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Halloween is coming in HOT, but just in case you haven’t found the perfect Disney costume for the holiday doesn’t mean it’s time to panic! Trick or Treat! Thankfully, there are LOTS of options out there, and you might be surprised by some of the options in your own backyard! And by “backyard,” we mean Target because we probably spend more time there than our real backyards! As you map out plans for trick-or-treating or festive parties, it’s absolutely vital that you have just the right Disney costume to wear to the festivities. 50th Anniversary Celebration Costumes Fortunately, Target loves Disney as much as we do, and their stores (and websites) are FILLED with awesome options that are just a click away! Here are 9 Disney Halloween costumes you can get at Target right now! If you procrastinated finding your kids (or you!) that perfect costume…honestly, same. But the Tar-jay got you covered! Elsa the Snow Queen Journey “Into the Unknown” with this year’s must-have Frozen ‘fit! ©Target The Elsa the Snow Queen dress is perfect for little princesses looking to embrace their inner ice heroine, with a shimmering and billowy-chic white dress with purples and blues! ©Target Order one today for $21.49! Click here to get the Frozen Elsa costume Genie The Genie is so hot right now (well, at least it seems to be all we’re talking about ’round here!). Thanks to Disney Genie and Disney Genie+, Aladdin’s magical friend is sure to be a BIG hit this Halloween, and you don’t want to miss out! ©Target Target has the perfect costume for adults, complete with blue jumpsuit, smiley mask, and impressively muscled torso and arms, all for $66.13! Click here to live your Genie dreams this Halloween Moana Adventure Dress Another Disney fave who’s been ALL the rage lately (gotta bow down to a Disney Princess with her own themed hotel rooms) is Moana! ©Moana For those looking to celebrate the tropical songstress, Target has a Moana Adventure Dress made with textured woven polyester that looks fresh out of the film! ©Target Snag one today for just $17.99! Click here to let your kiddo channel their inner Moana! Raya and the Last Dragon Adventure Outfit Ready for even MORE adventure? You sure will be with the Raya and the Last Dragon Adventure Outfit! ©Target Inspired by this year’s delightful new Disney film, the heroic-looking costume is inspired by Raya’s fashionable-yet-sensible ensemble, including a yellow-green jumpsuit, red cape, and faux belt! ©Target It goes for $18.39. BYO dragon. Click here to score Raya’s costume! Captain Hook Let’s be honest: as bad as Captain Hook is (kidnapping children and sword-fighting with them is basically a no-no for most adults, right?), he’s undoubtedly a Disney fashion icon. ©Target Perfect for seafaring boys, Target’s Captain Hook outfit does the bedazzled pirate proud with a regal red jacket, character patch, belt, and pants! All for $46.12! Avast, mateys! Click here to get the Hook costume! Woody for Toddlers When it comes to picture-perfect Disney Halloween costumes, it’s always a good idea to start them young. Case in point: this ADORBS Woody costume for toddlers! ©Target Inspired by the lovable Toy Story cowboy, this cutie includes a one-piece jumpsuit with snaps, and the requisite cowboy hat, so he’ll be ready to get down to business. ©Target Order one today for $25! Click here to get the Woody costume for toddlers! Cinderella for Adults Who says kids get to have all the Disney Princess fun?! For any adults looking to embrace their inner Disney Princess, Target’s granting your wishes with this Cinderella costume for grown-ups! ©Target This beauty of a dress is reminiscent of the one she wore to the ball, resplendent in sparkly blue! Buy one for $66.15, and you’re sure to be the belle of whatever ball you attend this year! Click here to get this Cindy-inspired gown! Beast for Adults Sorry, fellas. But your adult costume choices are considerably less chic and shimmery. However, what you lack in sparkle, you make up for with dapper vests…and ferocious paws. ©Target The Beast costume for adults is a handsome get-up inspired by the ballroom dance scene (minus the beast’s head, thankfully), complete with a jacket, dickie, pants, and a pair of furry gloves! Order the Beast costume for $111.13! Click here to channel your inner BEAST! Winifred Sanderson for Adults When it comes to Disney’s Halloween queens, we can’t NOT mention the ultimate witchy icon: Winifred Sanderson! ©Target The Hocus Pocus baddie might technically be a villain, but her fashion is downright heroic, as evidenced by Target’s costume that includes a green dress, a green and purple petticoat, and gold ribbon lace. ©Target Order this adult costume for $35 and you’ll be sure to put a spell on anyone who sees you! ©Target Dead man’s toe and skin-bound books not included! Click here to get your own Winnie costume! With any of these Disney Halloween costumes, you’ll be party-ready and sure to steal the spotlight! The Target website is only a click away! 11 Disney Halloween Costumes For Under $30 Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Which Disney character would you dress up as for Halloween? Let us know in the comments! The post 9 Disney Costumes You Can Still Get (Last Minute!) at Target first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Hello, friends! We’re back with another DFB Video covering all the latest Disney news! Scanning into Our Lightning Lane We officially have dates (and a few other details) about the 2022 EPCOT Festival of the Arts, we’re still up to our Minnie ears in Disney Genie, and modified character meet and greets will be starting soon at Disney World! It’s time for the latest Disney news! Here we go… .  By the way, have you subscribed yet? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to the channel and never miss a single video! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/subscribe.png So check out the video and then let us know: which of this week’s Disney news are you the most excited about? The post DFB Video: Latest Disney News: Festival of the Arts Dates, Disney Genie, & Character Meet & Greets Start Soon first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney has been a titan of the film industry for decades and that certainly hasn’t changed in recent years. ©Disney From the Marvel Cinematic Universe to Walt Disney Studios films, there are a lot of movies coming from the Walt Disney Company. With the global health situation, Disney has made some changes to the way their films are released. For instance, you can now buy select newly released blockbusters through Premier Access on Disney+. But how much money has Disney actually made through this process? What is Disney+ Premier Access? To start, let’s break down Disney+ Premier Access. This option in Disney’s streaming service is an upcharge feature that allows Disney+ subscribers to pay a (typically $30) one-time fee in order to watch a movie early before it is released to all Disney+ members. In recent instances, movies have become available on Premier Access at the same time that they head to theaters. ©Disney Purchasers get unlimited access to these movies as long as they remain Disney+ subscribers. Then, after a few months, these movies are typically released to the rest of the subscribers without an additional charge. The Premier Access window typically lasts around three months. This three-month period is similar to the release window that studios typically use for theatrical movie premieres before they’re allowed to debut on home video. Which movies have been released through Disney+ Premier Access? Disney is not releasing ALL new films on Premier Access, but five so far have been featured on the service: Mulan, Raya and the Last Dragon, Cruella, Black Widow, and Jungle Cruise. ©Disney Notably, new Pixar films, like Luca, have skipped the Premier Access release and been made available for no charge to all Disney+ subscribers. How much has Disney+ made with Premier Access movies? So, now to the big question: How much has Disney+ made with Premier Access movies? This is a relatively difficult question as Disney has not been releasing (and doesn’t have to release) full figures for all of the movies on Premier Access. Typically, we have box office figures to reference, and these are pretty black and white. But the numbers aren’t so clear through a streaming service. Let’s take a look at each film! Disney+ Screenshot ©Disney As of opening weekend for Jungle Cruise, the film had made $30 million from Disney+ Premier Access. To compare, it made $61.8 million at the global box office. Just before, Black Widow‘s opening weekend brought $60 million on Disney+ and $158 million at the global box office; according to The Hollywood Reporter. ©Disney Per The Wrap, Cruella debuted to a global $43 million in theaters. Disney+ did not release the opening week data for streaming, but according to Deadline‘s data from Samba TV, the film likely made around $21.51 million on Disney+. ©Disney Raya and the Last Dragon made $26.2 million on its global box office opening weekend, per the Hollywood Reporter. Disney did not release figures for this film either so it’s unclear how well it performed, but according to Business Insider, it received 20% fewer purchases than Mulan. Using the Mulan numbers, that would mean it made approximately $28.4 million on Disney+. Raya and the Last Dragon Finally, Mulan made $35.5 million from Premier Access on opening weekend according to Business Insider. Insider notes, the opening weekend brought in $5.9 million at the box office. Mulan Preview So, summed together, the five opening weekends made $175.41 million on Premier Access and $294.9 million in theaters. Keep in mind, these figures are only for opening weekends (which account for the majority of purchases on Disney+), but are likely higher including post-opening purchases. Plus, there was a global pandemic going on during these releases. This affected theaters and home viewership greatly, possibly skewing where some of the numbers would have landed. Disney+ Bus That means that Disney has possibly made almost or around $200 million from Disney+ Premier Access. Again, keep in mind these are estimated figures from credible sources, but they’re still just an estimate. We’ve done whole posts on why video on demand can be both a good or bad thing, as well as also covering what this sort of release can mean for a distribution company without half the profits going back to the movie theaters. Still, wow! Those are some impressive figures! Keep an eye on DFB for the latest Disney news and analysis! Click here to learn more about Jungle Cruise on Disney+! 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 of these numbers? Tell us in the comments! The post Just How Much Has Disney+ Made With Premier Access Movies? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Sure, Halloween is just over a week away, but the Disney Parks are already getting into the holiday spirit. There’s something different about the castle…There’s SNOW! We’ve seen holiday decorations at Disney World and Disneyland, and we’ve already gotten a sneak peek of holiday merchandise! Disneyland even got a brand new year-round holiday store. And recently we stopped by one specific spot where it really is beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Right now Disneyland Magic Key holders can get in the holiday spirit thanks to 2 special guests. As we previously shared, Mickey and Minnie are getting new holiday outfits at Disneyland. Magic Key holders can see Mickey and Minnie RIGHT NOW in their matching holiday scarves, with their new adorable looks. Heya, Mickey! This exclusive limited-time experience can be found at The Magic Key Starcade Experience, near Space Mountain in Tomorrowland. This space is functioning as the Magic Key holder lounge. When Magic Key holders walk into the lounge, they can find Mickey greeting guests with holiday cheer! He looks so dapper But, Mickey isn’t alone — Minnie is there too! Both Mickey and Minnie will be available for socially distanced meetings with Magic Key holders through October 30th. Looking as stylish as ever On November 12th, all Disneyland guests will get the chance to see Mickey and Minnie in their new festive outfits at Town Square on Main Street, U.S.A. We’re big fans of this new holiday look, and we can’t wait to share more holiday news from Disneyland with you, so stay tuned! PHOTOS: Come With Us Inside the NEW Year-Round Holiday Store in Disneyland! Disneyland Reviews and Information Click HERE to Check Out Lots of DFB Posts About Disneyland See the Latest Updates About Disneyland’s Mask Policy Check Out Our Disneyland Restaurants Guide See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Park Check Out Details from the Historic Reopening of Disneyland Resort See What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Learn About the Disneyland Mobile App Get All the Details About Mobile Order in Disneyland See More About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure What’s Going to Be Different About Your Next Disneyland Trip? Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe What do you think of Mickey and Minnie’s holiday outfits in Disneyland? Let us know in the comments! The post PHOTOS: See What Disney Characters Are Already Sporting NEW Holiday Looks first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Maybe you’re a big fan of Disney, but have you ever thought about working at the Most Magical Place on Earth? Cinderella Castle Well, good news! Disney World is HIRING! Don’t forget you can swing by an in-person job fair to learn more about the opportunities! Here are the deets. Disney World will be hosting the Walt Disney World Job Fair on October 25th and 26th in Veracruz Exhibit Hall B at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Convention Center. The event will take place between 9AM and 4PM. Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort If you apply in advance of the event, you could even receive an offer for one of the available roles that day. The company is hiring full-time and part-time roles with pay rates from $15 to $20 per hour. There are openings in Culinary, Housekeeping, Stewards, Bus, and more! Cast MEmbers Hirees could also experience benefits like healthcare coverage, child care support, cast-exclusive discounts, and tuition assistance through Disney Aspire (Disney’s tuition payment program for hourly employees). The Cast Members And a few of the roles feature hiring bonuses! Those who sign on in Housekeeping or Steward roles will receive a $1,000 hiring bonus and those in Cook 1 and Chef Assistant roles will receive a $1,500 bonus. Cast Member So, if you’re interested, head on over to Coronado Springs next week! Keep an eye on DFB for more Disney news! Click here to learn more about the job fair! 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. Got questions? Ask them in the comments! The post REMINDER: Disney World Is Hosting An In-Person Job Fair NEXT WEEK! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s time for another round of what’s new at Disney’s Hollywood Studios! Slinky Dog Dash During our more recent trips into the park, we spotted some new merchandise and spent a lot of time experimenting with the new Disney Genie service! Let’s take a virtual trip through the park to see the latest updates. Hollywood Studios Merchandise Updates The Dark Room In The Dark Room we found some new hats that are ready to take you into the winter season. There was a purple ombré beanie with a sullen-looking Mickey and the phrase, “The one & only.” Both hats are priced at $19.99. Mickey isn’t happy And we can’t forget about this gray hat with pom pom ears and a pearl bow for $24.99. Pom pom ears! In the Dark Room, we also found a Partner’s Statue beanie in a bright blue color. Partners Statue Beanie These hats would be great for a visit to Disney World during those chillier days that can sometimes sneak up on you! Legends of Hollywood There was a new Goofy T-Shirt for $36.99 in Legends of Hollywood. The front shows Goofy up to his familiar antics… New Goofy T-Shirt …and the back of the shirt says, “The underdog always comes out on top.” Back of T-Shirt If you’re a big fan of Goofy or love cheering for the underdog (we get the pun there, since Goofy IS a dog), you can pick up this shirt! Tatooine Traders We spotted some new-to-us Star Wars shirts in Tatooine Traders. This long sleeve top says “Rebels, Droids, Sith Lords & Jedi Masters.” New Star Wars Shirt And on the back of this shirt is the Star Wars logo. Back You can find it at Tatooine Traders just as you exit Star Tours, and (as always) May the Force Be With You. Hollywood Studios Miscellaneous Updates On the first day of the launch of the Disney Genie service, we purchased an Individual Attraction Selection (IAS or pay-per-ride) for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. IAS is basically a pay-per-ride offering for the most popular, in-demand rides in Disney World. We learned quickly, however, what happens if a pay-per-ride breaks down. In fact, Rise closed down THREE times during our visit. Rise is back down We received an “experience redemption” pass when the ride broke down, which granted us Lightning Lane access to Rise (redeemable once) for the rest of the day. Worth it Keep in mind that you can’t cancel your pay-per-ride selections when you buy them, so that’s an important factor to consider when thinking about purchasing one of these. Click here to see more details about what happened when we paid for the Individual Attraction Selection and Rise of the Resistance broke down three times! That’s what’s new at Disney’s Hollywood Studios! Keep reading DFB for more Disney World news and updates! Click here to see ALL the latest Disney updates you may have missed! 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 about the news from Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Tell us in the comments! The post What’s New in Hollywood Studios: A Popular Ride Breaks Down 3 Times(!), Winter Hats, and More! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Although the holiday snow is already on Disneyland’s Cinderella Castle, we’ve seen a sneak peek of holiday merchandise coming to the parks, and a new holiday store has opened, it is STILL TECHNICALLY HALLOWEEN SEASON! Happy Halloween from Disneyland! We’re still trying some of the amazing Halloween snacks around the resort, and we just found one that might seem basic at first — but it’s so much more. The snack is Pumpkin Spiced Fritters — and yeah, we know, EVERYTHING is pretty much pumpkin-spiced this time of year (but that’s not necessarily a bad thing!). We’ve had pumpkin fritters in Disneyland before, but back in 2013 they were pumpkin squash fritters with actual pumpkin chunks in them. The ones we got today are a bit different. More pumpkin spiced things These little round balls of dough seem a little basic… Basic? …but hear us out. We actually liked these fritters more than we thought we would! These fritters weren’t overwhelmingly pumpkin spiced. There’s a little pumpkin flavor, but we actually tasted more of a cinnamon flavor when we bit into them. Not too pumpkin spiced And you can barely taste the pumpkin at all after dipping into that cream cheese!! Yes — the fritters are served with a Cream Cheese Dipping Sauce, and that’s what really took this snack up a notch! Y’all know we like to dip quite a few of our snacks in cheese, right? Except this time it’s not plastic cheese we’re after, it’s cream cheese! Cream CHEEEESSEEE These simple little fritters with their yummy cream cheese sauce are actually one of the better Halloween snacks we’ve had at Disneyland this year. If you want to try them out for yourself, they’re available right now at Royal Street Veranda for $5.99. Pumpkin Spiced Fritter We’ll keep trying more of the Halloween treats at Disneyland, so stay tuned for more reviews! Marshmallow-Covered Churro ‘Hot Dogs’ Exist in Disneyland Resort — Learn More Here! Disneyland Reviews and Information Click HERE to Check Out Lots of DFB Posts About Disneyland See the Latest Updates About Disneyland’s Mask Policy Check Out Our Disneyland Restaurants Guide See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Park Check Out Details from the Historic Reopening of Disneyland Resort See What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Learn About the Disneyland Mobile App Get All the Details About Mobile Order in Disneyland See More About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure What’s Going to Be Different About Your Next Disneyland Trip? Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe What’s your favorite Halloween flavor? Let us know in the comments! The post Review: We Cheated on Plastic Cheese in Disneyland...and We Liked It first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Hello and welcome to another weekly Disney news roundup — this one’s a good one! Castle views = perfection Over the past few days, we’ve seen the debut of Disney Genie in Disney World, some BIG updates about EPCOT’s International Festival of the Arts, and much more. So, without further ado, let’s jump into the biggest Disney news from this week! 1 — Disney Genie Has Debuted in Disney World The time has arrived — Disney Genie, Genie+, and Individual Attraction Selection have officially arrived in Disney World! Disney Genie is the free planning service that can help you optimize your day. Genie+ is a paid FastPass+ replacement service where you pay $15 per ticket per day to select return times to visit attractions, skip the standby line, and use those rides’ Lightning Lanes (a.k.a. FastPass+ lanes). And finally, Individual Attraction Selection (or pay-per-ride) is a service where you pay to skip the standby line at a single attraction and use that specific attraction’s Lightning Lane. Lightning Lanes Have Replaced FastPass+ Lanes We experienced the good, the bad, and the confusing about Genie+ on its debut day and we’ve continued to test the system and share ALL of our thoughts with you. There’s a LOT to break down here, so click on the links below to learn more: See our step-by-step guide to booking and paying for pay-per-ride selections in Disney World See our step-by-step guide to purchasing Genie+ in Disney World Check out why Genie+ and pay-per-ride will cost more than expected Pay-per-ride selections SOLD OUT for a popular ride on Disney Genie’s debut day (and on some days following Genie’s debut) 7AM just got way more hectic in Disney World — see why ©Disney Take a look at the PhotoPass lenses that come with Genie+ (even your dog can use them!) Look at our full guide to using the free Disney Genie planning service Do you need to stay at a Disney World hotel to get the best pay-per-ride choices? Here’s what we’ve seen What’s the new 120 minute rule and why should you care? How does rider swap work with pay-per-ride and Genie+? Lightning Lane Entrance Get a look at the wait times with Genie+ and pay-per-ride How many rides can we do in a single day with Genie+ and pay-per-ride? Can a Genie+ ride “sell out” in Disney World? How does park hopping work with Disney Genie? Can you cancel a Genie+ Lightning Lane selection in Disney World? How to have more than 1 Genie+ Lightning Lane reservation in Disney World Click here to see our 6 biggest takeaways from the first day of Disney Genie! 2 — Festival of the Arts News This week we also got some big Festival of the Arts news. DATES have been announced for the 2022 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts. Be sure to mark those calendars so you can stop by the Festival from January 14th through February 21st, 2022. Festival of the Arts Disney also announced that the Disney on Broadway Concert Series will be coming back to the Festival of the Arts this year. Alton Fitzgerald White and Kissy Simmons Disney also confirmed 9 things that will be returning to the Festival this year, including “The Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine” and those awesome photo ops! We’ll be keeping an eye out for more Festival of the Arts news, so be sure to check back for more updates. Click here to learn more about the Festival of the Arts! 3 — Disney Cruise Line News Ready to start planning your next Disney Cruise Line adventure? Bookings are now open for early 2023 Disney Cruises, so you can pick your dates and destinations and get planning. Disney Cruise Line Terminal This week, we also learned that Disney Cruise Line will be presenting a special float during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Sounds like there will be quite a few things for Disney fans to check out during that parade, so be sure to tune in. Disney Cruise Line has also recently updated a policy regarding unvaccinated children, so if you’ll be traveling with little ones you’ll want to check that out. Click here to learn more about Disney Cruise Line. 4 — 50th Anniversary Updates Disney World’s 50th Anniversary is underway and we’ve got some updates to share with you! First, if you’ve been waiting to grab the NEW 50th Anniversary Mickey Mouse popcorn bucket in Disney World, you’ll be thrilled to know that this special item has arrived in the parks! Castle Selfie! Need even more reasons to get excited about the 50th Anniversary? Then you’ll want to hop over to EPCOT where you just might get the chance to see sea urchins wearing tiny little Mickey hats!!! It’s seriously a cuteness overload. It doesn’t get better than this! If you’ve got a whole bunch of friends and family you wish you could reunite with at Disney World, you might want to look into a special sweepstakes being offered right now. If you win, you and 49(!) friends and family members could be heading to Disney World for FREE! Time to celebrate! And finally, you don’t have to be in Disney World to get in on all of the 50th fun. Click here to see a list of ALL of the 50th Anniversary merchandise you can get online right now! See more about the 50th Anniversary here! But, of course, more Disney news was also shared this week. Check out some of the other stories by clicking the links below: Jellyrolls has reopened in Disney World Get a FIRST LOOK at the merchandise you’ll find during EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays Disney World FINALLY created a candle that’ll make your house smell like a fan-favorite hotel Release dates have been DELAYED for several major Marvel films See everything coming to Disney+ in November Disneyland has started decorating for the holidays And that’s our weekly news roundup! Be sure to check back with us for all the latest updates. 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. When are you planning to visit Disney World next? Tell us in the comments! The post BIG Genie+ News, Festival of the Arts Dates, and All the Latest Disney Updates You Missed first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Halloween Horror Nights returned this year to an enthusiastic fan reception after its cancellation in 2020, but its fake frights brought real fear for some fans who worried about contracting COVID-19 in packed lines and haunted houses. View the full article

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Magic Kingdom That’s right, we’ve finally made it to the week of Halloween! The decorations are up, the treats are stocked, and we are READY to wrap up the spooky season in Disney style. If you’re celebrating the holiday in Disney World, you might want to check out our FULL UPDATE on next week’s weather! Weather Forecast According to The Weather Channel, this week brings us a wider range in temperatures than we’ve seen since the spring! There are some HOT days and some downright comfortable ones too. Spoiler alert: There’s even an evening in the 50s! Disney’s Animal Kingdom Last week, we saw the temperatures inch down a bit but this week is certainly bringing us more of the fall temperatures we’ve been hoping would arrive! Let’s take a look at the predictions so you’re ready for your Halloween week trip! October 25th Monday, October 25th will start the week with temperatures that are consistent with what we’ve been seeing, but don’t get used to it! The week starts out hot but it’s going to cool down significantly. ©The Weather Channel There’s a slight chance of rain in the forecast on Monday but this should be a mostly dry week. You might just need to dodge the odd shower. As always, a raincoat never hurts in Orlando! October 26th The next day, October 26th brings us a similar forecast with our hottest temperatures of the week during the day! We haven’t seen a day hit 90 degrees for some time so this is sure to be a scorcher for fall. ©The Weather Channel You’ll notice there is a DRASTIC drop in temperatures to the low. That’s a full 23-degree difference between the high and the low! It might be a good idea to pack a layer in case you get a little chilly once it’s nighttime. October 27th On Wednesday, October 27th, we’re going to see temps fluctuate just a little bit again — but not too much. So, we’ll be seeing high-80s heat at the hottest part of the day. Your low is gonna hang out at 72 degrees. ©The Weather Channel For most of the week, we should see a nice mix of clouds and sun. Hopefully, that means we’ll have beautiful days without it being too bright. October 28th For Thursday, October 28th, we’re seeing a little drop in temperatures to the low-80s and an evening at 63 degrees. Wow! That’s a cool night! ©The Weather Channel This day you also might spot some thunderstorms during your Disney day. We recommend riding your must-do outdoor attractions like Test Track or Slinky Dog Dash in the morning. Those thunderstorms can pop up and close your favorites! October 29th The week continues with ANOTHER drop in temperatures in the day and in the nighttime on October 29th. This is probably the first week of the year that layers are a MUST. ©The Weather Channel 60 degrees might not seem like THAT cold depending on where you’re coming from. But, if you’ve been wearing short sleeves and shorts in 80 degrees all day, you might be surprised how chilly that 60 degrees feels! October 30th Saturday, October 30th brings us the COOLEST temperatures of the week! OMG. 58 degrees??? That snuck up on us! ©The Weather Channel When you’re bundling up for the evening, keep in mind that the sun is going down a bit earlier than it has been. Days this week tend to start around 7:30AM and that sun sets around 6:40PM. October 31st And we’ll wrap up our week on October 31st with still cooler temperatures and a beautiful day of mixed sunshine and clouds. The day will still be warm at almost 80 degrees, but get ready for another high-50s night. ©The Weather Channel Florida still might be a lot hotter and sunnier than home when you visit next week! Make sure you wear sunscreen to protect from the more intense UV rays we tend to see here. Overview of the Week Here is a full overview of the week according to The Weather Channel. Temperatures are projected to get cooler towards the end of the week. We’re looking at a range of 70s to 90s highs and 50s 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 Keep in mind that these predictions might change! We recommend checking in on the forecast as you wrap up packing and each morning of your trip to make sure you’re prepared. Click here to see some essentials you need for your park bag! Tips for Weathering the Weather! So, what are our best tips for packing when it comes to this week’s forecast? Pack those layers! We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again. Layering is the KEY to staying comfy during the cooler seasons in Florida. Orlando has a tendency to slingshot between HOT temperatures during the days and chilly temperatures at night. Jacket If you wear one layer, you’re likely to be uncomfortable during one part of the day. Bring a scarf or light jacket to toss on once those temperatures drop so that you can stay comfy whether the sun is shining or you’re watching the fireworks in 58 degrees! Want more Disney trip essentials? Click here! Stay healthy! Now, those evenings might be cool but we’re still looking at hot and sunny days — and the Florida sun can be INTENSE. We want to make sure you’ll feeling comfy and SAFE when you’re walking miles in the heat. Inside the Rotunda Bistro Make sure you apply sunscreen and reapply often, take breaks when you need them, and drink a LOT of water. You might not be used to the level of activity that a Disney day requires, so make sure you’re listening to what your body needs. Want to see what our reporters carry in Disney World? Click here! And that’s the forecast for next week! As always stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney updates. Click here for the latest news from Magic Kingdom! Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Details and Info Click HERE for Your Guide to Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Celebration See Everything That Has Been Announced For Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Check Out Everything Happening in Disney World on October 1st, 2021 Click Here to See The 50 Best Ways to Celebrate Disney World’s 50th Anniversary What Does Hotel Availability and Pricing Look Like for Disney World’s 50th Anniversary? Here Are the 5 News Bombs You May Have Missed Related to the 50th Anniversary Celebrations! Check Out 10 Things You Need to Bring If You’re Going to Disney World for the 50th Anniversary See How Each of Disney World’s Park Icons Will Transform During the 50th Anniversary Celebrations! Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Are you headed to Disney World next week? Tell us in the comments! The post What Does The Weather Look Like For HALLOWEEN In Disney World!? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disneyland’s newest store is for all the people who LOVE to shop for the holidays! Plaza Point Plaza Point is a NEW year-round holiday shop that will feature all the Disney holiday goodies of your dreams and even change throughout the year to feature other holidays. Plaza Point opened yesterday and we were able to visit for a look inside today! Come inside with us! Plaza Point is located on Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland, and it fits right into the iconic street with lots of Victorian details, like in the window artwork. Plaza Point Windows You can catch a scene of women holding hands and waving in the snow… Plaza Point Windows …or a beautiful snowy scene of a little girl holding a doll. Victorian aesthetic A sign outside advertises the customized ornaments you can get at Plaza Point year-round. Custom Ornaments The inside of Plaza Point is really warm and decorated beautifully for the holidays! Inside Plaza Point It’s filled with holiday items inspired by The Nightmare Before Christmas… Holiday decor …Mickey and Minnie (of course), and more! Stockings and decor And you can’t forget about those ornaments! They were ALL over the store, from Mickey-shaped ornaments… LOTS of ornaments! …to ornaments inspired by Disney icons like the Monorail! According to a Cast Member we asked, most of the merchandise currently inside the store is not really new to Disneyland, so you might see some holiday merchandise you’ve seen before. More ornaments! If you take a look around the shop, you will find nods to the fictional Plaza Point proprietor Miss Evelyn Toro, who is based on the real mother of Disneyland Resort Enhancement Manager Dawn Pipal-Keehne. The fictional story for Evelyn Toro is that she traveled all over the world to collect special holiday items. Inside the store You will also find evidence of the real Evelyn’s Puerto Rican heritage around the store, through decor such as a statuette for Three Kings Day, a fictional Puerto Rican magazine cover, and photos of flan that the real Evelyn is known for! Pipal-Keehne said, “If you look around the room, it’s all about her love of holidays, culture and diversity — and that truly is my mom.” Inside Plaza Point In an effort to reflect diversity and inclusion, Pipal-Keehne also said that they created Victorian artwork and decor in various skin colors. One of the window displays we shared above, showing two women holding hands, is also inspired by Pipal-Keehne’s real-life wife and the LGBTQ community. Inside Plaza Point We’re excited to see how this new space in Disneyland changes with the upcoming holiday seasons. Keep reading DFB for more Disneyland news! Get an update on Magic Key park pass availability 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 Have you visited Plaza Point yet? Tell us in the comments! The post PHOTOS: Come With Us Inside the NEW Year-Round Holiday Store in Disneyland! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Next up on our planDisney Pocket Guide tour is Disney's Old Key West Resort. Complete with charming surroundings, spacious rooms, and activities galore, no wonder this is a favorite resort for so many guests.http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DisneyParks/~4/BhcFdrFugIgView the full article

When Disneyland Resort Enhancement Manager Dawn Pipal-Keehne began working with her team on décor for Plaza Point — the new holiday shop on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland park run by a fictional, well-traveled proprietor who loves all things Christmas — her thoughts kept drifting back to her mom, Evelyn. “My mom just lives for […]http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DisneyParks/~4/rZ9q3SHhspsView the full article

Last Friday, Disneyland Resort celebrated the long-awaited return of the iconic Disneyland Monorail! The beloved “highway in the sky” flew around the park much to the delight of its adoring passengers, treating each guest to the one-of-a-kind views that have been dearly missed. Cast members at the Tomorrowland station were among the thrilled fans, and we […]http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DisneyParks/~4/xQLkOGDW7WwView the full article

Ready to help the Resistance, escape from Kylo Ren, and go on a grand Star Wars-themed adventure? Then you might be looking to hop on Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Rise of the Resistance The ride debuted some time ago, but continues to be INCREDIBLY popular. Right now, there are 2 main ways to get on this ride — through the standby lane and by purchasing an Individual Attraction Selection (pay-per-ride). But, if you REALLY want to get on this ride, you might want to take a special extra step. Right now, Disney World has suspended the use of Boarding Groups for Rise of the Resistance. Instead, to ride Rise of the Resistance, guests can simply hop in the standby line, but that standby line can be quite lengthy! Keep in mind though, that while the use of Boarding Groups has been suspended for the moment, Disney has indicated that the Boarding Group system could return or just be used from time to time. Rise of the Resistance Standby Line Right now though, if you want to ride Rise of the Resistance, you’ll want to hop in that standby lane. Want to skip the (potentially) LONG standby line? To skip the lines at Rise of the Resistance, you could purchase an Individual Attraction Selection (pay-per-ride selection) for the ride. Pay-per-ride is a NEW service that debuted in Disney World with the launch of the Disney Genie. Experience Redemption Pass Through pay-per-ride, you’ll pay to select a return time to visit a ride, skip the standby line, and use that ride’s Lightning Lane (the old FastPass+ lane). Guests can buy a maximum of 2 pay-per-ride selections per day. So far, the price to use the Lightning Lane at Rise of the Resistance has been $15 per person (plus tax). But, that price can vary depending on the day. Lightning Lane Rise of the Resistance Any guest can purchase a pay-per-ride selection, whether they stay at a Disney World hotel or not. But, staying at a Disney World hotel (or select other hotels) could be a HUGE advantage when trying to get a pay-per-ride selection when it comes to Rise of the Resistance specifically. All guests can buy their first pay-per-ride selection on the day of their park visit when the park opens. But, if you’re staying at a Disney World Resort hotel, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels, or Shades of Green, you can actually book your pay-per-ride selection starting at 7AM! Hollywood Studios has typically been opening at 9AM each morning, so that’s a potential 2 hour head start. In the queue for Rise of the Resistance Why could that head start be important? Well, by being able to book your Rise of the Resistance pay-per-ride selection early, you’ll likely have a greater selection of return times to pick from. For example, one of our reporters recently booked a Rise of the Resistance pay-per-ride selection at 9AM because they weren’t staying at a Disney World hotel. When they looked at 9AM, the next available return time wasn’t until 5:50PM. They quickly refreshed the page, and within those few seconds more return times had sold out. At that point, the next available return time was for around 7:15PM! ©Disney Now, in the case of our reporter, that late return time wasn’t an issue. But, if you were hoping to ride Rise of the Resistance earlier in the day either because you have other plans in the evening or maybe you were even planning to hop in the afternoon and be in an entirely different park, this late return time could be an issue. If you instead had the ability to book a pay-per-ride selection at 7AM, you’d likely have a greater selection of return times to pick from, giving you the ability to pick the one that best fits your schedule, rather than being stuck with whatever is left. Rise of the Resistance The other thing you’ll want to keep in mind is that Rise of the Resistance pay-per-ride selections have been SELLING OUT quite early in the morning. They sold out on the day of Disney Genie’s debut in Disney World, and the days following that. On the day our reporter tried to get that reservation at 9AM, they noticed that the pay-per-ride selections sold out around 10:10AM. That’s just an hour after park opening. That means if you can’t book your selection at 7AM, you might not have too much time after 9AM to book your pay-per-ride for this attraction. Now, keep in mind this is what we have experienced so far. Disney has shared that more pay-per-ride return times may open up throughout the day. So, it’s possible that you will find some earlier return times available at 9AM, but it’s also possible that no earlier times will be released (like what we saw during one of our tests of the system). Rise of the Resistance The other thing you’ll want to be aware of is that this is what we’ve experienced right now — in mid/late October. The situation could be different come holiday time, New Year’s Eve, etc. when the crowds will likely be much larger and more guests may be utilizing pay-per-ride. In that instance, much more of those return times could sell out quicker. Having the advantage of being able to book your return time at 7AM during those peak times could be an advantage. Thinking of skipping the pay-per-ride option and just going for the standby line? Even in that instance, staying at a Disney World hotel could be an advantage. That’s because guests staying at Disney World hotels and select other hotels can take advantage of Early Theme Park Entry and enter any Disney World theme park 30 minutes early. That early access could help you get on Rise of the Resistance with a lower wait than what you might see once the full crowds arrive. Rise of the Resistance’s Standby Line in Hollywood Studios So, it seems there are some potential perks to staying in a Disney World hotel when it comes to Rise of the Resistance. If you don’t stay in a Disney World hotel, remember you can still purchase that pay-per-ride selection when the park opens (but you’ll want to act fast!) and/or you can stand in the regular, standby line to get on this popular ride. We’ll keep an eye out for more updates on Rise of the Resistance and we’ll let you know what we find. 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 been on Rise of the Resistance? Tell us in the comments! The post The BIG Reason You Might Want to Stay at a Disney World Hotel Right Now first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Between all the 50th Anniversary festivities and the brand-new Disney Genie program, the parks are looking pretty different nowadays. Fantasyland With all the new things, it’s easy to miss the other updates around, like new souvenirs, construction projects, and snacks. So we took a look around the Magic Kingdom to see what has changed since we’ve last been. Here are all the updates you might have missed in the park! Let’s start out with some construction updates, since the Magic Kingdom has a couple of big projects in the works. Magic Kingdom Construction Updates Mickey’s PhilharMagic is closed right now as Imagineers add a new scene inspired by the Disney Pixar movie Coco. Mickey’s PhilharMagic is Closed right now The attraction’s signs are missing right now, and there are construction walls up inside. PhilharMagic will reopen on November 12th, and we can’t wait to check out the new scene when it does! PhilharMagic Construction We also checked on the construction for TRON Lightcycle Run. TRON construction This ride doesn’t have an opening date yet. Construction progress is looking good, though! Click Here to See Everything That’ll be Closed in Disney World in October Magic Kingdom Merchandise Updates Like we said before, it can be easy to miss the new merchandise in Disney World since it switches out and new things are added so often. Take a look at the newest souvenirs we spotted to see what might be on your shopping list next time you visit. The Emporium The Emporium (located on Main Street, U.S.A.) is getting ready for winter with three new to us winter hats. The Emporium The first is a beanie-style hat with a purple ombre pattern and “the one & only” written next to a grumpy Mickey Mouse. But why is he grumpy? We’re not sure why he’s grumpy, but honestly, we can’t stop laughing about it. What made him so grumpy? Maybe he’s not a fan of beanies. Or maybe his favorite Disney snack was sold out when he went! We can relate, grumpy Mickey. New hat There was also another purple beanie hat, but this one had fluffy ears on top! Minnie Beanie A sparkly silver bow sat between the ears, and silver polka dots covered the hat, which can only mean one thing — this was inspired by that fashion icon, Minnie Mouse. Silver bow We love that there’s a way to sport Minnie ears even in the cold. The Minnie beanie was $16.99. Look at the fluffy ears! Finally (and probably our favorite), we found a corduroy pink bucket hat with Mickey Mouse embroidered on the front. Mickey bucket hat The inside was lined with fleece (that’s why we decided this is also a winter hat). It’s fleece inside! There’s nothing like a good bucket hat, and the textured fabric on the outside with the very soft interior fabric made this one 100% a winner to us. It was $39.99. Uptown Jewelers Over on the fancy side of Main Street, Uptown Jewelers also had a new item. We’ll take EVERYTHING! We spotted the new Edna Mode Dress Shop Dress… Edna Mode Dress …or did it spot us? The dress’s belt buckle is actually Edna’s very recognizable glasses, which we think is the cutest touch. They’re Edna’s glasses! The skirt has polka dots, some of which have a little image of the fashion designer herself. Very fashionable And the neckline has “Fashion is my super power” embroidered along the side. Fashion is the best super power All in all, we think this is a dress that Edna Mode would be very proud of. And here’s the back You can get it in Uptown Jewelers for $128. Frontier Trading Post Buckle up, because the Frontier Trading Post had all kinds of new items when we last visited! Frontier Trading Post We found new pins that celebrated the 20th Anniversary of Monster’s, Inc. There was a simple one with Sulley and Mike for $15.99. New Monster’s, Inc. Pins Another pin was silver on the outside and said “20 Years.” The panel slides up to reveal Roz from Monster’s, Inc., and it says “Always Watching” under her window. Can you ever not read that in Roz’s voice? The Roz pin cost $19.99. Roz pin And a third pin had Boo’s door from the movie with Sulley and Boo inside. The door pin is hinged, so you can open and close it, and it cost $19.99. Monster’s, Inc. Pin We also spotted a new pin in the Artfully Evil collection, and this one had an Ursula theme. The Sea Witch looks like she’s plotting something nefarious for sure. Ursula Pin You can get the Ursula pin for $19.99. For the 50th Anniversary, we found an Annual Passholder-exclusive pin. It has a big “50” logo with Mickey and the Cinderella Castle inside. 50th Passholder pin We also found some new Haunted Mansion pins, including one of Madame Leota for $15.99… Madame Leota Pin …and another of a Hitchhiking Ghost, which was also $15.99. Madame Leota and Hitchhiking Ghost After we finished checking out the pins, we spotted some new patches as well. There were patches for the Peoplemover, the Monorail, the Hub, and Tomorrowland. You can get the set of four for $19.99. New patches Finally, we found two new apple watch bands, both with a Loki theme. New Apple Watch Bands You can get each of these bands for $34.99. Main Street Confectionery At the Main Street Confectionery, we took a look behind the counter at the Cast Members making the treats. Makin’ some tasty treats We saw some bakers working on caramel apples, and another station for decorating the Minnie Mouse rice krispie treats! Minnie krispie treats station Over with the pre-packaged snacks, we found a new trail mix that includes peanut M&Ms, regular M&Ms, peanuts, and raisins. New trail mix You can get an 8 oz bag for $5.49. Trail Mix And yes, you can still get the $40 Mickey and Minnie M&Ms that look like brains here. We know you were concerned. Crystal Arts At Crystal Arts in the Magic Kingdom, you can get a new crystal beer mug that’s etched with a 50th Anniversary logo. The mugs are $24. Crystal beer mug And there’s a couple of 50th Anniversary-themed photo frames as well. One frame has the Cinderella Castle… Cinderella Castle Frame …and the other has Mickey Mouse with a 50th logo. Mickey Frame Each frame is $55. Magic Kingdom Wait Times Update Finally, we took a look at some standby wait times, since the Genie system has officially started in the Magic Kingdom. We were curious to see how the posted wait times compared to how long we actually waited. Here’s what we found! Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: posted time of 40 min, actual time was 25 min. Pirates of the Caribbean Pirates of the Caribbean: posted time of 40 min, actual time was 21 min. Jungle Cruise Jungle Cruise: posted time of 60 min, actual time was just under 70 min. Space Mountain Space Mountain: posted time of 20 min, actual time was 28 min. And that’s all for our Magic Kingdom update! Keep following DFB for more information about what’s new around Disney World. Click Here to See What’s New in EPCOT 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 place to shop in the Magic Kingdom? Let us know in the comments! The post What’s New in the Magic Kingdom: Grumpy Mickey and an Edna Mode Dress! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ is a fan-favorite Disney Springs location known for delicious down home Southern Florida cooking. Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ Whether you visit Homecomin’ for the Southern eats or the Shine Bar drinks, moonshine is the name of the cocktail game here. Homecomin’ is especially known for their moonshine drinks on tap and now there’s an option to try all five moonshine drinks at once! Moonshine fans will be very excited to learn that Homecomin’ is now offering a Moonshine Flight for $32! The drinks include, from left to right, Sweet Tea Shine, Moonshine Margarita, Blue Hooch, Rum Punch, and Strawberry Lemonade. Moonshine Flight Typically these moonshine drinks are on tap and range from $13 to $42 depending on the size you choose, from 16oz cocktails to the 32oz to go size. Added flavors include strawberry, tequila, sweet tea, blue curaçao, and lemon, among others. ©Homecomin’ The Moonshine Flight gives you 7oz per drink, and at $32 for five drinks, this might be a nice way to taste a little bit of everything or even share with a friend. Even if you don’t like one drink, chances are you’ll find another drink to enjoy! Moonshine Flight Our favorites were the Sweet Tea and the Strawberry Lemonade! They were slightly too sweet for our taste but still delicious. We also loved the Rumshine Punch, though you need to enjoy grenadine and blackberry flavors to like it! The Blue Hooch and Moonshine Margarita were STRONG, so keep that in mind if you don’t like the taste of alcohol. Our favorites were the Sweet Tea and Strawberry Lemonade! Still, $32 might be a bit pricey for you to spend, and you’re locked into these choices even if you know you probably won’t like one or two flavors. If you’re a moonshine person, this is a great way to try everything! Keep reading DFB for more Disney Springs news! Looking for fall cocktails in Disney Springs? Look no further! 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. Would you try a Moonshine Flight? Tell us in the comments! The post Is Disney World's Latest Drink Flight Actually a Good Deal? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays is almost here! From November 26th to December 30th, guests will be able to try special holiday treats and snacks from Holiday Kitchens. 2020 Festival of the Holidays Sign Annual Passholders will have access to a discount during the 2021 Festival of the Holidays but — fair warning — it’s a bit limited. At EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays, guests will be able to purchase (and eat!) holiday treats from around the world, go on a cookie stroll, and check out holiday entertainment. The Candlelight Processional is also returning this year, so it’s bound to be a BIG holiday season in EPCOT! 2020 Festival of the Holidays Disney World Annual Passholders can receive a 10% discount on select food and drinks from Holiday Kitchens on Tuesdays ONLY during the 2021 Festival of the Holidays. This excludes alcoholic beverages and you must use cashless payment. And yes, that’s Tuesdays only. ©Disney For the 2021 Cookie Stroll, you must purchase five select cookies from different Holiday Kitchens to earn a special prize. If you’re an Annual Passholder, a Tuesday might be the perfect day for eating a LOT of cookies! ©Disney So if you’re an Annual Passholder wanting to save some money during Festival of the Holidays, you’ll have to plan a Tuesday visit to EPCOT! Keep reading DFB for more Disney World news! FULL list of food booths coming to EPCOT’s 2021 Festival of the Holidays! 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? Will you be taking advantage of this discount? Tell us in the comments! The post Why Tuesdays Are the BEST Days for Annual Passholders to Visit EPCOT's Festival of the Holidays first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There have been a lot of changes in Disney World recently, like new 50th Anniversary things and the start of the Disney Genie program. Magic Kingdom But if you’re heading to Disney World soon, you’ll also want to know what’s going to be closed around the parks so that you’re prepared before your trip. We’re taking a look around all four Disney World parks, the Disney Springs shopping center, and the hotels on property to see what’s going to be closed or unavailable during this next week. We’ll start out with the park that has the most closures: the Magic Kingdom. Magic Kingdom If you’re going into the most magical park, keep in mind that two popular rides are going to be closed for all of next week. Magic Kingdom Mickey’s PhilharMagic is currently closed because Imagineers are adding a new Coco-inspired scene to the attraction. Mickey’s PhilharMagic is Closed right now The new scene will feature the song “Un Poco Loco” from the film, and we can’t wait to see Donald interacting with Miguel, Dante, and other Coco characters. PhilharMagic Construction PhilharMagic will reopen on November 12th of this year. This scene has already come to Mickey’s PhilharMagic in Disneyland, so you can see it before it even arrives in Disney World! Click Here to Check Out the New Scene in Disneyland The Walt Disney World Railroad is also still not open in the Magic Kingdom. Fantasyland Station Construction over in Tomorrowland on the upcoming TRON Lightcycle Run roller coaster interrupted the tracks, so the train can’t run right now. TRON Construction Update We don’t have an opening date for the railroad or the TRON coaster, but we’re expecting TRON to open sometime next year. It seems likely that the railroad won’t open before TRON construction is complete. Click Here to Check on the TRON Lightcycle Run Construction EPCOT Over in EPCOT, the Souk-al-Magreb gift shop in the Morocco pavilion at World Showcase is still closed as well. Souk-al-Magreb is closed The shop closed a couple of weeks ago, and it’s expected to reopen on Saturday, November 6th. Morocco Pavilion In the meantime, you can check out more shopping around the World Showcase, like the recently re-opened Sportsman’s Shoppe in the UK pavilion. Click Here to See What Else is New in EPCOT Disney Springs The Disney World parks aren’t the only places that you’ll find fun things to do, though. Over in Disney Springs, there are restaurants, gift shops, entertainment venues, and even a couple of attractions. Disney Springs One of these attractions is the Aerophile, which is a huge helium balloon that guests can take a ride in — like a hot air balloon! Unfortunately, the Aerophile is closed right now… Aerophile …but the good news is that it’s scheduled to reopen next week on Thursday, October 28th. Click Here to Learn More About the Dining, Shopping, and Attractions at Disney Springs Disney World Hotels A very important part of your vacation is your hotel. If you’re staying at a Disney World hotel, make sure you know about anything that might be closed there during your stay. Disney’s Port Orleans – French Quarter Resort Disney’s Port Orleans – French Quarter Resort is set to reopen next week on Thursday, October 28th. Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter It’s one of the last Disney World hotels to return, and we’ll be there for its grand reopening on Thursday. So stay tuned with DFB to see all the details about this hotel’s return, including what’s different or changed since we last stayed here. Disney’s Port Orleans – Riverside Resort Although Disney’s Port Orleans – Riverside Resort reopened last week, one restaurant there remains closed. Port Orleans – Riverside Boatwright’s Dining Hall, known for its dishes inspired by Southern Louisiana cuisine, is not currently open at Riverside. Boatwright’s Dining Hall According to a Cast Member we spoke with, this spot will not reopen until sometime in December. We will keep our eyes out for an opening date from Disney. Boatwright’s usually serves dishes like Mardi Gras Fritters, Prime Rib, and more in a unique dining atmosphere resembling a boat construction warehouse. Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort At Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort, the lobby refurbishment is continuing through next week. It’s expected to last through October of 2021, so we might see it finish up soon after next week. Construction at Disney’s All-Star Movies You can still check in like normal at this hotel since not all the front desks are behind construction walls. Or you can always use the mobile check in on the My Disney Experience app and head straight to your room when you arrive. Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort is still closed currently. It was scheduled to reopen in December, but Disney recently delayed its reopening indefinitely. All-Star Sports Disney said the cause of its delayed opening is due to hotel refurbishments. We’ll keep you posted on any news about a reopening date for this hotel. Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort The lobby at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort is under construction right now, and it’s scheduled to last throughout this month. Since this next week is the last week in October, we’re expecting to see the construction wrap up here soon. Saratoga Springs Lobby In the meantime, you can follow directions from Cast Members to a temporary check-in spot, or you can use the mobile check in on the My Disney Experience app and head straight to your room when you arrive. Click Here to Take a Full Tour of a New Hotel Opening Soon in Disney World And that’s it for our look at what’ll be closed in Disney World next week! Keep following DFB for more updates as your vacation gets closer. Click Here to Check Out the Newly Reopened Port Orleans – Riverside Resort Disney Park Reopening Details and Info Click HERE for the All Latest Updates Click HERE To See FULL LISTS of the Rides, Attractions, Shopping, Entertainment, and Restaurants Opening in Disney World! TUTORIAL: How To Use Disney World's NEW Park Pass Reservation System ALL Disney World Reopening Procedures Disney World Hotel and Ticket Booking Information We’re Visiting ALL the Reopened Disney World Hotels and Have All the Need-to-Know Details We’re LIVE in Disney World's Magic Kingdom For the FIRST Time Since the Closures We’re LIVE in Disney’s Animal Kingdom For the FIRST Time Since the Closures We Got a FIRST LOOK at Disney World’s New Character Cavalcades and Entertainment! Everything You NEED To Know About Wearing Masks in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter To get all the latest Disney Park Closure News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Which Disney World hotel is your favorite? Let us know in the comments! The post Look Out for These CLOSURES In Disney World Next Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Since the debut of the Disney Genie in Disney World, we’ve been experimenting with all the free AND paid features of this new service. Scanning our card to get in a Lightning Lane We want to figure out everything there is to know about the Genie service and answer ALL the questions, and a big topic of interest is how multiple guests work with Genie+. Here’s our experience! So how do parties, or multiple people, work with Disney Genie+ Lightning Lane reservations? Can you add or remove people? The answer is: yes! As long as each person has paid for Genie+, you can easily add and remove eligible people from Lightning Lane reservations. As you can see below, we booked a party of 6 people for Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and the Genie lists the attraction, the date, the arrival window, and everyone in the party. ©Disney When you’re making a Genie+ Lightning Lane reservation, you can select eligible guests at the same time. Or, once you have a Lightning Lane booked, you can simply visit the Tip Board in the My Disney Experience app and tap “Add Another Guest.” Other guests must have Genie+ linked to their ticket and have no conflicting reservations, and you can select each individual who is eligible. ©Disney So what happens if you add someone by accident, or if someone doesn’t want to visit an attraction? If someone decides that they don’t want to ride anymore, you can modify your reservation and select everyone or individual guests to remove. And if they change their mind again, you can add them back! ©Disney Also, make a note that party size is somewhat irrelevant, so you don’t really have to worry about seeing more limited time slots with a bigger party size. Imagine that the Genie+ is basically the new version of a FastPass+ kiosk. When a time slot is available for an attraction, it should be the same time slot for everyone. ©Disney We’re still experimenting with the Disney Genie so keep checking back with DFB for more tips and updates! 5 Disney World pros test out the new Genie system…here’s what we learned! 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 trying out the Genie+? Tell us in the comments! The post How to Book a Genie+ Lightning Lane with Multiple People in Your Party first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Heading to Disney World soon? There’s a lot going on these days, from the launch of Disney Genie and Genie+ to the 50th Anniversary Celebration! Magic Kingdom With Halloween right around the corner, let’s catch up on the park hours and current Park Pass Reservation availability for the week of October 24th! Disney World Park Hours the Week of October 24th Magic Kingdom will be open from 9AM-8:30PM Sunday, Tuesday, and Friday — on those dates, Disney After Hours Boo Bash will take place from 9PM-12AM. Magic Kingdom will be open from 9AM-9PM on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and from 9AM-10PM on Saturday. On Wednesday, October 27th, Magic Kingdom will remain open for two additional hours through 11PM for guests staying at Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts. Magic Kingdom park hours the week of October 24th © Disney EPCOT will be open daily next week from 10AM-10PM, with the park remaining open for two additional hours through 12AM on Monday, October 25th for guests staying at Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts. The EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival will also take place daily from 11AM-10PM. EPCOT park hours the week of October 24th © Disney Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be open daily next week from 9AM-9PM. Disney’s Hollywood Studios park hours the week of October 24th © Disney Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be open from 8AM-7PM Sunday through Tuesday, and from 8AM-8PM Wednesday through Saturday. Disney’s Animal Kingdom park hours the week of October 24th © Disney If you’re staying on Disney World property and you want to maximize your time in Disney World, don’t forget about Early Theme Park Entry! This allows you to enter the park 30 minutes prior to the posted opening time, giving you a head start on popular rides and attractions! Click here to read about what our first day using Genie+ was like! Current Disney Park Pass Reservation Availability the Week of October 24th Select Resort Hotels As of this writing, guests staying at Select Resort Hotels can book a Park Pass Reservation at any of the four parks for each day next week! Park Pass Reservation availability for guests staying at Select Resort Hotels the week of October 24th as of October 21st © Disney Theme Park Tickets Guests with Theme Park Tickets are in the same boat as guests staying at Select Resort Hotels — all four parks are wide open with Park Pass Reservations available each day next week as of this writing. Park Pass Reservation availability for guests with Theme Park Tickets the week of October 24th as of October 21st © Disney Annual Passholders Right now, Annual Passholders are also able to book a Park Pass Reservation at any of the four parks on dates where their Pass is not blocked out for the week of October 24th. Park Pass Reservation availability for Annual Passholders the week of October 24th as of October 21st © Disney As you may notice in these calendars, next Sunday, October 31st only has partial Park Pass Reservation availability, with Magic Kingdom currently booked on Halloween. We’ll keep an eye on park hours and Park Pass Reservation availability in the coming weeks, so be sure to check back as your Disney World vacation approaches so you’re prepared! 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 visiting Disney World next week? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney World Park Pass Reservations Are Wide Open Next Week! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney Genie launched earlier this week, and we’ve been spending that time trying out everything we can with the service so we can help you use it to optimize your next Disney World trip. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Lightning Lane And we’ve done our best to answer any questions you may have, both about the free version of the service (available through the My Disney Experience app) and how best to use Genie+ and the Individual Attraction Selection (aka pay-per-ride). We’ve also covered some of the prices we’ve seen for the Individual Attraction Selections, but today, as we go into the weekend, we’re seeing these prices increase (which is expected as we understand that these prices are dependent on demand). Here’s what the prices were for Individual Attraction Selections earlier this week: Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure: $9 Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway: $8 Rise of the Resistance: $15 Space Mountain: $7 Seven Dwarves Mine Train: $10 Frozen Ever After: $9 Flight of Passage: $11 Expedition Everest: $7 Using the Expedition Everest Lightning Lane costs more this weekend Here are the prices we’re seeing today: Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure: $11 Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway: $10 Rise of the Resistance: $15 Space Mountain: $9 Seven Dwarves Mine Train: $12 Frozen Ever After: $11 Flight of Passage: $14 Expedition Everest: $7 As you can see, most prices went up $2, except for Flight of Passage, which increased by $3. However, prices for Rise of the Resistance and Expedition Everest remained the same. Flight of Passage We’ll continue to monitor the prices for the Individual Attraction Selections at Disney World, and report back what we see! Stay tuned to DFB for more!  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 Will you be using the Individual Attraction Selection during your next Disney World trip? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments! The post Remember That SURGE Pricing We Warned You About in Disney World?! Well, It's HERE. first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Earlier this week, Disney Genie officially launched in Disney World, and we’ve been checking it out all week long! Festival of the Lion King Lightning Lane On the official launch day, we sent 5 reporters into the parks to try out Disney Genie, Genie+, and the Individual Attraction Selections. They put the new systems through some rigorous testing and we were able to find the benefits, the flaws, and learn quite a bit along the way. Here’s what happened when we tried Disney Genie for the very first time! Reporter #1 The first reporter on our list started the day at Magic Kingdom with all three systems: free Genie, Genie+, and Individual Attraction Selections (pay-per-ride). The goal here was to try and learn all the ins and outs of the system as a whole, and BOY did we learn a lot! Let’s start out at Magic Kingdom! We tried out the PhotoPass augmented reality lenses, purchase Individual Attraction Selections, made Genie+ reservations, listened to some of the audio experiences, AND allowed Genie to suggest things throughout our day. Basically, we got the full experience! You can turn the castle into the 25th Anniversary castle with the PhotoPass lenses! One of the biggest things we learned here was that the free Genie is smart, but you may still have to give it some guidance. You’ll want to make sure you load your preferences into the app ahead of time and continue to monitor the suggestions throughout the day. You can modify the Genie recommendations and swap them out, which actually helped to save us a little time! Learn MORE about the FREE Disney Genie offering here! Reporter #2 Our second reporter used all three systems as well. Her goal was to be the prepared Disney resort guest. She started her day in EPCOT and hopped to Hollywood Studios with the goal of hitting popular attractions in two parks! With a Disney Resort reservation, they were able to log on at 7AM and get a boarding group for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, purchase Individual Lightning Lanes, and make their first Genie+ choice of the day. We thought it would be hectic doing all three things at once, but it went more smoothly than expected! ©Disney With the goal of being the “prepared guest,” this reporter loaded all their plans into the Genie feature the night before, letting it know preferences for rides, experiences, entertainment, dining, and more. Using that information, Genie was able to fill in the gaps in their day incredibly effectively. ©Disney We had an Individual Lightning Lane scheduled for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure first thing, but our first Genie+ Lightning Lane of the day wasn’t for another hour. So after we got off of Remy’s, Genie suggested that we visit Frozen Ever After due to a “low projected wait time.” We took that suggestion and it paid off for sure — the posted wait was 70 minutes but we only had to wait for 28! Lightning Lane sign at Frozen Ever After Thanks to the suggestions of Genie and the Lightning Lanes they booked throughout the day, this reporter was able to accomplish almost all the big attractions in EPCOT. She was even able to ride Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure twice since she got a boarding group and purchased an Individual Ride Selection. After EPCOT, she hopped to Hollywood Studios to ride Rise of the Resistance with another Individual Lightning Lane, and still accomplish a few other rides after that! All in all, our experience here was rather productive. Find out how to have more than 1 Lightning Lane Genie+ Reservation at a time HERE! Reporter #3 Person #3 was sent to Animal Kingdom to kick things off, with the main job of comparing stand by wait time, Genie= wait time, and Individual Attraction wait times throughout the day. They tested out wait times throughout the day to check their accuracy and see how they’d been affected by the addition of the Genie system. ©Disney Here, we first decided to rope drop Flight of Passage to see how the wait time first thing in the morning compared with the wait through Individual Attraction Selections. Getting in line right at park opening time gave us a 40-minute wait for this popular attraction, but going back later with our Individual Lightning Lane was only a 7-minute wait! That saved us 63 minutes of waiting, considering the posted wait time was 70 minutes at that point. We moved through the Flight of Passage queue very quickly with Lightning Lane! For Expedition Everest, the park’s other Individual Lightning Lane, we experienced a completely different story. Using the Lightning Lane over there basically made no difference, as the wait time itself was posted at 10 minutes and we just barely beat the guests in the standby and single rider queues. We ended up using Genie+ in the back half of the day to compare it with standby lines, and while we saved some time waiting in line, we would’ve still been able to accomplish most things in the park without paying extra, considering there aren’t as many attractions over there. Learn the good, the bad, and the CONFUSING of Genie+ here! Reporter #4 Our fourth reporter had a really unique experience throughout the day, as she was trying her best to be the guest who really didn’t understand the system just yet and didn’t use it the way it was intended. She spent her day in Hollywood Studios with the goal of hopping to EPCOT. She made her first Genie+ selection at 7AM…but it was for Slinky Dog Dash at 4PM. That’s a long time to wait! ©Disney Through this reporter’s experiences, we were able to learn a lot more about the infamous 120-minute rule. Basically, if your Genie+ selection is scheduled for more than 2 hours away from the time you booked it, you can make another one in exactly 120 minutes (so you’re not wasting away your day!). The only time that this rule changes is if you make your first Genie+ choice before the park opening time — in that case, the 120-minute countdown starts when the park opens. Hollywood Studios opened at 9AM, so our reporter wasn’t able to make her second Genie+ choice until 11AM. Now, remember, this reporter knows the parks like the back of her hand, and learning these new systems was a completely new experience for her. Using Genie with such later initial Lightning Lane reservation made her struggle to accomplish anything all day. ©Disney || The message you’ll get if you try to book too early And as if the universe knew what she was trying to accomplish, she purchased an Individual Attraction Selection for Rise of the Resistance and the ride went down THREE TIMES before she got the chance to actually experience it in its entirety. So long story short, our reporter did not get on many attractions after a 4-hour wait to book her first pass and an attraction going down three times. Due to this, she did not even get the chance to hop to EPCOT! Wondering what happens when a ride you PAID to get on goes down?! Get all the details here! Reporter #5 And finally, let’s talk about our “do it all” reporter. One person was sent to Magic Kingdom in the hopes of accomplishing every ride in the park in one day, and they succeeded with flying colors! Using Individual Attraction Selections and Genie+ for all the rides, they allowed Genie to fill in the spaces between with other attractions, shows, entertainment, and dining. ©Disney We finished every ride in the park around dinnertime, so we still had time to eat, watch fireworks, and redo some favorites in the standby queues if we wanted to! However, this is not necessarily a strategy that we recommend for a family on vacation — we were doing a LOT of running back and forth and there wasn’t much downtime during our actual day. Wondering if you can CANCEL your Genie+ passes? Find out the details here! What We’ve Learned Since Then Since Disney Genie launched on October 19th, we’ve been in the parks testing it daily. We’ve tried to answer every question that our readers have asked, and we’ve learned quite a bit along the way. Less Time in Line Doesn’t Mean More Rides On our second day, we had two reporters race each other and we found that Genie+ may not get you through your must-dos faster (because you’ll have to wait for Lightning Lane options to pop up), but you might enjoy less time waiting in line and maybe more attractions and offerings overall. Ready to skip the line?! Genie+ Might Not Be NEEDED Everywhere We’ve also figured out that Genie+ and Individual Attraction Selections aren’t really necessary in some of the parks. Without the new systems, we still would’ve been able to accomplish most of what was available in EPCOT and Animal Kingdom, especially with the help of the free Genie and the projected wait times. But in parks like Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, where there are more rides and higher wait times, it definitely offers some advantages. Of course, this could shift depending on crowds and the time of year. Some rides aren’t worth the extra cost! How Staying at a Disney Resort Will Help You Get on Rise of the Resistance Also, speaking of advantages, there are a few potential benefits to being a Resort guest if you want to ride Rise of the Resistance. Disney Resort guests get to book their Individual Lightning Lanes at 7AM, but everyone else must wait until the park opens. For the first two days, this didn’t make much difference because additional Rise of the Resistance passes became available when Hollywood Studios opened. However, today there didn’t seem to be any “extras” handed out later — by the time 9AM rolled around, the only available times were after 5PM, and within a few minutes, they were all “sold out” for the entire day. It can certainly be beneficial to snag one at 7AM! Rise of the Resistance sells out quickly! So that’s what we’ve experienced from Disney Genie so far! But don’t worry, we’ll continue covering the new system and offering up our thoughts, opinions, and experiments for you to learn from. Stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney World news! Click Here to See What We Learned From the First Day of Genie! All About Disney Genie, Genie+, and Individual Attraction Selection READ THIS Before Using the New Genie Planning Tool in Disney World Check Out the FULL List of Rides Included With Genie+ in Disney World See What Rides You Can Pay EXTRA For in Disney World & How Much They’ll Cost Learn What Rides Are Included With Genie+ in Disneyland (Plus the Ones You’ll Pay EXTRA to Ride) You CAN’T Re-Ride Disney World Attractions With Genie+ You CAN’T Cancel Pay-Per-Ride Selections in Disney World Get the Answers to All of Your Burning Questions About Disney Genie See Why You’ll Want to Stay in a Disney World Hotel When it Comes to Disney’s Pay-Per-Ride System Here’s What Annual Passholders and Magic Key Holders Need to Know About Genie+ See 5 Ways Genie+ Might Surprise You Learn About How Disney Genie Can Be Your Personal Assistant in Disney World Click HERE to See More About Disney Genie Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Would you purchase Disney Genie+ for your trip? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! The post 5 Disney World Pros Test Out the New Genie Planning System -- Here's What We Learned first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Have you been to a galaxy far, far away lately? DJ R-3X We’re of course talking about the planet Batuu in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney World! We decided to swing by the most hoppin’ place in the system at Oga’s Cantina and we noticed some changes! Oga’s Cantina is one of the smallest and most popular dining locations in Disney World and it has been especially difficult to get a reservation since the Disney World parks reopened last year. Oga’s Cantina During our last visit, guests were seated two parties at a table. Now, there are still several parties at each table, but plexiglass has been added across the middle of the tables! Oga’s Cantina We’ve seen a lot of changes to the social distancing policies in Disney World over the last year. The added plexiglass gives some barrier between parties. Oga’s Cantina It’s certainly an interesting change! Of course, while we were checking out the plexiglass, we also snagged a drink. The non-alcoholic Carbon Freeze is made with POWERADE Lemon Lime and Wild Strawberry, Blueberry, and Green Apple Popping Pearls. And yes, that is dry ice at the bottom. Tasty! Carbon Freeze As always, keep an eye on DFB for the latest updates from Disney World! Want to see a FULL REVIEW of Oga’s Cantina? 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. Have you been to Oga’s Cantina? Tell us in the comments! The post Plexiglass Added to Oga's Cantina in Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World’s 50th anniversary is going strong, with the celebrations kicking off just over 3 weeks ago! Happy 50th! We’ve seen a new cavalcade, an incredible new show in Animal Kingdom, tried new restaurants, and more. And, we’ve tasted SO MANY new food items exclusive for the 50th! From chocolate pyramids to funnel cake hot dogs (yeah, really!), we’ve had some pretty epic food adventures lately. But, we’re not done yet, because there are even more treats to try! Come with us as we check out a new 50th dessert over in Disney Springs. This is the 1971 Brownie from Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC! So beautiful! It’s a chocolate brownie covered in a colorful blue and purple icing with a 50 written in yellow icing on the top. And, it’s gluten free and vegan, like all of the treats at Erin McKenna’s. Those colors though The brownie was very fluffy and much lighter than it appears. The icing is also light and has a texture more like coconut oil than traditional icing. Coconut oil icing? While this was good, it did taste more like we were eating a “heathy” dessert. So, if you’re looking for something more traditional to satisfy you sweet tooth, you’ll probably want to try a different treat. It’s definitely fluffy! But, if you have dietary restrictions or if you want a dessert that’s not heavy, this is a good option! Also, it’ll look great on your Instagram, because those colors are so pretty! A sharable treat! If you want to try it for yourself, you can grab it for $8 over at Erin McKenna’s in The Landing at Disney Springs. Stay tuned to DFB for more 50th anniversary food news and reviews! Click here to see ALL of the 50th anniversary food we’ve tried in Disney World so far! Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Details and Info Click HERE for Your Guide to Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Celebration See Everything That Has Been Announced For Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Check Out Everything Happening in Disney World on October 1st, 2021 Click Here to See The 50 Best Ways to Celebrate Disney World’s 50th Anniversary What Does Hotel Availability and Pricing Look Like for Disney World’s 50th Anniversary? Here Are the 5 News Bombs You May Have Missed Related to the 50th Anniversary Celebrations! Check Out 10 Things You Need to Bring If You’re Going to Disney World for the 50th Anniversary See How Each of Disney World’s Park Icons Will Transform During the 50th Anniversary Celebrations! Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Have you tried any of the 50th treats in Disney World yet? Let us know in the comments! The post REVIEW: Vegans — We Found a 50th Anniversary Disney World Dessert For You! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article