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Although we can’t pass up dessert in Disney Springs, we’ve been missing those AMAZING Gideon’s chocolate chip cookies since they disappeared from The Polite Pig. Gideon’s Bakehouse Buuut, they’ll be making their way back in the shopping and dining district (along with a whole bunch of other goodies) when the official Gideon’s Bakehouse store opens later this year! While the bakery has taken over Rustic Cuff’s previous location, we’ve been keeping an eye on Gideon’s progress as signage pops up and pastry chefs are announced! If your dream is to be surrounded by Gideon’s cookies all the time (which sounds incredible), Gideon’s is now taking applications for people to work at the front of the house! Although the website didn’t specify if it would be for the Disney Springs location, the bakery has been pushing forward with its construction to open soon. ©Gideon’s Bakehouse While there might not be too many details, you can be sure that Gideon’s Bakehouse is going to smell like freshly baked goods as you welcome guests inside the store! You can apply now through the Gideon’s website and put “EEM FOH” as the position you’re applying for online! Triple Chocolate Cookie We seriously can’t WAIT for Gideon’s Bakehouse to open in Disney Springs so we can take home cookies, cakes, and all the treats that we can carry back home! We’ll continue to keep you updated on the bakery’s progress and opening date! Find out all the details you need to know about Gideon’s Bakehouse coming to Disney Springs soon! Have you ever had a Gideon’s cookie before? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: Terralina Crafted Italian Is Back OPEN in Disney Springs! Guess Who’s Back?! The Color Block Corkcicles Have RETURNED in Disney Springs! NEWS! Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar Has Officially Reopened (AGAIN) in Disney Springs! View the full article

It’s now been a little over a month since Disney World re-opened, and we’ve seen some major changes at all four theme parks! Disney World Bus On top of the parks seeing some big differences, the transportation around the property has been re-vamped to add more distancing, sanitation, and safety measures on board. And now, there are reports of some more changes that have happened with Disney’s transportation. The Mears Transportation Group, which operates Disney’s Magical Express, has laid off multiple employees at Central Florida locations according to the Orlando Business Journal. Orlando International Airport While the company had to furlough about 83% off its employees back in April when Florida issued a statewide stay-at-home order, it has since brought back roughly 650 employees of its original 950 employees. However, in July the company laid off 104 more employees, including some for Disney’s Magical Express service. Disney’s Magical Express However, Mears has let its laid off employees know that the company will be trying to rehire positions as more business returns. The company has also put a fast-track rehiring process in place to make sure that its employees are brought back as quickly as possible. At this time, there isn’t any certainty about how much more Mears will be affected. Orlando International Airport Roger Chapin, the executive vice president of public affairs for Mears, has stated that, “We are adjusting through the environment, as all businesses are today. The goal is to keep the doors open for the return of business — whenever that happens — and rehire employees as we can.” Disney’s Magical Express Sign We will continue to keep you updated with any further developments regarding Disney World’s transportation! Read about the updates on the Disney World Train Station coming from the Orlando International Airport soon! What is your favorite form of Disney Transportation? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: BREAKING NEWS: Disney World Transportation UPDATES That Are Coming SOON. Your Next Ride in Minnie Van Ride in Disney World Could Be Very Different — Here’s How! BREAKING NEWS! More Disney Transportation Will Start to Re-Open at the Beginning of Next Week! View the full article

Welcome back, DFB friends! We’re here with another What’s New at Magic Kingdom! Main Street, U.S.A. And, we’ve got plenty of merchandise and food updates to share with you, so let’s dive right on in! Magic Kingdom Merchandise Update The Emporium If you thought you loved Minnie Ears enough, we are already OBSESSED with the newest color trend that has made its way into Disney World! While it’s been a bit of time since we had a color trend take over the parks, the gorgeous Lilac Minnie Ears are as shiny and sparkly as ever! Lilac Minnie Ears The bow is made of shiny material, while the ears are glittery (so you get the best of both worlds). Although Disney hasn’t released spirit jerseys, backpacks, or more to pair with the Lilac Minnie Ears just yet, we can’t WAIT to see what else is in store for the color trend! Lilac Minnie Ears Learn all about the new color trend in Disney World here! While we’ve been spending a WHOLE lot of time planning our Halloween costumes for the year, we also think it’s important that your dog celebrates the holiday with you! And, your best pal can look just as fabulous as a Disney character wearing the new Disney Tails Halloween Costumes! Tinker Bell Pet Costume Your sweet gal can look magical like Tinker Bell in the fairy wings that even have a tiny pink butterfly in the center… Tinker Bell Pet Costume …along with a BLONDE WIG (!!!) to sit on top of her ears so her ‘do looks even cuter. Tinker Bell Pet Costume Wig Plus, your best man can lean towards the wild side in the Stitch Jacket that we can’t stop laughing about! Stitch Pet Costume Stitch’s mouth wraps around your dog head (and almost look like he’s eating your pup, which is hilarious)… Stitch Pet Costume While the back wraps around with room for your pup’s tail to sit comfortably as they dance along to some Elvis with you in your living room. Stitch Pet Costume Celebrate Halloween with your pups this year with Disney’s dog costumes here! But, the puppy love doesn’t stop there for us! We couldn’t help but fall in love with the Zero Sweater since we’re ready to watch The Nightmare Before Christmas on repeat this spooky season. Zero Sweatshirt Match with your dog wearing the new Zero Sweatshirt this Halloween here! The Chapeau Although the Lilac Minnie Ears are over at the Emporium, you can also pick them up at The Chapeau on Main Street… Lavender Ears …along with The Nightmare Before Christmas Hat that gives us hot and cold running chills! Jack Skellington Hat The black and white cap is covered with images and characters from the film, so it’s perfect for fans of all ages for $27.99! Jack Skellington Hat Memento Mori While we can take a tour of the Haunted Mansion any time we’re in Magic Kingdom, Halloween is bringing out all the ghouls, ghosts, and merchandise! And, Memento Mori has practically become our one-stop shop for the best spook-tacular merchandise in Disney World to date with its new line of Haunted Mansion trinkets and accessories. Haunted Mansion On top of the Lilac Ears, you can slip on the Haunted Mansion Ears that are patterned with the attraction’s famous purple wallpaper, along with a black felt bow and Haunted Mansion logo! Haunted Mansion Check out all the details on the Haunted Mansion Minnie Ears here! As we head to our next swinging wake in the parks, we’re going to make sure to bring our Haunted Mansion bags with us (since we need somewhere to keep our “death certificate” and any Halloween treats that come to the parks!). Haunted Mansion Loungefly Bags While you can match your ears to the Haunted Mansion Loungefly Backpack… Haunted Mansion Loungefly Backpack …you can also look like one of the Ghost Hosts who greet you at the mansion’s doors with the Ghost Host Loungefly Backpack! Haunted Mansion Ghost Host Loungefly Backpack We bet you could even catch a ride with the Hitchhiking Ghosts in a Doom Buggy toting the Hitchhiking Ghosts Crossbody… Hitchhiking Ghosts Loungefly Bag …that comes with a strap to hook on the bag to make it easier to carry around the rest of the park! Hitchhiking Ghosts Loungefly Bag Take a look at all the spooky details on the Haunted Mansion Loungefly Bags here! We can’t help but burst into song whenever we hear those good ole’ busts singing “Grim Grinning Ghosts” during the Haunted Mansion. So, we can’t wait to groove along to the Monster Mash or other spooky songs this Halloween wearing the Bust A Move Shirt… Bust a Move Shirt …featuring the busts having a grand time humming their favorite tunes for everyone to hear! Bust a Move Shirt Shake those bones wearing the adorable new Haunted Mansion shirt! Ya’ll, we’ve seen some weird merchandise in the parks since we’ve been back in Disney World. But, somehow the Haunted Mansion Crocs are at the top of our list with the crazy purple wallpaper pattern and Haunted Mansion pins. Haunted Mansion Crocs Although you might not consider Crocs “high fashion,” they can be WONDERFULLY comfortable to wear when you’re walking around Magic Kingdom (or you don’t want to slip whenever it starts to rain during hurricane season the next few months). Haunted Mansion Crocs Who knew we would love THIS strange Halloween merchandise so much?? Check out some of our favorite weird items here! Frontier Trading Post Guess who’s back, back again? The Frontier Trading Post has officially re-opened for guests to check out some rootin’ tootin’ merchandise before moseying on over to Splash Mountain or Pecos Bill’s. Frontier Trading Post And, the store has re-opened with a WHOLE line of new MagicBands for everyone to add to their collection back home. Magic Bands We spotted new MagicBands inspired by Lilo and Stitch, Star Wars, Toy Story, and Phineas and Ferb… Magic Bands …we’re especially loving the Black Widow MagicBand… Black Widow MagicBand …Ratatouille MagicBand… Ratatouille Magic Band …and even the new Periwinkle MagicBand (that we think would go perfectly with the Lilac Ears!). Periwinkle MagicBand But, if you’re looking to add a little bit of fun to your accessories, you can put on the Slap MagicBands, featuring Orange Bird, Stitch, and the new Mickey Mouse cartoon characters too! Slap Band MagicBands Check out all the details on the fantastic MagicBands we found in the Magic Kingdom here! Splashdown Our hunt for Splash Mountain merchandise has been pretty hit or miss in the parks since everything’s been selling out like hot cakes in the Magic Kingdom! While the Splash Mountain Tank Top was the only attraction item we found recently… Splash Mountain Tanks …now you can grab the Splash Mountain Tumbler… Splash Mountain Tumblers …and adorable 30th anniversary Splash Mountain Funko POP! Figurines in the store too! Splash Mountain Funko POP! Figurines Check out all the returning Splash Mountain merchandise available NOW here! Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin We’ve been HIGHLY anticipating the arrival of the Alien Remix collection, mixing up some of our favorite movies for iconic pairings. And, we’re eternally grateful for the new mini figures we spotted in the store right outside of Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin! Alien Remix You can have all the feels with the Anger Alien Figurine… Anger …or get ready for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure with the Remy Alien Figurine! Remy Or you can have a monster good time with the Boo Alien Figurine… Boo …and make sure that your outfits are up to snuff since we’re sure the Edna Alien Figurine is just as much of a fashion icon as the original. Edna If you thought the Toy Story Aliens were already cute, then you’re going to love the whole line of the Remix characters here! If you’re in the mood for more Toy Story merchandise (who wouldn’t be??), you can also pick up the Bo Peep Crop Top to wear during your trip back to Toy Story Land over in Disney’s Hollywood Studios for $36.99. Bo Peep Crop Top Fantasy Faire Since Disney World has been canceling many of its events this year as a health and safety precaution, Villains After Hours won’t be happening this year. Although Halloween goodies are starting to make their way into the parks, we were surprised to see Villains After Hours merchandise in Magic Kingdom when we were there! Villains After Hours merchandise! We think it’s the perfect time of the year to finally pick up an Oogie Boogie Sipper… Villains After Hours merchandise …tees with our favorite villains, like Hades… Villains After Hours merchandise …and leggings that will make any wicked night even better when you’re in a re-opened Disney World! Villains After Hours merchandise We’re still just as obsessed as ever with the blue, purple, black, and green color scheme on the apparel… Villains After Hours merchandise …which we can’t wait to take home with us for the rest of Halloween time coming up just around the corner! Villains After Hours merchandise Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe It’s never too early to start picking up Christmas decorations in our opinion! And, if they’re as cute as the Merry and Bright Light-Up Ornament, you’re going to want to grab it ASAP for $29.99! Merry and Bright ornament While Mickey and Minnie are looking as sweet as ever on the front, you can also find fireworks and the park icons from around Disney World all over the ornament too! Merry and Bright ornament Pick up your Christmas ornaments early this year with the lovely light-up decoration here! Three of a kind, birds of a feather, now and forever — yes, we love Lock, Shock, and Barrel like there’s no tomorrow! And, you can add Oogie’s henchmen to your growing Disney plush collection at home with the three plushes that are attached together for $29.99. Lock, Shock, and Barrel Plushes But, don’t you fret because our fearless Pumpkin King is also there to save the day! The Jack Skellington Plush comes with his best pal Zero for $26.99… Jack Skellington Plush …so he can stand up to the big, bad, boogie man himself now that the Oogie Boogie Plush is in stores for $19.99 too! Oogie Boogie Plush Magic Kingdom Food Update Casey’s Corner Although we could honestly have corn dog nuggets all day, every day, Casey’s Corner was featuring an ice cream cart outside for guests to pick up their favorite cool treats! Casey’s Corner Although the cart had a little bit of a line, it was a great stop to quickly stop by to grab a drink… Ice Cream Cart …or a fan-favorite Mickey Ice Cream Bar or Mickey Ice Cream Sandwich too before heading to your favorite rides! Ice Cream Cart Well, that’s all for this What’s New at Magic Kingdom! We’ll catch you next time with more food and merchandise updates! What are you looking forward to seeing the most in Magic Kingdom? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: What’s New at Magic Kingdom — Valentine’s Day Treats, Lunar New Year Plushes, and SPACE Everything! Match With Your Favorite Disney Characters and Attractions By Wearing the Newest Graphic Tees in Disney World! Disney World Releases Another LONG Survey About Guests’ Experiences in Magic Kingdom! View the full article

Since EPCOT re-opened, you KNOW that means we’ve been visiting La Cava del Tequila at the Mexico Pavilion! Teremana Blanco While we’ve noticed multiple health and safety regulations in place around the pavilions already, Disney has continued to update what measures they’re taking to protect guests and Cast Members. Although EPCOT has instilled a new face mask policy and temperature checks, distancing markers and directional signs on the ground have been put in place to make sure that everyone is safely kept apart from one another. When we’ve returned back to the Mexico Pavilion, we’ve noticed markers on the ramps inside the pavilion to show guests which way they should be entering and exiting the area. However, thanks to our reader @walruscarpclothing, we were able to see that there are even more distancing measures in place outside the pyramid for times that it reaches capacity. Mexico Pavilion On top of the distancing markers put in place, Cast Members have started to limit the capacity of how many people are able to go inside the Mexico Pavilion at once. Photo Credit: @walruscarpclothing Those waiting in line reported a 10 to 15 minute wait to get inside the pyramid, with Cast Members allowing small groups in at a time as another distancing effort. Photo Credit: @walruscarpclothing Although Disney has continued to change how the parks are operating, the updates in their health and safety measures is meant to keep everyone safe as they return back to Disney World. While the parks may look completely different than we’ve seen it before, we’ll continue to make sure you have all the information you need to know before your next Disney vacation! Take a look inside a newly re-opened La Cava del Tequila (and how it doesn’t look the way we remember it)! What is your favorite pavilion to visit in Disney World? 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

Our “Stories from the Parks” series continues with a few of our #DisneyCreators friends checking out the Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort, which recently began its phased reopening. As we shared earlier this week, the Downtown Disney District is a great destination to enjoy a mix of eateries with plenty of outdoor seating, mouthwatering treats to go and unique shopping venues, including the flagship World of Disney store. Here are some favorite memories from our friends and guests: If you are planning to visit the Downtown Disney District, be sure to check Disneyland.com/DTD for the latest details, as information is updated often. These include our health and safety measures, things to expect, and more! Several of our friends shared their experiences – watch more in our Downtown Disney District Instagram Story Highlight. Stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog for more #DisneyCreators content as we continue to share guests’ experiences with our “Stories from the Parks” series. View the full article

The EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival is still going strong during Disney World’s limited capacity reopening, but things aren’t necessarily business as usual! Food & wine 2020! We’ve got a hybrid festival this year! Because the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival was cut short by the park closures, and because so much of the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival couldn’t go forward as planned due to safety concerns, Disney decided to smoosh the two together to make one big hodge-podge festival! We’ve got Flower and Garden festival food mingling with Food and Wine menu items in the marketplace booths around World Showcase, and you’ll find Flower and Garden as well as Food and Wine merchandise in the shopping locations. Several menu items have shown up to the party LATE. And we’ve got booths mysteriously closing and…reopening! Epcot Food and Wine Festival Yep, after reporting that the Islands of the Caribbean booth was 1) closed and 2) removed from the Disney World website, we got word yesterday from an instagram follower that the booth may be slated to reopen for weekends only! Today, we were sent photos from our friend @walruscarpclothing — of the booth open and ready for business! Islands of the Caribbean So if you’re headed to the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival this weekend, you’ll likely be able to indulge in all the Caribbean booth has to offer — including jerk chicken, passion fruit cake, and ropa vieja empanadas! Ropa Vieja Empanada But be aware that they may close again next week. We’ll bring you the latest as we have it! See our full review of the Islands of the Caribbean Booth in 2020 HERE! Are you headed to the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival this year? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Dos (and a Few Don’ts) for the Epcot Food and Wine Festival Review: 2016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Mix It, Make It, Celebrate It! Pastry Making Workshop Epcot Food and Wine Festival Booking Opens TOMORROW! Get Your DFB Guide TODAY and Start Planning! View the full article

Best. Day. EVER! Aloha Isle When Disney World first reopened, a bunch of our favorite snacks were missing from menus around the Resort. But luckily, we’ve started to see some of these treats make their triumphant return, including the recent reintroduction of the Peter Pan Float at Storybook Treats! And now, another one of our all-time favorite sweet treats is BACK on the menu! That’s right, our beloved Kakamora Float is now available on the Mobile Order menu at Aloha Isle! The Kakamora Float is Back on the Mobile Order Menu! Omg, we can’t wait to snag this delicious snack again! Kakamora Float The Kakamora Float includes coconut soft-serve, pineapple juice, and blue curacao syrup, and it’s garnished with an adorable chocolate Kakamora cake pop! Kakamora Float This is one of our FAVORITE treats in Disney World, so we’re thrilled to see it’s officially back on the menu! And we want to give a special shout-out to Instagram users kpach525 and disneyforfoodies for giving us a heads-up on the return of Kakamora Float! The Simba soft pretzel is BACK in Disney’s Animal Kingdom! What is your favorite Disney World float? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: We’re LIVE from the FIRST 2019 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in Disney World! We Tried 58 Holiday Treats in Disney World and These Are Our MUST-HAVES! Getting Your Hands on This DFB Favorite Treat Just Got Easier in Disney World! View the full article

The Liberty Square Riverboat will be closing for refurbishment soon! Liberty Square Riverboat The Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover was recently officially listed as “closed for refurbishment” through October after an extended downtime following the park reopening. And another Magic Kingdom attraction is also scheduled to close for refurbishment soon! According to the Disney World park calendar, the Liberty Square Riverboat will be closed for refurbishment starting on Monday, August 24th. Liberty Square Riverboat is Listed as Closed Beginning on August 24th But there is some good news — this attraction isn’t scheduled to remain closed for as long as the PeopleMover! The park calendar shows the Liberty Square Riverboat will be closed from August 24th through August 30th, with the attraction currently set to become available again on Monday, August 31st. Liberty Square Riverboat is No Longer on the Refurbishment Calendar Beginning on August 31st The Disney World refurbishment schedule is subject to change, so be sure to keep a close eye on the calendar if you’re heading to the park later this month! The Cinderella Castle moat has been refilled following the refurbishment! Is the Liberty Square Riverboat a must-do attraction when you visit Magic Kingdom? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: What’s New in Magic Kingdom — An Epic Sundae, New Jewelry, and Haunted Mansion Merch! Should You Even Go to Disney World with All This Construction? Your Questions Answered. Closing Time! Let’s Check Out All of the Attractions That are Closed for Refurb in Disney World Next Week! View the full article

We LOVE us some Baby Yoda merch! Baby Yoda Plush If you’re looking for a Baby Yoda souvenir, there are plenty to choose from! We’ve seen Baby Yoda leggings, spirit jerseys, plushes, and MORE! But the latest piece of Baby Yoda merch is a mystery — and we’re hoping YOU can help us solve it! If you’ve visited Disney World recently, you may be familiar with MagicBands — the wearable bands which can serve as your room key, park ticket, contactless payment method, and more. MagicBands Disney World hotel guests and Annual Passholders have the ability to select and customize MagicBands within their My Disney Experience account. While guests will find MagicBands available for sale around the Resort, the online selection for hotel guests and Annual Passholders often includes exclusive pre-order designs. MagicBand Options ©Disney So, when we recently noticed there was a Star Wars The Child MagicBand available to order in our account, we were super excited for more Baby Yoda cuteness. Until we realized something was missing — there was no photo showing for The Child MagicBand! There’s No Photo for The Child MagicBand! We tried navigating to a different view to see if that would allow the photo to pop up, but still no luck! Still No Baby Yoda Photo! We even tried selecting the MagicBand to order to see if that would do the trick. When we were taken to the next step to personalize it, there was still no picture! The Mystery of the Baby Yoda MagicBand! We’re SUPER intrigued by this mysterious new Baby Yoda MagicBand, so we want to know — does the photo for this MagicBand show up on your computer?? If you’re an Annual Passholder or have an upcoming Disney World hotel stay booked, let us know if you can see the picture for The Child MagicBand in your My Disney Experience account! Dress up your pup as Baby Yoda with this ADORABLE Halloween costume for dogs! Does the picture for the Baby Yoda MagicBand show up on your computer? Let us know! Related posts: MagicBand Orders and Customization Are BACK Ahead of Disney World’s Reopening! Here’s a Look at the MagicBands Currently Available for Disney World Hotel Guests! HURRY! My Disney Experience Has Just Added Special Grand Flo and Riviera MagicBands! View the full article

Welcome back, DFB friends! We’re here with another DFB Video, and today we’re talking about the latest Disney news. Cinderella Castle Some major ride malfunctions, new construction at EPCOT, and what’s going to happen to all those dining reservations when they shorten the park hours?? We’ve got the details on all of that and MORE! Check out all of these recent updates and announcements in our latest DFB Video! And if you love this video, there’s plenty more for you to enjoy over on our DFB YouTube Channel! By the way, have you subscribed yet? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to the channel and never miss a single episode! So check out the video and then let us know: What do you think of the new EPCOT construction? Related posts: DFB Video: 25 Disney World Snacks You MUST Get in 2020! DFB Video: Latest Disney News: Hurricane Heads Towards Florida, Hotels Postpone Opening & MORE Policy Updates! DFB Video: Latest Disney News: New Park Hours, New Park Entertainment, Mulan is Coming to Disney+ and MORE! View the full article

If you’re looking for a unique souvenir in Disney World, EPCOT is a great place to start! Spaceship Earth We’ve spotted a TON of awesome new merchandise around World Showcase lately! Whether you’re interested in a Norway spirit jersey, France-inspired Minnie Ears, or adorable gelato-themed merch, there are so many great options to choose from! And with all the great shopping in World Showcase, one store that consistently stands out as a guest-favorite is Mitsukoshi Department Store in the Japan Pavilion. This store is known for its HUGE selection of unique merchandise! Skincare Masks at Mitsukoshi Department Store And now, we have another item to add to our Mitsukoshi wishlist! Check out this gorgeous new t-shirt which changes color in the sunlight! We love that this shirt celebrates the beauty of nature, which is a theme we see throughout the Japan Pavilion! We’ll definitely be on the lookout for this pretty new addition the next time we pass through the Japan Pavilion! And we might even stop for some eats at the Japan Food & Wine Festival booth along the way! Check out the gorgeous new pylons that were recently installed near the EPCOT entrance! Do you plan on picking up this new t-shirt? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: These Skincare Masks in EPCOT’s Japan Make You Into a Cat, Dog, or…Baby…? What’s New at EPCOT: TONS of Gelato Mickey Merch, New Menu Items at Katsura Grill, and a 2021 Calendar! SPOTTED: New Signage For Epcot’s Takumi-Tei Restaurant, Opening SOON! View the full article

A trip to Disney World is going to look a little different in the short-term, including dining at our favorite restaurants! Closed Table When it comes to choosing what to eat at a reopened Disney World, you may have to re-strategize a bit to choose what’s best for you and your family! Many of our old favorite tips don’t apply right now, so we’ve got a new and improved batch of tricks for you! Here are some tips to consider when making dining reservations and choosing where to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner throughout a reopened Disney World! Eat at Garden Grill instead of ‘Ohana One of the biggest “Disney reopening” shocks came when we learned that our beloved ‘Ohana would not reopen right away with Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. This is most likely due to the fact that character dining has largely been put on hold throughout Disney World for the time being and because the Polynesian has only opened its Disney Vacation Club Villas to date. Mickey at ‘Ohana’s character breakfast! But if you want a similar character experience, Garden Grill Restaurant in EPCOT IS offering a modified character dining experience. Garden Grill, like ‘Ohana, serves their food family-style, meaning you can enjoy their “all-you-care-to-eat” menu without worrying about traveling to a buffet table. Garden Grill Skillet If you’ve read DFB before, you might know that we have a not-so-secret love for Garden Grill. The food is reliably fresh and delicious and the smaller size of the rotating restaurant means WAY more character interactions than most other character meals. We even ranked Garden Grill as our FAVORITE restaurant on Disney World property to meet Mickey Mouse! Mickey and Pluto! The new experience features the same delish food, the restaurant still rotates (giving you an awesome view of Living With the Land below!), and there are still LOTS of chances to spot characters. Due to the distancing procedures in place, Mickey, Pluto, Chip, and Dale won’t give you a hug or sign an autograph book but they do circle the interior of the restaurant frequently popping over to say hello! Note that right now ONLY lunch and dinner are available due to EPCOT’s later opening time each day. Don’t sweat though — our next tip will help you out of that “what to do for a character breakfast” jam… . See what the modified character dining experience was like at a reopened Topolino’s Terrace here! Eat your character breakfast at Topolino’s Terrace instead of Chef Mickey’s One of the most popular of Disney’s character breakfast options is easily Chef Mickey’s in Disney’s Contemporary Resort. This breakfast is always packed, is a bit hectic at times, and books up quickly. When Chef Mickey’s reopened recently, we checked out the new breakfast-only dining (sorry guys, no brunch, lunch, or dinner for now!) and experienced what a socially distanced, all-you-care-to-eat family-style version of their buffet WITHOUT characters was like. Chef Mickey’s Spread The verdict? It’s actually pretty enjoyable if you want a quieter, more laid back breakfast. But if your end game is meeting characters, you’ll likely be disappointed. That’s where Topolino’s Terrace at Disney’s Riviera Resort can step up to help. Mickey at Topolino’s Terrace Topolino’s Terrace was the first character meal to return to reopened Disney World. The plated breakfast is still just as delightful as it was on our last experience here, though the menu is a bit more limited for the time being. You still get to meet Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy in their Renaissance best, but at a distance. During our breakfast, characters took turns regularly parading around the center of the restaurant waving and posing for (distanced) selfies with guests. They even all did a short parade around the center with all four characters! It’s Minnie! Guests get a printed autograph card to keep as a memento of their meal in lieu of getting real autographs in person. We were pleasantly surprised by this dining experience. We still got plenty of attention from the characters, the food was still great, and we got a lovely morning view out of those giant windows surrounding the restaurant. See what other restaurants we were surprised did not reopen with their resorts right away here! Eat at Sanaa instead of Jiko and Boma Currently, most Signature Restaurants and buffets are closed, which means favorites from Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge like Boma and Jiko are unavailable. But fear not! One table service restaurant is still available over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, and it just so happens to be one of our favorites! Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Sanaa has officially reopened in the Kidani Village section of the resort! Although Sanaa isn’t a Signature Restaurant like Jiko or a buffet like Boma, it is still an incredibly unique restaurant with great views of the animals on the savanna while you dine. Sanaa Bread Service…With an Onlooker! If you’re looking for a dining experience unlike any other, we highly recommend Sanaa! The food here is a variety of African and Indian specialties, like our beloved Butter Chicken or their Indian-style Bread Service (with a choice of five types of bread and nine accompaniments to go with it. YUM!). The food here has yet to disappoint us and the view of the animals makes it even better. Be sure to request a window table when you check-in (which you’ll currently do with Mobile Dine Check-In!). We ate at Sanaa soon after it reopened! See what was different about it here! Eat outside instead of inside We’ve eaten at Disney World nearly EVERY DAY since it first reopened on May 20, so we’ve picked up a few tips to go with the new style of dining present in the parks. We’ve found that we have been more comfortable dining outdoors with plenty of fresh air and ventilation than dining indoors. While indoor seating is spaced out to accommodate physical distancing, our preferred dining experience has been outdoors in the shade or near the water when possible, where we can stay cool. The Boathouse Disney Springs The CDC currently is placing an emphasis on dining outdoors when possible because the increased airflow is considered safer than eating indoors. So if you’re uncomfortable with the idea of dining indoors right now, Disney has you covered with plenty of locations offering open-air dining. Some spots that offer shaded outdoor seating are the new patio as part of the Shine Bar and Social at Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’, Geyser Point at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, and Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar in Disney Springs. We also enjoyed waterfront dining at The Boathouse in Disney Springs! See what else we have learned so far from dining at a reopened Disney World here! Eat at a sit down restaurant instead of a fast food restaurant Sitting down to eat is one of the few times you can remove your face mask while at Disney World. The other exceptions include swimming, while you are in your hotel room, or in the “Relaxation Stations” throughout the theme parks. Cast Members So, if you’re looking for a little breather from life under a mask, you may want to seek out table service reservations that allow you more time to relax without a mask on while you eat. Grand Floridian Cafe Keep in mind that dining at a table service restaurant doesn’t mean you have to break the bank! There are several ways to stick to your budget, including splitting entrees as well as ordering appetizers as your full meal. Just remember to be courteous to your server and tip them fairly if you choose to skip out on ordering full entrees for each adult! Here are a few of our favorite budget sit down Disney World restaurants! Check out more of our top tips for wearing a face mask to Disney World here! Get a reservation to eat at your favorite resort instead of in the theme parks We know that for some folks, taking a trip around the “Monorail loop” to visit the resorts is as important as visiting the theme parks at Disney World! Others like to take a stroll along Disney’s BoardWalk or see the animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Disney’s BoardWalk Inn Unfortunately, simply visiting a resort on a whim isn’t as easy as it used to be, at least in Disney World’s initial reopening phase. Currently, the ONLY guests allowed at the resorts are those staying overnight, or those with confirmed dining reservations or Mobile Orders at one of the restaurants. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort So, if visiting the Polynesian Village Resort is at the top of your “to do” list every time you come to Disney World, we would recommend you make a reservation at one of their open restaurants for breakfast, lunch, or dinner; or Mobile Order a snack at Capt. Cook’s. Consider making dining reservations at resorts INSTEAD of the parks if you’re big into resort hopping. Still interested in dining at the theme parks? Here’s a FULL list of every restaurant currently open in the theme parks! Dining in Disney World is certainly going to look and feel VERY different for the time being. In this initial reopening phase, we’re ALL going to have to make at least slight adjustments to what we’re used to when it’s time to make our dining reservations and sit down to eat. While all of our favorite restaurants will come back someday, for now, it’s helpful to know about some alternatives and tips on how to adjust! We hope this gave you some ideas to consider if you are planning on visiting Disney World in 2020. See how else Disney World dining is changing this summer here! What restaurant are you most looking forward to eating at once again? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: The 12 Best Meals To Eat in Disney World…Without Leaving Your Hotel!! Ranking all the Disney World Mickey Mouse Character Meals from Best to…Don’t Bother How To Experience The BEST of Disney World When You Have Champagne Taste and a Grocery Store Beer Budget! View the full article

As we welcome guests back to Walt Disney World Resort hotels, there are many convenient technologies helping us deliver magical experiences. Whether it’s limited-contact check-in, virtual chat, keyless room entry, or even virtual fireworks on demand, we offer features you may not know about. Guests staying at Walt Disney World Resort hotels now have virtual fireworks at their fingertips. Our popular pre-recorded #DisneyMagicMoments viewing of one of the most spectacular nighttime shows ever created at Disney Parks – “Happily Ever After” is currently streaming on demand in resort rooms. The benefits of using Disney technology at our resort hotels really begins before check-in with the My Disney Experience app. When you arrive, the app feature allows you to skip the front desk! After checking in online, you’ll receive a notification and can use a MagicBand or My Disney Experience digital key for limited-contact entry. If you haven’t used it yet, the digital key is the latest in the evolution of keyless room entry. The service turns a Bluetooth®-enabled phone into a digital key that unlocks a room door, hotel entrance gate and other common area doors requiring a key. Check our earlier digital key story for details. During your stay, Disney technology also allows you to virtual chat with a resort cast member at your convenience. This feature, which is also found in the My Disney Experience app, offers support nearly anytime—so there’s no need to visit the lobby or stand in line. Of course, there are many more convenient technologies to be discovered – so, be sure to download the latest version of My Disney Experience for your next stay at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel. View the full article

Disney World is currently offering limited park capacity, and one of the biggest differences we’ve seen in the parks is shorter wait times across the board! Prior to the park openings, limited capacity and the other major changes we’ve seen at Disney World caused many to wonder how the Boarding Group process for Disney’s newest attraction, Rise of the Resistance, would be impacted. Rise of the Resistance What we’ve experienced, however, is a whole lot more of the same when it comes to snagging a Boarding Group. So with access to this attraction being nearly as tricky as it was pre-closure, here are tips and tricks to guarantee yourself that elusive Rise of the Resistance boarding group. Don’t forget to make a Park Pass Reservation! Disney World’s new Park Pass Reservation System is an added requirement to be able to enter the theme parks during their limited capacity reopening. Simply having valid park admission, like an Annual Pass or a Single Day Ticket, is NOT enough! In addition, everyone in your travel party NEEDS to secure a Park Pass Reservation. Disney Park Pass Availability Screenshot from June 24 Depending on your ticket type, you might have an easier or more difficult time securing a Park Pass Reservation ahead of your visit to Hollywood Studios. Since the system rolled out, Hollywood Studios is definitely the most popular park when it comes to these reservations, so the MOMENT you know what days you want to visit, get those reservations! DPP Screenshot Once you have your valid park admission and your Park Pass Reservation, you’re all set to head to Disney’s Hollywood Studios! Click here to learn more about Disney World’s Park Pass Reservation System! Arrive Early! Currently, Rise of the Resistance has two Boarding Group distribution times each day: 10AM and 2PM. This is a big shift from before the closures, when all of the Boarding Groups were assigned right at rope drop. So while you have more than one opportunity to get a Group, our biggest piece of advice is to try for that 10AM slot first. This means showing up to the park earlier than most other Guests. Crowds trying to enter Disney’s Hollywood Studios This is one of the factors you actually have control over when trying to secure a Boarding Group, so arrive well before the park opens. However, it won’t be as easy as it was pre-closure to do so. Hollywood Studios Disney seems to be discouraging crowds showing up to “rope drop” at each of their four parks, so Disney transportation is not starting as early as it did previously. Your best bet is to rely on OTHER modes of transportation that are not operated by Disney. Disney Skyliner Gondolas The Minnie Van service is temporarily unavailable, so you should look into getting an Uber, Lyft, taxi, or even taking your own car or rental car to get to the park. Just make sure you plan ahead, give your party PLENTY of time to get to Hollywood Studios, and keep in mind the times that the parking lots open up. Parking The bright side here is that with Disney’s limited park hours, you don’t have to wake up as early as guests did back when the attraction first opened (remember when people showed up to Hollywood Studios at 6AM?). Currently, Hollywood Studios’ daily hours of operation are 10AM-8PM (but will shorten to 10AM-7PM beginning September 8). Sometimes, they will allow you in the park early. So aim to be INSIDE the park by 9:30AM. Kylo Ren, Ready to Fight You will need your ENTIRE party to be scanned into the park, so make sure everyone is ready to go in the morning if you all want the same Boarding Group (more tips on riding together below!). What’s up with “rope drop” at a reopened Disney World? Find out by clicking here! Keep in mind those NEW distribution times As we previously mentioned, Rise of the Resistance is no longer handing out all of the Boarding Groups at rope drop as they previously did. Now, you have TWO chances to score a Group, at 10AM and later in the day at 2PM. Don’t mix these up with the ride’s distribution times when the park first reopened, which were 10AM, 1PM, and 4PM. The ONLY times where Boarding Groups are now distributed are 10AM and 2PM. Stormtroopers In our experience, we have not seen either time fill up more quickly or slowly than the other time. They both go very, very fast. So, do NOT assume that you’ll have an easier time getting a Boarding Group at 2PM! Consider the 2PM distribution time your Plan B in the event you don’t score at 10AM. Rise of the Resistance Ride Vehicle Rise of the Resistance is also notorious for experiencing technical difficulties, so aiming for that 10AM time is the best way to give yourself the most chance of actually riding on any given day. Read more about Rise of the Resistance’s NEW Boarding Group distribution times here! Be ready to snag a Boarding Group QUICKLY Let’s break the whole process down step-by-step when it comes to actually getting a Boarding Group. The last thing you want to see happen is to put all that time and energy into getting inside the park early enough, only to experience some technical snafus on your phone! 1. Make sure your ENTIRE party is scanned into the park with your tickets linked on My Disney Experience As we mentioned earlier, My Disney Experience will not allow anyone who is NOT scanned into the park to join a Boarding Group. So if your entire travel party wants to ride together, make sure you are all inside the park gates before 10AM. Rise of the Resistance Virtual Queue You will also want to make sure everyone’s tickets are linked together on My Disney Experience. Do NOT attempt to get Boarding Groups individually, as each person will get separate Boarding Groups and will, therefore, be unable to ride together! 2. Disconnect from Disney’s WiFi and refresh My Disney Experience BEFORE the hour strikes Disney World’s complimentary WiFi is spotty at best, therefore, you DON’T want to rely on it when you want to get a Boarding Group! In most circumstances, we have heard that folks have an easier time working off of their regular cell service when joining a Boarding Group. So make sure your WiFi is turned OFF before the hour strikes. Rise of the Resistance You will also want to completely close out of My Disney Experience and re-load the app just before the hour. This step is especially useful if you had to link other tickets to your account. You’ll want to make sure My Disney Experience recognizes that all your tickets are hooked up! 3. When the time comes, select “Join Boarding Group” There are a couple of things you’ll need to do right on the hour to select a Boarding Group. First, you’ll need to select “Join Boarding Group.” Everyone in your travel party can attempt to join a Boarding Group at the same time, so don’t just select one person! Get everyone and their phones involved to try to get a group! You’ll want to look for a button that says “Join Boarding Group” the moment the hour strikes! Next, you’ll need to manually select everyone in your travel party that wishes to ride. Once your party is assembled in the app (you can either choose “Select All” or select individual party members), click on “Join Boarding Group” again! You will be randomly assigned a Boarding Group. Screenshot of Boarding Group A new feature they introduced on My Disney Experience is an estimated wait time for your Boarding Group. Note that this wait time is an approximation and not an exact science, but you should be able to gauge how much time you have to explore the rest of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge or Hollywood Studios while you wait! 4. Turn your Push Notifications On Once you have a group, make sure your Push Notifications are turned ON for My Disney Experience to make sure you know when your Boarding Group is called. The return window is shorter than you think! We have experienced some glitches in the past when joining a Boarding Group! Here’s what happened! Be aware: the return to ride window is shorter now! So you were able to grab a Boarding Group, hooray! We have one final tip that you’ll need to know about in order to actually experience Rise of the Resistance! This is a notable shift from the process pre-closure, so even if you were a pro before March, you’ll need to know about this change! Rise Preshow When your Boarding Group is called, you will have ONE hour to return to the entrance of Rise of the Resistance and check in with your group. In the past, guests have reported two to three hour return windows, so don’t assume you have as much time as you may have before! Rise of the Resistance Boarding Group You can keep an eye on what Boarding Groups the ride is currently accepting so you can better assess how much time you have before your group is called throughout the day. But if you get caught up in a Dining Reservation like we did, Cast Members have been more lenient if you happen to miss your return window. Virtual Queue But, just like with a traditional FastPass, don’t assume every Cast Member will allow you to miss your window, especially if you arrive super late! If you think you’ll be in a bind, speak with Guest Relations or a Rise of the Resistance Cast Member ahead of time. Click here to learn more about what happened when we MISSED our Boarding Group return window! Our biggest tip is to make sure you’re giving yourself and your group as many opportunities as possible to ride Rise of the Resistance. That means showing up to Hollywood Studios early, aim for that 10AM distribution time, and have your My Disney Experience app ready to go! If for whatever reason you don’t succeed at 10AM, follow all the same steps above for the 2PM distribution time. Good luck! Have you been on Rise of the Resistance? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: News: Disney World’s Rise of the Resistance Reportedly Won’t Use Boarding Groups At Reopening We Experienced a WEIRD Glitch on Rise of the Resistance Today at Disney World! Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Cliffs Notes…Here’s What You Absolutely NEED To Know After The Galaxy’s Edge INFO BOMB Dropped Last Night! View the full article

All room discounts have been removed from Shades of Green’s website. Shades of Green re-opened after the lock-down closure on 12 August. Upon re-opening, all previously announced discounts were cancelled for August 2020 through January 2021. This includes: The various monthly discounts The Armed Forces Recreation Centers – Survivors’ Family Program The Red White and […] The post Shades of Green Cancels Discounts appeared first on Military Disney Tips Blog. View the full article

All room discounts have been removed from Shades of Green’s website. Shades of Green re-opened after the lock-down closure on 12 August. Upon re-opening, all previously announced discounts were cancelled for August 2020 through January 2021. This includes: The various monthly discounts The Armed Forces Recreation Centers – Survivors’ Family Program The Red White and […] The post Shades of Green Cancels Discounts appeared first on Military Disney Tips Blog. View the full article

We’ve seen several new pieces of Zero merch around Disney World lately, like this glow-in-the-dark action figure set of Jack and his ghost dog! Jack and Zero Toy With Halloween fast approaching, we’ve also seen a bunch of The Nightmare Before Christmas plush appear throughout Disney World and the Oogie Boogie sipper has even returned! But you know how the famous saying goes — every dog has their day. Well, today must be Zero’s day because we found him predominantly featured on a brand new The Nightmare Before Christmas sweatshirt! Zero Sweatshirt The new Zero sweatshirt is as black as Deadly Nightshade, but don’t worry — it’s totally harmless! Zero Sweatshirt Check out Zero’s sweet little expression on the front — he’s grinning from ear to ear! And we love how the “O” in his name looks like a spider web! Zero Sweatshirt We spotted the super cute Zero sweatshirt for $39.99 at the Emporium in Magic Kingdom today. So, if you’re a fan of the Pumpkin King’s pup, treat yourself to this spooky sweatshirt! Click here to see the 2020 Halloween and The Nightmare Before Christmas Funko Pops! Are you excited about this new Zero sweatshirt? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: What’s New at Magic Kingdom — Valentine’s Day Treats, Lunar New Year Plushes, and SPACE Everything! There’s A New Way to Rep Your Love For Disney Food in Disney World! One of the Most Colorful Spirit Jerseys EVER Has Made Its Debut in Disney World! View the full article

Love LEGO toys and brick sets? Building the Millennium Falcon Then you’re in luck! The LEGO Store is open in Disney Springs and we’re even getting a LEGO Star Wars holiday special on Disney+ soon! We stopped by the Disney Springs LEGO Store recently and saw some incredible new outdoor sculptures. You’ve got to check them out! If you’ve ever visited Disney Springs, you may have seen some of the fantastic brick creations both inside and outside of The LEGO Store. And, of course, there’s our good ole dragon friend in the water! Disney Springs Over the years, we’ve seen lots of fun sculptures appear, including a display featuring Rey and BB-8. Rey and BB-8 But now it seems Rey has picked up a few extra friends! The new Star Wars LEGO sculpture display that debuted recently now features Rey, Chewbacca, and Kylo Ren… Star Wars LEGO Sculptures …as well as Captain Phasma and a Sith Trooper. Yes, those incredible creations are made out of LEGO pieces! It’s amazing to see how so many tiny bricks can come together to form such elaborate and large sculptures. The Force was truly strong with whoever built these pieces! Star Wars LEGO Sculptures If you’re ready for an adventure that doesn’t involve a jump to lightspeed, check out the Frozen 2 LEGO display with Elsa, Anna, and Olaf. Olaf looks like he’s got quite a few fun facts to share, and Elsa definitely seems ready to head into the unknown. Just look at how perfectly the sun was shining down on her! Frozen 2 LEGO Sculptures With a very determined look on her face, we’re sure Anna is gearing up for her next adventure, and we’re hoping she’ll take us along for the ride! Frozen 2 LEGO Sculptures If you’re headed to Disney Springs soon, be sure to stop by The LEGO Store and check out these awesome new sculptures. Then, you can head over to one of the restaurants that have recently reopened in Disney Springs and, of course, check out all of the amazing merchandise! Hungry? Check out this new cake bar in Disney Springs! What character would you like to see made into a LEGO sculpture? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Sing Your Heart Out with the NEW Frozen 2 and Cinderella Ornaments in Disney World! Frozen 2 Kipling Collection Makes Epic Debut in Disney Springs What’s New in Disney Springs — Halloween Cakes, Construction Updates, and Galaxy’s Edge Merch! View the full article

Up, up, and AWAY! Photo Credit: Disney Style on Twitter Our heads are in the clouds after getting a sneak peek of not one, not two, but THREE brand new Danielle Nicole backpacks that will be heading our way VERY soon! First up, UP! We’re pretty UP-sessed at the moment now that the Up Minnie Ears have floated over to both Disney World and Downtown Disney! We’ve also seen a bunch of new Up-themed merch debut in the parks recently — including a new Grape Soda MUG! Needless to say, this new Disney X Danielle Nicole Up Backpack is totally going to soar away with our hearts when it lands on August 21st! Photo Credit: Disney Style on Twitter Going on a romantic date? We think this new Disney X Danielle Nicole Lady Backpack would help you set the mood! Lady and the Tramp is such a sweet movie, after all! And can we just say how much we love how all three of these new backpacks feature a similar silhouette and can be thrown over your shoulder or carried like a purse? Genius! The Lady Backpack will be available on August 17th! Photo Credit: Disney Style on Twitter Me-OW! Marie from The Aristocats is giving her trademark sass with this new Disney X Danielle Nicole Marie Backpack! The little lady looks adorably miffed and is monogrammed with “M” letters for Marie! Cheer up, Marie — you’ll be coming to our house soon! You can pick up this bag starting on August 19th! Photo Credit: Disney Style on Twitter Danielle Nicole is releasing all of these new designs in the coming week, so be sure to head to the website once they’re available to snag your favorite! Prefer superheroes and snacks? Check out the new Danielle Nicole X Marvel food-themed collection here! Which new Disney X Danielle Nicole backpack is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: Whether You Love Dogs, Cats, or BATS, There’s a NEW Disney Loungefly For YOU! Disney HOW-TO! Decorate Your Own DIY Adventure Book Inspired by Disney’s “Up!” Meet The Mickey Mouse Accessory You Didn’t Know You Were Missing! View the full article

Join “Ghost Host” Rolly Crump as You Open the Doors of Haunted Mansion! View the full article

Yep, we think we’ll be hanging on to this pin! Trader Sam’s Menu Is anyone else missing Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort as much as we are?? If so, we found a tiny trinket to give you a little touch of tiki in your life! All stocked up on tiki mugs and need another way to get your Trader Sam’s fix? Check out this new Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto Pin we spotted at Disney Pin Traders in Disney Springs! Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto Pin As much as we’re missing the tasty food and fruity drinks at Trader Sam’s it’s nice to get a little reminder of one of our favorite hangouts — even if it is just in pin form for now! Trader Sam’s And in the meantime, we’re excited to check out Tambu Lounge at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort when it officially reopens this Sunday! Looking for more new merch?? Check out these button-up shirts we found in World of Disney! What is your favorite Disney pin? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: There’s a Rock the Dots MagicBand in Disney World and We Need It ASAP! What’s New in Disney Springs: Valentine’s Day Sweets, MORE Baby Yoda, and some MEGA Pricey Clothing! What’s New at Disney Springs: Dooney and Bourke Ink & Paint Collection, a Kermit Hat, and More! View the full article

Is this haunted room actually stretching? Or is it your imagination? Long before the Haunted Mansion was inhabited by a lively collection of 999 happy haunts, Disney Imagineers began materializing ideas for the attraction during the initial planning of Disneyland park. Disney Legend Rolly Crump joined an Imagineering design team working on early concepts for the attraction about 10 years before the doors of the Haunted Mansion creaked open in August 1969. After Imagineers created new technologies for the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair, and the exterior of the Haunted Mansion was built, Rolly contributed hundreds of sketches he’d previously created for the attraction. These early sketches helped with the design of the attraction as we know it today, which is neither too scary nor too light-hearted. Rolly recounts the beginnings of the Haunted Mansion in this video celebrating the attraction’s 51st anniversary. He will be your ghost host for rarely heard stories behind this classic attraction that is filled with stunning special effects, haunting show sets and ethereal music! If you are looking for Haunted Mansion-inspired gear, the all-new Disney Parks Haunted Mansion Collection features a variety of products from a new spirit jersey, two new bags by Loungefly, a tie-back blouse by Her Universe and cloth face mask all inspired by the most spirited attraction! Coming this month to Walt Disney World Resort, Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort and online at shopDisney.com. View the full article

Disney’s Haunted Mansion isn’t without a playful sense of humor! Haunted Mansion Graveyard Sure there’s tombstones, cobwebs, and creepy creatures, but that’s all just a part of the hilarious gag! We’ve been seeing a lot of Haunted Mansion-themed merchandise at the parks recently including Loungeflys, Minnie ears, and spirit jerseys, but today we spotted the perfect Haunted Mansion ringer tee that is 100% dad joke-approved! It’s also available online! Bust a Move Shirt Ah yes! We know this graveyard quintet! They’re the fellas that serenade us as we get near the end of the ride! Click here to buy the Bust a Move Haunted Mansion shirt on shopDisney! Bust a Move Shirt The back of the new Haunted Mansion shirt is left unadorned — so we guess you can say it’s the opposite of a mullet — all the party’s in the FRONT! Bust a Move Shirt If you wanna Bust a Move with this gang Grim Grinning Ghosts, you can pick up this new Haunted Mansion shirt at Memento Mori in Magic Kingdom (or on shopDisney) for $29.99 today! We’re busting at the seams over these new Haunted Mansion Wallpaper Crocs! Check them out here! Were you ever too afraid to ride Haunted Mansion as a kid? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: The Haunted Mansion Fragrance Has Materialized In Disney World (And It’s Deadly Good)! NEW To-Die-For Haunted Mansion DIORAMAS Materialize in Disney World! Call in the Spirits! More Haunted Mansion Merchandise Has Arrived in Disney World! View the full article

As Disney World’s phased reopening continues, we’re gearing up to head into one of our favorite times of year: Halloween! But this year’s resident spooky holiday will be a little different than years past. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party would have kicked off by now, but was canceled for 2020. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in Magic Kingdom While we wait for Main Street, U.S.A. to be decorated with pumpkins, we’re also anticipating the arrival of Disney’s Halloween merchandise in the parks. Some merch has already arrived, however, and much to our surprise, people seem to be loving THIS the most so far out of all the Halloween festivities we’ve seen! In the last week or so we have watched in complete shock (and perhaps complete awe) as Disney fans once again became completely obsessed with Crocs. Yes, we’re talking about the foam clog phenomenon of the early 2000s. And in recent years, Crocs have given other Disney-branded merchandise a run for their money. Neon Crocs Why the recent surge in popularity at Disney World? We spotted two new pairs of Disney Crocs this month, just as we’re starting to begin the Halloween season. Whether you’re looking to frighten your neighbors by wearing Crocs on Halloween or on any other day of the year, these shoes DEFINITELY warrant a double-take. Haunted Mansion Crocs And when we say that Crocs are the most popular thing about Halloween in Disney World this year so far, we MEAN IT! The Haunted Mansion Crocs were FLYING off of the shelf when we spotted them for sale in the parks! Haunted Mansion Crocs It’s not very often we witness an item sell out in front of our eyes. We’ll be honest, if you told us Disney was coming out with a pair of Haunted Mansion Crocs this year, we would want to get our hands on them, too! ©shopDisneyCan’t make it down to the parks to grab a pair before they fly off the shelves again? We also spotted the Haunted Mansion Crocs on shopDisney for $54.99. Click here to shop for a pair of Haunted Mansion Crocs! But those aren’t the only Crocs that have seemed to take over the spooky season. A more ‘classic’ pair of Halloween Crocs appeared on the scene recently. Halloween Crocs The l’il Mickey Mouse pumpkin detailing on the Crocs glows in the dark, and the shoe itself is covered in tasty Halloween treats! While we have yet to spot these in the parks, they’re available on shopDisney for $54.99. Halloween Crocs Click here to shop for the Halloween Crocs! Keep in mind that this isn’t the first time everyone seemed to fall in love with Crocs overnight. Last year (even BEFORE Halloween), there were those fuzzy holiday Crocs that would keep your feet as warm as they were stylish. The response to these seemed to be overwhelmingly positive, so how shocked can we REALLY be that Crocs once again have taken over the holiday scene in Disney World? Holiday Crocs We’re starting to suspect that Disney Crocs aren’t going away, and we can’t complain! We always remind folks that comfortable shoes are one of the most important things to pack on your Disney World vacation, so why not go all-out and stock up on arguably the comfiest footwear around? Click here to read more about Disney’s Halloween Croc releases! Do you own a pair of Disney Crocs? Don’t be ashamed! Let us know in the comments! Related posts: HO! HO! HO! These New Holiday Ears From Disney World Are Totally On Our Christmas List! We’re Adding This “it’s a small world” Bracelet From Disney World to Our Christmas List! BEST DAY EVER! There’s a NEW Pascal Shoulder Plush in Disney World! View the full article

We’ve found some awesome new additions in Disney Springs! Disney Springs From super stylish new Vera Bradley face masks to artwork featuring some of our favorite Disney snacks, we’ve found a treasure trove of new merchandise around Disney Springs today! And we still have MORE to share! Looking for something just a littttle bit more formal than a standard Disney t-shirt? Well, we spotted several new button-up shirts at World of Disney that might be the perfect fit! Since spooky season is coming up, let’s kick things off with the Disney Villains Button-Up Shirt! Disney Villains Shirt This design has an all-over pattern that features Maleficent, Hades, Ursula, and Dr. Facilier — a few of our FAVORITE baddies! Disney Villains Shirt If you’d prefer to sport a (much) friendlier character, check out this Dug Button-Up Shirt! Dug Shirt We’ve just met him, and we love him! Dug Shirt All of you Toy Story fans out there HAVE to see this Pizza Planet Button-Up Shirt! Pizza Planet Shirt The all-over print on this shirt features the Pizza Planet logo — we’ve always wanted to take a trip to the Pizza Planet arcade from the movie! Pizza Planet Shirt And, last but certainly not least, let’s throw it allll the way back with this Oswald Button-Up Shirt! Oswald Shirt We love seeing this classic character pop-up on merch! Oswald Shirt So, whether you’re looking to show off your villainous side, rep your favorite Pixar movie, or show some love to a classic character, there’s an option for you! You can snag these button-up shirts at World of Disney for $59.99 each! Check out the new MagicBand designs we spotted in Disney World! Which of these shirts is your favorite? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Grab Your Wallets — ULTRA NEW Frozen 2 Costumes Have Arrived in Disney World! What Time Is It? It’s Always “Snack Time” With This New Watch in Disney World! These New Toy Story Hair Scrunchies in Disney World Are SO Hilarious! View the full article