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Earlier this year, Disney World Annual Passholders were given the option to cancel their passes in exchange for a partial refund. Chef Remy Magnet When the Disney World parks reopened, there were a number of health and safety changes implemented that impact the guest experience. Some of these changes include the temporary pause on parades, fireworks, and character meet-and-greets, lack of park hopping, and the need to obtain a Disney Park Pass reservation to enter. And for Annual Passholders, snagging a Disney Park Pass reservation might not be an easy feat. There is separate park availability for Disney World hotel guests, regular ticket holders, and Annual Passholders, and we’ve regularly seen availability fill up quickly for APs. Annual Passholder Availability for August © Disney Disney has extended the expiration date on Annual Passes to account for the park closure and offered an additional one-month extension to account for the Disney Park Pass availability issue. But even so, there are a number of other circumstances that could impact the value (or lack thereof) of being an Annual Passholder right now — and some of these situations, such as issues with travel between certain states or countries, are out of Disney’s control. MMRR Annual Passholder MagicBand So, with all of the unusual circumstances surrounding the Disney parks — plus the fact that most Annual Pass options will set the owner back some seriously big bucks — we were curious to see how many Annual Passholders would opt to cancel their passes for the partial refund. And now that the cancellation deadline has passed, we reached out to our Instagram followers to ask, “Did you cancel your Annual Pass?” Of the 314 responses we received in the first 40 minutes, 93 said YES they did cancel their Annual Pass and 221 said NO they didn’t cancel their Annual Pass. Here’s a visual breakdown of the results! Pie Chart of Our Readers’ Responses When Asked If They Canceled Their Annual Pass Let’s take a look at some of the reasons our readers gave behind their decisions! “Yes, I did cancel my Disney World Annual Pass.” Of the responses we received, 30% did choose to cancel their Annual Pass. Some mentioned the uncertainty of when they would be able to visit as the driving factor for their decision. “Yes, unfortunately! But we will get it again once it’s safe to go whenever!” Animal Kingdom Entrance Others mentioned the difficulty of traveling in the current environment. “Yes. We live out of state so it’s not worth it.” And some Annual Passholders aren’t even able to travel to Disney World at all right now. “Yes. I’m a Canadian citizen and can’t enter the US, so it didn’t make sense to keep it.” Walt Disney World Resort Entrance For some, there were a variety of factors that led to their decision to cancel. “Yes. I live with a high-risk person. Also [there’s] no park hopping.” We asked our readers if they would take their kids to Disney World right now. Here’s what they said. “No, I didn’t cancel my Disney World Annual Pass.” Making up the majority, 70% of respondents chose not to cancel their Annual Pass. Many people in this group mentioned that they live close to Disney World, which made their decision easier. “No, but if we weren’t locals we would have.” EPCOT But some out-of-state Passholders are still hopeful that they’ll be able to visit enough to make keeping their passes worth it. “No, tough call though. We’re out of state. Hopeful for a few trips before it expires in June.” Sunset Boulevard And others who don’t visit the parks as frequently mentioned that they weren’t so bothered by the Disney Park Pass restrictions. “Nope. We usually only go once a month. So it’s not a big deal that we can’t go every day.” Magic Kingdom Even some who did decide to keep their passes mentioned that they aren’t 100% sold on their choice. “No, but still not completely happy with what I’m getting right now for the price.” We asked our readers if Disney face characters should be wearing masks. This is what they said. So, while almost a third of our readers who responded did decide to cancel their Annual Passes, the majority have decided to stick it out and keep them. While we’re glad to see Disney has taken some steps to thank their Annual Passholders with a new magnet and limited-time discounts, we’ll be interested to see how Disney Park Pass availability evolves as the holidays approach. After all, 50% of Disney World’s guests right now are locals — and the majority of those are likely Annual Passholders. We asked our readers what it would take for them to feel safe visiting Disney World again. Here’s what they said. Did you choose to cancel or keep your Disney World Annual Pass? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: We Asked Our Readers: Would You Bring Your Kids to Disney World Right Now? Here’s What They Said. We Asked Our Readers: Should Disney World Face Characters Be Wearing Masks? Here’s What They Said. Should You Cancel Your Disney World Annual Pass? Here’s What Happens If You Do. View the full article

A theme parks consultant talked about the pandemic’s swift and brutal blow to the industry and what he predicts the future will look like. View the full article

Buongiorno! This week we are sharing sunrises from some of our favorite Adventures by Disney destinations. Each sunrise proves as special and unique as its location, from Venice‘s scenic canals to Greece’s ancient temples and Prague’s historic old town. The Venice Canals, ItalyTemple of Poseidon in Cape Sounion, GreeceMonument Valley in Utah, United StatesCharles Bridge in Prague, Czech RepublicBig Sky in Montana, United StatesThe Canals of Amsterdam, the NetherlandsStay tuned for more #DisneyMagicMoments like this. And from our sunrise to yours, good morning and have a magical Monday! View the full article

Travel specialists say preparation is key to minimizing the number of stops and limiting potential exposure to the virus. View the full article

As Disney World continues to reopen its dining locations around the parks, we’ve seen a few changes in different restaurants. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort While the parks will be reducing their hours even further (though a few dining locations will remain open after the daily closures!), the actual experiences IN restaurants are somewhat different with the latest health and safety regulations. Although there are limited menus, distanced seating, and other updated measures in restaurants, there have also been modifications to bars around Disney World. And now, another Disney Worl bar has reopened. Florida previously put in place a “bar ban” that prevented bars from staying open if they made most of their profits based on alcohol sales. Although spots like Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar closed temporarily, they were able to reopen in Disney Springs since they make at least 50% of its sales from food. © @sweetliv_emmie However, many other bars have remained closed around the parks and hotels. Recently, though, a Cast Member told us that Tambu Lounge would be opening soon at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (and we’ve been SO HYPED for a Piña CoLAVA again). © @sweetliv_emmie And, thanks to our reader, @sweetliv_emmie on Instagram, we were able to get a first look at the reopened lounge! While Tambu Lounge will be serving both drinks and appetizers, the menu has been limited to bites like the California Roll, Big Kahuna’s Hot Wings, O’Ahu Island Flatbreads, and Kaikane’s Barbecue Pork Ribs. © @sweetliv_emmie Guests can view the menu through the QR Code that’s provided to them! © @sweetliv_emmie But, the drinks are still flowing over at Tambu Lounge with wine… © @sweetliv_emmie …special cocktails… © @sweetliv_emmie …beers… © @sweetliv_emmie …and even mocktails for the younger group that may be traveling with you over to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort! © @sweetliv_emmie Tambu Lounge is operating with distancing markers and plexiglass barriers to keep guests apart from Cast Members. © @sweetliv_emmie There is also a designated entrance and exit to keep the traffic flowing. © @sweetliv_emmie There are tables open for guests to sit and sip at (with a few blocked off as a safety measure). © @sweetliv_emmie If you haven’t been to the Tambu Lounge yet, we HIGHLY recommend it as a great place to grab a drink before you head to Magic Kingdom! We’ll continue to give you a look at all the other places that reopen around the parks and resorts as we answer your most burning questions too! Click here to learn more about the reduction in park hours! What’s your favorite drink to get at the Tambu Lounge? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: BREAKING NEWS: These Disney World Restaurants Will Be OPEN Starting June 22nd! The Lime Dole Whip Is BACK in Disney World! NEWS: Disney World Has Delayed the Reopening Dates of Several Hotels View the full article

If you’re ever craving something sweet in Downtown Disney or Disney Springs, Sprinkles is one of the BEST spots for a little fun and a LOT of cupcakes. Sprinkles Entrance Sprinkles has recently rolled out the Peanut Butter Banana Fluff Cupcake and reopened the inside of its bakery’s location in Disney World. Now, there’s a returning treat coming back TOMORROW! While you can see all the sweet animals over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the circus is in town now that the Circus Animal Cupcake will be back in the bakeries starting tomorrow. You can find them in both Disney World and Disneyland! ©Sprinkles The vanilla cupcake is topped with strawberry buttercream, rainbow sprinkles, and the original Animal Cookie by Mother’s®. And, we cannot WAIT to pick up a whole box of these goodies with their colorful and sweet flavors soon! Circus Animal Cupcake We’ll continue to share all the new flavors and treats coming to the bakery soon! And, in the meantime, you can follow along with us as we explore Disney World’s restaurants for even MORE desserts too! Here’s a complete look at the restaurants that are open and closed in Disney World here! What is your favorite flavor of Sprinkles cupcakes? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: NEWS: Grab A FREE Cupcake with This Limited Time Offer in Disney World and Disneyland! This Is Not A Drill! You Can Get a FREE Treat at Disney Sprinkles Locations Through the End of the Month! A Fan Fav Cupcake Is Making Its Way BACK to Sprinkles in Disney World TODAY! View the full article

Projects like TRON Lightcycle Run, Harmonious, the PLAY! Pavilion, and more have officially been in the works at Walt Disney World, after being halted during the closure. Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Concept Art But those aren’t the only major projects Disney is working on again. Disney has also been moving ahead with their plans for the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel. Even though the new Star Wars hotel will be more of an all-inclusive cruise-like experience rather than an actual resort, guests will still have “excursions” to Batuu and the ability to have Jedi powers. As construction has continued in the parks, the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser has continued to be built with its transport ship, Halcyon spacecraft, and other features. Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser Atmosphere While @bioreconstruct was over the parks today, they were able to give us another look at the progress on the hotel. It appears that Disney has put a bridge in place that will lead guests via themed shuttle from the Star Wars hotel to Galaxy’s Edge. Our DFB reader @thedisneypilot also sent us a view of the parks’ construction as well. The building looks like it has more walls and panels put in place as the hotel makes its sleeping pods for guests, CRAZY space restaurants, and individualized experiences that will be available when it opens. Photo Courtesy of: @thedisneypilot After seeing all the progress, we can’t wait to explore what the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser brings to the table! Photo Courtesy of: @thedisneypilot The resort was set to open in 2021 and reservations were supposed to be released later this year. Disney hasn’t shared very many updates on the opening timeline, but we will continue to keep you posted as we learn more. What can we expect with Disney World’s 50th anniversary now? Here’s what our thoughts are! Will you be staying at the Star Wars hotel when it opens? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: Star Wars Hotel Construction Update: See What Disney World’s Galactic Starcruiser Looks Like Now! We’ve Gotten a LITTLE Hint About the NBA’s Housing at Disney World! 5 Disney World CHANGES That Aren’t Nearly as Bad As We’d Imagined View the full article

Disney World is pushing forward with lots of upcoming projects! Cinderella Castle is now pink (we’re still not over it!) and the moat is FINALLY filled again. The Cinderella Castle Moat But one of the biggest projects we’ve been checking up on is TRON Lightcycle Run, which is set to debut in Magic Kingdom next year. We’ve noticed some structures being built around the attraction’s building and coaster track being put in place during our visits. But @bioreconstruct is giving everyone an aerial view of the progress on Disney’s latest construction projects. TRON Construction You can see where the track will re-enter the indoor part of the TRON Lightcycle Run after its speedy curve outdoors (like Test Track over in EPCOT). Plus, the Cast and Crew members have made a LOT of progress since the project was first announced, so it looks like the high-speed coaster is coming along! TRON Lightcycle Run isn’t set to open until next year during Disney World’s 50th anniversary, so we will continue to keep you updated on the progress! Stay tuned for all the photos! And if you have any questions about Disney World’s upcoming projects, please let us know and we will do our best to get you the answers you need. Want to see all the food, merchandise, and more that’s new in Magic Kingdom? Take a look inside the park with us here! What new attraction are you looking forward to riding the most in Disney World? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: When Disney World Reopens THESE Are at the Top of Our Must-Do List These 10 Disney World Attractions Need An In-Ride Photo or Video ASAP! NEWS! Two More Disney World Attractions Will Not Be Available When the Parks Re-Open! View the full article

If you’re in Disney Springs, every day is a great day to chill out with a drink or two when you’ve visiting the district (especially during this end of the summer heat!). Paddlefish Exterior But, today is a day like no other since we’re celebrating National Rum Day! And, Paddlefish is taking part in the festivities by giving guests who stop by the restaurant a discount they don’t want to miss. Although Paddlefish has plenty of clam chowder and a Crab Cake BLT, you can sip on the Mayan Empress cocktail with your family and friends while you chow down on some seafood. And, since the restaurant is offering a buy one, get one 50% off deal, you can totally try it out. ©Paddlefish If you need a little more convincing, the Mayan Empress is mixed up with Santa Teresa Anejo rum, passion fruit, pineapple juice, and fresh lemon for a sweet way to spend the day in Disney Springs! Maybe we’ll just go and have seconds for ourselves since that next drink is 50% off! ;D Take a look at everything new happening around Disney Springs here! What’s your favorite restaurant in Disney Springs? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: These Face Coverings from Sephora in Disney Springs Are SO Cute! (And Give Back to Charity!) News: We Couldn’t Say No To This NEW Annual Passholder Magic Band in Disney World! This NEW Disney World MagicBand Will Have You Celebrating Summer and Spying Hidden Mickeys! View the full article

We’ve started stocking up on Halloween merchandise to decorate our homes already with a bit of Disney flair! ©Disney Although we’re looking forward to the release of the Ink and Paint Collectible Key, the new wicked Villains collection, and ALL the Halloween goodies you need this spooky season. But we’re even more excited about the deal that you can grab online today! Whether you want to pick up all the spooktacular decorations or even a new pair of Minnie Ears, shopDisney is celebrating the start of Halloween time with free shipping on orders placed TODAY ONLY! ©Disney After you’ve filled your cart with the must-have items you want, you only have to use the code FREESHIP when you check out to take advantage of the offer. Then, you can put a spell over your friends and family with all the cute things you find on shopDisney! Halloween Crocs I mean, get yo’ self some free shipping on those Halloween Crocs you’ve been eyeballing! Snag a pair of Halloween Crocs here!! Although we’re thrilled to see the parks bring back some Fall decorations and festivities, you can be sure to add a bit of Hocus Pocus to your own home with this deal! (And, maybe you can have a spooky movie night on Disney+ to celebrate even more!) Want to know what’s happening in Disney World? Take a look at all the merchandise we found in Disney Springs this week here! What are you wearing as your Halloween costume this year? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: EEK! It’s Time to Pre-Order These Seriously Spoopy Loungefly x Disney Halloween Bags! Sale Alert! The Disney Stories Clothing Collection Has Some Major Discounts! Does Your Kiddo Want to BE Baby Yoda?! Then You HAVE to See This Sweater From Target! View the full article

We’ve been hard at work scoping out all the latest news for you this week. Today we have all the details on the latest in the Disney World theme parks and MORE! Simba Pretzel See all of our coverage on Disney park reopenings HERE. We still have a LOT to share with you this week, so let’s jump right in… . Disney World Reopening NEWS! Disney World added more Park Pass availability for Annual Passholders for August. A new Coronavirus testing site has opened at Disney World. Park Pass reservations for Disney’s Hollywood Studios are gone for Labor Day Weekend. What Disney World cast members are still furloughed? Stormalong Bay at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club has a reopening date. The AMC Theater is reopening in Disney Springs with 15 cent movies. <— WHA?! Annual Passholder Park Passes are no longer available for Magic Kingdom on Halloween. Disney and the Actors’ Equity Association have reached an agreement which could bring performances back to the parks. The House of Good Fortune store has reopened in the China Pavilion. Disney has updated the hours for the EPCOT After 4 Pass. The 10 best ways to be extra careful in Disney World right now. How have Disney World crowd levels changed since the parks reopened? These are the 6 biggest changes at Disney World in the last month. <— GOOD READ Check out the new security process at Disney World. How have Disney World’s most popular rides changed since reopening? All the News From the Disney Parks 5 tips to guarantee a Rise of the Resistance boarding pass right now. <— GOOD TIPS! Liberty Square Riverboat is scheduled to close for refurbishment at Magic Kingdom. Check out these fun LEGO sculptures at Disney Springs. We can’t believe this is what you’re loving about Halloween right now. Find out what Disney Parks character won our throw down. Disney cast members have designed face masks for cast members! Check out this video of the pylons being installed in EPCOT. And see the photos here. Check out the progress on the M&M’s Store coming to Disney Springs. The walkway from the Grand Floridian is almost completed! Why does Disney have SO MUCH cash on hand right now? Disneyland is asking guests to modify or cancel reservations through September 5th. Check out our virtual DFB Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. <— HALLOWEEN FUN! A new Star Wars holiday special is coming to Disney+. Check out what’s new right now in EPCOT. Find out what’s new right now at Downtown Disney. Check out these off-the-wall Disney conspiracy theories. The Cinderella Castle moat has been refilled. Check out the latest construction update from EPCOT’s France Pavilion. And more from the PLAY! Pavilion. Check out the new signage for Gideon’s Bakehouse in Disney Springs. Adventures by Disney has extended its cancellation policy through November. Take a peek at the latest trailer for ‘Mulan’ coming to Disney+. Rise of the Resistance was closed and then reopened. See more here. Everything you need to know about Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. See what’s new at the Magic Kingdom. Check out what’s new at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Registration is open for the Star Wars Rival Run Weekend. California officials are working on how to reopen Disneyland. The Stitch sign is gone from the Magic Kingdom. What’s going on with the Reflections hotel at Disney World? DFB Reviews and Food News The Islands of the Caribbean booth is open again at the Food and Wine Festival…but for how long? One of our favorite Dole Whip floats is back and we’re so happy! <— DOLE WHIP NEWS! Eat this not that in Disney World right now! We reviewed the Enchanted Rose Lounge at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. Tambu Lounge is reopening this weekend at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Check out this fun (and creepy?) Disney snacks artwork. Brookies are back at Earl of Sandwich in Disney Springs. One of our favorite spooky sippers is back at Disney World. We checked out the beignets at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen Express in Disneyland. House of Blues has introduced a new weekend brunch menu. Pumpkin Cupcakes are returning to Sprinkles soon. Starbucks celebrated Shark Week with a fun drink. The Islands of the Caribbean booth was closed at the Food and Wine Festival. Three restaurants reopened this week at Disney Springs. We reviewed the Avocado Toast at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. Eats at the EPCOT Experience has reopened. Check out this Mickey Ice Cream bar FAN! Check out these recipes for Muppets ice cream cones. There’s a new chef’s special at The Polite Pig in Disney Springs. Check out the new SUGAR RUSH Cake Bar at Erin McKenna’s. Kids eat for free at two Disney Springs restaurants. Check out the new snack buttons we found at Disney World. Check out the specialty cupcake at Sprinkles right now. The Simba Pretzel is back at Animal Kingdom. We reviewed Tiffins in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Check out the menu changes at Disney’s BoardWalk Bakery. Must-Have Merchandise More than 20 new Halloween items are available online. Haunted Mansion CROCS are back in stock. <— THESE SHOES. Help us solve the mystery of this Baby Yoda MagicBand. Check out the new color-changing shirt at EPCOT. There’s a new Zero sweater at Disney World. New Danielle Nicole bags are coming soon! We found a new Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto pin at Disney World. Check out this new Haunted Mansion T-shirt! We spotted some new button-up shirts at Disney World. There was a Disneyland Haunted Mansion shirt in Disney World! Check out the deals on Hanna Andersson x Disney merch. We found new Darkwing Duck merchandise in Disney Springs. There are so many NEW MagicBands right now. Check out these new Haunted Mansion Loungefly bags. We found some fun Disney Halloween costumes for pets. Check out these funny Alien Remix figures. We found some cute non-Disney face masks in Disney Springs. Check out the limited edition ‘Black Widow’ MagicBand. We spotted Villains After Hours merchandise for sale at Disney World. There’s a new Ratatouille MagicBand in Disney World. Some Splash Mountain merchandise is back in the Magic Kingdom. Check out this new Christmas ornament we found at Magic Kingdom. We love these new Haunted Mansion Minnie Ears. Check out this new periwinkle MagicBand. There’s a new color trend and Minnie Ears! Check out all this new Up merchandise at Disney World. Take a peek at this new Toy Story collection from Milk Snob. Find out when you can get the next collectible key from Disney. Check out the new cardholders we found in Downtown Disney. Take a look at the retro merch we spotted in Downtown Disney. Some surprising merchandise has arrived in EPCOT. Check out this new Baby Yoda activewear. There’s a new collection of leggings in Downtown Disney. Check out the new Figment shoulder plush. We spotted some new phone cases in Disney World. Check out this new ‘I Love Gelato’ purse in EPCOT. There’s a new Baby Yoda spirit jersey for your dog. Check out the new water bottles we found at Disney World. The new Up Minnie Ears have arrived in Downtown Disney. The ‘Together Again’ face masks are now available in Downtown Disney. Check out the 2020 Disney Halloween merchandise. Loungefly has released new Disney Princess items. New Halloween-themed masks are coming to Disney World soon. Check out the new tees at Animal Kingdom. And see more shirts here. And some hats too! Disney has released new wheelchair-friendly costumes. Check out the new Nightmare Before Christmas Alex and Ani bracelet. There’s a new Disney Villains collection coming to the parks. See more villains merch here. Check out these new Disney plates from Corelle. There’s a new Jack Skellington Loungefly online. Check out all the new Halloween plush online right now. Check out these new mugs in Disney World. We spotted a new Snow White Loungefly bag. You’ll want to check out this new Haunted Mansion Loungefly. Check out the new Halloween Minnie Ears…and these too! And these Loungefly ears. There is new Hocus Pocus merchandise online. Check out the 2020 Halloween spirit jersey. Check out this funny Baby Yoda merchandise. NEW DFB YouTube Videos Disney World’s Version of America’s Most Popular Restaurants! What Will $100 Get You To Eat at Disney World? Best of Disney World Halloween The Latest Disney Parks News The Disney Park Reopening — Everything You Need to Know Here’s what we know about the reopenings and and travel to Disney World and Disneyland. <—IMPORTANT READ! Disney World and Disneyland closure questions answered. <–ALL FAQs ANSWERED A step-by-step guide to canceling, refunding, or rescheduling your Disney vacation. Should you cancel your Disney World vacation? <—IMPORTANT READ! New DFB Video — Disney World’s Version of America’s Most Popular Restaurants! Have you subscribed to the DFB YouTube Channel? We’ve got FOUR brand new videos EVERY WEEK showcasing our adventures in Disney World and Disneyland! This week, we’re sharing our latest video: Disney World’s Version of America’s Most Popular Restaurants! — and don’t forget to subscribe here.  Deal of the Week: Order the 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining for 25% off It’s time to order the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2020 e-book! Get the 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining With over 700 pages of full-color photos, tips on the best restaurants, an ENTIRE chapter on snacks — including the best snack credit values throughout the parks and resorts — and a full break-down of whether the Disney Dining Plan is worth it for your family, now’s the time to get started! What’s in the DFB Guide? The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full to overflowing with tools and features to make your trip go smoothly, including: A 5-Step Strategy for Disney Dining Planning, covering everything you need to know from budgeting and booking to kids’ meals, dining discounts, and fireworks. A comprehensive and in-depth look at EVERY Disney World restaurant, kiosk, bar, and lounge, including our personal tips to ensure a positive and stress-free dining experience. Four free, downloadable worksheets for planning your trip. These worksheets are designed to help you execute all the steps of planning the perfect Disney dining experience. And they’re reusable for all of your future trips! Seven sample one-day dining itineraries for a head-start on planning. A comprehensive index of bars and lounges WITH reviews. An often under-appreciated option for both dining and entertainment, the e-Book devotes a whole index to the topic. The ability to be read on your mobile device or computer! It’s fully portable right in your pocket! You can order your copy today for 25% off the cover price! Just use code WDW2020! On to the Round-Up! Mickey Fix shared this super cute Up-themed fanny pack. WDW for Grownups shared tips for enjoying the Taste of EPCOT Food and Wine Festival. Disney Parks Blog shared a recipe for Mini Gingerbread Bundt Cakes. Disney Family shared a recipe for Aristocat Donuts. Don’t Miss ANY Disney Food News! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Related posts: Disney Food News This Week! What’s NEW at the Disney Parks and Resorts What’s New Around Walt Disney World: December 20, 2016 Disney Food News This Week: Everything NEW at the Disney Parks and Resorts View the full article

The Taste of EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival is in full swing! A Taste of EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival Yes, this festival, which is a hybrid between Flower and Garden and Food and Wine has been happening ever since EPCOT reopened last month, but there’s ONE booth that has had an unpredictable schedule… In the last few days, we noticed the Islands of the Caribbean booth has been closed and removed from Walt Disney World’s website. Islands of the Caribbean is Closed But then, SUDDENLY, Islands of the Caribbean was REOPENED on Saturday, August 15th, serving up Ropa Vieja Empanadas, Jerk-spiced chicken, Flancocho, and drinks, like nothing had ever happened! Flancocho Well, today, readers informed us that Islands of the Caribbean was again CLOSED today. And after talking with Cast Members and based on reader reports, it seems as though this booth will be open infrequently, likely only on Saturdays. Islands of the Caribbean Of course, this booth’s operating days and hours could change at ANY time, and as we continue to visit EPCOT and hear from you, we’ll be sure to keep you updated on these changes and anything else that happens at A Taste of EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival! Click here for our FULL review of the Islands of the Caribbean food booth. Do you like the Islands of the Caribbean food booth? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! Related posts: ANOTHER Performer Has Been Added to the 2019 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Eat to the Beat Concert Lineup! Final Performer Announced for Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival Eat to the Beat Concert Series! News! Cool Wash Added to Booth Lineup for Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival! View the full article

Watching the Monorail glide through Disney World is an incredible sight! Disney World In fact, the Monorail is such an iconic part of Disney World that it even has its own merch — we’ve seen Monorail beach towels, PEZ dispenser displays, t-shirts, and more! Could the Monorail further cement its legendary status with a new attraction in the near future?? Here’s what we know! At the 2019 D23 Expo, Disney announced a multi-year transformation of Epcot, involving new restaurants, attractions, and a restructuring of the park into four distinct “neighborhoods.” Construction has already begun on several projects like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Space 220, and more, and guests can catch a preview of the transformation at the EPCOT Experience exhibit. Epcot Experience While some projects such as the Spaceship Earth refurbishment have been postponed since the initial announcement, other elements of the transformation are still moving forward. One project that is still currently in the works is the PLAY! Pavilion, which will allow guests to participate in new adventures with Disney characters in both actual and virtual experiences. PLAY! Pavilion Concept Art ©Disney The PLAY! Pavilion will be housed in the former Wonders of Life Pavilion, and we’ve seen construction progress on the building since the park reopening. The PLAY! Pavilion will feature a variety of interactive experiences, games, entertainment, hands-on activities. And could one of these attractions be Monorail-themed?? PLAY! Pavilion Construction According to an article from Attractions Magazine, a Monorail-themed attraction has been teased in the upcoming book “The Disney Monorail: Imagineering a Highway in the Sky.” This book, by authors Jeff Kurtti, Vanessa Hunt and Pal Wolski, celebrates the history and evolution of the Monorail, and it includes historical photographs, rare concept art, development art, and more. It’s set to officially release on September 15, 2020, if you’d like to grab a copy for yourself! ©Disney Editions So, what does this book have to do with the PLAY! Pavilion? At the back of the book, one page has a poster that teases the “Monorail Mark X” attraction. The poster says the attraction is set to arrive in EPCOT in 2021, and it features the “PLAY!” logo for the new Pavilion. ©Attractions Magazine The caption next to the poster reads, “Calling all pilots! A new way to play arrives at the PLAY! Pavilion at EPCOT in 2021.” We’re not sure whether this means that a Monorail attraction is officially confirmed for the PLAY! Pavilion, and even if it is, the timeline of the project could be impacted by the recent closure. But we were so excited to see this concept poster, and we’ll keep a close eye out for official word from Disney! Click here to read more about the EPCOT transformation! What types of attractions and activities would you like to see in the PLAY! Pavilion? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: NEWS! Epcot’s Future World to Grow Into THREE New Neighborhoods: World Discovery, World Celebration, and World Nature! How the Epcot Transformation Is Affecting The Epcot Food and Wine Festival This Year EPCOT’s Play Pavilion Could Be MUCH More Than We Think View the full article

There have been a LOT of changes since Walt Disney World’s four theme parks reopened last month. EPCOT Crowd levels have changed, menus have changed, what restaurants are open has changed, and last week, Disney announced that the theme park hours would be reduced starting September 8th. But that left us with one HUGE question: How would the new theme park hours affect dining reservations? Le Cellier in Walt Disney World’s EPCOT In case you missed it, Disney announced that it would have shortened theme park hours beginning September 8th. Magic Kingdom will be open from 9AM to 6PM; EPCOT will be open from 11AM to 7PM; Hollywood Studios will be open from 10AM to 7PM; and Animal Kingdom will be open from 9AM to 5PM. Disney’s Animal Kingdom As it turns out, though, some restaurants around Disney World will STAY OPEN despite the shortened park hours. So if you have a Be Our Guest dinner at 6:30 this fall, you may be in luck! Beast in Be Our Guest We chatted with a cast member, they said that Tiffins at Animal Kingdom and Le Cellier at EPCOT will have adjusted park hours, while 50’s Prime Time Cafe at Hollywood Studios and Be Our Guest Restaurant at Magic Kingdom will not. Disney reservations The wording of the cast member’s answer is a little confusing, but we ARE seeing open reservations at Magic Kingdom in September for after 6PM, when the park is closing, like this one for 6:45PM at Be Our Guest! ©Disney It’s important to keep checking the My Disney Experience app for adjusted park hours and any changes that may occur to your dining reservations. And restaurant hours and park hours can always change with little notice, so it’s doubly important to pay attention! And as things keep changing at Disney World, you know we’ll keep you filled in, so stay tuned to DFB as well! Have a dining reservation that’s affected by the new hours? You NEED to read this! Do you have a dining reservation outside of park hours in September? Let us know your experience in the comments. Related posts: A Complete List of What Restaurants ARE and ARE NOT Open at Walt Disney World’s Theme Parks Right Now! The BIGGEST Time Wasters in Disney World — And How To Avoid Them! NEWS! Revised Park Hours Posted for Disney World’s Planned Reopening! View the full article

Welcome back, DFB friends! We’re ready to see what’s new in Disney Springs! Disney Springs And, we’ve got plenty of merchandise, construction, and food updates to share with you, so let’s dive right on in! Disney Springs Food Updates Earl of Sandwich If you’re looking for a place to stop by for a quick meal in Disney Springs, Earl of Sandwich is a great option! But it’s dessert we’re after this time around because the Brookie is back at Earl of Sandwich! Brookie at Earl of Sandwich This sweet snack consists of a thick chocolate chip cookie baked together with a rich fudgy brownie, and you’ll find it in the grab-and-go section of this counter service location for $2.79! Click here to learn more about the return of the Earl of Sandwich Brookies! Disney Springs Merchandise Update World of Disney We spotted a few new button-up shirts available at World of Disney! There’s one that features several of the Disney Villains… Disney Villains Button-Up Shirt …one with Dug from Up… Dug Shirt …one is covered in the Pizza Planet logo… Pizza Planet Shirt …and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is featured on another! You can snag these button-ups for $59.99 each. Oswald Shirt We also found another exciting addition — the NEW Lilac Minnie Ears are available in World of Disney! Lilac Ears We’ve seen new Minnie Ear designs go FAST, so these might be hard to keep on the shelves! Click here to see more photos of the new Lilac Minnie Ears! Disney Style Here’s some exciting news for all you Sleeping Beauty fans out there! We spotted a new Three Good Fairies Sweatshirt inside Disney Style for $39.99. Three Good Fairies Sweatshirt The sweatshirt features the outline of Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather, and their names are listed across the top as well! Disney Pin Traders Even though Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is still closed, you can get your tiki fix with the new Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto Pin we spotted in Disney Pin Traders. Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto Pin You can snag this pin for $9.99. D-Tech There are a ton of new NBA Experience options for customizable phone cases, magnets, and water bottles. Customizable Phone Cases Guests can choose their favorite team and see how the design will look on the item of their choice. Customizable Magnets Here’s a peek at the water bottles! Customizable Water Bottles Guests can choose one of these new NBA Experience designs at D-Tech. The LEGO Store We spotted some new LEGO sculptures outside of The LEGO Store. There’s a Star Wars display… Star Wars Lego Sculptures …and a Frozen 2 display! Frozen 2 Lego Sculptures You can spot these new sculptures outside of The LEGO Store! Click here to see more photos of the new sculptures outside of The LEGO Store! Ever After Jewelry Co. & Accessories We found the new Haunted Mansion Loungefly Mini Backpack at Ever After! Haunted Mansion Loungefly You can snag the backpack for $75. Check out MORE new Haunted Mansion Loungefly bags we recently spotted in Disney World! WonderGround Gallery We saw several new pieces of artwork at WonderGround Gallery inside the Marketplace Co-op. First, we found this “Mickey Munch” artwork that features some of our favorite iconic snacks from the Disney parks! You can add this canvas artwork to your home for $150. Mickey Munch We also found a new Darkwing Duck t-shirt for $29.99… Darkwing Duck T-Shirt …and Darkwing Duck print art for $39.99! Darkwing Duck Poster We also found a Hatbox Ghost t-shirt available for $29.99. Haunted Mansion Shirt We were a little bit surprised to see a t-shirt that reps the Hatbox Ghost from Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion! Vera Bradley If you’re looking for a non-Disney face mask, we found several cute options at Vera Bradley! Vera Bradley face masks The masks are packaged individually and are priced at $8 each. Click here to see more of the new face mask designs we spotted at Vera Bradley! Disney Springs Construction Update M&M’s Store We noticed that the construction on the new M&M’s Store is moving right along! M&M’s Store Construction Update We spotted some new outdoor framing at the site. M&M’s Store Construction Update We still don’t have an exact opening date for the M&M’s Store, but we’ll keep an eye out for more updates! Check out more photos of the construction progress on the M&M’s Store! Gideon’s Bakehouse We also spotted some construction updates on the new Gideon’s Bakehouse location that’s coming soon! Gideon’s Bakehouse More theming elements have been added to tie into the location’s backstory as a former bookstore! Gideon’s Bakehouse We’re SUPER excited to snag some incredible Gideon’s cookies, and we’re keeping a close eye out for a confirmed opening date for this location! Click here to check out more photos of the construction progress at Gideon’s Bakehouse! Between the return of an awesome snack, lots of new merch, and construction progress, it was certainly an exciting visit to Disney Springs! As always, stay tuned to Disney Food Blog for more updates from around Disney World! What are you looking forward to seeing the most in Disney Springs? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: What’s NEW at Disney Springs: The Her Universe Star Wars Collection, NEW Park Life Dooneys, and Rock the Dots Merch! What’s New in Disney Springs: a NEW Caramel Sundae, Neon Merch Galore, and Refillable Popcorn Buckets! What’s New at Disney Springs — Loungefly Backpacks, Star Wars Merch, Pins, and More! View the full article

There’s no ifs, ands, or buts about it, planning a trip to Walt Disney World is a little bit confusing right now. Magic Kingdom There are a LOT of changes, from what rides are open and how they’re operating to how many people are in the park. But one of the BIGGEST changes that affects how people maneuver the parks is trying to figure out which restaurants are open. Be Our Guest Entrance Sure, you can now make restaurant reservations at table service spots 60 days out, but if you want to wing it or wander into a quick service spot, you may be disappointed because one of your favs is closed! Pecos Bill To help you plan your snacks and meals, here’s a list of every restaurant and snack stand currently OPEN at the Walt Disney World theme parks. Open Restaurants at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom Aloha Isle Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies Be Our Guest Restaurant Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen Liberty Square Market Liberty Tree Tavern Main Street Bakery Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe Pinocchio Village Haus The Plaza Restaurant Sleepy Hollow Storybook Treats Sunshine Tree Terrace Tony’s Town Square Restaurant EPCOT Biergarten Restaurant Choza de Margarita Coral Reef Restaurant Crepes des Chefs de France Fife & Drum Tavern Funnel Cake Garden Grill Restaurant Gelati Joy of Tea Kabuki Cafe Katsura Grill La Cantina de San Angel La Cava del Tequila La Hacienda de San Angel The Land Cart L’Artisan des Glaces Le Cellier Steakhouse Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie Les Vins des Chefs de France Popcorn in Canada Refreshment Outpost Refreshment Port Regal Eagle Smokehouse Rose & Crown Dining Room and Pub San Angel Inn Restaurante Spice Road Table Sunshine Seasons Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar Tutto Italia Ristorante UK Beer Cart Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria Disney’s Hollywood Studios 50’s Prime Time Cafe Anaheim Produce Backlot Express BaseLine Tap House Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo The Hollywood Brown Derby The Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano Milk Stand Oga’s Cantina PizzeRizzo Ronto Roasters Rosie’s All-American Cafe Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant The Trolley Car Cafe Disney’s Animal Kingdom Anandapur Ice Cream Truck Creature Comforts Dino-Bite Snacks Flame Tree Barbecue Harambe Fruit Market Isle of Java Nomad Lounge Pongu Pongu Rainforest Cafe Restaurantosaurus Satu’li Canteen Tamu Tamu Refreshments Thirst River Bar & Trek Snacks Tiffins Restaurant Trilo-Bites Yak & Yeti Local Food Cafes Yak & Yeti Quality Beverages Yak & Yeti Restaurant It’s also important to know what restaurants are currently NOT open at Disney World’s theme parks. Here are the spots that are temporarily unavailable. Temporarily Unavailable Restaurants at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom Casey’s Corner Cheshire Cafe Cinderella’s Royal Table Columbia Harbour House Cool Ship The Crystal Palace The Diamond Horseshoe The Friar’s Nook Gaston’s Tavern Golden Oak Outpost The Lunching Pad Plaza Ice Cream Parlor Prince Eric’s Village Market Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant Tortuga Tavern Westward Ho EPCOT Akershus Royal Banquet Hall Block & Hans Chefs de France Cool Wash Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe Lotus Blossom Cafe Monsieur Paul Nine Dragons Restaurant Restaurant Marrakesh Sommerfest Takumi-Tei Tangerine Cafe Teppan Edo Tokyo Dining Yorkshire County Fish Shop Disney’s Hollywood Studios ABC Commissary Catalina Eddie’s Dockside Diner Epic Eats Fairfax Fare Hollywood Scoops Hollywood & Vine Kat Saka’s Kettle KRNR The Rock Station Market Neighborhood Bakery Tune-In Lounge Woody’s Lunch Box Disney’s Animal Kingdom Caravan Road Dawa Bar Dino Diner Drinkwallah Eight Spoon Cafe Harambe Market Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery Mahindi Pizzafari Restaurantosaurus Burgers & Sundaes The Smiling Crocodile Terra Treats Tusker House Restaurant Warung Outpost It’s important to note that all of these restaurants are operating with limited capacity and that they can reopen or suddenly close at any time. Whenever one of these spots open back up, alter their menus, or possibly close again, you know we’ll keep you informed! So stay tuned to DFB for more updates! Everything you need to know about getting a Disney restaurant reservation right now! Is your favorite restaurant at Walt Disney World open right now? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: The BIGGEST Time Wasters in Disney World — And How To Avoid Them! The 31 Things To Eat In Disney World If You’re Obsessed With CHEESE!! These 15 HUGE Disney World Snacks Are Totally Worth Wearing Your Stretchy Pants! View the full article

65 years ago, a Disneyland icon was unveiled as Dumbo the Flying Elephant took to the sky in Fantasyland. Featuring characters from Walt Disney’s 1941 classic animated film, “Dumbo,” this high-soaring adventure brings us into Dumbo’s circus world. Special details can be found within the attraction, including an antique band organ, located under the circus tent just behind the flyers. In the center of the “ring,” Dumbo’s faithful friend, Timothy Q. Mouse, directs the action with help from his “magic” feather. Guests have clamored to take wing with their favorite elephant over the years; indeed, boarding for a first spin on Dumbo the Flying Elephant has become a rite of passage for Disneyland park’s youngest visitors. As part of the Fantasyland remodel in 1983, Dumbo the Flying Elephant moved from the west side of Fantasyland to its current location, formerly the home of Skull Rock Cove. Another enhancement occurred in 1990, when six elephants were added to the attraction, for a current total of 16 vibrant pachyderms. In 2005, on the occasion of Disneyland’s 50th anniversary, an elephant from the ride was donated to the Smithsonian National Museum in Washington, D.C. The popularity of these colorful flying elephants has proved so enduring, they now fly in six Disney parks around the world. Dumbo’s endearing ability to believe in himself and glide into the skies reminds guests everywhere if you believe in yourself, anything is possible! View the full article

Our job here at DFB is to give you all the best advice for your Disney vacation planning (and we LOVE doing it!). Cinderella Castle But did you know that there are some BIG name celebrities who ALSO have lots of Disney knowledge? Some of them might be pretty surprising! You might love Idina Menzel as Elsa or James Earl Jones as Darth Vader, but you may not know that these other celebrities once worked in the Disney Parks long before they were stars! Robin Williams While you may know him as the voice behind the Genie or — if you’re a super-fan — Professor Brainard, Disneyland knew Robin Williams as one of its Jungle Cruise Skippers back in the day. We can only imagine that he was the best Skipper EVER with his ability to voice act and make everyone laugh! (We wish we could hear some of the wildly hilarious improvisations we imagine he would do as he drove the boat!!) ©Touchstone We can just hear him saying, “Thank you for choosing Jungle Cruise for all your travel needs. Don’t stand until the boat has come to a complete stop. Thank you. Goodbye now.” in all that glorious Genie fashion. Jungle Cruise Could you imagine Mrs. Doubtfire showing you the Backside of Water?? How cool would that have been! Wait, a Jungle Cruise boat SANK this year?! Take a look at all the details here! Steve Martin Another comedian, Steve Martin, worked in Disneyland for eight years when it first opened. However, he wasn’t necessarily the “funny guy” while he was there like you’d expect. Martin first sold guidebooks and twirled souvenir lassos in Frontierland before becoming a magician at Merlin’s Magic Shop in Frontierland. Disneyland’s Main Street He’s stated that he knew “every nook and cranny of the shop” during his time there. Martin actually started to develop some of his iconic comedy as he watched Wally Boag, who was the Golden Horseshoe headliner. He even created his famous “excuuuuse me” line based off one of the performers he knew in Disneyland! ©Steve Martin If you went into the Magic Shop in the early 60s you could have seen a trick from one “wild and crazy guy!” Cool! Check out some of the most bizarre things you used to be able to buy in Disneyland! Kevin Costner Those Skippers are on a roll! When Kevin Costner worked as a Jungle Cruise Skipper in Disneyland, he ended up meeting Cindy Silva, who was a character actress. They got married in 1978 after working at Disney and literally ended up having real-life Disney fairytale. ©Variety Costner didn’t do too shabby after leaving his Skipper job behind! After all, he became one of the biggest movie stars out there! Jungle Cruise All we have to say is appreciate your Jungle Cruise tour guides because you never know where their paths to success may lead them! These are some of the Disney attractions that need an in-ride photo or video ASAP! Michelle Pfeiffer If you think Michelle Pfeiffer looks like she could be a Disney Princess, you’re not far off! During the 70s, she performed in the Main Street Electrical Parade in Disneyland (some of you may have seen her live)! Main Street Electrical Parade She also went on to play the Queen Ingrith, Aurora’s future mother-in-law, in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. ©Walt Disney Studios While Pfeiffer can definitely act, she can sing as well, so maybe she is an IRL Disney Princess after all! Disney, these are three of the most unforgivable changes made in the parks! Richard Carpenter We’re feeling on “Top of the World” knowing this next Disneyland Cast Member! Richard Carpenter, one half of the iconic brother-sister duo The Carpenters, used to work in the parks. We’re not surprised to find out he played the piano on Main Street for everyone to hear. ©The Carpenters He got his start in music early by working at Disneyland (and could probably even play “When You Wish Upon a Star” like nobody’s business). Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle Later in his career, The Carpenters returned to Disneyland to film the music video to their hit song “Please Mr. Postman,” featuring multiple characters and Disneyland attractions. Take a look at how you can watch more Disney celebrities sing on Disney+ here! Wayne Brady On the opposite coast, Wayne Brady worked in Disney World when he lived with his grandmother. Since Brady is a comedian, singer, and actor, it shouldn’t be too surprising he was a character performer in Disney World! He was actually friends with Tigger! ©Disney And in case you’re wondering how hot it can be in Orlando while you’re “friends” with a character, Brady recalls passing out from the heat while working one day, and having to be carried away from a parade! Eek! He kept working with Disney later in his career voicing characters on Sofia the First and Phineas and Ferb. Read ALL about the new Phineas and Ferb movie coming soon here! Kevin Richardson While you might know him as one of the hunky guys from the Backstreet Boys, Kevin Richardson was also a Disney World Cast Member! On top of being a character performer, Richardson also worked as a backstage tour guide at one point. Obviously, he must really know the ins-and-outs of Disney (do you think he’d want a job at DFB?). Aladdin and Abu. (Not a Backstreet Boy) Richardson also got a fairytale ending when he met his wife Kristin Willits who was also a character actress in the parks. He worked at Disney World all the way through 1993 before shifting his career to focus on music. Will you be able to watch performers live in Disney Parks? Here’s what we think! Wow, you never know what future celebrities you might be meeting in the Happiest and Most Magical Places on Earth! We REALLY wish we could have seen the stars on this list in action as some of the awesome Disney entertainers that make the parks magical. Don’t you?? These are the Disney Cast Members we are missing the most right now! Do you know any other celebrities who worked at the Disney Parks? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: 12 Throwback Disney Rides That Are Keeping Our Spirits Up We’ve Got the Ultimate Bunker Resource List — Complete With Ways to Bring Disney Magic Home! Life Is the Bubbles! Today’s International Mermaid Day (and We’re Celebrating with Some Disney Magic)! View the full article

Hop on Some Iconic Disney Parks Roller Coasters and Scream for National Roller Coaster Day! View the full article

Today is National Roller Coaster Day, so we’re celebrating here on the Disney Parks Blog with an amazing mashup video of Disney coasters from around the world. We’ve taken some of our favorite moments from our “Ride & Learn” series and combined them into a “greatest hits” collection in honor of this special day. When you click on the video below, it’s like you’re magically transported from one Disney park to the next and dropped right into a seat on your favorite coaster. Be sure to keep your arms inside the vehicle at all times and remove your hats and glasses, because you’ll experience high-speed launches, climb to the top of a mountain, brave a forbidden temple and much more. And along this high-speed journey, you may learn a thing or two about Disney coasters, too! If you can keep your eyes open, that is. So, happy National Roller Coaster Day, everyone! If you want even more Disney fun, follow the links below to the full “Ride & Learn” video from each coaster you saw here. And be sure to keep checking back with us at the Disney Parks Blog for more #DisneyMagicMoments like this one! Find more “Ride & Learn” videos: The Incredicoaster, Disney California Adventure ParkSlinky Dog Dash, Disney’s Hollywood StudiosIndiana Jones and the Temple of Peril, Disneyland ParisSeven Dwarfs Mine Train, Magic Kingdom ParkExpedition Everest, Disney’s Animal KingdomBig Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars, Hong Kong DisneylandBig Thunder Mountain Railroad, Magic Kingdom ParkTRON Lightcycle Power Run, Shanghai DisneylandView the full article

Whether you or someone you know loves to travel to the Disney theme parks or just shop ’til you drop for new Minnie Mouse ears or Loungefly backpacks, there’s one gift that’s PERFECT… Mickey Reusable Shopping Bag …Disney gift cards! And if you use Disney gift cards to help budget for future trips or want to give the Disney fan in your life the exact new shirt they want, shopDisney has rolled out TONS of NEW Disney gift card designs. And, y’all, they’re SO CUTE! ©shopDisney There’s a new design for every kind of Disney fan. As if there isn’t enough Baby Yoda stuff available, there’s now a Baby Yoda Disney gift card. ©shopDisney …to gift cards that feature classic Disney princesses like Ariel, Aurora, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine, Merida, Mulan, Repunzel, Tiana, or Snow White. ©shopDisney There are also plenty of new designs featuring the main man himself, Mickey Mouse. We particularly love this one with Sorcerer Mickey — it’s like he’s adding fun right into your shopping cart! ©shopDisney You can order these new Disney gift cards online at shopDisney, and they’re available in amounts of $25, $50, $100, $150, $200, or $500. Disney gift cards are redeemable at shopDisney.com, Disney stores, Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and more. And we can’t WAIT to use these cute new designs when we’re shopping around the world. Wanna know where to spend your gift card? Check out this new merch we spotted at Magic Kingdom! What new Disney gift card design is your favorite? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: News! Disney Merch Released for Star Wars Day Will Use a Virtual Queue! NEWS: The NEW Frozen 2 Dresses Have Landed on shopDisney and They’re BIG TIME on Sale! This NEW Inside Out Romper Has Us Feeling All Kinds of Interesting Emotions… View the full article

While Mickey Bars are classic, Dole Whips are practically what makes the World go ’round in our opinion! Pineapple Dole Whip Although it’s been the best news EVER that Raspberry Dole Whips, the Peter Pan Float, and the Kakamora Float have all made their way back to Disney World (excuse our happy tears), Dole Whip treats don’t stop there. Although we’ve had Dole Whip Nachos and a Pineapple Upside Down Cake (RIP, old friend) in the parks previously, apparently there’s a Dole Whip Beer out there according to Attractions Magazine. And, honestly, we feel like it would be every Disney fan’s drink of choice. Dole Whip Nachos The “Dole Whip Sour” crafted by First Magnitude Brewing Company was “brewed using actual Dole Whip mix, pineapple puree, and milk sugar” to make a drink that tastes like one of Disney’s most iconic snacks in the parks. However, after the Gainesville, Florida-based company released the new drink as a part of their Flavors of Summer Series on August 12th, it sold out within only THREE DAYS. ©First Magnitude Brewing Co. Even though the drink was available for online ordering and pick-up only, it’s pretty obvious that Dole Whip fans were VERY hyped about First Magnitude’s new flavor. While there’s no sign if the Dole Whip Sour will be coming back soon, we’ll have to keep checking back to see if the beer is restocked so you can get your Disney drink on! Want to make your own Dole Whip at home? Read our step-by-step tutorial here! What’s your favorite flavor of Dole Whip in Disney World? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: EXCLUSIVE NEWS! A New Signature Margarita is Debuting At La Cava del Tequila in Epcot…And WAIT ‘Til You See Who Developed The Recipe! Review! Violet Lemonade, Spike the Bee Sippers, and Dole Whip Can All Be Found at This 2020 Epcot Flower and Garden Booth! NEWS! Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Dessert Parties Just Got a MAJOR Upgrade! View the full article

Our newest cookbook – Delicious Disney: The Fresh Edition – is now on the shelves at select merchandise locations at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts! Pam Brandon, author of over 22 Disney cookbooks, once again collaborated with Disney chefs to create delicious new recipes from our Disney Parks and cruise ships. It was a bit of a challenge selecting only one recipe to share – because all look delicious! I landed on one of my favorites from the recipe vault at Trattoria al Forno at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn & Villas – Roasted White Chocolate Budino. This rich, creamy dessert served with amaretti cookies is surprisingly simple to make … and sure to impress! Roasted White Chocolate Budino from Trattoria al Forno at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn & Villas Serves 6 Click here for a print-at-home version of this recipe! Ingredients: Budino 1 3/4 cups white chocolate chips 1 (1/4-ounce) envelope powdered gelatin 1 cup whole milk, divided 1 cup, plus 1 tablespoon heavy cream 1 teaspoon light corn syrup Amaretti Cookies (Makes 2 1/2 Dozen Cookies) 1/2 cup, plus 3 tablespoons almond paste 2 large egg whites 3/4 cup, plus 1 tablespoon powdered sugar 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1/2 cup, plus 1 tablespoon almond flour Garnish Whipped cream Maraschino cherries Directions: For Budino: Preheat oven to 250°F. Place white chocolate chips in a shallow baking dish. Bake for 10 minutes and stir. Cook for an additional 30 to 60 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Color should be medium caramel. Using a rubber spatula, scrape chocolate into a medium bowl. Sprinkle gelatin over 1/4 cup of milk in a small bowl. Combine remaining 3/4 cup milk, heavy cream, and corn syrup in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and mix in the gelatin/milk mixture, whisking until fully dissolved. Pour hot cream mixture over roasted chocolate, whisking to combine. Divide evenly among 6 serving bowls. Refrigerate until set, at least 2 hours. For Amaretti Cookies: Preheat oven to 325°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Beat almond paste with electric mixer until crumbly. Beat in egg whites until mixture is smooth. Sift in powdered sugar and all-purpose flour, beating just until combined, about 1 minute. Stir in almond flour with a wooden spoon. (Dough will be sticky.) Use water to lightly wet scoop before working the dough. Scoop rounded teaspoons of dough onto prepared baking sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake until cookies rise, crack slightly, and are golden brown, about 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely before removing from baking sheet with a thin metal spatula. Store in an airtight container. To Serve: Top each Budino serving with an Amaretti Cookie, whipped cream, and a cherry. Note: This recipe has been converted from a larger quantity in the restaurant kitchens. The flavor profile may vary from the restaurant’s version. As a reminder while preparing this recipe, please supervise children who are helping or nearby. Stay connected with Disney Parks Blog for more delicious Disney recipes and be sure to share the magic with other Disney fans using the hashtag #DisneyMagicMoments. Happy cooking! View the full article

Wounded Warriors and Disabled Veterans who are staying at Shades of Green are able Rent Mobility Scooters (ECVs) for their vacation at Walt Disney World. You can make arrangements ahead of time and your scooter will be waiting for you when you check in at Shades of Green. These scooters, ECVs, and wheel chairs are […] The post 2020 Scooter Rentals at Shades of Green appeared first on Military Disney Tips Blog. View the full article

While there are some unexpected and new changes happening around Disney World, we have been thrilled to see so many projects pick construction back up now that the parks are open! EPCOT The pink Cinderella Castle just had its moat filled in, the Grand Floridian Walkway has continued to near its completion, and ALL the construction on EPCOT’s France Pavilion is charging full steam ahead! While some projects have been put on pause, the EPCOT Transformation has continued to move forward with new entertainment, attractions, and more! Since Disney World’s 50th anniversary is next year, there will (hopefully) be some amazing experiences appearing soon. EPCOT’s next big nighttime spectacular will be HarmonioUS, complete with lasers, fireworks, dancing fountain, and HUGE floating set pieces. ©Disney While @bioreconstruct was over the parks today, we were given an aerial look at the construction on HarmonioUS. There are currently four barges being built for the show’s debut! On top of the construction on the PLAY! Pavilion in the park, we’ll continue to keep checking on the progress with the rest of the projects moving forward in Disney World! Find out everything you need to know about the projects coming to Disney World here! What new projects are you looking forward to the most? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: REVIEW! Our FAVORITE Cheddar Cheese Soup Has Returned to the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival! What’s New at EPCOT: Les Halles’ Official Re-Opening, Disposable Masks, and New SPARKLY Rainbow Minnie Ears NEWS: Your Horns Are Showing With These New Mickey Ears at EPCOT in Disney World! View the full article