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Disney Cruise Line is shopping for a second year-round Florida home, and can enter into discussions with Port Everglades after a vote from the Broward County Commission on Tuesday. What's next for the port and the cruise line and what does it mean for business at Port Canaveral? View the full article The Disney Magic sails out of PortMiami in this 2013 file photo. Disney Cruise Line could be looking at shifting its South Florida presence from Miami to Port Everglades. (Richard Tribou / Orlando Sentinel) Disney Cruise Line is shopping for a second year-round Florida home, and now it can enter into discussions with Port Everglades after a vote from the Broward County Commission on Tuesday. “They have the opportunity to establish this as home,” said Port Everglades CEO Jonathan Daniels to the commission. “Their other home is Port Canaveral because of the proximity to Orlando and to the parks. They are looking for a new home in South Florida and we have the opportunity I think to negotiate a very solid deal financially but I think it goes a little bit beyond that.” The commission voted unanimously to forego competitive selection requirements the port would normally have to go through for a terminal agreement. Disney Cruise Line currently has four ships in its fleet, basing two at Port Canaveral and migrating two others among a variety of seasonal ports from Europe and Alaska to New York, Galveston, New Orleans and PortMiami among others. A fifth ship, Disney Wish, is set to debut in June 2022 with two more due by 2025. Disney has been sailing from PortMiami to some degree since 2012, and the line has a deal in place that would let them sail year-round through 2024, except that would mean sharing a terminal built by another cruise line - MSC Cruises. “It is their desire to have their own home port operation and not have to share the terminal with another operator,” Daniels said. That’s where an opportunity lies at Port Everglades, which because of an agreement to get back the use of its Cruise Terminal 4 from Carnival Corp. in a pandemic-related deal, allowed the Fort Lauderdale location to be an option for DCL’s potential future. Cruise Terminal 4 is one of the terminals closest to Fort Lauderdale’s convention center, massive renovated parking garage and a hotel. Port Everglades’ proximity to Fort Lauderdale International Airport is also seen as a bonus by port officials. “Because of what we’re able to offer Disney Cruise Line as a whole from docking to parking facilities to the fact that hopefully what they’re going to do is bring down their cast and crew members and make them a part of the community as well, and I think that goes beyond just what it means to the port,” Daniels said. “Ultimately it spills out to what it means for the county and the community.” Daniels said initial talks have centered on a year-round vessel to start with the possibility of a second seasonal ship. With one ship carrying about 3,500 passengers per sailing, running four- and five-night itineraries, the port would see about 536,000 passenger movements annually. The ship would have to be one of the four existing vessels, as Port Everglades is not set up to handle ships that run on liquefied natural gas as Port Canaveral has done. Disney Magic debuted in 1998 followed by Disney Wonder in 1999. Disney Dream came in 2011 followed by Disney Fantasy in 2012. “I do not see Port Everglades changing anything for Port Canaveral,” said Scott Sanders, who runs the fan site DisneyCruiseLineBlog.com. On Disney’s website now, Disney Dream, for instance, is already slated to begin sailing from PortMiami in summer 2022, which could already be the beginning of year-round presence in South Florida for the line, although sailings beyond September 2022 have not been announced. That migration of Disney Dream to Miami coincides with the debut of Disney Dream at Port Canaveral. Disney Cruise Line terminal redesign at Port Canaveral Renderings of cruise terminal 8 at Port Canaveral, which is being redesigned and home to Disney Cruise Line. (Canaveral Port Authority) Disney recently signed a 20-year agreement with Port Canaveral that continues its exclusive use of Cruise Terminal 8, which has just been renovated. The line plans to base at least two of the three new ships at the port when they debut, while also continuing at least a two-ship year-round presence and bringing in a third in at least seasonally as part of the deal by 2024. Port Everglades has never hosted a Disney ship except for emergency docking during storms.

Who doesn’t love a good all-you-can-eat breakfast?! Let’s take a visit to Cape May! When Disney World reopened, several restaurants remained closed for months afterward, not having the resources, staff, or possibly guest demand to operate again. Now, we’re starting to see some of our favorites open back up for business, and today we’re heading over to Disney’s Beach Club Resort to check one out! Cape May Cafe has reopened and we’re ready to utterly stuff ourselves with hearty breakfast food. Before the closures, Cape May Cafe was a popular character breakfast spot! Here, guests could meet Minnie and friends (often Donald, Daisy, and Goofy) for breakfast and dine on a wide selection from a breakfast buffet. We haven’t seen any buffets return since Dinsey World reopened. However, a few buffet restaurants have reopened, Cape May included, that have shifted their menus to all-you-care-to-eat family-style meals. Atmosphere You might have guessed it based on the name, but the Beach Club Resort is themed like, well…a beach club resort! Cape May Cafe carries that theme on incredibly well, with a white and pastel color scheme all over and nautical artwork and details. If you told us that we were ACTUALLY at the beach, we’d believe you. This place makes us feel like we’re getting two vacations for the price of one (Disney World AND the beach!) and we don’t mind it one bit. We’re really digging this vibe. We were able to check-in for our meal in the My Disney Experience app, and during this process, you can specify your party makeup, your dietary restrictions, and accessibility needs. When it was time to dine, we received a text then simply met up with a Cast Member at the entrance and were seated at our table. ©Disney Guests throughout the restaurant were physically distanced from one another, which was especially obvious in the banquet area. Some tables were unavailable for seating. There was ample spacing between many of the tables that we saw. The person seating you picks up your pastry basket on the way to your table, so you get those right away! Once we sat down, our waiter came by very quickly to take our drink orders. You’ll get pastries on your way to be seated. It’s important to note that this breakfast is no longer a character meal or a buffet. There are no characters, but the food is still all-you-can-eat — your server will continue to bring you more food throughout the meal at your request. The booths had protective screens! So you can chow down endlessly, but what’s on the menu? Menu When we first sat down, we were given a drink menu to check out. There are several options available here during breakfast, including the Cape May Cafe Sunrise, the Traditional Bloody Mary, and the Canella Blood Orange Mimosa. Drinks, anyone? On the backside, you can find the non-alcoholic specialty mocktail, the Keepin’ it Reel (which is Sprite with blue non-alcoholic curaçao syrup and Swedish Fish floating around it!). They also have a selection of specialty coffees. We’ll take some coffee, too! There are quite a few breakfast offerings listed on the menu, and they cover a wide variety of flavors! You’ll start things off with the Assorted House-made Pastries and Spreads, followed by the Yogurt Parfait and Mixed Seasonal Fruit. ©Disney Besides those fresh starters, you can also try out the Hot Breakfast Platter with all the goods or order your choice of three different Omelet flavors: ham and cheese, western, or veggie. Eats We started our meal with a cocktail! We tried out the Canella Blood Orange Mimosa to drink, which was probably one of our least favorite parts of the meal. This boasted sparkling wine along with the juice and pulp of Sicilian Blood Oranges. It was $11, which felt overpriced considering how it tasted. It was incredibly sugary sweet for claiming to be just tart juice and wine — almost like drinking straight-up sugar. Yeah, we’ll skip the drink next time. Our reporter was pretty confident that she wouldn’t be ordering that drink again, but if you love sugary beverages, you may want to give it a try. That said, it was very pretty. Alright, just looking at that menu has got us feeling pretty hungry, so let’s dive right into the good stuff! As we should, we’re starting things off by digging into this mouth-watering pastry basket. That’ll look good on Instagram, but even better in our tummies. Inside, you’ll find a Croissant, a Multigrain Croissant, French Rolls, “Lobster Tail” layered Crispy Pastry filled with Pastry Cream, and Mini Muffins. Our favorite pastry by far from this bunch was the French Roll. It was light and topped with powdered sugar, making it the perfect bread to pair with the dips. We could write a poem about this French roll. The Lobster Tail was also delicious, but the cream inside was very sweet — making it so that we didn’t really want to add any sweetness by using the spreads. Pastries are the perfect way to kick this off. This is very similar to an Italian pastry called a sfogliatella with lots of thin layers of crispy pastry filled with cream! The other baked goods were adequate, but nothing over-the-top, unlike the French Roll (seriously…SWOON). Yummy! This basket also comes with a few different accompaniments, including honey butter, grape jelly, and a chocolate hazelnut spread (AKA Nutella!). Each was delicious, and we loved them all with that French Roll. (No, we will NOT stop talking about it! ) Umm…YES PLEASE. Now for the fruity portion of our meal! The Yogurt Parfait and Mixed Seasonal Fruit were both yummy and fresh, but all in all…it was fruit and yogurt. Nothing about this section of our breakfast was incredibly noteworthy, but if you’re the person who loves fruit and yogurt for breakfast, that’ll be your jam! Fruit and yogurt — that’s pretty much it. The granola on the parfait was nice and crunchy though! Parfait Before our entrees arrived we were brought a serving of syrup, salt, pepper, and ketchup for our meal. Condiments And then it was time for what we’d been waiting for — the Hot Breakfast Platter! This came served in two separate skillets with Mickey and Minnie Waffles, Seasonal Pancakes, Brioche French Toast, Cage-free Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, Breakfast Sausage, Crispy Potato Barrels, and Beef Hash. This was quite a bit of food! If you’re confused by that massive skillet with 3 sad-looking breakfast foods in it, our reporter was dining alone. She was brought a smaller portion of what was available. Hence the sad empty looking skillet! If you’re in a larger party, your skillet will be filled with more food. And if you’d like more at any point, all you need to do is ask your server! We know it looks empty, but they’ll bring you more if you want it! The pancakes and waffles were fluffy and yummy, just like your traditional Disney breakfast food. Bummer we didn’t get a MINNIE waffle too (but again, feel free to ask your server!). The French Toast was also really good, with a hidden softness on the inside that surprised us. The eggs looked a little dry, but they definitely tasted better than we thought they would. They turned out to be pretty creamy, which we didn’t expect but really liked! We were definitely pleased with this part! As far as the taters go, we liked the hash much better than the tots, as it came with shaved beef and onions, adding some extra flavor that was much appreciated. The sauce was a little spicy with some smokiness added in. The “potato barrels” AKA tots were good, but that hash was better! Who doesn’t want breakfast taters?! The last thing we ate was the omelet, and we ordered the Western version. Note that you can order the skillet AND an omelet if you choose! It came with ham, cheese, peppers, and onions, and while it was pretty good, we definitely didn’t need it. By the time we got to this point in our meal, we were incredibly stuffed! The omelet was good, but a little unnecessary. If you’re a big egg eater, you might want to get one of these, but other than that, we’d probably just have more of the skillet. Fans of omelet stations though will likely love this. It’s stuffed with good ingredients, though! Nosh or Not Consider Dining at Cape May Cafe for breakfast if: You want a LOT of food for cheap. This meal was only $25 (without tax) per adult, and it was all-you-can-eat. That was a serious bargain. You want a simple and straightforward breakfast with foods that you know you’ll like. You want a leisurely meal where you won’t feel rushed out the door, and you’d like to sit down for a bit. You’re staying at Yacht Club or Beach Club and want a nice breakfast at your resort. Pass on this hearty breakfast option if: You want something more unusual to eat. Nothing on this menu was out of the ordinary, and the menu items are incredibly similar to what you’ll find elsewhere. You want something quick to eat. The items weren’t all brought out at once, and we were given ample time to indulge, so this may be an experience you want to take your time with. You have a small appetite. This is a TON of food, and if you’re not a big eater, you may not get your money’s worth. You can order smaller meal portions at other restaurants for less than $25, so unless you really want one of these items, maybe head somewhere else where you can get a kids’ meal. You’re itching to see the characters at breakfast. For now, you’ll want to look at Topolino’s Terrace at the Riviera Resort or Chef Mickey’s at the Contemporary Resort. Overall Like we said above, this was a GREAT deal! You get a lot of different items for $25 ($14 for kids), so we think this would be a fantastic choice for a brunch. We were seriously bowled over by how affordable this meal is, by Disney standards. In comparison, Chef Mickey’s is $42 per adult for a similar quantity of breakfast (plus characters). Our mimosa cost almost half of what our whole breakfast did! We didn’t feel rushed at all throughout our time at Cape May, and the service was top-notch and incredibly helpful. The food wasn’t particularly exceptional, but it was still delicious and we would dine here again…especially if we’ve got a hankering for a MASSIVE amount of breakfast food for cheap! Yep, it’s not as interesting here without the characters for now, but it’s a solid breakfast and we’d happily return. But that’s not all! Cape May just reopened for DINNER as well. We’re going to be coming back with our review of that very soon, so stay tuned to DFB for the latest! Click Here to Check Out Our Review of Beaches & Cream Soda Shop Next Door! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Have you ever been to Cape May Cafe? Let us know in the comments! The post REVIEW: for All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast at Cape May Cafe in Disney World?! Sign Us Up. first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World has returned “The Three Caballeros” animatronics to Epcot’s Grand Fiesta Tour ride. View the full article The three animatronics, seen here at Epcot in 2019, were part of the Magic Kingdom opening-day entertainment in 1971. (Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel) Walt Disney World has returned animatronics representing “The Three Caballeros” to the stage inside Epcot’s The Grand Fiesta Tour ride. The threesome — Donald Duck, Jose Carioca and Panchito Pistoles — were restored “from the ground up using the latest technology,” Imagineer Zach Riddley posted on his Instagram account Wednesday. They were reinstalled overnight in the attraction inside the Mexico pavilion, he said. Two-dimensional versions of the birds, who appeared in Disney’s 1944 animated film “The Three Caballeros,” had been standing on the stage near the end of the attraction for several weeks. The animatronic figures were part of Mickey Mouse Revue, an opening day attraction at Magic Kingdom, before being shipped to Tokyo Disneyland in 1983. They remained in Japan for 26 years. They were installed in the Epcot ride within a concert scene in 2015. The characters are seen throughout the ride, but they have also done meet-and-greets with Epcot visitors. The figures currently are seen in topiary form as part of the Taste of Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com.

SeaWorld's new CEO talks about everything from hotels to orcas and new rides. View the full article SeaWorld Entertainment is poised to get into the hotel business for the first time with the Orlando and Tampa Bay theme parks included on the list of possible sites, the company’s new CEO Marc Swanson said in an interview. Swanson made it clear his Orlando-based theme parks company is seeking to go into expansion mode and seriously consider building hotels now that it appears to have weathered the pandemic crisis that shut down all its parks last year. After last week’s changing guidelines from the CDC, “We’re pretty much at full capacity now” at the Florida and Texas theme parks, Swansons said, adding he feels confident about safety since guests have hundreds of acres outdoors to spread out. Looking ahead to the hotels, “This is a strategy now that we’ve become more recently focused on executing. We have some land parcels and some other things that could make for some exciting hotel locations either on our park property or adjacent to our parks,” Swanson said. “It’s something that we would look at across multiple parks ... Nothing specific has been determined, but certainly Orlando would be one that we would consider but same for our other locations.” Marc Swanson, SeaWorld Entertainment's new CEO (Courtesy) Busch Gardens Tampa Bay also has good potential for a hotel, Swanson said, since it could take advantage of views overlooking the zebras or giraffes and the rides. SeaWorld operates about a dozen theme parks and water parks across the country, none of which have hotels unlike at Disney World, Universal Orlando and Winter Haven’s Legoland, which have all have them. Swanson spoke to the Orlando Sentinel on Tuesday, almost two weeks after he officially won the job of CEO on May 5. Since April 2020, Swanson had been running SeaWorld Entertainment as the interim CEO after the previous leader resigned during the height of the pandemic. Swanson’s new base pay is $450,000 a year, according to a SEC filing. Swanson called it an honor to be named CEO after more than 20 years working at the company. “I’m excited to be in the role,” said Swanson, 50, of Winter Garden. Swanson, whose tenure dates back to getting hired as an internal auditor when the company was still owned by Anheuser-Busch, said he likes to surround himself with “really smart people” to share ideas. “I have a lot of empathy for what happens in our parks, how they’re operated, I can relate to some of the challenges, good and bad of running a park. And I think there’s a lot of good that comes with that,” Swanson said, recalling how around his early 30s, he worked as the head of finance diving into business strategies at Sesame Place in Philadelphia. But on days when that park was short-staffed, “you might find me making chicken fingers or lifeguarding or working the front gate.” Swanson moved up in the ranks and moved to Central Florida in 2008 to work at the Orlando corporate offices. His previous titles include company controller and chief financial officer although twice, he was called up to be interim CEO. The company has dealt with a revolving door of leadership with two CEOs in a row resigning abruptly after only a few months on the job after clashing with the company’s board. Swanson’s vision seemed to be similar from the company’s priorities in recent years. He pledged to keep opening new rides and adding more events. He wants to move forward with new technology, rolling out a mobile app and being able to communicate better with guests by targeting deals based on their interests. In Central Florida, theme parks fans are waiting for the openings of Iron Gwazi in Tampa and Ice Breaker in Orlando, the pair of coasters that still don’t have opening dates this year following the pandemic’s chaos. Swanson hinted more thrill rides could be coming in future years. “We’re going to continue to have new rides and attractions. Our goal is to have something new in every park every year — and that would certainly include the parks in Florida,” Swanson said. “We have some things that we can’t obviously announce right now, but I think people will be excited when they see the future plans for not only our Florida parks, but really our parks all across the country.” Swanson also addressed the future of orcas, beloved by some loyal SeaWorld fans who enjoy coming to see the animals while animal rights activists enraged by the anti-whale captivity documentary “Blackfish” have pushed the company to phase out its live animals in captivity. “Orcas are going to be with us for some time obviously. If you think about it, orcas can live for decades ... We have several orcas that are younger,” Swanson said. “So we’re going to continue to showcase and educate people about those animals and and all the other marine mammals in our parks as well.” Following a trainer’s death by a whale in 2010, SeaWorld has changed its orca shows over the years. Trainers no longer get in the water and in 2020, the focus became more on education and less on spectacle. SeaWorld Orlando is unique among major theme parks because of its employee-only area where animal rescue teams care for manatees, turtles, dolphins and other animals hurt or sick from the wild. Even during the pandemic, Orlando-based rescue teams traveled on calls to save animals, which also rang up expenses at a time when SeaWorld sought to free up liquidity to manage the emergency economic crisis from the theme park shutdowns. Under Swanson’s leadership, the animal rescue teams will remain a focus, Swanson said. “That’s something that we’re very proud of doing,” Swanson said, adding he can sometimes see rescue animals coming in from his office window. “I’ll stop a meeting and say, ‘Guys, look out the window. Here comes a manatee’ ... That’s just a really neat part of our company, and something that we’re going to continue to do and talk about and be proud of doing,” Swanson said. Swanson is married to his wife, Jennifer, and the father of three teenagers who are either graduating from or will be enrolled in West Orange High School next school year. His hobbies include exploring nature trails in Florida. “We’re big fans of Central Florida,” Swanson said. “It’s a great place to live.” grusson@orlandosentinel.com

For months we have been closely following the saga of the Three Caballeros animatronic figures at The Gran Fiesta Tour in EPCOT’s Mexico pavilion. Gran Fiesta Tour For a while Donald’s animatronic was replaced by a PLANT (literally) and later all 3 of the animatronics were totally removed and replaced by cardboard cutouts. It’s been one wild ride! But now we’ve got some BIG news — the Three Caballeros (in animatronic form) are BACK!! Earlier today, Disney Imagineer Zach Riddley shared via Instagram that the Three Caballeros have once again returned to The Gran Fiesta Tour! According to Riddley, the Imagineering team “lovingly restored these historic Audio-Animatronic figures from the ground up using the latest technology.” ©Zach Riddley via Instagram (@thezachriddley) The updated animatronics were installed last night in EPCOT. These figures of the Three Caballeros have a LONG history with Disney. They were originally part of Mickey Mouse Revue, an opening day attraction in Magic Kingdom. The show closed in 1980 and went on tour to Tokyo Disneyland. As Riddley shares, “Donald, Panchito and Jose performed abroad for 26 years until the Mickey Mouse Revue played its last show to make way for Mickey’s PhilharMagic.” They were then brought back to Disney World where they joined Gran Fiesta Tour in 2015. ©Zach Riddley via Instagram (@thezachriddley) We’ll be stopping by EPCOT’s Mexico pavilion soon to see our friends back in their animatronic form in Gran Fiesta Tour and we’ll share all those updates with you, so be on the lookout for that! And be sure to stay tuned for more Disney news from us here at DFB. Click here to see the new choice you have to make in EPCOT. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Are you excited for these feathered friends to be back in EPCOT in their animatronic form? Tell us in the comments! The post NEWS: The Three Caballeros Animatronics Have RETURNED to EPCOT's Mexico Ride first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Have you gotten sucked into the Squishmallows craze?! Squishmallows These cuddly plushes are WILDLY popular right now (sorry, nuiMOs!). We’ve spotted ’em out and about in the parks as elephants, lions, and more. But if you were hoping to snag a Disney-inspired, plush, you’re in luck! Because we’ve spotted some DISNEY Squishmallows online. We found 2 Disney character Squishmallows for ya! The first is none other than Stitch. The 12-inch plush is nice and round — perfect for cuddling. ©BoxLunch He’ll cost ya $22.90! Click Here to Buy the Stitch Squishmallow! We’ve also got another intergalactic pal: Buzz Lightyear! He’s a bit smaller — at 8 inches — and he’s got that classic Buzz smirk. ©BoxLunch You can grab him for $18.90! Click Here to Buy the Buzz Lightyear Squishmallow! If you were hoping to add a touch of Disney to your Squishmallows collection, go on and grab one of these plushes! But hurry — based on how popular they are, we’ve got a feeling they’ll sell out FAST. And stay tuned to DFB, because we’ll keep bringing ya the latest Disney news! Check Out More Disney Plushes! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Do you collect Squishmallows? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney Squishmallows Exist — Here’s Where to Find ‘Em first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Donut ears, ears with confusing colors, tropical ears — there are LOTS of Minnie and Mickey ears you can buy in the Disney World theme parks and online. This wall brings us so much joy. But, if you’re searching for a particular set of ears in Magic Kingdom, odds are you’re probably looking for them and buying them in the WRONG place. The Emporium in Magic Kingdom is a popular spot to buy all kinds of merchandise. From weighted plushes to spirit jerseys, the Emporium seems to have it all. Odds are you’ve also come into the Emporium looking to buy a new set of Disney ears at some point in time. And since this is a tremendously large store and it’s one of the first stores you see as you start your day in the park, you might be thinking that this is THE place to go to grab your ears. But we’d argue that it is NOT. Do You Like to Shop in the Emporium? The Emporium is often the most crowded store in all of Magic Kingdom. You may even encounter a wait just to get in the store. And when it comes to Disney ears, the Emporium doesn’t always have the best selection. Since the store can get super busy, they can sometimes run out of a particular set of ears or they might not have the specific ears you’re looking for. The Tweed and Pearl ears are BACK! So, where should you go instead? If you’re looking to get your ears quickly and easily (so you can get back to all the fun faster) and potentially find a set of ears that might be sold out elsewhere, here’s where you should go: 1. Box Office Gifts Our first choice to get ears in Magic Kingdom is actually Box Office Gifts! While The Chapeau closed earlier this year, headwear and embroidery is now available over at Box Office Gifts. Box Office Gifts is located at the Town Square Theater. Right as you walk into Magic Kingdom on the right, this will be your first larger shopping location. Box Office Gifts Inside of Box Office Gifts now you’ll find TONS of Disney ears. Some stores might only have a handful of each design, but we’ve found that Box Office Gifts tends to generally have a plentiful amount of each design they carry. You’ll walk past this store even before you hit the Emporium, so you can get your ears even sooner than you might have otherwise. ALL the Ears Box Office Gifts is also attached to Curtain Call, which has Mickey hats that can be embroidered. LOTS of Ears in Box Office Gifts! If you’re looking for Disney ears in Magic Kingdom, this is the first place we’d recommend you stop. 2. Star Traders Over in Tomorrowland, you’ll find the Star Traders store. This store is a bit further into the park, but they have plenty of ears available! Which Ears Would You Pick They have a central wall with plenty of ears to pick from… SOOO Many Ears …as well as other designs sprinkled throughout the store. Mickey Hand Ears Anyone? So, the next time you’re looking for Disney ears, consider stopping here! 3. Bwana Bob’s Next, we’ll head to Adventureland. Bwana Bob’s is an outdoor kiosk located in this part of the park. Some of the Choices at Bwana Bob’s You might not think that an outdoor kiosk will have much in terms of selection, but we’ve found that they actually have some great options. Great Place to Stop for Ears! They’re also rarely busy. If you know what you want and you’re in a hurry, Bwana Bob’s can be a great option! 4. Fantasy Faire Over in Fantasyland, Fantasy Faire is the spot you’ll want to visit for your Disney ears needs. Fantasy Faire actually has a HUGE selection for ears and is another place where you can get your Mickey ear hats embroidered. Hello Ears It can get crowded though, which is why we haven’t placed it higher on our list. There’s Something For Everyone! But, if it isn’t too busy when you’re in the park, consider popping into this store to see what ears they have available. 5. Tomorrowland Light & Power Co. Our next store takes us back to Tomorrowland. Tomorrowland Light & Power Co. (the store located next to Space Mountain) can sometimes get overlooked when it comes to shopping, but it’s a pretty good spot to get ears! Take Your Pick! This store usually gets the new ear releases, so you can try to find them here. More Ears They don’t have a HUGE selection, but they might be a good spot for you to look. 6. Plaza del Sol Caribe Bazaar The Plaza del Sol Caribe Bazaar, located near Pirates of the Caribbean, doesn’t have a large selection when it comes to ears, but there are some here. A Look at the Ears And we do feel like we sometimes see unique ears here that you sometimes don’t find at other locations. More Ears It’s worth checking here to see if the ears you’re looking for are available! 7. Frontier Trading Post Finally, we end our list with Frontier Trading Post. It might not have the biggest selection, but it IS the only place in Magic Kingdom that we’ve recently found the pin trading ears that look like cork boards. Some of the Ears Available Here And that’s our list of the best places to get your Disney ears in Magic Kingdom! Of course, if you want to save yourself the hassle of shopping for ears in person, you could always visit shopDisney to see what’s available online. We’ll keep an eye out for more updates all around Disney World and we’ll be sure to share all of our tips and tricks with you! Click here to check out some NEW Steamboat Willie ears that will be released soon! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Where do you like to buy your Disney ears in Magic Kingdom? Tell us in the comments! The post You're Buying Minnie Ears WRONG in Magic Kingdom first appeared on the disney food blog. 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Events currently underway in Central Florida aim to entertain for an extended period of time. View the full article

Are you getting excited for Disney’s newest cruise ship?! ©Disney We’ve gotten TONS of news about the Disney Wish recently, from prices to info about the new RIDE onboard. We’ve even gotten a peek into a suite! And today, Disney’s telling us ALL about the Toy Story Splash Zone. We previously told ya a little about the Toy Story Splash Zone — it’s a play area designed for families with toddlers and young children, and it’ll feature a “splash zone, wading pool, family waterslide and smoothie bar.” Toy Story favorites like Woody and Buzz will be “reimagined as larger-than-life rubber bath toys” that spray water in a fun playground setting. ©Disney The splash zone is inspired by the Disney/Pixar short “Partysaurus Rex” — it’ll include 2 toddler-sized slides, pop jets, geysers, and LOTS of bubblers. As for the theming? Think Woody’s Roundup meets Buzz Lightyear’s intergalactic adventures! And the whole family can enjoy Slide-a-saurus Rex, which “sends guests plunging ‘down the drain’ with the rest of the toys when the metaphorical bathtub overflows.” Sounds like lots of fun! ©Disney The 6-inch wading pool we mentioned will be called Trixie’s Falls, while the smoothie bar is Wheezy’s Freezies. We’re already looking forward to the fruity treats that’ll be up for grabs! Disney Wish Concept Art ©Disney The Disney Wish will set sail on its maiden voyage on June 9th, 2022. And boy are we getting EXCITED! We’ll be sure to keep ya in the know with all the latest updates, so stay tuned to DFB. Here’s Everything We Know About the Disney Wish! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you -- they've literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They're DFB's recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!) So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/customemailexample.jpg Are you planning a cruise on the Disney Wish? Let us know in the comments! The post Learn MORE About the Toy Story Splash Zone Aboard the Disney Wish Cruise Ship first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

When you’re planning a trip to Disney World you’re probably thinking a lot about where you’re going to stay. The hotel you pick can set the mood for your entire trip and there’s a lot you need to consider. Is it in my price range? Is it close to the things I want to do? Do I like the theme? You can find great Disney theming if you want it. Sometimes we make mistakes and book the wrong hotel and these reviewers on Trip Advisor have some strong feelings about why these are the worst hotels in Disney World. Find out which hotels were voted the WORST and more in our newest DFB Video!  Are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes! Check out our latest video and then comment below: What’s your LEAST favorite Disney World hotel? The post DFB Video: WORST Disney World Hotels Rated by Trip Advisor first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We have had ALL kinds of donuts and treats from Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew in Disney Springs! There’s a reason we keep going back to Everglazed… From a cronut topped with buttercream and a mini churro to a GIANT donut topped with a beautiful flower, we’ve made our way through a lot of their menu and brought you all of our thoughts. But now 3 NEW donuts have arrived! According to some story posts shared by Everglazed on Instagram, 3 NEW donuts have joined the menu. First up, for all you Nutella lovers, there’s the Nutella Boston Cream donut. This treat is made with Everglazed’s glazed donut which is filled with vanilla custard and then topped with Nutella icing. ©Everglazed via Instagram (@everglazed_fl) Next, if you’re in the mood for s’mores but wish it could come in donut form, then your wish may have just been granted. Everglazed’s S’mores Galore donut features a chocolate iced donut, Marshmallow Fluff, a giant toasted marshmallow, and crushed Golden Grahams. ©Everglazed via Instagram (@everglazed_fl) And finally, for those who love caramel corn, Everglazed is now serving up a Butterscotch Caramel Craze donut. This is a caramel iced donut, with butterscotch chips, and caramel corn! ©Everglazed via Instagram (@everglazed_fl) Each of these new donuts are priced at $5.50. You’ll find them in “The Funky Bunch” portion of the Everglazed menu. If you want to grab one today, you can head to Everglazed in Disney Springs and try one for yourself. We’ll be checking these out soon and bringing you our FULL review, so stay tuned for that! Click here to see our review of some donuts and breakfast sammies from Everglazed! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Which of these donuts would you want to try? Tell us in the comments! The post S'mores, Nutella, and Caramel Corn?! Check Out the 3 NEW Donuts That Have Arrived in Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney’s been making some changes to its MagicBands recently! MagicBands As the new MagicMobile service rolls out as an optional replacement to MagicBands, our favorite little wrist accessories have gotten some adjustments! First, they were no longer complimentary for Resort Guests — and as of August 16th, 2021, they won’t be free for Annual Passholders, either. And now, we’re seeing another change. That’s right, friends — MagicBands have gotten a price increase! Besides those $5 Resort Guest MagicBands, your cheapest option was previously a solid band for $14.99. Well, in a $5 price increase, those plain MagicBands are now $19.99! You’ll see the new price reflected both in stores and online. These are $19.99 now! Other MagicBand styles are more expensive now, too! Themed MagicBands (those with designs inspired by rides, characters, etc.) now cost $29.99… Themed MagicBands …while limited release bands are now $34.99. This one’s pretty pricey! Disney’s updated their color labeling system to reflect these changes. Coral indicates the $19.99 solid MagicBands; bronze is the themed bands; and amethyst represents those limited releases. New Pricing You can find the corresponding color label on the back of your MagicBand! Find your price here! If you’re in the market for a MagicBand, do keep these price changes in mind. And remember, if you don’t want to spend this much, you can opt to use Disney’s free MagicMobile service instead! We’ve got a full guide on that right here for you. We’ll keep you posted with the latest Disney news, so stay tuned to DFB! Learn More About the Discontinuation of Free MagicBands! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Would you buy a MagicBand with the new price? Let us know in the comments! The post MagicBands Get a BIG Price INCREASE in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We recently found out about a certain favorite snack returning to EPCOT. Roulé aux Fromage One thing we noticed was that it was a little different from before, and we were kinda disappointed. What we didn’t expect was for Disney to respond!! The Roulé aux Fromage, a.k.a. bacon and cheese roll, was an old favorite of ours, so you can imagine our excitement when we found it back in Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie! In all its glory! However, we noticed right away that it was not the same. There was much less cheese and bacon than there was before, and that was what had made it so darn good! Of course, when the ingredients are bread, cheese, and bacon, you can’t go wrong. But it was still a bit of a letdown when we know the potential this little roll has. Roulé aux Fromage We shared our thoughts on the changes in our review, where it appears some of the folks from the France Pavilion have been watching! Not long after spotting our post, they have responded with some of the BEST possible news! Do you see what we see? That’s a LOT more bacon! That’s right, the bacon and cheese roll will now have extra bacon! It’s still a different shape than the old one, but at least we no longer have to worry about missing out on that salty, crunchy bacon flavor. We are so excited to give this update a try and see if it holds up to our old favorite! Click Here to See Our Review of The Old Roulé aux Fromage! 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 tried both the old and new bacon and cheese roll? Let us know in the comments! The post We Asked...And Disney Answered With MORE BACON! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Over the past several weeks, we’ve been sharing how Disney stories will come to life like never before aboard the newest Disney Cruise Line ship, the Disney Wish. I am so excited to have the opportunity to give you an inside look at what our team has been dreaming up, and today I’ll take you to the upper decks where we’re introducing a new Toy Story-themed waterplay district designed especially for families with toddlers and young children. To “swim”-finity and beyond!http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DisneyParks/~4/BMnkOb3iu2c View the full article

Disney’s Animal Kingdom was the last park to open in Disney World back in 1998 — a piece of Disney trivia that ALWAYS makes us feel old (that was 23 years ago!!). Welcome to Disney’s Animal Kingdom! There are TONS of really cool details about this park that make it a completely immersive wildlife experience, and today we’re talking about the ones that are so hidden, they’re basically top secret. A land that never came to life, a fake waterfall, and lots of other things packed into the park that you may never notice! The Beastly Kingdom It’s no secret that Animal Kingdom was built with animals as the focus, but did you know that it once included mythical animals? That’s right! In the original plans for the park, the area we now know as Pandora — The World of Avatar was actually named The Beastly Kingdom, which featured encounters with dragons, unicorns, and more. Budget woes halted its creation and it was never picked back up and later the space reserved for it transformed into the place that you can now ride on a banshee. Concept Art for the Beastly Kingdom ©Disney But, there are still some remnants of the dragon land. Before you even get into the park, take a look at the ticketing building on your left. Now, that doesn’t look like any animal we’ve ever seen roaming Earth! That’s not a “normal” animal! And, if you’ve looked close enough at the lamps around the entrance to Animal Kingdom, you might have noticed that there’s a dragon in the middle of the design. That’s another nod to the forgotten land! Dragons are everywhere if you look close! Because the Beastly Kingdom was meant to take up the area that is now Pandora, you can even spot a few dragon-looking fountains on your way into the area. Keep your eyes peeled! Disney Would Have Been Really DIFFERENT If This Would Have Happened You’re on Route 498 Now to the land dedicated to the well-known extinct animals — DinoLand U.S.A.! This area has some pretty elaborate theming and even has a VERY detailed backstory. Basically, back in the 1940s, Dinoland was a quiet town off Highway 498 in Diggs County. Fossils were discovered near a local gas station causing paleontologists and graduate student assistants to travel to the town, forming the beginning of the Dino Institute headquarters. The Dino Institute As time passed, a museum was created to display all the dino fossils on-site, and a new president was named for the institute — Dr. Helen Marsh. New research contributed to the creation of a vehicle that let scientists go back in time (featured in the ride DINOSAUR), and the married couple who owned the original gas stations where the fossils were found (Chester and Hester) expanded their business into carnival (Dino-Rama) and gift shop (Dinosaur Treasures). Those college students that came to help dig? They set up shop in what is now Restaurantosaurus! DinoLand U.S.A. You can spot the city signs around DinoLand that say “Diggs County — U.S. 498.” And, Disney wouldn’t go through all the trouble of making an elaborate backstory without adding more secret details, now would they? No, that doesn’t sound like Disney at all! Route 498 in DinoLand U.S.A.! Route 498 is actually a nod to the opening of Disney’s Animal Kingdom! The park opened on April 22nd, 1998 hence 498! If you know to look for it, you’ll be able to find the numbers all around DinoLand. 12 Things You Never Knew About Disney World’s Animal Kingdom Fake Waterfall in Pandora Okay, so this secret is one that no matter how hard you look, you might not spot it still. Over in Pandora — The World of Avatar, you can explore the luscious green landscape that makes up this other world. And, you’ll probably notice that there are quite a few waterfalls coming out of the floating rocks and landscape. Would you believe us if we told you that one of them is entirely fake? Question EVERYTHING in Pandora! Up near the tippy top of the mountain that makes up the entrance to the Flight of Passage, there are three waterfalls. They APPEAR to be real, but they’re actually an optical illusion! It’s a rotating wheel that looks like white water but “falls” much slower than a real waterfall would, forcing it to appear further from you than it actually is. Disney even added fabric at the bottom to make it look like mist from the water! Tbh, our minds are STILL blown by this one. DFB Video: 18 Awesome Things in Disney World You’d Never Know Were There Do You Know The Scientific Make-Up of Condiments? When you head into The Dino Institute to check out the “museum” and travel to pre-historic times on DINOSAUR, you might notice that there’s one section of piping that’s extra colorful. Look up when you’re boarding the ride and you’ll get a closer look at the chemicals written on them. And, it’s Disney so they don’t just go writing formulas on pipes for fun. ©Photo Courtesy of AllEars They are actually the formulas for the chemical makeup of ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise (colored accordingly). How did condiments become a hidden detail in the ride? It was originally sponsored by McDonald’s from 1998-2008! We know, weird. What interest did THEY have in dinosaurs? What’s really in those nuggets? Ah, we digress… . But hey, now you know! 9 Rides You TOTALLY Forgot Were Once at Disney World! It’s Not a T-Rex on Dinosaur! Let’s stick to the topic of DINOSAUR. The ride was originally known as “Countdown to Extinction” which kind of makes sense when you think about it. You’re LITERALLY trying to beat the countdown to the meteor shower that made the dinosaurs go extinct. It was renamed in 2000 and this new name seems like it doesn’t give enough details about just how many dinos you’re going to encounter on this terrifying journey. BUT, there’s one type of dinosaur you WON’T find on your journey, though you’ve probably always thought you had. It’s a blast! It’s in the past! Just around the corner from Disney World, there’s another amusement park that features a pretty big focus on dinos (hint, hint, wink, wink). Okay, you’re thinking Universal Orlando, right? It’s okay to say their name here! Well, Disney didn’t want us confusing this Dinosaur for the arguably MUCH more famous ones over at Universal so they dug into their pile of Intellectual Properties. They just so happened to have made an animated film appropriately named Dinosaur in 2000 featuring dinos they could repurpose on this ride. Instead of battling t-rexes and raptors, they distinguished themselves by sending us on a search for an Iguanadon. Dino Sue! (she is actually a T-Rex) And, that big baddie that scares you into a photoshoot isn’t actually a T-Rex! It’s a Carnotaurus! He looks a lot like a T-Rex but actually would have had horns on the top of his head to take down enemies and was a bit smaller than his relative. 3 Rides You Didn’t Realize Would Terrify You in Disney World A Work of Art Featuring Michael Jackson Did you know that Michael Jackson LOVED Kali River Rapids? It’s true! The water ride was his favorite at Walt Disney World so Disney decided to commemorate him in a painting that you can find in the ride queue. Michael Jackson Painting on the Kali River Rapids Queue! See him above with his arms in the air?? You’ll find Michael Jackson sitting in the raft on a painting in the last room of the queue! 12 Throwback Disney Rides That Are Keeping Our Spirits Up Spray people on Kali River Rapids And, speaking of Kali River Rapids, did you know that you can guarantee that your family gets waterlogged on their journey? Instead of standing on the bridge overlooking the portion of the ride surrounded by elephant statues and snapping a photo, look for buttons! Kali River Rapids When you hit them you’ll activate the elephants and they’ll spray water from their trunk at all the passengers. So, this is a case that you would definitely want to duck when you see an elephant trunk looking ready to spout (unlike when you’re on Jungle Cruise). Do You Know These 10 Shocking Facts About Disney World? Chimpanzee Carving on Tree of Life Animal Kingdom’s park icon is the Tree of Life and the trunk of this ginormous tree is made up of over 300 hand-sculpted animals. And, one of the animals that you might spot carved into the tree actually has a name (and backstory!). There’s a little chimpanzee carving that is named David Greybeard, after one of the chimps that Dr. Jane Goodall studied. Tree of Life The primatologist actually had a hand in the park’s creation so ‘lil David is meant to honor Goodall and her work. She had made such a mark in the beginnings of the park that she even came back to speak at the 10-year anniversary event! Do You Know Where To Find These 10 Hidden Secrets in Disney World? Flaska Reclinata Over in the Pandora — The World of Avatar, the entire area was built to be interactive in a way you would actually find in Pandora in the movies! The Na’vi have a strong connection with wildlife so Disney thought it was important to make the land as immersive as possible for guests. So, when you walk into the land, don’t breeze by the HUGE plant that is set out to greet you on your right. The plants are alive in Pandora! It’s actually alive! If you touch the pink area on the plant, it will respond to you by glowing, spraying water, and making a noise! This has been closed off since the parks reopened but, when it was accessible, it was a guest favorite — especially for kids! So, yes, even the plants are honorary Cast Members making sure you feel welcomed. Did You Know About These Hidden SECRETS in the Disney Parks and Resorts?! Flight of Passage Handprints And, we’re still in Pandora for this next one! After you’re done taking the ride of your life on the back of a Banshee, you might find some rather human-looking handprints on your way out of Flight of Passage. So, who are these people who got to put their hands AND initials on one of the most popular rides in Disney World? Flight of Passage Creators’ Handprints The creators, of course! They belong to James Cameron (Avatar’s director), Joe Rohde (Pandora’s lead designer), and John Landau (Avatar’s executive producer). It is just us or is this WAY cooler than leaving your handprint in wet cement? FULL Review: Satu’li Canteen in Animal Kingdom’s Pandora — The World of AVATAR Some Beers Are ONLY Found in Animal Kingdom Now onto all the snack secrets in Animal Kingdom (our favorite part, obvi)! This park is actually home to two VERY exclusive beers. So exclusive that you can ONLY get them when you’re in the park! Over at Satu’li Canteen or Pongu Pongu in Pandora, you can grab a GREEN beer called GREEN Hawkes’ Grog Ale. This is the only place you’ll be able to get your green beer fix outside of St. Patrick’s Day (and this is probably better than any of the beer you dye green anyway). Hawkes’ Grog Ale And, you can find the exclusive Kungaloosh Spiced Excursion Ale at Nomad Lounge and neighboring Tiffins. You can alllllsssoo get Kungaloosh at Jungle Navigation Co., Ltd. Skipper Canteen, in Magic Kingdom, FYI! If you’re a fan of beer, these two are must-tries during your visit! Review: Pongu Pongu in Animal Kingdom’s Pandora — The World of AVATAR Restaurantosaurus Lounge Secret Menu Drink We wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t bring you a secret menu item on our secrets list! So, we present you the Raspberry Fizz! You can order this at Restaurantosaurus Lounge and it’s made with Bacardi Raspberry, Sprite, and cranberry juice and garnished with a strawberry. Raspberry Fizz We stumbled upon this hidden gem one day when we were searching for new holiday drinks and the bartender flipped our frown upside down by offering us this Disney insider drink! It turns out this drink used to be served at a Disney World pop-up bar in the past but disappeared from the menu. It was a secretive, refreshing, fruity delight — everything you could ask for as a Disney snack fan. You won’t find it on the menu, but just ask and you might be pleasantly surprised! REVIEW: Check Out This Fizzy Secret Menu Drink in Disney’s Animal Kingdom! There’s Another Place to Order Tiffins Bread Service If you’re a big fan of carbs like us and you’re wondering where you can load up on bread in Disney World, we’d be inclined to direct you to Tiffins at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The menu features Tiffins Signature Bread Service which includes Naan, Lavash, and another bread, in addition to three accompaniments: Harrisa Yogurt, Lime Chutney, and Black-Eyed Pea Hummus. But, what if you can’t get a reservation or would rather eat your full meal somewhere else? You’re in luck! Nomad Lounge The appetizer is served in the bar that shares the same building as the restaurant — Nomad Lounge. The bar can be much easier to get into and you can use the Mobile Walk-Up Waitlist so you don’t even need to plan that far ahead to give the bread a try. And, while you’re there you can try some of the delicious drinks that they serve! Do You HAVE to Use the Mobile Walk-up Waitlist to Get a Table in Disney World? Here’s What You Need to Know. Winged Encounters Show Now, this next one isn’t really a secret, but not many people know about it when they’re visiting Animal Kingdom! Every day, macaws fly around the Tree of Life, make a pit stop for a short show in front of the tree, and then fly off towards DinoLand to return home to their enclosures backstage. Winged Encounters at Disney’s Animal Kingdom The show is called Winged Encounters and you can find the showtimes in the park guide! The birds usually make their flight a few times a day so you can find what time works best to catch some wildlife in action! If you DO catch it, though, it’s a fantastic sight having dozens of macaws soar inches over your head! 20 VIDEOS From Disney’s Animal Kingdom! Pandora Utility Suit And, the last secret at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is another one that isn’t necessarily a secret, just not many people know about it! Over in Pandora — The World of Avatar, you might find yourself walking around near Satu’li Canteen and spot a man in a HUGE robotic suit putting on a bit of a show. No, he’s not man-splaining Transformers (though his suit kind of looks like one), he’s actually a Pandora Ranger showing off a Panroda Exo-Carrier Utility Suit! Pandora Utility Suit The suit stands 10-feet tall and does all kinds of cool tricks. This is another show that you can find times for in the park guide, so be sure you grab one on your way in if you want to be there for some of the more unique experiences! Note this hasn’t been occurring since the parks reopened, but we’re keeping an eye out for their return! Festival of the Lion King is Returning to Disney World So, how did we do? Hopefully, you learned something from all our rambling because these wouldn’t be very secretive if you all knew them! Well, we guess now you do…so shh! Let’s keep this between each other. Well, actually we entirely give you permission to do a total Disney flex with these facts the next time you visit with your family! You Forgot Eating in Disney World Was Ever Like This! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What’s your best-kept Disney World secret? Let us know in the comments! The post Only EXPERTS of Disney's Animal Kingdom Know These 15 Things! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It's sea turtle nesting season in Florida as loggerhead, leatherback and green turtles lay their eggs on Sunshine State beaches. Here's how to view the turtles and help ensure the success of their nests. View the full article

After months of being covered up, going maskless at Orlando's theme parks is refreshing. View the full article

Disney Characters Create Magical Moments at EPCOT | Walt Disney World View the full article

The state of Florida's lawsuit against the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over its elaborate process for allowing cruise lines to resumes sailings during the COVID-19 pandemic has been referred to a mediator by a Tampa judge. View the full article

Pleasure Island featured nightclubs with liquor, dancing, humor and fresh late-night options. View the full article

“Good Vibrations,” an earthquake exhibit, debuts at WonderWorks Orlando in late May 28 View the full article

EPCOT’s been undergoing some MAJOR construction lately, but there’s one project that we’re still waiting on. Space 220 Concept Art ©Disney Yup, remember Space 220? Disney announced a WHILE ago that this restaurant would pop up near Mission: SPACE, and we’ve been eagerly awaiting those internationally-inspired eats. There have been quite a few delays, but we’ve got a sign that this spot may FINALLY be opening…because they’re hiring, big-time. Patina Restaurant Group, the restaurant that owns Space 220, is hiring for SEVEN different jobs: Bartender, Cook, Food Runner, Host, Server, Restaurant Cashier, and Busser. ©Patina Restaurant Group In fact, the Patina Restaurant Group website has a whole page dedicated to its Space 220 jobs, sharing a summary of the restaurant and inviting potential employees to “Prepare for Takeoff.” And boy are we excited! ©Patina Restaurant Group Clicking on any of the jobs will bring you to a more detailed description of the position. ©Patina Restaurant Group We’ve previously seen job applications for a Front of House Manager, Restaurant Manager, and Bartender, as well as for a Pastry Chef. But these latest listings (especially because there are SO MANY of them) seem like Space 220 may really be preparing for its big opening! Do keep in mind that Disney has not announced an official opening date — but we’ll be sure to keep you posted when they do! Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney news. Here’s What We Know About Space 220! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Are you excited for Space 220 to open? Let us know in the comments! The post BIG Update! Space 220 Just Took a Big Step Towards Opening first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Sending you a warm hello from sunny EPCOT! Hi, Spaceship Earth! We spent the last few days searching for what’s new at EPCOT! We spotted a fan-favorite snack return in World Showcase, and we are so excited! We’ve got all the big news for you this week from Harmonious progress, new merch, and the disappearance of one section of the park! Let’s jump in! EPCOT Food Update House of Good Fortune House of Good Fortune is notorious for its specialty chip offerings. Recently, we spotted some new flavors. We gave them a go, and they were certainly unique! One of them tasted…creamy? Three New Flavors! This week, we tried chestnut, bayberry, and cherry blossom rice wine flavors. See our review of these 3 new flavors here! Mitsukoshi Mitsukoshi never disappoints with the walls full of fun Japanese snacks candy to try! This week, we tried out a new Kit Kat flavor. We’ve recently tried one-of-a-kind Kit Kat flavors like Ocean Salt and Strawberry. This time, we tried out the Roasted Green Tea Kit Kat! Speckles of Roasted Green Tea We can’t wait to see what new flavor will show up next! Click here to read our thoughts on the Roasted Green Tea Kit Kat! The Fjording Drum roll please!! Chocolate bars have returned in the Norway Pavilion!! These chocolate bars sold out shortly after reopening, and shipping delays caused stock to remain empty. We are so excited to share that they are BACK! Oh, how we’ve missed you, Trokia! Another favorite Norwegian chocolate bar was back too! Yum! Stock up while you can! EPCOT Construction Update Innoventions West It’s no secret that EPCOT has had quite a bit of construction recently. This week, Innoventions West seemed to just…disappear? It’s currently totally gone from sight. Innoventions West, are you back there?! We’ll keep you posted on any changes we see, or if Innoventions West reappears soon. Harmonious Guess what we noticed?! The Harmonious barge arms were moving a LOT this week. Look at those arms! Hopefully we’ll see this new show debut soon! We can’t wait!! EPCOT Merchandise Update Mexico Pavilion We spotted several new items in the Mexico Pavilion! First up, these new shot glasses (otherwise known as toothpick holders) for $9.99. Front There are two new-to-us tops available in the Mexico Pavilion. We found this tank… Buy it for $29.99! …and this tee! This tee is $36.99 Both tops sport a classic logo. Japan Pavilion Several new Nintendo merch items made their way to the Japan Pavilion. We found this backpack… It’s a-Mario! …this hat… Gamers, rejoice! …and this backpack! Very spacious! These pieces would be the perfect gift for any gamer in your life. Germany Pavilion At the Christmas Corner, we saw lots of new ornaments available. Love those colors! We also saw this ornament… So homey! …and this one! Snag this little guy for $9.99! If you’ve been eyeing this hat, grab it now! It’s currently on sale for $20.00. We just love a good sale! Keep reading for more special news about the Germany Pavilion! Disney Traders Spice up your table with these adorable Orange Bird salt and pepper shakers! Hello, sunshine! You can grab these trashcan-shaped salt and pepper shakers for $9.99 each! Image Works Recently, we saw these cute new puzzle billboards. We just found this one on display! So cute! Stop by Image Works to see it for yourself! It’s so cute!! Other EPCOT Updates Filming In Italy While strolling through World Showcase, we noticed some kind of filming happening in the Italy Pavilion. Say Cheese! Could this be for a PR or commercial shoot? Adventures By Disney The Adventures By Disney Guided Tours Meeting Location sign was spotted near the exit of the park. Near the exit of EPCOT Click here to save $500+ on an Adventures By Disney adventure! France Cups Clear cups have been out of stock, so the France Pavilion is serving up their specialty drinks in these awesome neon cups! So bright! Earlier in the week, we saw neon pink cups used. Personally, we think the neon flair is pretty fun! That’s all for our recent EPCOT updates! As always, we’ll keep scouring the parks for your latest updates! Click here to see what’s new at Magic Kingdom! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Have you spotted any of these new updates yet? Let us know in the comments! The post What’s New at EPCOT: Creamy Chips, Green Tea Kit Kats, and More! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders have had quite the year — first with the parks closing, then having to figure out the chaos of AP payments and renewals, and then the passholder program was canceled altogether in January of 2021. It has been a wild year! Since then, Disney has been offering those who formerly held annual passes (now called Legacy Passholders) a few perks, including discounts, special merchandise, and unique dining opportunities. The perks continue today, with another opportunity to snag the Legacy Passholder Mickey magnet! We’ve seen this purple Mickey magnet design before, and now you can pick one up if you missed it last time. During your next trip to Disneyland Resort, get your own magnet when you shop at the following locations: Elias & Co. Bing Bong’s Sweet Stuff Kingswell Camera Shop Disneyana Disney Clothiers, Ltd. Disney Dress Shop Star Wars Trading Post WonderGround Gallery World of Disney Bing Bong’s Sweet Stuff in Disney California Adventure You can pick up one magnet per Legacy Passholder, and they’ll be available while supplies last. You must have an eligible Passport and photo ID to claim your magnet, but no purchase is required. Legacy Passholder Magnet and Button from A Touch of Disney event Stay tuned to DFB for more news and updates from Disneyland Resort, including everything you need to know if you’re a passholder! When Will Disneyland Resort Premiere a New Passholder Program? Click Here to Find Out! Check out more Disneyland Food Reviews Here!! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Did you ever have a Disneyland Resort annual pass? Let us know in the comments! The post Disneyland Legacy Passholders -- Don't Miss Out On Your FREE Magnet! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Designing The Disney Wish: Touring The Tower Suite And Staterooms | Disney Cruise Line View the full article