Disney4me

For years, Disney PhotoPass Service has been the go-to for families to capture magical moments, and it’s a favorite of our planDisney panelists, mostly because the entire family gets to be in the picture! It meant no more Disney vacations with no pictures of mom, dad or your favorite uncle. What a relief!http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DisneyParks/~4/mp0bGZmFZAY View the full article

We’re constantly keeping an eye out for Disney discounts for ya! Cinderella Castle After all, if you’re planning a trip to Disney World, you’ll want to know ALL about how you can save. And between deals on hotels, tickets, and so much more, there are plenty of options! But an offer is set to expire SOON that we’ve got to tell you about. In case ya didn’t know, you can currently save up to 30% on your Disney World hotel room! The discount is valid for most nights from April 18, 2021 through July 10, 2021, and savings vary based on the type of room you get. Disney’s Riviera Resort But there’s a catch. To take advantage of this deal, you need to book by May 27th. And that’s coming up soon! So this is a friendly reminder to reserve your room ASAP if you have a trip coming up in the next few months. All-Star Movies This offer does exclude a couple of room types: 3-bedroom villas, campsites, Cabins at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, and Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows. So just keep that in mind! Now that’s a view! If you have a trip planned later this summer, a NEW deal will kick off for stays starting on July 11th — it’ll allow you to save up to 25%. Mark your calendars and enjoy those sweet savings! And stay tuned to DFB for plenty more Disney news. Check Out More Disney World Discounts! 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 trip to Disney World this summer? Let us know in the comments! The post Don’t Miss Your Chance to Save BIG on Your Disney World Hotel Room! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Lookin’ for a boozy new cocktail near Disney World? Disney Springs You’ve got a good chance of finding one at Disney Springs! From whiskey flights to summery sips, it seems like new drinks are always popping up around here (along with some pretty sweet discounts)! And over at Dockside Margaritas, there’s something NEW we just have to try. Yup, there’s a new Chipotle-Pineapple Margarita here! This baby’s got Don Julio Reposado Tequila, Grand Marnier, chipotle-pineapple, sweet-and-sour, pineapple and lime juices, and a good ol’ chili-salt rim. Sounds spicy! Chipotle-Pineapple Margarita Well, as it turns out…not really. Sure, the rim is nice and spicy, but we wanted more kick to the drink itself! If you’re strictly going for a sip with some heat, this may not be a good option for you. Isn’t it pretty?! But aside from that, this drink is delicious! The pineapple is not too acidic, but the flavor is strong. Pineapple people will probably love this (especially because of that little grilled chunk on top!). It’s tasty, too! At $17, this is PRICEY for a marg, but it’s a pretty strong pour. No fear of a lack of booze here! If you’re looking for a pineapple-inspired sip (with a littttle bit of spice), head on over to Dockside Margaritas! And we’ll keep ya posted with plenty more Disney news and reviews here at DFB. Check Out Another Disney Springs Drink Review! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Would you try this drink? Let us know in the comments! The post Review: Disney World's New Drink Is NOT as Scary as it Sounds. We Promise. first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

When Park Hopping returned to Disney World in a modified way earlier this year, we had quite a few concerns about it, including whether it would be worth the cost, how the modified system would work in actuality, and more. LET’S GO PARK HOPPING!! One BIG concern we had was whether guests would even be ABLE to park hop, as it is based on capacity and availability in the parks. When it was first announced, it sure seemed like we had to brace for the inability to hop due to capacity limits. Has this been an issue for us yet? Is it an issue you should be worried about for your next trip? We’re breaking it all down for you right now! What’s Going on With Park Hopping Right Now? First, let’s go through a quick break-down of how Park Hopping operates in Disney World right now. As we mentioned before, Park Hopping returned to Disney World in a modified way earlier this year. There are a few important things you need to keep in mind if you want to Park Hop under this modified system. First — you need a ticket with the Park Hopper option or a pass that includes park hopping abilities (in other words, a basic one-day, one-park, standard ticket won’t allow you to hop around). Balloons! Second — you need to make a Park Pass for the first park you want to visit each day of your trip. Third — you MUST visit that first park in order to hop later. You can’t just skip that first park and go directly to a second park later. Instead, you MUST enter your first park (the park you have a Park Pass for), and THEN you’ll be allowed to hop. Fourth — you can only hop to another park beginning at 2PM each day. Disney has noted that this 2PM Park Hopping start time is subject to change in the future, but that is what it is set at right now. That view tho Fifth — and this is the real kicker — you can only hop at 2PM IF there’s availability. Park Hopping to each park is limited by the park’s capacity limitations. So, there is a possibility that one of the parks (or all of the parks) could be at full capacity with no availability for Park Hopping when you try to hop in the afternoon. If that’s the case, then you wouldn’t be able to hop to those parks without availability. You can call a number to check each park’s Park Hopping availability. Click here to see our page full of information about Park Hopping! Why Was Park Availability for Hopping Such a Concern? Park capacity is limited in the Disney World theme parks right now. Based on the most recent information Disney has shared, capacity is capped at 35% at the moment. So, capacity and availability to get into the parks is limited on a general scale. We’ve seen Park Passes filling up for one and sometimes ALL of the parks on various days, sometimes for several days or a week at a time now that the busier spring and summer months are arriving. Look at That Line! Let’s say all of the Park Passes for all 4 parks for all of the days of your trip are completely full — that means the parks are ALL expected to be at capacity those days. The concern is that if all of the parks are at capacity (or are just very busy), there may not be availability to Park Hop. Among all of the other factors, this is one of the things that really made us wonder whether park hopping would be worth the cost in 2021. If you WANT to hop to another park but can’t, is it even worth spending the cash for a “what if?” Essentially, you have to pay to use the Park Hopper option, but you are not TECHNICALLY guaranteed to hop at all. A Look at Some Disney Crowds There is a possibility that you’ll get to the 2PM Park Hopping start time and one or more (potentially all) of the Disney World parks will be entirely full, without any availability to Park Hop at all. This could happen for one day of your trip, two days, or maybe the entire trip. Yikes. There’s even a possibility (as far as we know under the information Disney has presently been shared) that you could see a park has Park Hopper availability, get on the bus to go there, and then arrive only to find that it reached capacity for hopping while you were traveling there and you’re no longer able to enter. You could go back to your original park or go to another park with availability, but that would still result in a lot of lost time and effort. Click here to see the 3 BEST things about Park Hopping in Disney World and the 2 WORST! Things Have Surprisingly Worked Out So…do you need to be afraid of there not being any Park Hopping availability? Have we ever tried to hop to a park only to find there’s no availability, as we previously feared? It turns out the answer is…”No!” Crowds can be another source of stress for any guest! Seriously! Things have actually surprisingly been fine for our DFB reporters. Our reporters are in the parks essentially every single day getting all the latest information and updates for you. They’re even in the parks during those VERY busy holiday weekends. Overall, our reporters really haven’t experienced issues with Park Hopping availability after 2PM each day. Even at the busiest we’ve seen so far, Spring Break, we hopped each day with ease. We kept checking the phone number — all parks available each day! But, That Could Change! Here’s What You Need to Know Now, this is just what our reporters have experienced, so it’s possible that other guests have experienced something different. We’ve asked around and, to our knowledge, we haven’t seen anyone encounter a park at capacity for hopping. And it’s very possible that things could change soon, so the fact that we haven’t had issues with Park Hopping availability is NOT something to take for granted. The summer season is coming up, which is typically a very VERY busy time for Disney as kids are out of school and many parents take advantage of that time to go on trips. From what we’ve seen, this summer will likely be very busy. Park Passes have been filling up already, although some have later become available again for certain dates. Time to Face the Summer Heat and Summer Crowds We actually haven’t experienced a “true” summer with Park Hopping yet, as it only became available when the parks reopened last July, when part of the summer had already passed by. Plus, crowds were notably lighter when the parks first reopened. We also didn’t get to experience a summer with Park Hopping at 35% capacity, as the parks were previously capped at 25% capacity. And there’s a chance that capacity could be increased even more in the future. During the summer months, we could see more days hitting capacity, and potentially more crowds staying IN the parks, creating Park Hopping availability issues. If the parks reach capacity and enough guests don’t leave or hop to other parks, we could see some parks without any hopping availability when the afternoon rolls around. So far, it hasn’t been an issue (at least for us), but it could become a problem soon. Mexico Pavilion Crowds What can you do to try and avoid this Park Hopping availability issue? First, before you plan to hop (whether you go right now or during the summer), check the Park Hopping availability. You can call (407) 560-5000 for the most up-to-date information on park availability. When you dial, a recording will tell you which parks have availability for hopping. Again, we recommend you call this number BEFORE you leave your first park. Tree of Life If you and your family absolutely MUST visit a particular park or ride a specific ride, then you’ll probably want to make a Park Pass for that park and make it the first park you visit (at least during one day of your trip). That will help you at least guarantee your entrance to the park, and (if the ride is up and running) give you the chance to ride whatever ride at that park you’ve got to see. If your plan only includes that must-do park as one you’d hop to in the afternoon, you run the risk that the park might not have Park Hopping availability and you might not be able to enter it. If it’s a must-do, you might not want to leave it to chance. Main Street And if you’re traveling during a really busy time when the parks are set to reach capacity, you might want to consider whether Park Hopping is something you absolutely need, whether the cost is worth it for you, and whether you should plan your trip for the possibility that Park Hopping won’t happen. Again, it hasn’t been an issue with us yet, but it could be in the future. Click here to see some Park Hopping transportation updates! Overall Overall, being able to hop to the parks we’ve wanted to visit, even on busy days, hasn’t been the issue we were concerned it might be. But, it could certainly become a BIG issue in the future, and we think it’s something you’ll probably want to think about when planning. Given the rules of the modified system, you just need to take a close look and see whether Park Hopping is something you really need and whether it’s worth it for you. Pandora Remember that you can always add on the Park Hopping option to your tickets (even part-way during your trip). But, Disney will charge you as if you’ve added the Park Hopping option on for your entire trip. So if you have a 4-day ticket and you decide to add the Park Hopper option on day 2, you’ll still be charged the park Hopper upgrade for all 4 days. So, if you are going to add it to your ticket be sure to do so early on! And keep in mind that you generally cannot remove a Park Hopper option from a ticket, so you want to carefully consider whether you need it before paying for it! Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway Check out the video below about the return of Park Hopping! Our reporters will continue to visit the Disney World theme parks all the time, so we’ll keep hopping around to see whether availability starts to become a greater problem as the summer approaches, and we’ll let you know what we see. Stay tuned for more! Can you park hop to MULTIPLE parks on the same day? Click here to see our answer! 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 usually Park Hop in Disney World or just stick to 1 park per day? Tell us in the comments! The post Should You Be Worried About This Potential Park Hopping Problem in Disney World? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s been a long but exciting road for the Portillo’s near Disney World! Portillo’s The Chicago-style chain announced its Orlando location in 2019, and our mouths started watering. But the opening was delayed not once, but twice, leaving us wondering WHEN we’d actually get to enjoy our Italian Vienna beef sandwiches, char-broiled burgers, and hot dogs. But now the time has come, friends! Portillo’s has announced its NEW opening date, and it’s coming up soon: June 15th, to be exact! The eatery will open at 10:30AM, and you’ll be able to find this rock ‘n’ roll-themed diner at the intersection of Palm Parkway and Daryl Carter Blvd. That’s just minutes away from the recently opened White Castle (and Disney World, of course)! ©Portillo’s We’re super pumped to try the eats here (and a certain chocolate cake milkshake is already calling our name…). You can bet we’ll be here to review it ALL when Portillo’s finally opens! Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney news. Check Out Our Review of White Castle! 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 to eat at Portillo’s? Let us know in the comments! The post NEWS: Portillo’s Announces NEW Opening Date Near Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Tourism reporter Dewayne Bevil talks with John Saccheri, who runs the theme parks fan site BigFatPanda.com, about recent changes that make the parks feel like they did before the pandemic and changes they hope will happen soon. View the full article

Tour of little Epcot changes includes gelato, Pooh, barges, Morocco, more View the full article Somehow a month slipped past without me doing an Epcot walk. That’s for sure a first-world/Orlando problem, but still, that wasn’t the plan. I’ll point to a sea of spring visitors, personal disorganization, Walt Disney World’s theme-park reservation system and a slew of news in other attractions as reasons for my absence. When I got back last week, things had changed a pinch. Although there’s much chatter about the big-picture transformation of Epcot, more eye-catching to me were a handful of moments too small to write full stories about but too interesting to ignore. Take a virtual walk with me. Minnie Vans (some not so mini) stand on the far edge of Epcot parking lot. (Dewayne Bevil / Orlando Sentinel) Connect the dots Let’s start in the far-flung section of Epcot’s parking lot. It’s unusual to be diverted that way, but it does give closer looks at the big blue box that is the future Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind attraction. As we puttered up, I saw spots before my eyes. We passed several rows of red, polka-dot parked Minnie Vans. It’s a visually appealing sight, very Instagram. I considered backtracking for a photo op, but security was nearby and it seemed like a ridiculous thing for a grown man to explain. Epcot visitors try Gelateria Toscana, a new eatery in the Italy pavilion. (Dewayne Bevil / Orlando Sentinel) Get your gelato There’s a new gelato stop open in the Italy pavilion, right on the walkway that loops World Showcase Lagoon. Gilateria Toscana is a walk-up/counter-service eatery not much bigger than an Epcot festival outdoor kitchen/kiosk. On the menu: gelato and sorbet in waffle cones and cups ($7.95 to $8.50 for two scoops), gelato floats (with root beer or Coca-Cola) cannoli, zeppole (a k a ricotta cheese fritters) and “creations” involving whipped cream, cookies and sauces. There’s beer, wine, frozen sangria and assorted coffees too. Today I learned that “Stracciatella” can mean an egg-drop soup or a chocolate-chip ice cream. Proceed with caution. Winnie the Pooh goes through his socially distant paces on a lawn near the butterfly garden currently in Epcot's Future World. (Dewayne Bevil / Orlando Sentinel) Pooh to you For months, I’ve seen pictures on social media that show Winnie the Pooh frolicking with a butterfly net at Epcot. But this trip was the first time I’ve seen that in real life. I had imagined it in a different part of the park, but Pooh (and Joy from “Inside Out”) are stationed, at a social distance, in the grassy area in Future World West near Journey into Imagination and adjacent to (duh) the butterfly garden for the Taste of Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. When I visited Pooh, he was extraordinarily energetic and engaging. Nice job, Pooh. He posed for a photo near a tree, but then signaled something to me that I couldn’t understand. He wanted me to take a selfie with him, a nearby cast member explained. Later, teenagers approached and yelled to him from across the waterway. Pooh stopped in his tracks and did a slow-motion dropping of the net, an apparent declaration of love. It was appreciated. Disney World visitors can virtually travel to Morocco while visiting Epcot, but there's less to do there than in years past. (Dewayne Bevil / Orlando Sentinel) Meanwhile, in Morocco In recent months, I’ve noticed a lot of foot traffic back into the Morocco pavilion. That’s only odd because, well, nothing’s open back there, neither the stores nor the restaurant. The Moroccan activity is mostly upfront on the waterfront. One explanation: The area had become a hotbed for photography and social-media types because a section of the architecture was so … phallic. Big time. Sure this is a bit juvenile, but perhaps Disney didn’t see it as family fun, and modifications made the area more ordinary. But from what I’ve seen, not all visitors got the memo as folks still wander, looking up a lot. I took a pic of the fez-wearing camel instead. Insert your own hump day joke. Later, I overheard a man explain to friends “They took the penis out, you know,” which was the most non-Orlando Orlando statement of the day. Photo tip: If you crop in a lot of sky, the big black barges don't look as enormous in Epcot's World Showcase Lagoon. They will be used as part of the upcoming nighttime spectacular called 'Harmonious.' (Dewayne Bevil / Orlando Sentinel) On the waterfront Work continues on the big barges in the World Showcase Lagoon as part of the future “Harmonious” nighttime spectacular. There were reports of trim being painted black, making the whole setup even darker. I’m not sure I would have noticed that. In fact, I’ve gotten accustomed to the structures, which have drawn attention and criticism as view-ruiners. I’m ready for them to do something entertaining, night or day. Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com.

At the beginning of 2021, free MagicBands were discontinued for Disney World Resort guests. There’s a MagicBand, too! MagicBands are still very much around, even with the introduction of MagicMobile (which allows your phone to be your MagicBand), and Disney keeps introducing new designs! Now, one of the newest MagicBands is available at a discount for certain guests! If you’re headed to Disney World soon, and you are a resort guest or an annual passholder, then you can grab the Mickey Rainbow Love MagicBand at a discounted price! Disney just released a pride collection for the upcoming pride month, and this accessory was a part of the collection. Special thanks to @joeschreiber for the information on this new deal! ©Disney One side of the MagicBand has the entire rainbow, while the other spells out “love” with Mickey’s head as the “O”! It’s a rainbow! Instead of the regular $24.99, you’ll only pay $10 when you pre-order the MagicBand. We’ve seen lots of other new MagicBands with the same discount, so be sure to check those out on the MyDisneyExperience app before your next trip! We’ll continue to keep you updated on the latest Disney deals. Check out other MagicBands you can get discounted! 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 MagicBand you own? Let us know in the comments! The post Are You Eligible to Get One of Disney World's Newest MagicBands Discounted? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Shanghai Disney Resort opened in June of 2016! ©Disney Now, Disney Ambassadors are celebrating the park’s 5th birthday with a magical surprise! “Magical Surprise” is the name of Shanghai Disney Resort’s 5th Birthday theme song. There’s even an accompanying dance routine! You can also learn the dance routine from Chinese pop singer Liu Yuning, who is the vocal artist of “Magical Surprise.” According to Disney, the new song was specially created for the resort’s milestone birthday by the collaborative effort of Yaron Spiwak, Senior Music Producer & Creative Director at Walt Disney Imagineering; Grammy-nominated producer Chris Sernel; songwriter and “The Voice” contestant Jeff Lewis; and pop singer Liu Yuning. ©Disney Guests should hear the new tune during Shanghai Disney’s birthday festivities, which have only just begun! We can’t wait to see what other surprises Shanghai Disney has in store! Click Here To Read More About Shanghai Disney Resort’s Birthday Celebrations! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What do you think of Shanghai’s new birthday song? Let us know in the comments! The post Shanghai Disney Resort is Celebrating BIG For Its 5th Birthday! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’re at Disney Springs today for an extra-festive event! Disney Springs World Whiskey Day is May 15th, and of course, Raglan Road is celebrating! We’ve seen this Irish pub host other events — like a St. Patrick’s Day festival — so we’re not surprised to see them ringing in this unique holiday. And of course, we had to go check out all the fun for ourselves! Raglan Road’s Whiskey Day celebrations are taking place from May 12th through 15th. As part of the event, you can try a flight of four different limited-release whiskeys from around the world for $25! And while you’re there, you can enjoy Irish food, specialty beers, and live entertainment. Sounds like a party, right?! Menu! We started out with one of the specialty libations called the Rosemary Maple Whiskey Sour. This drink is made from Dickel 12 Tennessee Whiskey, crushed rosemary, dark maple syrup, egg white, and lemon sour. Overall, this is a HUGE hit for whiskey fans! Each dish incorporates whiskey in some way, and this limited menu is pretty unique! Again, it you’re itching to take part in this celebration, it’s going on from May 12th through the 15th. Happy World Whiskey Day! We’ll keep ya posted with plenty more Disney news, so stay tuned to DFB. Check Out Our Latest Review of Raglan Road! 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 on celebrating World Whiskey Day here? Let us know in the comments! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Ragland Road to attend their media event for World Whiskey Day. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ The post REVIEW: Disney World's Raglan Road Knows How to Celebrate World Whiskey Day! 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. We all deserve to feel fancy sometimes, whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or staying in to watch a movie marathon on Disney+. And who is fancier than the Disney Princesses?! Princesses in Disney World Now you can feel like royalty wherever you are with a new tumbler set from BoxLunch featuring some of our favorite Disney Princesses! The set comes with four glass tumblers, each with a different princess, including Snow White, Cinderella, Belle, and Ariel. ©BoxLunch The back of each glass also has an inspirational phrase to go along with each princess! ©BoxLunch You can “Dare to dream” with Snow White’s glass while you wait for your prince or “Live in the moment” with Cinderella before you have to make your midnight curfew! Belle reminds you to “Never judge a book by its cover” and Ariel’s glass references her iconic song about thingamabobs by calling her “The girl that has everything.” ©BoxLunch The floral themes on the glasses are so fun for spring! Don’t ya think?! ©BoxLunch Right now the tumbler set is on sale for $27.92 (normally $34.90) at BoxLunch. So hurry and snag it! Click here to buy the Disney Princess Floral Glass Tumbler Set! Whether you’re sipping on a Disney-inspired cocktail, or hydrating with water before a big Disney trip, make sure to do it in style like a princess! Get the Disney Princess Floral Glass Tumbler Set today on BoxLunch! Click Here to See Disneyland’s Newest Princess Popcorn Bucket! 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 drink would you use these pretty glass tumblers for? Let us know in the comments! The post Sip Like Royalty With A Disney Princess Tumbler Set! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Know Before You Go Tips For Visiting Disneyland Resort | planDisney View the full article

Disney World is known for having some crazy weather! Rainy Day in Hollywood Studios We’ve had our fair share of rainy days in the parks, so we know how this kind of weather can impact your park day. And as we saw today, sometimes these situations mean you’ll have to make some changes to your plans! We were hangin’ out at Disney’s Pop Century Resort today when some SERIOUS rain hit the area. And as a result, the Skyliner closed! But as it turns out, we’d been planning on taking the Skyliner over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios…so what were we supposed to do?! Well, a handy dandy little sign directed us to use bus transportation to get to Hollywood Studios instead! The Skyliner is closed! A similar sign informed us that the case was the same for those traveling to EPCOT. After all, the weather affected all of the Skyliner’s individual lines! Time to hop on a bus instead! So we headed over to the bus stop… We’ve arrived at the bus stop! …and were onboard in no time at all! All this to say, if you’ve got a little hiccup in your day that’s totally out of your control, don’t fret. Disney World’s got an alternative option for ya! They’re NOT going to leave you stranded. We’re on our way! So take notes, friends. If any type of Disney transportation is shut down at any given time, Disney will provide another means of travel for you. And then you’ll be all good to go! Stay dry in all that rain, and stay tuned to DFB for more Disney tips and tricks! Check Out More Tips for Handling Storms in Disney World! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Do you like taking the Skyliner? Let us know in the comments! The post What to Do if the Skyliner Is CLOSED in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Join planDisney panelist, Tiffanie S. as she reminds guests what they need to know before they visit Disneyland park and Disney California Adventure park.http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DisneyParks/~4/h1yWlJGbx4Q View the full article

We’re getting excited for the opening of Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure! Avengers Campus ©Disney We’ve already taken a peek inside the land, looked at the awesome Cast Member costumes, and even checked out some of the new rides! But here at DFB, we’re ALL about the food. And today, we’ve got an update on one of the dining spots that will be opening soon! The Shawarma Palace food cart will be a nod a fan-favorite Avengers post-credits scene — and it’ll serve up warm chicken wraps, Impossible Victory Falafel, and more! Yup, we’re pretty excited. We already got a peek at this cart… Foot cart Cast Member costumes, including Terran Treats and Shawarma Palace © Disney …but thanks to Disneyland President Ken Potrock, we now have an even BETTER look! Potrock shared a glimpse of Shawarma Palace on his Instagram, and we’ve just gotta say, we cannot WAIT to try these eats. ©Disney We’re counting down the days until Avengers Campus opens, friends! Stay tuned to DFB for plenty of Disney news in the meantime. Here’s Everything We Know About Avengers Campus So Far! 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 to eat at Shawarma Palace? Let us know in the comments! The post Get Another Look at Shawarma Palace Coming to Disney's Avengers Campus! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Since the parks reopened last year, there have been quite a few changes. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway To name just a few, Annual Pass sales have been suspended and many locations around property remain closed (although several are reopening!). And of course, FastPass+ is still temporarily unavailable. FastPass+ was suspended with the parks’ reopening to utilize “additional queue space to manage capacity and maintain physical distancing.” Since then, we haven’t heard word on when it could return! However, Disney has removed the feature from the My Disney Experience app altogether and removed FastPass+ signs from various rides. FastPass signs have actually been removed from some rides! So…will FastPass+ return sometime in 2021? Well, there’s no way to know for SURE until Disney makes some kind of announcement themselves. But we were curious what you, our DFB readers, were thinking…so we asked you on our Instagram! And here’s what YOU said when asked if FastPass+ would return in 2021. Here’s what YOU think! The results are split prettyyy evenly, but a small majority of you think that no, FastPass+ will NOT be back in 2021. After all, we’ll have to see quite a few changes to the parks (like shifts in social distancing guidelines — which Disney just announced are starting in select locations — and maybe even increased capacity) before it could return. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad FastPass+ Entrance There’s also the question of if FastPass+ will return at all. With the use of the virtual queue system and the new Disney Genie planning app on the horizon, some of our readers thought that FastPass+ could be eliminated altogether. Of course, Disney hasn’t provided enough information to make an for us to comment on whether or not this will be the case. FastPass Kiosks Closed in Magic Kingdom In defense of FastPass+ returning sometime this year, we HAVE seen a slow shift back to normal in the parks. This includes reopenings, the elimination of temperature checks, social distancing changes, and changes to the mask policy. Maybe this is a sign that FastPass+ could be back sooner rather than later, too. Haunted Mansion FastPass Entrance While we can’t know for certain what’s goin’ on with FastPass+, you can bet we’ll keep ya posted every step of the way. Stay tuned to DFB (and keep an eye on our Instagram for more fun polls!). Here’s What We Know About FastPass+ Returning! 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 think FastPass+ will return in 2021? Let us know in the comments! The post Will FastPass+ Return to Disney World in 2021? Here’s What YOU Think! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Hiya, folks! If you’ve ever been on a Disney cruise, you know that you can’t miss Mickey Mouse and his pals aboard our ships, just like in our parks. There are plenty of opportunities for memorable moments throughout your voyage, whether you receive a friendly wave from Captain Minnie as you board the ship, have a silly interaction with Goofy out on deck or watch Mickey up on stage in the Walt Disney Theatre.http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DisneyParks/~4/7N42AXYr3qU View the full article

There are LOTS of restaurants to eat at in Disney World and a whole bunch of different food to try. Time to Eat! While you can opt for the classic corn dog nuggets and chicken nuggets with fries, sometimes you might be in the mood for something more unique and Disney’s got plenty of that too. Anyone up for a BEEF FAT CANDLE?! Yes, you read that right — a fully edible CANDLE made of BEEF FAT! Well, if you’re looking to grab one of these in the parks, you’ll want to head over to EPCOT. Specifically, you’ll want to hop on over to EPCOT’s Canada pavilion and grab a seat at Le Cellier Steakhouse. Le Cellier is known for many things including their Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup and pretzel bread. But today we went for something different — the Artisan Cheese and Charcuterie Plate. The Charcuterie Plate! This charcuterie plate is made with a Selection of House-made Charcuterie paired with Artisanal Canadian and French Cheeses with Seasonal Accompaniments and is priced at $21. You can get a peek at the items that were included in our charcuterie board today. And yes, the last item on there is a BEEF FAT CANDLE. A Peek at What’s Included That’s right folks, the charcuterie board at Le Cellier is currently served with a 100% edible beef fat candle that is made in the Le Cellier kitchen out of “slow rendered Beef Fat that is flavored with garlic and rosemary.” BEEF FAT CANDLE As the candle melts, you can spread that beef fat all over your breads or even meats as you so choose! And let us tell you, this thing is GOOD. When we added the beef fat to the meats and cheeses, and created our special little bites, it added a FABULOUS depth of flavor and just felt luxurious! Time for a Bite It’s very creamy, slightly waxy, and easily spreadable. YUM When we visited Le Cellier back in 2019, the charcuterie offering was served with whipped pork fat butter, more like a cousin to our beef fat butter candle friend. Whipped Pork Fat Butter Now, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen a beef fat candle in Disney World. Over at Bull and Bear at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando we did find a Tomahawk Candle that is made entirely out of beef fat back in 2011. At the time, it only accompanied the Tomahawk steak. Drizzling melted beef fat on Tomahawk Steak If you want to try the beef fat candle at Le Cellier for yourself, you can head over to the Canada pavilion and order the charcuterie to taste it. If you need us, we’ll just be over here spreading our beef fat candle on all of our meats and cheeses for a while! A Yummy Bite! We’ll keep an eye out for more updates and cool things all around Disney World and let you know what we see! Click here to see 3 restaurants in Disney World with NEW menus! 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 tried the beef fat candle at Le Cellier? Tell us in the comments! The post Sound the ALARMS! There's a New BEEF FAT CANDLE in Disney World (Yes, Really)! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World is slowly returning to pre-COVID operations. Cinderella Castle We’re seeing restaurants and hotels reopening, health and safety measures shifting, and suspended events returning. But not everything is as it was before just yet! There are still quite a few things that haven’t returned to Disney World since the extended closure last year. 1. FastPass+ FastPass+ previously gave guests the opportunity to skip long lines for popular attractions throughout the parks. But when Disney World reopened last summer, the feature was temporarily suspended to allow for “additional queue space to manage capacity at and maintain physical distancing.” There has been no word on when we’ll see it return. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad FastPass+ Entrance The FastPass+ queue space isn’t being largely used right now — it seems to be reserved for Disability Access Service, Club 33 members, and other special cases. But before FastPass+ is opened back up to the general public, we may need to see big changes to Disney’s current capacity restrictions. FastPass+ Kiosks Closed in Magic Kingdom Currently, Disney has removed the FastPass+ feature from the My Disney Experience app, and has taken down some FastPass+ signs from rides. There’s no word yet on what that means for its return. We’ll keep you posted as we learn more! Learn More About What’s Going on with FastPass+! 2. Fireworks When the parks first reopened, many activities were temporarily suspended to discourage crowding. Firework shows were one of those things. While they briefly returned in a VERY modified format for the holiday season, big shows like Happily Ever After remain unavailable. Holiday Projections (and brief surprise fireworks!) at Cinderella Castle Although Disney does have a brand-new fireworks show in the works (Harmonious in EPCOT), there has been no announcement on when it will debut. In fact, Disney’s been pretty tight-lipped as construction has made MAJOR progress! Happily Ever After Again, we’ll likely have to see social distancing measures lessen (which Disney Word is working towards) before fireworks can return. Disney would really have to come up with a way to avoid crowding. And bringing them back could also open a pretty big can of worms for the rest of Disney entertainment, much of which is also temporarily suspended. Here’s What We Know About EPCOT’s New Fireworks Show! 3. Live Entertainment Like we mentioned, a lot of Disney’s other entertainment is also temporarily suspended! That includes live shows like Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Finding Nemo: The Musical in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and more. Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular Relaxation Station We have seen some entertainment return in a modified form, like the Jammitors, Mariachi Cobre, and Voices of Liberty in EPCOT, and the Festival of the Lion King show in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. But the large majority is still unavailable. Festival of the Lion King Performer layoffs for groups like the Grand Floridian Orchestra, Ye-Haa Bob, the Citizens of Main Street, and the Citizens of Hollywood may also affect select live entertainment’s return. We’ll keep a close eye on the situation and be sure to keep you posted! Here’s What’s Going on with Entertainment in Disney World! 4. Parades Disney’s parades, like the iconic Festival of Fantasy, were also suspended with the parks’ reopening. Again, this has a lot to do with discouraging crowds in certain pockets of the park. Festival of Fantasy Parade Currently, character cavalcades take the parades’ place. These “mini-parades” involve a few characters, some performers, and music. They pop up spontaneously throughout the parks, so guests don’t line up in crowds to watch them. Mickey and Friends Cavalcade There’s been no word on when parades may take the character cavalcades’ place again. Disney has already announced that their Boo Bash Halloween After Hours event will feature cavalcades instead of parades, so we’re guessing it could be a while! Check Out What Cavalcades You Can See in Disney World! 5. Pre-Shows A lot of Disney rides feature a pre-show: many of us are familiar with the spiels before Soarin’, Dinosaur, Flight of Passage, and more. Flight of Passage Pre-Show A lot of these pre-shows are situated in a closed-off room and are no longer feasible due to social distancing and holding large groups of people in a small space. Disney’s tackled this issue in a couple of different ways. Some pre-shows, such as Soarin’, Rise of the Resistance, and Flight of Passage, take place socially distanced, with fewer guests in the room at any given time. Flight of Passage Pre-Show with Markers For other pre-shows, like Dinosaur, guests will walk straight through the room while the pre-show is playing. This will let you catch a little snippet of the backstory without standing in place for too long. Dinosaur Lastly, in some cases, pre-shows have been eliminated altogether. This is the case at the Haunted Mansion, where guests will walk right through the Stretching Room without the pre-show playing in the background. Walking through The Stretching Room Again, Disney hasn’t indicated when “normal” pre-shows could return. Here’s What Pre-Shows Look Like in Disney World Now! 6. Disney Dining Plan Like with many other offerings, Disney temporarily suspended its Dining Plan when the parks reopened last summer. The feature previously allowed guests to pre-pay for a designated number of meals and snacks for their trip. Each person in your travel party would get a specified number of snack credits and fast food and/or sit down meal credits per day, along with a refillable mug. Greek Salad with Chicken Strips As you can imagine, this really helped people out when budgeting for their vacations! But, largely due to limited capacity and restaurant closures upon reopening, the Disney Dining Plan has remained unavailable. Currently, you’re unable to purchase a Dining Plan for both 2021 and 2022 bookings. Now, this doesn’t mean the Dining Plan won’t be an option in 2022 — guests may be able to modify their packages at a later date. But right now, that’s all an unknown. The Crystal Palace For the Dining Plan to return, we’ll need to see enough restaurants reopen and capacity increase so that the plan is worthwhile for guests. After all, that value has to be worth the cost! But while the feature remains suspended, we’ve got plenty of tips to help you save on your meals — for both Quick Service and Table Service eats. Read More About When the Dining Plan Could Return! 7. Buffets As you can imagine, buffets are currently unavailable at Disney World restaurants due to safety precautions. Meals such as The Crystal Palace, Chef Mickey’s, and Hollywood and Vine, which were buffets pre-closure, are currently served family-style. Chef Mickey’s What does that look like? Well, you’ll still have plenty of options for what you want to chow down on! Your server will just bring a “mini-buffet” to your table. The all-you-care-to-enjoy meal will feature a wide variety of selections to meet everyone’s tastes. Breakfast at Chef Mickey’s Again, no word on exactly when buffets could return. But in order for them to resume, we’ll need more than relaxed social distancing guidelines or a capacity increase. We’ll have to see a MAJOR return to normal instead. Here’s What a Family-Style Meal Looks Like at Disney World Right Now! Many of these “extras” may return to Disney World with further elimination of health and safety procedures. We are seeing progress back to “normal,” so there is a chance we could see many of these things back sooner rather than later. We’ll keep an eye out for any updates and keep ya posted, so stay tuned to DFB! Check Out What IS Back to Normal in Disney World! NOTE: Disney World has JUST announced a change in social distancing measures in select locations across property. We will continue to update you on what this means for the experiences listed above and more. Be on the lookout for more details in the coming days. Read about the new Social Distancing policy change 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 visiting Disney World soon? Let us know in the comments! The post 7 BIG Things That Still Haven’t Returned to Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney, Universal and SeaWorld are changing their pandemic safety rules. Here's what a medical doctor had to say. View the full article The tourists from Wisconsin at the Magic Kingdom would be cheaters if the social distance marker was a start line for a race. The family of seven didn’t wait their turn, constantly shuffling ahead where a stranger was already standing in the Haunted Mansion queue. They paid more attention to the real-life crow perched out front and the cheeky gravestones. ADVERTISING Soon, that family and other theme park visitors might find it a little easier to navigate COVID-19 rules. Restrictions designed to fight spread of the pandemic are loosening up at Orlando’s attractions as more Americans get vaccinated and coronavirus cases fall. The latest update came Wednesday from Disney on physical distancing. Disney disclosed in a message on its app that it plans to start limiting physical distancing to three feet in some areas of the parks, although six feet of space would still be maintained in restaurants and shops. The message, which said the changes were “gradual,” did not mention ride lines. Disney’s move comes after both Universal and SeaWorld have already cut physical distancing from six to three feet in some areas. When it comes to temperature checks to allow visitors to enter, all three major parks, Disney, Universal and SeaWorld, either have already eliminated them or are planning to do so soon. Getting rid of temperature checks makes sense because, in reality, it’s more like COVID-19 theater — more fanfare than actually stopping the virus, said Dr. Michael Teng of USF Health. “It’s not a great public health measure to see whether or not somebody has COVID,” said Teng, who has studied respiratory viruses for 25 years and is an associate dean at the College of Medicine. “I agree with getting rid of the temperature checks. It’s just makes another bottleneck where we’re going to have lots of people grouped together, which is worse.” The reason why temperature checks are ineffective is people could walk up with a fever from a common cold or elevated body heat from a humid Florida day while those who really do have the COVID-19 virus might not show any symptoms, he said. When it comes to physical distancing, several parkgoers told the Sentinel plenty of Universal and Disney visitors already have ignored the six-feet markers in ride lines, which sometimes created tense moments with grumblings and dirty looks. Teng stressed people in outdoor spaces at theme parks are at low risk for contracting COVID. “If you’re outside walking around, even if it’s a little crowded, the actual relative risk is pretty low because you’re walking around and there’s wind blowing,” Teng said. The theme parks, all built with indoor rides, shops and restaurants, aren’t strictly outdoors, so it’s still important to wear a mask, Teng said. If an indoor space is well-ventilated, that makes a difference, too. “It’s really about time and space, so how much time are you spending in close proximity to others?” Teng said. “I think the real problem comes is when you’re in a theater... because you’re sitting there for 20 or 30 minutes next to a lot of people. That’s when you might be a little bit more careful. That’s a higher risk.” Live indoor entertainment is still limited at the theme parks but the Animal Kingdom’s Lion King-inspired show returned for the first this month since the pandemic. Disney has limited attendance to the 30-minute show, according to the company’s website. Masks next to go? One big question lingers: What about masks? Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased some of the recommendations on mask-wearing for fully vaccinated Americans. People who are fully vaccinated and are outdoors alone or in small groups no longer need to cover up although masks are still recommended in crowded venues. The CDC didn’t respond to a Sentinel request Wednesday if theme parks, which are currently operating at limited capacity, should be considered a crowded venue. Across Central Florida, there are signs the mask rules are starting to go. The University of Central Florida said Tuesday students are no longer required to wear masks, effective immediately, calling them optional. With nearly 50% of eligible Orange County residents vaccinated with at least one dose of the vaccines, health officials are also getting closer to loosening up county rules so people can go outside without facial coverings, Mayor Jerry Demings said Monday. Taking off his mask at the parks can’t come soon enough for Kolby Urban, an annual passholder at Disney, Universal, and SeaWorld. The iconic Mickey Mouse balloons on sale at the Magic Kingdom in February. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) “When you go to a place that you know there are going to be crowds like a theme park, you’re assuming a risk anyways,” said Urban, a St. Cloud resident who works in construction and is fully vaccinated. “I think that our risk tolerance should be higher and higher as more people get vaccinated.” Especially since by now, the vaccine is widely available, so those who wanted to get their shots have already gotten them, he said. Urban said he wishes the parks would loosen their strict mask enforcement at least in the outdoor areas. Already in May, temperatures are hitting the 90s in Orlando. Covering your face is uncomfortable in that kind of heat, he said. The Sentinel has previously reported about tourists’ angry reactions to theme park staff enforcing the COVID-19 rules, which in a handful of cases has led to arrests. “I know they’re just enforcing the rules and doing their job, but I have seen other guests treat employees badly,” Urban said. “Relaxing the rules would make it easier on employees as well.” The great social experiment Disney World is supposed to be the ultimate fantasy, a place to escape reality. But on his recent trip last month, Sean Nyberg noticed the parks illuminated the real world in pandemic times. “So many different people come to the parks. You get people who don’t believe in it, you get people who are strict rule followers, and everyone in between. It’s interesting to see how people interact,” said Nyberg, a retired attorney from California who is now a parks reporter for The DisInsider website. “It’s like a microcosm of the whole country.” A few tugged on their masks, their nostrils constantly exposed. You could hear them complain to their family when an employee reminded them to cover up their noses, he said. Others stood perfectly placed on the social distance marker in the ride line, waiting for the person ahead to move. Some, perhaps overcome by the humidity and a sugar overload, didn’t always pay attention to where they were standing, although it didn’t seem intentional. Nyberg says he believes Disney and Universal have handled the pandemic the best they can. Going from a months-long shutdown, the first one in the parks’ history, to reopening again, “There’s no script for this. It’s going to be clunky,” Nyberg said. " I think they’ve done a great job ... sort of having to create rules as they go along.” grusson@orlandosentinel.com

Hello, everyone! We’re back at Animal Kingdom! We’ve been visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom to see what’s been going on lately, at least since we were last there. And we’ve got a few updates for you. So here’s what’s new at Animal Kingdom! Animal Kingdom Food Updates Creature Comforts Creature Comforts has added a few new drinks! And yes, we totally tried that new Strawberry Funnel Cake Frappuccino!. Drinks! Um…all of these sound really good! Read Our Review of the Strawberry Funnel Cake Frappuccino Animal Kingdom Merchandise Updates Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures We found the cutest Loungefly “it’s a small world” Cardholder! it’s a small world after all… You can grab it now for $20. Check Out The Latest Disney Cheese-Obsessed Loungefly Collection! Windtraders Select kids’ t-shirts are on sale now for $9.99! Pandora Tee These shirts were previously $19.99. That’s like half off! Check Out The Disney Shirts That Made Us LOL Riverside Depot We found two new pins, including one for teachers and one for graduates! Both would make a great gift, don’t you think? New pins! We also spotted a Mickey Cookie Jar for $34.99. Let’s fill this with cookies! And we found the Cream and Sugar Set we’ve seen at Disneyland, too! SO cute! This set is $29.99. Here Are 6 Disney Items Under $20 That You’ll Want to Bring Home ASAP! Yak & Yeti Market We found the kids’ t-shirt sale here, too! Pandas! Grab them now while they’re $9.99 each! Here are MORE Discounted Disney Tees! Serka Zong Bazaar This lovely Meditation Bowl could be just what you need to take the stress out of your day. Meditation Bowl It’s available for $29.95. Check Out The Yeti That Actually Works in Animal Kingdom Animal Kingdom Other Updates The Moana Sand Sculpture on the Discovery Island Stage is finished! It’s done! We’ve really loved watching these sand sculptures come to life! Click Here To Find Out About The PRIVATE Photo Sessions Now Being Offered at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! That’s it for our time here at Animal Kingdom, but we’ll be back soon with even more updates! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Have you been to Animal Kingdom recently? Let us know in the comments! The post What's New in Disney's Animal Kingdom: A T-Shirt Sale and a Moana Sand Sculpture! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Caught between a state ban on vaccine requirements and CDC reopening guidelines, Florida's cruise industry is in a Catch-22 that can be solved with just a little humility and common sense from state leaders. View the full article

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, it’s a pretty good time to be a Star Wars fan! Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge We recently celebrated May the 4th with all kinds of cool items, tons of new Star Wars series are coming to Disney+ in the future, Rey’s lightsaber hilt is now available in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, AND the Star Wars Hotel is set to open next year! If you’re planning to fill 2022 with all kinds of Star Wars fun, including a trip to Star Wars Celebration Anaheim, then there’s a big update you need to know about! Star Wars Celebration Anaheim, which is Lucasfilm Ltd.’s official Star Wars fan event, will actually be taking place in 2022 earlier than originally planned! Star Wars Celebration was set to take place on August 18th through the 21st, 2022. But now it will be held in Anaheim May 26th through May 29th, 2022. Time to Get Planning! ©Disney If you already have tickets and you want to keep them, your order will automatically be transferred to the new dates and you’ll receive a confirmation email in the coming months about it. You won’t need to take any action for your tickets to be transferred to the new dates if you want to keep them. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance If you want to get a refund for your 2022 ticket order, you can visit the Star Wars Celebration website. All ticket refund requests have to be made before June 11th, 2021, so just be sure to mark that down in your calendars! All ticket holders are also set to receive an email with detailed instructions about how to submit a refund request, so you’ll want to be on the lookout for that. Hey, Rey, Hey! Keep in mind that D23 Expo has been delayed and will also be taking place in Anaheim 2022 in September. We’ll keep an eye out for more details about both of these events. Stay tuned for more updates! Click here to find out how to win $560(!!) of Star Wars merchandise! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Will you be attending Star Wars Celebration in 2022? Tell us in the comments! The post Star Wars Celebration Anaheim 2022 Dates Changed! 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. Do you consider yourself a Disney key collector? Collectible Key If so, it seems like Disney’s always rollin’ out new options for ya! We’ve recently seen Star Wars, rainbow, and eco-friendly designs. But if you just can’t decide which one you wanna grab — or maybe you just want a little mystery! — then we’ve got just the thing for you. We’ve seen mystery sets of collectible keys before, and now we’ve got a spin on ’em! When you snag this particular mystery box, you’ll score one of 6 collectible key pins. The designs are inspired by Aladdin, Mickey Mouse, Star Wars, Forky, Stitch, and Up. ©Disney Remember, you won’t know which of these key pins you got until you open the box. So you’ll wanna be ok with getting any of these options when you order! Quantity is limited to 12 per guest, and the box will cost you $12.99. Click Here to Buy the Collectible Key Pin Mystery Box! Best of luck collecting ’em all! And stay tuned to DFB for more Disney news. Check Out MORE New Collectible Keys! 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 order this mystery box? Let us know in the comments! The post Can You Collect ALL the Key Pins in Disney’s Mystery Set?! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There are plenty of foodie events looking to fuel Central Floridians this week and weekend. View the full article