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We’ve been reporting on the low crowds at Disney World recently, which has led to some shockingly low ride wait times. Low crowds But, it seems Disney World is not the only place experiencing low crowds, as air travel in the United States seems to also now be seeing a decrease in travelers. According to CNBC, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screened approximately 1.35 million people in the United States on Tuesday, which is the lowest amount of people screened since May 11, 2021. While low crowds could be due in part to many kids going back to school at this time, typically business travel would increase during this time of year. Some airlines have cited the rise of the Delta variant of COVID-19 as a potential reason for the lower number of passengers traveling. Orlando International Airport CNBC presented a graph created by the TSA that demonstrates the average amount of airport screenings in 2019, 2020, and 2021. Recently, screenings have been trending down slightly. ©CNBC ©TSA According to Deutsche Bank as reported by CNBC, domestic airfares have also fallen recently, with the average domestic one-way flight for American Airlines falling nearly 23%. Some airlines are expecting a rise in passengers for Labor Day weekend, but still anticipating less travelers than in 2019. CDC Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky has advised unvaccinated individuals against traveling for Labor Day. Orlando International Airport We will be keeping an eye on the Disney World crowds over Labor Day weekend and we’ll let you know what we see. Keep reading DFB for updates on Disney news and more. Click here to read about the E.U. removing the U.S. from save travel list due to COVID. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post TSA Reports Lowest Airport Screenings Since May first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

COVID-19 cases are rising across the country. Mask signage And with many kids returning to school and the fact that there still isn’t a vaccine available for kids under 12 years old, the CDC is concerned about travel this Labor Day weekend. They’ve recommended that unvaccinated people not travel at all, and vaccinated people should consider the risks before doing so. According to CNN Health, “the director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is asking unvaccinated Americans not to travel during the Labor Day holiday weekend.” They also advised vaccinated people to “take precautions” with their travel and consider canceling travel plans. Orlando Airport This is in light of the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in America. According to Johns Hopkins University, the U.S. is seeing an average of more than 160,000 new COVID cases each day. About 40% of Americans ages 12 and older are still not vaccinated yet, which the CDC says may contribute to this rise in cases. Indoor Mask Sign One of the biggest concerns with COVID right now is that children under 12 cannot get the vaccine yet, and many of them are returning to school soon. Cases in children are rising, which has caused concern with the American Academy of Pediatrics. Over 200,000 children tested positive for COVID last week. Masks are back inside stores at Disney World The CDC’s recommendation to limit travel this coming holiday weekend is an effort to keep COVID cases lower as kids continue to return to school. Airlines are also reporting lower bookings for this holiday weekend, although they’re still expecting more travelers than they saw this time last year. Orlando International Airport We like to keep you, our readers, updated on travel news so you can be well informed on anything that could impact your Disney vacation. Keep following DFB for more updates on the ever-changing travel situation. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post NEWS: CDC Asks People to Avoid Labor Day Travel first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We just learned that holiday celebrations WILL be returning to Disneyland Resort this year! @Disney There will be special parades, fireworks, costumes, merchandise, food, and MORE from November 12th, 2021 through January 9th, 2022! We’re so excited to check everything out, and we have news about a returning favorite you’re going to want to hear about! Festival of Holidays is returning to Disney California Adventure Park this year! Festival of Holidays Guests can check out the sights, sounds, and tastes of a variety of seasonal celebrations, including Christmas/Navidad, Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Three Kings Day. Cocina Cucamonga There will be live entertainment, themed merchandise, and 8 food marketplaces to try out different festive dishes! Festival of Holidays Passport A team of Disney chefs got their inspiration from their own unique stories to make some of the festive foods on the marketplace menus. Winter Sliderland 2019 Full Spread In the past, there have been more food marketplaces for the festival, however, in 2019 there were also just 8 available! Merry Mashups We saw booths like Merry Mashups serve up fun combos like a turkey stuffing tamale, pork al pastor naan taco, a churros Yule log, and house-made horchata! Merry Mashups Menu Items Over at Favorite Things, there were things like glazed ham shanks, holiday stuffing mac and cheese, warm bourbon cider… Full spread at Favorite Things …and an awesome beer flight! Beer Flight And at Grandma’s Recipes, we found items such as a plant-based shepherd’s upside-down pie, curried cauliflower, and chicken, and a Navidad punch! Grandma’s Recipes Full Spread 2019 We don’t know what the food marketplaces will look like this year, but we’ll let you know when we find out more about them, so stay tuned to DFB for updates! Click here to read more about the Holidays at Disneyland Resort! Disneyland Reviews and Information Click HERE to Check Out Lots of DFB Posts About Disneyland See the Latest Updates About Disneyland’s Mask Policy Check Out Our Disneyland Restaurants Guide See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Park Check Out Details from the Historic Reopening of Disneyland Resort See What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Learn About the Disneyland Mobile App Get All the Details About Mobile Order in Disneyland See More About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure What’s Going to Be Different About Your Next Disneyland Trip? Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe What has been your favorite food item at Festival of Holidays in the past? Tell us about it in the comments! The post NEWS: Festival of Holidays Is Coming BACK to Disneyland Resort! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The holiday season is quickly approaching, and we just found out some exciting news! Christmas Decorations Holiday celebrations will be returning to Disneyland Resort this year!! Starting November 12th, you can deck the halls all around Disneyland, and the festivities will last until January 9th, 2022! There will be themed food, merchandise, and decorations. But, what we’re here to talk about is all the entertainment returning for the holidays! First up, we have a parade coming back for the holiday celebrations! In Disneyland Park, “A Christmas Fantasy” Parade will be returning and you can catch it several times throughout the day! Disneyland 2019 There will also be an enchanting wintertime spectacle with music to witness as Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle comes to life! Sleeping Beauty Castle at Christmas And, characters and princesses can be seen around the park during the day dressed in their seasonal costumes! Disneyland 2019 At the end of the day, there will be colorful projections on Main Street, U.S.A., and the façade of “it’s a small world” during the “Believe in Holiday Magic” fireworks spectacular! That’s right — holiday fireworks, everyone!! Believe in Holiday Magic ©Disney As you leave the park, several Disney characters dressed in their pajamas will wave goodbye with a “kiss goodnight” from the Disneyland Railroad Train Station! Mickey at the Train Station Moving next door to Disney California Adventure Park, the celebration continues with “Disney ¡Viva Navidad!” Disney characters will host the street party, featuring Mexican folklórico dancers and Mariachis, Brazilian samba dancers and percussionists, giant mojiganga puppets, and Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in their fiesta best. Viva Navidad 2018 There will also be live music and performers to enjoy at Paradise Gardens and Pacific Wharf while you snack on some themed eats! Later in the holiday season, Disney will debut its newly-featured Mirabel from the Walt Disney Animation Studios upcoming film Encanto. Pacific Wharf Holiday Decorations And if you need to pay a visit to Santa Claus to let him know what you want for Christmas, you can see him over in his rustic home at the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail! You can get a souvenir picture during your visit. Redwood Creek Mickey and pals will also be seen throughout the day partying and dancing along to the Holiday Toy Drummers! Holiday Toy Drummers at Disney’s California Adventure ©Disney Disney also said there will be festive entertainment at Downtown Disney and the Hotels of Disneyland Resort, but hasn’t given any specific details yet! Stay tuned to DFB for more Disneyland holiday news and updates. Click here to read more about the Holidays at Disneyland! Disneyland Reviews and Information Click HERE to Check Out Lots of DFB Posts About Disneyland See the Latest Updates About Disneyland’s Mask Policy Check Out Our Disneyland Restaurants Guide See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Park Check Out Details from the Historic Reopening of Disneyland Resort See What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Learn About the Disneyland Mobile App Get All the Details About Mobile Order in Disneyland See More About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure What’s Going to Be Different About Your Next Disneyland Trip? Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe What entertainment are you looking forward to the most at Disneyland? Let us know in the comments! The post NEWS: Holiday Parades and Fireworks are Returning to Disneyland Resort! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The holiday season will be here before we know it! Holiday Decorations After all these Mickey pumpkins and spooky decorations, we’ll see a quick shift to Christmas trees and candy canes! Disney World will be all decked out and host Disney Very Merriest After Hours event in Magic Kingdom throughout the season, but what about Disneyland Resort? We haven’t seen a Christmas tree or snow on Main Street, U.S.A. over in Disney’s first theme park since the 2019 holiday season due to the closures for COVID-19. But now, we have some important news for you! Holiday celebrations will be returning to Disneyland this year!! ©Disney The festivities will start on November 12th, 2021 and last allllll the way through January 9th, 2022! ©Disney In Disneyland Park, guests will be greeted by a 60-foot-tall Christmas tree on Main Street, U.S.A.! It will be decorated with almost 1,800 ornaments and will be a great spot for Holiday photos. Disneyland Christmas Tree Two rides will also see seasonal transformations once again! “it’s a small world” Holiday and Haunted Mansion Holiday (which will soon also be available for Halloween) will be back for the celebrations! The return of Sandy Claws! ©Disney Guests will also get to see Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle sparkle with light each evening in an enchanted wintertime spectacle! Sleeping Beauty Castle at Christmas And “A Christmas Fantasy” Parade is returning for this year’s festivities! The parade will run through the park multiple times a day for guests to enjoy. Disneyland 2019 Also throughout the park, characters and princesses will be dressed in their seasonal best, and Disney says there will even be a few surprises this year! Disneyland 2019 At the end of the day, there will be a magical “snowfall” and colorful projections on Main Street, U.S.A. AND on the façade of “it’s a small world” during the “Believe in Holiday Magic” fireworks! “it’s a small world” holiday The finale is a “kiss goodnight” moment from several Disney characters, who will be dressed in their pajamas and wave goodbye to guests from the balcony of the Disneyland Railroad Train Staton in Town Square! Characters in their PJs?! That will be SO cute! Hi, Mickey! Over at Disney California Adventure Park, the holiday magic continues! Disney Festival of Holidays is back and will include celebrations for Christmas/Navidad, Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Three Kings Day. ©Disney Festivities will include live entertainment, themed merchandise, and 8 food marketplaces! Disney says a team of chefs drew on inspiration from their own unique stories to handcraft some of the festive foods on the marketplace menus. Festival of Holidays Also happening in California Adventure is “Disney ¡Viva Navidad!” — a fun street party featuring Mexican folklórico dancers and Mariachis, Brazilian samba dancers and percussionists, giant mojiganga puppets, and Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in their fiesta best! ©Disney In Paradise Gardens, guests will find festively themed food and drinks, and live music and performers starting November 12th! And, later in the holiday season, Disney will debut Mirabel from the Walt Disney Animation Studios upcoming film Encanto. Encanto ©Disney Over at Pacific Wharf, you will find holiday-themed menus with special food and drinks to snack on while you listen to live musical entertainment! There will also be craft stations and cookie decorating kits in this area for the kids to enjoy! Pacific Wharf Holiday Decorations And in Radiator Springs, the cars will be decked out for the holidays! There will be a snow-covered billboard at the entrance of Cars Land and a hubcap-studded tree in front of the courthouse. Cleverly themed automotive decorations will be found all along Route 66 and we will see holiday transformations of two rides — Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl and Mater’s Jingle Jamboree! ©Disney If you’re looking for Santa Claus, you will find him in his rustic home at the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail! Guests will get to share their holiday wishes with Ol’ Saint Nick and take souvenir pictures at this location. Redwood Creek Finally, guests can catch Mickey Mouse and pals celebrating the season with a party, dancing along to the Holiday Toy Drummers several times a day! Holiday Toy Drummers at Disney’s California Adventure ©Disney The holiday fun will also be found in the Downtown Disney District and at the Hotels of Disneyland Resort. There will be traditional decor and festive entertainment at these locations! ©Disney That’s ALL of the celebrations coming this holiday season to Disneyland! We can’t wait to see the parade again, meet Santa Claus, and eat some delicious food from the Festival of Holidays! Stay tuned to DFB for more info on everything happening at Disneyland. Click here to read more about the Holidays at Disneyland! Disneyland Reviews and Information Click HERE to Check Out Lots of DFB Posts About Disneyland See the Latest Updates About Disneyland’s Mask Policy Check Out Our Disneyland Restaurants Guide See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Park Check Out Details from the Historic Reopening of Disneyland Resort See What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Learn About the Disneyland Mobile App Get All the Details About Mobile Order in Disneyland See More About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure What’s Going to Be Different About Your Next Disneyland Trip? Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Will you be celebrating the Holidays in Disneyland this season?! Let us know in the comments! The post NEWS: Holiday Celebrations Are Coming BACK to Disneyland Resort first appeared on the disney food blog. 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The Disneyland Resort will once again transform into a merry and magical place as guests return to enjoy their holiday season here, Nov. 12, 2021. You’ll have three more days to celebrate the Holidays, too, because we’re extending it through Jan. 9, 2022.http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DisneyParks/~4/FLB4ywy8_DEView the full article

In Disneyland Resort, Downtown Disney is home to quite a few restaurants, shops, and more, and Santa Claus has even visited for a special event! ©Disney Disneyland has been reopening quite a few restaurants and special spots lately, including the Napa Rose Princess Breakfast Adventures. Today another Downtown Disney restaurant announced the return of a fan-favorite holiday breakfast with the big guy himself, and tickets are available now! In Downtown Disney, Catal Restaurant will once again be hosting Breakfast With Santa! This breakfast is a ticketed event that will take place on November 27th and 28th, and weekends in December including the 4th, 5th, 11th, 12th, 18th, 19th, 22nd, 23rd, and even Christmas Eve morning on the 24th. The breakfast costs $109.95 per adult and 49.95 for children ages 3 to 10. Catal Restaurant Breakfast for Santa this year includes photos with Santa as well as a meet and greet with Santa and his elves. For children 10 and under, they will receive a stuffed animal and personalized stockings! There will be a family-style breakfast with hot cocoa, and adults can enjoy bottomless mimosas. And you get cookies to take home with you! It may only be September, but tickets are available now on the Patina Group website, so you might not want to hesitate to reserve your spot! Keep reading DFB for all your Disney World and Disneyland food news and updates! Click here for a sneak peek at the 2021 Disneyland Haunted Mansion Holiday gingerbread house! Disneyland Reviews and Information Click HERE to Check Out Lots of DFB Posts About Disneyland See the Latest Updates About Disneyland’s Mask Policy Check Out Our Disneyland Restaurants Guide See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Park Check Out Details from the Historic Reopening of Disneyland Resort See What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Learn About the Disneyland Mobile App Get All the Details About Mobile Order in Disneyland See More About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure What’s Going to Be Different About Your Next Disneyland Trip? Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Have you gotten your Breakfast With Santa tickets yet? Tell us in the comments! The post You Can Dine With Santa Claus At Disneyland Resort Again This Holiday Season first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It may only be September 1st, but… This is Halloween! …spooky season has officially arrived! We started celebrating last month as soon as the Halloween decorations went up at Disney World and the first Disney After Hours BOO Bash event took place. But there’s more Halloween fun on the way! Soon, we’ll see even more Halloween merchandise become available, AND a spooktacular television viewing tradition will return this year! Ready to make your Halloween movie list for this season? Then read on! That’s right, Freeform’s 31 Nights of Halloween is returning this year, and we’ve now got the full lineup of movies you’ll be able to see. Basically, with the 31 Nights of Halloween, there will be spooky movies and TV shows on EVERY SINGLE DAY IN OCTOBER, leading up to the big night itself, Halloween. ©Disney This year’s lineup looks pretty awesome — you’ve got some Halloween classics like Hocus Pocus, Ghostbusters, The Addams Family, and Maleficent, as well as many other films. Here’s the full lineup: ©Freeform You’ll also get to see some Halloween episodes of The Simpsons and Family Guy Halloween, along with even scarier stuff, like the Alien film franchise. SPOOKY! @Disney So, mark your calendars, because this year’s 31 Nights of Halloween is going to offer up some great programming to get you in the Halloween spirit. We’ll let you know about any other Disney Halloween offerings, so stay tuned! Check Out This Unexpected Place to Find a Seriously CREEPY Halloween Mask in Disney World! Halloween at Walt Disney World Get a Look at All of the New Halloween Merchandise in Disney World Learn All About Disney After Hours Boo Bash at Magic Kingdom See Every Date That is Sold Out for Boo Bash Check Out the Full List of Halloween Treats Coming to Disney World See Photos and Reviews of the Fall and Halloween Treats in Disney World Take a Look at the Halloween Decorations in Magic Kingdom See Disney World’s NEW Halloween Ears Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Will you be tuning in for 31 Nights of Halloween on Freeform? Let us know what your favorite Halloween movies and TV shows episodes are in the comments! The post Freeform Releases Full 31 Nights of Halloween Lineup -- Time To Get SPOOKY! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Gideon’s Bakehouse in Disney Springs is known for its outrageously delicious (and gigantic!) cookies, cakes, and other treats! Gideon’s Bakehouse We’re just a little big obsessed with these half-pound (!!) cookies, so it’s no surprise that we can’t wait to try the new flavors they revealed for September. When Gideon’s introduces a new treat, they often have a quirky story to go with it, and this time is no exception. The new flavor for cakes and cookies in September is Lemon Poppyseed. All the goods The cookie is a Lemon Poppyseed Cookie with White Chocolate Chips and Mini Lemon Chips on top. Lemon Poppyseed Cookie The cookie was amazing! It had a great lemon flavor, and we loved the poppyseeds inside as well. We think it’s probably one of the prettiest cookies that Gideon’s has ever had! It has white chocolate chips and mini lemon chips The cake was also Lemon Poppyseed with layers of Lemon Cream Cheese icing between the layers of cake. Lemon Poppyseed Cake There was a much stronger lemon flavor in the cake than we found in the cookie, but with so much sweet icing, it balanced out really well. The sweet and citrus blended beautifully. Slice of Lemon Poppyseed Cake The Lemon Poppyseed Cookie is available every day in September while supplies last, and there’s a limit of two cookies per paying customer. Limited Edition cookies You can get the cake every weekend in September (Saturday and Sunday). Gideon’s Cake Slice We promised you a quirky story to go along with these new flavors, right? Here it is, right from Gideon’s Bakehouse: A young girl named Bonnie Brae became mysteriously ill on her family farm. She eventually passed away, and they laid her to rest in the fields of the farm. Her family planted a lemon tree over her grave, and when the sprouts emerged, Bonnie’s father saw a small hand coming out of the soil. He grasped the hand and a figure came out of the ground — his own daughter, reborn with a lemon head. Bonnie Brae She lived a happy life on the farm, but eventually set out in search of other people like her. She came to Florida when she heard of a boy named Stuart Valencia, and her travels took her to Gideon’s Bakehouse, where the new flavors are in honor of Bonnie. Gideon’s Bakehouse Merchandise Gideon’s Bakehouse has several characters like Bonnie, who represent their flavors and new treats. There’s limited-edition merchandise for sale that’s themed for Bonnie Brae, like stickers and t-shirts. You’ll find these inside Gideon’s or online. You can find more of the characters’ portraits on the wall inside the shop! Gideon’s Characters We’re always keeping up with the latest Disney news, and of course the latest Disney treats, so stay tuned for more! Click here to read about 5 Disney World Hotel and Ticket Deals You Don’t Want to Miss in September! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What do you think about the new treats at Gideon’s Bakehouse? Let us know in the comments! The post REVIEW: Citrus Fans, You’ve GOT to Try Gideon’s Newest GIANT Cookie In Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

One of the signature and fan-favorite parts of the Boo-To-You Parade is the very beginning, where The Headless Horseman leads the way. Headless Horseman in Disneyland This year, the Headless Horseman hasn’t made his spooky appearance in Disney World as Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party has been replaced with Disney After Hours BOO Bash, and the Boo-To-You Parade is not available for guests to see. The Headless Horseman is set to make an appearance in Disneyland though at Oogie Boogie Bash. But, if you want to snag a view of the Headless Horseman in Disney World and even bring him home, you’ll want to check out some of Disney’s latest merchandise! Earlier today at Disney’s Animal Kingdom we spotted some NEW Disney Wishables. These are micro plushes inspired by various Disney characters and park attractions. The latest collection is themed to the Disney Villains! New Wishables Have Arrived If you buy the mystery bag, you’ll get one of the 4 villains displayed on the back — Hades, Cruella, Scar, or Maleficent. Just keep in mind that you won’t know which one you’ve got until you open up the bag! Villains Wishables But, you can also buy a separate Wishable on its own that is part of this same collection — The Headless Horseman! The Headless Horseman Wishable This Wishable features this character’s signature head engulfed in flames and his horse. There’s even an adorable little purple cape on the character’s back. There’s Even a Cape! You can snag this Wishable or one of the mystery packs for $12.99 each at Discovery Trading Company. The Headless Horseman Wishable Thinking of buying souvenirs and curious to know what things you WON’T regret buying in Disney World? Check out our video below! As always, be sure to check back with us for more Disney news! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Are you a fan of these Wishables? Tell us in the comments! The post Bring Home the Headless Horseman With Disney World's Latest Souvenirs first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Celebrate Halloween at Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort. View the full article

When the Disney World crowds begin to rise, sometimes you just. need. a. break. Magic Kingdom Whether you’re trying to find the best restaurants with the lowest crowds or just looking for an escape from it all, we’ve got the best restaurants to consider when crowds are through the roof! Check out all this and more in our newest DFB Video!  Are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes! Check out our latest video and then comment below: Your favorite Disney World restaurant!The post DFB Video: The Best Restaurants for the Busiest Days in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Walt Disney World selling annual passes again, and Twitter users are ready with reactions and hot takes. View the full article

Recently, Disney announced its NEW Annual Passholder program for Disney World with 4 different options for guests to choose from (though some are only available for select guests). Annual Pass We’ve taken a look at the pros and cons of the new system, what you’ll have to pay extra for with the new passes, and each pass’ blockout dates. But, what if you’re an existing Disney World Annual Passholder who is within a renewal period? What are some of the benefits you could get if you renew sooner rather than later? We’re breaking it all down for you here. As we mentioned, recently Disney announced its new Annual Passholder system with 4 available passes. ©Disney The passes come with select perks and benefits, but some things are no longer included in these passes. For example, PhotoPass is no longer included in any of the Annual Pass offerings. Instead, if you get one of the new Annual Passes and want PhotoPass, you’ll need to pay an additional $99 to obtain those photo downloads for the year. ©Disney If you’re looking to buy a brand NEW Annual Pass, you’re likely going through all of the pros and cons of these individual offerings to see what’s best for you. But, what if you have an existing Annual Pass under Disney World’s previous programs? If your Annual Pass is up for renewal (you’re within the renewal window) and you have the ability to renew by September 7th, you can renew your pass exactly as-is, under whatever tier/level you have in the current system. ©Disney If you renew your pass on or after September 8th, however, you’ll have to renew into one of the NEW Annual Pass offerings. Should you renew your pass by September 7th so you can renew under the current offerings rather than the new ones? You might want to and here’s why. 1 — PhotoPass Select Disney World Annual Passes under the previous system included unlimited PhotoPass downloads in the cost of the pass. If you renew your pass by September 7th, you’ll be able to renew your exact same pass — that means you’ll get all of the same benefits and perks you get right now, including (if applicable to your pass) PhotoPass downloads. Annual passes are coming back to Disney World! If you wait until September 8th, you’ll have to renew into one of the new pass options. As we mentioned above, PhotoPass is NOT included in any of the new Annual Pass options. That means if you wait until September 8th (or later) to renew, you won’t be able to get unlimited PhotoPass downloads as part of your ticket. ©Disney Instead, you’ll have to pay the $99 per year to get the unlimited downloads. 2 — Water Park and Sports Option The same applies to the Water Park and Sports Option. Under the current pass system, Platinum Plus Annual Passholders could access the 4 Disney World theme parks in addition to the water parks and certain sports offerings. Under the new Annual Pass system, however, none of the passes include this water parks and sports option. Instead (just like PhotoPass) if you want access to the water parks and certain sports offerings (like FootGolf, golfing, and more) you’ll have to pay an additional $99 for the year. ©Disney Again, if you renew into your existing pass under the current system by September 7th, you’ll be able to keep all of your benefits, including the water parks and sports options if you have a Platinum Plus Annual Pass. If you renew on or after September 8th, you’ll have to renew into one of the new passes, none of which include these offerings in their cost. Click here to learn more about the sports/water parks and PhotoPass add-ons. 3 — Save Money Finally, if you renew your pass on or before September 7th, you could save some money. (Note: all of these prices are without tax) Under the current system, these are the Annual Pass prices: Disney Platinum Plus Pass: $1,295 (renewal cost $1036.82) Disney Platinum Pass: $1,195 (renewal cost $951) Disney Gold Pass (Florida Residents or DVC Member only): $719 (renewal cost $594) Disney Silver Pass (Florida Residents only): $539 (renewal cost $441) Disney Theme Park Select Pass (Florida Residents only): $439 (renewal cost $373) Disney Weekday Select Pass (Florida Residents only): $369 (renewal $296) Disney EPCOT After 4 Pass (Florida Residents only): $309 ($renewal $245) Annual Pass In the new system, the Disney Incredi-Pass is the most expensive at $1,299 (renewal price of $1,104 for current passholders). The Disney Sorcerer Pass is the next expensive option at $899 (renewal price of $764 for current passholders). The Disney Pirate Pass will set you back $699 ($594 renewal price for current passholders). Finally there’s the Disney Pixie Dust Pass which costs $399 (renewal price of $339 for current passholders). The Disney Sorcerer Pass is available to Florida Residents and Disney Vacation Club Members only. The Disney Pirate and Pixie Dust Passes are available to Florida Residents only. ©Disney Again, keep in mind that none of these tickets include PhotoPass or the Water Parks and Sports option. Those will be an additional $99 (plus tax) each. The Disney Incredi-Pass is similar to the Platinum Plus Pass. Renewal into an Incredi-Pass will cost $1,104 while renewal for a Platinum Plus pass should be around $1,036 (without tax). It’s not a dramatic difference in cost but multiplied across several members of a family, it can add up. And you have to take into account that the Incredi-Pass will no longer come with the sports and water park option included, nor will it come with PhotoPass. An Annual Passholder ticket The Disney Sorcerer Pass is most similar to the Gold Pass, but again there is a difference in price there ($594 for renewal for Gold, $764 for a renewal into the Sorcerer Pass). The Disney Pirate Pass is similar to the Silver Pass. The Pirate Pass has a $594 renewal price for current passholders, while the silver pass renewal is typically priced at $441. Toy Story Land Finally, the Disney Pixie Dust Pass is similar to the Weekday Select Pass. The renewal for the weekday select is typically around $296 while the renewal into the Pixie Dust pass is $339. These are the current cost if you renew into an existing post! We have this info thanks to our friends at AllEars.net. Keep in mind that your price might vary. Be sure to check with Disney to see exactly what your renewal price will be. EPCOT Still, depending on the pass you’re renewing, you could save a pretty good amount, especially if you’ll be buying more than 1 pass. Those are just some of the reasons why you might want to consider renewing your Annual Pass on or before September 7th if you are within your renewal window. We’ll continue to keep an eye out for more updates and we’ll let you know what we find. Click here to learn more about the different types of Annual Passes Disney World will be offering. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Will you be renewing your Annual Pass by September 7th? Tell us in the comments. The post 3 Benefits to Renewing Your Disney World Annual Pass By September 7th first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We all love strolling around EPCOT tantalizing our taste buds with sweet and savory flavors during the annual EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival presented by CORKCICLE. But did you know there’s also a ton of festival fun just right for the small fry in your family? From a play area and scavenger hunt to tasty treats and family-friendly attractions, here’s how to make the most of your next visit to EPCOT with your little one.http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DisneyParks/~4/A5q4DptW2cgView the full article

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is an interactive Star Wars-themed ride in Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Rise of the Resistance The ride opened in December 2019, and since then it’s used a virtual queue to admit guests. Using the My Disney Experience app, guests can try and reserve a spot starting at 7AM on the day of their visit. These spots are usually gone by 7:01AM, but today there were still available spots WAY later! While we were in Disney’s Hollywood Studios today, we checked on the boarding passes (the name for ride reservations on Rise of the Resistance) to see if any were available. To our surprise, there were still some available after 8AM — an hour after the virtual queue opened! My Disney Experience Screenshot These passes generally run out FAST in the mornings, but guests can try again for a boarding pass at 1PM on the same day. We’ve seen these afternoon passes remain available for a little longer lately, but we’ve never seen such a long opening window for the morning passes. Rise of the Resistance Queue Disney World crowd levels are REALLY low right now, which likely accounts for the increased availability of boarding passes. We even saw a stand-by line for Rise of the Resistance a couple of weeks ago! Line for Rise of the Resistance We’ll keep an eye on the passes and let you know how long they’re staying open! Keep following DFB for more news about the crazy low crowds in Disney World. Click Here to Find Out What Happens When You’re Evacuated Off Rise of the Resistance Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Have you been on Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance in Disney World? Tell us what you thought in the comments! The post It’s Never Been Easier to Get a Boarding Pass for Rise of the Resistance in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Lots of changes have taken place at Disney World over the past few months, and many new things are on the way. La Creperie de Paris! Some of the newest things coming to Disney World will be opening over at EPCOT’s France pavilion. Soon, guests will get the chance to enjoy Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, but they’ll also get the chance to do something very important…EAT at a new restaurant — La Crêperie de Paris! Recently we got a first look at this new spot during a special preview and now we’re sharing ALL the details with you. La Crêperie de Paris is a brand NEW crêpe restaurant that will officially be opening in EPCOT’s France pavilion on October 1st, 2021. The restaurant is located in the expanded area next to the pavilion which houses Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and more. A Closer Look at the Sign Recently, we got to ride Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and take a peek inside this expanded area. And we were lucky enough to also get a special preview of La Crêperie too! The restaurant offers two different types of service — quick service and table service. Quick Service — Crêpes À Emporter When it comes to the quick service side, you’ll find that at a pick-up window called Crêpes À Emporter which translates to “crepes to go.” Crêpes à emporter There are some subtle but beautiful design details to check out in this outdoor space. Details by Crêpes à emporter The Quick Service pick-up window is located to one side of the building. What’s on the menu here? Well, Crêpes À Emporter serves up three savory galettes, four sweet crêpes, soft serve ice cream, and an assortment of ciders and wines. The Menu Once you’ve perused the menu (and decided to get one of everything…we kid, but maybe not), you’ll join the line. There are stanchions in place to guide guests. Time to Get in Line Then, you’ll be able to place your order at the pick-up window and then grab it once it’s ready. Ready to Eat? During our trip, we grabbed a Red Berries Crepe. Crepe Time! This crepe is priced at $7.50. Red Berries Crepe We’ll be bringing you a full review soon, so be on the lookout for that. Table Service If you’d prefer to sit down and enjoy a table service meal, you’ll be able to do that too. The interior of La Crêperie de Paris features wooden beams on the ceiling… A Look Inside …coupled with earthy tones throughout and a variety of different materials including some stone-like work, paneling on certain columns, and more. Here’s What It’s Like Inside The main pops of color come from some paintings in the space. Seating Area There are some different seating options including traditional tables and some booth-like seating as well. A Look at the Seating But enough about the atmosphere, let’s talk about the FOOD! On the table service side there is a soup option, salad, a variety of galettes (including ones with chicken, salmon, goat cheese, and more), crepes (which feature a variety of different fruits and spreads), and hard ciders. La Creperie de Paris Menu There’s also a prix fixe menu available that includes soup or salad, one galette, hard cider (or juice or soda), and one dessert crepe. La Creperie de Paris Menu For our meal, we opted for the Prix Fixe menu. We got the Salade Maison (made with mixed greens, tomatoes, onions, and vinaigrette)… Salad …the Demi Sec (we also grabbed a Diet Coke)… Our Drinks …the Classique Galette (made with ham, egg, and Swiss cheese)… The Galette …and the Gourmande Crepe (made with hazelnut chocolate spread and whipped cream). Dessert! We also added on some ice cream, specifically the raspberry ice cream. A Sweet Treat to End Our Meal We’ll be sharing a FULL review of this spot soon, so be on the lookout for that! La Crêperie de Paris will officially open on October 1st. Keep in mind that reservations are not being accepted for the table-service side of this restaurant at the moment, meaning that it has walk-up availability only. A Look at La Creperie de Paris We’ll continue to search for more Disney World news and we’ll let you know what we find. Stay tuned for more details! Click here to learn more about Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Are you excited to try this new spot? Tell us in the comments! The post PHOTOS: FIRST LOOK at La Creperie de Paris in EPCOT first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is set to open on October 1st, 2021 in EPCOT’s France pavilion! Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is Opening on October 1st! We’ve already gotten the chance to walk through some of this expanded area. But, recently we got the chance to experience a special preview of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in EPCOT and we got the chance to ride the new attraction for the first time. Now we’re sharing everything you need to know about this NEW ride right here! Atmosphere Before we get to the ride itself, let’s take a quick look at the area right in front of the attraction! Of course, you can’t miss that large fountain of RATS right in front of the attraction’s entrance. The Fountain of Rats! One cool thing to note about this is that Disney used a new piece in this fountain for the champagne bottles to make it look like you’re popping bottles of champagne, rather than just having water regularly pouring out of the fountain. A Close-Up of the Fountain That’s just one of the cool details about this fountain! Click here to learn more about the fun features in this fountain and more about the expanded area in general! As you approach the ride, you’ll see the gorgeous sign above the ride. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Awaits! You’ll notice the ride is has various signs indicating the lines guests can join. Signs Speaking of queues, let’s talk about just how the lines will be handled here. Virtual Queue and Individual Attraction Selection Disney has announced that when Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure opens, it will be accessible to guests through a virtual queue system (similar to what’s done at Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance). Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Also, it’s important to note that when Disney Genie+ and Individual Attraction Selection launch, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is set to be available through Individual Attraction Selection. That means it will NOT be available through the $15 paid Disney Genie+ service that gives you the ability to skip the standby line at various attractions. Instead, if you want to skip the standby queue here (or virtual queue in this case), you’ll need to pay to use the Lightning Lane for this ride individually. Click here to get full details about how the virtual queue will work for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. Age and Height Limits Note that Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure does not have a height or age limit. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure But, children under the age of 7 must be accompanied by a person 14 years of age or older. There is wheelchair access for this ride. The Ride Alright, let’s get into the ride itself! We weren’t able to take photos on the ride during our preview of the ride, but we’ll describe all of the parts of the ride to you so you know what to expect! If you’re trying to avoid any and all spoilers about the ride, you’ll want to skip ahead to the end of this article! Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Alright, let’s begin! The attraction vehicles themselves are designed like…you guessed it, RATS! Each “rat” is 2 rows with 3 seats in each row, for a total of 6 guests per ride. The seats are sort-of like benches, except there are little dividers between each seat. ©Disney Three “rats” go into the attraction at a time from what we saw. The vehicles are similar to the ones used at Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway in the sense that they operate on a trackless system. Again, keep in mind that this version of the ride in EPCOT is essentially a replica of the one that already exists in Disneyland Paris. Time to Ride When you first go into the ride, you’ll see a small Chef Gusteau floating around with your 3-D glasses and he mentions that Remy is expecting you. Then, you’ll head to the roof of Gusteau’s Restaurant where you see Remy. Remy is trying to decide what dish to make for the food critic in the restaurant. (Hidden detail!! At this point in the ride, you’ll see the shadow of a very familiar truck from Toy Story in the far right in the window — keep your eyes peeled!) Chef Gusteau Remy decides he’s going to make ratatouille for the critic, and then the window opens to the restaurant below. That’s when you and Remy fall into the kitchen and you realize you’ve shrunken down to the side of rat! You and Remy scurry around the floor of the kitchen as Linguini tries to hide you from Skinner. ©Disney Linguini tries to help you hide and you end up into the cooler in the kitchen. Then, you come back out into the kitchen and Linguini tries to sort-of mop you away to help you escape. You might even feel a bit of a splash as the mop hits you! You head into the next area and end up near the furnace, which turns on and you can FEEL the heat! Throughout the entire attraction, you’re essentially trying to not get caught by Skinner. ©Disney Eventually you jump onto a serving cart that takes you into the kitchen. You’ll even see the wheels of the cart spinning next to you — be sure to look out for that! Skinner spots you and Linguini quickly helps by pushing you through a vent in the floor. Then you continue to run all over the place as Skinner tries to catch up! At one point Skinner even reaches his hand through a wall and then gets caught in a rat trap. (Ouch!!) Eventually, you reach the point in the story where all of the rats are helping in the kitchen and then FINALLY you make it, unscathed, to Remy’s personal dining area on the roof where his family and friends are ready to welcome you! Remy Plush When you get up to this area you’ll smell a delicious scent, very much like fresh bread. And that’s where the attraction ends. You eventually reach the unload area and hop off your rat. Overall, the attraction is fun for the whole family. There are lots of different elements to look for — physical props in the attraction, the action on the screens, and all of the extra effects in terms of heat, water, and smells! Fun Details As we mentioned, be sure to look for that truck from Toy Story in the ride. We were told that there are no hidden Mickeys in the ride, but you will find all kinds of fun details throughout the ride and in the space around it. So Much to Look At For example, in one area near the entrance to the ride you’ll see a display of various wines named Chateau Ego — you’ll recognize that name and the image on the bottles from the Ratatouille film! But, you’ll want to pay extra close attention to all of the details here. Take a close look at the years on the bottles. Recognize them? 2007 is the year that Ratatouille was released. While 2014 is the year the Ratatouille attraction opened in Disneyland Paris and 2021 is the year the ride will debut in Disney World! Fun Details Everywhere We have a feeling there will be lots of other great details to spot in this entire space, so be sure to look carefully as you explore the expanded area. Another Fun Detail! And that’s our look at the Ratatouille ride and a bit about the surrounding area. We’ll keep an eye out for more news and we’ll be sure to share all of the latest Disney updates with you! Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary Details and Info Click HERE for Your Guide to Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Celebration See Everything That Has Been Announced For Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Check Out Everything Happening in Disney World on October 1st, 2021 Click Here to See The 50 Best Ways to Celebrate Disney World’s 50th Anniversary What Does Hotel Availability and Pricing Look Like for Disney World’s 50th Anniversary? Here Are the 5 News Bombs You May Have Missed Related to the 50th Anniversary Celebrations! Check Out 10 Things You Need to Bring If You’re Going to Disney World for the 50th Anniversary See How Each of Disney World’s Park Icons Will Transform During the 50th Anniversary Celebrations! Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Are you excited to ride Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure? Tell us in the comments! The post We Rode Remy's Ratatouille Adventure for the First Time in EPCOT! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The Walt Disney Company is something of a titan today and the innovation and principles on which it stands were originally crafted by a group of legendary visionaries. Steamboat Willie ©Disney From multiplane cameras to audio-animatronics, Walt Disney and his team were integral in shaping the world of entertainment as we know it today. And you’d be hard-pressed to name a more iconic Disney creation than Mickey Mouse. We have one man, in particular, to thank for Mickey — and it’s not Walt Disney. It’s easy to assume that Disney was the driving force behind Mickey Mouse, and in fact, that’s the story that you’ll often hear. However, that’s only partially true. The Mouse was a collaboration with Walt Disney guiding and a man named Ub Iwerks at the helm. Where did Mickey Mouse come from? So, let’s answer that BIG question: where did Mickey Mouse come from? Well, Mickey was NOT the original big character idea; there was another breakout character before him. There is no Mickey without the loss of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Oswald the Lucky Rabbit ©Disney Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was Walt’s original big character concept but he ran into a few hiccups that kept him from being the Disney star that Mickey became. Walt Disney Studios was initially commissioned by Universal Pictures in 1927 to produce a series of animated shorts starring the brand-new Oswald character. He quickly became popular due to his full-fledged personality — a trademark feature for many of Iwerks’ characters. Ub Iwerks ©Disney Yep, Iwerks started with Oswald! Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks worked together to design the Lucky Rabbit cartoons for the Universal contract. As mentioned though, there’s a reason that Oswald isn’t still a Disney staple. The contract between Walt and Universal ultimately meant that the rights to Oswald the Rabbit belonged in the hands of Universal Pictures. Due to the success of Oswald, backdoor deals were made between Universal producers and Disney’s own animators to produce Oswald shorts without involvement from Walt or Iwerks. Oswald the Lucky Rabbit ©Disney In the aftermath of this, many of Disney’s animators were hired away with Walt’s removal from the Oswald project, but Iwerks stayed on at Walt Disney Studios. After this, the two got to work on a new character with Iwerks drawing concepts for frogs, dogs, cats, a cow, and a horse but none of them fit the bill in Walt’s mind (Although you will see Clarabelle Cow and Horace Horsecollar made it to some shorts from this phase!). Horace Horsecollar ©Disney Where Mickey being a mouse came from is not 100% known. The famously told story goes that, around the time, Disney came up with the original Mickey sketch on the train back from his failed negotiations with Universal. The actual events don’t seem to be so black and white. Everyone’s story was a bit different. It seems the name Mickey was agreed upon on that train ride between Walt and his wife, Lillian. (She famously told him NOT to name him Mortimer and they settled on Mickey instead!) Walt had drawn mice before, but their proportions weren’t particularly visually appealing. At last, Iwerks got some inspiration from an old Hugh Harman drawing of mice he sketched around a photograph of Walt Disney. ©Disney Take a close look at Iwerks’ design of Oswald and, after a few changes here and there, you might notice that rabbit and Mickey share a lot of similarities! Iwerks even noted that his original design could essentially be modified in smalls ways to make that base of a character into almost any animal. Disney worked closely with Iwerks who finalized the design into a refined original Mickey and thus, in secret, the Mouse was born. Interestingly enough, this whole process operated as Disney wrapped production on the final Oswald cartoons he contractually owed. Ub Iwerks ©Disney You can certainly thank Iwerks for Mickey as the first few Mickey Mouse cartoons were animated almost entirely by his hand, including “Steamboat Willie” and “The Haunted House.” To this day, many people think the early Mickey cartoons were made by Walt’s own hand, but it was really Iwerks time with pencil and paper that brought him to life. Remember that full-fledged personality that made Oswald popular? If Iwerks was working the pencil and paper, it was certainly Walt who supplied a lot of his personality. Mickey had his own signature disposition fueled by Walt Disney with Iwerks’ help which helped make him as popular as he was and is today. Who was Ub Iwerks? So, now you know why you should thank Ub Iwerks when you’re wearing your favorite Mickey hat or giving the Mouse a hug in the theme parks, but who was Ub Iwerks? Iwerks was an animator, cartoonist, character designer, inventor, and special effects technician — so, basically one of those visionaries we mentioned earlier. Ub Iwerks ©Disney Iwerks had a VERY close connection with Walt Disney. In fact, the two spent the majority of their careers together. They met in 1919 while working for the Pesmen-Rubin Art Studio in Kansas City and went on to start their own art business together. When Walt launched Walt Disney Studios, he brought Iwerks with him. Ub Iwerks ©Disney The two worked together smoothly for many years, but sometime after the creation of Mickey, Iwerks and Disney had a falling out. The final Mickey cartoon that Iwerks drew before leaving Walt Disney Studios was “The Cactus Kid” in 1930. “The Cactus Kid” ©Disney The next phase of Iwerks’ career saw him running a studio of his own name with his own characters but he never reached the point of rivaling the other studios. With the failure of his personal venture, he moved to contract work for some time before returning to work at Disney a decade after he had left. From that point on, Iwerks continued to cement himself as a Disney Legend by working on special visual effects. For the studios, he developed the process for combining live-action and animation as seen in Mary Poppins and the xerographic process adapted for cel animation. ©Disney He also had a hand in the theme parks! Working with Walt Disney Imagineering (then WED Enterprises), he had a hand in many of the Disney World theme park attractions developed in the mid-20th century. Iwerks’ Other Achievements It’s pretty amazing that Iwerks not only had a hand in creating one of the most beloved characters of all time, but he also crafted much of the technology and experiences we still cherish in cinema and theme parks today. Let’s take a look at a few of his other achievements! ©Disney Iwerks invented the wave projector used to make the Nautilus feel underwater in the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Attraction and the lighting effect used to give the illusion of burning spinning wheels in the Sleeping Beauty Castle walkthrough. He also developed a circular camera and surround projection system. If that sounds familiar, it’s because CircleVision 360 technology was built on the base that Iwerks developed! Now, you can see CircleVision films at EPCOT and other Disney parks. Next time you’re taking in Wonders of China or Canada Far And Wide, thank Ub! Ub Iwerks ©Disney In the 1960s, Iwerks was the mind behind putting moving faces on static objects for the Haunted Mansion. He developed the tech that would allow Madame Leota to appear in her crystal ball, the tiny bride (affectionately known as “Little Leota”) to bid guests goodbye at the end of the ride, and for the singing busts to croon their sweet, sweet harmonies. And, Iwerks finished his innovating career by conquering the challenge of projecting a film on a 200-foot screen. Projectors can only cover SO MUCH space, right?! The answer? Five adjoining projections. And that problem-solving brought us the historic Hall of Presidents that you can see in Disney World today! Hall of Presidents Now when you see his window on Main Street, U.S.A. you’ll know a bit about him and understand the reference for cameras and modifications on his window. Oh, and that Don Iwerks that shares the same window? That’s his son. He went on to follow in his dad’s footsteps, becoming a Disney Legend as well. He worked alongside his dad on many of the projects Ub was famous for in the parks. Don worked on many of the Circle-Vision shows in EPCOT as well as Captain EO. ©Disney It can sometimes be easy to forget that The Walt Disney Company was built by more than just its namesake. Ub Iwerks was a pillar of the company then and remains a legendary figure now. After all, what would Disney be without Mickey Mouse? And Mickey Mouse would not exist as he does today without BOTH Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. Want to learn what happens when the copyright on Mickey Mouse expires, click here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Did you know about Ub Iwerks’ accomplishments? Tell us in the comments! The post The Man You Should Really Thank For Mickey Mouse (And It Isn't Walt) first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

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