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On September 10th, Disney participated in a question-and-answer session at the Bank of America Virtual 2020 Media, Communications & Entertainment Conference. ©The Walt Disney Company Check out what Christine McCarthy — Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of The Walt Disney Company — had to say about Disney’s construction priorities and all kinds of details about the future of the Disney parks. Recently, Christine McCarthy — Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of The Walt Disney Company — participated in the Bank of America Virtual 2020 Media, Communications & Entertainment Conference. ©The Walt Disney Company During the Conference, she gave us a peek behind the curtain and a view into the future of Disney. McCarthy noted that COVID-19 has really “thrown a wrench” into a lot of Disney’s business, but that it has also made it clear that flexibility is key to success. Mickey & Friends Motorcade Let’s see what McCarthy had to say about specific areas of Disney’s businesses: Cruising McCarthy specified that Disney’s cruising business will likely be the LAST of Disney’s businesses to resume. ©Disney She said that this was true due to just the nature of cruising and because the booking period for cruises tends to be longer. Currently, Disney Cruise Line has suspended departures through the end of October. We’ll definitely be on the lookout for more updates on that. ©Disney In terms of the new ships being built, McCarthy noted that the shipyard Disney utilizes for its cruise ships — Meyer Werft — “was impacted [by COVID] and…encountered a delay.” She said, “We’re in negotiations and discussions with the ship yard to finalize dates.” For the fifth ship, she noted they would make an announcement when they know the date, but it is delayed from what they originally anticipated. Click here to read about some updates on Disney Cruise Line shared by the Port of Galveston. Direct to Consumer Entertainment Overall, McCarthy said that Disney’s priorities in general for the next 3-5 years have not really changed, except that there will be an even stronger emphasis on direct to consumer entertainment. McCarthy noted that Disney has had to adjust even what they intended to do on Disney+. Some of those changes included releasing films on Disney+ earlier than they originally were set to be released there, moving theatrical releases to Disney+, and offering Mulan through the Premier Access option. ©Disney According to McCarthy, Disney will continue to make adjustments as needed. She said they had a lot of projects that were set to be produced, and that has slowed because of COVID-19. She even noted there would have been a lot more original content on now if they hadn’t had to shut down production due to COVID-19. But, she said Disney will continue to invest in content for Disney+. McCarthy noted that Disney+ is really made of that combination of great library content and original material. ©Lucasfilm | Entertainment Weekly Also, according to McCarthy, Disney+ was priced at a very acceptable price point initially. She said she believes that there is pricing power there in terms of potential price increases in the future, but that it will come into play more when they put more original content on the service, and changes will be adjusted depending on market dynamics. ©Disney+ McCarthy noted that, according to some of the data they’ve looked at, there’s probably about 40% of people who say they’ll go into a theatre to watch a movie, but she said she doesn’t believe the number is the same for older individuals or people with children, which may impact the demographic Disney is targeting with some of their family friendly films. So, she said Disney will look at its movie releases on an individual basis to determine whether theatrical releases or hybrid releases or other options are best. But she said they do have “a pretty robust release slate” scheduled in terms of movies for this year. Season 2 of The Mandalorian will be premiering soon on Disney+ — click here to read about it! Sports In the sports arena, she said the return of live sports has been embraced. We’ve seen sports like basketball, soccer, baseball, and football return. All Star Sports McCarthy said “there’s a lot of good sports that people are watching,” and she noted that the NFL is an extremely important partner for Disney. Theme Parks McCarthy noted that Disney is investing in and will continue to invest in its theme parks. Spaceship Earth McCarthy noted that when COVID-19 cases spiked in July, that impacted travel from other states to Walt Disney World, and caused Disney to shift and open things up more to Annual Passholders and local visitors. She said they continue to adjust the business as things continue to change. Tinker Bell Magnet McCarthy said that investment spending in the parks will be prioritized to continue certain projects that were already “in flight.” McCarthy specifically listed the following projects: Star Wars: Galactic Cruiser… Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser Atmosphere …the completion of the Avengers Campus… ©Disney …and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway as some of the ones that are being prioritized. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway’s opening date in Disneyland has been delayed to 2023. Welcome to Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway! Other projects, like the EPCOT transformation, were not specifically identified by McCarthy as those that are being prioritized, but we have seen construction progressing for certain aspects of that project like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. We’ve also seen construction continue for the new TRON attraction in Magic Kingdom. France Pavilion Construction Other projects, however, have been postponed like the Mary Poppins attraction and Spaceship Earth refurbishment. Mary Poppins in EPCOT We’ll keep checking for more updates from Disney and let you know what we find! Click here to read about the Disney Villains character cavalcade that will be coming to Magic Kingdom! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! 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 parks project are you most excited for? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney Gives Update on the Future of Disney Attractions, Disney Cruise Line, Disney+, and More! first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: Disney News This Week: ALL the News and Updates from the Most Magical Places on Earth! 10 Ways The Current Crisis is Particularly BAD for The Walt Disney Company Remember When Disney Had the WORST Timing Ever? View the full article

Busch Gardens Tampa has revealed themes for four new Halloween scare zones for Howl-O-Scream View the full article

Busch Gardens Tampa has revealed themes for four new Halloween scare zones for Howl-O-Scream View the full article

As Orlando’s theme parks reopen, one eager guest is returning for much more than a fun diversion. Harper Mae Comparin, 3, who was born with spina bifida, is building muscle to help her walk better as she makes her way around the attractions. View the full article

We’ve been anxiously awaiting the day we can finally enjoy an out-of-this-world meal at Space 220! Space 220 Concept Art ©Disney At this new EPCOT restaurant, guests will board an elevator that takes them into orbit as they travel to the Centauri Space Station above the Earth. While dining 220 miles above the Earth’s surface (hence the restaurant’s name!) guests will be treated to a full panoramic view of space! Sounds incredible, right?? And our anticipation is further piqued because Space 220 was originally slated to open almost a year ago! While the opening date was once listed as “Winter 2019,” the restaurant has since experienced a series of complications and delays. Space 220 Early signs of trouble began in November of 2019 when the previously-announced executive chef of the location, Theo Schoenegger, stepped down and the search for a chef to head the restaurant had to be reignited. Around the same time, the projected restaurant opening date was changed from Winter 2019 to February 2020 in Patina Group (the company that runs Space 220) job listings. Space 220 Concept Art ©Disney Of course, the February opening did not end up happening, and shortly after, Disney World began a monthslong shutdown in response to the global pandemic. During the shutdown, all construction projects were paused, including work on Space 220. But there is a glimmer of hope — it appears that construction was pretty far along when the shutdown began in March. Space 220 Construction With all of these setbacks and delays, we wanted to know whether our readers think that they’ll be able to dine in outer space by the end of the year! So, we asked our followers on Instagram, “Do you think Space 220 will open by the end of the year?” And it looks like most people are NOT expecting to be cleared for launch anytime soon — 89% said probably not, while 11% said for sure! Pie Chart of Our Readers’ Responses When Asked If They Think Space 220 Will Open by the End of 2020 And with over 23,000 votes received, that’s a pretty overwhelming number of people who are expecting to wait until at least 2021 before their first opportunity to dine in space! But, given the number of setbacks poor Space 220 has already experienced, we can’t blame them! We’ll continue to keep an eye out for more signs of construction work on the restaurant, as well as any official word from Disney on an anticipated grand opening date, so stay tuned for the final countdown to launch! Here are 4 Disney World construction projects you probably forgot about! 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 think Space 220 will open by the end of the year?? Let us know in the comments! The post We Asked Our Readers: Do You Think Space 220 Will Open by the End of the Year? first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: Take A New Look at SPACE… Epcot’s Space 220 Restaurant Construction Update! When EPCOT Reopens, Will Space 220 Quickly Follow? We Asked Our Readers: What Do You Hope Returns to the Next Epcot Food and Wine Festival? View the full article

Disney World is continuing their phased reopening! While the theme parks have been reopen for a couple of months now, we’re STILL seeing more locations and experiences reopen for guests to enjoy with the new health and safety guidelines in place. Magic Kingdom As the phased reopening continues, two more table service restaurants are preparing to reopen in Disney World. And in preparation for welcoming guests back, you can now book those Advance Dining Reservations for these two locations! Reservations are open NOW for both Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom and Hollywood and Vine at Disney’s Hollywood Studios via My Disney Experience. Cinderella’s Royal Table will reopen on September 24, and Hollywood and Vine will follow one day later, on September 25. Cinderella’s Royal Table One MAJOR change to note is that for now, Cinderella’s Royal Table will NOT be a character dining experience. Hollywood and Vine, however, will be (more on that in a sec!). Table Set Up Pre-closure, a dining reservation for Cinderella’s Royal Table was hard to come by, so we recommend you book ASAP if you know when you’ll be in the parks! Even with no princesses visiting your table for the time being, we suspect that dining inside Cinderella’s Castle may still be a hard-to-get reservation. Foyer Fireplace This is the first time guests can dine inside the castle (with its new pink look!) since the closures, so if you’re considering booking a reservation, definitely hop on the opportunity! Vaulted Ceilings in Cinderella’s Royal Table Hollywood and Vine has typically offered seasonal character dining experiences, and it looks like that trend will continue for the remainder of 2020! Minnie’s Seasonal Dine will take place beginning September 25th, and Minnie’s Holiday Dine will take place beginning November 6th. Character interactions will be modified however to keep guests and Cast Members safe! Halloween Hollywood and Vine Coming This Year! Hollywood and Vine is traditionally a buffet, but with Disney World’s new health and safety guidelines, the food will instead be served family style, similar to the modified buffet dining experiences we saw at Chef Mickey’s (only this time, you’ll actually get to wave to the characters!). Santa Goofy at Minnie’s Holiday Dine Remember that at this time, Disney World has shortened their Advance Dining Reservation window from 180 days to 60 days. Also in mind that a confirmed dining reservation will NOT count as park admission. You must have both valid theme park admission as well as a confirmed Park Pass Reservation in order to enter the theme park you wish to visit! Wondering what a modified character dining experience is like in Disney World these days? Click here to find out! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don't Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! 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 to dine at either of these restaurants on your next visit to Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post Reservations Are Now Open for Cinderella's Royal Table and Hollywood & Vine in Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. Related posts: The BIGGEST Time Wasters in Disney World — And How To Avoid Them! Can You Still Resort Hop in Disney World? Yes, But You Need To Know This First. A Complete List of What Restaurants ARE and ARE NOT Open at Walt Disney World’s Theme Parks Right Now! View the full article

“When we think about the next three years, have your investment plans for new rides and attractions meaningfully changed?” a Wall Street analyst asked Disney's Chief Financial Officer. View the full article

Here is some good news for roller coaster junkies: The countdown can start to begin for the newest coasters opening at SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. View the full article

"Black Cauldron," widely considered the film that almost killed animation at Disney, features a horned king, deathless warriors, human sacrifice and the goal of world domination. Dark enough for you? View the full article

Disney World was a place of fantasy, complete with a castle and princesses. So to Janelle Dzwilewski, the theme park was the perfect place to honor her mom, who died in January. View the full article

St. Augustine, on Florida’s historic northeast coast, welcomes dogs with open arms and water dishes everywhere. View the full article

Greetings from Downtown Disney! Our most recent visit certainly LOOKED quite different, as you may notice our outdoor photos include a bit of an orange saturation. That is coming from the smoke that is currently traveling up and down the west coast from all of the wildfires in California, Oregon, and Washington. Smoke Above Downtown Disney This week we stopped by Disneyland’s shopping and dining district to see what was new. Come along with us as we recap the latest in Disneyland shopping and more! Downtown Disney Construction Updates As soon as we arrived at Downtown Disney, we noticed a new update. A Parking Self Pay station has been added to the Simba Parking Lot! Parking Self Pay station has arrived in Downtown Disney Parking in the lot has been complimentary since Downtown Disney reopened, but this was only meant to be a temporary offering. So we may see the free parking go away soon! Click here to read more about the new parking meters in Downtown Disney! The Emporium inside Disneyland Park continues to get a facelift! Emporium construction Construction looked about the same since our last visit. One of the biggest changes we spotted on our most recent visit to the Disneyland Resort was all the new health and safety signs added to the park gates! Disney California Adventure Park — Health and Safety Reminders Of course, the biggest change we saw on this recent trip wasn’t totally related to Disneyland at all. The skies were covered in smoke from the recent wildfires burning across the west coast. Disney California Adventure Park Disneyland itself is safe from the current active fires, but it was quite the experience to see the smoke fill the skies and even see it raining ash. Click here to see MORE pictures from our recent trip to Downtown Disney! Downtown Disney Merchandise Updates World of Disney Upon entering World of Disney, we immediately fell head-over-heels for this NEW Mulan sipper cup! Mulan Sipper at World of Disney at Downtown Disney The cup retails for $17.49! Pick one up and enjoy your favorite drink as you watch Mulan! Click here to learn more about the new sipper cup inspired by Mulan We also finally got to check out the new Halloween face masks that debuted last week (along with the spiffy new fabric!). Halloween face mask Both the pumpkin and the “Boo!” designs were in stock! Halloween face mask The new designs are so fun! These masks currently retail for $6.00 per mask. Read all about the new mask fabric here! Speaking of Halloween-themed merchandise, we spotted a couple of tops designed after Oogie Boogie from The Nightmare Before Christmas. First up is this vibrant green spirit jersey. Oogie Boogie Spirit Jersey The spirit jersey is available at World of Disney for $69.99. We also spotted an Oogie Boogie hoodie (try saying THAT five times fast!). Oogie Boogie Jacket The zip-up hoodie is also available at World of Disney for $59.99. Click here to learn more about our favorite new duo of Oogie Boogie tops! Continuing on our adventures through World of Disney, we discovered a trio of bucket hats that we think are très chic. The first one comes in a fun tie-dye design, featuring Mickey Mouse! Tie-dye bucket hat The second is for all you Jedis out there! This Star Wars bucket hat will make you the most fashionable in the galaxy! Star Wars bucket hat And finally, we spotted a reversible bucket hat. One side is solid black with Mickey Mouse… Reversible Mickey bucket hat …while the other side is a fun Mickey Mouse pattern! Reversible Mickey bucket hat All of the bucket hats cost $29.99 each at World of Disney. And if you’re going to don a bucket hat during these final weeks of hot weather, be sure to match them with a short-sleeve button-down shirt! We’ve already spotted several of these dapper shirts in Downtown Disney, and on our most recent trip, we spotted shirts featuring Dug… Dug short sleeve button down t-shirt …Oswald the Lucky Rabbit… Oswald short sleeve button down t-shirt …a fun Pizza Planet design… Pizza Planet short sleeve button down t-shirt …and just in time for Halloween, villains! Villains short sleeve button down t-shirt Each of the button-down shirts retails for $59.99. We’ve also seen these shirts in Disney World. Check them out here! If you’re looking for something a little more casual, this Disneyland surfboard tee should do the trick! Men’s surfboard t-shirt The front features Mickey, while the back has a surfboard! This shirt makes us want to go surf some waves! Men’s surfboard t-shirt This men’s t-shirt retails for $36.99. Kids can also get in on the t-shirt action on this recent trip to Downtown Disney. We spotted this adorable glow in the dark tee that says “Up to No Good!” “Up to no good” kid’s t-shirt The kid’s t-shirt was spotted in the Halloween section of World of Disney and retails for $19.99. Speaking of Halloween, we found two of Disney’s new adaptive Halloween costumes. One of the costumes is Cinderella’s iconic ballgown… Cinderella adaptive Halloween costume …and the other costume is Buzz Lightyear! Buzz Lightyear adaptive Halloween costume Both of these adaptive costumes are available in World of Disney for $49.99. Click here to learn more about Disney’s adaptive and wheelchair-friendly Halloween costumes! We spotted possible THE cutest set of cookie cutters we’ve ever seen! This set inspired by Disney Parks includes both Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty Castles, Spaceship Earth, Mickey’s Fun Wheel (now known as Pixar Pal-A-Round), Tower of Terror, and the Tree of Life! Disney Parks cookie cutter set We’ve all been baking more cookies this year since we’ve been spending all this time at home, so why not add a sprinkle of magic to your next batch? The cookie cutter set retails for $24.99. Our final merchandise find at World of Disney are two new additions to the Disneyland Hotel merchandise line. First up is this adorable picture frame! Disneyland Hotel frame The 4×6 frame is available in World of Disney for $24.99. And with the holiday season just weeks away, perhaps you’re looking for a new ornament to add to your tree! How about making that addition this beautiful glass Disneyland Hotel ornament? Disneyland Hotel ornament The ornament retails for $21.99! Take a look at some of the other Disneyland Hotel merchandise available in World of Disney! Curl Surf If you’re in the market for a new backpack, head over to Curl Surf in Downtown Disney! They currently have the latest Herschel x Mickey Mouse collection in stock! Whether you’re looking to carry around a little or a lot, there’s a bag for just about everyone. Starting off, there’s this adorable mini-backpack! Herschel x Mickey Mouse Collection The mini-backpack retails for $65.95. If backpacks aren’t your thing, perhaps this crossbody bag will suit you better! Herschel x Mickey Mouse Collection The crossbody bag retails at Curl Surf for $45.95. Or if you’re looking for the ULTIMATE hip look, perhaps you would be interested in this hip pack! Herschel x Mickey Mouse Collection The hip pack is available at Curl Surf for $50.95. If you’re familiar with the Herschel brand, you’ll know that they’re definitely known best for their backpacks! So this collection has a fair amount of them available. In addition to the mini-backpack above, we saw two medium-sized backpacks! The first is your standard backpack (with, of course, this too-cool-for-school Mickey Mouse design). Herschel x Mickey Mouse Collection This first backpack retails for $70.95. If you want your backpack to look slightly different than the rest, this next medium backpack has exaggerated zipper details and two carrying straps on top. Herschel x Mickey Mouse Collection This backpack retails for $80.95. The third backpack we spotted is quite large and includes Herschel’s signature double strap design. Herschel x Mickey Mouse Collection The large backpack retails for $120.95. And finally, for everything plus the kitchen sink, a duffle bag was included in this collection! Herschel x Mickey Mouse Collection The duffle bag is available at Curl Surf for $100.95. We’re definitely saving our pennies to pick up several (potentially ALL) of these cute bags! Downtown Disney will resume indoor dining this week! Click here to learn more. Dress Shop We popped into Dress Shop to see what we could SPOT, and what we discovered were a whole lot of animal spots, stripes, and more! First was this cardholder with a fun animal print Minnie Mouse bow detail. Animal print cardholder Pick one up at the Dress Shop for $15.99! And why stop there? Have all of your accessories match with this set of four scrunchies, also with fun animal prints! SCRUNCHIES! The set of four scrunchies are available at The Dress Shop in Downtown Disney for $14.99. Click here to check out the new Leopard Print Loungefly Backpack spotted in Disney World! Pin Traders Finally, we headed over to Pin Traders to scope out any potential new pins! Star Wars fans will hit the jackpot here as we found some new Limited Edition Star Wars and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge pins! The pins are designed after Mon Calamari... Mon Calamari pin …Rose… Rose pin …Black Spire Outpost… Black Spire Outpost pin …and Droid Depot! Droid Depot pin Each of the Star Wars pins can be found at Pin Traders for $17.99 each! Finally, we also came across the Mad Tea Party collection of pins from the Minnie Mouse: The Main Attraction Series! Minnie Mouse: The Main Attraction Mad Tea Party Collection Pins Does this mean we’ll see more Main Attraction merchandise arrive in Downtown Disney? We’ll have to wait and see! The pin set retails for $19.99 at Pin Traders. Click here to see where we found, even MORE, Minnie Mouse: The Main Attraction merchandise in Disney World recently! That’s a wrap for our most recent trip to Downtown Disney! We’ll be back again soon for even MORE merchandise news and updates. Until then, we will continue to keep a watchful eye on Disneyland as it prepares to reopen, whenever it gets the OKAY from the state government! Click here to learn more about the latest Orange County news and what it could potentially mean for Disneyland’s grand reopening! Have you visited Downtown Disney since it reopened in July? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: What’s New at Downtown Disney: Disneyland Gate Changes, TONS of New Tees, and MORE Halloween Stuff! What’s New at Downtown Disney: A Favorite Brunch Spot Reopens, Something’s Happening at Disneyland, and So! Much! Halloween Merch!!! What’s New at Downtown Disney and the Disneyland Resorts: TONS of Wedding Merchandise, a Sparkly Galaxy Parfait, and More! View the full article

Disney World has been experiencing a rise in local tourism since the parks reopened back in July. In fact, CEO Bob Chapek noted that locals represented approximately HALF of the visitors coming to Disney World this summer. Magic Kingdom As part of Disney’s initiative to encourage more local travel this month and for the fall season, Florida Residents can take advantage of some significant savings! We recently shared some NEW Disney World Resort hotel discounts, and now we’re spotting even more savings to sweeten the deal! Disney Parks Blog announced a series of discounts and deals exclusive to Florida Residents! Spaceship Earth Looking to visit the theme parks? Florida Residents can purchase a 2-day Florida Resident Disney Magic Flex Ticket for $130 plus tax. Main Street, U.S.A. in Magic Kingdom The Florida Resident Disney Magic Flex Ticket also includes 3 and 4-day options. The 2-day Flex Ticket must be used by September 30, 2020. Click here to learn more about the Florida Resident Disney Magic Flex Ticket! Do you need a place to stay? Disney World is also offering special savings on select Disney Resort hotels. Florida Residents can save up to 35% on rooms! Most nights through December 25, 2020 are eligible for these savings! Yacht Club Resort Lobby Not a Florida Resident? Those from states close to Florida can save up to 30% on rooms most nights through December 25! Click here to learn more about the latest Disney World hotel deals! Finally, you may be looking to bring home a souvenir or two. Disney World is now offering a special Florida Resident merchandise discount of 20% at Walt Disney World Resort owned and operated locations. This offer is good Mondays through Thursdays from September 15 through October 29. Proof of residency is required to redeem this offer. Emerald Minnie Ears With the Halloween season kicking off next week, there will be tons to see and do in Disney World! If you’re a Florida Resident and considering a fall trip to Disney World, this may be the time to book! Click here to take a look at ALL of the current Disney World discounts you may want to take advantage of right now! Are you a Florida Resident? Do you think you’ll take advantage of this offer? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Florida Residents Can Save BIG on Disney World Resort Rooms With This New Discount! Florida Residents Can Save Up to 30% Off Rooms at Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort! NEWS: Disney World Introduces NEW 2020 Florida Resident Disney Magic Flex Ticket! View the full article

Welcome back, everyone! Greetings from the Magic Kingdom! Character Cavalcade at Magic Kingdom We made our rounds and here’s everything that we saw! Magic Kingdom Merchandise Update Sir Mickey’s Here’s where you’ll find all the adorable Minnie Mouse Main Attraction Dumbo merchandise! We love these ears for $34.99. Dumbo Minnie Ears We also like these pins, though, for $19.99. Minnie Mouse Main Attraction Dumbo Pins Coffee mugs always come in handy! This one is $19.99. Minnie Mouse Main Attraction Dumbo Mug And we’re going nuts over this vibrant MagicBand for $34.99. Dumbo MagicBand Fanny packs are back in style and we would totally wear this Loungefly one for $45.00. This collection is so colorful! Get another look at the Minnie Mouse Main Attraction Dumbo Merch! Frontier Trading Post We found this super cute Mickey Mouse passholder pin at Frontier Trading Post for $17.99. Emporium We found this absolutely charming Minnie Mouse denim hat for $27.99 at the Emporium! We love all the embroidered Minnie heads on it! Magic Kingdom Food Updates Churro Cart on Main Street Churros! They are like everything to us! And we love these Sugared Churros from the Churro Cart! Halloween Churros But well, well, well, what have we here? There is an option to get the churros on their own (for a range of prices) or with the Oogie Boogie Popcorn Bucket for $22! You can also get the churros with a pumpkin popcorn bucket! Oogie Boogie Popcorn Bucket with Sugared Churros The churros also come with milk chocolate dip! Nom! Check out more photos of the Oogie Boogie Popcorn Bucket here! Magic Kingdom Construction Updates Liberty Square Ticket Center The Liberty Square Ticket Center is currently being used as a pop-up shop for the Madame Leota sipper! Magic Kingdom Liberty Square Ticket Center This is where you can go to pick up the Madame Leota sipper with no lines! Learn more about the Madame Leota Sipper! That’s it for us! Maybe we’ll see you around the Magic Kingdom someday! See what’s new at Animal Kingdom here! What do you think of what we’ve seen at Magic Kingdom? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: What’s New in the Magic Kingdom: NEW Snacks, Lots of NEW Merchandise and Construction Updates! There’s A New Way to Rep Your Love For Disney Food in Disney World! What’s New at Magic Kingdom: A Missing Fan-Favorite Snack, TONS of Mulan Merchandise, and a NEW Cake Pop! View the full article

Florida Residents looking to visit Walt Disney World Resort can “fall” in love with some special offers and save on magical seasonal experiences at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT and more. First, with a Florida Resident Disney Magic Flex Ticket, guests can visit 2, 3 or 4 days – depending on the ticket purchased – at one Walt Disney World theme park per day. Florida Residents can enjoy a 2-day Florida Resident Disney Magic Flex Ticket for just $130 plus tax. 2-day Florida Resident Disney Magic Flex Tickets must be used by September 30, 2020. Reservations are limited and subject to availability. We’re also thrilled to share that for a limited time, Florida Residents will be able to receive a 20% discount on select merchandise at Walt Disney World Resort owned and operated locations. This special new discount runs Mondays through Thursdays—September 15 through October 29, 2020 (proof of residency required). See offer details. And Florida Residents can stay in the middle of the magic with a special Resort hotel offer. Residents can save up to 35% on rooms at select Disney Resort hotels for stays most nights through December 25, 2020. Visit our offer page for details. As a reminder, we’re continuing to operate with new protocols in place to promote the health and well-being of guests and cast members. To manage attendance during this time, we are using the Disney Park Pass system. All guests with a ticket or annual pass are required to make a reservation in advance for each park entry. Learn more by visiting DisneyWorld.com/Updates. When visiting, Florida Residents can enjoy our bewitching fall surprises across the Resort, including at Magic Kingdom Park. From September 15 to October 31, Main Street, U.S.A. will be dressed in fall décor and other seasonal offerings, like a special Halloween-themed character cavalcade with Mickey, Minnie, Pluto and pals. And for the first time, guests of all ages can wear their funniest, Disney-ist, most creative costumes during Magic Kingdom Park regular operating hours. Check out our story for costume guidelines and more on Halloween offerings. Florida Residents can also celebrate the best in global food and drink at this year’s Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival! Sip, savor and stroll across six continents at the foodie festival that offers over 20 signature global marketplaces and discover a family-friendly scavenger hunt and a multitude of entertainment. Here’s more on the Festival. For more information on all Resort offerings and experiences, visit DisneyWorld.com. And be sure to keep checking the Disney Parks Blog for more updates. View the full article

Disney has reopened some of its hotels and resorts in Disney World, other areas of the United States, and around the world, but some still remain closed. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Now, we’ve got an update from Disney about how many hotels they expect to have reopened by the end of their fiscal year. Today, Disney participated in the Bank of America Virtual 2020 Media, Communications & Entertainment Conference. According to Reuters, during the conference, Christine McCarthy — Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of The Walt Disney Company — noted that Disney expects to have reopened “a little over 50%” of its hotels and resorts by the end of Disney’s fiscal year. Disney’s fiscal year ends in late September. ©The Walt Disney Company So, we decided to take a little (virtual) trip around the world and check on the status of Disney’s many hotels. In Disney World, many of the hotels have reopened, but others have had their opening dates delayed, or currently do not have reopening dates set at all. Disney has even announced that one hotel — Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort — will not be reopening until next year. Disney’s Yacht Club Resort In California, Disney has canceled guest reservations at the Disneyland Resort hotels several times. New reservations are now only being accepted for dates beginning in October. Disneyland Hotel Room In Disneyland Paris, some hotels have reopened while another was scheduled to re-close. ©Disney Meanwhile, Disney’s Resorts in Vero Beach and Hilton Head have already reopened. Vero Beach Resort We recently shared with you that Disney’s Aulani Resort likely won’t open until at least October. A recent increase in COVID-19 cases may also affect that. ©Disney But, other spots, like some of the resorts in Hong Kong Disneyland remain open — despite the fact that Hong Kong Disneyland is closed. ©Disney Over in Tokyo Disney Resort and Shanghai Disney Resort, some Disney hotels have already reopened. Shanghai Disneyland And, that concludes our trip around the world! Quite a few hotels are open, but several are still closed and some do not even have set dates on which they will reopen. When will some of those closed hotels reopen? We’re not sure. A few more hotels in Disney World are set to reopen soon, so we’ll definitely keep an eye out for any news about those resorts and other Disney resorts around the world. Come back for all the latest! Disney’s Yacht Club Resort has reopened! Click here to read all about it. What is your favorite Disney hotel? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Say Goodbye to Your Mini Disney Toiletries With THIS New Law Changing Disney Resorts What Has To Happen Before Disney World Reopens DFB Video: Latest Disney News — Parks Extend Closure, Discounts on Future Stays and Ways to Stay Busy at Home! View the full article

Dia De Los Muertos is right around the corner, and that means we’re seeing a lot of amazing Coco merchandise, (including the cutest dress!) pop up in the parks! Coco Dress But we spotted a new Loungefly Coco bag dropped in Disney World today that has us wanting to seize our moment! The new bag is a Loungefly Coco Mini-Backpack. It features a classic sugar skull as its design! Coco Mini Backpack at World of Disney at Disney Springs Check out the gorgeous pattern inside! Look at that beautiful detail! We spot Miguel, Mamá Coco, and Pepita! Inside of Coco Mini Details at World of Disney at Disney Springs The back features a quote from Coco embroidered on it: “One cannot deny who one is meant to be.” Back of Coco Mini Backpack Details at World of Disney at Disney Springs We found this bag at World of Disney at Disney Springs for $80. If you’re looking for more Coco merchandise (including those hard to get Wishables), we’ll keep you posted on what we find in the parks and online! Check out these 6 new Disney Loungefly prints! What do you think of the new Loungefly Coco bag? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Oh, Bother! We’re TOTALLY Buying the New Winnie the Pooh Loungefly We Found in Disney World BEST DAY EVER! There’s a NEW Pascal Shoulder Plush in Disney World! Do the Old Plush Rush Over to Disney Springs to Get These NEW Toy Story Socks! View the full article

In The Kitchen with EPCOT Chef Kevin Downing | #DisneyMagicMoments View the full article

This is Halloween, everybody makes a scene! Especially all of the fun Oogie Boogie merchandise we have spotted throughout Disney World and Downtown Disney! Oogie Boogie Popcorn Bucket A couple of days ago we let you know that the Oogie Boogie Popcorn Bucket is back in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom! There is even a new feature allowing you to get two churros instead of popcorn. Turns out, the Oogie Boogie merchandise train doesn’t stop there! While strolling through Downtown Disney yesterday we spotted this super fun Oogie Boogie Spirit Jersey! The front features the ever so spooky character with his devilish grin. Oogie Boogie Spirit Jersey We love how the back features Oogie Boogies’ name and has bats flying around! This is absolutely perfect for the Halloween season! Oogie Boogie Spirit Jersey You can get the Oogie Boogie Spirit Jersey at World of Disney in Downtown Disney at Disneyland for $69.99. If you are wanting something a little warmer, this Oogie Boogie Jacket would be sure to do the trick! Oogie Boogie Jacket You can grab this item for $59.99. Are you ready to roll Oogie Boogie’s dice and get one of these fun pieces for yourself? We think they would go great with anything and are perfect for the parks! Click here to see some other fun Halloween apparel! Are you an Oogie Boogie fan? Will you be getting any of these items? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: What’s New in Disneyland Resort — Halloween Goodies, Haunted Mansion Merch, and a Refreshing New Drink! What’s New in Disneyland Resort: SO MUCH! What’s New at Disneyland — Magic Way’s Grand Opening, TWO New Menus, And Halloween AND Arendelle Aqua Treats! View the full article

You can build up quite the appetite as you walk around and shop at Disney Springs. Disney Springs If you’re looking to grab a delicious burger, we’ve got just the spot for you…and they’ve even got a pumpkin pie shake back on their menu! D-Luxe Burger is a quick service restaurant located in the Town Center area of Disney Springs. A few days ago, we heard they were going to bring back some of our favorite items, so we HAD to make our way over there today to taste them! D-Luxe Burger When we arrived near the restaurant, we placed our order via Mobile Order. Mobile Order Screenshot On the inside of the restaurant, there were social distancing markers indicating where we should stand. D-Luxe Burger Inside The seating that used to be in the front area of the restaurant has been removed to allow for social distancing while you’re waiting to grab your food. D-Luxe Burger Inside And, before we knew it, it was time to EAT! D-Luxe Burger First up — we got the seasonal Pumpkin Pie Gelato Shake. We had a Pumpkin Pie shake from D-Luxe last year, but it looks like it’s gotten a makeover! Previously it had a rich caramel sauce, whipped cream, graham cracker crumbles, and a dusting of pumpkin spice. Now, it features Vanilla Gelato blended with Pumpkin, topped with Whipped Cream and Cinnamon. Pumpkin Pie Gelato Shake The shake was really rich and creamy. The pumpkin pie flavor was very present, but we didn’t find it to be overwhelming. It was sweet and delicious! Pumpkin Pie Gelato Shake You can grab one of these for $7.50. We also got the Southern Burger. This is another returning item. This burger features their Signature Blend Beef Patty topped with a Fried Green Tomato, Pimento Cheese, Lettuce, Grilled Onion, and Bacon. Southern Burger This burger was really good, especially if you love fried green tomatoes and pimento cheese! Southern Burger The bacon was perfectly crispy, and the pimento cheese had a nice, bold flavor. Southern Burger We would have enjoyed it even more if the fried green tomato was a bit bigger and if there were some more onions, but overall, it was absolutely delicious! Southern Burger You can grab this burger for $13.49. We also got some Regular Fries to go with our meal for $4.99. YUM. Southern Burger with Fries Overall, our trip to D-Luxe Burger was a total success! We’ll definitely be on the lookout for more seasonal and returning treats around Disney World. Come back for all the latest Disney news! Click here to check out what’s new in Disney Springs! Have you ever eaten at D-Luxe Burger? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Review: It’s Pizza AND Burger Night With The NEW Pepperoni Pizza Burger In Disney World! Loading Up on Chicken Guy! Loaded Fries and Mac ‘N’ Cheese!! Review! These SECRET Menu Items from D-Luxe Burger in Disney Springs are Worth the Calories! View the full article

In September, we’re usually gearing up for Halloween and fall fun, but we’re not against celebrating Christmas early, too, especially with Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party being canceled this year. Sven Sipper ©Disney Springs Instagram Disney’s holiday spirit, though, remains strong. And this year, it seems it’s getting ushered in by our favorite Frozen reindeer, Sven! We already mentioned that the Sven sipper was returning to Disney World, but today, we saw Sven in all his sipper glory at B.B. Wolf’s Sausage Co., at Disney Springs. This is where we previously saw him last year. Sven Sipper at B.B. Wolf’s Sausage Co. at Disney Springs The always festive Sven opens around his middle to fill up your drink. Sven Sipper at Disney World The Sven Sipper is $18 with a fountain beverage or slushie (drinking a slushie from Sven? YES, PLEASE!). So the Candlelight Processional might be canceled, but Christmas is already arriving in the parks in true Disney fashion! We’ll keep you up to date on any more holiday stuff we find! Find out which holiday bar will return to Disney World this year! Are you excited about the holidays at Disney World? Let us know in the comments. Related posts: Everything You Need To Know About The Holidays at Disney Springs! Food, Discounts, and More! Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar Will Return to Disney Springs This Year! Menu Updates in Disney Springs: The Polite Pig, Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, and More View the full article

Halloween isn’t even here yet, but we’re already getting all kinds of Christmas news. Candlelight Processional ©Disney Just this week, we shared with you that Disney has canceled the Candlelight Processional at EPCOT and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in Magic Kingdom. Now, we’ve got news about the cancellation of a Christmas event over in Disneyland. According to the Orange County Register, Disneyland is canceling its Candlelight Processional. © The Orange County Register This event is similar to EPCOT’s Candlelight Processional, but is on a whole other level. In Disneyland’s version of this event, hundreds of members of the local community, as well as the Disneyland Cast Member Choir, the Disneyland Orchestra, and more celebrate Christmas in a grand display. Neil Patrick Harris at The Candlelight Processional in Disney World ©Disney The event takes place in front of the Disneyland Main Street Train Station and typically features an A-list celebrity narrator. It is also offered on a much more limited basis than the version in EPCOT — last year it only took place on two nights. Candlelight Processional at EPCOT The OCR notes that Disneyland officials stated Disneyland was simply “unable to commit to the monthslong planning process for the Candlelight Processional without a clear understanding of when theme parks can reopen from the State of California.” Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle According to the OCR, the special event is typically crowded and busy and tends to jam foot traffic near the park’s entrance. Typically backstage passageways are opened during this time to ease congestion. The OCR notes that “Holding a private event in the middle of a theme park during operating hours presents a number of challenges for Disneyland — from attraction operations to show scheduling to crowd management.” Disneyland Train Station When Disney canceled EPCOT’s Candlelight Processional, it noted that it was canceling “holiday experiences that draw big crowds” like EPCOT’s Candlelight Processional and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. So, it makes sense that this ex perience at Disneyland would be canceled due to the potential crowd levels it could draw, as well as the fact that an opening date for Disneyland has yet to be firmly established. We’ll keep an eye out for more Disneyland news and let you know what we find! Click here to read about the return of indoor dining to certain Downtown Disney restaurants at Disneyland Resort. Have you ever had the chance to see Disneyland’s Candlelight Processional? Tell us all about it in the comments! Related posts: Review: Pineapple Churro at Disneyland Resort’s Castle Churro Cart Halloween Time Churro Bites Cereal Sundae at Disneyland’s Hungry Bear Restaurant! Full Review: We Ate The Most EXPENSIVE Disney Meal EVER! View the full article

A few days ago, we brought your attention to a seasonal side dish at The Polite Pig. The Polite Pig at Disney Springs The Sweet Potato Mash with Maple Bourbon Butter has returned to this Disney Springs BBQ joint. But, of course, we wanted to do more than simply tell you it was available. So today, we went to get a little taste for ourselves so we could give you the whole scoop on this seasonal side! You’ll see the Sweet Potato Mash listed on the menu of Market Sides. These are $6.oo each or you can get 3 for $15.00 to make a meal of it. The Polite Pig Market Sides menu Served up in a ramekin, it gives vibes of a 2020 Taste of EPCOT Food and Wine Festival dish in appearance, don’t you think? Sweet Potato Mash But the most important question, of course, is… how does it TASTE? Sweet Potato Mash In a word: TERRIFIC! This dish is rich, tasty, and super buttery. We found the texture to be more of a puree, as opposed to mashed — very creamy. Sweet Potato Mash The flavor profile is reminiscent of a classic Thanksgiving side dish, because it tastes like Sweet Potato Casserole, just without the pecans. So, even though Halloween is the holiday that’s currently being celebrated in the Disney World parks, this delicious dish in Disney Springs already has us thinking of Thanksgiving! See ALL of the fall and Halloween treats in Walt Disney World here! For now, we (along with our very polite lollipop pals) are signing off… The Polite Pig lollipops … from The Polite Pig in Disney Springs, thank you very much! Does the Sweet Potato Mash sound like your kind of side dish? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: What’s New in Disney Springs! August 10, 2018 Disney World Marathoners! Show Your Bib or Medal To Get This FREEBIE in Disney Springs! What’s New at Disney Springs! NEW Menu Items; Missing Menu Items; The CUTEST Valentine’s Day Cards; and FREE Cupcakes! View the full article

For the last several months, many of us have honed our culinary skills while spending more time at home. Now is the chance to break out your inner chef and follow along with Disney Chef Kevin Downing, as he prepares the guest-favorite Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup, and the delicious Filet of Beef with Roasted Mushrooms and Beurre Blanc – both from Le Cellier restaurant at the Canada Pavilion in EPCOT, and part of the Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. Follow along on this previously recorded experience as Kevin shares tips for not only how to prepare the perfect dish, but some hacks for those with dietary preferences, and other tricks to make these dishes your own. Want to look the part as well? Check out shopDisney next month for some all-new products from this year’s Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, as well as fun cooking gear for any time! This is the first of a series of #DisneyMagicMoment events bringing you the best of Disney, whether you visit us in locations around the world, or bring the magic home. Keep your eye on the Disney Parks Blog for more #DisneyMagicMoments! View the full article

Every child of the 90s probably remembers Doogie Howser, M.D., the series that brought us our first look at Neil Patrick Harris, who is as much a Disney fan as we are! He even developed a special margarita (check out our review here) for La Cava del Tequila at EPCOT! Doogie Howser, M.D. ©20th Century Studios If you recall, we originally mentioned that Disney+ was working on a NEW Doogie Howser reboot series. Well, now that series has officially been ordered to series at Disney+. Its working title is Doogie Kameāloha, M.D., and if you can’t tell by the name, it’s set in Hawaii. The comedy will follow Lahela “Doogie” Kameāloha, a 16-year-old girl, a prodigy who isn’t just a teenager, but also has a budding medical career as a doctor. Doogie Howser , M.D. ©20th Century Studios Kourtney Kang will write and executive produce (along with Jake Kasdan and Melvin Mar as co-executive producers). Dayna and Jesse Bochco (who are the wife and son of the original show’s co-creator Steven Bochco) will produce. It sounds like a new take on the Doogie Howser we remember and love, and we are looking forward to seeing what Disney+ does with the series. We’ll let you know when it’s set to air, once that information is available. See how ABC and D23 are celebrating the 35th anniversary of The Golden Girls! Are you excited about this reboot? Let us know what you think in the comments! Related posts: A Reboot of ‘Doogie Howser, M.D.’ Is in Development For Disney+! ‘Frozen II’ Is Set to Release EARLY on Disney+! News! Former Disney Chairman Named CEO of TikTok View the full article