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If you’ve been a DFB reader for a while, then you probably know all about Tiny Train Town! Tiny Train Town! I like to report on the shenanigans and nonsense happening in the tiny village in the Germany Pavilion at EPCOT, and you’d be surprised by how much shenanigans and nonsense these folks get into! So join me, Madam Mayor, as I take you on a tour of the itty bitty city and see what wild stories we can uncover. Starting out our report this week, we had to check up on the trains! I’d recently heard tell that there was some suspicious activity happening on board a few routes. Groups of people have been secretly meeting up on the trains to have quick meetings in murmured voices. I’ll need YOUR help decoding this one — what do you guys think is going on here?! I would love to hear your theories. The trains! On a happy note, it’s prom season in Tiny Train Town! The residents adopted the tradition of prom a few years ago after hearing Americans talking about it when they passed by the village. So far it’s going very well…except for Johnny there in the red pants — he didn’t get a date this year. Any volunteers? Prom season! Remember our town’s competitive chess club? Well, it has been thriving in recent months, though some are leaving the club to start a mahjong group instead (it’s pretty trendy right now, I can’t blame them). However, this week, there was a cheating scandal at one of the gazebo tournaments! One man was caught smuggling pieces into his shirt sleeves. Not sure how that strategy works, but he was immediately kicked out of the tournament. Cheating at chess? Finally, another exciting story this week is that while crews were working on renovations at the local school, they struck GOLD! This crew right here found gold nuggets on school grounds, and so far, the total value amounts to the 6-digit range. What should we do with the funds? I’m thinking the school needs a swimming pool on the roof, but I’m open to ideas. Hmm… That’s a wrap on this week’s adventures. Thankfully, not too much crime! I’ll continue to keep you in the loop with Tiny Train Town. Just make sure to subscribe to our newsletter. * The anarchy within is mostly created by natural occurrences, like giant squirrels, wind, rain, and relatively Godzilla-sized lizards who frequent the town, but we find it fun and entertaining to make up fictional stories about what COULD be happening. We are grateful to the folks who create and maintain this Tiny Train Town for Disney World, as it’s one of our favorite parts of EPCOT and always has been. See More Tiny Train Town Misadventures Here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Have you ever been to Tiny Train Town? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

Shades of Green vs Disney Resorts: Which Should You Choose? If you’re planning a Walt Disney World trip as a military family, one of the biggest decisions you’ll make is where to stay. Should you book a room at Shades of Green, the military-only resort located right on Disney property? Or should you take advantage […] The post Shades of Green vs Disney Resorts (2026): Which Is Better for Military Families? appeared first on Military Disney Tips. View the full article

The drinks in EPCOT are SO good that there is literally an activity called “Drinking Around the World” where you basically just grab a drink (alcoholic or otherwise) in each country in EPCOT’s World Showcase. At least every adult has done it…at least once. New drink alert! Now, we know there’s some controversy on where to start said drinking around the world journey (Mexico vs. Canada, although you can also start in France if you’re entering EPCOT via International Gateway), but whichever way you choose, we’re going to recommend that you make a stop in Japan at a spot you might not even know about, Garden House. Garden House is celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage (AAPI) Month and now has a special drink that it’s concocted just for the occasion. That drink is the Yuzu Pineapple Punch for $14. It’s a boozy cocktail with Japanese yuzu and pineapple. And, sure enough, that first sip gets you the strong citrus flavor of the yuzu, which is the perfect complement for the pineapple, which has a more subtle flavor that sneaks up on you. Garden House You also get a hint of the alcohol taste when the sip hits the back of your throat. If you love a fruity, tropical, and alcoholic drink, this is the one for you. It’s refreshing, and for just $14, it’s also a good value. AAPI runs through the end of the month, so we’re assuming this drink might only be around through the end of May, so grab it while you can, and make it part of your Drinking Around The World itinerary. Yuzu Pineapple Punch We’ll be keeping an eye out for more new drinks in EPCOT, so stay tuned to DFB for more. REVIEW: Why We Keep Coming Back To This U.K. Pavilion Restaurant in EPCOT  Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What’s your favorite drink in EPCOT? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

Disney World will see so many changes in 2026, including The Walt Disney Studios Courtyard, Bluey’s Wild World, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, and Soarin’ Across America. Cinderella Castle Believe it or not, Disney has even more changes up its sleeve for 2027! Disney World will have four massive changes coming next year. Pueblo Esperanza Disney announced the newest addition to Animal Kingdom at D23 in 2024. The Tropical Americas land will feature an Encanto ride, an Indiana Jones ride, and a Disney animal-themed carousel. ©Disney || Tropical Americas Land coming to Animal Kingdom Construction is well underway, with permits for the finishing touches already filed. The land is set to open in 2027, so we’re hoping to get an official opening date soon! Everything You Need To Know About Tropical Americas Lakeshore Lodge Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge is a new Disney Vacation Club resort that will be opening in Disney World in the summer of 2027! ©Disney Lakeshore Lodge will have 967 rooms, which will include a variety of options, including studios and suites. Disney has also noted that many of the rooms will have views of Bay Lake and the Magic Kingdom fireworks. Plus, Lakeshore Lodge will debut with new 1- and 2-bedroom Lake Houses along the waterfront. Everything Disney Has Announced About Lakeshore Lodge! Deluxe Table-Service Dining Plan The Disney Dining Plan is a prepaid meal plan that sets the number of meals and snacks that you can get during your trip. Starting in 2027, there’s a new version — the Deluxe Table-Service Dining Plan! Our meal at Cinderella’s Royal Table This dining plan includes two table service entrées, dessert (lunch and dinner only), or a full buffet; One quick service meal, including entrée or combo meal; One snack/nonalcoholic drink; and one Resort refillable drink mug per person. Disney World Announces A MAJOR Dining Plan Change For 2027! New Ferryboat For the first time in 50 years, Disney World is expanding its fleet of ferryboats that take guests between the Transportation and Ticket Center and Magic Kingdom. A new ferryboat will debut in 2027! Ferryboat on the Seven Seas Lagoon A team of engineers has been working on the ferryboat for some time while been under construction at a marina in Florida. The ferry will be shipped to Disney World in pieces over the next couple of weeks. The fourth ferryboat of the fleet will be called Meg Gilbert Crofton, named after Disney World’s fourth president. Expansion Revealed for Magic Kingdom Transportation There are so many massive changes coming to Disney World in 2027. Stay tuned to Disney Food Blog for more Disney World news! We Made the FULL List of EVERY 2027 Disney World Ticket Price Increase So You Don’t Have To Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What change are you most excited about? Comment below! View the full article

There may not be a hotter topic on the planet right now than the use of artificial intelligence, or AI. There has recently been a lot of blowback against generative AI, in particular, which is often accused of illegally using copyrighted materials. This has even resulted in some legal actions. For example, both Disney and Universal have filed a lawsuit against Midjourney, a generative AI tool, over copyright infringement. Mickey Mouse Then there are the environmental concerns, especially with the large amounts of energy and water that AI data centers need to operate. However, it seems like, despite the controversy, AI is here to stay. In Disney’s case, the company recently doubled down on its commitment to embracing technology, including AI tools, more aggressively. One of the main ways Disney is incorporating AI into its business is by requiring its employees to use AI tools. Disney employees are already using Anthropic’s Claude AI and Cursor AI, both coding platforms, sometimes as many as billions of times in one week. Disney is using an AI Adoption Dashboard that shows which Cast Members are using the most AI tokens by posting a leaderboard. This is how Disney is encouraging employees to use AI tools more often. Walt Disney Company Headquarters in Burbank Disney has also shown interest in using AI for other projects. In 2025, Disney partnered with OpenAI to allow Disney characters for AI-generated content, becoming the first content licensing partner on Sora, a tool that allows users to generate short, user-prompted videos that can be viewed and shared. However, Disney pulled out of the deal in March 2026 after the company announced it would shut down Sora. But the deal showed Disney’s willingness to license its content to be used for AI-generated content. ©SORA Disney spoke about its dedication to using AI during the earnings call, referring to AI as a meaningful long-term opportunity that can be used in a way that still respects human creativity. Disney believes AI can make the production process more efficient and increase the amount of content the company can put out. But the idea is not to replace human creativity, but to give human creatives better tools to help them do what they do best. ©Disney Disney wants to use AI with streaming platforms, too, to do everything from offering hyper-personalized recommendations to users to implementing AI for the company’s advertising partners. With theme parks and experiences, Disney wants to use AI to make it easier for families to plan their trips and optimize their time spent in the parks. AI could also be used to predict labor demand by forecasting how much workforce is needed across theme parks. Magic Kingdom So Disney is committed to using AI, but it does seem to have an idea of how it wants to implement it throughout the company. We’ll have to see how AI is utilized in the future in the parks and beyond, but if it means more of these adorable little droids, well, we’re all in. Hi Oscar! We’ll be covering ALL Disney news, so stay tuned to DFB for more. Will Disney’s New AI Project Make Things BETTER or WORSE? Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What do you think? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

There is a very specific kind of sleep that only happens on the first night of a Disney World vacation. Ah…it feels good to lay down! You know the one. You’ve survived the airport, the shuttle, the rental car counter, the “where did I put the MagicBands?” spiral, and the emotional whiplash of realizing your kids are somehow both exhausted and vibrating like caffeinated squirrels. You finally make it to your Disney World hotel room, fling your park bag into a corner, peel off your travel clothes, and collapse into bed. And suddenly? Magic DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Not pixie dust. Not fireworks. Not the emotional soundtrack swells when you walk down Main Street, U.S.A. We’re talking about the pillow. That soft, fluffy, supportive little cloud loaf that makes you think, “Wait. Why don’t I sleep like this at home?” Room at Animal Kingdom Lodge Well, friends, we have news. You can bring that Disney hotel bed feeling home, and you do not even have to politely ask Mousekeeping if they “accidentally” have an extra pillow lying around. The Disney Hotel Pillow Situation If you’ve ever stayed at a Disney World hotel and then returned home to your sad, flattened pillow that looks like it gave up during the Obama administration, you are not alone. Disney resort beds have a certain vacation sorcery to them. Part of that is because you’re exhausted from rope-dropping, snack-hopping, stroller-wrangling, and pretending you’re “just browsing” in the gift shop while holding $78 worth of merchandise. But part of it? The bedding is legitimately good. No shame in a mid-day nap! One of the pillows Disney fans have tracked down is the Sobel Westex Sobella Side Sleeper Bed Pillow, which is available on Amazon. The listing describes it as a standard-size pillow with a 300-thread-count, 100% cotton cover, hotel and resort-quality construction, and a machine-washable design. It’s also currently listed around $70 on Amazon, though prices can change faster than a Lightning Lane availability window. view ON AMAZON Get the Sobel Westex Sobella Side Sleeper Bed Pillow This is the pillow for the person who wants their bedroom to feel a little less “I have laundry on the chair” and a little more “I’m waking up ten minutes from EPCOT.” The Sobel Westex Sobella Side Sleeper Bed Pillow is designed for side and back sleepers, with hypoallergenic poly gel fiber fill and a medium loft. Sobel Westex’s own product listing describes the pillow as having a T-300 100% cotton shell, 100% poly gel fill, and a medium loft, with a design intended for side and back sleepers. ©Amazon But we are saying this: a good pillow is one of those tiny daily upgrades that can make regular life feel just a little less regular. view ON AMAZON Why This Is a Sneaky-Good Disney Souvenir Most Disney souvenirs are fun, adorable, and occasionally capable of making your credit card whimper softly in the night. A popcorn bucket? Great. A Loungefly? Obviously. A Spirit Jersey? Seasonal armor. But a pillow? A pillow is the souvenir that actually does something for you every single day. ©Amazon You will not wear your Mickey ears to bed. Probably. We don’t judge. But you will use a pillow every night, and if that pillow reminds you of that first Disney resort sleep, when your feet were sore, your heart was full, and your alarm was set for an objectively unhinged hour, then that is a pretty delightful little piece of vacation magic. A room at the Polynesian Now, I know you’re not buying this from any Disney gift shop. But it does all of the things a souvenir does — reminds you of some of the best parts of your Disney vacation (that splurge on a Disney resort that turned out to be a financial investment in your mental health and sleep quality). It’s not a souvenir that sits on a shelf collecting dust. It’s a souvenir that supports your neck while you recover from the horrors of email, errands, and not being in Disney World. view ON AMAZON Who Needs This Pillow? This is a great pick for Disney fans who have ever said, “Why do I sleep better at Disney than I do at home?” and then immediately blamed their mattress, their pillow, their stress level, their thermostat, their spouse’s snoring, Mercury in retrograde, and possibly the dog. It’s also especially worth considering if you’re a side sleeper or back sleeper looking for a hotel-style pillow with a cotton cover and supportive fill. The Sobella pillow is marketed for those sleep positions, and its medium loft gives it that nice “supportive but not aggressive” vibe. Nightstand It could also be a fun gift for the Disney adult who already owns the mugs, the blankets, the ears, the shirts, the cookbooks, the seasonal throw pillows, and at least one item they bought “for the guest room” but absolutely kept for themselves. Basically, this is for the person who wants their bedroom to whisper, “Welcome home,” instead of shouting, “You still haven’t changed the sheets.” view ON AMAZON The Bottom Pillow Line A Disney World vacation is full of things you wish you could bottle up and bring home: the smell of the resort lobby, the first glimpse of Cinderella Castle, the sound of boat horns across the lagoon, the specific joy of eating fries when you are not even hungry but emotionally required to snack. You cannot bring all of that home. But you can bring home a pillow that reminds you of collapsing into a Disney resort bed after a long, magical day. Disney pillows And honestly? That might be one of the most useful souvenirs you’ll ever buy. So if your current pillow is flatter than your enthusiasm after seeing the price of park tickets, this might be your sign. Grab the Sobel Westex Sobella Side Sleeper Bed Pillow on Amazon, fluff it up, and give your regular Tuesday night a tiny resort upgrade. No MagicBand required. view ON AMAZON We’re always on the hunt for the latest and greatest Disney souvenirs and essentials, so don’t forget to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more! View the full article

Disneyland has already seen so many changes this year, from the Galaxy’s Edge characters to the Avengers Campus expansion. But now, even more changes are coming Disneyland’s way! Disneyland’s Autopia Autopia is one of the remaining Disneyland opening attractions and has mostly stayed the same over the years. But Autopia will be totally different soon! Disney is planning to update Autopia with fully electric vehicles! This will retire the gas engines that have powered the Tomorrowland race track since 1955. According to Disney officials, Disneyland has an agreement with the California Air Resources Board to retire the current Autopia gas-powered engines in early 2027. Imagineers are currently working on the design, engineering, and testing of a fully electric Autopia ride vehicle! Autopia Car The Walt Disney Company’s new goal of achieving net-zero emissions has begun to roll out in the theme parks, including reducing the parks’ overall carbon footprint. The Disneyland Resort has made a sustainability commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2030, and part of this plan includes relying on cleaner, renewable energy sources. Josh D’Amaro, CEO of The Walt Disney Company ©Disney Disney hasn’t announced a closure for Autopia yet, so we’ll likely have plenty of time to smell those nostalgic gas fumes the next few months. Disneyland originally announced plans in 2024 to convert Autopia from gas to electric power by fall 2026, but the project was postponed to early 2027. It’s possible that it could even be postponed again! Check out our ticket! The 1955 opening day attraction was redesigned in 1959, 1964, and 1968. An extensive remodeling for the Chevron sponsorship closed Autopia from September 1999 through June 2000. The last major Autopia refurbishment took place in 2016 when Honda took over as the ride’s sponsor, and their 10-year contract with Honda ends this year. Autopia We’re so excited to see what these changes to Autopia will look like on the track. Stay tuned to Disney Food Blog for more Disneyland news! NEW LOOK at Disneyland’s Upcoming Iron Man Ride Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What do you think of this change? Comment below! View the full article

There are Disney ears, and then there are Disney Adult ears. You know the difference. Disney ears are fun, cute, maybe a little glittery, maybe a little “I bought these after three churros and a sudden emotional attachment to Mickey Mouse.” Disney Adult ears, however, say: I have a resort reservation, a dinner booking, a matching outfit, and I know exactly which wall I’m taking photos in front of. ©Disney And Disney Store just dropped two new ear headbands that are very much giving “elegant park princess with a dangerously full online shopping cart.” DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. We’re talking about the Tiana Ear Headband for Adults and the Shell Ear Headband for Adults by BaubleBar, and yes, we do think these could sell out faster than a good Lightning Lane for Slinky Dog Dash. These new ears lean into that grown-up Disney fan sweet spot: still magical, still themed, still photo-ready, but not necessarily full cartoon chaos. They’re the kind of ears you can wear to the parks, to brunch, to a Disney-themed bridal shower, or while dramatically refreshing dining reservations like you’re hacking into NASA. Tiana Ear Headband for Adults First up, we’ve got the Tiana Ear Headband for Adults, and these are for the Disney fan who believes in ambition, elegance, beignets, and looking expensive while sweating through a Florida afternoon. Inspired by The Princess and the Frog, these ears are giving bayou glam, princess energy, and “yes, I did plan this outfit around my headband.” ©Disney Tiana is one of those Disney princesses who deserves merchandise that feels refined, thoughtful, and a little bit fancy. These ears seem perfect for anyone who loves the character but doesn’t necessarily want to walk around looking like they got launched out of a Mardi Gras cannon. We love a theme. We also love restraint. Occasionally. ©Disney Store These would be a natural fit for a Magic Kingdom day, especially if you’re planning to ride Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, grab something sweet, or simply stroll around pretending your iced coffee is a business expense. They’re also the kind of ears that would look great with a green dress, a cream-colored top, gold accessories, or the very specific Disney Adult uniform of “cute outfit, practical shoes, emotional support belt bag.” ©Disney Store The Tiana ears feel like they’re made for the Disney fan who loves princess style but wants something a little more polished. Not less magical, just less “birthday party at 3, castle photos at 4, sugar crash at 5.” They’re grown-up, pretty, and still totally Disney. Dangerous combination. Hide your wallet. view ON AMAZON Shell Ear Headband for Adults by BaubleBar Next, we need to discuss the Shell Ear Headband for Adults by BaubleBar, because apparently, Disney Store woke up and chose shimmering undersea temptation. These ears are a nod to The Little Mermaid, and if you’ve been waiting for a pair of Ariel-inspired ears that feel more like jewelry than a costume, this may be your moment. ©Disney Store BaubleBar knows how to make Disney accessories feel sparkly without tipping fully into “I lost a fight with a craft drawer.” These Shell ears sound like they’re designed for the Ariel fan who has aged out of plastic tiaras but absolutely not out of wanting to feel like the prettiest mermaid at EPCOT. ©Disney Store The Shell Ear Headband is ideal for the Disney Adult who loves Ariel, coastal colors, pearl details, shimmer, and accessories that make people say, “Wait, where did you get those?” These would be perfect for a day in Magic Kingdom, a Disney Cruise outfit, a resort dinner, or your next “I’m just browsing Disney Store” session that somehow turns into a financial event. view ON AMAZON Why These Could Sell Out Fast Disney ears can disappear quickly, especially when they hit that magical combination of character popularity, wearable design, and Disney Store temptation. Tiana and Ariel both have loyal fan bases. These designs are aimed at adults. And they lean elegant enough to appeal to people who want Disney accessories they can wear beyond the parks without looking like they lost a bet with a souvenir kiosk. We got to be part of her world! That is exactly the kind of thing that tends to vanish before you finish saying, “I’ll think about it.” Thinking is how the ears win. If your Disney style leans more “subtle luxury with a churro receipt in the bag” than “giant cartoon explosion,” these new ears deserve a spot on your radar. The Tiana ears bring the princess polish. The Shell ears bring the undersea sparkle. And both feel like the kind of Disney Store drop that could disappear quickly once the Disney Adult group chats get involved. Tiana and Prince Naveen So yes, maybe this is your sign to add to cart before they sell out faster than the Lightning Lane you swore you were going to book at 7AM. Disney magic waits for no one. Neither do cute ears. We’re always on the hunt for the latest and greatest Disney souvenirs and essentials, so don’t forget to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more! View the full article

Another week has passed, and you know what that means. It’s time to start planning next week’s ALDI run! ©ALDI Now, we’re big fans of ALDI. Not only are the grocery prices generally lower than other grocery stores, but you can always find some really cool unexpected things there, too. We’ve found everything from Disney essentials to toys to clothes at our local ALDI! So let’s see what kind of cool things are coming to ALDI next week, from May 13th through May 19th. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Zak! Character Color-Changing Tumblers ©ALDI Okay, these color-changing tumblers are SO much fun, and you can get a set of 4 with your favorite characters like Bluey, Disney Princesses, Spider-Man, Stitch, and more. 3-Wheel Scooter ©ALDI Speaking of fun, if you’re kid has been wanting a scooter, which is PERFECT for the summer, you can grab one at ALDI featuring characters like Bluey, Barbie, and more. Character Ball ©ALDI Looking for a super fun ball for playtime? Well, you can grab a ball with a Disney twist, featuring your kids’ favorite characters, including Stitch, Spider-Man, Bluey, Princesses, and more. Get the Silver Buffalo Stitch Tropical Color-Changing Tumblers ©Amazon Can’t get to ALDI? No problem! If you want to grab some fun color-changing tumblers, we found this SWEET set of four with Stitch and a tropical theme. All you have to do is add water to the cup, and it will change colors! view ON AMAZON Buy the Self-Balancing 3-Wheel Scooter ©Amazon You can also get a scooter on Amazon with your kids’ favorite characters, including Bluey, Barbie, Gabby’s Dollhouse, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and more. This scooter also has light-up wheels. view ON AMAZON Get the Mickey Mouse Soccer Ball ©Amazon We also found this nice Mickey Mouse soccer ball on Amazon! It features Mickey looking way cool in 3D glasses, along with a fun Mickey pattern over the rest of the ball. It’s a size 3 soccer ball, making it perfect for smaller kids. view ON AMAZON We’re always on the hunt for the latest and greatest Disney souvenirs and essentials, so don’t forget to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more! View the full article

Florida heat is not a joke, and if you’ve ever spent a full day at Disney World in July, you already know that “hot” doesn’t begin to cover it. Shark ChillPill Personal cooling gadgets have exploded in popularity because of this exact problem, and every season there’s a new contender claiming to be the answer. The Shark ChillPill is one of the most ambitious entries in that category, promising a 3-in-1 fan, mist, and contact cooling system all in one wearable device. We put it to the test so you know exactly what you’re getting before you drop your money. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. The Fan Situation: Manage Your Expectations Here Shark ChillPill There’s a certain hope you feel when you first unbox something that promises to be a game-changer, and opening the Shark ChillPill definitely delivers that excitement. It comes fully charged and ready to go, and the design is genuinely cool to explore. Getting it turned on requires two steps: a slide switch for main power and pressing the dial on one of the tubular pieces to activate it. From there, you can use the surrounding dial to adjust airflow anywhere from 1 to 10. Shark ChillPill At its highest setting, the fan claims airflow of up to 25 feet per second. In practice, it moved less air than other handheld fans we’ve tested. Even running it at a 10 and genuinely wanting it to impress, the airflow just wasn’t there. If a strong, sustained breeze is your primary goal, this isn’t the feature to bet on. Shark ChillPill The Shark ChillPill has 10 speed settings with 10 corresponding noise levels, so you can tune it down for quiet use near a stroller or crank it up when you need something more aggressive. That flexibility is thoughtful, even if the ceiling isn’t as high as advertised. The Mist Feature Is a Lot of Setup for Very Little Payoff Dry-touch evaporative mist sounds like exactly what you want on a 95-degree afternoon, and the Shark ChillPill makes it sound particularly promising. It offers constant or interval mode, a refillable reservoir, and ultra-fine droplets designed not to soak your clothes. Shark ChillPill Here’s the honest truth: it felt like almost nothing. The mist feature also requires a wick that needs replacing every 30 days. Shark ChillPill One is pre-loaded, and three extras come with the unit, which means you’ll eventually need to buy replacements. The setup process is a bit cumbersome, and after doing all of that, having it produce minimal relief was genuinely deflating. If you’ve seen this hyped on social media, just know it didn’t deliver for us. The One Feature That Could Actually Save Someone at Disney World This is where the Shark ChillPill earns its place. The InstaChill Cooling Plate is a cryo-inspired contact surface that claims to drop your skin temperature by up to 16 degrees Fahrenheit on contact, and it actually delivers. Pressing it to your forehead or the back of your neck produces a sharp, immediate cold that is genuinely startling in the best way. Shark ChillPill Anyone who’s watched someone start to overheat at a theme park knows the standard advice: cool water on the skin, something cold against the neck. The ChillPill’s cooling plate does exactly that on demand and keeps doing it for an extended period. Battery life held strong through extended outdoor testing, and even on the lower of the two cooling settings, the effect was remarkable. Shark ChillPill One caveat: there is a slight plastic smell when it’s close to your face, so it’s worth noting for daily use. But as a heat emergency tool for park days, it’s hard to argue with results like that. view ON AMAZON The Shark ChillPill is an ambitious product that swings big and lands a bit unevenly. Two of its three features didn’t wow us — they work well but are hard to justify at the price point. The one that did might honestly be worth the price of admission on its own for anyone spending serious time outdoors in the heat this summer. We’re always on the hunt for the latest and greatest Disney souvenirs and essentials, so don’t forget to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more! View the full article

Summer at Disney Springs is leveling up in a major way. We’re so excited to announce new fun, shops, bites, and ways to play. From an immersive gaming world to a savory new dining spot, there’s so much to look forward to as we count down to Cool KIDS’ SUMMER at Disney Springs! Level99 Brings Next-Level Play to Disney Springs Gamers and thrill‑seekers, this one’s for you! The highly anticipated Level99 is set to open its doors this summer at Disney Springs West Side. I like to think of this new offering as a sprawling playground for adults and teens, ready for those who will take on 60+ life‑sized mini‑games and real-world challenges. Level99 tests your body and your mind as you dodge axes, crack mind‑bending puzzles, and outsmart cleverly designed challenges — all wrapped inside an environment filled with bold art installations. The Disney Springs location will be Level99’s fourth and largest venue to date, featuring more than 40 original works of art alongside 63 Challenge Rooms and Player-vs-Player Duels. Take a break between the fun at Level99’s two‑story bar where guests will find award‑winning Detroit‑style pizza, wagyu burgers, craveable snacks, and handcrafted cocktails — all made from scratch daily as well as rotating beers on tap. Level99 will be located right next to the Drawn to Life presented by Cirque du Soleil theater and across from House of Blues Restaurant & Bar. Introducing Six Ravens: A New Savory Story at Disney Springs Also new at Disney Springs at The Landing this summer, a little raven shared some exciting details about new flavors to feast on. Gideon’s Bakehouse, the fan‑favorite local bakery at Disney Springs, is introducing a new concept: Six Ravens. Specializing in grab-and-go hand pies, their signature creation, known as Coffyns, is a house‑made yeast‑roll stuffed with savory fillings that draw inspiration from Medieval European pastry cases. The original “coffyns” were designed to preserve hearty meals for long pilgrimages, and at Disney Springs, they’ll be the perfect on-the-go offering. Pair the Coffyns with smashed potatoes and dips like sweet heat and homemade honey mustard. Six Ravens will also have local beers crafted in partnership with Orlando favorites like Sideward Brewing and The Ravenous Pig. DescenDANCE Party x Camp Rock Jam On select nights this summer at Disney Springs, the AdventHealth Waterside Stage will come alive with high‑energy dance parties celebrating the newest original movies coming to Disney+. We’re jamming all night to hits from Descendants: Wicked Wonderland and Camp Rock 3. It’s the perfect way for families looking to add a little extra magic to their evening during Cool KIDS’ SUMMER. New Things to Explore with Every Visit As your go-to location to shop, dine, and play, Disney Springs is always looking at the latest trends, brands, and experiences our guests love. You may notice something new with each visit, as offerings are refreshed to deliver what you’re looking for. Whether it’s a pop-up ice cream offering (you still have a couple weeks to visit CrazyShake!), a new storefront opening soon, or limited-time experiences, Disney Springs is the spot for fresh shopping, dining, and more fun. Tip: We’ve got a few spots popping up soon… so stay tuned to a storefront near you! Stay tuned to Disney Parks Blog for more updates as we get closer to opening day for these exciting new offerings. Early Bird Guide to Disney Springs: Shopping, Dining, and More READ MORE Deals, Updates, and More Fun During Summer at Disney World READ MORE Dance, Play, and Chill with Cool KIDS’ SUMMER at Disney World READ MORE The post Everything New Coming to Disney Springs this Summer appeared first on Disney Parks Blog. View the full article

Universal Orlando is about to look significantly different! Universal Orlando It was just announced that several changes are coming to Universal in the next few months and years, including some big dining shake-ups. So if you’re planning a trip here soon, you better listen up! Universal Studios Florida Starting things out at Universal Studios Florida, the OG park, it was revealed that the Horror Make-Up Show will undergo a temporary closure beginning May 12th, 2026. This closure will make way for a “reimagined” experience that will reopen later this year. ©Universal The updated version will “showcase a mix of classic and modern horror properties along with shockingly fun surprises.” But don’t worry — that same irreverent humor we all know and love will still be there. We’ll keep you in the loop and let you know when Universal announces the reopening date. Universal Islands of Adventure Next door at Islands of Adventure, there are some big changes coming to The Lost Continent. In the coming months, venues and experiences in this area of the park will permanently close before the land gets trasnformed into a NEW themed area. ©Universal These closures include the permanent closure of Mythos Restaurant in 2027. Many folks will be sad to see this one go, as it has been a fan-favorite choice over the years. Mythos Restaurant To replace Mythos, Thunder Falls Terrace will close this summer and transform into an all-new dining concept, slated to become the new signature full-service restaurant in Islands of Adventure. This rethemed restaurant will open in 2027, but no specific date has been revealed yet. Thunder Falls Terrace Of course, we’ll let you know as these closures happen so you can prepare for your trip. Universal CityWalk And then over at CityWalk, another new restaurant is coming soon! Fat One’s Hot Dogs & Italian Ice, founded by *NSYNC member Joey Fatone and his manager Joe Mulvihill, will be opening in the future. It will take the place of Hot Dog Hall of Fame, which is closing in July. Universal Orlando CityWalk There’s a lot happening in the coming months, so keep following us here at DFB by subscribing to our newsletter! We’ll make sure you get all the latest news. The Best Things to Eat in Epic Universe Read more: DFB's complete guide to Universal’s Epic Universe >> View the full article

A brand-new experience is about to bring Disney Springs to the next level. Level99 is an interactive, social entertainment experience coming to Walt Disney World this summer! Level99 at Disney Springs The new Level 99 will be located at Disney Springs West Side, near the Drawn to Life Cirque du Soleil theater. In addition to the opening timeline, we also got a NEW look inside the space! At Level 99, guests will enjoy 63 life-sized mini-games and challenges where they can dodge axes, crack puzzles, and outsmart challenges. It’s a destination for “real-world, challenge-based, social entertainment” for adults featuring physical and mental challenges set in artistic environments. It’s essentially a giant, futuristic arcade and entertainment center! ©LEVEL99 There will also be a central two-story bar with craft food offerings. The two-story bar is encircled by glowing neon lights visible throughout the venue, making the food an integral part of the atmosphere. They just released the concept art of the bar, and it looks straight out of a sci-fi movie! ©Level99 Their menu features award-winning Detroit-style pizza, wagyu burgers, craveable snacks, handcrafted cocktails, and rotating beers on tap. Their ingredients are made from scratch daily! We went to their Massachusetts location and ordered the Chartreuse or Dare cocktail, The Godfather pizza, Hand-breaded Crispy Chicken Dunks, Hand-cut French Fries, and the Cinnamon Apple Pull-Apart Bread for dessert. PIZZA! They offer 6 different dipping sauces – Buffalo, Chive Ranch, Great Hill Blue Cheese Ranch, Garlic Aioli, IPA Honey Mustard, and Coffee Stout BBQ. For the most part, we really enjoyed what we ordered! The only thing we didn’t like was our dessert. Full spread at LEVEL99 at Natick, Massachusetts The Disney Springs venue will be the fourth and largest Level99 location, with other sites in Natick, Massachusetts, Providence, Rhode Island, and Tysons, Virginia. Level99 at Disney Springs will feature the company’s biggest art installations to date, with more than 40 original art pieces designed for the space. ©LEVEL99 We’re so excited to check out Level99 at Disney Springs when it opens this summer and we’ll be on the lookout for an official opening date. Stay tuned to Disney Food Blog for more Disney World news! The New Rules You HAVE To Follow In Disney Springs Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Have you been to the other Level99 locations before? Comment below! View the full article

There are a LOT of exciting things in the works at Disney World right now! Overview of Pueblo Esperanza coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Construction is underway on MAJOR land rethemes or expansions in almost every Disney World park right now! In Magic Kingdom, both Villains Land and the Cars-themed Piston Peak are in development. Disney’s Hollywood Studios is plugging away on construction for Monstropolis. And over in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, crews are hard at work on Pueblo Esperanza, a land themed to the Tropical Americas. So far, Pueblo Esperanza is the only new land that Disney World has given an official opening timeline for. But will it be ready to welcome guests by the 2027 opening announced by Disney? Let’s take a look! What Is Pueblo Esperanza? At the 2023 D23 Expo, Josh D’Amaro shared that Disney would be “building on what makes Animal Kingdom so, so special,” with a new area focused on the Tropical Americas! Tropical Americas The land, which was later officially named Pueblo Esperanza, will occupy an 11-acre space in the former DinoLand, U.S.A. area of Animal Kingdom, which was officially closed in 2026 to allow for construction on the new land. Pueblo Esperanza construction Pueblo Esperanza will highlight the Tropical Americas through the stories of Encanto and Indiana Jones. Encanto Attraction The new land will be home to two signature attractions — an Encanto ride featuring the Madrigal family and a new Indiana Jones adventure ride. Plus, there will also be a carousel as a third ride option. Model of the Encanto ride The all-new Encanto-themed ride will feature the family Madrigal inside the enchanted Casita. ©Disney Based on the concept art, it appears to be a boat ride. Disney has shared that the ride’s story will begin just as Antonio has received his special gift and his room becomes a beautiful rainforest, and “You never know what member of the family you might bump into…” Indiana Jones Attraction The Indiana Jones ride will also be a new attraction, with a different storyline from the Indiana Jones Adventure attraction in Disneyland. ©Disney Disney has described the ride as following “the man with the hat” during a time when he has “recently discovered a perfectly preserved Maya temple, and that can only mean one thing: it’s time to explore it. He’s heard rumors about a mythical creature deep within the temple — and he’s got to see it for himself. So, he brings us along on the adventure… but will there be snakes? We’ll just have to wait and see.” Carousel The large carousel attraction is “sculpted by a local woodcarver,” and it will include some familiar Disney characters. A carousel model of Kevin on display at the D23 Ultimate Fan Convention We’ve seen a sneak peek of some of the animals that will be included on the ride, like Kevin, from Up! Other Pueblo Esperanza Attractions & Details Disney has revealed that the area will feature classic Spanish-style architecture with a large hacienda that will serve as one of the largest quick-service restaurants at Disney World. Pueblo Esperanza Market ©Disney There’s also a new play area coming to Pueblo Esperanza. Pueblo Esperanza Concept Art ©Disney The lush colors and rich biodiversity of the Tropical Rainforest will be on full display, and at the center of Pueblo Esperanza will be a large fountain where stories will be told by gathering villagers. Pueblo Esperanza Construction The closure of DinoLand took place in phases, beginning with TriceraTop Spin, Fossil Fun Games, and Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures at Animal Kingdom, which all closed on January 13th, 2025. Groundbreaking Ceremony Shortly after the first phase of DinoLand closures, on January 18th, 2025, Disney shared photos of an official groundbreaking ceremony that kicked off construction of Pueblo Esperanza. ©Disney From that point, construction began in the closed areas while operations in the rest of DinoLand continued. Phased DinoLand Closures The next phases of DinoLand closures began in the second half of 2025, starting with the Boneyard play area which permanently closed on September 2nd, 2025. Dino-Bite Snacks and Trilo-Bites then closed on October 20th, 2025. Trilo-Bites The remainder of DinoLand closed on February 2nd, 2026. DINOSAUR is gone, y’all This included the DINOSAUR ride, the Dino Institute Shop, Restaurantosaurus, and Restaurantosaurus Lounge. Construction Progress Some of the construction on Pueblo Esperanza is visible from within the park, peeking out from behind the construction walls. Pueblo Esperanza construction We’ve also seen overhead shots shared by @bioreconstruct that give an aerial view of the construction progress. In a photo that was posted in April 2026, we can see some of the steel frame for the new carousel. ©bioreconstruct A wider shot also shows how Disney is using trees to hide some of the construction work, creating a visual barrier between an Animal Kingdom walking path and the work site. ©bioreconstruct Another April 2026 update shows work happening at what used to be the DINOSAUR ride, but will become the new Indiana Jones attraction, visible in the top left of this overview photo. ©bioreconstruct Looking at other April progress shots, we see construction staging at what will be the center of Pueblo Esperanza, including construction for the Encanto ride to the right. ©bioreconstruct This photo shows the steel frame for the Encanto ride’s pre-show and queue. The lighter steel frame on the right could be for the ride’s exit. ©bioreconstruct Here’s a full view of the April progress on the MASSIVE show building for the Encanto ride. ©bioreconstruct These April updates show that progress is being made on all three of the land’s new attractions. Opening Timeline Disney previously announced that Pueblo Esperanza is expected to open in 2027. Pueblo Esperanza Construction Disney hasn’t given a specific opening date or even an expected season/time of year, but they typically provide more detailed opening information on projects as construction progresses. Will Pueblo Esperanza Open On Time? Since Disney World has only given a broad opening timeline of 2027 so far, they technically still have over a full year to complete construction for Pueblo Esperanza to open “on time.” Construction Progress Disney typically narrows down opening timelines with specific seasons or dates as things get closer to completion, so the window for an “on time” opening will likely narrow later, when an official update is given. Crane As we previously covered, we’ve seen what appears to be good construction progress happening on all three of the land’s attractions, as well as on other features throughout the land. ©bioreconstruct Between the wide opening timeline Disney has announced and the steady construction progress, we’re keeping our fingers crossed that an on-time opening for Pueblo Esperanza is in the cards! We’ll be on the lookout for any further updates about construction milestones, grand opening dates, or exciting Pueblo Esperanza details, so stay tuned to DFB for the latest news! All the NEW Rides and Attractions at Disney World in 2026 and Beyond Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What are you most excited to experience in Pueblo Esperanza? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

The Fourth of July is only three months away, which means we’re already planning our park day to see the fireworks! 4th of July Fireworks! But Disney is doing something different for the Fourth of July fireworks this year – instead of only showing them on the 3rd and 4th, they’ll now be shown on three different nights! The annual fireworks show, Disney’s Celebrate America! — A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky will play across all three nights of the holiday weekend on Friday, July 3rd, Saturday, July 4th, and Sunday, July 5th. This will be for both Disneyland and Magic Kingdom, so you can celebrate Independence Day on each coast! Look at Those Projections The Fourth of July fireworks will happen at Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom. Like the current Happily Ever After fireworks show, you can see this from the front of the castle and along Main Street, U.S.A. The same goes for Disneyland, where the show will be at Sleeping Beauty Castle. Red, White, and Blue! In addition, both parks offer private fireworks viewing! At Disney World, the Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Parties offer unlimited beverages and desserts, including cupcakes, cheesecakes, and tarts. The private viewing is at Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant, where you can take a seat along the moat of Cinderella Castle and watch the fireworks with a perfect view! Dessert Party Fireworks Disneyland in California has a similar offer. The Tomorrowland Skyline Terrace: Evening Dining Package offers iconic chilled foods, snacks, and desserts inspired by the heyday of the Space Age. They’re served in the cutest commemorative bento box. You can see the fireworks light up the sky from the restaurant’s terrace, but the projections might not be visible from your seat. Fireworks view from Tomorrowland Skyline Terrace While both of these private viewing spaces sold out within minutes this year, they’re offered every single year. Booking opens 60 days out at 6 AM Eastern Time for Florida and 6 AM Pacific Time for California, so mark your calendars and set your alarms for next year! We’re ready to book! ©Disney We’re so excited to see what Disney has in store for us for their massive Fourth of July celebration. Stay tuned to Disney Food Blog for more Disney Parks news! 5 NEW Summer Procedures Will Go Into Effect in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Have you seen the Fourth of July fireworks at Disney before? Comment below! View the full article

There’s something magical about traveling to destinations that seem to have it all… cities that buzz with energy, cultures shaped by centuries of tradition, and coastlines so beautiful they feel straight out of a dream. These are the types of places that instantly spark my imagination when I start planning my next adventure. And, in 2027, you’ll have even more ways to experience destinations like these with two brand‑new Adventures by Disney land itineraries to Thailand and Croatia & Slovenia, plus a reimagined journey through Italy’s Sicily & Amalfi Coast. What I love most about these adventures is that no two days feel the same. One day you might be exploring a vibrant city, and the next you’re connecting with local traditions or soaking in coastal views that you’ll be talking about long after you return home. Add in your dedicated Adventures Guides who take care of every trip detail, along with unique experiences designed for every member of your family, including special activities for young travelers, or “Junior Adventurers,” and it’s what makes Adventures by Disney truly special. New 20276 Adventures by Disney Trips What is Adventures by Disney? Thailand – Vibrant Cities, Cultural Depth and Tropical Coastlines Croatia & Slovenia – Historic Cities, Living Culture and Adriatic Coasts Italy: Sicily & Amalfi Coast – Iconic Cities, Timeless Culture and Coastal Beauty Which Adventure Will You Choose? What is Adventures by Disney? Adventures by Disney offers guided vacations to destinations around the world. With Adventure Guides leading the way and providing Disney-level service and storytelling. Each itinerary features special access to local sites, hands-on cultural experiences and seamless planning – creating a hassle-free travel experience that allows families to focus on exploring and creating unforgettable memories together. Let’s take a closer look at what makes these itineraries special. Thailand – Vibrant Cities, Cultural Depth and Tropical Coastlines Spanning 10 unforgettable days, this brand‑new Thailand adventure draws you into a destination where history, spirituality and natural beauty are woven together in the most meaningful ways. Your journey begins in Bangkok, a city that feels alive at every turn. From the grandeur of the Grand Palace to the ancient city of Ayutthaya, you’ll see how centuries‑old traditions remain central to modern life. Cruising by private klong boat, you’ll explore Bangkok’s historic canals for a quieter and more intimate look at the daily rhythms here and how this incredible environment achieves constant balance between tranquility and movement. Traveling north to Chiang Mai, the pace slows as you connect with Thailand’s cultural roots through hands‑on cooking experiences and time spent at a local tea garden, where regional flavors and agricultural traditions come together to tell Thailand’s story. One of the most moving moments of the adventure comes during a visit to an Asian elephant sanctuary. Through guided observation and education across a canopy walk, you’ll gain meaningful insight into the conservation and animal care efforts behind protecting these gentle giants. It’s sure to be an experience that stays with you long after the adventure ends. As they say in Thailand, ไปกัน (bpai gan)! – let’s go! Trip Highlight Exploring the world-famous Phang Nga Bay by boat and guided kayak, where towering limestone formations rise from emerald waters and hidden lagoons create one of Thailand’s most striking and immersive coastal experiences. Croatia & Slovenia – Historic Cities, Living Culture and Adriatic Coasts This brand‑new (and stunning), eight‑day adventure whisks you away to the mystical lands of Croatia and Slovenia – a region connected by story and shaped by geography, history, and long‑standing traditions. You’ll start off in Ljubljana, Slovenia, a picturesque city surrounded by mountains and historic buildings that pull you in with timeless beauty. Perched on a hill at the center of it all is Ljubljana Castle, where you’ll experience a guided tour alongside costumed storytellers that bring the city’s layered past to life. From there, the harmony of nature and heritage continues at Lake Bled, where pristine alpine scenery meets sacred traditions as you glide across the lake’s glimmering waters aboard a traditional pletna boat to an island sanctuary revered since the seventh century. Traveling deeper into the mountains, a light hike leads to Velika Planina, a centuries‑old herdsmen settlement that offers a rare look at a way of life still deeply connected to the land. And that’s only half the journey! Your adventure continues in the captivating country of Croatia, where you’ll explore the famed Dubrovnik, known for its fortified city walls that run along its golden Adriatic coastline. You’ll spend multiple days exploring everything this dynamic city has to offer, including its longstanding history and fresh, locally-sourced cuisine. In between all the sightseeing, splash around and soak up the sun during a visit to the nearby Elaphiti Islands, where crystal‑clear waters and island scenery perfectly showcase the relaxed rhythm of coastal life here. Trust me… as someone who has visited Dubrovnik, this trip is one you’ll want to add to your bucket list. Trip Highlight Kayaking along Dubrovnik’s ancient city walls before crossing to Lokrum Island, a natural retreat for the locals that delivers a rare perspective on one of Europe’s most iconic cities. Italy: Sicily & Amalfi Coast – Iconic Cities, Timeless Culture and Coastal Beauty An evolution of the guest favorite Sicily itinerary, this reimagined eight day adventure is a luminous escape that takes you on a seamless journey through southern Italy and its beloved cuisine, sundrenched shores, and vibrant communities. What is a "Reimagined" Adventures by Disney Itinerary? A reimagined Adventures by Disney itinerary builds on a guest favorite with new and thoughtful updates such as new destinations, enhanced pacing or added experiences – while staying true to what made it special. Your first stop on this Mediterranean getaway is Sicily, Italy’s southern island in the sun where you’ll explore its breathtaking landscapes shaped by both nature and history. A guided experience on Mount Etna (Europe’s highest and most active volcano) allows you to explore its vast lava fields and lava tubes, while a visit to the ancient Greek Theater of Teatro Greco in Taormina beautifully showcases the region’s past and offers sweeping views of the Ionian Sea. Sicily’s cultural traditions and artistic heritage will come to life through a private Sicilian puppet show at a local Sicilian theater followed by an interactive workshop featuring hands-on instruction by a master puppeteer. As you travel along the Amalfi Coast, the journey reveals dazzling scenery and even more cultural connections. You’ll meet and learn from local artisans in a pasta-making class in Gragnano (Italy’s pasta capital) and a ceramics workshop in Vietri sul Mare – experiences that will have you saying, “la dolce vita!” Trip Highlight Visiting Herculaneum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Italy’s most remarkably preserved Roman towns that was originally lost to time in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius – allowing you to walk through ancient streets frozen in time. Which Adventure Will You Choose? Whether you’re drawn to Thailand’s dynamic cities and tropical coastlines, the historic crossroads of Croatia and Slovenia, or the timeless landscapes and cuisine of southern Italy, these Adventures by Disney itineraries invite you to experience the world in unforgettable ways. Ready to start planning your next adventure? Visit AdventuresbyDisney.com, call 1-833-223-0103 or contact your travel agent.  Discover Your Dream Trip on National Plan For Vacation Day READ MORE Adventures by Disney’s Reimagined Rhine River Cruise and More READ MORE Grandpa’s Legacy Inspires Grandson’s Disney Career READ MORE The post New Adventures by Disney Trips Revealed for 2027 appeared first on Disney Parks Blog. View the full article

Disney World discounts are not always created equal. Do you use Meta glasses? Sometimes Disney says “discount,” and what they mean is “Congratulations, you have saved enough money to buy one pretzel and maybe emotionally recover.” Other times, Disney drops a hotel deal that actually makes us sit up, grab the calculator, and start whispering dangerous things like, “Wait…should we go?” This is one of those times. Disney World currently has a Disney+ Perks hotel offer that brings select Disney Resort hotel rooms down to as low as $99 per night, plus tax, and yes, that number is real. No, we did not accidentally time travel to 2017. Though if anyone has a working time machine, please send us back to the era of cheaper snacks and lower crowd levels. The $99 Deal, Explained Without the Confetti Cannon This Disney+ Perks offer is available for most stays from June 21st through August 15th, 2026, and it requires a two-night minimum stay. The lowest advertised rate is for a Standard Room at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort. Other participating resorts include Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Port Orleans Resort — Riverside For most nights from June 21st to July 1st, July 5th to July 8th, and July 12th to August 5th, the starting rates are: Resort Room Type Starting Rate Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort Standard Room $99/night, plus tax Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside Standard Location 5th Sleeper $169/night, plus tax Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Cars Family Suite $249/night, plus tax Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa Deluxe Studio $279/night, plus tax Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Savanna View Room $369/night, plus tax And for most nights from July 2nd to July 4th, July 9th to July 11th, and August 6th to August 15th, those prices bump up slightly, with All-Star Sports starting at $109 per night, plus tax. Still not exactly “loose change found in the cupholder,” but for Disney World hotel pricing? That’s a genuine eyebrow-raiser. Disney Discounts and Deals Let’s Do the Painful Math Because this is Disney World, and the difference between “cute little getaway” and “why did my credit card make a noise?” is often buried in the details. All Stars Let’s price out a 7-night stay at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort using dates that fall inside the lower $99/night range: July 12th through July 19th, 2026. With the Disney+ Perks deal, that room would be: Scenario Estimated Room Cost $99/night for 7 nights before tax $693 With estimated 13.5% All-Star resort tax About $787 Now let’s compare that with the regular rack-rate estimate for those same dates. All-Star Sports Standard Room rack rates include 13.5% tax, with summer weekday rates at $204 and Friday/Saturday rates at $243. For a Sunday-through-Saturday 7-night stay, that comes out to 5 nights at $204 and 2 nights at $243. Scenario Estimated Room Cost Regular rack-rate estimate with tax About $1,506 Disney+ Perks deal with estimated tax About $787 Estimated savings About $719 That is a difference of roughly $719. All Star Sports That’s not nothing. That’s several character meals. That’s a stack of Lightning Lane purchases. That’s an alarming number of Mickey pretzels. That is enough money to make you look at All-Star Sports and suddenly say, “You know what? Giant football helmets DO have charm.” Why This Is Actually a Big Deal Disney World room discounts are common enough that we’ve all developed a little deal fatigue. Disney tosses around percentages like confetti, and half the time you still need a spreadsheet, a travel agent, and a candlelit séance with your bank account to figure out whether you saved anything meaningful. But this one is different because the starting rates are aggressively low for on-property Disney hotels. Saratoga Springs You’re not just getting a cheaper hotel room. You’re still getting Disney Resort perks, including access to Disney transportation, Early Theme Park Entry, and the overall “I am staying inside the bubble” convenience that makes it easier to leave the park when someone in your group starts melting into a puddle near Pirates of the Caribbean. And if your arrival date falls between May 26th and September 8th, 2026, Disney Resort hotel guests can also get water park admission on check-in day included with their stay. That means this deal is not just “sleep somewhere cheaper.” It could help build a lower-cost summer trip that still feels very Disney. Who Should Be Sprinting Toward This Deal? This deal is especially good for people who: Have flexible summer travel dates. Are already Disney+ subscribers or are willing to become one. Want to stay on Disney property without handing over their entire summer grocery budget. Do not need the fanciest room in the fanciest resort in the fanciest tower with the fanciest lobby smell. Are okay with Value Resort energy, which is loud, colorful, practical, and occasionally shaped like sporting equipment. Art of Animation It’s also great for families who were already eyeing a summer trip but needed one number to drop before things got serious. The room is often one of the biggest vacation expenses, so cutting hundreds off that total can change the whole equation. The “But Read the Fine Print” Goblin Now, before we all cannonball into the booking pool, let’s talk about restrictions. This offer is for Disney+ Perks subscribers, and the Disney+ subscriber must be staying in the room. You’ll also need proof of subscription, and availability is limited. This offer cannot be combined with other offers, and like most Disney discounts, not every room type, resort, or date combo will be available. ©Disney Translation: do not wander into this deal with one exact resort, one exact room type, one exact travel week, and the emotional flexibility of a Haunted Mansion ghost. Be flexible. Check multiple dates. Look at more than one resort. And if you already have a reservation, check whether this offer can be applied or whether rebooking makes more sense. What About the Other Deals? Disney is currently running a whole buffet of discounts, because apparently someone opened the savings drawer and forgot to shut it. There’s a 4-Day, 4-Park Magic Ticket starting at $436 plus tax, with start dates from May 26th through September 26th, 2026. That ticket must be used within 7 days of the selected start date. There’s also a Specially Priced After 2 PM Ticket for early summer, with start dates from May 26th through July 29th, 2026. This ticket lets guests visit one theme park per day after 2 PM, and Disney offers both 2-day and 3-day versions. We LOVE nighttime shows! For hotel discounts, Disney is also offering savings of up to 30% on rooms this summer for stays most nights from May 1st through July 29th, 2026, with the highest percentage savings tied to stays of 5 or more consecutive nights at select resorts. There is also the FREE Dining Plan for Kids ages 3 to 9 offer in 2026 when adults purchase a Disney Dining Plan as part of an eligible Walt Disney Travel Company package. Macaroni and Cheese Kids Meal at Regal Eagle Basically, Disney is giving you multiple ways to lower the overall cost. The trick is figuring out which one actually saves your specific family the most money, because Disney math is not math. Disney math is math wearing Mickey ears and carrying a churro receipt. 6 Times Disney’s FREE Dining Plan Is A Bad Deal Is This Better Than Free Dining? For a lot of people? It might be. Free dining can be a great deal, especially for families who eat the way Disney Dining Plans want you to eat. But it usually requires a nondiscounted room and a package with specific ticket requirements. That means you need to compare the total cost, not just stare dreamily at the phrase “free dining” like it’s a Dole Whip in July. Dole Whip The $99 hotel deal may work better for guests who want maximum flexibility, especially if they pair the lower room rate with a ticket discount like the 4-Day, 4-Park Magic Ticket or the After 2 PM ticket. In other words, “free food” is fun. But “hundreds off the hotel room” can be even more fun, especially if your family is more quick-service chaos than three-course table-service royalty. The Best Strategy Here’s what we’d do. First, check your travel dates against the Disney+ Perks offer. If you can travel during one of the lower-rate windows, start there. The $99 All-Star Sports rate is the headline grabber, but don’t ignore the other resorts. A Cars Family Suite at Art of Animation for $249 per night, plus tax, could be huge for larger families who need more space and would rather not conduct bedtime negotiations in one tiny hotel room. Art of Animation Second, compare that total against Disney’s other offers. Do not assume the biggest-sounding discount is the best discount. Sometimes 30% off a more expensive room is still more expensive than the weirdly excellent little $99 deal hiding in plain sight. Third, price out tickets separately. If you’re only planning a few park days, the 4-Day, 4-Park Magic Ticket or After 2 PM ticket could change the total trip cost dramatically. Toy Story Land Fourth, act fast if the numbers work. These deals are limited, and Disney hotel availability can vanish faster than a popcorn bucket on release day. So…Is It a Game Changer? For the right traveler, absolutely. A week at a Disney World hotel for under $800-ish after estimated tax is not something we see every day anymore. And when the regular rack-rate estimate for that same sample week lands around $1,506, this discount starts looking less like a cute perk and more like a tiny financial miracle in a Goofy hat. All-Star Sports Is it perfect? No. It requires Disney+ Perks. It has limited availability. You may need to be flexible. And yes, you might end up at All-Star Sports, where the theming screams “middle school gym class fever dream,” but honestly? For this price? We can learn to love a giant tennis racket. If you’ve been waiting for a sign to price out a summer Disney World trip, this might be it. Just compare carefully, check the fine print, and do not let the word “discount” hypnotize you into booking something that does not actually work for your family. Disney’s Port Orleans – Riverside But if the math lines up? That $99 room rate might be the deal that turns “maybe someday” into “pack the sunscreen, we’re going.” We’re always on the hunt for the latest and greatest Disney deals and discounts, so don’t forget to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more! The Only 3 Disney Deals Worth Shopping Today All of the Disney Discount News Score MAJOR Savings on Disney Gift Cards at Sam’s Club Right NowALDI Has the PERFECT Water Bottles for Your Next Disney World TripDisney Charges $20 for This in the Parks — Amazon Sells It for $10Amazon Is Having a BIG Sale on Disney World EssentialsCONFIRMED: Exclusive FREE DINING Offer Announced for Disney World in 2027 Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Are you planning to take advantage of this deal? Let us know in the comments below! View the full article

A LOT is going on in Disney’s Hollywood Studios right now. Not only is a brand new Monsters, Inc. land being built, but Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is getting a Muppets makeover, and Animation Courtyard is being reimagined into The Walt Disney Studios. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets Now, work on all three projects is coming right along, but we have a HUGE update to share about two of these projects: Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets and The Walt Disney Studios. So let’s see what’s changed! So we previously took a peek at Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets, and we’ve seen the car at the entrance get a groovy new paint job and noticed that the guitar in front of the ride is looking a lot more psychedelic. Well, something NEW has arrived at the ride, too: the artwork for the ride (it’s the poster we’ve previously seen). New poster We also noticed the Rock Around the Shop sign is visible now. It’s also got a super groovy font that’s SO very Electric Mayhem. This ride will open on May 26th, which is coming up REAL soon. Early previews have already been announced, too. Rock Around The Shop sign But those aren’t the only changes we spotted in Hollywood Studios. Over at what will soon be The Walt Disney Studios, there’s a new Walt Disney Studios sign above the Studio Theatre. It’s really happening, y’all! New sign! The Studio Theater sign is in front of that. NICE. Studio Theater sign This area will be reopening in phases, with Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! opening on May 26th (yep, May 26th is going to be BUSY in Hollywood Studios). The rest of the area will include The Magic of Disney Animation, an interactive take on Disney’s Animation headquarters. Olaf Draws is also coming to The Walt Disney Studios, which will be a live drawing lesson with an interactive Olaf. “Olaf Draws” Concept Art ©Disney There will also be new character greetings and the Drawn to Wonderland playground, which is based on the concept art of Alice in Wonderland created by Disney Legend Mary Blair. ©Disney We’ll be keeping an eye out for more construction updates in Disney World, so stay tuned to DFB for more. Disney World Set To Replace 6 Long-Abandoned Buildings with New Experiences in Hollywood Studios Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What do you think of the construction on these two projects so far? Share your thoughts in the comments! View the full article

The good news? You’re going to Disney World!! YAY YOU!! The not-so-great news? You’ve gotta figure out how to… pay for all of it. Yay, you… Mickey loves money Fortunately, we’ve got a WHOLE video that’s gonna help you budget out your entire tip (and SAVE you hundreds of dollars along the way, too)! Check out our video below: 50 Budget Tips for Disney World That Actually Work Are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes! And stay tuned for more theme park news! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What video do you want to see from DFB next? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

We’re gearing up for something exciting coming to Animal Kingdom! Fairy Bread Cake Starting on May 26th, Bluey characters will appear in the park, getting a new experience at Conservation Station called Bluey’s Wild World. The experience will include meet-and-greets with Bluey and Bingo, dance parties, interactive play, Bluey-themed games, and even tie-ins with Australian animals. But when Bluey arrives, there are also going to be new TREATS! During a media event at Animal Kingdom, we got a sneak peek at one of the new Bluey treats coming to the park! This is the Fairy Bread Cake, which will be available at Pizzafari starting May 26th. Fairy Bread Cake It’s a vanilla birthday cake dipped in white chocolate with rainbow sprinkles. I’ll be served with a raspberry dipping sauce. Sounds delicious! Ingredients The white chocolate on the outside overpowers the cake flavor a bit, and this is very sweet overall. The inside is a mushy cake pop-like texture, and it’s soft and quite satisfying. We didn’t get to try it with the raspberry dipping sauce, but we expect that the sauce will add a tart flavor that this treat really needs to balance the sweetness. Fairy Bread Cake This is certainly a shareable treat because of all that sugar, but we have a feeling it’s going to be popular with the kiddos! We can’t wait to see what other Bluey-themed treats come to the park in May. We’ll let you know when they’re announced! The tray at the media event For more updates on everything happening in Disney World on May 26th (like the opening of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets and the launch of Cool KIDS’ SUMMER), subscribe to our newsletter and our YouTube channel. We’ll also be posting all the excitement on social media, so check us out over there as well! Learn More About the Bluey Experiences Coming to Animal Kingdom Here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Are you going to check out the Bluey offerings at Animal Kingdom? Tell us in the comments! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disney World to attend their media preview of Animal Kingdom food. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ View the full article

Don’t get caught off guard by these unexpected rules on your next Disney Cruise Line sailing! Disney Magic Cruise Ship There are SO MANY things to look forward to on a Disney Cruise, from dining in the intricately themed restaurants to taking in all the onboard entertainment! As you’re getting ready to set sail, you might review some of the big-picture rules and policies, like banned items and dining room dress codes, to make sure nothing gets in the way of embarking on your incredible vacation. But here are five bizarre rules that you might be surprised to find out about on board! Crawling Babies ONLY in Jack-Jack’s Diaper Dash One of the free onboard activities typically offered on Disney Cruise Line sailings is Jack-Jack’s Diaper Dash, a short race in which parents can enter their babies to see who has the most future superhero potential by crawling to the finish line the fastest. The rules state that all racers must be crawlers only — NO WALKING allowed in the Diaper Dash! Disney Dream Any babies that walk during the race will be disqualified. That means if your little one happens to take their first steps during the Diaper Dash, they’ll be eliminated! Which is a bummer, but would make an already memorable milestone that much more unforgettable. The Disney Dream Atrium Jack-Jack’s Diaper Dash is usually offered at least once per sailing (although schedules are subject to change), so keep an eye out for it on the daily schedule of the Disney Cruise Line Navigator App if you’d like to enter your superbaby when you sail! Only Open One Door at a Time One of the room types you can book on a Disney Cruise is a verandah stateroom, which includes a private outdoor balcony connected to your room. But beware that there is also an additional rule attached to this type of room! Garden View Stateroom with Verandah Guests are advised NOT to open both the verandah and stateroom doors simultaneously, as this may create a wind tunnel effect that could cause the doors to slam unexpectedly. Don’t open your stateroom door while the verandah door is open! This is a rule that might sound totally random at first glance, but after learning why it exists (or seeing the wind tunnel effect in action when someone breaks it…), it’s easy to see that its purpose is to keep you safe! Curfew Hours If you’re sailing with someone under the age of 18, this one’s for you! There’s a curfew on Disney Cruise Line that states guests under the age of 18 must be in their stateroom (or supervised by an adult in their party) between the hours of 1:00 AM and 6:00 AM. Discovery Reef on the Disney Adventure Most of the activities, pools, and restaurants on Disney Cruise ships are closed by the time the curfew kicks in at 1:00 AM, so it shouldn’t keep anyone from having a must-do experience. But, if you do have a teenager who wants to explore the decks without the daytime crowds, heads up that they’ll need adult supervision during those late-night hours! Shop the Items in Your Stateroom Have you ever been on vacation and fallen so in love with a soft blanket or fuzzy towel that you wished you could take it home with you? Well, on Disney Cruise Line, you can…for a price! Select items in the staterooms, including the bed throws, towels, and laundry bags, are available for purchase. Ocean View Room on the Disney Treasure Guests interested in purchasing something from their room can see their Stateroom Host or Hostess for applicable pricing. Keep in mind that anything removed from the room may be charged directly to your stateroom account anyway, so don’t try to get around the cost by sneaking something into your suitcase at the end of the trip! Onboard Credit Limits FYI, for the “put it on my tab” travelers! When guests complete the online check-in for their cruise, they have the option to put a credit card on file to automatically charge their onboard purchases to. But if you were planning on waiting until the end of your trip to settle the bill, heads up, there is an onboard credit limit based on the length of your cruise — 2 to 5 nights: $300, 6 to 9 nights: $500, 10 nights or greater: $700. Bar on Disney Cruise Line Once a guest’s account reaches the credit limit based on their sailing length, Disney will automatically process payment on the credit card, and the process will be repeated each time the limit is reached. From safety measures to eligibility for onboard activities, these are a few of the weird Disney Cruise Line rules that might catch you by surprise! We’ve got more tips on all things Disney vacation coming your way, so keep an eye on DFB for the latest updates! 5 Things I Learned the Hard Way After Spending $6,000 on a Disney Cruise Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW View the full article

For generations, Disney has been a place where families grow together, not just through shared memories, but through meaningful careers. For many cast members, a Disney journey begins at home, inspired by mothers whose dedication and perseverance opened the door to opportunity. This Mother’s Day, we are celebrating Disney families and the women who help shape them, spotlighting moms whose careers at Disney have created pathways for their children and strengthened the bonds that connect generations across our parks and resorts. Matthew, Connie, and Aiyana at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort. Disney World Mom Shares a Family Cast Connection with Her Kids For Connie, a career at Walt Disney World Resort began with a simple weekend job and grew into a lifelong journey. Connie joined Disney World at just 16 years old while still in high school. What started as an after-school job soon became the foundation of a career that has spanned more than 35 years. Over the decades, she worked across parks and resorts before moving into Workforce Management, where she has supported thousands of cast members behind the scenes since 2005. Matthew, Aiyana, and Connie on vacation through the years with Disney. Matthew, Aiyana, and Connie on vacation through the years with Disney. Matthew, Aiyana, and Connie on vacation through the years with Disney. Matthew, Aiyana, and Connie on vacation through the years with Disney. Matthew, Aiyana, and Connie on vacation through the years with Disney. Matthew, Aiyana, and Connie on vacation through the years with Disney. At the same time, Connie was raising her two children on her own, with Disney World becoming a second home for their family. From days spent in the parks and water parks to cruises together, Disney was always part of their everyday life. More importantly, her children grew up watching their mom build a career she was proud of, one step at a time. Today, that connection has come full circle. Matthew working at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort. Matthew working at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort. Matthew working at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort. Aiyana working at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort. Aiyana working at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort. Aiyana working at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort. Connie’s son, Matthew, now works in food and beverage at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort, where he connects with guests while pursuing his passion for pastry and culinary arts at Valencia College through Disney Aspire, the company’s education investment program. Her daughter, Aiyana, recently joined Walt Disney World and is beginning her own journey, inspired by the example she grew up watching. She is studying business administration through Disney Aspire and hopes to one day step into a leadership role. “Growing up, I always saw how much my mom cared about what she did,” Matthew said. “Watching her build a career here at Disney made me want to find something I’m passionate about too, and Disney has given me the chance to do that.” Seeing their mom grow within the company left a lasting impression. Aiyana and Connie celebrating Connie’s 35-year Service Anniversary. “Watching my mom build her career has really inspired me,” Aiyana said. “It pushes me to work hard, keep learning, and believe that one day I can build something just as meaningful.” Working at the same company has given the family a new way to connect, from sharing everyday work experiences to celebrating milestones together. Connie says watching her children build their own journeys has been one of the most rewarding parts of her career. “One of my proudest moments has been seeing my kids find their own paths here,” Connie said. “Disney has supported me through every stage of my life, and now I get to see that same support extended to my children.” This Mother’s Day, Connie’s family celebrates more than a career. They celebrate a legacy of growth and opportunity passed from one generation of cast members to the next. Disneyland Resort Mom Inspired Three Daughters to Follow Her Into the Magic Across the country at Disneyland Resort, one mother’s journey sparked a legacy that continues to inspire across generations. For the Sweetman family, that inspiration began with Jenny Sweetman. Jenny joined Disneyland Resort in 1983, stepping into her first role as a hostess in New Orleans Square. What followed was not just a career, but a lifelong journey shaped by growth, opportunity, and an unwavering commitment to people. Over the next four decades, she built experience across nearly every corner of the resort. Jenny (pictured in blue) along with her entire family including her daughters Andie, Kellie, and Jessica on vacation at Disney’s Hollywood Studios park in 2019. While Disneyland Resort shaped Jenny’s professional path, its impact extended far beyond her own career. As her three daughters grew up around the parks watching their mom show up with pride, care, and purpose they also began to imagine futures for themselves as part of that same magic. “As kids, we didn’t always understand what our mom did,” shared her daughter, Jessica. “We just knew she worked at Disneyland, and that meant something. We saw how much she loved what she did, and how much she cared about the people she worked with.” Jenny balanced leadership roles with motherhood, modeling what it meant to be an amazing leader while staying fully grounded in her family. She never charted a specific path for her children but showed them how meaningful work could be. Jessica, Jenny, Andie, and Kellie just inside the gates at Disneyland. “I just wanted them to know they could do anything,” Jenny said. “Disney gave me the space to grow, and I wanted them to feel that same kind of possibilities for themselves.” Kellie was the first of Jenny’s daughters to follow in her footsteps, joining Disneyland Resort in 2011 and beginning her own leadership journey. Over the years, she built experience across several operational areas, taking on new challenges and eventually advancing into roles focused on safety. Along the way, she pursued higher education with the support of Disney’s Educational Program, continuing the legacy of growth and leadership she watched her mom model firsthand. Jenny celebrating her daughter Kellie’s 5-year Service Anniversary. Not long after, Andie joined the resort, starting her career in retail while working toward a degree in Hospitality Management. From supporting major park moments to exploring creative roles she once only dreamed about, Andie credits her mom for fostering independence and confidence. Nearly 30 years to the day after Jenny’s first role began, Jessica hired into Disneyland Resort, starting in the very same land where her mom’s journey first began. A beautiful, full circle moment. Years later, with the help of Disney Aspire, she earned her MBA and now works in communications, helping tell cast stories across the resort. Jenny and Jessica in New Orleans Square the place where it all began. At Disney, cast members do not just find a job, they find a place to belong, to grow, and to build careers that often span an average of 12 years. This Mother’s Day, we’re celebrating Jenny and moms like her, whose love for the parks and dedication to people help keep the magic moving forward one family, one career, and one generation at a time. These stories remind us that Disney is more than a place to work. It is a place where passion is passed down and futures take shape across generations. Through leadership, mentorship, and example, Disney moms continue to inspire not only their own families, but cast members across our parks and resorts, leaving a legacy that lives on in the magic they help create every day. Why Guests Keep Complimenting Disney Cast Members READ MORE Happy Tears and Hugs During the Disney Cast Member Celebration READ MORE 2025 Legacy Award Recipients Announced at Disney World READ MORE The post Celebrating Disney Moms at Disneyland and Disney World appeared first on Disney Parks Blog. View the full article

You’ve done it, you’ve gotten everything packed and everyone to the airport, just to get to TSA and have to throw away some of your toiletries because you forgot to check how many ounces it was! Let’s fly! Or you can check out these essentials and avoid one element of stress on a crazy, busy travel day. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Let’s get into these two travel must-haves that we couldn’t recommend more! First, check out this Travel Kit for over 20% off! ©Amazon This amazing reusable travel bottles set comes with one toiletry bag, two 3oz silicone bottles, two 2oz silicone bottles, two spray bottles, four cream jars, one funnel, a brush, and four spatulas! This is fantastic and has everything you need to pack your toiletries all in one kit. All of your shampoo, soaps, and skin care can fit in this convenient bag! Plus, it comes in tons of fun colors! VIEW ON AMAZON Then check out these super helpful Bottle Covers for over 30% off! ©Amazon These are perfect for preventing spills in your luggage. Just pop one of these super stretchy and durable covers over any of your products, and you won’t have to worry about a mess when you open your bags after a long day of travel! This comes in a pack of 1o and for 30% off, this would be great to snag before your next trip! VIEW ON AMAZON Will you be grabbing either of these essentials before your next trip? Let us know in the comments, and don’t forget to stay tuned with Disney Food Blog so you never miss anything! View the full article

Imagine you’re enjoying the perfect day at Disney when all of a sudden the clouds darken, and the rain starts to fall from the sky. You grab your poncho and then… It does nothing! Storm season! Your clothes are still soaked, and you’re trapped in the sticky humidity. Or you could check out our favorite poncho and avoid the chaos! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Afternoon thunderstorm season is officially right around the corner, so if you’re planning a trip to Disney World this summer, now is the time to grab this amazing poncho! Check Out The Frogg Togg Water Proof Poncho! Frogg Toggs Poncho This poncho is absolutely incredible. It is completely waterproof, which really helps to stay dry on a rainy day. And it is super breathable, which already makes it better than most other ponchos. That’s why we’ve bought it in several colors! Frogg Toggs Poncho There is nothing worse than wearing a hot, stuffy poncho on a humid Disney day, so having something breathable is a game-changer! We also love that the hood is adjustable, so no water will seep in from the top. Frogg Toggs Poncho Plus, it comes in a small sack perfect for storing in your bag without taking up too much room. Overall, this poncho is fantastic and perfect for staying dry in the stormy summer season. Frogg Togg Poncho We’ve seen certain colors sell out before, so don’t miss out! VIEW ON AMAZON Will you be snagging this poncho? Let us know in the comments, and don’t forget to follow Disney Food Blog so you never miss anything! View the full article

We heard about a new bounty that was placed at Burger King! Burger King! We’re only a couple of weeks away from the highly anticipated Star Wars movie, The Mandalorian and Grogu, hitting theatres. The movie officially drops on May 22nd, and Burger King is getting fans ready for it! We had to stop by to check out this new meal themed to the iconic duo, and we’re sharing our thoughts with you. Burger King just dropped a new meal deal called the Bounty Bundle. You can get it for $22, and its theming is pretty cool for fans. Get the Bounty Bundle! Of course, we got the Bounty Bundle! Check it out! It came with Mando and Grogu crowns. In case you were wondering, yes, we wore them while we ate! Mando and Grogu crowns! The cup that comes with the bundle is pretty sweet. It features Mando flying with Grogu in his arms. The cup has this reflective design, and also has the movie title printed near the rim. Look at this cup We took a sip of Grogu’s Blue Shake pretty quickly. It tasted just like a classic vanilla milkshake that you can get most anywhere. Guess what…it was delicious! It was creamy, sweet, and it had vanilla crumbs on top. The crumbs gave the shake a nice little texture. At the end of the day, this is just a classic good vanilla shake, nothing too special. Well, except for the cute cup design of Grogu using the force. Grogu’s Blue Shake Here at AllEars, you know we’re big chicken-finger fans! Can we get more cool box designs like this Grogu one?! Look at the box! The chicken fingers here were well-breaded. They were a slight upgrade to BK’s classic chicken fries – slender sticks of chicken in a thin batter. These had a herbaceous addition, making them taste as though Italian herbs were added to the batter. Chicken finger! Next, we tried the Imperial Cheesy Tots. These were surprisingly delicious. They have cheesy potatoes in the center that are well salted and spiced, and were crunchy and tot-like on the exterior. These were a surprise hit for us! Imperial Cheesy Tot It came with garlic sauce that was very similar to Papa John’s classic garlic sauce. It was zesty and added a little pop of creamy garlic goodness to both the tots and the chicken fingers! Let’s dip it in the sauce! Lastly, we dug into the Bounty Whopper. This was a classic whopper with some bacon and some barbecue sauce, just with a cooler name. If you love a Whopper, go for this! It had just enough barbecue sauce that you could actually taste it, and just enough bacon that you could taste the salt from the bacon without it being drowned in the sauce. It was a very tasty “flame-grilled” burger. The BBQ sauce does have a pleasant spice to it that lingers after each bite. Bounty Whopper Who doesn’t love a good Burger King meal?! Especially when it’s a meal created for the best bounty hunters in the galaxy. For more food reviews, make sure to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog. Only 5 of Disney World’s Top 20 Restaurants Are in EPCOT…So Where Are the Rest? Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Would you get the Bounty Bundle? Let us know in the comments! View the full article