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We know you’re probably already planning your Disney trip this summer now that the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival dates have dropped (along with the returning Cheese Crawl and food booths). BUT, the Flower and Garden Festival is still going strong in the parks right now! Fantasia Topiaries at EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival While it’s safe to say we whole-heartedly enjoy the entertainment, snacks, and merchandise, it still takes some work to keep the Flower and Garden Festival in tip-top shape for visitors! Today, the Cast Members were working hard to maintain the topiaries around the Flower and Garden Festival. But, it wasn’t just trimming and clipping, like you’d think! We noticed that a Cast Member was using inserting metal pipes (???) into the display near the entrance of Future World. Obviously, we were pretty intrigued since pipes and flowers don’t seem like your typical gardening combination. Topiary Maintenance When we asked what the pipe was used for, the Cast Member was happy to explain that the cone-shaped metal was placed into spots where the topiary was thinning out. Metal Pipes Being Inserted into the Topiaries Then, she added the small plant pieces called “plugs” to the holes she made in order to give the finished product a fuller appearance. If you’ve ever wondered how the Flower and Garden topiaries remained so vibrant, you can thank those plant plugs for adding just a bit of extra magic to the displays! We knew Disney was meticulous about keeping its plants in tip-top shae around the parks, but we’re VERY impressed with their creativity in mending the topiaries too! Plant “Plugs” That wasn’t the only spot getting some well-needed TLC in EPCOT, though! The Figment Topiary near Journey into Imagination made a new friend as a Cast Member cleaned up the edges. Figment Topiary Figment looked pretty happy to be getting a mini manicure… We Think He Could Use Some Painted Nails …and a “hair cut” so he could look his best while welcoming everyone to the Imagination Institute. He cleans up nice, don’t you think? Just a Trim! As we continue to hop around the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival, as well as the rest of the parks, we’ll be sure to give you a sneak peek at everything new we find soon. Stay tuned with DFB for the latest Disney news you need to know! This Flower and Garden Scavenger Hunt has a new prize! Click HERE To See All The Updated Details For Epcot's 2021 Flower and Garden Festival! Ready to Plan for Your 2021 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Trip? Order the DFB Guide to the 2021 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival e-Book today! This 200+-page guide to the Festival offers insider tips and advice as well as all of the details you need to know to plan your best Festival visit ever. Your purchase includes several bonus items as well -- including a full daily schedule of events at the Festival and a printable Outdoor Kitchens Booth Menu Checklist to carry with you as you Eat around the World! Order your 2021 edition today! Don't miss a moment of the fun! Use code SPRING at check-out for a $2 off the cover price! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Have you been to the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival this year? Let us know in the comments below! The post PHOTOS: We Learned a New Disney World Secret Today first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: Looks Like EPCOT is Ready to Move On To Its Next Festival! Do You Agree With the Round 2 WINNERS of the BEST Snacks from EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival? What’s New at EPCOT! A Secret Wall Crawl, an EPCOT Transformation Update, and a NEW Food and Wine Festival Booth! View the full article

We’ve been keeping our eye on lots of Marvel projects recently from the Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Coaster in Disney World and Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure. And, our hype is DEFINITELY real for them to arrive in the parks! Interactive Groot As we keep patiently waiting for their debuts, we can at least hang out with the Guardians of the Galaxy a bit early. Well, kind of. We spotted the new Guardians of the Galaxy Wishables already on shopDisney, but they’ve taken a trip on their Benatar all the way over to Disney World now too! When we were over at Donald’s Double Feature at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort, we spotted the latest Marvel Wishables hanging on the shelves. The whole gang is here! The mystery pack comes with a surprise choice of Gamora, Star-Lord, Drax, and Groot inspired by Disney California Adventure’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout ride. But you can also get a Rocket Raccoon Wishable separately if you don’t want to play “guess which plush” with the mystery packs! ©Disney You can collect the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy Wishables at All-Star Movies for $9.99 before they pop into the rest of the stores in the parks soon! And, you can stay tuned with DFB for the latest merchandise we spot in Disney World! Watch Video of A Classic Disneyland Ride That is Running Again 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 Wishables have you collected so far? Let us know in the comments below! The post Your Favorite Galaxy Outcasts Are Now Wishables in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: PHOTOS and VIDEO: The Color-Changing Ahsoka Tano Lightsaber Has Arrived in Disney World! What’s New at Magic Kingdom: A Sneak Peek at New Dooneys, Microphones at Dining Locations, and Missing Mailboxes! What’s New at EPCOT: A Limited Time Pop-Up Bar and a Restaurant Re-opening! View the full article

There’s a LOT going on in Disney World! Don’t let them know you’re with the Resistance! We love exploring the Most Magical Place on Earth to bring you all the updates! We’ve spent a few days in Disney’s Hollywood Studios and now we’re bringing you everything new in construction and merchandise! Hollywood Studios Construction Updates Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge We spotted Rey and Chewbacca in an unusual spot on one of our recent visits! Typically they greet guests from up on the scaffolding in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Recently though, they were on the ground level near the space vehicles! Hey Rey! Hollywood Studios Merchandise Updates Once Upon a Time Once Upon a Time has a new Inside Out Loungefly Backpack for $75. Fans of the emotional Pixar film, get PUMPED. Inside Out Loungefly The Darkroom Over in The Darkroom, we spotted the Raya and the Last Dragon Phone Case that we’ve seen in some other spots around the World. Raya and the Last Dragon Phone Case Celebrity 5 & 10 Looking for a new way to stay hydrated? Look no further than the new Drink and Play Tumblers we spotted in Celebrity 5 & 10. We’ve seen these elsewhere in Disney World too. Drink and Play Tumbler Sunset Couture The VERY hard-to-find Annual Passholder Minnie Ears had been restocked at Sunset Couture. But there were only four pairs left when we were there! Passholder Ears And that’s all we have from Hollywood Studios today! We’ll check in again soon with mooooooore updates! Click here for more of the latest news from Disney’s Hollywood Studios! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Headed to Hollywood Studios soon? Tell us in the comments! The post What's New in Disney's Hollywood Studios: NEW Inside Out Loungefly and Character Sightings! first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: What’s New at Hollywood Studios: A Comfy Mickey Blanket, Long Lines, and a Few SALES! Our Day at Hollywood Studios: Your Favorite Star Wars Characters…in Egg Form? What’s New in Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Returned Character Dining, a Vintage Dress, and MORE! View the full article

We’re still on the hunt for the BEST spot in Walt Disney World! Cinderella Castle But we’re not lookin’ for just any old spots. We’re looking for YOUR favorites! Last week, we asked our DFB readers to tell us their favorite places in the parks. Every single option in this bracket has a special meaning for you guys! Then, we pitted 32 popular picks against each other on our Instagram stories…and the competition has been fierce. A few days ago, we narrowed it down to the FINAL four! Ultimately, Main Street, U.S.A. crushed Pirates of the Caribbean, while Spaceship Earth knocked out the Tree of Life in a much tighter race. Which means it’s time for the final round! Who will win? The classic Main Street, U.S.A.… So majestic. So magical. …or the stunning Spaceship Earth? The mood at night is top-tier. Well, you guys have officially chosen…and it wasn’t even CLOSE! Main Street, U.S.A. showed Spaceship Earth who was the boss with a whopping 86% of the votes. We’ve gotta agree that the music, lights, and gorgeous backdrop of Cinderella Castle are all elite. Aaaand we officially have a winner! So there ya have it! Are you surprised by the winner? Would you have picked somewhere else? Let us know — and stay tuned to our Instagram for more fun brackets! Check Out All 32 Spots in the Bracket! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What’s YOUR favorite spot in Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post We Crowned the Best Spot in Disney World…According to YOU! first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: Which of YOUR 32 Favorite Disney World Spots is the BEST? Here Are the Round 1 Bracket Results! Is YOUR Favorite Spot in Disney World Moving to the Top 8? Here Are The Round 2 Bracket Results! Did YOUR Favorite Disney World Spot Make It to the FINAL Round of Our DFB Bracket? View the full article

It’s a great day to spot some characters in Magic Kingdom! Partners Statue Earlier today, we saw some RARE characters: Moana, Mulan, and all FIVE of the Hundred Acre Wood friends! Sure, we love the normal character cavalcades and random encounters around the parks, but it was pretty fun to see Disney switchin’ it up. And today, those cavalcades were looking a little different…because they had some new pals onboard! All right people, get excited, because another princess has joined the Princess Cavalcade! Can you spot her?! Princess Cavalcade That’s right, it’s Mulan! It’s Mulan! China’s savior was officially onboard, waving to her fans. She looked happy to be there! Happy to have you here, Mulan! But that’s not all. When the Magic Kingdom Cavalcade passed by, we saw ANOTHER new addition…Moana! Magic Kingdom Cavalcade She was hangin’ out on a float with Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, and more! Hi, Moana! We’re also pretty sure she was steering the float along the right path, because she was wayfinding like a pro! Teach us your ways, Moana. We loved getting to spot these rare characters out and about. We’ll let you know if they stick around! As always, stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney news. Check Out Where Else We’ve Found These Characters! 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 see these princesses in the park? Let us know in the comments! The post PHOTOS: Is YOUR Favorite Character One of the NEW Additions to Disney World’s Cavalcades? first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: OMG. Some Seriously RARE Characters Are in Magic Kingdom Today! PHOTOS: Disney World’s Princess Cavalcade Was Missing Something Today The 30 HARDEST Disney Choices We’ve Had to Make Over the Last 30(ish)Days View the full article

As the situation with COVID-19 develops, we’ve seen quite a few updates released about cruising. Will Disney Set Sail Again This Year? So far, Disney Cruise Line has canceled all U.S. departures through June 2021, and sailings on the Disney Magic in Europe have been canceled through September 18th, 2021. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also shared its next phase of requirements for cruise lines. But, there are still many questions surrounding WHEN cruises will be able to depart from the U.S. again, and recently the CDC gave an update on just that. According to a press release recently sent to us from Cruise Week, Jason McDonald, a CDC Spokesperson told Cruise Week that “the CDC hopes that U.S. cruises can resume by midsummer with restrictions.” Get Ready for Some Pool Time! McDonald told Cruise Week that the “CDC is committed to working with the cruise industry and seaport partners to resume cruising following the phased approach outlined in the conditional sailing order.” According to McDonald, “This goal aligns with the desire to resume passenger operations in the United States expressed by many major cruise ship operators and travelers, hopefully by midsummer with restricted revenue sailings.” Picture It: You on the Beach With One of These in Your Hand. Perfection. So, it seems cruising from the U.S. could potentially return by midsummer with restrictions. We’ll continue to keep an eye out for more updates on that. Again, at the moment Disney Cruise Line sailings from the U.S. have been canceled through June. Some Adventures by Disney experiences tied to those cruises have also been canceled. Stay tuned for more details and updates. Click here to see more about the CDC’s requirements for a return to sailing that have been shared so far. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Do you have a Disney Cruise Line vacation booked for later this year? Tell us in the comments. The post Cruising Could Start Again Soon According to the CDC first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: NEWS: CDC’s No-Sail Order To Expire and New Requirements Announced Read This if You Plan on Taking a Disney Cruise NEWS! Disney Suspends Cruise Sailings Through January 2021 View the full article

Disney confirmed a limited number of employees signed up for appointments and received the Pfizer vaccine starting Tuesday at its health clinic near Epcot. View the full article The most magical place on Earth now has a COVID-19 vaccination site for its workforce. Disney World confirmed Wednesday that a limited number of employees signed up for appointments and received the Pfizer vaccine this week at its health services clinic near Epcot. The clinic is not open to the general public and is for Disney employees only. Disney did not say how many cast members have been vaccinated so far but added the site is hoping to get more shipments of the vaccine. Employees, working or furloughed, were notified by email about how to make appointments on a first-come, first-serve basis. Disney said it was approached by Osceola County to help with vaccines. The theme park giant is located in Osceola and Orange counties. “Our Health Services team administers other vaccines to Cast and has the expertise and infrastructure in place to aid in this effort so we gladly agreed,” Disney said in an email. Walt Disney World Resort President Jeff Vahle posted a picture from the site Wednesday on his Instagram account. “Sending a big thanks to our amazing Walt Disney World Health Services team as they provide Cast with another option to receive a COVID-19 vaccination,” his post said. “We are so pleased to help Central Florida in its continued fight to beat the virus! #GetTheShot.” It’s intended to be another option for Disney employees to get vaccinated even as other large-scale vaccine sites at the Orange County Convention Center and Valencia College are in operation.

As we’ve previously announced, Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks plan to reopen to guests on April 30, 2021. We look forward to welcoming you back to the Disneyland Resort, including our hotel guests! Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa will reopen on April 29, 2021 with limited capacity, and you can book your room reservations starting April 15, 2021! The Disneyland Hotel and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel will reopen at a later date.http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DisneyParks/~4/SWO-Ho5oG3w View the full article

A brand-new bar has opened in Disney Springs! Splitsville Luxury Lanes The Bamboo Bar is OPEN at Splitsville Luxury Lanes, and we already stopped by to take a first look with ya! You know we’re constantly on the hunt for great eats and drinks around Disney, so we’re pretty thrilled to have another option. And of course, when we swung by, we just had to try a drink. It’s worth noting that there’s nothing specific to the new bar on the menu — just some good ol’ Splitsville sips! But when we saw a spiked Dole Whip (!!), we knew that was the choice for us. Bamboo Bar Menu The Frozen Pina Colada is a premixed drink with Dole Whip, Coco Lopez Bacardi Superior, and Rumhaven Coconut blended and topped with a splash of Plantation Double-Aged Dark Rum. It’s topped with a pineapple slice, cherry, and tropical drink stirrer! Now, “premixed” is kinda a let-down, but “Dole Whip” is a major plus. Let’s see what we think! Frozen Pina Colada This tastes just like a classic Pina Colada, but with that delicious added Dole Whip flavor. We found it to be super smooth and creamy — YUM, right?! Check out that little flamingo! And just like another Pina Colada we recently tried, this one was STRONG. No complaints here! If you’re a fan of Dole Whip (or tropical drinks in general), you’re gonna want to give this a try. It also makes a great substitute for the spiked Dole Whips over at Trader Sam’s, which is currently closed. We highly recommend! You can get a 16 oz drink for $13 or a 20 oz for $20. PLUS, you can buy a refillable squeeze bottle to get any refills at a discount! If you’re craving Dole Whip and you’re in Disney Springs…well, we might’ve just solved your problem. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney news! Check Out Our Latest Splitsville 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. Are you going to try this drink? Let us know in the comments! The post Refillable SPIKED Dole Whips in Disney World?! 😱 Yup, You Heard Us Right! first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: Disney World’s NEW Bar Is OPEN (And the Booze Is Refillable) Did You Know That REFILLABLE Booze Is a Thing in Disney Springs?! What’s New in Disney Springs! August 10, 2018 View the full article

If you’re lookin’ for somewhere new to drink in Disney Springs, you’re in luck! Splitsville Luxury Lanes You may know Splitsville Luxury Lanes for its bowling (and yup, there’s a secret menu!). But what you may not know is that it’s a great spot to grab a drink! If you’re really committed, you can even buy refillable booze. And Splitsville just upped their game even MORE with a brand-new bar! Of course, we had to go check it out for ya. You’ll find the Bamboo Bar tucked on the left side of Splitsville, near Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew! Bamboo Bar You can walk up to the counter outside for a quick sip… Bar Window …and enjoy it on the outdoor patio! Bamboo Bar Outdoor Seating Or, you can head inside. You’ll find plenty of bar seating… Inside the Bamboo Bar …as well as some tables and booths. You’ll also see the retro art that decorates the rest of Splitsville! More Bamboo Bar Seating Okay, so it looks nice…but what can you DRINK here?! Well, the menu doesn’t have anything specific to the new bar, so you can enjoy all your favorite Splitsville staples. And yup, that refillable booze is STILL a thing! Bamboo Bar Menu But we couldn’t visit this new spot without grabbing a drink! We opted for the Frozen Pina Colada because guys, it comes with Dole Whip. And you know we LOVE Dole Whip! We’ll be sure to bring ya a review of that in a bit. Frozen Pina Colada Whether you want a quick pit stop or somewhere to enjoy an evening out, the Bamboo Bar at Splitsville may be worth a try! Let us know if you plan on popping by — and stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney news! Check Out Our Latest Review of Splitsville! 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 stop by the Bamboo Bar? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney World’s NEW Bar Is OPEN (And the Booze Is Refillable) first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: NEWS! Splitsville Luxury Lanes in Disney World Filed a Permit to Make Some BIG Changes to the Lanes! Did You Know That REFILLABLE Booze Is a Thing in Disney Springs?! NEWS: Splitsville Luxury Lanes in Disney Springs Has Announced a Reopening Date View the full article

The magic is here and we want to help you find it! Tweens who step into The Most Magical Place on Earth are in for the coolest vacation ever. Of course, there are roller coasters and thrill attractions of all kinds, and there’s much more. With so many classic and new experiences, check out these top 10 ways for families and friends to spring into summer while visiting Walt Disney World Resort:http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DisneyParks/~4/tlHRceidjuI View the full article

It’s a JOY to see our favorite Disney friends in the parks! Character Encounters Magic Kingdom is a great spot to meet characters — even with character meet and greets still unavailable. Between the Character Cavalcades and random Character Encounters, we still see our pals a lot. Today, though, we spotted some NEW friendly faces in Disney World! We’re spending our morning in Magic Kingdom today and we’ve seen SO. MANY. CHARACTERS. Right when we arrived we spotted the princesses out and about — and there was one face we haven’t seen in a while. Hey ladies! It’s MULAN! This lovely savior of China was out greeting guests with the other princesses today. We spotted her leaving the train station with the rest of the royals when we arrived this morning. Is that the savior of China?! She looks so beautiful in her outfit! The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all! We thought that was all of the character excitement today, but then we looked up to see FIVE Hundred Acre Wood Pals all together at the train station! The whole gang is here! Holy moly! As always, stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney World updates! What characters can you see in Disney World now? Click here to find out! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What do you think of these character spottings? Tell us in the comments! The post OMG. Some Seriously RARE Characters Are in Magic Kingdom Today! first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: We’ve Got VIDEOS & PHOTOS of ALL the Holiday Cavalcades in Magic Kingdom! Happy Holidays! 25 Photos and Videos From Three Parks in Disney World TODAY Review: Crystal Palace at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom View the full article

Have you heard? Today is #407 Day! Gideon’s Bakehouse Since it’s April 7th, it’s only fair that we should celebrate Orange County’s area code (407) today! It’s the perfect day to support local restaurants by ordering takeout, dining in, or even just posting about your favorites on social media. And to recognize the occasion, Gideon’s Bakehouse in Disney Springs is teaming up with a Central Florida restaurant! When you show up to Gideon’s Bakehouse, you won’t know about this special little partnership…because it’s a secret! But if you say the secret phrase, you’ll be able to buy a scoop of Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream along with your Gideon’s cookie. Gideon’s has previously worked with Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream for their Hot Cookie Hour, and boy are we happy to see this pairing back! Hot Cookie Hour (YUM) Today, you’ll be able to get a scoop of Kelly’s Orange Zest Ice Cream filled with toasted almonds and dark chocolate chunks. You can pick whatever cookie you want to pair it with…but Gideon’s is recommending their limited-edition (and extra tasty) Stuart’s Cookie! ©Gideon’s Bakehouse Now, we’re not gonna give you the secret phrase…otherwise, it wouldn’t be much of a secret! But we WILL say that you can probably find it on one of Gideon’s social media profiles. Happy digging! This special treat is available while supplies last, so hurry if you wanna give it a try. And as always, stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney news! Read Our Review of Stuart’s Cookie! 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 want to try this special treat? Let us know in the comments! The post Get a TOP-SECRET Treat in Disney World…But Not for Long! first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: Disney World’s NEW Cookie Tells a Spooky Story REVIEW: Is It Weird That We Can’t Stop Sniffing Disney World’s New Cookie? Stock Up on This Unique Cookie in Disney World Before It’s Gone View the full article

Universal CityWalk is home now to Universal Studios Store, an 8,300-square-foot upgrade View the full article

Things are constantly changing when it comes to Disney and travel in general. Especially during the current global health crisis. Currently, vaccine distribution is ramping up across the country. Cast Members dancing at Magic Kingdom We have recently shared the potential need for vaccine passports to travel, how vaccine eligibility works in Florida, as well as what incentives Disney has for getting Cast Members vaccinated faster. Now, Cast Members who want to get vaccinated have a new option that’s a little closer to home — Cast Members can now get vaccinated by Walt Disney World’s Health Services. ©Disney This is just one change we’ve seen regarding vaccines and new policies at Disney lately. We also recently saw a change in Disney’s health and safety guidelines: the mask policy has been loosened slightly to allow guests to take non-masked socially-distanced photos outdoors. Things will continue to change at Disney World in the coming months. We will continue to keep you posted. Here’s Everything We Know About Vaccine Passports So Far Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post NEWS: Disney Health Services is Now Providing Vaccines to Cast Members first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: NEWS: Disney World Offers Payment to Cast Members for Receiving COVID-19 Vaccine Three Surprising Things We Weren’t Expecting to See at the Disney Springs Preview News: Disney Confirms Guests With COVID-19 Vaccine Must Continue to Wear Masks View the full article

We’ve been following Cinderella Castle’s iconic transformation closely here at DFB! Cinderella Castle Concept Art ©Disney In case ya haven’t heard, Cinderella Castle is getting a glow-up for Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary! We’re talkin’ new paint, draperies, and MORE. We’ve already gotten a sneak peek at the inspiration behind the new design — and we’ve watched as phase one of the transformation was completed! And now, we’ve got another update for you. Recently, Disney finished adding all of the draperies around the castle, marking a BIG milestone in the progress. And they look pretty nifty, right?! But look a little closer, because there are more new additions! Those draperies are lookin’ fancy! We’ll zoom in for ya. Golden ribbons have been added to some of the turrets! SO gorgeous! Disney Imagineer Zach Riddley confirmed that the ribbons were the next step in the transformation, so we’re excited to see progress as planned. Lookin’ good! And if you just can’t get enough gold, Fantasyland is getting a makeover for the occasion, too! We’ll keep an eye on all the updates as these projects wrap up. Stay tuned to DFB for the final product — and for more Disney news! Click for More Updates on the Cinderella Castle Transformation! 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 see the end result? Let us know in the comments! The post PHOTOS: Cinderella Castle Gets a NEW Addition to Its ✨ Golden ✨ Glow-Up first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: 15 Need-to-Know Disney World Updates! VIDEO: Sneak Peek at the 50th Anniversary Cinderella Castle Makeover NEW Concept Art Reveals the Inspiration Behind Cinderella Castle’s 50th Anniversary Transformation View the full article

Upcoming and ongoing events in Central Florida offer a wide variety of entertaining opportunities. View the full article

Welcome to April, Disney fans! It’s going to be a great month! We’re a third of the way into 2021 and so far, things have been going great for Disney World. We’ve received a lot of big announcements this year, and we know that there are probably more to come in the future as the parks rebound from the pandemic. And if you’re traveling to Walt Disney World this month, there are a few things you need to know before your trip…so we put together a little list! The EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is in Full Swing It’s the most beautiful time of the year over at EPCOT, as the park is decked out in colorful topiaries and stunning garden displays! There are several food booths to enjoy with fresh-tasting small plates and there are several options for entertainment throughout the festival. There are beautiful topiaries everywhere! This year’s Flower & Garden Festival runs until July 5th, so you still have a few months to enjoy all of the festivities. This is the first full month of the fest, so we’ll be looking out for any changes, updates, or differences as we continue to visit the park. Click Here for Our “Best of the Fest” Picks for 2021! Crowd Levels Will Probably Fluctuate Coming into April, we’re still in the Spring Break season. We’ll probably see higher crowd levels for the first half of the month as many Americans continue to take advantage of the time that their kids are out of school. Easter Crowds in Magic Kingdom got pretty hefty! Towards the end of the month, it’s possible that we’ll begin to see things die down a little as we get into the pre-summer lull. However, we still encourage you to go ahead and book those Disney Park Pass reservations if you haven’t already because they’re filling up fast! Click Here to Check Out the Spring Break Crowds in Disney World! Earth Day Celebrations Are Happening at Animal Kingdom Animal Kingdom’s birthday is coming up, which also happens to be Earth Day! In honor of the special occasion, there are several seasonal offerings to enjoy at the park. Happy Birthday Disney’s Animal Kingdom! During your day at Animal Kingdom, you’ll spot new characters on the flotillas, have new options to draw at the Animation Experience, and get the chance to taste some special treats! Besides that, there’s a special limited-time badge for Wilderness Explorers to earn and there will be unique photo ops around the park. We Tried One of the Earth Day Treats (and LOVED it!) — Click Here for the Review! The Fan-Favorite PeopleMover Will Be Closed All Month While we were hoping to get to ride our beloved PeopleMover again this month, sadly, it was not meant to be. The refurbishment on the fan-favorite Magic Kingdom ride was extended yet again, and now it won’t reopen until May 1st. PeopleMover, we miss you! We’re not entirely sure that the ride will reopen on May 1st either. The timeline for its reopening has been pushed back 6 times now, all the way from the original date last July. Until we get more details, we’ll make sure to keep checking out the construction and we’ll keep our fingers crossed! We Saw the Ride Getting Tested — Check it Out Here! There’s a Special Food Event at the Swan and Dolphin Resort On April 17th, Disney World guests will be able to experience the Spring Food and Wine Classic at the Swan and Dolphin Resort. This event will come with 12 food stations and over 50 beverage options. Would you pay $125 to go to this event? Guests must purchase tickets to attend this event for $125 each, but there will be plenty of creative eats to try out. If you’re staying at one of these resorts or looking for something to do that evening, this could be a fun outing for a date night! Click Here to See Our Review of the Last Food Event! The Weather May Be Unpredictable If you’re heading to Disney World in April, you may want to pack a variety of clothing choices. The month is surprisingly one of the least rainy of the year, but the temperature can vary quite a bit from day to day. A rainy day at Magic Kingdom! We’ve seen days in Central Florida in April where it’s in the 40s, but then the temperature gets up into the 80s in the afternoon. Make sure to pack layers that can be removed or added throughout the day and check the weather before you come to Disney World and each morning of your trip! Here’s What a Rainy Day is Like in Disney World! There Are a Few Ways to Save Money! First of all, guests can save up to 30% on Disney Resort stays beginning April 18th and running through July 10th. There’s also a great deal for Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground that begins on April 11th and lasts until May 27th. Fort Wilderness is a great place to stay for cheap! Besides those, there are deals running throughout the month for Annual Passholders and for Florida Residents. If you’re looking to save some money, make sure to check out the Special Offers tab on the Walt Disney World website, and remember that discounts can be added after your trip is already booked. Click Here to See More Hotel Discounts! There you go, those are the things you most need to know about heading into April! Throughout the month, make sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest in Disney news and changes around the parks. We’re visiting Walt Disney World every day to bring you the most up-to-date coverage! The Ultimate Guide to Planning Your First WDW Trip — Click Here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Have you ever been to WDW in April? Tell us in the comments! The post 8 Things to Know About April in Disney World This Year first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: 10 Things You NEED to Know About Disney World in March 2021 5 Things That Will Be Different in Disney World in January 5 Things That Will Be DIFFERENT in Disney World in March View the full article

It’s a very special day in the Disney World area! Flying to Orlando Disney World is located in Orange County and there’s a super special, county-specific holiday today. Looking for lunch from the Orlando area? Then you can help celebrate! Today is April 7th, A.K.A. 4/07, which marks #407 Day! According to WFTV 9, this day focuses on showing support for local restaurants and their employees in Central Florida. Gideon’s Bakehouse East End Market Location The special day is inspired by Orange County’s area code, 407, and encourages residents to dine in, get takeout, or order delivery from their favorite local restaurants. 2020’s #407 Day saw nearly 300 Orange County restaurants participate. Florida Palm Trees Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said, “Our restaurant community has always represented a vital part of who we are as a region. This year, we are proud to continue to show our support for our restaurants through ‘#407 Day.’ Although it has been challenging, we are resilient and we continue to always have a neighbors helping neighbors philosophy. I encourage our residents to enjoy the time out or order takeout or delivery.“ Orlando Sign Of course, you don’t have to be a resident to participate! You can also join in the fun as a visitor. To support local restaurants, just post your recommendations, experiences, and photos on social media using the hashtag “#407Day.” Florida As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney area updates! Click here to learn more about a local area restaurant! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Will you be joining in on #407 Day? Tell us in the comments! The post Why You Should Order from NON-Disney Restaurants Today first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: Review: Zuri’s Sweets Shop in Animal Kingdom’s Harambe Market Breaking News! Orlando is Going Under Curfew Starting Tonight News: Face Masks Could Soon Be Required at Certain Orlando-Area Businesses View the full article

Disney World has changed their face mask policy a few times over the last few months. What Do You Think of This Mask? Recently, Disney announced a BIG change in its mask policy when it comes to photos. Previously, guests had to keep on their masks at all times (except when actively eating and drinking while stationary and physically distanced from others) — and that meant that masks had to be kept on while taking photos. Disney just made a change to that policy when it comes to outdoor photos and today we got to experience it in action. Recently, Disney announced that, starting April 8th, guests will be allowed to temporarily remove their masks to take pictures while outdoors, but they must remain stationary and maintain an appropriate physical distance from others. Updated Mask Policy ©Disney And while the Disney World website still reflects that this change is set to begin on April 8th, when we visited Magic Kingdom today (April 7th) the change had already begun. As we walked around the park, we saw PhotoPass photographers already allowing guests to remove their masks for outdoor photos. You Can See the Guests Holding Their Masks in Their Hands Let’s say you want to take a photo at the Partners Statue. Once you’re at the actual photo location — meaning it is your turn to take your photo and you are physically standing where you need to stand for the photo, you can remove your mask, take the picture, and then you must promptly put your mask back on. We saw a number of PhotoPass photographers already allowing guests to remove their masks temporarily for these outdoor photos. New Photo Policy in Place You can also take your own photos (meaning, not using PhotoPass) and temporarily remove your mask for your photos, but make sure you are stationary and distanced from others when doing so. In the park today, we saw the PhotoPass photographers and other Cast Members asking guests to stay physically distanced and trying to keep that space between them. New Photo Policy in Place We’ll continue to keep an eye out for more updates and let you know what we find. Click here to see one the Orange County mayor’s comments on when the mask mandate in the county may end. Want to Learn More About Face Masks in Disney World? Take a Look at Our NEW DFB Face Masks HERE! Everything You NEED to Know About Wearing a Mask in Disney World Which Face Masks Are the MOST Comfortable to Wear ALL DAY at Disney World...And Which Should You Avoid! How is Disney World Enforcing Face Mask Wearing (And Are Guests Following the Rules)? 10 Face Mask Accessories You’re Gonna NEED In Disney World! How Many Face Masks Do I Need to Bring On My Disney World Trip? 8 Ways to ACTUALLY Convince Your 2 Year Old to Wear a Mask in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter To get all the latest Disney Park Closure News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Are you planning to visit Disney World soon? Tell us in the comments. The post NEWS: Disney World's NEW Photo Mask Policy Has Started Early first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: News: Disney Confirms Guests With COVID-19 Vaccine Must Continue to Wear Masks Sivako! 3 NEW Pandora — The World of Avatar Masks Have Arrived in Disney World! Three Reasons You Should SERIOUSLY Consider Bringing Your Own Hand Sanitizer on Your Next Disney Trip! View the full article

You know how we always say to be ready for the unexpected when it comes to your Disney World trip? Space Mountain Is Temporarily Closed! A BIG surprise for you could come in the form of a ride evacuation or emergency. They happen a LOT more than you’d think…and we’ve got the details on what to do when they happen to you! Check out all this and more in our newest DFB Video!  Are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes! Check out our latest video and then comment below: If you’ve been evacuated from a Disney ride. The post DFB Video: Handling Emergencies and Evacuations in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: DFB Video: When Should You Go To Disney World Now That Your Trip Is Ruined? DFB Video: The WORST Disney World Restaurants According to Yelp! DFB Video: 13 BIG Changes Everybody Missed in Disney World This Year 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. If there’s one thing that Disney does well, it’s plushes. If there’s another thing they do well, it’s collectible plush sets! These two are the CUTEST! We’re, of course, talking about the Disney Wishables! The little plushes with a mystery element have been inspired by movies, rides, and even Disney snacks. Just when we thought Disney couldn’t top the cuteness factor of the Peter Pan’s Flight and “it’s a small world” series, a new collection launched today! And TBH…we were not expecting them to be this adorable. ©Disney Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout! is the latest Wishables collection on the scene, and it features the five main mischief makers in what might be their best look yet. In the blind bag, you can collect either Star Lord, Gamora, Drax, or Groot. The fun part? Ya won’t know which one you get until you buy the bag and tear it open! ©Disney That means you aren’t guaranteed any of the plushes, but you can try to collect ’em all! One mystery plush will costs you $9.99. Click Here to Buy the Mystery Plush! And there’s no guessing required if you wanna bring home Rocket! He’s the standalone plush in the series, and you’ll be able to buy him separately for $9.99. ©Disney Keep in mind that quantity for Rocket and the blind bag is limited to 10 per guest! Click Here to Buy Rocket! Sure, they’re supposed to be protecting the world from bad guys, but now they just look so cuddly! The Guardians debuted today, and they’re already going fast. If you are a Wishables fan or are looking to join in the craze, be sure to grab yours quickly! We’ll keep an eye out for them in the parks, too, so stay tuned to DFB. Did you miss last month’s Wishables collection? Check out the Peter Pan photos 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. Which Guardians Wishable is your favorite? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney's Most Unlikely Heroes Are Now Wishables! first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: Marvel Fans, You’ll Definitely Want to See Disney’s Upcoming Plush Collection NEW Disney Parks Transportation Wishables (Including a Mini Parking Tram!) Are NOW Available Online! NEW “it’s a small world” Wishables Are NOW Available Online! View the full article

Sugars Gallery opened inside a 1,000-square-foot space at 5770 W Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway. View the full article

We’re back to visit one of Magic Kingdom’s classic restaurants, The Plaza Restaurant on Main Street, U.S.A.! Plaza This sit-down restaurant has a lot going for it but often gets forgotten! They serve up reasonably-priced classic cozy comfort dishes (including ice cream sundaes!), has a bright and airy dining room, and a primo view of Cinderella Castle! Even WE forget this Main Street establishment is there at times. So we decided to visit and see what’s going on at this small cozy spot with a killer view. Head to the end of Main Street and look to your right. Here — under normal circumstances — is the ever-popular Plaza Ice Cream Parlor. This spot has remained closed ever since the parks reopened BUT, what hasn’t been closed is the other half of the Plaza experience you can find just around the corner — the Plaza Restaurant. Plaza Entrance That’s where we’re eating today! Atmosphere You’ll find that entrance, as we mentioned, around the corner of Main Street. The front door faces the Hub and Cinderella Castle. There’s not a ton in the way of seating outside (you’re kind of just standing in a less heavily trafficked walkway between Main Street and Tomorrowland), but that view can’t be beat: Hello, gorgeous We checked in for our reservation with Mobile Dine Check-In. A sign at the entrance can be scanned to check-in or you can do so via a pop-up notification from the My Disney Experience app. Plaza Check In We used our very brief (like, VERY. We were seated maybe one minute after checking in!) wait to check out a Cavalcade making its way down Main Street. Hey guys! A menu is posted outside, if you’d like to scan your options before heading in. Like many other Disney restaurants that have reopened, The Plaza currently has a reduced menu. Plaza Menu The restaurant is broken into 2 sections — the main dining room and the rotunda. We love the vibe of this place! It’s very vintage, with old-timey wallpaper, lots of mirrors, and Victorian-style decorations. We still adore those light fixtures too! Basically, it’s right at home on Main Street, U.S.A.! Plaza Dining Room Tables are spread out according to social distance guidelines, and it was very quiet on our visit. Even with there being more open space, this restaurant is teeny tiny. If you’ve never been, you may wonder where the rest of it is when you walk in! Plaza Restaurant We were lucky enough to be seated in the rotunda room (our hostess said it was her favorite place to seat guests!), and it was loaded with sunlight and had great views of Main Street! Rotunda Room This room has a killer view of Cinderella Castle that we didn’t mind enjoying while we dined. But, heads up, this room is shockingly quiet (as in lacking ambient noise). Like, “we learned a lot about the other people in this room” type too quiet. Last time we sat in here, we had a similar experience. If you want a more private meal, maybe consider asking to sit in the main room! But the view was still fantastic! Beautiful view! The Plaza is utilizing both a QR code and paper menus. QR Menu In case you couldn’t read the outside menu above, here are all the goods you have to choose from. The menu was unchanged from our last visit since the reopening aside from the seasonal soup (it was Turkey Noodle on this visit, FYI). The Loaded Fries (AKA Figaro Fries!) are still here… The Plaza Restaurant Menu …and the Entree choices are small but mighty. The Plaza Restaurant Menu Kids’ meals here are pretty standard. Kids’ Menu Plus a small selection of desserts are available (more on these in a bit!). The Plaza Restaurant Menu Also, aside from your standard non-alcoholic beverages, The Plaza serves beer and wine like all Magic Kingdom sit-down restaurants in recent years. Beer and Wine Enough of the chit-chat, let’s get to the food! Eats Like we mentioned, the menu is very small right now. But, we found a few noshy items! First up, once we were seated we were brought glasses of ice water (with a little cup of lemons, which was a nice touch!) and cutlery wrapped in paper napkins. Water! We ordered the White Sangria for $11. It was described as made with Kunde Sauvignon Blanc, pineapple juice, spices, and fruit. This tasted, like most Magic Kingdom Sangrias we’ve experienced, not surprisingly…premade. We didn’t really pick up on that pineapple juice or spices TBH! It mostly just tasted like sweet fruit juice. White Sangria The fruit garnishes seemed like an afterthought. Our glass was less sangria or ice and mostly slices of canned peaches! For color (though probably not what they were going for since it didn’t look the most appetizing) a scoop of thawed previously frozen raspberries was on top too. We wanted to like this. We really did. Sipping our sangria looking at Cinderella Castle sounds like a dream, right? For the price though, the lack of flavor and weirdly mostly (not appetizing) fruit made it not worth it for us. Maybe sip some beer or wine instead? White Sangria, not the greatest! We started with the Plaza Loaded Fries for $9, because DUH. These have been a DFB favorite for oodles of time for good reason! They sound so simple (they are) but we swear they’re so so good. These are your standard Disney “fast food fries” covered in Boursin cheese sauce (our waiter made a point to specifically mention that it was Boursin SEVERAL times ). They are then topped with lettuce, diced tomatoes, and bacon. Plaza Loaded Fries! This is just downright delightful! The cheese sauce was super flavorful and was definitely not your normal melted cheese. On past visits, this was our beloved plastic cheese so the “upgraded” cheese sauce was a surprise. It was the bomb, BUT..there was hardly any on the fries! More cheese, please! Seriously, why are we not making more stuff out of Boursin cheese?? The lettuce and tomato were fresh but a bit sparse. Basically, we could have used more toppings across the board. OLD Loaded Plaza Fries came with a Ranch drizzle on top (making them much more like the old Figaro Fries of days gone by from Pinocchio Village Haus) but the Ranch isn’t listed on the menu anymore. We, of course, asked for a side of Ranch for our own drizzling. Our waiter happily obliged. Yummy fries! For the price, this is about the size of a side of fries you would get with a burger (which is to say…we’d have happily enjoyed a heftier serving). The toppings do all the heavy lifting here but those were, as we mentioned, on the skimpier side. Overall, it’s still a great app we definitely recommend you give a try! We ordered two entrees, the Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich for $19 and the Plaza Burger for $22. The cheesesteak had more Boursin cheese sauce (our waiter made a point to tell us this as well!). This sandwich was huge! Easily shareable between two people. The side choices for all entrees were fries, fruit, green beans, or mashed potatoes. We gave the mashers a go with this entree. Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich The bread was a chewy french roll (gimme dat soft bread) and there was a lot of flavorful shaved beef, bell peppers, and onions. It wasn’t mind-blowing, but was surprisingly good given the location. Philadelphia natives may be disappointed, as it’s not super authentic, but it had a good flavor and was a satisfying meal. Plus, cheese sauce. Ask for extra cheese sauce! Surprisingly tasty! The mashed potatoes were surprisingly flavorful. We weren’t expecting much, but we found ourselves scooping up every bit of them. They tasted like fresh potatoes and had enough garlicky seasoning to keep them interesting. Moving on to the Plaza Burger. This comes topped with lettuce, tomato, cheddar cheese, and honey-barbecued beef brisket. We’ve had this guy before, but it was much more “done up” than it was this time. Previously, you’d get a mini-mountain of brisket, bacon, Provolone cheese, sauteed onions, and lettuce and tomato. Knowing what this burger HAS been versus what it is now left us, well, disappointed. Plaza Burger Meal The burger was WET from the lettuce and tomato, and was also simultaneously greasy from the brisket (how can something be watery and greasy at the same time?). The bun was nicely toasted and soft, but it was doing all it could to stay together! It was a bit of a drippy mess to eat. Plaza Burger The brisket used to be the star of the show here but now was largely unnecessary and quite greasy. It resembled sloppy joe filling more than it did the shredded and heavily sauced brisket we enjoyed the last time we had this burger. It was tossed in a (very) little amount of BBQ sauce. We weren’t asked for a preferred doneness, and it was cooked pretty much to well done. That said, the meat was still juicy. Plaza Burger As for our side here, we asked for the fresh fruit. A side of fresh fruit typically makes us imagine a cup of mixed fruit but we were instead given green apple slices and red grapes. The grapes were fresh but green apples were honestly kind of meh. Save those green apples for dunking in caramel and lots of chocolate and other goodies over at the Main Street Confectionery. Honestly, this felt like a fruit side in a kids’ meal. Definitely go for the mashed potatoes or fries. Carbs will never steer you wrong! A very sad side… Overall, the burger tasted fine. Knowing how flavorful this burger was previously with the onions, cheese, and both brisket AND bacon left it pretty underwhelming in its current form. It’s definitely not a destination burger by any means, but it is an easy and safe choice. Now on to what many will consider the star of the show: ice cream. Plaza Ice Cream Parlor may be closed, but you can still order up all that ice cream goodness if you eat in the restaurant. Our server let us know the flavors available and the selection sounded largely unchanged from what you’d find previously at the ice cream counter. He told us they could make up any combination they had on hand to fit your liking. So if you don’t see what you’re after — just ask! You never know. We ordered a (not overly creative) chocolate ice cream sundae! We asked for a scoop of chocolate with caramel and hot fudge. It was served with whipped cream and a cherry. Our server asked if we’d like walnuts on top (yes, please!) and even brought out a ramekin of extra in case we wanted more. It was a pretty big portion for $7! Chocolate Sundae If you are missing Plaza Ice Cream, this is sure to make you happy! It had all of the classic sundae flavors. Our one critique was the toppings were pumped in the glass first, making you have to dig deep to get to all that caramel and fudgy goodness! (That didn’t stop us!) Either way, we were eating Plaza Ice Cream overlooking Cinderella Castle again. That’s a good thing! Nosh or Not Take a break at this Main Street, U.S.A. spot if: You waited too long to get a reservation at one of the more popular spots in Magic Kingdom. Plaza often has last-minute availability. You want the experience of eating ON Main Street. With Casey’s Corner still closed, this is your only real way to eat on the main drag of Magic Kingdom overlooking the Castle. You are looking for simple, approachable food. Check out one of the other table-service options at Magic Kingdom if: You are looking for a more interesting dining experience. The turn of the century atmosphere is pretty but, compared to other spots in Magic Kingdom, more on the subdued side. You want a quiet, romatice meal. With fewer people at tables (especially in that rotunda) it’s so quiet you hear e-ver-e-thing. You’re interested in more unique eats. The food here is simple and comforting, but not exactly stuff many would seek out (maybe except for those fries!). Overall Plaza is a classic. With the decor in here you can’t help but feel surrounded by that Main Street, U.S.A. vibe. We’ve had a number of good visits here in the past and will continue to return. That said, our visit at the Plaza wasn’t outstanding, but it was still enjoyable. We suspect the smaller-than-normal menu and, hopefully, an off day in the kitchen contributed to our somewhat lackluster meal. The food on our visit didn’t seem to hold up to the memory of our past visits. The Loaded Fries are still great, but missing toppings and smaller than we remembered. Similarly, the burger was OK, but missing toppings we enjoyed in the past. For $22, that’s a fair chunk of change to shell out for a wholly “meh” burger. Especially considering for roughly the same price you could choose from a wide selection of quality meal options at another favorite Magic Kingdom spot, Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd Skipper Canteen over in Adventureland. That’s not to say things were bad here or that the food won’t bounce back as the menu returns. It just didn’t knock our socks off this time. You come to Plaza for the ambiance just as much as you would for a good meal — and the ambiance still delivers. We’ve had so many good experiences here in the past (remember the good ol’ days pre-2020 when a Citizen of Main Street would often pop in here around lunch time?) and will continue to return. But for now, we’re content enjoying our ice cream sundae (pretending Plaza Ice Cream Parlor is open) and smallish plate of Loaded Fries admiring the gorgeous view of the Castle. Check out all of the Magic Kingdom restaurants that are participating in mobile order! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Will you be dining at the Plaza anytime soon? Let us know in the comments! The post Review: Let's Eat All the Ice Cream and Pretend Plaza Ice Cream Parlor is Open in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: FULL REVIEW: The Crystal Palace Has Reopened in Magic Kingdom, And It’s VERY DIFFERENT! The Five Best Table Service Salads at Walt Disney World (According To The Experts!) Pass the Stuffing! NEW Thanksgiving Day Menus Have Been Spotted At Disney World View the full article

Did you know Disney dabbles in community-building? Flamingo Crossings Town Center Concept Art ©The Walt Disney Co. | Obtained via BizJournals Most recently, Disney has been at work developing Flamingo Crossings Town Center, a community that will include shopping, dining, and housing. And in the past, they’ve developed both the Celebration and Golden Oak communities in the area. But now, it seems like the company’s looking ahead, as they are in talks to build yet another mixed-use community. According to the Orlando Business Journal, The Walt Disney Company is currently in early discussion with Tavistock Development about developing a commercial and residential community in Lake Nona. The community in question is about 18 miles from Disney World, making it a bit farther than Disney’s other projects. Yet conversations are still in the works. Map of the Potential Community ©Orlando Business Journal According to city documents, Tavistock has plans to develop 4,192 residential units and 2.4 million square feet of nonresidential space in the area — but it’s uncertain whether this is referring to Disney’s potential community. Concept art for Flamingo Crossings, another Disney development ©The Walt Disney Co. | Obtained via BizJournals Lisa Dilts, principal of Winter Park-based real estate advisory company Compspring LLC, suggested that the development could be successful due to Disney’s penchant for placemaking, which could attract residents looking for that strong sense of place in a home. She also explains that Disney’s involvement will likely attract international and out-of-state buyers. A hotel in Flamingo Crossings Town Center ©Home2Suites by Hilton | Disney Keep in mind that this deal between Disney and Tavistock may not occur — the discussion is in the preliminary stages. But we’ll keep an eye out for further updates and keep you posted! Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney news. Read About Disney’s Flamingo Crossings Development! 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 visit this new development? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney's Potential Construction Project Is NOT Where You Think first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: 9 NEW Retailers Announced for Disney’s Flamingo Crossings Town Center 4 New Projects Disney World Quietly Launched This Summer Historic MILLION Dollar Agreement Reached to Acquire Shopping Center Near Disney World View the full article