Disney4me

Disneyland is FULL of amazing snacks and holiday treats, but you’re in for a good one today, people. We try it ALL when it comes to Disney food — the good, the bad, and the WEIRD! Every once in a while, though, we find an especially delicious snack that leaves us stuffed and SUPER happy. Who’s hungry? Come to Disneyland with us as we try a (MESSY) snack we’ve never had before! Is it a new favorite, or a new failure? Let’s find out! Refreshment Corner has a new Spicy Meatball Sandwich! It’s made with house-made meatballs, marinara, and shredded mozzarella and cheese sauce, which is sandwiched between a toasted garlic hoagie roll. Sounds pretty good, right? Sandwich time! Right off the bat, we could tell this was going to be tricky to eat. Those meatballs were pretty big, and our sandwich sort of fell apart as we were eating it. Here’s a hot tip if you order this sandwich: don’t wear white! Oh yeah! Okay, so how did it taste? Well, you guys, this was a WINNER! Dare we say it was a perfect-tasting meatball sandwich? The spice wasn’t too strong, and the flavors all worked together quite nicely. Those giant meatballs tasted good, but they were a little too big for the sandwich. Like we said, this was a messy meal; the cheese and marinara sauce made the roll a little soggy, causing the structural integrity of the sandwich to fall apart. Our mouth is watering… This was a VERY filling meal — it might not look like the world’s largest meatball sandwich, but it definitely left us stuffed! If you’re a meatball lover who doesn’t mind a little mess, try this sandwich. If you’re looking for a quick and easy snack, you might not want to try and tackle this messy meal. Look at that cheesy goodness The Spicy Meatball Sandwich is available at Refreshment Corner in Disneyland Resort for $10.29. Now THAT’s a spicy meat-a-ball! Review: The BEST Burger We’ve Had In a LONG Time is HIDING in Disney World Disneyland Reviews and Information Click HERE to Check Out Lots of DFB Posts About Disneyland See the Latest Updates About Disneyland’s Mask Policy Check Out Our Disneyland Restaurants Guide See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Park Check Out Details from the Historic Reopening of Disneyland Resort See What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Learn About the Disneyland Mobile App Get All the Details About Mobile Order in Disneyland See More About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure What’s Going to Be Different About Your Next Disneyland Trip? Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe What’s your favorite snack to eat in Disneyland? Let us know in the comments! The post REVIEW: Warning! Do NOT Wear White When Eating This Disneyland Snack! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Pixar Putt is a pop-up event by Disney and Pixar, featuring Pixar-themed minigolf. Pixar Putt! We were able to visit Pixar Putt when it was located in New York City’s Battery Park, and now it’s moved to a new city! So check out what you might experience AND where this popular putt-putt pop-up has moved! At Pixar Putt, you’ll find holes based on Pixar classics! Teams of four people or fewer can play together, experiencing this fun game, which lasts about 2 hours. The pop-up features 18 holes, including a Brave-inspired, archery-themed hole… Shoot your shot! …a daring Finding Nemo-inspired hole where you have to avoid buckets, crab traps, and pelicans… Wow! …a delicious, food-filled Ratatouille hole… Delicious! …and an extra creepy Toy Story 4 hole featuring Benson the Ventriloquist Dummy! Creepy! This pop-up minigolf event will be available in Houston, Texas from December 17th to March 20th, 2022, with all ages, welcome Monday to Wednesday from 3PM to 10PM, Thursday to Friday from 3PM to 7PM, Saturday from 10AM to 7PM, and Sunday from 10AM to 10PM. Pixar Putt After Dark, an adults-only version of the pop-up, is available Thursday to Saturday from 7PM to 10PM. There are also affordable weekday options available! ©Disney/Pixar You’ll find the Pixar Putt pop-up located at Discovery Green on the Sarofim Picnic Lawn in Houston, Texas. ©Pixar/Disney Tickets for the event are available online! Click Here to Learn More About Pixar Putt and Get Tickets! We’re always keeping up with the latest Disney news, so stay tuned here for more! Another Disney Park is getting a Pixar-themed land! Heather Sievers is DisneyFoodBlog’s Dining in Disneyland columnist! Check out more of her adventures at @DininginDisney on Instagram! 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 do you think about this event? Let us know in the comments! The post This Might Be the Coolest Pixar Experience Outside of a Disney Park first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

In honor of the holiday season, D23 is hosting the Season of Magic Sweepstakes, with a new prize awarded every day for 23 days in December! ©D23 We’ve been checking in to see what each of the daily drawings has to offer. So far, D23 has given away some awesome prizes, like a Mulan Imperial Palace Light-Up Figurine, an adorable Bambi and Thumper collectible plush set, and a 50th Anniversary Cookbook, to name a few! Today’s giveaway is perfect for celebrating both the holiday season AND the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World! Magic Kingdom In today’s daily drawing, the winner will receive a pair of Hexagonal WDW 50th Anniversary Limited Edition Sunglasses by Ray-Ban! ©D23 The sunglasses have blue lenses with gold frames, inspired by Disney World’s iconic logo. Plus, the blue temple tips feature anniversary engravings of Mickey Mouse for a subtle Disney touch! ©Ray-Ban For your chance to win these classy sunnies, head to the D23 website to enter today’s drawing. The Season of Magic Sweepstakes is open to D23 members only, so you’ll need to be signed in — or join today — to enter! LINEUP Announced for the 2022 Disney D23 Events! 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 own a pair of Disney Ray-Ban sunglasses? Let us know in the comments! The post Win a FREE Pair of Ray-Ban Sunglasses From the Disney World Anniversary Collection! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Happy holidays from Magic Kingdom! There’s a lot happening at the park right now, with Very Merriest After Hours underway and new rides like TRON Lightcycle Run on the way! Cinderella Castle However, sometimes things are not so perfect at Disney World — rides evacuate, power outages happen — but ride closures are typically solved pretty quickly. At the Magic Kingdom there was one wrinkle this morning: two MAJOR rides went down. This morning, both Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain were down! Two of Frontierland’s biggest attractions are not operating, which means Frontierland is looking pretty empty today. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has since reopened, but after speaking to Cast Members, we found that Splash Mountain has a long way to go before it reopens. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad We’re not sure why either attraction closed down and according to Cast Members, it doesn’t seem like Splash Mountain will reopen today. Notice how there is no water running down the big drop! We’ll continue to watch the status of this fan-favorite ride and keep you posted with the latest info! Splash Mountain We’re always keeping up with the latest Disney news, so stay tuned here for more! The 10 Biggest Changes Coming to 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. Has your favorite ride closed when you went to Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post A Popular Magic Kingdom Ride Could Be CLOSED All Day first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If there’s one thing we love (besides, you know, Disney food), it’s Disney movies! ©Disney In the past, we’ve asked you guys on Facebook and Instagram about your favorite Festival of the Holidays foods and things you wish would come back to Disney World, but today we want to know, which Disney movies are your favorites? We asked our readers (that’s you!) over on Instagram to choose between different Disney movies based on which one was their favorite. In our first face-off, we gave our readers two 1940s Disney movies to choose between: the orchestral Fantasia and the fun (but sometimes mildly traumatizing) Pinocchio! Despite that spooky Pleasure Island sequence, Pinocchio won the match. Pinocchio edges out! Next up were two 1950s classics: Cinderella and Alice in Wonderland! In a sweeping victory, Cinderella won 80% of the vote. Fun fact: both of these movies feature the work of legendary Disney artist Mary Blair! Cinderella nearly swept! In another 1950s match-up, Peter Pan and Sleeping Beauty squared off! This one was a little bit closer than the last vote, with Peter Pan winning by a margin of 13%. Peter Pan wins! In the 1960s-themed vote, Mary Poppins beat The Jungle Book by 21%, proving why Mary Poppins is practically perfect in every way (extra credit if you get the reference!). Mary Poppins proves why she’s practically perfect in every way! In the 1970s face-off, Aristocats won by the thinnest margin possible, getting 51% of the vote! This was a super close one, and it goes to show you: every vote counts in these polls! Sorry, Robin Hood, maybe next time. It was SUPER close! If the last poll was close, this one is an absolute landslide! Forgive us Billy Joel, but The Little Mermaid destroyed Oliver & Company, earning a whopping 91% of the votes (shoutout to the 9% who voted for Oliver & Company, that movie is an underrated classic!). Wow! Oliver & Company was destroyed by The Little Mermaid In the first of four 1990s match-ups, Beauty and the Beast beat Aladdin by 12%! A Tale as Old as Time! In another runaway victory, The Lion King beat Tarzan, earning 83% of the vote. Let us not forget that both of these movies have AMAZING soundtracks; Elton John and Phil Collins both brought their A-Game! The Lion King wins in a landslide! In a battle of the 1990s Halloween movies, Hocus Pocus just barely beat Nightmare Before Christmas, winning by a slim 8%! It was close, but Hocus Pocus won! In our final battle, Hercules beat Hunchback of Notre Dame! Hercules, don’t you mean HUNKules? If you want to take part in our next poll, keep track of our Facebook and Instagram! We’re always keeping up with the latest Disney news, so stay tuned here for more! You Can Buy HANDCUFFS 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 do you think of these results? Let us know in the comments! The post Let's Settle the Debate. Which Classic Disney Movies are the BEST?! 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 a beautiful day in Disney World, and what better way to start our morning than with a little trip to the Emporium! Disney has been releasing new holiday merchandise all month long, like some new Minnie ears, new Loungefly backpacks, and new pins! It’s such a beautiful time of year! There’s been one pair of Minnie ears we’ve been waiting for, though, and they FINALLY arrived in Disney World! If you’re looking for a sparkly pair of ears perfect for the holidays, check out Disney’s new ears that just debuted in the Magic Kingdom! Feeling fancy? How about a new pair of bejeweled Minnie ears! Disney released these ears online a few months ago, but now they are available in the parks! Sparkly and stylish! These classy new ears are made with cranberry red velvet fabric and adorned with yellow and red jewels. The center bow shines in the light with a red and yellow fabric that complements the ears perfectly! Loving those jewels! The back doesn’t have any jewels, but the real star is the front of these beauties. Even the bow is shiny! Although these ears are giving us a definite holiday feeling, you could really wear them any time of year! Jewels never go out of season, after all! What do you think about these new ears? You can buy these Cranberry Red Minnie ears online now, or visit the Emporium in the Magic Kingdom to check them out in person! These ears are $29.99. Click here to buy the new Cranberry Red Minnie ears ONLINE! Disney has been releasing a lot of fashionable fabric ears lately! Are you a fan of these types of ears, or are you team sequin ears? Either way, stay tuned for more Disney news and updates around Disney World! We Found $1,000 Ears in Disney World (Yes, You Read That Right) 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 do you think about these new ears? Let us know in the comments! The post We've Been WAITING for These Minnie Ears to Come to Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’ve got a serious sweet tooth, you’ll definitely want to hear about this holiday treat in Disney World! Beaches & Cream If you’re looking for an over-the-top ice cream creation, Beaches & Cream Soda Shop is a solid place to start. In addition to the legendary Kitchen Sink that this spot is known for, it’s also home to plenty of other sweet treats that could satisfy even the biggest sugar craving! We recently stopped by Beaches & Cream to try out the Holiday Cookie Butter Shake, a seasonal treat that’s back again for this holiday season. Holiday Cookie Butter Shake This over-the-top snack is available at both the to-go window AND inside the restaurant, so guests can snag it even if they don’t have a dining reservation! To-Go Window This festive dessert is made with a cookie butter milkshake, drizzled with red and green caramel, and topped with a red velvet Christmas tree cupcake. Now THAT’S a Milkshake! The red velvet cupcake topper had cream cheese frosting in the middle and vanilla frosting on top. The icing on top also had chocolate Mickey ears and a star tucked inside. There wasn’t anything too surprising in the flavor of the cupcake and if you like red velvet, you’ll probably be a fan of this part of the dessert. Red Velvet Cupcake The milkshake itself tasted pretty similar to the Christmas Cookie Milkshake we tried in Magic Kingdom earlier this holiday season. As expected, it was SUPER sweet and the flavor reminded us of a sugar cookie. The caramel drizzle made it even sweeter, so you’ll definitely need to be in the mood for a looooot of sugar to enjoy this dessert! SOOO Sweet! Given how sweet it was, we probably would have preferred it to just be a plain vanilla shake instead of the cookie butter flavor to help cut down the intensity a bit. But we still enjoyed it overall and if you have a serious sugar craving, this snack could do the trick for you! You’ve Gotta Have a Serious Sweet Tooth for this Dessert! You can pick up the seasonal Holiday Cookie Butter Shake for $15 at the Beaches & Cream To-Go Window, or inside the restaurant, while it lasts. Stay tuned to DFB for all of the latest updates on snacking around Disney World! Is Your FAVORITE Disney World Restaurant Overrated?! 13,000 Disney Fans Weigh In! 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 holiday treat in Disney World? Share with us in the comments! The post REVIEW: Is Your Sweet Tooth Strong Enough to Handle This Milkshake in Disney World? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

2021 has been a BIG year in Disney World, with lots of major changes. Magic Kingdom In addition to changing Disney World Annual Passes, Disney has also discontinued or altered many previously “free” perks, like complimentary MagicBands for Disney World Resort hotel guests and Annual Passholders, as well as replacing Extra Magic Hours with the shorter Early Theme Park Entry and the more selective Extended Evening Hours. And now perhaps one of the BIGGEST free Disney World perks will be gone in a few short weeks, and here’s what you need to know. Disney’s Magical Express At the beginning of 2021, Disney announced their plans to discontinue the Magical Express shuttle service, a previously free transportation option for Disney World Resort hotel guests to and from Orlando International Airport (MCO). This service made it super easy to travel to Disney World, as guests (after registering before their trip) would drop off their luggage at their departure airport and Magical Express would not only transport them to their hotel, they’d also grab their bags from baggage claim and deliver them to their room. Magical Express Magical Express debuted in 2005 and has been a huge perk for Disney World hotel guests to avoid worrying about OR paying for airport transportation. Although Disney has changed the way Magical Express has operated over the past few years, many guests continued to use this complimentary service. Get ready to say goodbye to these signs! As of January 1st, 2022, the Magical Express will be officially discontinued and no longer an option for Disney World hotel guests. So what’s next? Guests will have to look into other airport transportation options, and they probably won’t be free. Read more about Disney discontinuing Magical Express here. Mears Connect Mears, the company that operated Magical Express, will be launching Mears Connect in 2022 as a similar (but paid) transportation option for Disney World guests. You can already book your reservations, and the costs depend on a few different factors. ©Mears Introductory rates began at $16 per adult for one way and $32 round trip, so your overall cost will depend on how many people are in your group. A round trip premium express service for up to four people will cost you $400. ©Mears Transportation For some people, this could be a massive additional financial impact on a Disney World budget, so if you’re visiting in 2022 make sure you plan ahead for this new cost. Important facts about Mears Connect that you need to know! Other Transportation Options Rideshare Whether you choose to use services like Uber, Lyft, a taxi, a private car, or a shuttle, rideshare is an option to consider for airport transportation. When we’ve looked at prices in the past, for example, an Uber trip at the time would cost $51.77 for a ride from Orlando Airport to Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Rideshare pick-up spots aren’t always marked, but look for signs. Using rideshare services can help prevent you from paying for Disney World parking, which can quickly add up if your hotel also charges for parking! How the cost of Mears Connect compares to an Uber in Disney World! Car Rental Car rental is, of course, another option, but keep in mind that you might end up paying for the car, gas, theme park, AND hotel parking. In the past, we’ve seen an Alamo car rental for up to four people priced at $365.75 for a 7 day Disney World visit. Combine that with $25 theme park parking and hotel parking and you’re looking at some costs that add up quickly. You can rent a car Still, if you prefer the freedom to travel around as you please, it might be an option worth considering as long as you build in all the extra costs into your budget. Renting a car could cost more than Disney World tickets — here’s why! Brightline Although Brightline is not yet an option, in the future it will be a high-speed train providing service from Orlando International Airport to Disney Springs! This train line is currently scheduled to be completed sometime in 2023, and there are also stops in Miami, West Palm Beach, and Fort Lauderdale, as well as other stops. ©Brightline Right now, it’s been said that a one-way trip from Miami to the Orlando Airport could cost $100. This train could be a fast and convenient option for many guests who don’t want to worry about car rentals or rideshares! The train to Disney World could have a dozen different stations! So after December 31st, 2021, Magical Express will be officially gone, and you’ll need to plan for additional costs now that this complimentary service is discontinued. Make sure you plan ahead for these costs and choose which transportation service works best for you. And 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. Are you upset about losing Magical Express? Tell us in the comments! The post Disney World Is Getting Rid of Their Biggest Free Perk Yet in 2022 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There are a LOT of restaurants in Disney World and it can be pretty difficult to eat at all of them (Trust us, we’ve done it!). That means that some restaurants end up less-visited than others and today we’re headed off the beaten path for a review! Spread If you’re not staying at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, you might miss The Turf Club Lounge. This casual bar is located inside the still-closed Turf Club Bar and Grill and has a light menu and refined atmosphere. The lounge reopened last December, and now we’re stopping by for a full REVIEW! As we mentioned, The Turf Club Lounge is a bar service dining location with a menu of light American fare and cocktails themed after horseracing — fitting at Saratoga Springs! The Turf Club This restaurant is a little out of the way and not as flashy as others, especially with Disney Springs nearby. We’ve tried cocktails and treats at this spot in the past, but today we’re giving the lounge a FULL REVIEW. Let’s see what we thought! Atmosphere The Turf Club Lounge sits on the side of the resort overlooking the water and the golf course if you sit outside or near the windows. Atmosphere Tables are scattered around and there are a few TVs. Every time we’ve visited, the TVs have been showing golf which makes sense for a resort situated on a golf course. Atmosphere The lounge is currently open from 4PM to 11PM but note that food service runs from 4-10PM. Atmosphere The space is quiet and relaxing. It’s not your typical “lounge” in that it’s pretty bright and airy in here with high ceilings. Most Disney world lounges are small and cozy, but this almost feels the opposite of that. Prior to the closure, the lounge featured a pool table but it was removed when we were there so that tables can be distanced. Atmosphere You’ll find your own seat at standard tables and chairs and diners are provided silverware and a cloth napkin with their food. Atmosphere There is some outdoor seating as well. Right now, while The Turf Club Bar and Grill remains closed, all of the outdoor seating is available for lounge guests. Atmosphere The lounge doesn’t feature a server. Instead, you order everything at the bar with the bartender. So, you tip when you order and pay as you go or start a tab. It’s traditional bar service! Atmosphere If you order food, you’ll be given a number to take to your table. Atmosphere But enough about the atmosphere, let’s talk about the eats! Eats Like most Disney World locations, The Turf Club Lounge offers QR code menus or paper menus. Parts of the menu were posted at the bar as well. On our visit, the lounge featured a pretty extensive cocktail list. Cocktail Menu And a limited menu of bar eats. Note that, at the time of writing, the Tempura Fried Shrimp Tacos are not listed on the online menu. Menu To see other offerings, you can ask for that paper menu or scan the QR code at the bar with your phone. The lounge also offers non-alcoholic mocktails, beer… Menu …and wine! There’s a beverage for everyone at this spot. Menu For a drink, we ordered the Spicy Poblano Margarita for $14. This sip is made with Patrón Silver Tequila, Ancho Reyes Verde Liqueur, Lime Juice, and Pure Cane Sugar. Spicy Poblano Margarita The margarita was VERY spicy; you’re gonna taste that pepper! The tequila didn’t stand out, but the Ancho Reyes Verde liqueur was the powerhouse in this beverage. It was refreshing with how cool it was and the slight tartness it had, but that pepper really kicked in at the back end of each sip. It was heat in liquid form! Spicy Poblano Margarita If you like pepper flavors, then you may want to order this but we wouldn’t be able to drink more than one. It was a LOT of spice all at once. The flavors made us think it would make a good shot, but, as a full cocktail, it was a bit overwhelming. If you don’t like margaritas or, more importantly, spicy flavors, this is a hard pass! It looks so innocent and refreshing, but don’t be fooled — it’s SPICY! Luckily, we had an appetizer to help break up the sips of the cocktail. We ordered the Creamy Buffalo Chicken Dip for $11. This app comes with Spicy Buffalo Ranch Sauce and Saratoga Chips. Oh well, sorry taste buds, we’re going full spicy on this one. Spicy drink. Spicy dip. Let’s do this. Creamy Buffalo Chicken Dip The dip was good! It was creamy with a slight kick from the buffalo sauce. Since Saratoga Springs is themed after upstate New York, you know it has to have legit buffalo sauce, right?! We tasted that classic buffalo sauce flavor without too much heat. There was chopped celery on top and in the dip itself which gave it a nice crunch that we really enjoyed. Creamy Buffalo Chicken Dip Altogether, it was good but nothing amazing. We love a super cheesy buffalo chicken dip but there wasn’t too much cheese to this one. It DID have lots of chicken though! We liked the chips, which are house-made, and they made for a salty crunch alongside the dip. Creamy Buffalo Chicken Dip We weren’t too pleased with the portion size, TBH. For $11, we’d hope a starter would be shareable but this one was really more of a one-person appetizer. If you like a creamy ranch/buffalo style chicken dip with LOTS of chicken, you’d enjoy this! If you’re looking for something with a kick or a shareable starter; skip it, order more than one, and/or ask for some hot sauce! (Or, in our case, keep sipping your margarita!) Creamy Buffalo Chicken Dip Next up on the food menu, we went with The Turf Burger for $17. Spoiler alert — this was amazing! You’re looking at Smoked Cheddar, Thick-cut Bacon, Bourbon Glaze, Crispy Onions, and Tomato Jam on a Brioche Bun served with Seasoned House-cut Fries. The Turf Burger We LOVED this burger. This is the only thing we ate that we would definitely come back to eat again. It was the perfect size and packed with flavor! The bartender asked us for our cook preference and we chose medium. When it came, our burger was perfectly cooked and deliciously juicy! The Turf Burger The bacon was thick and crisp, the tomato jam added sweetness, and the cheddar was thick and melted perfectly. Then, add the crispy onions on top and you’ve got ANOTHER layer of crunch and flavor. No condiments were needed because that bourbon glaze added all the right flavor, a little sweet and a little tangy to go with that smoky bacon and the creamy, sharp cheddar! This was the best burger we’ve had in a while! The Turf Burger Our one complaint was that the fries were a little soft and didn’t have the crunch that we would’ve preferred. They did have a good amount of seasoning though, so points there. They could have been cooked a little longer though. Otherwise, we were WOWED. The Turf Burger If you love a juicy burger with a lot of flavors, you should give The Turf Burger a try! If you’re looking for a plain ol’ cheeseburger with ketchup, then this might not be the bite for you. The Turf Burger We also tried the House-made Cheese Pizza for $9.50. This was a great option for kids or picky eaters. It had good flavor like a stone-fired pizza and the portion was decent for being under 10 bucks. House-made Cheese Pizza We will say that you can get a bigger pizza for a better price if you order from a delivery service, so we wouldn’t recommend snagging this ‘za to feed a family. But, it would work shared between two kiddos or as an appetizer with drinks. House-made Cheese Pizza Alright, now that we’ve got a full meal in us, let’s check out some final thoughts. Nosh or Not You should RACE to eat at The Turf Club Lounge if… You’re staying at Saratoga Springs and are looking for an easy meal. Prices are steep on some items, but we could feel happy coming here after a day at the pool! You’re nearby and looking for a quick bite in a laid-back atmosphere and quiet setting. The Turf Club Lounge really is out of the way so you likely need to be close by to warrant a visit! You’re playing a round of golf with friends and are looking to unwind with a drink. We swayed you with that killer burger. You’re already drooling after we mentioned bacon and bourbon glaze on a burger! You should SCRATCH plans for The Turf Club Lounge if… You’re not near Saratoga Springs. The eats here were fine, but we wouldn’t go out of the way for them. There are lots of other great options around Disney World! You’re REALLY hungry. The portions were fine, but you can get larger portions at other quick-service and table-service spots nearby in Disney Springs and elsewhere. You’re looking for a place your kids will love. The Turf Club Lounge definitely had a more grown-up vibe, but there were high chairs available. You want something fancier or elevated, Disney Springs is only a small stroll away for a wider variety of options. Overall We do love the laid-back atmosphere and gorgeous views from the outdoor seating, but we’re not sure it’s worth making the trek to Saratoga Springs just to visit The Turf Club Lounge. If you do end up nearby, we definitely recommend The Turf Burger! Holy SMOKES, what a good burger. As you’ve probably guessed, we loved the burger, but it wasn’t enough for us to give glowing reviews about the rest of the meal. Honestly, nothing was bad, but when you’re at Disney there are SO MANY amazing places to eat. With Disney Springs just a short walk away from this resort, there are a LOT of awesome options super close. If you are staying at Saratoga Springs or playing a round of golf, then this could be a good spot to grab a bite and chill with a few adults. If Saratoga Springs isn’t in your plans already, then this is not a destination we would say you need to go out of your way to try. This feels like it was put here just for guests at the hotel to fill a need — it’s not in the same class as other resort lounges like Trader Sam’s at the Polynesian or Enchanted Rose at Grand Floridian. Those are bars and lounges worth going out of your way to patron. All in all, The Turf Club Lounge was passable, but just doesn’t stand up to some of the other wonderful dining choices you have when you’re at Disney World. As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney restaurant reviews. Want to learn more about the reopening of The Turf Club Lounge? Click here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! 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 dined at The Tuf Club Lounge? Let us know in the comments! The post Review: The BEST Burger We've Had In a LONG Time is HIDING in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Happy National Gingerbread House Day! The most wonderful time of the year wouldn’t be complete without something sweet, and the incredibly talented pastry teams at Walt Disney World Resort have added some extra sugar and spice and a little 50th Anniversary celebration magic to the festivities with this year’s gingerbread displays! Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort […]View the full article

If visiting Disney World is on your list of 2022 resolutions, then you’ll want to be prepared for some big changes in store! From new rides to new hotels to major changes in the way we plan (and budget for) our vacations, a trip to Disney World in 2022 will be unlike any trip you’ve taken before! Magic Kingdom There are ten big changes on the way in the new year — let’s recap those changes today so you’re prepared to do Disney World a little differently than you have in the past! Goodbye Magical Express, hello Mears Connect If you fly into Orlando International Airport for all of your Disney World vacations, then this first change may be the most jarring: Disney’s Magical Express will suspend its service at the beginning of 2022, and it will be replaced by Mears Connect. Disney’s Magical Express will conclude its service at the end of 2021 The basic logistics of Mears Connect are admittedly not all that different from Magical Express. A charter bus will transport you and your family from Orlando International Airport to your Disney World Resort hotel, and at the end of your trip, they’ll bring you back to the airport. Mears bus The differences, however, are worth noting. First, Mears Connect will NOT be complimentary like Magical Express was. Mears is offering two price levels: Standard and Premium. Standard will cost $16 per adult one way ($32 roundtrip) and $13.50 per child one way ($27 roundtrip), and Premium will cost $200 total for up to four guests roundtrip, with each additional guest costing $55. For the extra costs, premium service includes a limited wait time as well as direct service to your hotel. Mears’ graphic also implies that Premium service may be offered in a smaller vehicle like a van or private car, but that hasn’t been officially announced at this time. Premium is only being offered for round trip service at this time. ©Mears Transportation Other major differences include your luggage. While Magical Express would transport your luggage to your Disney World hotel room (once you checked your luggage at your home airport, you wouldn’t see the bags at all until you arrived at your hotel!), you’ll need to get your bags at baggage claim and bring them onto Mears Connect with you. Orlando International Airport While we’re still awaiting updates from the Brightline train service that would bring guests from Orlando Airport to Disney Springs, Mears Connect will now be the primary way travelers will get to Disney World once their plane lands. You can also look into rideshare or taxi services. But it looks like the days of complimentary ground transportation are behind us. Click here to read more about Mears Connect’s pricing. MagicBand gets an upgrade with MagicBand+ When Disney World announced that it would no longer offer complimentary MagicBands to their resort hotel guests starting in early 2021, many had thought that the wearable technology was on the way out the door, and would be totally replaced by a digital service that would be known as MagicMobile. MagicBands Disney eventually announced that would not be the case; in fact, a NEW generation of MagicBands are on the way in 2022, and they’ll be known as MagicBand+. MagicBands Galore! MagicBand+ appears to offer the same features as the “old fashion” MagicBands: you can access your Disney World Resort hotel room, pay for food and merchandise, and redeem your Genie+ Lightning Lane reservations, all while sporting a variety of colors, patterns, and designs to fit your interests. Simple Mickey! MagicBand+, however, will also feature interactive elements guests can use at various times throughout their vacation. Whether it’s during a nighttime spectacular or with physical elements in the parks (it sounds like those Fab 50 Golden Character Statues from the 50th Anniversary Celebration will be able to do more than meets the eye!), MagicBand+ seems to offer guests more ways to use technology to enhance their vacation experience. Princess crown As of this writing, there is no official rollout date for MagicBand+, but it was announced that it will launch sometime in 2022! No word yet on whether or not the arrival of MagicBand+ will signal the end of previous models being sold, or if they’ll just be an optional “upgrade.” Click here to learn more about MagicBand+ Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser One of the most highly anticipated changes at Disney World in 2022 is the grand opening (or “maiden voyage,” to some) of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, a two-night immersive experience in a galaxy far, far away. Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser While this may appear at first glance to be a hotel, signs point to Galactic Starcruiser being anything but your traditional hotel. It’s part role-playing, part immersive theater, part all-inclusive stay aboard a luxury spacecraft (think a cruise ship, but in space). It will welcome its first guests on March 1st, 2022! Bridge games on the Galactic Starcruiser If you want to do a bit of a deep dive into Galactic Starcruiser to see if it’s worth adding onto your Disney World vacation (you can’t, or shouldn’t, exactly “leave” the hotel during your stay, so this will be an additional 2 nights on top of your traditional Disney World vacation), we have a plethora of articles to check out! A look at the food that will be served aboard Galactic Starcruiser ©Disney We’ve covered all that we know so far about Galactic Starcruiser, including pricing, what the food will be like, what kind of immersive experiences there will be, and much more! Even if you decide that a stay aboard the starcruiser isn’t in your plans, the opening of this new experience may still impact how you experience Galaxy’s Edge. Tour around the Batuu marketplace. Based on the itinerary for the Galactic Starcruiser, guests will experience an excursion to Batuu (aka Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios). The trip is scheduled to take place on the second day of the journey, and times are listed for guests to ride the two attractions in Galaxy’s Edge. No need to secure a boarding group for Rise of the Resistance, it seems! So, you may experience some longer wait times on certain days in Hollywood Studios. Click here to read more about Galactic Starcruiser Amazon’s Alexa is moving into your Disney World hotel room If your idea of an overnight stay in Disney World involves fewer lightsabers and more earth-bound vibes, there are still big changes coming your way in 2022. If you prefer to stay on Disney World property, you’ll have a new “roommate” of sorts: Amazon’s Alexa. Amazon Echo devices will be added to Disney World Resort hotel rooms! The voice-activated assistant will soon be added to Disney World Resort hotel rooms with the new “Hey, Disney!“ technology-enabled. Through “Hey, Disney!” and Alexa, guests will be able to ask about bus schedules from their hotel to the parks, park hours, and much more! Hey Disney! Be on the lookout for these devices to appear in rooms across the Disney World Resort beginning in 2022. Click here to learn more about “Hey, Disney!” Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind For many Disney fans, the biggest park changes come about when a new ride or attraction opens up. Since Disney World reopened, we’ve been able to experience new offerings like Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in EPCOT, and 2022 will bring even more changes to the park! Construction as of late October 2021 The highly-anticipated thrill ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will open summer of 2022! This high-speed indoor roller coaster-type ride will feature a reverse launch (think Rock ‘n’ Roller Coster, except backward) and much more. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Ride Vehicle We’re keeping a close watch on this ride in particular; we can’t wait to see a new “E-ticket” ride open up in Disney World! Click here to learn more about Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Long-term temporary closures and refurbishments Some of the biggest changes coming to Disney World in 2022 appear at first glance to be the more “mundane” changes: temporary closures and refurbishments. While there are plenty of exciting new offerings on the horizon like Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, we also wanted to make sure we cover some of the other changes that don’t sound nearly as thrilling, but are just as important and can still have a big impact on your vacation. Pardon Our Pixie Dust! Disney World doesn’t always give tons of advance notice to their temporary closures and refurbishments, but there are two that we know about so far that may impact 2022 travel plans. First, the Disney Skyliner is set to undergo a refurbishment from January 23rd through 28th, 2022. While the closure only spans a week, it’ll impact service between Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Riviera Resort, and EPCOT, which will be out of operation during that time. Skyliner Next, if your “must-do” Disney World list always includes Expedition Everest, then you may want to rethink your 2022 travel dates before booking. The popular “E-ticket” ride in Disney’s Animal Kingdom is set to undergo major refurbishments from January 4th through mid-April of 2022. This will last over three months and will span over the spring break season, so keep that in mind before booking your trip! Expedition Everest If we hear of any additional temporary closures or refurbishments in Disney World throughout 2022, we’ll be sure to let you know so you can adjust your plans accordingly! Click here to read more about the extended closure of Expedition Everest Annual Passholders will all renew into the new AP program if they haven’t already. Disney World made some big changes to their Annual Passholder program in 2021 with the launch of an entirely new system, including four new Pass levels. When this new program was announced, Disney gave existing Passholders the opportunity to renew their current Pass if they were in their renewal window, essentially giving them one more year of the “old” Pass system. Annual Pass However, when their renewal window rolls around again in 2022, they’ll have to renew into the new program. If you are an existing Annual Passholder and you haven’t yet renewed into the new program, it’ll be coming within the next twelve months. ©Disney In November of 2021, Disney World also paused the sale of most Annual Passholder types, including the only Pass level available to non-Florida residents (renewals are still available). This temporary pause is expected to last into 2022, so we’ll also likely see a resumption of Annual Passholder sales sometime next year as well. Click here to read more about Disney World pausing the sale of new Annual Passes. (Hopefully) TRON Lightcycle Run Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind isn’t the only major E-ticket attraction currently in the works at Disney World. Over in Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland, fans are eagerly awaiting the opening of another roller coaster, TRON Lightcycle Run, direct from Shanghai Disneyland. TRON construction — Late October 2021 Updates on TRON have been coming at a bit of a slower pace than Cosmic Rewind in recent months. In fact, during Destination D23 in November of 2021, all we got from Disney was that it was still “coming soon.” So as of this writing, there’s no word yet on if the ride will open in 2022. But we certainly hope that by the end of 2022, we’ll have not one, but TWO new roller coasters to enjoy in Disney World. Click here to read more about TRON Lightcycle Run Get ready to learn all about Genie and Genie+ Whether you choose to purchase the new paid version of what used to be FastPass+ or not, you will likely use Disney Genie (or its paid counterpart, Genie+) on your next Disney World vacation. While these services launched in 2021, if you haven’t been to the parks since, then 2022 will be your first experience with these new programs. Disney Genie is here! Disney Genie is a free tool built into My Disney Experience, available to all guests. It provides customized itineraries based on real-time data as well as your personal preferences. You can take a look at current and projected wait times, dining reservation availability, and much more! ©Disney Genie+ is a paid add-on that costs $15 per guest, per day. Genie+ gives its users access to booking return times for a ride’s Lightning Lane (formerly known as the FastPass lane). If you want an expedited wait for your favorite Disney World attraction, it will no longer come for free. Rise of the Resistance Lightning Lane On top of the rides included with the purchase of Genie+, there are a select number of high-demand attractions. Disney calls them Individual Attraction Selections (IAS), but we like to call them “fancy rides,” These special attractions require a SEPARATE fee in order to book a return time for their Lightning Lane. Check out our video on what we learned using Genie+. There’s a LOT to digest if you’re unfamiliar with Genie+, so be sure to study up before your next trip! Click here to read more about Genie and Genie+  Unknown COVID changes Finally, there may be a number of changes in the parks as it relates to COVID-19. As of late 2021, Disney World was still in the midst of its phased reopening, with a select number of hotels, restaurants, and other locations that have yet to reopen. Mask Signage As the nature of the COVID-19 pandemic changes, so will the health and safety guidelines at Disney World. We may see updates to the resort’s mask mandates, social distancing policies, or other guidance as needed. We may also see changes in park capacity, Annual Passholder sales, or Park Pass Reservation availability. Masks in EPCOT We keep a watch on all things COVID-related that could impact your Disney World vacation, so when there are major changes to the guidelines in the parks and resorts, we will let you know! Click here to read about the current indoor mask mandate in Disney World. 2022 is shaping up to be a big year for Disney World! Beyond the changes we already know about, we will surely see more changes and updates as the year goes on. Not to mention 2022 is when we’ll experience the D23 Expo, where we will likely hear some exciting announcements about changes coming to the parks in 2023 and beyond! Be sure to follow along for all of the latest news and announcements as they happen. 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 on taking a trip to Disney World in 2022? Let us know in the comments! The post The 10 Biggest Changes Coming to Disney World in 2022 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is an annual event featuring art exhibitions, food booths, and live entertainment! Festival of the Arts Slowly but surely, we’re finding out about all the artists who’ll be appearing at this year’s festival and today, we found out about another artist signing event! Artist Dave Perillo will be at the 2022 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts for one week only! He’ll be hanging out in the France pavilion’s Wonderground Gallery Tent doing signings from January 15th to 21st. Dave Perillo is known for making retro-inspired posters based on Disney attractions! You can find his work at galleries like the Wonderground shop in Disneyland’s Downtown Disney District. He also designed his own pair of Mickey ears! ©Dave Perillo We’re always keeping up with the latest Disney news, including all the Festival of the Arts updates you’ll need! Stay tuned here for more! Why You Might Want to Visit EPCOT’s 2022 Festival of the Arts on 4 Specific Days 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 do you think about this artist signing? Let us know in the comments! The post Meet This Popular Disney Artist at EPCOT's Festival of the Arts! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

CookieAnn is one of Duffy the Disney Bear’s many friends. The culinarily-minded dog, who was recently joined by a new friend, is a major hit overseas at parks like Shanghai Disneyland! CookieAnn Merch As Duffy and his friends become more and more popular both here and abroad, we’ve seen more and more new additions to the Disney parks inspired by these fuzzy characters! Today, a new restaurant inspired by CookieAnn opened overseas. The CookieAnn Bakery Café has opened in Shanghai Disneyland! This restaurant, inspired by the friendship between Minnie Mouse and CookieAnn and their shared love of baking, this spot serves up sweet baked treats. ©Disney Inside the restaurant, you’ll find a vintage, 50’s inspired bakery with plenty of grab-and-go options! ©Disney The café also features four murals showing Mickey, Minnie, Duffy, CookieAnn, and friends gathering berries, baking a cake, decorating the treats, and enjoying a picnic! ©Disney We’re always keeping up with the latest Disney news, so stay tuned here for more! Duffy’s Newest Friend Is Coming to Shanghai Disneyland! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What do you think about this new restaurant? Let us know in the comments! The post PHOTOS: There's A Brand NEW Restaurant at Shanghai Disneyland! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

2021 may have been filled with tons of new things in the Disney Parks, but there is even MORE coming in 2022! Magic Kingdom With a brand new one-of-a-kind Star Wars hotel, a Marvel-themed attraction, and more, the next year in Disney World is set to be an exciting one! But, since we can’t enjoy these new rides and experiences just yet, we’ve been sitting back and watching all of the construction work take place. And, we’ve got an update on some of Disney’s biggest projects — let’s take a look! Magic Kingdom TRON: Lightcycle Run Back in 2017 (yes, it really was THAT long ago), Disney announced that they would be bringing TRON: Lightcycle Run to Magic Kingdom. The ride was projected to open by October 1st, 2021, but the COVID-19 pandemic threw a clinker into those plans. And, while Disney hasn’t shared an updated opening timeline just yet, we have been seeing some progress on the exterior of the building recently. For example, this week, we noticed that the structure that was once open… TRON ride construction mid-November 2021 …is now being closed in! The design matches the exterior of the building, so it looks like this will be a permanent addition. Walls are going up! We’ll continue to keep an eye out for more updates on this highly-anticipated attraction, so stay tuned to DFB! EPCOT Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Last week, we saw some MAJOR progress at the entrance of the newest EPCOT roller coaster, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and this week there was even more! Can you spot what’s changing from afar? Looking a little different! Construction crews are now hard at work making those brown panels on the building darker! Disney Imagineer, Zac Riddley, shared a video on his Instagram with Cast Members explaining the new color palette and we learned that it is actually made with a variety of different metallic greys, slates, and silvers. This makes it appear a different color depending on what angle you are looking at it from and how the sun is hitting it. It’s being painted! There’s still a lot of building to be painted here, so we can expect a lot more progress to be made here soon. And, don’t forget that we now know that this ride will debut sometime in Summer 2022! Click HERE to See More Updates on the Guardians of the Galaxy Construction! World Celebration And, speaking of construction in EPCOT, we recently noticed that there was some more work being done on the building that used to house Mouse Gear (before Creations Shop opened this fall). Construction on the old Mouse Gear building Disney hasn’t revealed exactly what is going into this building, but we could see that the windows were a similar style to the ones that are at the Creations Shop now! Disney Resorts Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort The last time that we checked in at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort, they were in the middle of a major lobby refurbishment. Now, the former check-in desk is long gone and all of the pods have been revealed making it easier for Cast Members to greet guests and provide a more personalized experience. More desks opened up! But, the lobby is still a bit of a construction zone, as the large walls have moved over to the other side. But there’s still some work to be done So, you’ll still need to be prepared to navigate around some walls when you check in here. 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! Check out Three Attractions Will Be CLOSED in Disney World This December HERE! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! 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 Disney World roller coaster are you most excited to ride? Let us know in the comments! The post PHOTOS: Construction UPDATE on TWO New Disney World Thrill Rides first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If there’s one thing that’ll always be true about the Disney parks, it’s that they’re always changing! Splash Mountain From massive park transformations to storyline updates and attraction overhauls, there’s always something new happening at the parks. Today in Disneyland Resort, we experienced a classic attraction in a new, updated format for the first time! Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin, the dark ride based on Who Framed Roger Rabbit, has gotten some signficant updates recently! Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin The attraction has updated scenes to reflect the attraction’s new storyline, including a new Jessica Rabbit animatronic! The new Jessica Rabbit Animatronic! The new animatronic is part of the attraction’s new storyline, featuring Jessica Rabbit as Toontown’s newest Private Investigator getting to the bottom of what the suspicious Weasels are up to! Toontown in Disneyland Speaking of new things in Toontown, the hit Disney World attraction Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is coming to Disneyland’s Toontown in 2023! Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is coming to Disneyland in 2023! The new attraction is part of a massive revitalization of Toontown, with new play areas, open spaces, and an overhaul of the area’s decor! ©Disney We’re always keeping up with the latest Disney news, so stay tuned here for more! VIDEO: “it’s a small world” Holiday Is Open After Recent Flooding in Disneyland Disneyland Reviews and Information Click HERE to Check Out Lots of DFB Posts About Disneyland See the Latest Updates About Disneyland’s Mask Policy Check Out Our Disneyland Restaurants Guide See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Park Check Out Details from the Historic Reopening of Disneyland Resort See What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Learn About the Disneyland Mobile App Get All the Details About Mobile Order in Disneyland See More About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure What’s Going to Be Different About Your Next Disneyland Trip? Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe What do you think about the new Jessica Rabbit? Let us know in the comments! The post PHOTOS: New Detective Jessica Rabbit Animatronic Debuts at Disneyland! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’re back! Are you surprised? We have unexpected news this week from Disney World. Spaceship Earth If you visited Disney World this week you might have experienced technical issues, creepy fog, and even closed Monorail lines. Sound fun? Let’s go over everything! Gold Luxe Loungefly Backpack After Disney released $1,000 ears, we weren’t sure if prices could get higher. And while this gold mini Loungefly backpack isn’t $1,o00, it is a whopping $298! It’s made of real leather and real gold, so it’s extra luxe for a Loungefly backpack. GOLD. The ears are trimmed with 24K gold-plated metal, and the metal 50 on the front pocket has real gold flakes in it! We found this backpack at Legends of Hollywood in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, so head there if you need a fancy gold backpack. Check out more photos of the gold luxe Loungefly backpack here! Disney World Railroad Testing The Walt Disney World Railroad has been closed since 2018 for the construction of TRON Lightcycle Run in Magic Kingdom. Although the train will not reopen until the TRON construction is completed, Scott Gustin shared on Twitter that testing of the Walt Disney World Railroad began on December 8th. The Walt Disney Railroad Testing is a routine part of the railroad refurbishment, so we have to continue to wait for TRON construction to allow for the railroad to finally reopen! Read more about the Walt Disney World Railroad testing here! Magic Kingdom Monorails Shut Down Earlier this week BOTH Magic Kingdom Monorail Lines (resort and express) were closed, leaving the ferry as the only mode of transportation for guests to travel from Magic Kingdom to the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC). Monorail is closed The EPCOT Monorail continued running but transportation was a bit more difficult for people at Magic Kingdom, and people at the TTC had the choice of either the ferry or the bus to Magic Kingdom! BOTH Magic Kingdom Monorails shut down this week! Creepy Fog Weather We woke up one day this week to ominous foggy weather, which gave a sort of a spooky vibe to an otherwise nice day in Disney World. When we were walking from the parking lot to the TTC we could barely see where we were headed! Fog makes this walk feel extra long The eerie fog did at least let us get this beautiful photo of a foggy Cinderella Castle. It was hard to see Cinderella Castle! Eventually, the fog cleared in Disney World but it was quite the unusual way to start the day! Check out more photos of the creepy fog weather here! Technical Issues Another unexpected issue this week was major technical issues with MagicBand payments and with the My Disney Experience app, leading to delays and long lines. Mobile Orders were down and guests were unable to pay using MagicBands. Longer Lines The technical issues were eventually resolved, but it’s a good reminder to always bring at least two forms of payment with you to Disney World in case of issues like this! Read more about Disney World’s technical issues this week. And that’s the unexpected news of the week! We’re wondering what next week could possibly bring us in Disney World after this week’s weirdness. Keep reading DFB for more Disney World news! The 3 most unexpected things that happened in November! 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. The post The 5 Most Unexpected Things That Happened in Disney World This Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Getting ready for a Disney World vacation can mean a LOT of planning: where to stay, how long to go, and WHERE TO EAT! Disney World Booking your Advance Dining Reservations is SUPER important. There are a LOT of Disney World restaurants that have hard-to-get reservations. To make sure you’re prepared to tackle your upcoming Disney World vacation like a pro, we’re sharing the dining locations that will be the HARDEST to grab a reservation for in 2022! Remember, guests are able to make a dining reservation at most Disney World restaurants up to 60 days in advance of your meal. Resort hotel guests may make reservations up to 60 days in advance plus the length of their stay up to 10 days. Old and New Favorites First of all, let’s talk about a few restaurants that are hard to get into because they are SO popular — the old and new favorites! Space 220 and Space 220 Lounge Space 220 is the newest table-service restaurant in EPCOT where guests are taken up to “space” in an interstellar elevator to dine on a multi-course prix fixe menu of modern, upscale dishes. The spot also has an accompanying lounge where guests can try out the lounge eats and selections from the main menu. Inside Space 220 The main restaurant has been an extremely hard-to-get reservation since the restaurant opened. Initially, the lounge was walk-up only but as of this month, requires reservations too! You can still join a standby line for the bar, but this high-demand restaurant will likely stay that way into 2022. Make reservations EARLY if you’re hoping to visit Space 220! Click here to see our REVIEW of Space 220! Oga’s Cantina Speaking of space lounges, you’ll likely have trouble snagging a reservation for Oga’s Cantina in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios! You will more than likely be required to have a reservation if you want to experience Oga’s Cantina, although walk-ups are allowed when there is room. In our experience recently though, get that res! This spot is POPULAR. DJ R-3X On top of being popular, this location is teeny tiny. Remember that even with an Advance Dining Reservation, you may be limited to Standing Room. Oga’s Cantina is full of standing tables and only a couple of booths with VERY limited seating spaced out around the bar. Want to see our full review of Oga’s Cantina? Click here! Be Our Guest In Magic Kingdom, you’ll find the immensely popular Be Our Guest restaurant where you can dine inside Beast’s castle from Beauty and the Beast. This spot has been beloved since it opened and reservations have only gotten harder to get. Be Our Guest The spot used to have a quick-service option to help alleviate demand but has ONLY been table-service by reservation since reopening. Reservations are almost ALWAYS booked up and we don’t expect that to change heading into next year! Click here to see our latest Be Our Guest review! Le Cellier For many years, Le Cellier was one of the toughest reservations to grab in not only EPCOT, but across Disney World. This top-notch steakhouse is another smaller spot, like Oga’s Cantina. Le Cellier Steakhouse Despite the fact that it may not have the most demand in Disney World, it has enough to keep the smaller space filled! This spot might not be your number one priority when it comes to booking, but you should still book early to ensure you get a table! To see our review of Le Cellier, click here! ‘Ohana ‘Ohana is one of the featured dining spots at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and it has a LOT of fans. Between the iconic noodles, delicious potstickers, and the MEATS, this all-you-care-to-enjoy family-style restaurant is a HIT — and a hard-to-get reservation. Dining at ‘Ohana Reservations go FAST for this spot. Prior to the 2020 closures, ‘Ohana also offered a character breakfast with Lilo & Stitch, but the offering has yet to return. Still, those beloved eats make this a POPULAR reservation and one you’ll want to make well in advance. Click here to see our latest review of ‘Ohana! California Grill Disney’s Contemporary Resort has a top-floor restaurant called California Grill that is an often-booked fine dining experience. The location has a new three-course prix fixe menu in honor of the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort. California Grill With a new menu that celebrates the “spirit of 1971” and a long-standing positive reputation, you’ll want to make your California Grill reservations AS SOON AS YOU CAN. Even trickier, this spot has great fireworks views, and getting that showtime table can be a challenge! Want to learn more about the new California Grill menu? Click here! Character Dining Character meals are a unique dining experience that lets you dine with some of your favorite Disney characters. Any restaurant that features a character is a hard-to-get reservation typically, but we wanted to point out some of the most difficult! Hi, Mickey! If you ARE looking for character dining, you can typically find a little more availability at Garden Grill in EPCOT or Tusker House in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. These spots could be good to check if you can’t snag one of the following reservations. Topolino’s Terrace Topolino’s Terrace — Flavors of the Riviera is the top-floor restaurant at Disney’s Riviera Resort. This spot is a perfect storm for being a hard-to-get reservation. You could say hello to Mickey at Topolino’s Terrace! It offers a character breakfast, it has AH-MAZ-ING food, and it’s still relatively new! Put them together and what do ya got? One BOOKED-UP restaurant. To see our latest Topolino’s Terrace review, click here! Artist Point — Story Book Dining with Snow White Disney’s Wilderness Lodge is home to Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White, a prix-fixe meal where guests can interact with Snow White, Grumpy, Dopey, and the Evil Queen. It’s also the first princess meal to fully return since the closures! Storybook Dining at Artist Point This spot reopens on December 16th and it has been almost IMPOSSIBLE to snag a reservation. Reservations for opening day were GONE in minutes and we haven’t seen much in the way of availability since. DEFINITELY aim for this one as soon as you can book those reservations! Click here to see Artist Point before the closure! Cinderella’s Royal Table Cinderella’s Royal Table has a LOT going for it. This restaurant is located IN Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom and typically also features a princess character meal. For the uninitiated, princess meals are typically VERY popular. Hey There, Cinderella! Since this restaurant reopened though it has featured a modified experience. The character meal is not currently being offered; instead, Cinderella might stop by for a brief and distanced hello. Still, Cinderella’s Royal Table is a notoriously hard-to-get reservation. You can’t beat it when it comes to location! Want to see more about breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal Table? Click here! Potential Reopenings And our last section is dedicated to popular restaurants that still remain closed. We’ve seen a surge in reservations when restaurants reopen and these are especially missed ones! If these spots do reopen in 2022, we’re expecting that they will justify their spot on this list of hard-to-get reservations. Victoria and Albert’s Victoria and Albert’s is well-known as the most upscale restaurant in all of Disney World. The signature meal is located at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. It’s considered a pinnacle dining experience for MANY a Disney fan and was a hard-to-get reservation BEFORE the closure. Wild Turbot with Toasted Capers and Preserved Lemon The restaurant has a AAA five-diamond rating and is one of the most critically-acclaimed restaurants in all of Florida. There has yet to be any update about a reopening, so stay tuned to DFB to up your chances of snagging one of those reservations if and when it does reopen! To see our latest Victoria and Albert’s review, click here! Jiko…The Cooking Place Jiko is a bit of an underrated favorite located at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort. This spot is delicious and well-known for its romantic atmosphere. The spot is popular, but reservations weren’t IMPOSSIBLE to get prior to the closure. Jiko Dining Room HOWEVER, with its popular status and the looooong time it’s been closed, Jiko could very well become one of the more hard-to-get reservations if it reopens in 2022! Click here for our latest REVIEW at Disney World! 1900 Park Fare Yet another Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort restaurant makes this list! 1900 Park Fare is a popular character meal restaurant at this hotel and has been closed since the 2020 closures. A character meal and a long closure? That sounds like a recipe for a hard-to-get reservation! 1900 Park Fare The breakfast at this spot features characters like Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland, and The Mad Hatter. The dinner option features characters like Cinderella, Prince Charming, Lady Tremaine, and Cinderella’s Stepsisters. Want to see our latest review of 1900 Park Fare? Click here! Hoop Dee Doo Revue And our final hard-to-get reservation is Hoop Dee Doo Revue at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground! This is a dinner show that debuted way back in 1974 and has been SUPER popular ever since. After all, it is a rootin’ tootin’ good time! Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue With a great show and an all-you-care-to-enjoy meal of fried chicken, ribs, mashed potatoes, and MUCH more; we can’t be the ONLY ones excited to get back to Hoop Dee Doo Revue! If this spot reopens in 2022, we might see reservations book up FAST. To see more of Hoop Dee Doo, click here! We hope this list can help you prepare to tackle your Disney World Dining Reservations. We recommend you book the dining reservations you want ASAP in order to make sure you’re A) dining at the restaurants you want, and B) at the time of day that you want. Be Our Guest Eats And if you don’t get your desired dining reservations right away, don’t fret! Folks are still changing their vacation plans often and we’ve seen reservations open up all the time! Just be sure to triple-check the restaurant you want to dine at regularly ahead of your vacation to see if or when any reservations become available. Click here to learn MORE about Advance Dining Reservations! 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 of these restaurants do you want to visit? Tell us in the comments! The post These Will Be the HARDEST Reservations to Get in Disney World in 2022 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Howdy from Walt Disney World! Ugh, she’s so pretty Things have been pretty busy around the parks as we’re in the middle of the holiday season. And, it makes sense that they’re busy, because there is so much to do! From EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays to the giant gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian, it’s easy to have some holiday fun at Disney World. We like to keep up with how lines are looking in order to gauge how busy it is, so here’s a look at all the average wait times in Disney World from this week. Magic Kingdom Let’s head to Magic Kingdom! This week, Jungle Cruise took the top spot again with an average wait time of 70 minutes! It finally dethroned Seven Dwarfs Mine Train a few weeks ago, and it’s done it again! Ready to go to the jungle? After that, we had Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at 64 minutes, Peter Pan’s Flight at 58 minutes, Haunted Mansion at 37 minutes, Splash Mountain at 31 minutes, Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh at 30 minutes, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at 30 minutes, Space Mountain at 29 minutes, Astro Orbiter at 28 minutes, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin at 28 minutes, “it’s a small world” at 26 minutes, and Pirates of the Caribbean at 25 minutes. Time for some adventures! Then, we saw Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid at 19 minutes, Magic Carpets of Aladdin at 18 minutes, Dumbo the Flying Elephant at 17 minutes, Barnstormer featuring the Great Goofini at 16 minutes, Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover at 16 minutes, Mickey’s PhilharMagic at 16 minutes, Tomorrowland Speedway at 14 minutes, Prince Charming Regal Carrousel at 14 minutes, Mad Tea Party at 12 minutes, and Carousel of Progress at 4 minutes. Under the sea, under the sea! And rides that had no waits this week were Tom Sawyer Island, Liberty Square Riverboat, Country Bear Jamboree, Hall of Presidents, Enchanted Tiki Room, and Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse. EPCOT Over in EPCOT, the ride with the longest average wait was Frozen Ever After at 73 minutes. Frozen Ever After Then, we had Test Track at 41 minutes, Soarin’ at 32 minutes, Grand Fiesta Tour at 13 minutes, Living with the Land at 13 minutes, Mission: SPACE at 12 minutes, Journey into Imagination at 12 minutes, The Seas with Nemo and Friends at 12 minutes, Spaceship Earth at 10 minutes, and Turtle Talk with Crush at 10 minutes. Duuuude, totalllly The theater shows in EPCOT all had zero waits this past week! These included: Awesome Planet, Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along, Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival, Impressions de France, and Reflections of China! Hollywood Studios Moving on to Hollywood Studios, Rise of the Resistance had the highest average wait time this week at 113 minutes. Cue “The Imperial March” After that, we had Slinky Dog Dash at 76 minutes, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway at 62 minutes, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at 50 minutes, Toy Story Mania at 49 minutes, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster featuring Aerosmith at 44 minutes, and Tower of Terror at 41 minutes. Do you think you could beat our high score? And finally, we had Alien Swirling Saucers at 30 minutes, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue at 16 minutes, Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy at 14 minutes, Muppet*Vision 3D at 10 minutes, and Walt Disney Presents at 9 minutes. Animal Kingdom Hopping over to Animal Kingdom, the ride with the longest average wait time this week was Avatar Flight of Passage at 92 minutes. What is the longest you would wait for this ride? Then, we had Na’vi River Journey at 64 minutes, Kilimanjaro Safaris at 56 minutes, DINOSAUR at 22 minutes, and Expedition Everest at 20 minutes. To the mountain we go Following behind was Triceratop Spin at 11 minutes, It’s Tough to Be a Bug at 11 minutes, The Boneyard at 0 minutes, and Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail at 0 minutes. The cutest little buddy That’s your look at the average wait times around Walt Disney World this week! Stay tuned to DFB more Disney news and updates. Click here to learn how to skip the lines with Genie+ 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. Which ride are you scared to get stuck on in Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post Wait Times Have Gone DOWN in Disney World 😱 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. Although Disney World reopened a little over a year ago, things still aren’t completely back to “normal”. As the pandemic has spread, Disney has updated its health and safety measures to help keep people safe. Recently, we reported that the White House COVID-19 report listed Orange County (where Disney World is located) as a “rapid riser” county. We’ve been monitoring the health and safety changes in Disney World Now, we’ve got an update to share about the state of Florida amid the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Orlando Sentinel, the White House labeled Orange County as a COVID-19 hotspot in the latest COVID-19 community profile report. Disney’s health and safety policies continue to change A community is given the hotspot designation when they have “reached a threshold of disease activity considered as being of high burden,” according to the Orlando Sentinel. This week alone, the Florida Department of Health reported 13,530 new coronavirus cases among Florida residents. Weekly Case Positivity Rate in Florida ©Orlando Sentinel To further explain this update, here is the breakdown between a “rapid riser” designation and a “hotspot” designation: Rapid Riser County: 100 new cases in last 7 days 0% change in 7-day incidence -60% change in 3-day incidence 7-day incidence / 30-day incidence ratio >0.31 One or both of the following triggering criteria: (a) >60% change in 3-day incidence, (b) >60% change in 7-day incidence Disney World Health and Safety Signage Keep in mind that the purpose of the hotspot designation is to identify communities that have reached a threshold of disease activity that is considered as being of high burden. Mask signage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Hotspot: >100 new cases per 100K population OR >500 new cases in the past week Number of days in downward case trajectory ≤ 7 days >50 cases during the past week Conditions must hold for at least 3 of the previous 5 days We’ll continue to look out for changes! As the situation changes, we’ll continue to keep a close watch on Orange County, Florida, and provide any further updates as they become available. In the meantime, stay tuned for more Disney-related news and information. The Omicron COVID-19 Variant and Disney World: What You Need To Know Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post UPDATE: Disney World's Orange County Listed as COVID-19 "Hotspot" first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s no secret, we LOVE ourselves a good cupcake! Holiday Cupcake There’s definitely no shortage of cupcakes around Disney World, much to our delight! With everything from seasonal flavors, to celebratory designs, there are tons of cupcake confections to choose from. One thing we’ve noticed about a lot of the cupcakes we’ve tried around Disney World is that they’re often LOADED with icing. But if you’re more “Team Cake” than “Team Icing” (we see you!), there’s a new bakery open near Disney World that has you covered! Look at ALLL That Icing! Click Orlando reports that The Naked Cupcake opened its first brick-and-mortar bakery in Orlando’s Lake Nona area this morning! ©The Naked Cupcake The business was started by Sandra Shorter as a food truck back in 2016. In fact, we even saw The Naked Cupcake food truck pop up at Fort Wilderness earlier this year! The Naked Cupcake The concept and name of The Naked Cupcake came from Shorter’s own experience as a picky eater. By keeping the cupcakes unfrosted — or naked — and decorating them to order, other people with particular preferences can finally find their perfect treat. Cupcakes But she also believes the cake is just as good without any toppings! “One of the things that I love about our cupcakes is you can just eat them by themselves. They’re amazing.” ©The Naked Cupcake The new store will feature a sign that lights up when fresh, warm cupcakes are available to buy. You can swing by The Naked Cupcake at 14009 Narcoosee Road if you’d like to try out one of these custom confections for yourself! Calling All Cupcake Lovers: Sprinkles at Disney Springs Revealed their December Flavors! 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 “Team Cake” or “Team Icing”? Sound off in the comments! The post Are You Team Cake or Team Icing? Either Way, A Bakery Near Disney World Has You Covered! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

How’s it going everyone? We made it through another week, so here’s your update on what’s new at the Disney Hotels! The Grand Floridian is GRAND. There’s lots to cover this week, so let’s get started! Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge General Updates This precious and alarmingly realistic Gingerbread Giraffe showed up for the holidays at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge! Animal Kingdom Lodge Ginger-affe! Seriously, how cool is this?! Click Here to see more Photos of the Ginger-affe! Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Food Updates We tried this super tasty Macadamia Nut Banana Bread at Kona Island in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort! Crunch! We were pleasantly surprised at how much bread we got for just $3.49, and we loved the cinnamon flavor that complimented the banana and macadamia nuts! Banana Macadamia Nut Bread This treat is only available before 11AM at Kona, and we’ve seen it appear seasonally, so get it while you can! Click Here to check out our Review of this Banana Macadamia Nut Bread Disney’s Contemporary Resort Food Updates This super artsy and super yummy snack popped up at Contempo Cafe! It’s a Yule Log Cake, and we were impressed by the flavors AND looks of this treat! Yule Log The mint and chocolate flavors really popped in this cake, which is something we felt was lacking from last year! You can get this Yule Log for $5.49 now! Click Here to see our Review of this Yule Log Cake! Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort Food Update There’s ANOTHER sweet treat that popped up at the resorts this week, and it’s none other than this Chocolate Turtle Brownie that we found at P&J’s Southern Takeout! The Turtle Brownie! This brownie wasn’t overly sweet, which is impressive considering it’s covered with caramel, walnuts, and chocolate chips! However, it did spark a debate over whether or not brownies should be more fudge-like or cake-like! Brownie! If you like your brownies on the moist side, you can skip this one, but it’s a hefty brownie for $4.29. Click Here to see our Review of this Brownie! Merchandise Update The Chip and Dale ears that we’re obsessed with are restocked and aren’t as sparse as we saw before, so grab these while you can! More Chip and Dale Ears! These are some of the most unique holiday ears we’ve seen this year, and we’re stoked they have more! You’d be NUTS not to love these ears If you wanna weigh in on the debate on whether or not these ears are cute, you can now purchase them for $39.99! Click Here to see what we thought of these Chip and Dale ears! Disney’s All Star Movies Resort Construction Update These walls went up in the lobby of All Star Movies, but they shouldn’t interfere with your check in too much! But there’s still some work to be done Earlier in the year, there was some construction on the side of the desks… More desks opened up! …but now this corner of All Star Movies is getting some love! Disney’s Pop Century Resort Food Update The Rum Rum Reindeer drink we tried last year is back at Pop! Rum Rum Reindeer If you’re looking for a festive cocktail at this resort, now’s your time to try it! We had mixed feelings on it, but if you missed last year, now’s your time to give it a shot! Click Here to see out Review of the Rum Rum Reindeer Drink! Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Merchandise Update Frozen soaps just popped up in Basin White! Like the movie Frozen, the soaps themselves are room temperature! Frozen soaps at Basin! These soaps are super cute, and even though there is a debate on whether Frozen is actually a holiday movie, these soaps still make for a great gift! Do you wanna build a bath bomb? Find them at Basin. Over 37,000 Disney Fans Voted on If Frozen is a Christmas Movie. Here’s What They Decided! Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Food Update We tried this martini flight at Geyser Point Bar & Grill, and even started a trend! Let’s go around the world by drinking martinis! This flight took us around the world through martinis, and when people saw us drinking it, they started ordering it, too! Martinis Around the World Flight Each drink was super fun and unique — check out our full review for our thoughts! Click Here to see our Review of this Martini flight! Merchandise Update It seems like Disney knows the holidays are coming up and that people need to buy gifts, because we have ANOTHER merch update! Wilderness Lodge just put out this table of merchandise inspired by the resort! Wilderness Lodge Merch! Decor like this is sure to get you in the holiday spirit! Should You Really Stay at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge? We had a great week exploring the Disney World resorts! That’s all the updates we have for this week, but stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney Parks news! We’ll be back next week for more updates from Disney World. Click Here to see All The Latest Magic Kingdom News! 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 been to any Disney resorts this week? Let us know in the comments! The post What's New at Disney World Hotels: Controversial Holiday Snacks and Gingerbread Masterpieces! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We are excited to announce the opening of a brand-new addition to Mickey Avenue at Shanghai Disney Resort - CookieAnn Bakery Café! Owned by Minnie Mouse, this adorable bakery is inspired by CookieAnn's culinary curiosity, creativity, and ingenuity, and, of course, by the friendship between Minnie Mouse, Mickey Mouse, Duffy and his friends.View the full article

One of the most fun things to do around Disney World is finding hidden Mickeys! Hidden Mickey in Italy Hidden Mickeys are Mickey shapes secretly placed around Disney World, with some more obvious than others. You can spot them in flooring, on ceilings, and even in your food (even if that’s by chance)! They’re so fun to find! Check out what we just discovered. We were wandering around Adventureland in Magic Kingdom when we decided to stop into Plaza del Sol Caribe Bazaar, aka the Pirates of the Caribbean store. Plaza del Sol Caribe Bazaar We were admiring this painting on the wall when we had to take a closer look. Beautiful painting There’s something there. Do you see it? Check out the details Surprise! It’s a hidden Mickey! A closer look… Need help finding it? No worries, it’s right there where we circled it! There it is! This isn’t the first time we’ve spotted a hidden Mickey in a painting, like this Mickey-shaped plane… Hidden Plane Mickey …or this Mickey shape in the building materials! Hidden Metal Mickey Remember to keep your eyes peeled everywhere in Disney World for hidden Mickeys — you never know where you might find one! And keep following DFB for more Disney World news. The hidden Mickey that’s so obvious almost everyone misses it! 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 are some hidden Mickeys you’ve found in Disney World? Tell us in the comments! The post PHOTO: Have You Ever Noticed This Hidden Mickey in Disney World?! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney is pretty much a machine that endlessly churns out merchandise that we want to buy. We love the Emporium! Our wallets… not so much. Disney puts out merch. We think it’s cute. We buy it. The cycle continues. C’est la vie. This year in particular has been FULL of amazing merchandise for the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World! They even invented a new color for it! We’ve already seen SO much 50th merch, and it’s not stopping yet! Spirit Jerseys are one of the biggest money traps we fall in at the Disney parks. They’re so hard to resist, and they’re kinda the unofficial uniform of Disney fans! We spotted a new spirit jersey today at the Emporium in Magic Kingdom, and we’re obsessed! NEW Magic Kingdom 50th Spirit Jersey! After all these years, we start to think, “Can Disney really come up with a new spirit jersey we haven’t seen before and make us buy it?” The answer is yes. The answer is always yes. This spirit jersey is now available for $84.99. The back of this spirit jersey is absolutely AMAZING with a full picture of Cinderella castle with all of its 50th regalia! Another shot of the back of our newest spirit jersey obsession! This spirit jersey already feels so classic, and we were so excited to spot it at the parks today! Here’s a shot of the front of the jersey! Keeping it classy with some gold letters — we see you! Front of our latest spirit jersey obsession! Ah, Disney. We love ya, but between all of the 50th merch, 50th eats, holiday merch and festive snacks, you gotta give us a break. We’re not made of money! This spirit jersey is so beautiful, and is a great piece of the 50th Anniversary celebration for your collection! We’re always keeping track of the latest Disney news, so stay tuned to DFB for more. Click here to check out MORE 50th Anniversary merch! 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 gonna check out this 50th Anniversary Castle spirit jersey? Let us know in the comments! The post Just When You Thought You Were Done Buying Disney World Spirit Jerseys... first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

To celebrate the holiday season, D23 is hosting its Season of Magic Sweepstakes, with a new prize awarded every day for 23 days in December! ©D23 We’ve been keeping an eye out on each of the drawings so far this month, and we’ve seen some awesome daily prizes like a Lego Encanto Madrigal House Set, a Mulan Imperial Palace Light-Up Figurine, and a 50th Anniversary Cookbook, to name a few. If you’re a fan of classic Disney movies, today’s D23 Season of Magic prize is right up your alley! Bambi and Thumper Statue In today’s giveaway, the winner will receive an ADORABLE collectible plush set featuring Bambi and Thumper from the iconic 1945 animated movie! As if these Steiff-brand plush toys weren’t precious enough, this set is a special mini size measuring just five inches tall, available for the first time ever. ©D23 If you want to get your hands on these lil cuties, be sure to head to the D23 website to enter today’s drawing. The Season of Magic Sweepstakes is open to D23 members only, so you’ll need to be signed in — or join today — to enter! The 13 Biggest Disney NEWS BOMBS You Missed from Destination D23 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 Disney animated classic? Let us know in the comments! The post Get an ADORABLE Bambi and Thumper Plush Set for FREE From Disney! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article