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Two of Disney World’s theme parks have already reopened to the general public while the remaining two are set to open tomorrow. EPCOT All guests who visit must have valid theme park admission and a reservation to visit Disney World during its reopening phase. And availability for Annual Passholders has been pretty slim. Now, Disney has shared that they will be increasing availability for Annual Passholders. When the new Disney Park Pass reservation system first launched, Annual Passholder spots went quickly. As you can see from this current screenshot of Disney World’s theme park availability calendar, all of the Disney Park Pass reservations for Annual Passholders have already been taken for the month of July. Screenshot From Disney World’s Website A significant number of dates have also filled up in August for APs, especially on the weekends. During the week, many spots for Disney’s Hollywood Studios have been taken as well as Magic Kingdom. Screenshot From Disney World’s Website But according to an email that was just sent to us by Disney, additional Disney Park Pass reservations will be offered to Annual Passholders for select dates in July and August at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Main Street, U.S.A. No word on Disney’s Hollywood Studios reservations being added at this time. Disney will be adding the new passes on Thursday, July 16th. Magic Kingdom Disney also states this increase Disney Park Pass reservation availability does not reflect an increase in park attendance or crowd levels. Capacity is still being limited during Disney World’s initial reopening phase. DinoLand U.S.A. We don’t know what time these select dates for July and August will be added to the Disney Park Pass reservation system, but we’ll be sure to let you know as soon as we spot them! Disney World Annual Passholders now have more Disney Park Pass options! Click here to learn what they are! Are you a Disney World Annual Passholder? Let us know if you’ll be trying to snag one of these July or August dates in the comments below! Related posts: Disney World’s Park Pass Is Showing MORE Reservation Availability Again — But It’s Going Fast The Ultimate List of Disney World Dates You NEED to Know Before You Go Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park Pass Reservations Are FULL for July 14th…BUT More Might Be Coming! View the full article

A long time ago (May 21, 1980) in a galaxy far, far away… Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back made its debut. It’s Chewbacca! And now a new line of merchandise in Disney Springs is available to commemorate the film’s 40th Anniversary! You can find a selection of t-shirts at World of Disney (and we even spotted a couple of these online at shopDisney, too). A Women’s 40th Anniversary shirt ($39.99) in gray is finished with shining, glittery studs. The Empire Strikes Back 40th Anniversary Merchandise You can find this one on shopDisney. And adults can also choose the metallic logo 40th Anniversary t-shirt ($34.99). The Empire Strikes Back 40th Anniversary Merchandise This one’s available on shopDisney, too! So far, we’ve only seen the next few shirts at World of Disney, including this retro logo style for $29.99. The Empire Strikes Back 40th Anniversary Merchandise And speaking of retro, you can find vintage poster art featured on the shirts below ($24.99 and $34.99, pictured in price order). The Empire Strikes Back 40th Anniversary Merchandise The Empire Strikes Back 40th Anniversary Merchandise But I think my favorite is the Action Figures & Adventure Sets t-shirt ($24.99)! The Empire Strikes Back 40th Anniversary Merchandise How many do you own? The Empire Strikes Back 40th Anniversary Merchandise Again, we spotted this selection at World of Disney in Disney Springs. Of course, we’re sure to see LOTS more Star Wars goodies again as Disney’s Hollywood Studios — home to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge — reopens to guests again tomorrow, July 15th. Until then… May the Force be with you! Which Star Wars film is your favorite? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: What’s New at Disney Springs — Baby Yoda Socks, the World of Pixar, and MORE Park Life Merchandise! Complete Your Baby Yoda Themed Outfit With This New Hat in Disney World! These Chewie Socks are Flying Off the Shelves in Disney World! View the full article

We’re always on the lookout for Walt Disney World souvenirs that capture the charm of the characters and the parks. It’s fun to bring a piece of the magic home with you, right? Emporium’s Check-Out We found a fabulous collection of keychains that are almost too cute for words at one of Walt Disney World’s best-known shops. We found these mini backpack keychains at the Magic Kingdom Emporium and just had to get a closer look at them! The Emporium had three character keychains to choose from when we stopped by to do some shopping. Stitch Now you can carry around the mischievous blue alien around in your pocket or your palm with this Stitch mini-backpack keychain. Stitch Mini Backpack Keychain at the Magic Kingdom’s Emporium Like any good backpack, Stitch has a zipper main pocket. Maybe you put in your MagicBand puck or a small lip balm in there! The Stitch Mini Backpack Keychain Has A Zippered Pocket! Minnie Mouse If it’s stylish then you know Minnie Mouse will be on the scene! The Minnie Mouse Mini Backpack Keychain features her iconic fashion statement of white polka dots on a red background, along with a bow, and ears to top it off! The Minnie Mouse Mini Backpack Features Her Iconic Polka Dots And Ears! The Mini Minnie Mouse Keychain also has a zippered pocket to tuck away whatever you like! Castle with Pink Sparkle Background Can’t get enough of the bling? Then you might want to pick up this Pink Sparkle Castle Mini Backpack Keychain! Pink Sparkle Castle Mini Backpack Keychain Pink seems like the appropriate color with the major renovations to Cinderella Castle wrapping up soon! You can pick up any of these keychains for $14.99 each at the Magic Kingdom’s Emporium on Main Street U.S.A. See What Other New Merchandise We’ve Found During Our First Visit Back to Walt Disney World! Which Disney Mini Backpack Keychain would you choose and what would you put inside it? Share your ideas in our comments! Related posts: What’s New in Magic Kingdom — Hitchhiking Ghosts, TRON Construction, and LOTS of New MagicBands! News! We’re Saying “I DO” to These NEW Groom Ears in Disney World! Spotted! NEW Hats in Disney World That Celebrate Two of Disney’s Most Iconic Rides! View the full article

Last week when World of Disney in Downtown Disney District reopened for the first time since the temporary closures, we got a sneak peek of the new Disneyland Park 65th-anniversary collection! 65th Anniversary Merch And while the new MerchPass system went live today on shopDisney, shoppers are also queueing up in a MASSIVE virtual line for their chance to buy some of the 65 Years of MAGIC goodies. Due to high demand, it’s likely many of these commemorative items will sell out before the Disney fans waiting in the virtual line have a chance to buy them. There were still over 48,000 people ahead of us last time we checked in on our virtual queue status! Virtual Queue for 65th Anniversary Merch In fact, we began receiving updates that certain products were no longer available. The Disneyland 65th-Anniversary Commemorative Coin was one of the first products to sell out. Update on Disneyland’s 65th Anniversary Merchandise Suddenly, we remembered what happened a few months ago when Imagineer Joe Rohde’s Designer Mickey Ears sold out in a matter of minutes. We checked secondary marketplaces such as eBay and saw the ears (which retailed for $78) were being listed for over $300 mere moments after they’d sold out! © Disney Joe Rohde Designer Ears And sure enough, history seems to be repeating itself once more. The Disneyland Park Limited Edition 65th-Anniversary Commemorative Coins have already begun to trickle into the eBay with some pretty inflated price tags! ©eBay People can’t be willing to pay this sort of mark-up, right? But actually, it seems some Disney fans are willing to pay whatever it takes. We noticed while several sellers had listed coins for as much as $1,200 today, we checked the sold listings and saw some coins had actually sold for right around $599! ©eBay The Disneyland 65th Anniversary Loungefly Backpacks and Disneyland Marquee Boxed Jumbo Pins have also sold out and if you’re super-bummed you couldn’t snag one of these products or any of the Disneyland 65 Years of MAGIC items before they flew out the window we understand the disappointment but would recommend against purchasing from marked-up online re-sellers. Disney could possibly release more anniversary merch online as time goes on, similar to how we saw it restocked over the day in World of Disney in Disneyland, but at this point, we haven’t heard any indication more will be released. Were you able to purchase any 65th-anniversary items from Disney’s website today? Let us know in the comments below. Related posts: PHOTOS: First Look at a Reopened Downtown Disney at Disneyland Resort This New Baby Yoda Plush in Disneyland Has Already SOLD OUT! Disneyland Folks — Check Out the Rise of the Resistance Gear Heading Your Way! View the full article

We’ve been checking out all the sights at EPCOT this week and there is so much to take in! Not only is it amazing to try in all amazing food and beverage at the 2020 EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival, but it’s also just so good to take a leisurely stroll around the park to see what’s new after the park’s extended closure. L’Espirit de la Provence And, during our time in World Showcase, we noticed something unusual. In fact, SOMETHING IS MISSING IN FRANCE! The sign on Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in the France Pavilion indicating the attraction will open in summer 2020 is no longer there! Here’s what the sign looked like as of our visit on Monday, July 13. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Without Summer 2020 Sign The last time we got a look at the sign was during a February 2020 visit. Beneath the larger sign was a smaller, bright blue sign below announcing new attraction would open sometime in Summer 2020. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure With Summer 2020 Sign The missing Summer 2020 sign has us wondering about what’s in store for our favorite culinary critter. What Does This Mean? Does this missing sign mean Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure will not open as scheduled this summer? Disney didn’t mention a delay in opening the attraction in its most recent construction update. The prolonged closure of Walt Disney World has affected project timelines of attractions such as EPCOT’s Spaceship Earth and the Magic Kingdom’s Tron: Lightcyle Run. Ratatouille Ride Vehicle This could potentially mean the ride is delayed OR could mean the ride is opening soon. At this time it’s unclear what the change means. We haven’t received confirmation about the status of Remy’s Ratatouille’s Adventure, yet, but will keep you updated as we get more information! Click Here To Find Out More About What to Expect With Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure! When do you think Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in EPCOT will open? Tell us in the comments! Related posts: What’s New in Epcot — LOTS of Construction, Halloween Merchandise, and the Return of Beverly! What’s New at Disney’s Epcot: Construction Galore, Coral Minnie Ears, and a Menu Shake-Up in France! Guess What Disney World Just Added to the Epcot Map…! View the full article

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay to host revised Summer Nights View the full article

The Taste of EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival has already begun and we got to preview many of the food booths at a Cast Member soft-opening yesterday. The Citrus Blossom And while some food booths are still serving EPCOT’s Flower and Garden offerings on their menus such as France, The Citrus Blossom has also brought back lots of Flower and Garden favs. You might refer to this returning Flower and Garden marketplace as The Citrus Blossom, but we like to call it the Home of the Orange Bird Sipper! That’s right — he’s flown back into town for the Food and Wine festivities as well! But first, let’s take a look at the menu. Menu For the Taste of EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival, The Citrus Blossom has trimmed down its offerings a little. We noticed they’ve taken away the Tuna Tataki Bowl and Citrus Shortcake along with a few of their tasty citrus brewskis, but the rest of the 2020 Flower and Garden menus remains intact! Food First up, the Lobster Tail with Meyer Lemon Emulsion and Grilled Lemon for $8.25 has made its way back! The smoky notes from the grilled lemon drizzled over the perfectly cooked lobster tail really sold us on this item back in March and it was just as good the second time around. Lobster Tail with Meyer Lemon Emulsion The other returning food option is the Crispy Citrus Chicken with Orange Aïoli and Baby Greens for $5.75. Even though it’s gluten-free, the breading is nice and crunchy. Crispy Citrus Chicken The citrus in the aïoli really brightens up the fried chicken and the salad greens add some nice texture and freshness. And now onto the drinks! Beverages Annnnd look who’s here! The Orange Bird Sipper who originally debuted at the 2019 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival is BACK! He’s a highly-coveted collectible that has sold out at many festivals in the past. Plus he comes filled with a delicious non-alcoholic Orange Cream Shake! You can pick this cute little birdie cup up for $15.00 — while supplies last! Orange Bird Sipper We’re also thrilled to see the Orange Sunshine Wine Slushy for $6.75 has also arrived at the Taste of Epcot International Food and Wine Festival! It’s the perfect cooldown we needed after walking around in the blazing hot sun! Wine slushies are also one of our favorite treats to enjoy at the parks. Orange Blossom Wine Slushy Sadly, The Citrus Blossom is no longer offering their citrus beer flights, but they do still have their Islamorada Beer Company Coconut Key Lime Ale from Fort Pierce, FL available in a 6oz. glass for $4.50 or a 12 oz. glass for $8.50. Citrus Blossom We gotta say, even though our time at this year’s Flower and Garden Festival was brief, it’s really great to see so many reminders of it at the Taste of Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. So far, we’ve spotted some Flower and Garden topiaries and even some merch we were hoping to see. Not sure about you guys, but we could really get used to these EPCOT hybrid festivals — they’re kinda the best of both worlds. Stay tuned for food booth reviews coming shortly. Spike the Bee Sippers and Sporks have also returned! Find out which festival locations are selling them here! Do you own an Orange Bird Sipper? Let us know if you’ll be picking one up at A Taste of EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival this year! Related posts: BREAKING NEWS: Disney World’s Epcot Food and Wine Festival Is BACK! And It Starts SOON! Here’s What We Can’t WAIT To Try At The 2018 Epcot Food and Wine Festival! What’s NEW at the 2019 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival? Find Out Here! View the full article

Pick up a book (or a few) this summer, as Disney is encouraging kids and families to come together and share their love of reading, with its first-ever Summer Reading List. To help ensure that more readers have access to books this summer and beyond, and as part of Disney’s commitment to inspiring the next generation of storytellers, Disney Publishing is donating one million books to Boys & Girls Clubs of America across the country, including Clubs in Central Fla. Comprised of 15 recommendations for ages 0-16, the list features new books from fan-favorite authors including New York Times bestselling author Kwame Mbalia, Pixar animator Mike Wu, Serena Valentino and more, alongside National Geographic titles and classic Disney stories to keep everyone in the family engaged. Curious explorers can see how technology is inspired by the natural world in Beastly Bionics , discover new worlds in Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky , or get lost in Neverland with Wendy as she learns about Captain Hook’s evil plans for Peter Pan in Straight on Til Morning. Explore additional books from Disney Publishing and expand the stories with activity sheets from Anna, Elsa and The Secret River, Zeus the Mighty, Explorer Academy and much, much more! Many of the books on the list are available in eBook, audio book and print formats, and more book titles are available on shopDisney.com. Imagination starts today! Disney Summer Reading List: Ages 0-3: 100 First Words Lift-the-Flap Book Frozen 2 – Anna, Elsa and The Secret River by Andria Warmflash Rosenbaum Little Kids First Board Book: Dinosaurs Ages 4 – 8: Ellie Book by Mike Wu What About Worms? by Ryan Higgins Ages 7 – 10: Zeus the Mighty: The Quest for the Golden Fleas by Crispin Boyer Beastly Bionics: Rad Robots, Brilliant Biomimicry, and Incredible Inventions Inspired by Nature by Jennifer Swanson Peter & Ned’s Ultimate Travel Journal Ages 8 – 12: Disney Chills: Part of Your Nightmare by Vera Strange Explorer Academy: The Nebula Secret by Trudi Trueit Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia Young Adult (Age 12 and up): Star Wars: Queen’s Peril by E.K. Johnston Straight on Til Morning: A Twisted Tale by Liz Braswell Mother Knows Best: A Tale of the Old Witch Book by Serena Valentino View the full article

Walt Disney World monorails are getting makeovers and we’ve been catchin’ the trains to get a good look at them! Monorail Peach We spotted a sleek and futuristic Monorail Silver that looks like something straight outta the future. Then Monorail Green stole our hearts with a vibrant splash of color and new seats! It’s Monorail Peaches’ turn to get some love! Monorail Peach is lookin’ pretty as a…well…peach! It looks so bright and sunny in there now. It definitely left us a little s(peach)less. Monorail Peach The NEW seats got us feelin’ peachy keen! They now have some comfy new padding to accompany us to the Magic Kingdom. Monorail Peach You can also see the new dividers that have been put in place to separate travel groups in each car! Monorail Peach Seats Ok, we’re all out of peach puns, we promise! We’re looking forward to when we get to see Monorail Peach again. Missing out on the chance to ride it would be just the PITS. (Sorry, had to!) Want to see what else is new at Magic Kingdom? Check out the construction update for Tron Lightcycle Run! What do you think of the new look? Let us know! Related posts: Green Monorail is LOOKIN’ GOOD with Some Snazzy New UPDATES at Disney World! Transportation Update! Here’s When Disney World’s Skyliner, Monorail, and Select Resort Boats Should Resume! Is Work on Epcot’s PLAY Pavilion Starting?! What’s Happening With the Mining Tower?! We’ve Got Updates! View the full article

Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom is officially open to the public and we’re back with more new updates! Tree of Life There have been some changes to the way attractions and park entry is handled. Other than, that Animal Kingdom is just as WILD as we left it in March. We found a few new souvenirs while perusing the shops and discovered some interesting dining updates! Animal Kingdom Food Update Joffrey’s Coffee Some of us are dependent on the Joffrey’s Coffee spot located outside the entrance in Animal Kingdom. It’s where we grab an iced latte before sprinting to Flight of Passage. The stand was open during Cast Member previews but was closed when we visited on opening day. So we will keep you updated on this Joffrey’s location! Joffrey’s Bakery Case The good news is you can still get your cup of morning magic once you’re inside the park. Earlier, we dropped the news that the infamous Pumpkin Spice Crème Brûlée Cold Brew is back at some Joffrey’s Coffee stands! Fall came early to Animal Kingdom too! You can get your pumpkin spice fix at Royal Anandapur Tea Company! Click here to find out where you can find the Pumpkin Spice Crème Brûlée Cold Brew! Pumpkin Creme Brulee Cold Brew The sweet and spicy Korean BBQ Rib Tips and turkey legs were first introduced as specials on the Yak and Yeti Counter Service menu. They were later added to the permanent menu. They are still available but listed as specials once again. We’ll keep stopping by to see if they disappear from the specials or are here to stay. Yak and Yeti Quick Service Animal Kingdom Merchandise Update Disney Mug Collectors are gonna love this one! We found a slew of brand new coffee cups featuring the Fab 5. The cute and cartoony cups show the adorable faces of Pluto, Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Donald. Donald Mug We love to see our favorite characters muggin’ it on these mugs! You can find all of them at Riverside Depot. Check out the new character face mugs here! The Lion King fans can work on their roar with the new Simba shirt we found! The comfy long-sleeve features the three besties, Timon, Pumbaa, and Simba. New Lion King Shirt It will work look great with the new Timon and Pumbaa MagicBand we spotted at Disney Springs too! Get a closer look at the Simba shirt here! Last, but certainly not least, is this AMAZING Pumbaa hat we discovered. For 24.99, you too can get in touch with your inner warthog and sport this glamourous accessory. We’ve never felt quite so stylish. Here’s hopin’ the Bugs n’ Grubs Cone makes a comeback so we can really fit the part! Pumbaa Hat That’s it for today! We’ll keep hopping around Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the other parks while try to spot new goodies and old-favorites. Keep following us as we keep tabs on Disney World updates! Want to see what Animal Kingdom was like on opening day? Find our updates here! What do you think of all the updates? Let us know! Related posts: What’s New in Animal Kingdom — Beauty and the Beast Jewelry, Construction Updates, and Frozen Treats! What’s New in Animal Kingdom — TWO New Holiday Cupcakes, Rescue Rangers Merch, and MORE! Stop What You’re Doing! We’ve Spotted the CUTEST Minnie Retro Kitchen Gear in Disney World! View the full article

Grab your eating pants, we’re munching our way around World Showcase! Japan We’ve been checking out all of the booths at the modified 2020 Taste of EPCOT Food & Wine Festival. Of course, we’ve tried ALL KINDS of amazing festival eats, but now we’re going to stop into one of our FAVORITE booths every year! Let’s review the delish menu at the Japan marketplace! Food The Japan menu wows us every year with sushi, sake, and more Japanese offerings. This year the menu has some serious winners on it, plus some nods to the prematurely-ended 2020 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival. Japan Menu First up, we’re trying some of the new dishes like this Tempura Donburi for $8, a dish made with two pieces of Tempura Shrimp and Kakiage (Vegetable Tempura) with Tentsuyu Dipping Sauce over Sushi Rice. First impressions? This thing is HUGE; look at all that rice! Tempura Donburi This dish was very good. The main flavor definitely comes down to the tempura so if you like fried food (that’s not too heavy) this is a good option for you! We recommend asking for extra sauce which helps to make the dish super yummy. If you’ve got a kiddo who needs a quick meal or just want a crazy sharable snack, look no further! Tempura Donburi Next up, we’re chowing down on the other new dish, the Chirashi Sushi Flowerpot, for $6.75. This dish is DEFINITELY reminiscent of the Salmon Flower Ikura from Hanami at Flower & Garden earlier this year. It’s made with Fresh-cut Salmon, Salmon Roe, and Spinach served over Sushi Rice with Furikake and Poke Sauce. Chirashi Sushi Flowerpot If you’re not a fan of raw fish, this isn’t the dish for you. If you are, you’re in luck! The salmon in this dish is uncooked but super flavorful and delicious. If you loved the Salmon Flower Ikura — or didn’t get to try it — give this a shot! Plus, you can’t say that the flowerpot serving dish isn’t TOTALLY adorable. Chirashi Sushi Flowerpot Yep, there’s a returning FAVORITE here too! Check out the Frothy Ramen for $6.25 — Chilled Noodles in a Dashi Broth with Egg White Froth. Okay, we know it’s weird, but this thing is seriously SO GOOD. There’s a reason it made our Best of the Fest last year. If you’re an adventurous eater, then it’s time to try some cold noodles. Frothy Ramen at the 2019 Food and Wine Festival While you’re trying to decide which delish Japan eat to try, you might be feeling a little thirsty. Let’s look at the dranks! Beverages To quench your thirst, you can opt for the Kirin Draft Beer, typically a staple in the Japan festival booths and the pavilion itself, at $4.25 for 6 oz and $7 for 12 oz. The Strawberry Nigori Sake has also returned from Flower & Garden for $7. Heavy on the strawberry and oh-so-boozy, this is a tasty sip! Strawberry Nigori Sake The other specialty drink here is another Flower & Garden returner — the Furano Martini for $7.50. This tasty drink is made with Vodka, Lavender Syrup, and Yuzu Juice. YUM! Furano Martini And there you have it! As you can see we had an awesome time tasting the eats at the Japan Marketplace! Think we have some Best of the Fest contenders? We’ll have to wait and see! In the meantime, keep an eye on DFB for MORE festival reviews and check out the links below to find out more about Food & Wine! Click here to see ALL of the booth menus at this year’s EPCOT Food & Wine! What item looks the tastiest from Japan? Share your thoughts in the comments! Related posts: TREND ALERT! These On Fleek Eats at Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival May Surprise You! BREAKING NEWS: Disney World’s Eat to the Beat Concerts Have Been Canceled What’s Actually NEW at Disney World’s Epcot Food and Wine Festival This Year?? View the full article

Disney has been getting creative with the way they are handling online shopping these days! Disneyland 65th Anniversary Merchandise Disney created an online shopping event for guests who wish to purchase the new Disneyland Resort 65th Anniversary merchandise. Shoppers can now purchase the merch online and either head to Downtown Disney for a pick-up or have it sent to their home. Either way, if you choose to shop online, you’ll likely have to “stand” in a virtual line to get it. The new MerchPass system went live today on shopDisney. while the 65th Anniversary drop is happening at the same time! The two systems are being handled a little differently. MerchPass is allowing guests to enter a lottery that will give them a chance for early access to the new Arendelle Castle Collection. The virtual line system is being used to purchase the anniversary gear. Let’s see how that virtual line is going, shall we? When we last checked, there are only 48,000 people ahead of us! At this point, we’ll be able to buy our 65th-anniversary merch by the time the 75th anniversary rolls around. The line does seem to be moving, albeit very slowly. We’re not sure how many people have already finished their purchases or how much merch is left! Disneyland 65th Anniversary Merchandise We’re curious to see how either the MerchPass system or online drops are going to work out in the future. It seems that Disney experimenting with new ways for shoppers to make purchases from the comfort of their homes. We’ll be interested to see if this reduces any technical glitches and website crashes too! Check out the full line of Disneyland’s 65th Anniversary Merchandise here! Are you trying to get in to buy some Anniversary gear? Let us know! Related posts: First Look! Celebrate 65 Years of MAGIC with Disneyland’s New Anniversary Merchandise! This Phone Case Is Going To Make You Want To Become A Disneyland Annual Passholder! What’s New at Downtown Disney and the Disneyland Resorts: TONS of Wedding Merchandise, a Sparkly Galaxy Parfait, and More! View the full article

The Taste of EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival rather surprisingly soft-opened during the Cast Member preview on Monday before the celebration officially begins on July 15th! a Taste of EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival So far, we’ve taken you along with us to explore the brand new Mac and Cheese food booth as well as a few of our favorite returning marketplaces! But now it’s time to check out one of the additional locations that’s been known to get in on the Food and Wine festivities, too. We’re heading to Refreshment Port to see what they’ve got on the menu for the Taste of EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival! Click here to see all the menus and booths that are at this year’s Food and Wine Festival in EPCOT! Refreshment Port Last year, this party pad had Duck Confit Poutine and a Barbecue Bloody Mary with Smoked Garlic Sausage and House-made Pickle Skewer served with a Mustard and Barbecue Rub Rim! Let’s see what they’re planning for 2020, shall we? Menu Refreshment Post has scaled back a bit this year, but there are still some goodies to be found on its menu! Refreshment Port Menu Let’s take a closer look at all the yummy snacks and sips you’ll find at this spot located by the entrance to EPCOT’s World Showcase. Food While their poutines topped with either Beef Brisket or Duck Confit appear to have flown off the menu, you can still snag the Traditional Poutine for $7.50! Traditional Poutine It’s pretty hard to find any fault with crispy, salty french fries smothered rich beef gravy, and topped with delicious cheese curds! The other poutines were really good, but we’re glad the classic-version has stuck around! Speaking of classics, you can also help yourself to some Pineapple Dole Whip for $5.25 or enjoy a spiked version made with Parrot Bay Coconut Rum for $11.00! Pineapple Dole Whip Soft-Serve Ice Cream But there’s plenty more RUM where that came from! Beverages The Dragon Berry Refresher has made its way back onto the menu! This cocktail is super fruity and refreshing thanks to all that Bacardi Dragon Berry Rum. Pick one up for $13.75! Dragon Berry Refresher And even though the Barbecue Bloody Mary didn’t make its way back this year, Refreshment Port is now serving a Zing Zang Bloody Mary for $12. Bloody Mary Zing Zang is a brand of bloody mary mix you can buy at the store (which we may or may not have become well-acquainted with over the last few months…). That being said, it was wonderful enjoying this drink next to the World Showcase Lagoon today instead of on our couches. The drink has the perfect blend of spices that really ZING on our tastebuds! Zing Zang Bloody Mary Refreshment Port also has a few beers available (in case you want a beer back for your Bloody Mary!). There’s Bud Light on draft for $8 as well as a Bud Light Seltzer for $8.75. Short’s Brewing Company Starcut Ciders Squishy Hard Cider from Bellaire, MI is also still available for $9.75 a glass. We’d previously tried this one during EPCOT’s 2020 Flower and Garden Festival, so we’re happy they decided to keep it around! Cider lovers will really enjoy this one. Starcut Cider And that just about does it for Refreshment Port’s refreshments! Overall, this booth is a popular one due mostly to its location. It’s centrally located close to where the World Showcase and Future World connect and its a favorite spot for many. Luckily, EPCOT has set up a big queue area with lots of social distancing markers! Refreshment Port Distancing Markers Still, if the line appears to be too long, just circle back later in the day. There’s probably something else to snack or sip on along the way and you won’t find a ton of food on Refreshment Port’s menu this year — although poutine and Pineapple Dole Whip are pretty impossible to pass up! Check out this virtual queue at EPCOT we WEREN’T expecting to see today! What do you think of Refreshment Port’s menu? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below! Related posts: BREAKING NEWS: Disney World’s Epcot Food and Wine Festival Is BACK! And It Starts SOON! FULL MENU For The NEW Cool Wash Booth at the 2019 Epcot Food & Wine Festival! Review! Refreshment Port Is Servin’ Up One of the Cutest and BEST Deals at the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival! View the full article

Being back inside Magic Kingdom for the first time in many months has been a totally surreal experience. Even though we’re Disney experts, there’s been a lot of changes and we’ve had to learn so many new things! Oh, and did we mention Cinderella Castle is now a PINK cutie?! Magic Kingdom But we’ve made it our mission to address every readers’ biggest concerns including, “Do we have to wear our face masks on water rides?” and “How is Disney World handling pin trading at the parks?” And now it’s time to cover a SUPER-important topic that impacts us ALL — what’s the current sitch with Disney World’s restrooms??? Glad you asked! We stopped by several public restrooms yesterday to get you the skinny on the changes Disney World has made to them! Here’s everything you’ll need to know before you go — quite literally, in this case! Magic Kingdom We’re checking out the ladies’ rooms right off of Main Street, U.S.A. first. Don’t worry — we made sure no other guests were around when we took these pictures since everyone deserves a little private time! Restrooms at Magic Kingdom This spot next to Guest Relations is actually one of Magic Kingdom’s smaller restrooms. There’s only a few stalls and sinks and we actually didn’t notice any safety modifications inside this one. To us, it appeared to be a normal restroom. Restroom There we some physical distancing markers placed outside the restrooms on the walls, however. These signs reminded guests to maintain a 6-foot distance from other guests. If there had been other guests in this restroom with us, that might have proved somewhat challenging since this space can feel a little tight at times! Physical Distancing Sign But in other restrooms, we DID notice some signs near the sinks reminding guests to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds. They’re not consistent throughout all the restrooms, but they’re a helpful reminder in case you need one! Hand Washing Sign According to a Custodial Cast Member we spoke to, restroom cleanings are happening more frequently with increased sanitation of the baby stations, sink areas, and door handles. Baby Changing Table They’re also assigning more Custodial Cast Members to the restrooms per shift. Disney World restrooms have always been routinely cleaned with Cast Members actively cleaning or absent from the restrooms, so you might not notice that much of a difference. We asked our guy friends to check in the men’s room for us and they said it’s basically the same too. All stalls and urinals are available and some signage has been installed in some restrooms, but not all. Restrooms at Storybook Circus Almost all of the public restrooms we checked were open — the mid-queue restrooms are still available for guests to use at Flight of Passage even though the wait times have been much shorter. Flight of Passage Restrooms And here’s an important lesson we learned the hard way — don’t chug a pot of coffee before hopping in your car and heading to the theme parks! There was quite the line of vehicles parked and waiting to go inside Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom when we arrived shortly before the parks opened during the preview days. Monorail Lines It took considerably longer for us to get parked than we were used to. You’ll also have to hoof it to the Ticket and Transportation Center or park entrance since parking lot trams aren’t currently running. This was a pretty uncomfortable hike for us, so don’t make the same mistake! Luckily, the restrooms at the TTC and at the park entrances are open, though! Disney Bus And you can always grab your coffee at Main Street Bakery once you arrive at Magic Kingdom! Even though we’d already fueled up before leaving the house, we had to grab an Endless Yum to kick off our day! Overall, Disney World’s restrooms seem to be up and runnin’ just fine — some have more safety signage than others and you may want to avoid smaller or more popular restrooms (we’re looking at you, Tangled toilets) for the time being since it may prove harder to socially distance in these busier parts of the park. And there you have it! You’re now officially an expert on using Disney World’s newly reopened restrooms! Are Disney World’s toppings bars still a thing at restaurants? Click here to find out! Related posts: Disney World’s Parking Trams Will Be Unavailable When Theme Parks Reopen This Weekend Here’s How You’ll Interact With the Characters When Disney World Reopens! NEWS: Registration For Disney World’s Annual Passholder Previews Is NOW LIVE! View the full article

If you’ve ever taken a Jungle Cruise along the rivers of Asia, Africa, and South America in Adventureland, then YOU have been lucky enough to see the Eighth Wonder of the World… Jungle Cruise YES, your Jungle Cruise Skipper has bravely guided you behind Schweizter Falls (named, of course, after Albert Falls) to behold THE BACKSIDE OF WATER! And “the Amazing… the Colossal… the STUPENDOUS” sight can now be yours to enjoy all the time. And it’s all thanks to the NEW Backside of Water Bottle that we just found! Backside of Water Bottle You may recall the previous version of the Backside of Water Bottle. Fittingly, the new bottle is also transparent so you can take in that stunning view at any time. Backside of Water Bottle Backside of Water Bottle And your trusty Jungle Cruise Skipper is along for the ride, too! Backside of Water Bottle We found this amazing, stupendous water bottle for $19.99 at World of Disney in Disney Springs. And, of course, we’re back in the Disney World parks now that Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom have reopened to guests, so we’re spotting everything from new Lion King gear to a new Splash Mountain Tumbler, and more! We’ll be keeping you posted on these and other fun finds as we make our way around, and we hope you’ll stay with us! Would you like to pick up the Backside of Water bottle? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: Explore the Backside of Water With This NEW Jungle Cruise Backpack We Spotted in Disney World! Frozen 2’s Magical Horse Plush Gallops Into Disney World! What Time Is It? It’s Always “Snack Time” With This New Watch in Disney World! View the full article

Although many of us were expecting the 2020 A Taste of EPCOT Food and Wine Festival to open on July 15th along with the rest of EPCOT, we were surprised to see so many of the booths pop up in the park during Cast Member Previews! Canada While there were new eats and treats around the World Showcase, we were happy to see some of our favorite returning booths make their way back to the festival. And, we’re taking you with us to check out all the items that are back at the Canada Food Booth this year! When different items are just so good from a booth, sometimes we just want to see them appear again on the menu during the Food and Wine Festival. And, Canada is satisfying everybody going to EPCOT during the park’s re-opening with a menu filled with lots of returning goodies! Menu Check out the festival favorites you’ll find at Canada this year! Canada Menu Oh boy! That line-up is too enticing to pass up! Time to do some chowing down in true Canadian fashion! Food You guys know how we feel about the Cheddar Cheese Soup at Le Cellier in the Canada Pavilion. So, it shouldn’t be a surprise that we totally dig the Canadian Cheddar Cheese and Bacon Soup at the booth for $5.25. Plus, that soft Pretzel Roll for dipping is the perfect combination of bread and cheese (brb drooling). Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup with Pretzel Roll However, if you’re looking for something a l’il meatier, the Le Cellier Wild Mushroom Beef Filet Mignon with Truffle-Butter Sauce is a tender and flavorful option (and did we mention it’s gluten-free??). You can get all that amazing beef for $8.25. Le Cellier Wild Mushroom Beef Filet Mignon with Truffle Butter Sauce Now that we’ve covered the grub, let’s move along to the brews! Beverages And, after you’ve enjoyed your meal, you can wash it all down with the new Collective Arts Brewing Blackberry Fruit Beer, Hamilton, Ontario. You can enjoy this fruity beer with a sweet, tart finish in two sizes — a 6 oz. cup for $4.50 and a 12 oz. cup for $8.50. Collective Arts Brewing Blackberry Fruit Beer If wine is more your style, you can sip Canada’s Château des Charmes Merlot for $7 or try their white wine offering, the Inniskillin Icewine! For $14 a glass, we think you’ll find a lot of beautiful fruity notes to this one. Plus the grapes to make it are grown in Ontario! This drink was previously available at Festival of the Holidays and we’re happy to see it back for Food and Wine. Inniskillin Icewine We hope you’re STILL hungry because we’ll be taking you around EPCOT to try everything that the booths have to offer for the festival running now through the Fall! Take a look at all the menus for the 2020 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Booths here! What food booth are you looking forward to trying the most this year? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: Review! A Rose-Shaped Dessert?! We’re Trying Everything at The Masterpiece Kitchen for the 2020 Epcot Festival of the Arts! News! FULL FOOD BOOTH MENUS for the 2020 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival! UPDATE! When Is Electric Umbrella Closing in Epcot? View the full article

It’s officially summertime, and starting tomorrow, a Taste of EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival will be in full swing when the final two remaining Disney parks reopen to the general public! a Taste of EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival We can’t believe it’s already Food and Wine season at Disney World since our chompers normally have to wait until the Fall to enjoy this annual celebration! But a Taste of EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival is a totally unique new offering that incorporates elements of Flower and Garden and Food and Wine. Plus, it will be the longest-running festival in EPCOT’s history. We’ve already had a chance to stop by some of the food booths — and let’s just say, it’s A LOT to take in! There’s some totally new stuff, like the four different mac and cheeses we tried at the brand-new Mac and Cheese food booth… Mac and Cheese Food Booth …but there are also tons of classic offerings incorporated in, as well. In fact, France was still serving many of our foods and drinks from EPCOT’s 2020 Flower and Garden Fest! Plus, the Remy topiary is still waving Bonjour to guests after being planted in his Parisian flower bed last March. All of these unexpected elements make for a really interesting hybrid festival. Check out all the booths, food, and drinks that are at EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival 2020 here! France But all these changes can be a little confusing too! That why we want to help you navigate yourself around a Taste of EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival. We’ve already provided you with our free DFB Printable Food & Wine Festival Checklists for ALL the eats and treats at EPCOT! But before you go globetrotting around the World Showcase — make sure you take a look at our neat map to see where all the outdoor kitchens are located! Click here to download a printable version of our a Taste of EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival map! And for the real ace up your sleeve, you’ll want to get a copy of our digital 2020 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival e-Book! That way, you’ll know EXACTLY what you shouldn’t miss from each food booth as you munch your way around EPCOT. Tempura Donburi from Japan By pre-ordering our 2020 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival e-Book for $14.95, you’ll also receive a FREE copy of our 2019 Food and Wine e-Book available for download instantly. That way you can start your Food and Wine fun right away! Click here to pre-order our DFB Guide to the 2020 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival! Orange Bird Sipper at Food and Wine We can’t wait to share more of our reviews with you, so stay tuned for more reporting from our a Taste of EPCOT International Food and Wine eating adventures! But for now, check out our review of this Food and Wine festival marketplace that mixes science with SWEETS! Click here to see every menu and Booth at this year’s a Taste of EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival! Are you going to EPCOT this summer? Let us know which food booth you’re looking forward to visiting the most in the comments below! Related posts: Tips From the DFB Guide: Do I Need Advance Dining Reservations During the Epcot Food and Wine Festival? Review! Refreshment Port Is Servin’ Up One of the Cutest and BEST Deals at the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival! 7 Things You’ve Gotta Know If You’re Going To Disney World in September View the full article

Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom kicked off their grand re-opening last weekend! We were in the parks staking out what was new and missing from our favorite theme parks. I Lava You Float Most restaurants are offering limited menus due to the new re-opening procedures. With that, we noticed a lot of crowd-favorite snacks went missing! We already knew some of these tasty treats wouldn’t be making a reappearance, at least not initially, but the loss became way too real now that we’re back in the parks! We know you guys love a good Disney snack as much as we do! We took note of some of the most heartbreaking missing snacks around the parks. Magic Kingdom Missing Dole Whips We wouldn’t want you to walk up to Sunshine Tree Terrace looking for an I Lava You Float only to find it’s GONE! (It’s totally gone, by the way. So is the FOMOsa and all traces of Dole Whip from Sunshine Tree Terrace, actually.) NO MO’ FOMOsa! In other Dole Whip news, the Peter Pan Float from Storybook Treats has disappeared. If you head across Seven Seas Lagoon though, you can still find Lime Dole Whip lurking around Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Peter Pan Float This one stings. Our beloved Kakamora Float at Aloha Isle…is gone. Cast Members told us it’s still very much up in the air what all will be returning with time, but they’re hopeful most of these missing treats will make an appearance. Kakamora Float But hey, at least you can still get a classic Dole Whip float or Citrus Swirl! Click here to learn more about the loss of the Kakamora Float! Missing Hand-Scooped Ice Cream Here’s a big bummer for you fans of hand-scooped ice cream — Plaza Ice Cream Parlour is currently closed. No giant sundaes melting in your hands while you walk right down the middle of Main Street, U.S.A.. A Mickey Premium Bar will have to tide you over until the ice cream store opens again! Monster Brownie Sundae The Plaza Restaurant is still open despite the ice cream parlor’s closure. They do share some menu items since the two are connected. You can no longer get an unlimited supply of milkshakes while dining at the restaurant! Consider taking a break from the parks and heading to Beaches and Cream at Disney’s Beach Resort for milkshake to-go! Peanut Butter Cup Bottomless Milkshake Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches were a staple at Sleepy Hollow Refreshments. Unfortunately, they’ve gone missing too. You’ll have to opt for a Waffle Sandwich for the time being. Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich Missing Savory Snacks The ENTIRE a la carte menu at Liberty Tree Tavern has been cut. That means we’re missing another french fry favorite: Traveler’s Loaded Tavern Fries. Don’t worry though! You can fill up on Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake if you join in on the All-Care-to-Enjoy Bill of Fare. Traveler’s Loaded Tavern Fries A crowd-favorite snack hack is to head to Pecos Bill Tall Inn & Cafe for nachos or Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe for fries then use the toppings bar to load up your snack with goodies. The topping bars are currently closed for both locations. Never fear! You can still order all the toppings you want through the mobile app! Pecos Bill Empty Toppings Bar Animal Kingdom Missing Ice Cream Animal Kingdom is missing plenty of sweets too. Most notably, the Bugs n’ Grubs Cone that was inspired by The Lion King and came crawling with gummy worms. Bugs ‘n Grubs Waffle Cone The insta-worthy Scrooge McDuck’s Billionaire Bacon Caramel Sundae has also disappeared! We would pay almost anything to get it back. Scrooge McDuck’s Billionaire Bacon Caramel Sundae… AND Scrooge McDuck! Need something sweet for your Animal Kingdom adventure? Satu’li Canteen still has you covered with the beautiful Blueberry Cheesecake with Passion Fruit Curd orbs! Savory Snacks This one is gonna hurt. The Pulled Pork Fries have been slashed from the menu at Flame Tree Barbecue. This is on our list of favorite fries at Disney World and it’s been a tough pill to swallow. You can still get fries with some yummy (behind the counter now) dipping sauces over at Mr Kamal’s fry stand. Pulled Pork Fries with Cheese at Flame Tree Barbecue There’s nothing that screams “We’re at Disney World!” then a pretzel with plastic cheese. Animal Kingdom brought us a new shape of pretzel to stuff our faces with before the parks closed. The Simba pretzel prowled into Animal Kingdom not too long ago and we just discovered he’s gone missing too! No matter — you can still get a world-famous Mickey pretzel. It tastes the same, only slightly less ferocious! Simba Pretzel at Harambe Fruit Market See the entire list of missing snacks and entrees at Disney World here! We’re sad to see snacks like Hei Hei Cones be taken away from our daily Disney routine. That said, we may see some of these snacks make a comeback while things ramp up again. We’ll keep you updated as things change so be sure to follow along! Want to see what it’s like eating at Magic Kingdom since it re-opened? See the new mobile ordering process here! Is your favorite snack missing from Disney World? Let us know if you’re sad to see one go! Related posts: These 15 HUGE Disney World Snacks Are Totally Worth Wearing Your Stretchy Pants! DFB Guide Tip: 3 Disney World Snacks Big Enough to Be Meals! The 31 Things To Eat In Disney World If You’re Obsessed With CHEESE!! View the full article

We just learned some exciting news for Walt Disney World Annual Passholders! We’re talking about saving some serious money on merchandise around the parks! Disney Tails Merchandise If you are an Annual Passholder that loves snagging some merch like t-shirts, mugs or even a new pair of Minnie Ears then you’re going to want to know about the limited-time boost to merchandise discount. While at the parks we noticed that all Walt Disney World Annual Passholders now get a 30% discount on merchandise purchases! This is certainly some good news for many Walt Disney World Annual Passholders, who noticed some unexpected expenses recently when they got charged for four months of payments at the same time without any warning. Refunds are being processed and Disney issued an apology to these customers. Normally, Walt Disney World offers a 20% discount on merchandise purchases as part of their Annual Passholder perks. But, according to a Cast Member we spoke to at the Magic Kingdom, the discount has been bumped up another 10% as an added bonus. So, now you can save 30% off of any merchandise purchase in Disney-owned gift shops. To get the 30% merchandise discount, Annual Passholders will need to have their Annual Pass and their photo ID to present to the Cast Member at the cash register. It’s that simple to score major savings! Annual Passholder Chef Minnie Coaster The Magic Kingdom Cast Member we talked to mentioned the 30% discount is only available for a limited time—perhaps through August. Specific dates have not been confirmed by Walt Disney World at this time but we will keep an eye out and update as soon as we hear anything! And, of course, we’ll keep you updated on the latest Annual Passholder giveaways and discounts as we hear them! Click Here To Learn How You Can Save Money On Walt Disney World Dining! What would you use your 30% Walt Disney World AP discount to buy at the gift shops? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Black Friday Shopper Alert! Disney Springs Announces Deals For Biggest Shopping Day of the Year! Disney’s Latest Price Increases and What They Mean For Your Next Disney World Vacation New Farewell IllumiNations Spirit Jersey Coming to Epcot! View the full article

Ever since Disney made the announcement that Splash Mountain was going to be reimagined with a The Princess and the Frog theme, the attraction and merchandise have become wildly popular. Splash Mountain Ride times have been hovering around 35-45 minutes daily while we’ve seen virtual queues for the Splash Mountain store exceed four hours! People are serious about snagging their Br’er Bear Plush! And over the weekend we stopped by the shop to see which Slash Mountain goods were still in stock when low and behold, we spotted this new Splash Mountain Tumbler! The cup is made of plastic with a screw-on lid and blue plastic reusable straw. The artwork features Br’er Rabbit, Br’er Fox, and Br’er Bear right after they just took the big plunge together, and includes the phrase, “I make a splash wherever I go.” Splash Mountain Tumbler There was a pretty decent supply of these new Splash Mountain Tumblers over the weekend, but stuff was really flying out the door. If you want to grab one of these guys to commemorate your love of Splash Mountain, we wouldn’t stand around! Unfortunately, they aren’t available online right now, so you’ll have to come on down to Magic Kingdom to get your paws on one! Splash Mountain Tumbler We’ll be sure to let you know if we see any other new Splash Mountain items magically appear, but for now, check out the revised Fab Five Mugs we spotted recently at Disney World here! Official “Welcome Back” merch alert! Take a LOOK at the new Together Again collection at Disney World here! Do you have any Splash Mountain souvenirs? Tell us which ones you own in the comments below! Related posts: Construction Update! See What TRON: Lightcycle Run at Magic Kingdom Looks Like NOW! Looking For The Purrfect Hair Accessory? New AristoCats and Inside Out Hair Clips in Disney World Eight Lessons We Learned the Hard Way About Taking a BABY to Walt Disney World View the full article

It’s the (second) Most Wonderful Time of Year… it’s Christmas in July!! Marketplace Starbucks in Disney Springs And Starbucks in the Disney Springs Marketplace is helping everyone get in the spirit of things with a selection of Christmas in July Drink Specials! Of course, since it’s Christmas in July in Florida, the trio of drinks features ice cold Frappuccinos for cooling down in the hot temps. Christmas in July Drink Specials The Melted Snowman is a Vanilla Bean Frappuccino with a CAKE POP (!!) topped with mocha and caramel drizzle. The Candy Cane is a Vanilla Bean Frappuccino with refreshing peppermint. And the Snowball is a White Mocha Frappuccino with hazelnut and toffee nut topped with caramel drizzle. We’d like to give a shout out, BTW, to whoever decked the halls on the sign with their terrific artwork! Starbucks Drink Specials in Disney Springs Marketplace Oh, and the Welcome Back drink, which made its debut upon the reopening of Disney Springs in May, is still up for grabs, too! Check out our review of the Welcome Back Drink here! And with that, we wish you a very MERRY Christmas… in July! Which Christmas in July drink would you choose? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: What’s New in Disney Springs! August 10, 2018 Review: We’re Trying Starbucks’ New “Welcome Back” Drink in Disney World! The 8 BIGGEST Disney World Menu Changes That Happened This Week! View the full article

Picking the best cookie in Disney World is pretty difficult, but we know there’s a contender in Disney Springs. Peanut Butter Espresso Cookie ©Gideon’s The Gideon’s Cookie has been a long time (and limited!) staple at The Polite Pig. Now, the local Orlando company, Gideon’s Bakehouse, is getting its own location in Disney Springs and we couldn’t be more excited! We’ve learned even more about the upcoming location and the legacy of that iconic cookie from the owner himself; check it out! In an interview with ClickOrlando, Gideon’s Bakehouse owner Steve Lewis talked a little bit about the past of the company and the way forward. Gideon’s has become a pillar of local business in the Orlando community thanks to its one-of-a-kind cookie recipe — the formula took 15 years for Lewis to come up with and a batch of cookies takes 24 hours to bake. ©Gideon’s Bakehouse Lewis is especially excited for the expansion that will come with the new location in Disney Springs. The company is proud to be bringing local business to the larger traveling audience that frequents Disney Springs. Plus, he noted that Disney Springs is the perfect place to put a business with so many thematic elements! Hint: He said there’s going to be a LOT of visual and thematic elements in the new location! Gideon’s Bakehouse is known for selling out of cookies almost every day. In Disney Springs, the goal is to keep enough in stock that that doesn’t happen as much. To help with this, the company is hiring over 50 new employees for production facilities and beyond. As we’ve already heard, the new location will feature the SUPER limited Coffee Cake Cookie EVERY SINGLE DAY. Lewis also shared information on the new Hot Cookie Hour where for one hour each evening, folks will be able to purchase a HOT Gideon’s Chocolate Chip Cookie with Home-made Ice Cream. UM…SIGN US UP. ©Gideon’s Bakehouse During the interview, Lewis explained that he can’t jinx it with an exact opening date yet, but “barring alien invasion or zombie outbreak…we will be open in 2020.” Stay tuned to DFB for all of the latest updates about dining in Disney Springs! Click here to learn more about the opening of Gideon’s Bakehouse in Disney Springs! Are you excited about the opening of Gideon’s in Disney Springs? Tell us in the comments! Related posts: REVIEW and PHOTOS: This Crazy Popular Treat Is GONE in Disney World…But There’s A Brand New Replacement… This New Disney World Cookie Already Has Undergone a HUGE Change! Rustic Cuff Just Closed in Disney Springs — Could THIS New Spot Take Its Place? View the full article

The new MerchPass system is a lottery-based drawing that gives you the chance of getting early access to purchase some of the highest demand items on shopDisney. ©shopDisney Arendelle Castle Collection Journal Whenever shopDisney releases something new and popular we see the items FLY off the virtual shelves. Sometimes the items are gone within moments. MerchPass is now live and if you haven’t heard, it’s a new way that Disney is trying to even the playing field for shoppers. It’s also how they hope to reduce technical glitches. Customers will sign up and have a chance to be randomly selected to purchase the new Arendelle Castle Collection. We’ll show you how the new process works! For this current drawing, you must enter the drawing between 7/13/20 at 7:00AM PDT and 7/14/20 at 11:59PM PDT. The winners will be selected on 7/16/20, with entrants notified via e-mail by 7/16/20 at 5:00PM PDT if selected. You won’t receive an email if you aren’t selected. You will select the items you wish to purchase on the next page. You can select individual items or all of them. You’re not required to make a payment once you sign up! You’re also not required to purchase the items if you are selected. If selected, you have a limited amount of time to make your purchase. Hop on over to shopDisney here to get started. We’re curious to see if Disney will continue this new lottery-based system and how well it will work for Disney collectors. We’ll be on the lookout for more popular collections and whether they will be apart of the new MerchPass system! Want to see what else is popular on shopDisney? Check out the NEW Jungle Cruise Dress here! What do you think of the new MerchPass system? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: This Is the Baby Yoda Merchandise You Never Knew You Needed! We Need Every Piece of Disney’s ADORABLE New Mickey Mouse Parts Collection! This NEW Jungle Cruise Funko Pop Is More Awesome Than the Backside of Water! View the full article

Earlier this month, Disney launched a super fun at-home project giving you the printables and instructions you need to create your very own 3-D model of Main Street, U.S.A., complete with parade floats from the new Magic Happens Parade in Disneyland! ©Disney If you missed the original release of the series — known as Disney Paper Parks — you can get the scoop (and start your own project) here! And now, the fun continues as Disney has provided MORE printable 3D activity sheets to add even more buildings from Main Street (like the Penny Arcade and Candy Palace) and parade floats (like Frozen 2 and Cinderella) with Part Two of Disney Paper Parks! All you need to do is download and print out the activity sheets so you can build these 3-D models with tools you have at home, like scissors, tape, and glue. (Remember, if this is the first you’re hearing about Disney Paper Parks, you can find the information for Part 1 here.) ©Disney Disney Imagineers — and designers of Disney Paper Parks — Stephanie Jazmines and Amy Young “wanted to remind guests how big of an opportunity a blank sheet of paper can be.” Disney shares the following quote from Stephanie Jazmines: “With today’s increasing emphasis on the digital, it’s always rewarding to step back and remember what you’re capable of making with some imagination and your own two hands.” ©Disney Amy Young also shared: “It’s amazing what you can create with a single piece of paper. So, grab your art supplies, pack your patience and take your time to create your very own paper park. We are so excited to see Disney fans bring these pages to life!” Be sure to check out Part One of Disney Paper Parks here! And if you’re looking for even more Disney DIY fun, check out this collection of Disney RECIPES for a taste of the parks at home! No matter what you create, we hope you HAVE FUN!! Are you creating your own Disney Paper Park? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: VIDEO: Watch the American Flag Being Raised on Disneyland’s Main Street, U.S.A. DIY Time! Build Your Own Disney Main Street, U.S.A. With PAPER! NEWS! TWO Favorite Sprinkles Cupcakes Flavors Return For A Limited Time! View the full article

We’ve been running around EPCOT with a friend for Cast Member previews and noticed a few colorful touches since we last visited! Spaceship Earth Disney announced that EPCOT will get a new look and new attractions to enhance the park’s transformation. Along with the new indoor roller coaster, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, the plan is to build Journey Of Water, a Moana attraction, and the PLAY! Pavilion featuring Wreck-it Ralph and other Disney characters. We’re starting to see more elements around EPCOT as the transformation continues! We were stopped in our tracks when we spotted the ticket booths on our way out of the Food and Wine Festival last night! The booths have been painted in a bright rainbow pattern! It was much more noticeable without the morning crowds and brought a cheery end to our day. Backside of Rainbow Ticket Booths The pattern blends nicely from one color to the next. It starts with the dark blue and purple and fades all the way to yellow. The bright colors are balanced well with the white siding. Frontside of Rainbow Ticket Booths We think the rainbows go nicely with the nighttime color palette that lights up Spaceship Earth every night! Rainbow Ticket Booths! The ticket booths now match some of the other rainbow elements we’ve seen around EPCOT! Have you seen the Pin Trading Headquarters’ new look? You can see the rainbow pattern on the windows! Pin Trading Headquarters We’re continuing to stake out EPCOT now that it’s partially open. We’ll keep a lookout for new construction and additions as the transformation continues. Follow along with us as we explore what’s new! Heading to EPCOT soon? Check out our ultimate guide International Food and Wine Festival here! What do you think of the new paint job? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: The ULTIMATE GUIDE To Opening Dates for ALL THE 2020 Disney World Attractions! NEWS! Epcot’s Entrance Is Lookin’ A WHOLE Lot Better in Disney World We See London, We See France! Here’s How Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Construction in Epcot Is Coming Along! View the full article