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The Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic kicks off this Friday in Disney World. Brandade Black Pepper Agnolotti This festival has more than 20 food stations and over 100 drink options to choose from. You can get tickets for $165 per person, which include unlimited tastings of all the delicious snacks, treats, and drinks. We’ve already seen a first-look at this event and found some tips for making the most of your time there, but what are the can’t-miss dishes and drinks at the Food and Wine Classic? We’ve got a list of some of our favorites here. We tried out some of the new dishes at the first look event earlier this year, but there are some old favorites returning to the Classic as well. Here are six dishes you should definitely not miss if you’re heading to the 2021 Food and Wine Classic: Shula’s Black Angus Beef Tenderloin Shula’s Steak House (located at the Dolphin hotel) comes out to serve Roasted Linz Heritage Black Angus Beef Tenderloin with a side of mashed potatoes, roasted carrots, and hollandaise sauce. 2021 Beef Tenderloin This has been at the Food and Wine Classic for a few years now, and it’s constantly a winner to us. The meat is usually tender and flavorful, and the sides go with it perfectly. 2019 Shula’s Beef Tenderloin The Beef Tenderloin is available on both Friday and Saturday. Maryland Style Crab Cakes These crab cakes (from the Fountain at the Dolphin hotel) are actually a new addition to the Food and Wine Classic. We added them to our list because we’ve LOVED the Maryland Crab Cake Sliders in the past, so we’re hoping these will be similar. 2019 Crab Cake Slider The Maryland Style Crab Cakes are served with Old Bay Remoulade (just like the ones from 2019!), avocado puree, vinegar pepper, and Mache salad. You can only get these on Friday. Shanghai Dumpling The eats at China Town are always a must-hit for us. Our favorite from before was actually Yu Chen’s Crispy Duck, but that dish isn’t returning this year. The Shanghai Dumpling (another big hit) is back, though! Shanghai Dumpling It’s a pan-roasted pork dumpling served with a spicy sauce. Vegetarian Rice Bowl The Vegetarian Rice Bowl was new back in 2019, and we thought it was the perfect, refreshing bite. It has seasoned sushi rice, roasted vegetables, and a tempura crunch on top. Vegetarian Rice Bowl You can only get this dish on Friday. Kalua Pork The Pig and Poke area was new in 2018, and it brought this Kalua Pork dish with it. The pork is traditional earth-baked Kalua pork, served with steamed white rice, barrel-aged Tamari, and Napa cabbage. 2018 Kalua Pork We thought this was very delicious when we had it a few years ago, so we’re super excited to see it return this year. Ricotta and Herb Ravioli This is another new dish this year, and we have high hopes because we’ve loved the ravioli from Il Mulino in the past. The Il Mulino pasta this year is house-made ricotta cheese and herb ravioli, served with carrot marmellata, toasted almond-raisin, cherry, radish, pea shoot, and mint oil. 2019 Squash Ravioli You can only get this dish on Saturday. But if you’re heading there on Friday instead, try out the Brandade Black Pepper Agnolotti, which has Wilted Sweet Onion, Eggplant, Tomato Petals, Crispy Pancetta, Nduja Vinaigrette. It’s also a pasta dish from Il Mulino, so we’re expecting it to be delicious. Brandade Black Pepper Agnolotti Those are our top picks for dishes that you can’t miss when you visit the Food and Wine Classic this coming weekend. Keep following DFB for more tips about the best food in Disney World. Click Here to See the Full Menus for the 2021 Food and Wine Classic Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 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 the Food and Wine Classic this weekend? Let us know in the comments! The post 6 Must-Try Dishes at the Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Sometimes, you just want some plain ol’ fast food while you’re in Disney World. McDonald’s Happy Meal We’ve definitely made our fair share of visits to McDonald’s in Disney World. The massive location is a great spot to grab some McNuggets when the craving strikes and we usually find Disney-themed Happy Meal toys there. But what if another fast-food chain came to Disney property? This is EXACTLY the question we posed to our followers over on Twitter and when one of our readers suggested A&W Restaurant would be a good fit, A&W joined the convo. ©A&W What better way to combine Disney World and A&W theming than with a brand-new restaurant concept, “Beauty and the Beef!” A&W made us this neat graphic noting, “Try the root beer, it’s delicious!” We love Ariel, but do we love her more than a WHITE CHEDDAR CHEESE CURD? That’s truly too hard to say. The moral of the story is that A&W is READY with the Disney x A&W crossovers (and we still love cheese ). Keep an eye on DFB for more fun Disney updates! Want to learn more about the Disney World McDonald’s? Click here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 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 fast food joint would you like to see in Disney World? Tell us in the comments! The post What Do Cheese Curds and Disney's The Little Mermaid Have In Common? This, Apparently. first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Eric Marshall, senior vice president of sales for Universal Orlando, wants Florida to maintain an active approach to attracting tourists as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. View the full article

You may hear hinges creaking after downloading and building this set of Disney Paper Parks. The Happy Haunts Edition continues this Halloween with 3D, printable activity sheets to craft your own version of the original Haunted Mansion at Disneyland park!http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DisneyParks/~4/L9ndXbsAQFcView the full article

When COVID-19 shut down the cruise industry in March 2020, a lot of hardware had either just arrived or was on tap to debut in Florida, but instead of champagne cork inaugurals, cruise lines had to put the celebrations on ice. View the full article

As a frequent visitor to Disney World, I bristled at paying for Lightning Lanes to rides. I didn’t see myself as the Genie+ kind of guy. Peter Pan’s Flight is one of the Genie+ options now available at Magic Kingdom. For $15, visitors can obtain quicker entrance to select attractions using the My Disney Experience app. (© Puppie2008 | Dreamstime.com) I just didn’t see myself as a Genie+ kind of guy. As a frequent visitor to Walt Disney World’s theme parks, I bristled at the paying to take express routes — dubbed Lightning Lanes — to rides I’ve done plenty of times. So, I sat out the first few days of the launch of the service (available via My Disney Experience app), then gave it a Friday run-through. I dream of Genie+ a little differently now. Here are some moods, reactions and tips after paying my $15 at Magic Kingdom recently. Guests wait in line at the entrance to Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Train attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on the first day of the Genie Plus pass program on Oct. 19, 2021. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Time is money You’re on the clock when hanging with Genie+. So it makes sense to arrive when the theme park opens and go Genie+ on a day with an early closing time. It’s a bang-for-buck thing. The price for utilizing most Lightning Lanes is the same every day, although the cost for getting the two most-wanted attractions in each park is fluid, depending on season, day of week and perhaps Mickey’s mood. My first angsty moment of the day was thinking My Disney Experience was hooked up to an expired credit card. I could have checked that the day before and saved a little bit of sweat and the awkwardness of getting out a card and changing the info in the middle of the park. (Following my first rule of theme parks, I already had found my shade on a bench, which seemed best for plotting out the day.) My second angsty moment was weighing early morning wait times against what future queuing might be for popular attractions. How to save waiting in line time and money at the same time? Normally, you have to be prepared to wait in a long line for Peter Pan’s Flight. This classic Disney dark ride has a notoriously low loading rate and it isn’t unusual to see a wait time of 60 minutes or more. (Disney) Picking Pan Since it wasn’t a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Magic Kingdom, I decided to hit rides I had not done in a while. Enter Peter Pan’s Flight, which typically has a line out the door (with a long indoor stretch). The available window for that was noon to 1 p.m. Done. Remember, you can’t have more than one ride reservation at a time. So, until noon I was a free agent. At that point, a bit after 9 a.m., I hot-footed to Frontierland, where lines were short, the app said. I opted for Splash Mountain standby because one can’t be sure when that ride will go into “The Princess and the Frog” rehab mode (No signs of that yet). Then I went next door for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Both of these waits were slightly longer than listed on the app but less than 15 minutes. By then, the line for Pirates of the Caribbean was longer than I wanted to wait, and I drifted until the Magic Carpets of Aladdin, which fit into my theme of rides not recently ridden. I saw no posted wait time, but the line looked short. It wasn’t. It sneakily curves around the far side of the attraction, and the queue is mostly stationary while the ride is in motion. I’m no mathematician, but the ratio of waiting to the actual experience — which lasts about 90 seconds — isn’t great. I was punished for not consulting Genie and its posted wait times first. A free version of the Genie+ app shows ride wait times and will suggest a routine for the day, including meals. In Genie gear Doh. There’s a free version of Genie on the app that shows wait times and will suggest a routine for the day, including meals. But without paying, you don’t get the old FastPass-ish experience of skipping the line. After a fun PhotoPass experience, a snack, an in-park detour for an upcoming article, and a 20-minute wait for Under the Sea — Journey of the Little Mermaid, it was time for Pan. I went at the beginning of the window so I could get another reservation as quickly as possible. The advertised wait was 50 minutes; I waited for about five with Genie+. And, it was probably my imagination, but the ride seemed to go by quickly too. Next, I thought I’d try to do a rolling Genie+ routine, meaning I’d take whatever I could get next as long as it was a line-cutter. This took me to Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride, and I thought it would help me exact revenge on the Magic Carpet wait in the sun. Genie+ got me on quickly; the normal wait time was 25 minutes. It did give me that old thrill of being special because I had a FastPass and folks who waited didn’t. (However, I used to hate those FastPassers when I was the waiter. Life’s funny that way.) I considered nearby Barnstormer next, which was either a walk-on or a 30-minute wait. The app and I confused each other. Long-running characters are still present in the recently reopened Pirates of the Caribbean at Magic Kingdom. (Dewayne Bevil / Orlando Sentinel) On your options Then I hit a Genie+ wall. The next reservation slots were further off than I wanted, but I signed up for Pirates of the Caribbean, which would likely be a time saver. I considered going on PeopleMover, but it was down. And the nearby Astro Orbiter, another spinning contraption I hadn’t ventured onto in years, is one of a few attractions without a Lightning Lane. There are non-line options in the downtime, including the photo filters that are included in Genie+, and you can check the app for performances by Dapper Dans or the next character cavalcade. There’s always PhotoPass (kudos to the newish one with E-ticket prop) and eating. I walked over to look at the construction of the Tron ride. A few attractions had shortish lines by midafternoon, but not many. Part of me thought, “I didn’t pay $15 to stand in a long line for ‘it’s a small world.’ I could do that with free Genie.” Granted, I might have been too attached to my theme. Something I didn’t consider at all was paying even more to get individual Lightning Lanes. The Magic Kingdom rides with that option are Space Mountain and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, which would add as much as $10 to my tally for the day. Jungle Cruise or cupcakes? It’s always a bad sign when folks are streaming out of the entrance of your next attraction. Pirates was working against me. Within a couple of minutes, I had a notification on the app. The attraction was “temporarily unavailable,” it said, and it linked to options where my Pirates chip could be cashed in, so to speak. That included almost everything except Seven Dwarfs and Space Mountain (naturally) and Peter Pan’s Flight. I could have done popular rides such as Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise or Tomorrowland Speedway and felt OK about my $15. There’s a lot to know about Genie. You can only hit a particular Lighting Lane once a day. You can re-ride, but you’ll have to get in line. You’re limited to two Individual Lightning Lane purchases per day. Park hopping is allowed, and there are 40 Genie+ options spread over the four parks. You can’t book an experience until 7 a.m. on the day of the visit. It’s also good to know the actual names of attractions. On the app’s tip board, the choices are alphabetical, so looking for Wild Tea Party under T for teacups doesn’t work. Could I have done better? For sure, with a better plan going in, with a focus on what ride I definitely wanted most and the ability to linger longer. But I also could have had two cupcakes for that price and felt less pressure to check off boxes. Your results may vary. Dewayne Bevil Orlando Sentinel

Almost 7 million people went to Magic Kingdom theme park in 2020, a 67% decrease from 2019, an annual attendance report says Millions of visitors came to Magic Kingdom in 2020, despite a 4-month closure and a global pandemic. Disney World's first theme park had more guests than any other attraction in the world last year, outpacing runner-up Shanghai Disneyland. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Almost 7 million people went to Magic Kingdom theme park in 2020. But that represents a 67% decrease from 2019, according to an annual attendance report from the Themed Entertainment Association and AECOM, an infrastructure consulting firm and Fortune 500 company. The COVID-19 pandemic curbed the visitor count for attractions across the board last year. Although Walt Disney World’s parks were closed to the public from mid-March to mid-July, Magic Kingdom again was the most-visited theme park on Earth. The newest report, however, does not rank the attractions using the 2020 figures. It instead reports the 2020 attendance of 2019′s top 25 parks. Attendance of those most popular theme parks dropped 67.2%, from 257.7 million visitors in 2019 to 83.3 million in 2020, according to the Global Attractions Attendance Report. “Park closures as well as the loss of international and domestic tourists varied from country to country, creating a patchwork of performance worldwide in 2020,” John Robinett, AECOM economics senior vice president wrote. “Accordingly, 2020′s attendance is largely a function of regulatory agency restrictions limiting parks’ operating days and capacities and not park popularity and management.” The parks will be officially re-ranked next year “once global health conditions stabilize,” the report says. But below the top slot, there would be significant rearrangements in a fresh 2020 list. Using the attendance numbers posted in the report, the No. 2 theme park in the world would be Shanghai Disneyland, up from the No. 10 slot for 2019. It had 5.5 million visitors in 2020, the report says, a decrease of 50.9%. Other big upward movers were Chimelong Ocean Kingdom and OCT Happy Valley, both in China, at No. 4 and No. 10, respectively. The top 10 worldwide, in order, would be Magic Kingdom, Shanghai Disneyland, Universal Studios Japan, Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Tokyo Disneyland, Universal Studios in Orlando, Epcot, Universal’s Islands of Adventure and OCT Happy Valley. Just out of the Top 10 would be Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Disneyland’s attendance fell 80.3%, the report says, after the theme park closed for pandemic in March and did not reopen in 2020. DISNEY WORLD 50TH ANNIVERSARY Disney World at 50: A look at attendance, price surges over 5 decades “The calendar has been a factor in terms of when a region was hardest-hit by infection relative to operating season,” Marina Hoffman, senior analyst, wrote in the report. “In the Americas, water parks suffered more than theme parks for this reason, and parks with limited seasons suffered more than those designed to operate year-round.” The attendance drops at Walt Disney World theme parks ranged from 66.9% to 70%, the report says. Islands of Adventure was down 61.4%; Universal Studios’ attendance was down 62.5%. SeaWorld Orlando’s numbers were down 65.6%. Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando were closed for three months during 2020 for the coronavirus pandemic. The attendance change for North America’s top 25 parks was down 72.2% with 44.3 million visitors in 2020. Central Florida’s theme park companies do not disclose attendance figures. AECOM’s report is determined through several sources, including statistics given by the parks, financial reports, historical numbers, investment bankers, local tourism groups and professional estimates. “Where park attendance was not provided by operators, AECOM conducted analysis regarding park operating days, regulatory agency operating guidelines, visitor participation trends, and local market considerations to help inform park estimates,” the report says. The report also did not re-rank water parks, but topping the attendance in the U.S. for 2020 was Universal’s Volcano Bay and Aquatica, part of SeaWorld Orlando. Volcano Bay’s 551,000 visitors represented a decline of almost 70% from 2019. The attraction was closed from mid-March to mid-June along with the bulk of Universal Orlando, then the water park closed again in November for the remainder of 2020. Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, which has been the usual national leader, was not open in 2020 and remains unavailable to guests. Blizzard Beach, its sister park, saw a decline of 84.1%. The world’s biggest draw among water parks was Thermas dos Laranjais in Brazil, which had 922,500 visitors, a 50% decline. The report was optimistic about an industry rebound, pointing to previous downturns attributed to economic declines, civil unrest and terrorism. It also examined trends that emerged during the pandemic and innovations, some of which are already seen in new attractions. To see the full attendance report, go to www.teaconnect.org. Dewayne Bevil Orlando Sentinel

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. Lots of things have changed over the past few months when it comes to COVID-19 and travel. Orlando Airport We’ve seen updates announced when it comes to COVID-19 situations in local counties, updates made to Disney World’s mask mandate, and more. Recently, we also shared that travel restrictions and guidelines for international travel to the U.S. will soon be changing, and now we’ve got another update! According to a post shared by Orlando International Airport, AerLingus is set to resume flights from Dublin, Ireland and Manchester, UK to Orlando International Airport soon. The flights from Dublin are set to begin on November 27th, while the flights from Manchester are set to start again on December 11th. So, if you’re planning to travel to the U.S. from Dublin or Manchester, you could soon hop on an AerLingus flight to Orlando. Just keep in mind that the restrictions on international travel will change on November 8th. If you are planning to fly to the U.S. on or after that date, be sure to check out the specific COVID-19-related requirements you’ll need to meet including vaccination requirements and testing requirements. Airplane We’ll keep an eye out for more travel updates and let you know what we find. Stay tuned for more news. Click here to see more about the guidelines that have been issued regarding international travel to the United States. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post NEWS: Flights From Select Spots in Europe to Orlando Will Resume Soon first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney Merriest Nites is the new holiday after-party coming to Disneyland in 2021. ©Disney This event will take place on only a few nights in November and December, and tickets have already sold out. Today Disney released some information about the exclusive entertainment, food, and…merchandise! Who’s ready to shop for the holidays? At Disney Merriest Nites event at Disneyland, there will be exclusive holiday merchandise for ticket holders! Disney gave us a sneak peek of two Merriest Nites t-shirt designs, with one long sleeve red t-shirt featuring Sleeping Beauty Castle and some favorite Disney characters, and another t-shirt with Mickey and Minnie wearing their holiday best. ©Disney In addition to the exclusive holiday apparel, there will also be a Merriest Nites Tumbler (we spot Sleeping Beauty Castle!) AND a Disney Merriest Nites limited-release pin. Most of the exclusive merchandise will be available only inside Tomorrowland’s Star Wars Launch Bay. ©Disney There will be a mobile waitlist system during Disney Merriest Nites and merchandise will be limited, so if you’re a ticket holder don’t procrastinate getting in the virtual line! If you decide to use mobile waitlist, you’ll get a text when it’s time for you to enter the Launch Bay to shop. There will also be other holiday and seasonal merchandise available around Disneyland at select locations. ©Disney This exclusive merchandise will likely go fast, so make sure you plan to stop by the Star Wars Launch Bay during the event to check it out. Keep reading DFB for more Disney Merriest Nites news and tips! First look at the food and drinks coming to Merriest Nites in Disneyland! Disneyland Reviews and Information Click HERE to Check Out Lots of DFB Posts About Disneyland See the Latest Updates About Disneyland’s Mask Policy Check Out Our Disneyland Restaurants Guide See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Park Check Out Details from the Historic Reopening of Disneyland Resort See What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Learn About the Disneyland Mobile App Get All the Details About Mobile Order in Disneyland See More About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure What’s Going to Be Different About Your Next Disneyland Trip? Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Are you planning to go to Disneyland’s Merriest Nites? Tell us in the comments! The post Sneak Peek at the Exclusive Merch Coming to Merriest Nites at Disneyland Resort first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disneyland’s holiday party this year is called Merriest Nites. ©Disney It’s actually six parties in one, with different areas around park celebrating the holidays in different ways, including a New Orleans Holiday, a Tropical Party, a Feliz Navidad Party, and more. Disneyland just announced some of the FOOD coming to this event, so let’s take a look at the eats and treats! There will be special food and drink options just for the Merriest Nites partygoers, in addition to more holiday items that can be found around the park during the day. ©Disney There are more than 20 snacks, treats, and drinks that will be just for the Merriest Nites, dispersed around the six different holiday parties inside the park. Here’s a look at what you’ll find: Andouille Sausage Po’ Boy at French Market ©Disneyland Thanksgiving Leftover Burger at Galactic Grill ©Disneyland Sipping Chocolate with Dipping Waffle over at Jolly Holiday Bakery Café ©Disneyland Dulce de Leche-drizzled Christmas Churro at the Hub Churro Cart on Main Street, U.S.A. ©Disneyland Paradise Party Float from The Tropical Hideaway ©Disneyland Remember Me Cinnamon Fry Bread at Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante ©Disneyland Frozen Flurry from Red Rose Taverne ©Disneyland That’s just a taste of what you’ll find at the Merriest Nites party in Disneyland this holiday season. Note that, as of writing, all the dates for Disneyland’s Merriest Nites are currently sold out. Stay tuned with DFB, and we’ll let you know about any more holiday updates for Disneyland! Click Here to Learn More About Merriest Nites Disneyland Reviews and Information Click HERE to Check Out Lots of DFB Posts About Disneyland See the Latest Updates About Disneyland’s Mask Policy Check Out Our Disneyland Restaurants Guide See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Park Check Out Details from the Historic Reopening of Disneyland Resort See What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Learn About the Disneyland Mobile App Get All the Details About Mobile Order in Disneyland See More About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure What’s Going to Be Different About Your Next Disneyland Trip? Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Are you heading to the Merriest Nites holiday event in Disneyland this year? Let us know in the comments. The post FIRST LOOK at the Food and Drinks Coming to Merriest Nites at Disneyland Resort first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Our special series on the 50th anniversary celebration of Walt Disney World Resort continues today with an exciting look at some of the EARidescent magic you can now discover at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DisneyParks/~4/LWrdLQhMEJkView the full article

Remember that time the Disney sea urchins were wearing Mickey ear hats? SO CUTE Or the time one sea urchin was caught with TWO Mickey ear hats on at once? It’s possible that we have a bit of an obsession now — who knew these little guys could be so cute? So we stop by to check on them once in a while when we’re in EPCOT. Today, we found another sea urchin update that you absolutely need to know about. In case you’re not caught up on the Disney sea urchin story, the keepers over at the Seas in EPCOT put little Mickey hat-shaped rocks in their tank to celebrate Disney World’s 50th Anniversary. Sea urchins naturally investigate new things in their environment, and they’ll pick up rocks and other objects to use as camouflage. Double the Hats! Little did the sea urchins know that when they picked up these Mickey ear hats, they became a Disney legend (at least in our books). But now we have even MORE reason to love these guys, because they’ve decorated for Halloween! Ready for the spooky season! There’s a spider’s web made out of rope inside their tank now, complete with a couple of spiders hanging out on it. Complete with spiders OK, so the keepers probably helped them out with all the decorating, but we’re pretty sure it was the sea urchins’ idea. We didn’t actually see any of our urchin friends when we stopped by, so they might still be getting used to the big new addition to their home. Happy Halloween! Is there a better way to celebrate Halloween than by decorating for all the adorable animals in the parks? We don’t think so. And we love all the ways that Cast Members go above and beyond for both the guests and animals in the parks. Keep following DFB for more updates on the holidays in Disney World! Click Here to Read More About the Disney World Sea Urchins’ Antics Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What’s your favorite way to celebrate Halloween in Disney World? Let us know in the comments. The post It's Official. This Is Now a Disney Sea Urchin Fan Blog. first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

What do you like to drink at home or when you visit Disney World? Water (always important), POG Juice, coffee? All-Star Sports Resort Well, if your answer to that question is “Coca-Cola” or Coca-Cola products, then there’s something you should know about. According to CNBC, the CEO of Coca-Cola, James Quincey, recently said that he expects to see “sporadic shortages” of Coca-Cola products on grocery store shelves through 2022. According to CNBC, Coke is “dealing with snarls in the supply chain and higher commodity costs, which have resulted in some shortages.” Diet Coke Anyone? Quincey shared that while shortages may continue through 2022, they’ll likely decrease over time as things start to improve. CNBC shared that the company has been using its “global scale and long-term partnerships to navigate issues within its supply chain,” but it hasn’t been able to mitigate all of the challenges. Quincey shared that some of the issues Coke is facing include “labor shortages, spiking gas costs in Europe and a plastic plant in Brazil that burst into flames.” Diet Coke We’ve seen some supplier issues impact Disney in the past, like when the brand of ketchup was changed at select locations, though that situation seemed to change and evolve rather rapidly. Could these potential Coca-Cola shortages impact Disney World? We’ll be on the lookout for updates. Coke in Sci-Fi Stay tuned for more news! Click here to see what’s going on with POG juice in Disney World right now. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Are you a fan of Coca-Cola products? Tell us in the comments. The post Why Your Favorite Coke Drinks Might Be Harder to Find Soon first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

With the Holidays at the Disneyland Resort beginning on Nov. 12, the countdown to the all-new, after-hours event Disney Merriest Nites is also underway! For those of you that purchased tickets to this special new event coming to Disneyland park on select nights during November and December, I wanted to share tips to help you make the most of your experience!http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DisneyParks/~4/qKf3Ej-FbIIView the full article

Holiday overlays are one of our favorite parts of the season in Disney World! And, we couldn’t be more excited that the parks will be bringing them back to multiple attractions during the day and for Disney’s Very Merriest After Hours this year! Christmas Decorations In the past, we’ve seen holiday overlays at Tomorrowland Speedway, Jungle Cruise (AKA Jingle Cruise), Space Mountain, Mad Tea Party, Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor, and beyond. While we’ve already seen holiday decorations sweep across the parks, it looks like one of our first attraction overlays is in progress too! Disney announced that Living with the Land would be bringing its annual holiday overlay back again this year. And, even though October hasn’t even ended yet, the attraction is already getting in the Christmas spirit! When guests hop onto the boat, they’ll be able to see Christmas lights wrapped around the poles and tunnel throughout the ride. Living with the Land At night, the decorations will be even more special as they are illuminated to turn Living with the Land into a beautiful Christmas-inspired boat ride. Note: These might not be lit up until installation is completed. Christmas Lights Arrive! After the attraction completes its decorations, you’ll be able to see “twinkling holiday light displays throughout the greenhouses” that will make this underrated EPCOT attraction all the better! Here’s what it looks like when it’s all lit up! 2019 Living with the Land Holiday Overlay We’ll be sure to give you a look at even more holiday decorations and overlays as they arrive in Disney World. In the meantime, though, stay tuned with DFB for the latest Disney entertainment and news! ALL the treats coming to Disney World for the holidays! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Will you be going to Disney World this holiday season? Let us know in the comments below! The post PHOTOS: The Living with the Land Holiday Glow-Up Has Started in EPCOT first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Last Friday, cast members were treated to an exclusive virtual screening (and W-AAAAH!tch party) of the all-new Disney+ special “Muppets Haunted Mansion“. Cast invited their families to the dead center of their living rooms and were greeted with a surprise introduction from Miss Piggy herself, thanking them for the magic they provide our guests each […]http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DisneyParks/~4/gxV3_Rtl3JkView the full article

You probably already know about EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival, but did you know that there’s ANOTHER food and wine event in Disney World? Disney’s Dolphin Resort Hotel If you’re in EPCOT already, just walk on over to the Swan and Dolphin hotels to check out some delicious bites, desserts, and drinks. This event is coming up SOON, so here’s what you need to know to make sure you don’t miss out. The Food and Wine Classic is located at the Swan and Dolphin hotels in Disney World. These hotels are just a short walk from EPCOT, or you can get there by bus from any Disney World park. ©Disney Swan and Dolphin The Food and Wine Classic is coming up soon! It takes place on October 29th and 30th this year from 5:30PM to 9PM each day, so if you don’t already have your tickets, you’ll want to reserve those ASAP. You can reserve tickets by calling the Swan and Dolphin at 888-828-8850. Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Hotel Advance-purchase tickets to this event (which include unlimited tastings on the Causeway) are $165 per person. This includes the Beer Garden as well. There will be plenty of drinks to choose from! We’ve already seen a first look a some of the eats and treats that will be at this event, and we’re super excited to see more in just a couple of days. Click Here to See a First Look at the Food and Wine Classic There are all kinds of dishes to enjoy here, with over 20 food stations and more than 100 beverage options. The themed areas are The Beer Garden, The Pig & The Poke, and China Town. Black Pepper Smoked Beef Brisket You’ll find plates of sushi, pasta, seafood, beef, veggies, and more, plus plenty of desserts and selections for beer and wine. Grilled Mahi Mahi Remember, call 888-828-8850 or head to the event’s website to buy your tickets now. And keep following DFB for more updates on upcoming Disney World events. Click Here to See the Menus for the Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 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 going to try out the Food and Wine Classic? Let us know in the comments! The post Where to Find More than 100 Drink Options in Disney World This Weekend! 🥂 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 an eye out for more updates about COVID-19 and travel restrictions that might impact your trip so you can best prepare for your vacation. Mask Sign We’ve shared news about Disney World’s mask rules, updates on travel restrictions to the United States, and more. Now, we have an update about the situation with COVID-19 in Orange County, Florida, which is where part of Disney World is located. Earlier today, Mayor Jerry Demings of Orange County, Florida held a press conference regarding the current state of COVID-19 in the county. According to the most recent updates, as of October 26th, 2021, 75% of Orange County residents ages 12 and up have received at least 1 dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Orange County’s 14-day COVID-19 rolling positivity rate is now 3.51%. In late July, Mayor Demings had signed an executive order declaring a state of local emergency in Orange County, Florida. This state of emergency has since been extended multiple times. However, the state of emergency will soon end. During the press conference today, Mayor Demings stated “thankfully, due to the high number of vaccinated residents and the wearing of masks, and other safety measures that have been put in place in our community, our numbers have plummeted…Due to the low positivity rate, I am pleased to announce that I am allowing the executive order to expire this afternoon at 3:04PM so that we will no longer be under a state of local emergency.” COVID-19 Health and Safety Sign Mayor Demings did note, however, that if there were ever to be another deadly wave of cases within the county, he reserves the right to put the executive order back in place to “make sure we do everything possible to slow the spread.” What will happen after the executive order expires? Mayor Demings noted that Orange County facilities will continue to require the wearing of facial coverings indoors for county employees until the CDC moves the county from the “substantial” level for risk of spread of COVID-19 to “moderate.” Health & Safety Sign In terms of mask wearing at individual businesses in Florida, that all depends on that business’ individual rules. Disney World continues to require masks be worn by all guests ages 2 and up in all indoor locations, including restaurants, except when actively eating or drinking while stationary. That mask rule will continue in place unless and until Disney decides to change it. The change in the state of emergency in Orange County, Florida does not directly impact or change Disney’s mask requirement. ©Disney Of course, all rules and regulations are subject to change, so be sure to check and see what the situation is when you visit. Stay tuned for more updates. Click here to see the updated guidelines for international travel to the United States. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post NEWS: The State of Emergency Will END Soon in Orange County, Florida first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Y’all know we’re always looking out for new food in Disney World. Magic Kingdom This morning, we stopped by a very popular Magic Kingdom spot to try out a lunch option that’s been around for a little while, but it seems like a lot of people don’t know about it yet. We’re going to try it out and see if the new item could possibly replace a lunch at the Plaza Restaurant or (heaven forbid) Casey’s Corner. We were in the Main Street Bakery this morning (where we usually get our Starbucks fix), which is where we spotted this new(ish) item. Lots of people here! It’s the Chicken Strip Club Sandwich, which is three pieces of fried chicken on a hoagie roll. The sandwich has lettuce, pickles, and tomato on it as well, and it’s all served with a side of Lays chips. Chicken Strip Club The meal costs $10.99 in total. We’ve got ours! The fried chicken is pretty much the normal Disney fried chicken — tasty and tender, but with a little more breading than we’d normally like. Chicken Strip Club Sandwich We really could have used more chicken on this sandwich, since the hoagie roll was so big and there was a lot of breading on the chicken already. So really it tasted more like a bread sandwich with a hint of chicken. Here’s what’s inside But the bread was really tasty, and we liked that there were more toppings. We loved the crunchiness from the pickle, and the sandwich was very filling in general. It was pretty plain and dry, though. If you’re going to try this, we recommend grabbing some honey mustard or BBQ sauce from another quick service spot around the Magic Kingdom (Casey’s Corner, Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe, and others will have sauces available). But the simplicity wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. If you’ve been eating heavy theme park food all day, this sandwich might be just what you need! Simple yet satisfying We thought this Bakery needed another lunch option, and this one is simple and a good crowd-pleaser. In the mornings (when we went), the Main Street Bakery is pretty crowded. But toward the afternoons, it usually gets a lot less busy, which means you could snag this as a quick lunch without needing to wait in line or mobile order. Good for a quick lunch If you wanted a more exciting or themed lunch, though, we think you might be disappointed by this one. It’s just what it sounds like — fried chicken on a roll. If you’re only visiting for a couple of days, we definitely recommend trying Casey’s Corner or Columbia Harbour House in the Magic Kingdom instead. Main Street Bakery Keep following DFB for more updates on new food around Disney World. Click Here to See Our Recent Review of Columbia Harbour House Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What’s your favorite quick lunch in the Magic Kingdom? Let us know in the comments! The post REVIEW: A Sandwich Covered in CHICKEN STRIPS 🤤 Has Arrived in Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Halloween is this weekend, which means…the holidays are just around the corner! Disney Springs during the holidays Disney has already started to get ready for the holiday season by decorating, releasing holiday merchandise, announcing holiday snacks, and more. But, what if you’re looking to enjoy a holiday meal in Disney World on Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day? Many spots often offer a special meal on those days, and now we’ve got some tasty holiday updates from one popular restaurant in Disney Springs! Looking to eat a tasty meal in Disney World on Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day WITHOUT having to visit the parks? Then a trip to Disney Springs might be in your future! Recently, one fan-favorite spot — Raglan Road — shared some special details with us about what they’ll be offering this holiday season. Thanksgiving We’ll start with Thanksgiving. On Thanksgiving Day, you can head to Raglan Road for an Irish take on the traditional Thanksgiving meal. The meal will feature Butter & Herb Roast Turkey, Roast Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Duck Fat Roasties, Honey Glazed Carrots, Bacon-Braised Brussels Sprouts, Sausage Meat & Walnut Stuffing, and Red Wine Jus with Cranberry Sauce. That’s quite the plateful! ©Raglan Road This is very similar, if not identical, to what we’ve seen offered at this spot during past holidays. So if you’ve eaten here during past holidays and loved that meal, you can come back to enjoy many of the same elements once again. The meal is priced at $35 for adults and $17.50 for kids 9 and under. The traditional Thanksgiving dinner will be served all day long (so you can stop by for some turkey at lunch if that’s what you prefer!). Raglan Road will also feature its Irish music and dance entertainment during the evening dinner hours. Raglan Road Got some in your group that don’t want the traditional Thanksgiving turkey meal? No worries! The all-day Raglan Road menu will also be available. Reservations are recommended. You can make your reservations online through Disney’s reservations system or by calling (407) 938-0300. Christmas Christmas will feature the same menu as Thanksgiving and it is also priced at $35 for adults and $17.50 for kids ages 9 and under. ©Raglan Road Like Thanksgiving, Christmas dinner will be served all day on Christmas Day. Raglan Road will also feature Irish music and dance entertainment during the evening dinner hours on Christmas Day. Also, just like on Thanksgiving Day, if you want to order from the all-day Raglan Road menu on Christmas Day, that will also be available. Reservations for these major holidays can fill up QUICKLY so be sure to make those reservations online or call (407) 938-0300. Holiday Decorations at Raglan Road Want to do some holiday shopping after or before you eat? You can stop by the Shop for Ireland boutique to pick up some special gift items including a Guinness merchandise collection, holiday decorations, and more. We’ll keep an eye out for more updates about holiday offerings around Disney World, so be sure to check back with us for more news! Click here to see why you should tune into the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! 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. Preorder 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 Preorder 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! MORE Disney World Holiday INFO! Check Out ALL the Holiday Treats in Disney World Last Year (With Reviews!) Look Back at the 2020 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays BEST of the FEST! How Much Will a Disney world Hotel Room Cost You to Visit During the 2021 Holidays? Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Will you be spending the holidays in Disney World? Tell us in the comments! The post Thanksgiving and Christmas Meals ANNOUNCED for a Fan-Favorite Disney World Spot first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The 2021 fiscal year saw only two full months of cruise operations at Port Canaveral, so its total revenue was the lowest it has been in nearly two decades bringing in just shy of $34.5 million. View the full article

Lightning lanes. Disney Genie. Genie+. Individual Attraction Selection. There’s a LOT of new things to keep track of now that the Disney Genie system has officially debuted in Disney World! Peter Pan’s Flight Lightning Lane We’ve been testing the system, doing our best to answer your questions about it, and sharing all of the lessons we’ve learned from using the Genie. Still confused? Want to see the basics about Genie, Genie+, and Individual Attraction Selection in one, succinct way? Then, we’ve got just the resource for you! Introducing the FREE DFB Disney Genie Printable! The image below breaks down the basics about the free Disney Genie planning service, the paid Genie+ service, and the paid Individual Attraction Selection service; provides you with a basic summary of different things you need to know about the systems; and even provides helpful tips! To print it or see it larger, click on the image below! Click This Image to Make it Bigger! You can save the image on your phone, print it out for use in the parks, or just bookmark it so you can come back to it during your trip. There is a LOT to know about Genie and its related services. When you’re ready to learn more, you can check out our video below about what we learned after using Disney Genie. And you can click on the links below to see more about our experience using the systems: Check out our experience using Genie on its launch day in Disney World We had 5 Disney World pros test out the Genie planning system — see what we learned See how to have more than 1 Genie+ Lightning Lane reservation in Disney World Can you cancel a Genie+ Lightning Lane reservation in Disney World? Click here to learn more. See how to book a Genie+ Lightning Lane with multiple people in your party Don’t want to read 100 different articles about how to use Genie? Just read THIS. We’re continuing to test out Genie and we’re on the lookout for any updates, so be sure to check back with us for more Disney news. 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 What questions do you have about Disney Genie? Tell us in the comments! The post The FREE DFB Printable to Help You Make Sense of Disney Genie first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

When you order something off the menu at a restaurant, you usually know what you’re getting yourself into. And, at Disney World, that’s normally the case, too. Outpost Mix However, sometimes Disney World likes to add a little “pizzazz” to their items – forcing us to say, “What in the world was Disney THINKING? I’ve GOTTA try that!” Check out our video below about The Weirdest Disney World Food EVER!  Are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes! Check out our latest video and then comment below: The weirdest Disney World food you’ve ever had! The post DFB Video: The Weirdest Disney World Food EVER first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s Halloween season at Disney World — or is it? Mummy Mickey Popcorn Bucket Have you noticed that it just doesn’t FEEL the same in Disney World this year?? The “most spookiest time of the year” seems to have been pushed aside in favor of that other big thing that happened in October — the 50th Anniversary. Not to mention Christmas decorations (!!!) are already showing up on the scene! Honestly, it doesn’t feel like the Halloween we have come to look forward to at Disney World in past years. It got us wondering…did Disney World get cheated out of Halloween this year? Just think about it — if you go to the parks on any given day right now, you might not feel like the spooky spirit is around at all. So what gives?? The Traditional Mickey Pumpkin Wreaths Were Replaced The most iconic Halloween decorations at Magic Kingdom (possibly all of Disney World!) are the Mickey pumpkin wreaths and we look forward to seeing them every year — they’re one of the first indications of the spooky season. And this year, we DID get Mickey pumpkin wreaths… Mickey Pumpkins Galore! …for a while. But then they were replaced by Cinderella Pumpkin Wreaths in honor of the 50th Anniversary (because, apparently, Cinderella is more 50th than MICKEY ). Sure, the new wreaths are a bit “classier” for the big anniversary event than cartoonish Mickey pumpkin heads flickering down the street, but it’s just not the same for those Halloween stans. Does this wreath say Halloween to you? And we’re #sorrynotsorry but these new wreaths are WAY less Halloweeny. The Cindy pumpkins feel like if your family was WAY into Halloween but this year your mom is like, “we’re not putting plastic skeletons and spiders and fake cobwebs all over the yard like we have EVERY year. This year, we’re going with a much classier rustic Autumn Harvest theme!” Sure it’s still “festive” but it’s also a lot less whimsical. Well, at least they have fall-like colors, right? Here Are 13 SPOOKY Stories from Disney World Just in Time for Halloween! The Lack Of Halloween Snacks Usually around this time of the year, we are inundated with orange icing, fall flavors, and pumpkin treats. We’re not kidding when we say it feels like Disney opens the black and orange sprinkle floodgates and we find ourselves drowning in a sea of pumpkin spice EVERYTHING. And although we’ve had a few Halloween treats (most of the new ones were at Boo Bash, but we’ll get to THAT in a second!), they really haven’t been around much this year. Why? Because the 50th Anniversary started on October 1st and brought in over 150 new food and drink items. This should’ve been a Halloween cupcake So our normally spoopy orange and black e-ver-y-thing was replaced this year by blue food coloring, edible glitter, and enough chocolate “50” medallions to fill all the treasure chests in Pirates of the Caribbean. And with all those new snacks arriving, the Halloween snacks just sort of got…forgotten this year. One of the best spots for classically fun Halloween treats, the Main Street Confectionery, has even been a bit of a bummer this year. When the Halloween treats arrived on the scene (in the shadow of all the “EARidescent” 50th treats), this is what we found… Are Those M&M’s OK?? …hmm. These were kind of an afterthought, right? (That’s not even getting into how there’s something suspect going on with those M&M’s there that we’re not quite sure about!) Yes, there has been a good bit more over at Big Top Treats, but it is repeats of stuff we’ve seen in past years, nothing new or exciting really. And this seems to be one of the bigger spots to find seasonal treats. Other parks and resorts have followed the suit for the most part — limited repeat Halloween snacks from past years (if any) tucked in around all the 50th goodies. Where’s all the new stuff at? Yes, we loved the Haunted Mansion Muppet Eclairs at PizzeRizzo, but where are all the other Halloween treats, Disney World? Here Are 7 Disney Inspired Halloween Cocktails to Make at Home! No Halloween Cavalcades Okay, so we knew there wouldn’t be any Halloween parades this year even at Boo Bash (again, we’ll get into the Halloween Parties, or lack thereof, in a bit!), but at least last year, we got Halloween cavalcades with the characters in costume, the villains, and the Nightmare Before Christmas gang. This year? Forget about it. There are NO Halloween Cavalcades. Villain cavalcade from 2020 Instead, the only NEW cavalcade we’re getting is the — you guessed it — 50th anniversary cavalcade. The Lack of Costumed Guests Lest we forget last year was also a big deal for costume-lovers — Disney allowed guests of all ages to wear Halloween costumes in Magic Kingdom for most of the Halloween season in 2020. This was previously reserved for guests at the Halloween Parties (and of course children have always been allowed to wear costumes as long as they fit Disney’s guidelines). AMUCK! It was a…different year for Disney World, and the decision to allow everyone to wear costumes was likely the result of canceling the Halloween parties entirely in 2020. But for guests that got to experience it last year, it’s still a loss this year (especially considering the lack of offerings and cost of Boo Bash might make that a skippable event for some guests). Here’s What Halloween Looks Like at Shanghai Disneyland Boo Bash Isn’t Comparable to Mickey’s Not-So Scary Halloween Party We’re just going to say it — this year’s After Hours Boo Bash technically costs more than the last Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in 2019, but it isn’t even close to being comparable to offering the same amount of value. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Party had a LOT more entertainment (and we get that we are still living in the age of socially-distanced entertainment, but still…). And it was a longer party! Boo Bash Cavalcade But now that Disney World is looking towards the holidays and the Mickey’s Very Merriest After Hours Party, we’re starting to see just how much the Halloween parties got short-changed — the Christmas events will have an actual parade and a special fireworks and stage show. Boo Bash didn’t get that, AT ALL. They got largely the same cavalcades that were running all day long free with general admission last year. That was it! You could see Oogie Boogie and pals all day long last year — no separate ticket required! And those event-exclusive treats we typically get SO pumped to check out? Yeah, it was a funnel cake and 2 drinks this year. Dat’s it! The selection at the event was SLIM So even the one place you’d expect to REALLY have Halloween vibes thrown at you — the Halloween-centric parties — you really…didn’t. Check Out DETAILS About The New Stage Show Coming to Very Merriest After Hours in Disney World No Fireworks at Boo Bash Like we said, there aren’t any special fireworks at the Boo Bash. We covered this above but it’s also getting its own section because we’re still wondering WHY. When Boo Bash was first announced back in May, fireworks still hadn’t returned to Disney World, so it made sense to announce no fireworks show at the party. Problem was that since then, Disney has brought BACK nightly fireworks to Magic Kingdom. Once fireworks returned, we waited to see if a late-coming fireworks show would appear for Boo Bash but, alas, it did not. Guests can still check out Enchantment most nights but a Halloween show? Nope. Enchantment It would be a lot more understandable if Disney World hadn’t announced a separate fireworks show for Mickey’s Very Merriest After Hours Party. Boo Bash is about as bare-bones of an event as it could be, but to see the Christmas events get essentially most of what guests got at past Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parties stings a bit. So guests who attend the Very Merriest After Hours Party now get opportunities to see Enchantment PLUS a Christmas-themed fireworks show during their stay. Poor Boo Bash. Here’s EVERYTHING You NEED to Know About the Very Merriest Christmas Event in Disney World The Characters Aren’t Wearing Halloween Costumes Even last year, when Disney World didn’t have a Halloween party offering, we still got to see the characters in their Halloween costumes during the day. Well, this year, just about the only place you’re going to get to see that outside of Boo Bash is if you book a reservation at Hollywood and Vine’s Halloween Dine at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Halloween Dine is the only place you’ll get to see Vampire Mickey this year. This year, the characters in the parks are all sporting their EARidescent 50th anniversary outfits. It seems largely the result of bad timing once again. Disney World having its birthday the SAME month as all things spooky is really putting a dampener on the holiday, huh? Where the Buckets at?! Similar to Halloween treats arriving on the scene, we’ve come to expect that with the changing of the seasons comes the changing of the buckets. Popcorn buckets, that is. Christmas and Halloweentime are basically the Superbowl for Disney World popcorn buckets and sippers. We usually find a handful of different styles of buckets around the parks and possibly a sipper or two. Mummy Mickey Popcorn Bucket So here’s the thing — this year we DID get a couple buckets. But they’re largely exiled to Disney Springs where they can live their spooky lives and not interfere with the much more EARidescent other options around the parks. (Yep, once again, the 50th Anniversary edged out Halloween a bit!) As far as the buckets we HAVE seen, most are repeats from past years or from other parks to boot. “Is it Halloween? Oh SRY, didn’t notice!” says Mickey The 50th Anniversary Mickey Balloon Popcorn Buckets and Minnie Mouse Anniversary Sippers might be selling out in Magic Kingdom and getting all the love, but in quiet pockets of Disney World, the spooky buckets are patiently waiting for their forever homes. Here Are The 7 Best Disney Halloween Recipes You Can Make Right Now! We love Halloween around here including all the treats, decor, and merchandise that comes with it, but this year definitely seems to have a lot less spooky energy in the air. Disney World’s anniversary was bound to take the spotlight since a 50th birthday just comes once but Halloween happens EVERY year. We totally get it, but we do still miss eating our way through all the new black and orange foods Disney could throw at us. There’s always next year (plus we did still have a nice Halloween season at Disney World, even if it has been greatly diminished). But, hey, at least it looks like the holidays will get some representation in the parks, but we have to wonder if it’s still going to feel more like the 50th anniversary than the holidays? Time will tell. We guess we’ll know for sure if Cinderella carriage Christmas wreaths start showing up! Here’s A FIRST LOOK at the Merchandise You’ll Find at EPCOT’s 2021 Festival of the Holidays Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 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? Did Disney World get cheated out on Halloween this year? Let us know in the comments! The post How Disney World Got 🎃 CHEATED 🎃 Out Of Halloween This Year first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Despite delays from the global pandemic, Disney has still been cranking out new movies lately! ©Disney Some went straight to Disney+, like Mulan and Soul, some released in theaters, like Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and others went to both, like Black Widow and Jungle Cruise. There are even more exciting Disney movies ahead, and today, Pixar released a first look at the origin story of one of our favorite toys! A NEW teaser trailer has been released for Pixar’s Lightyear — the story of the original Buzz Lightyear! ©Disney Lightyear was announced in December of 2020 and is about the space hero character that the toy Buzz Lightyear is based on. While Buzz the toy is voiced by Tim Allen in the Toy Story movies, Buzz in his origin story is voiced by Captain America himself, Chris Evans! Buzz Lightyear to Star Command! ©Disney The movie was previously announced to premiere on June 17th, 2022, but the teaser trailer just says “Summer 2022,” so it’s possible Disney is leaving it a little more vague in case there are any delays (like there were recently with Marvel). You can check out the new teaser trailer below! We don’t know about you, but hearing David Bowie’s “Starman” all throughout that teaser trailer has us very excited to watch this new Pixar movie! We’ll keep you updated on important Disney entertainment news, so stay tuned to DFB for more. Click here to learn more about Lightyear Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Are you as excited for this movie as we are?! Let us know in the comments! The post VIDEO: Buzz Lightyear Is Getting His Very Own Movie -- See the Teaser Trailer HERE! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article