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Music is at the heart of any celebration. It can bring the world together across boundaries and borders, and Disney music is recognized no matter where you are in the world. It touches people’s lives through powerful melodies and memorable lyrics that are inspiring and moving in any language. “Harmonious,” the all-new nighttime spectacular coming to EPCOT, celebrates the music of Disney and its ability to unite us all, bridging cultures and generations to unlock the magic of possibility.http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DisneyParks/~4/moz3Z2qh-S4View the full article

A new, space-themed restaurant is slated to open in September at Epcot. View the full article

Space 220 is the EPCOT restaurant that we’ve been waiting for since it was announced in 2017. ©Disney Today Disney announced an opening timeline for the restaurant and gave us a first look inside this unique space-themed restaurant that will take guests 220 miles above EPCOT. We also got some menu details, so let’s discuss! Disney has finally given us a few more details about Space 220 and we’re getting excited! After you’ve taken the “Space Elevator” to the restaurant, which is “220 miles above EPCOT,” you will enter the Centauri Space Station dining space. While dining, you will see a panoramic view of Earth and also Space Station activities taking place outside the restaurant windows! ©Disney And as for the space food, diners will be able to experience the talents of Executive Chef Marc Kusche. The Space 220 menu will feature a two-course prix fixe menu for lunch and a three-course prix fixe menu for dinner, with modern, upscale dishes. There will also be unique drinks, like “atmospheric cocktails.” Space drinks?? ©Disney Space 220 is scheduled to open in Disney World in mid-September, so we’ll be keeping a close eye on Disney for announcements about the menu items and reservations. Keep reading DFB for all your Disney World restaurant news and updates! Click here to go INSIDE Space 220 for the first time!! 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. Do you want to dine at Space 220? Tell us in the comments! The post Space 220 Will Feature a Multi-Course Prix Fixe Menu in EPCOT first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

EPCOT has been undergoing a big transformation over the last couple years! EPCOT We’re getting new rides, a new flagship store, a remodel of Club Cool, and new attractions to explore! Part of this transformation includes a new space-themed restaurant called Space 220. We found out earlier this summer that the dining experience is scheduled to open this fall — Disney revealed it is specifically set to open in mid-September — and now we have a first look inside the restaurant! Space 220 is located adjacent to Mission: SPACE in EPCOT’s Future World. You’ll start your dining experience in the Space 220 Departure Lounge, where you will board one of two “Space Elevators” that will take you to the Centauri Space Station, which seems like it’s 220 miles above the earth! ©Disney As you ascend, you’ll look down through a viewport and see EPCOT shrink away — looking up, you’ll see the space station come into view! ©Disney Once you’ve docked, you’ll go into the space station-themed dining area. There you’ll be able to see a panoramic view of Earth below and a variety of work and leisure activities taking place beyond the windows! You can check out a first look at the restaurant below: We’ll keep you updated when we find out an exact date for the opening, so stay tuned to DFB! Click here to read more about Space 220 Want MORE Details About Epcot’s MASSIVE Transformation? Click HERE for All the News and Details about Epcot’s Transformation! Future World to Transform Into Three New Neighborhoods — Learn More Here! A NEW Festival Center is Coming to Epcot Learn More About the New PLAY! Pavilion Coming to Epcot! Details About Epcot’s New Nighttime Spectacular, HarmonioUS! Learn More About the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Coaster Coming to World Discovery Space 220, Future World’s Newest Restaurant Opening Soon! Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and La Creperie de Paris Coming To Epcot’s France Pavilion A Mary Poppins Attraction is Coming to Epcot’s UK Pavilion Learn More About Moana: Journey of Water Coming to World Nature Join the DFB Newsletter To get all the latest Epcot transformation news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Will you be going to Space 220 for a meal? Let us know in the comments! The post VIDEO: First Look INSIDE Space 220 at EPCOT🚨 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort is less than 50 days away, and Disney continues to share exciting details! The 50th is almost here! Each day they’ve been revealing another of the Fab 50 character statues that will decorate the four parks, and this morning they gave a sneak peek at the celebration’s anthem! Now, we’ve got a new look at the “Beacons of Magic” — the special decorations coming to the four park icons. Throughout the anniversary celebration, the four theme park icons will light up each night with special EARidescent projections and lighting! ©Disney At Magic Kingdom, the new lighting on Cinderella Castle will enhance the decorations that have already been added. (And it will alternate with holiday projections during that season of the year.) ©Disney At EPCOT, Spaceship Earth is getting a permanent new lighting package, and it’s going to shine like never before! The park entrance was recently renovated and this new look should go along with it well. ©Disney In fact, we noticed testing of the new Beacon of Magic on Spaceship Earth the other day! Here’s a photo of what it looked like: We can’t wait to see you up close! Over at Hollywood Studios, the makeover is coming to the Hollywood Tower Hotel, otherwise known as Tower of Terror. We’ve seen projections here in the past with Sunset Seasons Greetings during the holidays, and they add such a fun look to Sunset Boulevard, so we’re sure these will do the same! ©Disney And finally, the Tree of Life will come to life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom — here, the look is reminiscent of fireflies in the tree branches. We can’t wait to see more! ©Disney Each night when the Beacons of Magic “turn on,” the new anthem, “The Magic is Calling” will play. We’re very excited to see these new looks in person, so stay tuned to DFB for all the 50th Anniversary updates! Click Here to Learn More About the 50th Anniversary! 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 Which Beacon of Magic looks the coolest? Let us know your thoughts! The post PHOTOS: A New Look at the Park Icon Makeovers for Disney World's 50th Anniversary first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Since it was announced, we’ve been anxiously awaiting the day we could finally dine at Space 220 in EPCOT! Space 220 Concept Art ©Disney Space 220 is a new, immersive space-themed restaurant that was announced back in 2017. The restaurant was originally slated to open back in the winter 2019, but after several setbacks, including the loss of its executive chef, the projected opening date was delayed. Following the construction halt during Disney World’s extended closure, we began to wonder when we could finally experience this restaurant — and now we have an answer! Previously, the Patina Restaurant Group (the organization that will be running Space 220) shared that the restaurant was preparing for a fall opening in EPCOT, but now we have a better idea of when that opening date will be. According to Disney, Space 220 is set to begin service in mid-September of this year. ©Disney What makes this restaurant so special? Well, when you visit this spot (which is located next to Mission: SPACE), you’ll check in to the Space 220 Departure Lounge in Future World. Then, you’ll board one of the two “Space Elevators” that will “transport” you what seems like 220 miles above the Earth (hence the name Space 220!) to the Centauri Space Station. As you go up the elevator, you’ll look down at a viewport to see EPCOT shrinking away! Looking up, you’ll see the space station ahead of you. Space 220 Concept Art ©Disney Once on the space station, you’ll enjoy panoramic views of Earth below, while dining on some special items. Disney has also said that you’ll get to see “a variety of work and leisure activities taking place beyond the windows of the Space Station-themed restaurant.” ©Disney via IAAPA Expo 2020 Presentation What food will you get to enjoy at Space 220? Well, Disney has noted that Executive Chef Marc Kusche is set to showcase his “culinary wonders” at this spot. The menu at Space 220 will feature “a two-course prix fixe menu for lunch, and a three-course prix fixe menu for dinner.” And, of course, there will be unique beverages available too – “from fine wine to atmospheric cocktails and more.” Space 220 Restaurant Concept Art © Disney We can’t wait to finally check out Space 220 and see all that it has to offer! We’ll continue to keep an eye out for further information about the opening of Space 220, so stay tuned for more updates. Click here to learn more about Space 220! 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. Do you plan to dine at Space 220? Let us know in the comments! The post BREAKING: Space 220 Opening Timeline Announced for Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

SeaWorld reveals more Howl-O-Scream details and a Friday the 13th deal. View the full article

If you’re a Disney history fanatic, then you know that the parks are filled with rich backstories and intriguing details. There are a lot of things you may not know about EPCOT! EPCOT is no exception, with a history spanning nearly 4 decades. World Showcase is perhaps the most interesting part of the park, with 11 different countries represented throughout in unique ways. Each pavilion is such a solid interpretation of each country’s culture that it may leave you wondering how Disney pulls it off. But does Disney actually run these pavilions? Who owns the World Showcase pavilions, anyway? When Were the Pavilions Added to the Park? First, let’s start things off with a little history. The first 9 World Showcase pavilions opened with EPCOT back on October 1st, 1982. The other two countries were added later — Morocco in 1984 and Norway in 1988. No new countries have been added in a while! BUT…there’s room for more. Surprisingly, no new countries have been added since then, even though there’s space for more. There has been a lot of chatter over the years about which countries could come in the future. When EPCOT first opened, pavilions were announced for Spain, Israel, and Equatorial Africa, but all three were eventually canceled. So Who Owns the Pavilions? Actually, Disney owns all of the World Showcase pavilions. The pavilions themselves aren’t owned by their respective countries’ governments, and none of them are even sponsored by those governments anymore! Officially, Disney owns all the pavilions! While many of them are sponsored by private companies, those companies don’t “own” the pavilions. They’re still officially owned by Disney and some of the operations (like restaurants and shops) are run by private companies. These aren’t always easy to identify either. You know how some rides say “sponsored by Siemens” or “sponsored by GM?” You won’t find a big arch in the China Pavilion or Italy Pavilion saying who sponsors them (with one exception we’ll mention below!). Click Here to Learn About Hidden Gems in the World Showcase! Were the Pavilions Originally Sponsored/Paid for by Their Countries’ Governments? Only one pavilion was originally fully sponsored by the country’s government, and that was the Morocco pavilion! The king of Morocco actually sent his own artisans over to work on the tile work for the pavilion because he wanted it to accurately represent his country’s culture. This pavilion is so beautiful! Since then, the pavilion’s operations have been overseen by an independent operating company but still sponsored by the Kingdom of Morocco, but Disney took over at the end of 2020. Kingdom of Morocco sign in the Pavilion The Norway Pavilion was partially sponsored by the Norwegian government for several years, but those donations ended in 2002. The other pavilions are all run on sponsorships from private companies and Disney. Take Our Video Tour of the Morocco Pavilion! So Who DID Sponsor the Pavilions? When EPCOT first opened, all 9 of the pavilions had corporate sponsors except two. Canada and China didn’t have companies tied to them, which explains why these two pavilions don’t have quite as much to offer as other countries do. (They’re mostly just restaurants when compared to much more robust pavilions like France and Norway!) The Canada Pavilion doesn’t have a whole lot going on. When Mexico first opened, it was sponsored by Moctezuma Brewery and San Angel Inn, the same restaurant from Mexico City that the EPCOT dining location was based on. These days, the restaurants of the pavilion are run by the Palmas Restaurant Group, the company that also runs many of the restaurants at Coronado Springs Resort. It’s modeled after the original! Germany was sponsored by five different companies: Bahlsen, Brauerei Beck GMBH & Co., Goebel, Hutschenreuther, and Schmitt Söhne. The sponsorship could be seen in the various shops and food locations. Some of these sponsors are still present today while newer corporate sponsors have moved in as well. The Germany Pavilion is pretty small as well. Italy was sponsored by Alfredo, The Original of Rome, and Brolio/Ricasoli & Bersano Wines of Italy, but since then, the Patina Restaurant Group has taken over the operation of the pavilion’s restaurants, like Tutto Italia. Some of the shops, like the Sculpture D’Arte shop, have their own unique sponsors. Italy Pavilion America was originally sponsored by American Express and Coca-Cola (what’s more American than that?!), but both companies have since dropped their sponsorships — although, Disney and Coca-Cola still have a partnership, meaning that you’ll find Coke products all around the parks and resorts. It’s definitely American! The Japan Pavilion was and is still sponsored by Mitsukoshi, Inc. Does that name sound familiar? It’s the brand of department store you find inside the pavilion — the one that’s super big and filled with all kinds of really unique merchandise. Hello from Japan! Next time you dine at a restaurant in the Japan Pavilion, take note of the restaurant signs — they all say Mitsukoshi on them! Even the chopsticks used in the restaurants are branded with Mitsukoshi. Even the chopsticks here say Mitsukoshi! Many individuals stepped up to sponsor the France Pavilion when it first opened with the park, including Barton & Guestier (B&G), Guye Larouche, Lanson Champagne, The France Chefs (Paul Bocuse, Gaston Lenôtre, Roger Vergé, and Associate Didier Fouret). Nowadays, the restaurants are run by the Bocuse family, and they do a pretty great job! (France Pavilion food is top-notch!) Again, some smaller shops remain sponsored by smaller companies. That’s why you’ll find Guerlain and other brands prominently represented here. France has been well taken care of! The UK was sponsored by Bass Export Ltd., Pringle of Scotland, and Royal Doulton. Today, Bass Brewery sponsors the food in the Pavilion, which feels right in line with the Rose and Crown Pub and Dining Room! R. Twinings & Company Limited has a prominent sponsorship here too in The Tea Caddy shop. You’ll also see their sponsorship displayed in select offerings at most EPCOT festivals. The UK Pavilion has always had a lot to offer! But the pavilion that has had the most confusing sponsorships over the years? Norway! It was previously sponsored in part by investors from Norway and in part by Disney. The Norwegian government wanted a pavilion constructed but couldn’t fund it on their own so NorShow was formed. This was a group of 11 Norwegian companies and the Norwegian government that pooled money together to sponsor the pavilion. The companies included were Aker, Den norske Creditbank, Det Norske Veritas, Frionor, Kosmos, Norsk Data, Norway Foods, Selmer-Sande, SAS, VARD, and Vesta Group. Norway has been run by a lot of different companies over the years. If you remember the Maelstrom ride in this pavilion, it almost played like a giant travel ad to Norway — for good reason. The investors designed the attraction to encourage tourism (there was even an oil rig in the final scene to show off the oil industry in Norway!). The Norwegian government stopped supporting the pavilion in 2002. (They had been contributing $200,000 annually to help fund projects.) So there you have it — while Disney owns the World Showcase pavilions, there have been some very helpful contributors over the years (who probably got some serious bang for their buck!). These pavilions are so incredibly detailed and thoroughly designed that it’s no wonder it takes a whole team of companies to pay for them! Click Here to Learn Some Little-Known EPCOT Secrets! 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 World Showcase pavilion is your favorite? The post Who Actually Owns the World Showcase Pavilions in EPCOT? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Are you ready for an out-of-this-world dining experience at EPCOT? Then prepare for liftoff, because Space 220 restaurant at EPCOT is scheduled to begin service in mid-September... another milestone in the transformation of EPCOT underway at Walt Disney World Resort.http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DisneyParks/~4/tGEakdmIPCQView the full article

Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary will be here before you know it! NEW Cinderella Castle Design! SO much is happening for the celebration, including a new fireworks show, new golden character statues around the parks, a new ride opening, and a ton of merchandise being released, just to name a few! We’re less than 50 days away from October 1st, the start of the 18-month-long celebration, and now, we have even more to look forward to thanks to Disney’s latest announcement! An original anthem has been created for Disney World’s 50th anniversary! Magic Kingdom Disney revealed that the anthem is named “The Magic Is Calling” and was created by platinum-selling songwriter and music producer Alana Da Fonseca, award-winning composer Emily Bear, and singing phenom Journi. The three came together together to make a song that is, “all at once nostalgic, inspirational, and contemporary.” ©Disney “The Magic Is Calling” will be used for the celebration in a variety of ways. It will connect to all four parks by playing when each theme park icon transforms into a Beacon of Magic at night, using different arrangements of the song. It will also be included in special live entertainment moments across Walt Disney World, like during Mickey’s Celebration Cavalcade every day in Magic Kingdom. These artist renderings look amazing! ©Disney And there will even be custom arrangements of the song performed by groups like the Main Street Philharmonic, Dapper Dans, Discovery Island Drummers, and Voices of Liberty! Dapper Dans You can take a look at the behind the scenes of the making of “The Magic Is Calling” in the video below: We’ll be sure to keep you updated with all the Disney World 50th anniversary news, so stay tuned! Click here to see EVERYTHING announced for Disney’s 50th anniversary 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 Will you be going to Disney World during the 50th anniversary? Tell us in the comments! The post VIDEO: A Special Anthem Has Been Created for Disney World’s 50th Anniversary! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Behind the Scenes of the New Anthem For The 50th Anniversary | Walt Disney World ResortView the full article

It’s almost time. The anticipation is building. We’re less than 50 days from the start of an event 50 years in the making – "The World’s Most Magical Celebration" in honor of the 50th Anniversary at Walt Disney World Resort. And what’s a celebration without music? Platinum-selling songwriter and music producer Alana Da Fonseca answered the call to create an original anthem for the 50th Anniversary, collaborating with award-winning composer Emily Bear and singing phenom Journi on “The Magic Is Calling.”http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DisneyParks/~4/nOt4h2EyFMEView the full article

Twenty-seven people aboard a Carnival cruise tested positive for COVID-19 just before the ship made a stop in Belize City this week, according to the Belize Tourism Board. View the full article

Bear Creek Nature Trail in Winter Springs provides a short but sweet walk in the woods to briefly get away from the bustle of urban life. View the full article

Two-hour events at SeaWorld festival feature four courses with pairings and “beer talks.” View the full article

Here's what you should know before you go to the 2021 Fanboy Expo. View the full article

Here's how the "Jungle Cruise" movie compares to the Walt Disney World ride. View the full article

Disney has been celebrating the 70th anniversary of the animated film Alice in Wonderland with some new collector’s items! ©Disney We’ve seen releases like the Alice in Wonderland Mary Blair doll, and a fun color changing mug, but now D23 Gold Members have access to an exclusive D23 Alice in Wonderland set! The D23 Exclusive Alice in Wonderland by Mary Blair 70th Anniversary Plush Set is limited release, and includes six plush toys including Alice, the Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, and the Mad Hatter. ©D23 Alice is 10 inches tall and wearing her classic blue dress with a black headband. All of the plushes were designed based on the artwork of Mary Blair, a legendary Disney animator who worked on Alice in Wonderland as well as many other classic animated Disney films. ©D23 The Mad Hatter plush is 12 inches tall and already sipping some tea. ©D23 You get Tweedledee and Tweedledum sewn together! They’re 9.5 inches tall and pretty adorable! ©D23 The Queen of Hearts is 11 inches tall, holding a heart, and, of course, looks pretty angry. ©D23 The grinning Cheshire Cat is 9.5 inches tall and holding his head up! ©D23 The March Hare is 9.5 inches tall and waiting to pour you some tea. ©D23 The set will cost $220 and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and a collector’s display box with the D23 logo. It will be available for pre-order for D23 Gold Members ONLY starting on August 13th at 10AM ET. If you don’t want the whole set, the individual plushes will be available to all D23 Members on September 24, 2021. There are very limited quantities, so make sure you mark your calendar if you want these collector’s items! Keep reading DFB for all your exclusive Disney news and merchandise! Here’s how you can order the new Mary Blair Alice in Wonderland doll! 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 ordering this Alice in Wonderland plush set? Tell us in the comments! The post Would You Pay Over 0 For a Set of Disney Plush Toys? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

In-person runDisney events are returning to Disney World this year! ©runDisney Although runDisney has continued to host virtual races throughout the last year, the first in-person race back at Disney World will be the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend in November. That race is followed by the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend in January and the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend in February. Registration opens for the princess races soon, but Disney just revealed the themes for each race that weekend! Obviously Disney Princesses are the stars of these races, so it’s no surprise that the iconic Cinderella is the theme for the Disney Princess 5K! ©runDisney The Disney Princess Enchanted 10K is themed after none other than Tiana from Princess and the Frog! ©runDisney Mulan is the star of the big event — the Disney Princess Half Marathon! ©runDisney And last but not least, Moana is leading the Disney Fairy Tale Challenge. This race includes both the 10K and the half marathon! ©runDisney The races will take place in Disney World and virtually from February 24th-27th. Registration for this event begins August 17, 2021 at 10AM EST for Club runDisney Gold & Platinum Members. Cinderella Castle In-person general registration opens on August 24th at 10AM EST, and general registration for the virtual option opens on August 27th at 10AM EST. We’ll let you know as soon as registration is open, so stay tuned for more runDisney news! Check out the themes for the 2022 Disney World Marathon Weekend! 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 participating in any runDisney events soon? Let us know in the comments! The post runDisney Reveals Themes For Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There is one thing that many people cannot live without on a day to day basis…COFFEE! Starbucks Just because you are on vacation doesn’t mean the coffee addition has to stop! Not only are there Starbucks and Joffrey’s Coffee locations in EVERY Disney World park and Disney Springs, but there are plenty of other coffee concoctions like the Frozen Viking Coffee in EPCOT or the Cookies and Cream Cold Brew at Gideon’s Bakehouse. If you’re a fan of Joffrey’s Coffee and new Disney movies, then you’ll want to head to Disney Springs this week! Yesterday we told you that Joffrey’s Coffee is celebrating the premiere of Free Guy with a coffee truck serving up drinks inspired by the new film. Well, we headed over there today to check it out for ourselves! Free Guy Coffee Truck The truck is located near the AMC Theaters in Disney Springs and is open from 4PM-11PM from now until August 18th. The menu features drinks with names based on the movie, however these are the same drinks you can find at the other Joffrey’s Coffee locations. Now, they just have fun and new names! There are plenty of coffees and tea-based drinks to choose from, and this truck is offering donuts. Menu We grabbed the Hero’s Cold Brew for $6.39, which is the same as the Shakin’ Jamaican Cold Brew that we’ve had before. It’s a pretty basic cold brew, and if you love the taste of Joffrey’s, then you’ll probably enjoy this one! Just a note that we’ve seen the Shakin’ Jamaican Cold Brew cheaper on other menus around Disney World, so a slight price increase comes with the new theme and name. Hero’s Cold Brew If you like Joffrey’s Coffee and want a unique experience, this truck is a fun place to stop! Plus, if you bring your Free Guy Disney Springs AMC ticket to the truck from August 13th-15th, you can get a free blue shirt frosted donut! The taste is very familiar! If you aren’t super excited for the new movie Free Guy, then you might want to consider visiting the closest Joffrey’s location to you. It is the same coffee you would get anywhere else, but the names and truck design are what make this truck unique! If you happen to pass by, it’s a solid place to get your afternoon coffee fix. We’ll let you know about any other fun pop-ups in Disney World, so stay tuned! Check out our review of the Cookies & Cream Cold Brew at Gideon’s Bakehouse! 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 already visited the Free Guy coffee truck in Disney Springs? Let us know in the comments! The post REVIEW: Is the Limited-Time Coffee Truck Worth a Trip to Disney Springs? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

An event 50 years in the making is now only 50 days away! That’s right, “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” begins on Oct. 1, honoring the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort.http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DisneyParks/~4/SpwafntMnjMView the full article

The Walt Disney Company released its Quarterly Earnings Report for Quarter 3 of Fiscal Year 2021 earlier today, and CEO Bob Chapek and CFO Christine McCarthy hosted the company’s Quarterly Earnings Call this afternoon. ©Bloomberg We learned quite a bit of interesting news today, from the continued growth of Disney+ to the steady demand for Disney Parks! Let’s recap all of the major announcements and updates from this afternoon’s call. Disney Parks Shows Profitability For the First Time Since the Pandemic Began Perhaps the most exciting bit of news right off the bat was that the Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products division showed profitable numbers for the first time since the pandemic began. Magic Kingdom Disney Parks suffered major blows to its bottom line quarter after quarter as park closures continued and park attendance remained limited in 2020 and in the beginning of 2021. This quarter, however, Disney Parks reported that “segment operating results increased $2.2 billion to income of $356 million.” Disneyland These numbers compared to a loss of about $1.87 billion during the same quarter last year. Click here to read more about Disney Parks’ profitable showing from Q3! Attendance Levels at Disney Parks Were At or Near Capacity Last Quarter One of the biggest trends we’ve been following over the past year is attendance and capacity levels at the Disney Parks. When Disney World first reopened last summer, the parks were at a lowered capacity to allow for physical distancing, but since then, park capacity has steadily increased. Main Street, U.S.A. During the earnings call today, Bob Chapek shared that during the third quarter of fiscal year 2021 “attendance levels were at or near daily capacity levels which increased throughout the quarter.” Click here to read more about the current attendance levels in the Disney Parks. Delta Variant Seems to Have No Negative Impact on Parks’ Demand A question was raised during the earnings call regarding the recent surge in COVID-19 cases due in large part to the Delta variant, and if Disney had seen any impact from the variant on operations in the parks. Crowds entering Disney’s Hollywood Studios Bob Chapek responded by saying that “we see strong demand for our parks continuing,” and that currently, Park Reservations are above the attendance levels they saw in Q3. EPCOT In terms of any negative impacts, Chapek did note that “the primary noise that we’re seeing right now is really around group or convention cancelations.” He added that operating costs as it relates to hygienic practices could have a short-term adverse impact, but in the long-term, Chapek is looking to the Park Pass Reservation System “to spread our demand, increase the yield, and improve the guest experience at the same time.” Click here to read more about Bob Chapek’s remarks on the Delta variant and its impact on the parks. Disney+ Continues to Gain New Followers As we’ve seen in prior quarters, Disney shared the updated subscriber totals across their major streaming platforms today: Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu. ©Disney Combined, the three platforms have garnered a total of nearly 174 million paid subscribers, with the vast majority belonging to Disney+. As of July 3rd, Disney+ had a total of 116 million paid subscribers. ©Disney During the earnings call, Bob Chapek announced a special campaign to bring on even more new subscribers in the coming quarter — Disney+ Day! Click here to read more about the updated subscriber count from Disney+ November Will Bring Us Disney+ Day! Some news we weren’t expecting today came when Bob Chapek announced that they would be hosting “Disney+ Day“ on November 12th, 2021 — the 2-year anniversary since the streaming service first launched. ©Disney As a marketing push to gain new subscribers, Disney+ Day will include an “exciting lineup” of an “attractive group of titles to be announced.” So, the exact details on what Disney+ Day will include are unknown at this time, but we now have our calendars marked for November 12th! Click here to learn more about Disney+ Day! We (Finally) Learned More about Disney Genie! It feels like forever ago since Disney first announced its next parks planning system known as Disney Genie. Details have been sparse thus far when it comes to the upcoming app, but during today’s earnings call, we FINALLY got some new information about what the service will be like! ©Disney Bob Chapek compared Disney Genie to the existing My Magic+, saying that Genie will be “that program on steroids.” According to Chapek, Genie will revolutionize the guest experience, combining consumer preferences with industrial engineering and data on how the park is operating that day to make suggestions on the fly. ©Disney We’re still anxiously awaiting more of the nuts-and-bolts information regarding when we can expect this system to come online, but it was a real treat to hear more about Disney Genie this afternoon! Click here to read more about Disney Genie! Chapek Comments on Scarlett Johansson Lawsuit Without mentioning any one person by name, a question was raised during the Q&A session regarding how Disney thinks about the success of a film in today’s environment, and in how Disney attracts and compensates talent. Black Widow ©Marvel This question was brought up amidst a growing legal battle between the Walt Disney Company and Scarlett Johansson — the actress claims Disney committed a breach of contract when Black Widow was simultaneously released on Disney+, which allegedly diminished her potential bonus earnings from box office revenue. Black Widow Chapek responded to the question without specifically addressing the lawsuit by noting that the hybrid model of theatrical releases alongside a Disney+ launch via Premier Access “was the right strategy to enable [them] to reach the broadest possible audience.” In doing so, Chapek added that the company has figured out ways to fairly compensate their talent so that everyone feels satisfied, no matter the business model. ©Disney/Marvel Since the pandemic began, Chapek shared that Disney has entered into hundreds of talent arrangements and that, by and large, they’ve gone smoothly. Currently, Disney is seeking to bring the lawsuit to arbitration, and we will continue to monitor any and all new developments. Click here to read more on what was discussed regarding Disney’s current film release strategy. This afternoon was filled with interesting updates and announcements from the Walt Disney Company! We heard more about how the parks are continuing to recover following the closures in 2020 and 2021, and we’re seeing even more growth from Disney+. As always, we’ll keep a close eye on the latest news from Disney, and we will make sure that YOU can stay up-to-date on everything! Counting down the days to Disney World’s 50th Anniversary? It just got easier, thanks to My Disney Experience! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Would you use a service like Disney Genie? Let us know in the comments! The post The BIGGEST Announcements from Disney's Earnings Call first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Walt Disney World is still operating at a reduced capacity as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, but Disney officials hope to increase that steadily by the end of the year, company management said Thursday. View the full article

Today the Disney Company held an earnings call, during which they shared information about the third quarter financials for the 2021 fiscal year. ©Disney During the call, various Disney representatives and officials commented on capacity and attendance levels in the parks, announced a new Disney+ day, and talked about the Genie planning app. Disney CEO Bob Chapek also made some comments about the future of Disney with the COVID-19 Delta variant and the potential impact it could have on the company. And now we’re breaking down what you need to know about his comments. During the Q3 Quarterly Call, one individual asked whether Disney is seeing any impact from the Delta variant in terms of how things are looking moving forward. Disney’s Chief Executive Officer Bob Chapek answered by saying, “In terms of the Delta variant, we see strong demand for our parks continuing.” Chapek noted that the park reservations they’re seeing now are actually above the Q3 attendance levels (note that Q3 ended on July 3rd, 2021). Mask signage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Chapek continued by saying that the Park Pass Reservation system will enable the Disney Parks “to spread our demand, increase the yield, and improve the guest experience at the same time.” Disney CEO Bob Chapek Chapek said that he believes the some of the costs associated with things needed for “hygienic purposes” will be “relatively short lived.” He added that the bigger long-lasting impact will be with the improvements Disney is making when it comes to guest personalization and guest choice. Chapek said that this will only grow in the future with their “ability to do world class yield management…through the new reservation management system.” We’re reporting on everything we learned from Disney’s Q3 Earnings Call so keep checking back with us here at DFB for all the breaking Disney news. Click here to read more about Disney’s Q3 Quarterly Earnings Call Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post Disney CEO Comments on the Delta Variant and Its Impact on the Parks first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney has released a number of movies since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in a variety of ways. Jungle Cruise Photo-Op Some films have gone straight to Disney+, others have had a combined release between Disney+ and theaters, and some are set to be released solely in theaters in the future. Recently, Disney’s CEO commented about how the company makes their decisions regarding the release of films and talked about the arrangements it has made with its stars. The release style for Disney’s films has become an issue of contention as Scarlett Johansson has brought a lawsuit against Disney surrounding the impact of its decision to release Black Widow in theaters and Disney+ (through Premier Access) at the same time. In reference to Disney’s films, during today’s third quarter earnings call for fiscal year 2021, CEO Bob Chapek noted at the beginning of the earnings call that Disney adopted a 3-prong strategy for releases: theatrical releases, direct to Disney+, and the hybrid of theatrical releases with Disney+ Premier Access. Chapek noted that he and Bob Iger, “along with the distribution team, determined this was the right strategy to enable [them] to reach the broadest possible audience.” ©Disney/Marvel Today, one individual also noted that the pandemic has had a big impact on streaming and asked how the company thinks about the success of a film, and how to attract and compensate talent. Mulan ©Disney In response, Bob Chapek, Disney’s CEO, noted that the world has been disrupted by COVID-19 and that they’re trying to react to a very fluid situation. Chapek said that he was grateful they could take a lot of titles to theaters and Disney+ (through Premier Access). During the conference, Chapek also said “We’ve said from the very beginning that we value flexibility in being able to make…last minute calls.” Chapek shared that the decisions regarding how to release a film will be “made on film by film basis based on global marketplace conditions and consumer behavior.” Soul ©Pixar | Disney When discussing talent compensation, Chapek noted that, just as they’ve done before, they’ve figured out ways to fairly compensate their talent so that everyone feels satisfied, no matter the business model. Chapek said that since COVID-19 started, Disney has entered into hundreds of talent arrangements and that, by and large, they’ve gone smoothly. Chapek noted that he expects that will be the case moving forward. Chapek did not, however, directly mention anything about the Black Widow lawsuit. ©Disney | Marvel Studios He also shared that they’re trying to do the best thing for all constituents and make sure that everyone in the value chain feels like they’re having their contractual commitments reached. We’ll continue to keep an eye out for more updates and let you know what we find. Click here to see more about the earnings call for the third quarter of the fiscal 2021 year for the Disney Company. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post Disney CEO Discusses Disney+ and Theatrical Movie Releases Amid Black Widow Lawsuit first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article