to hear about a new treat at Disney World, especially a delicious churro! We’ll be in Disney Springs soon and give you a full review of this new treat! Can a VEGAN Meatball Sub Deliver on Flavor in Disney World? We’ve Got Our Answer Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Are you excited to try this new churro? What’s your favorite Disney churro flavor? Let us know in the comments! The post Didn't Think Disney World Churros Could Get Any Better? Think Again! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

At the beginning of this year, Disney World officially discontinued the Magical Express service. Disney’s Magical Express This service offered free transportation to and from Orlando International Airport for guests staying at Disney World hotels. With Magical Express discontinued, the company that provided the transportation for Disney, Mears, has now begun offering airport transfer services which guests can purchase separately. Guests have the option to book their airport transportation directly through Mears. In addition, Disney also lists ground transportation as an add-on option for guests booking a Disney World hotel or vacation package. Ground Transportation is Now Listed as an Add-On Option Disney offers several ground transportation options, including car rentals and transfer services through Mears. Ground Transportation Options There are a number of different Mears transfer service options available and the price varies depending on the option selected. There Are Several Service Options Provided through Mears For guests planning an upcoming Disney World vacation, there are several different choices for ground transportation now that Magical Express is no longer an option. Be sure to do your research ahead of your trip to decide which option is the best for you and your travel party! Mears Connect: First Reactions to the NEW Disney World Airport Transportation Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. How do you plan to get to Disney World from the airport on your next vacation? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney World Offering Ground Transportation from Mears as Add-On Option first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney Genie and Genie+ launched last fall in Disney World, bringing big changes to the way we plan for (and budget) our days in the parks. Disney Genie is a complimentary service located within My Disney Experience, providing guests with customized itineraries based on real-time data and personal preferences. Lightning Lane Genie+, on the other hand, is a PAID service that replaced what used to be known as FastPass+. The days of booking a return time for your favorite ride at no additional cost are behind us, and guests must now purchase Genie+ if they want to experience an expedited wait. Genie+ costs $15 per guest, per day. You can either purchase Genie+ ahead of your trip (note that if you choose this option, you must purchase Genie+ for the entire length of your stay), or you can purchase Genie+ on a day-to-day basis after you arrive. A Disney World vacation is already a pricey endeavor, so the added $15 per guest, per day may be a tricky cost to justify. Haunted Mansion Lightning Lane Sign So, what exactly is included with that Genie+ purchase? Let’s take a look at an UPDATED list of what you’ll be able to do once you pay for Genie+. Book Return Times for Most Rides and Attractions The main feature of Genie+ is the ability to book return times for MOST rides and attractions in Disney World (46 rides and attractions, to be exact). This system works similarly to FastPass+ in that you are able to book a one-hour return time to hop in the ride’s Lightning Lane (the new name for the FastPass queue) and experience an expedited wait for that ride. Pirates of the Caribbean When you purchase Genie+, you are able to book your first Lightning Lane reservation at 7AM each day. Depending on which park you visit, you may need to act quickly as return times can fill up for the day early! From there, you are able to book additional return times when you’ve tapped into your Lightning Lane attraction OR 120 minutes have passed. So, you can fit a decent number of rides into your day with Genie+ if you strategize accordingly and the Lightning Lane wait times are agreeable. Click here to learn more about the “120 Minute Rule” with Genie+ Here’s a full list of the rides and attractions that are currently included with your purchase of Genie+: Magic Kingdom Haunted Mansion Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Splash Mountain Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor Tomorrowland Speedway The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid Mickey’s PhilharMagic Mad Tea Party Peter Pan’s Flight “it’s a small world” Pirates of the Caribbean Jungle Cruise Dumbo the Flying Elephant The Barnstormer The Magic Carpets of Aladdin EPCOT Spaceship Earth Soarin’ Living With the Land Test Track Journey Into Imagination with Figment Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival Turtle Talk with Crush The Seas with Nemo and Friends Mission: SPACE Disney’s Hollywood Studios Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run Slinky Dog Dash Star Tours Tower of Terror Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular Toy Story Mania Alien Swirling Saucers Muppet*Vision 3D Frozen Sing-Along Celebration Beauty and the Beast — Live on Stage Disney Junior — Live on Stage Disney’s Animal Kingdom Kilimanjaro Safaris Festival of the Lion King Kali River Rapids Feathered Friends in Flight! DINOSAUR It’s Tough to Be a Bug Na’vi River Journey The Animation Experience For all of the rides listed above, standby queues are available at no additional cost if you do not wish to purchase Genie+. It’s important to point out that guests are NOT able to re-book the same attraction multiple times throughout the day. So if your goal is to ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad as many times as possible, you’ll only be able to do so once via Lightning Lane — all of the other times must be via standby. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Also, keep in mind that Genie+ DOES recognize if you are Park Hopping, so you can take into account the full list of rides and attractions at each theme park when calculating the pros and cons of paying for this service. Tower of Terror Now, you may have noticed a few popular rides were not included in the list above — that’s because Genie+ does not include EVERY ride and attraction in Disney World. These Individual Attraction Selections are NOT included and require a separate fee if you wish to book a return time for those ride’s Lightning Lanes. Rise of the Resistance The following rides are NOT included with Genie+ and require a separate fee: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (Magic Kingdom) Space Mountain (Magic Kingdom) Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure (EPCOT) Frozen Ever After (EPCOT) Rise of the Resistance (Disney’s Hollywood Studios) Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway (Disney’s Hollywood Studios) Flight of Passage (Disney’s Animal Kingdom) Expedition Everest (Disney’s Animal Kingdom) Keep in mind that you do NOT have to purchase Genie+ in order to book Lightning Lane return times for the above Individual Attraction Selections. Click here for more info on how to book a pay-per-ride attraction that does not come included with Genie+ Book Return Times For Select Character Meet and Greets In addition to most rides and attractions, guests may also book return times for select character meet and greet experiences at Disney World with the purchase of Genie+. This feature recently rolled out, providing guests with more value built into the $15 per guest, per day price tag. Olaf! We missed you! As of this writing, the following meet and greets are available for booking an expedited wait for using Lightning Lane with the purchase of Genie+: Mickey at Town Square Theater (Magic Kingdom) Princess Tiana and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall (Magic Kingdom) Cinderella and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall (Magic Kingdom) Olaf at Celebrity Spotlight (Disney’s Hollywood Studios) Who’s the leader of the club? Disney has been slowly reintroducing indoor character meet and greets in recent months, though they are still in a modified format. Guests cannot ask for hugs or autographs, but socially distanced selfies are permitted. Other characters can appear at various outdoor locations in the parks throughout the day, so keep your eyes peeled. We’ll let you know if additional meet and greets are added to Genie+. Click here to see what character meet and greets are like at Disney World right now. Augmented Reality Photo Lenses and Audio Experiences By purchasing Genie+ in Disney World, you’re also able to use special Augmented Reality photo lenses located within My Disney Experience. ©Disney Disney parks-themed audio experiences are also available for guests to use, which shares fun facts about the attractions and other areas surrounding you in the parks. Click here to learn more about the Augmented Reality photo lenses that you can use when you purchase Genie+! Want to learn more about Genie+? Check out our YouTube video below: As Disney World includes more guest offerings with the purchase of Genie+, the $15 per guest, per day price tag can seem like a better value to some. Still, for many guests, it’s hard to justify paying extra for something that was once included with your park admission. No matter what your thoughts are on Genie+, we hope this was helpful in reviewing what’s included and assessing whether or not it’s worth purchasing on your next Disney World vacation. Click here to learn EVERYTHING you need to know when it comes to using Disney Genie and Genie+ All About Disney Genie, Genie+, and Individual Attraction Selection READ THIS Before Using the New Genie Planning Tool in Disney World Check Out the FULL List of Rides Included With Genie+ in Disney World See What Rides You Can Pay EXTRA For in Disney World & How Much They’ll Cost Learn What Rides Are Included With Genie+ in Disneyland (Plus the Ones You’ll Pay EXTRA to Ride) You CAN’T Re-Ride Disney World Attractions With Genie+ You CAN’T Cancel Pay-Per-Ride Selections in Disney World Get the Answers to All of Your Burning Questions About Disney Genie See Why You’ll Want to Stay in a Disney World Hotel When it Comes to Disney’s Pay-Per-Ride System Here’s What Annual Passholders and Magic Key Holders Need to Know About Genie+ See 5 Ways Genie+ Might Surprise You Learn About How Disney Genie Can Be Your Personal Assistant in Disney World Click HERE to See More About Disney Genie Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Are you heading to Disney World in 2022? Will you purchase Genie+ for your upcoming visit? Let us know in the comments! The post Updated List of Everything That’s Included in Your Genie+ Purchase in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Have you seen any snow recently? In many parts of the country, some nasty winter weather is expected to stick around for the weekend, so now’s the time to bundle up and bunker down! If you’re planning a trip to Disney World, you might want to keep your eyes on the forecast. A few airlines are warning passengers about possible weather-related delays and cancelations ahead of the winter storm! Travel delays are never fun! In fact, we’re already seeing some flight cancelations, so let’s take a look at the current situation. Airports located throughout the East Coast are warning passengers about weather-related flight cancelations. So far, nearly 5,000 flights have already been canceled between Friday and Saturday, according to a report on The New York Times. In the event of a flight cancelation, don’t panic! Although it’s never fun to miss a flight, in most cases, guests will receive some sort of travel voucher they can put towards another flight. Be sure to contact your airline! Always double-check your flight information! If you’re headed to Disney World this weekend, these HUGE cancellations may affect your trip. But don’t worry, because we’ve put together an entire post on what to do if your flight to Disney World gets cancelled. As the winter storm continues, we’ll be sure to keep our eyes out for further airport news and updates, so stay tuned! In the meantime, stick around; we’ve got TONS of Disney news to show you! 5 BIG Updates That Could Impact Your Next Disney World Trip! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Have you ever experienced a flight cancelation when traveling to Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post Nearly 5,000 Flights Have Been Canceled This Weekend 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! Hello, Kevin! Parade, cavalcade, stage show, and hoedown! SO much entertainment is making its return to Disney World! We’ve also got a BIG update on Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind construction and MORE! Let’s just say it was a good week for Disney Parks news. All the latest Disney news is coming up right now on DFB Guide! By the way, have you subscribed yet? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to the channel and never miss a single episode! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/subscribe.png So check out the video and then let us know: Which Disney news are you the most excited about? The post DFB Video: Latest Disney News: Parades are Returning, Characters are BACK, Disney World Hotels Get More Perks first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Minnie’s lifestyle is for the bold and inspired. Her looks are an expression of happiness, self-expression, and authenticity. In honor of her iconic style, Disneyland Paris had the joy of celebrating Polka Dot Day at Walt Disney Studios park on Saturday 22nd, 2022.View the full article

Between dining reservations, hotel re-openings, brand new ticket options, a new planning tool in the My Disney Experience app, and more, planning your Disney World vacation right now can seem a bit complicated. Is it just us or does it seem like some aspects of the planning process just keep getting harder? Magic Kingdom If you’re currently jumping through all the hoops necessary to plan your next Disney vacation and thinking “is this really necessary?” or “what am I forgetting about?” then you’ve come to the right place. Today we’re going over some harsh truths you’ll need to come to terms with and prepare for when planning your next Disney World trip. You’ll Never Sleep in Late Again If you’ve been to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in the past two years, then you’ve probably found yourself waking up a bit earlier than you’d like on vacation to try your chances at getting a spot in the virtual queue for Rise of the Resistance at 7AM. You also probably did the same recently to try and grab a boarding group for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in EPCOT. Well, we’ve got good news and bad news. Disney recently paused the use of virtual queues at both Rise of the Resistance and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. Yaaaaay, right? Well…not really (we’ll explain in a bit). For now that means no more 7AM virtual queue wake-up times for these rides (though that’s always subject to change in the future). Instead, all guests can just hop in the standby line to wait for their chance to check these out. But, that doesn’t mean that early wake-up calls are a thing of the past in Disney World. Rise of the Resistance Disney’s new paid FastPass program (called Disney Genie+), is a big reason why you might never really get to sleep in again during a Disney World trip! (Cue dramatic music) Genie+ allows you to skip the standby line at lots of attractions in the parks. If you pay for the service ($15 per ticket per day) you’ll get to make one Genie+ selection at a time. Guests get to see what the return times are for the available rides, pick the one they want, and then use the “Lightning Lane” for that ride when their return time comes. Then, they’ll get to make their next Genie+ selection, and so on. But select rides are NOT available through the regular Genie+ service. For select popular rides you’ll need to use Individual Attraction Selection (pay-per-ride) to essentially pay to use a single ride’s Lightning Lane once. Guests can only make 2 of these pay-per-ride purchases per person, per day. Click here to see our FREE DFB printable to help you make sense of Disney Genie! Where does an early morning wake up call factor into all of this? Well, all guests who opt to pay for the service can make their first Genie+ selection at 7AM. And, if you’re staying at a Disney World Resort hotel, then you’ll also be able to make your first Individual Attraction Selection (pay-per-ride selection) at 7AM. (Guests who aren’t staying at a Disney World Resort hotel can make that first pay-per-ride selection when the park opens). ©Disney If you’re planning on using Genie+ or Pay-Per-Ride, prepare to set an alarm every day and wake up earlier than you might want to on vacation. And, if you’re traveling from the west coast, know that this means that you’ll be getting up at what feels like 4AM every morning. The early bird gets the worm. Or, in this case, the ability to pay more money to stand in a slightly shorter line. Plus, don’t forget that while virtual queues are paused for now, there’s a possibility they’ll be used in the future (maybe for the openings of BIG new rides like TRON or the Guardians of the Galaxy Coaster?). So you’ll want to keep an eye out for any virtual queue updates in the future. Click here to see our tips for using Genie+ on crowded days! You’ll Need to Budget For Food Yourself The Disney Dining Plan currently isn’t available, so if you’re used to using that as your budgeting tool, you’re going to need a different plan. Now Disney does plan to bring the Dining Plan back but they haven’t shared when just yet, so you’ll have to go back to the drawing board a bit to create your plan for food while in the parks. (It’s basically like we’re on the Oregon Trail again, isn’t it? ) Snacks from Pongu Pongu But, not all hope is lost if you’re vacationing on a budget! You can still get your vacation savings through select hotel room and/or ticket discounts that Disney is offering right now. And, for food, you’ll just need to crunch the numbers. Disney publishes most of their menus and pricing online and you might even find that you can actually save more without the Dining Plan! BBQ Brisket Melt from Woody’s Lunch Box These prices can change though, so you’ll want to look for any updates. For example, at the start of January 2022 we saw HUNDREDS of price increases impact restaurants across Disney World. DOLE Whips, select popcorn refills, popcorn buckets, Mickey Ice Cream Bars, Mickey waffles, bottled sodas, and more are now MORE expensive than they used to be. You’ll have to adjust those budgets accordingly to account for those changes. Snack prices are changing! And, if you really want to stick to your budget, consider purchasing Disney gift cards from Disney, Target, Costco, or other places that sell them and use that as your dining card in a sense. It can help you stick to your budget knowing that you’ve only got that set amount dedicated to good, and it could help you stick to the plan. You might also be able to save a bit by using your Target REDcard to save 5% on the purchase of the gift cards. Space 220 Lunch Of course, we’re also big into number crunching and offer plenty of tools to help you nail down your budget in our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining. As part of the guide, you’ll receive budgeting worksheets and more to help you budget your meals with or without the Disney Dining Plan! Click here to order the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2022 Edition and get 25% off with promo code WDW2022! You’ll Need to Be Tech-Savvy Between Mobile Check-in at restaurants and hotels, Mobile Ordering at Quick Service locations, Park Pass Reservations, unlocking your room door with the My Disney Experience app, using your phone to scan into the parks with the MagicMobile service, Disney Genie, Mobile Merchandise Checkout, and MORE, you’ll need your phone for A LOT in Disney World. Place those orders early in the morning! The My Disney Experience app has expanded over the past few years to be a planning tool that you really can’t do Disney without, so you’re going to want to have at least a little bit of knowledge about it before you pack your bags. Whether that’s recruiting someone in your party who is a bit more tech-savvy to be in charge of the tech side of the trip or spending some time learning the ins and outs of the app, you’ll want to be prepared so that you can navigate your way through your stay seamlessly. Mobile Merchandise Checkout Speaking of how much you’ll be using your phone, you’ll probably need to plan to tow along a phone charger with you at the parks too. Gotta keep that trusty phone charged and ready to go so you don’t miss a beat! With all the phone use now (on top of pictures, social media checking, texting and maybe actually using your phone as a phone) that battery drains FAST. Learn About Everything You Can Do with The My Disney Experience App by Clicking HERE! You’ll Need to Prepare For Your Next Meal in Advance Mobile Ordering has taken over Disney World as the way to secure your next meal from Quick Service restaurants both in the parks and resorts. In many cases, Mobile Order is essentially required to get your meal. But, if you’re traveling during a particularly busy time of the year, or just planning to eat at a popular spot or during a popular time, you might pull up the My Disney Experience app during your trip and find that the next Mobile Order pick-up window isn’t for another hour or more. Mobile order your food early! You CAN avoid this though! If you already know where you’re going to eat and what you’re going to order, you can place your order earlier in the day via Mobile Order and set your pick-up time to be whenever you’d like. If you plan ahead and place that order early, you’ll be able to make sure that your food is ready when you are and you’ll have a greater selection of pick-up times. This can help you avoid the danger of having to deal with a HANGRY family member. Wait too long and Mobile Order pick up windows could start booking up for the time you want to eat, leaving you in a bad spot. Click HERE to See More About the Harsh Reality Behind Mobile Ordering in Disney World Consider Whether Park Hopping is Really Worth It for You Disney brought back Park Hopping on January 1st, 2021 but…it’s different. Currently, guests looking to hop from park to park must make a Park Pass Reservation for the first park that they want to visit. They must also visit that first park before hopping to any other parks, and they can only begin Park Hopping after 2PM. Much like the Park Hopping that we’ve known before, you can visit as many parks as you want after 2PM daily, but your ability to get into any park that you’re hopping to is subject to capacity limitations. So, it’s not a guarantee that you’ll get in. Park Hopping Information Now, we really haven’t experienced many issues getting into the parks that we’ve wanted to hop to due to capacity limits, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t happen. Magic Kingdom did get full at the start of Disney World’s 50th Anniversary and hopping to that park wasn’t available on October 1st, 2021. It’s possible that could happen again on very busy days. Under the new Park Hopping system you do lose a little bit of that hopping spontaneity and there is some risk involved. Plus, keep in mind that some parks may close a bit earlier than they used to pre-pandemic, so you may find yourself with a bit less time to do everything that you want. EPCOT Entrance Still, being able to hop to other parks does undoubtedly offer you more flexibility than not being able to hop at all. The key here is to see whether the Park Hopper option (which does make your ticket more expensive) is worth it to you. Sit down and take a look at the days you’ll be in the parks and the things you want to accomplish in each park. Will you essentially be spending 1 day in each park? Do you need to hop to accomplish everything you want? Do you simply want the flexibility that comes with having a Park Hopper? It all depends on your plans! If you’re on the fence about getting the Park Hopper option, you might want to just buy standard 1-park per day tickets for now. You can always “upgrade” and add-on the Park Hopper option later. In fact, you can even add it on during your trip, once you’re in Disney World. Once you’ve purchased the Park Hopper tickets, you generally can’t get that Park Hopping removed and refunded, so sometimes waiting is best until you’re sure. Get Ready to Hop! BUT don’t wait too long to add on the option. The Park Hopper option will be charged for ALL of the days in your ticket package, regardless of when you add it on. So if you wait until day 3 of your trip, you’ll still get charged that upgrade for days 1 and 2. If you’re going to add it on, it’s best to do that early so you can take full advantage of what you’re paying for! Should You Park Hop With Genie+ in Disney World? See our thoughts by clicking here! “Going With The Flow” Might Not Be As Easy as You Think Another big piece of planning your Disney World vacation nowadays is the Park Pass reservation system. Disney now requires that all guests make a reservation for the park that they’ll be visiting in advance. If you were the type of person that would wake up and decide on the spot where you were heading, things might be a little more challenging right now. Tree of Life You can get same-day reservations in some cases, but we’ve seen parks book up months in advance during busy times of the year. So if you head to Disney World without any Park Passes and your game plan is to “wing it,” you might find that you won’t be able to visit the parks of your choice (or even any of the parks) during your stay. Our advice? Book those Park Pass reservations as soon as you can! If you change your mind later, you can cancel them and re-book for the parks you want to visit (assuming there is availability). But it’s better to have something in place than run the risk that all of the spots fill up for the park(s) you want, leaving you stuck in a tough position. Disney’s Hollywood Studios Plus, we’ve also been seeing hotels book up, and the dining reservations that you want can be hard to come by if you wait until too late. While “winging” a trip is still technically possible, that strategy could leave you with much more limited choices. If you’ve got certain parks you’ve got to visit, restaurants you simply must eat at, or other things you have to do — you’ll want to book reservations for all of it as far in advance as possible to give yourself the best chance of planning the trip you’ve been hoping for. Click Here to See Our Picks for the Best Disney World Hotels for 2022! Extra Time in the Parks Looks Different For Hotel Guests Even how much extra time Disney World Resort hotel guests get in the parks has changed over the past year. Extra Magic Hours have been discontinued and now guests staying at any Disney World hotel (and a few other participating hotels) can take advantage of Early Theme Park Entry. This new perk gives guests an extra 30 minutes in any park of their choice (assuming they have a Park Pass for that park), each day. You might find this beneficial since you don’t have to check the calendar all the time and plan your park days based on which park has extra time anymore. That’s the big perk — they all have extra time now! EPCOT in the morning Plus, guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts and Deluxe Villas get an extra perk called Extended Evening Theme Park Hours. These only occur on select dates at select parks, but if you qualify for these bonus hours, you could spend some extra time in those select parks at night. Magic Kingdom at night No matter what Disney hotel you choose to stay at, you’ll need to adjust to these new perks to maximize your park time. Click HERE to Learn The Difference Between Extended Evening Hours and Extra Magic Hours It’s Likely Going to Cost More It’s no secret that Disney World can be pricey and between all of the recent price increases throughout the parks and resorts, your bill will likely end up being a bit more than it was for previous trips. We’ve seen increases on Annual Passes, merchandise, food, and even holiday parties. Though the range of ticket prices didn’t increase for 2022, there are some days in 2022 that now fall into a higher ticket bracket, meaning a trip in 2022 for the same days you visited in 2021 might now cost more. In 2022 (and beyond) you’ll also need to plan to pay for transportation to and from the airport as Disney’s Magical Express service has officially been discontinued. Magical Express If you want to “skip the lines” on popular attractions, you’ll also need to invest in Disney Genie+ and/or Individual Attraction Selections. Genie+ costs $15 per person per day, and the cost of Individual Attraction Selections can vary depending on the park, day, and ride (yes, surge pricing for Individual Attraction Selection is a real thing). Plus, those who want even more time in the parks (beyond the Early Theme Park Entry bonus time) will have to think about spending the extra money to book a room at a Disney Deluxe Resort or Deluxe Villa to get access to the new Extended Evening Hours perk. Lightning Lane sign at Kilimanjaro Safaris Of course, there are still ways to save on your vacation with select hotel savings from Disney and our Disney budgeting tips. And, you certainly don’t need to purchase access to Genie+ — you can opt to stick to those standby lines throughout your trip. Still, even just price increases on food could cause your trip to be more expensive. So you’ll want to take a close look at those budgets and see what (if any) changes need to be made to make your trip a reality. Click Here to See Why Disney World Will Cost You THOUSANDS More in 2022! You Might Need to Re-Learn How to Do Disney Over the past year, the My Disney Experience app has gotten more features to enable a more contactless park experience, guests have adapted to new Park Hopping rules, and many have mastered the art of securing Park Pass Reservations. The past year or so has been FULL of change, and there’s more on the way. There’s lots of things to scan in Disney World now! Disney Genie+ and Individual Attraction Selections might dramatically change the way you plan your way around Disney World’s rides, especially when it comes to those really popular attractions (like Rise of the Resistance) that are available through Individual Attraction Selection. If you’re hoping to skip the standby lines, you’ll want to learn the ins and outs of making the Lightning Lane reservations through Genie+ and Individual Attraction Selection BEFORE you arrive. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Lightning Lane Even those who have been long-time Disney Annual Passholders need to learn something new! Last year Disney World rolled out a brand new Annual Pass program that created brand new tiers, altered some of the perks, and changed blockout dates. And, even Disneyland’s Annual Pass program has been overhauled. So, whether you’re on the west coast or the east coast, you’re navigating some brand new territory. Note, however, that sales for most Annual Pass types in Disney World (and select Magic Key Passes in Disneyland) have been paused. Annual Passholder sign Add these changes into all of the other newer features in the My Disney Experience app that we’ve come to rely on in Disney World (like mobile check-in and mobile ordering), and you might be doing Disney like you’ve never done it before, even if your last trip was only 3 years ago. And new changes are on the way with things like Amazon Alexa and Hey, Disney! being added to hotel rooms, new attractions opening, and more. Who knows what changes Disney will announce next! Check Out Things You Only Learn After Visiting Disney World 100 Times! Rules and Information Are Constantly Changing While the parks have been reopened for over a year now, Disney is still slowly making its way toward more “normal” operating procedures, so things are changing by the day (and sometimes even the minute). We’ve seen restaurants and hotels reopening, new offerings announced for the 50th Anniversary, entertainment returning to the parks, and more. There’s almost always something new to keep up with. Animal Kingdom Lodge Plus, even health and safety measures can be updated in the blink of an eye. Currently, face masks are required to be worn by all guests indoors and on most transportation, but even this policy has been updated since first being released and you never know when it might change again. Those rules could change…even during your trip! It can be hard to keep up with all these changes if it’s not your day-to-day job like it is ours. We’re always looking at the fine print when it comes to all the latest Disney announcements, so be sure that you’re subscribed to our newsletter and are following us on social media so you’re always up to date on all the latest! Haven’t Been to Disney World in 5 Years? Here Are the BIG Things You Need to Know You’ll Get to See Some New Things (But You’ll Have to Time it Right) Speaking of things constantly changing, there have been a lot of NEW things arriving in Disney World recently! Many of the things that were supposed to open in 2020 are opening now (or set to open soon) after a delay in construction due to the closures around the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Space 220 Right now you can experience a brand new ride (Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure), dine at new restaurants like La Creperie de Paris and Space 220 in EPCOT, watch new daytime AND nighttime shows including Disney KiteTails in Animal Kingdom, Harmonious in EPCOT, and Disney Enchantment in Magic Kingdom, and MUCH more! Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Plus more new (and returning old) things are on the way including the Guardians of the Galaxy coaster in EPCOT, Roundup Rodeo BBQ in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the return of shows like Fantasmic!, the return of the Festival of Fantasy Parade, and more. But some of these things coming in 2022 don’t have a set arrival date. Some are coming in “early 2022,” “summer of 2022,” or just at some point in the year. Time your trip too early and you might MISS some of these big additions. Guardians of the Galaxy Construction Should you just postpone your trip then so you can make sure you see it all? That’s something you’ll have to think about. Click HERE to See Everything Coming to Disney World in 2022! Well, Disney World sure has squeezed a whole lot of updates and changes into the past year+ since reopening the parks. But, that’s why we’re always bringing you the most up-to-date information and translating them into the best ways to make the most of your trip! Check out our video below to see more information about how Disney World has gotten even harder. By the way, are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes! Check out our latest video and then comment below: Are you planning a Disney World vacation right now? Don’t Visit Disney World in 2022 without THIS — Click Here to Learn 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. The post 11 HARSH Truths About Your Upcoming Disney World Trip first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World’s home turf of Florida may be known as the Sunshine State, but a more apt nickname might be the extreme weather state. It’s a Poncho Kind of Day From hurricanes to heat and humidity to rain that would make Seattle look like the Sahara, you never know exactly what kind of weather you’re going to get when you travel to Disney World. And, over the years, we’ve been in the parks to experience some pretty INTENSE weather (with some storms so bad that Disney has actually CLOSED the parks entirely), but what’s the most EXTREME we’ve ever seen? Let’s buckle up and find out! Temperature The chance to meet Mickey Mouse, ride attractions, and snack like it’s nobody’s business are all great reasons to look forward to a Disney trip, but if you’re from any climate north of Florida really, you’ve probably also looked forward to a trip knowing that you’ll be escaping to the warm weather — even in the summer! But, all that sunshine can sometimes make Disney World feel like Death Valley! Sunshine for days In fact, sometimes the temperature can really surprise you during the trip! While most park-goers think of Florida summer weather hovering in the 80-90 degree range with temperatures only dipping to the 70s in the winter, there’s actually been quite a bit more fluctuation over the years. In terms of extreme temperatures, the highest recording ever at Disney World was 102 degrees, and the lowest was 17 degrees. That’s a pretty HUGE window! Chilly day at the Magic Kingdom Normally, though, we can count on the average temp in peak winter to be around 70 degrees during the day, and 50 degrees at night, while the average temp in peak summer is around a high of 91 degrees and a nighttime low of 75 degrees. Cooling Towels and Fans come in handy That all sounds pretty comfortable for the most part, but you can’t forget about that summertime humidity! It can be pretty hefty in peak summer, with an average of 61%, though, it’s not uncommon to see that number reach 100%. So, your weather app may say that it’s only 91 degrees, but it can feel much hotter than that. It looks pretty, but the heat was brutal! Okay, so what about the opposite end of the spectrum? Has it ever snowed in Disney World aside from snoap (Disney World’s artificial snow)? While it HAS snowed at other Disney parks, like Disneyland Paris and Shanghai Disneyland, there hasn’t really been any hard evidence that it’s ever snowed for REAL in Disney World, despite the fact that temps CAN dip below freezing! You might still wanna bring a coat in winter anyway, though. Snoap comes out for the holidays to make it “snow” on Main Street, U.S.A. You may not have to worry about bundling up in snowsuits to make your way down Main Street, U.S.A., but in rare instances, severe thunderstorms in Disney World have caused hail. In fact, one shocking bit of extreme weather came in the spring of 2020, when central Florida actually recorded some temporary drought conditions! Of course, drought in a state that commonly sees a ton of rain is QUITE a rarity! Click HERE to Learn How To Choose The BEST Masks for Summer in Disney World! Rain Speaking of rain, let’s get INTO IT. Time to leave? More so than any other weather phenomenon, Disney World is known for its RAIN, and despite Florida’s sunny moniker, the state is actually quite wet! Although most rain in Disney World is just a sprinkle or a quick afternoon shower, it’s pretty rare to visit the parks for an extended period of time and NOT need a rain jacket. A very wet Fantasyland The average annual rainfall in Disney World is about 49.9 inches, with significant rainfall occurring about 84 days out of the year. The rainiest month is July, with about 7.6 inches of rainfall, while the driest months are November and December, which only see about two inches each. Tomorrowland on a “Severe Weather Warning” day But, how bad does it REALLY get when it rains at Disney World? The most obvious impacts are on outdoor rides that close, like Test Track, The Barnstormer, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Expedition Everest, Slinky Dog Dash, and somewhat weirdly, Splash Mountain. Other attractions, like Kali River Rapids and Jungle Cruise, might only close if there’s lightning in the area. But in general, if there’s rain, chances are the ONLY safe bets will be indoor rides. Kali River Rapids Also, FLOODING can occur when the weather REALLY rolls in! While there’s always a chance that something might flood from the daily mid-afternoon downpour in the summertime, we’ve actually seen some more severe flooding roll through. In fact, in 2020, a flood watch was issued during Tropical Storm Elsa for the Disney World area, and in 2021 we were in Magic Kingdom during a particularly bad storm that made Tomorrowland look like the monsoon scene in Jumanji! Yikes The Disney Parks are pretty well constructed to handle the heavy rainfall and eliminate any dangerous puddles pretty quickly after a storm passes. Plus, Cast Members are typically quick to section off any areas of standing water to keep guests safe. But, you’ll want to take on the parks with a bit more caution if a particularly bad storm hits while you’re visiting.  Hurricanes Here’s a fun fact — Disney World has been classified by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as one of the SAFEST places to stay in the U.S. during a hurricane! But, here’s a less fun fact — hurricanes DO still happen here. Hurricane Day in Disney World Although Disney World was designated as a “Storm Ready” destination, it’s still good to know what to expect, and how EXTREME things can get around here. According to Orlando weather reports, Florida sees an average of 12 named storms per year, including six hurricanes, and up to three major hurricanes. Though, it’s important to keep in mind that most of the biggest storms don’t impact the Disney World area too much. Epcot Rain Clouds So, when exactly should you be worried about your Disney World trip overlapping with a hurricane? Well, the NOAA classifies hurricane season as the period in a year from June through November when hurricanes usually form in the Atlantic Ocean. This is when storms have the highest likelihood of impacting Disney World. Disney Skyliner Preparation for Hurricane Dorian Far more than mere rain, hurricanes can be pretty intense. It’s a tropical cyclone capable of HEAVY rain, strong winds, lightning, thunder, tornados, and flooding. So, it can be comforting to know that Disney World is generally a safe place to ride it out, though it can be best to reevaluate your travel plans if a hurricane is predicted during your travel window. Disney’s website states, “If a hurricane warning is issued by the National Hurricane Center for the Orlando area—or for your place of residence—within 7 days of your scheduled arrival date, you may call in advance to reschedule or cancel your Walt Disney Travel Company Disney Resort Hotel Package and most room only reservations (booked directly with Disney) without any cancellation or change fees imposed by Disney.“ So, you have some flexibility and CAN cancel or reschedule your trip to avoid the severe weather and any impacts that could have on your travels. Contemporary Resort in Disney World after Hurricane Irma Indeed, Disney World HAS been hit with a few hurricanes. Thanks to its location away from the coasts, none have ever done any significant damage, but hurricanes HAVE been responsible for closing the parks down in the past. For example, the Category 4 Hurricane Floyd was the first storm to shutter Disney World in 1999, when all the parks closed for the day on September 14. Rainy Day Next, Hurricane Charley closed the parks in 2004, with enough small damage to keep a few attractions shuttered a bit longer. Disney then closed once again a month later for two days thanks to Hurricane Frances. And THEN, later in September, Hurricane Jeanne closed the parks for the day on September 26th! Needless to say, 2004 was a bit of a rough year when it comes to weather. Hollywood Studios Skyliner Lines before Hurricane Dorian It wasn’t until more than a decade later when Hurricane Matthew (a whopping Category 5 storm), closed Disney World early on October 6th, as well as the next day. And, another recent hurricane to impact Disney World was Hurricane Irma in 2017, when the parks were closed at 9PM September 9th and remained closed until September 12th. Hurricane Irma damage The most recent example is Hurricane Dorian in 2019, when all the parks closed early on September 3rd, only to reopen the next day once the storm changed course. Disney will keep you updates on nearby Hurricanes while you’re there! Though planning a Disney World trip between June and November certainly comes with the additional worry that a hurricane could threaten your vacation, there are a few things that you can do to plan ahead. For example, spend some extra time choosing the hotel for your vacation. Some Disney World hotels are pretty spread out and the only way to find food from your room is to walk outside and, while the likelihood that the resorts will still have electricity, running water, and food is pretty high no matter where you stay, choosing a hotel that doesn’t require going outside to reach amenities can be beneficial. The Contemporary may be a good hotel option during hurricane season since you’re contained in one building! And, if you do happen to find yourself in Disney World during a hurricane, know that Disney will offer many of the resources and information that you need to weather the storm (like meal kits and notifications through the My Disney Experience app). As you can see, the weather can get pretty EXTREME in Disney World! While it’s still the Most Magical (and one of the safest) Place on Earth for such extremes, it’s good to be aware of the forecast the next time you’re planning your trip! And, we’re always keeping track of the severe weather warnings that could impact your Disney World trip, so be sure to stay tuned to DFB for the latest! Click HERE for 6 Tips for Planning a Disney World Trip During Hurricane Season! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What’s the most extreme weather you’ve ever experienced in Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post The Most EXTREME Weather Ever Seen at Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Florida’s theme parks plunge into record year for roller coasters. At least 4 of the rides will debut in 2022. View the full article

Over at Disney World, Extended Evening Hours has given Deluxe Resort and Deluxe Villa guests the chance to stay in parks like Magic Kingdom and EPCOT for an extra two hours past closing. Extended Evening Hours at EPCOT Alongside its sister program, Early Theme Park Entry, this has brought us a lot more time in the parks! Although this service is pretty convenient, it’s been generally limited to only two parks since its launch last year. Disney World’s website now lists Hollywood Studios for a future Extended Evening Hours offering! With so many big-ticket attractions at the park, this could be a huge deal for anyone eligible to use the service. Let’s take a look at what we know so far about this news. Disney’s Hollywood Studios Taking a look at Disney World’s Extended Evening Hours schedule, we noticed that all the way down at the bottom of the list, there is now one Extended Evening Hours date listed for Hollywood Studios on Wednesday, April 13th. Although it might seem like a small thing, this could mean huge changes to how you schedule your Disney day! ©Disney As always, with one answer comes a million new questions. What rides will be open during the extended hours? How will this affect wait times during the day? Will we finally be able to ride Rise of the Resistance without waiting for what feels like an eternity? As of the time of writing this post, Disney has NOT listed the rides that will be available as part of Extended Evening Hours at this park, which does seem a bit strange. It’s likely that Disney will update its page with that information later, but we will be on the lookout for any changes or news. Hollywood Studios at night Still, this is very exciting news, especially for anyone heading to Disney World in mid-April! We’ll keep you posted with all the newest details. The Updates You Need Before Visiting Disney World Next Week 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 rides do you want to see available at Extended Evening Hours in Hollywood Studios? Let us know in the comments! The post NEWS: Hollywood Studios Now Listed as Part of an EXCLUSIVE Disney World Perk! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It may be hard to believe, but we’re already closing out the first month of 2022! It has been a busy start to the new year at Disney World, with the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts in full swing as well as changes to Genie+. EPCOT If you’re heading to Disney World next week, you will want to make sure you’re as prepared as possible! That is why each week we bring you an update on the park hours for the week coming up as well as the latest Park Pass Reservation availability, just in case you need to make any last-minute changes. Let’s take a look at what the week of January 30th, 2022 looks like at Disney World! Disney World Park Hours — Week of January 30th Magic Kingdom‘s hours for the week of January 30th are as follows: Jan 30th: 9AM-10PM Jan 31st through Feb 2nd, and Feb 4th: 9AM-9PM Feb 3rd: 9AM-8PM Feb 5th: 9AM-10PM On Friday, Magic Kingdom will remain open for 2 additional hours (from 9PM-11PM) for guests staying at a Disney Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resort as part of the Extended Evening Hours offering. Magic Kingdom EPCOT will be open from 10AM-9PM Sunday through Friday, and from 9AM-9PM on Saturday (February 5th) the week of January 30th. On Monday, the park will remain open for 2 additional hours (from 9PM-11PM) for guests staying at Disney Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts. The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts continues all next week, with festival hours the same as the park each day. EPCOT 50th Anniversary Map and Spaceship Earth Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be open from 9AM-9PM daily the week of January 30th. Disney’s Hollywood Studios Disney’s Animal Kingdom‘s hours for the week of January 30th are as follows: Sunday (Jan 30th): 8AM-8PM Monday (Jan 31st) – Thursday (Feb 3rd): 9AM-7PM Friday (Feb 4th): 8AM-7PM Saturday (Feb 5th): 8AM-8PM Disneys Animal Kingdom Also, don’t forget about Early Theme Park Entry! This perk allows guests staying in Disney World Resort hotels and select other qualifying hotels to enter any of the four theme parks each day thirty minutes prior to the posted park opening time. This is a great way to get a head start on those popular rides and attractions before the park gets busier. Click here to read about the newest additions to Genie+: select character meet and greets! Current Disney Park Pass Reservation Availability for the Week of January 30th Select Resort Hotels Select Resort Hotel guests may book a Park Pass Reservation for the entire week of January 30th at any of the four parks! Park Pass availability wide open January 30th and 31st… Select Resort Hotel Park Pass Reservation availability for January 30th as of January 27th © Disney …and for the remainder of the month of February! Select Resort Hotel Park Pass Reservation availability for February 1st as of January 27th © Disney Theme Park Tickets Theme Park Tickets guests currently have identical Park Pass Reservation availability as Select Resort Hotel guests. Park Pass Reservation availability is wide open January 30th and 31st… Theme Park Ticket Park Pass Reservation availability for January 30th as of January 27th © Disney …and is also wide open for the remainder of next week. Theme Park Ticket Park Pass Reservation availability for February 1st as of January 27th © Disney Annual Passholders Most Annual Passholders also have wide-open Park Pass Reservation availability for the week of January 30th. As of this writing, Annual Passholders with an Incredi Pass may book a Park Pass Reservation for next week for any of the four theme parks on dates that their Pass is not blocked out. Annual Passholder Park Pass Reservation availability for the week of January 30th as of January 27th at all four parks © Disney The situation looks the same for the Sorcerer Pass, Pirate Pass, and Pixie Dust Pass (but note that any dates that are blocked out for those passes are unavailable). Keep in mind that Park Pass Reservation availability may not always correlate with park crowds. Despite Park Pass Reservations being in ample supply this month, it has been an unusually busy January! No matter what time of year you visit the parks, prepare for crowds and plan accordingly! We’ll be back next week with another roundup of the latest park hours and Park Pass reservation availability, so make sure to follow along ahead of your next Disney World vacation! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Are you visiting Disney World next week? Let us know in the comments! The post The Updates You Need Before Visiting Disney World Next Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’re like us, you can’t get enough of Disney’s latest animated film, Encanto. You may even find yourself constantly singing “We Don’t Talk about Bruno.” We don’t talk about Bruno, no, no, no. ©Disney If you’re looking for a reason to rewatch Encanto (not that we really ever need a reason), Disney has you covered! The official Twitter page for Disney’s Encanto announced that there will be an Encanto watch party this Sunday, January 30th, at 2PM PT, which is 5PM ET. ©Disney During the watch party, you can hop on Twitter and join others as you all watch Encanto “together” virtually! You’ll be able to tweet along with the filmmakers, cast, and musicians from the film. This watch party will give fans a unique behind-the-scenes look at the film and a chance to learn some fun facts from those who made la familia Madrigal come to life! Encanto Mural So grab your favorite Encanto merchandise, cook up some arepas, and get ready to join the whole Encanto familia for this event! And stay tuned with DFB for more updates on the latest Disney news. Click here to see the Encanto booth at EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts! 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 joining in this fiesta? Let us know in the comments! The post Got “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” on Repeat? Don’t Miss Disney’s Upcoming Virtual Event! 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. Even though Disney World has been dealing with supply chain issues, there has still been plenty of new merchandise in the parks recently! Disney World We’ve seen new collections, more 50th Anniversary items, and everything from pins to apparel to super expensive artwork. But if you can’t make it to Disney World right now, don’t worry — many of those items have arrived online! Here’s all the new Disney merchandise online this week. 50th Anniversary Merchandise We’re continuing to get a stream of 50th Anniversary merchandise in the parks and online, even though the celebration kicked off nearly 4 months ago. This week, we spotted a brand-new 50th Anniversary sweatshirt in the parks, but when we found it on shopDisney later…it was CHEAPER online! If you order it on the internet, you can save $20 and get it for $99. Wow! New 50th Anniversary sweatshirt! But that’s not all! What else is in the category of “ridiculously expensive anniversary souvenirs?” Well, we’ve got some new vintage Walt Disney World pennants online! There are two designs and they are (you may want to sit down) $199 each. ©Disney Yep, folks. That means that ONE of these pennants will cost you more than a day ticket to Disney World. YIKES. But hey, at least they look cool and retro! Check Out the Pricey Pennants Here! Valentine’s Day Items Let’s start with a Valentine’s Day classic — flowers! You may not think that there’s a way to Disney-fy your traditional bouquet…but there is. Roseshire has a wide collection of Disney-themed boxes (you can get them in one dozen or two) that feature nods to all your favorite characters and fictional couples. How cute! ©Roseshire But if flowers alone aren’t enough to convey your love, we’ve got other options. BoxLunch dropped several t-shirt designs for couples, and these are the types that definitely make more sense if you and your S.O. are standing right next to each other. The various designs feature power couples like Anakin and Padme, Stitch and Angel, and even Tiana and Naveen. How cute! ©BoxLunch The various shirt designs range in price from $28.90-$32.90, but be on the lookout for sales. Some of them were discounted when they first went live on the site. Click Here to Check Out All of the Matching Shirts! Disney Accessories And finally, it wouldn’t be a new merchandise list without some Disney accessories! First up this week we got the beautiful new Alice in Wonderland Dooney & Bourke line both on shopDisney and in the theme parks. The bags are all classic white with black pencil-style artwork and range from $168-298 each. There were several items in the collection! We also got some brand new jewelry, specifically made for Pixar fans! The Toy Story collection from BaubleBar is whimsical, adorable, and so very fun, and we are seriously debating ordering this Mr. Potato Head ring stack because, C’MON. The ring is $72, but they’ve also got several other items, including character-specific earrings. ©BaubleBar And finally, we’ve got to do what Disney fans do best — talk about Minnie ears! (Okay, maybe that’s not the ONE thing that Disney fans do best, but it sure is up there.) This week, FIVE new pairs of ears landed online, each with a very unique look. We got a pair of classic red, white, and black Minnie ears, a pair of very unusual Belle ears… ©Disney …a pair of Disneyland ears with a BRIGHT pink bow, another pair of light-up balloon ears, and finally, the stunning Amethyst Minnie Mouse Ears. When we said they had a bunch of different styles, we meant they had a BUNCH of different styles! There’s pretty much something for everyone. ©Disney The three basic pairs are $29.99 each, but the light-up Mickey balloon ears are $32.99 and the Belle ears are $34.99. We’ll be on the lookout to spot any of them in the parks! Click Here to Check Out All 5 Pairs of Ears! And that’s a wrap on this week’s merchandise! We’ll keep you updated with any more Disney news, food news, or Disney food news throughout the week, so stay tuned to DFB. All the 50th Anniversary Merch You Can Get Online — Click Here Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What’s the last Disney-themed item that you purchased? Tell us in the comments! The post More 50th Merch And FIVE New Ears?! See All the Disney Items That Arrived Online This Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

When will the Festival of Fantasy Parade return to Magic Kingdom? What is going on with the Star Wars Hotel? How is construction going with the Guardians of the Galaxy coaster? Magic Kingdom You’ve got questions — we’ve got answers! This week was a pretty big one when it comes to Disney news and now we’re sharing all of the updates you need to know in ONE place! 1 — BIG Entertainment News Ready for the return of parades, and the arrival of an updated stage show and new cavalcade in Magic Kingdom? Well then this is your lucky week because we’ve got some BIG entertainment news to share! First, we got details on the DATE on which the Festival of Fantasy Parade will return to Magic Kingdom. You Can’t Miss This Float! We also got a sneak peek at the returning fire-breathing Maleficent dragon float and more details about the parade’s return! Click here for more details about Maleficent’s return! Next, we got the opening DATE for Magic Kingdom’s brand new Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade! ©Disney The cavalcade will feature nearly 30 characters, including the debut of Miguel in Magic Kingdom! Click here to see exciting new details about this cavalcade. Magic Kingdom will also soon see the return of a beloved secret entertainment offering — the Frontierland Hoedown! Hoedown Happening ©Disney And finally the opening DATE for Disney World’s updated castle show — Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire — was also revealed this week! Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire The show will be much like the classic one fans know and love, but it will have some updates and some 50th twists! Click here to see when the stage show will debut in Magic Kingdom! 2 — Important Star Wars Hotel Updates (and Fireworks?!) This week was a big one for the Star Wars Hotel (Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser). The experience is set to open in March and it looks like Disney is really getting things ready. First up we saw that the Star Wars Hotel has been added to bus signage in Disney Springs! Disney Springs Bus Directory — Galactic Starcruiser marked a Spot 18 We also got a peek at the Cast Member costumes for those who will be working at the Starcruiser. A new Star Wars Hotel road sign also popped up in Disney World! We’re getting closer! Then, Disney shared a full itinerary for some guests staying at the Star Wars Hotel, and we got to take a peek at just what a trip aboard the Galactic Starcruiser will involve. First up, we got to hear about a “FIREWORKS” show that guests on board will get to see?! Day 1 Itinerary Yes, you read that right. A “fireworks” show while out in “space.” Click here to read more about the “fireworks” you might see while on the Starcruiser! We also got to see a MAP of the hotel, which can give you a better idea of just where things will be located. Deck 4 If you’re wondering just what the Star Wars hotel will look like in terms of its structure, be sure to check out our screenshots of these maps! Click here to see the Starcruiser map! And we got to see a FULL schedule for the guests staying on the ship, which had details on everything from dinner to a Sabacc Tournament and Porg Detection Drill. Even more options! It looks like there will be a number of different things for guests to do while on board, from games to dining. Click here to see the full schedule for a trip on the Starcruiser! 3 — Flower & Garden Festival News The EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival will be here before you know it! While we’ve already seen the full list of food booths that will be available at the Festival, and a list of the Garden Rocks Concert performers, this week we got even MORE news about the Festival’s offerings. First up, we got a look at some of the NEW things that will be joining the Festival this year, including a new fragrant garden from Scentsy! ©Disney We also got a full list of the topiaries and Global Gardens that will be available for guests to enjoy. We’ll be on the lookout for more Flower & Garden Festival news and we’ll be sure to share that with you! Click here to see more about the Flower & Garden Festival! 4 — Character & Genie+ Updates This week was also a big one for characters! A few beloved character meet-and-greets have returned to EPCOT. For starters, fans can now once again say “hello” to Vanellope and Joy in EPCOT in their themed photo spots in EPCOT. Forget sugar rush, we’re on an adrenaline rush! Donald is also back meeting guests near the Mexico pavilion! Kisses from Donald! Kevin also began greeting guests again in Animal Kingdom. Kevin on Discovery Island Then, a little later in the week, 4 character meet-and-greets actually became available through Disney Genie+ (the paid FastPass+ replacement service). Lightning Lane Sign at Town Square Theater You can now make a Lightning Lane selection to meet Mickey, Tiana (and a visiting princess), and Cinderella (and a visiting princess) in Magic Kingdom; or use a Lightning Lane selection to skip the standby line when meeting Olaf in Hollywood Studios. Click here to see more about this Genie+ update! 5 — Park Pass Updates Planning a future Disney World trip? Then you know you’ll need to book those Park Pass reservations. Previously, we had seen Park Passes available through 2023. Now, Park Pass reservations are available through early 2024! Magic Kingdom This could signal that the Park Pass system will be sticking around for quite some time, but things are always subject to change. If you’re heading to Disney World soon, our advice is to get those Park Passes as soon as you can. You can cancel and make new ones in the future if you have to, but it’s better to have them ready to go rather than wait and run the risk that dates start to fill up! Click here to learn more about Park Passes! 6 — BONUS! Lunar New Year Late last week we got to enjoy the start of the Lunar New Year festival at Disney California Adventure park. We shared all kinds of details from our day at the festival, including photos of how guests can now meet Raya! Raya!! We also shared full reviews of the booths at the festival, which you can check out here. Wondering what we think are the BEST items at the FEST? Click here to find out! An old favorite! During our time there, we also shared a full look at the entertainment you can find at the Festival, and all of the Lunar New Year festival merchandise. The Festival will be available through February 13th, so be sure to check it out before it’s gone! Click here to see ALL of our reviews of the booths at the Lunar New Year festival! And that’s it for our BIG news items from the week. Of course, other news was also shared this week. Click the links below to check out those stories: The Disney CEO more than doubled his salary this year — here’s why Get a sneak peek at Disney’s first Mickey Mouse: The Main Attraction collection! We found some extravagant Minnie ears in one particular spot! See how you can reserve a time to go through security at the Orlando Airport! Disney is celebrating National Polka Dot Day with new interactive experiences Check Out These Ears! See why it might be harder to fly to Disney World for spring break A Disneyland attraction will temporarily close soon Magic Key Holders are getting their own Club 33-type hangout space in Disneyland; and more Magic Key offerings have been announced for their celebration month In the parks this week, we saw new 50th Anniversary vintage-style park map Crocs, a retro-inspired spirit jersey, and a 50th Anniversary HARVEYS bag that was very popular! Medals were revealed for the 2022 Springtime Surprise weekend The Disney College Program is hiring for 2022-2023 Crocs A GIANT new addition has arrived at the Guardians of the Galaxy coaster See where and how to get free N95 masks in the United States Some Disney World restaurants are getting limited-time menus to celebrate Valentine’s Day One of Disney World’s fanciest spas has reopened New Valentine’s Day ears are coming soon to the Disney parks! An opening timeline has been announced for Universal’s Epic Universe Here it comes! We’ll be on the lookout for more Disney news as this week begins! Be sure to check back with us for all the latest updates. Click here to learn about the Pixar Day at Sea coming to Disney Cruise Line next year! 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 piece of news from this week are you most excited about? Tell us in the comments! The post 5 BIG Updates That Could Impact Your Next Disney World Trip! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article