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Now that things are starting to go back to “normal” in the theme park world, we’re seeing restaurant, resort, and attraction reopenings all over the place! Things are going back to normal! Disneyland Resort in particular has seen quite a few things open back up in recent weeks, and now, dining reservations are available for a returning restaurant in Disney California Adventure! At Carthay Circle Restaurant at California Adventure, we’ve been able to enjoy the Alfresco Dining for several months. However, we’ve been anxiously awaiting the reopening of the main part of the restaurant. Just last week, a reopening date was set for July 22nd. Reservations were set to be released yesterday…but never were. They have, however, been released this morning! Carthay Circle Restaurant in DCA We’ll be there very soon to give you our full review and thoughts on the experience, but you can go ahead and book your visit now! We spent a bit of this morning (and all day yesterday) refreshing the Disneyland site and reservations are available now, with an important note. Reservations are going FAST! So, if you’re looking to go soon, availability may be limited! ©Disneyland Stay tuned to DFB for all the dining news at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World. We’ve got the latest updates and reviews to share with our readers! Click Here to Learn More About Reopening Restaurants at Disneyland Resort! Check out more Disneyland Food Reviews Here!! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Have you ever been to this restaurant? Let us know in the comments! The post Carthay Circle Restaurant Dining Reservations Have Finally Opened first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disneyland officially reopened on April 30th, 2021 after being closed for over a year. Things are slowly starting to look how they did before the longest closure of any Disney park in history, but what has changed? Disney California Adventure What is still changing? And what can you expect if you’re visiting Southern California’s Disney parks this year? We’re talking about the Disneyland changes, so 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 Disneyland attraction!The post DFB Video: What's Going to Be Different About Your Next Disneyland Trip first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There are several things you need to do prior to your Disney World trip like make Park Pass reservations, and, perhaps most importantly, make those Advanced Dining Reservations. Be Our Guest When Disney World reopened after the pandemic closures last year, it reduced the Advanced Dining Reservations booking window to 60 days, as opposed to 180 days. But, could that be changing soon? Here’s what we’re seeing. Earlier today one of our fantastic readers, Ron Mueller, reached out to us about something they were seeing with the Advanced Dining Reservations calendar. Specifically, they noticed that the calendar on the Disney World website allowed them to scroll through to January 17th, 2022 when selecting a date to search for reservations. That would be 180 days from today, much further than the 60 day booking window. So, we went to search for ourselves. Chef Mickey’s One member of our team took a look at the dining page and was in fact able to scroll the calendar all the way through to January 17, 2022. ©Disney But, when they actually tried to look for available reservations on that date, the Disney website showed an error message and said there was a problem searching for reservations at this time. So, no reservations could actually be booked for that far in advance. ©Disney Another member of our team looked on both the My Disney Experience app and the Disney World website and was only able to move the calendar through September of 2021, within the current 60 day window. So it seems that the glitch that allows guests to even scroll 180 days into the calendar is only appearing for some individuals. ©Disney So, what do we know? Right now, Advanced Dining Reservations at Disney World can still only be made 60 days in advance (though Disney Resort hotel guests can make reservations up to 60 days in advance plus the length of their stay up to 10 days). Some guests may be able to move the calendar on the dining site all the way through January of 2022, 180 days from now, but will not be able to make a reservation for that far in advance. Could this mean that Disney is preparing the site to eventually allow for reservations to be made 180 days in advance? It’s possible, but Disney has not yet made any statements to that effect or changed its policy. It’s possible that this is nothing more than a simple glitch in the system. Cinderella’s Royal Table We’ll continue to keep an eye out for more updates and let you know what we find. Click here to see why it’s harder than ever to get a reservation at Disney World restaurants. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Are you a fan of the 60-day booking window or would you like a longer booking window? Tell us in the comments! The post Does This Dining Glitch Mean Disney World Will Bring Back the 180 Day Booking Window Soon? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

"Disney World at 50," a new book from the Orlando Sentinel, chronicles the historic development and opening of Walt Disney World. View the full article

Even though many things are reopening again, some parts of Disney remain affected by the global pandemic. Akershus still closed Some hotels remain closed, live entertainment is not fully back, and things like FastPasses remain on a hiatus. Another part of Disney that is being impacted right now is Adventures by Disney. The global, guided vacation system just canceled more trips in the United States for this year. Adventures by Disney has canceled all trips in Southern California through the end of 2021. This includes trips with Disneyland Resort and Southern California Adventures and Escapes. ©Disney Adventures by Disney said this is due to several of the venues on upcoming trips not being open to visitors yet. ©Disney People who have booked trips in Southern California for the rest of this year can choose a full refund or a future travel credit to be used for an Adventures by Disney trip through the end of 2022. Future travel reservations with this credit must be booked by May 31st, 2022. ©Disney You can reschedule your trip until Tuesday, August 31st, 2021. If you don’t contact Adventures by Disney by then, your trip will automatically be canceled and you will be given a refund to the original form of payment. There are trips available for 2022. ©Disney We’ll keep you updated if we see any other changes that have to do with Adventures by Disney, so stay tuned to DFB for more! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post NEWS: Adventures by Disney Has Canceled All 2021 Southern California Trips first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Foodies can relish these Central Florida events happening this week, weekend and beyond. View the full article

We’ve all seen those dads in Disney who wear the funny shirts that say things like, “Most Expensive Day Ever.” Or maybe a simple #BROKE will suffice. This shirt cost me HOW MUCH? ©Disney It’s funny because it’s TRUE! Because Disney World trips are so EXPENSIVE! HOWEVER, there are some things in Disney World that — shockingly enough — won’t break the bank to experience. Hotels? Pricey. Park tickets? Pricey. Drinking Around the World? Don’t even get us STARTED. Drinking Around the World is more expensive than this shirt! But Disney World surprises us every now and then with some prices that make us go, “Hey! That’s not half bad!” (Or maybe we’ve experienced sticker-shock so frequently that even normal-priced things seem like a great deal? Dunno. Moving on… .) Boat Rentals Disney’s Friendship and Ferry boats can only satisfy your nautical desires for so long. Time to sail Disney’s waters on your own! Friendship Boats Okay, actually — gonna burst your bubble here real quick — the motorized boats you can rent at the different marinas scattered throughout the Disney World resorts are temporarily unavailable. Boo! But the keyword here is “temporarily” — meaning they should be up-and-running again in the future! ©Disney There are three different types of motorized boats you can (hopefully will soon be able to) rent are a Sea Raycer by Sea Ray® which seats two guests for $32 per half hour, Boston Whaler® Montauk which seats up to 6 guests for $45 per half-hour, and Sun Tracker® Pontoon boats which seats up to 10 guests for $45 per half-hour. Not too shabby for being able to cruise around Disney’s lakes and lagoons on your own accord! Someday soon… Do you know what’s still available to rent RIGHT NOW? Kayaks and canoes, over at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campgrounds! ©Disney If you make your way over to The Bike Barn at the Meadow Recreation Area in Fort Wilderness (during the operating hours of 9AM-5PM), you can rent a canoe or kayak for $13 per hour. Fun stuff, right?! This is a first-come/first-serve basis, though — so if this is something you *really* want to do during your Disney World vacay, make sure you head to the recreation area earlier in the day for a better chance at grabbing a rental. Learn more about Fort Wilderness offerings HERE! Bike Rentals For the land-lubbers out there who would prefer your family time on land rather than water, consider renting bikes or surrey bikes! Both adult bikes and children’s bikes — some with training wheels — are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you need them, helmets and child seats are complimentary with all bike rentals. Adult and child bikes are available — some with training wheels! Disney offers bike rentals for $20 at eight resort locations: Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Old Key West Resort, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter (scheduled to reopen on October 28, 2021), Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside (scheduled to reopen on October 14, 2021), Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (currently unavailable during construction in the surrounding area), The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. Check with your resort concierge for availability! To really test that family-togetherness, look into a Surrey Bike rental. Disney offers a 2- or 4-person Surrey bike for $25 per person. Surrey Bikes A Surrey bike rental makes for great family memories, photo opportunities, and exploring your resort in a whole new way. Just make sure that everyone is contributing to the pedaling! Surrey bike rentals are available at Disney’s Old Key West Resort, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter (scheduled to reopen on October 28, 2021), Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside (scheduled to reopen on October 14, 2021), Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. BoardWalk Inn & Villas historically also offers bike rentals, but check with the resort concierge regarding availability, as it is currently not listed as an option. Check Out 52 Fun Ways to Upgrade Your Disney Vacation Mini Golfing Even after years of being around, it still amazes us how many Disney World guests don’t realize there are two mini-golf courses available on property for anyone to play. FORE! The first mini-golf course is Disney’s Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf Course, based around the movie…*pause for dramatic effect*…FANTASIA! This course is located across from the Swan and Dolphin resorts. Fantasia Gardens Mini Golf And the second mini-golf course is Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course — celebrating the fun of snow and sand combined! This course is located right next to Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park. Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Both courses are 18-hole mini-golf adventures of fun at the reasonable price of $14 per Adult, $12 per Child (Ages 3–9). Walk-ups are welcome (though you may have to wait for a bit), but you can also make reservations for the next day and beyond in advance by calling (407) WDW-PLAY. Learn about Disney’s NEW junior golf classes HERE! Haircuts at the Magic Kingdom Rats! Did you forget to get that much-needed trim *before* vacation? Magic Kingdom has you covered! (Well, at some point once again it’ll have you covered. The Harmony Barber Shop is temporarily unavailable, as of now). One haircut, please! If you’ve ever wanted a haircut on Main Street, U.S.A. but were afraid of how costly it might be, worry no more! The Harmony Barber Shop has three different haircuts you can choose from Child’s Haircut (starting at $18), Adult Haircut (starting at $19), and My First Haircut (starting at $25). That’s right — you can celebrate your little one’s momentous occasion right there on your Disney World vacation! The My First Haircut package comes with commemorative Mickey ears, a keepsake lock of hair, and an official milestone certificate. Considering the cost of the pair of Mickey ears alone, this is a GREAT deal! Harmony Barbershop ©Disney The regular child’s and adult haircuts are pretty standard — cut, style, spray — so don’t think about getting *too* crazy. But, one thing’s for sure, the barbershop team is going to make you look spiffy and, dare we say, dapper by the end of your session! Plus, they can also give you a major style upgrade in the form of cool colored hair gels and “pixie dust” (AKA, chunky glitter!). Considering these are hair services performed IN Magic Kingdom, those prices are downright reasonable. We’ll keep you posted as soon as Harmony Barber Shop reopens! Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is still closed too…Or IS it? Click HERE to learn more! EPCOT Scavenger Hunts Looking for a new way to entertain your kiddos around EPCOT’s World Showcase? Then take your travel party to Disney World during an EPCOT festival for one of their unique scavenger hunts! Remy’s Hide & Squeak Map Purchasing Location sign Here’s a list of different EPCOT scavenger hunts we’ve experienced: *Festival of the Arts: Figment’s Brush With the Masters *Flower and Garden: Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration *Food and Wine: Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak *Festival of the Holidays: Olaf’s Holiday Tradition Expedition Figment’s Brush with the Masters Each one cost us around $6.99-$7.99 and included a sticker map gamecard and a prize (after you finish the scavenger hunt and redeem it back at Disney Traders, MouseGear, World Traveler, or any of th redemption locations)! 2020 Spike’s Pollen-Nation Exploration Map The games are all very much in the same vain — locate the items/characters in each of the showcase pavilions — but the prizes vary. For Olaf’s scavenger hunt, we learned about holidays traditions and received a cute Frozen-inspired cup. Olaf in his Sleigh (we found you!) Remy’s scavenger hunt took us on an adventure to make Ratatouille! This gave us our choice of cute ice cream cups. Redemption Prize! Finding Spike the Bee in gardens around EPCOT let us pick out our own plastic tumbler (we REALLY liked this one). Tumblers! And after finding Figment hiding in paintings around World Showcase, the prize was a 3D puzzle. More games! This interactive experience helps keep kids engaged around the World Showcase AND doesn’t cost an arm-and-a-leg. Win-win! P. S. — adults can do it, too! Learn more about EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival booths HERE! Behind the Seeds Tour If you’re riding Living With The Land over in EPCOT’s Land pavilion, you need to keep your hands and feet inside the ride at all times to protect the plants growing in the greenhouses. Such a relaxing time HOWEVER, if you schedule a Behind the Seeds Tour, you’ll get the opportunity to walk THROUGH the greenhouses — no boat ride required! Behind the Seeds Tour Desk This experience is temporarily unavailable, but when it returns you’ll be able to once again experience an hour-long tour around the four Living With The Land greenhouses. During this tour, you can visit the fish during feeding time, see GINORMOUS fruits and veggies, and learn about how the cast members over in The Land pavilion use hydroponics to help their plan grow big and strong. This tour is a lot more reasonable than any of Disney World’s other tours; it’s priced at $29 per person! More Mickey! This tour requires advanced reservations, which you can make (again, once it’s back up-and-running) by calling 407-WDW-TOUR. Interested in taking more tours? Check out THIS tour that explores a location featured in Disney’s live-action film, Cruella! Uniqlo Clothes One of the most popular Disney souvenirs is a good ol’ graphic tee, commemorating your vacation and all the memories you made. But even t-shirts can be pricey in the World of Disney gift shop — or any of the other gift shops located around the resorts. Disney Springs Lucky for you, there are cheaper alternatives over at Uniqlo in Disney Springs. Mickey Motifs Collection Uniqlo is a clothing store that originated in Japan and made its way into Disney Springs around July 2016. It features unique Disney tees and sweaters at a more reasonable price. For example, you see these shirts right here? Short Sleeves These are from Uniqlo’s Disney Stories Collection. Sweatshirt The graphic short-sleeved tees for adults were $14.90 each, and the sweatshirts were $29.90 each! That’s pretty stinkin’ awesome, considering the fact a Spirit Jersey from any of the Disney store gift shops is normally priced around $60+! Walt Disney Story Books Short Sleeve There’s even an adult Disney storybook shirt we found for $9.90 — in-stores and online! ©Uniqlo But WAIT! That’s not ALL! You can also DESIGN YOUR OWN SHIRTS! Let’s create! The UTme! shirt customization program allows you to take your own image (or one that UTme! has preloaded on their program), edit it the way you like, and PRESTO! Print it on your own graphic tee. These shirts cost a whopping $24.90 for adults and $19.90 for kids. Not too shabby! How cool is that?! What galactic Disney shirts are we DESPERATELY wanting today? Find out HERE! Silhouette Portraits This might be our favorite affordable souvenir on Disney World property; if you blink, you might miss it. Silhouettes The Silhouette Carts can be found in Magic Kingdom over in Liberty Square (near Sleepy Hollow Refreshments) and in the middle of Main Street, U.S.A. You can also find them in EPCOT’s France pavilion and Disney Springs (near the Ghiradelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop). Silhouette souvenirs at the Disney parks have been around ever since Disneyland opened back in 1955. Though they’re not as prevalent in the parks as they once were, Disney still employs a talented group of cast members ready to commemorate your Disney vacation with their artistically hand-crafted silhouette portraits of you and/or your family. Check out the fun Disney character silhouettes, too! Ready to have your mind blown? These silhouettes only cost $10 per person AND you 2 copies of each silhouette! Even adding a frame for $9.95 is a steal of a deal! These are HAND CUT. It’s pretty bonkers to watch — the artist looks at your profile and starts cutting! No tracing, no guide, just SWEET SKILLZ. Finally, as a bonus tip — don’t forget to snag a FREE Disney souvenir, yep those celebration buttons! Stop by a Disney hotel front desk, Guest Services in the Parks, or most gift shop checkouts and check-in podiums at restaurants to collect a button to show off what you’re celebrating! Celebration Buttons Alright, we understand — these are all still technically ADDED expenses to your already-pricey Disney World vacation. BUT, if you have some wiggle room in your budget, these may be some solid options you want to consider adding for a bit of extra magic to your trip! Looking for more unique Disney World souvenirs? Click HERE to keep exploring! Learn more about some of our tips for saving money and finding unexpected deals at Disney! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What’s the most affordable souvenir you’ve ever purchased at Disney World? Let us know in the comments below! The post 7 Things at Disney World That Cost LESS Than You Think first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Chef José Andrés is the owner and creator of Jaleo, which has a location inside Disney Springs! Jaleo in Disney Springs And Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, has just awarded Andrés for his humanitarian and unifying efforts with $100 million. This new award is called the “Courage and Civility Award.” Previously, Chef José Andrés was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2012 and 2018. He’s also received the accolade of Humanitarian of the Year, by the James Beard Foundation, and a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 for his work with the World Central Kitchen — the non-profit organization he founded. His restaurant Jaleo in Disney Springs serves dishes inspired by Spanish cuisine, such as paellas and tapas! Cheese Selection at Jaleo According to CNN, Jeff Bezos announced on Tuesday that he would be awarding José Andrés $100 million as the “Courage and Civility Award.” Bezos claimed that the money was part of a “‘surprise’ philanthropic initiative he wanted to announce” to “honor those who have ‘demonstrated courage’ and tried to be a unifier in a divisive world.” ©CNN The money that’s part of the award is for each recipient to use however they see fit. CNN reported that Andrés said this would start a new chapter for his organization, World Central Kitchen. Bezos has said that this is a new philanthropic effort, so we may see more awards given in the future. Keep following DFB for more news about Disney and related topics! Click Here to Learn More about Chef José Andrés’s Humanitarian Efforts! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Have you been to Jaleo in Disney Springs? Let us know in the comments! The post Jeff Bezos Awards Disney World Restaurant Chef and Owner 0 Million first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Check out the new food items at Disney Springs' Flavors of Florida food event. View the full article By KATHLEEN CHRISTIANSEN ORLANDO SENTINEL | JUL 21, 2021 AT 9:41 AM Flavors of Florida Frontera Cocina offers up the Shrimp Ajillo Tostada as part of Flavors of Florida through Aug. 12 at Disney Springs. (Kathleen Christiansen/Orlando Sentinel) Those wishing to savor the delicious bites of a Walt Disney World food fest without the price tag of theme park entry should head to Disney Springs for Flavors of Florida. More than 30 restaurants and stores at the dining, entertainment and shopping complex offer a slice of summer with Sunshine State-inspired dishes and beverages throughout the event. Most of the items in the 2021 lineup are new — the key lime pie at House of Blues, local burrata at Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, peel and eat shrimp at The Boathouse and ceviche at STK Orlando have been previously featured. Here are a few newbies that caught my eye on a recent visit. Try the Florida Shrimp Tacos with Watermelon Salsa at Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar during Flavors of Florida through Aug. 12 at Disney Springs. (Kathleen Christiansen/El Sentinel) Florida Shrimp Tacos with Watermelon Salsa The first thing that drew me to this $13 dish at Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar: the watermelon pico de gallo. I’ve sampled many salsas but never one crafted with watermelon. It came with three corn tortilla tacos filled with shrimp and the aforementioned topping, which proved a refreshing way to kick of my Flavors of Florida expedition. The Lemon Blueberry Cookie Sandwich is available at Vivoli il Gelato during Flavors of Florida through Aug. 12 at Disney Springs. (Kathleen Christiansen/Orlando Sentinel) Lemon Blueberry Cookie Sandwich Craving something sweet, my next stop was a short distance away: Vivoli il Gelato. The soft, massive lemon cooler cookies perfectly complimented the semi-sweet, smooth blueberry gelato. My only regret: I wish I had someone to share it with on the spot because this $11 treat won’t travel well. Get the Orange Blossom Cupcake at Erin McKenna's Bakery NYC during Flavors of Florida through Aug. 12 at Disney Springs. (Kathleen Christiansen/Orlando Sentinel) Orange Blossom Cupcake I’ve passed by Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC on multiple visits, admiring the pastries but not the attached price tag. Flavors of Florida provided the perfect excuse to finally indulge. For fans of lightly sweet desserts, this one’s for you. The moist, dense vanilla cupcake topped with orange-flavored icing was perfection for $6.25. Bonus: All items sold here are gluten-free, vegan and kosher. Frontera Cocina offers up the Shrimp Ajillo Tostada as part of Flavors of Florida through Aug. 12 at Disney Springs. (Kathleen Christiansen/Orlando Sentinel) Shrimp Ajillo Tostada Looking for a light appetizer? Try Frontera Cocina’s Shrimp Ajillo Tostada, which is so beautifully presented, it’s almost a shame to eat it. There’s a lot going on in this one — roasted garlic-guajillo Florida pink shrimp, citrus-soy vinaigrette, avocado, jicama, heirloom cherry tomatoes, red onion, cilantro and orange, all on a warm tostada — but it all blends together for a most pleasing app that rings in at $10. Ge the Key Lime Pie Donut at Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew during Flavors of Florida through Aug. 12 at Disney Springs. - Original Credit: Orlando Sentinel (Dewayne Bevil/Courtesy photo) Key Lime Pie Donut While I did not personally try Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew’s offering, a colleague informs me the pastry is exactly what you’d expect: doughy key lime, light in the frosting and tart inside. He said he particularly liked that the $6.50 doughnut isn’t “HUGE” like some of the shop’s other menu items. Refresh with YeSake's Watermelon Boba Slushie during Flavors of Florida through Aug. 12 at Disney Springs. (Kathleen Christiansen/Orlando Sentinel) Watermelon Boba Slushie After eating my fill at Disney Springs and enduring the Florida heat, all I wanted was a refreshing drink — which I found in YeSake’s slushie. Fun fact: This was my first time sipping boba, and I’m not sure if I’m a fan. But the drink was delicious. Try the Florida Sunset Éclair at Amorette's Patisserie during Flavors of Florida through Aug. 12 at Disney Springs. (Kathleen Christiansen/Orlando Sentinel) Snacks for later The sweet treats are abundant at Flavors of Florida, so why not take some home? A few that will travel well include Wondermade’s new Orangesicle and seasonal Key Lime Pie marshmallows ($8.95); key lime and strawberry flavored cupcakes ($5.19), marshmallow pops ($4.99) and crisped rice treats ($5.49) at Goofy’s Candy Company and Disney’s Candy Cauldron; the adults-only, orange liquor-infused Florida Sunset Éclair ($10) at Amorette’s Patisserie; and The Ganachery’s Key Lime Ganache Pop ($6). Find the Florida Sunshine candle and salt/spice blend at The Spice & Tea Exchange as part of Flavors of Florida through Aug. 12 at Disney Springs. (Kathleen Christiansen/Orlando Sentinel) Shop ‘til you drop For those who would rather shop their way through Flavors of Florida instead of consume calories, head to Basin for citrus-scented Florida Sunshine soap ($1.80 per ounce) and bath bombs ($4.99) or the Satsuma bath bomb ($5.99); Columbia Sportswear or Ron Jon Surf Shop for Florida-themed shirts; or The Spice & Tea Exchange for the Florida Sunshine candle ($33.99) or Florida Sunshine salt spice blend ($14.95). Goofy's Candy Company has a variety of treats from cupcakes to crisped rice treats in strawberry and key lime flavors available as part of Flavors of Florida through Aug. 12 at Disney Springs. (Kathleen Christiansen/Orlando Sentinel) Flavorful future When I planned my path to conquer Flavors of Florida, my number one pick and first stop was Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant for the Florida Key Lime Salmon ($29). Sadly, they were sold out the day I visited, so I will definitely try it on a repeat visit. While YeSake’s watermelon drink was refreshing, I think the Coca-Cola Orange Cream Float at Coca-Cola Rooftop Beverage Bar would be more my speed — and shareable since I don’t plan to go solo on my next visit. Plus, you can’t beat the views of Disney Springs from this location, especially at night. As a huge fan of lime, I shocked even myself by skipping lime-inspired dishes on my first trip. Next time, I’ll likely leave with a slice of crisped rice key lime pie or maybe that Everglazed doughnut. If you go: Flavors of Florida runs through Aug. 12 at select restaurants and shops at Disney Springs, which is open 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 10 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday at 1486 E. Buena Vista Drive in Lake Buena Vista. Pro tip: Heading early to Disney Springs can help beat the crowds (and the heat), but a few restaurants do not open until later in the day, so plan accordingly. Find more information and view the full menu lineup at disneyparksblog.com.

Before there was the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival — heck, before there was Epcot — there was the Walt Disney World Village Wine Festival. View the full article By DEWAYNE BEVIL ORLANDO SENTINEL | JUL 21, 2021 AT 8:39 AM 2021 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival From The Noodle Exchange kiosk kitchen, a Traditional Spicy Vietnamese Beef Pho with Shaved Beef, Enoki Mushrooms, and Thai Basil, one of the featured dishes at the 2021 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., photographed Friday, July 16, 2021. The festival runs through November 20. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Before there was the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival — heck, before there was even Epcot — there was the Walt Disney World Village Wine Festival. For this week’s Disney World at 50 feature, which publishes Wednesdays on OrlandoSentinel.com, we look at the roots of wine celebrations at the resort. The wine festival started as a modest, two-day event in a ballroom at the Lake Buena Vista Conference Center in January 1982, about eight months before Epcot’s grand opening. Sentinel reporter Davin Light noted that some folks wore jeans and others work minks, and that cowboys mingled with corporate presidents at the first one. “There were tables all around the room, and every table was a different winery,” remembers Heather McPherson, former food editor at the Sentinel. “There was a winemaker, an actual winemaker there or somebody with the family.” Disney was tapping into the growing interest in wine. “No one had done it on that scale. … It’s nothing like it is today. But for Disney doing it on that scale was remarkable,” McPherson says. “Locals came. And then people started coming in from farther away.” Its emphasis, as its name indicates, was on wine. The first event touted 80 California wines from 40 wineries. There was a flat entrance fee that granted unlimited tastings. “My, how far the food has come,” says McPherson, now media and manager for Millennium Management Group, which owns several restaurants at Disney Springs in Lake Buena Vista and Downtown Disney District in California. She remembers tables with “mounds of cubed cheese and bread.” DISNEY WORLD 50TH ANNIVERSARY Order “Disney World at 50,” our new book on the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World JUL 21, 2021 AT 10:30 AM She also recalls paying $18 for admission. “Wild and crazy kids that we were, we would spend $36 and do a white wine day and a red wine day,” she says. The event expanded with more days, extra-ticket seminars and celebrities. A noted wine in 1987 was Smothers Brothers’ Mom’s Favorite White. (Dick Smothers went scuba diving in Epcot’s Living Seas exhibit, the Sentinel reported.) Chef Paul Prudhomme made an appearance in 1994. In the early ’90s, the event started moving, eventually stopping at Fort Wilderness, the Contemporary and Yacht and Beach Club. Somewhere in there, the “Village” was dropped from the name, producing the Walt Disney World Wine Festival. The cover charge topped the $40 mark. DISNEY WORLD 50TH ANNIVERSARY Disney World at 50: Spirit of ’71 gets visual shout-outs at parks JUL 14, 2021 AT 5:16 AM And then it was gone. In April 1996, a reader wrote the Sentinel and asked “Whatever happened to the Walt Disney World Wine and Food Festival?” Enter the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival that fall, signaling the end of the original wine event. “For $1 to $2, guests can sample everything from escargot or baked Brie in France to vegetable sushi and cold soba noodles in Japan or couscous with chicken kebab in Morocco,” Sentinel reporter Linda Shrieves wrote in advance of the new event. Another change: Epcot admission was required to attend the festival. A one-day Disney World theme park ticket in 1996? That sold for $38.50. This Series This story is part of the Orlando Sentinel’s “Disney World at 50” series – a year’s worth of stories leading up to 50th anniversary of the historic opening of Walt Disney World on Oct. 1, 1971. More stories, photos and videos at OrlandoSentinel.com/WDW50. Order our book Order your copy of “Disney World at 50,” the Orlando Sentinel’s new hardcover keepsake book chronicling the 50th anniversary of the opening of the most magical place on Earth. Supplies are limited. Order your copy at OrlandoSentinel.com/DisneyBook

One of the most classic ways to travel around Disney World (and one of our favorites!) is the monorail. The EPCOT Monorail is BACK! There are two theme parks with monorail service at Disney World — Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. While the Magic Kingdom monorail loop has been running since the reopening, the EPCOT monorail line just reopened the other day after being closed since March 2020. And now, just 2 days after reopening, it’s already closed again! When we stopped by EPCOT this afternoon, we noticed this sign out in front of the monorail station. What’s going on? Disney hasn’t shared any information on this closure or how long it will last. We’ll make sure to check back in on it tomorrow to see if it’s running. Fingers crossed that this closure doesn’t last long! This reminds us a bit of the closure of the PeopleMover in Magic Kingdom. Just a few days after being open for a year-long refurbishment, the ride experienced issues and had to be evacuated. We’ll be on the lookout for more details. We’ll let you know if we receive any updates on the monorail, so stay tuned to DFB. We’ve got the latest Disney parks news to share with you! Click Here to See What the EPCOT Monorail Was Like When it Reopened! 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 ridden the EPCOT monorail? The post EPCOT Monorail Unexpectedly Closed Two Days After Reopening first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

A lot has been changing at Disneyland Resort lately! Mickey! We’ve seen the opening of Avengers Campus, the return of fireworks, and the reopening of fan-favorite restaurants! One of the restaurants scheduled to open soon is Carthay Circle, which you can dine at on July 22nd. However, your meal will look very different! Carthay Circle, located on Buena Vista Street inside Disney’s California Adventure, and its lounge opened in 2020 for Carthay Circle Lounge Alfresco Dining. But now the actual restaurant is reopening! And, it will have an almost entirely new menu! Carthay Circle is where Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premiered!! Beginning with starters, everything listed is a new item since before the closures. There are Warm Cheddar Parkerhouse Rolls for $14 instead of the Signature Fried Biscuits that used to be on the menu, along with other fun new items like a Chicken “Arepa” for $18 and Artichoke-Parmesan Fritters for $17! ©Disney Moving on to Entrees, we only really have one returning menu item from the pre-closure menu — the Niman Ranch Pork Chop for $48, but it’s being served with a Blackberry-Orange Vinaigrette rather than the former Brown Butter Vinaigrette. There is still Sustainable Fish on the menu, but now it’s whole grilled for $51. If you’re looking for steak, there’s a 20 oz Grilled New York steak for $75 instead of the former Pan-Roasted Filet Mignon for $54. ©Disney If you want something sweet, you have two new options — a Valrhona Chocolate Cream Puff for $15 and a Warm Apricot Butter Cake for $15. ©Disney The kids menu has one returning item — the Orcchiette for $12. But now, it’s served with marinara, whereas before you could choose between marinara, butter, or Alfredo sauce. There’s also a Cheese Quesadilla for $12 and Orange Dragon Chicken Skewers for $12. ©Disney Kids also have one dessert they can get (which is new) — the Hazelnut Crunch Mickey Pop for $10. ©Disney As for the non-alcohol drink menu, nothing has changed! You can still get things like the Wildberry Lemonade for $6.50, Twin Bill for $6, or Carthay’s Signature Blend Press Pot Coffee for $8. ©Disney And for alcoholic beverages, those haven’t changed either! They’re just as they were before the closures, but here’s a refresher of the options available: ©Disney As for the After Dinner Drinks and Dessert Wines, everything has also remained the same as before. Get your Irish coffee for $13.50 or sip on a Brandy Alexander for $13.25. ©Disney And here’s a look at the current offerings for the Disney Family of Wines. ©Disney That’s the entire new menu at Carthay Circle in Disney’s California Adventure! Reservations for this dining location were supposed to release today, but we haven’t spotted any yet! We’ll be checking out the new eats as soon as the restaurant opens, so stay tuned to DFB for a full review! Click here to see more about the reopening of Carthay Circle Check out more Disneyland Food Reviews Here!! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Are you excited to try this new menu? Let us know in the comments! The post PHOTOS: See the NEW Menu for Carthay Circle in Disneyland Resort! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Welcome back, DFB friends! We’re here with another What’s New at Magic Kingdom! Splash Mountain And, we’ve got plenty of updates to share with you! So, what are you waiting for? Let’s dive right on in! Magic Kingdom Food Update Frontierland and Liberty Square Get ready for all the Mickey Bars you can eat! TWO ice cream carts have both opened once again in the Magic Kingdom over in Frontierland and Liberty Square, just a few feet away! Frontierland Ice Cream Magic Kingdom Merchandise Update Emporium We’re mad for the Disney Parks, so the Cheshire Cat Hat on the shelves at the Emporium seems like a fitting outfit to add to our park wardrobe (and yours too!) for $27.99. Cheshire Cat Hat We were SO excited to see the Mickey Hand Soap appear in Disney World recently all the way from Tokyo Disneyland. While they sold out very fast, they are finally restocked at the Emporium… Mickey Soaps …so you can add a bit of magic to your everyday life with a Mickey-shaped soap squirt! Mickey Soap If you want to keep your coffee hot during the morning or make sure your drinks don’t spill in the car, you’ll be head over heels for the new lidded mugs! NEW Mugs You can tote around the mouse with the most with the Mickey Lidded Mug… Mickey Mug …and the Donald Duck Lidded Mug for $19.99 each! Donald Mug Also on the shelves, you an find a Disney Key Inspired Mug… Key Mug …with a key stirrer that comes with it, so you can mix up everything in your drink for $19.99! Key Stirrer While you might be getting something for yourself, you can also dress up your nuIMO in the Mickey Icon nuIMO Backpack… Mickey nuIMOs Loungefly …and Disney Snacks nuIMO Backpack for $21.99! Disney Snacks nuIMOs Backpack Uptown Jewelry Anybody else here got their own mini collection of Dooney & Bourke bags? While the latest collection debuted online recently, the Hunchback of Notre Dame Dooneys were also at Uptown Jewelry! You can find the Wallet available for $158, Satchel for $198… Hunchback of Notre Dame Bags …and Tote right now for $298 in the parks and online! Hunchback of Notre Dame Bags Memento Mori As Halloween is just around the corner in Disney World, you’re going to want to stock up on the spookiest merchandise in the parks early. And, Memento Mori has got you covered with new, Haunted Mansion inspired items like the Ghost Host Shirt… New Haunted Mansion Tee …Hitchhiking Ghost Shirt… New Haunted Mansion Tee …Madame Leota MagicBand… Haunted Mansion MagicBand …and Haunted Mansion Metal Earth Pop-Up for $21.99! Haunted Mansion Pop-Up Star Traders There have been so many themed Stitch Crashes Disney collections (and there are still plenty more to come)! And, you can find a few of the items from various series like the Aladdin line with the Stitch Crashes Aladdin Plush for $29.99… Aladdin Stitch Plush …and Stitch Crashes Aladdin MagicBand for $39.99! Aladdin Stitch MagicBand You can even find the past, Pinocchio Pin, for $24.99 on the shelves too! Pinocchio Stitch Pin Main Street, U.S.A. Jasmine is a VERY underrated princess, so that’s why fans were thrilled to see her get her own balloon along Main Street, U.S.A.! I sold out quickly, but has finally been restocked once again! Restocked Balloons Christmas Shoppe There may not be anything new over at the Christmas Shoppe, but the merchandise has been moved around inside the store to be more organized… Christmas Shoppe …with designated sections for ornaments, figurines, and more! Christmas Shoppe Magic Kingdom Construction Update Jungle Cruise We can’t WAIT to see Jungle Cruise‘s refurbishment completed soon in the Disney Parks with new storylines, characters, and more! Jungle Cruise As you make your way through the water, you can spot all sorts of animals with elephants… Elephant …giraffes… Hello, Friends! …lions… Lion’s Den ..rhinos, and hyenas. The NEW Scene Some props have been removed Ginger Snap scene. Updated scene Here’s what it looked like before. Prior Scene Cinderella Castle Main Street, U.S.A. is about to get a HUGE change as the Partners Statue will be undergoing a refurbishment in time for Disney World’s 50th anniversary! The sign says that the statue will be going through routine care by removing oxidation buildup from patinated bronze. The process will proceed in multiple phases by stripping metal to its bare metal “before cleaning, reapplying a patina, and coating the entire figure in protective polymer and wax.” Partners Statue Construction TRON: Lightcycle Power Run Each time we’re in the Magic Kingdom, we can’t help but take a sneak peek at the construction over at the TRON Lightcycle Power Run. Disney World is pushing forward with the progress in order to hopefully finish it in time for the 50th-anniversary celebrations. TRON Construction Recently, some of the blue features that will make up the outer part of the structure have now been added as the beams, poles, and more continue to be set up for the indoor and outdoor attraction. Look at That Progress Well, that’s all for this What’s New at Magic Kingdom! We’ll catch you next time for more updates. And, if you have any questions about your next Disney vacation, let us know so we can help you find the answers! Stay tuned with DFB for the latest Disney entertainment and news! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What are you looking forward to seeing the most in the Magic Kingdom? Let us know in the comments below! The post What's New at Magic Kingdom: Partners Statue Refurbishment and Another Jungle Cruise Change! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The cruise ship Disney Wonder is docked at Port Everglades, getting a feel for its potential new digs as the company negotiates a deal to establish a year-round home at the port beginning in 2023. View the full article By RON HURTIBISE SOUTH FLORIDA SUN SENTINEL | JUL 20, 2021 AT 4:43 PM The Disney Wonder cruise ship is shown docked at Port Everglades on Tuesday, July 20, 2021, getting a feel for its potential new home. (Susan Stocker / South Florida Sun Sentinel) An unusual sight is greeting locals and tourists at Port Everglades: The familiar Mickey Mouse ears and Disney signature logos grace the side of the cruise ship Disney Wonder in the port’s southern section. What’s it doing here? It’s not establishing squatters rights ahead of Disney Cruise Line’s hoped-for plan to use Port Everglades as a home base beginning in 2023. It’s not part of a return-to-cruising marketing strategy by the global entertainment giant Walt Disney Company. And Disney isn’t using our port as a backdrop for the lamest Pirates of the Caribbean sequel yet. RELATED: Port Everglades gets OK to pursue talks with Disney Cruise Line for year-round terminal » Port Everglades spokeswoman Ellen Kennedy says the ship moved here recently from PortMiami, where it had been waiting out the pandemic-induced cruise-industry shutdown. It was moved here temporarily because its normal spot at PortMiami was needed for a Royal Caribbean ship that’s housing first responders working at the Surfside condominium collapse site, Kennedy said. Nevertheless, the ship is unintentionally serving as an 83,000-ton, 11-deck billboard for Disney Cruise Line’s possible year-round presence in the Fort Lauderdale area. The familiar Disney signature logo graces the Disney Wonder cruise ship, docked at Port Everglades while Disney Cruise Line officials negotiate a possible year-round Disney presence at the port beginning in 2023. (Susan Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Disney Wonder is now docked at Terminal 26, across from the Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park. On Saturday it will move north to Terminal 4. Its current visit won’t last long, Kennedy says. The ship is scheduled to head to San Diego for a two-night cruise to Baja California on Sept. 24 to 26, according to the cruise line’s website. After that, it’s off to Galveston, Texas, for twice-weekly voyages to Cozumel, Mexico. Which Disney ship will call Fort Lauderdale home is not yet known. RELATED: Disney Cruise Line wants to base one of its ships in Fort Lauderdale » In an April 26 letter seeking authorization to negotiate a berth and terminal agreement with Broward County and Port Everglades, the cruise line said it was looking for a new homeport for a 3,500-passenger ship as three new ships, powered by liquified natural gas, enter the company’s fleet by 2025. Port Canaveral, 60 miles east of Disney’s famous Central Florida theme parks, has been home to Disney Cruise Line since 1998. Two ships — Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy — currently operate at that port, southeast of Kennedy Space Center. This year, Port Canaveral became the first U.S. port capable of fueling docked ships with liquified natural gas, which is more environmentally friendly than the heavy fuel oil and marine gas oil that power most cruise ships operating today. RELATED: Condo insurance may be tougher to get after Surfside collapse » PortMiami has hosted Disney ships on a seasonal basis, while they’ve only docked with passengers at Port Everglades when Port Canaveral has been shut down during hurricanes. In June, the Broward County Commission voted to allow Disney Cruise Line to negotiate a home port contract with Port Everglades for use of Terminal 4 and its adjacent berth, which had been used by Carnival Cruise Line prior to the pandemic. A deal has been negotiated but is under review by attorneys from both sides, Kennedy said. Final approval is expected after the commission returns from its summer break.

Orlando Sentinel food writer Amy Drew Thompson and tourism reporter Dewayne Bevil dish on some of the more than 100 food items and 120 beverages at Epcot's International Food & Wine Festival. View the full article

The Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary, also being dubbed “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” is coming on October 1st! There will be special nighttime spectaculars, a new attraction, new EARidescent outfits for Mickey and pals, and so many more changes starting on October 1st. ©Disney As part of the 50th celebration, Disney will unveil 50 brand-new character sculptures scattered around all four Walt Disney World parks! Let’s take a look at all of the character statues that have been revealed!! We will continue to update this post as more statues are revealed. Disney has said that this Fab 50 Character Collection will include surprising ways that guests can interact with the sculptures as part of the celebration. ©Disney The artist’s rendering seems to suggest there will be some kind of digital interaction with the character statues. We can’t wait to find out more! In the meantime, let’s take a look at the statues that Disney has given us a preview of so far! ©Disney The first of the fab 50 to be announced was none other than Mickey Mouse. You can watch the announcement video, and Magic Kingdom location reveal, below. Here’s a closer look at the gold character sculpture of Timon and Pumbaa! ©Disney While we haven’t seen any official photos yet, we also know that Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Pluto, and Chip ‘n Dale gold statues will also be found around Magic Kingdom for the 50th anniversary. Make sure to check back as we will continue to update you as more of the Fab 50 Character Collection characters are announced! Click here to learn more about Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Celebration! 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. Who do you think will be the next character to be revealed as part of the Fab 50 Character Collection? Share your predictions in the comments! The post ALL of the 50th Anniversary Gold Character Statues Coming to Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s only Tuesday and it has already been a pretty exciting week if you’re a fan of all things Poly! Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort officially reopened yesterday (with their re-imagined Moana-themed guest rooms), along with Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto! We’re BACK at the Polynesian! Today, we’re back at the Polynesian, specifically at Barefoot Pool Bar to fill you in on a secret menu drink we recently discovered! Barefoot Pool Bar is one of our favorite poolside spots to sip on some tasty cocktails (we even invented one of our own here!), so we were thrilled when we heard about the Samoa Sunrise. Samoa Sunrise This secret menu cocktail has a floater of 151 Rum, Dark Rum, Apricot Brandy, and POG Juice! POG Juice, of course, is our favorite tropical blend of Passion Fruit, Orange, and Guava Juices. It comes in a variety of alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks around Disney World. Samoa Sunrise This secret menu drink in particular is delicious and not too sweet! Rum drinks can have a tendency to be sickly sweet (especially when it’s mixed with POG Juice), but these ingredients turned out to be a great combo! If you love POG juice and you’re staying at the Polynesian, we’re pretty sure that you need to order this drink. Samoa Sunrise Be sure to ask for it by name at Barefoot Pool Bar! It costs $13 and pairs well with The Voyager, our little cocktail hack that became a real menu item! Samoa Sunrise and The Voyager! We’ll be on the lookout for more secret menu items around Disney World, so stay tuned for our latest discoveries! Click here to take a look at a reopened Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto! 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 is your favorite secret menu item at Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post Review: A Secret Menu Drink With POG Juice?! This is True Disney World Paradise. first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Welcome back to Disney’s Hollywood Studios! A beautiful day for a stroll through Studios! We like to give you regular updates about what’s new inside the parks, so let’s see what’s been going on at Hollywood Studios! Hollywood Studios Food Updates Ice Cold Stand The Ice Cold Stand was back open at the front of the park! Time for a cold drink! The Cast Member said it had been open since Friday, so of course, we got a drink and took a picture with the Coca-Cola man! Just us and our bestie We’re glad there’s a place to immediately get a cold drink right when you walk in the park again! Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company The Joffrey’s locations inside Studios now have the new sugarcane straws! Sugarcane straws We’ve already seen these in EPCOT, but it’s good to know the offering is expanding. Sugarcane straws The straws don’t get soggy like the paper ones do and they’re 100% biodegradable, compostable, and reusable! Click here to read more about the new sugarcane straws! Hollywood Studios Merchandise Updates Celebrity 5 & 10 We found a new Dumbo mug inside Celebrity 5 & 10! Dumbo mugs! Enjoy your morning cup of Joe in the vintage-style mug for $14.99. Dumbo mug We also spotted the new mugs with silicone tops, like this Mickey one that’s just adorable! Mickey mugs! The 5 & 10 also had the Donald version of the mug! Donald’s lid is his hat, how cute! And the Mickey & Friends Water Bottle is also over here, previously seen at Disney’s BoardWalk! Stay hydrated with Mickey and Friends It sells for $27.99. Legends of Hollywood The NEW Hunchback of Notre Dame Dooney & Bourke collection is now available in Disney World! Available now! We found the bags at Legends of Hollywood, but they’re also available online. Wallets! How cool is that pattern?! Click here to see more about The Hunchback of Notre Dame Dooney & Bourke collection! We also found this Haunted Mansion shirt in Legends of Hollywood… Some hitchhiking ghosts …that will go perfectly with the Haunted Mansion capri leggings we already saw in Memento Mori in Magic Kingdom (which we also found here)! Matching leggings! Get the shirt for $36.99. Keystone Clothiers This AWESOME Avengers sweatshirt was in Keystone Clothiers and features different Avengers inside the letters that spell Avengers. It’s like Avenger inception! Avengers… ASSEMBLE! We spotted Iron Man, Thor, Black Panther, and Captain America… Of course Iron Man is the star …as well as Vision, Ant-Man, Black Widow, and Hulk on the sleeve! …and none for Hawkeye, bye! Get the sweatshirt for $54.99. Sleeve detailing We also found an Avengers fanny pack to go along with the sweatshirt! Subtle, but still cool It’s a simple design but can definitely fit a few Infinity Stones inside. Don’t think Mjolnir would fit in here though Get the fanny pack for $29.99. Rock Around the Shop Inside Rock Around the Shop was this new Star Wars Spirit Jersey hat! What characters can you spot? Kind of like what the Avengers sweatshirt was doing, the characters make up the letters spelling out Star Wars! Snag it for your noggin for $34.99. We see Chewie! There’s also a new-to-us Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway pin that’s super cute! New pin alert! Join Minnie, Mickey, and Pluto on a perfect picnic for $12.99! Oh, and Goofy is back there, too! What’s up, Goof! The car part of the pin actually slides up and down! Cool! A unique pin for a unique ride! Tower Hotel Gifts Inside the gift shop at the exit of Tower of Terror, we found some equally creepy merch! These Nightmare Before Christmas frames have been restocked, and they’re amazing if you want to start getting your Halloween decorations early. Can you tell which famous Disney ride Lock, Shock, and Barrel are imitating? Looks familiar… Oogie Boogie is also available! Both frames are $27.99 each. Oogie Boogie doesn’t scare us! Also, note that the Tower of Terror bellhop hats AND Minnie ears were out of stock! Toy Story Land The Dump Truck stand in Toy Story land is open again! It may be a dump truck, but these toys aren’t trash!! Of course, they’re selling toys from Andy’s collection. They’re obviously not moving because people are watching And they have those crazy Slinky Dog ears! Have you seen anyone wearing these? But, they also have misting fans to keep you cool and bubble wands! Great for cooling off! Speaking of keeping cool, let’s talk about the HEAT over the past few days! Hollywood Studios Additional Updates It was HOT and crowded in Hollywood Studios over the past few days. The “feels like” temperatures were around 101 degrees!!!! Yikes! It looks pretty, but the heat was brutal! People were trying to find shade wherever they could. Hiding out in the shade That’s all we have for you from Hollywood Studios! we’ll be checking back in over the next few days to see what other new things pop up, so stay tuned to DFB for more. Click here to read about if fireworks could return to Hollywood Studios for the holidays 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 seen people in the fountains at Disney World?! Let us know in the comments! The post What’s New in Hollywood Studios: Some BRUTAL Heat and a Returning Creepy Souvenir! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort officially reopens to all guests today, but that’s not all there is to get excited about! Polynesian Village Resort We’ve been brought you a look at all the excitement happening in the resort including a NEW Dole Whip treat (!!), brand new Moana-themed guest rooms, and more! And, while most of the restaurants (including ‘Ohana and Kona Cafe) had already reopened, there was still one fan-favorite spot that had yet to reopen with the hotel…at least, that’s what we thought… . Disney surprised us all and announced that Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto and Tiki Terrace would be reopening to guests yesterday and you know that we HAD to stop by to check it out! So, put on your lei and get ready to head to a Polynesian island because we’re bringing you a look at all the drinks, eats, and everything else this popular bar has to offer! Atmosphere Now, if you’re not familiar with Trader Sam’s, this bar is themed as an extension of the Jungle Cruise attraction in Magic Kingdom. Basically, the idea is that Trader Sam, the famous head-salesman-turned-gift-shop-owner, needed a place to store all of the artifacts that he collected from his travels all over the globe and he decided to stow them away in this “happy hideaway” in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. And, that’s why you’ll have to find the little hole in the wall down the hallway from Capt. Cook’s to get in! If you’re not looking you just might miss it! Now you’ll find the bar open from 3PM to midnight daily, but you’ll want to be mindful of the time if you’re traveling with guests under the age of 21. Trader Sam’s is only open to all guests until 8PM and then transitions into only allowing those 21 and older. Trader Sam’s Hours Information And, holding only 51 seats total in the bar, you’ll likely have to do a little bit of waiting before you can get in. But, Disney is currently using a Virtual Queue here, where guests can check-in with a Cast Member (it opened yesterday around 1:30PM) and “get in line” for a spot when it becomes available. Thanks, Rosie! You’ll get a text message when you first sign up saying that you’re in line, and when your table is ready you’ll get another text message asking you to come to the entrance! Just keep in mind that there may only be standing room when you’re name is called because seating is first-come, first-served. You can explore the rest of the hotel while you wait! And, whether you’re standing or sitting in the bar, there is SO MUCH to look at when you come inside! The tiki bar is literally filled to the brim with eclectic artifacts, pictures, souvenirs, and more! You can find unique light fixtures and even an octopus leg up above… There’s a lot to take in here! …plus behind the bar, you’ll find lots of little trinkets and a pearl that comes to life when someone orders up the Polynesian Pearl cocktail from the menu! Order up the Polynesian Pearl and see what happens! But, take some time to really look around here because you can spot some fun nods to Disney, like Orange Bird… Hey there, little buddy! …books about how “Eating People is Wrong”… A little reading, anyone? …and even the first dollar bill which is hidden reallllly well in a display case. It’s hard to find but it’s up there! As far as seating, guests are encouraged to share tables when inside because there isn’t a whole lot of space. So, you might find yourself sitting (or standing) with strangers when you visit. This really is something to keep in mind if you are still looking to distance yourself when dining. Lots of people in here. And, one of the best parts of Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto is all the interactive elements! Your server is a Skipper and they come fit with just as many puns as you might expect on the ride, but they have some help from the bar itself! Just be warned, all the cinnamon that goes in must come out…through your straw. But, once you get past all the fanfare, the drink itself is very smooth and is on the sweeter side. It’s got a lot more juice flavor than other drinks like the Zombie, but that cinnamon sure does pack a punch when you get some in your straw! It is available for $23 or $43 if you’d like to take home that sweet mug. We may have gone a little crazy on the cinnamon And, the last shareable drink that we gave a try is the Nautilus which is made with Barbancourt Pango Rhum, Appleton Estate Reserve Rum, Combier Crème de Pêche de Vigne Liqueur, Tropical Juices, and Falernum. By now you may have noticed that “Tropical Juices” is used in a lot of the tiki bar’s drinks, but this was the drink that we thought had the strongest flavor from it (though there is some tartness to it). The Nautilus The giant cocktail costs $32 if you’re opting to forego the souvenir mug or $58 with it. Nautilus And, one little detail that big-time Trader Sam’s fans may have realized by now is that the cocktails are no longer served with long bendy plastic straws. Instead, the bar has ditched the plastic and opted for long paper straws that have a red and white pattern. So, is it a little less fun? Maybe. But, paper straws are being implemented in a lot of Disney restaurants now so Trader Sam’s is just getting the memo. Now for the appetizers! First, we ordered up the Thai Chicken Flatbread that comes with Bacon and Peanut Sauce for $12. If you’ve been following along with us for a little while now, you know that we love a good flatbread and this one certainly stacks up in the rankings! The peanut sauce was our favorite part of the dish and the chicken was served on top in nice big chunks. But, the crust on ours could have used a bit more cooking in the kitchen and was just a little too doughy. Thai Chicken Flatbread And, we couldn’t settle for just one appetizer — we also ordered up the Kalua Pork Tacos with Cabbage and Pickled Vegetables for $10.50. All in all, we weren’t overly impressed with the dish. We thought that the meat was nice and moist and the veggies added a nice crunch to each bite. Kalua Pork Tacos But, if you’re a fan of sweet and spicy foods then you’re going to like this one because the fresh pepper adds a lot of heat to the dish. Nosh or Not Make the trek over to Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto if: You enjoy uniquely flavored drinks. There’s a whole lot of rum and tropical juices here so if you’re into fruity drinks then this is the place to visit! You want to visit a high-energy bar during your trip. Like we mentioned, almost every drink that you can order comes with some grand delivery and the Skippers know how to bring the energy and involve you in it too! You love Jungle Cruise! Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto is one piece of the Jungle Cruise story in Disney World (and Disneyland), so you’ll get another flavor of punny jokes and entertainment here. Avoid the head salesman (and his bar) if: You’re not a big fan of tropical drinks. Trader Sam’s is a tropical-themed bar and all of the drinks will feature some sort of juices. This also isn’t the best place to go if you’re looking for a meal. There are only a few appetizer options and there’s not much to choose from if you have dietary restrictions. You’re looking for a faster dining experience. This is a popular spot to visit, so the virtual line can get REALLY long and you might find that the wait time is longer than you’re willing to stick around. You want a more relaxed environment for drinks. There is A LOT going on when you visit Trader Sam’s between swimming Skippers, chanting Tiki Gods, and more — so, it’s basically the opposite of relaxing. You want to have a separate table for your party. Trader Sam’s is currently operating at full capacity and guests are encouraged to share tables, so you might find yourself sitting with strangers while you’re here. Overall After over a year of being closed, Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto certainly still lives up to all the hype. It offers a unique, fun, and interactive dining experience that you won’t find at any other Disney World bar and will likely remember (and laugh about) for years to come. So, if you can make room for a trek over to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and handle the long wait times to get in, then it’s definitely worth a visit! Plus, you might even walk away with one of Trader Sam’s artifacts (well, souvenir mugs) that you can take home with you and be reminded of all those cheesy jokes that the Skipper cracked. And, keep in mind that if you can’t get into the bar (or you don’t want to wait), the full cocktail menu is also served outside at Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace! The atmosphere is a bit more laid back here, but you’ll still get to try all those tropical concoctions! And, be sure to stay tuned to DFB for more Disney food news and updates! Check Out a Complete List of What Restaurants ARE and ARE NOT Open at Walt Disney World’s Theme Parks Right Now HERE! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Have you ever been to Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto? Let us know in the comments! The post REVIEW: Does Trader Sam's Still Live Up To The Hype in Disney World? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There is SO much to watch on Disney+ right now, and yet there’s even more content coming soon! Disney+ ©Disney We just finished streaming all of Loki, and now we’ve got other new series like Monsters at Work and Turner and Hooch. Next Wednesday, another new show joins the lineup — Chip ‘n’ Dale: Park Life! Today, Disney released a new trailer for the upcoming series, and it has got us squeaking with excitement! The video was shared with the tagline “Big adventures come ‘n’ small packages” and based on what we see here, we definitely believe it. This show seems like it could be great for the whole family to watch together! We’ll be looking out for more sneak peeks and details ahead of its release next week, so stay tuned. ©Disney We’ll continue sharing the latest news on everything coming soon to Disney+, so keep following along with DFB! Here’s Everything Coming to Disney+ in August! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What’s your favorite Disney+ series right now? The post VIDEO: Chip 'n' Dale Are Getting Their Own Disney+ Series! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’ve seen quite a few reopening announcements at Disneyland Resort recently. Disneyland Resort is reopening gradually! It seems like everything from rides to restaurants to resorts are getting reopening dates, and we’re very excited to check it all out. Recently, it was announced that character meals are coming back to the resort, and today you can make reservations for one of those meals! If you’d like to dine with Mickey and friends at Storytellers Café in Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, then it’s time to make your reservations! The breakfast reopens this Thursday, July 22nd, but you can schedule your visit today. It’s so beautiful in this restaurant! The character breakfast meal will be offered daily, with the addition of brunch on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11 AM to 1 PM. Reservations are open now for 60 days out. Minnie is ready for adventure! The reservations for this restaurant were experiencing some issues this morning, not showing up for several hours after they were expected to. Times didn’t start popping up for Storytellers Cafe until about 11:45AM EST. The same thing happened with Carthay Circle Restaurant, which was also supposed to open up reservations this morning. We still haven’t seen any availability for that dining option. Carthay Circle Restaurant reservations are also suffering from glitches. We’ll make sure to keep you updated on any more dining reservation glitches and details on restaurants at Disneyland Resort. Stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney food news, including all the restaurant reviews for your next vacation. We’ve got you covered! Click Here to Learn About Character Dining Coming Back to Disneyland Resort! Check out more Disneyland Food Reviews Here!! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Have you ever been to a character meal? Let us know in the comments! The post Character Dining Reservations Are Now OPEN for Disneyland Resort! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

First comes breakfast, then comes DINNER! We’re BACK at Trail’s End Restaurant! Trail’s End at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Recently, Trail’s End Restaurant at Disney’s Fort Wilderness reopened with a new family-style menu. After filling up on breakfast staples, we were ready to tackle dinner. Come along with us and see how it was! Atmosphere Not super familiar with Disney World’s resident campground? You’re not alone. If you want to check out Trail’s End you’ll need to venture to Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. It’s worth noting that this spot requires some travel time, so if you’re not staying at Fort Wilderness, leave early and give yourself plenty of time to get over to the resort. If you ARE staying at Fort Wilderness, still factor in a bit of time. Why you ask? Hello Fort Wilderness! Because there’s NO parking for cars around the resort aside from the parking spots at each cabin or campsite. You park near the front and hop on one of the internal buses to get to your destination (in this case, Pioneer Hall in the Settlement section of the resort). This takes a bit of time and can be a bit confusing if you’re new to it all! Ready to get lost in Disney’s Campground? Inside Trail’s End, (when you finally make it!) there’s plenty of pioneer theming (It IS called “Pioneer Hall,” after all. It’s not just a clever name!). The pioneer supplies, exposed wood, and memorabilia will instantly transport you to the frontier! Trail’s End The vibe is kind of Cracker Barrel meets Davey Crockett meets Disney. It’s “rustic” but cozy. Theming WIN! A decor favorite here at DFB is the bison head! It’s a little bit creepy (definitely feels like it’s looking at you) but it really does elevate the theming! Is it staring at us? Trail’s End has a classic table setting and offers chairs and tables for seating accommodations. Eats After we sat down, we scanned the QR code and took a look at the menu! QR Code Menu The first thing you’ll notice about the new menu is that the restaurant, like many other buffets at Disney World, has become family-style. Instead of going down the buffet line, like the location was known for, a selection of food in large sharable portions comes to you! A lot of our past favorites are back on this new menu, but our beloved Fried Chicken is gone! This fried chicken was well-loved by MANY so to see a different chicken option on the menu hit hard for some fans. This new family-style dinner is $29.99 per adult and $17.99 per child. Not everything is included in that flat fee, mocktails and alcoholic drinks, as well as add-ons, cost extra. ©Disney UPDATE: The dinner add-ons have increased in price since we first posted this review. The peel-n-eat shrimp boil is now $1 more expensive at $9.99, and the cornbread-crusted salmon is $2 more expensive at $9.99. ©Disney There is a selection of mocktails, beer, wine… ©Disney …cocktails (many featuring…what else…moonshine!)… ©Disney ..and Allergy-Friendly options! ©Disney To start off our meal, we grabbed a cocktail: the Gullywhumper (bonus points if you know the Davy Crockett reference!) with Ole Smoky White Lightnin’ Moonshine and Peach Schnapps with Pineapple and Cranberry Juices for $14. This was a great moonshine cocktail! In the past, this particular moonshine has been a bit too overpowering for us, but the schnapps and juice balanced out the flavor really well with some much-needed sweetness. It had a great summer vibe — very refreshing, and very pretty! The mason jar was also a fun little touch. Moonshine in a Mason Jar! Next up was the Oven-fresh Bread Basket with Goat Cheese Chive Biscuits, Hushpuppies, and Skillet Cornbread. These were served with Pimento Spread and Honey Butter. BREAD!!! The Goat Cheese Chive Biscuits were REALLY good! They had an herby flavor and a bit of tang from the goat cheese but not so “goat cheesy” that it would turn off guests that aren’t a fan. These go great with the honey butter, but you don’t need the butter to enjoy these biscuits! Biscuits We also loved the Hushpuppies! The pimento cheese had a nice flavor that complimented the hushpuppies well, but the hushpuppies were so crisp and fluffy that they were perfect on their own too! (It should come as no surprise that if you basically deep-fry balls of cornbread we like them. ) Hushpuppies The Cornbread was pretty much your run-of-the-mill cornbread, but it was still very good! Again, this went well with the honey butter, but Pimento Cheese works great here too. Cornbread Next up was the Chopped Salad with Mixed Greens, Grape Tomatoes, Red Onion, Cucumbers, White Cheddar, and Cornbread Croutons with warm Bacon Vinaigrette. This was a great salad! It was very fresh and the white cheddar and cornbread croutons took an otherwise plain salad to the next level! Chopped Salad The bacon vinaigrette also added a nice salty/smokey flavor that was delicious! If you can’t tell from this photo below, we were given what appears to be enough dressing for 16 salads. Bacon Vinaigrette Now, for the main event: the Smokehouse Skillet with Pecan-smoked Brisket, Rotisserie Chicken, Andouille Sausage, Fingerling Potatoes, Green Beans​, Buttered Corn on the Cob​ with Chipotle Barbecue and Carolina Mustard Barbecue Sauce​ (basically a whole buffet in one big bowl!). Take a look at that skillet! The Rotisserie Chicken was well-seasoned and flavorful, but it had no moisture whatsoever! Rotisserie chicken is often quite juicy, so this was a bummer to get such a dry piece. This made us miss that fried chicken even more. #bringthefriedchickenback The Roast Chicken The Andouille Sausage was a bit on the spicy side but we liked it a lot! It might be too spicy for some, so beware! The green beans were nice and crisp with a strong garlic flavor. Green beans in a skillet like this can often be seen as just something green tossed in there to add a veggie, but these were quite good! The Sausage and Green Beans The Pecan-smoked Brisket was actually very tender! It had a nice smokey flavor, but also a little bit too fatty for our liking. Brisket can be quite fatty so that’s almost to be expected, but the meat portion had a nice flavor. Still, it was a good piece of brisket! The Brisket The Fingerling Potatoes were also well done! Fork-tender on the inside and crisp on the outside, they were a well-seasoned and well-cooked side of potatoes! It’s easy to undercook mass-produced potatoes like these (like we’ve seen at other all-you-can-eat meals) but these were just right. The Potatoes The Buttered Corn on the Cob​ was very buttery and the roasting brought out a great smokey sweetness! The corn on the cob! As is becoming tradition at buffets-turned-family-style-meals (ha!), there were a few optional add-ons (basically food you probably used to be able to find on the buffet here or something similar but now…you gotta pay extra). As an add-on, we got the Half-slab Memphis-rubbed Pork Spare Ribs for $9.99! These were pretty good ribs, not these-are-the-best-ribs-in-the-world good, but still pretty good. That’s a lot of ribs! The dry rub on the ribs was your standard barbecue seasoning and it came with both vinegar and mustard-based barbecue sauces to jazz them up to your liking! We’re not sure if this add-on is totally necessary since you get so much food with this meal already, but these are great if you’re craving some ribs! RIBS To end our dinner at Trail’s End, we got the Covered Wagon Sundae. This was 2000% the part of the meal we’d been waiting for all day! We loved the 10-gallon sundae over at Whispering Canyon Cafe at Wilderness Lodge when it was available a few years back so we were pumped to possibly see it back in action somewhat here! Served in a clear plastic cowboy hat (NOT a covered wagon, as one might expect!), this is a “Wagon Load” of Ice Cream, Toppings, Brownies, Cookies, and Chocolate-covered Bacon! If your party is just one or two people you’ll get a smaller cowboy hat, while bigger parties get the big portion. Sundae! This makes sense since why would you bring a 10-gallon style bucket hat of ice cream out for just one person? But just note that if you want that full “pioneer-style” kitchen sink sundae experience, come ready to eat with a crowd. The brownie on ours was a little dry, but it’s possible we just got a staler piece. However, the banana added a nice, fresh aspect to this sundae and the bacon was a salty-sweet treat that really brought the whole thing together! It was a WHOLE uncut banana tossed on top though, so be ready to chop it up with your spoon. This sundae has a Neapolitan ice cream base that was delicious. The shortcake at the bottom of the sundae tasted the same as the strawberry shortcake at P&J’s Southern Takeout and was really good! The presentation was really fun on this one — super cute! Overall, we enjoyed the meal! It wasn’t the most knock-your-socks-off dinner we’ve ever had, but it was pretty good! Service here was excellent as always and we had a great time. Nosh or Not Stop by Trail’s End if… You’re staying nearby! Fort Wilderness is not really on anyone’s way, unless you’re already staying here! You’re looking to get your money’s worth! $30 for all-you-can-eat, rib-stickin’ dinner ain’t bad. You’re craving some barbecue outside of the parks. Take a different trail if… You’re not close to Trail’s End! The food is decent and the price is good, but if an evening of navigating the wild world of Fort Wilderness doesn’t sound like fun, maybe mosey on by this one. You’re looking for a more unique menu. The breads were fun but the main course was pretty basic, really. You don’t like family-style. Obviously, this style of meal is having its heyday right now. But if you want to pick your specific meal or just don’t want to fight with Aunt Susan and your grandma for the last piece of brisket (you can always ask for more!) then this might to be the experience for you. Overall This was a good family-style dinner… but is it worth it? Well, that depends! If you’re looking for some good barbecue or just a homely classic dinner, this is a great place to stop by! The only real issue is transportation. Depending on where you are, it could take quite a bit of time to get to and from Trail’s End! As we stress time and time again, time is money in Disney World and you’re gonna spend a bit of time if you want to try out Trail’s End. Fort Wilderness is accessible by bus, boat from Magic Kingdom, or driving, but it can still be a little bit on the far side depending on your location. Food-wise, the options here are pretty standard. The salad was ever so slightly elevated and the breads were all really enjoyable (we love a few good toppings for our bread). The main course was just OK though. The meats weren’t destination-worthy, and sides were decent, but not knock-our-socks-off great. BUT, it’s another in an ever-growing list of “family-style” meals at Disney World. Compared to others like Cape May Cafe at Beach Club or even Garden Grill in EPCOT, this spot is a bargain. That said, you’re not getting characters, like Garden Grill, or a much easier to access hotel, like Beach Club Resort for Cape May. The portions here are no joke and can make add-ons like the ribs unnecessary. The food was pretty good, but nothing particularly mindblowing; you can definitely find better barbecue at spots like Regal Eagle in EPCOT or, better yet, Polite Pig in Disney Springs. But, for the price, this is a good deal and pretty tasty. This is one of those places where the food is good enough to justify going, but you have to decide whether or not things like travel time and price are worth it to you. That said, $30 a person is a decent deal, especially for all-you-can-eat dinner at Disney World, so if the idea of a value for dinner is appealing, the trek might be worth it. But seriously, #bringthefriedchickenback. 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 the new family-style Trail’s End Dinner? The post Review: We're Eatin' Barbecue and a Massive Sundae in a HAT at Trail's End in Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Are you the type of person who plans out your outfits when you head to Disney World? Do you plan your outfits for the trip? Matching shirts, cute accessories, and shoes that are the perfect amount of comfortable and stylish for those long park days? If you’re already planning for your next visit, then we’ve got the perfect addition to your ‘fit…and it’s SUPER affordable! Today we were scrolling through the plethora of Disney merchandise online (as one does!), and we came across these unique Disney earrings. It’s the A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes Collection from Jane, and there are 27 different styles to choose from! ©Jane These earrings are made of clay, so whichever pair you choose to buy will be handcrafted specifically for you. You’ll have your own custom Disney jewelry! And right now, they’re on sale for $9.99 each, which is a STEAL compared to the regular $18.99 price tag. ©Jane They’re made by Vintage Chic & Sweet Briar Hollow. Shipping is $3.49 for the first item and free for each additional item, which is another steal! They ship to the U.S. only. ©Jane Some of the styles are more obviously “Disney” while others are simply coordinating color palettes. No matter which pair you get, you can’t really go wrong! Click Here to Shop the Earrings! Stay tuned to DFB for more must-have Disney merch and all the updates on the latest news! We’ve got you covered on everything from food to rides to resorts, so keep following along! Click Here to Check Out Other Must-Have Accessories! 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 own any Disney jewelry? Let us know in the comments! The post One-of-a-Kind Disney Earrings for Less Than ?! Here's Where to Get Them! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Welcome back, DFB friends! We’re here with another What’s New at EPCOT! The Land And, we’ve got plenty of updates to share with you. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s dive right on in! EPCOT Food Update Joffrey’s Coffee As Disney Parks continue to move towards more eco-friendly features, we recently noticed that paper straws had been replacing plastic ones. But, during our trip to EPCOT, Joffrey’s Coffee at the American Adventure Pavilion took it one step further by rolling out a NEW kind of straw made of sugar! A straw made out of…sugar? The Sugarcane Straw is made from a byproduct of sugar processing out of the plant fibers that are left behind after sugar is processed. That means it’s100% biodegradable, compostable, AND reusable! Plus, this straw won’t get soggy, like we have noticed the paper ones do previously. Sugarcane Straw We only spotted the Sugarcane Straw at the American Adventure Joffrey’s, but we’ll continue to check back at the rest of them around Disney World to see if they arrive soon! Check out more details about the sugarcane straws here! EPCOT Construction Update World Showcase As we were strolling around EPCOT, we noticed one small change that not every guest may realize has taken place! Many of the trash cans around the World Showcase have been swapped out for models without flaps over the entrances. New Trashcan Lids Most likely this is not only a way to have more contact-free areas, but the update also helps ensure that guests have an easier time placing trash in the bins to keep the parks clean! Missing Flaps Restaurant Marrakesh Not every dining location has reopened to guests in Disney World, and EPCOT’s Restaurant Marrakesh in the Morocco Pavilion is no different when it comes to food. But, when it comes to seating? Now, that’s another story! Restaurant Marrakesh in EPCOT Restaurant Marrakesh placed a sign outside of its entrance, notifying guests that it was open for seating as a cool spot to relax or eat their lunch. You can now head inside! The tables throughout the restaurant were distanced from one another… Inside Restaurant Marrakesh! …while the benches were also available for visitors to take some time off their feet for a while. Tables are distanced The open seating reminds us quite a lot of the previous Relaxation Stations that were in Disney World. And, we’ll have to check back to see if more closed Disney restaurants adopt this same “reopening” format to guests soon! Here’s what you need to know about Restaurant Marrakesh opening to guests! Well, that’s all for this What’s New at EPCOT! We’ll catch you next time for more updates. And, if you have any questions about your upcoming Disney vacation, let us know so we can help you find the answers! Stay tuned with DFB for the latest Disney entertainment and news! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What are you looking forward to seeing the most at EPCOT and the EPCOT Resorts? Let us know in the comments below! The post What's New at EPCOT: Straws Made of Sugar and a Trash Can Change! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney Cruise Line is not fully back up and running just yet. Disney Cruise Line Wonder Ship It has been running staycation cruises in the United Kingdom, and Disney recently ran a test sailing from Florida, but a variety of Disney’s cruises have been canceled through part of this year. But, Disney’s looking well into the future when it comes to cruising and now we’ve got an update on Disney Cruise Line’s potential new homeport! Back in early May of this year, we shared that Disney Cruise Line was in talks for a new year-round port in Florida, specifically at Port Everglades. This would be their first year-round port outside of Port Canaveral. Later in May, the Broward County Commission approved the start of negotiations between Port Everglades and Disney Cruise Line about this new opportunity. Disney Cruise Line Terminal But, what has happened since that approval of the negotiations and what’s the status on this potential new year-round port now? Well, the Broward County Commission held a meeting on June 15th, 2021 and a motion related to Disney Cruise Line was on the agenda. According to the legislation details shared on the Commission’s website, on June 15th the Commission considered a motion to authorize the Broward County Administrator to execute a Marine Terminal and Berth User Agreement between Broward County and Disney Cruise Line. This agreement would, however, be subject to final review by the County Attorney’s office. Disney Dream The legislation details share how the Board approved the start of the negotiations for this agreement back in May as we discussed above. It also notes how Disney and Port Everglades held a fact-finding meeting on May 20th and negotiations on June 8th. The legislation details share that prior to the June 15th meeting by the Board of County Commissioners, Disney and Port Everglades were still finalizing the business terms of their agreement based on their prior negotiations. The final version of the agreement is set to be ready for signing before the end of the Broward County Board of County Commissioners’ summer recess. Disney Dream The legislation details also state that by authorizing the County Administrator to execute the Agreement with Disney before the end of the summer recess, that will allow the staff at Port Everglades to start getting everything ready to make some terminal and berth improvements before Disney starts conducting any cruise activity from the port. Let’s Set Sail! When could Disney start using Port Canaveral as a homeport? Well, the legislation details share that allowing the parties to sign this agreement during the summer recess also gives Disney enough time to make decisions about its ships associated with “homeporting from Port Everglades starting in the 2023-2024 cruise season.” So, it seems 2023-2024 could be the cruise season Disney is targeting as the start of its use of Port Everglades as a homeport. Disney Dream Again, the motion to authorize the Broward County Administrator to execute the Marine Terminal and Berth User Agreement between Broward County and Disney Cruise Line was brought up at the Board of County Commissioners meeting on June 15th. Upon review of the Board action details you can see that this particular motion was approved by a vote of 9-0. So it seems things are moving forward! ©Broward County Board of Commissioners We’ll be sure to keep an eye out for more updates and how this could impact the future of cruising with Disney Cruise Line! Click here to see why Disney Cruises to Alaska might resume sooner than we thought! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Have you ever been on a Disney Cruise? Tell us in the comments! The post Disney Cruise Line Takes One Step Closer to Finalizing a New Year-Round Port first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article