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We’ve been trying ALL the Easter eats and treats around Disney World. Easter Egg Hunt Cupcake There have been plenty of bunny cupcakes, colorful cakes, and other goodies up for grabs. And when we need a break from all that snackin’, we’ve been checking out the Easter egg displays around the resorts! Today, we’re hopping over to BoardWalk Bakery to taste some new treats there. First, we grabbed the Easter Cupcake! It’s a classic vanilla cupcake with lemon curd filling and vanilla buttercream on top. You’ll also get some candy crispies on the edge! We love how bright and colorful this looks. But how does it TASTE?! Easter Cupcake It was delicious! There was a fair amount of frosting, but it wasn’t overwhelming like some other cupcakes we’ve tried. And since the treat itself is a bit larger than the norm, the frosting to cake ratio was perfect. The frosting was tasty, too! There was also plenty of lemon curd filling, so it didn’t get lost in the cake. If you’re a fan of lemon, you’re gonna LOVE this treat. We’re sure gonna miss this one when it disappears after the springtime season! If you like a lighter cupcake that ISN’T chocolate, we may have found the dessert for you. But if you’re not a lemon fan, we’d recommend the Oreo cupcake from BoardWalk Bakery instead! While the lemon flavor isn’t overpowering — and it’s definitely not tart — you can still tell it’s there. You can snag this treat for $5.99! YUM. We also grabbed an Easter cookie while we were at the bakery! It’s your everyday sugar cookie — shaped like an egg, of course — and iced with pastel designs. It’ll cost ya $3.29! Easter Egg Cookie We’ll keep trying all the new snacks in Disney World — and we’ll let you know what we think of ’em! Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney news. Check Out ALL the Easter Treats Coming to 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. Would you try this cupcake? Let us know in the comments! The post Review: Can Disney World’s NEW Cupcake Stick Around All Year?! first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: How Many Hidden Mickeys Can You Spot on Disney World’s NEW Easter Egg Display?! What’s New at Disney’s BoardWalk, Yacht, and Beach Club Resorts: Easter Treats, a Lavender Spirit Jersey, and Adorable Minnie Hula Outfits! REVIEW! We Found the MOST Patriotic Treat in Disney World for the Fourth of July! View the full article

We ALL make mistakes in Disney World — some bigger or more than others. Such a Beautiful Sight! We’ve gone through lists of the rookie mistakes you’re making when you book a Disney World hotel, the Mobile Order mistake you do NOT want to make, and 3 NEW Disney World trip mistakes you’re totally not expecting. But, today we’re back at it again! Today, we’re going through our list of the 10 worst things EVERYONE does at Disney World! How many of these things have you done and how many will you swear to NEVER do again? 1. Ruining the Magic If you’re a Disney PRO you might know all of the little secrets, behind-the-scenes trivia, and some awesome facts about how Disney makes everything in the parks work. And that’s SO super awesome, we totally love it. BUT, when you’re in the parks, you’ve got to be careful about ruining the magic for others! Do you know ALL the Haunted Mansion secrets? You might know just how the magic mirror works in Enchanted Tales With Belle, or you might know all about the characters…if you know what I mean. If you’re sharing those details with your family and friends in the parks, be VERY careful. Not everyone around you, especially little kiddos, wants to know all of the behind-the-scenes secrets. It can be incredibly frustrating if someone gets an entire ride or experience totally spoiled for them. Such an incredible effect! You might want to just keep those amazing secrets to yourself and share them when you’re out of the parks, or just be sure to speak low enough that others can’t hear you. Also, be careful not to give a play-by-play of the entire ride before you get on it. For some guests around you, this might be their first trip to Disney World or their first time riding that attraction (even if it’s an older ride). They may have avoided watching any videos of it at all so as to not be spoiled. You definitely don’t want to ruin that experience for them! You can fly! This also includes saying ride narration out loud while it’s happening. We won’t deny that knowing every word of the Stretching Room scene in Haunted Mansion is quite an accomplishment. But, while you’re in the park, guests around you want to hear the ACTUAL narration, not your version of it. This can be especially true if this is their one and only trip to Disney World. The famous Stretching Room We totally get that you want to show off your Disney knowledge, but you could, unfortunately, spoil or impact other people’s experiences. So, consider keeping those cool facts to yourself and sharing them when others aren’t around, so everyone can enjoy the magic in their own way! If you DO want to know more secrets, click here to see 100 things that will BLOW your mind about Disney World! 2. Holding 2 or More Dining Reservations Another thing a LOT of people do is hold 2 or more dining reservations scheduled for close to the same time/the same meal on the same day. My Disney Experience will generally prompt you to select 1 dining reservation if you try to book 2 within too close of a time period, but some people will book them sufficiently far apart in time that the system doesn’t trigger that restriction. We get it, dining reservations can now be made 60 days in advance of your trip and sometimes you just don’t know where you want to get 2 MONTHS from now! Be Our Guest Restaurant Ballroom So, we totally understand if you book 2 dining reservations and then just want to talk to your family about which one you want to keep and you just need a day or two to decide. But, if you hold the reservations until the LAST minute and then cancel one of them, you’re really just holding that reservation spot from other people. That can be an especially harsh thing to do if that’s a SUPER popular spot. There are lots of people who might only go to Disney World once in their life or this might be their very first trip. They might be dying to eat at Be Our Guest or somewhere else. If you’ve got that reservation and don’t let go of it until 24 hours in advance of the reservation time, you might be keeping someone else from having the chance to dine there. Hey, Chip ‘n’ Dale! So, just be sure to delete any “backup” or “alternative” reservations you’ve got as soon as you decide you don’t need them. And try to make that decision earlier rather than later, so others can potentially have the chance to dine at those spots! Click here to see which dining reservations will be the hardest to get in 2021! 3. Using Your Phone While On a Ride or Attraction Okay, we feel like everyone, or at least a LARGE majority of people are guilty of being on their phones while on a ride, but it is one of the worst things you can do in Disney World! It can be really disruptive to have someone in front of you, in a dark ride especially, with their phone out, taking selfies, recording the ride, using their bright phone lights, etc. Are you guilty of using your phone on Disney rides? Lots of rides have messages on them reminding you NOT to take flash pictures, so be sure to check those and make sure your phone doesn’t have the flash set to “auto” in case you absolutely must take pictures or record the ride. Enchanted Tiki Room And if you MUST record the ride (we have to do that a lot to get videos for our posts and whatnot), try to ask to sit in the back of a ride vehicle so your screen isn’t as disruptive to other people’s experiences. We know that using your phone on a ride is a thing that happens — it even happens to us! But it really is something that can be super disruptive. Especially if you just waited in a LONG line to ride this ride, you should try to put that phone away and really just give yourself the chance to enjoy it! Click here to see how your phone will become your MagicBand in Disney World! 4. Not Paying Attention to Your Surroundings This is a BIG one right now especially. We have a feeling that a LOT of us are guilty of walking around the parks while scrolling on our phones, checking emails, answering text messages, looking at wait times, checking for dining reservations, etc. But, if you’re walking and looking down at your phone you could bump into someone else, force people to have to awkwardly walk around you, or hold up lines. You do NOT want to be walking around and not paying attention around any of these crowds This has been a thing that people have done for a while, but now with social distancing in place, this can be an even BIGGER issue. Bumping into a stranger and not maintaining an appropriate distance from them can cause some issues and make those around you feel uncomfortable right now. So, be sure to pay attention to your surroundings. If you need to look at your phone for one of a million things (we totally get it), then step to the side or sit down somewhere so that you aren’t running into others. 5. Forgetting Something Important It’s so easy to overpack for Disney World, but it’s also SO easy to forget SUPER important things. You might even find that you packed your phone charger for the trip, but then forgot to put it in your park bag. That phone charger will do you NO good if it’s just sitting in your hotel room! Is Rose Gold still the greatest Disney color trend? And forgetting things at home or in your hotel can make your costs add up big time. You might find yourself stuck buying a $15 poncho or $40 sweater because you forgot to bring your own. So, what are some absolute ESSENTIALS you need in your park bag? We’ve got a list HERE for you to check out, but we’ll share some of the items below. Don’t forget to bring your: Reusable water bottle Face mask Back-up masks Rain gear Back-up to the back-up masks Phone charger MagicBand Did we mention extra masks? Sunscreen Such a cute water bottle! If you forget your own things, there are always lots of items available to buy in the parks, but they can be pricey or may not fit well. So, just be sure to bring those essentials and check that park bag to make sure you’ve got it all! Click here to see 12 essentials you NEED in your park bag! 6. Forcing Your Kids/Family to Do Things They Don’t Want to Do Okay, we get it — you might want to watch The American Adventure 5 times and your 5 year old might not find that to be the ideal plan. So, sometimes kiddos have to do things that the adults want to do, and sometimes the adults just gotta ride “it’s a small world” until they literally can’t think of anything but the song lyrics anymore. But, that’s not exactly what we’re talking about here. We’re talking more about people who force their family and friends to ride Space Mountain when they’re CLEARLY not ready for that. Or, people who force their family/friends to get on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster when just the kiddie coaster at the fair is too much for their traveling partners. Ready to Ride Space Mountain? We’re also talking about people who stuff their kids’ shoes with socks to make them “tall enough” to ride some of the rides with height restrictions. Let’s be real here — safety precautions like height restrictions are there for a reason. Trying to get around them could put a child in danger. It’s just not worth it to risk their safety. Worst hotel ever. Do not recommend. HAUNTED. Now, we understand if your child is just a little bit afraid and you’re using this opportunity to work on courage. You know your kids best. But, if they’re clearly not ready to go on a ride, pushing them too far will likely just end in tears and frustration for everyone! If you absolutely MUST go on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster though, and your little one doesn’t want to, don’t forget about Rider Switch. You can hop on while your traveling party stays with your kiddo, and then another person can hop through the FastPass line or a shorter line when you get out. Click here to read about 10 things people do in Disney World that make ZERO sense. 7. No-Show to a Dining Reservation Without Cancelling It Not showing up for a dining reservation can be bad for you and other guests too. With dining reservations, if you don’t cancel or modify within 24 hours, you’ll be charged $10 per person for not showing up. That can SERIOUSLY add up! If you know you won’t be using your dining reservation, cancel it and free up that space for someone else. Don’t waste the time and don’t waste the money! Cinderella’s Royal Table If there’s a legitimate emergency which caused you to miss your reservation (like the monorail got delayed for 30 minutes or something else), talk to a Cast Member. They might be able to modify things or waive the fee for you. And, if you are running late, contact the restaurant to let them know you’re on your way! Especially now where some tables are not being used and things are a bit more limited in restaurants, not showing up on time or at all can really throw things off. So, that’s something to be mindful of. 8. Not Moving All The Way Across Your Row You know the deal — if you’re visiting a Disney World attraction that either is a show or has that show-type seating, you’ll be asked to move ALL the way across your row and fill in every empty seat. With distancing requirements, things are a bit different now, as some seats are marked as unavailable, so you’ll need to be mindful of that. But, you’ll still need to move all the way across to the available seats in the row. If you stop in the middle, that could impact the seating, and other guests might have to walk over you to get to the available seats or you’ll awkwardly have to get up anyway and move. Frozen Show Seating If you want to sit toward the middle and not at the end of a row, let some guests go in the row ahead of you. Don’t RUSH to get in that row. Those guests will fill in some of the seats, and you’ll hopefully get to sit a bit closer to the center! Win, win! Click here to see how distancing is being handled on all of the Disney World rides right now! 9. Blowing Your Budget Even experts are SUPER susceptible to this one — the souvenirs in Disney World can be pretty adorable and hard to resist. But, we’ve all got a few (or a few dozen) items we’ve bought on an impulse from the parks and NEVER used. All those souvenirs and spending in the parks can totally blow your budget! So, we’ve got a few tips. Set a limit. It’s sometimes a good idea to pre-load a Disney gift card with that budget amount for each member of your party, that way they can manage their money and once it’s gone, it’s GONE! Plan ahead and load this gift card with your set budget! Be realistic about yourself! If you are a GIANT Star Wars fan, you’ll probably want to make your own lightsaber in Galaxy’s Edge. If you know that’s the case, then consider not booking so many table service meals or consider staying at a less expensive hotel to make those souvenir dreams come true. Just recognize what you’ll want to spend money on, be realistic, and plan ahead for it! Click here to see more about how to make your own lightsaber in Disney World! 10. Sitting in a Busy Restroom and Reading Your Phone And finally, something a lot of us might be guilty of is sitting in the restroom and taking a second to read emails, check our phones, etc. If there’s a line for that bathroom (as there often is in Disney World), do your bathroom business and get out! Hellooooo Pretty Tangled Bathrooms There are LOTS of other places where you can scroll through your phone, check Instagram, and do all those good things. Check out a lounge or even one of the mask relaxation stations. But, don’t hold up the bathroom line just to post a Tweet! Click here to check out our list of Disney World’s BEST bathrooms! And that’s our list of the 10 WORST things everyone does at Disney World! You can watch our video below about these 10 worst things and even get an additional little list of some other pretty terrible things people do sometimes in Disney World. We can ALL make mistakes in Disney World, but hopefully, by reading this list you’ll keep these things in mind and avoid doing some of these things in the future! As always, check back with us here at DFB for more tips and tricks for your future Disney vacations. Disney World won’t make this map of EPCOT…so WE DID! Click here to check it 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. Which of these things have you done in Disney World? Tell us in the comments! The post The 10 Worst Things EVERYONE Does in Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: News! Labor Day Weekend Park Pass Availability for the Disney World Theme Parks Has Changed…AGAIN! NEWS: Disney Sends Email to Passholders About the Return of Park Hopping Don’t Miss Out on Free Disney Tickets and Your Rise of the Resistance Boarding Pass! View the full article

Spring has SPRUNG at Walt Disney World! We’ve seen some super sweet seasonal snacks (and eaten PLENTY of bunny-shaped things), hunted for Easter eggs, and seen some beautiful Easter egg displays at the Grand Floridian, but there’s MORE! While resort bunny hopping (get it? get it?), we saw some SPECTACULAR new displays at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn! In the lobby, a whole mini Easter village has popped up. Easter Egg Display There’s lots to see here! You can spot your favorite Disney characters in egg form: we’ve got Mickey and Minnie… Hey, Mickey and Minnie! …as well as Donald and Daisy! Guys, Daisy’s eyelashes look a little…interesting, but it’s all good. Donald even has a bowtie! And speaking of the main Mouse: you can find 10 Hidden Mickeys sprinkled around the display. They’re made of white chocolate, and each is labeled with a number on the ear so you can keep count! Hidden Mickeys! And of course, there are LOTS of bunnies. It is Easter, after all! Bunnies everywhere! And if you hop over to BoardWalk Bakery (sorry, we’ll stop now), there’s another egg display waiting for ya! This one was created by Roseline Delpe and Annette Lehner. And while our Disney characters aren’t here, there’s plenty more Easter fun. Boardwalk Bakery Egg Display There are pastel eggs and matching paint buckets… Those eggs are so detailed! …and PLENTY more bunnies. We’re taking Easter egg decorating lessons from this masterpiece! More bunnies! These are truly EGGS-traordinary pieces of art. And there’s more Easter eggs to be found around Disney World (and here’s where they are)! We LOVE to see seasonal decor, and when we spot more, we’ll let you know where to find them! Find Out Where You Can Get Customized Easter Baskets at 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. What’s your favorite resort Easter egg display? Let us know in the comments! The post How Many Hidden Mickeys Can You Spot on Disney World’s NEW Easter Egg Display?! first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: REVIEW! We Found the MOST Patriotic Treat in Disney World for the Fourth of July! Uniquely Themed Christmas Decor Arrives at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn! Review: Which of These Three New SPOOKY Treats Do YOU Want To Try in Disney World? View the full article

We think that Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew can pretty unique at times. Not only are the cold brews pretty yummy, but we’re big fans of the over-the-top donuts! Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew Where else are you going to get a Grilled Cheese Sandwich ON A DONUT, after all? But the hits keep on coming, because Everglazed just announced a brand new donut, just in time for Easter. And y’all — this new donut has a PEEP on it. A PEEP! You’ll soon be able to pick up the Rollin’ With My Easter Peeps (coolest donut name ever). It’s a yeast glazed donut dipped in vanilla frosting and topped with pastel candy decorations, green buttercream “grass,” a malted milk ball “Easter egg,” and a Peep. We know lots of people love Peeps…we also know that there are lots of folks out there that can’t stand them. Luckily, it looks like the Peep will be easy to remove if you aren’t the biggest fan. PEEPS! ©Everglazed But honestly, there’s a looooot going on here and we’re not really sure how to feel about it. Are all these elements going to be too much? Is this just a huge green and sticky mess waiting to happen?! You know we will be trying it and giving you all the details on if it is a must-get as soon as it is released. And you can even choose which color of Peep you want! You’ll be able to grab one from March 29th – April 4th. So if you’ve ever wanted to have a donut with a peep on it, your time has come! And we’ll let you know if Everglazed announces any other new donuts! Does Everglazed Really Does Have a Massive Donut For Every Occasion in Disney World? Find Out Here Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Have you tried Everglazed yet? Let us know in the comments! The post The Most Divisive Springttime Candy Just Got Its Own Donut in Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: REVIEW: Disney World’s NEW Strawberry Donut is For People With a SWEET Tooth! PHOTOS: We Upgraded Our Donut With Character Art in Disney World! PHOTOS & VIDEOS: FIRST LOOK at Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew in Disney World! View the full article

Spring has sprung! The flowers are in bloom, the birds are chirping, and that can only mean one thing … Easter is around the corner! Looking to add a little Disney magic to your Easter basket? Check out some of my favorite items to celebrate the holiday below ... Hop to it!http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/DisneyParks/~4/86UY_OV8D3k View the full article

Disney tends to be on the cutting edge of technology when it comes to theme parks. Let’s Get Scanning! Now, Disney World is testing an all-new facial recognition system for park entry that could replace finger scanners. The process is currently opt-in through April 23rd as it’s tested and Disney collects data (You know we gave it a try!). Some folks aren’t loving the idea of facial recognition, so we wanted to break down how it works! Why is Disney using facial recognition for park entry? So, why is Disney trying out facial recognition for park entry. According to the Walt Disney World website, “At Walt Disney World Resort, we’re always looking for innovative and convenient ways to improve our Guests’ experience — especially as we navigate the impact of COVID-19.” The site notes that this tech has been developed “with the future in mind and the shift in focus to more touchless experiences.” Disney Site Screenshot Over the years, Disney has used a number of different methods to get guests into the parks. There were the old turnstiles and then touchpoints —and now facial recognition could be the next step. It was prior to the mid-1990s that turnstiles were used. The finger scanners were introduced (first in 1996 and then expanded) to speed up entry and help the entrance to Magic Kingdom feel more welcoming. Magic Kingdom Tapstiles Fast forward to today and facial recognition could help to further speed park entry and increase how welcoming the park feels, PLUS reduce touch points which is a major priority in the current health climate. Click here to learn more about Magic Kingdom’s facial recognition test! How does facial recognition work? This question is tricky considering Disney hasn’t released exact details behind what kind of facial recognition technology is being used. Based on their description, it may not be all that different from the finger scanners the parks have used for decades. Facial Recognition Test Sign Essentially, the way finger scanners work is they take a measurement of your finger (no fingerprint!) and convert that measurement into a string of numbers that is coded to your ticket. The first time you use a new ticket, a new measurement is taken and associated with your ticket until it expires or is used. Then, your measurement is discarded 30 days after. That’s why you always need to use the same finger when entering the parks! This method does not generate 100% unique numbers for each person. Someone with a VERY similar hand could technically generate the same numbers, but it’s statistically unique enough to make sense for a park entry application. MagicBand Scanner at Magic Kingdom Of the new facial recognition tech, Disney says, “The technology we’re testing captures an image of a Guest’s face and converts it into a unique number, which is then associated with the form of admission being used for park entry.” This language sounds very similar to the tech behind finger scanners. Instead of capturing an image to associate with your ticket, this tech is likely capturing measurement to convert into a number (think head width, eye distance, forehead length, etc.) Say Cheese! Now, Facial recognition is not totally new. Your smartphone probably has an option to use facial recognition to unlock your screen. For Apple, this is called Face ID. Apple explains, “The TrueDepth camera captures accurate face data by projecting and analyzing over 30,000 invisible dots to create a depth map of your face and also captures an infrared image of your face. A portion of the neural engine…transforms the depth map and infrared image into a mathematical representation and compares that representation to the enrolled facial data.” Unlike Disney’s tech, Face ID can work with sunglasses and hats — but not with masks. ©Apple It is interesting that Disney’s technology works with face masks. This likely means it was developed to focus on the top half of the face for measurements. That’s very neat considering that means the tech was developed or at least reworked in the last year! One thing you’ll note is that Face ID, and likely Disney’s facial recognition, create a depth map of the face. That means your measurement number reflects the way your face is shaped on a 3D level. So your smartphone AND Disney’s entry terminals wouldn’t be able to be tricked with a 2D picture. ©Apple This “map” of your face might be a little bit different in Apple’s tech, but the concept is likely the same. Disney pulls the different measurements it’s seeing in your face and turns them into a figure, just like Apple’s tech. Facial Recognition Test Disney World isn’t the only theme park company to introduce facial recognition this week. According to blooloop, theme park company Miral’s Yas Island in the United Arab Emirates announced their new FacePass for entry AND contactless payments. Could this be the future of park entry? Maybe. Want to see Disney World’s facial recognition in action? Click here! Is the new facial recognition tech foolproof? Disney calls your face number in this instance “unique” which might mean that the facial technology DOES have the ability to make sure every guest has a different number — even if they have strikingly similar faces. Here’s Where to Stand Remember though, this tech is in TESTING. So, Disney is looking for pitfalls at this time. Once testing concludes, we can consider facial recognition a “foolproof” method for matching tickets to guests — just like finger scanners. If they continue to use it, of course. From a cybersecurity perspective, facial recognition is as safe as the other data that Disney keeps on you. Just like with the finger scanners, any imagery or numbers will be deleted 30 days after the end of the test (and presumably ticket use if this system is fully launched). Train Station Still, Disney acknowledges that “despite our best efforts, no security measures are perfect or impenetrable.” Disney has teams that work hard on the security of data, but (just like with finger scanners) an image and unique number are stored electronically. Anything stored electronically is subject to security threats. The same is true for your credit card numbers, phone numbers, and more. It’s an unfortunate reality. Cybersecurity breaches are rare in Disney World, but they can happen. Recently, a few Disney Springs restaurants were targeted — but they were third-party and not a part of Disney’s system. No system is TRULY foolproof when it comes to cybersecurity, but a company like Disney has a LOT of weight behind fortifying data. Scan Away! Plus, it’s possible that Disney already has your face on file. PhotoPass pictures taken on and off attractions are linked to your account and MagicBand. These are deleted after some time, but depending on how often you go to the park, you’re supplying updated photos. On Disney cruise ships, photos are sorted through facial recognition to identify the people in the photo, per Consumer Reports. So again, your face might already be temporarily stored at times. Pluto and a PhotoPass Photographer Plus, the entry method in Disneyland has involved an actual photo taken of your face by Cast Members (and the same is true for kiddos who have hands that are too small for the scanners in Disney World). A Cast Member then reviews that photo linked to your ticket when you return on the same ticket. It might seem like facial recognition is radical and big brother-y, but it’s really similar to a PhotoPass photo or picture at the gate — which folks have been okay with for years. To learn more about cybersecurity breaches in Disney World, click here. Will facial recognition be the new way we enter Disney World? That’s hard to say! If the tests don’t yield the results that Disney is looking for — no. If they do, though, it’s entirely possible facial recognition would replace finger scanners. Once Disney determines that the tech is functional and secure, they may seek to expand it as the new main entrance method to help reduce touchpoints. It’s up in the air at this time as Disney gauges the technology and determines guest reaction (which per our readers is split right down the middle). Here’s what YOU said! Overall, Disney might be looking at a shift to facial recognition to reduce touchpoints, speed entry, and make the parks feel more welcoming. Plus, if facial recognition CAN create a totally unique personal number, then it’s more accurate than the finger scanners too. We’ll, of course, be keeping a close eye on facial recognition as it continues testing so stay tuned to DFB for all the latest updates. Click here to see how our readers feel about facial recognition! 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 facial recognition in the Disney parks? Tell us in the comments! The post How Disney World’s New Facial Recognition Technology Actually Works first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: VIDEO & PHOTOS: First Look at the NEW Face Scan System in Disney World! Fans Are SPLIT on Disney World’s New Face Scan Entrance Technology Photos: Rose Gold Details Added to the Magic Kingdom Entrance Sign! 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. When’s the last time a Disney character like Meeko got any love? Or Mrs. Potts? Or Lumiere? Or Flounder? Dooneys Let us tell you — it doesn’t happen often! Yes, we have seen SOME merchandise with rare characters, including a MagicBand with Bunny and Ducky from Toy Story, a backpack with characters from Raya and the Last Dragon, and an entire collection dedicated to Disney animal friends. But it’s still not enough. Well, these sidekick characters’ time has come! Because Dooney & Bourke have just released their brand NEW Sidekicks collection, which features some characters we rarely see on merch, including Rajah, Scuttle (!!!), Meeko, Flounder, Lumiere, and more! ALL our faves! And you can buy it all online, including a Tote. Tote This tote features a pattern with all these characters on them, along with some cute quotes about them. TOO cute. And it’s available now for $268. Click Here To Buy The Dooney & Bourke Sidekicks Tote! There’s also a Satchel Bag in a different style with the same pattern. This one is a good size for everyday use if you’re headed out and about. Satchel Bag This bag is available now for $298. Click Here To Buy This Dooney & Bourke Sidekicks Bag! And if you need a MagicBand to round out your collection, there is one available! And it’s got those characters on it, too! Take all the sidekicks with you to the parks! The MagicBand is $48. Click Here To Buy The Dooney & Bourke Sidekicks MagicBand! As these are rare characters, we expect this collection might go fast. So if you’re looking to grab it, you might want to do so now! And as always, we’ll let you know if we spot it elsewhere. Click Here To Check Out The EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Dooney and Bourke Bags! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Do you collect Disney Dooneys? Let us know in the comments! The post Would You Pay 0 For a Bag With Rare Disney Characters On It?! first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: The Latest Dooney & Bourke Disney Bags Are Covered in RARE Characters! This Dooney & Bourke Collection is FLYING Off the Shelves in Disney World! PHOTOS: Get Excited for the Upcoming Holiday Dooney & Bourke Collection in Disney World! View the full article

One STAPLE of a Disney vacation is a solid souvenir. Popcorn Bucket at EPCOT For many, the best Disney World souvenir is a brand new refillable souvenir popcorn bucket. Typically, we see new buckets released every few months or so to commemorate one event or another. But we have to say, the buckets are FEW and FAR BETWEEN this year. We might go so far as to say we’re in a drought — The Great Disney World Popcorn Bucket Drought of 2021. Okay, maybe you think we’re being dramatic but we most certainly ARE NOT. We spotted a new Mickey and Friends Popcorn Bucket the other day and it made us realize just how LONG it’s been since we last spotted a new popcorn bucket in Disney World. Magic Kingdom everywhere! Seriously, before we spotted the Mickey and Friends Bucket, the last “new” one we spotted was the Yellow Mickey Balloon Popcorn Bucket in JANUARY. And that one wasn’t even new (!!!), we spotted it in Disneyland way back in 2018. Other than that and the one from this week, we haven’t seen ANY OTHER new popcorn buckets in Disney World in 2021. What gives??? Yellow Popcorn Bucket Remember the holiday season? We were seeing new and returning buckets left and right (as we tend to around Christmastime). We dream of the days we could spot ACTUALLY NEW buckets like the White Christmas Tree Popcorn Bucket or the Happy Holidays Popcorn Bucket. White Christmas Tree Popcorn Bucket Hopefully, this new Mickey and Friends Popcorn Bucket is a sign of change because we’re not sure we can live like this. You know what they say, “You never truly know what you have until it’s gone.” Did we think that statement would ever apply to Disney World popcorn releases? No, but it DOES. Our pals are havin’ LOTS of fun! Will this Mickey and Friends Bucket be the only new one we see for another three months? 2021, come on. We’re coming off of 2020, cut us some slack here and run us our popcorn buckets! Another Mickey Mouse detail’s on the lid! If you don’t have the same frustrations, we envy you. If you DO have the same frustrations, know you’re not alone. Of course, we’ll be keeping an eye out for any signs of new buckets (PLEASE), and we’ll make sure you know about them as soon as we do! Click here to see more of the ONLY NEW POPCORN BUCKET IN 2021! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. How do you feel about the Popcorn Bucket Drought? Tell us in the comments! The post The Great Disney World Popcorn Bucket Drought of 2021 — Where the Buckets At?! first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: MONTHS Later…We FINALLY Have a New Popcorn Bucket in Disney World! PICS: A Yellow Mickey Balloon Popcorn Bucket Is Now Available in Disney World! NEWS! The Millennium Falcon Popcorn Bucket Has Landed in Disney World (In Less Than Twelve Parsecs)! View the full article

One surprising Disney World BoardWalk location is seeing some changes today! Disney’s BoardWalk Inn Ample Hills Creamery was an ice-cream-y staple of the BoardWalk before filing for bankruptcy, getting new owners, and announcing a permanent closure during the Disney World closure last year. Now, we’ve spotted signs of change at the ol’ Ample Hills spot! We were strolling along the BoardWalk this morning, taking in the sights, when we noticed some activity in front of the space that used to hold Ample Hills Creamery. Ample Hills Construction This location has been empty since Disney World reopened and still had some graphic text on the walls advertising Ample Hills’ ice cream. Ample Hills Construction Today, a boom lift was out in front of the store as workers worked on the main signage area, adding a white covering to the space above the door. Ample Hills Construction Oooh! We’re not sure if this work is just FINALLY finishing the process of removing Ample Hills, or if it’s actually making room for something new. Ample Hills Construction We’ll be sure to keep a close eye on the spot in the coming weeks. Ample Hills Construction As always, stay tuned to DFB for the latest updates from Disney World and beyond! Click here to learn more about the closure of Ample Hills. 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 hoping something new is coming to this BoardWalk spot? Tell us in the comments! The post PHOTOS! Mystery Construction on a Permanently Closed Disney World Spot! first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: CONFIRMED: Ample Hills Creamery Will No Longer Operate in Disney World What’s New at Disney’s BoardWalk — Halloween Celebrations, Ice Cream Tacos, and MORE! Joy to the World! This Ice Cream Taco in Disney World Got a Holiday Makeover! View the full article

Spring has FINALLY sprung and that means it’s time to plan your spring or summer vacations to Disney World! And if you’re making plans to head to Disney World for Spring Break or for a summer vacation, we have all the tips and tricks you need to have the best vacation ever in our DFB Guide Bundles – and they’re ALL ON SALE! Cinderella Castle Right now it’s time to save HUGE at the DFB Guide Store with our Spring Break promo! Use promo code SPRING40 and save 40% off EVERY Bundle at the DFB Guide Store! This sale is on for a very limited time so grab your DFB Bundle today! And since our Bundles are already super-discounted, this is like getting a discount ON TOP OF a discount! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/shop-now-pink.jpeg Bundling is the BEST deal at the DFB Store! And right now is the BEST time to start planning your Disney World Spring Break vacation, Flower and Garden Festival trip, summer vacation, and beyond — and we have bundles for everything! 2021 DFB Guide and Snacks Bundle We bundle our DFB Guides together for more than 30% savings off the cover prices. So when you purchase any of our Bundles today using code SPRING40, you’ll get them for an additional 40% off — that’s a total steal! DFB Everything Bundle Whatever you’re looking for — just Snack Guides, the DFB Guide + Snacks, or Everything — we have just the right bundle for you. http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/shop-now-blue.pngAnd, when you purchase any Bundle that includes a pre-order (like the Everything Bundle or the Food and Wine Bundle), you’ll get the 2020 edition of that Guide PLUS you’ll receive the 2021 edition when it is published! It’s like getting two books for the price of one, with a 40% discount! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/DFB-Guide-Testimonial-2.png http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DFB-Guide-Testimonial-20.png Don’t miss your chance to save time and money planning your next Disney World trip with our complete line of DFB Guide Bundles! Just enter promo code SPRING40 at check out and save 40% off of your entire order. http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/DFB-Guide-Testimonial-3.png Your satisfaction is guaranteed (love it or get your money back!) on ALL of our DFB Guide Bundles! And, as always, thank you for your support of the DFB!The post Start Your Vacation Planning TODAY! Save 40% off ALL BUNDLES in the DFB Store Right NOW first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: Happy (Early) Valentine’s DAY! Start Your Disney World Vacation Planning Now with a BIG Sale at the DFB Store! HAPPY NEW YEAR! Celebrate 2021 with a SPECIAL DEAL on Our MOST Popular DFB Guide! It’s HERE! Grand Launch of the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2021 Edition View the full article

It’s no secret that some times of the year are better to visit Disney World than others! Let’s plan that perfectly-timed Disney World vacation! If you’re like us (or probably most people!), you want that low-crowd, mild weather, easygoing day in the Disney World parks. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Today, we’re sharing 10 times that you may NOT want to visit Disney World — the decision on when to take your trip is ultimately up to you, but if you avoid these times of the year, then your trip might be a smidge less stressful! Spring Break Let’s start with one of the big ones! In the U.S., Spring Break usually falls around March/April, with the weeks surrounding Easter being the most popular. During this time, it seems like everybody and their brother are at Disney World! Spring brings the Flower & Garden Festival to EPCOT! If you hit the parks during Spring Break, you’ll generally find that the crowds are thick, the wait times are high, and nearly everything you do will take much longer than usual. The weather during this season is also pretty unpredictable, ranging from rainy to hot to freezing all in one week. If you can schedule your trip outside of Spring Break ranges, then you might find the parks to be a bit more enjoyable! Here’s What Spring Break Crowds Look Like in Disney World! Summer Surprise, surprise, right? It’s busy in summer!! Since summer is so long, the crowds aren’t quite as thick as they would be during a shorter holiday season, but the real kicker here is the weather. Many summer days in Florida get into the triple digits and it rains most afternoons for a lovely hot-humid combo (If by “lovely” you think we mean that wonderful feeling where every inch of you is soaked in sweat!). Gotta be prepared for those really sunny days! And while crowds may not be quite as bad as Spring Break or Christmas, they’re still nothing to scoff at. Most children are out of school, so families take this opportunity to plan those longer 5, 6, or 7-day vacations. Click Here for a Month-by-Month Guide to Planning Your WDW Trip! Long Weekends This one can be a bit tricky because sometimes it’s difficult to remember when all the long weekends happen. Generally speaking, holiday weekends like MLK Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day bring short bursts of crowds during otherwise calm times of the year. Presidents’ Day Weekend crowds in Magic Kingdom…see what we mean?! If you’re taking a trip to Disney World and looking to have an easier time, make sure to avoid these holidays if you can. Lots of people with an extra day or two off of work and school means that families will be rushing to cram a weeklong trip into a long weekend. We typically advise people to visit the parks during the week if they can, because the weekdays tend to be less crowded across the board. This especially holds true on holiday weekends! Presidents’ Day Weekend Brought Massive Crowds This Year — See Our Photos Here! Thanksgiving/Christmas Break And if you thought that long weekends were packed, then welcome to the BIGGEST crowds of the year! A large majority of Americans have time off at Christmas and Thanksgiving — some even have multiple weeks. The week around the actual holidays (so typically that last week of those months) is PACKED. If you’re considering going this time of year guess what — TONS of other people are too! Besides the fact that the parks will be crowded, they’ll also be more expensive! Experience Christmas earlier in the season for lower crowds. Disney World uses date-based pricing for its hotel rooms and tickets, so if you travel during the busiest weeks of the year, you’ll possibly be paying hundreds more for tickets and your room than if you came during the off-season. Save that money for Christmas presents by coming earlier in the year or visiting in-between the two holidays when things are less full. Here’s What You Need to Know About Visiting Disney World in December New Year’s Eve Wouldn’t it be fun to ring in the new year at Disney World? Yeah?! Well, that’s what thousands of other people are thinking too! You may not find it quite as exciting when you’re standing on Main Street, U.S.A., and can’t move because the crowds are too thick. Celebrating New Year in the parks can be fun, but also chaotic. This one is even more chaotic when the parks are open until midnight. In the past, each of the parks has offered special celebrations, entertainment, and fireworks just for this one night. The parks often hit capacity, preventing certain guests from entering. Even worse — the holiday falls just one week after Christmas. Meaning many folks are still off work and lots of guests planning a Christmas trip will try to be there for BOTH holidays. We have to admit that it’s still a lot of fun to kick off another year at the Most Magical Place on Earth. If you try this one out, just be prepared for an overwhelming evening! Celebrate New Year’s Eve the Disney Way from Home — Here’s How! New Ride Openings We get it, it’s really exciting to be among the first to board a BRAND NEW Disney World ride. But if you’re trying to pull it off, you’re going to have quite the task ahead of you. Dedicated fans arrive HOURS before the park opens to be the first in line, so using regular rope drop strategies here won’t help very much. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is opening later this year! Then, there’s also the likelihood that you’ll be waiting multiple hours in line for the new ride before you can board, even if you’re there early. (We still have vivid memories of the MASSIVE 300-minute line in the sun and heat for the grand opening of Frozen Ever After in EPCOT!) If you’re that interested, then more power to you. We get it (heck, we’re in the line opening day too!) but you’ll probably be able to sleep in a little and board the ride with a much shorter wait time just a few days after it opens! Want to Know What it’s Like? Click Here for Our Experience at the Opening of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway! New Land Openings Similar to ride openings, you might want to avoid Disney World around the time when a park expansion or new land opens. When Galaxy’s Edge first opened in 2019, it was so crowded that they had to use a boarding group system to just allow people into the land. Similarly, when Toy Story Land opened, there was a monster line you had to wait in just to get to enter and walk around! You’ll be able to enjoy the land more when it’s less busy! Even if you make it into the new section of the park, it’s not uncommon to find it so crowded that you don’t get to fully experience all the new things. A LAND has so much more to explore than just a ride so guests, naturally, want time to explore! If you delay your visit by a few weeks, you can usually avoid the hoards of people and still get to check out the new offerings before most people will! EPCOT is Getting Some Big Changes in the Future — Click Here to Learn More! EPCOT Festivals…On the Weekends Listen, we REALLY love EPCOT festivals. Like…a lot. But you may want to avoid them on the weekends if you can. On Friday-Sunday, especially at dinnertime, the World Showcase tends to get packed during festival season. 2021 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival A lot of locals have Annual Passes and it’s not uncommon to see them head to EPCOT to experience the fests on weekends or dinner time weekdays. It’s not just locals though — EPCOT has rightfully earned a rep as the park with a LOT of great food options, so many guests plan to hop over in the evening for dinner. We’ve often found ourselves waiting longer than usual to get food during those times. Then, once you get your food, it becomes even more challenging to find a place to eat it! If you’re traveling to EPCOT for a festival, try to stop by during the week. If you can’t, hit up the food booths earlier in the day to avoid the dinner/after-work rush. Get All the Details on Food at the 2021 Flower & Garden Festival Here! During Sports Competitions Since COVID-19 has caused many things to get canceled, this may not necessarily be a problem this year, but we’re going to tell you about it anyway — sports competitions! Each year, several competitions for cheerleading, football, and other sports are held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Disney World. These events usually bring large groups of teenagers to the resorts and the parks. Keep up to date on everything happening at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex ahead of your trip. While the crowds in the parks may not be affected too much, you’ll certainly notice a change in the type of guest you see around the park. The athletes tend to travel in packs and might be a bit, well…louder than your average guests. You really shouldn’t notice too much of a difference unless you happen to enter a line behind a pack of 30+ cheerleaders! Note these groups often stay on-site at Value Resorts (not surprisingly, All-Star Sports is a popular location for these groups to stay!). If you want a quieter hotel experience, maybe consider avoiding these hotels if you visit during a competition. Learn More About This “Secret” Season Here! For a Milestone Celebration The last time when you may want to avoid the parks is for a milestone celebration at the parks (we’re looking at you, 50th Anniversary!). While there is going to be a lot to do and enjoy on October 1st, 2021, there are also going to be MASSIVE crowds, as Magic Kingdom has already been booked to capacity. Tons of Disney fans have planned special trips just to experience this momentous occasion! ©Disney | Even though it’s going to be crowded, we can’t wait to celebrate! The good news is that Disney World plans to celebrate its 50th Anniversary for 18 months, so you should be able to find a less-busy time of the year to visit and still experience most of the unique offerings. We can’t blame you if you want to be in the parks ON the official day (we’re going to be there ourselves), but we just want to make sure that you’re aware of what you’re getting yourself into! ©Disney | Cinderella Castle is going to be stunning for the 50th Anniversary! If you absolutely need to say “I was there!” on EPCOT’s 40th anniversary (yep, that’s rolling around next year, too!) or I was on Main Street, U.S.A. ON the 50th anni of Disney World, go for it! It’s just gonna be a bit hectic! There you have it, 10 times that you don’t want to be in Disney World! Like we said at the beginning, when you visit is ultimately up to YOU! We’re in Disney World eeeevery day so we’ve seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. A lot of it comes down to perspective. What are YOU looking to accomplish? If it’s being first on the newest ride or taking the least days off school and work to slip in that vacation, no one can tell you you’re wrong. You do you! No matter how crowded or crazy the parks are, you can still have a spectacular vacation if you have a positive attitude and a plan! No matter when you visit, you can have an amazing trip! Stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney World news and trip planning advice. We’re in the parks every day to get the most up-to-date coverage, so keep an eye on our site! 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 Disney World during any of these times? What was your experience like? The post 10 Times You DON’T Want to Be in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: The Ultimate List of Disney World Dates You NEED to Know Before You Go PHOTOS and VIDEOS: Some of the Biggest Crowds We’ve Seen in Disney World Since Reopening Everything That’s Happening in Disney World on October 1! 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. Oh boy, have we found a fun deal for you! ©Disney In case ya haven’t heard, shopDisney is hosting March Magic for the month. EVERY day, there’s new sweet savings, for that day ONLY. Well, March is wrapping up, and we’ve already seen some great deals on toys, t-shirts, pins, masks, and more! But we’ve got a few days left, so let’s see what Disney has in store for us. It seems like Disney lovesss givin’ away free collectible keys, because we’ve got another one today! Until midnight, you can snag The Child Collectible key with ANY purchase. The key has the Star Wars and Mandalorian logos, and it’s that Yoda green. Plus, it features our favorite intergalactic baby! ©Disney There’s no minimum purchase required for this freebie. Just use the promo code GROGUKEY at checkout! Click Here to Add The Child Collectible Key to Your Cart! The key is normally priced at $12.99, and you can get it for free today ONLY. If you’re doing any sort of Disney shoppin’, why not just add it to your cart?! We’ll keep ya posted with plenty of ways to save and more Disney news, so stay tuned to DFB! Check Out MORE Disney Discounts! 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 get this collectible key? Let us know in the comments! The post Love Baby Yoda? You’re Gonna Want Disney’s NEW Freebie first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: Get a FREE Disney Collectible Key TODAY Only How to Snag Another FREE Disney Collectible Key! Hurry! Disney Pins Are Buy 1, Get 1 Free TODAY Only! View the full article

Disney World is temporarily closing Main Street Confectionary, The Chapeau stores near Magic Kingdom entrance View the full article

The Disney Cruise Line is still not sailing. Disney Cruise Line All cruises are currently canceled through August 2021, but Disney has stated that it hopes to resume limited operations this fall. And itineraries for summer 2022 have already been announced! But if you’re missin’ that Disney Cruise Line magic — and if you live in the UK — there’s a brand-new experience available. Disney is debuting its UK Staycations with Disney Magic at Sea! The limited cruises depart from London Tilbury, Newcastle, Liverpool, and Southampton, and they are exclusive to U.K. residents. You can set sail for 2, 3, or 4 nights! And of course, the whole point of the staycation is that you won’t leave your ship! You’ll stay onboard the Disney Magic throughout your cruise, without the Disney Cruise Line’s typical stops. ©Disney Booking will begin in April for sailings starting in summer 2021! On board, you’ll be able to meet Captain Mickey, princesses, Marvel characters, AND Toy Story characters. There will also be dining experiences and entertainment. And as far as safety measures, Disney will implement physical distancing, facial coverings, and enhanced cleaning, similar to what they’re currently doing in the parks. Disney Magic If you’re a UK resident and you’re interested in this staycation, remember — booking begins in April! We’ll let you know when reservations are officially open, and of course, we’ll keep ya posted with more Disney news. Stay tuned to DFB! Read the Latest Update on Travel in the UK! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Are you interested in this staycation? Let us know in the comments! The post NEWS: Disney Cruise Line Will Set Sail Again Soon -- But Not in the Way You Think first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: NEWS: Disney Cruise Line Hopes to Resume Limited Operations This Fall DFB Video: 6 Best Ways to Get a Discount on a Disney Cruise! NEWS: Disney Cruise Line is Taking Extra Health and Safety Precautions Before Guests Can Board View the full article

Orange Bird is red-hot. The animated character, created for Florida Citrus Growers as Disney World prepared to open, maintains a legion of fans more than 50 years after his debut View the full article By DEWAYNE BEVIL ORLANDO SENTINEL | MAR 26, 2021 AT 6:19 AM Thank you for supporting our journalism. This article is available exclusively for our subscribers, who help fund our work at the Orlando Sentinel. Disney Springs visitors walk by a mural featuring Orange Bird in a retro citrus ad, which fits with the turn-of-the-century theme of that area of the shopping and dining complex. (Dewayne Bevil / Orlando Sentinel) Orange Bird is red-hot. The cartoon character, created for Florida Citrus Growers as Walt Disney World prepared to open, maintains a legion of fans more than 50 years after his debut. Disney does not make it hard to show devotion to the little guy. The company sells many Orange Bird products, from trendy tie-dye spirit jerseys to dolls, frilly dresses, kitchenware and bright, fuzzy, orange mouse-ear headbands. The cuteness factor is at play. His head is merely an orange with big eyes with leaves for hair, wings and tail. His little body is yellow, orange and pudgy. He’s round; he’s retro. Some devotees have emotional connections to the bird, playing off theme-park nostalgia and the very fact that he remains silent. Not a chirp. If he concentrates hard enough, his thoughts appear in a cloud of orange Early on in Disney World's history, the Orange Bird nested in Magic Kingdom's Adventureland. (Walt Disney Co.) Heather Stiles’ first Orange Bird sighting — a bin of plush dolls at Disney’s Animal Kingdom — was in 2017. “I feel like it was love at first sight … being just such a cheerful character with a really great backstory and background,” she says. Thus, began her Orange Bird collection, which now numbers in the hundreds of items. “I get everything Orange Bird is on,” Stiles says. “If he’s depicted, then it will become part of the collection.” The Orange Bird character can be found as a design option in Disney World's MagicBands lineup. (Dewayne Bevil / Orlando Sentinel) Her stash includes trading pins, jewelry, dishes, rare cels from commercials and plain, white Funko prototypes. But there’s more than merchandise to Orange Bird, she says. “A lot of people love the character for the way that it looks but don’t really dive into the backstory, and they definitely should because it has a 50-year history with Disney and was an integral part in the creation of Adventureland as a whole,” Stiles says. In the '70s, a costumed Orange Bird would interact with Magic Kingdom visitors. (Disney D23) A symbol is hatched Back in the planning stages of Magic Kingdom, Florida Orange Growers wanted to be a corporate sponsor of an attraction, and it wanted a mascot to go with it. Disney designers dreamed up Orange Bird, which became the symbol of Tropical Serenade, the animatronic-bird show now known as Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room. It was a way to sell orange juice in Adventureland and beyond. Orange Bird mostly pulled theme-park duty. There was a walk-around character for awhile. He was on an album featuring singer Anita Bryant, an orange-juice spokesperson herself, and that record included songs by Richard and Robert Sherman, the minds behind Disney classics such as “It’s a Small World (After All)” and “Chim Chim Cher-ee.” The bird made a few appearances in educational films. In one storyline, he is mocked by other birds but overcomes adversity and, in the end, saves a family from calamity. “It’s really emotional, because, you know, I was bullied in high school,” Stiles says. “The poor thing just wants to be accepted.” Eventually, the orange character faded. His comeback included appearances at Tokyo Disneyland, followed by his incorporation into activities for the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival in 2017. “I always have an affinity for whenever there are characters that are unique to the theme parks. So, when Orange Bird started coming back … I got really excited,” says Theresa Mabe, who lives near Baltimore. “I’m very passionate about accessibility and disability advocacy. I really appreciate the fact that there’s this character that is a nonverbal, nonspeaking character,” she said. “It’s not out of the fact that he is disinterested in communicating or doesn’t have the capacity to do it. He just does it in a very different way.” Jack Turnquest, who lives in Chicago, also feels ties to the character. “You can’t not fall in love with this face,” he says. “It’s a little deeper for me because he doesn’t speak or talk. … I kind of connect with that nonverbal aspect because I have autism spectrum disorder, and sometimes being nonverbal is the thing,” he says. [Popular on OrlandoSentinel.com] Nassal and interior-design company team up for at-home themed concepts » “It’s my little connection to the Disney company, feeling represented, you know?” While working for Disney College Program last year, Turnquest got an Orange Bird tattoo on his forearm. “It feels nice to have people compliment it because I enjoy having it on my arm,” he says. “Why not show it off?” A rare bird The relative obscurity of Orange Bird might be key to his appeal, says Robert Thompson, who teaches a pop-culture course at Syracuse University. “It either shows that you are really, really knowledgeable about the complete canon of Disney characters … or the only Disney character that’s cool enough for you is one that nobody else really knows much about,” Thompson says. It could also be seen as a relief from the omnipresence of Disney characters and princesses, he said. There’s been no Orange Bird origin story on Disney+ or “O.B.: The Musical” on stage. “It’s the relative in the family that we never see or hear about. There’s a mystery to this,” he says. In 2019, an Orange Bird-inspired, orange-scented chocolate mousse was sold at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom. (Dewayne Bevil / Orlando Sentinel) Disney World visitors currently can buy Orange Bird’s image on T-shirts, bucket hats, windbreakers, aprons and a MagicBand that reads “Squeeze me.” A second version of an Orange Bird sipper cup (filled with a lemon-orange smoothie) debuted at the Epcot flower and garden festival this year. He is incorporated into products that feature well-known Disney characters, such as Snow White, Donald Duck, Ariel and Dumbo. He represents “O” in a set of alphabet-driven products, when the company could have gone with Olaf (“Frozen”), Owl (“Winnie the Pooh”) or Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, an early creation of Walt Disney. He’s used in non-revenue-making ways too. Disney World is mailing free Orange Bird magnets to its annual passholders, and he is featured in murals at Disney Springs and Magic Kingdom. How Bowers, who lives in St. Petersburg, remembers the bird from his childhood and shopping for Orange Bird merchandise by driving from orange stand to orange stand. “I was able to pick up an Orange Bird bank, and I still have that on my desk,” he says. He eventually made a profit via eBay sales. “I ended up flipping a bunch of stuff on eBay about 10 years ago because it was like there was a vacuum,” Bowers says. There’s no lack of options now, thanks to the surge in popularity of nerd and geek culture, he says. “The character is obviously incredibly cute and appealing. … You know, very Florida. I mean, it is part and parcel of the Florida experience,” he says. “And he’s just slightly weird enough.”

The City of Orlando's Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake provides opportunities for all types of recreation including fishing, disc golf, picnicking, camping and hiking. View the full article

Today, Disneyland announced potential plans for a HUGE expansion. ©Disney That may take years to come to fruition, but there’s one new land we know for SURE is coming to Disney California Adventure: Avengers Campus! Today, while eating corn dogs and hanging out at A Touch of Disney, we spotted a MAJOR part of this exciting new land: the Quinjet! THE QUINJET! We’d previously gotten some behind-the-scenes looks at this impressive piece of S.H.I.E.L.D. technology, and while it’s behind quite a few construction walls, we have to say: this thing looks PRETTY cool in person! Avengers Campus is really coming together! I mean, check out that BIG A on the wing! Quinjet! This new land is expected to open “later this year” in the area formerly taken up by A Bug’s Land at Disney California Adventure and is NOT on the list of things opening up with Disneyland Resort when it reopens on April 30th! However, when we DO know when we can really, TRULY see this beauty up close (and ride WEB Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure), we’ll let you know! Closer Look at NEW Spider-Man Attraction Coming to Disney’s Avengers Campus! Disneyland Reopening Details and Info Click HERE for the All Latest Updates Disneyland Aims to Reopen Late April California Residents May Be the ONLY People Allowed to Visit Reopened Disneyland Initially Avengers Campus Still Set to Open at Disneyland "Later This Year" Click Here to Learn More About the "Touch of Disney" Ticketed Event in Disney California Adventure Disneyland's Grand Californian Hotel Reopening Date Announced! Everything You NEED To Know About Wearing Masks at a Disney Park Join the DFB Newsletter To get all the latest Disney Park Closure News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Are you excited for Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure? Let us know in the comments! The post PHOTOS: We Spotted the QUINJET at Disneyland's Avengers Campus! first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: What’s New at Disneyland Resort — TWO New Menus, Delicious Funnel Cakes, and EVERYTHING Oogie Boogie! PHOTOS! Take a Look Inside the Disneyland Resort Parks During the Closure! NEWS: Disney’s Avengers Campus Confirmed to Open in 2021 View the full article

Disneyland theme parks aren’t fully reopening for another month, but we got some HUGE news out of Anaheim today: Disneyland Resort is trying to expand! Disneyland It’s dizzying to dissect everything Disneyland has released information about like theme parks, retail, and parking expansions, and to make sense of all these potential future plans, Disney launched a new website, DisneylandForward. A Disneyland expansion may have you asking many questions, but to help temper all of the crazy rumors, Disney has launched a FAQ on the new website to address all of those burning questions! Disneyland expansion concept art As of now, it’s important to know this is all conceptual, and that Disneyland is asking the city of Anaheim to update development approvals from the 1990s to allow for a mixed use of theme parks, retail, dining, and entertainment. Here are the answers we know from Disneyland (for now). Why is Disneyland trying to get approval for mixed-use expansion now? Disneyland has been closed for a year due to the global health crisis and has only partially reopened for the A Touch of Disney event and other shopping and dining experiences on Buena Vista Street and at Downtown Disney. So, why announce plans for expansion now? According to DisneylandForward, it’s all about forward movement. ©DisneylandForward “We realize that in order to invest in a way that makes sense, not just for Disney but our entire community we need to seek out ways to create integrated experiences. In order to do that, we need updated development approvals from the city. The public review and approval process will take time. Starting today this process will allow us to take the first step forward,” the website states. What’s planned for Disneyland’s expansion? New lands themed to Zootopia, Tangled, Peter Pan, or Frozen? What’s coming to Disneyland? That’s all POSSIBLE, but the truth is: Disney has not announced any additional details yet. ©DisneylandForward “We are at the very beginning stages of the process. While the project will be refined over time, we hope to explore the creation of integrated experiences featuring new theme park attractions, dining, retail, hotel, and more. Right now, we don’t have any specific projects planned for the future,” DisneylandForward states. “To be clear, Disney is not seeking any public funding for DisneylandForward, nor are we seeking additional square footage or hotel rooms beyond what is currently approved and allowed. Rather, we are simply asking to update our existing approvals to allow for integrated development to be located and built on Disney properties.” Zootopia Concept Art ©Disney So, Zootopia land in Shanghai or other themed lands could come to Disneyland Resort, but nothing is for certain yet! Will Disneyland build another theme park? Will WESTCOT finally become reality at Disneyland Resort?! After all, it’s been TWENTY years since Disney California Adventure opened! Legacy Passholder Photo Op in Disney California Adventure for A Touch of Disney WELL, not so fast. ©DisneylandForward “We are not announcing any future projects at this time,” DisneylandForward states. “Currently, we are focused on meeting with the community to explain DisneylandForward and working with the City of Anaheim to review and ultimately approve the project. These updated approvals are necessary as they will allow us to explore new integrated and immersive experiences that could include adding new theme park attractions without having to remove and replace treasured rides and attractions.” Avengers Campus construction in Disney California Adventure Note that it says new theme park attractions, not a whole new theme park. Is there going to be a new hotel at Disneyland Resort? Disneyland currently has three hotels: The Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Disneyland Hotel, and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel. Disneyland Hotel Could another hotel be coming to the area? Disney isn’t offering up specifics. ©DisneylandForward “With DisneylandForward, we will have the opportunity to bring integrated and immersive development to the Anaheim Resort area that could include hotels, dining, entertainment and theme parks, all in one area,” Disney stated. So, maybe yes, maybe no. Donald Duck at the Grand Californian There’s SO much to be determined about the expansions coming to Disneyland, if they even happen, and we’re keeping our nose to the ground for any and ALL updates. When there’s more Disneyland news (and when Disneyland reopens late next month!), make sure to come to DFB so we can break it all down for you! PHOTOS! Breaking Down the CONCEPT ART for the Disneyland Expansion Disneyland Reopening Details and Info Click HERE for the All Latest Updates Disneyland Aims to Reopen Late April California Residents May Be the ONLY People Allowed to Visit Reopened Disneyland Initially Avengers Campus Still Set to Open at Disneyland "Later This Year" Click Here to Learn More About the "Touch of Disney" Ticketed Event in Disney California Adventure 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 What do you think of this possible Disneyland expansion?! Let us know in the comments! The post Disney's Answers to the BIGGEST Disneyland Expansion Questions! first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: Disneyland Plans to Install Over 23,000 Health and Safety Measures in Preparation for a Future Reopening What’s New at Disneyland Resort: 999 Happy Haunted Pieces of Merch and Some Love for Jack Skellington Himself! NEWS! Disneyland Will EXPAND Mobile Order! See What Restaurants Are Added! View the full article

Disney has released A LOT of ears over the last year or so. Disney Parks Mickey Balloon Ears Most of the time, they’re pretty straightforward. The pastel rainbow ears are multicolored. The yellow floral ears are yellow and feature flowers. But a NEW pair of ears have us TOTALLY confused. Make it purple! Make it blue! No need to debate like the fairies in Sleeping Beauty, Disney’s new befuddling ears can do BOTH! Purple? Blue? Do you remember the blue and black vs. gold and white dress debacle?!? Well, it looks like we’ve got a new color debate, and it’s splitting the DFB team apart! About half of us see blue, and the other half see purple. A few people agreed it could be somewhere in between, like a periwinkle. But truly, we are fighting about the color of these ears! The reporter who actually saw them in person says that they are purple, but not everyone is convinced. What a UNIQUE bow! While our main concern was what color the ears are, the bow is a story of its own! We aren’t exactly sure what the bow is supposed to be, but it certainly is unique! Some of our DFB team thought it was supposed to be flowers, and some thought it looked like it was inspired by an 80s prom dress. It even looks like it could be a couple of scrunchies sewn on to look like a bow! So pretty, and yet, so mysterious We found these ears at Five and Dime in Disney’s California Adventure during A Touch of Disney. These ears are not as dark as Disney’s Potion Purple ears from a few years ago, so we still can’t come to an agreement on what color these ears ACTUALLY are! These totally remind you of flowers, right? So, what color do you see? We must settle the debate once and for all so that we can stop fighting about it (we’re not kidding, we had a full argument). We love a good debate (and good Minnie ears!), so when we find more puzzling Disney merch, we’ll let you know where to find it! We Have NO Idea What This Piece of Disney Merch Is For…But We Bought It! 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. So…Are these ears PURPLE or are they BLUE!? Let us know in the comments! The post What COLOR Are Disney's New Minnie Ears?! Seriously, Tell Us...We're Fighting About It! first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: What’s New at Disneyland Resort: Food & Wine Booths, Ink & Paint Merchandise, and the Sweetest Sundae EVER! Spotted! UNICORN Minnie Ears in Disney California Adventure! NEW Mickey Ears Feature a MAJOR Disney Icon! View the full article

Well, we’ve gotten QUITE the big news out of Disneyland recently! ©Disney Disney has just announced some multi-year plans for expansion of its theme parks, shopping, and parking. “DisneylandForward” is what Disney is calling its planning effort with the city of Anaheim to make some of these changes possible. What exactly is DisneylandForward though and what does it involve? We’re breaking it all down for you here! The DisneylandForward website describes “DisneylandForward” as “a multiyear public planning effort with the City of Anaheim to update existing development approvals that will allow Disney to meaningfully invest in Anaheim for years to come and meet the future demands in entertainment.” What does that mean? A Bit of History Well, let’s go through a bit of history. As the DisneylandForward website notes, when Disneyland first opened all the way back in 1955, “no one could have predicted its impact on Anaheim and the world.” Basically, Disney notes how the Anaheim area has now become a MAJOR tourist destination. More about DisneylandForward ©Disney After Disneyland reopened, motels, restaurants, and other businesses grew up around Disneyland. Then, in the 1990s, the City of Anaheim approved plans that would help “guide the growth” of Disneyland Resort and the businesses in the area. Those plans created districts or zones that specified what types of developments could be built where. Those plans also had guidelines about sizes of developments, height limits, and more. Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle Since the 1990s, a lot has changed at Disneyland and the area surrounding it. Disneyland has since opened its second theme park — Disney California Adventure Park — and much more. Disney continues to invest in Disneyland with projects like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Avengers Campus, and more. What Disneyland Says It Needs Now Now, Disney notes that “the addition of more attractions and experiences in the future may be limited under current inflexible planning restrictions unless we remove and replace treasured rides and attractions in our parks today.” What Things Look Like Today ©Disney Disney notes that those plans that were approved in the 1990s used a “traditional” district/zone approach. According to Disney, this “traditional” approach doesn’t allow for “the diverse, integrated experiences theme park visitors now seek, severely limiting Disney’s ability to continue investing in Anaheim.” Basically, DisneylandForward is Disney’s push to work with the city of Anaheim and the community to update the existing plans to allow for more flexibility for their future plans. Where We’ve Been, Where We’re At, and Where We’re Going ©Disney According to the Orange County Register, Anaheim spokesman Mike Lyster has explained that under the current plan you might have an area designated as “hotel” while another is designated as “entertainment.” Lyster explained that Disney is now looking for “mixed-use” flexibility so you could have hotel AND entertainment on the same parcel. To be clear, Disney has noted they are not seeking public funding for DisneylandForward. They’re also not looking to get any additional square footage or physical land beyond what is approved and allowed right now. What they’re trying to do is work with the city to get more flexibility for their future plans. As one Disneyland spokesperson put it, according to the OCR “We’re not changing the size of the toast, we’re just spreading the peanut butter around.” ©Disney Disney has noted that without getting more flexibility in terms of what is allowed in each district, or demolishing and replacing beloved theme park attractions, some of their further plans for investment in Disneyland Resort wouldn’t be possible. Click here to read a statement from Disneyland’s President about DisneylandForward. The Concept Art and Plans Here’s a peek at the concept art that’s been released as part of these plans. There’s a whole bunch to unpack there. You can see a new mountain area on the left and more. Concept Art ©Disney And here’s at their “possibilities map” showing some of the expansions to the parks that could be coming down the line, again if they can get the flexibility they’re looking for from the city. ©Disney Disney notes, of course, that these are just for illustrative purposes. Things could continue to greatly change. Click here for a more in-depth break-down of the concept art! What Could Be At the moment, Disneyland is NOT officially announcing anything that will be part of their proposed expansions. But, we do have a look at that concept art to give us some ideas of what COULD be. ©Disney According to the DisneylandForward website, with more flexibility to build as they’d like to at the Disneyland Resort, “new lands and adventures like those underway at Tokyo DisneySea and Shanghai Disneyland could inspire new experiences here.” The DisneylandForward site then shows images from expansions coming to other Disney parks around the world — like the Frozen, Tangled, and Peter Pan areas coming to Tokyo DisneySea. The website also shows images of the Zootopia area which is coming to Shanghai Disneyland, and more. What Things Could Be Inspiring New Spaces at Disneyland ©Disney Disney also notes that they plan to invest in transportation parking, and more to improve mobility. Part of the plan includes a new parking area at Disneyland and a pedestrian bridge linking certain areas at Disneyland Resort. Disneyland’s plans for future expansion will have to be approved by Anaheim city leaders. Right now, it’s expected that the back-and-forth planning process about these things will last about 2 years before any decisions are finalized. So, basically while parts of Disneyland could change in the future thanks to increased flexibility in those districts and what not, it’s not going to be a quick process. ©Disney And that’s a basic break-down of what DisneylandForward is. There’s a lot that remains to be seen or more than needs to be further explained about Disney’s plans. And a lot is still subject to change or later be determined depending on how their efforts in working with the Anaheim city leaders work out. We’ll be on the lookout for more updates and let you know what we find. Disneyland Reopening Details and Info Click HERE for the All Latest Updates Disneyland Aims to Reopen Late April California Residents May Be the ONLY People Allowed to Visit Reopened Disneyland Initially Avengers Campus Still Set to Open at Disneyland "Later This Year" Click Here to Learn More About the "Touch of Disney" Ticketed Event in Disney California Adventure 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 see how Disneyland might expand some of their areas in the future? Tell us in the comments! The post What IS DisneylandForward? Here's What We Know first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: NEWS: Disneyland Is Now Canceling Reservations Through Early October NEWS: California Theme Parks Need “Attainable Guidelines” to Reopen Says Anaheim Mayor NEWS: Disney CEO Says California’s Reopening Guidelines Are “Set Up Without Regard to Actual Fact” View the full article

Disney just laid out the DisneylandForward project. ©Disney This new project focuses on an expansion of Disneyland within the current space that the resort already covers. It’s in very early stages, but teams hope to explore the creation of new theme park attractions, dining, retail, hotel, and more in Disney’s original resort. Now, we’re taking a look at some of the concept images for DisneylandForward. At this time, Disneyland does not have any concrete plans for expansion in Disneyland Resort, instead, DisneylandForward is a multi-year public planning effort with the City of Anaheim to update planning approvals so that the park may expand. If approvals go through, this would allow teams to explore a wide variety of expansions for the resort. Let’s take a look at the concept art and see what we can unpack. The clearest aspect of this art shows added connections between Disneyland and the current parking lot area and Disney California Adventure and a current parking lot area. In both instances, the parking lot has been replaced with themed experiences. Concept Art ©Disney This expansion is clearer when you look at the DisneylandForward map. Again, this is all proposed, but this map shows the removal of several parking lots in favor of expansion at other existing parking areas and possible new parking areas where backstage areas exist currently. Expanding parking elsewhere, perhaps through new parking structures, would allow for the current parking lot space to be used for theme park, retail, and hotel expansion. The DisneylandForward map is a little bit confusing but it shows the proposed expansion of Disneyland Park into what is now a parking area, limited expansion of Downtown Disney into what is now a parking area, expansion of Disney California Adventure into what is currently a parking area, and an entirely new retail and hotel area with a theme park experience in what is currently a parking area. ©Disney ©Disney The DisneylandForward site even shares an image of what one of these new parking structures might look like. Disneyland may need approval from the city to make such largescale changes to the parking structures which could be a large part of the efforts of Disneyland Forward. ©Disney To help you understand the concept art, we took the satellite image from Google Maps and overlayed it with what the expansion might look like. You can see Disneyland in orange, Disney California Adventure in blue, new and expanded parking areas in yellow, existing and new retail areas (including Downtown Disney) in purple, and existing and new hotel areas in green. © Google Maps | DFB Again, this planning project is in VERY early stages but it could mean SERIOUS expansion in Disneyland Resort. We’re working on breaking down this news right now so stay tuned to DFB for more information on DisneylandForward and what it could mean! Click here to learn more about DisneylandForward! Disneyland Reopening Details and Info Click HERE for the All Latest Updates Disneyland Aims to Reopen Late April California Residents May Be the ONLY People Allowed to Visit Reopened Disneyland Initially Avengers Campus Still Set to Open at Disneyland "Later This Year" Click Here to Learn More About the "Touch of Disney" Ticketed Event in Disney California Adventure 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 What do you think of this expansion? Let us know in the comments! The post PHOTOS! Breaking Down the CONCEPT ART for the Disneyland Expansion first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: BREAKING: Disneyland EXPANSION Announced Review: The Philly Cheesesteak Hot Dog is BACK at Refreshment Corner in Disneyland Celebrate the Christmas Season With Holiday Offerings in Disneyland Resort View the full article

Disneyland Resort hasn’t even reopened yet, but there are BIG plans in the works for the theme parks! Concept Art ©Disney Although Disney California Adventure is currently hosting the A Touch of Disney dining and shopping event that opened up every part of the park EXCEPT for the rides, Disneyland will reopen both parks (including rides) on April 30th, over a year after it initially closed. Today, we got news that Disneyland is already planning for the future, though. Disney recently revealed some new “long-term plans for theme park, retail, and parking expansion.” The company is also working with the city of Anaheim to “reimagine what the resort district will look like over the next couple of decades.” ©Disney That sounds pretty exciting, right? Well, now Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock has made a statement about that expansion in a letter to the Anaheim community. He wrote, “At Disneyland Resort, we are taking this time to dream beyond the now and think boldly about the future because bold ideas and thoughtful leadership aren’t just our legacy, they’re our best path forward.” You can see the full email below. Letter from Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock He also announced a public planning effort with the city of Anaheim called DisneylandForward. Disney will work with the city to “continue to be an industry leader in bringing first-of-a-kind offerings to Anaheim, which in turn will create thousands of new jobs and help support Anaheim’s funding for important services such as fire, police and public schools.” ©Disney Potrock did explain that Disneyland isn’t seeking public funding for the expansion and that the company isn’t looking to develop any additional property or hotel rooms beyond what has been previously allowed. The idea is to work with the city of Anaheim to update the approvals already in place to expand the resort. This Ken Potrock quote is also listed on the new DisneylandForward website. ©Disney We’ll continue to follow the news about Disneyland’s expansion and keep you updated! Read ALL about the Disneyland expansion! Disneyland Reopening Details and Info Click HERE for the All Latest Updates Disneyland Aims to Reopen Late April California Residents May Be the ONLY People Allowed to Visit Reopened Disneyland Initially Avengers Campus Still Set to Open at Disneyland "Later This Year" Click Here to Learn More About the "Touch of Disney" Ticketed Event in Disney California Adventure 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 What do you think of the Disneyland expansion? Let us know in the comments! The post NEWS: Disneyland Resort President Comments On Expansion first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: NEWS: Anaheim Officials Support Bill to Speed Disneyland’s Reopening Disneyland President Says the Resort Is ‘In Limbo’ With the California Government NEWS: Early Details of California’s Theme Park Reopening Guidelines Revealed View the full article

Disneyland’s theme parks have been closed for over a year (except for some limited access through A Touch of Disney and the prior reopening of Buena Vista Street). But, Disneyland is already looking WELL into the future. This gate will soon be open again! Disneyland has now actually shared a look at their long-term plans for a theme park, retail, and parking expansion. YES. You read that right. Buckle up — we’re unpacking what we know right here! According to the Orange County Register (OCR), “Disneyland has unveiled long-term plans for theme park, retail and parking expansion.” Disneyland is now reportedly preparing to work with the city of Anaheim to reimagine what Disneyland Resort will look like over the next few decades. Hello View! According to the DisnelandForward website, “DisneylandForward is a multiyear public planning effort with the City of Anaheim to update existing development approvals that will allow Disney to meaningfully invest in Anaheim for years to come and meet the future demands in entertainment.” As part of these plans, Disney will actually be asking the city for more flexibility when it comes to some older plans that were approved in the 1990s. That flexibility would then allow them to add a “mix of theme park, hotel, retail, dining and entertainment on the eastern and western edges of the Disneyland resort.” Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle Also, it’s important to note that the current “DisneylandForward conceptual development plan stays within Disney’s existing 500-acre property in Anaheim with no physical expansion or additional acreage.” As one Disney official put it, “We’re not changing the size of the toast, we’re just spreading the peanut butter around.” So, the plan is more focused on obtaining flexibility and rezoning areas to allow for certain expansions within the physical space they have. Olaf, Anna, and Elsa A Disneyland representative has indicated that the DisneylandForward plan includes “what could be possible” for the future of Disneyland Resort if they are able to get more flexibility and approvals from the city. What’s included in these plans? Well, the westside expansion “envisions a theme park on the Downtown Disney and Lilo and Stitch parking lots woven amid the Disneyland Hotel and Paradise Pier Hotel.” But, it seems Disney officials have described this west-side site as more of an expansion than a third park. We’ll Go Tractor Tipping Next Time Bud! The concept art shared seems to show a mountain in one section surrounded by water and various buildings. A mountain ridge then appears to separate the theme park from neighborhoods that are nearby. The OCR notes that “The west-side site links up with Downtown Disney near the unused AMC Theater and ESPN Zone.” There’s also much more that appears in the concept art. Concept Art ©Disney A Disney executive has noted that “guests need and want more...In order to give guests what they want, we need more flexibility here in Anaheim.” Lamplight Lounge! According to the Disneyland portfolio executive for Walt Disney Imagineering, Jeanette Lomboy, Disney is not announcing anything specific today as part of DisneylandForward. Instead, Lomboy noted, that the projects they showed in their media briefing today, which included the Tangled and Peter Pan areas coming to Tokyo Disneyland in Japan and more, “should give you a flavor of the types of industry-defining integrated experiences and story-rich lands that we want to bring to Anaheim.” As the OCR notes, Disney’s plans for future expansion will need to be signed off by Anaheim city leaders. There will be a back-and-forth planning process about these efforts that is expected to last 2 years before any decisions are finalized. Disney California Adventure A spokesman for Anaheim noted that the city is receptive at this point to updating the zoning around Disneyland and some surrounding areas. Hey There Tink! We’re continuing to look for more news on this project and will update this page and share more info as we learn more. Click here to read about Disneyland’s upcoming reopening! Disneyland Reopening Details and Info Click HERE for the All Latest Updates Disneyland Aims to Reopen Late April California Residents May Be the ONLY People Allowed to Visit Reopened Disneyland Initially Avengers Campus Still Set to Open at Disneyland "Later This Year" Click Here to Learn More About the "Touch of Disney" Ticketed Event in Disney California Adventure 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 What do you think about this expansion news? Tell us in the comments! The post BREAKING: Disneyland EXPANSION Announced first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: NEWS: California Theme Parks Need “Attainable Guidelines” to Reopen Says Anaheim Mayor PHOTOS: Two Iconic Disneyland Statues Have Been Refurbished! We’re Breaking Down the Disneyland Annual Passholder Refunds View the full article

Hello to all our DFB Friends! Tree of Life — it’s so magnificent! Guess where we’ve been? Disney’s Animal Kingdom! And we’ve been looking for all the new stuff that’s popped up since we were last there, so you can stay updated! So let’s go! Disney’s Animal Kingdom Food Updates Anadapur Ice Cream Truck, Thirsty River Bar. and Trek Snacks There’s a new beer in town…err…in the Animal Kingdom. The Tiger Pale is now gone. Replacing it is the Longboard and SN Pale Ale. Anandapur Ice Cream Truck beer offerings Both are $10 per can. See How EPCOT Just Made Beer Way More Fun Drinkwallah The beer offerings here are the same, except we did find a new beer on the menu: Flat Tire. Beer! You can get this one for $10 per can, too. Read Our Review of PINEAPPLE Beer Dino-Whamma It’s kind of odd finding a NEW Popcorn Bucket in Animal Kingdom’s DinoLand, U.S.A. that’s all about Magic Kingdom, but that’s exactly what we found! This IS the first NEW popcorn bucket we’ve seen in a hot minute, though! Magic Kingdom everywhere! The popcorn bucket is $12. See More Photos of The New Popcorn Bucket Dino Bite Snacks The St. Patrick’s Day Ice Cream Sandwich is officially gone, and the Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream Sandwich is back, and we’re not mad about it! It’s BACK!!! Although we wouldn’t have an issue with them bringing the Chocolate Strawberry Ice Cream Sandwich back, which was the Valentine’s Day treat there. See our review of the Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream here! Joffrey’s Royal Anandapur Tea Company We found a lovely little Lemon Cake over at Joffrey’s Royal Anandapur Tea Company in Asia. The mini loaf cake with an icing glaze on top made for a nice light snack! Lemon cake! You can grab one for $4.99. See More Lemon Cake Photos Trek Snacks The Simba Pretzel is back! It’s the circle of life…in a pretzel This was previously a Mickey pretzel. We have seen this offering comes and go quite a few times. It’s likely repaced with a Mickey pretzel when the Simba pretzels are low or out of stock. Learn More About The Simba Pretzel Disney’s Animal Kingdom Merchandise Updates Discovery Trading Company We found the Baby Yoda Plush on sale for $10! This is the way! Baby Yoda for $10! If you’re looking to get your hands on that new Dooney & Bourke Disney Sidekicks collection, it’s available at Discovery Trading Company. Lots of rare characters on these! We expect that these bags might go fast, so if you want to get your hands on any of them, here’s your chance! See more photos of this collection here! Island Mercantile The weather’s been a little chilly here in Florida, and you know what that means — the shops are putting out their rolling racks of jackets and cold weather gear. How you know it’s chilly in Florida… We guess this is winter’s last hurrah before summer brings the heat! Here’s The Perfect Mug For Chilly Mornings Serka Zong Bazaar The Expedition Everest Gift Shop has LOADS of new shirts! This shirt reps the Yeti and tells the world you conquered Everest! And it’s available now for $24.99. How is the Yeti so cute here? That adorable yeti is even cuter on this Yeti, Set, Go! shirt! This one is covered in snowflake patterns! It’s $29.99. Um…again…cute! This kids’ shirt with the Yeti as a popsicle is $29.99. Yetisicle There’s also this Everest Summit Gear Shirt for $24.99. Adventure is out there. This one has a cool fade effect with a graphic for A. Bominable’s Everest Summit Tours. This t-shirt is $36.99. A. Bomanable — oh, we see what you did there, Disney But wait, because your kid will need this Expedition Everest Adventure Kit! The kit is $14.99. Gotta’ have the right supplies for adventuring! Oh, did we happen to mention that we spotted a 30% off sale here, too! 30% off! It’s only select merchandise, but a sale is a sale! See Photos of the NEW Yeti Spirit Jersey! Riverside Depot There’s a NEW Chip ‘n’ Dale Magical Comics Pin out! It’s $19.99. Chip ‘n’ Dale! We also spotted a brand new Water Bottle with the Kingdom of Cute icons on it! NEW Water bottle! The water bottle is $22.99. Check Out Photos Of A Water Bottle That’s a TOTAL Scream! Windtraders The Blueberry Almond Popcorn has returned, and it’s $6.99 a bag. Blueberry Almond Popcorn – yum. But the other snacks and candy, except the Sour Gummy Candy are missing now! Learn About That Time We Ate Maple and Whiskey Popcorn at Disney World Animal Kingdom Attraction Updates Na’vi River Journey Every Na’vi River Journey boat now has Plexiglass between the rows. Plexiglass Cast Members are now loading every row on this ride. See More Photos of the New Plexiglass on Na’vi River Journey Animal Kingdom Character Updates The character flotillas had their tops on because of the weather. Hey, Mickey! MICKEY! They were also limiting each flotilla to just one character at a time. What You Need To Know About Visiting Animal Kingdom in the Spring? That does it for our time at Animal Kingdom, but don’t you worry because we’ll be back soon with even more updates! See How 24,000 Disney Fans Ranked EVERY Ride in Animal Kingdom! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We've done the research for you, so you'll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family's needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you'll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today! Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ready-to-shop-button.png Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Have you been to Animal Kingdom recently? Let us know in the comments! The post What's New in Disney's Animal Kingdom: A Popcorn Bucket (FINALLY), A Few Sales, AND Beer Updates! first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: What’s New in Disney’s Animal Kingdom: A Missing FastPass Sign, Loaded TOTS, and More! What’s New at Animal Kingdom: TONS of Pins, Pandora Gets a Refresh, and More! What’s New at Animal Kingdom: An Ice Cream HACK, Confetti Princess Mugs, and More! View the full article

ICYMI: Disneyland is reopening soon! Disney California Adventure While Disney California Adventure is currently open for the ticketed A Touch of Disney event, the rides remain closed until the park’s official reopening on April 30th (Disneyland will reopen then, too!). We’ve been cruisin’ around A Touch of Disney trying all the snacks, checking out the crowds, and even stopping for some photos! But today, we spotted a sign that the rides are getting the spiffying they need so they’re ready to go at the end of the month. We moseyed over to Cars Land to see that cars were running on Radiator Springs Racers! This ride’s been down since March 2020, so it was great to see them zippin’ down the road again. Cars are back on Radiator Springs Racers! Although we can’t be sure why these cars are back out, we’re guessing some Cast Members are being trained. We sure can’t wait until we can hop on and feel the wind in our hair again! We’re keepin’ a close eye on things over on the west coast, so we’ll keep you posted with more reopening news! As always, stay tuned to DFB for more Disney news and updates. Here’s What We Know About Disneyland’s Reopening! Disneyland Reopening Details and Info Click HERE for the All Latest Updates Disneyland Aims to Reopen Late April California Residents May Be the ONLY People Allowed to Visit Reopened Disneyland Initially Avengers Campus Still Set to Open at Disneyland "Later This Year" Click Here to Learn More About the "Touch of Disney" Ticketed Event in Disney California Adventure 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 What ride are you most excited to reopen? Let us know in the comments! The post VIDEOS: Over a Year Later, the Rides in Disneyland Are FINALLY Moving Again first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: BREAKING: Disneyland Announces Reopening Date NEWS: Disneyland to Use Theme Park Reservation System Upon Reopening CONFIRMED: Disneyland Will Only Open for California Residents View the full article