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Disney has some of the most beautiful hotels in the world. From the classic Polynesian Village Resort, to the newer Riviera Resort, to Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawaii, there are TONS of hotels that Disney Vacation Club members have to choose from. Polynesian Lobby But what if you could have some of the benefits of a Disney Vacation Club member without paying to be one, and save money in the process? It sounds too good to be true, which is why it’s one of Disney’s best-kept secrets. 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 Vacation Club Resort!The post DFB Video: The Disney World Hotel Secret That Could Save You Hundreds first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Boma is back! The first of the buffets to come back in its original buffet format (instead of plated family-style meals), Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge has been a longtime favorite among Disney fans and here at the Disney Food Blog! Welcome back, Boma! We stopped by the newly reopened Boma to see if their breakfast buffet still holds up! Atmosphere Boma is located inside the beautiful Animal Kingdom Lodge (Jambo House)! This means two things: it’s gorgeous when you get there, but you also have to account for transportation time to Animal Kingdom Lodge (if you’re not already at the hotel!). Keep that in mind when you’re booking a breakfast here. Animal Kingdom Lodge Lobby Boma is located on the lower level of the Animal Kingdom Jambo House, so you’ll need to take the elevator or stairs down to it from the main lobby. But also, take a second to appreciate the gorgeous lobby here. I mean, just look: Jambo House lobby Boma is back as a true buffet and prices are $29 per adult and $17 per child ages 3-9! Prices for Boma! When we got there, we used Mobile Check-in to let Boma know that we were here. We got confirmation after we checked in… ©Disney …and we got a text when our table was ready. We headed over to the check-in desk and we were led to our table. The check-in desk at Boma! “Boma” is actually an African term for a fence made of sticks that forms a safe enclosure for gathering. Throughout the entrance of the restaurant, you see the stick fence motif captured in different materials. Much like the rest of Animal Kingdom Lodge, Boma is GORGEOUS inside! Ceilings are lined with large pieces of cloth strung up at the corners to mimic how shades would be created outdoors over the gathering place or marketplace. Boma is back! The rustic yet refined style of this restaurant makes it a unique spot on Disney World property. Boma Seating options include booths and tables with chairs, and there are ample amounts of seating at this spot within its massive dining room. Some of the seating options at Boma! Another important detail to remember (since, ya know, we all haven’t been eating from Disney World buffets in…oh…like a year and a half?): you do have to wear a mask while you’re grabbing your food! Mask up! And while you’re securing your mask, let’s sanitize those hands! A clean buffet is a happy buffet Enough about the atmosphere, let’s eat! Eats Before we jump into the buffet line, let’s review what’s available. Though the buffet includes juice, milk, fountain drinks, and coffee, there are some Specialty Beverages that you can order for an extra cost. ©Disney Now, let’s see what we can expect from the buffet! Boma offers up a wonderful breakfast selection ranging from normal breakfast classics, like muffins and pancakes, to more unique items with an African flair, like Bobotie or Coconut Steel-cut Oatmeal. ©Disney OK, our mask is secured, our hands are clean — let’s check out all of the food! Since Boma is in the first phase of buffets returning to Disney World, we were eager to hit the buffet line and see what they had prepared for us! Boma We were super excited to start off with the Chakalaka. This was an explosion of flavor! This South African Tomato Stew had a nice balance of sweetness from the tomatoes and kick from spices. It wasn’t listed on the online menu for breakfast, but that just goes to show that menus can still fluctuate. Chakalaka! The Chakalaka pairs perfectly with the Pap, a Creamy White Cornmeal similar to grits. The sweetness of the corn helped balance out the Chakalaka and made this dish delicious! Pap! The Carved Ham was delicious, juicy ham but the spicy mustard was the real star of the show! The heat of the mustard and the smoky sweetness of the ham were great together! We give this ham and mustard combo five stars! Carved Ham! Next, we had to head over and get some carbs! First up is a selection of muffins and pastries. Decent assortment of breads and pastries! Then there are some bagels and croissants with an assortment of jams, schmears, and butter. If you prefer something simpler, you can find bread to toast as you desire. Of course, what’s a Disney buffet without Mickey (and Simba) Waffles? These were delicious as always! Welcome back to the buffet, boys! The Blueberry Pancakes were another great addition! They had that perfect fluffiness and the blueberries were just the right amount of sweet and tart. Blueberry Pancakes! There is a selection of bacon, sausage, potato barrels (AKA tater tots), and breakfast potato wedges. The Sausage was classic and good addition to the meal, but we really wished it had more heat to it. It’s just your standard breakfast sausages, the same ones you’ll find served for breakfast across Disney property. If you like those, you’ll like these (’cause, you know…they’re the same!). Sausages! The Bacon was your standard bacon but it was absolutely delicious and crispy! Disney came through with some great bacon here, but nothing mind-blowing or different. Bacon doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel — it’s bacon, therefore it’s delicious. Bacon! And breakfast just isn’t complete without some eggs! Boma offers a variety of scrambled eggs and omelets. Buffet The Scrambled Eggs with Spinach, Tomato, and Feta were some of the best scrambled eggs we’ve had at Disney World! We really enjoyed the creamy texture and the strong feta cheese flavor throughout these eggs. If you’re not a big fan of those Mediterranean flavors, these may not be your jam. But for anyone who likes cheesy scrambled eggs, grab a big scoop of them! Scrambled Eggs with Spinach, Tomato, and Feta! The Coconut Oatmeal was recommended by the chefs (twice!) and we’re so glad we tried it! Normally we probably would have skipped an unassuming bowl of oatmeal over all the other more substantial goodies on the line, but WOW. It had a nice creamy texture and a delicious coconut flavor that’s good enough to even convert an oatmeal hater! This is also a great option for vegans out there! Coconut Oatmeal! We also found some lovely Bobotie. This is an African dish made with spiced ground meat topped with an egg-based topping. It’s jam-packed with flavor and, while full of spices providing flavor, it’s not particularly spicy. Bobotie And some MORE sweet options! Sticky buns, French Toast Bread Pudding, and that divinely buttery pecan praline sauce. The Sticky Buns were what we imagine heaven tastes like. The crunch of the pecans, the sweet caramel, and the option for an extra helping of that buttery praline pecan sauce made these buns some of our favorites! Sticky Buns! The French Toast Bread Pudding was yet another winner for us! The doughy bread pudding, along with the rich, sweet taste of vanilla, made this a super sweet (but super delicious!) breakfast bite. We also really loved the crumble on top. Breakfast dessert? Thank you, Boma, don’t mind if we do! The French Toast Bread Pudding! The Apple Pockets from the pastry table were good but a little on the generic side. We’d much rather stuff our faces with more sticky buns (and we did. Ohhhh how we did!). Apple Pockets! Heading over to see what kind of fresh fruit is available, we found a variety of watermelon, grapes, and fruit salad. The Watermelon Slices with Mint-Pistachio Crumb were another highlight for us! Although it’s a very simple addition to an otherwise generic plate of melon, it was refreshing and something different than the usual buffet fruit offerings. Watermelon Slices with Mint-Pistachio Crumb! The Deviled Eggs with Smoked Salmon was a yummy little bite! We didn’t get a lot of salmon on our egg, so ours tasted mostly like a smokey deviled egg. This is quite a sophisticated twist on breakfast, and ya know what — we’re here for it! Deviled Eggs with Smoked Salmon! After we made it through the sea of deliciousness that is Boma’s buffet, we had this glorious spread! Yep, a little bit of everything is how we roll. And the slice of watermelon makes it healthy, right? One savory plate and two plates of sweets is what we call a “balanced breakfast”! Also, don’t sleep on the coffee at this spot, it is AMAZING! Boma offers guests the option to pay for a French Press Pot of really good coffee for two. It’s a dark roast of Kenyan 22 Coffee that was super bold and delicious! Kenyan roast coffee tends to be richly aromatic and has brighter acidic qualities that you find in some other coffees around the world. Ordering this in a pressed pot is a great way to experience these flavors in their purest form (before you dilute it with cream and sugar, that is). Be aware that this is not included in the price of the buffet and will have an extra $9 charge for it. Regular coffee is definitely available included with the cost of your meal, but if you love coffee we highly recommend splurging here. The Coffee was amazing! Well, that was our breakfast at Boma! It felt good to see a buffet return to Disney and we loved seeing all the options and choosing our favorites (or choosing everything, it is vacation after all)! Nosh or Not You should stop by Boma if… You’re looking for a more adventurous buffet! This spot not only shines with its classic items, it also has a lot of great dishes inspired by African cuisine. You don’t mind traveling to Animal Kingdom Lodge for a bargain buffet. The pricing on this buffet is a steal compared to some of the other Disney buffets! Plus, you get a great opportunity to check out this gorgeous hotel. You’re staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge or planning a day at Animal Kingdom. If you’re already in the area, this is definitely worth a try! Steer clear of Boma if… You’re not going to get your money’s worth! You do have to eat at least a full portion to get your money’s worth here. If you’re looking to just eat a small bite, don’t love breakfast food, or are just really really picky, this spot likely isn’t worth it. You’re looking for a quick and convenient breakfast on your way to the parks. Boma’s a bit out of the way and requires an intentional trip. You don’t like adventurous foods! Although there are plenty of classic breakfast items here, the more adventurous options really are the highlights of the buffet. Overall Boma is back and we couldn’t be happier! We really enjoyed our breakfast buffet at Boma; items like the Chakalaka, French Toast Bread Pudding, Sticky Buns, and Scrambled Eggs really stood out as stars of the show. The atmosphere, the service, and the meal were all amazing. This spot is definitely for the sliiiightly more adventurous palates (we highly recommend the ‘Ohana breakfast over at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort if you’re looking for something less adventurous) but that was part of the appeal! But if you do have some picky eaters in your group, there are still quite a few classic options to choose from. (Those blueberry pancakes were winners for us and you simply can’t go wrong with a Mickey waffle!). The bargain of a price for this meal (compared to other all-you-can-eat options!), along with the quality of the food, make it worth the trip over to Animal Kingdom Lodge to try out Boma. Honestly, the location is going to be the biggest hindrance for many guests. Animal Kingdom Lodge isn’t the most convenient to get to (If you’re at another Disney Hotel and relying on transportation, this will mean heading to a theme park or Disney Springs and transferring to a bus headed to Animal Kingdom Lodge). If you can swing making the trek over, your efforts will be greatly rewarded. Their classic dishes were done well, their adventurous dishes were done well, and everything came together in a delicious symphony! We’ll be the first to admit we have a soft spot for Boma. It has historically been a consistently good buffet for any time of day we’ve dined here. Speaking of, we doubled up on re-opening day and ate here for dinner as well! Of all the Disney World buffets to return first, this was a solid pick. We highly recommend this spot — you won’t be disappointed! Click here to read about the Masquerade Party at the Edison! 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 Boma’s breakfast? Let us know in the comments! The post REVIEW: Disney World Breakfast Buffets are BACK at Boma! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

So many restaurants have been reopening around Disney World recently! Boma is back! Buffets have returned, Magic Kingdom favorites like Casey’s Corner and Columbia Harbour House are back, and our favorite tiki bar also reopened not too long ago! And now, we have news about another dining spot reopening soon in Disney World! The Diamond Horseshoe in Magic Kingdom is reopening on September 12th! The Diamond Horseshoe The Liberty Square restaurant has been closed since the park shut down in March of 2020, but it will be back soon! The Diamond Horseshoe Before the shutdown, this Old West music hall served up western-style dishes as well as barbecue. Chuck Wagon Saloon Feast Meats Now, the menu is showing only an all-you-care-to-enjoy meal with things like pot roast, roasted turkey breast, oven-roasted pork with mashed potatoes, herb stuffing, and macaroni and cheese. This is almost identical to the meal being served over at Liberty Tree Tavern as well! Liberty Tree Tavern Spread We’ll be back at The Diamond Horseshoe when it reopens to give you a full review, so stay tuned to DFB for updates! Click here to check out the return of buffets in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! 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 like The Diamond Horseshoe before the closures? Let us know in the comments! The post Reopening Date Announced for The Diamond Horseshoe in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Meet our cast member, Happy, a professional security dog at Hong Kong Disneyland. Today, we are celebrating him and all other trustworthy doggies because it is International Dog Day!http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DisneyParks/~4/BOze2DUBIwAView the full article

The Orlando Boat Show returns Aug. 27-29 with 17 of Central Florida's top boat dealers representing more than 50 manufacturers. View the full article

Behind The Scenes - ‘Disney Fab 50 Character Collection’ | Walt Disney World ResortView the full article

Today marks the halfway point of the first ever World Princess Week, and we are making a splash with the fierce, curious, free-spirited Ariel from the Walt Disney Animation Studios classic, “The Little Mermaid.” Her unflappable spirit and resilience carry her through her journey of self-discovery, through which she becomes a courageous young woman who discovers her place in the world. That place in the world includes all of our parks and resorts, so let’s take a look at where you can celebrate your favorite mermaid.http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DisneyParks/~4/uXCzq6otKxgView the full article

COVID-19 cases have been on the rise in Florida. Face mask sign After the CDC updated its guidelines about wearing masks indoors, Disney World changed its mask policy to require all guests (regardless of their vaccination status) to wear masks indoors. This comes after COVID-19 cases spiked 800% last month in Florida, but now cases are spiking again. According to WPLG Local 10, Florida reported 26,203 new COVID-19 cases to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday, August 24th. This is the highest number reported in a single day from the state. Indoor Mask Sign On July 30th, Florida reported the highest number of cases for a single day with 21,683 new cases. The 7-day moving average for new cases in the U.S. is 142,029 new cases per day, which means Florida accounts for 15% of those new cases. EPCOT Mask Sign In mid-July, it was reported that 1 in 5 COVID-19 cases in the United States were coming from Florida, which caused the state to lead the country with the highest amount of COVID-19 cases. Florida Sunset We’ll continue to keep an eye out for more updates regarding COVID-19 cases in Florida. How Could the Delta Variant Impact Your Disney World Vacation? Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post NEWS: Florida Reports Record-Breaking COVID-19 Case Numbers first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Our series of daily surprises for World Princess Week continues tonight with a special LIVE celebration of Moana from Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa - exclusively on @DisneyParks TikTok at 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT.http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DisneyParks/~4/Qm1r5gYv_3gView the full article

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Whether you’re on the hunt for some subtle Disney decor or you want to go all out and feel like you’ve walked into Magic Kingdom every time you walk in the door, there are a lot of ways to add a touch of Disney to your home. So many mugs!!! From holiday decorations to mugs and blankets to aprons, you can almost always find something to take with you that reminds you of your favorite Disney parks, movies, and characters. And, if you’ve got some big fans of Disney’s Frozen at home then there’s a new collection that you’ll want to check out! Tonyk Toys just released THREE new glitter lamps that feature characters from Frozen II and are sure to remind you of all those lava lamps you spent too much time staring at when you were a kid (hey, they were cool back then, okay!?). The first has Elsa in her famous white dress on the bottom, and when you turn it on it looks like she’s magically moving the crystals inside the light. ©Toynk Toys And, it’ll even glow in the dark! ©Toynk Toys It’s available for $34.99 online at Toynk Toys. Click Here to Buy the Elsa Glitter Motion Lamp The next light features the loveable snowman — Olaf! In Olaf’s lamp, fall leaves blow up and down which is meant to be reminiscent of Gale the Wind Spirit from the movie. ©Toynk Toys Much like the Elsa lamp, Olaf’s lamp glows in the dark but this one features a white light that really makes those red and orange colors from the leaves pop. ©Toynk Toys Olaf’s glitter motion lamp is $35.99. Buy the Olaf Glitter Motion Lamp Here The last light in this series is the Bruni Salamander Glitter Motion Lamp. This one has a red base and top, and the fiery Bruni Salamander is hanging out at the base. ©Toynk Toys Plus, when you turn it on in the dark, the lamp glows like the Forest Spirit in the movie with silver glitter that glows purple. ©Toynk Toys The Bruni lamp is available for $34.99. Click Here to Buy the Bruni Salamander Glitter Motion Lamp So, if you’ve got some Frozen stans at home, be sure to check out this new collection online! And, keep following along with us here at DFB for more news on Disney merchandise that’s available online and in the parks. Click Here to Check Out More Disney Home Decor Online 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. Which Frozen 2 Glitter Lamp is your favorite? Tell us in the comments! The post Disney Lava Lamps Are Trying to Make a Comeback and We Are HERE. FOR. IT! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Around our world, Disney Parks and Resorts make our guests feel welcome. This looks unique to everyone: some may feel the swell of the background music, some may smell the sweets from a nearby cart, others may look at stunning sites that are either familiar or completely, enchantingly new. While all of these possibilities vary from park to park and person to person, […]http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DisneyParks/~4/3C2K3o6-kAQView the full article

Disneyland’s new Magic Key Program is live today! ©Disney There’s a bit of a wait, but as of today, Disneyland’s Magic Key passes are on sale. We decided to take a look at the Magic Key Access Calendar for blockout dates and park reservation availability so you can have an idea of what each Magic Key grants guests. Maybe you’re waiting to purchase or just trying to decide which Magic Key is right for you, so take a look! Now that Disneyland’s Magic Key Program is officially for sale, they have also released the park reservation dates for their Magic Key Access Calendar. For reference, this is the legend for the calendar, and the calendar shows blocked out dates and available parks reservations. It’s important to note that Magic Key passholders who stay in any Disneyland Resort hotels still seem to be limited by their Key’s park pass reservation restrictions. ©Disney The Magic Key Program has four different key passes with varying benefits and access to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, and reservations are currently open through November 23rd, depending on which Magic Key you hold. Click here to learn more about the new Magic Key Pass Program! Imagine Key Let’s start with the Imagine Key. The Imagine Key is $399 and available to Southern California residents only. Dream Key holders can make up to two park reservations at a time, and they get 10% off select merchandise and food and drinks. The Imagine Key has both Disneyland and Disney California Park Passes currently available for reservations through November 19th. ©Disney Imagine Key Access Calendar If you purchase this Magic Key pass, make note of the blockout dates, which are most weekends, holidays, and much of the summer. This is the least expensive Magic Key pass, so the Imagine Key holders will have the most blockout dates of all the Magic Key passes. Learn how to use the new Magic Key Pass Program here! Enchant Key The Enchant Key pass is $649 for up to four park reservations at a time, with 10% off select merchandise and food and drinks. The Enchant Key is blocked out for some weekends (but not all), holidays, and most of the summer. ©Disney Enchant Key Access Calendar Currently, Enchant Key holders can make park reservations for both DCA and Disneyland through November 19th, and both parks are available for reservations at this time. Here are 5 details you missed about the new Magic Key Pass Program! Believe Key The Believe Key costs $949 for up to six park reservations at a time, 10% off select food and beverages and merchandise, and 50% off parking. With the exception of some Saturdays and a few odd dates here and there, the Believe Key grants access to guests for most of the year. ©Disney Believe Key Access Calendar Both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure park passes are currently available to Believe Key passholders through November 23rd. We answered the BIGGEST questions about the Magic Key Pass here! Dream Key And the Dream Key is the highest tier of Magic Key passes with a price tag of $1399 per person. The Dream Key allows up to six park reservations at a time along with 20% off select merchandise, 15% off select food and drinks, and parking is free with the pass. There are also NO blockout dates with the Dream Key. ©Disney Dream Key Access Calendar As of right now, park reservations are available for both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure through November 23rd. Here’s HOW and WHERE you can purchase Magic Key Passes! So as of right now, park reservations for the Disneyland Magic Key Program are available through November 23rd, and we’ll be keeping a close eye on the Magic Key Access Calendar for new dates to appear, as well as reservation dates to fill. Keep reading DFB for all your Disneyland news! Read more about Magic Key Passes on sale now! Disneyland Reviews and Information Click HERE to Check Out Lots of DFB Posts About Disneyland See the Latest Updates About Disneyland’s Mask Policy Check Out Our Disneyland Restaurants Guide See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Park Check Out Details from the Historic Reopening of Disneyland Resort See What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Learn About the Disneyland Mobile App Get All the Details About Mobile Order in Disneyland See More About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure What’s Going to Be Different About Your Next Disneyland Trip? Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Are you planning to purchase a Disneyland Magic Key? Tell us in the comments! The post PHOTOS: ALL of the Magic Key Blockout Dates for Disneyland first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s that time! Time to take a look into one more of our favorite Disney Resort Collection hotels through our planDisney Pocket Guide series. For this one, relax as we are headed to the Caribbean Islands, via Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DisneyParks/~4/zpji8K_hHYYView the full article

Over the past several months, various Disney World hotels have reopened. All-Star Music Resort Most recently, we’ve seen Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort reopened, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is set to reopen soon. Another hotel that is set to join the “reopened” group soon is Disney’s All-Star Music Resort. But, recently something strange happened to our upcoming reservation at this spot. At the moment, Disney World’s website still indicates (as it did previously) that Disney’s All-Star Music Resort is set to reopen on September 16th, 2021. Reservations for this spot became available in early July. ©Disney A member of our DFB team had a reservation at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort for September 16th through September 17th. But, when they checked on the status of their reservation today (August 25th) the reservation had entirely disappeared from their account! They didn’t receive a call or email from Disney about this cancellation/disappearance, but when they checked their account the reservation had mysteriously gone missing. Singing Spirits Pool Bar at All-Star Music We reached out to Disney via chat, but the Cast Member we spoke to was not aware of any specific situation that might have caused this. So, we went to the Disney World website to search for available rooms. When we searched for a room for a single night (checking in September 16th and checking out September 17th), no rooms at All-Star Music appeared to be available. ©Disney Interestingly though, when we searched for a room at All-Star Music where we’d check in on September 16th and check out on September 18th, the preferred rooms and standard rooms were not available… ©Disney …but a family suite was available. ©Disney We also checked for longer stays (with a check in date of September 16th and check out date of September 22nd), and rooms did appear to be available… ©Disney …including a family suite. ©Disney Disney has not yet announced that the opening of All-Star Music will be delayed or otherwise impacted. If your reservation at this Resort has been canceled or impacted, be sure to reach out to Disney for more information. We’ll continue to keep an eye out for more updates on this situation and we’ll let you know what we find. Click here to see the reopening dates for Disney World’s closed hotels. 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 your reservation at All-Star Music get canceled or disappear from your account? Tell us in the comments. The post Was Your All-Star Music Reservation Canceled for Disney World? You're Not Alone. first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Right now, Disney World’s most popular ride is Rise of the Resistance! It’s a big hit at Disney World and Disneyland! The newer Star Wars attraction is located in Galaxy’s Edge and is so popular that Disney uses a boarding group system to load guests. It can be pretty difficult to snag a boarding group when the parks are busy, and now the process has changed again! Previously, guests attempting to secure a boarding group through the My Disney Experience app were met with a “Create Your Party” screen after trying to join a group. Here, you would choose who you wanted to get a boarding group for and who you didn’t. We often encouraged our readers to just move right through this screen and not double-check it so that they didn’t waste time. (Seriously, boarding groups can be gone in SECONDS.) ©Disney But now, there has been a small change. Guests will click “Join Virtual Queue” as normal… ©Disney …but then they’ll be met with a new “Review Details” screen! Disney will auto-select your party for you, and you’ll have the option to change it if you need to. To do that, make sure to click on the “Change Party” button next to the list of current party members. You may not want to do this at that time because it could slow you down. ©Disney Once your group is secured, you can double-check your party to make sure everything is in order. If you have too many people in your party, should be able to remove them. And if you encounter any problems, try checking with Guest Relations and they may be able to help. We’ll test this out soon and let you know how it goes! ©Disney For all the latest news and updates on Rise of the Resistance and the Disney parks, stay tuned to DFB. We’ll make sure to keep you in the loop! Click Here to See What Has Been Happening With Rise of the Resistance Boarding Groups Recently! 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 ever gotten a boarding group for Rise of the Resistance? Let us know in the comments! The post Did You Notice This Small Rise of the Resistance Boarding Group Change in Disney World? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

This weekend in Central Florida, there are plenty of fun offerings, from a boat show to a home expo and a dinosaur party. View the full article

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Disney has released some incredibly fun board games that could be perfect for your next family game night. ©Disney We’ve seen a Marvel game all about villains, a beautiful “it’s a small world” game, and more! Now there’s a new Disney board game on the market and this one is exclusively for Disney Vacation Club Members. The game itself is based on a classic game you’ve probably played in the past, but it has a very unique DVC twist. Have you ever played Operation? Operation is the game where you have to use tweezers to “operate” on a human and remove tiny pieces from the board without touching certain corners, or you’ll get “buzzed.” The new and DVC-exclusive version of Operation lets players “operate” a little differently (and weirdly?) by removing DVC charms from seashells. Wait, seashells need surgery now?? ©shopDisney There are twelve different Disney Vacation Club Resort Charms, including the Monorail, a racehorse, a pail and shovel, a flying fish, rose, a paint brush, a penguin, a hibiscus, a giraffe, a steam train, a tiki idol, and a conch shell. The game board will light up and make a sound if your tweezers touch the sides of the seashells during “surgery.” How did the monorail even get inside of a shell? Or a racehorse for that matter? But, those are questions for another day it seems. ©shopDisney The Disney Vacation Club Operation game celebrates 30 years of DVC, and members must log into shopDisney with their DVC login information in order to purchase this exclusive board game. It costs $19.99 on shopDisney. But shopDisney is currently offering a promotion for 20% off select Disney Vacation Club Merchandise through December 31, 2021, so keep that in mind. ©shopDisney If you’re a Disney Vacation Club member in need of more options for game night (and have always been curious about performing surgery on seashells??), this is your chance to grab an exclusive game that has a unique DVC twist. Click here to order the Disney Vacation Club Operation game! Keep reading DFB for all your Disney merchandise news! Click here to see some of the new Christmas ornaments Disney has released online. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What do you think of this new DVC game? Tell us in the comments! The post Wait, Why Do Seashells Need Surgery in This New Disney Game? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Recently, Disney announced that Disneyland Annual Passes are coming back in a new form, the Disneyland Magic Key! The new program has a multi-tiered price point and will offer a similar service as the old Annual Pass. ©Disney For those of you looking to grab a Magic Key, you’re in luck! We’ve got some great news for you! Disneyland’s Magic Key passes are on sale NOW! You can purchase them on Disneyland.com or on the Disneyland app ONLY. ©Disney You may be taken to a waiting page when you go to buy the passes on Disneyland’s website at first. ©Disney You do not have to buy your Magic Key pass today, the first day they’re on sale. Disney says they appreciate your patience as they work hard to accommodate as many guests as possible through their system on Disneyland.com. Disneyland Entrance Lines The Magic Key service comes in four different price points ranging from $399 to $1399. Services can include free parking, discounts on restaurants and merchandise, and, of course, access to the parks! Sleeping Beauty Castle The lower cost levels will get you access to the park on select dates with merchandise and dining discounts, and the higher cost levels will get you access to parks on most or all days, discounts on dining and merch, and discounted or free parking! Here is our guide to using the new service. ©Disney Most Disneyland theme park tickets are upgradeable to Magic Key passes. Fully used, or partially used and expired, theme park admission media, complimentary ticket media, special event ticket media and ticket media stating its ineligibility for an upgrade (such as the California Resident promotional ticket) are NOT eligible to be upgraded to a Magic Key pass. Disney California Adventure If you have a partially used, unexpired ticket that is upgradable, you can do that directly on the Disneyland app! Disneyland If you purchase your Magic Key pass within the first 66 days, you will get a special charter member welcome package sent to your address! This will include a limited-edition Magic Key pin, celebratory button, magnet and more! Disneyland 66th Anniversary Cavalcade And, the Magic Key holders who enter Disneyland park from September 1st through October 31st, 2021 can enjoy access to a limited-time experience at Starcade in Tomorrowland. In here, Magic Key holders can enjoy a fun photo opportunity, charging stations, and other fun Magic Key surprises, according to Disney! Tomorrowland in Disneyland Head over to the Disneyland website or the Disneyland App and grab your Magic Key today! We’re always keeping up with the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more! Click here to read more about Disneyland’s new Magic Key program! Disneyland Reviews and Information Click HERE to Check Out Lots of DFB Posts About Disneyland See the Latest Updates About Disneyland’s Mask Policy Check Out Our Disneyland Restaurants Guide See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Park Check Out Details from the Historic Reopening of Disneyland Resort See What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Learn About the Disneyland Mobile App Get All the Details About Mobile Order in Disneyland See More About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure What’s Going to Be Different About Your Next Disneyland Trip? Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe What do you think of Disneyland’s Magic Key program? Let us know in the comments! The post There's a LONG Wait, But Disneyland's Magic Key Passes Are On Sale NOW first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

As we celebrate World Princess Week during our #UltimatePrincessCelebration we visit with Heather and Adam from Disney Consumer Products to learn more about their contribution to this unique celebration and their own personal Disney journey. For more #DisneyCastLife stories, follow the Disney Ambassador teams on Instagram! @WDW.Ambassador | @DisneylandAmbassador | @DLPAmbassadorhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DisneyParks/~4/xdNWrG3GPZsView the full article

Sometimes things don’t go according to plan in Disney World. Weather closes locations Rides can shut down, bad weather can impact your day, or you could be stuck on a ride or transportation. Today, a popular ride was evacuated in Disney World. Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run has been evacuated in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. We are not sure at this time what caused the evacuation, but a reader (@banana8050 on Instagram) told us that the fire alarm went off when she was in line. Guests leaving ride She also said everyone near the outside is being asked to step away. We’ll keep you updated if or when we find out more information on the situation, so stay tuned to DFB. Click here to read about Disney’s Polynesian Resort being evacuated yesterday Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post VIDEO: Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run Evacuated in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Quite a few things are changing in Disney World. Time to Visit Disney World Paid FastPass-like systems are set to debut soon, the parks are getting ready to celebrate the Resort’s 50th Anniversary, the Magical Express is set to end in 2022, and more. And with some of those changes come additional costs that you’ll need to factor into your trip. So, just what would it cost a family to “do” Disney World in light of these upcoming changes. We’re breaking down what you need to know right here. First, let’s introduce our family. We’ve got Peter (+18), Agatha (+18), Belle (8), and Flynn (4). Our family of 2 adults and 2 kiddos is planning a trip for the holiday season next year (in 2022). Let’s see what it’ll cost them. Hotel + Tickets First, we’ll look at the cost of a hotel and ticket package. Our family’s trip will take place from December 15th through the 19th, 2022. There were a variety of options available, from the least expensive… ©Disney …and mid-range options… ©Disney …all the way up to the most expensive options available. ©Disney For our choice, we stuck near the cheaper side with a stay at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort, priced at around $214.50 per night. We then added on 4 days of theme park tickets and stuck with 1-park per day tickets (rather than add on the Park Hopper option — note that the Park Hopper option would have made these tickets more expensive). Also, keep in mind that tickets are date-based when it comes to price, so (just like the hotel rooms) they can vary widely depending on when you choose to visit. ©Disney The total for our tickets and hotel stay was $3,118.70. Click here to see some of the latest Disney World discounts. Transportation to Orlando Next, we’ll need to figure out the cost of getting to Orlando. This will vary greatly depending on where you’ll be visiting from. Maybe you’ll be traveling to Orlando via your own car. If so, you’ll need to factor in gas costs. If you’re thinking of driving but are going to rent a car, that car rental is another cost to think about. Perhaps you’ll be taking a bus to Orlando from your home. You’ll want to factor in the cost of that bus to get there. Hollywood Studios Or, you may be flying into Orlando from another location. You’ll want to set aside part of your budget to account for your airfare and any associated fees (like checked luggage or fees for seat selection, etc). Our family lives in Dallas so we got the cost for a round trip from Dallas Fort Worth to Orlando International Airport. We want them to arrive early so they can spend the rest of their arrival day in the parks. We couldn’t price out airfare all the way into December of 2022 on Google, so we looked at similar dates in December of this year. We’re On Our Way The estimated cost for the roundtrip for all 4 passengers was $1,732 based on the flights we selected. ©Google There were other options available, however, and the price can vary depending on what options you select. Click here to see the average cost to fly to Disney World in September. Transportation to/from Disney World and the Airport Next, since the trip is set for 2022, Disney’s Magical Express will already be discontinued. That means the family will need to figure out how to get to and from the airport to their Disney World hotel. There are a variety of options they could use including a rideshare service, a taxi, a private car transfer, and more. One specific option quite a few families may be interested in is Mears Connect. Mears Connect is a new service that will be offered by Mears starting in 2022. Mears is the company that has been operating the Magical Express on behalf of Disney. Mears connect is said to provide “the same reliable, safe, express service” guests are used to, though it does have some differences compared to Magical Express. ©Mears The price for Mears Connect’s Standard Service which is a shared service that includes large vehicles and monitored wait times is about $32 per adult and $27 per child (round trip). For our trip, it wouldn’t let us look for a Mears Connect transportation as far as December of 2022, so we just got an estimate based on dates in January of 2022. ©Mears Connect The total cost was $118. Click here to see how the cost of Mears Connect compares to an Uber to Disney World. Parking Next, we’ll talk a bit about parking. Our family won’t be driving to Disney World, won’t be renting a car, and will be relying on Disney transportation while on property, so parking costs won’t apply to them. But, if you do drive a car (either your own or rented) to Disney and park it at your Disney World hotel, there is an overnight parking fee that you will be charged. The overnight self-parking rate varies by the type of Disney World hotel you’re staying at. Check out the information below for more details. ©Disney Note that special parking rules apply to Disney Vacation Club members. If you’re not staying at a Disney World hotel and will be using a car to travel to the parks each day, you’ll need to factor in parking costs at the theme parks. Note that Disney World hotel guests get complimentary parking at the theme parks, but guests not staying at Disney World hotels will need to pay to park at the theme parks. The price for parking at the theme parks is $25 per day for standard cars and $30 per day for oversized vehicles. ©Disney Note that once you pay for parking at one of the theme parks on any particular day, your parking will be valid for all of the theme parks for that specific day. Click here to see everything you need to know about parking in Disney World. MagicBands Next, we get to MagicBands! MagicBands used to be free for Disney World hotel guests, but this year Disney stopped providing hotel guests with complimentary bands. If you want to use a MagicBand throughout your trip because you find them stylish, convenient, or just for any other reason, you could utilize a MagicBand from home (i.e. one you already have from a past visit). If you don’t have one from a previous visit or you want a new one, you’ll have to purchase it. Halloween MagicBands at Frontier Trading Post Disney World hotel guests do, however, often get access to discounted rates for select MagicBands, so that might be a good way to grab one while still saving money. Assuming our family doesn’t want any of the discounted MagicBands, but instead wants to buy some new ones of their own, the cost of the MagicBands can vary depending on the style of the band. The most basic style of MagicBand is now typically priced at $19.99, while others with more elaborate designs or those that are limited edition designs are more expensive. MagicBands For our example, we’ll assume that our family buys 1 MagicBand for each member of the group but sticks with the cheapest options available in the park (not the discounted ones available to hotel guests). That would make the total cost of MagicBands about $79.96 (without tax). Keep in mind that you do not have to use a MagicBand at all if you don’t want to. Guests can ask for a Key to the World card to use during their stay. They can also use MagicMobile and the My Disney Experience app together to do many things MagicBands can do like unlock their hotel room door and scan their ticket to enter the theme parks. ©Disney It’s entirely up to you in terms of what services you want to use and what items you want to purchase. Click here to learn more about Disney MagicMobile. Food Then, our family will have to factor in food. There can be a LOT of variation here. Some families will eat exclusively at quick service restaurants. Others will make heavy use of table service spots. Some skip breakfast and just drink coffee in the room. Others like to eat 3 full meals. What we’re saying is pricing here will vary a LOT depending on your family’s own eating habits and how much you’re looking to spend. Keep in mind that the Disney Dining Plan is not being offered at the moment, but it is set to return to Disney World at some point in the future (Disney has not yet announced a date). It’s possible the Dining Plan could be available again once our family’s imaginary trip takes place. Kakamora Float But, for now, we’ll just estimate food costs without the Dining Plan. For our example, we’ll estimate the cost of 2 quick service meals and 1 table service meal per main day of their visit (16th, 17th, and 18th). We’ll include 2 quick service meals for the day of their arrival (15th) and 1 quick service meal for the day of their departure (19th). We used Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe as an example for quick service meals and estimated each adult meal (without drinks) would cost around $12, while kids meals would cost around $7. That’s about $38 for a quick service meal. Sonny Eclipse at Cosmic Ray’s For table service, we used Jungle Cruise Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen‘s lunch menu as an example. The average cost was about $25 or so for an adult entree (again, no drink), and about $12 for a kids entree. That’s about $74 for a table service meal. So, in our example, that’s about $150 per day on the full days (450 for 3 days) (2 quick service, 1 table service), $76 for their arrival day (2 quick service), and $38 for their departure day (1 quick service). That’s a total of $564 for their trip. “Hardy Har Char” Siu Pork at Skipper Canteen Again, keep in mind these are just estimates and examples. You could potentially eat items for slightly less or (more realistically) MUCH more in Disney World depending on how you arrange things. Remember these estimates only included entrees, did not include drinks, and there was no allotment for snacks. So, likely the food costs would be higher. For purposes of our example, we’ll push it up a bit to $650. Disney Genie+ Next, we get to a brand new cost you’ll have to prepare for in the future. FastPass+ is not returning to Disney World. Instead, in its place will be 2 paid FastPass-like systems, the main one of which is called Disney Genie+. With Genie+, you’ll pay $15 per ticket per day to select the next available time to ride an attraction using that ride’s “Lightning Lane” (a.k.a. FastPass lane). Attraction selections can be made one at a time throughout the day, and over 40 attractions will be included in Genie+ at Disney World. ©Disney Paying for and using Genie+ is entirely optional. That means our family can continue to just use the standby lines or virtual queue processes already included in the price of their Disney World tickets if they want to. But, maybe our family really wants to skip those standby lines and they figure they won’t be back to Disney World for a while, so they really want to make the most of this trip. In that case, they may opt to buy Genie+ for each day of their trip. They could also just buy it for 1 or 2 days of their trip if they’d prefer. ©Disney But, for our example, we’ll propose that they buy Genie for each day they have park tickets — that’s 4 days at $15 per person per day, which comes out to $240 for their trip. Note that Disney Genie (the free planning service) is set to debut fall of 2021, and we expect Genie+ will debut then as well. Click here to learn more about Genie+. Individual Attraction Selection Another thing the family might want to pay for is Disney’s NEW Individual Attraction Selection service. Note that Disney Genie (the free planning service) is set to debut fall of 2021, and we expect Individual Attraction Selection will debut then as well. ©Disney With Individual Attraction Selection, guests will be able to schedule a time to arrive at and use an attraction’s Lightning Lane entrance. Guests can only make up to 2 Individual Attraction Selections per day. Individual Attraction Selection will be available for some of those super popular rides in Disney World like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. Rise of the Resistance The rides that you can buy an Individual Attraction Selection for will NOT be included in Genie+ (that means you won’t be able to make a Lightning Lane selection for a ride like Rise of the Resistance through Genie+, you’ll have to specifically pay for it individually through the Individual Attraction Selection service). Again, using this service is optional. Guests can continue to use the standby line or virtual queue arrangement (depending on the ride) which is included in their ticket. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train But, let’s say our family wants to purchase 1 Individual Attraction Selection per day for all of the members in their group. That’s a cost they’ll have to plan ahead for. Right now, Disney has not released the pricing for Individual Attraction Selection. But, they have indicated that pricing will vary by date, attraction, and park. For our example, we’ll use the system in place at Disneyland Paris (which is somewhat similar) as an example. Using that price range as a base, we’ll estimate that 1 Individual Attraction Selection could cost around $13. If you factor in the cost of 1 Individual Attraction Selection per member of their group per day that would be $208. Click here to learn more about Individual Attraction Selection. Other Costs On top of the costs already discussed, our family will need to consider whether they want to pay for additional things for their trip. For example, does our family want to purchase any souvenirs during their trip? If so, they’ll need to think about that cost. For our trip, we’ll set a $100 merchandise limit. Merchandise Since they’ll be visiting during the holidays, they may want to also add on the cost of a holiday party. During these special ticketed events, generally, families get to experience special entertainment, holiday-themed treats, and more. This year, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party was canceled, and Disney Very Merriest After Hours is essentially replacing the event. The event begins in the evening, but guests can enter Magic Kingdom as early as 7AM on the day of their event. For our example, we’ll assume that our family would like to attend Very Merriest After Hours if offered next year (or a similar holiday-themed event is offered with similar pricing). ©Disney The cost for a date during a similar weekend in December of this year would cost about $975.56 for the entire family. ©Disney Keep in mind that our family could lower their overall costs by simply not going to this event OR by purchasing a ticket to this event instead of a park ticket. For example, on the day they fly into Orlando, they could hang out at their resort, use the pool, visit Disney Springs, etc. (for free), and then go to Magic Kingdom for this holiday event (rather than buy a park ticket for that day). Who’s ready for this guy? The family may also want to consider the cost of purchasing Memory Maker or buying select PhotoPass photos. With Memory Maker, the family will be able to download photos either from one day or from their entire trip, depending on what they choose to buy. ©Disney Or, our family could save money by simply taking photos with their own phones or cameras. Click here to learn more about Disney Very Merriest After Hours. Total In total, the trip is priced as follows: Hotel and Tickets: $3,118.70 Airfare: $1,732 Mears connect: $118 Parking: N/A MagicBands: $79.96 Food: $650 Genie+: $240 Individual Attraction Selection: $208 Merchandise: $100 Very Merriest After Hours: $975.56 Memory Maker: $169 Total: $7,391.22. Again, some of these costs may not be the best in terms of planning. For example, our family could easily skip on a park ticket for one day and just rely on the Very Merriest ticket for that day, which could help them cut costs. They could also share meals, or do other things that could either make their trip less expensive or potentially more expensive. Animal Kingdom And that’s a basic look at how much it would cost our family to go on a trip to Disney World. Of course, prices can change and vary often and will be different depending on how many people are in your party, what their ages are, what time you’ll be visiting Disney World, etc. But, we hope this snapshot gave you a general idea of where to start your budgets for future trips. We’ll keep looking for Disney news and working on posts that can help you with all of your future trip planning, so be sure to check back with us for more. Over half of our readers won’t pay for Disney Genie+ — click here to see what they had to say. 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 planning a trip to Disney World in the next year? Tell us in the comments. The post How Much It Cost a Family of 4 to Do Disney World in 2022 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Whoever decided that Christmas was “the most wonderful time of the year” CLEARLY forgot about Halloween — especially Halloween at Walt Disney World! Don’t those festive fall decorations make you smile? Happy Halloween! Now that kids are starting to go back to school and summer is nearing its end, we’re getting ready for SPOOKY season! That means it’s time for some some haunted decorations, a new Halloween costume (it’s never too early to start planning!), and perhaps even a new fall wardrobe. One absolutely adorable Disney fall item is now available, but if you want to snag it you’ll need one important thing…patience. Sometimes there’s nothing better than wearing a cozy cardigan on a cool fall day. If you’re looking for a new cardigan perfect for sweater weather, do we have the thing for you. Take a look at this ADORABLE new cardigan with some no-so-scary Halloween friends! ©Hot Topic The cardigan features those signature candy corn colors. And the sleeves are FULL of details, like a Minnie Mouse patch, an embroidered crescent moon, and a little ghost friend! So Cute! ©Hot Topic On the other side, we’ve got a patch with Mickey looking as cute as ever. There’s also a tiny bat embroidered on the front of the sweater to really add to the Halloween aesthetic. Another Peek at the Cardigan ©Hot Topic If you have to have this Disney cardigan, you can find it on Hot Topic for $54.90. BUT, BE WARNED! You might not be able to snag this cardigan for the 2021 fall season. When we tried to grab one of these cardigans, it showed us that the item was on MASSIVE backorder and isn’t expected to ship until January of 2022!! When we checked a store in Orlando, it also showed that it wasn’t expected to arrive until January of 2022. ©Hot Topic Of course, things could change and the situation may vary depending on what your local store is, so if this item is a must-get for you, you may want to grab it while it’s available or see if any of the stores near you will be able to get it earlier. Click here to buy the Disney Mickey Mouse Halloween Candy Corn Stripe Cardigan! We’ll be on the lookout for new seasonal Disney merchandise and we’ll be sure to share any updates with you, so stay tuned for more! Check Out Some of the Halloween Mickey Ears Disney Has Released ONLINE! 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 Are you adding this cardigan to your fall wardrobe? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney's New Halloween Item Requires One Important Thing...Patience first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Mickey Premium Bars. Mickey Waffles. Cheeseburger Spring Rolls. These are all snacks we WON’T be talking about today. Why? Mickey Pretzel Because we talk about them ALL the time! And it’s about time for some other noteworthy snacks to have their turn in the spotlight. 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 snack! The post DFB Video: The 30 Best Disney World Snacks You've Never Heard Of first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Scott’s Maze Adventures will open Oct. 1 with a dinosaur design in its 6.5-acre field. View the full article

We’re back at ‘Ohana again for the second time this summer (not that we’re complaining)! ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort updated their menu recently to bring back a few old favorites that we know and love. ‘Ohana Of course, we had to head over to try out the updated menu! Let’s head in to see what yummy dishes have returned and which are not available anymore. More importantly — do the changes make it BETTER? ‘Ohana likes to keep guests on their toes, apparently. When ‘Ohana reopened last month, they had changed their menu quite a bit from what many guests knew and loved. (Like…REALLY loved. ‘Ohana love runs DEEP.) Although some dishes stayed (like their famously amazing noodles), others were gone (like the peel-and-eat shrimp). New food like the Island Shrimp Casserole and Coconut Papaya Scones took their place. Shrimp Casserole at ‘Ohana When it Reopened Last Month It was different. Not good or bad, just different. We actually were pretty big fans of most of the new items at ‘Ohana, but a lot of people were upset that their previous favorites were missing! Every time ‘Ohana has changed anything on the menu, guests get loud FAST. Whether due to guest backlash or simply longing for familiar old favorites, the menu was changed up almost as soon as it was introduced! All we can say is, we ain’t mad about it. Atmosphere We arrived at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and followed the walkway up to the resort! Heading in to eat! We paused to see some construction on the way. The Polynesian has been undergoing a big update recently, with new rooms, a big makeover to the main entrance, and changes to the monorail station. Check out the entrance of the Polynesian! Once inside, you’ll go through the Polynesian’s lobby… Lobby at Polynesian …and up the stairs at the back on either side to get to ‘Ohana’s check-in desk. Checking in! Don’t forget to appreciate the view of the lobby from the second floor! Gorgeous lighting in Polynesian Lobby We let the cast member know we were here for our reservation, and then we waited to get a text that our table was ready! We got our message! When we got the text, we headed back to the restaurant’s entrance and a host took us back to our table. ‘Ohana Entrance ‘Ohana has one big dining room with tables and chairs and huge windows along one wall. ‘Ohana dining room At night, you can see fireworks from the Magic Kingdom through these windows! For now, we just looked at the views of the Polynesian resort. Still a great view Our table settings were pretty basic, with a plate and silverware. Table Setting at ‘Ohana ‘Ohana just has QR code menus for now. We asked about paper menus, but the restaurant is not carrying them at the moment. QR Code Menu Let’s scan the code and see what’s cooking! Eats The dinner is still an all-you-care-to-eat meal, and it’s still being served family-style. Before Disney World shut down last year, ‘Ohana servers would walk around with skewers holding the meats and serve you whatever meats you liked tableside (like a Fogo de Chāo type Brazillian steakhouse). This portion of the meal didn’t return with the reopening — it’s still unlimited meats, just served in a skillet! ‘Ohana Isn’t Serving With Skewers Right Now The prices for dinner stayed the same as well, with $55 for adults and $33 for children. It’s definitely on the pricier side for a meal, but you get a TON of food for that cost. So make sure you come hungry! The food here is Polynesian-themed, with tangy flavors and big portions. ©Disney For the dinner, you’ll get all of the items listed under the “All You Care to Enjoy ‘Ohana Dinner” section. ©Disney There’s also an option for a plant-based dinner with plenty of items there as well! ©Disney If you’re not drinking during dinner, you can order a non-alcoholic drink from their specialties menu (including a Press Pot of Kona coffee for 2, if you’re in the mood for some hot java)… ©Disney …or check out the mocktails menu! ©Disney But there are also a lot of signature cocktails available to choose from. Since Tambu Lounge sits at the entrance to the restaurant, it does double duty as both a standalone bar as well as the restaurant’s alcoholic drink service. This is the same menu you’ll find over there. ©Disney For a more classic drink, ‘Ohana has a long menu of draft beers from all over America, including a few from Hawaii. ©Disney Finally, there’s also a decent selection of wines! ©Disney For our drinks, we ordered off the cocktail menu! We got the Polynesian Mai Tai and the Dragon Iced Tea. Our cocktails So…uhh…they look the same. But we promise they’re different! The Polynesian Mai Tai (with the pineapple wedge on top) has Plantation Original Dark Rum, Bacardí Superior Rum, Bols Orange Curaçao, Lime Juice, Orgeat (Almond), and Pure Cane Sugar. It costs $13. Polynesian Mai Tai This is a fairly classic Mai Tai. Fans of the drink will likely be pleased. It’s sweet but not aggressively so. This tastes like chilling on a beach. The Dragon Iced Tea (with the dragon fruit slice) is Hendrick’s Gin, Lemon and Ginger Herbal Tea, Tropical Juices, and Blood Orange, and costs $14. Dragon Iced Tea We really loved the Dragon Iced Tea, with its strong herbal flavor mixed with tropical juice. Just don’t see “Iced Tea” in the name and assume it’s a Long Island Iced Tea…it is not! We do recommend liking that herbally gin flavor though, as it’s prominent in the drink. In the past, we’ve also enjoyed the Hawaiian Mule, with Pau Maui Handmade Vodka, Lychee-Citrus Reduction, and Fever-Tree Ginger Beer for $14. We think it’s the perfect mix of a classic cocktail with a fun Hawaiian twist! Truth be told, we’ve tried most of these drinks over the years. All lean sweet and fruity with strong tiki drink vibes. You can’t go wrong with the drinks here! Hawaiian Mule Now we’re getting into the bread service part, and unfortunately, we’ve got some not-so-great news for you ‘Ohana Pineapple Bread lovers: It’s not actually back. (We know, we know!) BUT you can get the OG bread at Kona Cafe, also located at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Let’s all remember how wonderful the old bread was: You can get this bread at Kona Cafe! We were given the Ohana Coconut-Papaya Scones that we tried from the new menu when it reopened last month again, and our server told us this change is here to stay. Even though we miss the old bread, we still really enjoyed these scones! They’re more like biscuits in our opinion, and the coconut flavor is awesome in them. It’s pretty strong, so all the coconut fans will love them! Here’s the bummer though — the Cheddar Bacon Biscuits these came with when ‘Ohana first opened…did not stick around. Cheesey bacon biscuits may not scream “TROPICAL” quite like coconut and papaya, but those were some solid biscuits we didn’t mind inhaling! Scones The scones still came with Honey Butter as well, which is never a bad thing. The salad was the same as last time we were here. It’s the Mixed Greens Salad with a Citrus Vinaigrette dressing. We thought it was great — a good, light dish to start out an otherwise very heavy and filling meal. The salad often gets neglected at ‘Ohana, hiding in the shadows of the MVPs like the dumplings and noodles, but this is actually a really refreshing salad. Give it a go. ‘Ohana salad The real hero of the salad? Definitely the dressing. It was tangy and delicious, and it set off the sweet flavor of the carrots and tomatoes beautifully. You’re served a small pitcher for pouring on your salad as you like. The Real Hero Next, we got the Honey-Coriander Chicken Wings and Pork Dumplings Tossed In Garlic-Chili Sauce, which also came with a big helping of the famous ‘Ohana noodles and some Roasted Broccolini! Wings, Noodles, Dumplings, and Broccolini The wings, dumplings, and noodles were as amazing as ever. These are all the same as the ones on ‘Ohana’s previous menu. The wings had crispy skin with tender meat and just the right amount of sauce coating them. The sauce wasn’t too sweet, and it went well with the spice coming from the wings. Wings The dumplings were another expected winner. They were nice and crispy on the outside with a tender, flavorful filling. They had just the right amount of spice for us, meaning we could taste a kick but weren’t desperate for our water! Seriously, if we have one warning for new ‘Ohana diners it’s to watch the dumplings — it’s SO easy to stuff yourself on these before you know what’s happening. Dumplings The broccolini was fine — how awesome can plain vegetables be, really? It didn’t wow us, but it had a good amount of salt and pepper, and it was cooked well. Hear that mom voice in your head telling you to eat your green veggies. Broccolini And then there were noodles. Oh, what more can we say about the ‘Ohana noodles? We LOVE them. They’re savory, but you can detect a bit of sweetness in the teriyaki flavor as well. The texture is like lo mein noodles you might find at a mall Chinese food kiosk, but it’s like regular lo mein went on vacation to Hawaii. We love you, ‘Ohana noodles OK, OK, we hear you — let’s move on to why you’re really reading this — the meats (AKA the stuff that’s actually different!). In the ‘Ohana Dinner Skillet, you’ll get Wood-fire Grilled Teriyaki Beef, Spicy Peel-n-Eat Shrimp, and Grilled Chicken with Polynesian-inspired Chimichurri Sauce. The noodles and broccolini are also listed under this skillet, but ours came out with the dumplings and wings. Grilled Chicken with Chimichurri sauce As a quick note, with our skillet, we also got some of the Kielbasa Sausage, which was a new item from the menu last month. Our server told us it’s not here to stay, though. They’re just serving it now because they still have some leftover, so if you’re not going soon, you probably won’t be able to get it. Sausage We’re a little bit bummed about that because we actually really liked the sausage this time. The chicken was just a little different, served grilled instead of roasted. It was still bone-in, though! The chimichurri sauce served on top of it was the game-changer here. Hooray for that chimichurri sauce! That sauce was delicious! It made the chicken a much better dish than it would have been otherwise. It’s a pretty mild flavor, but the notes of parsley, garlic, and oregano made it bright and tasty. We do miss the boneless chunks of chicken though — much easier to eat! Close up of that sauce We were super excited to have the peel-and-eat shrimp again! Peel-and-eat shrimp It was just as delicious as we remember. It comes peel-on (as you can probably tell from the name ), but it’s split so that it’s super easy to take the shell off. Even those who think they’re a mess with peeling shrimp should have no trouble here. The shrimp came with peppers, covered lightly in a peppery sauce that we really enjoyed as well. Shrimp! Just a reminder: the peel-and-eat shrimp replaced the shrimp casserole that we had last time we were here. The casserole was definitely a unique choice. We actually enjoyed it for the most part but this component seemed to be the most debated of the old-new menu. Regardless, we’re happy to see the good ol’ peel and eat shrimp back on the menu. These were great before and great once again. The roasted peppers are a nice bonus! The Wood-Fired Grilled Teriyaki Beef remains unchanged but still had a great flavor. The meat was pretty thick and tough. It’s not the best steak you can find in Disney World, but considering all the other goodies you’re getting here, we don’t suspect too many people come here looking for the most perfect steak of their lives. It’s still got a nice flavor though. You can definitely taste that wood-fired char. Mmm. Wood-Fired Grilled Teriyaki Beef The sauce was the best part of this dish as well (we’re starting to see a trend here — A+ on your sauces, ‘Ohana). It was thick and tangy, and it really made this dish. Saucy Remember, this is all you care to eat, so if you want seconds or thirds or 50ths of anything (cough…cough…pork dumplings) just ask your server and more will appear! Finally, after we were just about as stuffed as we could be, dessert came. And then we realized we could probably stuff in just a little more because it’s the classic ‘Ohana Bread Pudding, and who can say no to that? YES Well, it’s ALMOST the classic bread pudding we knew and loved. When ‘Ohana reopened, the bread pudding remained the same but the sauce served with it was switched to a straight caramel sauce instead of the Bananas Foster-type sauce used previously. The bread pudding is served À la mode with Homemade Caramel Sauce. Bananas in the sauce or no, this is still a delight. The pineapple bread pudding is delicious and ever so slightly fruity, and the creamy vanilla ice cream complements it perfectly. (Anyone else love how ‘Ohana scoops of ice cream are always just SO perfectly round?!) ‘Ohana Bread Pudding The caramel sauce is gooey and sweet, so it’s really just a perfect dessert. We might be biased but we heart ‘Ohana. We’re still so happy to have it back. Nosh or Not Definitely hula on over to ‘Ohana if you: Missed the peel-and-eat shrimp from the old menu and can’t wait to eat it again. Are very hungry and looking for a delicious, filling meal. You’ll less likely walk out of this meal and more likely roll out! Want something different from all the other Disney sit-down meals. This is full of Polynesian flavor and not like any other meal offered at Disney World. Consider a different dining spot if you: Are looking for a lighter meal or one with more Disney-themed decorations. This isn’t in your face DISNEY, though it is steeped in Disney World history. Really loved the shrimp casserole and just can’t bear to be in ‘Ohana without it (hey, it had its fans!). Don’t want to spend a lot of time or money on dinner. For the price, this isn’t the cheapest meal around and you really gotta put in the time and tummy space to get the most out of it. Overall We were really impressed with the return of the old menu items. All in all, it was a great meal, with fun atmosphere and excellent service. Our waiter was very attentive, helpful, and friendly the whole night! We still miss the skewers, although we understand why it’s not a good idea to have people walking around the dining room then hovering over you and your plate a lot right now. If you were hesitant to return to ‘Ohana when it reopened with a different menu, we think you can rest easy now knowing that the restaurant has heard your cries and brought back many of your favorites. Though we’re still scratching our heads a bit about that bread change and the change to the bread pudding sauce though. What’s not to love about endless plates of noodles and dumplings and grilled meats? Even you non-meatasauruses will get down here — the plant-based menu is equally inventive and seems geared to please those that don’t love to eat meat. But if you do like meat, you’re in for a treat. This is definitely a hands-on type meal though, especially with those shrimp and the bone-in chicken and wings. We usually just grab for the dumplings too! Prepare for messy fingers. As for the changes, we liked them. We remember the old days at ‘Ohana with the skewers and bowls of dipping sauces and more. Things change. ‘Ohana knows this better than most places — over the years they have changed a LOT. Some for good. Some not so much. It’ll just go down in the annals of ‘Ohana history as one of many menu changes here. The big deal here really was the swapping of the shrimps. The rest of the menu didn’t change too much. Would we pick the peel and eat shrimp over shrimp casserole? Definitely. But both had their own merit. It just comes down to personal taste and preferences. Is this the ‘Ohana you knew and loved in (insert X year here)? Probably not, but that doesn’t make it not still a tasty meal. Nothing tastes as good as nostalgia, y’know? After all our fawning over ‘Ohana, we’ll say this — $55 bucks a person is still a big price tag. You get a lot of food here and can certainly make it into a MASSIVE meal if you keep ordering seconds, but it’s still going to set you back a couple pennies. Even though it’s more expensive than some other spots in Disney, we’re not sure if there’s a more filling meal on property! ‘Ohana is one of a few Disney World hotel restaurants that, even if you’re not staying at the hotel, we recommend making the trek to visit if you’re even remotely interested in the menu. It’s that good. All we know is, we’ll definitely be back for more soon. ‘Ohana may mean family but, for us, it means eating so much hearty tropical fare we can’t see straight! Keep following DFB for more updates on menu changes in Disney World! Click Here to See Another Popular Disney World Restaurant that Reopened With a New Menu! 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 ‘Ohana bring back one of your favorites from the old menu? Let us know in the comments! The post REVIEW: Everything OLD is NEW Again at 'Ohana in Disney World...But is It BETTER? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article