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We’ve officially turned the calendar to 2022, and there are a lot of exciting Disney World updates to look forward to! It’s officially 2022! There’s a brand new one-of-a-kind hotel, TWO new roller coasters, a complete park transformation, and more coming to the parks along with all the offerings that will be returning for the first time since 2020. And, with so much coming in the next few months, we’re bringing you along with us for a look at all the latest construction progress! Magic Kingdom TRON: Lightcycle Run While much of Magic Kingdom’s transformation was completed in time for the kick-off of Disney World’s 50th Anniversary, one thing that has yet to debut is the new roller coaster, TRON: Lightcycle Run. The track spans both indoors and outdoors, so we’ve been keeping an eye on all the progress that we can see outside and, things appear to look about the same as the last time we checked in. But, that’s not to say that there hasn’t been a ton of progress in areas that we can’t see right now! TRON Construction Disney has not yet shared an opening date (or even timeline) for the new attraction, but we’ll be sure to keep you updated! EPCOT Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Speaking of roller coasters, we’ve been seeing A LOT of progress on the new attraction coming to EPCOT — Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. This ride is completely indoors, but the building that once housed Ellen’s Energy Adventure has been transformed over the past couple of weeks with brand new paint and more. And, it looks like the painting on one side is complete! The painting is complete on this side! The other side of the building that is closest to the walkway is still sporting the bright orange/brown color, so there’s still a bit more work to be done. A little more to go! Disney has announced that the ride will open in Summer 2022, so we’ll be keeping a close eye on all the progress that we can see out front in the coming months! World Celebration Just across the way from where Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is located, we’ve also been noticing some work being done on the building where Mouse Gear was once located and this week we got a bird’s eye view from the monorail! We had already seen construction crews working on the roof, but inside the walls, even more construction appears to be happening! What could be going in here? Disney has not yet shared what could be coming to this location, but we do know that a new Quick Service restaurant is planned for EPCOT. Could this be its new location? We’ll just have to wait and see! For now, the building is surrounded by scaffolding, a portion of the roof is missing, and construction materials (and machinery) are stationed down on the ground. Another look at the construction from high above On our ride into EPCOT on the monorail, we also got another peek at the construction site for the upcoming walk-through experience, Moana: Journey of Water. Crews are actively digging here and if you use your imagination you can start to imagine what this attraction may be like! Active construction going on here We had previously seen the somewhat circular-shaped wall installed, and now the trenches are growing! Lots of digging This is another attraction that Disney hasn’t shared an update on in a while, but it is exciting to see it taking shape…even if it’s just the shaping of dirt. Learn More About the EPCOT Transformation HERE! Disney Resorts Disney’s Wilderness Lodge We also spotted some construction going on over at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge when we visited this week! Crews were working near the geyser and, from what we could see, it looked like they were installing some new gravel in the area. Construction at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge So, the next time you’re staying here, your pictures will look a little brighter thanks to the upkeep! Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort And, over at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, there was scaffolding up on the exterior of one of the bridges that connect the hotel buildings to the main pool area. None of the materials or work being done impacted guests’ ability to use the bridge, so you’ll still be able to make your way around without needing to use an alternate route! Construction at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort And, that’s it for all the construction updates from this week! Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for more of the latest updates on what’s coming to (and leaving) Disney World soon! Click HERE to See Everything That Will Be CLOSED in Disney World in 2022! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Preorder 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 preorder 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 2022 Disney World project are you most looking forward to being completed? Let us know in the comments! The post TWO New Rides Make Progress, a MAJOR Update From EPCOT, and MORE in Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Shipping items to your Walt Disney World Resort Hotel can be a great alternative to packing those items, lugging them to the airport, and paying airline fees! Rather than packing food, snacks, or other items in your suitcases, you can have packages shipped right to your Walt Disney World Resort. You can mail them from […] The post Shipping items to your Walt Disney World Resort Hotel in 2022 appeared first on Military Disney Tips Blog. View the full article

Hello, DFB Readers! Happy New Year! We hope you had a wonderful holiday season. Peppermint Cream Cheese Mousse And now that we’ve eaten SO many holiday treats, we’re ready for all the new snacks 2022 has in store for us. But in the meantime, we’ve also got the latest restaurant menu updates you’ll want to know about — so here’s EVERY menu change we spotted in December 2021. EPCOT Chefs de France We’ve got a load of price increases at Chefs de France. Under “Appetizers,” here’s what’s gone up in price: French Onion Soup increased from $10.75 to $10.95 Salade aux lardons et croûtons increased from $10.50 to $10.75 Salade de chèvre chaud (Baked Goat Cheese) increased from $14.25 to $14.50 Assiette de fromages et charcuteries increased from $16.25 to$16.75 French Onion Soup Here’s what’s increased under “Entrees:” Filet de saumon mariné au vin blanc et citron, riz, sauce champagne increased from $33.25 to $33.95 Boeuf Bourguignon increased from $32.75 to $32.95 Filet de boeuf grillé, sauce au poivre vert pommes purée et haricots verts increased from $39.75 to $39.95 The Menu Francais Prix Fixe Meal (which includes Choice of one Appetizer, one Entrée, and one Dessert; plus, a glass of either Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon Georges Duboeuf, or one Non-alcoholic Beverage) has gone up from $59.90 to $63.95. Filet de Saumon Marine Auvin Blanc et Citron “Wines” have also seen price increases. Here are those updates: Les Vins des Chefs (Georges Duboeuf Selection, Pays d’Oc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon) Bottle increased from $35.50 to $36.95 and Glass increased from $7.75 to $7.95. ADDED: Carafe for $13.25 Champagne, Malard, Excellence, Brut Bottle increased from $96 to $98 and Glass increased from $17.55 to $17.95 Champagne, Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin, Brut, N.V. Bottle increased from $155 to $158 Champagne, Laurent Perrier Rose, N.V. Bottle increased from $225 to $285 Champagne, Dom Perignon, 2009 Bottle increased from $560 to $665 Bourgogne Blanc, Bouchard Ainé & fils, 2018 Bottle increased from $53.50 to $53.95 and Glass has gone from $11.75 to $11.95 Riesling, Alsace, Pierre Sparr, 2017 Bottle increased from $58.95 to $59.95 Beautiful French Bottles of Wine and Spirits L’Opale de La Presqu’ile de Saint-Tropez, 2018 Glass increased from $14.25 to $14.95 Gevrey-Chambertin, P. Bouchard, 2016 Bottle increased from $155 to $175 Morgon, G. Duboeuf, 2016 Bottle increased from $65.50 to $66.25 and Glass has gone from $13.95 to $14.25 ADDED: Château La Gravière, 2018 for $46.95 for a Bottle or $9.95 for a Glass. Château Larose-Trintaudon, Haut-Médoc, 2015 Bottle increased from $96.90 to $98.25 Château Baron de Brane, Margaux, 2016 Bottle increased from $155 to $169 Château Haut Mondain, 2018 Bottle increased from $56.95 to $57.75 and Glass has gone from $12.50 to $12.95 Château Cormeil Figeac, Saint-Emilion, 2011 Bottle increased from $129 to $132 Côtes du Rhône, Les Abeilles, J.L. Colombo, 2017 Bottle increased from $52.50 to $54.95 and Glass has gone from $11.50 to $11.95. Sparkling Wine Under “Cocktails” and “House Specialties,” here’s what’s changed: Cocktail des Chefs increased from $10 to $10.95, French Martini increased from $15.50 to $15.75 St-Germain Cocktail increased from $17.50 to $17.95 Kir Royal increased from $18 to $18.25 Kir Imperial increased from $18.50 to $18.75 Kir au Cassis increased from $9.50 to $9.75 Bière Kronenbourg 1664 increased from $8.75 to $9 Read Our Most Recent Review of Chefs De France Les Vins de Chefs de France We’re seeing some price increases for Wine at Les Vins de Chefs de France: Merlot, Cabernet, and Chardonnay increased from $7.50 to $7.75 Beaujolais Duboeuf, Vouvray Sauvion, and Rosé Côtes de Provence increased from $8.75 to $9.95 Côtes du Rhône J.L. Colombo and Bordeaux Château Les Peyres increased from $9.50 to $10.50 Orange Slush and Citron Slush increased from $13.50 to $14.50 Orange Slush Le Geant Slush increased from $19 to $19.95 Champagne Malard increased from $15.50 to $16.50 Kir Royal increased from $16.75 to $17.75 Kronenbourg 1664 increased from $8 to $9 Here Are The Ten Best Frozen Drinks In Disney World Le Cellier Steakhouse Le Cellier just added two entrees: Autumn Bison Strip Loin — Celery Root Purée, Butter-braised Carrots and Turnips, Roasted Apples, Cider Reduction, and Seasonal Greens for $52. Pork Two-Ways — Roasted Tenderloin and Braised Pork Belly, Pickled Radish, Celery Root Mash, Quince Chutney, and Natural Jus for $42. Le Cellier And there’s an added dessert! The Apple-Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake is made with Roasted Apples, Apple Chips, and Maple Whipped Cream for $13. Yum! Read Our Most Recent Review of Le Cellier Disney’s Hollywood Studios 50s Prime Time Cafe One of our favorite appetizers has returned to 50s Prime Time Cafe — the Fried Herb and Garlic Cheese! It’s served with is served with Grapes, Apple Slices, a Crostini, and Raspberry Sauce. It’s BACK! Two words: fried cheese. What’s not to love? Read More About The Return Of This Favorite PizzeRizzo Another wine is now available at PizzeRizzo: Copa Di Vino Chardonnay, Oregon, which is a 187 ml glass of Chardonnay with a Tropical Fruit and Buttery Pear aroma overlaid with a smooth, creamy texture for $9. Pizzerizzo That’s all that’s new here, though! Here’s That One Time We Actually Told You To Go To PizzeRizzo Disney’s Animal Kingdom Harambe Market You can pick up an added lager at Harambe Market: Casa Lager – Morocco 12-oz. Bottle, which is a Pale Lager with faint notes of toasted grain and earthy hops for $9.25. Harambe Market That’s the only change here! Read A Recent Review of Harambe Market Disney’s Hollywood Studios Rosie’s All-American Cafe There have been some changes on the Kids Menu at Rosie’s All-American Cafe. Here’s what’s different on the Kids Disney Check Meals: REMOVED: Turkey Sandwich ADDED: Cheeseburger – Served with choice of two sides and choice of small lowfat milk or small DASANI bottled water. Meets Disney Nutrition Guidelines for Complete Meals without substitutions for $7.49 (Allergy-friendly version available Reindeer Mousse at Rosie’s Under the Kid’s Meals menu, the Chicken Breast Nuggets – 4 pieces is no longer served with Dannon Danimals Smoothie and Seasonal Fruit. It is now served with a choice of two sides and a choice of small lowfat milk or small DASANI bottled water (Allergy-friendly version available). Learn About A Disney World 50th Anniversary Snack Fail Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Centertown Market At Centertown Market, the Tomato and Cucumber Salad has been removed from the menu. Centertown Market That’s the only update we spotted, though. Read Our Review Of The Eggnog Cupcake We Had Here! Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge The Mara We’ve got some changes over at The Mara. Here are some beers that have been added to the breakfast menu: ADDED: Cigar City Jai Alai IPA – Tampa, FL – 16-oz Can – this bigger brother to the Pale Ale employs a significant amount of Hops with high bitterness and Citrus and Floral aroma for $10 ADDED: Heineken Lager – Netherlands – 16-oz Can – Golden-colored with flavors that are dry, clean, crisp, and refreshing with subtle bitterness for $8.75 ADDED: Yuengling Traditional Lager – Pottsville, PA – 16-oz Can – Fuller flavored with a higher malt presence than Pale Lagers for $8.50 ADDED: Coors Light Lager – Golden, CO – 16-oz Can – Golden-colored with Flavors that are Dry, Clean, Crisp, and Refreshing with Subtle Bitterness for $8 The Mara Here are some other breakfast beverage changes: ADDED: Gold Peak Sweetened Iced Tea and Gold Peak Unsweetened Iced Tea Bottle for $4.19 ADDED: Chocolate Soy Milk for $2.99 ADDED: Schöfferhofer Grapefruit Hefeweizen – Germany for $10.25 ADDED; New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale – Fort Collins, CO for $10 You can also get two snacks for breakfast now: ADDED: Nestle Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Bar for breakfast, you can now get it for $5.69. ADDED: Luna Bar: Chocolate Dipped Coconut for $1.99. Check Out This Hidden Snack Deal We Found at Disney World Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto We saw a few changes over at Trader Sam’s, too. Under Appetizers, the Chicken or Tofu Lettuce Cups have been removed from the menu. Trader Sam’s And things have been changed under “Cocktails,” too: ADDED: Mele Kaliki-Mai Tai – Plantation Original Dark Rum, Bacardí Superior Rum, Cinnamon, Orgeat (Almond), and Falernum with a splash of Lime Juice and a Cinnamon Stick for $15 ADDED: Tropical Snowstorm – Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, Parrot Bay Coconut Rum, Coconut Cream, Cinnamon, Orgeat (Almond), and Falernum topped with Cinnamon and Nutmeg for $15 REMOVED: Dark & Tropical Stormy If You LOVE Trader Sam’s, You Should Try These Other Spots in Disney World Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Story Book Dining at Artist Point Story Book Dining at Artist Point has reopened! And there’s an updated prix fixe menu. There aren’t a lot of changes, but here’s what we saw under Appetizers: The Wicked Shrimp Cocktail and the Mushroom Bisque are returning, but the bisque is now called “Wild Mushroom Bisque.” Hunter’s Terrine is now Hunter’s Pie and will is made with turkey, chicken, black truffle, cranberry preserve, and crispy sauerkraut It’s in a cauldron! And here are the “Entrees” changes: “Cottage” Beef Stew has been renamed as “Cottage” Beef Stroganoff Brother’s Grimm Roasted Chicken is now called the Brother’s Grimm Herb Chicken, made with Cauliflower Puree, Roasted Vegetables, and Chicken Jus Magic Mirror’s Slow-braised Pork Shank has also swapped out Celery Root Mashed Potato with Horseradish, Mashed Potato, along with Wilted Greens and Jus REMOVED: Sorceress Spell of Land and Sea NEW: Sorceress Spell of “Tricken” Chicken — served with Herb-Crusted Potatoes, Snap Peas, and Vegetable Jus A Stroll Through Nature Desserts mostly remain the same, although the Miner’s Treasures description changed to Cookies ’n Cream Panna Cotta and Chocolate Gems. Under Non-Alcoholic Drinks, the Wishing Apple Punch decreased from $7 to $5, but no longer includes a Souvenir Glow Cube, which can be purchased for an additional $3.75. And here’s what’s changed under “Cocktails”: Antidote decreased from$14 to $13, Smoking Mirror increased from $13 to $14 A Brew of Peaches is now made with Jim Beam Black Extra-aged Bourbon instead of Buffalo Trace bourbon Alchemy is made with Tanqueray Gin, as opposed to Uncle Val’s Gin. Read Our Full Review Of The Reopened Storybook Dining at Artist Point Disney’s Port Orleans — French Quarter Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory We’ve got one small change over at Sassagoula Floatworks: The Pimento BLT has been removed from the menu. Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory That’s the only change we’ve spotted here, though! Read A Review of the Latest Treat We’ve Had Here Disney’s Port Orleans — Riverside Boatwright’s Dining Hall Boatwright’s Dining Hall has also reopened! And it, too, has some menu changes. Here’s what’s different under Appetizers: REMOVED: Crawfish Bisque REMOVED: Andouille Sausage Cheese Dip REMOVED: Fried Green Tomatoes ADDED: Boudin Balls — A mix of Andouille Sausage, Smoked Sausage, and Dirty Rice Breaded and Fried. Served with Remoulade, Creole Mustard, and Pickled Vegetables for $13 French Onion Soup Au Gratin increased from $9 to $10 Mardi Gras Fritters increased from $10 to $12 Amelia’s Salad increased from $9 to $10 Mardi Gras Fritters Here’s what’s changed under “Entrees”: REMOVED: Turbodog Barbecued Ribs All-You-Can-Eat Chef’s Platter increased from $33 to $35 Boatwright’s Jambalaya increased from $19 to $21 Boatwright’s Harvest Jambalaya increased from $19 t $21 General Fulton’s Prime Rib increased from $35 to $36 Deep South Shrimp & Grits increased from $23 to $24 Chef’s Platter And “Sides” have changed, too: REMOVED: option to add Crawfish Macaroni & Cheese or Lump Crab Cakes REMOVED: Red Beans and Rice “Desserts” have also seen some updates. This part of the menu is now called “A Finale from the D’Sert Sisters.” Here are the other changes: REMOVED: Lemon Chess Bar REMOVED: Traditional House-Made Bread Pudding Mississippi Mud Creme Brûlée — description changed from a Chocolate Brûlée with a Chocolate Shortbread Cookie to a Chocolate Creme Brûlée with Chocolate Ganache, Chocolate Gluten-Friendly Shortbread Cookie, Garnished with Fresh Strawberries and More Ganache Pecan Pie Cheesecake — description changed from Creamy Cheesecake with a Pecan Pie filling topped with Vanilla Chantilly Cream and Spiced Candied Pecans to a Pecan Pie Cheesecake with a Pecan-Graham Cracker Crust Creamy Vanilla Cheesecake with a Pecan Pie filling, Bourbon-Caramel sauce, and spicy candied pecans Banana Cream Pie The Kids’ Menu has seen a huge overhaul. Here’s what’s been updated: REMOVED: Celery and Carrot Sticks with Fat-Free Ranch Dressing REMOVED: Grilled Mahi Mahi REMOVED: Turkey Marinara with Pasta REMOVED: Steak Kabobs REMOVED: Cheese Pizza Boatwright’s reopening REMOVED: Whole Grain Rice REMOVED: Buttered Elbow Pasta REMOVED: Cupcake REMOVED: Light Lemonade — served in a souvenir character cup with glowing character clip-on light ADDED: Grilled Fish Served with choice of (2) selections and choice of Small Lowfat Milk, Small Dasani Bottled Water, or Small Minute Maid Apple Juice for $12 ADDED: Pasta With Marinara — Served with choice of (2) selections and choice of Small Lowfat Milk, Small Dasani Bottled Water, or Small Minute Maid Apple Juice for $10 ADDED: Mixed Fruit Cup ADDED: Zero Sugar Lemonade with Flavors of Cotton Candy served in a souvenir character cup for $6.50 Grilled Chicken is no longer described as being “skewers” Let’s head into Boatwright’s! There are a lot of changes under “Drinks,” too: REMOVED: Specialty Character Drink REMOVED: Mega Berry Smoothie REMOVED: Minute Maid Premium Lemonade topped with a Wildberry Foam REMOVED: Light Lemonade REMOVED: Magical Star Cocktail REMOVED: Abita Big Easy IPA REMOVED: Abita Purple Haze Cheers! REMOVED: Abita Turbodog REMOVED: Abita Beer Flight REMOVED: Fireball Cocktail REMOVED: Cold Brew XO Patron ADDED: EARidescent Sip-a-bration: Minute Maid Premium Lemonade and Fruity Strawberry Punch, served in a souvenir 50th Celebration cup with a surprise character and a little bit of magic for $10 Zero Sugar Lemonade Sazerac is no longer made with Bulleit Rye Small Batch American Whiskey, but instead is made with Sazerac Knob Creek Rye Read Our Full Review Of The Reopened Boatwrights Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Todd English’s bluezoo There have been some changes over at bluezoo, too. Under “Starters,” we saw these updates: Shrimp Cocktail increased from $18 to $19 Greek Style Octopus increased from $15 to $17 Teppan Seared Jumbo Sea Scallops increased from $18 to $23 Pork Belly Bao increased from $16 to $17 bluezoo bar Here’s what’s changed under “Flatbreads:” Olive’s Classico increased from $14 to $15 Mushroom Maddness increased from $16 to $17 Mighty Meat increased from $17 to $18 And the “Soups/Salads” part of the menu has seen some price hikes: Bluezoo’s Signature Clam Chowder increased from $12 to $15 Caesar Salad increased from $13 to $14 Tuscan Kale Salad increased from $14 to $15 Clam Chowder at bluezoo Finally, under “Entrees,” we’ve got these changes: bluezoo’s Simply Fish increased from $36 to $37 REMOVED: bluzoo burger Cappelletti Pasta increased from $34 to $36 Veal Osso Buco increased from $38 to $39 Butler Steak increased from $39 to $40 Angus Beef increased from $52 to $55 BBQ Swordfish at blue zoo Linguine Con Vongole increased from $26 to $28 Steamed Pumpkin Nudi increased from $24 to $26 Crispy Skinned Chicken increased from $29 to $30 Read A Review of bluezoo Shula’s Steakhouse We’ve got some changes at Shula’s, too. Under “Appetizers,” here’s what’s different New Orleans-style Shrimp increased from $21 to $22 REMOVED: Braised Swedish-style Meatballs ADDED: Maryland-style Crab Cake — Jumbo Lump Crab, Mustard, and Old Bay Seasoning with Rémoulade Sauce for $22 ADDED: Thick Cut Nueske’s Bacon — Bourbon-Honey Glaze, Tomato Jam, Cheddar Grits, White Cabbage & Fennel Slaw for $19 Welcome to Shula’s! Under “Soups and Salads,” this is what has changed: ADDED: Tomato Burrata Salad — Basil Pesto, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinaigrette for $16 The Wedge Salad increased from $13 to $15 REMOVED: Roasted Beet Salad ADDED: Shula’s House Salad — Tomatoes, Bacon, Ricotta Salata, Carrots, Scallions, Apple Cider Vinaigrette for $14 Traditional Caesar Salad increased from $13 to $14 Sports memorabilia can be found all around the restaurant! Under “Entrees,” we’re seeing these changes: Roasted Brick Chicken increased from $34 to $36 Coaches-cut Prime Rib increased from $39 to $41 There’s also a new item under “Sides:” Caramelized Brussels Sprouts — Bacon, Onions, Lemon Juice for $13 Read A Review of Shula’s Steakhouse Here Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground Trail’s End At Trail’s End, all dinner add-ons have been removed: Half-slab Memphis-rubbed Pork Spare Ribs, Peel and Eat Shrimp, and Cornbread-Crusted Salmon. Trail’s End ribs We’re not sure if they’ll be replaced with other add-ons or not. Here’s Our Most Recent Review of Trail’s End Disney’s Beach Club Resort Beach Club Marketplace The breakfast menu at Beach Club Marketplace has added a Mickey Breakfast Pastry Tart, which is a Frosted Breakfast Pastry Tart filled with Guava Filling for $6.49. Inside the pastry tart It’s an upgraded Pop Tart, and we are totally okay with that. Read Our Full Review of the Breakfast Pastry Tart Disney Springs The Edison We’ve got some price increases happening over at The Edison. Here’s what’s changed on the Patented Specialties menu: Queen Cut Prime Rib increased from $42 to $43 Barolo Short Rib increased from $38 to $39 Blackened Mahi increased from $32 to $33 Grilled Salmon increased from $31 to $32 Spare Ribs increased from $35 to $39 The Edison Under the Patented Partners menu, we spotted a decrease: L. Burbank Hand-cut Fries decreased from $11 to $8. And under Desserts, Shortbread Shortcake decreased from $15 to $13. The Drinks menu had both price increases and decreases Paloma decreased from $18 to $16 Samantha Sterling increased from $16 to $18 A Dame’ll Sting Ya increased from $15 to $17 The Edison increased from $16 to $17 Strawberry Fields Forever increased from $15 to $16 Samantha Sterling Cocktail Patented Old Fashioned increased from $16 to $17 Bootleggers’ Basil increased from $15 to $17 Edison Run’s On… increased from $16 to $22 Read Our Most Recent Review of The Edison Splitsville Luxury Lanes We’ve got one small change over at Splitsville, but if you’re a fan of the Filet Sliders, we’ve got some bad news — they’ve been removed from the menu. Filet Mignon Slider The Rolls Royce Platter is also gone now, too. Read Our Latest Review of Splitsville Cookes of Dublin One restaurant at Disney Springs, Cookes of Dublin, actually had a few price decreases! Here’s what’s changed there: Fish and Chips decreased from $12.95 to $12.45 REMOVED: The Dubliner Burger REMOVED: The Buffalo Chicken Sandwich Kids Fish and Chips decreased from $8.95 to $7.95 Fish and chips! Also, the Luscious Chocolate Brownie has been removed from the menu. Read About Our Must-Have at Cookes! Vivoli il Gelato We’ve got new gelato flavors! They include Egg Nog – Zabaione, Yuengling Hershey’s Chocolate Porter. However, the Pumpkin flavor has been removed from the menu. There’s also a new Cabernet Sorbetto to try. But the Pineapple has been removed from the menu. Founders Porter Gelato Here’s what’s changed under “Milkshakes:” ADDED: Black Creamy Rose – Vanilla Gelato, Terre Di Bacco Rose Prosecco, Strawberry Sauce and whipped for $17 ADDED: Cookies ‘N’ Chianti – Cookies and Cream gelato, Terre Di Bacco Chianti, Crushed cookies and whipped cream for $17 REMOVED: Strawberry Banana Split There are also two new floats: ADDED: The Garage – Lime Sorbetto, Orange Gelato, Big Storm Grapefruit Vodka Soda, Candied Lime for $15 ADDED: Strawberry Lynchburg Lemonade – Strawberry Sorbetto and Jack Daniels Lynchburg Lemonade for $15 Corona Lime Beer Float There’s also been a price increase here: The Espresso Affogato increased from $10.50 to $11.25. Read Our Review of Vivoli il Gelato’s Newest Snack! Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Landscapes of Flavor There has been a price increase at Landscapes of Flavor — the Garden Salad increased from $3.99 to $8.99. Landscapes of Flavor That’s the only change here, though. Check Out Our Review of The Latest Treat at Landscapes of Flavor Typhoon Lagoon Lowtide Lou’s Typhoon Lagoon is reopening on January 2nd, 2022, and ahead of that reopening, we’ve seen a lot of menu updates! Over at Lowtide Lou’s, there have been a lot of changes. Although the Chicken Wrap and Chips have remained on the menu, we’ve seen the following updates: REMOVED: Italian Deli Sandwich REMOVED: Tuna Sandwich with Chips and Grapes REMOVED: Nachos with Cheese REMOVED: Smoked Fish Dip with Crackers ADDED: Shrimp Louie Lettuce Wrap served with Chips for $12.99 ADDED: Cauliflower Tabbouleh (plant-based) for $8.99 Lowtide Lou’s Sign The pretzels also got a price increase: Stuffed Cream Cheese Pretzel increased from $6.59 to $6.79 Mickey Pretzel with Cheese increased from $5.99 to $6.79 Jalapeno Cheese Pretzel increased from $6.59 to $6.79 Here’s what’s changed with the sweet treats: Nestle Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Bar increased from $5.39 to $5.69 Nestle Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Sandwich increased from $5.39 to $5.69 Strawberry Fruit Bar increased from $4.99 to $5.19 Minute Maid Frozen Lemonade Cup increased from $5.19 to $5.39 Minute Maid Frozen Strawberry Lemonade Cup increased from $5.19 to $5.39 Lowfat Milk decreased from $2.99 to $1.99 Nestle Nesquick Chocolate Milk decreased from $2.99 to $1.99 Lowtide Lou’s There are some changes under the Drinks menu, too: Bud Light Lime Lager increased from $8.25 to $8.50 Corona Extra Lager increased in price from $8.50 to $8.75 ADDED: Michelob Ultra Lager for $8.50 Seasonal Draft Beer changed from $7.50-$10.50 to $8.25-$10.00 REMOVED: Strawberry Colada (alcoholic) Grey Goose Frozen Black Cherry Lemonade increased from $12 to $14 Lowtide Lou’s ADDED: Pina Colada with Choice of Strawberry or Passion Fruit Swirls for $13 Lou’s Wavy Mango Wine Slushy increased from $9 to $10 ADDED: Blue Marble Marg or Mojito for $10 REMOVED: Beso Del Sol Sangria ADDED: Opici Family Sangria in Red or White for $11 REMOVED: Copa Di Vino Merlot ADDED: Copa Di Vino Cabernet Sauvignon for $9 Read A Review of Typhoon Lagoon’s Splash-And-Dine Around Snack Shack All the entrees have been removed at Snack shack, save for one. And the kid’s meals have also been removed. The only entree now available is the new Loaded Nachos with Walt’s Chili for $11.99. And the dessert menu has also drastically changed, removing the Sand Pail and Soft Serve Sundae and Waffle Cone (but still keeping the Chocolate Chip Cookie). But there are some new DOLE Whip snacks to get excited about! ADDED: Hei Hei Cone for $5.29 ADDED: Motunui Island Twist for $5.29 ADDED: Dole Whip Soft-serve for $4.99 ©Disney Here’s what’s changed under Drinks: REMOVED: Strawberry Margarita Pina Colada is now made with Bacardi Rum for $11 Bud Light increased from $7.75 to $8. ADDED: Habanero Lime Galley Shack Swirl for $13 ADDED: Dole Whip Soft-serve (served with alcohol) for $11 ADDED: Michelob Ultra Lager for $8.50 See More On The Typhoon Lagoon Menu Changes Those are all the changes we had for December, but stay tuned because we’re continuing to track updates on Disney World restaurant menus in 2022, too! Check Out The DFB Disney World 50th Anniversary Cupcake Crawl 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! Preorder 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 preorder your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Did any of your favorite Disney World restaurants get hit with big changes this year? Let us know in the comments! The post ALL the Disney World Restaurant Menu Changes From December! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Hello and welcome to another Disney news roundup! Hello from the Most Magical Place on Earth This week has been full of updates on everything from Disney’s Magical Express to water parks. Whether you’re heading to Disney World soon or just wondering what’s going on at the Most Magical Place on Earth, we’ve got all the updates you need to know right here! 1 — Magical Express Updates Disney’s Magical Express will be discontinued in January of 2022, but before the service makes its official departure we’ve got some updates. First, during this week we saw that Magical Express signs have been starting to disappear at Disney World’s hotels. In their place, we’ve seen new “airport shuttle departures” signs installed. New Sign But the Magical Express isn’t done quite yet. The service was set to be discontinued on January 1st, 2022, but this week we got an update. The last day that Disney’s Magical Express will take guests to their hotels from the airport is December 31st, 2021. But, the last day that Disney’s Magical Express will take guests from their Disney hotels TO the airport will be January 10th, 2022. Magical Express is going away soon So those planning to use the service during those early days in January to get back to the airport can still take advantage of it for a little bit. Click here to learn more about this update! 2 — Typhoon Lagoon is Reopening Soon! In terms of BIG reopening news, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park (which has been closed for a long time) will reopen on January 2nd, 2022! Typhoon Lagoon Water Park! And the water park won’t just be reopening with the same old treats and sweets as before. New DOLE Whip offerings and more snacks will be available at Typhoon Lagoon when the water park reopens! ©Disney DOLE Whip fans can also get excited about the reopening because one of the offerings that will be available at Typhoon Lagoon is the beloved Hei Hei Cone! That’s right folks! This DFB-favorite treat is returning and we couldn’t be more excited! ©Disney Other BIG menu changes (including some price increases) have hit Typhoon Lagoon as well. You can click here to learn more about those. But just as one water park reopens, another will be closing temporarily. Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park will be closing after January 1st, 2022 for refurbishment. We’ll keep an eye out for more updates on that. Click here to learn more about the Typhoon Lagoon reopening! 3 — Disney Collectors: Get Ready!! In the past few years, we’ve gotten some popular merchandise collections like the Minnie Mouse: The Main Attraction series and the Stitch Crashes Disney collection. Well, we’ve got big news for those who love merchandise collections — a new series themed to the main mouse himself — Mickey — will be released in 2022! ©Disney The Mickey Mouse: The Main Attraction will be a new continuity line released throughout 2022. We don’t have a lot of details just yet, but we have a feeling this merchandise will be very popular so get ready to se those alarms and try to grab this new merch. Click here to learn about this series! 4 — COVID-19 Updates This week we also saw a number of updates regarding COVID-19. To ensure we are equipping you, our readers, with all the information you need, we will continue to report on all travel, safety, and COVID-related news that could impact a Disney Parks visit. This past week, Florida broke certain daily records of new COVID-19 cases with 31,758 new COVID-19 cases. In addition, the COVID-19 testing positivity rate has increased significantly in Central Florida. Then later in the week, Florida broke a single-day record for daily reported cases of COVID-19 again with a total of 46,923 new cases. COVID-19 Health and Safety Sign Recently the CDC also updated its COVID-19 isolation and quarantine recommendations. According to the updated rules, the recommended time for isolation for those who test positive for COVID-19 and are asymptomatic is now 5 days, down from the previous recommendation of 10 days. ©CDC There are other updates and recommendations now in place. Click here to read all of the updated information from the CDC. In terms of cruising, Disney Cruise ships and more are currently under CDC investigation due to COVID-19 concerns. Also, the CDC has now indicated that people should “avoid cruise travel.” Disney Dream When it comes to flying in the United States, no big changes have been made recently but Dr. Anthony Fauci said in an interview this week that vaccine requirements are something that should be seriously considered for domestic flights, according to CNBC. Click here to learn more about those statements. Airport Crowds This week health experts also urged the public to cancel New Year’s Eve plans. You can click here to see more about those recommendations here. Click here to see more updates about travel to Disney World or Disneyland. Check out more Disney news by clicking the links below: There are WAFFLE-SCENTED Minnie ears now?! How much will pay-per-ride selections cost you during the holidays in Disney World? 2022 ears have arrived in Disney World Disney just released a new 50th Anniversary Dooney & Bourke bag See how crowded Disney World has been during New Year’s Eve week NEW 50th Anniversary coffee cups have arrived in Disney World They’re here! Fireworks and more have been announced for New Year’s Eve in Disneyland New Year’s Eve dance parties announced for Disney World Could this be one of the bands performing at the 2022 EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival? A Disney World ride had a 4 HOUR wait recently Click here to learn about the price increase you didn’t notice in Disney World Disney Enchantment has arrived in Magic Kingdom! Former Disney CEO Bob Iger sent a thank you to Cast Members Disney World Annual Passholder bonus reservations have been added for January JetBlue is set to cancel 1,280 flights in the coming days We’ll continue to be on the lookout for more Disney news. Check back for more updates! Disney World’s latest $50 souvenir is NOT what you might think! Click here to see more! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Preorder 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 preorder your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. When are you planning to visit Disney World next? Tell us in the comments! The post Magical Express Updates, a BIG Reopening, and More Disney News You NEED to Know! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Are you in the middle of planning your 2022 Disney World trip? Or, do you need an excuse to start? Cinderella Castle When you’re in the throws of putting together your hotel and dining reservations, securing your tickets and park passes, and planning out whether or not you’ll be purchasing Disney Genie+ (the new way to skip the lines in the parks), it can definitely feel like the cost just keeps going up. But, not to worry — each month we bring you a look at all the discounts that you can take advantage of and we’re starting off 2022 with some MAJOR savings for U.S. Military Members, Annual Passholders, and Florida Residents! U.S. Military Member Discounts Ticket Offers If you’re a member of the U.S. Military, then you can score savings on BOTH Disney World tickets and hotel stays! Tree of Life When it comes to ticket deals, active or retired members of the US Military, including the National Guard, Reservists, the US Coast Guard, the US Space Force, the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS), and the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). can choose between a 4-day or 5-day Disney Military Salute Ticket (formerly the Disney Military Promotional Ticket). Spouses of Military Service Members can also qualify for the tickets if they are able to present valid and active US Military IDs in the absence of active or retired Military Personnel or Commissioned Corps Members. Walt Disney World Railroad Here’s a look at the pricing for the 5-day Disney Military Salute Ticket: With Park Hopper Option – $349 plus tax With Park Hopper Plus Option – $379 plus tax With Park Hopper Option and Disney Genie+ Service – $424 plus tax With Park Hopper Plus Option and Disney Genie+ Service – $454 plus tax Slinky Dog Dash at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Here’s a look at the pricing for the 4-Day Disney Military Salute Ticket: With Park Hopper Option – $329 plus tax With Park Hopper Plus Option – $359 plus tax With Park Hopper Option and Disney Genie+ Service – $389 plus tax With Park Hopper Plus Option and Disney Genie+ Service – $419 plus tax Pandora World of Avatar Tickets can be purchased now through December 16th, 2022 for trips from January 1st through December 16th, 2022. Plus, you can even add on Disney’s PhotoPass Memory Maker for the discounted price of $98 through December 16th, 2022! If you purchase this, you’ll receive digital downloads of your Disney PhotoPass photos and videos, select attraction photos and videos, professional photos taken by Disney PhotoPass photographers, and Magic Shots featuring Disney characters and more from your vacation. Memory Maker normally costs $169 when purchased in advance. Learn More About the Military Ticket Offer HERE! Specially Priced Hotel Rates If you want to stay at a Disney World hotel during your stay, U.S. Military members can also snag a discounted rate at select Disney Resort hotels throughout 2022. Rooms can be booked with the deal now through December 16th, 2022 for stays between 1 to 14 nights on most nights January 1st through December 16th, 2022. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa You can find all the details on resort availability, booking options, dates, and have other questions answered by calling (407) 939-7830. Check Out More Details on Military Hotel Savings HERE! Annual Passholder Discounts Specially Priced Hotel Rates Disney World Annual Passholders looking to stay at a Disney World Resort hotel also have a chance to save in 2022! Right now, passholders can save up to 25% on stays at select Disney World hotels for most nights between January 2nd, 2022, and March 10th, 2022. Annual Pass The savings include up to 25% off stays most Sunday to Thursday nights January 2nd to February 24th, 2022, and most nights February 27th to March 10th, 2022 at: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village Disney’s BoardWalk Inn Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Disney’s Old Key West Resort Disney’s Riviera Resort Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa Disney’s Yacht Club Resort Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Passholders can also save up to 20% off stays most Friday and Saturday nights January 7th to February 26th, 2022 at: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village Disney’s BoardWalk Inn Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Disney’s Old Key West Resort Disney’s Riviera Resort Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa Disney’s Yacht Club Resort Disney’s Riviera Resort Or save up to 20% off stays most Sunday to Thursday nights January 2nd to February 24th, 2022, and most nights February 27th to March 10th, 2022 at: Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – Family Suites Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — Riverside For those preferring to stay at a Value Resort, the offer includes savings of up to 15% stays most Sunday to Thursday nights January 2nd to February 24th, 2022, and most nights February 27th to March 10th, 2022 at: Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort Disney’s All-Star Music Resort Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Disney’s Pop Century Resort Disney’s Pop Century Resort And, lastly, save up to 10% off stays most Sunday to Thursday nights January 2nd to February 24th, 2022, and most nights February 27th to March 10th, 2022 at: Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House Disney’s Beach Club Resort Disney’s BoardWalk Villas Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Disney’s Beach Club lobby To qualify for the offer, stays must be booked from anywhere between one to 14 nights and you’ll want to keep in mind that it excludes 3-bedroom villas, campsites, and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – Little Mermaid Standard Rooms. Learn More About the Annual Passholder Offer HERE! Florida Resident Discounts Ticket Offers Disney is also offering special ticket and hotel rates for Florida Residents in 2022, but the savings may not last for long, so you’ll want to get to planning your trip! EPCOT When it comes to tickets, Florida Residents can currently save 40% on 4-Day Tickets and 30% on 3-Day Tickets compared to the non-Florida Resident price. Or, if you’d prefer to visit for only one day, Florida Residents can save a little extra on 1-Day Tickets with Park Hopper Option (though one-day, one-park tickets are normally priced beginning at $109). Tower of Terror All you have to do is visit Disney’s website, select “Florida Resident Ticket,” and purchase the number of days and park tickets you’d prefer using your Florida address. Specially Priced Hotel Rates If you live in Florida, you can also save up to 20% on select rooms at Disney World on most nights beginning January 2nd, 2022 through March 10, 2022. Disney’s Art of Animation Resort This includes savings of up to 20% for stays most Sunday to Thursday nights January 2nd to February 24th, 2022, and most nights February 27th to March 10th, 2022 at: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – Family Suites Disney’s BoardWalk Inn Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Disney’s Old Key West Resort Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside Disney’s Riviera Resort Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa Disney’s Yacht Club Resort Disney’s Old Key West Resort Plus, savings of up to 15% off stays most Friday and Saturday nights between January 7th to February 26th, 2022 at: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village Disney’s BoardWalk Inn Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Disney’s Old Key West Resort Disney’s Riviera Resort Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa Disney’s Yacht Club Resort Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort Bedroom The offer also features savings up to 15% off stays most Sunday to Thursday nights January 2nd to February 24th, 2022, and most nights February 27th to March 10th, 2022 at: Disney’s All-Star Music Resort Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Plus, you can even save up to 10% off for stays most Sunday to Thursday nights January 2nd to February 24th, 2022, and most nights February 27th to March 10th, 2022 at: Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House Disney’s Beach Club Resort Disney’s BoardWalk Villas Disney’s Pop Century Resort Disney’s Wilderness Lodge All-Star Movies Keep in mind that proof of Florida residency is required at check-in and there is a minimum stay of 1 night and a maximum stay of 14 nights. Learn More About the Florida Resident Offer HERE! As you get ready to use these January 2022 savings, be sure to keep up with us for even MORE of the latest hotel and ticket deals available throughout the next year! And, stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney news and updates! Find Out How to Save BIG at Disney’s Aulani Resort in 2022 HERE! Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you -- they've literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They're DFB's recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!) So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/customemailexample.jpg Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Are you traveling to Disney World this month? Let us know in the comments! The post 5 Hotel and Ticket Deals You DON’T Want to Miss in Disney World This January! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

To ensure we are equipping our readers with all the information they need, we will continue to report on all travel, safety, and COVID-related news that could impact a Disney Parks visit. The holiday season is a busy time of year — especially at the airport! Between the influx of people trying to make it home for the holidays, some nasty winter weather, and a worldwide pandemic, there are a lot of complications for travelers looking to fly on New Year’s Day. Orlando International Airport As passengers try to navigate the hustle and bustle of New Year’s Day, some unforeseen circumstances seem to be causing significant travel delays across the country. According to CNBC, over 2,400 U.S. flights have been canceled on New Year’s Day due to both “severe weather across the country and a surge in omicron infections among staff.” Flight delays are disrupting holiday travel in America In Chicago, a severe winter storm causes some airlines to suspend operations. What to Do If Your Flight to Disney World is Canceled It has been reported that 205 American Airlines flights and 153 United flights have been canceled out of Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, according to CNBC. Severe weather is causing some cancelations in Chicago In other parts of the country, flights are being canceled or delayed due to “omicron infections among crews,” according to CNBC. We’ve been monitoring the health and safety changes in Disney World This news comes as Florida continues to fight the omicron variant, seeing hundreds of new cases each day. Orange County was even upgraded to a COVID-19 Hotspot status in December. COVID-19 Health and Safety Sign Make sure to stay tuned as we continue to monitor the health and safety regulations in Disney World so that you are prepared for your next vacation. Click here to learn more about the current news and information about travel to Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post NEWS: Over 2,400 New Year's Day Flights Have Been Canceled first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s a busy time in Disney World, and with that comes lots of crowds and lots of lines. Cinderella Castle This week we were surprised by a popular ride’s wait time, Disney World waterpark news, and the price of a tiny new souvenir. Check out all the unexpected Disney World news here! Rise of the Resistance Wait Time Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance has been one of the most popular rides in Disney World since it opened, and now that Disney World is in the midst of the busy holiday season, we’ve seen ride wait times increase accordingly. Still, you couldn’t prepare us for the 245 MINUTE WAIT TIME we saw for Rise of the Resistance on December 29th! ©Disney And no, we aren’t joking. For real, it was 245 minutes for the standby line! At that point in the day, all the Individual Lightning Lanes were sold out, so standby was the only option for people without a Lightning Lane. Would YOU wait four hours for Rise of the Resistance?! Check out the 4 (!!) hour wait time for Rise of the Resistance! Disney World Waterpark News This week we learned that Blizzard Beach will be closing for refurbishment on January 2nd, 2022, and there is currently no reopening date on Disney World’s calendar. Blizzard Beach is one of two Disney World waterparks, and it reopened back in March 2021. Blizzard Beach on a sunny day Blizzard Beach will continue to stay open from 10AM to 5PM through January 1st, 2022, so you still have a chance to visit before the big refurbishment! Read more about Blizzard Beach closing for refurbishment here. On the same date that Blizzard Beach closes, Disney World’s other waterpark, Typhoon Lagoon, will be reopening on January 2nd, 2o22! Typhoon Lagoon has been closed since March 2020. Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool ©Disney So check out the six water slides, the lazy river, and the wave pool, or get a Dole Whip from the new Snack Shack menu! Learn more about Typhoon Lagoon reopening here! $50 PopSocket This week we found a new 50th anniversary PopSocket PopGrip for a cool $50, even though most PopSockets cost between $15 to $20. This PopSocket is decorated with a gold Cinderella Castle silhouette with the 50th logo, and it really does cost $50. 50th PopSocket We found these new PopSockets at Island Mercantile at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and they were surprisingly selling out FAST in spite of the high price! Would YOU buy a $50 Disney PopSocket? New Joffrey’s 50th Anniversary Cups This week we found brand new 50th anniversary coffee cups at the Joffrey’s Coffee and Tea Company in Disney Springs! One side of the cup features the 50th logo, while the other has the Joffrey’s logo. The color looks great with our iced coffee! They come only in the cold cups in sizes medium and large, but you can get any cold drink you like! We’ll be watching out for these cups to pop up in other areas of Disney World. Check out photos of the new Joffrey’s 50th anniversary coffee cups! That’s all the unexpected news from Disney World this week, but keep reading DFB for more Disney World news and updates! One Hollywood Studios ride is having a rough time this 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! Preorder 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 preorder 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 surprised by any of the news this week? Tell us in the comments! The post 4 Unexpected Things That Happened in Disney World This Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World has a huge variety when it comes to food. Dole Whip From the theme parks to the hotels to Disney Springs, you can have bangers and mash for lunch, sushi for dinner, and crepes for dessert all in one day! But, what if you’re craving some good ol’ fashioned American food? Well, Regal Eagle Smokehouse can help you there! Come along with us as we chow down on some barbecue favorites in EPCOT. Atmosphere Regal Eagle Smokehouse is in the American Adventure pavilion in EPCOT’s World Showcase. It took the spot of Liberty Inn in February of 2020. Regal Eagle Smokehouse This restaurant is at the center of the World Showcase, so it’s an awesome stopping point if you’re drinking around the world. It’s also themed to seem like you’re at Sam the Eagle’s Centennial barbecue cook-off. Yeah, Sam the Eagle from the MUPPETS! We love Disney’s storytelling through theming. The most Regal of Eagles Outside, there is a lot of picnic table seating, and there’s an actual smoker! The barbecue pit is the center of attention. The pit! You will also notice a walk-up bar outside where you can get various alcoholic refreshments. Regal Eagle’s Outdoor Bar When you walk inside, you can immediately smell the smokehouse barbecue scent wafting in from outside, which is delightful. Regal Eagle Smokehouse And, as Regal Eagle is in the American Adventure pavilion, it’s obviously got a lot of American theming (Sam the Eagle would have it no other way, right?)! There are banners on the ceilings, and some of the food even comes with tiny little American flags. Very patriotic in here! There is one big dining room with booths and tables, and the tables all have rolls of paper towels on them, because barbecue can be messy! Very convenient paper towels Now, let’s see what’s on the menu. Menu The entrees here showcase different styles of barbecue from around the United States. You can get things like Memphis Dry-rub Pork Ribs or North Carolina Chopped Smoked Pork Butt! ©Disney There is also a plant-based option of a BBQ Jackfruit Burger! All the entrees come with a side except for the salads. For side options, you can get things like Beer-battered Onion Rings or Baked Beans with Burnt Ends. Many of the entrees also come with or on Garlic Toast (which, YES!). ©Disney For the kiddos, there are two Disney Check Meals — the BBQ Chicken Leg and Chicken Salad. These meals meet Disney Nutrition Guidelines, which you can read more about here. They also have the option of a BBQ Rib or a Cheeseburger on the regular kids’ menu! ©Disney For desserts, you can get Banana Pudding, a S’mores Brownie, or a Fresh Watermelon Cup. Although, unless there’s a cookie or frosting hiding under that watermelon, we’re likely not picking it first as our dessert, let’s be real . For drinks, there are the usual sodas, water, and teas, and there are other options like Berry Punch or Hot Cocoa. ©Disney And, for alcoholic drinks, you can get beer, hard cider, wine, or the restaurant’s specialty cocktail — Tennessee Lemonade! There are also other cocktails available from the bar on the outside of Regal Eagle. ©Disney Regal Eagle has a QR code menu and you can order up at the counter, or you can also Mobile Order your food here, which is what we decided to do! We’re ready to EAT Once our order was ready and we picked it up, we were ready to try some food! Food For our drink, we got the Tennessee Lemonade Specialty Cocktail. It has Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey with Minute Maid Premium Lemonade and Peach for $14. Such a pretty color! This drink was pretty well balanced when it came to the ingredients. It didn’t have too much whiskey and the lemonade and peach together were really nice! It basically just tasted like a peach lemonade with a slight hint of whiskey. Drink up! Anyone who likes regular lemonade with a hint of peach would probably enjoy this! The whiskey taste isn’t strong — good for those non-whiskey drinkers, bad if you LOVE the taste of the stuff. Even our reporter who isn’t a big alcohol drinker liked this drink. We love a refreshing drink Before we get to the entrees, note that they have several different kinds of barbecue sauce you can grab here. They’re self-service and you have the options of classic smokehouse sauce, savory spice sauce, sweet mustard sauce, and vinegar based sauce. These are all sauces from different styles of barbecue throughout the south! They also have ketchup for fries and such. Regal Eagle Smokehouse For our entrees, we got the BBQ Burger and the Kansas City Smoked Half Chicken! SO MUCH FOOD Let’s start with the burger, which is a 1/3 lb Angus Burger on Garlic Toast topped with BBQ Pork, Garlic Aïoli, and a Fried Onion Ring served with your choice of side for $13.49. We went with the Creamy Coleslaw on the side! We’ve had this burger before and been pretty impressed with it but wanted to try again! There’s that tiny little American flag we were talking about! This was really delicious! The barbecue pork on top is surprisingly not that heavy and doesn’t make the burger feel like too much. Plus the pork has a great texture and flavor. You can definitely tell it was slow-cooked, as all good pork BBQ should be. See the pork peeking out? The actual burger, on the other hand, was a bit dry. Not shocking for a Disney fast-food burger, but for a joint boasting good smoked meats, grilling up a patty of beef should be easy peasy, right? In fact, our last time having this burger the patty was nice and juicy. Bummer. The barbecue sauce and garlic aïoli saved it from being too dry, but it’s basically just a standard Disney burger — nothing too extraordinary. Sorry, no pink meat on this burger (read on tho…)! Just a normal burger patty The barbecue sauce was sweet and tangy which was a good contrast to the meat. And, the garlic aïoli was tasty too, but honestly, you can’t really go wrong with a garlic spread (it’s really just garlicky mayo — nothing wrong there!). It’s a good lookin’ burger! The garlic toast used as the buns of the sandwich was…kind of soggy, but it could just be because it sat for a minute before we took a bite, so make sure to dig in right away. No shocker here, but grabbing down on two great buttery slices of bread doesn’t make for the cleanest eating experience. Remember those rolls of paper towel? Yeah, it’s all making sense now, eh? A look inside The onion ring did add a good crunch though, and the lettuce and tomato added some freshness that helped with the richness of the meat. (Anybody else really like shredded lettuce on their sandwiches?) BBQ Burger As for the Coleslaw, it definitely lived up to its name — it was really creamy! It still had a fresh taste to it though and it was very peppery, which we loved. The slaw could’ve had just a little less mayonnaise, but that’s just our personal preference. You can see all that pepper! Next, we got the Kansas City Smoked Half Chicken for $13.99. This is a Slow-smoked Half-Chicken smothered with their Sweet Barbecue Sauce served with your choice of side. For our side on this one, we got Macaroni and Cheese and it also came with some garlic toast. YUM The chicken was super moist (yeah, we said the word), you could actually see how tender it was when we cut into it! There was a ton of barbecue sauce on the outside that was sweet with a big kick of that smoky flavor. This was really good smoked chicken. So much sauce This is a great serving size too — it’s a lot of chicken! Disney makes a note that due to their unique smoking process, their fully cooked meats may appear pink in color. Yes. Pink meat. So the pink inside of the chicken is nothing to worry about! Smoked meats can pick up the hue from the smoking process — look at a good slice of ultra smokey brisket and see what we mean. (So no freaking out you got raw chicken — this birdie got a lot of time and love in the smoker!) The pink color is normal! This is definitely normal and there are signs to prove it: See? Totes normal. As for the Mac and Cheese, this one’s a winner. It’s crazy creamy and has a strong white cheddar flavor. The noodles were cooked well, as in they weren’t mushy, and the breadcrumbs on top gave a nice change of texture. We admit we were PUMPED to first try the mac here and it was kind of a letdown, but in visits since, they’ve upped their game — this stuff is solid. Noodles? Cheese? Breadcrumbs? Say no more. And, the garlic toast was golden, garlic-y, buttery goodness! (You didn’t think the garlic toast wouldn’t be amazing, did you?) The garlic toast is not to be overlooked For dessert, we got the Banana Pudding for $4.99. You can’t have barbecue without banana pudding! Well, you can, but we think it’s a necessity. In fact, pretty much every time we’ve come here to do a review, guess what we end up getting for dessert. No shocker, it’s GOOD. We want to swim in Banana Pudding This pudding wasn’t overwhelming when it came to the banana flavor, which was a good thing! The whipped cream was very light and fluffy and there was also a wonderful caramel drizzle on top and some vanilla wafers. We do wish there would have been some more caramel on top, because it was SO GOOD. It complimented the bananas perfectly. Caramel and banana is an amazing combo The wafers on top got a little soggy, and the ones inside the pudding just kind of fall apart and melt in your mouth, which we are not complaining about! That’s kind of their job in banana pudding, right? The wafers added a nice hint of vanilla to all that banana. See those wafers in there? Also, this presentation is just gorgeous, right?! The best way to end a barbecue meal If you like banana pudding, this is for you. Nosh or Not Come on down to the barbecue pit if: You’re a big barbecue or meat lover! This place is great for those traditional styles of cooking and flavors. You need a hearty meal while walking (particularly, drinking) around the World Showcase. You gotta get some protein in ya! You want a good variety of food that can please the whole family. Keep walking around World Showcase if: You’re vegetarian, vegan, or a plant-based eater, because there are only a few options for you. You don’t like barbecue — especially smoky meats. It’s called a smokehouse for a reason! You want to save room in your stomach for some more adventurous foods from around the world. You can get barbecue in a lot of places around the country, after all. Overall Overall, this is a great addition to World Showcase, and it’s relatively new — if you haven’t been to Disney World in the past couple of years, it’s worth checking out if you want some barbecue! If you remember the good ol’ days of Liberty Inn, this spot is a HUGE step up from that. The prices are also pretty reasonable by Disney standards, and the portions are decent. You could for sure split some food with friends or family here if you want to! (Notice practically all the barbecue spots in Disney World serve MASSIVE portions? Lookin’ atchu, Flame Tree Barbecue!) It can also be a crowd pleaser, with comfort food like burgers and macaroni and cheese, as well as more unique options like a Brisket Sandwich. Since it’s a quick service location, you also will have a faster meal here than you would at a table service spot. So, if you want a filling meal fast, this is a really good option. Plus with loads of good mixed drinks, beers, and more on tap, you can pull up a spot at the copious outdoor seating and chill for a while. We’ve seriously stopped here in past visits just for a drink and a side to much on outside! As far as quick service restaurants in EPCOT go, this is one of the better ones! Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney restaurant food news and reviews! Click here to see the one drink you should get in each EPCOT pavilion! 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! Preorder 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 preorder your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What’s your favorite restaurant to eat at in EPCOT? Let us know in the comments! The post Review: Why Pink Chicken is Totally NOT a Bad Thing in EPCOT first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Walt Disney himself was a huge fan of change. He enjoyed talking about change for the sake of progress — and we’ve got a lot of construction wall quotes around Disney World to remind us of that. Pardon our pixie dust! Walt saw the Disney Parks as living experiences; to keep up with the changing times, he expected the parks to adapt and grow to stay relevant. But 2021 has been *quite* the year for Disney changes. And some changes really took us off guard, for better or for worse. A good chunk of the changes we’ve seen take place throughout 2021 has been a direct result of the 2020 shutdown and reopening. Safety measures and new rules took root to protect guests while also restoring that Disney “magic” many missed dearly. (We speak from personal experience, of course.) Hi, Mickey! So, although there have been so many Disney World changes as of late, we’re going to focus more on the BIG changes that happened in 2021 as a direct result of post-shutdown. How the 10 Biggest Disney World Changes of the Year Will Impact Your Next Trip Mask Mandates And Social Distancing Lifted While Park Pass Reservations Remain Disney World closed its doors to the public starting on March 15, 2020, and stayed closed until their phased reopening in July 2020 — Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom reopened on July 11, while Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT reopened on July 15. Welcome Back Sign at T-Rex But Disney World wasn’t the same. Upon reopening, face masks were required for all cast members and guests 2 and older. Health and Safety Signs in Disney World Social distancing was also mandatory. Rides, attractions, and quick service locations with queues had social distancing markers to help guests remain 6 feet apart from other guests who were not part of their travel party. Any guest that visited during these times will likely have fond (or not-so-fond) memories of doing the awkward “keep yo distance” shuffle in line to not bump into other guests’ zone! Dinosaur Queue Further, Disney rides enforced social distancing by only seating guests in every other row of rides. Plexiglass barriers were also placed on rides and in queue lines for extra cautionary measures. Plexiglass dividers on Frozen Ever After Many of these safety protocols have been scaled back since the initial reopening, but with the COVID variants of Delta and now Omicron, we’re still keeping a lookout for if these guidelines could potentially return. NEWS: New Face Mask Rules Announced for Universal Orlando To help regulate the flow of the crowds — and manage and monitor park capacity, Disney also implemented a park pass reservation system. Now, after purchasing your Disney park pass, you’d be required to make a reservation for the day you were wanting to visit. If you tried to make a reservation on a day that was already booked up, you’d have to try booking one for a later date. But, even if you’d purchased a ticket beforehand, you wouldn’t be allowed park entry unless you made a reservation. ©Disney Nearly a year later — on June 15, 2021 — the mask mandate was lifted for fully vaccinated guests EXCEPT while riding Disney transportation (ie: Skyliner, buses, and Monorail). However, on July 30th, 2021, after the CDC updated its guidance suggesting that masks be worn indoors by everyone, Disney World once more began requiring masks indoors. Next stop — Riviera! Social distancing measures were also relaxed. We began seeing every row for rides filled and the plexiglass barriers started to disappear — though they still remain at many guest services locations. Instead of 6 feet social distancing, Disney was given the all-clear to reduce the distancing. The seemingly mile-long queues that extended WELL past the entrance of rides (due to the forced spacing) were no more, for the most part! Plexiglass Gone! That being said, not *everything* started to trickle back to the way it once was. Today, guests are still required to make a park pass reservation after they’ve purchased a park ticket. Park pass reservations will remain in effect into 2022. Click HERE for a step-by-step guide to make a Disney World park pass reservation! Hotels, Restaurants, And Shows Reopen Despite Disney reopening last year, we were still missing a good chunk of what made these parks our “happy places.” A selection of experiences remained closed or were limited/modified for guest safety. We hate to see it. But in 2021, we watched these experiences start to return. Happily Ever After and EPCOT Forever came back to dazzle guests with their nighttime fireworks spectacular on July 1 — just in time for Fourth of July! But these celebrations were only around until October 1. Then, they were replaced with ALL new fireworks shows for Disney World’s 50th Anniversary celebration! Fireworks are BACK! On May 8, we got to see A Festival of the Lion King return to Disney’s Animal Kingdom — in a modified way. Now, it’s been renamed to A Celebration of The Festival of the Lion King to illustrate that this isn’t the full version of the show. That being said, the cast members and larger-than-life Lion king puppets are just as entertaining and talented as ever. Welcome back, Simba! On August 15th, Beauty and the Beast — Live On Stage returned to Hollywood Studios at the Theater of the Stars. And December saw the return of the Indiana Jones Stunt Show. Beauty and the Beast –Live on Stage Pre-shows for rides also started popping back up! Now, we can hack into the computer systems with Dr. Seeker over at Dinosaur!, experience the Stretching Room alongside the Ghost Host in Haunted Mansion, design our own cars to race in Test Track, plus so many other experiences we didn’t realize we’d miss so much until they were gone. It’s Dr. Seeker! Almost every Disney resort is also back up and running, except for Disney’s All-Star Sports — that reopening has been delayed and won’t reopen until Spring 2022. ©Disney Some of our favorite restaurants are back-in-business, too! We were thrilled to return to ‘Ohana over at Disney’s Polynesian Village on July 9 and taste those yummy ‘Ohana Noodles again. (We were worried we may never see them again… ) Om nom nom! Sebastian’s Bistro, over at Disney’s Caribbean Beach, and Cape May Café, over at Disney’s Beach Club, reopened with Prix-fixed menus that still feature tasty classics. Ta-da! And let’s not forget the reopening of Casey’s Corner at the Magic Kingdom on June 30! (We sure can’t forget. Oh, corn dog nuggies, how we missed you SO!) Corn Dog Nuggets from Casey’s Corner And and AND we got to see The Plaza Ice Cream Parlor open back up in the Magic Kingdom too! On July 7, we reacquainted ourselves with that sweet and delicious ice cream. (And peanut butter sauce! Mmmm…) The 10 Biggest Changes Coming to Disney World in 2022 Extra Magic Hours Returning (Sort Of) and Disney Genie Before the shutdown, Disney World parks had a little thing called Extra Magic Hours. Extra Magic Hours at Disney World On select days for select parks, Disney Resort guests could either enter the parks an hour earlier or stay in the parks typically two hours later for no extra cost. Upon reopening, however, those benefits were suspended. Disney brought back early theme park access for resort guests starting on October 1. (But it’s different this time ’round.) The Grand Floridian If you’re staying at a Disney Resort, you’ll be able to enter ANY of the parks 30 minutes before the parks open. The downside? Disney has cut down the time! We used to be able to enter and knock out at least two big-ticket attractions before the crowds rolled in during that early hour. Main Street, U.S.A. in Magic Kingdom The upside? This resort benefit isn’t for select days at select parks. You’ll be able to enter 30 minutes early to ANY park whenever you’d like. (Of course, this is subject to change depending on circumstances, but that’s the main gist.) So peaceful… But what about extended after-hours? Disney’s brought these back, too — but they’re way more limited than they used to be. Also peaceful. If you want to stay at a Disney park after it’s closed, be aware that: These extended hours will be predetermined just like the old system. (Select days for select parks) Only those staying in the Deluxe Resorts or Villas will receive access to these extended hours. Contemporary Resort We’re not going to lie, folks. This was was a bit of a shock (but also…not really). We’ve been seeing Disney do this a lot recently. In general, it seems like the more guests are willing to spend at the parks and resorts, the more benefits they receive. And that’s understandable for the most part. If you want to spend more money to stay in a Deluxe Resort, then by all means do it! Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Lobby However, experiences that used to be free are starting to become “paid benefits” instead of “nice included perks” for Disney guests. (We’re looking at you, resort parking.) So now, we’re going to talk about Disney Genie, Disney Genie+, and Individual Attraction Selection — and this was probably the biggest change at Disney World we’ve seen! These are the programs that have essentially replaced the old FastPass, and yes, you have to pay for that FastPass (now called Lightning Lane) access now. Hello, Genie! Disney Genie is a planning tool in the My Disney Experience app that helps you organize your daily itinerary at Disney World (more about how to use it here). However, Disney Genie+ is a service you pay an upcharge for ($15 per day at Disney World) that lets you book Lightning Lane access to certain rides. But that daily charge doesn’t include ALL rides, because some of the more popular rides use the Individual Attraction Selection feature of Genie, which carries a separate cost per ride (with a max of two per day, per person), and that cost can vary. ©Disney It’s can seem a bit confusing or overwhelming, but we’re here to help you out and we’ve done our best to break it down for you, so be sure to check that out! And as we said, this was the biggest change of the year, if not the decade, so there’s still a lot to process here! Check out the most expensive things in Disney World that are still worth doing HERE! These big Disney changes may have even taken Walt Disney off-guard. But, as we’ve quoted from the man himself time and time again, “We keep moving forward…” And as we do, we’ll keep you posted on all of the changes so you can be prepared for your next Disney World vacation! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What Disney World change shocked you the most this year? Let us know in the comments below! The post The 3 BIGGEST Changes That Happened to Disney World In 2021 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

In case you missed it, a major Disney World perk is going away in 2022. Magical Express That’s right, Disney’s Magical Express airport transportation will be discontinued as of January 1st, 2022, and guests visiting Disney World will have to find other ways to get from Orlando International Airport to their Disney World hotel. We asked our readers (that’s YOU!) about what transportation option you plan to use, and here’s what you said! We reached out to our readers on our Instagram (give us a follow if you want share your opinions in the future!) and asked, “Which service do you plan to use once Magical Express is gone in 2022?” The Magical Express was a free service for guests staying in Disney World hotels, and it provided guests with transportation and luggage handling to and from Orlando International Airport. This was a huge perk for guests traveling to Disney World by air, and it will no longer be an option in 2022. Magical Express Sign After the Magical Express service is discontinued, guests can choose from typical transportation methods such as rideshare, taxis, rental cars, private car services or shuttles, or many other options, as well as two new options known as Mears Connect and The Sunshine Flyer. Mears Connect Bus We reached out to our readers to find out what travel options they plan on using for Orlando International Airport transportation and the results might surprise you! With over 3,000 readers responding, almost 2,000 of our responding readers said they’ll use rideshare services like Uber or Lyft! That’s a pretty big majority. Here’s how our readers voted! Of the readers voting between Mears Connect and The Sunshine Flyer, Mears Connect had a slight edge over The Sunshine Flyer with 52% of the votes, which could be due to Mears being the company that actually operated the Magical Express for many years. The Sunshine Flyer, on the other hand, is a newer service that has provided transportation for large events in the past. ©The Sunshine Flyer When we priced out the differences between using a service such as Mears Connect versus Uber, we found that on the particular dates and times we searched that Uber could be a slightly cheaper alternative to Mears Connect. However, it’s important to note that rideshare pricing can vary depending on the day and what you need. Rideshare Sign Remember that if you want to use Mears Connect or The Sunshine Flyer, you will need to reserve your dates in advance of your visit, so rideshare could be a better option for more last-minute Disney World trips. Make sure you check out all the possible ways to get to Disney World while you weigh your options for your 2022 visit! Keep reading DFB for more Disney World planning tips! The BEST ways to get to Disney World when the Magical Express is gone! 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! Preorder 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 preorder 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 service will you be using to get from the airport to Disney World? Tell us in the comments! The post Which Service Will YOU Use Once Disney's Magical Express is Gone?! Our Readers Weigh In! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Happy New Year DFB readers! Cinderella Castle It’s 2022 which means that TONS of changes are coming to Disney World soon. We’re here to give you an overview of how Disney World will be different this year! Check out our video below What’s Different in Disney World This Year? Are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes! Watch the video and let us know if you’re going on a 2022 Disney World vacation! The post DFB Video: What's Different in Disney World This Year? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The New Year is here, and after staying up until midnight to ring it all in, we’re ready to party like it’s 2022! Happy New Year! Apparently a lot of other people had the same idea as us — we’re in Disney World today to see how busy the parks are on New Year’s Day as the holiday season comes to a close. We were also in the parks yesterday for New Year’s Eve, so we had wondered how busy the parks would be the morning after the big countdown! The parks have been pretty busy this past week following the Christmas holiday, so let’s see how much of that business has stuck around into the new year. Heading in! At around 8:55AM, there was a steady stream of people filing into Disney’s Hollywood Studios. We see some people! It’s pretty common for certain areas of Hollywood Studios to appear crowded while other areas may look completely empty. Was that going to be the case on January 1st? We made it in? Where to first? Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster was down again this morning, so the area around Sunset Boulevard wasn’t especially crowded first thing in the morning. Sunset Boulevard: not too bad at around 9:45AM! Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway was also pretty empty! Pretty empty over here! Like we said earlier, though, Hollywood Studios can be deceiving. Some areas may look like this… Some places can look EMPTY! …while others are WAY more crowded! Take a look at the massive line for Star Wars Rise of the Resistance! Most crowded part of the park? Galaxy’s Edge was a little more congested than most other parts of the park. Galaxy’s Edge is hoppin! As you can see, the crowds seemed to disperse throughout the park, but the popular attractions will always be the most crowded. Be sure to follow all year long for more of the latest news and update from Disney World! We’re in the parks every day bringing you all of the important tips and tricks you need to plan the perfect vacation. Happy New Year! Click here to find out what meals to order when you visit Disney World in 2022! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Preorder 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 preorder your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Are you planning a Disney World vacation for 2022? Let us know in the comments! The post PHOTOS: New Years Day Crowds Are NOT What We Expected in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

My family and I have 50 years of experience touring Disney’s theme parks. This post contains some of our best tips to help you enjoy your Disney vacation. We’ve seen all the good, the bad, and the ugly during our time in the parks which I’ll share with you here. This chapter also contains some “theme park […] The post My Tips for Touring Disney’s Parks appeared first on Military Disney Tips Blog. View the full article

Let’s face it, sometimes booking a Disney World resort can be a tough process! From knowing when you can book your room to knowing which hotel is right for you, it’s a real challenge at times. However, there are some places at Disney that are extremely difficult to grab and almost impossible to book. Disney’s Riviera Resort Today, we’re taking a look at ten of the most exclusive places to stay at Disney World. What do we mean by exclusive? Well, they’re either so in-demand, so expensive, or so selective that they’re super hard to book! Some spots on this list are easier than others, but all of them are incredibly tough to get! So, without further ado, let’s get into it! Cinderella Castle The iconic Cinderella Castle actually has a suite in it! The room inside can sleep about six people and is one of the most luxurious experiences in Disney World. The level of detail and craftsmanship that went into this suite is crazy! You truly feel transported to a royal castle. Cinderella Castle Suite ©Disney The question is: how do you book it? The simple answer: you don’t! This suite is typically reserved for contest winners and high-profile VIPs! However, Disney does occasionally give tours of the suite, so you can at least experience it firsthand. Click here to learn about some of the secrets of the Cinderella Suite! Shades of Green Shades of Green is a very special resort on the Disney World property! It is reserved exclusively for individuals who have served or are currently serving in the military and their families. As a salute to their service, the resort was created with great amenities, pricing, and spacious room! Shades of Green However, these rooms do book up quickly, so grab your spot ASAP if you’re looking to stay at Shades of Green! Tour the Exclusive Disney World Hotel You’ve (Probably) Never Visited Golden Oak Now this one isn’t technically a resort, but it is a place to stay at Disney World! Golden Oak is a residential community built and owned by Disney on the Disney World property (it’s near Fort Wilderness Campground)! Guests can buy and live in these homes 365 days of the year. ©Golden Oak, Disney These are not hotel rooms, they are real houses filled with subtle nods to Disney in the decor! The price is STEEP and the community can be hard to get into, but it might be worth it if you’re a Disney super-fan! If you’re looking to stay in the Golden Oak area without buying a house, there’s also a Four Seasons resort within the gates of Golden Oak! Click here to read about the exclusive perk given to Golden Oak Residents last year! Presidential Suites Just like many other upscale hotels, many of Disney’s resorts feature presidential suites! These suites are crazy expensive (they’ll put you back $1000-$3000 a night!) but you definitely get what you pay for: a suite the size of a house, tons of amenities, multiple balconies, amazing views of the parks, and luxurious furnishings! Inside the Royal Asante Sweet in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge ©Disney Some of the available suites include the Royal Asante Suite at Animal Kingdom Lodge, the Presidential Suite at the Contemporary Resort, the Yellowstone Suite at Wilderness Lodge, the King Kamehameha Suite at the Polynesian Resort, and the Grand Suite at Grand Floridian (which once hosted Princess Diana!). Click here to read about 8 of the Most Awesome Disney World Hotel Rooms! The Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Resort This is definitely a “two-vacations-in-one” choice! On the one hand, you’re at Disney World enjoying all the rides and plastic cheese! On the other hand, this bungalow will instantly transport you to Bora Bora! Overlooking the waters of Seven Seas Lagoon, these bungalows are another way to enjoy Disney World in luxury! Bora Bora Bungalow at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort These bungalows can set you back $3000-$5000 (more expensive than some of the presidential suites!) and sleeps 8 people. Amenities include a plunge pool (a teeny tiny pool on the deck big enough to basically just…plunge), full kitchen, and luxuriously designed bedrooms! Not to mention the stellar view of the evening fireworks as all of these bungalows are situated just across the Seven Seas Lagoon from Magic Kingdom. The water may not be Bora Bora blue here (it’s more Florida swamp brownish-green) but it’s still SWANKY. This is definitely a bucket-list stay for many Disney fans. Click here to read about the most expensive day at Disney World, which includes a Bungalow! The Treehouses at Saratoga Springs Yes, there are treehouses at Disney World. We’re not talking about a little hut on top of a tree either; these are deluxe, fancy suites that are AWESOME! Located at the DVC resort, Saratoga Springs, these treehouses are technically three-bedroom villas (which we’ll discuss soon!) but they’re just too cool to not talk about on their own. ©Disney Elevated ten feet above the ground, you’ll have a beautiful backdrop of nature and enjoy a full kitchen and three plush bedrooms! These treehouses sleep nine people and will set you back about $1000 to $2000 a night. If you’ve ever dreamed of spending the night in a REAL treehouse, this is where that dream can come true. As much as we love the creativity and ingenuity of the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, we far prefer this option with its indoor plumbing, full kitchen, and air conditioning! Fun fact: these date back to the earliest days of Disney World and are still standing!! Click here to read about 13 Disney World rooms worth the money! Copper Creek Cabins at Wilderness Lodge Before we get into this one, it’s important to note the Copper Creek area in Wilderness Lodge also has villas that aren’t as hard to grab! However, the Copper Creek Cabins are a tough one! Similar to the bungalows and treehouses, these cabins are a fun (and expensive!) experience that is truly one of a kind on Disney World property. Copper Creek Cabins The cabins feature two bedrooms that overlook the Bay Lake waterfront, a full kitchen, a private hot tub, and enough accommodations to sleep eight people comfortably! Prices for this location range from $2,098 to $3851. It’s also worth noting that Copper Creek is a DVC property, but anyone can stay there! Click here to read about the most hurricane-ready hotels at Disney World! 3 Bedroom Grand Villas 3 Bedroom Grand Villas, much like the Presidential Suites, are super deluxe accommodations! With three bedrooms, three or more bathrooms, a full kitchen, and tons of living space, these villas are almost like houses! They might as well be full-sized homes since they also feature accommodations like a full dining room, large balconies (sometimes there’s more than one!), and some awesome views of parks and other scenic vistas. ©Disney | 3 Bedroom Grand Villa at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort You can find these at DVC resorts or resorts with DVC Villas such as Animal Kingdom Lodge, Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary Resort, Boardwalk Inn, the Grand Floridian, Copper Creek at Wilderness Lodge, and the Riviera resort! like many other locations on this list, these villas come with a hefty price tag, even for DVC Members using points. Pricing can be anywhere from, on the low end, $1500-$2000 to, on the higher end, almost $5000 per night. So if you’re looking to drop some serious cash on your Disney trip, consider a 3 Bedroom Grand Villa (be sure to grab it ASAP, they often sell out the moment they open up!). Click here to read about the secret way to stay in select Disney World hotels for LESS Riviera Tower Studio This Riviera Resort is one of Disney World’s newest and poshest resorts with decor and theming that transports guests to the Mediterranean Riviera of Italy and France. From the art in the lobby and throughout the resort to the food in the cafes and table service dining experience, guests get to experience the influence of the European glamour and only a Skyliner gondola ride away from the Disney parks. Studio Room Murphy Bed Though this resort is home to some luxurious rooms, the Riviera Tower Studio is not the most expensive, nor the most grand, but it is one of the most exclusive. Why? Because there are so few of them! There are only 24 Tower Studios in the Riviera, and the Riviera is the only resort to offer a room this size. This little suite will only sleep two adults and is the smallest Disney room on property, coming in at only 255 square feet. There’s not even a bed when you walk in — it’s small (the bed is a murphy bed hiding behind the sofa!). For over $500 a night, you could easily get a larger room at a Moderate or even Value Resort with more space. But it is the cheapest room available at the Riviera Resort. FULL Photo Tour! Disney World’s New Riviera Resort Rooms, Restaurants, Pools, and MORE! Galactic Starcruiser Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is not even open yet (it’s set to open early 2022!) but we already know it’s gonna be an exclusive spot! The new “storyliving” location is unlike anything we’ve experienced at Disney World: you’ll spend two nights fully immersed in a Star Wars story complete with lightsabers, hijacked ships, and the option to wear full costumes! ©Disney From lightsaber training to fully immersive dining experiences, this upcoming resort has a LOT jam-packed into it. The prices definitely match the experience, with rates ranging from around $5,000 to over $6,000 for the 2-night experience! Spots are limited and we’ve seen the first few months of “sailings” book up, but if you’ve got the cash, the time, and the desire, you can live your own Star Wars story too! Click here to read everything you need to know about Galactic Starcruiser Those are the exclusive spots we have for you today! We’re always keeping up with the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more! Click here to get a first look at a Grand Floridian Spa Club-Level Room! 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! Preorder 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 preorder 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 did you think of these exclusive Disney World spots? Let us know in the comments! The post The 10 Most Exclusive Places to Stay in Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s the end of 2021, and many of you are probably already thinking about your next Disney World trip! Planning that next Disney World trip? That means you’re already starting to think about 2022 Disney World events you’ll need to know about, planning tips for the new year, and deciding what food to eat (seriously, the important stuff!). But if you haven’t booked that trip yet, we’ve got an offer to share with you that you’ll want to know about! Our friends over at Small World Vacations have a New Year’s Day deal we want to share with you. The agents at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save money on your next Disney World vacation. And they will even monitor your reservation for any future savings — after you book! They’ll also compare discounts to help you get the best and most magical trip possible on your budget PLUS you’ll get expert tips. And even better? Their services are 100% free! ©Small World Vacations From January 1st through 14th, 2022, all guests who book a Disney World vacation package through Small World Vacations valued at $3,600 or more will get a free gift — a Mickey Snack Kooler (valued at around $73) FILLED with delicious snacks delivered directly to your Disney World resort. Snack achievement unlocked! ©Small World Vacations To claim the order, your check-in at a Disney World resort hotel must fall between February 1st, 2022 and September 30th, 2022. So if you’re ready to book that next Disney World vacation, be sure to contact Small World Vacations for a price quote! And we’ll be sure to let you know about other offers, so stay tuned!  Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you -- they've literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They're DFB's recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!) So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/customemailexample.jpg 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! Preorder 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 preorder your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Will you be booking a Disney World vacation in 2022? Let us know in the comments! The post Book Your 2022 Disney World Vacation NOW to Get a Special Offer first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

For so many, a job at Disney World is the DREAM job! Wouldn’t you love to work here?! Really, though, there’s much more to working at Disney than wearing costumes or being an Imagineer — in fact, there are some odd jobs you’ve probably never even thought of! As evidenced by Disney World’s recurring job fairs, there are PLENTY of opportunities to work at the Most Magical Place on Earth! This could basically be your office Beyond the typical job openings, like housekeeping and Quick Service restaurant work, there are TONS of unique jobs out there too! And some of them might seem downright WEIRD! We’re Answering the WEIRDEST Disney Character Questions You’re Too Afraid to Ask! Fireworks Designer If you’re into pyrotechnics, there might be a place for you at Disney World! Magic Kingdom Typically, setting off explosives on the job is frowned upon. Unless, of course, you’re a Fireworks Designer! Disney Enchantment Indeed, as Disney World worked to bring back their fireworks shows, they were recruiting for people to design and create fireworks spectacles, which is probably about as niche as it gets. How to Watch Disney World’s EXCLUSIVE Holiday Fireworks For FREE! Pavement Artist Artists of all sorts are pretty commonplace in Disney World, whether they’re slinging merch at the Festival of the Arts or crafting culinary art, but there’s one SUPER specific type of artist that you probably never thought of! Chalk Art! Pavement Artists are the talented folks who illuminate walkways with gorgeous chalk art, occasionally seen at EPCOT festivals especially. Dance with penguins? Don’t mind if we do! Sometimes these are custodians who just so happen to be low-key artists, but often Disney just employs artists with a particular affinity for pavement. Why You Might Want to Visit EPCOT’s 2022 Festival of the Arts on 4 Specific Days Animatronics Costumer If you thought Disney World animatronic characters were born beautiful, you’d be wrong! A little too life-like! Animatronics Costumers are people who create outfits for moving characters on rides. Unlike motionless characters, the clothes have to be specifically designed to withstand the motion. Frozen family! Ya know, so Jack Sparrow’s outfit doesn’t literally fall apart at the seams. Every Disney World Ride That is NOT Open All Day Ranch Hands Yeehaw! Most people think of Ranch Hands as working in places like, say, Montana. But they’re just as hirable at Disney World! Horseback riding at Fort Wilderness After all, SOMEONE needs to care for and train the horses! Halloween Princess Cavalcade in Magic Kingdom Of course, this particular job might also entail dressing up in old-timey garb and wearing elaborate wigs to steer Cinderella-worthy carriages, but that’s just part of the gig. Take a Peek Inside the New Barn at Tri-Circle-D Ranch in Disney World! Underwater Machinist If you’ve got an affinity for scuba diving, it turns out you’ve got more options than being a marine biologist! It’s Scuba Mickey! Disney World employs Underwater Machinists to expect, upkeep, and tend to water rides after the parks close. Someone’s gotta keep the boats afloat This includes rides like Jungle Cruise, Kali River Rapids, and Splash Mountain, checking on boats, clearing debris off tracks, and ensuring underwater mechanics are ship-shape! Kali River Rapids So if you’ve always dreamed of working at Disney World and you’ve got a penchant for pyrotechnics or scuba diving, there might be a place for YOU at the Most Magical Place on Earth! It’s Official. This Is Now a Disney Sea Urchin Fan Blog. Whether you have an uncanny resemblance to Disney royalty or a talent for working with equines, Disney has all sorts of employment opportunities. It takes Cast Members of all kinds to keep the magic alive for guests. Disney World’s Star Wars Hotel Is Hiring, And The Job Descriptions Reveal A LOT Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Which of these jobs at Disney World would you do? Let us know in the comments! The post The 5 Weirdest Jobs in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Happy New Year! We’re sharing special wishes for a joyful new year along with 2022’s first Disney Parks Blog wallpaper surprise featuring some of your favorite Disney characters. View the full article

Can you believe 2022 is already here?! Cinderella Castle The last month of 2021 was filled with holiday cheer and CROWDS, just like we expected. But, we didn’t see EVERYTHING coming last month. Here are the three most unexpected things that happened in Disney World in December! 1. The Fire at Cinderella Castle Hands down the most SHOCKING news of the whole month was the fire at Cinderella Castle. About halfway through the month, we were surprised to see emergency vehicles proceeding down Main Street, U.S.A. in response to a fire near the Disney World icon! Image from DFB reader @ptolley_ on Twitter Guests were evacuated from the immediate area of the Castle and emergency vehicles congregated near the source of the fire on the Liberty Square side of the hub. Luckily, the fire was small and was able to be extinguished with a fire extinguisher. Emergency vehicles in Magic Kingdom Whew! The Cinderella Castle fire certainly made for an eventful evening in the park. The following day, park operations were back to normal but this was still a pretty SURPRISING event! Click here to learn more about the Castle fire! 2. Typhoon Lagoon’s Reopening Announcement This next one might not be as shocking as a fire, but we were still pretty surprised. Just a few days ago, Disney announced that Typhoon Lagoon water park will reopen on January 2nd! Typhoon Lagoon Water Park! This park has been closed for almost two years so this is a pretty exciting announcement. Still, it was pretty surprising to get a big water park reopening announcement for early January. The park is opening as Blizzard Beach closes for the season. ©Disney Even better, this reopening is bringing with it ALL. NEW. TREATS. We can’t WAIT to try out the new Dole Whip concoctions — and to get our slide on. Want to see more about the Typhoon Lagoon reopening? Click here! 3. A $50 Pop Socket? And this last one might not be the newsiest of news, but it CERTAINLY is shocking. We found a $50 POP SOCKET. $50!?!? FIFTY!?!? It IS pretty… Sure, the Disney World 50th Anniversary PopSocket is glitzy and all, but we’re not sure we ever expected to spot a $50 option. What’s even MORE surprising is that these trinkets were FLYING off the shelves. That’s quite the holiday gift! To see more about this EXPENSIVE PopSocket, click here! And that’s the unexpected news from last month in Disney World! As always, keep an eye on DFB so you don’t miss ANY of the surprising news that’s sure to come in the New Year! Click here to see MORE of the holiday crowds! 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! Preorder 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 preorder 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. Headed to Disney World next year? Tell us in the comments! The post The 3 Most Unexpected Things That Happened in Disney World in December first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

WATCH LIVE: New Year’s Eve “Fantasy In The Sky” Fireworks | Walt Disney World ResortView the full article

Happy New Year! We’re celebrating the best way we know how — in Walt Disney World! Happy New Year! The parks are flooded with guests hoping to count down to midnight with fireworks and dance parties, and you can definitely tell that it’s one of the most crowded days of the year. And if you’re one of the ones in the park celebrating this year, then you should know about an awesome freebie you can get! Today, we looked all over Disney World for Cast Members handing out free New Year’s Eve hats. Finally, we found out they were at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort and it’s the perfect way to celebrate in Magic Kingdom! Happy New Year! If you’re looking for the perfect accessory to wear while you ring in 2022, this is it! In the past we’ve found them at most Disney World hotels, but make a note that this year the hats have so far been found at Art of Animation, Port Orleans, and Wilderness Lodge according to guests and Cast Members we spoke to in the park. So fun! We spotted these hats last year, so we’re glad that they are back (even if they are a bit harder to find!). Happy New Year! We’ll be on the lookout for any more big news today, so stay tuned to DFB! We’ve got you covered with the latest from the parks! New Year’s Eve has brought CROWDS to 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! Preorder 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 preorder 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 been to Disney World on New Year’s Eve? Tell us in the comments! The post We Found a FREE New Year’s Eve Souvenir in Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Happy New Year’s Eve! It’s time for Disney World to welcome a new year. It’s almost 2022! On New Year’s Eve in Disney World, guests will be able to enjoy dance parties, Disney Springs events, and special New Year’s Eve fireworks. But what are the crowds like on New Year’s Eve? Let’s take a look! Considering how busy Disney World was the week of the Christmas holiday and this past week, we expected to see big crowds. Plus, all four Disney Parks are fully booked for New Year’s Eve, according to Disney World’s Park Reservation Calendar. ©Disney We decided to head over to Magic Kingdom tonight to catch the Enchantment fireworks and check out the crowds. We got on the ferry right around sunset! The sky is so pretty! We got inside the park about 5 minutes before Enchantment was about to begin, and Main Street, U.S.A. was PACKED! People as far as the eye can see! People were lined up all the way back to the Christmas tree to catch a view of the show. Big crowds Then, we went to go see if other parts of the park were as crowded for the show. Moving closer to Tomorrowland, there were still a lot of people around watching. People watching the show near Tomorrowland But, when we walked over toward Fantasyland, there were way less people enjoying the view from behind Cinderella Castle near Mad Tea Party. It’s not busy at all back here You can still catch a pretty great look at the fireworks from back here, you just won’t be able to see the projections on the castle. Fireworks! But, when we moved more into Fantasyland, we were met with the crowds again! Oh boy! A ton of people were back here checking out the fireworks, but they started to disperse once the show ended. A look from above! Everyone started moving toward the rides. Crowds outside of “it’s a small world” The streets were very busy with people going toward and away from Fantasyland. Yikes! Many people got in line for Peter Pan’s Flight. Getting ready for some pixie dust Once we moved into Liberty Square, there was still a lot of people hustlin’ and bustlin’. Liberty Square crowds But, it didn’t feel as crowded here as it did in Fantasyland. Not as bad! Those are what the New Year’s Eve crowds look like in Disney World! Keep up with DFB today as we navigate the holiday and ring in 2022. If you’re in Disney World right now or maybe just thinking about planning a holiday trip in the future, we have lots of tips and tricks for handling crowds and visiting at busy times. Learn how to avoid holiday crowd burnout Read our Genie+ tips for the most crowded days Find the 15 secret walkways to beat the crowds How to watch Disney World’s New Year’s Eve fireworks live from home! 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! Preorder 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 preorder 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 visit Disney World on New Year’s Eve? Tell us in the comments! The post PHOTOS: New Year’s Eve has Brought the Crowds to Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

One of the best parts about the holiday season is getting together with family and friends. D23 has got your next gathering all taken care of with their latest appetizer recipe for Kwanzaa. Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade This sweet potato appetizer can be customized to your taste buds depending on what flavors you like! There are two options here: sweet or savory. Plus, we can get behind anything that comes in the shape of our favorite mouse! Kwanzaa is a celebration of culture, heritage, and tradition. We here at DFB know that nothing brings people together for celebrations quite like food does, so we’re happy to share this recipe with you! ©Disney, d23 Here’s how you can make this recipe at home: INGREDIENTS For the sweet version: 1/4 tsp cinnamon 1/8 tsp sea salt 2 tsp coconut oil Maple syrup or honey Candied walnuts Dried cranberries Large sweet potato For the savory version: 2 tsp olive oil Sea salt flakes Goat cheese Dried cranberries Roasted walnuts Large sweet potato For both options, you’ll need a Mickey Mouse-shaped cookie cutter. DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Start by washing the sweet potato. You can peel the skin, but that’s optional! Cut sweet potato into ¼” thick slices. Now is when you’ll want to shape your potato slices with the cookie cutter. If you’re following the sweet recipe, mix the coconut oil and cinnamon in a bowl, then toss the sweet potatoes to coat. If you’re following the sweet recipe, toss the sweet potatoes in olive oil. Arrange your slices on a greased baking sheet and sprinkle with some salt. Cook for 10 minutes, then flip and cook for an additional 8 minutes. Serve the slices with either the sweet or savory ingredients listed above! Olaf with Kwanzaa kinara We’re always looking for recipes that will bring the magic home, so keep an eye out for our next great find! Happy Kwanzaa to all who celebrate! How YOU Can Get Sanaa Bread Service at Home! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney World Fun This Holiday Season! The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2021 is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World. Order The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2021 now! It includes over 400 pages of must-have information, including: A full What's New!! chapter for the 2021 Holiday Season A full Monthly Schedule of Events for the Holiday Season How to avoid the crowds on Disney World's busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!) ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM. And, of course, we'll tell you where to eat! ;-D Click HERE to order your 2021 Guide now and get 20% off with code PEPPERMINT! As always, our e-Books are 100% guaranteed! If you don't love it, you get your money back! Want Even MORE? The DFB Everything Bundle comes with ALL of our guides, including the Holiday Guide, for one low price! It includes: Pre-order of the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2022 The 2021 Food & Wine Guide The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Holidays 2021 Pre-order for the 2022 Flower and Garden Festival Guide All three DFB Snack Guides Click HERE to order your DFB Everything Bundle! MORE Disney World Holiday INFO! Check Out the FULL List of Holiday Treats Coming to Disney World This Year See the List of Holiday Treats Coming to Disney World’s Hotels Get All of the Latest Information about the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays See the Booths, Menus, and Food Photos for the Festival of the Holidays Check Out Our Photos & Reviews of the Holiday Treats in Disney World Watch Our Video About What We Wish We’d Known Before Going to Disney World During the Holidays Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest holiday news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Will you be serving this versatile appetizer at your next get-together? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney Recipe: A Sweet Potato Appetizer For Your Kwanzaa Celebration first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s New Year’s Eve, and we’re ready to celebrate BIG in Disney World! Happy New Year! We’ve got fireworks to watch, dance parties to enjoy, and some delicious snacks to chow down on. And right now, we’re heading to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort for a fan-fave — Dole Whip! Last year, Pineapple Lanai had a pretty spectacular Dole Whip Float for New Year’s Eve, and we’re hoping that they do it again to ring in 2022. We’ve got a hankering for some dessert! Pineapple Lanai And to our giddy surprise, they’re back again for more! This year, we’ve got the New Year’s Float, made with POG juice, pineapple Dole Whip, popping candy, and pineapple bubbles for $6.49. It’s topped with a tiny umbrella and a white chocolate “2022” topper. New Year’s Float As far as looks go, we think it’s beautiful! With the colorful popping candies and the cute lil’ umbrella, it’s a perfect celebration treat for Polynesian Village Resort. It looks so yummy! But the taste is the most important thing here! It was DELICIOUS. How can you go wrong with POG juice and Dole Whip? We received a swirl even though the sign says pineapple, so you may want to say whether you want pineapple or swirl when you order. We love it! We didn’t really taste the pineapple bubbles, but we love how the swirl balances the tartness of the pineapple with the vanilla. And the POG juice gave it just the right amount of sweetness. Our only complaint is that we wanted MORE popping candies! Popping candies! We wish this treat would be around all year — this location offers regular Dole Whip floats so they would just have to switch the pineapple juice for POG juice. That’s all for now, but stay tuned to DFB tonight for more New Year’s Eve coverage of Disney World! We’ll keep you updated with everything you want to know! Click Here to Check Out Last Year’s Treat (It Knocked Our Socks Off!) 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! Preorder 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 preorder your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What’s your favorite kind of Dole Whip? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: We're Petitioning For Disney World's New Year's Dole Whip to Be Around All Year first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

runDisney has supplied us with some great tutorials in the past, so it’s no surprise that they are at it again with this new Do-It-Yourself project! ©Disney We recently found a shiny new tutorial for a running skirt inspired by Minnie Mouse’s EARidescent celebration outfit. Grab your measuring tape, because you’re going to want to run to create this fun new DIY from runDisney! With the Walt Disney World 2022 Marathon Weekend quickly approaching, runDisney has shared their latest tutorial to help you get ready for the race. We’ve got all the information you’ll need to complete this EARidescent running skirt below! ©Disney Supplies: Let’s start by grabbing our supplies. You’ll need: Tulle fabric, in pink, light blue, and dark blue Thick gold ribbon Thin gold ribbon Scissors Measuring tape ©Disney Instructions: To make the skirt, follow these instructions: Using your measuring tape, measure around your waist where you want the top of the skirt to sit. Cut two strips of the thin gold ribbon to the waist measurement you just took. Set these aside. Taking the thick gold ribbon, measure out the length of your waist PLUS 40-50 inches (so you can tie your skirt in the back!). Set this aside. Using your measuring tape again, measure from your waist down to where you want the bottom of the skirt to be — then double this measurement. Now, grab your tulle and begin cutting strips. Like, A LOT of strips. They should be 6 inches wide by however long you want the skirt to be. Repeat until you have a big ol’ pile of tulle! Wrap the thick gold ribbon around your waist, and tie a knot at each end where the two ends meet at your back. ©Disney Next, you’ll want to layer your tulle strips in groups by grabbing a few. Grab your first grouping and fold it in half lengthwise, then place the fold underneath the thick gold ribbon as shown in the photo above. Taking the bottom of the tulle, fold it up over the gold ribbon and through the little loop at the top. Pull tight! This part is up to you — keep adding groups of tulle until your first layer is as voluminous as you’d like it! ©Disney For the next color layer, you’ll keep repeating the process but will cut these strips to be about four inches from the top. Repeat the same step, but this time cutting the strips to be eight inches from the top. Once your skirt is nice and fluffy, take your thin gold ribbon, weave it through the tulle knots at the top and tie at each end! ©Disney Tie your skirt around your waist and strut your stuff because you are all done. We are always keeping our eyes peeled for the latest projects and news from Disney, so make sure to check back here for more! Can’t get enough DIY posts? Click here for another tutorial that will rock your 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! Preorder 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 preorder 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 think you’ll be running to try out this new tutorial? Let us know in the comments! The post DIY FUN: A runDisney Tutorial That Will Have You Racing to the Finish Line! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Happy New Year’s Eve! Can you believe it’s almost 2022? It’s almost 2022! There are plenty of ways to celebrate whether you are at Disney World, Disneyland, fan-favorite restaurants, or on your couch! We’ve already given you a look at the return of New Year’s fireworks in Magic Kingdom and we’ve tried a returning New Year’s cupcake, but now we’re checking out another 2022-inspired treat! If you want to countdown to 2022 with a sweet treat, head over to BoardWalk Bakery! We picked up the 2022 Mickey Cupcake and it’s SO festive! 2022 Mickey Cupcake! This cupcake is made with vanilla cake and a root beer gelee, and it’s topped with vanilla whipped cream and a red white chocolate Mickey covered in stars and “2022.” AND it has the most adorable white chocolate red and gold sparkly “fireworks!” It’s time to ring in 2022! The topper looks pretty similar to the New Year’s Eve cupcake from Disney’s Animal Kingdom last year but has completely different flavors. So let’s see how this New Year’s cupcake tastes! So cute and festive We loved the vanilla whipped cream! It was super light and not too sweet, but we did kind of wish there was a lot more of it. In fact, we’d take more whipped cream over the chocolate toppers! That’s whipped cream on top! This cupcake was really moist and fresh and the root beer gelee was surprisingly good! It did add a bit of an odd texture to the cupcake but it worked well anyway because there wasn’t a ton of it. Happy New Year! Overall, the 2022 Cupcake was a bit on the bland side so some people might wish it had more flavors than vanilla and root beer. But the root beer gelee was really fun and if you’re a root beer fan you might really enjoy it! Root beer gelee This cupcake is perfect for someone who prefers more cake in their cupcakes, but if you’re a big chocolate or icing fan this cupcake might not work for you. We think kids would really love the root beer flavor and the fun glittery chocolate fireworks! This treat won’t be around for long, so be sure to head over to BoardWalk Bakery soon if you want to try it! You can grab it for $5.99. 2022 Cupcake We’ll continue giving you the latest New Year’s Eve updates at Disney World, so stay tuned for more! How to Watch Disney World’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks LIVE From Home 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! Preorder 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 preorder 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 is your favorite snack to eat on New Year’s Eve? Let us know in the comments! The post REVIEW: You Can EAT Fireworks With Disney World's Newest Cupcake! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article