Disney4me

runDisney is one of the many ways you can celebrate your love for Disney! With events ranging from Half-Marathons to Kids’ Runs, there’s a way for everyone to run (or walk) around the parks! ©runDisney After quite a few virtual runs, runDisney is back and we’ve got some great news for you! General booking for the Disney Wine and Dine Weekend is available now on the runDisney site! This series of races commemorate EPCOT’s annual Food and Wine Festival and will be held November 4th through 7th, 2021, right at the end of the festival! ©runDisney This year’s Wine and Dine festivities include a 5K with booking starting at $95, a 10K starting at $135, a Half Marathon starting at $215, a Two Course Challenge starting at $360, and a Post-Race Party starting at $89! If you’re not feeling up to in-person racing, there are also plenty of virtual options! ©runDisney This is just the first of many upcoming races at the Disney parks! With the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend in early January 2022 and the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend in late February, there’s a lot to look forward to! ©Disney As a reminder, General Registration for Virtual Races in this event opens on July 16th. Curious about runDisney? Check out this video we did a while back with tips and tricks for anyone looking to try it out! We’re always keeping track of the latest Disney news, including ALL the upcoming runDisney events! Stay tuned here for more! Click here to read more about upcoming runDisney events and more! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What do you think about the return of runDisney? Let us know in the comments! The post Registration Now OPEN for runDisney's 2021 Wine and Dine Weekend! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Sometimes things can go wrong in Disney World that are completely out of your control. A rainy day in Animal Kingdom Rides can break down, the weather can complicate your day, you can miss your transportation, or find that your favorite snack has gotten more expensive. So, we’re here to talk about the big issues you can encounter in Disney World, and what to do if they happen. Sure, we all want to picture our Disney World vacation going super smooth without an issue in the world. BUT…sorry guys, that’s just not that realistic. While we might want to all think Disney World exists in a bubble and that real problems don’t or CAN’T happen there, they totally do. While you might be busy worrying about how long it will take you to ride a bus from A to B or when the best time of day to hop in a certain line might be, you might be sleeping on some of the bigger issues you could potentially encounter in Disney World. Spoiler: these are (within reason) 100% out of your control. Skyliner Crashes The Skyliner has crashed a few times in Disney World. The first time was in October of 2019, right after the Skyliner had opened. Gondolas crashed into each other causing a pile-up at the Riviera Resort station and the entire line from EPCOT to Caribbean Beach was shut down. Skyliner People were stuck hanging in the air for up to THREE hours, some guests had to be evacuated by emergency vehicles, and 3 people were taken to the hospital (although there were no reported injuries from the incident). The crash caused the Skyliner to close for a few days, leaving a whole (BRAND NEW) mode of transportation unavailable for many Disney guests. Skyliner Closed The second crash was in April of this year, when two gondolas collided AGAIN, this time at the Hollywood Studios station. Some glass was shattered, but thankfully, no one was injured and guests were only stuck in gondolas for about 45 minutes this time (still not great, but better than 3 hours!). The crash shut down the transportation system for a couple of hours, but was quick to start up again. Skyliner Crash @nextstopmainstreet on Instagram The third and most recent crash was in June of 2021 when Skyliner gondolas ran into each other at the EPCOT Skyliner station, causing guests to be stuck on the line for about 30 minutes. No one was injured in the incident. Photo From @camerondudeck on Twitter Keep in mind when we say “crashed into each other” we don’t mean like a high-speed pile-up you might see on the highway. The crashes resulted in very minor damage in the long run. During each of these incidents, guests were given compensation to make up for the situations, and it usually depended on the “level” of emergency or evacuation. Line for Skyliner For example, after the crash from 2019, guests said they were given two $50 Disney gift cards and two Disney World park hopper tickets as well as cold water. After the June crash, guests reported they were given cold water, a $25 Disney gift card, a free umbrella (because some left theirs on the Skyliner), and passes to EPCOT for the evening. Skyliner on a pretty day If you do get stuck on the Skyliner, don’t fret! There are emergency kits underneath your seats that have a few packets of drinking water, cool packs, a pencil and notepad, a whistle, a glow stick, and a few blue cups (called emesis bags. You can use your imagination to decipher their purpose!). It’s good to know you have some supplies if you get stuck, but the emergency kits could definitely be better! ©Disney Skyliner emergency kit If the Skyliner is closed due to an incident, or because of bad weather, Disney won’t leave you hanging (see what we did there). They will provide another method of transportation for you — usually the buses. The Skyliner is closed! If you’re in Hollywood Studios or EPCOT, you can take a Friendship Boat between the two parks. The Friendship Boats leave from the International Gateway in EPCOT and to the left of the entrance of Hollywood Studios when you’re exiting. They make stops at Walt Disney World Swan Hotel, Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel, Disney Yacht Club Resort, Disney Beach Club Resort, and Disney BoardWalk Resort, so you can also use the boats to go to one of these hotels! Friendship Boat Just be aware that it takes about 30 minutes to get from park to park with the hotel stops (sometimes a good deal longer), so the direct bus between parks is sometimes quicker. You can also use the walking path between the two parks, which takes about 20 minutes. Here’s what to do if the Skyliner is closed in Disney World Rides Shutting Down Another major issue that can mess up your day in Disney is when rides go down. It is common for rides to experience downtime due to things like weather, technical difficulties, or power outages, but it can still be a huge inconvenience for guests. Spaceship Earth Closed It’s a huge bummer if you waited to go on a big ride til the very end of the day so the wait time would be lower, and then find out it’s closed when you go to get in line! It’s also super annoying if you’re already waiting in line when a ride goes down, leaving you to wonder how long it will be until they can get things moving again, or even having to exit the queue. We had to leave Rise of the Resistance! Be prepared for rides possibly being down temporarily while you’re in the parks. Usually the closures won’t last long, but that’s not always the case. Sometimes rides could be down for an ENTIRE day! Make sure to keep checking the My Disney Experience app to see if the ride opens up again. Looks like we have to get off Splash Mountain! Also, try to be adaptable and don’t let it ruin your day — there are still so many fun things you can do in the parks! You can use your new free time to maybe go on an attraction for a second time, which could be seen as a BONUS ride for the day! Ride Seven Dwarfs Mine Train again! And if you get stuck on a ride, don’t worry! Sit tight (because it could be a while) and Cast Members will inform you on what to do next. Rides usually have ways for guests to be safely evacuated off of the attraction. If you are evacuated, you may even get a look at what’s going on “behind the scenes” while you’re exiting! It’s a fun little treat to see how the ride works, or what it looks like with the lights on! PeopleMover being evacuated If you have to get off the ride or out of a queue, you also may be given a FastPass to come back later that day to make up for your experience. Or sometimes, you’re even given a FastPass for almost ANY ride in the park! It’s not a guarantee, but since FastPass+ isn’t being offered at Disney World right now, it’s pretty much one of the ONLY ways you’ll get to skip a line (we see you, silver lining!). Click here to see the most evacuated rides in Disney World Power Outages Yep, even Disney World loses power occasionally! This can happen during severe storms, like it did recently when we were told by a Cast Member that there had been a power surge that shut down rides in ALL FOUR parks temporarily! Magic Kingdom It can also happen for no apparent reason at all! At least not one that Disney is going to tell us about. Recently, part of Animal Kingdom lost power, basically shutting down half of the park. Rides and restaurants were closed down for a while, but most did reopen. ©Disney Then it happened AGAIN at Animal Kingdom a few days later, closing down all but two rides! Everything did reopen later that day. Power on in Dinoland If the power does go out while you’re in Disney World, don’t stress out, it shouldn’t last super long. Disney generates a TON of its own power on-site (much of it is solar to boot!) and they have round-the-clock staff to get things back up and running! Click here to read about the recent power outage at Disney World! Severe Weather With being located in Central Florida, rain is almost a guarantee in Disney World. Especially in the summer, thunderstorms are pretty much a daily occurrence, and they’re not always on the forecast, so it’s good to be prepared! Rain, rain, go away! They usually happen in the afternoon, so bring rain gear like ponchos, rain jackets, umbrellas, waterproof shoes, etc. A change of clothes isn’t a bad idea either! Although, if you’re staying on property, you could always go back to your room to dry off if you need to. Always good to have a poncho handy Make sure to check the weather forecast while you’re packing for your trip AND throughout your trip, because Florida weather is notoriously unpredictable and things can change quickly! Get a good weather app that will give you minute-by-minute radar updates. You DO NOT want to get in a 60-minute line for Test Track when there’s a storm predicted to hit in an hour! Don’t get caught in a downpour! These storms can be absolute DOWNPOURS sometimes, so it’s good to find a place where you can take shelter, like inside a store or even a quick-service dining spot with covered outdoor seating. They also can just be scattered storms that last less than half an hour! We’ve literally stood in one part of a park in torrential rain, looked at our weather app and it’s JUST ONE tiny rain cloud over the small section of park we were standing in (lucky us!). Bracing for rain and being prepared at all times will go far. A rainy day in May! Florida is also no stranger to hurricanes! Hurricane season is from June to November, with the peak being in August to October (keep this in mind when booking your trip!). This year, experts are predicting an above-average amount of activity for hurricane season. Hurricane Dorian Radar – September 3rd 2019 Despite the closures we just experienced due to the pandemic, Disney rarely closes. BUT when they do, it’s usually because of a hurricane. In fact, Disney World has only unexpectedly closed down 9 times in history, and 7 of those times were due to an incoming hurricane. Disney will keep you updates on nearby Hurricanes while you’re there! It’s rare for a hurricane to actually hit Central Florida, but hurricanes off the coast can bring bands of severe storms with them that do reach Disney World. Luckily, Disney resorts are very well equipped to handle the storms! In fact, as of 2009, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration certified Disney World as basically one of the safest places to be during a storm. Hurricane Day in Disney Cast Members will ask you to stay inside your room while the storm is hitting and the resorts will make sure there is enough food, water, and other supplies. Usually activities will be set up like movie marathons or characters can be brought into the lobbies to meet guests! Basically, Disney will do everything they can to take care of you in the event of inclement weather. Time to take cover Also, keep hurricane season in mind when booking your resort, we like to stay in resorts where you can access the lobby from your room without having to walk outside! Resorts like Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort or the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs are not the best choice during a hurricane since you have to walk outside to get to the main building. Actually, MOST Disney World resorts have a fair amount of uncovered outdoor walking with the exception of a few Deluxe resorts. BUT, something to keep in the back of your mind when booking. Yikes! Don’t be out here during a hurricane Usually hurricanes will only shut down the parks for a day or two. Also, make sure to check out Disney World’s hurricane policy to see about refunds and cancellations in the event of a hurricane! Hurricane Alert Another issue to consider at Disney World is extreme heat. Florida is HOT — it’s called the Sunshine State for a reason. During the summer especially, temperatures regularly reach the 90s+ and the humidity is INTENSE. Gotta be prepared for those really sunny days! Make sure you prepare for the heat by bringing fans, wearing clothes that will keep you cool, and wearing sunscreen. Take breaks in the shade or in the AC inside restaurants and stores. You can also take a break in the middle of the day (when it’s hottest) and go relax in your hotel room or take a dip in the pool. It’s going to be a hot one! Remember to HYDRATE. It is so important to keep drinking water throughout the day, especially if you’re also drinking alcohol! You can get free cups of water from almost any quick-service dining location and there are also water fountains throughout Disney property. Do NOT underestimate the heat, we don’t want you to pass out while you’re in line for Splash Mountain! (Though if you DO feel the heat catching up with you, head to First Aid in any of the parks — they’re well equipped to help!) Click here to read about severe weather in Disney World Those are the BIG issues you may encounter while in Walt Disney World. We hope this helps prepare you for what could happen during your vacation and we encourage you to stay flexible and open-minded when things go wrong, don’t let it ruin your day! As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the Disney news and updates. Click here to see what happens when things go WRONG in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Have you ever experienced any of these big issues in Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post We Need to Talk About the BIG Issues You Could Face in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s time to start planning for some fun in the sun! As the summer season continues, there’s so much for guests to enjoy throughout every corner of Walt Disney World Resort – from the upcoming EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival to the recent return of firework spectaculars including “Happily Ever After,” fan-favorite restaurants like ‘Ohana, and entertainment like "Celebration of Festival of the Lion King" and more.http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DisneyParks/~4/rrzdJtcHBTIView the full article

Disney and Pixar have been hard at work with new movies coming out soon! ©Disney | Pixar We recently saw the trailer for the upcoming movie Encanto, and now there’s a new trailer out for the Disney Pixar film Turning Red! Turning Red is the story of a teenage girl named Mei Mei! The story gives new meaning to the phrase “growing up is a beast.” Why? When Mei Mei gets too excited, she turns into a red panda! Turning Red ©Disney Turning Red is directed by Domee Shi, who won an Academy Award for her Pixar short film Bao! Bao mug based on the Pixar short! We’re super excited to see what Domee Shi has come up with next! You can watch the trailer for Turning Red here, and the full movie comes out in theaters on March 11, 2022! Keep following Disney Food Blog for more updates on Disney Pixar movies coming soon! Click Here to Watch the Trailer for Pixar’s upcoming movie Encanto! 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 going to see Turning Red in theaters when it comes out? Let us know in the comments! The post VIDEO: Watch NEW ‘Turning Red’ Disney Pixar Trailer first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Florida Residents, have we got news for you! Tree of Life We’re always on the lookout for all the discounts and deals to help you save money in Disney World and a fan-favorite Florida Resident offer has returned! Yep, the Florida Resident Summer Fun Ticket is BACK, baby! Starting today, the Florida Resident Summer Fun Ticket lets Florida residents buy several days of park tickets at discounted prices that can be used consecutively OR nonconsecutively through September 2021. And there’s a Park Hopper option as well! Hollywood Studios You can get a 2-Day Summer Fun Ticket for $75 per day ($149 total), a 3-Day Summer Fun Ticket for $62 per day ($185 total), or a 4-Day Summer Fun Ticket for $54 per day ($215 total). ©Disney Proof of residency is required to purchase these tickets. These tickets expire on September 17th. You. can add Park Hopper for $35 per ticket, Water Park and Sports for $30 per ticket, and Park Hopper Plus for $50 per ticket. Cinderella Castle As always, keep an eye on DFB to keep up to date on ALL of the latest and greatest Disney World special offers. Click here to see more Disney discounts and deals! 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! Will you be snagging these discounted tickets? Tell us in the comments! The post A Disney World Ticket for ?! Get ALL the Details on the NEW Florida Resident Offer! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There are SO many cute varieties of Minnie ears in Disney World! Whenever we find a new one, we want to show y’all so you can obsess over them with us! Tower of Terror Ears Today, in Disney’s Magic Kingdom, we found some of the PRETTIEST new Minnie Ears we’ve seen in a while! Here’s where you can find them! While we were doing some window shopping in the Magic Kingdom, we came across these gorgeous new Minnie ears! Hello Minnie Ears! The ears are black velvet with gold rhinestones in the ears and a bronze sequin bow that has black polka dots! A closer look They seem to be a new take on the classic black and gold ears that have been around for a while. Here’s what the other black and gold pair of ears looks like for reference. Black and Gold Minnie Ears And we have to say, we’re a bit fan of the new look! They’re just so classy. Here’s the back! We think these ears are perfect for matching just about any outfit and for bringing some bling to your Disney wardrobe! They’re just so pretty! You can get these beautiful ears at the Emporium at Magic Kingdom for $29.99 now! Come grab yours! Keep following DFB, and we’ll let you know about all the new Disney merchandise in the parks! Click Here to See the New Disney Backpack that’s Designed for Your Minnie Ears! 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 your favorite pair of Minnie ears? Let us know in the comments! The post PHOTOS: Disney World Just Took Their Black and Gold Minnie Ears to the NEXT LEVEL first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s HERE! We are SO excited to share with you the DFB Guide to the 2021 Epcot Food and Wine Festival! This year’s Festival includes more than 30 Marketplace Booths, special entertainment options, and much more! And we’re covering ALL OF IT in the Guide! With hundreds of pages of new updates and information for 2021, we have everything organized to ensure that you have your absolute best Food and Wine Festival yet! To celebrate our grand launch, we’re offering 20% off the cover price! Just use discount code CHEFS at the checkout to secure your savings! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/shop-now-png.png This year’s Epcot Food and Wine Festival kicks off July 15th and runs through November 20th, and the DFB Guide to the 2021 Epcot Food & Wine Festival e-Book features all the info you need to know about this year’s events. What’s in the DFB Guide to the 2021 Epcot Food & Wine Festival e-Book? Full Booth Menus with more than 100 full color food photos and prices, featuring what menu items you can expect at the World Showcase booths this year. A full chapter on what’s NEW at the festival, including a full list of new menu items at the booths! Discount details and information Fully updated FAQ section Unique touring plans specific to this year’s Festival Plans and strategies taking kids to the Festival​​​​​​​ And MORE! We cover it all in the DFB Guide! As always, we’ve made this guide instantly downloadable for your convenience, and easily installed on your mobile devices. The DFB Guide to the 2021 Epcot Food and Wine Festival is a PDF ebook with ​230+ pages of detailed information about the Festival as well as hundreds of photographs and customized bonus items to help you get the best experience possible. ​​​​​​​ This guide is guaranteed to help you better plan your best Food & Wine Festival visit or your money back! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/DFB-Guide-Testimonial-4.png Bonus Items in the DFB Guide to the 2021 Epcot Food and Wine Festival The DFB Guide to the 2021 Epcot Food & Wine Festival includes customized bonus items that are EXCLUSIVE to the DFB:​​​​​​​ A printable World Showcase Booth Menu Checklist that you can use to plan, and easily bring with you to the festival Themed World Showcase booth crawls, including a “Continent Crawl”, the “Fun Eats for the Kids”, “Comfort Food Crawl”, and so many more! Food and Wine Festival customized Touring Strategies for One Day visits, Budget-Conscious visits, and more — fully updated for 2021’s Festival! Full food, wine, beer, winery, and cocktail indexes, including locations of where you can find your favorites Epcot Food and Wine Festival recipes And more! Check out the touring strategies! Whether this is your first festival or your 26th year visiting, you’ll appreciate knowing what you are getting before spending time and vacation dollars. And no matter what you want do — sample wine, explore the world’s beers, taste something you’ve never tried before, or find your next favorite dessert — The DFB Guide to the 2021 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is the perfect resource for navigating the Epcot Food and Wine Festival. Save 20% off the cover price of the DFB Guide to the 2021 Epcot Food and Wine Festival! Use promo code CHEFS at checkout! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/shop-now-pink.jpeg Bundle for MORE Savings For an even bigger discount, head over to the DFB Store and check out our Food and Wine Bundle! Bundle for bigger savings! Our bundles are already super discounted and today you can save even more – just use promo code FWBUNDLE and get an additional $5 off the cover price of our Food and Wine Bundle! You’ll get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2021 PLUS the DFB Guide to the 2021 Epcot Food and Wine Festival! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Bundle-and-Save-001-350x156.jpg PLEASE NOTE: If you pre-ordered the DFB Guide to the 2021 Epcot Food and Wine Festival and DID NOT receive your guide yet please email us at support@dfbguide.com. With a 100% money-back guarantee on all of our guides, you have nothing to lose, ever! As always, we thank you for your support of Disney Food Blog. We couldn’t do this without you!The post It's HERE! The DFB Guide to the 2021 Epcot Food and Wine Festival e-Book! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Pam Brody, longtime Walt Disney World pianist and entertainer at the Rose & Crown pub at Epcot, died Sunday morning. View the full article By DEWAYNE BEVIL ORLANDO SENTINEL | JUL 13, 2021 AT 5:52 AM Pam Brody, decked out in pearly queen costume, entertained at Epcot's Rose & Crown pub for decades. (x / none) Pam Brody, longtime Walt Disney World pianist and entertainer at the Rose & Crown pub at Epcot, died Sunday morning. Brody — remembered for pearly queen costumes, earning her a “button lady” nickname, and distinctive hats — performed in the theme park’s United Kingdom pavilion for more than two decades. Before that, she sang and played in many Central Florida lounges, pubs and restaurants “She really had a way of connecting with people and making them feel like they were a part of this big family in the pub,” said Eric Pinder, who met her when he was a member of the World Showcase Players. “I always loved sitting with her backstage, too, because she was very mischievous. … She was very devout and religious, but yet, really had quite a twinkle in her eye.” Her act at Epcot included interacting with customers and taking song requests. She’d turn and play on the piano, which she had covered with photos of famous people she had met during her career. Brody was a beloved entertainer, said Carol Stein, who currently sings and plays piano at Epcot. “She has a following because she made everybody feel special,” Stein said. “She was the entertainer, but she focused her energy on the guests, making them all filled with joy and happiness.” After leaving Disney, Brody would return to the Rose & Crown on her birthday. She would sing, accompanied by Stein, songs such as “Maybe It’s Because I’m a Londoner.” “She would sing them very fun,” Stein said. “She had a joie de vivre.” Brody was born in Ireland, the daughter of a teacher and a businessman, but moved to London. She got a gig on the Queen Mary, which led to a 12-year run at Castle Harbour Hotel in Bermuda. She met many famous people at the resort, including Bob Hope and Michael Jackson. And she met future husband Danny Dillon, who eventually became a Disney World entertainer, too. He died in 2005. A wedding brought Dillon and Brody to Orlando, where she ended up signing a contract with the Royal Plaza Hotel. In a 1992 Orlando Sentinel article, she says she was working at Sergio’s restaurant, Parliament House for singalongs and Bull & Bush pub. “Another amazing thing is she never used music sheets, so she will play by sound,” said Mario Rios, who had been Brody’s friend since 1988. One time at the Rose & Crown, she played a song from the 1940s that made a friend of Rios weep. “She started crying not because she was sad, but she was joyful that she knew that song,” he said. “I mean, she touched everyone. And she is considered a legend at Epcot.” Brody kept her age a secret in a firm but polite way, Rios recalled. “A lot of people always want to know, ‘Pam, how old are you?’ ” he said. “You know what she says? ‘Look it up in a bingo card.’ … That was her answer.” In 2018, there was a celebration of her 90th birthday, but Pinder isn’t sure that was correct. He said he once tried to uncover her age but found it was on a need-to-know basis. “Pam is ageless,” he said. dbevil@orlandosentinel.com

In case you missed it, Disney dropped a TON of holiday news today! Christmas at Magic Kingdom Today, Disney announced that Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party would be replaced with a new after hours event called Disney Very Merriest After Hours, the ICONIC gingerbread houses are returning to Disney World Resorts, tons of entertainment is coming back to the parks, and holiday ride overlays are returning — just to name a few. But with all of these announcements, we still have a few questions about what the holidays will look like in Disney World, especially regarding fireworks in Disney’s Hollywood Studios! We already noticed that Disney was quiet about the return of the Holiday Dream Lights on Cinderella Castle, and it is possible that they are NOT returning this year. However, we have reason to believe that the nighttime show at Hollywood Studios (Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!) is returning in 2021! Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! Now, Disney did NOT include this in their many announcements today, but on Disney World’s page for the show, you’ll find a statement that says “Enjoy a holiday spectacular when this jolly fireworks display returns in 2021.” Next to the name, it still says “Temporarily Unavailable”, however this could change before the holidays roll around. ©Disney Further down on the page, it also says “Please check back later for 2021 dates and information”, so we could be seeing fireworks in Hollywood Studios for the first time in forever (pun intended)! Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! The show includes several popular holiday tunes with projections, lasers, and fireworks! It features scenes from The Nightmare Before Christmas, Pluto’s Christmas Tree, Mickey’s Christmas Carol, and Beauty and the Beast. There’s even a bit of “snoap” involved! Fireworks! Again, this has not been confirmed with an announcement from Disney, but we’ll certainly be on the lookout for one. We’ll continue to bring you the latest Disney Parks news, so stay tuned for more! The 4 BIGGEST Disney World Holiday News Bombs You Missed This Morning! 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? What do you think about Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!? Let us know in the comments! The post Could Fireworks Come Back to Disney's Hollywood Studios This Holiday Season? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Welcome back, DFB friends! We’re here with another What’s New at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! Tree of Life And, we’ve got plenty of updates to share with you! So, what are you waiting for? Let’s dive right on in! Disney’s Animal Kingdom Food Update The Smiling Crocodile If you’re on the hunt for some great tacos or maybe just a quick bite, then you’ll be thrilled to know that the Smiling Crocodile has reopened in Disney’s Animal Kingdom! The Smiling Crocodile! Guests can pop by the quick-service spot for Chips and Salsa, as well as all kinds of Street Tacos! You can chow down on the Pulled Pork version… Smiling Crocodile’s Updated Menu …Street Corn version… The Street Corn Tacos! …Chicken version, or maybe all three as an extra savory treat! The Chicken Street Taco! The Smiling Crocodile even has its own specialty Island Sunrise Cocktail on the menu, mixed up with Jose Cuervo Tequila, Pineapple-Orange-Guava Juice, a hint of Watermelon, and a gummy worm garnish. (It is Animal Kingdom, after all!) The Island Sunrise! Instead of having to stop by a table-service location or wait around in long lines for lunch, the Smiling Crocodile is a great option for a quick AND tasty meal that will satisfy your cravings! Read our review of the reopened Smiling Crocodile here! Disney’s Animal Kingdom Merchandise Update Riverside Depot As we were browsing the stores for a few souvenirs to take back to our family and friends, we spotted a whole new line-up of mugs on the shelves at the Riverside Depot! You can find mugs inspired by Pizza Planet, beauty sleep (we definitely need it after a park day)… Riverside Depot Mugs …good ole’ Donald Duck… Riverside Depot Mugs …and FastPasses for the weekend! Riverside Depot Mugs You never know… we might even see FastPasses in the parks sometime soon too! Serka Zong As you make your way around Asia, you might notice the prayer flags hanging around the area near Expedition Everest. These decorations are an important aspect of Tibetan culture that are used to bless the area. While they had previously disappeared for a short time from the Serka Zong gift shop… Prayer Flags …the Tibetan Prayer Flags have now been restocked for guests to feature around their own homes for $16.99! Prayer Flags Disney’s Animal Kingdom Entertainment Update Disney PhotoPass After you’ve done your shopping, you can also pop by the Ticket Center now that you can snag the Capture Your Moment PhotoPass feature. Capture Your Moment Location A Cast Member will take pictures that will last for a lifetime of memories… Tiny World Magic Shot …including the Tiny World Magic Shot that has also been spotted in EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, as well as Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Tiny World Magic Shot Pandora While many interactive features have been suspended for a period of time, they have finally started to return to Disney World once again! Over in Pandora, guests are able to play the drums with entertaining noises once again. Pandora Drums What song are you going to jam out to when you visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom? Drum Along to Your Own Rhythm! Asia Speaking of interactive areas, the Vista of the Himalayas has also welcomed guests to take a close-up look at Expedition Everest through the binoculars once again! You never know…you might find Disco Yeti waving to everyone! Vista of the Himalayas Disney’s Animal Kingdom Construction Update Discovery River Amphitheater As we were passing by the lagoon area near Expedition Everest, we spotted construction barges on the water. While Rivers of Light used to take place in this area, it has been on the quieter side since the show’s closure. Barges But, with Disney World’s 50th anniversary just around the corner, the park will feature the brand new daytime Disney KiteTails show at the Discovery River Amphitheater on October 1st. Barges There hasn’t been too much progress on the show just yet, but we’ll have to keep you updated on any other clues we spot about the Disney KiteTails soon! Boats Windtraders Since the Valley of Mo’ara is so special, it’s no surprise that you’d want to take home something special from the World of Avatar! And, you have more space to shop as the Windtraders has removed a few of its displays to accommodate extra room for visitors. New Windtraders Space Along with the people who are wanting to shop in the store, the open area also makes it easier for riders to exit from the Flight of Passage as well. Windtraders Well, that’s all for this What’s New at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! 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 coming soon! 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 Disney’s Animal Kingdom? Let us know in the comments below! The post What's New at Animal Kingdom: Street Tacos Return and a Pizza Planet Mug! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Calling all chocolate-lovers!! Chocolate Tart While we were window shopping at the Patisserie inside the France Pavilion in EPCOT, we noticed an old favorite was back! The Chocolate Tart is back at the Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie in EPCOT! Of course we tried it out, and we can’t wait to share what we think! You can find the Chocolate Tart in EPCOT at the France Pavilion. You’ll go back through the pavilion until you reach the Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie, which has all kinds of delicious bakery items and beautiful treats! Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie While perusing the options, we saw the Chocolate Tart was back, so we grabbed one to try! Chocolate Tart in France Pavilion The tart costs $6.50 at the Patisserie. It’s a pastry crust with a thick caramel layer, topped with rich chocolate frosting and a chocolate curl garnish on top! Who could resist that? We cut into it to see the thick layer of caramel inside! Even though there’s plenty of caramel in this tart, the chocolate flavor definitely won out and outweighed most of it. Here’s a peek inside! We thought the tart exterior tasted like a basic tart casing, and the chocolate on top was creamy and sweet! It had a similar taste and texture to the topping on a Boston Cream Donut, but if that donut was like ten times tastier. It’s filled with caramel! This tart is certainly for the chocolate-lovers out there! Every bite was dominated by a rich chocolate flavor, with the caramel and pastry adding good texture and some complementary flavors. The caramel was delicious inside, too! We didn’t mind that chocolate was the star of this tart (being the avid chocolate-lovers we are), but if you’re not a huge chocolate fan, this might not be the dessert for you! The best dessert for chocolate lovers! It’s super sweet and rich, so it might be a good one to share! Remember, you can find this melt-in-the-mouth chocolate tart in the France pavilion at EPCOT, along with a lot of other tasty bakery and patisserie treats! Keep following the Disney Food Blog for more updates on snacks and treats in Disney World! Click Here to Check Out the France Booth at the 2021 EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival! 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 try this chocolate-lover’s dream tart? Let us know in the comments! The post REVIEW: A Popular Chocolate Dessert is BACK in EPCOT's France Pavilion! 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. Are you a D23 Gold Member? Do you love all things exclusive? Then, we spotted a new product just for you! ©disney D23 Gold members can purchase an exclusive magnet set featuring our old pal Mickey and the imaginative Figment for a limited time! We’ve seen exclusive magnets for Annual Passholders before, but what about D23 Gold Members? We spotted a limited-release magnet set over on shopDisney! So get it while you can! ©disney We love the classic-style Mickey that they went with on this magnet, and who could forget that playful Figment? ©disney The set includes two magnets — might we suggest one for your car and one for your fridge? Display your membership with pride! Head on over to shopDisney and pick up the set for $14.99. Click HERE to purchase your D23 Exclusive Mickey Mouse and Figment Magnet Set! 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 this limited-release magnet set? Let us know in the comments! The post D23 Gold Members Can Get an EXCLUSIVE Magnet Set Online first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Halloween time is just around the corner in Disneyland, and that means all sorts of treats, merchandise, and entertainment is coming along with it! But, we have to be honest — we’re the MOST excited for the return of the Oogie Boogie Bash this year! Oogie Boogie The event will stretch over the course of five hours in Disney California Adventure (2 more hours than Disney World’s Halloween event), as guests go trick-or-treating and visit the Frightfully Fun Parade. But, now we’ve got a sneak peek at the wicked areas that will be arriving at the Oogie Boogie Bash! The Disney Villains are taking over the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail as the Villains Grove is brought to life! The forest will have themed decorations, lights, and sounds to fit with each villain’s story as you travel through the woods…if you dare, that is! Villains Grove Sign You can take a trip around the globe to spots like Frollo’s Sanctuary straight from the Notre Dame in Paris! The cathedral-like atmosphere will have “trees infused with incense smells and chanting voices.” But, you can also make your way to the Pride Lands in Africa with Scar’s Elephant Graveyard with hyena laughter shaking things up around each corner! Villains Grove Of course, there are a few more places that dabble in the otherwordly. Dr. Facilier’s Friends on the Other Side have left New Orleans to show up with “shadowy hands and colorful spells” in the Villains Grove. And, guests can also head to Wonderland to witness self-painting roses at the Queen of Hearts Garden. Cheshire Cat Some of the biggest Disney baddies will also be paying a visit to the Oogie Boogie Bash as well! There will be thorn-spike vines, ravens, and even a spellbound and colorful waterfall over at Maleficent’s Will. And, you can give yourself the scare of the night over at The Wicked Queen’s Lightning Forest as an “electrifying storm flashes from branch to branch” amidst the trees! Villains Grove You can end your trip to the Villains Grove on a high note as the light guides you out of the area in the Home of the Wisps before the grand finale of flickering lanterns and a sunrise at Dawn. ©Disney The Oogie Boogie Bash will run on select nights from September 9th through October 31st, so you have plenty of time to get your chills and thrills on! Of course, we’ll be taking you with us when the event officially opens to visitors. So, stay tuned with DFB for the latest Disney entertainment and news you need to know about soon! Find out the details of the Haunted Mansion Holiday’s return! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What Halloween festivities are you looking forward to the most in the parks this year? Let us know in the comments below! The post A Full List of the Villains Grove Areas Coming to Oogie Boogie Bash at Disneyland Resort! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Lots of things have changed at Disney World and all over the world over the past few months when it comes to mask wearing and other pandemic-related rules and regulations. Disney Mask And the situation with the pandemic itself continues to shift and adjust. Recently, we’ve taken a look at the latest COVID-19 case numbers in Florida and shared news about how COVID-19 cases have been on the rise in Central Florida. Today, the Mayor of Orange County (part of Disney World is located in Orange County), provided an update on the county’s COVID-19 numbers and his recommendations. Earlier today, Orange County’s Mayor Demings held a press conference regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. During the conference, Mayor Demings noted that COVID-19 case numbers have been going up in Orange County, as we had shared with you previously. Mayor Demings noted that the 14-day rolling positivity rate is currently at 7.78% at the moment. He shared that 2 weeks ago that rate was at 4.28%. He also said that Orange County is now considered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to be in the high-risk category for community transmission. ©Orange County Florida Thus, Mayor Demings stated, “it is my official recommendation that Orange County return to the status in which it is recommended that all residents vaccinated and unvaccinated consider wearing facial coverings indoors when in crowded environments.” Additionally, Mayor Demings said “if unvaccinated you should mask up to protect others.” Note that the mask mandate was previously eliminated in Orange County when the county reached a 14-day rolling positivity rate of 5% or below, per county guidance. Face masks He also shared that the COVID-19 virus and its variants are primarily impacted unvaccinated persons. At this time, Disney has not made any statements regarding any changes in its mask policies. Currently, fully vaccinated guests are not required to wear masks in most locations in Disney World, except on Disney World transportation (except the ferry boats). ©Disney Persons who are not fully vaccinated are required wear masks upon entering and throughout all attractions, in all indoor theaters (including theater entrances), in all transportation (except ferry boats) including transportation entrances, and in all indoor locations including restaurants except when actively eating or drinking. ©Disney Masks are not required for guests who are not fully vaccinated when in outdoor common areas and on pool decks. Note that Disney World is not requiring proof of vaccination. Click here to get a break-down of Disney’s current mask policy. We’ll continue to keep an eye out for more updates about Orange County’s COVID-19 case numbers, other recommendations from the Mayor, and any news from Disney. Stay tuned for all the latest Disney news. Some companies are seeking approval for a COVID-19 booster shot — click here to see more. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post NEWS: Florida Mayor Recommends Masks Be Worn Again Indoors first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Does anyone else remember the Black Magic Margarita? Black Magic Margarita The actor (and magician) Neil Patrick Harris developed this tasty marg, and it came to EPCOT’s La Cava del Tequila for a limited time in 2019! If you loved this drink as much as we did, we’ve got some great news for you! The Black Magic Margarita is back in Disney World! Instead of La Cava del Tequila, though, you can find the margarita at Choza de Margarita in the Mexico Pavilion in EPCOT! Choza de Margarita When the Black Magic Margarita first came out in 2019, we reviewed the drink and LOVED it! Check Out Our Review of the Black magic Margarita Here! The margarita is made with smoky Ojo de Tigre Mezcal, Blackberry Purée, LeJay Black Currant Liqueur, Lime, and Mint. It costs $21, which is a pretty hefty price for a drink! Maybe we should expect that since a celebrity invented it? Cheers to Mexico! We’re so excited to try it again! It’s available NOW at Choza de Margarita, so head over to the Mexico Pavilion in EPCOT to grab yours! Keep following Disney Food Blog for more updates on Disney World snacks! Click Here to Check Out Another New Margarita in the Mexico Pavilion at 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. Are you going to try the Black Magic Margarita? Let us know in the comments! The post The Neil Patrick Harris Black Magic Margarita is BACK in Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s officially well into summer, and Disney World is hopping! Wow, that’s busy! We’ve seen pretty steady crowds with hoards of vacationers visiting while school is out, and as capacity slowly increases, the parks get busier. That means that you need to book your Disney Park Passes NOW if you plan to visit soon. And now, they just got restocked for July! Taking a look at the Disney Park Pass Availability Calendar for July, things look pretty different than they did this morning. Now, only a few days next week are yellowed out, with pretty open availability for theme park ticket guests. ©Disney Things look pretty similar for Disney Resort guests as well, with the 19th, 20th, and 21st unavailable at Magic Kingdom only. ©Disney Then, for Annual Passholders, everything is wide open this month except for today! Hurry and make those plans now before things fill up. ©Disney That’s all the update we have right now, but stay tuned to DFB for more news on Disney Park Pass availability. We’ll be keeping an eye on all the details you need to know to plan your vacation! Here’s What You Need to Know About Disney Park Passes! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Have you booked your Disney Park Passes yet? Let us know! The post Hurry And Book Your Last-Minute Disney World Park Passes NOW! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World is not quite back to normal yet. Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto Even with LOTS of reopening announcements for hotels and restaurants, there are many iconic Disney World locations that remain closed with no announced reopening dates. We’ve been keeping an eye out for any sign of more openings, and now there’s movement at an ICONIC location. Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto is a ridiculously popular lounge located at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. It’s named for the head salesman of Jungle Cruise fame and features some interactive and magical touches — plus DELICIOUS tiki drinks. You can see why it’s popular! What’s…happening here? This small spot has unfortunately been unavailable since prior to the park closures and we’ve been waiting not-so-patiently for news of its return. Now, we’ve spotted some menu changes online! Menu changes are a pretty common sign of reopening for Disney World restaurants! Tiki goddess of distaser There have only been a few changes and the food menu has certainly slimmed down a bit. The Headhunter Sushi Roll was swapped out for the Kahuna Tuna Sushi Roll, and the Hawaiian Poke and Roasted Chicken and Pork Pâté Bánh Mì Sliders have been removed from the menu. ©Disney The only cocktail change is that the Shrunken Zombie Head cocktail has been renamed the Zombie. As for other alcohol? There have been a few changes to the beer and wine menus. ©Disney The Trader Sam’s page still does not have hours posted but often times menu changes signal a reopening. We will be keeping an eye out for ANY more signs of reopening. As always, stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney World updates! Click here to see what STILL remains unavailable in Disney World! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Do you hope Trader Sam’s reopens soon? Tell us in the comments! The post Is This a Sign That Trader Sam's Is Reopening SOON In Disney World? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Earlier today, Disney announced that the new Disney Very Merriest After Hours event will replace Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party during the 2021 holiday season. Christmas at Magic Kingdom After Disney announced that the After Hours Boo Bash event would replace Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party, we wondered if a similar change would take place for the holidays and today that was confirmed. So, now the real question is just how this new Disney Very Merriest After Hours event differs when compared to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Today, we’re breaking that all down for you right here. Separate Ticketed Event in Magic Kingdom We’ll start with a few things that are the same between both events. Both Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Disney Very Merriest After Hours take place in Magic Kingdom, and both events require a separate ticket to attend. That means you aren’t able to attend these events with your ordinary park ticket. Instead, you need to purchase a specific ticket for the event in order to enjoy the park after it has been closed to the “regular” day guests and the party begins. 2020 holiday decorations at Magic Kingdom Keep in mind that Disney Very Merriest will not require a Magic Kingdom Park Pass reservation or Magic Kingdom Park ticket. All you’ll need to enter is the After Hours ticket. Hours Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party event typically took place from 7PM to midnight, and guests were allowed to enter Magic Kingdom as early as 4PM. Disney Very Merriest After Hours will take place a bit later. The actual Disney Very Merriest After Hours event itself will take place from 9PM to 1AM. But, guests will be able to enter Magic Kingdom at 7PM. Christmas at Magic Kingdom So ultimately that’s 5-8 hours for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and 4-6 hours for Disney Very Merriest After Hours. So, purely in terms of number of hours alone, you will get less ours in the park at the Very Merriest After Hours event than you did at the Very Merry Christmas Party. Click here to read more about Disney Very Merriest After Hours! Parades and Shows Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party featured the Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration Show and the Once Upon a Christmastime Parade. Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration was a show starring favorite Disney characters like Mickey and Minnie Mouse (as Santa and Mrs. Claus!) in front of Cinderella Castle. The Once Upon a Christmastime Parade is a classic featuring toy soldiers, reindeer, lots of Disney characters all dressed up for the season, and (of course) Santa himself! Toy Soldiers During the Once Upon a Christmastime Parade Disney has not yet confirmed that this show and parade will return for Disney Very Merriest After Hours. Currently, the Disney Very Merriest After Hours website does not list this show or parade as offerings included in the event. The website also doesn’t mention anything about holiday cavalcades. Santa Claus in the Once Upon a Christmastime Parade Last year, we saw the Once Upon a Christmastime Parade essentially split up into different holiday cavalcades which guests got to enjoy throughout the day. Disney hasn’t yet noted whether these cavalcades will return as an exclusive perk of the After Hours event. Since Disney has made no mention of the show or parade for the After Hours event at the moment, we would suggest that you go to the After Hours event NOT expecting them to be there. It’s possible that things could change, but at the moment these are not confirmed to be available. Read more about Once Upon a Christmastime Parade here! Holiday-Themed Character Appearances Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party gave guests the chance to take some awesome and festive photos with their favorite Disney characters all dressed up in holiday costumes. There are also typically special characters that appear at the event, like Jack Skellington (as Sandy Claws), and more. Will that be making a reappearance at the After Hours event? Holiday Characters! So far Disney has said that Very Merriest After Hours will feature Disney character appearances around the park. Disney hasn’t really specifically mentioned whether fans will get to take pictures up-close with their favorite characters or if they will continue to be socially distanced for photos. Disney also hasn’t confirmed what characters will be available. Jack and Sally At the moment, traditional character meet-and-greets have yet to return to the parks and characters continue to greet guests at a distance. It’s possible that will still be the case during this After Hours event. But, at least we do know you will be able to see characters around the park during the event! Click here to see what character we spotted greeting guests in Disney World! Holiday-Themed PhotoPass Photos During Very Merry Christmas Parties in the past, guests have been able to take some holiday-themed PhotoPass photos throughout the park, including some special Magic Shots. PhotoPass This year, Disney has shared that there will be holiday-themed Disney PhotoPass photo opportunities during the After Hours event, so that is something that will be consistent across both events But, Disney hasn’t yet revealed what these PhotoPass photo opportunities will be yet. Click here to see more about Disney’s PhotoPass service. Castle Decorations In the past, guests have been treated to the Frozen Holiday Wish show, during which Elsa uses her powers to light up the Castle dream lights. Cinderella Castle Dream Lights during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party So far, Disney has shared that during the Very Merriest After Hours event guests will get to enjoy holiday projections on Cinderella Castle, which will alternate with the Castle’s transformation into a Beacon of Magic as part of Disney World’s 50th Anniversary celebration. Magic Kingdom Disney has not officially noted that the Holiday Dream Lights will NOT be returning this year, but they did not mention anything about the dream lights in their holiday announcements today and the return of the Castle holiday projections likely indicates the dream lights will not make a reappearance this year. We’ll be on the lookout for more updates from Disney on this. Read more about holiday projections here! SNOAP! Okay okay, this is VVVVEERRRRYY important for lots of people out there. Typically, during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, you can walk right down the middle of Main Street, U.S.A. and enjoy some lovely “snoap” (soapy snow) floating all around you. Snow falls on Main Street, U.S.A.! Disney HAS confirmed that guests will get to see “snow” falling on Main Street during the Very Merriest After Hours event! WHEW. What a relief. Gotta have that snoap! Rides Both Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and the Very Merriest After Hours holiday events allow guests access to select Magic Kingdom rides. In the past, at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, guests have been treated to holiday-themed ride overlays at attractions like Tomorrowland Speedway, Space Mountain, Mad Tea Party, and Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor. Mad Tea Party at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party The Disney Very Merriest After Hours event page specifies that some rides will have holiday overlays during the event. It doesn’t specify, however, what these overlays will consist of or which rides will feature overlays. So, we do not know yet if these holiday overlays will be new or different from previous years. Keep in mind that these holiday overlays are generally exclusive to the holiday party, so if you want to experience them you’ll want to grab a ticket to the After Hours event! Take a look at past holiday ride overlays here! Treats In the past, we’ve enjoyed a number of exclusive holiday treats at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. There were a number of treats available to purchase. But also, complimentary cookies and cocoa were available throughout Magic Kingdom. Peppermint Soft-Serve Sundae The Disney Very Merriest After Hours event will be somewhat similar but also somewhat different than Very Merry Christmas Parties with regards to treats. Disney has noted that at Disney Very Merriest After Hours there will be select holiday treats, as well as ice cream, popcorn, and bottled beverages included in the cost of admission. But, there will also be themed food and beverages available for purchase. This is somewhat similar to Very Merry, except that the After Hours event specifically includes ice cream, popcorn, and bottled beverages in addition to select treats. Check out past exclusive treats during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party here! Fireworks When it comes to fireworks, Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks will be returning to the Disney Very Merriest After Hours event. This holiday fireworks show features classic Christmas songs like We Wish You a Merry Christmas. Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks This is a fireworks show guests were able to enjoy in the past at Very Merry Christmas Parties, so fans of this show will likely be very excited to know it’ll be available for them to enjoy again. Click here to read more about Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks! So those are the differences (so far!) between Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Disney Very Merriest After Hours party. We still haven’t gotten information as to the ticket price for Disney Very Merriest After Hours, which could be another big difference between the two parties. As we learn more, we will keep you updated so you can decide whether you want to try and grab some tickets for this new holiday event for 2021. Christmas Party Crowds | 2019 Tickets will go on sale in August 2021 and there will be early purchase access for guests of select Disney World hotels. Click here to read more about the NEW Disney Very Merriest After Hours party! 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? What do you think of the new Disney Very Merriest After Hours party? Let us know in the comments! The post The Differences Between Disney World’s Very Merriest After Hours Event and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 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. Amazon is a great resource if you’re looking for Disney souvenirs but don’t want to pay Disney prices! Let’s do some Disney shopping! We checked out some Disney deals on Amazon this week, and we’re excited to let you know what we found! First of all, we wanted to remind everyone that — despite all the Disney World Christmas News we got today — it’s still summertime! So we found these Disney Pool Float Party Tubes! ©Amazon The pool floats come in several Disney varieties, including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Dory and Nemo, Stitch, and — our personal favorite — Kevin from Pixar’s Up! ©Amazon The pool floats measure 44 inches in diameter and cost between $16 and $25, depending on which style you get! Mickey and Kevin pool floats are both $24.99. Click Here to Buy the Disney Pool Floats! Picnics are also a great summer activity, so we found this Mickey Mouse Insulated Lunch Cooler! ©Amazon The lunch cooler measures 10″L by 6″H by 6″D and has an insulated cooler section along with a front pocket that holds a knife, fork, spoon, napkin, and salt and pepper shakers. ©Amazon The Mickey lunch cooler is on sale now for $36.69, down from its normal price of $61.95! Buy the Mickey Mouse Insulated Lunch Cooler Here! Since no outdoor activity is really complete without a Mickey Mouse tumbler, we found an American-themed one that’s on sale now! ©Amazon The Mickey Mouse America Tumbler is dishwasher safe and holds 16 oz of liquid. It’s on sale for $9.51, down from its normal price of $12.50! Click Here to Buy the Mickey Mouse America Tumbler! Have you heard that Disney’s Jungle Cruise movie is coming out soon? On July 28th of this year, you can see Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt on board the Jungle Cruise! To celebrate, we found this Jungle Cruise comics t-shirt! ©Amazon The t-shirt has the cover of a Jungle Cruise comic with the ship and skippers on board! It comes in Men’s and Women’s sizes S to 3XL, and it costs $22.99! Buy the Jungle Cruise Comic T-Shirt Here! Speaking of celebrating new Disney movies, we have to mention the new Black Widow movie that came out last weekend! In honor of Marvel’s latest release, we found this Women’s Marvel Sweatshirt on Amazon! ©Amazon The sweatshirt comes in Women’s sizes XS to XXL and features Marvel characters inside the letters of the Marvel logo! It’s on sale now for $24.50, down from $27.30. Buy the Women’s Marvel Sweatshirt Here! We also took a peek at the Disney games available on Amazon now, and we found a couple really cute ones! First, there was a Disney-themed matching game! ©Amazon You can get this matching game for kids in several different Disney themes, like Disney Classic, Disney Princess, Frozen II, Raya and the Last Dragon, Marvel, Winnie the Pooh, and more! Each game comes with 72 tiles for kids to match and instructions for the game. It costs $11.99 on Amazon now! Buy the Disney Matching Tiles Game Here! Probably the most interesting Disney game we saw on Amazon was this Operation Game: Star Wars Chewbacca Edition! ©Amazon The game comes with game board and tweezers, 11 plastic hair hazards, and instructions. It’s on sale now for $16.19, down from its original price of $19.99! Buy the Operation Game: Star Wars Chewbacca Edition Here! We always keep an eye out for great Disney deals, so keep following Disney Food Blog for updates! Happy Shopping! Click Here to See the Best Loki Merchandise We Found on Amazon! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Which Disney Amazon product are you thinking to buy? Tell us in the comments! The post 7 of the BEST Disney Deals on Amazon This Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Well, that was a LOT of Christmas news that Disney just dropped! We are sure you’ve already started planning your trip to Disney World after reading about everything appearing during the holiday season. Christmas Tree But, we’re breaking down all the holiday entertainment you’ll be able to find in Disney World for your itineraries this Christmas! NEW After-Hours Party Although Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party won’t be happening this year, the event has been replaced with the brand new Disney Very Merriest After Hours! The event will run on select nights from November 8th through December 21st from 9PM to 1AM for four hours of holiday magic! Guests will be able to enter the Magic Kingdom starting at 7PM, but they will need a separate ticket for the after-hours event. Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration Tickets will go on sale next month (August 2021) with an early purchase window for those staying at select Disney World hotels. Festivities during the event include character appearances, holiday music and decor, exclusive treats, and even Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Attractions will also receive holiday overlays, most of which are exclusive to the event. Currently, Disney World hasn’t released which attractions will have these overlays. But, we’ve previously seen them appear at Space Mountain, Mad Tea Party, Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor, and Tomorrowland Speedway (although the Speedway decorations could be viewed during the day, they were only lit up at night during the party). Along with holiday lights and music, these overlays sometimes also include themed decorations or other Christmas aspects. Mad Tea Party at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party However, we’ll hopefully see the return of the Jingle Cruise holiday overlay at the Jungle Cruise ride this year again, as this is available to ALL guests. The overlay isn’t exclusive to the party, so you can climb aboard the special cruise (which will be extra fun after the refurbishment is completed)! Find out more details of the Disney Very Merriest After Hours here! Projection Shows Along with the holiday events, themed projection shows are also returning to the parks! In the Magic Kingdom, there will be special holiday projections on Cinderella Castle most nights! These will alternate with the Castle’s 50th Anniversary projections. Disney has stated at this time that “Beacons of Magic [the 50th Anniversary nighttime celebrations in each park] will be available nightly at select theme parks.” So, we’ll have to keep you updated on the schedule, along with details on whether the Holiday Dream Lights will be returning or not this year! As of right now, details have not been shared, and it looks like the 50th-anniversary decorations and the holiday projections may be the castle decor seen this year. ©Disney Hollywood Studios will have a holiday show to get in the festive spirit! The “Sunset Seasons Greetings” projections will take place on The Hollywood Tower Hotel (the Tower of Terror ride) with scenes from Frozen, a Muppets gingerbread house, a toy hotel from Toy Story, and “a Dickensian village inspired by ‘Mickey’s Christmas Carol.’” Similar to the Magic Kingdom, the holiday projections will alternate with the 50th Anniversary projections on the Hollywood Tower Hotel. ©Disney Lastly, Disney’s Animal Kingdom will also be featuring the holiday edition of Tree of Life Awakenings during the “Beacon of Magic.” And, we can’t WAIT to see them all when they debut during the holiday season! More details on the holiday projections this year! EPCOT Festival of the Holidays If you’re ready to experience holidays from all around the world, you’ll be thrilled to know that the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays will be back again from November 26th through December 30th! Festival of the Holidays Sign The event will include the Holiday Kitchens around the park, performances by the Voices of Liberty, and even the famous Cookie Stroll! And, if you’ve never participated in the Cookie Stroll, it’s an opportunity to try five different designated cookies to snag stamps to redeem a FREE completer cookie. Spaceship Earth Cookie Although other Festival of the Holiday events were announced, Disney didn’t provide any details about the Candlelight Processional. While this doesn’t necessarily mean it will be canceled, we’ll have to keep an eye out for official news about whether it will return or not during the festival. Candlelight Processional ©Disney Of course, when we have more information, we’ll be sure to update you on all the events, eats, and entertainment coming to this year’s festival! Find out more details about the Festival of the Holidays here! Character Sightings Santa Claus will be arriving all the way from the North Pole to Disney World this year! Over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the jolly guy will make an appearance in the park’s motorcade… Santa! …while Santa Goofy will be greeting everyone at the Hollywood & Vine‘s holiday character dining experience Santa Goofy! Last year, we also spotted Santa in the other parks during cavalcades. But, we’ll have to update you with more details when Disney releases them! Here’s where you can find Santa Claus in Disney World! Holidays at Disney Springs But, you don’t HAVE to go to the parks to celebrate Christmas! You can head over to Disney Springs for a few festive events. The Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll will return again this year with trees that feature elaborate decorations themed after Disney movies, attractions, and more! There will also be new trees that draw inspiration from Disney World’s 50th-anniversary celebrations! Main Christmas Tree Usually, the Christmas Tree Stroll is in the Marketplace. Last year, though, the trees were placed throughout the shopping and dining district instead. However, we’ll keep you updated on where you can find the Christmas Trees for 2021! Take a look at the Christmas Tree Stroll details! You can also enjoy the transformation from Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar to Jock Lindsey’s HOLIDAY Bar in Disney Springs too! The bar saw plenty of holiday decorations and special holiday menu items last year, like the Milk and Cookies by the Fireside. Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar But, we’ll have to check back for the full menu soon! Check out the details of Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar here! Gingerbread Houses The Gingerbread Houses may have been canceled last year in Disney World. BUT, they will officially be returning this year to the resorts (boom, baby)! There will be a list of “select gingerbread displays” available, although we aren’t sure which ones will be back again this year. Hopefully, we’ll be able to see the giant gingerbread carousel at Disney’s Beach Club and a gingerbread house with special holiday treats at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, among others. Gingerbread House We’ll keep an eye out for the Gingerbread House announcements coming soon, so you can schedule your treat walk around the resorts! Take a look at the details on the holiday Gingerbread Houses here! As more news is released ahead of Christmas, we’ll be sure to update you on everything you need to know before your holiday plans! In the meantime, stay tuned with DFB for the latest Disney entertainment coming soon! See how you can celebrate the holidays on a Disney Cruise! 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? Will you be heading to Disney World for the holiday season? Let s know in the comments below! The post All the Holiday Entertainment Announced for Disney World This Year first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Christmas is only 166 days away, so now is the perfect time to prepare for the holiday season in the Disney parks! 2020 Holiday Character Cavalcade OK, so it’s still a little ways off…but today Disney announced several big changes and returns to the festive season celebrations in Disney World! Here’s all the news you might have missed this morning! There were several changes to the Disney World holiday festivities this year! Disney Very Merriest After Hours Replaces Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party The biggest change that Disney World made for the holiday celebrations is that Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will NOT be returning to the parks this year! Instead, there will be the Disney Very Merriest After Hours event, which is a four-hour event that takes place in Disney’s Magic Kingdom. Cinderella Castle Dressed Up for Christmas At the Disney Very Merriest After Hours, guests can see character appearances around the park, get special holiday treats, ride over 20 Magic Kingdom attractions (including some that have holiday themes), see the return of Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks, and more! The event runs on select evenings from November 8th to December 21st of this year, and tickets will go on sale next month. Read MORE about the new holiday After Hours Event here! Holiday Entertainment Is Returning Around the Parks In addition to the return of Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks, Disney has announced that holiday projections will be returning to Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Sunset Season’s Greetings in Hollywood Studios We’ll see the Cinderella Castle dressed up for Christmastime, the Tower of Terror decked out to look like a Muppets-themed gingerbread house (and more), and the holiday edition of the Tree of Life Awakening in Animal Kingdom! Each of the holiday projections will be alternating with the 50th Anniversary Celebration projections, which begin on October 1st of this year. Read more about the return of holiday projections here! Dates for EPCOT’s International Festival of the Holidays Were Announced At EPCOT, the International Festival of the Holidays will be back from November 26th to December 30th of this year! Festival of the Holidays Disney has confirmed that Holiday Kitchens around EPCOT will return, along with Voices of Liberty performances. The Cookie Stroll will also be back, which has guests walk around the park and try different holiday cookies that have been inspired by countries around the world and attractions around EPCOT in the past. Spaceship Earth Cookie We can’t wait to experience this festival again! Read more about the return of Festival of the Holidays here! What Are We Missing? In Disney’s announcement about the return of the Festival of the Holidays to EPCOT, one big event was conspicuously absent: the Candlelight Processional. Although the announcement did NOT state that the processional would be canceled, it also didn’t mention it as returning to the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays this year. Last year, the Candlelight Processional was canceled due to the pandemic. We’ve seen the plans for several holiday events to return to EPCOT from previous years, so we’ll keep an eye out for any more information about this big EPCOT event! Click Here to See What We Know So Far About EPCOT’s Candlelight Processional. EPCOT’s Candlelight Processional Another Disney holiday event that hasn’t yet been confirmed as returning is the Cinderella Castle Holiday Dream Lights. Cinderella Castle Dream Lights during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party This Disney holiday tradition had Frozen characters come out in the evening and cover the Cinderella Castle with “snow,” which was thousands of white lights all over the Castle. Last year, the holiday projections replaced the Dream Lights. And this year, there will also be 50th Anniversary Celebration projections on the Cinderella Castle (alternating with the holiday projections), so it may be unlikely that we see Dream Lights this year. Disney has NOT yet announced whether Dream Lights will be back this year, though! Click Here to See What We Know So Far About the Holiday Dream Lights in Magic Kingdom! Keep following DFB for more Disney holiday news and updates! Click Here to Read More About the New After Hours Even in Magic Kingdom for the Holiday Season! 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? Are you heading to Disney World for the holidays? Tell us in the comments! The post The 4 BIGGEST Disney World Holiday News Bombs You Missed This Morning! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World has been feeling a lot more normal recently, but some of our favorite things are still closed. Belle Vue Lounge We’re still awaiting the opening of Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts and beloved restaurants like Boma at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Of course, we keep a close eye out for signs of restaurants reopening and now a cozy lounge is showing some movement! Disney’s Boardwalk Inn is home to a number of tasty restaurants and not all of them have reopened. Though the hotel fully reopened at the beginning of this month, Belle Vue Lounge has remained closed — but that may not be the case for long. Belle Vue Lounge at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn Today, we spotted hours posted for Belle Vue Lounge beginning Wednesday, July 14th! The lounge is posted as being open from 7AM to 11PM. ©Disney This lounge is inspired by a 1930’s sitting room and is a super cozy spot to grab a drink and relax for a while. It will be a nice plus for Boardwalk guests to have access to it once again! The Belle Vue Lounge in Disney’s BoardWalk Inn As always, stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney World updates! Click here to learn more about reopening resorts! 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 visit a reopened Belle Vue Lounge? Tell us in the comments! The post Belle Vue Lounge Is Likely Reopening in Disney World This Week! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Halloween is only three months away and we are counting down the days! Howdy Goofy! The Disney After Hours BOO BASH begins on August 10, 2021, and we have been wondering when a favorite Halloween character dining experience would be back. Today we got an answer and our little Halloween hearts are filled with excitement. The Halloween Dine is a seasonal character dining experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Hollywood and Vine Restaurant. Characters such as Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Pluto get to dress up in their Halloween costumes and visit guests while dining! Spooktacular Mickey Mouse Today we noticed a date has been set for the Halloween Dine, and it will be starting the same day as BOO Bash! August 10, 2021 will mark the debut of Halloween Dine at Hollywood and Vine. We can’t wait! ©Disney Last year we found that Donald and Daisy were missing from the Halloween Dine, and the character visits were different due to social distancing, but they danced around the restaurant to Halloween music and we loved seeing our fave characters in their Halloween costumes! Minnie Mouse This year, we don’t know whether Donald and Daisy will be back or if the character interactions will be exactly the same. They have remained distanced in all the currently open character dining locations, so as of right now, we assume this experience will be distanced as well. If you’re visiting Disney World for BOO Bash, you may want to consider a visit to Hollywood and Vine for another Disney Halloween experience! Restaurants can be booked up to 60 days in advance, so mark your calendars to get a reservation! Read our latest Hollywood and Vine 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. Are you excited for Halloween Dine? Let us know in the comments! The post WHEN Hollywood and Vine's Halloween Dine Will Return in Disney's Hollywood Studios first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Feeling in need of a shopping spree? Disney Springs We’ve got good news for you! Disney Springs is the prime spot for shopping in Disney World with TONS of Disney stores, clothing stores, sports stores, and more. Now, a VERY popular activewear brand is getting its own storefront in Disney Springs — Fabletics! Fabletics is a popular activewear brand co-founded by actress Kate Hudson (Did you know Hudson was considered for the lead role of Mia in The Princess Diaries?). According to BizJournals, Fabletics will open a Disney Springs location this fall! ©Fabletics Orlando folks have been able to visit Fabletics at The Millenia Mall, but the Disney Springs location is set to offer a whole new kind of shopping experience. Disney Springs Customers can use the in-store Omnisuite and Omnishop technologies to request a different size or color, check stock, and get styling tips — without ever leaving the fitting room. On top of that, employees will have the capability to place orders and arrange for free shipping of products directly to the customer’s doorstep through this system! Disney Springs The Disney Springs location will also be home to a fitness boutique as a part of the collaboration between Fabletics and Hydrow, the at-home rowing machine company. Disney Springs Soft openings for this location will kick off in the fall with private shopping appointments and exclusive member and guest discounts. The official opening date of the store has yet to be announced. Disney Springs As always, stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney World updates! Want to see the latest from Disney Springs? 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. Are you excited that Fabletics is coming to Disney World? Tell us in the comments! The post NEWS: A New Activewear Store Is Coming to Disney Springs! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

You wouldn’t think mid-July is the time for holiday news but apparently, it IS. Water Slides Disney CRANKED OUT the holiday updates this morning and we’re making sure you’re TOTALLY in the loop. With BIG news like this year’s replacement of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and smaller but still exciting news like the return of Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar, we don’t want you missing out on ANYTHING. And, there’s more news to come that you can watch LIVE. This morning, Disney announced A Halfway to the Holidays TikTok Live Event from Disney’s Blizzard Beach. Yep! You can join Disney Parks LIVE for a special tour and sneak peek straight from Disney World’s frostiest water park. ©Disney The event will feature an after-hours tour of Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park with an inside look at the attractions, a SNEAK PEEK at new limited-time offerings, entertainment from the Dapper Dans, and more! Cross Country Creek To check out the event, head to @DisneyParks on TikTok on July 14th at 7:30PM to be a part of the fun. Blizzard Beach Water Park As always, stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney World updates and MORE! Want to learn more about the holiday events in Disney World this year? Click here! 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? Will you be tuning in? Tell us in the comments! The post Disney's Hosting a LIVE Halfway to the Holidays TikTok Event SOON first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article