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DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. The Disney Castle Collection is a merch line based on ten iconic castles from Disney’s films! ©Disney So far we’ve seen eight of the ten castles, including ones based on The Little Mermaid and Sleeping Beauty, and now we have the ninth castle! Let’s take a look! The 9th series in the Disney Castle Collection is based on Castle DunBroch from Brave! For the holiday season, you can get the Merida Castle Ornament, which features a mini-model of the castle, complete with foliage and intricate weathering. ©Disney You can get this gorgeous ornament for $29.99! Click Here to Shop the Merida Castle Ornament You can also get the Merida Castle Pin based on the Castle DunBroch! The first layer of the pin features the castle but if you turn the hinge… ©Disney …you’ll see scenes from the inside of the castle! Fans of Brave will definitely recognize the artwork. ©Disney This hinged pin is available for $29.99! Click Here to Shop the Merida Castle Pin Next up is the Merida Castle Journal, which features the Castle DunBroch on the cover! ©Disney Besides the ruled pages for writing, there are also layered illustrations that divide sections of the journal! ©Disney You can get this journal for $24.99! Click Here to Shop the Merida Castle Journal Finally, there’s the Merida Castle Puzzle by Ravensburger, a 1000 piece puzzle featuring the Castle DunBroch. Made by the classic puzzle makers Ravensburger, this one is sure to bring the fun! ©Disney This castle puzzle is $24.99! Click Here to Shop the Merida Castle Puzzle by Ravensburger We’re always keeping up with the latest Disney news, so stay tuned here for more! We Were SURPRISED by the Disney Merchandise Released Online This Week Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Preorder Your Copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to preorder your copy of the 2022 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2022 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2022 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What do you think of this castle collection? Let us know in the comments! The post Only TRUE Disney Fans Will Recognize the Castle in This Merch Collection! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney Genie is a new service offered to Disney World guests, and it has both free and paid options. Genie+ ©Disney With Genie+, guests can “skip the line” just like we did in the past with FastPass+ — except now, it costs money. And as we’re experiencing the first super busy season with Genie+, we’ve noticed a trend we think you should be aware of before visiting and before purchasing Genie+. If you decide to pay to skip the line in Disney World, you have two options now. Genie+ costs $15 a day, per person and gives you access to the faster Lightning Lanes of over 40 different Disney World attractions, while Individual Attraction Selection (aka pay-per-ride) will cost you between $7 to $15 depending on the ride and the day for Disney’s most popular rides. Hello, Genie! You can start booking your Genie+ at 7AM. Individual Attraction Selections can also be made at 7AM if you’re staying at a Disney World resort, otherwise, you have to wait until park opening time to begin booking. Lightning Lanes can and do sell out, and if you’re visiting on busy Disney World days, it might be hard to find the Lightning Lanes you want. Rise of the Resistance Lightning Lane If you ever used the FastPass+ system you probably remember how difficult it could be to find certain FastPass reservations, or when one or two rides were the only available reservations left. This is basically the same situation, as it’s an issue with inventory moving quickly due to higher demand. There are only a certain amount of Lightning Lane reservations available per day, so if more people purchase Genie+, more Lightning Lane reservations are used up. Fight of Passage Lightning Lane Around 4PM on the day before Thanksgiving, we found that many rides in all four Disney Parks were already unavailable and listed as “not currently offered” in the My Disney Experience app. Even rides that typically aren’t among the most popular Disney World attractions, like Alien Swirling Saucers in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, were unavailable, while the remaining rides with Lightning Lanes still offered had short waits anyway. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway If you want to buy Genie+, it’s in your best interest to prioritize your top rides if you’re visiting Disney World during busy times. Try to book your top ride as early as possible, and then book again as soon as you are able. And we don’t even mean prioritizing only popular rides like Slinky Dog Dash — think about what YOU want to do, because any Lightning Lane can sell out. Lightning Lane Line Avoid disappointment by using the Genie+ system to your advantage. Prioritize your top rides FIRST, book as early as you can, and then you can grab other rides if they’re still available. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World planning news! The rides to book FIRST with Genie+ and pay-per-ride in Disney World!  All About Disney Genie, Genie+, and Individual Attraction Selection READ THIS Before Using the New Genie Planning Tool in Disney World Check Out the FULL List of Rides Included With Genie+ in Disney World See What Rides You Can Pay EXTRA For in Disney World & How Much They’ll Cost Learn What Rides Are Included With Genie+ in Disneyland (Plus the Ones You’ll Pay EXTRA to Ride) You CAN’T Re-Ride Disney World Attractions With Genie+ You CAN’T Cancel Pay-Per-Ride Selections in Disney World Get the Answers to All of Your Burning Questions About Disney Genie See Why You’ll Want to Stay in a Disney World Hotel When it Comes to Disney’s Pay-Per-Ride System Here’s What Annual Passholders and Magic Key Holders Need to Know About Genie+ See 5 Ways Genie+ Might Surprise You Learn About How Disney Genie Can Be Your Personal Assistant in Disney World Click HERE to See More About Disney Genie Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Have you used Genie+ in Disney World yet? Tell us in the comments! The post Don’t Make This Genie+ Mistake in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Hey, readers! We’re back with another DFB Video with the latest Disney news! You’ll soon be able to watch this parade during the day! A LOT has already happened since the beginning of this month, and just this week alone, we got word that daytime parades would soon return to Disney World, parking trams are coming back, and the way we take character photos in the parks has changed. Check out all of the major Disney news in our latest DFB Video! By the way, have you subscribed yet? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to the channel and never miss a single episode! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/subscribe.png So check out the video and then let us know: Will you be visiting Disney World during the holidays? The post DFB Video: Latest Disney News: Daytime Parades Come to Disney World, Trams are BACK, and Character Photos Change! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Who’s ready for some holiday cheer? We’ve seen some adorable Christmas-themed Disney merchandise so far this season, like a new Loungefly backpack, some cozy blankets, and TONS of ornaments! Now, a new pair of Minnie ears arrived in Disney World, and we have a feeling that Santa would approve! Happy December! Disney has released DOZENS of Minnie ears this year, but this new pair of holiday ears might be an instant favorite! If you like Disney treats, this one’s for you! We have previously seen these ears in Disneyland, but they have officially arrived in Disney World! Take a look at the ears that are a Disney foodie lover’s dream!! Nothing says “Christmas in Disney World” like a Santa Mickey sugar cookie! From the red icing to the green and white sprinkles to the peppermint headband, these ears are FULL of cute details! The new holiday ears are similar to the Mickey pumpkin ears we saw at Halloween, which were SUPER popular. Santa? Cookie? Peppermint? Check, check, and CHECK! We know EXACTLY what we’ll be wearing the next time we visit Santa; he is the king of Christmas cookies, after all! These are SO cute! We found these new ears in the Emporium on Main Street, U.S.A. in the Magic Kingdom for $29.99. They have also been spotted in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, so be on the lookout in all four parks if you’re interested in grabbing a pair! They look good from the front AND the back! If you already bought the holiday treats Loungefly backpack, these ears will match perfectly! Is anyone else suddenly craving a warm sugar cookie? Be sure to stay tuned for more exciting news and updates from around Disney World! REVIEW: Where to Get a HUGE Cookie for $4 In Disney World Right Now! 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 are your thoughts on these new ears? Let us know in the comments! The post PHOTOS: Sugar Cookie Mickey Ears Now Exist 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. We’ve been keeping a close eye on the latest updates on the impact COVID-19 is having on the Central Florida area. Health & Safety Sign Earlier this week, the CDC listed Orange County, Florida — one of the counties in which Disney World is located — in the “Substantial” category of overall COVID transmission. The White House’s latest coronavirus report lists Orange County as a “rapid riser county,” the only county currently listed as such in Florida. Mask signage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom The Florida Department of Health reported 10,892 new coronavirus cases statewide this week among Florida residents, an uptick from last week’s number of 9,663 new cases. Of the total new cases, 905 came from Orange County. These numbers only reflect the number of cases among Florida residents, as non-resident case numbers are no longer available. Health Signage Statewide positivity also increased slightly to 2.5% from 2.4%, which is the highest the rate has been since the last week of October. Weekly Case Positivity Rate in Florida ©Orlando Sentinel We’ll continue to keep a close watch on Orange County, Florida in the coming days and weeks, and provide any further updates as they become available. 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 NEWS: White House COVID-19 Report Lists Disney World County as "Rapid Riser" first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney doesn’t come cheap! Sleeping Beauty Castle Here at DFB, it’s our mission to make sure you’re in the know about all the latest Disney discounts and hacks so you can enjoy your time at the parks with as little injury to your wallet as possible! We’ve got the rundown on two Disneyland discounts that are ending soon that you won’t want to miss! Room Discount The first discount that’s going away soon is Stay in the Magic! To get this discount, you have to book BEFORE December 9th, and use the room BEFORE December 16th. Here are the deals you’ll get starting with: 25% off premium rooms and 20% off standard rooms at The Grand Californian Hotel and Spa! Grand Californian Hotel & Spa For The Disneyland Hotel, you can get 20% off premium rooms, and 15% off standard rooms! Disneyland Hotel Room And lastly, for the Paradise Pier Hotel, 10% off premium and standard rooms! Paradise Pier All of these discounts are valid for most Sunday-Thursday Nights! Magic Keyholder Discount The next discount is for Magic Keyholders, and needs to be booked BEFORE December 9th, and used BEFORE December 16th! You can get up to 30% off select rooms at Disneyland Resort hotels on Sunday-Thursday nights! Disneyland in the Winter! Make sure you hop on these discounts while you can! Stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney Parks news! Read MORE about these Disneyland Deals HERE! Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you -- they've literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They're DFB's recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!) So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/customemailexample.jpg Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Are you gonna jump on these Disneyland discounts? Let us know in the comments! The post ⚠️ TWO Disneyland Resort Hotel DEALS Are Ending Soon! ⚠️ first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Over the years, Disney World has made quite a few BIG decisions! Like changing the park entertainment options! They’ve introduced new offerings, updated old attractions, and tried a variety of new snack and merchandise options. Some of these decisions have been popular, but others, well…not so much. Today we’re discussing the times that Disney World missed the mark a liiiiittle bit! Disney After Hours Boo Bash Alright, let’s talk about the newest pumpkin-covered elephant in the room, Disney After Hours Boo Bash. Many fans were really hoping to get Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party back after a year without events in 2020, but instead, Disney revamped the old party into a shorter and more expensive After Hours event. Disney After Hours Boo Bash Blame it on bad timing possibly due to the ongoing pandemic and shifting restrictions. The event was announced while parades and stage shows were still on hold and a month before Disney announced the return of fireworks so the offerings were…limited. This year, Boo Bash didn’t offer the fireworks, stage show, or full parade that MNSSHP usually does. However, they did try to give part of the experience with cavalcades, complimentary candy, and festive decor. Even so, Boo Bash still wasn’t as full-out Halloween as many had hoped it would be. (Although it’s definitely hard to beat those crowd levels!) We got cavalcades instead of the Boo to You Parade. On the other hand, the Very Merriest After Hours event announced for the holidays this year DID step it up. Happy Holidays! The event, while seriously limited in unique food offerings and character meet-and-greets we’re familiar with from Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, came with just about everything else we’ve come to expect from past Holiday events. We got fireworks, a stage show, and a full parade. The holiday version is more expensive than Boo Bash since it’s offering more, but Halloween got the short end of the stick when Christmas got more of the full shebang. Check out our look at this year’s first Boo Bash here! ‘Ohana Noodles Back when the ever-popular ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort announced its reopening earlier this year, fans were ecstatic. Many had greatly missed the beloved all-you-care-to-eat restaurant, but when the menu was announced for the returning feast, we were instantly confused — there were no more noodles! Nooooodles The famous ‘Ohana noodles seem simple, but they have a serious cult following — and they weren’t on the menu. People began to riot online, with many sharing that the noodles were part of the reason that they visited the restaurant in the first place. In fact, the online complaints were so loud that Disney announced after a few days that they’d be bringing back the popular dish! (Thankfully, they’ve been available ever since.) Give the people what they want (and plz don’t try to take it away again!). Check out the sweet, sweet noodles here! Bringing Back “FastPass” When the Disney World parks reopened without the popular FastPass+ system, some fans embraced the change while others lamented the loss. The lines were technically shorter without the free system in place, but could still get lengthy on more crowded days, causing more guests to urge Disney to bring back FastPasses as time went on. Genie+ ©Disney Disney eventually decided to bring back a line-skipping system, but not the one we know and love. Instead, they gave us Disney Genie+, which guests must pay for if they want to use it. Now, you’ll pay $15 per day, per ticket to make one selection at a time. During the time window for your selection, you’ll visit the ride and use the Lightning Lane (the old FastPass queues with shiny new names) to skip the regular standby queue. Lightning Lane entrances are already arriving all over the parks. So it’s basically a hybrid of old paper FastPasses with the newer digital FastPass+ (or most like the paid MAXPASS service Disneyland offered)…which were complimentary with paid admission…but now we pay extra for it. This is better how, exactly? To top it off, the most sought-after rides in each park are now not accessible by “normal” (meaning the new paid Genie+) Lightning Lanes — you have to pay extra per person per ride, for a max of 2 rides per day, to get in these Lightning Lane queues. We’ve been using Genie+ and the pay-per-ride attractions a good deal since they debuted and while it’s nice to have an option for a somewhat shorter wait again. BUT, paying for what you used to get for free is great, said no one. Don’t want to read 20,000 articles to understand Genie+? We got you. Click here. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Don’t get us wrong — the land is very impressive and the rides have some cool technology. (For instance, Rise of the Resistance is often noted as the best ride in Disney World by many guests.) HOWEVER, Disney definitely missed an opportunity to do something more familiar here. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge For many people, Star Wars includes characters like Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, both of which are noticeably absent in Galaxy’s Edge, as the land pigeonholes itself into the sequel trilogy of movies. Instead of taking us to an unfamiliar planet with new characters, Disney could’ve made a Star Wars land on a planet we’d seen before or even set it somewhere different entirely within the more generic Star Wars universe. They filled the land with new characters. A great example of this is the new Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure, where guests can meet characters from a variety of points in the MCU timeline all at once. They don’t really care about “canon” over there, it’s just a place for Avengers fans to hang out and geek out. You can meet current characters, characters that have passed on in evolving series of films, or that have vaporized to other universes entirely — all in the same land. Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure And Star Wars fans would’ve likely been really happy to meet Darth Vader, Obi-Wan, Rey, Leia, and Darth Maul all in the same place. We could’ve still had attractions like the Millennium Falcon and lightsaber building, it would’ve just been set up slightly differently. SOME of the groundwork for a more generic land was set, like Oga’s Cantina or just the concept of Batuu as a whole, but clinging too tightly to the whole time period of the First Order/Rebellion and Kylo Ren/Rey locked them in. All in all, it was a bit of a gamble to base the land on the sequel films before they had all been released. This is one thing, we’ll note, they could always update to make more generic or more like the original trilogy, if they saw fit. Check out some ideas that DIDN’T make it to Galaxy’s Edge here! Meme Merchandise Oh, Disney. We know you want to stay relevant and that memes are all the rage, but some of the meme merchandise we’ve seen in the parks just makes us want to awkwardly hide our faces and walk in the opposite direction. Do you get it? Cause we don’t. For starters, there were the weird Disney Villain meme mugs, the strangest of which was a Jafar design with “group text” on one side and “unsubscribe” on the other — do you even unsubscribe from a group text? Is that the right term? They went on to do a little better with the meme t-shirts and the meme pins, but still, we read Disney’s meme-based products with caution now. Cringe Face Basically, if it’s “hip” and “trendy” Disney’s merchandising team will get ALL on it…like 3 years too late and not in a way many would like or expect! See these funky meme cups here! Some Ride Changes Over the years, Disney has definitely made some controversial ride changes. Two of them come to mind that seem to have “missed the mark” a bit, the first one being Journey Into Imagination with Figment. The original ride was an EPCOT classic, with the beloved Dreamfinder and Figment, plus a popular song. However, the remake of the ride wasn’t loved by fans. No fun song. No Dreamfinder. WHAT? Rarely do guests almost universally dislike a change so much that Disney RE-updates a ride after a change, but that’s what happened here. Disney changed it again shortly after introducing “Figment 2.0″…and we got the version that we have now. The ride has changed a lot over the years. The third iteration may be slightly better than the second, but it’s definitely not as much of a fan favorite as the original. Some find the whole experience to be a bit annoying, and not in keeping with the spirit of the Imagination Pavilion itself. The idea is childlike imagination and wonder, not a bratty dragon assaulting your senses. (The original Figment was a sweetie pie. New Figment needs a time-out. ) The ride is DEFINITELY not the same as it originally was. And the second strange attraction change came over at Magic Kingdom, with the introduction of Stitch’s Great Escape. This show replaced the probably-too-scary ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter in Tomorrowland. Stitch’s Great Escape ©Disney The original ride was DARK. Physically and emotionally. It was totally terrifying for so many guests that they changed to something a little more family-friendly than what was there previously (so, you know, basically not something straight out of a nightmare haunted house). Stitch’s Great Escape wasn’t exactly what we think most guests had in mind. Between the chili cheese burp and Stitch roaming free in the dark, it was still scary…in a weird way. We hate to say it…but good riddance. They basically tried to cutesify the ride with very little difference to the actual original experience. They used the same set pieces from the previous attraction and just switched out the scary aliens for a new one! (Admit it, it was a little weird to be strapped into your seat for this show.) Check out other rides that are actually WAY scary in Disney World here! The Great Movie Ride And speaking of ride changes, here’s one that hurt a lot of fans — the loss of the Great Movie Ride at Hollywood Studios. This ride was shut down to make way for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, but many fans still ask why. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway can be found where the Great Movie Ride used to be located! It’s not that Runaway Railway is bad — it has been pretty popular and well-received — we’re still confused as to why we had to lose the Great Movie Ride to introduce it. The same ride is being built at Disneyland Resort, but over there they’re doing an entirely new show building. Why couldn’t we have gotten that here? Why not have room for both? After all, Hollywood Studios is becoming the junk drawer of Disney World — all the stuff that doesn’t fit somewhere else ends up there! Check out our first ride on Runaway Railway here! A Few Really Strange Snacks Okay, let’s discuss some snack fails. First, there was the infamously ugly Pumpkin Pretzel in Animal Kingdom a few years back that just couldn’t seem to turn out right…did anyone really ask for orange icing on a soft pretzel? This concept seemed doomed to fail before it even started. It’s so sad… Then there was the Poor Unfortunate Souls Float (that they even brought back a second time in a totally new version!). We’re all about a good float, but black raspberry or cream cheese soft serve probably wasn’t the best choice for this treat, ESPECIALLY with Coca-Cola. And finally, there was the Guardians of the Galaxy-themed burger with a “galaxy” bun that was good in theory, but in reality, looked like moldy bread. See more cringe-worthy food fails here! Pandora — The World of Avatar And finally, let’s talk about Pandora — The World of Avatar. We get it, Disney was trying to one-up the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and in a way, they did a great job. The land turned out amazing and breathtaking, with some incredible rides and delicious food options. It’s a must-see at night! Pandora – The World of Avatar at night However, it’s based on a movie that’s not nearly as popular as you might think. It came out in 2009 and while it made REALLY good money at the box office, we’ve been waiting over a decade for a sequel and it doesn’t exactly have a large fan club the way that Harry Potter, Star Wars, or Marvel do. It’s pretty but also, why? There must be loads of kids (heck, and adults!) seeing the reveal of the Shaman of Songs on Na’vi River Journey or riding Flight of Passage going “who are these blue people?!” Iit’s not the oooohs and aaaaahs you’d get seeing Harry Potter, Luke Skywalker (well, we didn’t get that either, actually!), or Iron Man. James Cameron has done a lot of amazing movies but the one with the blue space people wasn’t the one that would top our list to build a land around. Well, there you have it, some of the times that Disney World made some interesting choices over the years. Stay tuned to DFB for the latest news and updates from the parks and resorts! Disney World Changes That Will Make You Rethink Your Plans — 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. What do you think of this list? Let us know in the comments! The post 9 Times Disney Was Like: "Nailed It!" and Everybody Was All "LOL. Nah." first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Happy holidays from Disney World! The holidays at Disney World mean two things: festive vacations and some limited-time discounts! Happy Holidays! Speaking of December discounts — here are four Disney World holiday deals expiring soon! Resort Hotel Deals Military Discount For members of the Military, you can get major savings on tickets and select resort hotel rooms but you have to use them SOON. Army Force Reserve Major and Walt Disney World Cast Member Traci Arnold during Military Appreciation Month ©Disney The tick discount allows U.S. military personnel to choose between a 4-day or 5-day Military Promotional Ticket until December 17, 2021. You can get all of the details on that ticket deal and its restrictions here. Discounted hotel stays at select Disney World hotels are available on most nights through December 17th as well. You can find out more information on resort availability, booking options, and any other additional questions by calling (407) 939-7830. We will let you know when more military offers are announced! Annual Passholder Discount For Annual Passholders, you can save up to 25% on select hotel stays up until December 24th. 50th Annual Pass design With this deal, you can get up to 25% off at Riviera, Animal Kingdom Lodge, BoardWalk Inn, the Yacht Club Resort, Port Orleans — French Quarter, Port Orleans — Riverside, and Coronado Springs Resort… Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge …up to 15% off at Art of Animation… Art of Animation …and up to 10% off at Bay Lake Tower, Disney’s BoardWalk Villas, Disney’s Old Key West Resort, Beach Club Resort, Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Caribbean Beach Resort, the Fort Wilderness Cabins, All-Star Resorts, and Pop Century Resort! Learn More About This Annual Passholder Deal Here! Florida Residents Discount For Florida Residents, select hotel stays are up to 20% off most nights from December 12 until December 24th! The Boardwalk Inn During the Holidays With this deal, you can get up to 20% off at Riviera, Animal Kingdom Lodge, BoardWalk Inn, the Yacht Club Resort… Disney’s Riviera Resort …up to 15% off at Art of Animation, Port Orleans — French Quarter, Port Orleans — Riverside, and Coronado Springs Resort… Coronado Springs …and up to 10% off at Bay Lake Tower, Disney’s BoardWalk Villas, Disney’s Old Key West Resort, Beach Club Resort, Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Caribbean Beach Resort, the Fort Wilderness Cabins, All-Star Resorts, and Pop Century Resort! Learn More About This Florida Resident Deal Here! Ticket Deals Annual Passholder Deal For Annual Passholders, you can save on Water Park tickets if used by December 31st! The discount is for 1-Day Water Park Tickets. Passholders can get tickets for $49 plus tax, which is a savings of up to $20 per ticket! If you’re looking to save year-round, Passholders can also get the new Water Park add-on in addition to their pass for $100 per pass. Ski Lift at Blizzard Beach New discounts for 2022 should be announced in the coming months. Subscribe to the DFB newsletter to be the first to know of the new Disney deals! Click Here to See More Disney Discounts! Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you -- they've literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They're DFB's recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!) So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/customemailexample.jpg 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 deals? Are you going to use any? Let us know in the comments! The post HURRY! 4 Disney World Hotel and Ticket Deals Are Expiring Soon! 🚨 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There are a lot of new and exciting things coming to Disney World in 2022! Magic Kingdom Between a brand new roller coaster, Star Wars hotel, MagicBand+, and more, there’s a lot to look forward to. And, there’s even something new coming to Disney World hotels too — Amazon Alexa! So, soon you’ll have your own personal in-room assistant who can help you with a variety of requests (and even play games). But, not everyone is ready to embrace our Alexa overlords. Should you be concerned about this new service? What Is “Hey Disney” Earlier this year, Disney announced that a new service called “Hey Disney!” would be coming to Disney World Resort hotels in 2022. This optional and complimentary service is described by Disney as a “custom voice assistant” that uses “Alexa technology for supported Amazon Echo devices.” So, you can think about it as being the Disney equivalent of the Alexa that you might have at home. ©Disney Essentially, “Hey Disney!” will respond to voice commands and will enable guests to interact with Disney characters, set alarms, answer questions, and even guide guests to surprises. For example, you’ll be able to ask “Hey Disney!” for things like when the next bus to a certain park is scheduled to arrive at your hotel by saying “Hey Disney! When does the next bus to EPCOT depart?” Plus, you can even ask it when the parks will open so you don’t have to constantly be pulling up your My Disney Experience app to check. And, it will even make requesting towels or an extra blanket easier! You’ll be able tell “Hey Disney!” what you need and a Cast Member will then bring that up to your room shortly after. Hey Disney! Once these new Amazon Echo devices are installed in the hotels (which they’ll be coming to every single Disney resort hotel room, according to Disney), guests will have their very own personalized assistant. But, let’s cover how exactly “Hey Disney!” will be able to do it all using Alexa technology. Learn More About “Hey Disney!” HERE! How Amazon Devices Work Amazon Alexa has been around since 2013 and has become a household name over the past 8 years. But, you might be wondering, “is the device always listening to me?” The technical answer is yes, but it is specifically listening for the “wake word” (“Disney” in this case). So, as the device picks up a conversation, it runs “keyword spotting” and if it doesn’t detect the wake word then it stops listening. If it does detect the wake word, then a blue light indicator comes on to alert you to the fact that it is listening and processing your request. ©Disney Once it hears the “wake word” and begins recording (as indicated by the blue light), the voice request is then sent to Amazon’s secure cloud where automatic speech recognition is used to translate what you said into text to be searched. It’s not necessarily processing your entire sentence though. Instead, it picks up specific keywords like “weather” and “Orlando” to help it route to the correct data source to gather information. The voice recording and transcript is then saved and stored in the Amazon cloud at the same time the device uses text to speech to respond to your request. Did You Know You Can Talk to Your Favorite Disney Characters with Amazon Alexa at Home? Here’s How! Privacy Features So, while the Amazon Alexa is technically always listening, only a select number of things get recorded and stored in Amazon’s secure cloud. At least that’s the spiel from Amazon. Over the years, Amazon and its Echo devices have been in the headlines a number of times for privacy-related reasons. Notably, the service has been called to share data in a number of trials for serious crimes, with prosecutors convinced the devices were secretly listening in and potentially overhearing a crime in progress. Amazon is not quick to show its cards of what all data it actually has, citing First Amendment rights of customers. In a few court cases, they have cooperated, though the extent of data shared is private to the cases. According to USA Today, the Wiretap Act in place was initially designed to allow telephone companies the right to listen in periodically on some customers’ calls with the goal of improving their offered services. That’s what Amazon admits they’re doing. But, with commercial companies like Amazon, this could be seen as a loophole in that act allowing them to listen in for their own gains — they have a vested financial interest in gaining your information under the potential guise of improving their services. This is where much of the fear behind these products come from. Many people are convinced the devices are always listening and using the info people speak near them. Amazon has been fighting since these devices were released to promise the public that their privacy is safe. Amazon has a whole page devoted to assuring you they’re not listening in on you all the time, yet you’ll find countless anecdotal stories online claiming otherwise. Officially, though, Amazon stands firm that your conversations are private until you wake up the device, and, even then, they’re not using that information or even tying it to you personally. Check Out 9 Disney Games You NEVER Knew You Could Play on Your Amazon Alexa HERE! Should You Really Have Privacy Concerns? While Disney hasn’t announced many more details about these new “Hey Disney!” devices just yet, many guests who are planning a 2022 Disney World trip are finding themselves wondering if they should be concerned about their privacy once they are installed in the rooms. And, luckily, Amazon Alexa has been around for nearly a decade, giving us some historical data to work with here. Hey Disney! The main thing to know about the Echo devices is that they are listening specifically for a “wake word.” So, while it is technically always listening to you (much like Siri is on your phone or laptop), nothing will be recorded and stored until the wake word is said. The NY Times explains it like this — “Think of Echo like a dog: It’s always listening, but it understands only “cookie,” “walk,” or “Buddy.” Everything else goes right over its head.” So, many of the cases in the past where Alexa “went rogue” were actually triggered by that wake word, or what it THINKS is the wake word. For example, according to NPR, an Amazon Echo device recorded a conversation between a couple talking about their hardwood floors and sent the recording to one of the husband’s employees without their knowledge back in 2018. Amazon released a statement about this incident explaining that the device “woke up due to a word in background conversation sounding like ‘Alexa.’ Then, the subsequent conversation was heard as a ‘send message’ request. At which point, Alexa said out loud ‘To whom?’ At which point, the background conversation was interpreted as a name in the customer’s contact list. Alexa then asked out loud, ‘[contact name], right?’ Alexa then interpreted background conversation as ‘right’.” One study done at Northeastern University found that smart speakers, in general, were accidentally activated (by detecting a word it thought was its wake word) as much as 19 times per day and could record anywhere up to close to a minute of data each time. So Amazon might not always be recording you — but YOU could inadvertently be giving her more info than you think. That said, Amazon continues to refine its services to be smarter as technology advances. Hey Disney! Of course, after hearing stories like this, it can be easy to think that these Amazon devices are spying on you and always listening, but that’s not necessarily the case according to Insider. While recordings from the devices are eventually used and transcribed by Amazon employees to help in making Alexa even more intuitive and helpful, it’s important to note that “Employees do not have direct access to information that can identify the person or account as part of this workflow.” All of the information is treated as confidential and Amazon uses “multi-factor authentication to restrict access, service encryption and audits of our control environment to protect it.” So, even if it did hear something that you didn’t want it to hear, your information isn’t being shared with the masses. These same concerns are present with other similar devices including Siri on Apple products and more, so keep in mind you might already be using products with the risk of “listening in” and not be super cognizant of it. And, if you change your privacy settings (which we will detail below), then no one will even have access to those recordings. ©Disney So, the biggest thing to takeaway is that yes, there have been some instances where privacy was a concern, but these are not necessarily common and, unless you say the wake word, you’re likely not being recorded. With the wake word being “Disney,” there is certainly a chance that the device is going to be listening when you don’t intend it to be but the device will light up blue to indicate that it is listening and it will likely start talking back to you. (After all, there’s a good chance you’ll accidentally say “hey Disney” or something that sounds like it at some point in your room over the course of a trip to Disney World!) Plus, if you’re very concerned, privacy settings have significantly improved and can be altered. But basically, you shouldn’t fear that a midnight convo in bed about how much you want a milkshake will result in you waking up to My Disney Experience flooding you with every milkshake location in Disney World! What Can You Do? If you’re still concerned about your privacy, there are a few additional ways to secure the devices. According to Amazon, all devices feature Microphone off buttons, camera shutters, and light indicators so that you know whether it is listening to you or not. And, you can ask the device to delete voice recordings, adjust settings, or explain what was heard if you think that it recorded something that you didn’t want it to hear (this was introduced in 2019). Amazon also notes again that you must say the “wake word” for the device to begin listening (in this case the word will be “Disney”). Amazon Echo Show Plus, according to Forbes, Amazon also introduced another new privacy setting in 2020 that enables people to alter the settings so that none of the voice recordings are saved (previously auto-deletion could only be set to every 3 to 18 months). This is done through the Alexa app by going to More>Settings>Alexa Privacy>Manage Your Alexa Data>Automatically delete recordings. If you want to get slightly creeped out, in the Alexa app you can also go to Settings>Alexa Privacy>Review Voice History and hear what your own devices picked up both intentionally and on accident. Just keep in mind that it’s still unclear whether guests will be able to access these new “Hey Disney!” devices through an app to alter the settings. It’s not your standard out-of-the-box Echo device, it’s a Disneyfied version with its own set of rules. ©Disney And, more improvements are coming to Amazon Echo devices. In September 2021, Amazon announced that all new Amazon Echo devices (starting at the Echo 10) will be able to process voice commands locally rather than through a wi-fi network. But, again, it’s unclear whether Disney will be using this extra privacy setting for the devices that they install in guest rooms. So far, Disney has not released details about what the privacy settings will be on the devices, so it’s unclear whether guests will be able to change any of the settings while they’re in their room or if they’ll already be installed. We’ll be keeping an eye out for more information and will be sure to bring you the latest tips on how to secure your privacy. But, if you’d prefer not to use the device at all, you will likely be able to unplug it and deactivate its features so that there will not be a concern of whether it is listening or not (we’ll keep ya updated!). ©Disney Don’t forget, these devices are expected to roll out sometime in 2022 among all the other exciting new things coming to the parks, so be sure to stay tuned to DFB for the latest! Check out Everything Coming to Disney World in 2022 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. What upcoming Disney World change are you looking forward to in 2022? Let us know in the comments! The post Does This Disney World Change Raise Privacy Concerns? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Hello, DFB friends! We have more unexpected news from Disney World this week! Spaceship Earth From changes in character dining policies to a ride evacuation and a lost little cup, this was a bit of an odd week in Disney World. Take a look! Filming in Magic Kingdom This week we saw a set area for filming in Magic Kingdom! Inside the roped-off area was lighting and sound equipment, actors, Cast Members, and a director. A Cast Member let us know they were filming a commercial. Gettin’ all that filming done These kinds of behind-the-scenes things happen all the time in Disney World, so it’s always worthwhile to keep your eyes and ears open. We’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for whatever Disney filmed today, so stay tuned to DFB for more Disney news! Check out photos of the film production in Magic Kingdom! Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Evacuated In Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the popular Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster was shut down and evacuated due to smoke in the building. Disney told news6wkmg that there was no fire and no one was hurt! Cast Members told us it was due to “technical difficulties.” Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster has since reopened. Read more about Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster being evacuated here! Disneyland Cup Found in Disney World We were surprised to find that a sweet little Disneyland coffee cup found its way to Disney World this week! We were served our Disneyland to-go cup at Tusker House, so it’s clear that this little cup just wanted to check out Animal Kingdom. Our to-go cup This West Coast meets East Coast situation is probably due to supply shortages that have caused other issues around Disney World, but we had fun with it nonetheless. We showed our Disneyland cup all over Disney World! We were served a Disneyland cup in Disney World?? Space 220 Lounge Taking Reservations Space 220 is EPCOT’s newest restaurant, and it’s made up of a main restaurant and a lounge called Space 220 Lounge. Space 220 Lounge has a separate menu for lunch and dinner, and they previously only allowed walk-ups, so it was a convenient way to dine in space without a reservation. This has now changed. Space 220 Lounge Space 220 Lounge is now accepting reservations. There will still be a standby line for the bar for people 21 and over, but Space 220 Lounge will require reservations going forward. Make sure you schedule your reservation if you want to eat in space! Read more about Space 220 Lounge now taking reservations! Character Dining Photo Policy Change Since Disney World reopened in 2020, guests were required to remain seated at character dining locations and take photos of characters from a distance. This week, the rule changed. We learned that you can now stand up from your table and take photos with characters as long as you stay 6 feet away. Cast Members can even take photos for you with your phone. Hi, Mickey! Modified character meet and greets have also returned, so we’re a few steps closer to hugging our favorite characters again. Learn more about the character dining photo policy change. Emporium Mobile Checkout In one of Magic Kingdom’s biggest stores, Emporium, you can now use Mobile Checkout to purchase all your Disney souvenirs! Mobile Checkout lets you bypass the typical checkout line through the My Disney Experience app. All you have to do is scan your items, pay through the app, and show your confirmation QR code before leaving the store. Easy! Emporium Mobile Checkout Considering Emporium is often one of the most crowded stores in Magic Kingdom, Mobile Checkout will be a HUGE time saver! Try it out next time you visit Magic Kingdom. You can now use Mobile Checkout at Emporium! What was your favorite unexpected news of the week? Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World news, planning tips, and more! We have a BIG update on parking lot trams 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. Are you surprised by any of the news this week? Tell us in the comments! The post 6 Unexpected Things That Happened in Disney World This Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’re pretty sure we just found our new favorite holiday (other than national cheese day, of course)! Cinderella castle at Magic Kingdom Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary celebration has taken over the parks and our world. With new nighttime shows and endless 50th merchandise, what more could we possibly want? Did you just say an official Disney World holiday? Oh yes, we’ll take that! Today, December 3rd, 2021, has officially been named Walt Disney World Day across Central Florida! You heard us — Walt Disney World Day! We shared the news about this holiday recently, but let’s take a look at just how the special day was celebrated. Disney World Entrance It all became official this morning at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida where Orlando Mayor, Buddy Dyer, and Orange County Mayor, Jerry Demings, gave an official proclamation! This ceremony commemorated not only the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World, but also the impact that Disney has had on the Orlando community over those 50 years. © Disney “As a former Cast Member, I had the first hand experience of seeing how Disney made a difference in my life, but also, Disney has made a significant impact in our community-based organizations,” said Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings. The celebration this morning also included sorting and packing food at Second Harvest, which received a $500,000 grant from Disney earlier this year in honor of the 50th Anniversary. Walt and Mickey at MK! You can see more from the celebration of “Walt Disney World Day” below. Disney also released Walt Disney World Day Giphy stickers that you can use on Instagram, Tiktok, or Snapchat! Just search #WDWday. ©Disney There’s even an official proclamation from the City of Orlando… ©Disney …and Orange County to commemorate this special day. ©Disney Even though we like to think that every day is Walt Disney World day, it’s really neat to see it be made official and see the impact Disney has had on the Orange County community over the years be recognized! Stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney News. Click here to see the FIVE 50th Anniversary snacks you must get! 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. How are you celebrating Walt Disney World Day? Let us know in the comments! The post VIDEO: See How Disney World Celebrated Its Very Own Holiday 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. Every week, we check out all the new merchandise that Disney drops online! We’re always on the lookout for new merchandise! Recently, we’ve seen several different collections released for everything from new Disney movies to the holiday season to Disney World 50th Anniversary. So what arrived online this week? Well, let’s just say that we were pretty SURPRISED. Most weeks, we see a variety of new merchandise items released online, but this week we got VERY few new items! The first thing we got was this new LEGO set on shopDisney inspired by the new film Encanto. ©Disney The Lego Set of The Madrigal House from Encanto is made of 587 separate pieces (WOW!) and costs $49.99. It comes with a variety of little accessories, including mini-figures of Mirabel and Abuela. How cute! Get More Details on the LEGO House Here! If you’re still riding that WandaVision craze (wow, that show came out nearly a year ago!), then we’ve got just the gift for you. Build-A-Bear dropped some online exclusive Wanda and Vision bears! ©Build A Bear These cuddly little plushes are $35 each and come dressed in the character outfits from the Halloween episode. But you won’t find them in stores — you’ve got to get these two from the shop’s website! Click Here to Check Out the Build-A-Bears! Disney also released some NEW Lion King Wishables this week! ©Disney There’s a mystery set that comes with 1 of 4 potential figures… ©Disney …or you can buy the Simba plush on its own. Simba ©shopDisney Both the mystery pack and the individual Simba plush are priced at $14.99 each. Click here to see how to get these plushes! This week, the Galactic Snackin’ Grogu also became available on shopDisney for $84.99… ©shopDisney …and we got the arrival of just a few shirts and other miscellaneous items. ©shopDisney And that’s it! The surprisingly short list of new Disney items online. Hopefully, we’ll have more to share with you next week. Until then, stay tuned to DFB for all the merchandise updates and Disney news! Click Here to See More New Encanto 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. Would you buy any of these new items? Tell us in the comments! The post We Were SURPRISED by the Disney Merchandise Released Online This Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We are BACK at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, living our best movie star-inspired lives! Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster When it comes to glitz and glamour, Hollywood Studios is where it’s at — and even its 50th anniversary treats have a little shine! Plus, where else can you get into a roller coaster playing music from Aerosmith, plunge to the depths of the Hollywood Tower Hotel, get shrunk down to the size of a toy, AND walk through a Star Wars outpost! Only in Hollywood, baby! And we’ve got all the latest updates from the park right here! Hollywood Studios Food Updates ABC Commissary Over at ABC Commissary, it looks like there’s some work being done on the floors. Work Being Done We’ll keep an eye on the construction to keep you updated! Here’s Where to Get a HUGE Cookie for $4 In Disney World Right Now! Hollywood Studios Merchandise Updates Mickey’s of Hollywood We’re finding a lot of great gift ideas in the parks, like this Minnie Mouse 12 Days of Bath & Body Set. How fun! Minnie Bath and Body Set! This is available for $24.99. Check Out Disney Character Lip Balms You Can Get at Disney World! Dark Room We found some super adorable 101 Dalmations Pins, including this one that features Roger Darling AND THE PUPPIES IN HATS! Fine & Dandy This pin features the puppies gathered around the TV, which features Walt Disney on it and the rug they’re sitting on says “Walt Disney Day 2021.” PUPPIES! We also found some new Beauty and the Beast 30th Anniversary Pins. There’s one of Belle reading to Beast… Belle and Beast …one of Beast reading to Belle… Beast reading to Belle …one of Belle reading to a sheep… Belle reads to animals …and one of Belle TRYING to read to Gaston, but we know that won’t work well if the book doesn’t have pictures! These pins are all $19.99 each. Oh, Gaston! There’s also a Beauty and the Beast 30th Anniversary Mystery Pin Collection available for $19.99. Mystery Pin Or, you can opt for this gorgeous Beauty and the Beast Jumbo Pin. HUGE Pin This pin is $54.99. Here’s How How a Supply Issue Could Impact Your Disney World Shopping Sunset Couture Want to be stylish and represent yourself? You can now grab a very cool Minnie Mouse Initial Necklace at Sunset Couture. Rep Minnie AND Yourself These necklaces would also make a great gift! The necklaces are only available in select letters so be sure to check and see if the letter you want is available. December Times Now Listed for 2 Nighttime Shows in Disney’s Hollywood Studios — Find Out When Here! Keystone Clothiers If you’re a Marvel fan, you’ll want to check out this SWEET new Spider-Man Hoodie. Love this hoodie! But even better, check out the back of this sweet Spider-Man hoodie. It can be all yours if you stop by Keystone Clothiers. Back of Hoodie We also found some new-to-us Marvel Legends figures, including an Invincible Iron-Man Figure… Invincible Iron-Man …a Silver Surfer Figure… Silver Surfer …and a Loki Figure. These are all $14.99 each. Classic Loki We spotted a new-to-us Star Wars Sweatshirt for $34.99 here as well. New Star Wars sweatshirt Spider-Man: No Way Home is coming to theaters SOON, so we’re already seeing some new (or, at least, new-to-us) Spidey merchandise pop up in the shops, including this Spider-Man Figure. New Spidey figure There’s also a Figure of Spider-Man in His Black Suit. Spidey There’s a Mysterio Figure, too. These figures are $14.99 each. Mysterio If you’ve got a kiddo who is a Spider-Man fan, you can check out this cool Kids Spider-Man T-Shirt for $24.99. Cool kids shirt And there are some new toys, too, including a Spider-Man Web Bolt for $24.99. Be Like Spider-Man! There’s even a Set with the Spider-Man: No Way Home Jet! From the NEW movie! This toy set is available for $49.99. Check Out This Spider-Man Mickey Ear Hat! Majestic Theater We found a brand NEW princess collection in this spot! There’s a Belle Adventure T-Shirt… Adventure! …a Cinderella “So This Is Love” Tee… Cindy! …an Ariel “Use Your Voice” T-Shirt… Use your voice …and a Jasmine “I’m Like A Shooting Star” Cropped T-Shirt. A whole new world… These tees are $49.99 each. See which SURPRISE Princess Visited Magic Kingdom Recently Rock Around The Shop The MADE kiosk here has a new offering: a 50th Anniversary Minnie Mouse Dog/Luggage Tag. Minnie! So that’s a cool small 50th Anniversary souvenir you can collect! Now There’s ANTHER 50th Anniversary Designer Bag Collection In Disney World — Here’s Where To Find It! Tatooine Traders There’s a new-to-us Boba Fett Figure now available at Tatooine Traders. Boba Fett! This figure is $34.99. This $1,000 Autographed ‘Book of Boba Fett’ Jacket Supports a Great Cause! Learn More Here! That’s all we have around Hollywood Studios for now, but stay tuned because we’ll be back with more updates! Here’s ANOTHER Reason to STARE at the Tower of Terror in Disney’s Hollywood Studios 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 Hollywood Studios recently? Let us know in the comments! The post What's New at Disney's Hollywood Studios: An Awesome Princess Collection & New Pins! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Ah, November. It’s the month of Thanksgiving and (most importantly) the month where most of the big holiday decorations arrive in Disney World! We learned a LOT this month, shared some more tips about using Genie+, and even saw a celebrity or two! New month, new news! As we prepare for Christmas and the end of 2021, let’s take a look back at some of the biggest Disney news from November! 1. Fantasmic! is RETURNING in 2022 We’ve been waiting for this one, you guys. Fantasmic! will return to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2022 with new additions to the beloved nighttime spectacular. We missed you We’re still waiting on more info (like a specific date), but we do know that the show will feature new characters, stunt performers, updated animations, and more! Click here to learn more about the NEW additions announced for Fantasmic! 2. MORE Magic Kingdom Entertainment is Coming Soon 2022 will also bring some exciting things to Magic Kingdom. Next year, the Festival of Fantasy parade, an updated stage show called Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire, and the all NEW Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade are ALL coming to Magic Kingdom! It’s safe to say we are THRILLED to see more entertainment finally returning to or just generally being offered in Disney World! Life IS the bubbles! Get ready to see more of your favorite Disney characters around Magic Kingdom starting next year. Click here to find out more about the UPDATED Stage Show Coming to Magic Kingdom! 3. A New Quick Service Restaurant is Coming to EPCOT There’s a new quick-service restaurant coming soon to EPCOT, and it’s called Connections Café and Eatery. Connections Cafe and Eatery ©Disney We still have a lot of questions about this new restaurant. Disney did not share a timeline for its opening or a lot of other information (we do know it will be located in the World Celebration neighborhood). In the meantime, we do have this concept art to admire! Click here to read about Connections Café and Eatery! 4. NEW Technology is in the Works During Disney’s D23 event, we heard some updates on a few exciting innovations! Based on what we’ve seen and heard so far, Project EXO sounds like it is going to change the way we meet characters in Disney World, and robot Baby Groot might be the cutest robot we’ve ever seen! Think about the possibilities! The news doesn’t stop there, though! Josh D’Amaro demonstrated a REAL Lightsaber for us. Watch the video and see it for yourself! Click here to check out how Project EXO could change how we meet characters in the parks forever! 5. Sales PAUSED for Most Disney World Annual Passes It feels like only yesterday Disney brought back Annual Passes, and now they are once again temporarily unavailable. Disney has paused the sales of the Pirate, Sorcerer, and IncrediPass for now, but we will continue to monitor the status and update you with any changes. Annual Pass One important distinction to keep in mind is that current Passholders can continue to renew into ANY of the 4 Annual Passes. Additionally, Disney announced that regular park tickets may be unavailable to purchase on select dates and we have seen select dates marked as “unavailable for purchase.” That’s something important to keep an eye on if you haven’t already purchased your park tickets and are planning on going during a busy time. Click here to learn more about the Annual Pass sales update 6. Frozen Chocolate-Covered Bananas Are BACK In other news, frozen chocolate-covered bananas are BACK! These things have been gone for a while, and we missed them! Oh YEAH! Now they’re finally back and better than ever! We found them at a snack cart in Magic Kingdom, and we’ll be on the lookout at the rest of the parks as well. Click here to read out review of this classic snack! 7. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind UPDATE We’ve been following this attraction for MONTHS and monitoring its construction progress, and this month gave us another small update! It’s been a while since we’ve seen a new rollercoaster in Disney World! We shared some information about our preview of the attraction and told you that the attraction was coming in 2022, but Disney finally revealed that Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will open in Summer 2022. Click here to learn more about the ride vehicles for this new attraction 8. Genie+ Rules Change Disney recently changed one piece of its Genie+ reservation system related to holding multiple Genie+ selections at the same time. Rise of the Resistance Before the change, guests could use the 120 minute rule to master the system and keep making/holding two or more Genie+ reservations at a time all day long. Now, the 120-minute rule still applies, but once your original Genie+ selection is used, you’ll be limited to booking one Genie+ Lightning Lane selection at a time. Click here for an in-depth explanation of this Genie+ change 9. We Got MORE Info on the Star Wars Hotel From new foods to modern galactic merchandise, we previewed a TON of new things coming to the new Star Wars hotel this month. ©Disney Some of our biggest questions, like “how will Disney handle the claustrophobia of being in one big windowless building?” were FINALLY answered. And we even know how big the bunk beds will be! Click here to see what else we learned about the Star Wars hotel this month! It was a BIG month for Disney news! With only one month left in 2021, who knows what else we will find out before the year is over. Be sure to stay tuned for more news, updates, and exciting announcements. Click here to see 7 BIG Updates You Missed from Disney’s Earnings Call Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! 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 you most excited about in Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post 9 NEW Things We Found Out in Disney World in November 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. The construction of Disneyland leading up to its opening and it initial opening day in 1955 was, let’s say, tumultuous. Walt and Mickey Greeting guests at Disneyland! The Company had to work hard to get funding for the park and finishing touches were being made only hours before it opened on July 17th, 1955. But what if we told you there was a SUPER easy and MUCH cheaper way to build Disneyland with not a lot of funding needed and no concrete required? (Sorry, Walt!) Okay, so it’s not actual Disneyland, but you can now build your own 3D model of the park, and everything you need is all in one book! On December 7th, you’ll be able to get your hands on the Build Your Own Disneyland Park: Press-Out 3D Model book, and you can pre-order it now! ©Amazon, Disney For just $13.49 on Amazon, you can feel exactly what Walt felt during Disneyland’s construction! (Okay maybe you won’t feel exactly what he felt, but close enough, right?) ©Amazon, Disney The book is filled with fun facts on all the lands in Disneyland, updated all the way to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge! It also might be one of the last times we’ll see Mickey’s Toontown represented as we presently know it to be before its refurbishment! ©Amazon, Disney If you still need to buy a gift for your crafty, Disney-obsessed friend/relative this holiday season, check out this book and 3D model! ©Amazon, Disney Again, the book and 3D Model set is priced at $13.49. It’s currently only available for preorder, with its release on December 7th, but hop on it now before it’s gone! Click Here to Order the Build Your Own Disneyland Park Book! We’re on the lookout for the newest Disney Parks products and news, so stay tuned to DFB for more! Click Here to See More Holiday Disney Products! 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 Build Your Own Disneyland Park book? Let us know in the comments! The post Sorry Walt, We Just Found a MUCH Easier Way to Build Disneyland! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Today just might be the “best day ever” because Dec. 3, 2021, has been declared as “Walt Disney World Day” across Central Florida – the community we’ve proudly called home for more than 50 years.View the full article

It’s almost winter in Orlando, but that doesn’t mean you’ll get to escape the heat in Disney World. Magic Kingdom If you’re spending some time in Disney World next week, you’ve probably got packing on the brain. We’re here to help! We’re taking you through a weather update so that you know EXACTLY what to bring. Weather Forecast This week is going to have some surprisingly warm temperatures and lower rain chances. We’ve had a nice run of weather getting cooler over the past few weeks, so it’s a surprise to see less-wintery temperatures! Train Station According to The Weather Channel, we are going to see hotter days and mild nights, so get ready for about a 20-degree difference when the temperatures start to drop each day. December 6th Monday, December 6th will bring us a pretty WARM 83-degree high. That’s CERTAINLY warmer than we’ve been seeing lately! Isn’t it supposed to get cooler this time of year? ©The Weather Channel That low will slide down to 62 degrees. It’s true that the night won’t be as chilly as other recent evenings, but you might sill find the low-60s to be a little chilly. Bring a layer just in case. December 7th The next day, December 7th will bring us the second precipitation-free day of the week. Those temperatures are gonna be pretty similar to Monday’s with a much warmer evening. Get ready for 83 degrees in the day and 67 degrees at night. ©The Weather Channel We love to see low rain chances in the forecast. Fingers crossed next week will look as beautiful as it’s expected to in the predictions. December 8th On Wednesday, December 8th, the high warms up just a few degrees more… ©The Weather Channel …and the low does too! We haven’t seen 80s temperatures in a WHILE. Are you happy to feel the heat? Or were you hoping to get those perfect Florida winter days? December 9th For Thursday, December 9th, that high stabilizes in about the same place at 73 degrees. This day has notable breezed during the day if that 83 degrees starts to feel a bit too toasty. ©The Weather Channel The low pops back down landing in the high-60s. As is the trend for much of this week, that chance of rain is still low, low, low — but not nonexistent. December 10th The week continues with similar high temperatures as the prior day on December 10th. The low does slide down to 68 too. ©The Weather Channel Rain isn’t expected on Friday but there very well could be some showers with a 16% rain chance during the day. Remember, Florida is notorious for sudden precipitation, even when it’s not in the forecast! December 11th Saturday, December 11th brings us another day of those pleasantly warm temperatures. ©The Weather Channel Here, we’re looking at an 84-degree high and a 65-degree low. December 12th And we’ll wrap up our week on December 12th with those temperatures sitting at a comfy and similar 82-degree high and a cooler 60-degree low. ©The Weather Channel Daylight Savings Time has kicked in, so expect your days to start around 7AM and end around 5:30PM. That gives you plenty of dark hours for fireworks-watching. Overview of the Week Here is a full overview of the week according to The Weather Channel. The temperatures are pretty stable this week. We’re mostly looking at low to mid-80s highs and 60s to 70s lows. ©The Weather Channel Other websites like Click Orlando News 6… ©Click Orlando News 6 …and WESH 2 News have similar forecasts throughout the week. ©WESH 2 News It’s such a surprise that we’re seeing more heat in Disney World this week! The last several weeks have brought progressively cooler temps so this is a little out of the pattern. Still, keep in mind that the forecast is subject to change so keep an eye on it! Click here for tips to survive Disney World weather! How Should You Plan? If you are headed to Disney World next week, we’ve got a few tips on how to plan for the weather! Prep for the heat! You might not think that you’ll need to plan for heat during your December Disney World trip but with this forecast, you do! You might not be used to walking MILES in the 80-degree heat and we want you to feel comfortable AND safe. Free Water Even though UV Levels are lower than in the summer, make sure you wear sunscreen and sunglasses. Plus, drink lots of water and take breaks in the AC when you need it! Click here for more tips for packing your park bag! Make sure you have options. With the weather fluctuating SO MUCH from day to night, you might want to pack an extra layer just in case it gets chilly! After all, 60 degrees can feel colder than you might expect — especially when you’re waiting on the fireworks. Reigning Cats and Dogs Rain Jacket We recommend bringing an insulated rain jacket as your spare layer if you can! That way you’re ready for any sudden showers or if you start to feel a chill. Click here to learn more about fireworks in Disney World! Have a great trip and stay comfy in those temperatures! We’ll see ya right here next week for another full weather update! Want to see the latest news in Magic Kingdom? 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. Are you headed to Disney World next week? Tell us in the comments! The post Hang On, Disney World. We Thought It Was Supposed to Get Colder in December? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

One of the best parts about Disney World’s holiday event is the special fireworks show! Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Disney Very Merriest After Hours in Magic Kingdom features Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks. This fireworks show is awesome and getting a good view can be a total plus to your evening. Did you know select guests can gain access to a special viewing area!? Disney Vacation Club Guests have the opportunity to register for special fireworks viewing during Disney Very Merriest After Hours this month! Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks The special viewing area is located in the East Garden in front of the castle for select nights throughout December. An event ticket AND an RSVP for the area are required. Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks DVC Guests can register for parties of four people or fewer. Walk-ins and unregistered guests are won’t be accommodated. You’ll also want to make sure your Very Merriest After Hours tickets are purchased before registering! Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Sign up for this viewing area can be found RIGHT HERE. You’ll be able to select from nights in December but keep in mind, they may fill quickly. So, hurry! Minnie’s Wonderful Christmas Time Fireworks from 2019 As always, stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney World updates. Want to see more of the Christmas fireworks? Click here! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney World Fun This Holiday Season! The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2021 is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World. Order The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2021 now! It includes over 400 pages of must-have information, including: A full What's New!! chapter for the 2021 Holiday Season A full Monthly Schedule of Events for the Holiday Season How to avoid the crowds on Disney World's busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!) ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM. And, of course, we'll tell you where to eat! ;-D Click HERE to order your 2021 Guide now and get 20% off with code PEPPERMINT! As always, our e-Books are 100% guaranteed! If you don't love it, you get your money back! Want Even MORE? The DFB Everything Bundle comes with ALL of our guides, including the Holiday Guide, for one low price! It includes: Pre-order of the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2022 The 2021 Food & Wine Guide The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Holidays 2021 Pre-order for the 2022 Flower and Garden Festival Guide All three DFB Snack Guides Click HERE to order your DFB Everything Bundle! MORE Disney World Holiday INFO! Check Out the FULL List of Holiday Treats Coming to Disney World This Year See the List of Holiday Treats Coming to Disney World’s Hotels Get All of the Latest Information about the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays See the Booths, Menus, and Food Photos for the Festival of the Holidays Check Out Our Photos & Reviews of the Holiday Treats in Disney World Watch Our Video About What We Wish We’d Known Before Going to Disney World During the Holidays Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest holiday news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Will you be registering for this perk? Tell us in the comments! The post Do YOU Qualify for a Special Fireworks Viewing Spot at Disney World's After Hours Event? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

That slight drop in temperature means it’s time to celebrate the holidays in Orlando. Universal and SeaWorld have your every winter desire covered with ice skating shows, parades and concerts. View the full article

Six of our Disneyland Resort cast members were recently joined by friends, family, their leaders, and none other than Mickey Mouse himself aboard the Mark Twain Riverboat to celebrate an incredible milestone—five decades of service! Watch the video to share in their special celebration, then keep scrolling to learn about these amazing cast members, their […]View the full article

December is one of the busiest times of the year to visit Disney World, but it’s also one of the most festive and fun times to visit the parks! The holiday decorations, treats, and merchandise are around every corner, but so can those massive holiday crowds. The holidays (and holiday crowds) have arrived in Disney World If you’re heading to the parks next week, then you’ll want to make sure you’ve reviewed the latest park hours and Park Pass Reservation updates so you can stay in-the-know on how busy the parks may get! Disney World Park Hours the Week of December 5th Magic Kingdom will be open 9AM-8PM on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 9AM-9PM Monday and Wednesday, and 9AM-10PM on Saturday. Disney Very Merriest After Hours will take place from 9PM-1AM on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Magic Kingdom will remain open for two additional hours for guests staying at Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts on Wednesday, December 8th. Magic Kingdom park hours the week of December 5th © Disney EPCOT will be open from 10AM-10PM Sunday, Monday, Friday, and Saturday, and from 11AM-10PM Tuesday through Thursday next week. The park will remain open for two additional hours for guests staying at Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts on Monday, December 6th. The EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays continues next week, with festival hours being the same as that day’s park hours. EPCOT park hours the week of December 5th © Disney Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be open daily next week from 9AM-9PM. Hollywood Studios park hours the week of December 5th © Disney Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be open 9AM-8PM on Sunday, 8AM-8PM on Monday and Saturday, and 8AM-7PM Tuesday through Friday. Animal Kingdom park hours the week of December 5th © Disney If you want to make the most of your time in the parks, be sure to take advantage of Early Theme Park Access, available to all guests staying on Disney World property every morning thirty minutes prior to the park’s posted opening time. Click here to check out our reviews of this year’s holiday treats in Disney World Current Disney Park Pass Reservation Availability the Week of December 5th Select Resort Hotels As of this writing, next week appears to be pretty wide open for Park Pass Reservation availability! For guests staying at Select Resort Hotels, the week of December 5th is currently fully available at all four parks. Park Pass Reservation availability for guests staying at Select Resort Hotels the week of December 5th as of December 3rd © Disney Theme Park Tickets The same goes for guests with Theme Park Tickets, who as of this writing have full Park Pass Reservation availability at all four parks each day next week. Park Pass Reservation availability for guests with Theme Park Tickets the week of December 5th as of December 3rd © Disney Annual Passholders Annual Passholders do not have full Park Pass availability next week, though their schedule looks to be decently available as of this writing. As you can see, the only date with limited reservation availability is Saturday, December 11th. All of the other dates are fully available as of this writing. Park Pass Reservation availability for Annual Passholders the week of December 5th as of December 3rd at all theme parks © Disney Magic Kingdom is fully booked on December 11th as of this writing. Park Pass Reservation availability for Annual Passholders the week of December 5th as of December 3rd at Magic Kingdom © Disney It looks like crowds will really start ramping up after the upcoming week. So next week may be the BEST time to visit Disney World this month if you are looking to avoid those dreaded holiday crowds. No matter when you are planning on visiting the parks, be sure to double check Park Pass Reservation availability to make sure you can get into the park you wish to see that day! Reservation availability can change constantly, so it’s important to be keeping an eye on the calendar for the latest updates. Be sure to follow along ahead of your next Disney World vacation so you’re up-to-date on all of the latest news and announcements! 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 heading to Disney World next week? Let us know in the comments! The post Why Next Week May Be the BEST Time to Visit Disney World This Month! 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. It has been another busy week for Disney news! Magic Kingdom From a BIG update on parking lot trams, to news about former Disney CEO Bob Iger, and restaurant reopening information — we’ve got quite a bit to cover. Ready to dive in and check out all of the Disney news you might have missed from this week? Let’s begin! 1 — Parking Trams Are Coming BACK Though restaurants, hotels, and rides have reopened, many Disney fans have long been awaiting the return of one big thing…parking lot trams. These trams have been unavailable since Disney World reopened, meaning guests have had to make the (sometimes quite long) trek to and from their cars and the front of the park by foot. Well, soon that’ll be changing! The Trams Are Coming BACK Disney recently announced that parking lot trams will be coming BACK to Magic Kingdom later this month, and will be returning to the other parks throughout 2022! (And the crowd rejoiced!). Stay tuned for more updates on this! Click here to see more about the return of parking lot trams! 2 — COVID-19 Omicron Variant Over the last few days, we’ve heard quite a bit about the new Omicron COVID-19 variant and it has started to impact a number of things. First, the U.S. is restricting travel from select countries due to the COVID-19 variant. The WHO has also recommended that select individuals postpone their travel due to the Omicron variant. Airport Crowds As the situation with this new variant continues to change and develop, we’ll be working to provide you with the biggest updates. Click here to see the full list of current travel restrictions and border closures due to Omicron. Travel mask mandates will be extended in the U.S. — click here to learn more Click here to see what you need to know about the Omicron COVID-19 variant and Disney World Be Sure to Stay Updated on All the Latest Travel Rules and Restrictions Recently, we also noted that Orange County, Florida (where much of Disney World is located) is now in the “substantial” category when it comes to COVID-19 community transmission. The county had previously been at a lower level of transmission, but it seems the situation has changed. Click here to see more updates about COVID-19 and travel to Disney World and Disneyland. 3 — More Reopenings While many things have reopened in Disney World, some are still closed. But, very soon a few more spots will be available for guests to enjoy again! In mid-December Story Book Character Dining will be reopening at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. When it reopens it will feature an updated menu. Storybook Dining at Artist Point Also in mid-December, Boatwright’s Dining Hall will be reopening at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort. The menu will look a bit different when this spot reopens as it appears to have gotten some price increases, new additions, and other changes. Mardi Gras Fritters We can’t wait to try out these restaurants once they open. Reservations for both are now available, so be sure to reserve your spot. Click here to see more about the return of Story Book Dining! 4 — Bob Iger’s Replacement Has Been Named Bob Iger is set to retire from his position as chairman of the board of the Walt Disney Company at the end of this year. ©Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images While that’s something that has been in the works for a while, this week we learned some NEW information — who will be Bob Iger’s replacement. ©Disney Iger will be replaced by Susan Arnold, who most recently served as independent Lead Director and has been on the Walt Disney Company board for 14 years. Click here to learn more about the individual who will replace Bob Iger. 5 — Other Restaurant Changes This week we also got news about more restaurant changes. For those who are hoping to get a few photos with the characters during a character meal, we’ve seen that the character dining photo policy has changed in Disney World at one restaurant at least. Previously, guests had to remain seated when taking photos with the characters at Tusker House, but during a recent visit, guests were allowed to actually stand up and get a bit closer to (though still distanced from) the characters. Mickey posing for a picture with a guest at Tusker House Also, if you’re looking to eat at one of Disney World’s newest spots, Space 220, things have changed a bit. Previously, guests could join a walk-up list to eat at the Space 220 lounge, but now the Space 220 Lounge is taking reservations and it appears reservations will be required for the lounge space from now on. Inside Space 220 Of course, all of these things are subject to change again in the future, so be sure to check and see what the process is like during your visit. Click here to see the 5 BEST things to do in Disney World in December. 6 — Two Disneyland Festivals Are Coming Back! If you’re a big fan of festivals in the parks, then you’ll be thrilled to know that 2 popular Disneyland festivals will be returning in 2022. Recently, Disney announced the dates for the return of the Lunar New Year Festival at Disney California Adventure Park. Lunar New Year 2020 The Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival will also be returning and we’ve got the dates and other information for those festivities. California Food and Wine Festival entertainment stage We’ll be on the lookout for more details about both of these festivals, so stay tuned! Click here to see more about the return of the Food & Wine Festival to Disneyland Resort! Other news was shared this week too. Check out the stories below for more: A new gold popcorn bucket has arrived in Disney World! Check out photos & videos from our time at EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays See photos & videos from the return of the Candlelight Processional in EPCOT Here’s when you’ll be able to get the famous candy canes in Disneyland Frozen chocolate-covered bananas are back in Disney World Pure perfection You’ll be able to watch the Christmas parade in Magic Kingdom during the DAY soon — click here to learn more! Check out everything coming to Disney+ in December Face masks are no longer required in U.S. Disney stores 2 popular Disneyland rides will temporarily close soon A classic Disneyland ride could reopen soon, following a flooding incident A legendary cheesy dish is BACK in Disney World Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade You might want to avoid Magic Kingdom on one day in February 2022 You can now SKIP the long checkout lines at a popular Disney World store, and you’ll be able to skip the lines at more stores in Disney World and Disneyland soon Disney World now has its own holiday — Walt Disney World Day! More fireworks dessert party dates have been added for Disney World See why chicken tenders might be harder to find soon Get a peek inside a new restaurant from celebrity chef Richard Blais that is near Disney World That’s it for us this week. Be sure to check back with us for more Disney 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. What piece of Disney news surprised you the most this week? Tell us in the comments! The post BIG Updates on Disney World Parking Trams, COVID-19 Travel Restrictions, and More Breaking News! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There are some great things to do while staying at a Disney World resort hotel including craft activities, movies under the stars, and more. Art of Animation pool One Disney World hotel amenity that many guests take advantage of no matter what hotel they’re staying at is…the POOL! We’ve seen a number of pools close for some refurbishment in Disney World over the past few months, and more refurbishments have been announced for the future. Now, some more Disney World hotel pools have been added to the refurbishment list. If you are planning on staying at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort in early 2022 and hoping to use some of its pools, here’s what you need to know. Earlier today, we saw that the Art of Animation website, specifically under its page for its pools, has been updated to note some upcoming refurbishments. According to the update, the Flippin’ Fins Pool (which is the one themed to The Little Mermaid) “will be closed for refurbishment from early January 2022 through late February 2022.” While the Flippin’ Fins Pool is undergoing this refurbishment, guests will still get to enjoy other pool offerings. Specifically, The Big Blue Pool (the one themed to Finding Nemo) and the Cozy Cone Pool (the one themed to Cars) will remain open. Pool Area Disney has shared that once the Flippin’ Fins Pool reopens in late February 2022, the “Cozy Cone Pool will close for refurbishment through mid-April 2022.” During the time that the Cozy Cone Pool is unavailable, The Big Blue Pool and Flippin’ Fins Pool will be open. Cozy Cone Pool Keep in mind that select pools at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge will also undergo refurbishment in early 2022. There will also be some work being done on the Disney Skyliner in early 2022 which will also impact some of its operations. As always, refurbishment calendars and details are subject to change. Be sure to check with Disney for the latest updates as your trip gets closer. And stay tuned for more Disney news from us here at DFB! Click here to see more updates about refurbishments and construction at 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 Disney World resort hotel has the best pool in your opinion? Tell us in the comments! The post Will These Hotel Pool CLOSURES Affect Your Disney World Trip? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Character meet and greets have recently returned to Disney World in a new, modified way. Princess Fairytale Hall In Magic Kingdom, Princess Fairytale Hall has been hosting four Disney Princesses, which typically includes Cinderella, Elena, Rapunzel, and Tiana. Today, however, a special visiting princess made an appearance, so we had to see who it was! We were visiting Magic Kingdom today when we noticed that Rapunzel was missing from Princess Fairytale Hall. Instead of Rapunzel’s portrait, the sign featured a mystery “Visiting Princess!” Visiting Princess? Who could it be? Naturally, our curiosity got the better of us and we made our way into Fairytale Hall. And surprise! It was Snow White! Snow White! She looked beautiful as usual in her signature red, blue, and yellow dress. We can’t hug characters or get autographs yet in Disney World but we can now get some one-on-one time and take pictures from a distance! Beautiful as always It was fun to solve the mystery of the Visiting Princess, and keep in mind that if you see this sign on your visit it really could be any Disney Princess! It can be really fun to not know which Disney Princess you’re about to meet. Aww, Snow You can now visit with characters such as Mickey, Minnie, Disney Princesses, and even some Disney Junior characters, and recently a character dining policy has also changed in Disney World. We’ll be waiting for more announcements from Disney about any further changes to character meet and greets, so keep checking back with DFB for all your Disney World news! News: A Character dining photo policy has changed 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 Disney Princess is your favorite? Tell us in the comments! The post PHOTOS: A SURPRISE Princess Visited Magic Kingdom Today! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s officially the holiday season in Disney World, and that means it’s already December. Magic Kingdom Holiday Decorations December can sometimes be a more quiet time in Disney Parks, but this December will see the return of two restaurants, live entertainment, and more! Check it out here. Reopenings There are two restaurants reopening at Disney World in December! Boatwright’s Dining Hall Boatwright’s Dining Hall is reopening on December 14th at Port Orleans — Riverside! When Port Orleans recently reopened, Boatwright’s remained closed, and Disney did not release a reopening date. All-You-Care-To-Enjoy Chef’s Platter Boatwright’s is a casual table service restaurant where you can find yourself dining on Southern Louisiana dishes within a boat-construction warehouse, and you can begin making dining reservations on December 2nd. Read more about Boatwright’s reopening soon here! Story Book Dining at Artist Point Story Book Dining at Artist Point will reopen for dinner December 16th in Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. The character dining restaurant will reopen with a prix fixe menu that’s had a few updates. The Hunter’s Gift to the Queen The characters will be modified for now, and reservations open on December 2nd, so mark your calendar if you want to see Snow White and a Dwarf or two! Learn more about the new menu coming to Story Book Dining soon! Club Service Returns Club Levels have already returned to a few Disney World Resort hotels, and now two more resorts join the list in December! Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Club Level rooms will reopen on December 16th, joining four other Disney World Resort hotels. Wilderness Lodge Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Club Level rooms will also reopen on December 16th. Club Levels offer special amenities, like access to the Club Level Lounge where guests can enjoy a complimentary continental breakfast, evening wine and beer, and more. Coronado Springs A few more Disney World Resort hotels have Club Level rooms scheduled to reopen in January and February of 2022, so stay tuned to DFB for more news! Check out the dates for the returning Club Level rooms here! Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular Reopens On December 19th, the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular reopens in Disney’s Hollywood Studios after being closed since March 2020! This is a fan-favorite live show featuring characters from Raiders of the Lost Ark demonstrating stunts from the movie. Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular Showtimes have already been announced, so if you’re hoping to catch the return of this live show make sure you check your Disney plans! Here are the showtimes for Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Show Spectacular! And that’s everything coming to Disney World in December! Keep following along with DFB for more Disney World news, updates, and more so you can plan your best trip ever. Check out this amazing Disney World trip on a $3000 budget! 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 visiting December in Disney World? Tell us in the comments! The post 4 Things That Will Be DIFFERENT in Disney World in December first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article