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Orlando Sentinel theme park reporter Dewayne Bevil and Things To Do content editor Katie Christiansen talk about their experiences at Epcot and Hollywood Studios as the two parks reopen. View the full article

Disney World animals are subjects of Disney Plus show View the full article

As finishing touches were being put on Shanghai Disneyland shortly before its grand opening in 2016, I was lucky enough to spend more than a month at the park taking photos of attractions, restaurants and merchandise locations. In my almost 20 years as a photographer with The Walt Disney Company, I’ve been privileged to take photos all over the world, but this was the very first time I was part of “opening” a new park. It was even more exciting because it was the company’s first park in mainland China. Bob Iger famously described the Shanghai Disneyland as “authentically Disney and distinctly Chinese,” and I spent a long time looking for just the right image to capture the essence of that statement. The photo needed to blend Disney magic and China’s cultural spirit. To me, Enchanted Storybook Castle, with its celebration of all the Disney princesses, is the park’s centerpiece and a natural to represent Disney. So I kept walking in circles around the castle looking for a frame that included the castle and just the right piece of Chinese décor. Turns out, what I was looking for didn’t require any walking at all. One day I took a trip on Voyage to the Crystal Grotto, the enchanting boat ride near the castle that includes scenes of characters from beloved Disney films. I was in the boat to take photos of the attraction, but I ended up finding the image I’d been searching for all this time. As my boat rounded a bend in the river and we passed Mulan, I looked up and … there was the picture I was looking for. The beautiful golden dragon you see here was framed up perfectly with the castle in the background – and the lighting was just perfect. Of the thousands of pictures I took during my time in Shanghai, this one felt like it had the most “pixie dust” on it, given how it seemed to magically appear before my eyes. View the full article

For a limited time, JetBlue is offering BOGO roundtrip airfare. View the full article

National Hammock Day is July 22, so here are suggestions for great spots to hang a hammock around Central Florida. View the full article

Today Walt Disney World began accepting Resort reservations for 2020 again! UPDATE – 22 July 2020 – Disney has resumed accepting Disney Armed Forces Salute Room Reservations for 2020! Ears of Experience reported last night that they were again able to make room reservations with this very popular military discount. Disney has not yet restored their […] The post UPDATE #2 – 2020 Disney Armed Forces Salute Room Discounts Are Back appeared first on Military Disney Tips Blog. View the full article

It’s extra fun to pal around the Disney parks while wearing an adorable shoulder plush like Mushu, a Porg or Pascal! These guys really know how to par-TAY! Mushu Shoulder Plush But it looks like we’re gonna need to make some room. That’s because we just discovered another member of the Shoulder Plush Brood! Look at who we just ran into at MouseGear in EPCOT today! It’s Elsa’s frosty friend from Frozen 2, Bruni! Bruni Shoulder Plush This adorable Bruni plush is sweet as sweet can BE! It looks like he’s ready to go on an adventure. Just look at those tiny little feet! Bruni Shoulder Plush And luckily, he comes with a set of instructions so you’ll know EXACTLY how to attach him. We won’t want little Bruni falling off and having to fend for himself! Bruni Shoulder Plush Just like the Mushu shoulder plush, you can pick this little guy up for $19.99. And while we’re on the subject of Frozen-related stuff, check out the new design on these Blue Raspberry Lollipops featuring Anna and Elsa here! We also spotted a new pair of Sequined Classic Minnie Ears at EPCOT today! Click here to see ’em! What do you think of the new Bruni shoulder plush? Let us know if you’ll be picking one up in the comments below! Related posts: We Found the MUST-GET Frozen Christmas Present in Disney World! We Spotted Some of the CUTEST, Hard-to-Find Toy Story Merch at Disney World Today! This is the Way! The Baby Yoda Spirit Jersey Has Flown into Disney World! View the full article

From jewelry to backpacks and even scrunchies, there’s no shortage of merch for Toy Story fans. It’s Ducky! And today, we spotted one of our absolute FAVORITE, hard-to-get Toy Story items at EPCOT! Yes, while perusing MouseGear, we spotted Toy Story Mania! Wishables!! Toy Story Mania! Wishables at MouseGear!! These blind bags come with a miniature plush of Jessie, Trixie, Barker Mr. Potato Head, or Bo Peep with Toy Story Mania accessories. Between their little winking faces and carnival attire, they are seriously TOO cute! And at $9.99, you can buy four bags to try and get one of each. Who are you going to get?! If you don’t like a mystery toy, EPCOT was also selling a Woody Wishable plush outside of the bag for $9.99, complete with Andy’s signature on his right boot. Woody Wishable at MouseGear We’ve previously spotted these Wishables online, but they SOLD OUT. And that was the story at EPCOT today, too. When we circled back to MouseGear, all of the Toy Story Mania! Wishables were GONE! No More Toy Story Wishables Clearly, folks love Toy Story Mania! and tiny plushes, and who can blame them?! If you spot these online of in store and want one, you better act fast. And we’ll let you know when they’re back in stock if we spot them, too! Like these Toy Story Wishables? Then you HAVE to see this piece of merch! Do you collect Wishables? Let us know your favorite in the comments! Related posts: Hurry! Disney’s NEW Toy Story Mania Wishables are Back in STOCK! NEW DISNEY COLOR TREND Spotted at Epcot’s Mouse Gear! This is the Way! The Baby Yoda Spirit Jersey Has Flown into Disney World! View the full article

Theme parks in Florida have been reopened for a few weeks now, following temporary closures. Universal Orlando was one of the first, initially reopening in early June. Universal As the global health crisis continues, the Universal Orlando (and Walt Disney World) are continuing to tweak their health and safety procedures that may impact your trip, especially those concerning face coverings. Earlier this week, Disney updated their face mask policy in the parks. When they are eating or drinking, guest must now remain stationary and socially distance themselves from other guests. Face Covering Signs As theme park procedures evolve, today Universal Orlando followed suit and updated their guidelines on face coverings. According to Universal’s website, “Guests must wear face coverings at all times, unless they are actively eating or drinking, and they must also be socially distanced from other travel parties while consuming their food or beverage.” Universal’s updated face mask policy Furthermore, Universal has established what are and are not appropriate face coverings. They must: cover your nose and mouth and be secured under your chin; fit snugly against the sides of your face and be secured with ear loops or secured around your head; be at least two-ply. Face covering rules at Universal Orlando Disney has stated that gaiters and bandanas do NOT count as face coverings, but Universal has stated that as long as face coverings are secured around your head and two-ply, they are good to bring. © Amazon Of course, as the theme parks continue to operate and as the global health crisis continues, policies and procedures are ALWAYS subject to change, so make sure you check your destination’s rules and regulations before heading to a theme park. And when we get wind of any health and safety measures, you know we’ll fill you in! We have a bunch of cute face masks at the DFB store! Check them out here. What do you think of Universal Orlando’s new face coverings policy? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: NEWS and PHOTOS: Face Masks and Hand Sanitizer Available for Purchase at Universal Orlando Resort Stores Here’s Everything You NEED to Know About Wearing Masks on Theme Park Rides! Spotted: Universal Orlando Is Selling NEW Face Mask Designs View the full article

Last year, we told you Disneyland was planning on building a 12-story tower next to the Disneyland Hotel for Disney Vacation Club members. Disneyland Hotel The new DVC Tower will feature 350-time share villas and is a separate project from the luxury hotel that was set for Downtown Disney, but ultimately canceled in 2018. The DVC project has just been given approval by the Anaheim Planning Commission. In addition to the 350 rooms, the proposal for the new L-shaped DVC tower includes a new pool, outdoor bar, interactive play area, Community Hall, and fitness center. While existing amenities at The Disneyland Hotel such as valet services, parking, and restaurants will be available to DVC members staying at the hotel. ©Disney Plans have now been passed to the Anaheim City Council for final approval and if it’s given the go-ahead, DVC members can start looking forward to staying at the new Disneyland property which will be adjacent to the Disneyland Hotel’s Frontier Tower. At this time, Downtown Disney has partially reopened but reopening dates for the rest of Disneyland Park Resort including the hotels and theme parks are still unknown. We’ll continue to provide you with all the latest news and updates regarding Disneyland’s status so stay tuned! Click here to learn more about Avengers Campus which will be coming soon to Disneyland Resort! Are you excited the plans for Disneyland’s new DVC tower have just been approved? Let us know if you’re happy to see this project move forward in the comments below! Related posts: Review! We’re Hula Dancing to Disneyland Resort For the New SECRET MENU Liquid Luau Cocktail! Disneyland Updates Cancellation and Change Policies for Guests Affected by the Delayed Reopening What’s New at Downtown Disney and the Disneyland Resorts: TONS of Wedding Merchandise, a Sparkly Galaxy Parfait, and More! View the full article

We’ve been exploring EPCOT today to see how the park is settling into its second week since reopening. EPCOT So far, we’ve already spotted a brand new pair of Sequined Classic Minnie Ears at Mouse Gear, but we also saw something else we HAVEN’T seen at the parks before! EPCOT’s reopening has been a bit more unusual compared to the other Disney World theme parks. That’s because the Taste of EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival kicked off on the exact same day the park reopened last week. 2020 Taste of Food and Wine Festival Under normal circumstances, guests can stroll around the World Showcase while snacking and sipping on items from the various festival food booths, but this year you must remain stationary and socially distance yourself if you want to remove your mask while you eat or drink! In fact, Disney World just put up a ton of new face mask policy signs over the weekend with this recent update they’ve made to their official health and safety measures. Face Covering Signs But check this out — while we’ve been seeing Cast Members ask guests to fix their face masks if they’re pulled down or not being worn correctly, today we saw Cast Members strolling around EPCOT actively reminding guests to wear their face coverings. This was the first time and place we’ve seen Cast Members holding face mask policy signs at Disney World, but we imagine the other parks could be adopting this new enforcement procedure too. EPCOT We’ll be visiting the other Disney World parks this week and we’ll let you know what we see! Until then, check out what you should eat and drink this year at a Taste of EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival by taking a look at our BEST of the FEST list here! See what else is new this week at EPCOT here! What do you think of this new procedure? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Related posts: How is Disney World Enforcing Face Mask Wearing (And Are Guests Following the Rules)? News: Actors’ Equity Association Rejects Disney World’s Safety Plan for Performers How Do You Socially Distance an EPCOT Food and Wine Booth? Click Here to See! View the full article

Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock Shares Special Message | #DisneyCastLife View the full article

We’ve made a special trip back to Mouse Gear at EPCOT today to see if any new Minnie Ears had arrived! If you recall, we hit a rainbow-colored jackpot last week when we discovered these gorgeous new Sparkly Minnie Ears with ACTUAL pieces of Mickey-shaped confetti and glitter inside of them! Ear Wall at MouseGear And it looks like today ANOTHER sparkly new set of Minnie Ears have arrived! We knew our sequin senses were tinglin’ for a reason! Check out this brand new pair of Sequined Classic Minnie Ears! We love how this style has Minnie’s signature red and white polka dot bow like the Classic Minnie Ears, but doesn’t skimp on the BLING FACTOR! Sequined Classic Minnie Ears The new Sequin Classic Minnie Ears cost $29.99 and Mouse Gear had quite a few of ’em in stock. BUT given their extremely-high cuteness level (which, quite frankly, is OFF THE CHART) we bet these puppies will be flying off the shelves soon! They’re just too adorable to pass up. Sequined Classic Minnie Ears We’ll keep our eyes peeled for the new Sequined Classic Minnie Ears at the other Disney parks, but for now, check out the newly redesigned Frozen Lollipops we spotted over at Magic Kingdom here! Hey moms and dads! THIS IS THE WAY to dress your kid up as Baby Yoda! Are you looking for a new pair of Minnie Ears? Let us know if you’ll be adding these to your collection in the comments below! Related posts: We Just Spotted a Rare and Beautiful Mulan MagicBand at Disney World! What’s New at EPCOT: Les Halles’ Official Re-Opening, Disposable Masks, and New SPARKLY Rainbow Minnie Ears NEW Classic Minnie Mouse Ears Debut at Disney World! View the full article

Today, we’re sharing a new episode of #DisneyCastLife highlighting favorite stories of cast members making magic at our parks and resorts around the world. During this episode, Disney Ambassador Stephen shares an update from Walt Disney World Resort as does Disney Ambassador Giona from Disneyland Paris before we meet the cast member who made magic by recreating Kilimanjaro Safaris at home. We also visit a special group of cast members at Circle D Ranch and Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock recognizes the Resort’s 65th anniversary. For more #DisneyCastLife stories, follow the Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort Ambassador team on Instagram at @WDW.Ambassador and @Disneylandambassador. And be sure to keep checking the Disney Parks Blog for more #DisneyMagicMoments. RELATED STORIES: #DisneyCastLife SPECIAL EDITION: Ambassadors Share Special Welcome Back Messages with Cast at Tokyo Disney Resort#DisneyCastLife: Cast Members Making Magic In New Ways With Additional Health, Safety TrainingNew #DisneyCastLife Features Cast Members Making Disney Magic#DisneyCastLife: Cast Members Prepare to Welcome Back Guests at Disneyland, Walt Disney World Resorts, Disney Store Locations Reopening and MoreSPECIAL EDITION: New #DisneyCastLife Features Cast Member Magic at Hong Kong DisneylandNew #DisneyCastLife: Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Josh D’Amaro Shares Special Message, Cast Members Create Magic at Disney Springs and MoreSPECIAL EDITION: #DisneyCastLife Features Cast Members Making Magic at Shanghai Disney Resort#DisneyCastLife: New Episode Highlights Cast Member Magic Around the World#DisneyCastLife: Disney Ambassadors Highlight Cast Member Magic Around the WorldDisney Ambassadors Highlight Cast Member Magic in New Episode of #DisneyCastLife #DisneyCastLife: Disney Ambassadors Share Cast Member Magic in New Video Series View the full article

From Black and Gold Minnie Ears to Fab Five Mugs and Cinderella Castle, there’s a lot of stuff at Disney World that’s gettin’ redone lately! Black and Gold Minnie Ears And now we just stumbled upon a sweet treat that’s received a mini-makeover! Take a look at the updated lollipops we recently discovered at the Emporium and Main Street Confectionery in Magic Kingdom! While the Frozen sisters, Anna and Elsa, have been featured on the Blue Raspberry Lollipops at the Disney parks for some time, we recently noticed that the artwork had changed! Updated Frozen Lollipop The girls have a slightly different pose from the old version and this time some frosty snowflakes can be seen floating around in the background! Frozen Lollipop The change is pretty subtle so if you’re a BIG fan of the previous model, we don’t think you’ll be disappointed by this design! And to see what else is new at Magic Kingdom this week, click here! Click here to see what’s been happening this week at Disney World’s monorail resorts! What do you think of the new design? Let us know if you’re a fan of the new artwork in the comments below! Related posts: SPOTTED: The “Happy Holidays” Popcorn Bucket Is Bringing Christmas Cheer to Disney World! What’s New at Magic Kingdom — Bridal Bling, Entryway Construction, and Ebenezer Scrooge! The Ultimate Guide to Disney Villains After Hours in Disney World! View the full article

Whether you’re snapping a selfie in front of a rosy pink castle straight out of a fairy tale or embarking on an intergalactic journey to the farthest reaches of the outer rim, dreams really do have a way of coming true at Disney World! Cinderella Castle And for many of us who’ve become obsessed with all things Baby Yoda, we’ve often dreamed of dressing our bitty babies up as The Child from the show. If you all into this category of Disney+’s Mandalorian fans, we think we’ve just stumbled across the perfect way to make THIS dream come true! Check out the adorable Baby Yoda Outfit we spotted at Magic Kingdom today! We’d previously seen it appear online with some other baby outfits, but we gotta say, it looks even CUTER in person! Baby Yoda Costume This fabulous Baby Yoda Set is just too stinkin cute! The onesie is made of soft fabric and we love the little fleece cuffs and collar! It looks just like Baby Yoda’s bathrobe from the show. Baby Yoda Costume And check out the features on the adorable cap that comes with it! It’s got Baby Yoda’s big, beautiful black eyes and his signature ears! Everybody’s going to want a turn holding your “Baby Yoda” in this charming getup! Baby Yoda Costume We spotted the Baby Yoda Outfit at the Emporium for $29.99, but keep your eyes peeled for it in other parts of the park! And if you’re excited to get back to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge someday, but don’t know when that’ll be, check out this way to bring Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge right to your doorstep! Check out the new Baby Yoda Stickers we spotted at Magic Kingdom recently here! Are you excited about dressing your sweet babe up as Baby Yoda? Let us know if you’ll be picking up this cute costume in the comments below! Related posts: Spotted! New Disney Parks Exclusive BABY YODA Pandora Charm in Disney World! These Are the Disney Stickers We Never Knew We Needed! This Is the Most Ridiculous Piece of Disney Merch…But We’re TOTALLY Buying It! View the full article

We’ve been spending a lot of time in EPCOT since the park reopened to guests just last week. From checking out the new Disney Character Cavalcades to eating and drinking our way around the 2020 Taste of EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Food Booths, there’s been a lot going on! 2020 Taste of EPCOT Food and Wine Festival And if you’re planning on exploring EPCOT yourself, then you may want to know that Traveler’s Café — the park’s temporary Starbucks location — is now reopen to help you fuel up with some coffee before taking it all in! If the name Traveler’s Café doesn’t ring a bell, you might be more familiar with Fountain View. Traveler’s Cafe Fountain View was the previous Starbucks location in EPCOT; however, it closed in September to make way for the park’s historic transformation. Traveler’s Cafe So these days, you’ll find Traveler’s Café as you are leaving Future World right before stepping onto the World Showcase Promenade. Approaching World Showcase Along with the signature Starbucks siren, you’ll also notice physical distancing markers as you approach the simple stand. Traveler’s Cafe And from here, you’ll find just about all of the Starbucks drinks you know and love from home! Traveler’s Cafe Menu Traveler’s Cafe Menu Though the selection is smaller than the Starbucks locations in the other parks (The Trolley Car Café in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Main Street Bakery in Magic Kingdom, and Creature Comforts in Animal Kingdom), there is still an assortment of pastries available including Cake Pops, Iced Lemon Pound Cake, and more. Traveler’s Cafe Bakery Case We even spotted several breakfast sandwiches up for grabs. Traveler’s Cafe Bakery Case (Sadly, though, we did not see the tasty Mickey Peanut Butter Tart that was unique to this location, but we’ll be keeping a hopeful eye out for its return.) So, there you have it, World (Showcase) Travelers! Be ready with your favorite Starbucks order the next time you visit EPCOT, because the Traveler’s Café is ready to welcome you! Do you grab your coffee at Starbucks when you’re in Walt Disney World? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: What’s New at Epcot: The Return of Gourmet Flavored Popcorn and the NEW Art of Disney Store! What’s New at Walt Disney World’s Epcot: Scrunchies, Guardians of the Galaxy, Menu Updates, and MORE! What’s New in Epcot: Cotton Candy Santa Hats, Construction Updates, and MAYBE a Starbucks? View the full article

Disney’s Animal Kingdom has undergone a lot of changes since the park closed in March! Rafiki’s Planet Watch We’ve noted missing snacks, re-appearing snacks, attraction changes, and SO much more. We took a trip out to Rafiki’s Planet Watch to see if we noticed anything different. The Wildlife Express, a train that takes you to Rafiki’s Planet Watch, was running as normal. Social distance markers were placed on the train benches to indicate where guests could sit. We made our way to The Affection Section, a small petting zoo that’s home to a slew of goats, sheep, and a few other animals. Prior to closing, guests were allowed to hand feed the animals. The Wildlife Express with Physical Distancing The Affection Section is still open. However, physical distancing is practiced between guests and animals here. Guests are not allowed to pet or feed the animals as of right now. You can stand behind the fence and admire the animals! Affection Section We can’t pet the animals, but we can still show our affection from afar! Feel free to stop by and greet the sheep from a safe distance. Heading to Animal Kingdom soon? Check out all the new Pandora merchandise! Are you a fan of Rafiki’s Planet Watch? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Happy Lion King Day! We’re LIVE at Disney’s Animal Kingdom with All the Cool New Stuff! FULL REVIEW: Circle of Flavors: Harambe at Night at Disney’s Animal Kingdom See Why Animal Kingdom Was a Little Wilder Today Than We Expected! View the full article

Ten additional states were added Tuesday, and one was removed. View the full article

Ah, a reopened Disney World. It’s weird to be back, but we’re excited to show you the NEW stuff we’ve spotted. Monorail We took a cruise around to all three of the monorail loop resorts to see if there’s anything interesting to tell you guys about. Without further ado, here are all of the updates in food, construction, and merch at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa! Food Updates Disney’s Contemporary Resort There weren’t any new treats at the Contemporary, but we did swing by Contempo Cafe to see what the current cupcake stock looks like! Right now you can snag the Monorail Cupcake and the Cinderella Cupcake! Monorail Cupcake Hint: Our pick of the two is the Monorail Cupcake! Click here for our REVIEW of the Monorail Cupcake! Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Similarly, there weren’t any exciting new eats at Polynesian Village, but we’re checking in on what’s available! At Captain Cook’s, you can currently grab the Welcome Back Aloha Cupcake or the Moana Cupcake! Welcome Back Cupcake We’re not sure we’ve EVER SEEN a prettier cupcake than this Aloha one! Want to learn more about the Welcome Back Aloha Cupcake? Click here! Note that Pineapple Lanai is now open, but has a limited menu. The only Dole Whip flavors available are pineapple and vanilla. Pineapple Dole Whip We also checked in on the not-new-but-good-to-know drink specials at Barefoot Pool Bar. Dole Whip Lime Margarita For your poolside sippin’, you can opt for the Dole Whip Lime Margarita or the Rose Gold Margarita. Click here to learn more about the Dole Whip Marg! Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Don’t worry, we did find SOME new stuff though! At Gasparilla Island Grill in Grand Floridian, we spotted this yummy looking new Cinnamon Eclair. A Cast Member told us it tastes kind of like a churro! Cinnamon Eclair And we got a hold of the oh-so-cute new Summer Fun Cupcake Trio for $5.49. This cute set of treats is TOTALLY edible — except for the umbrella, of course! Summer Fun Cupcakes If you love a classic fudge-y cupcake, then you might want to hightail it on over to Gasparilla Island Grill! To see our REVIEW of the Summer Fun Cupcake Trio, click here! Construction Updates Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa The wackiest construction update that we spotted was just across the Big Blue Wall separating the NBA section of Grand Floridian from the rest of the resort. NBA Barbershop Beyond the Big Blue Wall That’s right, the players are getting their own schmancy NBA Barbershop! Click here to learn more about the NBA Barbershop! Speaking of the NBA, there have been some changes inside Grand Floridian to keep guests from being able to see into the NBA areas. Citricos and Victoria & Albert’s are blocked off. Blocked Off And the windows in Enchanted Rose Lounge have all been frosted over so that you can’t peer down over the Big Blue Wall. Frosted Windows Guess you’ll have to tune in to a game if you want to spot the NBA players in Disney World. Merchandise Updates Disney’s Contemporary Resort At Bayview Gifts in the Contemporary, we spotted this totally adorable Cupcake Swimsuit for girls! Cupcake Swimsuit It comes with these cute swim shorts too. You can snag the set for $24.99! Cupcake Swimsuit Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa And last but certainly not least we spotted a totally gorgeous new Grand Floridian collection at Sandy Cove Gifts featuring characters from Beauty and the Beast and more! This new Ladies’ Grand Floridian T-shirt will run you $34.99. Ladies’ Grand Floridian Shirt This sweet new-to-us Pink Top is $39.99! Ladies’ Grand Floridian Shirt We think these “stacked” teacup mugs are so cute so we’re loving the new Beauty and the Beast Mug for $22.99. Beauty and the Beast Teacup Or there’s a Mickey and Minnie Mug for the same price! Mickey and Minnie Teacup We’re freaking out over how cute this Grand Floridian Ornament is for $21.99. Teacup Ornament And you WILL catch us sippin’ out of this Beauty and the Beast Tumbler! It’s $19.99 and sooo sparkly! Beauty and the Beast Tumbler Last, but certainly not least is this pretty Enchanted Rose Pin. Grand Floridian Pin Add it to your collection for $12.99! Click here for MORE pics of the new collection! There you have it! That’s ALL the new stuff at the monorail loop resorts! See ya next time! Got questions about the reopened Disney World resort hotels? Click here! Headed to the monorail loop resorts soon? Tell us in the comments! Related posts: BREAKING NEWS: These Disney World Restaurants Will Be OPEN Starting June 22nd! Food News! Even MORE Arendelle Aqua Treats Are Coming Soon to Disney World! What’s New Around the Monorail Loop — Disney World’s Polynesian Village, Grand Floridian, and Contemporary Resorts! View the full article

Not all of us can pop over to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge right now to visit Droid Depot or browse the other stores throughout the Black Spire Outpost! Stormtroopers at Galaxy’s Edge But luckily for those of us who are stuck at home, you won’t have to go to the Disney parks to get your hands on some exclusive new Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge inspired gear! Last year, we told you Disney had partnered up with Target to install several store-in-store Disney Store pop-up shops inside various Target locations across the country! And now, Disney is teaming up with Target once again for Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge Trading Post! ©Target Starting August 30th, Target will be carrying toys inspired by the ones you’ll find inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney World and Disneyland. In fact, some of them are available for pre-order RIGHT NOW! ©Target As you can see, some of the droids and Star Wars LEGO sets have already sold out (don’t worry — we spotted the LEGO Star Wars Resistance I-TS Transport was also available for pre-order on shopDisney today too!), but at press time the Hyperdrive BB Unit for $99.99 was still available! ©Target Lookswise, this little guy really reminds us of the BB units being sold over at Droid Depot! Too bad you can’t customize them, but how cool is it to have your very own Hyperdrive BB-Unit shipped directly to your HOUSE?! ©Target The Black Series DJ-R3X preorder for $24.99 has also already sold-out, but Target’s website says to check back on August 30th when the Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge Trading Post officially opens for business. We hope they’ll be restocking the famous robot DJ who spins at Oga’s Cantina regularly by then! ©Target If you haven’t seen what Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is like now that Disney’s Hollywood Studios has reopened, be sure to check it out here. Of the four Disney World theme parks, it’s certainly been the BUSIEST! Click here to see what we mean! Some Disney World Annual Passes have received an extension today! Click here to learn more. Will you be ordering some Star Wars stuff on Target this summer? Let us know which items you’ll be hoping to pick up in the comments below! Related posts: What Every Disney Fan Is Thinking, But No One Will Say. These Cocktail Replicas Look JUST Like the Ones in Disney World and Disneyland’s Galaxy’s Edge! NEWS: Disney’s Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge Thermal Detonator Coke Bottles Banned By TSA? View the full article

Surprise! We’re bringing you another DFB Video today, and if you’re headed to the 2020 Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival (and even if you’re not!), you’re going to want to see this one. Liquid Nitro Cake Pops We’ve eaten EVERY. SINGLE. THING. at this year’s Food & Wine Festival which means we’re ready to bring you our BEST of the FEST! From classic cheesy soup to futuristic nitro cake pops, these picks are our favorites for a reason! Check out the FULL Best of the Fest in our latest DFB Video. And if you love this video, there’s plenty more for you to check out 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! Plus, you can get a full list planning cheat sheet for your Disney World vacation here! So check out the video and let us know: What eats and treats would make YOUR Best of the Fest? Related posts: DFB Video: 2018 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Preview! DFB Video: Walt Disney World Gingerbread Displays DFB Video: Which Disney World Dessert Party Should YOU Do? View the full article

There has been SO MANY news stories to cover since our last news update (which was a DOOZY!). A reopened Magic Kingdom Let’s recap on what the past week has looked at when it comes to Disney news! (Buckle up guys, it’s a long one!) Disney World Has Officially Reopened! After the unprecedented, nearly four-month long closure, the Disney World theme parks have officially begun to reopen! It all began with Cast Member and Annual Passholder previews, culminating in the grand re-opening of Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom on Saturday, July 11, and EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Wednesday, July 15. Magic Kingdom It has been a whirlwind week, from seeing Cinderella Castle in her new pink look to reuniting with all of our favorite characters (from a safe distance, of course!). Disney Characters wave to guests from a distance Now that the parks have officially reopened, we’ll still be following along closely to see how Disney’s new health and safety measurements are enforced over time. Take a look at the first day of a reopened Magic Kingdom here! The 2020 EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival Has Officially Started! As if the theme parks reopening wasn’t big enough news to cover, the 2020 EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival kicked off this week! 2020 Food and Wine Festival Also known as “A Taste of EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival,” this year’s offerings include twenty booths (less than last year) with mostly pared-down menus. Key Lime, Blood Orange, and Tropical Mimosas After studying all of the menus at the booths this year, we tried everything for ourselves and have our 2020 Best of the Fest! Be sure to study up before you hit up World Showcase! Take a look at ALL of the food booths and menus coming to this year’s Food and Wine Festival here! Guests Can Now Book NEW Dining Reservations A lot happened in Disney World dining last week! As of July 7th, ALL guests can now book dining reservations at open locations in Disney World. Initially, those guests that had reservations between May 28 – September 2 that were canceled during closure could begin to rebook their Advance Dining Reservations. Beast in Be Our Guest As what seems to be the trend lately with major systematic rollouts with Disney, there was some confusion over who qualified to make a dining reservation and exactly what was available, so we stepped in to help people out! Tiffins Keep in mind that Disney has modified the dining booking window. Whereas before you could make your Advance Dining Reservations 180 days out, you can now only book those reservations 60 days out. Guests with impacted experience reservations can also now rebook, including Droid Depot. Take a look at ALL of the restaurants that will reopen with the theme parks here! The NBA Has Arrived at Disney World Disney is gearing up to welcome guests back to their theme parks for the first time since mid-March. But in addition to that historic reopening, Disney is also preparing to welcome professional sports to the Most Magical Place on Earth! ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Recently, MLS players began to arrive at the Disney Swan and Disney Dolphin resorts. And the players in the NBA have also begun to arrive at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, and Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. Gran Destino at Disney’s Coronado Springs In anticipation for the NBA’s arrival, practice courts have been installed throughout the resorts where the players will be staying. You’ve probably never seen the convention center rooms looking like THIS! Practice Courts We have also been noticing GIANT blue perimeter wall being installed around the areas that the players, coaches, and staff will be residing during this unprecedented event in sports history! Grand Floridian Resort Construction The first match ups at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will take place on July 30! Basketball fans, be sure to mark your calendars! Read all of the details regarding the NBA’s stay at Disney World here! Disney World Transportation Has Resumed Operations In the past week we have been able to ride the reopened Disney World transportation systems! A Gondola Cabin All to Ourselves We have taken trips on the buses, Skyliner, ferry boat, and the monorail to see how Disney has adapted their transportation to fit the current health and safety measurements. Some of the differences are very noticeable, like having an entire Skyliner gondola to ourselves, and partitions being installed on the monorail and the buses! Disney buses with zone seating and partitions We’ve also learned about updates being made to Disney’s Magical Express transportation service. While Magical Express is still available to guests flying in to Orlando International Airport and staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, they will not provide complimentary luggage transportation as of July 16. Disney’s Magical Express As of right now, certain transportation systems like the Minnie Vans have yet to announce when their operations will resume. But we will provide updates as we learn more! Read more about when these transportation systems will reopen here! Even MORE Locations Around Disney World Are Reopening In addition to the parks and resorts reopening for guests, other locations around property have begun to reopen! Fantasia Gardens Mini Golf We stopped by the newly renovated and oh-so-sleek looking McDonald’s which opened last week. Since its initial reopening, it has transitioned to ONLY drive-thru. A Shake on a Hot Summer Day! Also, Fantasia Gardens Mini Golf has reopened, as well as the Speedway Gas Station by Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. Read more about the newly renovated McDonald’s located in Disney World here! ANOTHER Modified Character Dining Experience Has Reopened! Early on as Disney World prepared its phased reopening, we learned that TONS of changes were coming to Disney World dining this summer, including Character Dining being temporarily suspended. There was ONE exception, however: guests could dine at Topolino’s Terrace at Disney’s Riviera Resort for a modified character breakfast experience. Mickey and Pluto! Garden Grill Restaurant in EPCOT, which is known for its unique rotating design, has reopened, featuring a modified character dining as well. Of COURSE we paid a visit to check it out for ourselves, be sure to read up on what our experience was like! Click here to learn more about what the modified character dining experience at Garden Grill was like! Downtown Disney at the Disneyland Resort Has Officially Reopened! The shopping and dining district at Disneyland welcomed guests back for the first time since mid-March on Thursday, July 9. Downtown Disney! Crowds on its opening day were quite different than the crowds we saw on Disney Springs’ reopening day! While Disney Springs was largely quiet, Downtown was almost the exact opposite, with parking filling up and World of Disney seeing wait times of over two hours long! Crowds on Downtown Disney’s Reopening Day Downtown Disney reopened in the midst of Governor Gavin Newsom’s rollback on bars and indoor dining, which were required to re-close in certain areas of the state, including Orange County, where Disneyland resides. Disneyland’s Gate – Still closed. As of this writing, we still do not know the status of the reopening plans for Disneyland park and Disney California Adventure since their original plans for reopening were delayed. Disneyland has reached out to guests with resort reservations through August 8, asking them to modify or cancel. So it may be a bit longer before we’re able to walk down Main Street, U.S.A. at the Happiest Place on Earth! Take a look at Downtown Disney’s grand reopening here! International Disney Parks Are Reopening AND Re-closing On July 1, Tokyo Disney Resort became the third global Disney park to reopen! And on July 15, Disneyland Paris officially reopened as well. The resorts joins Shanghai Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland on the list of global parks that have reopened since the historic park closures began way back in January. However, one of those parks has just jumped OFF of that list. Tokyo Disneyland Hong Kong Disneyland re-closed on July 15, “as required by the government.” This is the first time Disney has rolled back on any of their reopening plans since the parks worldwide began to reopen in early May. Hong Kong Disneyland reopened to guests on June 18. Hong Kong Disneyland As of right now, the only Disney parks that are currently closed worldwide are the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim and Hong Kong Disneyland. Read more about Hong Kong Disneyland’s re-closing here! Tickets on Sale for Drawn to Life Disney World closed JUST as we were all preparing for the grand opening of Drawn to Life, the new Cirque du Soleil show that has moved into the theatre in Disney Springs where La Nouba used to reside! The show, which was meant to begin previews on March 20 and open on April 17, was delayed until further notice. Drawn to Life Ensemble Since the closures began, we have been waiting to hear of any kind of update regarding Drawn to Life! Amidst the current global health crisis that has had a particularly drastic impact the performing arts industry, Cirque du Soleil announced that they had filed for bankruptcy protection. Drawn to Life Stage Despite this, tickets for Drawn to Life are on sale! The first available performance that you may purchase tickets for is November 5 and availability currently runs through March 31. Click here to learn more about how to purchase tickets for Drawn to Life! Travel Bans & Quarantine Mandates Impacting Travel this Month Those with hopes of summer travel may need to re-strategize their plans in the coming weeks, depending on where they call home. California Beach Those traveling from California or Florida must quarantine for fourteen days if entering the states of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The tri-state area initiated a list of states where travelers coming from those states needed to quarantine. New York has even gone as far as mandating travelers from hot spots provide their contact information when re-entering the state and those who do not comply could be faced with a hefty fine. ©Disney Orlando International Airport In addition, the United States remains on a travel ban list when flying into Europe. Other countries that may not enter Europe at this time are Brazil, Russia, and India. Read more about the current travel restrictions across the country here! Disney+ News Roundup We’re closing out our news update with a quick look at all the Disney+ news! The streaming service has certainly been in the spotlight lately, with the debut of the hit Broadway musical Hamilton on July 3. ©Disney In addition, we’re looking forward to the arrival of Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe, which we learned will debut on August 28! ©Disney It looks like Disney+ has quite the summer lineup! With movie theaters across the country closed and the premiere of upcoming films like the live-action remake of Mulan delayed yet again, it looks like we’ll all be gathering around the couch more and more this season! Check out ALL of the new titles coming to Disney+ in August here! WHEW! Disney really has us on our toes these days with the news roundups! We will continue to keep you updated on all the latest happenings from around the globe. It will be very interesting to watch Disney World in its first couple of weeks officially reopened to the public, and of course we’re still keeping our eye on Disneyland to see when it’ll reopen, too! Be sure to catch up on our most recent news roundup here! Have you watched Hamilton yet on Disney+? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Goodbye, Pumpkin Pie! The December Flavors of the Month Are Jingling into Sprinkles! 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! View the full article

Welcome, friends! We’re back for another edition of What’s New at Magic Kingdom! Cinderella Castle We can’t believe how quickly time has flown by since we were here for the grand reopening and how much has changed since our last visit! So without further adieu, we’re rounding up all of our latest updates from the Happiest Place on Earth for YOU! Let’s get started! Magic Kingdom Construction Update TRON Lightcycle Run We stopped by Storybook Circus to get a better view of TRON Lightcycle Run! To our eyes, the massive show building hasn’t appeared to change very much since the last time we swung by! TRON Construction The structure still isn’t fully enclosed, but the exterior track was completed a while back. TRON Construction Although the TRON Lightcyle Run was originally scheduled to open in 2021 for Magic Kingdom’s 50th anniversary, Disney has stated they will be picking the project back up in stages which could delay its delivery date. We’ll keep checking in on its progress! Magic Kingdom Merchandise Update Emporium Even though the colossal Mickey Celebration Donut sadly disappeared in January, we spotted this freshly baked batch of Mickey Donut Hats at the Emporium! We’re not going to interpret this as a sign our beloved treat could be returning, but you never know! Mickey Donut Hat There was also this adorable Stitch Hat for $27.99 saying cowabunga, dudes! At least we think that’s what it would be sayin’ if hats could talk. Click here to learn more about the new Mickey Donut and Stitch Hats! Stitch Hat We spotted the cozy Baby Yoda Costume for $29.99 was also in stock. Previously, we’ve only seen pictures of it online, but it’s even cuter in person! Baby Yoda Costume Just like Cinderella Castle, some of Disney World’s lollipops have received a fresh new look! We discovered these Frozen Lollipops featuring new artwork of Anna and Elsa at the Emporium today as well as at The Main Street Confectionery. Updated Frozen Lollipop Star Traders We were having a blast at Tomorrowland and our jaws just about hit the floor when our eyes landed on this new Pastel Tie-Dye Spirit Jersey for $69.99. See more photos of the Pastel Tie-Dye Spirit Jersey here! Pastel Tie-Dye Spirit Jersey And check out these adorable Mickey Hair Clips for $9.99 we also discovered! These little clips work great for keeping your face mask in place too! Mickey Hair Clips And there you have it! We’ll be back soon with more food, construction, and merchandise updates for you in just a little bit, but for now, you can check out What’s New at Disney’s Animal Kingdom too by clicking here! Disney World has updated its face mask policy! Find out more information here! Have you been back to the parks since Disney World reopened? Let us know if you’re planning on going this summer in the comments below! Related posts: What’s New in Magic Kingdom — Santa Donuts, Mischievous Candy, and a Marie MagicBand! What’s New in Magic Kingdom! Pop Rocks Dole Whip Lava Floats, Lightcycles, and Lizards?! What’s New at Magic Kingdom — Valentine’s Day Treats, Lunar New Year Plushes, and SPACE Everything! View the full article

SeaWorld Orlando debuts nighttime summer event Electric Ocean Remix on July 24. View the full article