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A notice with the state, as a requirement under federal law for mass layoffs, revealed the blow - 1,896 employees lost their jobs at SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica Orlando and Discovery Cove. View the full article

This is Halloween, this is Halloween! And we are SO excited. Halloween Decorations Even though we can’t celebrate at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party this year, we CAN still have a frightfully fun time in Magic Kingdom. That’s right, Halloween decorations are up along Main Street, U.S.A. — and Cast Members have donned their Mickey’s Not-So-Scary costumes! Eek! We were screaming with excitement this morning when we spotted some of the Main Street Cast Members dressed to the nefarious nines in their Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party costumes. Magic Kingdom Cast Members in Costume Select Cast Members are wearing these during regular park hours as a part of 2020’s modified Halloween celebrations. Halloween Costumes And Cast Members aren’t the only ones who are getting in on the fun. Did you know that guests of all ages are allowed to wear costumes during Magic Kingdom’s regular park hours for the first time EVER this year? You’ll still need to follow park rules (so make sure you have an approved face mask!), but you can sport your Halloween threads anytime from September 15th to October 31st. Halloween Character Cavalcade We can’t believe that the Halloween season is already in full swing! Keep an eye on DFB for more coverage and pics of the Halloween festivities! Click here to learn more about this year’s Halloween festivities! 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! Get Your Copy of the 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2020 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 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2020 to save 25% off the cover price today! Your order will include a FREE instant download of the 2019 Edition of the Guide! Use code WDW2020 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What costume are YOU wearing for Halloween this year? Tell us in the comments! The post A BIG Piece of Disney World Halloween is HERE! Check Out the Costumes Cast Members Will Be Rocking All Season Long! first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: 11 Fun and FREE Disney World Souvenirs! (Do You Have Them All?!) We Can’t Tell: Is This Disney World Halloween Rice Krispie Treat Cute or Creepy?? These Might Be Our Favorite Disney Dining Plan Snacks (And The Cutest Costumes) EVER in Disney World! View the full article

One of the main ideas behind Disney World is that everything is a “show.” That’s why employees in Disney World are called “Cast Members” and why their uniforms are called “costumes.” Guest Relations Cast Member Every single costume you see Cast Members wear has been well thought out as to how it can help tell the story of each particular ride, restaurant, shop, or land. Some costumes have stayed with us over the years and have a special place in our hearts, so let’s look at TEN Disney World costumes that we truly love! Haunted Mansion When folks think about iconic Cast Member costumes, the butlers and maids at Haunted Mansion in Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom is often the first thing that comes to mind! Haunted Mansion Cast Members Both the men and women look fearfully dapper in those dresses and suits that are SO recognizable that they have been repurposed into countless merchandise items! Haunted Mansion Ghost Host Loungefly Backpack The maids who work at the Haunted Mansion have bats that sit on top of their heads, and the Cast Member gets to name their bat! Be sure to ask the maids what the name of their bat is next time you drop into Haunted Mansion! Did you know there was a rare chance to dine INSIDE Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion? Read about our experience here! Guest Relations Another group of Cast Members with a very distinguishable costume is the Guest Relations team! These Cast Members are recognizable by the distinctive plaid pattern in their costumes. VIP Tour Guides The look of a Guest Relations costume has stood out since their earliest years in the parks. Their polished demeanor lets guests know they are in good hands when they come to Guest Relations. Whether they need an issue resolved, help with planning their day, or to book a VIP Tour, the “Plaids” in Guest Relations are there to assist! Guest Relations in Action! When a Plaid levels up to a full-fledged tour guide, they’ll receive a riding crop (for women) or a swagger stick (for men) to accessorize their outfits and use when pointing things out to guests on tours. How chic! Guest Relations and Guest Services can do a LOT for you in Disney World. Here are over thirty unique services they provide! American Adventure – Voices of Liberty Voices of Liberty is a special group of performers that you can find in the American Adventure in World Showcase at EPCOT! You can catch them singing throughout the day ahead of each showtime of The American Adventure (be sure to gather in the rotunda circle approximately 30 minutes prior to get the best views!). American Adventure in EPCOT Their costumes are designed to match styles from the 1800s, and they even have special holiday costumes. Voices of Liberty If you’ve never seen Voices of Liberty, be sure to make time to do so next time you’re in EPCOT! Note that, at this time, the Voices of Liberty are not performing for guests. We’ll keep you posted when they begin singing once again. Check out this video of Voices of Liberty singing live from their homes! Rise of the Resistance – The First Order Each and every costume found in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disneyland truly fits the world that these special Cast Members inhabit. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge The immersive aspect to the land is strongly reflected in the clothing the Cast Members wear — this is especially true in Rise of the Resistance! Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance You really feel like you are being interrogated by the First Order! The attention to detail in their costumes makes this attraction one of a kind, beyond just the impressive technology and ride system. First Order Officer The Cast Members in this attraction are a large part of why it’s difficult to categorize Rise of the Resistance as just a “ride.” It is a true experience that is unlike anything we have seen! Just try not to be at least a little bit intimidated by one of the looming First Order Cast Members as they stare you down on the ride! Take a look back on our first trip on Rise of the Resistance here! Tower of Terror Like Haunted Mansion and Rise of the Resistance, the costumes for Tower of Terror in Disney’s Hollywood Studios really set the tone and mood of the attraction. (Why do creepy attractions get the coolest costumes?!) The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror The iconic bellhop hats and jackets let guests know exactly what they’re in for when they step into the Hollywood Tower Hotel’s infamous dust-covered lobby. Tower of Terror Trust us when we say, you don’t want to mess around with a Hollywood Tower Hotel bellhop! You may find yourself on a one-way trip to the Twilight Zone! If we were Cast Members, these seem like SUCH fun costumes to wear every day! Guess we’ll have to settle for the Tower of Terror Minnie ears instead. Ever wonder who that creepy doll is at the end of Tower of Terror? We answer that as well as other burning Disney World questions here! Walt Disney World & Disneyland Railroad Train Conductors The railroad conductors that operate both the Walt Disney World and Disneyland Railroad are next on our list! The Walt Disney Railroad Walt Disney loved trains. A LOT. He even had his own scaled ridable train in his backyard, The Carolwood Pacific! Trains were SUCH a key aspect of his vision that the Disneyland Railroad was one of the first planned attractions when Disneyland was being built! ©Disney The Cast Members that operate the trains are the real deal — and the costumes befit the legitimate train conductors they are! Disneyland Train Conductors ©Disney Unlike many other attractions, these Cast Members are actually running and maintaining the trains and their costumes add to the authenticity! These are more than just costumes — they’re useful extensions of these hard-working folks! The Walt Disney World Railroad is an opening day attraction at Magic Kingdom! Learn more about these extra-special rides here! Jungle Cruise Like Haunted Mansion, many consider the Jungle Cruise skipper costumes to be truly iconic in the world of Cast Member “outfits.” Jungle Cruise Their signature khaki look is ubiquitous throughout any Disney park that has a Jungle Cruise attraction. Even Skipper Canteen — the Jungle Cruise-themed Restaurant in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom — embodies the spirit of the Jungle Cruise skippers. George… or Bob With their witty banter and their affinity for the “backside of water,” we love the Jungle Cruise skippers…and their trusty costumes! Take a look back on that recent incident on Jungle Cruise where a boat partially sank here! ALL World Showcase Cast Members We couldn’t pick a single group of World Showcase costumes that we loved most in EPCOT, so we’re including ALL of them on this list! Cast Members! Every country’s pavilion has a truly unique costume inspired by the local culture and history of that nation. Takumi-Tei Cast Members in Epcot’s Japan No Cast Member is left behind. Whether they work in attractions, stores, or dining locations, each Cast Member has a distinctly beautiful costume that they can wear with pride! Epcot Cast Members And of course, these special Cast Members actually hail FROM these countries (when it’s not 2020), making the experience of visiting World Showcase authentic and one of a kind. At this time, the International Cast Member Program is on hold, meaning you won’t see Cultural Representatives from each country working around World Showcase, but we look forward to seeing their smiling faces gracing us in their beautiful costumes as soon as they are able to do so. Learn all about some of the hidden gems in World Showcase here! Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique The Fairy Godmothers-in-Training at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique create some of the most magical moments for young princes and princesses throughout Disney World. These are truly special Cast Member costumes because when a child sees them, they know they’re in for a special transformation that only these Cast Members can provide! Fairy Godmothers-in-Training © Disney Their costumes are also super unique and different from other “retail” locations. The bright pinks, blues, and purples match the vibe of Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and truly pop in the best of ways! Take a look inside the newest Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa here! Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party When it comes time to celebrate Halloween, the Magic Kingdom and its Cast Members completely transform! Cast Members at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party features exclusive Cast Member costumes that come in adorably festive orange, green, and purple designs! These look SO FUN. Hi Zero!! From the bright colors to the cute little bats on their heads (similar to the Haunted Mansion bats!), the Halloween outfits are among our favorite seasonal Cast Member costumes! Sadly, we can’t see Cast Members flaunting their best Halloween lewks this year, as Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party has been canceled. And of course, how can we mention those fun Halloween getups without giving a shoutout to the candy-cane-erific Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party outfits?! Cast Members at Christmas! These red, white, and green covered costumes are sure to put you in the Christmas spirit! Learn more about Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party here! Next time you visit Disney World or Disneyland, take a close look at each of the costumes and see how they change from park to park and from location to location. Each one is unique and is part of the larger “show” that exists within the theme parks and resorts! Cast Members are truly special people, and the costumes they get to wear each and every day help make our experiences even more memorable! 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! Get Your Copy of the 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2020 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 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2020 to save 25% off the cover price today! Your order will include a FREE instant download of the 2019 Edition of the Guide! Use code WDW2020 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What is your favorite Cast Member costume? Let us know in the comments! The post The 10 BEST Disney Cast Member Costumes of All Time! first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: 50 Memories You Should Make Before Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary! When Does Disney World Start Putting Up Its Christmas Decorations? We Rode Rise of the Resistance in Disney World for the FIRST TIME — Here Are Our Thoughts! View the full article

It’s officially SPOOKY SEASON in Disney World! Magic Kingdom Halloween We may not be able to attend Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party this year, but that doesn’t mean the holiday is going to pass unnoticed! We confirmed with Cast Members that Magic Kingdom would still be decorating for Halloween. Yesterday, more holiday decor had started to trickle in, but as of today, Magic Kingdom has officially received its Halloween makeover! We were SO delighted when we strolled up to the train station this morning to see it positively decked with spooky Halloween decorations. The classic leafy wreaths and Mickey pumpkins have returned! Halloween Decorations One glance down Main Street, U.S.A. and you can tell things have gotten a bit of a fall vibe. We love seeing the orange Mickey decorations specked down the way. Halloween Decorations Here’s an up-close shot of those Mickey decorations we love so much! The wreaths are a gorgeous blend of fall foliage with leaves, apples, sunflowers, gourds, and more! Halloween Decorations We dare say, the Castle looks awfully nice nestled in the Halloween-ified Magic Kingdom. Halloween Decorations We’ll be covering the official arrival of Halloween entertainment and more in Magic Kingdom today, so stay tuned for more pictures! From costumes to spirit jerseys and more, check out this awesome Halloween merch from Disney! 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! Get Your Copy of the 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2020 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 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2020 to save 25% off the cover price today! Your order will include a FREE instant download of the 2019 Edition of the Guide! Use code WDW2020 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Which of the Magic Kingdom Halloween decorations is your favorite? Let us know in the comments! The post PICS! The Iconic Mickey Jack-O-Lanterns Are UP in Magic Kingdom at Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: NEWS: Magic Kingdom Disney Park Passes are No Longer Available for Annual Passholders on Halloween Will Walt Disney World Decorate for Halloween This Year? We’ve Got Some Updates! NEWS: Disney’s Hollywood Studios Park Passes are No Longer Available for Annual Passholders on Halloween View the full article

Today marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, a time for us to celebrate the stories, cultures and contributions of Latinx individuals both inside and outside of our company. Walt Disney created Disneyland as a destination for everyone to feel welcomed. Today, our dedicated cast members are committed to ensuring that Walt’s legacy lives on by celebrating inclusivity among our cast and through the experiences we provide to our guests. One of our talented cast members who plays a pivotal role in these efforts is Susana Tubert, Creative Director, Disney Parks Live Entertainment, who is based at the Disneyland Resort. We were fortunate to spend some time catching up with Susana about her work and some of the ways that her team has developed cultural celebrations that our guests know and love in our parks. A Conversation with Susana Tubert Can you tell the Disney Parks Blog readers more about your background and career journey? We know you’ve had an impressive career prior to joining Disney! Thank you for that! Yes, one could say that my career has been a long and winding road. And yet, when I recently celebrated my seventh anniversary as Creative Director it became clear to me that all of the career opportunities I experienced prior to joining Disney prepared me for this wonderful leadership role at the Disneyland Resort. I was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where I began studying dance when I was five years old and piano by age seven. Moreover, I was greatly influenced by my grandmother Cecilia, an accomplished artist – and a woman ahead of her time – who moved to Paris in the early ‘20s to study sculpture and painting with the great Masters. I must credit her fearlessness for inspiring my own! In 1980, shortly after my family and I immigrated to the U.S., I settled in New York City with big dreams of becoming an actress, but the roles for Latinx performers back then were even more limited than they are now. So, while the search for my big break-out role continued, I trained extensively as an actor while I performed in Off-Off Broadway shows, bilingual TV commercials, and in original musicals which I wrote and composed for an experimental children’s theater company. A decade later, eager to have more control over my life and art, I decided to reinvent myself by turning to directing. I was one of six emerging directors to be recognized with a Theater Communications Group/National Endowment for the Arts Directing Fellowship. That prestigious award led to so many incredible opportunities developing and directing award-winning plays and musicals in NYC and at major regional theaters, while I also produced and directed a short film. In 2005, I was invited to craft the mission of a non-profit producing organization and its high-profile festival of groundbreaking theater from New York, Latin America, the Caribbean and Spain. Within a year and a half, our joint fundraising efforts paid off, as the Latino International Theater Festival of New York, Inc. had garnered support from major corporations, city and state officials, international governments, as well as media sponsors. When in 2007 Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced the inaugural TeatroStageFest, the event took the city by storm! It featured an exciting line-up of theater, dance and puppetry performances, master classes, panels, concerts, TeatroStageFamily programming and a playwriting competition for high school students. Between 2005 and 2013, I curated and executive produced seven culturally diverse festivals that reached thousands of multicultural and multigenerational folks who came together to experience “Great Theater for ALL Audiences!” When it was time to draw the final curtain on TeatroStageFest, I chanced upon an online description of a job opening at Disney that would mark the beginning of a new chapter in my life. Four interviews later, I went from the Big Apple to the Happiest Place on Earth! I relocated to California to step into my role as Creative Director at Disneyland Resort and, as of this year, also at Walt Disney Imagineering. We’d love to hear more about your role as Creative Director, Disney Parks Live Entertainment and what it entails. As Creative Director, I oversee development of new entertainment concepts and shows, from the page to the stage. My role is to guide and inspire teams of hugely talented show directors, writers, designers, choreographers and composers on show content, design and execution of sets, lighting, audio, costumes, video mapping and music production. The Live Entertainment team collaborates on projects large and small, often with partners across the company such as Pixar Animation Studios, Walt Disney Studios and more. The scope is ever changing and can include multimedia and fireworks spectaculars, parades, festivals, stage shows, atmosphere entertainment and character experiences, as well as special events produced together with the tremendously skilled Park Operations teams. What are some of the new experiences you have led while in your role? I have been fortunate to be at the creative helm of many signature entertainment offerings across the Disneyland Resort and beyond. The team and I are really proud of the work we did on “Together Forever – A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular” and other experiences for Pixar Fest, as well as the Frozen Fun celebration, Pop-Up Disney! A Mickey Celebration in the Downtown Disney District, Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures at Napa Rose and of course, our contributions to the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration, to name a few. With support from executive leadership, we’ve also had the opportunity to expand our entertainment experiences at Disney California Adventure park with inclusive and immersive cultural celebrations, including most notably, “Disney ¡Viva Navidad!,” Disney Festival of Holidays, Princess Elena’s Musical Grand Arrival, Plaza de la Familia, Lunar New Year Celebration and “Tale of the Lion King.” In your role, you’ve led the Disney Parks Live Entertainment team in the development of new cultural celebrations that reflect the diverse guests who visit and love our parks. Can you share how you and your teams combine Disney stories with cultural relevancy to reach park audiences? Over the past few years, Disney has produced an array of wonderful new movies and TV shows that reflect diverse cultural narratives — from “Black Panther” and “Mulan” to “Moana” and “Coco,” to name a few. What a perfect time to celebrate the universal values of these Disney stories and characters that have been traditionally underrepresented! The first of these shows that the Live Entertainment team developed in 2013 was a Latin American holiday celebration for Disney California Adventure park that could complement its Christmas offerings. It was a great opportunity to develop a celebration that could be both culturally authentic and uniquely Disney. “Disney ¡Viva Navidad!” invites our guests into a heartwarming Christmas street party that is hosted by Panchito from Mexico, José Carioca from Brazil, and, to the delight of everyone, Donald Duck, Mickey and Minnie who love to join their amigos in music and dance. To ensure that the show felt genuine, our team worked on infusing every aspect of the production with an authentic cultural perspective. The vibrant Disney Festival of Holidays expands on the creativity of “Disney ¡Viva Navidad!” through the inclusion of additional holiday festivities that entertain and educate – Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa and Three Kings Day, in addition to Christmas and Navidad. Given the success of this immersive model, the Lunar New Year Celebration has also grown as it commemorates Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese traditions, and features “Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession” with Mulan, Mushu and other beloved Disney characters, who are joined by Chinese performers. Additionally, the Oscar-winning Disney and Pixar film “Coco” inspired Plaza de la Familia, where the everlasting bonds of family and the spirit of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is celebrated, and guests can write and post messages to their loved ones at the Tree of Life. A tribute to the film’s main character, Miguel, is recounted in “A Musical Celebration of Coco” as guests join the singing storyteller, dancing townspeople and Mariachi Divas on a journey from the Land of the Living to the Land of the Dead where Miguel gives his first performance surrounded by dancing skeletons. Last year, with the premiere of the live action film The Lion King, we developed a new adaptation of Simba’s beloved story called Tale of the Lion King. Told in the style of musical story-theater, the lead narrator Mwongozo (“guide” in Swahili) and the ensemble of 18 performers known as “Storytellers of the Pride Lands” stepped in and out of their characters to share a story that, in our own show’s mythology, had been handed down from generation to generation. Through an intensive process of research and collaboration with various cultural consultants, the show captured the spirit of African heritage through its musical arrangements, costumes, scenic elements, and props. I am extremely proud of all the magical ways in which our Live Entertainment team brings to life these unique cultural celebrations year after year. They speak to park guests who love telling us know how moved they are to have their children see themselves reflected in our Disney stories! And building on that last question… of all the experiences you’ve led here at Disney, what project stands out to you the most – either because it was the most challenging or the most impactful? I would have to say that one of the most challenging and yet most rewarding projects for me was the creation of the fireworks and multi-media production “Together Forever – A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular” in 2018. It was my first time leading development of such a large-scale project. The show involved dazzling pyrotechnics in the sky, projections, special effects, a memorable musical score and a heartwarming story celebrating “friendship and beyond,” the theme of that year’s Pixar Fest at the Disneyland Resort. From day one, the team and I knew we wanted to create an ode to the heart of Pixar. It was important for us to capture what makes Pixar films unique, and to show how they are driven by an emotional component that makes audiences fall in love with them for life! We set out to immerse guests in a full story with a beginning, middle and end, by curating a video montage that showed the five stages of friendship in so many of Pixar’s films: when characters first meet, fall in like, set out on adventures, overcome obstacles together, and in the end, forge everlasting bonds. One of the most impactful moments of the show connected to the movie “Coco.” The moment involved a castle projection of Miguel looking up to the sky as a bridge of marigolds made from gold fireworks appeared above him. Upon strumming his guitar, Miguel and our guests found themselves transported to an immersive fiesta in the Land of the Dead where colorful skeleton townspeople partied on top of the rooftops up and down Main Street, U.S.A. It was colorful, festive, and inspired many guests to shout the traditional Mexican grito during this section of the show. The second moment that lingers in my mind was towards the end of the spectacular. Every night, when the guests heard the first few notes of the theme song from “Up” and discovered Carl Fredricksen’s little house flying over the castle attached to a bundle of balloons, it prompted an audible gasp from the audience as the emotions overtook them. Sometimes getting right a simple and poetic moment in a show can be the hardest thing. But thanks to the dedication of John Addis, our talented show director, and the music producers, designers, and production team at large, it worked every single time! Finally, if you could give advice to young creatives aspiring to do what you do one day, what advice would you give? I would tell young people to first find their passion, then gain experience in multiple art forms and train to develop a solid craft, so they can be ready when opportunity knocks. I would also share the same life philosophy that my grandfather Carlos shared with me as a young girl. He taught me to persevere in the face of adversity by telling myself, “I already have the ‘no’ so I may as well go out there and look for the ‘yes’!” With each new challenge we grow closer to the artist and individual we are meant to be. Looking back at the arc of my own career, I know that by having the courage to walk away from a “no,” I was able to pivot and either intentionally walk towards, or unexpectedly stumble upon, the next “yes!” At Disney, creating entertainment that reflects our audiences, guests and fans from around the world is a critical part of telling the best stories. Looking ahead, as we continue to listen, learn, imagine and create, we look forward to sharing more stories of our amazing cast members who bring these important experiences to life. We also invite you to be a part of the month-long celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month as we share digital activations, #DisneyMagicMoments and more – follow along on social media using the hashtags #HispanicHeritageMonth and #DisneyFamilia! View the full article

A woman traveling with her 2-year-old son from Florida to Chicago was removed from a Southwest Airlines flight after the boy was found by airline personnel without a mask on his face. View the full article

A woman traveling with her 2-year-old son from Florida to Chicago was removed from a Southwest Airlines flight after the boy was found by airline personnel without a mask on his face. View the full article

WUCF TV’s “Central Florida Roadtrip,” a program that explores the region’s communities and history, returns Sept. 17. View the full article

WUCF TV’s “Central Florida Roadtrip,” a program that explores the region’s communities and history, returns Sept. 17. View the full article

Disney Family Game Night - Park Pals Edition View the full article

Get Cooking With EPCOT Chef Kevin | #DisneyMagicMoments View the full article

It’s been a tough road to the championship but in the end, only one MagicBand can come out on top! Magic Kingdom MagicBands Last week, we kicked off the Disney Food Blog MagicBand Madness Bracket by asking our Instagram followers to choose the winners in head-to-head MagicBand matchups. And after some tough competition, one MagicBand has now emerged victorious! After a hard-fought road to the championship, it all came down to this! With just two MagicBands still standing, let’s take a look at the final showdown. In one corner, we had the Minnie Mouse Icon MagicBand, repping one of the ultimate classic Disney characters! © shopDisney And in the other corner, we had the Cinderella Castle MagicBand, a shining depiction of the centerpiece of Magic Kingdom! Cinderella Castle MagicBand So, with these two icons duking it out, which one managed to take the crown?? Well, our Instagram followers have spoken and taking victory with 68% of the vote, we have the Cinderella Castle MagicBand! Cinderella MagicBand We think it’s definitely fitting that this MagicBand is decorated with fireworks — it’s a perfect celebration of the victory! Thank you to everyone who helped choose our MagicBand champion! Be sure to follow Disney Food Blog on Instagram so you can help decide the winner of our next bracket challenge! We found THREE Minnie Mouse: The Main Attraction MagicBands in Disney World! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Get Your Copy of the 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2020 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 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2020 to save 25% off the cover price today! Your order will include a FREE instant download of the 2019 Edition of the Guide! Use code WDW2020 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Do you agree with the winning MagicBand design? Let us know which MagicBand is your favorite in the comments! The post We Have A WINNER! Here Are the Results of the Final Round of Our Disney Food Blog MagicBand Madness Bracket! first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: The Final Round of Our MagicBand Madness Bracket Is Tonight! See the Results From Rounds 3 and 4! Here’s Which MagicBands WON the First Part of Our DFB MagicBand Madness Bracket! Aloha Stitch or Summer Mickey? Check Out Which MagicBands WON the Second Part of Our DFB MagicBand Madness Bracket! 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. Can’t get enough Funko Pop! figures lately? You’re not alone, because neither can we! @Amazon And there’s been a bunch of exciting Funko Pop! news recently! Did you know you can now pre-order the Haunted Mansion with Butler Funko Pop! figure?? And now, Hot Topic is throwing some good Funko Pop! news our way too — they’re having a buy two get two FREE deal on select Funko Pop! styles for TODAY ONLY! There are over a hundred options included in the sale, but of course, we have to take a look at a few of our favorite figures that are up for grabs! We still crack up watching the scene in Mulan when Mushu dresses in disguise and rides a panda. And now, you can snag a Mushu Funko Pop! depicting this iconic movie moment! You can get this funny Funko for $40.00. ©Funko Pop! Click here to buy the Mushu Funko Pop! For all you Frozen fans out there, you won’t want to let this Elsa Funko Pop! go! And this Elsa Funko Pop! is a great deal at $9.99. ©Funko Pop! Click here to buy the Elsa Funko Pop! Ahh it’s a Manticore Funko Pop! from Onward! With the recent release of the Onward Popcorn Bucket in Disney World, we’ve been itching for more merch from this movie. Get the fashionable and fierce Manticore for $12.50. ©Funko Pop! Click here to buy the Manticore Funko Pop! And there are plenty of options for Marvel fans as well! Like this Captain America Funko Pop! who looks ready to save the world! You can snag him for $12.50. ©Funko Pop! Click here to buy the Captain America Funko Pop! There are even options from a few of our favorite underrated Disney movies! We can’t get enough Hercules merch, so we might just have to buy this Zeus Funko Pop! for ourself! You can grab Zeus for $12.50. ©Funko Pop! Click here to buy the Zeus Funko Pop! And how cute is this Quasimodo Funko Pop!?? You can pick him up for $12.50. ©Funko Pop! Click here to buy the Quasimodo Funko Pop! There are SO many awesome Funko Pop! figures included in the buy two get two free sale, it’s hard to pick our favorites! If you want to add to your collection, be sure to head to the Hot Topic site TODAY before the sale ends! You can pre-order the Funko Loungefly Disneyland 65th Anniversary Tote online NOW! 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! Get Your Copy of the 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2020 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 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2020 to save 25% off the cover price today! Your order will include a FREE instant download of the 2019 Edition of the Guide! Use code WDW2020 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Which of these Funko Pop! figures is your favorite? Let us know in the comments! The post There's a Buy Two Get Two Free Sale on Funko Pop! Figures Happening TODAY ONLY! first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: The NEW Frozen 2 Funko Pops Are Melting Our Hearts! This Is Halloween…in May! Check Out the NEW Disney and Nightmare Before Christmas Funko Pops! Act Fast! Get These Disneyland 65th Anniversary Funko Pop! Figures Before They Sell Out! View the full article

Disney World might be the spot for Pumpkin Spice and Fall decorations, but Universal Orlando is home to ALL the fears you can think up during Halloween time. The Simpsons Although Halloween Horror Nights has been canceled this year, Universal has still been bringing terrifying treats and merchandise into the parks at the Tribute Store and beyond! And, Halloween Horror Nights fans everywhere can rejoice because Universal Orlando will be putting TWO daytime houses into the park throughout spooky season! Starting September 18th, Annual Passholders will be among the first guests to walk through “Universal Monsters: The Bride of Frankenstein Lives” and “Revenge of the Tooth Fairy.” The houses will also open for testing on September 19th and September 20th to park guests (the more screams, the better). ©Universal Universal Orlando’s Halloween events might not exactly be family-friendly since they’re so scary, BUT this year’s going to be a bit different. Since Halloween Horror Nights is technically not happening in the parks, the daytime experiences will also have some options for your kiddos. Hogsmeade This weekend, Universal is testing out trick-or-treating in Islands of Adventure. And, guests will even be able to dress up in their Halloween costumes, whether they’re spooky or sweet. Madagascar Penguins Disney World on the flip side is not currently offering many of their Halloween options like trick or treating or Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. But they will be offering other sorts of entertainment throughout the parks, which you can read more about here. As more Halloween events and experiences come to the parks, we’ll make sure you have all the details you need to know before heading to Universal Orlando and Disney World this holiday season! Halloween AND mini churros?? We can’t help but love these new treats in Disney World! Disney Park Reopening Details and Info Click HERE for the All Latest Updates Click HERE To See FULL LISTS of the Rides, Attractions, Shopping, Entertainment, and Restaurants Opening in Disney World! TUTORIAL: How To Use Disney World's NEW Park Pass Reservation System ALL Disney World Reopening Procedures Disney World Hotel and Ticket Booking Information We’re Visiting ALL the Reopened Disney World Hotels and Have All the Need-to-Know Details We’re LIVE in Disney World's Magic Kingdom For the FIRST Time Since the Closures We’re LIVE in Disney’s Animal Kingdom For the FIRST Time Since the Closures We Got a FIRST LOOK at Disney World’s New Character Cavalcades and Entertainment! Everything You NEED To Know About Wearing Masks in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter To get all the latest Disney Park Closure News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Have you been to Halloween Horror Nights before? Let us know in the comments below! The post Universal Orlando Announced TWO Halloween Horror Nights Houses, Trick-Or-Treating, and More first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: NEWS! Universal Orlando Is Set To Lay Off 1,000 More Hotel Employees NEWS: Universal Orlando Lifts Summer Blockout Dates for Select Annual Passholders Universal Orlando Is Outperforming Disney World’s Attendance Levels. But, Things Might Change Soon. View the full article

Who’s ready for a shopping spree?? World of Disney Disney Vacation Club is a vacation ownership program or timeshare that can provide Members with a more cost-effective way to vacation in Disney. And being a DVC Member has its perks — including the ability to take advantage of some exclusive discount offers around Disney World! Hey DVC Members, have you had your eye on a new pair of Minnie Ears? How about a spirit jersey for the fall weather? Whatever is on your Disney merchandise wishlist, here’s the perfect excuse to snag it! Frosted Berry Minnie Ears For a limited time only, DVC Members can save 30% on select merchandise at Walt Disney World owned-and-operated locations! Info from the Disney Vacation Club Website The 30% discount is valid from September 15th through October 29th — maybe you can knock out some of your holiday shopping early this year! Legacy Sketchbook Ornaments To take advantage of the discount, just show your Disney Vacation Club Membership Card at the checkout counter! Happy shopping! Looking for more Disney deals? Check out this sale on packaged snacks we recently spotted in the parks! 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! Get Your Copy of the 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2020 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 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2020 to save 25% off the cover price today! Your order will include a FREE instant download of the 2019 Edition of the Guide! Use code WDW2020 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What Disney merchandise is on your wishlist right now? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney Vacation Club Members Can Save BIG on Disney World Merch with a Limited-Time Discount! first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: NEWS! Disney Vacation Club Members Receive a Massive Merchandise Discount Through August 14th! NEWS! Face Coverings Will Be Required in Public Areas at Disney Vacation Club Hotels Pin Trading Is BACK at Disney World — Here’s What It Looks Like! View the full article

Universal Studios will make two of Halloween Horror Nights planned-but-canned haunted houses available to the public later this week. View the full article

Universal Studios will make two of Halloween Horror Nights planned-but-canned haunted houses available to the public later this week View the full article

Disneyland has officially been closed for six months, after its temporary closure began on March 14, 2020. As of this writing, a reopening date has yet to be announced, following a delay of its initial reopening plans. Smoke Above Disneyland Now, an organization who represents major theme parks in the state of California, including Disneyland, is calling on the governor to issue the key industry guidelines needed to reopen. A couple of weeks ago, we shared the news that California Governor Gavin Newsom said that discussions regarding the reopening of the state’s theme parks were “forthcoming.” Governor Newsom previously said, “Specific to the issue of many, not just the one group that you mentioned, the one brand, but other amusement park operators, we are working with them. We set our discussions aside on that, they’re forthcoming, it is a very dynamic conversation. And so we didn’t include it in the update today, that is a separate conversation.” That statement is now being contradicted by California Attractions and Parks Association executive director Erin Guerrero, who appears to claim the exact opposite is true. Disneyland Hotel In a statement reported on by Orange County Register, Guerrero says that the “parks require guidance from the state and that guidance has not been forthcoming.” Disney California Adventure Park The contradiction in these two statements made by the governor and more recently by Guerrero on what exactly is or is not “forthcoming” may point to what Newsom described last week as “open-ended” negotiations between the state and the theme park industry. Disneyland Gate Guerrero also pointed out in her statement that the impact that comes with reopening the theme parks stretches far beyond the gates of the parks themselves. Guerrero stated that “Tens of thousands of jobs have been weighing in the balance. Hundreds of millions of tax revenue that support critical local, state, and federal programs, lost. And local businesses that rely on amusement parks continue to struggle, with many closing permanently.” Main Entrance to Universal Studios Hollywood California Attractions and Parks Association, or CAPA, does not just represent Disneyland. They represent other major theme parks as well as smaller parks across the state who may not be as financially secure to weather a long-term closure. CAPA represents Disneyland Resort, Universal Studios Hollywood, Knott’s Berry Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountain, SeaWorld San Diego, Legoland California, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom and California’s Great America, and others. Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Last week, Orange County, where Disneyland, as well as another CAPA-represented theme park Knott’s Berry Farm, are located, advanced to the next phase of reopening, which many took as a sign that reopening dates may soon be announced. However, without the industry guidelines from the state, theme parks statewide cannot reopen. Disneyland Resort The Disneyland Resort has made some progress in-step with state and county guidance. Indoor dining is once again permitted in Orange County, and within a few days, the restaurants in Downtown Disney were seating guests indoors with limited capacity. Tortilla Jo’s We will continue to keep a watchful eye on the Disneyland Resort for any and all announcements! We have noticed an increase in activity in and around Disneyland, which may indicate that the parks are preparing to reopen whenever they get the green light from the state government. Click here to read more about Orange County’s move into the next reopening phase, and what that could mean for Disneyland. 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! Get Your Copy of the 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2020 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 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2020 to save 25% off the cover price today! Your order will include a FREE instant download of the 2019 Edition of the Guide! Use code WDW2020 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. How soon do you think you’ll visit the Disneyland Resort once the theme parks reopen? Let us know in the comments! The post Disneyland Representative Says State Guidance "Is Not Forthcoming" and Calls on Governor Newsom To Reopen Theme Parks first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: News: Face Masks Are Now Required Citywide in Anaheim, California News! California’s Orange County Has Been Removed from the State’s COVID-19 Watch List News: California Governor Says Discussions on Disneyland and Other Theme Parks are “Forthcoming” View the full article

We’ve been keeping a close eye on the availability of Disney Park Pass reservations! Disney’s Hollywood Studios entrance Since the parks have reopened, we’ve seen Disney Park Pass reservations for holidays fill up pretty quickly — sometimes even a few months in advance! For example, reservations for Labor Day weekend were full (before some availability was replenished), and we’ve already seen reservations for several of the parks fill up for Halloween. And it looks like guests traveling around the Thanksgiving holiday are solidifying their plans because reservations are beginning to fill up for several days during the week! As of right now, Disney Park Pass reservations for Disney’s Hollywood Studios are no longer available for Disney World hotel guests or theme park ticket holders on Monday, November 23rd, Tuesday, November 24th, and Wednesday, November 25th. November Disney Park Pass availability for Resort Guests as of September 14th At this point, there is still full availability for Annual Passholders during the week of Thanksgiving. But reservations will likely start to fill as the holiday approaches! November Disney Park Pass availability for Annual Passholders as of September 14th Currently, the other three parks ARE still available for all guests on these dates, but we expect that reservations will be harder to come by as it gets closer to Thanksgiving. Tree of Life So, if you’re planning a trip to Disney World during the Thanksgiving holiday, be sure to snag your Disney Park Pass reservations as soon as possible! Click here to learn more about the Disney Park Pass system! 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! Get Your Copy of the 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2020 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 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2020 to save 25% off the cover price today! Your order will include a FREE instant download of the 2019 Edition of the Guide! Use code WDW2020 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Are you planning a trip to Disney World for Thanksgiving? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney World Park Pass Reservations are Starting to Fill Up for Thanksgiving Week! first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: Making Your Disney World Plans? Here’s Something You Need to Know About Disney Park Pass Availability! NEWS: More Park Pass Reservations are Now Available for Disney World Annual Passholders! Disney World Has Added AP Park Pass Availability for NEXT Week (And Yes, Studios Is Available)! View the full article

It seems the Evil Queen has been busy making lots of poisoned apples lately. We’ve spotted the Poisoned Candied Apple at Disney’s Hollywood Studios… Poison Candied Apple at Hollywood Studios …and the Not So Poison Apple Cupcake in Magic Kingdom. Now, we’ve spotted another poisoned apple treat…but this time, it’s in drink form (and thankfully, it wasn’t actually poisoned)! After a day of fall fun over at Magic Kingdom, we made our way to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort to see if there was anything new at this tropical paradise. While we were there, we stopped by Barefoot Pool Bar — a bar located by the Polynesian Village Resort pool. You can access this spot from inside or outside of the pool area. Barefoot Pool Bar Sign At Barefoot Pool Bar, we noticed a sign for a new Poisoned Apple drink. And, since we’re on the hunt for ALL the spooky snacks, you know we had to give it a try! Also — check out that usage of the Haunted Mansion wallpaper design in the background. Is the Evil Queen pairing up with our favorite silly spooks? What a team that would be! Poisoned Apple Drink Sign The Poisoned Apple drink features Svedka Vodka, Midori Melon Liqueur, Blue Curacao, and Pineapple Juice with a Light Up Cube. Poisoned Apple Drink The green color in the drink was really prominent and gave it a spooky and fun feel. Poisoned Apple Drink We’ve seen the glow cube in other spots around Disney World, including some of the resorts, but it was fun to see just how well the green color from the cube blended in with the green from the drink. Poisoned Apple Drink Overall, the drink was good! It was definitely sweet, so if you don’t like sweet drinks this one might not be your favorite. The Blue Curacao flavor wasn’t too strong though, so even if you’re not a fan of Blue Curacao, you may still like this. It wasn’t a fall or Halloween-flavored drink (no pumpkin spice to be found here). Instead, it was really just a good pool drink, but we liked it! Poisoned Apple Drink You can grab one of these from the bar for $16. We’ll keep searching for more Halloween snacks and definitely let you know what we spot! Craving some pumpkin-spiced flavored treats? Check out this pumpkin spice sundae we had in Magic Kingdom. Make sure you don’t miss out on any of the Halloween snacks coming to Disney World! Click here to print out our snack checklist! 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! Get Your Copy of the 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2020 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 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2020 to save 25% off the cover price today! Your order will include a FREE instant download of the 2019 Edition of the Guide! Use code WDW2020 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What do you think of this new drink? Let us know in the comments if you’ll be making a special trip to the Poly to try it! The post We Tried the New Poisoned Apple Drink in Disney World and Lived to Tell the Tale! 😂 first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: Three Surprising Restaurants We’re Shocked Aren’t Open Yet in Disney World! News! Guest Rooms at Disney’s Polynesian Resort Will Be Getting a Moana-Inspired Makeover! News! The Monorail Station at Disney’s Polynesian Resort Will Be Closing Temporarily Later This Year! View the full article

Since the reopening, we’ve seen some pretty reduced hours at Disney World’s theme parks. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park hours were also shortened further starting September 8th. But, today we spotted a single day on the calendar in September where it appears one park’s hours will be extended. After the reopening, but prior to September 8th, park hours for the Disney World theme parks were as follows: Magic Kingdom — 9AM to 7PM, EPCOT — 11AM to 9PM, Disney’s Hollywood Studios — 10AM to 8PM, Disney’s Animal Kingdom — 8AM to 6PM. Spaceship Earth Beginning on September 8th, those hours were reduced to the following: Magic Kingdom — 9AM to 6PM, EPCOT — 11AM to 7PM, Disney’s Hollywood Studios — 10AM to 7PM, Disney’s Animal Kingdom — 9AM to 5PM. Sunset Boulevard But, today, when we looked at the park hours calendar for September, we noticed that the hours for Disney’s Animal Kingdom have been extended for Sunday, September 20th. Screenshot from the Walt Disney World Website Instead of the shortened hours of 9AM to 5PM, the park will be open from 9AM to 6PM. The hours don’t appear to have been extended for any of the other parks or for any of the other days in September. Screenshot from the Walt Disney World Website We’re not sure what has caused this change for this particular date. The 20th is not a national holiday, and although weekends can be busier in the parks, it does not appear that any of the other weekends have extended park hours in September. It is possible that this will eventually be changed back to the shortened hours of 9AM to 5PM, but for now it looks like guests may get one extra hour to enjoy the Tree of Life on September 20th. We’ll keep looking into this and let you know if we see any update. Be sure to come back for all the latest Disney news! Disney has extended select park hours beginning in November — click here to read all about 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! Get Your Copy of the 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2020 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 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2020 to save 25% off the cover price today! Your order will include a FREE instant download of the 2019 Edition of the Guide! Use code WDW2020 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Will you be headed to the Disney World parks soon? Let us know in the comments! The post News: Disney Extends Park Hours at Animal Kingdom for One Day in September first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: News! Disney World Park Hours Announced for Early November! We Spotted Three Totally Pandorable Shirts at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Today! SPOTTED! So Many Wild New Tees at Disney’s Animal Kingdom!! 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. From costumes for you to outfits for your dog, we’ve seen LOTS of fun Disney costumes released lately. Tinker Belle Pet Costume But, what if you’ve got a little one who simply can’t decide what princess they want to dress up as, or who wants to dress up as a different princess every day? Well, with this new costume set available online, your kid can have all kinds of fun costume options! Your little one can go from singing A Whole New World to imagining they’re dancing with the Beast from one minute to the next with this new Disney Princess Wardrobe Set for Kids from shopDisney. Just look at all of the beautiful pieces it comes with! ©shopDisney It includes an Aurora dress… ©shopDisney …Belle dress… ©shopDisney …Cinderella dress… ©shopDisney …Jasmine pants and top… ©shopDisney …a reversible cape that features faux fur on one side and satin on the other side… ©shopDisney …a pair of gloves with a little bow at the wrists… ©shopDisney …a crinoline petticoat… ©shopDisney …one tiara… ©shopDisney …and even a mesh garment bag to carry your favorite princess outfit in! ©shopDisney All of the dresses are pullover dresses with satin underskirts and sheer organza on the top layers. Each dress also has a brooch on it of the princess represented by each outfit. It’s looks like Fairy Godmother has been hard at work making the most beautiful dresses so kids can have all kinds of royal dress-up parties! ©shopDisney When we last checked, the set was only available in size 5/6, so be sure to act quickly if you want to take one of these sets home! The entire set can be yours for $149.99. Click here to take home this Disney Princess Wardrobe Set for Kids! If we see any more awesome costumes or Disney merchandise from shopDisney, we’ll definitely let you know! Be sure to come back for all the latest Disney news! Looking for more Disney costumes? Check out some of the Disney Halloween costumes we’ve spotted in the parks and online! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Get Your Copy of the 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2020 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 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2020 to save 25% off the cover price today! Your order will include a FREE instant download of the 2019 Edition of the Guide! Use code WDW2020 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What item from this set is your favorite? Let us know in the comments! The post This Disney Princess Wardrobe Set Will Truly Help You Be the Belle (or Jasmine, Cinderella, or Aurora) of Any Ball! first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: A Brand-New Disney Castle Collection is Coming to shopDisney SOON! Lunch Just Got 10x BETTER With These Fun Disney-Themed Containers! Disney’s New Wheelchair-Friendly Halloween Costumes Are Perfect for Your Superhero or Princess! View the full article

We come bearing great news! The S’moreo cupcake is returning to Sprinkles in Disney Springs for TWO DAYS! Sprinkles Red Velvet Cupcake When choosing a cupcake from Sprinkles, there is no wrong choice. However, we were so excited to see that one of our all-time favorites is back for a limited time! Dive into a chocolaty rich and creamy, s’more meets oreo, flavor explosion! This Oreo cookie lined cupcake is filled with vanilla buttercream and topped with toasted chocolate marshmallow and chocolate ganache drizzle. That sentence alone is making us drool! Sprinkles S’moero Cupcake Sprinkles said this was only available for a limited time and they mean LIMITED. In order to get your hands on the S’moreo Cupcake, you need to order by September 15th at the latest! You can select your pickup date to be either September 18th or 19th in Disney Springs. Order yours today so that you can get your hands on the delicious S’moreo Cupcake! Click here to check out the other fun flavors Sprinkles has for September! 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! Get Your Copy of the 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2020 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 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2020 to save 25% off the cover price today! Your order will include a FREE instant download of the 2019 Edition of the Guide! Use code WDW2020 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Have you tried the S’moreo Cupcake at Sprinkles? What’s your favorite cupcake flavor? Let us know in the comments! The post HURRY! Sprinkles' S'moreo Cupcake Is Back For A Limited Time at Disney Springs! first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: REVIEW: This 4th of July Cupcake in Disney World Is Insta-Worthy and Delicious! Design Your Own Bake Box at Sprinkles Cupcakes! News! Sprinkles in Disney World Will Be Reopening Tomorrow View the full article

Washing the dishes is a dreaded task for many cooks in the kitchen. It’s just the way it is. Mickey-Shaped Walt Disney World Dish But we think we found a little something — or make that “somethings” — that might give you a reason to look forward to the chore at least a little bit. On our stop by Magic Kingdom’s Emporium today, we found a collection of kitchen sponges designed like park icons to help you “Whistle While You Work!” You can choose one of the ever-swirling teacups from the Mad Tea Party. Teacup Sponge Teacup Sponge And Cinderella Castle is featured on a blue sponge, too (which is, of course, a bit different from the Castle’s new pink hue). Castle Sponge A bright red Mickey Balloon floated in with the assortment. Mickey Balloon Sponge And an adorable red sponge Monorail is the final one we found! Monorail Sponge Hey, if Snow White can make chores magical, why can’t we? (Of course, you may think these are too cute for washing dishes and choose to use them as kitchen décor. Fair enough, we say!) Disney Kitchen Sponges These little kitchen tools are $6.99 each, and while we found them in the Emporium, it’s worth checking out the housewares section in any of the major merchandise locations like EPCOT’s Mouse Gear or World of Disney. And that’s not all we found today… We found THREE Minnie Mouse: The Main Attraction MagicBands in Disney World… check them out here! And that’s it from Magic Kingdom’s Emporium… for now! We’re sure to be back with more fun Disney finds for your kitchen — and beyond — soon! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! Get Your Copy of the 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2020 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 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2020 to save 25% off the cover price today! Your order will include a FREE instant download of the 2019 Edition of the Guide! Use code WDW2020 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Do you have any Disney items in your kitchen? Please let us know with a comment! The post PHOTOS: These New Kitchen Items in Disney World Just Might Make Washing the Dishes…Magical?!? first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: One of the Most Colorful Spirit Jerseys EVER Has Made Its Debut in Disney World! Where To Find The Most UNIQUE Shopping in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom! What’s New in Magic Kingdom: TRON Construction, Dole Whip Galore, and a Disneyland Shirt?! View the full article

Whether you’re looking for a Halloween Pandora charm or spooky popcorn buckets — you can find all kinds of Halloween and fall treats and merchandise around Disney World. Green Cauldron Popcorn We’ve even seen more fall decorations popping up lately. Today, we learned that another park treat has received a spooky makeover! As we made our way around Magic Kingdom today, we tried to see if we could find any new fall items. Just last week, we got some churros with the Black and Orange Sugar Coating in an Oogie Boogie Bucket. Oogie Boogie Popcorn Bucket with Sugared Churros We also saw that you could get the Black and Orange Sugar Coated Churros by themselves. Sugared Churros Today, when we stopped by Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe in Frontierland (to see if anything new had appeared since our last Halloween feast here) we discovered that the Mini Churros there have also received the Halloween black and orange sugar treatment. So, of course, we ordered some via Mobile Order so we could taste them! You can get these mini churros with chocolate sauce for $5.89. Mobile Order — Screenshot from My Disney Experience Just look at these cuties! They’re adorable and delicious. Mini Churros from Pecos Bill with Halloween Sugar The mini churros were covered in the signature Halloween black and orange sugar which gave them a spooktacular look. Mini Churros from Pecos Bill with Halloween Sugar We were actually pretty impressed with these. They were fresh and warm, which was great! Mini Churros from Pecos Bill with Halloween Sugar And they were the perfect size to snack on. Mini Churros from Pecos Bill with Halloween Sugar Even if you’re not the biggest churro fan, you may still really enjoy these. If you give them a try the next time you’re in Disney World, definitely let us know! We’ll keep looking for more Halloween treats around Disney World, so be sure to come back for all the latest updates! Love churros? Click here to check out the Pumpkin Spice, Strawberry Cheesecake, Thin Mint, and Apple Pie Churros we tasted this weekend in Disney Springs! 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! Get Your Copy of the 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today! With more than 750 pages, the 2020 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 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2020 to save 25% off the cover price today! Your order will include a FREE instant download of the 2019 Edition of the Guide! Use code WDW2020 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today! Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Are you a fan of churros? Chat with us in the comments about your favorite spot to grab a churro in Disney World! The post Churray! These Mini Churros in Disney World Have Received a Halloween Makeover! first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: Review: Bite-Size Churros from Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe in Magic Kingdom Review: New Menu at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom! Review: Apple Pie Sundae and Poison Apple Mug at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party View the full article