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Disney World’s Magic Kingdom: the Most Magical Place on Earth. Except when it’s not. Too much rain. Not enough rides. Missing characters. Cinderella Castle You spent all day in the park and still left disappointed. So what can you do? 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 biggest Magic Kingdom letdown.The post DFB Video: 18 Reasons People Leave the Magic Kingdom Disappointed Everyday first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We sure hope you’re ready for a BIG day of eating, drinking, and enjoying the BIGGEST EPCOT fest! EPCOT Food and Wine Festival That’s right! It’s the most wonderful year, A.K.A. time for EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival! We’re ready to try amazing eats, drink delicious drinks, and regret NOTHING after eating waaaaay too much! Ready to see it all with us? Join us as we report LIVE from the 2021 Food and Wine Fest! And follow along ALL day as we will be updating this post with every festival detail. Festival Dates Food and Wine opened today (July 15th) at EPCOT and will be available for everyone to enjoy through November 20th. So, that gives you plenty of time to swing on over to the festival! Food and Wine! Let’s get into the fun! Getting Started We arrived at EPCOT this morning a full hour before the park opened and spotted some crowds already forming. Some guests were sitting on the ground to wait it out. Crowds Soon enough though, pretty HUGE crowds started to roll into International Gateway. Food and Wine Folks were pouring in from the EPCOT area resort hotels and from the Skyliner at International Gateway. Crowds Good thing an awesome security Cast Member was there making sure everyone remembers a VERY important Food and Wine tip…STAY HYDRATED! WOOHOO! It’s Food and Wine time, baby! Food and Wine! Of course, no festival is complete without snagging the Festival Passport to keep track of your progress around the booths. Festival Passport Passport in hand, it was time to get going on the EATS AND DRINKS! Festival Passport We’ll be updating this post to take you with us ALL DAY as we explore the fest! Stay tuned so you don’t miss a beat! And if you’re looking for more updates follow along with us on Instagram! Click HERE to see ALL of the updated details for the 2021 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival! Ready to Plan for Your 2021 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Trip? Order the DFB Guide to the 2021 Epcot Food & Wine Festival e-Book today! This 250+-page guide to the Festival offers insider tips and advice as well as all of the details you need to know to plan your best Festival visit ever. Your purchase includes several bonus items as well -- including a full daily schedule of events at the Festival and a printable World Showcase Booth Menu Checklist to carry with you as you Eat around the World! Order your 2021 edition today! Don't miss a moment of the fun! Use code Chefs at check-out for 20% off the cover price! 2021 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Index 2021 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Booth and Menu Index 2021 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Special Events 2021 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Low-Cost Seminars and Demonstrations 2021 Eat to the Beat Concert Schedule Epcot Food and Wine Festival Fans Facebook Page 2021 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Wine and Dine Half Marathon Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic Food and Wine Festival 101 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Vegetarian Items Epcot Food and Wine Festival Gluten Free Items Will you be heading to EPCOT to enjoy Food and Wine this year? Let us know in the comments! The post PHOTOS & VIDEOS! We're LIVE From the 2021 EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There has been a lot of exciting Disney World hotel news lately! The Swan Reserve Disney finally announced when the remaining hotels would reopen, and ALL of the Disney World resorts will officially be open by the end of the year! On top of that, restaurants like ‘Ohana and Belle Vue Lounge are reopening at the resorts, and options like grab-and-go and the arcades are returning. But today, we’re talking about Disney World’s newest hotel — The Walt Disney World Swan Reserve! The new hotel is set to open on September 1st of this year — just a month ahead of Disney World’s 50th anniversary celebrations. Reservations for September opened up a few months ago, but now reservations are open for October and on! Swan and Dolphin Reserve If you’re heading to Disney World for the 50th anniversary, other Disney World hotel rooms may be very pricey or hard to come by. So if you are interested in staying at this brand new hotel, book your room while you can! The Walt Disney World Swan Reserve For October 1st, room rates at this hotel range from around $450 per night to around $600 per night. Some rooms even have views of Disney’s Hollywood Studios or EPCOT! To book, you can make a reservation at Marriott.com. ©Marriott The hotel will be located right next to the current Swan and Dolphin hotels in Disney World, and will be a quick walk to EPCOT and within walking distance of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It features some seriously awesome rooftop views, over 300 guest rooms, 149 suites, 2 presidential suites, and a gorgeous wedding venue. ©Marriott The hotel will also have a new signature Mediterranean restaurant, a grab-n-go cafe, a pool area with an elevated deck and fire pit, a state-of-the-art fitness center, lots of meeting spaces and 2 ballrooms, a business center, and more. Guests will also have complimentary boat transportation to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, and FULL access to the amenities that guests at the Swan and Dolphin have. And there’s even a new wedding venue! ©Swan and Dolphin For those of you still looking for a place to stay this fall and winter, this is a new option with several amenities and perks. We’ll continue to keep you updated on the latest Disney World hotel news, so stay tuned for more! EVERY Opening (and Reopening!) 2021 Disney World Date! Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you -- they've literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They're DFB's recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!) So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/customemailexample.jpg Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Have you booked your stay at the Swan Reserve yet? Let us know in the comments! The post 50th Anniversary Reservations Now Open for Disney World's New Swan Reserve Hotel! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There’s a BIG perk in store for Disney World Resort guests this fall. Shades of Green Early Theme Park Entry will be introduced on October 1st to allow those staying at Disney World hotels to enter the theme parks BEFORE other guests. The new perk is replacing Extra Magic Hours, and now we’re looking into which resorts will be included. According to the Shades of Green Resort Facebook page, Shades of Green guests WILL have access to Early Theme Park Entry when it begins on October 1st. Shades of Green Shades of Green is an Armed Forces Recreation Center and the official Disney World military resort located in the Magic Kingdom area. It is not owned by Disney, so we weren’t sure whether the perk would extend to guests at this hotel. Shades of Green Early Theme Park Entry gives eligible guests entry into the park of their choosing 30 minutes prior to the posted opening. Disney Park Passes WILL be required for the park you’re entering early. Lobby Seating We’ll be keeping an eye out for more news about Early Theme Park Entry so check back with DFB for all the latest news! Click here to learn more about Early Theme Park Entry! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Are you excited about this perk? Tell us in the comments! The post NEWS: Another Disney World Hotel Confirmed for Early Theme Park Entry first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Today’s the day, folks! The International Food & Wine Festival begins today in EPCOT! The Food and Wine Festival begins today! To kick off the very tasty festival, shopDisney already has some merchandise available! Check out the new 2021 Food & Wine Festival merchandise that you can buy now! First, shopDisney has a bunch of new items that are part of the Festival Logo Collection! We found the 2021 Food and Wine Festival Tank Top for Adults! It’s white with the logo from this year’s festival on the front. ©shopDisney You can get it in sizes S to XXL, and it’s $39.99 now on shopDisney! We think this is perfect for a hot Florida day filled with snacking around the World Showcase! Click Here to Buy the 2021 Food and Wine Festival Tank Top for Adults! Calling all pin collectors! We found the 2021 Food and Wine Festival Pin! ©shopDisney This pin is only available for a limited time! It’s made of metal and is shaped like a cutting board with a spinning center that has the 2021 Food and Wine Festival logo! It measures 1 1/4” x 2” and costs $15.99 now on shopDisney! Click Here to Buy the Limited Edition 2021 Food and Wine Festival Pin! It’s called the Food and Wine Festival for a reason! So there are two different wine glasses available now for the festival! First is the 2021 Food and Wine Festival Stemless Wine Glass. ©shopDisney It holds 17 oz of liquid and has this year’s logo printed around the glass! You can get it for $14.99 on shopDisney now. Buy the 2021 Food and Wine Festival Stemless Wine Glass Here! Another option is the 2021 Food and Wine Festival Wine Glass! ©shopDisney This wine glass does have a stem, and it holds 13.5 oz of your favorite wine. It’s also $14.99 on shopDisney! You Can Buy the 2021 Food and Wine Festival Wine Glass Here! One of the things we always recommend to first-time Food and Wine goers is to bring along a tray to hold your snacks! There’s not always a lot of table space available! shipDisney has a 2021 Food and Wine Festival Appetizer Plate that would work perfectly! ©shopDisney The plate is made of acrylic and measures 1 1/16” H (not including drink section) x 7 7/8” Square. It’s just $7.99 on shopDisney now! Click Here to Buy the 2021 Food and Wine Festival Appetizer Plate! Last but not least for the logo collection is the 2021 Food and Wine Festival ornament! ©shopDisney It has the EPCOT ball silhouette with the logo and wine glasses surrounding it! It measures about 2 3/8” H x 3 5/8” W x 2 1/8” D and costs $22.99 now. Click Here to Buy the 2021 Food and Wine Festival Ornament! Next we’re moving in to the Figment Food and Wine Annual Passholder Collection! First, we found this Figment Food and Wine MagicBand! ©shopDisney The limited-edition MagicBand has Figment as a chef as well as “2021 Food and Wine Festival” printed on it! It’s $39.99 on shopDisney now! Buy the Figment Food and Wine Annual Passholder MagicBand Here! If you’re more of a pin person yourself, there’s also a Figment Food and Wine Annual Passholder Pin! ©shopDisney The pin has a colorful EPCOT ball with a lot of snacks in front, along with a chef-dressed Figment! It measures 1 3/4” x 1 3/5” and costs $15.99 now! Click Here to Buy the Figment Food and Wine Annual Passholder Pin! There’s more to each collection, and we’ll be keeping track of all the available 2021 Food and Wine merchandise, including what we find in EPCOT today! Shop the rest of the Food and Wine Collection online here. Keep following DFB for ALL the Food and Wine news today! Click Here to See All the Menus for This Year’s Food and Wine Festival! Ready to Plan for Your 2021 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Trip? Order the DFB Guide to the 2021 Epcot Food & Wine Festival e-Book today! This 250+-page guide to the Festival offers insider tips and advice as well as all of the details you need to know to plan your best Festival visit ever. Your purchase includes several bonus items as well -- including a full daily schedule of events at the Festival and a printable World Showcase Booth Menu Checklist to carry with you as you Eat around the World! Order your 2021 edition today! Don't miss a moment of the fun! Use code Chefs at check-out for 20% off the cover price! 2021 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Index 2021 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Booth and Menu Index 2021 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Special Events 2021 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Low-Cost Seminars and Demonstrations 2021 Eat to the Beat Concert Schedule Epcot Food and Wine Festival Fans Facebook Page 2021 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Wine and Dine Half Marathon Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic Food and Wine Festival 101 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Vegetarian Items Epcot Food and Wine Festival Gluten Free Items Are you going to this year’s Food and Wine Festival? Let us know in the comments! The post Shop the 2021 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Merchandise Collection ONLINE first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Whether it’s finding yourself in a park late at night with no one around, hopping on a ride that ends up terrifying you, or stumbling upon some of the more scary decor items around the resorts, you can end up feeling a little creeped out when you’re visiting Disney World. Does EPCOT have a creepy side? And, over the years quite a few creepy stories have circulated around the Disney Parks. We’ve already shared some of the stories at Magic Kingdom, and today we’re tackling the urban legends, tales, and even attractions from EPCOT that might keep you up at night. Stolen Animatronic EPCOT itself has changed a lot over the years (and is set to change even more in the next few) and Disney fans who visited the park between 1989 to 2007 might remember the Wonders of Life Pavilion in Future World East. When it was in full swing, guests could go into the pavilion (which really was just a big building) and find some attractions and activities all focused on you and your body. One of the biggest draws their was it’s two attractions: Body Wars, a motion sinuator type ride, and another little gem called Cranium Command. The Wonders of Life Pavilion is now under construction The ride was filled with animatronics and props that helped teach guests about the human brain of a young boy, but when the Wonders of Life Pavilion closed, all of the animatronics were left to sit…for a LONG time. And, if the thought of animatronics sitting lifeless inside the pavilion for years wasn’t creepy enough, someone actually decided to steal the main animatronic (called Buzzy) from the ride. According to the Orlando Sentinel, Disney reported that Buzzy’s hands and gloves had been stolen off of the animatronic in 2018. But, shortly after, rumors started circulating that the entire Buzzy animatronic had been stolen from the attraction and Disney confirmed this in 2019. Buzzy Animatronic ©D23 So, what happened to Buzzy? Well, NBA player Robin Lopez took an interest in a piece of memorabilia from EPCOT that was being sold on eBay and, when he spoke with the seller, he learned that they also had Buzzy’s headphones, jacket, and hat for sale. Lopez enjoys collecting historic Disney pieces so he paid $8,000 to purchase them (without knowing that they had been stolen). Shortly after, however, a former Cast Member (named Patrick Spikes) was arrested for theft of Disney property. And, while he did plead no contest to other thefts (like costumes from the Haunted Mansion attraction in Magic Kingdom), he never ended up being charged in connection with the missing Buzzy. Pictures later surfaced of Buzzy’s face and of an ominous puddle of hydraulic fluid (like that used to in Buzzy) where the animatronic had been located made the rounds on the net. And, the location of the rest of the Buzzy animatronic remains unknown to this day. Click HERE For 7 Super Weird Ways the NBA and Disney Are (Strangely) Linked Two Kids Haunt Spaceship Earth It turns out that the Haunted Mansion isn’t the only place that you can encounter a ghost in Disney World! According to Notes From Neverland, there’s a chance that you could have a paranormal encounter on your ride through Spaceship Earth in EPCOT. Spaceship Earth Over the years, there have been reports that guests and Cast Members have seen a ghost of a young boy and a blonde girl playing near the entrance to the attraction and even inside of the attraction. But, not much is known about why (or how) they ended up there. Mickey Stood on Top of Spaceship Earth Alright, this next one may not involve ghosts at EPCOT, but it is still pretty terrifying to think about (and look at) if you’re afraid of heights! Wayyyy back in 1989, Disney ran a brand new commercial for the new EPCOT Center. It had lots of families smiling and enjoying their day at Disney World, and, like every great Disney commercial, it ended with Mickey Mouse! The only thing is…he was standing ON TOP OF SPACESHIP EARTH. No REALLY! ©Disney Mickey and crew went all the way to the top of Spaceship Earth on the inside and then he crawled up through a hatch on the roof. And, you won’t see a rope holding onto his waist like you can see for characters in parades down Main Street, U.S.A. — the only thinking keeping him “safe” was a rope that looped over his foot while a camera operator flew by to get the shot. So, YEAH, that happened. (NGL, we’re dizzy just thinking about it!) We Dare You to Watch These Disney Commercials Without Laughing or Crying! Zombies in the Germany Pavilion World Showcase has been home to many different interaction games geared towards kids (though anyone can do them) throughout the years. And, from 2009 to 2012 you could pick up a flip phone and explore the pavilions with Kim Possible’s World Showcase Adventure. In the game, you would go on “missions” in select pavilions that had some interactive components and one of those was a bit creepier than the others… . The small quaint town once had ZOMBIES Over in the Germany Pavilion, guests had to go around to help defeat the villain, Professor Dementor and part of the mission led to the miniature train village. The only thing is, when you got there, it would trigger mini-ZOMBIES in the town square! So, yeah, zombies basically took over the small quaint village in EPCOT. Check Out Everything that Closed FOREVER in Disney World in 2020 HERE! Is That You, Ellen? Our last creepy story from EPCOT takes us back to the now-closed attraction, Universe of Energy…well, the Ellen’s Energy Adventure version of the ride, really. The attraction was revamped in 1996 and featured Ellen DeGeneres and Bill Nye as they took you on a SUPER long educational adventure about energy. It was mostly a slow-moving ride through different theaters, but one part was near identical to the original Universe of Energy: a trip through prehistoric times with dinosaurs. The big “addition was that of an Ellen animatronic to the dino-filled scene. But, she was almost scarier than the dinos themselves! Universe of Energy in 2017! Animatronic technology wasn’t the same as it is today back in the 90s and we ended up getting a GOOD look at the animatronic after the ride closed in 2017 when Ellen asked if she could get her animatronic from the closed attraction. She didn’t think her request would be granted, but her producers surprised her with (what appeared to be) the animatronic for her 60th birthday and…WOW…it was creepy. ©The Ellen Show It turned out to be a joke by Ellen’s staff, so the animatronic on the ride wasn’t exactly that creepy, but the red shirt and pants were actually what was worn by it on the ride! Stop What You’re Doing And Flash Back To EPCOT Center With Us in 1985!!! So, there you have it — some creepy stories from EPCOT that you can share with friends and family the next time you want to give them a good scare! And, if that’s not enough for ya, we’ve got even more creepy things from the Disney Parks in our video below including some that you may have already experienced yourself! And, be sure to stay tuned for more Disney tips, tricks, updates, and more! Click HERE for More CREEPY Stories From the Magic Kingdom! 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 felt creeped out at Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post Creepy Stories from EPCOT first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Orlando's hotel and resort pools are open again, and now the public can cool off with day passes without the need to book an expensive room. View the full article

A book celebrating Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary to be released this fall by the Orlando Sentinel is now available for pre-order. View the full article

It’s been one year since Walt Disney World’s theme parks reopened from pandemic shutdown. Rules and guidelines remain in flux. View the full article

Greetings from Blizzard Beach! Blizzard Beach on a sunny day We found out about Disney’s Halfway to the Holidays Live on TikTok a few days ago and today’s the day! We’ve been following along, and got a special look at a new holiday Dole Whip coming to Blizzard Beach soon! Tonight on TikTok, @DisneyParks went LIVE with their special Halfway to the Holidays event, and they gave us sneak peaks and a special tour of the snowiest water park, aka Blizzard Beach! ©Disney One of the most exciting parts of the event was the first look at a brand new Dole Whip coming to Blizzard Beach to celebrate Halfway to the Holidays! Introducing the Lime Orange Holiday Dole Whip! New Dole Whip Alert! ©Disney It’s topped with a white chocolate Orange Bird in a Santa hat, and the cone is decorated with festive sprinkles. Plus, we’ve got a new flavor combo — lime Dole Whip and orange Dole Whip! According to the live, this snack will be available at Blizzard Beach from July 22nd to 25th, but if you aren’t in Disney World during that time, don’t worry! The Cast Members on the live stream said this could make an appearance again closer to the holidays! Blizzard Beach Entrance If you want to try a new Dole Whip combo, then head to Blizzard Beach next week to check out the special holiday cone. We will be on the lookout for this treat to come to other locations in Disney World, and any other holiday treats coming early! We’ll continue to keep you updated on the latest Disney food news, so stay tuned for more! 10 Dole Whip Flavor Combos You Need to Try in Disney World Don't Miss Out on Any Disney World Fun This Holiday Season! The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2021 is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World. Preorder The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2021 now! It includes over 400 pages of must-have information, including: A full What's New!! chapter for the 2021 Holiday Season A full Monthly Schedule of Events for the Holiday Season How to avoid the crowds on Disney World's busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!) ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM. And of course we'll tell you where to eat! ;-D Click HERE to Preorder your 2021 Guide now and get 20% off with code PEPPERMINT! As always, our e-Books are 100% guaranteed! If you don't love it, you get your money back! MORE Disney World Holiday INFO! Check Out ALL the Holiday Treats in Disney World Last Year (With Reviews!) Look Back at the 2020 EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays BEST of the FEST! How Much Will a Disney world Hotel Room Cost You to Visit During the 2021 Holidays? Did you attend @DisneyPark’s live TikTok event? Let us know in the comments! The post There's A NEW Dole Whip Coming to Disney World -- But Only For a Few Days! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

When it comes to restaurants in Disney Springs, there are TONS of options to choose from. Wine Bar George Bar Seating We’re big fans of the Southern comfort food over at Homecomin’, and we love Raglan Road because they know how to celebrate lesser-known holidays like World Whiskey Day, but there’s one Disney Springs restaurant that’s just about perfect to everyone who dines there. It’s Wine Bar George! On top of their incredible dining options, they’ve just announced that a new experience is coming to the restaurant soon! Wine Bar George recently introduced the Natural Wine Experience, but now guests can try some exclusive red wine in an all-new experience. It’s called The Borgono Experience! You’ll be able to taste wine from six vintages, each from a different decade of Borgogno wine. Not only is this a tasting experience, but you’ll likely learn something as well! Wine Bar George If you’re looking to participate in a special wine experience, this sounds like a great option. Head over to Wine Bar George in Disney Springs to check it out! We’ll continue to keep you updated on the latest special events and experiences! Read our latest Wine Bar George review 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 been to Wine Bar George in Disney Springs? Let us know in the comments! The post A NEW Wine Experience Is Coming to One of Our Favorite Disney Springs Restaurants! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It seems like things are reopening left and right at Disney World! With some major dining locations reopening in the last few weeks like Casey’s Corner and Plaza Ice Cream Parlor, as well as the upcoming reopening of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, it’s a busy time at Disney World! Disney’s BoardWalk Inn Today, we’re back to report yet another exciting reopening over at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn! Disney’s Boardwalk Inn and Villas reopened on July 2nd, however its Belle Vue Lounge had remained closed until today! Now, the breakfast and cocktails spot is back in action! Their Continental-style Breakfast is now available from 7AM-11AM daily, and their Lounge operating hours are 5PM-11PM daily. Belle Vue Lounge The interior is based on laid-back 1930’s sitting rooms! This lounge features plenty of comfy seats and a bar, all of which is themed to fit in with the old-school boardwalk aesthetic of the resort! Belle Vue Lounge We stopped by the lounge today for a couple rounds of drinks — it was wonderful to interact with these Cast Members again! Belle Vue Lounge We grabbed a paper menu to take a look at our options, which included their selection of wine… Belle Vue Lounge Menu …beer… Belle Vue Lounge Menu …cocktails… Belle Vue Lounge Menu …featured cocktails and spirits… Belle Vue Lounge Menu …as well as nonalcoholic mocktails! Belle Vue Lounge Menu We started the evening with Smoked Turkey, which is a mixture of Wild 101 Turkey Bourbon, Red Stag Black Cherry Bourbon, Grenadine, and Lemonade, with a hint of Hickory Smoke garnished with Luardo Gourmet Maraschino Cherries. Smoked Turkey The hickory smoke is the star of this drink (hence the “Smoked” Turkey name), and a little goes a long way seeing as that was the standout flavor for us. This drink has a smokiness that blends really well with its sweetness — we will say that you don’t really taste the bourbon, but you can definitely feel it after you drink it for a bit! It’s an overall super fun drink and if you’re interested costs $15. Smoked Turkey We also tried the Ultimate Long Island Iced Tea! This, of course, was a mixture of Bacardi Superior Rum, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Hendrick’s Gin, Corozon Blanco Tequila, Cointreau, and Sweet-and-Sour with a splash of Coca Cola. Ultimate Long Island Iced Tea While this is listed as an ultimate Long Island Iced Tea, it taste just like your typical “LIT.” Ours was a little heavy on the sour mix, and it wasn’t the standout drink for us on our visit today. That said, if you’re a fan of Long Island Iced Teas, then you’ll be mighty happy with this one. Check it out for $15! Ultimate Long Island Iced Tea Now, you guys know how much we love our secret menu items here at DFB, and Belle Vue Lounge is no exception! Their not-so-secret secret drink is known as the Shadow, and we were so pleased that Cast Member Tim was able to whip one up today! It’s a mixture Stoli Vanilla Vodka, Godiva Chocolate Liqueur, Chambord, and Half and Half — definitely a dessert beverage to end your evening! The Shadow Another fun drink, the Shadow is one of those drinks you likely won’t reorder multiple times in one sitting. It’s great for after dinner if you’re staying at BoardWalk Inn and want to wind down your evening! It has just the right amount of sweetness and costs $14. The Shadow Finally, we tried out the Bee Drop, named after a Cast Member there named Beatrice! This drink is a slight twist of their Bahama Mama, and is a mixture of Parrot Bay, Plantation Dark Rum, Pineapple Juice, and Grenadine with a splash of Pina Colada Mix. Bee Drop The Bee Drop is delicious! It definitely makes you want to run outside and lounge right next to the pool. It was a little on the sweet side, so if you like your cocktails sweet, this one could be perfect for you! The Pina Colada mix gives it a really nice texture and is the perfect summer drink, in our humble opinion! You can try it out for yourself for $13! Bee Drop That’s all we’ve got for you for now! We’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, tay tuned for more! Click here to read more about what’s new around EPCOT! 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 newly reopened Belle Vue Lounge? Let us know what you think in the comments! The post REVIEW: Belle Vue Lounge Has Reopened in Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Start spreading the news…we’re leaving today…to check out the new Dooney & Bourke collection spotted at Ever After Jewelry Co. & Accessories in Disney Springs! Dooney fans, you may remember the adorable “it’s a small world” collection, or the floral Tinker Bell collection, but now we’ve got a new Big Apple-themed collection featuring Mickey and Minnie! New collection spotted HERE Most Dooney & Bourke Disney collections come with a range of different bags and wallets in all shapes and sizes, and this collection is no different! Whether you’re looking for a nice big tote bag or just a little wristlet to show off your passion for the city that never sleeps, this collection has something for everyone! We spotted two different bags and a wallet that all highlight some classic New York graphics! Who doesn’t love to see two icons (Mickey and Minnie) surrounded by New York icons? Here’s the full display This first bag is priced at $248, and has plenty of space to show off Mickey serving up a NYC hot dog and Minnie shopping in SoHo (or so we imagine). Tote-ally adorable The back features a zipper pocket perfect for your metro card (or park map if you’re wearing it in Disney)! We spy a pretzel…but we prefer a little more salt Next up is this larger bowling bag-style purse with shiny gold hardware. You can buy it for $268. If you haven’t tried a NYC hot dog…have you even lived? We love that light blue lining on the handles and zippers! Such a cute accent! Larger purse Taxi! Taxi! We’re still practicing the perfect way to hail a cab… . Look how cute Mickey and Minnie look together! If you’re looking for something a little smaller, we also found this cute wristlet for $158. Wallet Here’s a look at the back! Wallet This collection is super cute, and it’s making us want to visit New York! Road trip, anyone? Found in Ever After Jewelry Co. & Accessories This collection pays the perfect tribute to NYC while also giving us a little Disney twist! You can find it in Ever After Jewelry Co. & Accessories in Disney Springs. As always, stay tuned for more Disney news and merch updates! Click here to check out The 5 Most Expensive Things in Disney World You Should Still Buy Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Will you pick up any items from this collection? Let us know in the comments! The post PHOTOS: Mickey & Minnie Take on The Big Apple in A NEW Disney Collection! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Using shipping containers for restaurants, and even homes, has increased in popularity over the years. In South Florida, shipping container homes have popped up in places such as Davie and Jupiter as the homes are typically more affordable than traditional houses. View the full article

It’s hard to keep up with all the reopenings at Disney World these days. We’ve seen numerous snack spots reopen recently, and we’ve got news on hotels reopening, too, including the remaining All-Star and Port Orleans Resorts! Dinosaur Gertie’s And the reopenings just keep on coming as things slowly return to normal at Disney World! And today, another ice cream spot reopened (and we’re grateful for that because IT IS HOT AND HUMID, y’all). While we were wandering around Disney’s Hollywood Studios, we noticed that our favorite dinosaur and ice cream stand had reopened! That’s right, you can now get some tasty ice cream again at Dinosaur Gertie’s Ice Cream of Extinction! Standing in line for ice cream The hours posted for Gertie are from 11PM to 5PM. And you can get a variety of cold treats here, including Mickey Bars, Mickey Ice Cream Sandwiches, as well as a Waffle Cone or Ice Cream Cup. Hours So how about a Waffle Cone with A Chocolate and Vanilla Swirl? ICE CREAM! Even Gertie thinks it’s refreshing! Gertie is trying to eat our ice cream! Ha! Gertie! You can’t eat our ice cream! Seriously, though, we’re happy to have another ice cream spot open again at Disney World! Vanilla and Chocolate Swirl And if we see any other reopenings, we’ll let you know! Read Our Latest Review of Plaza Ice Cream Parlor! 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 Dinosaur Gertie’s for ice cream? Let us know in the comments! The post Dinosaur Gertie Is FINALLY Serving Up Ice Cream Again at Disney's Hollywood Studios! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’re just ONE DAY away from the start of the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival! It’s Time for the Food & Wine Festival! We’re so SO excited to try all of the amazing eats that are sure to come at this fan-favorite festival, but we’ve noticed something a little bit different about Food and Wine compared to the last year of festivals. There’s one MAJOR space that WON’T be in use at this festival! During every festival since the parks reopened last year (2020 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival, 2020 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays, 2021 EPCOT Festival of the Arts, and 2021 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival), the World Showplace space has been used to house entertainment and several booths. World Showplace However, for this festival, NONE of the booths are located inside World Showplace! Interior booths can be found around the festival at locations like The American Adventure Rotunda Bistro and the Brew-Wing booth at the EPCOT Experience in the Oddysey building, but there are none in the HUGE World Showplace space. So, why isn’t this space in use? World Showplace Well, let’s take a look at what World Showplace was used for prior to the park closures. In the past, booths haven’t been located in this space during festivals because it has been used for events like Party for the Senses, demos, and private events. With the global health crisis, these seminars and events weren’t taking place. Party for the Senses Still, Party for the Senses has not been announced to return for this Food and Wine Festival either, so will the space go empty? Maybe. Food and Wine lasts just shy of 130 days and a lot could change in that time. Perhaps Disney is keeping their options open in case they DO bring back these events or seminars later in the season. Femmes of Rock Beyond that World Showplace is tucked down a pathway between the Canada and U.K. Pavilions. When we’ve stopped in during past festivals, we’ve noticed the booths tend to be a bit more deserted even in the AC and as lines remain LONG outside. Its out-of-the-way entrance is great for special events, but not so great for guests trying to stumble upon all the booths. World Showplace Pavilion So, a reason behind there being no booths in World Showplace might have something to do with the booths not getting enough traffic (and therefore, making less money) and/or with Disney wanting to keep options open for an event space. World Showplace If events DO return to World Showplace, you can bet you’ll hear about it here. As always, keep an eye on DFB for all the latest news and updates from Disney World! Click here to learn more about the booths coming to Food and Wine! Ready to Plan for Your 2021 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Trip? Order the DFB Guide to the 2021 Epcot Food & Wine Festival e-Book today! This 250+-page guide to the Festival offers insider tips and advice as well as all of the details you need to know to plan your best Festival visit ever. Your purchase includes several bonus items as well -- including a full daily schedule of events at the Festival and a printable World Showcase Booth Menu Checklist to carry with you as you Eat around the World! Order your 2021 edition today! Don't miss a moment of the fun! Use code Chefs at check-out for 20% off the cover price! 2021 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Index 2021 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Booth and Menu Index 2021 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Special Events 2021 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Low-Cost Seminars and Demonstrations 2021 Eat to the Beat Concert Schedule Epcot Food and Wine Festival Fans Facebook Page 2021 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Wine and Dine Half Marathon Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic Food and Wine Festival 101 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Vegetarian Items Epcot Food and Wine Festival Gluten Free Items Are you excited about the festival? Tell us in the comments! The post Why Isn't This HUGE Space Being Used for 2021 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Here at DFB, we certainly have our tried and true Disney treats we love. Carrot Cake Cookie From Dole Whip to Mini Mango Pie, all four Disney parks bring us some serious favorites. Perhaps one of our top cookies of all time is the Carrot Cake Cookie in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but something seems to be afoot with this beloved treat… . Earlier today, a reader reached out and said that something was going on with the frosting texture on the Carrot Cake Cookie. So, we swung by Trolley Car Cafe in Hollywood Studios today to check in on the good ol’ Carrot Cake Cookie. This treat has seen some changes in the past, and we needed to check in on the situation for ourselves. And oh no! Something is amiss! Carrot Cake Cookie When we took a bit of the pillowy goodness, we noticed something pretty different with the icing. The texture was a LOT more rubbery than its usual sweet and gooey. In fact, it was pretty far off from a regular frosting; it had a gluier texture. Plus the cream cheese flavor was strong but not quite as sweet as we remembered. Carrot Cake Cookie Weirdly enough though, a Cast Member told us that the cookie recipe hasn’t changed and another let us know that the icing had the same ingredients as always, but he had noticed a difference in consistency. It’s possible this batch of Carrot Cake Cookies went a little wonky and we certainly hope that was the case. We can’t imagine having to demote one of our favorites for having rubbery filling! Don’t get us wrong, the cake part was still good but we were not fans of today’s icing texture. Carrot Cake Cookie We’ll be sure to check back on the Carrot Cake Cookie situation in hopes that our sweet, creamy icing that we love is back next time. Keep an eye on DFB for the updates! Want to make your own Carrot Cake Cookie at home? Click here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What do you think is going on with this treat? Tell us in the comments! The post Something STRANGE Is Going On With Our Favorite Cookie in Hollywood Studios! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’ve been seeing more and more locations and guest offerings return to Disney World over the past few weeks, including some of our favorite dining spots like Casey’s Corner as well as the announcement that the remaining closed Disney World Resort hotels would be open by the end of this year, including Port Orleans and the two remaining All Star Resorts. Welcome to EPCOT! When it comes to traveling around Disney World, most transportation options have been available for some time now, but we have been waiting for news on when the EPCOT Monorail line would resume services! It appears that the EPCOT Monorail line will return this Sunday, June 18th! EPCOT Monorail Theme park journalist Scott Gustin shared the news via Twitter, saying that the Monorail service will begin its services daily one hour before EPCOT’s park opening time and conclude one hour after EPCOT’s park closing time. With the Monorail service returning for EPCOT, it was also reported that direct bus service to EPCOT would no longer be available from Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Disney’s Contemporary Resort on July 25th, and from Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort sometime in mid-August. Grand Floridian and Monorail The EPCOT Monorail line has not been available to guests since March 2020, when Disney World closed its parks and resorts due to the pandemic. Since then, the Magic Kingdom Monorail line has been available (albeit without the Polynesian station), but guests would need to find alternative transportation to EPCOT, like the Skyliner or the buses. EPCOT Monorail This will make it even easier for guests to travel to EPCOT, especially with the Food and Wine Festival set to kick off tomorrow, July 15th! Be sure to follow along for more of the latest news and updates from Disney World! Heading to EPCOT soon for the Food & Wine Festival? Here are some secrets you need to know about! 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 preferred method of transportation around Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post NEWS: The EPCOT Monorail Line Gets a Reopening DATE in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney Cast Member Stories - Episode 2 #DisneyCastLife | Disney ParksView the full article

Do YOU know all about the famous mountain ranges of Disney Parks? Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Disney World and Disneyland both have a number of mountain-themed rides, ranging from Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Expedition Everest, Matterhorn Bobsleds, and, of course, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a man went viral for constructing his very own version of the Matterhorn in a backyard, and now he’s taking on a new challenge. The OC Register reported that Sean LaRochelle is currently building a tribute to Disneyland’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in his parents’ Napa backyard. He previously created a 26-foot-tall backyard version of the Matterhorn Bobsleds, called “Matterhorn: Alpine Escape,” which he has since deconstructed to make his new roller coaster. ©OC Register courtesy of Sean LaRochelle LaRochelle is a twenty-nine-year-old working towards a Master’s in architecture, and he is currently being assisted by a team of 60 volunteers with his version of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, dubbed “Little Thunder.” Little Thunder will be twice as long as his previous Matterhorn roller coaster and with a $15,000 budget, they’ve been working on it for eight months. ©OC Register courtesy of Sean LaRochelle LaRochelle calls backyard roller coaster building his “full-time job,” and refers to the coasters as temporary “kinetic sculptures,” according to the OC Register. The “Little Thunder” project is also a family affair, with LaRochelle’s engineer father helping out, his sister designing twelve Old West town scenes and buildings, and his brother welding wheels. ©OC Register courtesy of Sean LaRochelle LaRochelle said that this project had a lot more planning involved, and Little Thunder will end up being 14-foot-tall, with a lift hill and an 8-foot drop. The finished ride will be 2 1/2 minutes long, even including an air-launch that takes riders from “zero to 25 mph in 1.2 seconds,” as reported by OC Register. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Construction for Little Thunder Construction is about half-way done. The mountain structure is finished and they’re working on the second half of the track now. After he finishes school, LaRochelle plans to move to Florida with his family in hopes of entering the entertainment industry. We wish we could have our favorite Disney roller coaster in our backyard! Stick with DFB for all your Disney-related news! Can you pass this QUIZ about all of Disney World’s Mountains? Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Would you build a roller coaster in your car? Let us know why or why not in the comments! The post Why Go to Disney When You Can Build THIS in Your Backyard?! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The Disney Ambassadors are back to bringing you cast member stories from around the world with #DisneyCastLife. This ongoing series highlights some of our favorite cast-related stories – and we thought you’d enjoy a look.http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DisneyParks/~4/sPqaEFNNxfsView the full article

Shiny new object, alert! Disney has been slowly gearing up for the big 50th Anniversary starting October 1st, and now we have some exciting news! Do you remember the character statues that Disney teased a few weeks ago? Well, Disney has shared a first look at one of the statues! Can you guess who it is? ©Disney Along with a new fireworks show in Magic Kingdom, a new attraction opening in EPCOT, and shiny new outfits for Mickey and pals, we now know one character will make an appearance as a golden sculpture in the Magic Kingdom! Surprise! It’s our old pal, Mickey! Check out the announcement, brought to you by Bret Iwan, who plays the voice of Mickey Mouse himself. Mickey is just one of 50 characters that you will be able to find in all four of the Walt Disney World parks. We can’t wait to see what other characters will be around! Disney announced that the Mickey and Minnie Mouse sculptures are dedicated to Disney Cast Members of the past, present, and future. Mickey certainly looks ready to celebrate! ©Disney These golden sculptures will be more than just fun to look at! Starting now, you can virtually “collect” the statues by saving them on Instagram. We love collecting anything Disney related, so sign us up! ©Disney We can’t wait to find out more about this Fab 50 Character Collection and how you will be able to interact with the sculptures, so stay tuned for more updates! Click here to learn more about everything that’s happening in Disney World on October 1st! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What do you think about these golden sculptures? Are you excited for the 50th Anniversary? Let us know in the comments! The post PHOTOS: The FIRST Golden Character Statue Has Been Revealed for Disney World's 50th first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

A lot of entertainment and activities are starting to return to Disney World! A different kind of mask And we’re seeing some very cool nighttime events returning, too, including the Atlantic Dance Hall at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. And now we have word that a fun party is set to return to Disney Springs. The Edison has announced the return of its annual Masquerade Ball on August 20th at 7:30PM! ©The Edison We went in February 2020, and it was chock full of fun things like purple cocktails and aerial performers! We saw a lot of great live entertainment, too, including dancers, a live band, and solo singers. Aerial Performer This year’s menu for the event includes a variety of Appetizers and Kabobs, along with a Carving Station with Sirloin, Roasted Potatoes, and Asparagus with a Demi Glaze. And don’t worry — dessert is included, too! Oh, and HELLO, BACON STATION. ©The Edison If you would like to attend this year’s events, tickets are now available here for $150 per person. VIP Booths and Couches are available for an additional $250 for guaranteed seating and a dedicated server. We’ll see you at the ball! See More Photos From Last Year’s Masquerade Ball Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Will you be attending the Masquerade Ball? Let us know in the comments! The post You Don't Have To Wait Until Halloween For This Masquerade Event in Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The 2021 EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival is getting ready to kick off in Disney World! It’s Almost Time for the Food & Wine Festival! We’ve been analyzing the menus to decide what to get, taking a look at the entertainment we’ll get to enjoy, and more! But, there are some secrets or things you may totally overlook at the Festival. Today we’re breaking those down for you here so you don’t miss them! 1 — Festival Merchandise Online Grabbing some merchandise themed to the Food & Wine Festival can be a great way to celebrate your visit and remember the time you spent there. But, did you know that you can generally get Food & Wine Festival merchandise online too? This year, shopDisney has already announced that the Food & Wine Spirit Jersey will be available online on July 15th. ©Disney We expect that much if not most of the other Food & Wine Festival merchandise will also make its way to shopDisney soon! Last year, a ton of the Food & Wine Festival merchandise became available online in October. We expect the same will happen this year. This is a great way to get in on the festival fun even if you can’t attend in person. Click here to get a first look at the Food & Wine Festival merchandise that will be released this year! 2 — Free Festival Passports If you’re trying to keep track of the food items you’ve purchased, see what’s coming up at the next booth, or mark off the items you’ve eaten from Emile’s Fromage Montage so you can get the special surprise at the end, then you can pick up a Festival Passport! Don’t forget your Festival passport! You’ll find these passports typically at the front of the park and throughout other areas in the park as well. They contain a full list of all the booths and the items you can find at them. They’re useful and can serve as a great souvenir! Want to get some more FREE Food & Wine Festival things? Click here to see our DFB exclusive printable for all of the booths! And click here to get our FREE DFB exclusive Food & Wine Festival printable map so you can get planning! 3 — FREE Scavenger Hunt While the Food & Wine Festival definitely has a lot of great food and drinks for you to try (it’s in the name!), there are some great activities to participate in too! One of those is the FREE Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak scavenger hunt. It’s Remy! During this scavenger hunt, you’ll look for little Remy statues that have been hidden throughout the park! Now, you can pay to get a map where you’ll indicate where you found each Remy statue. If you pay for that map and complete the scavenger hunt, you can get a prize, which is really fun. Hide and Squeak Scavenger Hunt and Prizes But, if you don’t need or want the prize, you can just play for free by making a point to search for those Remy statues throughout your walk around the park! It’s great for kids and adults alike. Click here to learn more about the return of this scavenger hunt! 4 — CHEESE Crawl Want to get a prize for eating tons of cheesy dishes? Good, then you’ll want to complete Emile’s Fromage Montage (a.k.a. the Food & Wine Festival Cheese Crawl)! Emile’s Fromage Montage | Sign from 2019 For Emile’s Fromage Montage you’ll need to get the 5 menu items at the various Food & Wine Festival booths that are part of the cheese crawl. Be sure to get the stamps on your Festival Passport to indicate that you’ve gotten each of these items. You’ll want to grab those stamps when you get your food at each of the booths. Pork Rinds and Pimento Cheese — One of the Items on the Crawl! ©Disney Once you’ve gotten all 5 items, then you can head to Shimmering Sips for a special prize! If you’re going to eat a bunch of food and you love cheese, this might be a win-win. Eat food + get prize = perfection. Click here to see what 5 items are on the cheese crawl this year! 5 — Specialty Items at Booths You See All Year Long While you can’t really miss the festival booths that are out in the park and pretty clearly marked as Festival booths, you might not realize that there are specialty festival items being served in some places that serve up food all year long. 2021 Hops & Barley Booth For example, you can find limited-time offerings that are specific to the Food & Wine Festival at the Joffrey’s Coffee locations in the park, at Refreshment Port, and at Refreshment Outpost. Refreshment Port — Braised Beef Poutine ©Disney It’s not really a “secret” that the items are being served there, but these spots can totally get overlooked in comparison to some of the other booths. Be sure to look at the menus and see if any of the items they’ll be serving up are things that sound interesting to you so you don’t miss them! Click here to see all of the menus for the booths at this year’s Food & Wine Festival! 6 — Plan Ahead Typically, the booths at the Food & Wine Festival open when the park officially opens and they stay open until the park closes. But, we have experienced situations at some EPCOT festivals where one or more booths may close a bit earlier than the park’s official closing time. Some New Items You’ll be Able to Enjoy at the 2021 Food & Wine Festival! ©Disney This may not happen all that often, but if you have your heart set on getting an item at one particular booth, be sure to prioritize it and get it well in advance so you aren’t stuck running up to the booth 20 minutes before the park closes only to find it has already closed. Also depending on crowds, some booths may only be open on the weekends during certain parts of the festival. Click here to see a full list of all of the new menu items available at the Festival this year. 7 — Unexpected Places This sort-of goes hand-in-hand with #5 above, but you can sometimes find Food & Wine Festival booths in unexpected places. If you don’t know where to look, you might totally miss them! Appleseed Orchard! This year, you’ll find a Food & Wine Festival booth located INSIDE of the Canada Theater where Canada Far & Wide is typically held. There will also be items inside of the building that houses the EPCOT Experience. Click here to check out our DFB printable map so you can see where all of the booths will be located! 8 — Things Change and Not Everything That’s “New” Is New If you had a favorite item at a previous festival and don’t immediately see it on the same booth’s menu this year, be sure to search again. Sometimes festival items can move from one booth to another depending on the year and the set-up. We Can’t Wait for the Festival to Begin! As part of this, sometimes you may see “new” booths serving up old favorites. For example, this year the Kenya booth is new as we haven’t seen a Kenya booth before. But, the main items being sold at the booth are things we’ve seen offered at festivals in the past. Kenya Booth Keep in mind that the reverse can also happen, older booths that have been around for years can get entirely new items or a whole new menu. 9 — Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages Festival Because of its name — the Food and WINE Festival — many might think that the drinks available throughout the festival booths are exclusively alcoholic drinks. But, that’s not the case! Strawberry Smoothie There are actually a number of non-alcoholic beverages available during the festival including a Frozen Apple Pie, Mango Bubble Milk Tea, a Strawberry Smoothie, and more! So, whether you simply don’t drink alcohol or you’re looking for something for your kiddos to drink while you sip your wine, there are options out there! 10 — Limit on Alcohol It’s not really a secret, but this next item is something you should know about if you do plan on drinking alcoholic beverages at the festival. Generally, there is a limit of 2 alcoholic drinks at a time per ID. Time for Some Food and Wine in EPCOT! Just keep that in mind as you make your way around EPCOT, particularly if you were planning on having one person in your group go and buy drinks for everyone. 11 — Take It Home! Try a dish that you absolutely fall in love with at the Festival? Wish you could make it at home? Well, you can do that! First, you could check out our DFB Guide to the Food & Wine Festival! In the book, we’ve got a number of recipes for Festival dishes you can recreate in your own kitchen. Our guide also covers tips and tricks about making your way around the Festival, news about what’s new, provides strategies for conquering the festival in 1 day, 2 days, or on a budget, and even has crawls specific to different types of food you may love (like a chocolate crawl)! We cover it all in the DFB Guide! You can also look for Disney cookbooks or official Disney stories which may feature festival-specific recipes. We work on sharing LOTS of Disney recipes with you, so be sure to check back with us for more! Click here to see lots of Disney recipes you could make at home! 12 — Gift Cards The fact that Disney sells gift cards is no secret, but did you know they sell festival-specific gift cards on wristbands? These gift cards can be helpful and fun in a lot of ways. They can serve as a little souvenir of all of the EPCOT festivals you’ve been to. But, during the festival itself, you can load these up with your set budget and it can help you stay within your spending limits. Don’t forget these! You can also get some for your kiddos and load theirs up with their allotted spending amounts. Then they can go up and pay for their items, which is fun for them, without blowing your budget out of the water! 13 — Avoid Weekends Again, this is maybe less of a secret and more of a tip, but we wanted to share it anyway! If you’re planning to visit Disney World for the Food & Wine Festival and you want to avoid some of the crowds, we recommend that you try to avoid going to EPCOT on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Crowds in EPCOT During the weekends, many locals will come to EPCOT to enjoy the festival, making for some pretty large crowds. If you can instead visit the festival during the week, you’ll likely encounter shorter lines and less crowds! And that’s our list of some of the secrets or things you might not know/might overlook at EPCOT’s Food & Wine Festival! Don’t forget — if you want a great tool to help you plan for your time at the Festival, you can check out our DFB Guide to the 2021 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival. We’ll keep an eye out for more updates about the Festival and let you know what we find! Click here to see the full menus for all of the Food & Wine Festival booths! Ready to Plan for Your 2021 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Trip? Order the DFB Guide to the 2021 Epcot Food & Wine Festival e-Book today! This 250+-page guide to the Festival offers insider tips and advice as well as all of the details you need to know to plan your best Festival visit ever. Your purchase includes several bonus items as well -- including a full daily schedule of events at the Festival and a printable World Showcase Booth Menu Checklist to carry with you as you Eat around the World! Order your 2021 edition today! Don't miss a moment of the fun! Use code Chefs at check-out for 20% off the cover price! 2021 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Index 2021 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Booth and Menu Index 2021 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Special Events 2021 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Low-Cost Seminars and Demonstrations 2021 Eat to the Beat Concert Schedule Epcot Food and Wine Festival Fans Facebook Page 2021 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Wine and Dine Half Marathon Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic Food and Wine Festival 101 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Vegetarian Items Epcot Food and Wine Festival Gluten Free Items Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Will you be visiting the Food & Wine Festival this year? Tell us in the comments! The post 13 Secrets About the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

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