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In my first post, I let you in on the fact that I’m a huge Star Wars fan. But what I didn’t mention then is that I’m just as big a fan of Marvel. So when I say that I have a dream job – getting to design Disney experiences that bring these worlds to life – I absolutely mean it. I actually get paid to geek out!http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DisneyParks/~4/vSf2U-7Rpsw 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. Walt Disney World is OFFICIALLY turning 50 on October 1st of this year! Cinderella Castle And if you’re planning to be there for the marquee anniversary, you likely already know this isn’t going to be your AVERAGE Disney World vacation. And so, you need to pack accordingly. There are some things you need to bring on EVERY Disney World vacation, like comfortable shoes, a good backpack, and your favorite Minnie ears. How gorgeous are they? If you’re heading down to Orlando this October, here are some of the extra things you may want to bring with you! Extra Money and Gift Cards If Disneyland’s 65th anniversary is any indication, Disney World’s 50th anniversary is going to have TONS of limited edition merchandise! Disneyland 65th Anniversary Merchandise We don’t know WHAT Disney World will release, but we’re sure there will be new ears, new shirts, new mugs, picture frames, dresses and skirts, keychains, pins, hats, plushes, and so, so, so much more! It’s easy to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars, so if you want to make sure you don’t blow your rent money on Disney World merch, use one of our favorite tips for budgeting at Disney World and use Disney gift cards! The gift cards are even so cute! Just place however much you want to spend on new merch on your gift card, and when it’s out, it’s out! Read 3 tips for budgeting for a Disney World trip here. An Empty Suitcase If you’re flying or driving down to Disney World you may want to make sure you don’t just leave a little extra room in your luggage. Instead, you may want to bring an entire EXTRA empty suitcase or foldable tote bag especially if you know you’re going to be shopping a lot. DVC Suitcases It may SEEM excessive, but even budget-friendly souvenirs can take up a LOT of space! (We’re looking at you, Stitch Crashes Disney plushes!) Looking for a great new suitcase? Click here! So pack light and make sure you have a carry-on or personal item-sized bag that you can store all of your new goodies in! Read a few of our Disney World packing tips here! High-quality Camera Yes, your iPhone can take GREAT shots. Just look at what a smartphone can do! Magic Kingdom But this is a SPECIAL trip, and you’re going to want to take a LOT of photos, so you might want to think about bringing along a high-quality digital camera too to make sure you’re getting every angle of any special photo opportunities that may arise! Spaceship Earth If you want to take some unique snapshots, consider bringing along a Polaroid camera too so you’ll have the beginnings of a photo album all printed before you even leave Disney World! Click here to pick up a new digital camera! Old Family Photos SPEAKING of unique photos to take, if you and your family have been going to Disney World since the ’70s, it may be time to channel those memories and recreate them! The first step, bring those old family photographs! Look at how empty Main Street was! Disney World is ALL about the memories, so break out those frilly socks and baggy polos to remember the good ol’ days. Or you can dress like it’s 2021 and snap a special shot with your loved ones in the same place to see just how much Disney World has changed over the years! Chances are, you’ve changed a little bit too. Past Disney World Mementos SPEAKING of nostalgia, if you’ve been going to Disney World since you were a little kid, chances are you have a favorite souvenir or two from childhood, like a well-loved Mickey Mouse plush or a T-shirt that was super baggy in the ’90s that fits just right these days. And now is the time to bring it along! This is NOT the kind of hidden Mickey we expect to see in the parks. You can get some adorable snapshots of your favorite pal from childhood or show off your own vintage goods for this anniversary! Themed clothing If you’re not out to buy brand new stuff or don’t have a well-worn vintage Disney tee, then maybe break out some themed clothing! Rock a shirt based off of your favorite Disney World opening day attraction! (Haunted Mansion, anyone?!) Haunted Mansion shirt Or you can go ALL out with the 50th theme and dress like you’re still in the 1970s or you can channel Disney’s announced EARidescence color scheme! Check out a COOL Disney shirt right here! Your Own Entertainment As of now, the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT are BOOKED TO CAPACITY for October 1st! Disney park pass availability for October 1st In addition to the Magic Kingdom’s big anniversary, EPCOT will have a BRAND NEW attraction on October 1st, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure! Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure The opening of a new ride and any marquee day at Magic Kingdom (think: Christmas, New Year’s Eve, the Fourth of July) will be SUPER busy with VERY long lines. Capacity Crowds It’s helpful to bring entertainment. We like to bring a book, but if you’re an artist, you can bring a sketchbook! Looking for a cool Disney sketchbook? Click here! If you like to spend your time working out your brain, you can bring along a puzzle book, crossword book, or word search! Eat Like Walt: The Wonderful World of Disney Food It’s also important to keep your kiddos entertained in long lines, so load your smartphone up with games for waiting in long lines or the Play Disney Parks app so you can do trivia! Play Disney Parks Screenshot Though it’s unknown what entertainment Disney World will have at this juncture, if the parks DO announce fireworks or stage shows, it may even be useful to bring a puzzle to put together while you wait on the hub grass for that nighttime spectacular! What’s going on with fireworks in Disney World? Get all the details here. Coffee Yes, Disney World sells coffee at the theme parks, and we LOVE Joffrey’s and Starbucks! Starbucks and Main Street But you know what we DON’T love? Lines at Joffrey’s and Starbucks, especially in the morning. They’re LONG! LONG LINE for some caffeine You CAN bring your own food and drinks into Disney World, and we HIGHLY recommend bringing a tumbler of coffee into Disney World with you. Odds are, you’ll have an early morning and a long day of lines ahead of you, and the worst line to be caught in is an un-caffeinated line! Bring your OWN Joffrey’s coffee by clicking here! Your Patience! Seriously. The parks will be CROWDED on October 1st, especially as Walt Disney World increases capacity over the next few months. Tomorrowland Crowds Lines will be LONG for limited edition merchandise, special food offerings, attractions, shows, transportation, and practically EVERYTHING else. Crowds Cast Members do their best to move things along, but these lines are practically impossible to avoid and they may feel especially lengthy because Disney World has been operating at a lower capacity since reopening. Monorail Lines So in addition to entertainment, bring your patience and your smile. And be sure to THANK Cast Members for all their hard work, after all, they’re the ones who have kept Disney World running for the last 50 years! Everything That’s Happening in Disney World on October 1! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Will you be visiting Disney World on October 1st? Let us know in the comments! The post 10 Things You NEED to Bring If You're Going to Disney World for the 50th Anniversary first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

One of the biggest draws of Disney World is the rides. Whether they use impressive technology, they’re classic Disney staples, or they’re just downright fun — there are so many incredible rides. “its a small world” You might feel pressured to ride all of them, but sometimes, it’s not the worst thing to skip some. Find out which rides you may wanna skip on your Disney World vacation in our latest DFB Video!  Are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes! Check out our latest video and then comment below: Your favorite Disney World ride! The post DFB Video: Is It Bad to Skip These Rides in Disney World? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney Characters Create Magical Moments At EPCOT | Walt Disney World 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. Sometimes nothing is more frustrating than adding all of your favorite items into your cart on shopDisney and getting ready to place your order, only to realize you haven’t met the level to get free shipping! ©Disney If you’ve got a few items you’ve been hoping to purchase (maybe some new masks or some items to celebrate the upcoming release of Luca) you’ve got just a few hours to get it all shipped to your house for FREE!!! That’s right, FREE shipping is available TODAY ONLY on shopDisney for all purchases!! In order to get free shipping you’ll need to use the code FREESHIP. ©shopDisney Hoping to grab those NEW rainbow studded ears online? Studded Rainbow Ears Or maybe a hoodie to get ready for the release of Loki on Disney+? ©Disney You can get those and more on shopDisney today only with FREE SHIPPING so be sure to take advantage of it while you can! We’ll keep an eye out for more deals and discounts and let you know what we find. Click here to see some of the Luca collection Disney has released online! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Will you be buying anything from shopDisney today? Tell us in the comments! The post TODAY ONLY! Get Free Shipping on Your Favorite Disney Items first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Have you ever had a “nope, not today” moment in Walt Disney World? Some days aren’t always perfect in Disney World. Maybe you had plans go awry or you experienced something that wasn’t nearly as “magical” as you hoped it would be. Or maybe it felt like the park was quitting on YOU (like when a favorite ride has a weird malfunction!). Today, we’re sharing the times that we had experiences like that in the parks because we’ve seen some pretty bonkers things! When Disney Springs Had Hurricane-Level Winds We’ve seen some pretty wild weather in Disney World (Florida IS known for hurricanes, after all), and a particularly windy April day was no exception. We saw food flying across the sidewalk, umbrellas getting blown inside out, and guests losing their belongings all over the place. This was a day Disney definitely felt a bit less “OMG, MAGICAL!” and more “OMG, TAKE COVER!” How to Handle Severe Weather in Disney World — Click Here! When the PeopleMover Opening Date Got Pushed Back for the Millionth Time Oh, the poor, sweet PeopleMover. This ride went down in early 2020 with technical difficulties and then we didn’t get to ride it for over a year! It was supposed to open when the Disney World parks reopened in July, but it was listed as “under refurbishment” instead. We missed this ride so much! We were okay with that at the time, hoping to ride it just a few weeks later, but the reopening date was pushed back. Then it was pushed back again. And again. It was pushed back SIX TIMES until we were starting to wonder if Disney was just taunting us. We were about to give up all hope of ever soaring above Tomorrowland in those blue cars again. It was nice to be back! BUT, it FINALLY reopened in April 2021, but on the second day of having it up and running again, it had to be evacuated (we can’t make this stuff up LOL!). The universe REALLY didn’t want it to be open! Thankfully, things got right back to normal that same day…but MAN were we worried. FOR NOW…the PeopleMover remains open. Everyone collectively cross our fingers and toes to make sure it stays that way! Click Here to Learn More About the PeopleMover’s Reopening! When Elsa Decided to Quit Her Job on Frozen Ever After Okay, we’ll admit — if we had to sing ALL DAY LONG for guests at Disney World, we’d get pretty tired. However, it was still shocking to find the Elsa animatronic on Frozen Ever After just giving up mid-song! Almost as if she’d forgotten the words to “Let it Go.” Even Elsa has bad days… We’ve seen this portion of the ride mess up a few times, but every time, it throws us for a loop. We can’t say we blame Elsa though, 2020 was a hard year. If she just wants to say “nope, not today” and take a break for a bit, maybe we should let her! Click Here to Check Out ANOTHER Time This Ride Malfunctioned! When Disney Replaced Animatronics With Cardboard Cutouts and…Plants? Okay, now this may be one of the weirdest things we’ve seen in Disney World. When the Donald Duck animatronic at the end of Gran Fiesta Tour was having some issues, instead of putting up a scrim or just ignoring the blank space altogether, Disney replaced him…with a hat-wearing PLANT! WHAT?! May we just say…WHAT?! We have to ask Disney — did you really think we wouldn’t notice??? Was that the best solution we had? Either way, we’re not mad about it because it was also one of the funniest things we’ve ever seen in Disney World! Gran Fiesta Tour Not long after Donald left, the other two animatronics were taken away as well, all to be replaced by cardboard cutouts. And let us just say, we definitely noticed that difference! BUT, all is right in the world once again. Disney revealed plant/cardboard/missing Caballeros were a temp fix so the VERY old animatronics could get some much-needed TLC. Now, our favorite “birds of a feather” are back! Click Here to Learn More About This Neverending Saga! When We Started to Get Convinced that Space 220 is An Elaborate Ruse OK, TBH we’re not entirely sure this highly anticipated restaurant ISN’T a ruse! When we first heard the concept for Disney’s new EPCOT restaurant Space 220 in 2017, we were very excited about the prospect of dining “in space!” However, our excitement isn’t quite as fresh as it used to be, considering the opening date has been pushed back several times. Your calendar doesn’t deceive you — it’s been nearly 4 years of waiting. Will we EVER get to eat here? The unique dining concept was supposed to open way in the latter part of 2019, but Disney ran into some snafus like the head chef leaving. Then, a new opening timeline of February 2020 was announced. We went through the entire month and (you guessed it!) the restaurant never opened! After that, the pandemic hit. Space 220 Concept Art ©Disney When the parks reopened, we didn’t hear a peep about what was going on with the restaurant! With more than two years of delays and unanswered questions, we began to wonder if Disney had just said “ah, forget it!” and moved on. We even reached out to our readers who were equally baffled as to when the spot would open. Thankfully, we got some footage from inside the restaurant in November 2020, renewing our hope! We’re STILL waiting for this one, but we have a feeling it will be worth the (kinda ridiculously long) wait. Click Here to Learn More About the Story of Space 220! When We Spotted Abandoned Dole Whips (GASP!) You know what’s stressful? When your Dole Whip is melting faster than you can eat it. But you know what’s sad? Finding an entire box of Dole Whips melting in the sun — without anyone to claim them! If this photo below is a trigger for you, we apologize! This makes us want to cry. We spotted this scene in the parks one day and we were quite heartbroken. Why would you buy these delicious treats (FOUR of them, at that!) just to leave them behind? Oh, the humanity! We’re hoping it was a “pay it forward” type situation gone awry or maybe a parent rushing a kiddo off to the restrooms? We may never know for sure, but this was a truly devastating sight. We hope that we can raise awareness for orphaned Dole Whips everywhere so that this never has to happen again. Click Here to See One of Our Favorite Dole Whip Flavor Combos! When A Beloved Ride Literally Started to Fall Apart We’ve seen some bizarre animatronic malfunctions before, but we definitely didn’t expect to see John on Carousel of Progress missing his ENTIRE HAND! Give this animatronic a hand! This is what happens when you don’t pay attention in the kitchen, folks! To make matters worse, he’s standing in front of a knife block. Oh, Johnny…what happened here?? Between that and him catching the Christmas dinner on fire, we think it’s time for John to go back to bed and forget the day even happened. (It just be like that sometimes!) Click Here for Our Readers’ Least Favorite Rides in Magic Kingdom! When We Tried 3 Very Weird Snacks Typically, Disney’s attempts at creative snacks don’t go too terribly wrong. Sometimes they aren’t our favorites, but they’re usually not disastrous. However, there are three treats that stand out in our minds as ones that were just NOT it. It’s so sad… The Pumpkin Pretzel was a poor little ugly disaster in Disney’s Animal Kingdom while the BLUE bread on the Space Sandwich turned out looking much moldier than it did creative. And for taste, the original iteration of the Poor Unfortunate Souls Float was definitely not a “win” in our book. It’s okay, they can’t all be winners! Click Here to Learn More About These Weird Snacks! Even though we’ve run into some imperfect situations in Disney World, it’s still possible to have a great time when things go wrong. Often the most unique and odd situations prove the most memorable — case in point, this article! It’s important to plan ahead for your trip and do your research so that when things don’t go according to plan, you can laugh about it instead of stress! Stay tuned to DFB for all the best Walt Disney World planning tips and advice for your next trip. Here Are the Weirdest Things That Happened in Disney World in 2020! 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 things in Disney World? The post 8 Times We Said "Nope, Not Today" in Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’ve got news on the Walt Disney Archives! ©D23 The Inside the Walt Disney Archives: 50 Years of Preserving the Magic exhibit gives Disney fans the chance to get up close to pieces of Disney history, from Jack Sparrow’s compass to Mary Poppins’ carpet bag to tombstones from the Haunted Mansion. It reopened at Bowers Museum in Santa Ana on March 17th — and soon, it’ll be on the move! The exhibit will be at Bowers Museum until June 20th. Afterwards, it will be open at Graceland Exhibition Center in Memphis, Tennessee from July 23rd, 2021 through January 2nd, 2022! ©Graceland Exhibition Center The 10,000-square-foot exhibit gives visitors the chance to explore more than 450 objects, like original artwork, on-screen costumes, and props. There will also be a series of special events! July 22nd is a D23 Gold Member-only event — and any other time these members want to visit, they’ll get a 20% discount on admission and VIP tours (with proof of membership). Movie Memoribilia — Heya, Roger! Other fun events include trivia nights, movie screenings, and craft parties! ©D23 If you’re a Disney fan in the Memphis area, get excited! And stay tuned to DFB, because we’ll keep bringing you the latest Disney news. Check Out This Exhibit in More Detail! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Would you want to visit this exhibit? Let us know in the comments! The post NEWS: The Walt Disney Archives Exhibit Is Heading to Memphis first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Before Walt Disney brought his big theme park concept to town, Florida was filled with roadside attractions on highways that took motorists around the state before the turnpike and interstates appeared. View the full article By PATRICK CONNOLLY ORLANDO SENTINEL | MAY 26, 2021 AT 5:30 AM Before Walt Disney brought his big theme park concept to town, Florida was filled with roadside attractions on highways that took motorists around the state. For nearly a century before Walt Disney’s dream theme park landed in Orlando, tourists were taking trains, boats and cars around the Sunshine State, enjoying roadside shows and Floridian kitsch along the way. Florida’s tourism boom started in earnest when northerners were encouraged to visit for health reasons, said Pam Schwartz, executive director of Orange County Regional History Museum. “Around the turn of the century in the 1900s, people were being sort of prescribed to come here, to drink the water and spend time in the sunshine,” she said. “But it really started to kick off with cars and the building of the Dixie Highway in 1915. Improved roads did a lot for Orlando and the Central Florida region.” A new wave of tourism came with the end of World War II and the advent of air conditioning, making year-round travel possible in the state. Roadside attractions had their heyday, up and down Florida’s coast and throughout the middle of the state, too. Eventually, the convenience of the turnpike and interstates took motorists past many of the classic attractions, causing many to shutter for good. While some remnants of Florida’s past have vanished away, left to the pages of history, others are still operating today, preserving the legacy of the roadside attractions that once reigned. Gatorland through the years Owen Godwin, owner of Gatorland, holds open the jaws of 'Bone Crusher' in 1954. (GATORLAND) Gatorland Capturing the public’s interest in ancient reptiles, Gatorland has drawn tourists to its roadside destination for dozens of years with alligator wrestling, snakes and a giant gator-jaw entrance. The Orange Blossom Trail attraction was opened in 1949 by third-generation Floridian Owen Godwin as the “Florida Wildlife Institute.” In the decades to follow, Gatorland expanded rapidly, building a 2,000-foot boardwalk and a steam engine dubbed “Iron Horse.” Now, the 110-acre park features an extensive network of zip lines, a swamp buggy tour and gator-centric shows for visitors of all ages. Amid the rise of Disney, Universal and SeaWorld, Gatorland has persisted to this day, still owned by Godwin’s family, standing the test of time to welcome in tens of thousands of visitors per year. More information: gatorland.com Citrus Tower Thousands of acres of citrus groves surrounded the Citrus Tower in Clermont when it opened in 1956. An estimated 17 million trees could be seen from the top. (The Citrus Tower/Courtesy) The Citrus Tower Originally built as a roadside monument to the Sunshine State’s citrus heritage, the Citrus Tower has welcomed millions of visitors to see fresh views of Central Florida since its opening in 1956. Sitting along U.S. 27 near Clermont, the 226-foot tower once featured carillon bell concerts and overlooked an estimated 17 million citrus trees. The view has changed considerably, as those farms have given way to sprawling development, but the attraction has remained largely the same for those who have made the journey to the top over the years. Topping out at nearly 500 feet above sea level, the Citrus Tower provides panoramic views of the Orlando skyline and Disney hotels, plus dozens of lakes. More information: citrustower.com Silver Springs State Park The swimming area at Silver Springs in the 1960s. (Silver Springs State Park / Handout) Silver Springs The glass-bottom boats of Silver Springs are touted as Florida’s oldest attraction, providing views of the state’s pristine springs for nearly 150 years. To this day, visitors to Silver Springs State Park can take a trip on one of these special watercraft every half-hour to catch glimpses of turtles, fish and sometimes manatees. Along the way, tourists can also uncover Florida history when learning about movies filmed in the springs — namely several “Tarzan” films and “Creature from the Black Lagoon.” In adapting to present-day needs, Silver Springs State Park has added a handicap-accessible boat to its fleet for guests who use wheelchairs and powered scooters. More information: silversprings.com or floridastateparks.org St. Augustine Fountain of Youth Tourists take note of the odiferous sulfur spring water at the Fountain of Youth in St. Petersburg in 1951. (Joseph Kaleita / Florida Photographic Collection) St. Augustine Fountain of Youth While Silver Springs’ glass-bottomed boats are typically thought of as Florida’s oldest attraction, the St. Augustine Fountain of Youth may rival that notion. The archaeological park and “edutainment” experience have sign-ins from visitors dating back to 1868. It’s a place where “legend meets history,” and modern-day visitors can drink from the same spring that Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León likely did. Tourists can find a planetarium show and a two-story Discovery Globe on the site, plus a Timucua village and historical re-enactments. A gift shop complete with “Fountain of Youth” spring water awaits visitors at the end of their experience. More information: fountainofyouthflorida.com Cypress Gardens Skiiers perform in a 1965 Cypress Gardens water show. (Handout) Cypress Gardens With a famous water skiing show and a 200-acre garden filled with tropical blooms, Cypress Gardens has been regarded among Florida’s greatest attractions throughout the state’s history of tourism. Opening in 1935, this “photographer’s paradise” was heavily advertised in magazines and attracted plenty of celebrity cameos. The arrival of Walt Disney World took tourists away from the famed gardens as attendance dropped rapidly. In 2003, the gardens closed and changed hands several times before reopening as Legoland Florida in 2011. Remnants of the gardens can still be seen by visitors today. Six Gun Territory Six Gun Territory, shown here in April 1979, was a Western-themed attraction in Silver Springs. It opened on Feb. 2, 1963 and closed on Jan. 1, 1984. (File / Orlando Sentinel) Six Gun Territory There was a time when the Wild West could be visited in the South, thanks to the presence of Ocala’s Six Gun Territory attraction. Beginning in 1963, tourists could witness gunfights, take stagecoach rides and visit a saloon within this model Western town. Later, a gondola sky ride and movie theater were added with other rides. The rise of Orlando theme parks and a series of accidents plagued the attraction, causing it to close permanently in 1984. Weeki Wachee Springs Weeki Wachee Springs presents the first live underwater mermaid show to the public in 1947. (George Skene, Orlando Sentinel) Weeki Wachee Springs For nearly 75 years, the Weeki Wachee mermaids have captivated audiences, entertaining fans of all ages with their unique underwater show. The idea for such a performance was hatched when Navy veteran Newton Perry built a theater 6 feet below the water’s surface and invented an air hose method for breathing underwater. The first mermaid show was held in 1947. A renovated theater now houses guests to view acts similar to the mermaid shows of decades ago. In addition, Weeki Wachee Springs, now a state park, provides a water park for children to play and paddling on pristine waters. More information: floridastateparks.org Space Shuttle Visitors at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on June 18, 1983 inspect the Gemini 9 spacecraft which was launched from the Florida Space Center in 1966 with astronauts Eugene Cernan and Thomas Stafford aboard. The three-day manned spaceflight mission was part of NASA's Gemini program. (Robert Alexander/Getty Images) Kennedy Space Center When Americans were rocketed to space in the 1960s, nationwide interest surged, and tourists flocked to Cape Canaveral to get an up-close look at the country’s burgeoning space program. Public visitation at what was then known as “Cape Kennedy” started with self-guided vehicle tours in 1963 and 1964. Tours later expanded to include areas of Kennedy Space Center, an addition that proved popular. Several years later, a visitors center was built and guided bus tours provided another way for guests to get a close view of the American space program on Florida’s east coast. Today, more than one million guests per year come to see a rocket garden, hands-on activities and behind-the-scenes tours.

Royal Caribbean Group is the first company to have its port and local health agreements approved and move onto test cruises. 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. It’s getting HOT in Florida as summer rolls in as May comes to an end! Magic Kingdom As you start planning your upcoming Disney World vacations, we’re sure you’re checking your packing list for sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, and comfy shoes before you head to the parks. But, we may have just found our go-to mask for the long summer days. While we found this in the parks, we do want to point out that it is available online at shopDisney for much cheaper! Today, we spotted the new mask at Island Mercantile in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Island Mercantile The white masks are lined with navy blue fabric and populated with blue and red stars… Fourth of July Masks …and, of course, the patriotic mask needed an extra Disney flair with colorful Mickey heads all around it too. In the parks, you can get this mask for $10! Fourth of July Masks But heads up, you can actually buy this mask for cheaper online. Right now, you can purchase the Mickey Mouse Americana mask pack for only $7!! ©Disney So if you’re loving this mask, we suggest snagging it online. But do remember, that you will have to pay for shipping! Buy these 4th of July masks online 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. When’s your next trip to Disney World planned for? Let us know in the comments below! The post We Found a New Disney World Mask for Much CHEAPER Online! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s another day in Disney World, which means there’s more snacking to do! You don’t find us here too often! And, today, when we were making our way around EPCOT, we noticed that there were TWO new menu items at Lotus Blossom Cafe in the China Pavilion! Now, we’re not normally stopping by this spot to grab a bite of the Quick Service Chinese food served here — but when there’s something new to try, we simply can’t stay away. The menu now features a Char Siu Combo and a Red Bean Ice Float for Disney’s A World of Voices, which celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. New menu items at Lotus Blossom Cafe So, let’s start out with the main course, shall we? The Char Siu Combo is a Cantonese-style Barbecue Pork served with Steamed Rice, Egg Roll, and Broccoli for $13.50. That’s a pretty good serving size there! Our first impression of this dish was that it is a HUGE serving size so you’re getting a pretty good bang for your buck. But, taste-wise, it was pretty hit or miss for us. A few of the pieces of pork were dry while others were cooked perfectly and, while the broccoli had some great flavor and crispiness to it, ours was served just a bit too cold. Look at that saucy meat! The rice on the other hand was delicious. And, because it was paired in the dish next to the barbecue pork, the rice soaked up some of the sweetness from the sauce, and the white and black sesame seeds added a nice finishing touch. We always appreciate a nice glob of rice! But, the real winner of this dish was the egg roll! It was already good all by itself and then we dipped it into some of the barbecue sauce and it. was. next. level. Can we get more of these, please? Overall, we think that someone who likes sweet barbecue pork would really enjoy this dish! It’s got all the fixin’s, a few standouts, and it’s not served greasy like you find with a lot of Chinese fast food options. So, now for that Red Bean Ice Float! It is a Hong Kong-style dessert drink with sweetened Chinese red beans, milk, crushed ice, and vanilla ice cream, all for $8.95. Red beans in milkshakes are pretty standard in Chinese culture, so we weren’t surprised to see them in there, but it still is…interesting for us western folk. We weren’t exactly sure how all those ingredients were going to pair, but we gave it the good ol’ mix and sip and were kind of…into it? New Red Bean Ice Float It tastes a lot like a vanilla milkshake and you will get some pieces of crushed ice and red beans as you sip through the straw. The beans are pretty soft, but you’ll still be doing some chewing and there’s no hiding the flavor in the ice cream — they still taste like beans. So, this drink may not be for everyone (especially not all you bean haters out there), but if you’re feeling adventurous, you should give this one a go! Yup, those are beans in there! If you’re in the mood for some Quick Service Chinese food or looking for a snack that you will (probably) only ever get to try in Disney World, then head on over to Lotus Blossom Cafe this month! These offerings may not be on the menu long, so you’ll have to be there soon to claim all the bragging rights that go with eating red beans in your milkshake! There’s a NEW Menu at an EPCOT Flower & Garden Booth — Check Out Our 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. What is the most adventurous thing you’ve ever tried in Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post REVIEW: TWO New Menu Items Arrived at EPCOT's Lotus Blossom Cafe! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’re back in Magic Kingdom! Cinderella Castle And today, we’re takin’ you with us as we check out everything that’s new in Disney World’s flagship park. Let’s get started! Magic Kingdom Merchandise Updates Emporium We spotted a lot of fun new stuff in the Emporium! First up, there’s a cool new 1971 Walt Disney World phone case that really throws it back to the good ol’ days. It’s $34.99! 1971 Phone Case There’s also a new Stitch hat for $27.99… Stitch Hat …and a stylish Cruella hat! Cruella Hat That sure is getting us excited for this villainess’ upcoming movie. Uptown Jewelers In Uptown Jewelers, we saw the new Marvel Pandora charms. The set includes Captain America, Spider-Man, and Iron Man! Marvel Pandora Charms Here’s a look at the back of ’em. Here’s the back! It’s a pretty cool way to rep your love for Marvel subtlety, right? Tomorrowland Light and Power Co. If you want some spooky new merch, you can snag one of the 3D villain phone cases from Tomorrowland Light and Power Co.! There are cases for Ursula and the Evil Queen… Villain Phone Cases …Maleficent… Maleficent Phone Case …and several villains combined! Villains Phone Case They’re each $34.99. Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe has been celebrating a different holiday recently, with bucketloads of 4th of July merch! 4th of July Merch You can grab lots of patriotic goodies here, like this t-shirt for $24.99. July 4th T-Shirt Just in time for summer! Fantasy Faire At Fantasy Faire, we spotted the new BaubleBar Blush Pink Minnie Ears. How gorgeous are they? They’ve got a silky, pleated bow and sparkly ears! You can grab a pair for $44.99. Check Out These Ears in More Detail! Magic Kingdom Additional Updates We’re continuing to see changes made to safety procedures in the parks, in accordance to Disney’s new mask and social distancing policies. By Splash Mountain, for example, the extended queue markers on the bridge have been removed. Markers Removed on Splash Mountain Bridge There’s also updated signage reminding guests to put on their masks before heading inside — such as in front of the Carousel of Progress. Updated Mask Signage Lastly, we’re seeing Relaxation Stations being removed now that guests can wear their masks outdoors. The Relaxation Stations at Golden Oak Outpost and Storybook Circus are both gone. Golden Oak Outpost We’ll keep an eye out for even more changes like these! Read More About Relaxation Stations Disappearing! That’s all for our trip to Magic Kingdom! We’ll be in the parks every day bringing YOU all the latest news and updates, so stay tuned to DFB. Check Out the Latest BIG Disney News! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Are you planning a visit to Magic Kingdom? Let us know in the comments! The post What's New at Magic Kingdom: NEW Ears and LOTS of Villains Merch first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney’s music is what has brought many of us together throughout the years. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh And, we have a classic rag-tag group of friends who are heading to the big Broadway stage soon! Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Adaptation will be making its way to New York on Times Square’s Theatre Row this fall! According to D23, performances will begin on October 21st with pre-sale tickets on June 1st through TodayTix and June 14th for the general public. ©Disney The show will feature music by the Sherman Brothers and A.A. Milne combined with life-size puppetry based on our favorite characters from the Hundred Acre Wood. After creating shows like The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show and Paddington Gets in a Jam, Jonathan Rockefeller has developed and presented the show during its debut. He has already stated that “I am thrilled to be entrusted to create a new classic for the stage, for new audiences as they join our adventure into the Hundred Acre Wood. And what a grand adventure!” Pooh out catching butterflies again! Rockefeller described the show, saying “Disney’s Winnie the Pooh material is so incredibly rich, that after more than half a century, I doubt there is anyone who hasn’t been profoundly moved or feels a personal connection with the wonderful characters of Pooh. The question we posed ourselves when creating this intimate musical adaptation was, ‘How do we bring Pooh from the screen and onto the stage in an entirely fresh and new way, yet one that still pays homage to the deep canon of Winnie the Pooh iconography?’” Tigger, Piglet, and Eeyore Topiaries “The answer was easy…well, conceptually easy, in theory…we needed to create incredible, brilliant, and amazing puppetry that makes it impossible to believe the characters aren’t real. Audiences can expect their hearts will be captivated by the characters, and their imaginations will soar with these life-size puppets.” Hundred Acre Wood You can take a look at a short trailer for the musical down below! We cannot WAIT to see this show for ourselves! We’ll keep you updated on any news about the show. This Disney musical collaboration has us SOBBING! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Will you be seeing the Winnie the Pooh Musical? Let us know in the comments below! The post A Winnie the Pooh Musical Is Coming to Broadway! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Hong Kong Disneyland just released a new musical collaboration and we’re OBSESSED. ©Disney Hong Kong’s True Colors Symphony joined forces with Hong Kong Disney to transform one of our favorite Disney songs into something EPIC! True Colors Symphony’s main goal for their company is to highlight diversity through music, whether it be through our differences in age, ability, or background. ©Disney And, boy, did they really drive that message home when they decided to perform their unique rendition of “A Whole New World” from the Disney animated classic film, Aladdin, in front of the Castle of Magical Dreams! (*Sigh* We’re getting goosebumps just thinking about it.) ©Disney “A Whole New World” is one of our all-time favorite songs — and TCS gave us reasons to love it even more! This version is BEAUTIFUL and features musical stylings from around the globe — a diverse team all working together to recreate one, glorious masterpiece. The following video features an interview from the musicians and creative minds behind this symphony as they performed in front of the Hong Kong castle:  More! More! We want more! We can’t wait to see more collabs between Disney and TCS! Read more about Hong Kong’s Castle of Magical Dreams here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What do you love most about this new version of “A Whole New World?” Let us know in the comments! The post This Disney Musical Collaboration Has Us SOBBING (Happy Tears) first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The opening of Avengers Campus is getting CLOSE, guys! Avengers Campus We’ve been following along every step of the way, from digging into menus to checking out construction progress . And now, we’ve got an exciting first look at something else coming to the land. We’ve told ya allll about Shawarma Palace, the food cart that will debut with Avengers Campus — but did you know there will be 2 of ’em? Shawarma Palace Too is a mini-kiosk near Hyperion Theater that will serve up some of the same eats as the “main” location. And recently, we got a glimpse at it! Shawarma Palace Too Obviously, it’s still covered up, but you can see the cool Avengers-themed stickers on the sides. What cool details! Looks like they’re gettin’ all set up! Shawarma Palace Too Some themed tables have also popped up, and we love how unique they all are. Outdoor Seating You can snag a white Pym Test Kitchen table… Pym Test Kitchen Table …a black one… Maybe you’d choose this one? …or one that’s all about Scott L.’s Snack Molecules! Pretty neat! Even the trash cans nearby have caught onto the theme. Themed trash cans: what Disney does best. While construction walls around the land itself are still up, it’s exciting to get little glimpses of what’s to come! We’ll be here on opening day, giving you ALL the details. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney news! Check Out the Food Coming to Avengers Campus! Disneyland Reopening Details and Info Click HERE for the All Latest Updates Disneyland Reopening April 30th California Residents Will Be the ONLY People Allowed to Visit Reopened Disneyland Initially Avengers Campus Set to Open June 4th Click Here to See All the Rides That Will Reopen Initially in Disneyland Click Here to See All the Restaurants That Will Reopen Initially in Disneyland Disneyland Ticket Price Info and Blockout Dates Released Disneyland's Grand Californian Hotel Reopening Date Announced! Everything You NEED To Know About Wearing Masks at a Disney Park Join the DFB Newsletter To get all the latest Disney Park Closure News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Are you excited for Avengers Campus to open? Let us know in the comments! The post PHOTOS: First Look at Shawarma Palace Too, Coming to Disney’s Avengers Campus first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Hello from the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival! Flower and Garden Festival While the Festival has been goin’ on for a little while now, we’ve got some NEW eats to try! That’s because one of the booths, Farmers Feast, features a rotating menu. We’ve already tried the Early Spring and Spring menus, but now it’s time to get tasting for Summer. A little while ago, we gave you a peek at this new menu, but we’ll refresh your memory. Here’s what’s up for grabs NOW! We’ve got a new Tomato and Cornbread Panzanella, Barbecue Seared Pork Tenderloin, and Lemon-Ricotta Cheesecake. There’s also a new drink, the Mango Lemonade with Palm Ridge Rye Whiskey, that isn’t listed on the menu board. Farmers Feast Menu Of course, we gave it ALL a try for ya. First up is the Tomato and Cornbread Panzanella. That comes with burrata cheese and fresh basil, and it’s $5.25. Tomato and Cornbread Panzanella This was SUPER fresh! You’ll get a bed of arugula lettuce with cherry tomatoes, seedless cucumbers, green olives, a burrata cheese ball, fresh basil, and a cornbread “crouton” or “biscotti”. The olives added a great saltiness to the dish, and the tomato juices lent a vinaigrette-like texture. There’s also a white balsamic drizzle on top! YUM. As for the cornbread — it was crispy on the edges (but not dry!) and packed a lot of flavor. We didn’t feel like we needed butter or anything extra on it. This was a fantastic summer salad, friends. Cornbread Next up? That Barbecue Seared Pork Tenderloin ($6.50)! You’ll also get a summer succotash with this, with herb butter and grapefruit vinaigrette. Barbecue Seared Pork Tenderloin That pork was tender — it wasn’t too juicy, but it was nice and flavorful! It also wasn’t fatty. Props to Disney for making this a tenderloin so you get more meat for your buck! Pork Tenderloin The barbecue sauce added some kick to the dish, and that succotash was a fun bonus. You’ll get corn, Lima beans, onions, and tomatoes! Succotash We satisfied our sweet tooth with the Lemon-Ricotta Cheesecake. It comes on oatmeal raisin cookie butter with passion fruit-mango compote! It’ll cost ya $5.50. Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake We loved the citrus and cheesecake combo here. The pairing with the oatmeal raisin cookie butter is pretty unique! Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake That cookie butter has a hearty oatmeal texture that’ll melt in your mouth right away. It was also pretty sweet, but the passion fruit-mango compote really balanced it out with some tartness. This is a big serving, and like the other eats at this booth, we found it to be incredibly fresh. Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake Last but not least, we tried that new drink: the Mango Lemonade with Palm Ridge Rye Whiskey. It’s $13! Mango Lemonade with Palm Ridge Rye Whiskey This drink is amazing — we already want MORE. It’s super refreshing! It leans more towards a lemonade flavor than mango, but that mango does add a hint of extra sweetness. Even if you aren’t a whiskey fan, this is pretty easy to drink. It’s sweet, but not sickly so. And it’s stronger than many other Festival sips! We could use another one of these! If you think you’ve tried it all at the Festival, head on over to Farmers Feast to give these eats a try. They’re some of our favorite from the Festival so far this year! You’ll find this booth in the World ShowPlace Pavilion, right between the Canada and U.K. Pavilions. And stay tuned to DFB, because we’ll keep bringing ya the latest Disney news and reviews! Check Out Our Favorite Food from This Year’s Festival! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Click HERE To See All The Updated Details For Epcot's 2021 Flower and Garden Festival! Ready to Plan for Your 2021 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Trip? Order the DFB Guide to the 2021 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival e-Book today! This 200+-page guide to the Festival offers insider tips and advice as well as all of the details you need to know to plan your best Festival visit ever. Your purchase includes several bonus items as well -- including a full daily schedule of events at the Festival and a printable Outdoor Kitchens Booth Menu Checklist to carry with you as you Eat around the World! Order your 2021 edition today! Don't miss a moment of the fun! Use code SPRING at check-out for a $2 off the cover price! Are you going to try this new menu? Let us know in the comments! The post FULL Review: An EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Booth Gets an All-New Menu first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Welcome back, DFB friends! We’re here with another What’s New at EPCOT! Canada Pavilion And, we’ve got plenty of updates to share with you! So, what are you waiting for? Let’s jump on in! EPCOT Food Update UK Pavilion Chocolate from around the world? Yes, please! The UK Pavilion has restocked their chocolate selection, and we couldn’t be happier. We spotted the Irish Whiskey Truffles, mixed up with both milk and dark chocolate for $11.95. Irish Whiskey Truffles Plus, there are also plenty of chocolate candy bars available to guests too… Candy Bars …with flavors like Mint Chocolate Truffle… UK Candy …Milk Chocolate Truffle… UK Candy …Irish Cream… UK Candy …Caramel Crunch… UK Candy …and Irish Whiskey Truffle. UK Candy Jardin de Fiestas While visiting the World Showcase, there were certain days that the Jardin de Fiestas booth wasn’t open to guests. We were told that it would reopen the next day so guests could enjoy the EPCOT Flower and Garden spot. So it may not be open daily, but there will be days that it is available. Jardin de Fiestas Closure But, that wasn’t the only spot that had a few missing things! Mission Space Cargo Bay If you’ve ever wanted to try snacks from space, the Mission Space Cargo Bay is stocked full of freeze-dried food that astronauts eat during their missions. We noticed that the apple slices were restocked on the shelves for $5.95. But the ice cream was missing again. Mission Space Cargo Bay We’ll keep an eye out for when they return soon! EPCOT Merchandise Update China Pavilion Regularly, you’ll find Minnie Ears around the parks for a base price of $29.99. But, the ADORABLE Antlers Headband is not only colorful, but it’s less than $15 too! Antlers and flowers Over at the House of Good Fortune, you can find the headband decorated with gorgeous flowers in shades of blue, pink, white, and yellow to complement the tan antlers. Flowers and antlers And, that $13 price tag isn’t too shabby either! Take a look at all the details on the Antlers Headband here! Gateway Gifts We’ve been obsessed with the BaubleBar Ears ever since we spotted them in the Magic Kingdom. The blush color, pearls, jewels, and satin bow are elegant and can easily be dressed up or down! Bauble Bar Ears And, now you can pop over to Gateway Gifts in EPCOT to take them home for $44.99. Test Track Simporium Along with getting some new ears, you could even pick up some pins to add to your accessory list. At the Test Track Simporium, you can find the new mystery pin blind bags with various designs, ranging from characters to umbrellas and more. Magical Mystery Pins You can find them for $6.99 and try to collect as many as possible! Port of Entry As the Flower and Garden Festival continues onward, you can take a wide array of items home with you. But, the Port of Entry has ADORABLE new items inspired by Orange Bird and Minnie Mouse! Orange Bird Items Minnie Mouse looks like a springtime sweetheart on gardening gloves… Gardening Gloves! …an Orange Bird Tumbler… Orange Bird Tumbler …as well as a Minnie Mouse Pandora Charm! Pandora Charm And, you can check out even more merchandise the next time you’re in EPCOT! Check out all the new Flower and Garden merchandise here! Japan Pavilion We’ve been seeing quite a lot of Nintendo merchandise at the Japan Pavilion! And, now you can even take home the Kirby Hat inspired by the adorable Mario character… Kirby Hat …with yellow stars on the black background with Kirby’s name… Kirby Hat …that also comes with adjustable sizing for $22.95. Mexico Pavilion You can also find the Flower Pouch at the Mexico Pavilion that is designed with hidden Mickeys and geometric stripes and shapes… Flower Pouch …with pom poms attached to the zipper for a little extra fun flair for $24.99! Flower Pouch The Mexico Pavilion also has a line-up of alebrije animals that remind us of Coco… Alebrije …but they’ve got a bit of a price tag because the Lobster version is $1000. Would you pay $1,000 for this work of art? Lobster Alebrije There’s still more colorful merchandise to find in EPCOT, though! Mouse Gear Pride Month is just around the corner in June! And, you can start stocking up on rainbow merchandise early with the Studded Minnie Ears for $29.99 with shades of blues, pinks, oranges, purples, yellows, and more… Rainbow Ears …as well as the Rainbow Mickey Head Necklace that you can wear with all your outfits for $19.99. Rainbow Mickey Head Necklace You can pair the necklace along with the 2021 Graduate Alex and Ani Bracelet to celebrate the graduates you know this year! Graduate Alex and Ani Bracelet If you’re looking for a way to spruce up your jean jacket or maybe the pockets on your actual jeans, you can fashion the Star Wars Patches for $19.99… Star Wars Patches …and Mickey Mouse Club Patches for $14.99! Mickey Patches We’re sure they would look GREAT with your retro outfits! EPCOT Construction Update Relaxation Stations Now that Disney World has redefined their mask policies, guests no longer need to wear their masks in outdoor locations. Due to the changes, relaxation stations have started to be removed from places all around the parks. At both the Morocco Pavilion… Morocco Pavilion …and the Norway Pavilion, the relaxation stations have since been removed. However, there is still outdoor seating available to everyone, so they can sit and rest without face coverings. Akershus Well, that’s all for this What’s New at EPCOT! We’ll catch you next time for more updates. And, if you have any questions about your upcoming Disney vacation, let us know so we can help you find the answers! 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 EPCOT? Let us know in the comments below! The post What's New at EPCOT: Three Pairs of Ears and a 00 Lobster 😳 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Let’s face it: you could be waiting in some LONG lines in Disney World. Pirates of the Caribbean Queue And while we love bringing ya tips and tricks to help minimize those waits, sometimes it’s unavoidable — especially if you want to experience popular attractions. But you should at least know what to expect! So here are the 3 rides in Disney World that have had the LONGEST lines — so far — this year. Avatar: Flight of Passage No shocker here — Flight of Passage has been wildly popular since it opened in 2017 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The ride uses some truly amazing technology to simulate flying on the back of a banshee, and it seems like people just can’t get enough. Flight of Passage Line We recommend hopping in line for this one right at park open or close, when the lines are a bit shorter. But no matter how ya slice it, you probably will end up waiting a while to ride (the average so far this year is 56 minutes!). Is it worth it? Most people seem to think so! Learn More About Flight of Passage! Slinky Dog Dash Over in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Slinky Dog Dash is another BIG draw for crowds. It’s still relatively new as far as rides go — it opened in 2018 with the Toy Story Land expansion — and is a popular pick for families. Slinky Dog Dash We’re gonna be real: this is a tough line to wait in, especially in the summer, because it’s almost entirely outdoors. So just keep that in mind if you’re buckling down for the hour+ queue! So far this year, it’s averaged at exactly 60 minutes. Read More About Slinky Dog Dash! Tower of Terror Lastly, Tower of Terror in Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a super popular thrill ride. You’ll plummet 13 floors in a broken elevator as you visit The Twilight Zone! Tower of Terror The good thing about this queue is that it’s very well-themed, so you’ll have lots to look at (including some pretty cool details!). And if you want to ride this Hollywood Studios must-do — well, you’ll just have to grin and bear that long wait! It’s averaged out at 57 minutes so far in 2021. Learn More About the Tower of Terror! All of these wait times have averaged around an hour so far this year, so budget your time if you want to hop on these rides. We’ve also got some great tips for avoiding long waits, even for Disney’s most popular attractions — so you may be able to whittle that time down a little! As always, stay tuned to DFB for more Disney news. Check Out the Average Wait Times in Disney World Last Week! 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 any of these rides a must-do for you? Let us know in the comments! The post The 3 Disney World Rides With the LONGEST Wait Times This Year first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Looking to get your workout on? Needing a little inspo to help you get started?! ©runisney Well, Disney has been releasing some fun workouts that you can do while watching your favorite movies and we are loving all of the options. We have seen Tangled and Pixar-themed workouts and now Disney has released a Lion King workout! This workout actually feels more like a game, but don’t let that lead you astray! Upon first glance, you might think this workout will be a cinch. After all, how many times are you ACTUALLY going to see a zebra in a film about mostly lions? ©Disney Uh, apparently a lot. So when you see certain things in the movie, there will be a set workout for you to complete! This means a 30-second plank for each zebra-sighting, as well as a 30-second cobra pose each time you see Pride Rock. And, oh my goodness, will Zazu ever quit complaining about his job? Do we REALLY have to do 10 tricep dips again? ©Disney This workout can be TIRING, but so worth it. Plus, it’s fun! So…win-win? Do you see yourself trying these movie workouts out? Have you tried any of the others that Disney has released?! Let us know. Looking for more Disney-themed workouts/classes? Check some out 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. Let us know in the comments what Disney movie you’d like to work out to in the future! The post Are You Willing to Try Disney's New Lion King Workout?! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Welcome back to Disney’s Hollywood Studios! Disney’s Hollywood Studios We’re takin’ a trip around the park to let you know everything that’s new in food, merch, and more. Let’s get started! Hollywood Studios Food Updates Hollywood Scoops We wanted to remind you of a sweet breakfast option over at Hollywood Scoops! You can snag a Mickey Waffle Platter for $9.50 — that comes with 3 blueberry Mickey waffles, whipped cream, syrup, and strawberry compote! Then, get a cup of ice cream in the flavor of your choice for $5.49. It’s a winning combo! The end result? A nice ‘n’ tasty breakfast! Read More About This Breakfast Creation! Hollywood Studios Merchandise Updates The Dark Room Time to dig into some merch! In the Dark Room, we spotted a pin inspired by the new Cruella movie. Cruella Pin It’s $15.99! Keystone Clothiers And in Keystone Clothiers, we found some gear to get you EXCITED for Loki. There’s a Time Variance Authority shirt for $29.99… A new t-shirt! …and a Loki doll, also for $29.99! Loki Doll Boy are we getting pumped for this new series. Mickeys of Hollywood If you’re looking for some summer accessories for your nuiMOs, you can find ’em at Mickeys of Hollywood! There’s a beach chair… Now we want to go to the beach! …and an umbrella! A Mini Beach Umbrella! Perfect for lounging around ALL summer. Galaxy’s Edge Market Time to head over to Galaxy’s Edge! There are 3 new plushes up for grabs at Toydarian Toymaker: Darth Maul… The Dark Side is cute?! …Dok Ondar… Dok Ondar …and Jar Jar Binks! Jar Jar! They’re $22.99 apiece. Take a Closer Look at These Plushes! And in Creature Stall, we found MORE plushes: a Lava Meerkat… Lava Meerkat …and a Blue Tooka Cat! Blue Tooka Cat Elsewhere in the Market, we spotted a Mythosaur Skull Mug for $24.99… Mythosaur Skull Mug …a Boba Fett Helmet for $34.99 (it makes noises and includes a voice-changing feature!)… Boba Fett Helmet …and a Boba Fett Jetpack for $49.99. Boba Fett Jetpack Phew! That’s a lot of Galaxy’s Edge goodies. Once Upon a Time In Once Upon a Time on Sunset Blvd, we found some rainbow bracelets. Rainbow Bracelets The set is $19.99 and is a great addition to Disney’s rainbow collection! Legends of Hollywood Lastly, we stopped by Legends of Hollywood. There, we found the new Cruella clothing line, including a skirt… Skirt …dress… Dress …jacket… Jacket …sweatshirt… Sweatshirt …t-shirt… Shirt …collared shirt… Another shirt! …and hat! We’ll keep an eye out for these pieces elsewhere in the parks. What a cool hat! And if you’re lookin’ for some Marvel accessories, you’re in luck! The new Pandora Marvel gift set was here. You’ll get a Captain America, Spider-Man, and Iron Man charm! Marvel Pandora Charms Here’s what they look like on the back. Here are the backs! And finally, we spotted the new Avengers Alex & Ani bracelets. You can opt for an Avengers Bangle for $44.99… Avengers Assemble! …or a Captain America Bangle for $49.99. Cap! Enjoy dressing up with a little superhero style! Take a Closer Look at These Bracelets! Hollywood Studios Additional Updates We noticed a few social distancing changes, as Disney continues to reduce social distancing throughout the parks. In Muppet Vision 3D, rows were no longer blocked off. Instead, one seat was kept open between groups. Social Distancing Changes Over at Rise of the Resistance, the plexiglass on the Transport Ship has been removed. The social distancing dots on the floor of the pre-show and Transport Ship were also gone. Transport Ship We’re also seeing changes to the Relaxation Stations, as Disney’s new mask policy no longer requires face coverings outdoors. Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular is no longer a Relaxation Station, and the whole area is now closed off to guests. This spot is now closed! Last (but certainly not least!), we spotted a twist on a classic character encounter. Chip ‘n’ Dale were hangin’ out with guests in their Rescue Rangers costumes! Hey guys! You’ll find them where Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular used to exit by Echo Lake. Cute ‘fit Chip! We sure were happy to see these pals all dressed up! Check Out Chip ‘n’ Dale’s New Costumes! Well, that’s all for this visit to Hollywood Studios! We’ll be in the parks every day checking out what’s new, so stay tuned to DFB. Check Out Some New Eats at Hollywood Studios! 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 visiting Hollywood Studios soon? Let us know in the comments! The post What’s New at Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Social Distancing Changes and NEW Character Costumes first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Walt Disney World’s Riviera Resort took our breath away when it opened back in 2019! Disney’s Riviera Resort The hotel’s Mediterranean theming is stunning and we’ve definitely enjoyed the dining options available. And now you and your family can win a chance to stay there through Disney Vacation Club! Disney Vacation Club is hosting a sweepstakes for a 5-night stay at Riviera Resort in honor of Pixar’s new movie, Luca! ©Disney Vacation Club The winners will get a 5-night stay at a 1-bedroom villa at Riviera Resort, 4-day Walt Disney World theme park tickets with the park hopper option, and round-trip airfare to and from Orlando (as long as you live more than 250 miles away)! Disney’s Riviera Resort You can enter the sweepstakes for free from now until July 20th. When entering, you will fill out some basic information and then you will watch a short Luca trailer. After that, you can submit your entry. And get this! After you enter the sweepstakes, you can earn up to 3 bonus entries by watching a few videos that will teach you about the Disney Vacation Club. Enter the sweepstakes HERE! Look at that beautiful mosaic at Riviera Resort! You can see Disney and Pixar’s Luca starting June 18th on Disney+! Unlike other theatrical releases that have moved to Disney+, Luca will be available for streaming at no extra charge to subscribers! Luca © Disney/Pixar The potential for a FREE Disney World trip!? Say no more! Make sure to enter the sweepstakes to get your chance to stay at this awesome resort! Tour the Riviera Resort with us 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 going to enter the sweepstakes? Let us know in the comments! The post Find Out How You Can WIN a FREE 4-Day Trip Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

You can’t believe everything that you hear about Magic Kingdom! Cinderella Castle Magic Kingdom was the first Walt Disney World park to open, making it an iconic focal point of the Resort. But over the course of its nearly 50-year history, some misconceptions about the park have popped up. Let’s take a look at — and debunk — some absolute lies about Magic Kingdom! Magic Kingdom is Home to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter Have you ever been walking down Main Street, U.S.A., and heard a fellow guest ask where they can find Hogwarts? We have…fairly often, in fact! A lot of people think The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (or “Harry Potter World,” as it’s often informally called) is located in Magic Kingdom. You Can’t Get to Hogwarts from Main Street, U.S.A.! But no matter how hard you search for Platform 9 3/4 in Magic Kingdom, you won’t find it. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is actually located at Universal Orlando Resort! Hogwarts at Universal Orlando Resort Guests will find Harry Potter-themed attractions at two of the Universal Orlando Resort theme parks — Universal Studios Florida is home to Diagon Alley, while Islands of Adventure houses Hogsmede and the famous Hogwarts castle. Hogwarts Express At one point before the lands were built at Universal, Disney was in a bidding war to be the theme park to build The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling had even signed a letter of intent to create the land with Disney. Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure But both Warner Bros. and J.K. Rowling wanted to keep creative control over the project, which turned out to be a dealbreaker for Disney. And so, the land ended up at Universal instead. Our pals over at AllEars.net layout this deal really well. Read all about it here! Hogsmede So, if you can’t find Hogwarts in Magic Kingdom don’t worry, that doesn’t mean you’re a muggle. You’re just looking in the wrong park! Disney Would Have Been Really DIFFERENT If This Would Have Happened Mickey Mouse Has His Own Personal Air Conditioner to Keep Him Cool Some guests think that Mickey Mouse and all of his friends have personal air-conditioning units built into their clothes to keep them cool in the Florida heat. But in reality, characters do not have air conditioners “hidden up their sleeves!” Mickey and Pluto That means the characters that guests spot around Disney World can probably get pretty hot in the Florida weather. Especially during the intensely hot and humid summer months. Princesses in Magic Kingdom Some former Cast Members, including actor Wayne Brady, even have stories about experiencing heat exhaustion during their time in the parks. Wayne Brady is a former Disney World Cast Member ©Disney This is why characters are often only out to greet guests for a short window before ducking backstage for a break. Even Mickey needs to stay cool and hydrated! We Spotted Some RARE Characters in Magic Kingdom! Guests Can’t Be Told “No” In Magic Kingdom There’s a common misconception that Cast Members aren’t allowed to say “no” to a guest. But that’s not exactly the case, Cast Members are allowed to use the word “no,” especially if it involves a potential safety concern. Cast Members in Magic Kingdom It’s true that there are a number of guidelines Cast Members are expected to follow, which might have contributed to this rumor. For instance, if a guest asks a question the Cast Member doesn’t know the answer to, they aren’t supposed to say “I don’t know.” Instead, they’re expected to say “let me find out” and try to help whenever possible. Magic Kingdom Cast Member All Cast Members are taught the Disney “key” values as part of their training, and the number one key is safety. Safety, Courtesy, Show, Efficiency, and Inclusion are the Disney “Keys” ©Disney In most cases, Cast Members are encouraged to find a softer word or phrase to use. But if there’s ever a potential safety concern involved (like, “Can I hop this fence?” or “Can I just walk around without my face mask on today?”) guests can definitely expect to hear the word “no!” Check Out These 30 Hidden Secrets in Magic Kingdom! Magic Kingdom IS Disney World Magic Kingdom is the original — and arguably still the most well-known — Walt Disney World theme park. Which leads many guests to believe Magic Kingdom is all there is to Disney World. Magic Kingdom Parking Entrance Sometimes people will even use the terms “Magic Kingdom” and “Disney World” interchangeably since they think there’re one-and-the-same. But, as much as we love the original WDW park, there is SO much more to Disney World than just Magic Kingdom! “it’s a small world” Between the three other theme parks, two water parks, Disney Springs, 20+ resort hotels, and more, there’s so much to see and do around Disney World that even members of the Disney Food Blog team haven’t experienced everything! Did You Know You Can Ride Horses in Disney World?? From horseback riding at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort to tasting your way around the world at an EPCOT festival, Magic Kingdom is just one example of the many, MANY experiences Disney World has to offer! Ten Bizarre Things You Never Knew You Could Do at Disney World! Magic Kingdom is Only for Kids You may have heard that Magic Kingdom is only worth visiting if you have kiddos along for the visit too. It’s true that there are a lot of kid-friendly attractions in Magic Kingdom, but there are plenty of things for adults to enjoy too! Jungle Cruise Has Plenty of Punny Jokes for Grown-Ups to Enjoy! While some adults (like us!) might enjoy the tamer rides thanks to the nostalgia factor, there are plenty of attractions that we think grown-ups might like even better than the kiddos. First, there are definitely plenty of jokes in attractions like Jungle Cruise and Country Bear Jamboree that are surely thrown in for the adults in the audience! Country Bear Jamboree Plus, there are several thrill rides throughout the park that can get your adrenaline pumping, like Space Mountain and Splash Mountain to name a few. And when TRON Lightcycle Run makes its debut, there will be another exciting thrill ride to add to the itinerary. Space Mountain And contrary to popular belief, the food offerings at Magic Kingdom aren’t all chicken nuggets and hamburgers! You can find unique menu offerings at Jungle Navigation Co., Ltd. Skipper Canteen, family-style comfort food at Liberty Tree Tavern, and next-level theming at Be Our Guest Restaurant. Liberty Tree Tavern Spread And don’t forget about all of the classic snacks that you can snag in Magic Kingdom between (or in place of) meals! Citrus Swirl in Magic Kingdom Whether you’re looking for attractions, entertainment, or food, Magic Kingdom delivers for guests of all ages, not just the little ones! How Much Would It Cost You to Eat the 20 BEST Snacks in Disney World? Cinderella Castle Can Be Taken Down In Case Of Extreme Weather Despite being the most magical place on Earth, Disney World is not immune to the impacts of tropical storms and hurricanes that can pass through the state. When severe storms approach, Cast Members prepare the parks for the weather by removing items like banners, flags, and other pieces of decor that are able to be relocated and secured. Magic Kingdom This has led to the rumor that Cinderella Castle can also be deconstructed and packed away in a secure location in the case of a hurricane or other emergency. But that’s not the case, Cinderella Castle is a permanent structure made with a 600-ton+ framework of steel. Cinderella Castle While Cast Members might remove or secure smaller items on or around the castle, like banners, Cinderella Castle itself will remain standing to ride out the storm! See what to do in severe weather at Disney World. Magic Kingdom is the Same as Disneyland Park Magic Kingdom was modeled after the original Disneyland Park, and there are some attractions and experiences that can be found in both parks. But they’re far from carbon copies of each other! Tomorrowland Despite the fact that Magic Kingdom and Disneyland do share a handful of the “same” attractions, many of the Magic Kingdom versions are notably different than their Disneyland counterpart. For example, classic attractions like Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, and Space Mountain all have some pretty significant differences between the two parks! Haunted Mansion Plus, there are some unique additions to Magic Kingdom that you won’t find at Disneyland at all, including must-do restaurants like Be Our Guest and Cinderella’s Royal Table and popular attractions like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Cinderella’s Royal Table And yes, the same goes for Disneyland as well. In other words, they’re unique parks that are definitely BOTH worth a visit in our book! The Five Best Rides at Magic Kingdom (And the Five Worst!) As legendary as Magic Kingdom is, it’s not surprising that it has been the subject of some myths that need debunking. We’re here to set the record straight and share the truth behind these misconceptions! It’s the least we could do for all the special memories Magic Kingdom has given us. Hopefully, we’ll see you on Main Street, U.S.A. soon! Do You Know These 10 Shocking Facts About Disney World? Check out more LIES about Disney World in our video below. 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. How many of these Magic Kingdom lies have you heard? Let us know in the comments! The post Absolute LIES About Magic Kingdom first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

When it comes to ALL of the hotels at the Walt Disney World resort, the ones in the Magic Kingdom area (especially those on the monorail loop) are among the most famous and most beloved! Disney’s Contemporary Resort Families have been staying at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge for decades, and they’ve come to know and love them as-is. But, in case you missed it, Disney World is turning the BIG 5-0 this year! The Contemporary and Polynesian are also going to celebrate their 50th anniversaries, and the Grand Floridian isn’t too far behind — it’ll be turning 33 this year. In anticipation of this major milestone and because Disney World NEVER stops evolving, these deluxe resorts are getting some HUGE MAKEOVERS! Polynesian lobby How are they changing? And how will these changes impact your travels to Disney World now and in the coming years? Let’s break down what’s going on at these three Magic Kingdom-area resorts! Disney’s Contemporary Resort Disney’s Contemporary Resort opened alongside Walt Disney World and the Magic Kingdom on October 1st, 1971! Contemporary Resort If you’ve walked through the Contemporary lately (or dined at Chef Mickey’s), you’ll notice that the rooms are lined with construction tarps. Construction Scrims That’s because the main guest rooms are getting makeovers! Construction started in April and is planned to wrap up in September, right before Disney World’s anniversary! Hello, scrims! But the guest rooms aren’t the only thing at the Contemporary that will be changing. The Wave…of American Flavors will also be closed starting July 15th for “the summer” for an extended refurbishment! The Wave Right now, you can grab breakfast, lunch, or dinner at The Wave, and we’re not sure what changes are coming here, but you know we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled! Details on the changes coming to The Contemporary rooms have not been shared at this time. We will share more as more information is released. Read all about The Contemporary refurbishment here. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort also opened on October 1st, 1971, and before the closure in 2020, it was the home to some of the most BELOVED spots at Disney World, including Trader Sam’s and ‘Ohana. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Well, those restaurants have yet to reopen…in fact, the Polynesian is still closed! (Though the Disney Vacation Club rooms and some restaurants are available.) Why? Because this resort is undergoing a MASSIVE refurbishment, with a retheme to Moana in the guest rooms! ©Disney And we’ve already seen a sneak peek of these new rooms, which is a good thing because reservations are AVAILABLE for the resort’s reopening beginning in mid-July! Hei Hei! ©Disney There are other touches of Moana already at the Polynesian, including new Cast Member costumes. Excuse us while we sing “How Far I’ll Go” at the top of our lungs There are other HUGE changes, including the removal of the roof’s iconic beams, as well as changes to the hotel’s entryway and a redesigned monorail station. ©Disney SO MUCH is happening at the Poly, and once it fully reopens this summer, we can’t WAIT to see all the touches of Moana and more! Read MORE about the Polynesian refurbishment here! Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has seen some welcome changes in the last year, including the addition of a walkway to the Magic Kingdom! Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa And now, some BIG changes are coming to the rooms at the Grand Floridian. The Grand Floridian will be expanding the number of Disney Vacation Club rooms available, converting one building of traditional hotel rooms into DVC Villas. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Building 9, a.k.a. Big Pine Key, will turn into 200 Resort Studios, with an expected opening date next summer. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Disney World is constantly changing, even beyond the monorail loop and Magic Kingdom area, and the changes are only happening in bigger ways with more frequency as the resort nears its 50th anniversary! As construction starts, continues, and finishes, we’ll definitely keep you updated so you know how to plan your trip! Everything CONFIRMED to Open in Disney World in 2021 Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What is your favorite Magic Kingdom area resort? Let us know in the comments! The post 3 of Disney World's Most POPULAR Hotels Are CHANGING! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Theme parks have changed dramatically in the past two weeks, loosening their pandemic rules. 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. Do you have a bit of an obsession with Amazon?! No shame here if ya do because we do too. And mixing our Amazon obsession with Disney well…you get the picture. ©Amazon We love seeing all of the new things Disney has on Amazon and today we are checking out a really cool product that could transform storytime with your kiddos. Disney recently unveiled Tonieboxes, a new smart music box that can play music or bedtime stories for kids! Coming in blue, pink, red, grey, and green, Tonieboxes can be paired with different Toniebox figurines of Disney characters to play stories based on each character! Toniebox Elsa Starter Set ©Amazon ©Disney Placing a figurine on top of the box will start a different experience depending on the character. The Elsa Toniebox Starter Kit is available on Amazon for $99.99! Click here to shop the new Elsa Toniebox Starter Kit Disney is also offering various Toniebox starter bundles featuring three Disney character figurines. The Toniebox Blue Starter Set Bundle features Lightning McQueen, Simba, and Woody. Toniebox Blue Starter Bundle ©Amazon ©Disney It’s available on Amazon for $149.99, making it a great deal if you want to invest in multiple Toniebox figurines! Click here to shop the new Toniebox Blue Starter Set Bundle Individual Toniebox figurines will also be available for anyone who wants to expand their collection! The Toniebox Nemo Figurine and many more figurines are available on Amazon for $14.99. Toniebox Nemo Figurine ©Amazon ©Disney Other available characters include Ariel, Elsa, Simba, Woody, Lightning McQueen, Cinderella, Baloo, and Aladdin! Click here to shop the new Toniebox Nemo Figurine As Disney expands their new Toniebox smart speaker collection, we’ll be keeping track of any and all new merch news! Stay tuned and join our newsletter to be the first ones to hear when new merch drops! 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 Tonieboxes? Let us know in the comments! The post These Disney Amazon Finds Will Transform Storytime With Your Kids! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article