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When the resort shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic, she decided to bring the parks home by doing ride recreations that have drawn thousands of viewers online. View the full article

Nothing wrong with a healthy neighborly rivalry, right? Who’s got the best yard? Who passes out the best candy at Halloween? Who puts up the brightest Christmas lights around the house each year? Wilderness Lodge But there’s another competition afoot. If you’re both going to Disney World next year, WHO’S trip is going to be the one coming up on top? (Spoiler alert: it’s totally yours). Check out our video below Why Your Disney World Trip is Gonna Be Better Than EVERYONE’S! 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: Why Your Disney World Trip is Gonna Be Better Than EVERYONE'S first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Planning a visit to Disney World soon? Many things have reopened and more are set to reopen soon! Welcome to Disney World Just recently we shared details about the reopening of Story Book Character Dining at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Boatwright’s Dining Hall at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — Riverside, and more. Yesterday we shared that Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort will be reopening in 2022, and now we’ve got another update! Reservations to stay at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort are officially OPEN! In fact, if you visit the Disney World Resort hotels general website, you’ll see that it notes that ALL Disney World Resort Hotels are now once again accepting reservations. ©Disney All-Star Sports was set to reopen on a previous date, but that was thereafter delayed. Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort is now set to reopen on March 31st, 2022. We looked for a 1-night stay for that date and were able to find a standard room, though we didn’t see a preferred room available during our search. ©Disney When we extended our stay for a few more nights, availability for a preferred room popped up. So just be sure to search and see what will be available during the dates you want to visit. ©Disney On the Disney World Hotels page, it has a small box of information now about the upcoming reopening for All-Star Sports. It appears that the End Zone Food Court and Grandstand Spirits will likely reopen with the resort, along with Sport Goofy Gifts and Sundries, the pools, and more. This is all subject to change. ©Disney We’ll continue to be on the lookout for more information about this reopening. Planning to visit Disney World in 2022? There are lots of other returning things or big changes coming including the return of Fantasmic!, the Festival of Fantasy Parade, and more. Click here to see the 7 new MISTAKES you don’t want to make in Disney World in 2022! Don’t want to mess with booking your hotel reservation or trip on your own? Want to get some help to take away some of the stress of your vacation planning? Reach out to our friends over at Small World Vacations! They can help you book the Disney trip of your dreams, give you all kinds of useful tips and advice, and their services are totally FREE! Check back with us for more updates! Click here to see the latest Genie+ update regarding parades! 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! Have you ever stayed at All-Star Sports? Tell us in the comments! The post Reservations Are NOW OPEN for Disney's All-Star Sports Resort first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

How Would You Describe Gino The Silverback Gorilla? | Disney's Animal KingdomView the full article

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. ‘Tis the season for giving! And while we may hustling around for that last perfect gift for our loved ones, we can’t forget our four-legged family members! Looks like Pluto is ready for Christmas! Disney has a partnership with the pet-focused company, Chewy, and their Disney Collection has some practical and, quite frankly, adorable, gifts for our furry family members. Whether you’re a cat person, or in a canine-loyal household, Chewy has Disney gifts you just can’t pass up to spoil your special pet. With the holiday season and the release of the latest Spiderman flick, now is the best time to grab this Marvel’s Spiderman Gingerbread Dog & Cat Sweater for your pet! © Chewy For only $10, this sweet sweater is a deal and supports your friendly neighborhood Spiderman! Get this Marvel’s Spiderman Pet Sweater HERE. If your pet is struggling to get into the festive spirit, grab this Disney Donald Duck “Bah Humbug” Dog & Cat Sweater. © Chewy Your pet will surely be the cutest Ebenezer Scrooge of the season in this accessory, and it’s only $10! Get this Bah-Humbug Pet Sweater HERE. If your pet prefers adventures in a galaxy far, far away. Then this Star Wars: The Mandalorian “Tis the Season” Pet Bandana may be just the right gift. © Chewy It features Grogu building a snowman with a Mandalorian helmet, and we can’t help but think that “this is the way.” And for less than $5, we’re here for it. Click HERE to get this festive Mandalorian Pet Bandana! For the toy category, Chewy has just the right options whether it is for squeaking, chewing, chasing, or snuggling. Like this Holiday Mickey & Minnie Gingerbread Hide & Seek Puzzle Plush Squeaky Toy. © Chewy Your pet can test his intelligence to pull the toys out of the gingerbread house, or just chew and squeak his favorite plush. This three-in-one set is $14.98. Click Here to get this festive pet toy! If chewing or tug-of-war is of your pet’s thing, then why not give him this Disney Holiday Mickey & Minnie Mouse Gingerbread Cookies Plush with Rope Squeaky Dog Toy? © Chewy Three gingerbread Mickey’s all linked together on a sturdy rope chew toy. For $7.79 it’s a purchase that will make both of you happy! Click here to pick up this festive chew toy! And don’t think we’ve forgotten about our feline friends! Your sweet kitty can celebrate the holiday season and the release of the new Spiderman movie with this Marvel’s Spider-Man Plush Kicker Toy + Spider-Man Bouncy Cat Toy with Catnip. © Chewy Let their inner superhero show while they play with this toy. Grab one for $10.76. Click HERE to get this Spiderman toy for your super kitty. If your kitty is more of a classic cat and would rather bat around a mouse (gasp!), we have a festive set for you! This Disney Holiday Mickey & Minnie Mouse Teaser Wand Cat Toy with Catnip comes with several Mickey-shaped toys for your cat to play with. © Chewy The festive candy swirl and reindeer antlers add that little extra holiday touch. Pick these up for $7.98. Click HERE to buy this holiday Disney teaser wand! And while you’re enjoying your holiday cookies, now there are some you can give to your pets. This Disney Holiday Mickey & Minnie Mouse Cookie Plate Plush Squeaky Toy will let your pets play with their “food” get in on the holiday fun. This set comes with 5 toys, the toy dish, and 4 festive cookies for $7.79. Click HERE to get these holiday toy cookies for your pets! This is only a small sample of the fun toys, apparel, and pet accessories available for your furry friend. You’re sure to find something to help your pet strut their stuff and show off their fandom for Star Wars, Disney, Marvel, or Pixar, there is something for every pet and every fandom! And stay tuned to DFB for more merchandise updates, we’ll keep you posted when we find something cool for you to check out! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! 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. Has your pet been naughty or nice this year? Will they be getting one of these under the tree this year? Let us know in the comments! The post Last Minute Christmas Gifts for Your Pets! 🎁 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World’s 50th anniversary has brought us a TON of new food! 50th Celebration Ice Cream Sandwich We’ve tried new Dole Whips, cracked into a giant chocolate pyramid, snacked on spicy popcorn, and even tried a funnel cake hotdog (which was pretty good!). But, we just learned that some 50th foods won’t be around for much longer! Several 50th anniversary snacks will be leaving Magic Kingdom soon! Disney Parks posted on Instagram this morning the snacks that will only be available through January 9th, 2022. After that, they will be replaced with something else! According to the pictures, some of the items that will be leaving include the Mickey Mouse Dome Cake from Gaston’s Tavern… Dome Cake …the Showtime With Jose Dole Whip float from Aloha Isle… Showtime with Jose …the Pecos Bill Widowmaker Sandwich from Golden Oak Outpost… Widowmaker Sandwich …the Seven Dwarfs Specialty Cone from Storybook Treats… Seven Dwarfs Cranberry Cone …and the Not-Too-Late Tea from Cheshire Cafe. Not-Too-Late Tea We’ll be sad to see these foods go away, but we’re excited to see what’s replacing them! Stay tuned to DFB, because Disney said they’ll be announcing the new foods next week. Click here to see our favorite 50th anniversary foods we’ve tried! Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Details and Info Click HERE for Your Guide to Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Celebration See Everything That Has Been Announced For Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Check Out Everything Happening in Disney World on October 1st, 2021 Click Here to See The 50 Best Ways to Celebrate Disney World’s 50th Anniversary What Does Hotel Availability and Pricing Look Like for Disney World’s 50th Anniversary? Here Are the 5 News Bombs You May Have Missed Related to the 50th Anniversary Celebrations! Check Out 10 Things You Need to Bring If You’re Going to Disney World for the 50th Anniversary See How Each of Disney World’s Park Icons Will Transform During the 50th Anniversary Celebrations! Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Which 50th snack has been your favorite so far? Let us know in the comments! The post Uh, Some 50th Anniversary Foods are LEAVING Disney World Next Month! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Ever since Disney Genie+ premiered in Disney World back in October, we’ve seen quite a few changes. ©Disney For those who aren’t tech-savvy, it may be a difficult system to learn, with all the rules and different times throughout the morning that attractions become available to book. But today, we got yet another change — a new (and unexpected!) offering on Genie+! This morning, we purchased Genie+ to see how things go during what is arguably the busiest week of the year at Disney World. When we went in to make our selections, we noticed something new — Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade is available as a Genie+ selection! ©Disney This parade has been running throughout the season at Disney Very Merriest After Hours, but that event had its last party yesterday. For the next few days, the parade will run during the daytime for Christmas break guests to enjoy. And if you’re hoping to watch, you can book it through Genie+ to access a reserved viewing area! ©Disney For the 12:00PM showing of the parade, you can get a Genie+ reservation from 11:45AM-12:15PM. After it’s booked, you’ll return to the Castle courtyard during that time window and find a parade-viewing Cast Member. The entrance to the reserved parade viewing will be on the east side of the castle area. ©Disney If you book this Genie+ selection, we recommend arriving at the beginning of that window. While it does take a few minutes for the parade to reach the castle, arriving at 12:15PM would be cutting it pretty close. Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade This leaves us wondering if Disney may make use of this feature in the future when the Festival of Fantasy Parade returns in 2022. We’ll have to wait and see! Stay tuned to DFB for more news from Walt Disney World, especially during this busy holiday week! Click Here to Learn More About Disney Genie+! All About Disney Genie, Genie+, and Individual Attraction Selection READ THIS Before Using the New Genie Planning Tool in Disney World Check Out the FULL List of Rides Included With Genie+ in Disney World See What Rides You Can Pay EXTRA For in Disney World & How Much They’ll Cost Learn What Rides Are Included With Genie+ in Disneyland (Plus the Ones You’ll Pay EXTRA to Ride) You CAN’T Re-Ride Disney World Attractions With Genie+ You CAN’T Cancel Pay-Per-Ride Selections in Disney World Get the Answers to All of Your Burning Questions About Disney Genie See Why You’ll Want to Stay in a Disney World Hotel When it Comes to Disney’s Pay-Per-Ride System Here’s What Annual Passholders and Magic Key Holders Need to Know About Genie+ See 5 Ways Genie+ Might Surprise You Learn About How Disney Genie Can Be Your Personal Assistant in Disney World Click HERE to See More About Disney Genie Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Do you want to see Disney Genie+ used for daytime parades? Tell us in the comments! The post NEWS: Parades Are Now Available With Genie+ in Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Happy (almost) New Year! It’s hard to believe, but 2022 is coming up QUICK, and with a new year comes new opportunities for Disney World trips! #priorities Happy New Year! With new vacation opportunities, though, it pays to strategize and plan your trips around some of the most EXPENSIVE days to visit Disney World next year. Like we say, a crucial part of the Disney planning process comes down to one thing: COST. For that reason, it’s wise to be mindful of the pricier days to visit the parks in 2022. How much will this little beauty cost you? Based on the cost of a standard single-day theme park ticket without a Park Hopper add-on ($109 is the base price at the cheapest, though it’s pretty rare nowadays), these are the MOST expensive days to visit Disney World next year. January 1 Unsurprisingly, the first holiday of the new year is poised to be a spendy one! And most likely a crowded one. New Year’s crowds 2021 As of now, the cost to visit Disney World on New Year’s Day 2022 is $150, and the subsequent week hovers between $143 and $147. So not a TON cheaper, but better. NEWS: New Year’s Eve Fireworks Announced for Disney World February 12-13 Nothing says “romance” like a trip to the Most Magical Place on Earth! This might explain why Valentine’s Day weekend is gonna be costly. Valentine’s Day Balloons The cost for admission for Valentine’s weekend (February 12 and 13) is $145, which looks like a pretty expensive Valentine’s date. If you hold off until Monday, February 14th, you’ll save a few bucks as that price drops down to $139. (Guess people plan to get their Valentinin’ out of the way before Monday!) BRB, Looking For an Excuse to Buy These Disney Wedding Rings April 6-17 After the holiday season in 2021, the next big rush of crowds and expensive tickets comes in around Easter and spring break season. Spring break crowds 2021 For the timeframe between April 6 and 17, for instance, ticket prices bump up to $147. PHOTOS: Here’s What the Spring Break Crowds Look Like in Disney World Fourth of July For the most part, prices in the summer stay in the $120-$130 range, with mini-spikes around the weekends. But July 1st-4th sees a prolonged peak as prices rise up to $140 for the holiday weekend. Patriotic Pluto Photo Op on Independence Day For international visitors, July 4th is celebrated in America for the signing of the Declaration of Independence and marking the historic day in 1776 when the U.S. asserted its division from English rule. It’s also a day where you’ll find plenty of fireworks! Disney World typically goes BIG with a special firework show for the date. So, if you plan to spend this weekend at Disney World, you’ll be paying a bit more for it, but you’ll find some great red, white, and blue treats! DFB Video: The Best Disney World Restaurants With a Fireworks View Weekends in October Thankfully, we get a break from the pricey tickets for a few months, until the holiday season creeps back in… October crowds …weekends in October are looking more expensive than usual next year — they were $143 in 2021, and go up to $144 for 2022. It’s just a buck but still worth noting! 13 SPOOKY Stories from Disney World Just in Time for Halloween! Weekends in November and December Holiday season weekends are NEVER cheap, and 2022 is no exception. As the summer heat starts to dissipate and the festive decorations start to appear, so do the crowds! Crowds can be pretty wild on holiday weekends! In 2022, weekend prices in November and December clocked in at $148 (up from $147 in 2021). VIDEO: Watch as Disney World Installs the ICONIC Park Christmas Trees! Thanksgiving In case you prefer Turkey Legs to roast turkey at home, you’re gonna need to pay a little extra to visit on this holiday. Age-old argument: Roast turkey or Turkey Leg for Thanksgiving? Thanksgiving is always one of the most expensive dates to visit Disney World, and the 2022 price shoots up to $152 from $150 in 2021. Thanksgiving Weekend Crowds 2020 The whole week of Thanksgiving, in fact, is $148 at the CHEAPEST. Guess those Black Friday sales don’t apply to park tickets… . This Disney Springs Restaurant Is Hosting a VERY Unique Thanksgiving Meal! Christmas No shock here, but a Christmas trip to Disney World will cost ya. With kids being out of school, cooler weather, and those epic decorations, Disney World is often a holiday tradition for many families. Animal Kingdom Christmas If you’re planning to celebrate Christmas or ring in the New Year at Disney World, be prepared to be paying some of the highest ticket prices all year (and seeing some of the biggest crowds, too)! The week before Christmas sees costs between $147 and $152 (up from $145 in 2021), and Christmas Eve is $152. Holiday Decorations Have Arrived! Rounding out 2022, the week between Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve is the MOST expensive time of the whole year, with tickets costing $159! Disney says it’s the holiday season! Long story short, if you’re hoping to visit Disney World on a holiday next year, you’d better start saving now! Or put in an early ask with Santa… . The CHEAPEST Days To Go To Disney World’s Very Merriest After Hours Event! These are the priciest park ticket days for 2022, if you have some flexibility you can avoid some of these days by adjusting your plans, visiting the parks during the week instead of weekends, or planning to visit just before or after those popular holidays. If visiting during the holidays or weekends is inevitable for your schedule, don’t worry, we have tips for ways to help you save money and make the most of your trip! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! 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 pay EXTRA to visit Disney World on one of these expensive dates in 2022? Let us know in the comments! The post The Most Expensive Days to Visit Disney World in 2022 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Walt Disney World at 50: Magic Kingdom's very first holiday season was marked by new traditions, an influx of tourists and an unexpected death. View the full article Rock Hudson, the first celebrity narrator of Walt Disney World's Candlelight Processional, stands in front of Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom. (JIM HICKS / ORLANDO SENTINEL) The first holiday season for Walt Disney World was marked by new traditions, an influx of tourists and a jarring, unexpected death. Attendance had been a concern since a fairly quiet opening day Oct. 1, 1971, but Thanksgiving weekend saw a surge. The Orlando Sentinel reported that 57,000 people had visited Magic Kingdom on the day after turkey day, and that was busiest the theme park had been in the two months it had been open. “You didn’t have to worry after that,” George A. Kalogridis said recently. He was a server at the Contemporary that month and eventually became president of Walt Disney World. So December 1971 saw Central Floridians settling in with the stirring mouse. Here are 12 items of note from that month taken from stories in the Sentinel and the Orlando Evening Star. It was a time when the society column reported a woman was done with her shopping: She was taking the whole family for a long weekend at Disney World. · On Dec. 1, it was reported that Disney’s monorail was out of service until the following week. “It’s all a part of the conditioning to get ready for the big push during the Christmas holidays,” a Disney spokesman said. Sherry Lynn Swets became the second-ever ambassador for Walt Disney World in late 1971. Among her early duties: grand marshal of Orlando's Christmas parade. (Ed Stout / Orlando Sentinel) · Goofy was grand marshal of the Orlando Christmas parade alongside newly appointed Walt Disney World ambassador Sherry Lynn Swets from New Smyrna Beach. “Oh, it’s much better than even being Miss America,” Swets later said of her new role. · A classified ad offers 40 acres of land for sale adjoining Disney World on Highway 535. There were some orange groves there too. Asking price: $7,000 per acre. (“Reasonable offer considered.”) Meanwhile, folks could by Disney character watches for $7.95 at Webb’s Fabulous Pharmacies, which had nine locations spread from Auburndale to Wildwood. · The daughter and granddaughter of Generalissimo Francisco Franco, dictator of Spain, visited Magic Kingdom. They slipped in popcorn to the Hall of President. (Headline: “Franco’s Kin Enthralled at Disney World”) · Other visitors: Hospital kids from Umatilla, a project of the Florida Elks. The patients left the park singing “it’s a small world.” Also here: corporate junkets from Goodyear’s Akron, Ohio, headquarters, hundreds of Eastern Airlines managers studying customer service and a man who was first in line for an auto show. “I really came here for Walt Disney World,” he said, “but I had the day free …” · Fort Wilderness campground opened on a Monday, mid-month, to little fanfare. By Friday all 200 campsites were reserved … through Jan. 13. Angela Lansbury starred in 'Bedknobs and Broomsticks,' which was in Orlando theaters in December 1971. (Walt Disney company hand outs) · In theaters: Disney’s “Bedknobs and Broomsticks” featuring Angela Lansbury. · Headline: “Walt Disney World Spillover: People, People Everywhere.” Marineland in St. Augustine reported business was up 40 percent. “Apparently they are not spending all their money there,” a spokesman said. · A Disney employment ad seeks workers in the roles of cooks, kitchen help, bus boys, bartenders, waiters, waitresses, banquet help, maids, custodians, barbers, manicurists, clerical help, stenographers, typists and photographers. · The first Candlelight Processional held at Disney World went up Main Street at Magic Kingdom. They expected 1,200 carolers for celebrity narrator was Rock Hudson, who had been greeted at Orlando Jetport by 100 fans. The program ended with “The Hallelujah Chorus.” Roy O. Disney and his wife Edna are escorted on dedication day for Magic Kingdom in October 1971. Two months later, he died. (Orlando Sentinel Archives / Orlando Sentinel) · On Dec. 20, Roy O. Disney, Walt’s older brother, dies in California. Five years earlier, Roy took over after Walt’s death, finishing Magic Kingdom. Theme park flags went to half-staff. Big banner headline for Orlando Star: ROY DISNEY DEAD AT 78. Secondary headline: But the show goes on. · Magic Kingdom celebrates New Year’s Eve with multiple musical performers, including recording artist Tommy Roe and the Kids Next Door, a 12-person troupe, at Cinderella Castle. Park attractions stay open until 2 a.m. There’s no extra charge. Dewayne Bevil Orlando Sentinel

We’re just a little over one week away from the launch of Mears Connect, one of two bus services that will replace Disney’s Magical Express when it service concludes at the end of the year. The other bus service that will replace Magical Express is the recently-announced Sunshine Flyer. We will miss you, Magical Express! Just ahead of its rollout, we are finally getting a first look at what one of the Mears buses will look like! We caught a glimpse of the bus today in the parking lot for Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The bus is wrapped in a crisp, sleek white color with a colorful sea turtle “swimming” along the side. Mears Connect When the service launches, Mears Connect will bring guests to and from Orlando International Airport and their Disney World resort hotel, much like Disney’s Magical Express. Mears Connect There are some major differences, however, the biggest one being that Mears Connect is NOT complimentary. For standard service (which will bring guests aboard buses like the one pictured), it will cost $32 per adult roundtrip and $27 per child roundtrip. Mears Connect If you prefer a smaller transport such as a van, you can opt for Mears Connect’s Premium service, which costs $200 for up to four guests. Each guest beyond that will cost an additional $55. Mears Connect Be sure to follow along in the coming weeks for more news and updates from around Disney World! Click here to read more about the other bus system set to replace Magical Express, The Sunshine Flyer! 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. Which ground transportation option will you use in 2022 to get to and from your hotel if you used to use Disney’s Magical Express? Let us know in the comments! The post PHOTOS: New Mears Connect Bus Spotted in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World is changing all the time, with new attractions, reopening restaurants, and ground-breaking hotels. Hollywood Studios But there are a lot of smaller changes as well that you might not notice! These changes happen almost daily, and here at DFB we do our best to keep you updated with all the latest news. Today, we’re visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios to see what’s new in this park in terms of merchandise, entertainment, construction, and more! It’s always a priority for us to find the perfect souvenir on our Disney World trips. So let’s see what new merchandise is available in Hollywood Studios today! Hollywood Studios Merchandise Updates Celebrity 5 & 10 We spotted a new Park Pals toy at Celebrity 5 & 10 — it’s Marie from The Aristocats! Marie toy You can also get characters like Sully, Meeko, and others. Park Pals These characters are $11.99 each, which is about $2 more than they used to be. Keystone Clothiers We headed over to Keystone Clothiers next, which has all kinds of Star Wars and Marvel merchandise. We saw toys from the new What If…? series on Disney+, including Zombie Hunter Spidey… What If…? Figure …Party Thor… What If…? Figure …and Captain Carter. What If…? Figure There was also a new Black Panther t-shirt, which costs $36.99. Black Panther t-shirt There was a new Avengers notebook, which had the classic logo on the front… Avengers notebook …and various characters on the notebook pages inside. Inside This book cost $22.99. Notebook To complete the set of new Marvel merch, we also found a Marvel water bottle, which you can get for $19.99. Water bottle If you’re a Star Wars fan, there were plenty of items here for you too! We found a mystery pin set, which had pins of various Star Wars characters. Mystery Pin Set You can buy a set for $17.99… Star Wars pins …but you won’t know which pin you got until you open it! Sunset Club Couture Sunset Club Couture had some new Tommy Bahama sweatshirts, including one embroidered with Mickey Mouse for $125… Tommy Bahama Sweatshirts …and another embroidered with Minnie Mouse for $135. Minnie Mouse sweatshirt There was also a new Minnie Mouse necklace, which was shaped like her iconic bow with rhinestones as the polka dots. Minnie Mouse necklace You can get it for $19.99. Tatooine Traders Tatooine Traders had several new items to see, including several Star Wars shirts and sweatshirts. We saw a white Star Wars sweatshirt for $49.99… Star Wars sweatshirt …a Darth Vader shirt for $36.99… Darth Vader t-shirt …a Skywalker Academy t-shirt for $36.99… Skywalker Academy Tee …and a BB-8 Droid jacket for $39.99. BB-8 Jacket We also saw some new art prints here… Star Wars prints …which showed scenes from various Star Wars films and shows. Click Here to See All the NEW Disney Merchandise We Recently Found Online Hollywood Studios Entertainment Updates The BIGGEST news from Hollywood studios is that a long-awaited show has finally returned to this park! Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular Crowds Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular is a show dedicated to the amazing stunts that you’ll see in the Indiana Jones movies. You’ll get to watch Indy escape a giant boulder, fight off the bad guys with Marion, and even take on an enemy mechanic while avoiding a runaway plane. Run, Indy, run! You can see the daily showtimes on the My Disney Experience app, or head to the show’s entrance (near Echo Lake) to see them posted outside. Indiana Jones Show Entrance Another show that’s worth seeing in Hollywood Studios is the Pixar Pals Motorcade. This mini-parade features beloved Pixar characters like Woody, Buzz, Sully, the Incredibles, and more. Pixar Pals Motorcade Recently, we saw a new friend join in at this party: Frozone! Frozone at Frozen Maybe he popped in to see his golden character statue over by the Chinese Theater. Frozone We’re not sure yet if Frozone will stick around for more motorcades, but we’ll keep an eye out for him and let you know about any changes. Is the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular Still Amazing? See Photos From the First Return Show Here Hollywood Studios Construction Updates We spotted a new billboard on our way into Hollywood Studios from the parking lot. New Billboard The billboard advertised the Contest of Champions app, which you can download from the App Store or Google Play. Click Here to See Everything Coming to Disney+ Next Month Other Hollywood Studios Updates Extra 30 Minutes of Early Entry Disney World recently extended the Early Theme Park Entry for guests staying at Disney-owned hotels to one hour instead of just thirty minutes. Now through January 3rd, 2022, guests at Disney hotels can enter all four theme parks an hour before the official opening time! Entering Hollywood Studios We tested out this new perk at Hollywood Studios. When we entered the park an hour early, we found that all of the gift shops along Sunset Boulevard were still closed. The attractions, however, were open! We rode Tower of Terror and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster… Tower of Terror …and then hopped in line for Slinky Dog Dash, all before 9AM (the official opening time). Slinky Dog Dash Turns out, that extra 30 minutes is great for getting on some popular attractions with a much lower wait time. Many guests used the extra time to get a good place in line for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, so if you’re heading there first, you might not get on as many rides in the morning. Rise of the Resistance Entrance But you will be able to get on Rise of the Resistance with a lower wait time than usual, and the wait for that attraction can get VERY long. So where you head first during Early Entry all depends on what your priorities are in the park! Click Here to Learn More About the Early Theme Park Entry Changes Genie+ Changes Another big change we saw recently is that Disney World moved four attractions from being Pay-Per-Ride to being included with Genie+. So now if you buy Genie+ ($15 per ticket, per day), you can reserve a Lightning Lane spot for Expedition Everest, Space Mountain, Frozen Ever After, and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at no extra cost. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway The reservations for these attractions have been some of the most popular, so make sure to book those first if you’re hoping to ride them. Lightning Lane These changes are also temporary. The four attractions that switched to Genie+ will return to Pay-Per-Ride after January 3rd, 2022. Click Here to Learn More About the Genie+ Changes And that’s a wrap on our Hollywood Studios updates! Keep following DFB for all the latest news from the Disney World parks. Click Here to See What’s New at the Disney World Hotels 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! What’s your favorite Hollywood Studios attraction? Let us know in the comments. The post What’s New at Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Genie+ and Early Theme Park Entry CHANGES first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

As we get closer to Christmas Day, the Disney World parks are getting busier and busier! Happy Holidays from EPCOT! We’ve seen some pretty heavy crowds and high wait times the past few days, but that’s not all that’s going on. There’s also new food, merchandise, and construction to check out, and today we’re sharing the full list of what’s new in EPCOT from the past few days! EPCOT Food Updates La Cava del Tequila Looking for a drink that packs a punch? Well, head over to La Cava del Tequila inside the Mexico Pavilion and try out their new tequila, Teremana! New tequila in EPCOT! La Cava is a DFB fave (and somewhat of a hidden gem), so it’s a great place to stop while you’re traversing through the World Showcase. They’ve got some really unique beverage options that you won’t find anywhere else! Click Here to See One of Our La Cava Drink Reviews! EPCOT Construction Updates Construction is moving along in EPCOT these days, with lots of progress! We caught a glimpse of the happenings in the former Future World when we took a ride on the monorail last week. Things are moving along. So what’s going on? Lots of dirt piles, for starters! It looks like work is underway on the future home of Moana — Journey of Water. Lots and lots of dirt. We’ll keep an eye on this area to see what changes in the coming months. Even though there are walls all around, it’s really easy to spot from the monorail. Pretty good views from the monorail! And over at the future location of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, painting continued on the outside of the building. We can’t see what’s going on with the inside, but the outside seems to be on track for the summer 2022 opening! They’re working on painting over here. We can’t wait to check out this ride next year, and we’ll continue to share progress until then! Click Here to Learn More About Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind! EPCOT Merchandise Updates Art of Disney Starting out in the American Adventure, there were several new things at Art of Disney. One day, the featured artist was David Doss, and he had an entire collection of cards and artwork on display. The David Doss pop-up in American Adventure How cute are these designs? We love getting to see new artwork here from time to time! How cute?! We also spotted some amazing (and rather expensive) new items on display in the shop. First up, there’s a creation depicting Mickey Mouse and the SpectroMen from SpectroMagic. That’s a throwback! This SpectroMagic print is impressive. You’ll have to shell out a whopping $2300 to purchase this one. This is taking us back! And if you’re into wood carvings, check out this Disneyland Pirates of the Caribbean design. It’s seriously impressive! This thing is really cool. And like the SpectroMagic artwork, this one has a hefty price tag. It sells for $1990. Gateway Gifts At Gateway Gifts, we found a beautiful new pair of Mickey Mouse earrings. They’re understated, but they’ll match almost any outfit. Would you wear these? They’d be a great gift for the Disney fan in your life, and you can purchase them for $39.99. Pin Traders We spotted a new MagicBand at Pin Traders with a Monsters, Inc. design. One side of the band has the lovable monster Sulley, while the other features his signature pattern. Would you buy this? If you’re hoping to pick this one up during your trip, you’ll need to set aside $29.99. The Fjording Over in Norway, we spotted some items we didn’t expect. Geir Ness launched a new dog shampoo and fragrance spray that were both in stock for $25 and $30 each. Some new products in Norway! It’s made with notes of both his Leila and Geir fragrances “creating a unisex scent that connects the human and dog.” So if you’ve ever dreamed of smelling like your dog, now is the time! The Tea Caddy And finally, The Tea Caddy in the UK Pavilion has a new gift set just in time for the holidays. It’s the Twinings Classics Collection with 8 different types of tea. We know what we’ll be drinking throughout the winter! It features a combination of black, green, and herbal teas — time for a tea party anyone? Click Here to See the Festival of the Holidays Merchandise! EPCOT Crowds Update And finally, let’s discuss crowds. It has been a very busy week in all the parks, and EPCOT is definitely included in that! It’s very busy some days! World Showcase is hopping these days, with crowds gathering around for the Festival of the Holidays. We had a hard time walking through some of the more narrow pavilions. Sometimes it got really cramped. However, not every area of the park was packed shoulder-to-shoulder. Some of the more wide-open spaces weren’t really busy at all. Be aware of your surroundings! EPCOT is a little easier to navigate than some of the other parks because of its size, but you’ll still run into some challenges in the next few days. We’ll keep you updated with the latest crowd details! We’ll keep sharing all the crowd news! That’s everything new at EPCOT right now, but stay tuned to DFb for all the updates in the coming weeks! Click Here to See the Holiday Crowds in Disney World! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! 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 time of year to visit EPCOT? Tell us in the comments! The post What's New in EPCOT: Some Very Expensive Artwork And Big Construction Progress first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’re in the middle of the holiday season in Disney World! Pandora — The World of Avatar We’ve already made our way to a bunch of the parks and resorts to eat all kinds of holiday treats, we’ve checked out lots of Christmas trees and decorations, and we’ve taken a look at all of the holiday merchandise. But the holiday fun isn’t over quite yet! Today we visited Animal Kingdom to try a returning holiday snack that’ll only be here for a VERY limited time. Over at Satu’li Canteen in Pandora — The World of Avatar you’ll find the returning Peppermint Cream Cheese Mousse! It’s essentially a spin-off of the Blueberry Cream Cheese Mousse you can typically find throughout the year at Satu’li. This holiday version is made of a Peppermint Cream Cheese Mousse, Peppermint Sauce, Peppermint Candy Pieces, and Chocolate “Dirt.” There’s also a little meringue on top, a milk chocolate decoration, and some green sprinkles. Peppermint Cream Cheese Mousse is BACK! Back in 2019, we felt like this treat was a bit too minty. But last year it was delicious! We felt like it had the right amount of mint taste and we actually noted that it was one of our favorite holiday desserts in 2020! Needless to say, we were curious to give it another try this year. This year’s version looks mostly the same as last year’s, with maybe just a few color changes here and there, and not quite as much sauce. We Can’t Wait to Dig In! So…how does it taste?! Well, the dessert delivers on that peppermint flavor, but thankfully (unlike what we experienced in 2019) it is not overpowering! We absolutely loved how creamy it is as well. The cream cheese flavor comes through and adds a nice balance to the peppermint. The milk chocolate decoration also adds another layer of flavor and really compliments things well. Pro tip: break the chocolate decoration into little pieces so you can get a bit in each bite! It’s a Hit…Again! The actual words from our DFB reporter who gave this a try are as follows: “I love everything about this!” Plus it doesn’t hurt that the treat is gorgeous. It’s not over the top, but is still so pretty and totally worthy of your Instagram feed. So Pretty We do want to issue a warning though: we think you do need to be a peppermint fan to enjoy this. If you’re not a fan of things that taste like peppermint, then this isn’t for you. But, if you love peppermint, this essentially tastes like a creamy, delicious candy cane. We were VERY pleased. A Peek Inside Another important thing to note is that this treat is only available for a SUPER limited time! You’ll only find it in the park during Christmas week (a.k.a. this week). So if you want to give this awesome treat a try, hurry over to Satu’li Canteen to grab it for $5.29 before it’s gone. Keep checking back with us for more holiday news! Click here to see our photos and reviews of the 2021 holiday treats in Disney World! 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! Would you try this treat? Tell us in the comments! The post A DFB-Favorite Treat is BACK in Animal Kingdom, But Not For Long! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

As an opening-day animal at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Gino, under the care of our dedicated team of veterinarians and animal care team, is not only the oldest gorilla at Walt Disney World Resort, he’s a favorite of many and something of an icon in the zoological community by his model involvement in the advancement of animal care for his species, gorilla conservation and animals around the world. View the full article

Over the past several months, several things have reopened at Disney World. Disney World Entrance Just recently, Story Book Character Dining reopened at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Boatwright’s Dining Hall reopened at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — Riverside, and back in October Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — Riverside and French Quarter reopened. Previously, Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort had an opening date, but that was later delayed. Now, we’ve got a BIG update! Disney just shared that Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort will reopen on March 31st, 2022! Reservations for the hotel will open on December 22nd. All-Star Sports Entrance Once Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort reopens ALL of Disney World’s resort hotels will officially have reopened following the pandemic closures. All-Star Sports Resort If you’ve been hoping to book a stay at this resort, be sure to mark your calendars and get ready to book a room when reservations open tomorrow. During 2022 more things are also set to return to Disney World including: Fantasmic! The Festival of Fantasy parade Select tours and special experiences A reimagined version of the Finding Nemo musical will also open in Animal Kingdom in 2022, and we’ll get to see the arrival of the Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade and Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire. ©Disney What else will 2022 bring? We can’t wait to find out! We’ll continue to look for more reopening news and share those updates with you. Click here to see 14 Disney events in 2022 that you need to put on your calendar right now! 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 stayed at All-Star Sports? Tell us in the comments! The post BREAKING: OPENING DATE Announced for Disney's All-Star Sports Resort first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

An unusual ship made its way into Port Canaveral on Monday as the Staten Island Ferry stopped over on its way to New York. View the full article

When guests get thirsty at Disney Festival of Holidays, they have Elena Aranda and team to thank for creating and crafting beverages that reflect the festival’s message of diversity. “With holidays, I like looking back on what was I used to growing up and what was very known to my culture, but then also the […]View the full article

Florida is home to all kinds of weather, but it’s known for rain. Lots of rain. It’s a rainy day in Magic Kingdom! A rainy day in Disney World might seem like a terrible idea but the truth is there are still lots of ways to have fun! Not to mention you get to see how beautiful the parks look on a gloomy day. Come join us and see what we mean! Today is one of those very rainy days in Disney World, and the ponchos and umbrellas are out in full force. Doesn’t Cinderella Castle look pretty with the gloomy sky? How do you handle a rainy day in Disney World? Take a look at how the crowds are handling the rain in Magic Kingdom! If you’re still looking for something to do, you could also visit Disney Springs for a restaurant visit, a stop at the AMC Movie Theatre, or to do some shopping! Take a look at some other rainy day Disney World activities from our YouTube. Thanks for coming along with us on a rainy Disney World day! Keep reading DFB for more weather tips in Disney World. See which rides CLOSE for bad weather in Disney World. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! 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 visited Disney World on a rainy day? Tell us in the comments! The post PHOTOS & VIDEOS: Take a Rainy Day Disney World Walk With Us first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. It’s the holiday season, which means holiday shopping! Look at all that red and green! There is a ton of festive merchandise in Disney World, as well as online on shopDisney. But, we’ve also found some pretty great deals on Amazon lately! So, let’s take a look at the BEST Disney deals on Amazon this week — with some items you can get before Christmas if you hurry! If you’re looking for some new dolls to gift this year, check out this Disney Princess Multipack! It shows 14 Disney Princesses in their comfy clothes outfits from Ralph Breaks the Internet, so these are a bit more unique than just the normal princess dolls you see everywhere. ©Amazon The pack includes Anna, Ariel, Tiana, Aurora, Belle, Cinderella, Elsa, Jasmine, Merida, Moana, Mulan, Pocahontas, Rapunzel, and Snow White. They come with 20 movie-inspired accessories and you can get them delivered before Christmas if you order today (December 21st)! Normally $209.99, they’re available for $169.99. Click here to get the Disney Princesses Ralph Breaks the Internet Multipack Another toy that would be great this Christmas, especially if the person you’re giving it to loves LEGOs, is this Boun’s Boat LEGO set from Raya and the Last Dragon! It has 247 pieces, so it should keep kids entertained for a while. ©Amazon It includes a large shrimp boat, a smaller boat and a dock area, plus Sisu Human and Boun mini-doll figures and 3 Ongi LEGO figures. Normally $49.99, you can get it now for $34.99. And, it’s available to be delivered before Christmas, as of this writing. Click here for the Boun’s Boat Raya and the Last Dragon LEGO Set! We also found this Mickey Mouse Gold-Tone Watch with a Red Faux Leather Band on sale! Inside the 38 millimeter metal case, it shows Mickey Mouse using his arms to tell the time. ©Amazon This watch is normally $49.99, but you can grab is for $39.99! Click here to get the Mickey Mouse Watch Need to get a gift that’s a bit more challenging for the kiddos in your life? Try this Kano Disney Frozen 2 Coding Kit! It’s a STEM learning and coding toy for kids. You learn how it works as you build and can play with Frozen powers, like building Olaf or conjuring an ice palace! ©Amazon And, this one is an awesome deal, too. It’s normally $79.99, but right now it’s on sale for $12.70 — that’s some BIG savings! It also can arrive before Christmas. Click here to get the Frozen 2 Coding Kit! If you’re looking for a last minute holiday party outfit that’s Disney inspired, check out this Vintage Patchwork Swing Party Dress! It looks like Minnie Mouse’s outfit and is styled after vintage 1950s dresses. ©Amazon This one is normally $50.99 and is available for $25.53! You also can get it before Christmas is you order soon. Click here to get the Minnie Mouse-Inspired Party Dress! And finally, if you’re planning some travel around the holidays with your kids, they’ll need some luggage! For Star Wars fans, this American Tourister Kids’ Disney Hardside Luggage featuring Grogu is great. ©Amazon It’s 18 inches, has an adjustable pull handle, and there are cross straps and a zipped fabric lined divider panel inside. Normally $79.99, you can grab it for $69! Click here to get the Grogu Luggage! We’ll continue keeping an eye out for all the best Disney deals and discounts, so stay tuned to DFB for more! Click here to see ALL of the Disney merch that dropped online last week! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Which of these Disney items is your favorite? Let us know in the comments! The post The BEST Disney Deals on Amazon this Week — Including Items You Can Get Before Christmas! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If it’s been a minute since you visited Magic Kingdom, you might be wondering what’s different about this park since your last trip. Partners Statue We’re heading into Magic Kingdom today to see what’s new in terms of souvenirs, crowd levels, construction, character meet and greets, and more! Buckle up, because we’ve got a lot of news for ya. There are quite a few gift shops around Magic Kingdom, and we visited several to check out all the new merchandise. Magic Kingdom Merchandise Update Let’s start out at the biggest shop in this park: the Emporium. The Emporium Lately, we’ve seen some pretty bizarre Mickey ears in Disney World, including some topped with the heads of Chip and Dale and a $1,000 bedazzled hat. You’d be NUTS not to love these ears Most recently we added to the crazy ear headband collection with a new Baby Yoda headband that has a whole plush of Grogu on top! OH MY GOODNESS Grogu is joined by a space frog, and the pair look very happy to be on your head. How Can You Not Smile at This Adorable Face? You can get a Baby Yoda headband for $29.99. Click Here to See More Photos of the Baby Yoda Headband We also saw a new-to-us 50th Anniversary t-shirt in this store that has the Partners Statue on the front. Partners Statue t-shirt You can find this shirt for $36.99. Partners Statue decal Since it’s getting a liiiittle more chilly outside, you might want some cozy slippers to keep your feet warm. We found a pair of Mickey and Minnie holiday slippers in the Emporium for $29.99. Holiday Slippers The slippers have a red and green plaid pattern on the outside with white fleece on the inside. Ready to keep your toes cozy! And if you still don’t have enough souvenirs to mark Disney World’s 50th Anniversary, you can grab a Cinderella Castle water globe. 50th water globe The globe plays “A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes” when you turn the dial on the bottom. It plays music! And the castle inside has the 50th Anniversary decorations that are on the real castle! Cute! You can get one for $64.99. Star Traders At Star Traders (over in Tomorrowland), we spotted the new Mickey Waffle Mini-Backpack. Mickey waffle backpack This has to be the most delicious-looking bag available. We also found the matching Minnie ears online, so you can truly rep your favorite Disney snack well. Lots of these available There was also a new keychain that looks just like a Disney World trash can! Disney trash can keychain You’d be surprised by how many people LOVE the trash cans in Disney World. If you’re one of those people, now you can take one with you everywhere you go. Keychains We also spotted the new Stitch Crashes Disney pins, which weren’t supposed to come out until next year. Stitch Crashes Disney pins But you can get pins for Stitch Crashes Peter Pan and Stitch Crashes Pocahontas now! We didn’t see the MagicBands for these collections in the parks, but they are available online. Village Gifts We stopped to look at some of the figurines inside the Village Gifts store as well. Village Gifts figures These Disney figures are made by different artists, and they’re a beautiful way to display some of your favorite characters. We saw an Oswald figure for $85… Oswald …and a Jungle Cruise scene made by Jim Shore for $85. Jungle Cruise figure You can also see hitchhiking ghosts, Maleficent, Mickey Mouse, and more! Frontier Trading Frontier Trading is already getting ready for the new year! There’s a new 2022 Spinner Pin, which has Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Donald around the year. 2022 Pin You can get the pin for $14.99. We also saw a Photo Magnet… Photo magnet …which you can put up on your fridge with a printed picture behind it, and the magnet will frame your photo. Crystal Arts There were a couple of new Christmas tree ornaments at Crystal Arts this week. There’s a red one with the Cinderella Castle painted on the front. New ornaments And you can also get the blue one, which has an outline of Mickey Mouse. Blue Ornament This store has a lot of gorgeous trinkets and statues, and be sure to check out the $49,000 (!!!) Cinderella Castle when you stop by. Click Here to See the Newest Disney Merchandise Online Right Now Magic Kingdom Construction Update One thing that’s sure to brighten your Disney day is seeing the cute water art that Cast Members sometimes paint on the sidewalk. We saw pictures of Mickey… Mickey …Donald… Donald …and Goofy during our stroll through the Magic Kingdom. Goofy Unfortunately, there was more water on the sidewalk than there was on one popular attraction. Splash Mountain was down for a while when we passed by on December 18th, and Cast Members predicted it would be down for 2-3 hours. Splash was down for a while Note that rides can close temporarily during park hours (for technical issues or other reasons), so it’s best to have a back-up option if you were hoping to ride them. Usually they will reopen during the same day, and if you can catch the ride right as it reopens, you won’t have much of a wait to get on. Vacant boats Keep watching the My Disney Experience app throughout the day to see when the rides close and reopen. Click Here to See the Progress on Some of Disney World’s Current Projects, Including the TRON Roller Coaster Other Updates from Magic Kingdom Crowds The holiday crowds have gotten BIG at the Magic Kingdom. BIG crowds We noticed a LOT of people at the entrance to the park… Lots of people entering the park …and still more on Main Street, U.S.A.. Busy! This time of year is always super busy in Magic Kingdom and all the Disney World parks! To avoid the crowds, try to get to the parks early (before opening time), and make sure to get your advance dining reservations as soon as possible so that you have some breaks during the day. Remember that you can make those reservations starting 60 days before your visit. Click Here to Learn How to Avoid Holiday Crowd Burnout in Disney World We also saw a high school marching band coming down Main Street, U.S.A.. High school marching band There were members of the band… Band members …color guard… Color guard …and cheer squad in the mix. Cheer squad You might see similar bands playing during your visit, but even if there aren’t any visiting bands, you can usually count on the Main Street Philharmonic Marching Band, which plays on the street or sometimes on the stage in front of the Cinderella Castle. Click Here to See the Disney Marching Band Performing on the Cinderella Castle Stage Character Meet and Greets We saw a rare princess greeting guests at the Princess Fairytale Hall. Ariel from The Little Mermaid was there, along with Rapunzel. Ariel If you’re passing by, you can see the princesses who are inside the hall on the sign outside the door. Sometimes there’s a “visiting princess” sign, which can be any of the Disney princesses! Rapunzel and a Visiting Princess meeting in Fairy Tale Hall We’ve seen Ariel, Snow White, and Jasmine at this location before, in addition to the usual princesses you can find here (Rapunzel, Tiana, Cinderella, and Elena of Avalor). Click Here to See Photos of Our Meet-and-Greet With Jasmine Transportation The TTC now has a 2nd-story loading platform for the ferryboats! 2nd story loading platform This platform was built off-site, but it has now been installed at the docks. Loading platform You can board onto the first story of the boats, or you can head directly onto the top story. Heading onto the ferryboat That’s it for our Magic Kingdom updates! Keep following DFB for more of the latest Disney news as you plan your vacation. Click Here to See What’s New at Disney Springs, Including a Pricey 50th Item and Peppermint Churros 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! What’s your favorite land in Magic Kingdom? Let us know in the comments! The post What’s New in Magic Kingdom: A Rare Princess Meet-and-Greet and Holiday Crowds first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

A returning cruise carried 48 COVID-positive passengers this weekend. With nearly two years to work out safety protocols, if cruise companies still can't keep people safe, it could mean doom for the entire industry. View the full article

Toys For Tots Foundation Recognizes Disney For Enduring Support | Walt Disney WorldView the full article

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. If you’re looking for some last-minute holiday gifts, you’re in LUCK. The holidays are here! We’ve seen some good sales this holiday season and now Disney is offering 30% off select items online! Take a look at what you can save on now. Now for a limited time, you can save 30% off qualifying toys, clothing, home items, and more on shopDisney with the code SAVEBIG! ©shopDisney Make sure you take a look at the fine print, as not everything qualifies for this sale. This sale will last from now until 12AM PT on December 24th. ©shopDisney So what counts for this sale? Select Loungefly items are included, like this Mickey and Friends Holiday Mini Backpack! Regularly priced at $75, you can snag this holiday backpack for $52.50. ©shopDisney This mini Loungefly backpack is read with a holiday treat pattern featuring Mickey ice cream, Fantasyland Castle cookies, churros, peppermints, and more. Order the Mickey and Friends Holiday Mini Backpack here! Of if you’re more of a purse person, you can also use the code SAVEBIG on the Loungefly Cinderella Castle Crossbody Bag. This bag normally goes for $70, but you can get it for $49! ©shopDisney This faux leather bag has a front zip pocket made of Cinderella’s pumpkin coach, with the rags to riches art on the other side of the bag, along with a gold chain crossbody strap. Find the Cinderella Castle Crossbody Bag here! This Alice in Wonderland Puffy Jacket for adults is reversible! While one side is a bright pink with an embroidered White Rabbit on the chest… ©shopDisney …the other side features a Garden of Live Flowers print that costs $31.49 with the code SAVEBIG (down from $44.99!). ©shopDisney Whether you’re in a solid color or print mood, this jacket has you covered. It’s made of soft, quilted fill and reviews mention it’s both lightweight AND warm! Get the Alice in Wonderland Reversible Jacket here! And select nuiMO items qualify for 30% off! How can you tell? Look for the items with the blue note, “Take 30% off with code: SAVEBIG!” We saw a Toy Headphone Accessory, a Minnie Mouse Popcorn Bucket, a Spirit Jersey, and even a Kitchen Sink Sundae! ©shopDisney Prices range from $12.99 to $21.99 regular price for both accessories and nuiMO dolls, and taking 30% off would make a big difference. There are also some plush nuiMOs on sale, so if you’re a nuiMO collector you might want to take a look! Check out the Disney nuiMOs on sale here! You can also stack the 30% off code on top of some sale items, like the Mary Blair Alice in Wonderland collection! This Teacup and Saucer Set is on sale for $52.98 (down from $74.99), and you can get 30% off the sale price! Reviews say these teacups are beautifully detailed and a perfect size. ©shopDisney The price comes out to $37.09, which is a pretty big savings! This set would make a great gift anytime of year, or another beautiful addition to your home. Get the Mary Blair Teacup and Saucer Set here! And if you REALLY want to splurge, you can also use this code on select Disney Dooney & Bourke purses, like this Mickey Mouse & Friends Holiday Tote Bag that will cost you $187.60 (down from $268) with the code SAVEBIG! ©shopDisney This holiday print features Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, and Chip ‘n Dale in a bunch of snowy scenes, and the bag has a magnetic closure, pockets, and stitched leather finishings. Get the Mickey Mouse & Friends Tote Bag here! If you want to take advantage of this sale make sure you stop by shopDisney before 12AM PT on December 24th, 2021 and use code SAVEBIG! And keep reading DFB for more Disney shopping news! ALL eyes will be on you if you wear Disney World’s latest “ears!” Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! 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 taking advantage of this sale? Tell us in the comments! The post Why This Might Be the BEST Time To Do Some Online Disney Shopping first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The Federal Aviation Authority announced Tuesday it will be working with the Transportation Security Administration to identify unruly passengers who face fines so that the TSA can remove them from its PreCheck screening program. View the full article Masked passengers fill a Southwest Airlines flight from Burbank to Las Vegas. (Christopher Reynolds/Los Angeles Times/TNS) The Federal Aviation Authority announced Tuesday it will be working with the Transportation Security Administration to identify unruly passengers who face fines so that the TSA can remove them from its PreCheck screening program. “If you act out of line, you will wait in line,” FAA Administrator Steve Dickson said in a news release. “Our partnership aims to promote safe and responsible passenger behavior. One unruly incident is one too many.” The release notes that TSA PreCheck is a privilege reserved for low-risk travelers. TRAVEL Unruly passengers on Orlando flights figure high amid $1 million in FAA fines for hostile incidents AUG 27, 2021 AT 5:30 AM “TSA has zero tolerance for the unruly behaviors, especially those involving physical assault occurring aboard aircraft. We have tremendous respect for airport staff, gate agents and flight crews that get people safely to their destinations,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “This partnership with FAA will help ensure the safety and security of all passengers and hold those who violate federal regulations accountable for their actions.” The partnership will also see the TSA sharing information to the FAA to identify and locate unruly passengers to serve them with penalty notices, although passenger privacy and personal information protections will be in place. Through Dec. 14, the FAA has received 5,664 unruly passenger reports including 4,072 mask-related incidents, according to its website. From those, the FAA initiated 1,030 investigations, from which 315 enforcement cases, many which involve steep fines, have been handled since the beginning of the year. Until this year, the FAA had investigated less than 200 cases a year for the past 15 years. Richard Tribou Orlando Sentinel

Cruise lines will be the first to tell you that COVID-19 isn’t going away, but they have safety protocols in place to weather the storm when cases appear on board. Nearly 1/3 of ships sailing in the U.S., though, now are under CDC investigations for presence of cases within the last week. View the full article