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The Breakfast with Goofy & Pals dining experience is back and taking reservations at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort. View the full article

For the initial phase of Disney World’s reopening, most character meals have been put on hold with only a few exceptions. Mickey at Topolino’s Terrace But in addition to the character breakfast at Topolino’s Terrace that’s now underway and a modified character dining experience at Garden Grill Restaurant when Epcot reopens July 15th, we’ve just confirmed a third character meal will be happening at Disney World! According to Four Seasons Resort Orlando’s website, their Good Morning Breakfast with Goofy and His Pals will be returning on Saturdays! Screenshot From Four Seasons Resort Orlando’s’ Website The character breakfast will take place at Ravello with health and safety measures in place. Instead of a buffet, the meal will be served plated and reservations will be required. To book your table, you can call 1 (407) 313-7777. Open Kitchen at Ravello We’ll keep our eyes peeled for any additional character meals we see returning, but in the meantime, see what our experience was like eating at a Trattoria al Forno’s Bon Voyage Adventure breakfast now that the characters have been temporarily removed! Click here to see which Disney World theme park restaurants will be reopening soon! Have you ever stayed at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando? Tell us about your experience in the comments below! Related posts: NEWS! Another Fan-Favorite Character Meal Is Returning to Disney World Upon Reopening Florida Residents Can Get a Special DISCOUNT at the Four Seasons in Disney World! Four Seasons and Disney Springs Resort Area Hotel Guests Will Have Access to the Park Reservation System on June 22nd! View the full article

Welcome back, DFB friends! We’re here with another DFB Video, and today we’re talking about some of Disney World’s most confusing news and situations! Magic Kingdom on cast member preview day, July 2020 As Disney World starts to re-open this week, the parks have started to make big modifications in the parks that affect many guests’ vacation plans. Since circumstances have been evolving constantly, Disney has been vague on purpose in order to switch things up when conditions change. Although Disney World is still doing everything they can to make vacations magical, we’re giving you a look at why Disney is being confusing on purpose right now! We’re talking about Park Hopper tickets, Disney Park Pass system, how the NBA’s arrival affects guests’ hotel stays, what qualifies as a face mask in the parks, and MORE! So, what are you waiting for?? Check out the reasons why Disney World is so confusing currently in our latest DFB Video! And if you love this video, there’s plenty more for you to enjoy over on our DFB YouTube Channel! By the way, have you subscribed yet? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to the channel and never miss a single episode! 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 Disney World changes have been the most confusing for you? Related posts: DFB Video: 7 Things You Don’t Need to Worry About in Walt Disney World! DFB Video: 5 Things You Need to Know About Disney’s Riviera Resort DFB Video: 14 Must-Do Disney World Restaurants for 2020! View the full article

Hamilton has been playing on a neverending loop at our homes since it was released on July 3rd! ©Disney But the next big number we’re excited to see is a brand new Disney movie called The One and Only Ivan which will be making its way to Disney+ starting August 21st. The One and Only Ivan is based on Katherine Applegate’s Newbery Medal Award-winning book and features a star-studded cast of performers (Angeline Jolie, Danny DeVito, and Bryan Cranston are just some of the famous actors who lent their voices to the movie’s characters)! ©Disney The film follows the unlikely friendship between 400-pound silverback gorilla named Ivan and Ruby, a baby elephant! The One and Only Ivan was originally set to debut in theaters on August 14th. But now the movie is coming straight to Disney+ and you can watch the trailer for it below! There are a bunch of recently (and soon to be) added Disney+ content to watch until The One and Only Ivan comes out! To see all of the new Disney+ movie and show releases for July, click here! Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe is being released on August 28th! Learn more here! Are you excited about this new movie? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: ALL the NEW Content Coming to Disney+ Through January 26th! Here’s EVERYTHING Coming To Disney+ In April! ‘The One and Only Ivan’ Will Be Arriving on Disney+ This August! View the full article

Two women are suing Disney, saying they were charged four months of their annual passes while the parks were closed from the coronavirus pandemic. View the full article

Yesterday, Cast Member previews gave us insight into some of the new Walt Disney World construction updates like the reveal of the newly freshened up Cinderella Castle. Magic Kingdom We recently saw a curious-looking big blue wall go up in the middle of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. (Spoiler: it was installed to isolate the visiting NBA players from Disney guests.) While taking a ride on the monorail, we noticed progress on a different Grand Floridian construction project we’ve been keeping our eyes on for a while. Progress has been made on the NEW walkway between Magic Kingdom and Grand Floridian! This walkway is potentially being built to easily connect guests from the resort to the Magic Kingdom entrance. Finished Pathway The resort monorails can get a little busy after the park closes. The walkway should allow you to take a leisurely stroll home, rather than crowding on a monorail. Finished Pathway Some of the cement walkway is fairly finished while other sections are still in the middle stage of constructions. Unfinished Portion of the Walkway They are building a short bridge connecting the sidewalks so guests can take a jaunt right over the Seven Seas Lagoon! Bridge Construction The added bonus here is that now all three resorts located off the monorail track should be accessible by foot! You can already walk from Disney’s Contemporary Resort to Magic Kingdom. Once open, you should be able to walk all the way to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort since it is currently connected to Grand Floridian by a pathway. Construction on the Bridge for the New Walkway As the parks and resorts start to reopen, we will continue to keep our eyes peeled for more updates and new construction. We’ll be sure to keep you informed as we revisit each resort and theme park! Visiting Disney World soon? Here’s what you should know once it re-opens! What do you think of the new walkway? Let us know if you want to take a stroll down this new path! Related posts: Construction UPDATE on Potential Walkway to Magic Kingdom from Disney World’s Grand Floridian Resort Big Progress is Being Made on the Potential NEW Grand Floridian Walkway to The Magic Kindgom! Review: We’re Sipping On the Enchanted Rose Milkshake in Disney World View the full article

Orlando Science Center sets Oct. 26 opening for postponed Pompeii exhibit View the full article

When select Disney World resorts reopened last month, we did a little digging for folks who had plans to celebrate a special occasion on their vacations! First Visit Celebration Buttons For some people, it’s a rite of passage to wear one of Disney World’s “I’m Celebrating” buttons to commemorate a special trip. Plus, having that free souvenir to bring home can make those special memories all the more magical! Another free souvenir we love to snag to help us remember a particular trip? Park maps and times guides! We were curious whether or not Magic Kingdom would still provide these buttons to guests. We were even more unsure about the guidemaps and times guides, particularly now that so many of the traditional scheduled offerings have been modified or temporarily suspended, including character greetings, parades, and fireworks. We have good news! Disney World’s free celebration buttons are still available upon request at the hotels, and we also spotted them at Magic Kingdom! This little basket of beauties was stationed at the checkout counter of Splash Mountain’s gift shop. We stopped by to ride the attraction and see if any Splash Mountain merchandise was still available now that the ride will be receiving a major overall in the future. Celebration Buttons Located near the entrance to Magic Kingdom, we found this display of maps available in many different languages. Theme Park Maps We’re taking this as a good sign that EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios will hopefully be providing guests with paper maps too. We’ll let you know as soon as we can confirm them at other Disney parks, but for now, we’ve only gotten Magic Kingdom’s new guidemap in our hot little hands. Magic Kingdom Map What IS missing is the paper times guide previously provided to guests separate from the guide map. This makes sense given that there are no parades or nighttime shows to list times for and Disney World’s new Character Cavalcades happen spontaneously instead of at regularly scheduled times. The attractions, dining locations, and stores that have reopened in each part of the park are listed by land. Magic Kingdom Map Meanwhile, the new map also shows the three relaxation station locations where guests may temporarily remove their face coverings while inside Magic Kingdom. Magic Kingdom Guidemap The back of Magic Kingdoms’ guidemap includes important health and safety information for all guests. Magic Kingdom Guidemap We’ll be keeping you updated on all our new discoveries from the newly reopened Disney World theme parks! In the meantime, check out the coolest thing we saw at Magic Kingdom here! See what our experience was like riding the monorail to Magic Kingdom today! Are you happy to see Magic Kingdom is still giving out free “I’m Celebrating” buttons? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: We Have an UPDATE on Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Parties in Reopened Disney World! Here’s How You’ll Interact With the Characters When Disney World Reopens! Be Our Guest Restaurant in Disney World Will NO LONGER Be Serving Quick Service Breakfast or Lunch For the Time Being! View the full article

This morning Shades of Green, the Military Only Resort at Walt Disney World extended their projected re-opening date. UPDATE 5/19: Shades of Green has pushed back their reopening date again, from 1 June to 1 July 2020. UPDATE 6/26: Shades of Green has pushed back their reopening date yet again, from 1 July to 15 […] The post Shades of Green Tentative Re-Opening Date Extended Again and Again appeared first on Military Disney Tips Blog. View the full article

Splash Mountain in its current form will be open this week as the Magic Kingdom emerges from the coronavirus pandemic shutdown. Disney has not released a timeline for moving forward on rebranding the ride to "Princess and the Frog," but Disney experts say the makeover will take a few years and also poses a new series of challenges. View the full article

Some of the best paved bike trails in Florida are rail trails –— repurposed railroad routes –— and there are some two dozen around the state. View the full article

What to know before you go back to Disney theme parks View the full article

The Disney World theme parks reopen THIS WEEK and select Disney World hotels have been opened since June 22nd, with more reopening over the next few months. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort As part of its reopening, Disney has implemented a number of health and safety measures based on guidance from various governmental authorities and health agencies. You can check out the full list reopening procedures here. Scroll down to check out an exclusive offer for Disney Food Blog readers! Our friends at Small World Vacations have been working tirelessly to help their guests prepare for their Disney vacations and keep them up-to-date on the changes at Walt Disney World, and today they’re sharing what you need to know when planning your Disney World vacation. What You Need to Know Before Planning Your Disney World Vacation Walt Disney World Hotel and Theme Park Information Guests with existing resort reservations for 2020 have been contacted by Disney or their travel agent to confirm, modify, or cancel their reservation. It is important that guests with booked reservations let Disney or their travel agent know if they plan to arrive on their scheduled check-in date, move to new travel dates, or cancel their reservation altogether. Beach Club Resort Additionally, Walt Disney World Resort guests must confirm their vacation reservation by linking their confirmation number to their My Disney Experience account and make a Disney Park Pass reservation. A Disney Park Pass reservation is required to enter any of the Disney World theme parks. If you are booked in a Disney World hotel that will be closed during your planned travel dates, you must reach out to Disney or your travel agent for assistance with your new resort assignment at an open Disney World hotel. If you do not intend to travel during your current reservation travel dates, you will need to cancel your reservation. Disney’s Wilderness Lodge To provide additional flexibility, Disney is waiving Disney-imposed change and cancellation fees up to the date of check-in for reservations with arrivals through October 3, 2020. IMPORTANT TIP: If no action is taken for impacted stays, Disney will automatically cancel your reservation within 7 days of the original check-in date and process any refund due to the original form of payment. Walt Disney World Health and Safety Details As Disney World reopens, guests should continue to follow all health and safety protocols established by the resort. Before traveling to Disney World, be sure to review any advisories or restrictions that may be in place for travel to Florida. Guests who are under isolation or quarantine orders must not enter Walt Disney World. For information on traveling to and within Florida visit this site from the State of Florida. Check health and safety information prior to your visit Also be sure to check your home state’s travel restrictions or quarantine orders before traveling. These are all of the states with current travel advisories that could impact your visit to Disney World. And remember, when the Disney World theme parks reopen, safety measures including enhanced cleaning, physical distancing, temperature screenings, and face coverings will be enforced. Cast Members To see ALL the information you need to know about traveling to Disney World right now check out this page! When you feel ready to start planning your next Disney World vacation, the agents at Small World Vacations can help you. Please note that due to the phased reopening of the theme parks and resorts, pricing and availability for 2020 Walt Disney World vacations are suspended temporarily. If you complete a request for a 2020 price quote, an agent will contact you to discuss your options and put you on their wait list for when reservations open up for booking. Contact Small World Vacations for a no-obligation quote. Epcot You have questions…we have answers! Small World Vacations agents have been to Walt Disney World over 2500 times! We know what you need to know before you go. Small World Vacations is happy to help with your Walt Disney World Vacation. Learn below what they can do for you! Small World Vacations is proud to be the preferred travel agency of the Disney Food Blog. Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. (Why should you use a travel agent when you go to Disney? See what we think here! Or click here for a no obligation price quote today! And tell them DFB Sent You! Exclusive Small World Vacations Limited Time Offer Considering booking a Disney World trip? If you want to save time and money, you definitely want to book with a Small World Vacations travel agent. And now is the perfect time! Small World Vacations has an exciting offer for DFB readers in July! Book a new 2021 Walt Disney World Vacation valued at $3600 or more and get one $25 digital Disney e-Gift Card. Offer good for check-in between January 1, 2021 and May 31, 2021. Disney e-Gift Card is courtesy of Small World Vacations and is redeemable at shopDisney.com, Disney Store, Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, and more. Offer valid on bookings with code DFB0720 made with Small World Vacations from July 8 – July 31, 2020. Previously booked reservations are not eligible. Previously booked reservations are not eligible. Void if reservation is canceled or modified to non-eligible price or dates. No cash value. (While supplies last. Substitutions may be necessary.) Get a quote for your 2020 Walt Disney World Vacation and let us know that DFB sent you. Include code DFB0720. Contact Small World Vacations for a no-obligation quote before these offers expire. If you are ready to begin planning your 2020 Walt Disney World vacation, simply fill out Small World Vacations’ no obligation quote form! Small World Vacations is happy to share over 23 years of Disney expertise and extensive experience with My Disney Experience, discounts, dining reservations and FastPass+ so you can sit back, relax and enjoy some Disney Magic! Small World Vacations is happy to help with your Walt Disney World Vacation. Learn below what they can do for you! Maximize the Dining Plan! If you book a 2020 Walt Disney World Vacation Package with table service dining, you will receive one FREE digital e-Book, the Disney Food Blog Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World valued at $19.95. This guide helps you to get the most out of your Disney Dining Experience! Small World Vacations is proud to be the preferred travel agency of the Disney Food Blog. Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. (Why should you use a travel agent when you go to Disney? See what we think here! Or click here for a no obligation price quote today! And tell them DFB Sent You! Small World Vacations agents have been to Walt Disney World over 2,500 times! We know what you need to know before you go. We’re Diamond Level Authorized Disney Vacation Planners (that’s the highest level, ranked by Disney!) who have been there, done that and are going back. Learn how we can help you and what our guests are saying about us: “I am a very hands-on type of person and I’ve always planned our vacations. I decided this time to give Small World Vacations a try. Best thing I could have done. My agent was able to handle the booking part, which is the tedious part of the planning. Then she was able to get me free dining for my trip, which saved me a ton of money. She answered all my questions very promptly as well.” If you are ready to begin planning your Walt Disney World vacation, simply fill out Small World Vacations no obligation quote form! Small World Vacations is happy to share over 22 years of Disney expertise and firsthand experience with My Disney Experience, discounts, dining reservations, and FastPass+ so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy some Disney Magic! Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you — they’ve literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They’re DFB’s recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!) So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you Related posts: ALL of the Walt Disney World Hotel Deals and Discounts Available NOW! NEW DFB Video: 10 Things at Disney World That Will be Totally Different in a Year (and One We HOPE Will be Different!) Here Are ALL of the Walt Disney World Hotel Deals and Discounts Right NOW! View the full article

Today was an historic day in Disney World history. After an unprecedented four month closure, Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom re-opened for their very first previews — welcoming Disney World Cast Members to test and explore the theme parks’ new health and safety procedures and protocol while enjoying their favorite rides and attractions for what felt like the “first time in forever.” Magic Kingdom on cast member preview day, July 2020 Cast Member previews are common for big deal experiences — like the opening of a new land in a theme park, or the opening of a new ride or attraction. They’re Disney’s way of offering Cast Members a fun job perk (“Be the FIRST to ride this new attraction!”), but also of testing out the new experience on a small audience. It’s the perfect way to work out any remaining bugs in the system. So how did today’s Cast Member preview go? Let’s take a look at the good and the…could be better…experiences from today! New Health and Safety Procedures and Enforcement The parks debuted several new policies and procedures to protect the health and safety of both guests and Cast Members. These include social distancing markers, required face coverings, required temperature checks, and a focus on limiting contact between guests and Cast Members when possible. Magic Kingdom Temperature Check tents The security bag check prior to entering the parks has gotten a new, low-contact makeover. Now, guests place all electronics into plastic carriers, then walk through the new security system WITH their personal bag instead of having it searched by a security guard. If your bag still sets off the alarm, it’s time to dump it all out into a security bin in hopes of finding the offending article (for our reporter, it was a fuel rod that set off the alarm). Bags for Security Was this faster than the traditional bag check? Possibly. Pulling out your electronics and putting them into plastic bags can take a lot of time, but that time could be won back if you walk safely through the new automated detectors without having to have a Cast Member go through your things. Either way, however, the process does minimize contact significantly between guests and Cast Members. This, along with mandatory temperature checks, were the main additions to the park entry system, and seemed to go relatively well today. If you experienced a big back-up or time sink here, please let us know in the comments. But a major concern from our readers has been Disney’s ability to enforce and maintain social distancing and required face coverings with the new game plan. In our experience, the Cast Member “guests” at the preview were doing a decent job of rule-following. We didn’t see too many maskless folks, or even guests who had pulled their masks down below their nose. Peter Pan’s Flight Social distancing was being adhered to in nearly all situations we encountered. And for most of our visit, the parks were sparsely populated, so it was easy to keep that 6-ft invisible bubble around oneself. But some things did break down a bit a few times during the day. In addition to reportedly having a couple of rides malfunction and/or break down, there might be some implications from the lack of a virtual queue system on some attractions as well. While most ride wait times were 5-10 minutes most of the day, more popular rides like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Splash Mountain saw some longer waits and/or social distancing hiccups. Splash Mountain Attraction Line But, like we said, this is why Cast Member previews exist. Disney’s job is to measure twice, cut once, and test, test, test. And it’s much easier to test out big change roll-outs with a small, dedicated group of guests — like Cast Members — than with a much larger crowd on re-opening day. You can expect some wrinkles to be ironed out by Thursday’s Annual Passholder preview, and again by Saturday’s grand re-opening. Stay tuned. Ride And Attraction Wait Times As predicted by Disney CEO Bob Chapek, due to very limited guest capacity in the parks, FastPass in today’s experiment wouldn’t have been necessary for most attractions. And our reporters were pretty much able to ride anything they wanted to ride today with just a 5-15 minute wait per attraction. Sanitizer for Splash Mountain But note that when a ride breaks down or experiences technical difficulties, or needs an enhanced cleaning, the socially distanced line can get a little bit longer than what’s comfortable; and when guests run out of social distancing markers on the ground, it can be difficult to figure out where the 6ft mark is. This could lead to some crowding if Cast Members aren’t there quickly to manage the process. Shopping Speaking of virtual queues, the rides and attractions may not have ’em, but those popular stores definitely can if needed! Emporium Locations like The Emporium and Uptown Jewelers in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom have the ability to turn on and off their virtual queue line systems depending on crowd-levels. These shops are allowing only a fraction of their capacity inside at a time, so on busy days, there may be waits. While it’s weird to have to get into a virtual line to just pop in and check out the newest necklaces, it does seem to be a procedure that’s working for Disney right now when days get busy at Disney Springs. And we like that it allows guests to continue to enjoy the park while technically “waiting in line” to get into a shop. Read More About What Shopping Is Like In A Disney Theme Park Now HERE! Characters Characters no longer meet face to face, give hugs, or take photos with guests (unless they’re selfie photos from afar), but you can still see them every day! Animal Kingdom Character Boat Character Cavalcades and boat float-bys are a new, fun way to see characters at sporadic, super random times. Why sporadic and super random? To make sure guests don’t congregate together in anticipation of catching the show. Merida in Magic Kingdom While it’s a bummer to not be able to meet Mickey for a hug, the Cavalcades we saw were SO much fun! Merida and Gaston on horses? A Trolley full of Hundred Acre Wood pals? Aladdin and Mary Poppins on the same float? The crystal PRINCESS FLOAT back in action? Crystal Princess Float is Back We saw a LOT of characters and it was a LOT of fun. So while it’s different from what we’re used to, the random “you never know when you’ll next see a character” factor is a rad throwback for many of us to our childhood where Disney characters were always out and about and you never knew who you’d see! Read More About Character Cavalcades HERE! What’s Next? So, overall, the Disney Cast Member preview we attended went well. The park seemed deserted, guests were generally following the rules, and wait times were minimal except at the most popular rides and attractions. Were there hiccups? Yes. Are they debilitating for Disney? No. The hiccups we saw and experienced are mostly fixable, which is why Disney prioritizes running events like Cast Member and Annual Passholder previews. Run the show, find the bugs, fix ’em, run the show again. That’s why shows rehearse. Disney Characters wave to guests from a distance We’ll be experiencing the (likely more populated) Annual Passholder Preview later this week, and the official Re-Opening Day this weekend, to see any implemented updates to current policies and procedures. Disney stated in a health and safety media panel today that they weren’t “complacent” about the protocol they were implementing, and that they were eager to continue to learn and update their policies based on data and experience gathered both here in Orlando and at Disney parks around the world. So it will be interesting to see what evolves. As always, we’ll be sharing with you any changes to Disney’s plans as well as our own experiences and those of our readers in the parks as the re-opening continues. Are you headed to Disney World soon? Are there more measures you think Disney should implement to keep guests and Cast Members safe? Let us know in the comments. Related posts: NEWS: Disney’s Hollywood Studios Park Pass Reservations are Going FAST! BREAKING NEWS: These Disney World Restaurants are OPENING July 11th and 15th! NEWS! Refurbishment Closures in Disney World Next Week! View the full article

Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom opened its gates for the first time since mid-March for a special Cast Member preview ahead of the park’s official July 11th opening and we’ve spent the day exploring every corner to see how it’s changed! We’ve spotted countless characters, hopped on a few rides, and indulged in some retail therapy. We’ve been so busy, we nearly forgot to EAT! JK, you know we NEVER forget that! Magic Kingdom With so much to see that’s new, we decided to go for a quick bite. Let’s check out the scene at one of Magic Kingdom’s newly reopened quick-service restaurants. While some dining locations such as Golden Oak Outpost and Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant have transformed into relaxation stations (where guests may temporarily take a break from wearing their face masks), other Magic Kingdom eateries are now open for business! Today we stopped by Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe to order up some galactic grub! Cosmic Ray’s We also wanted to stop by and say hello to an old Yew Norker pal of ours — Sonny Eclipse! While the famous crooner wasn’t wearing a mask, he was being kept at a safe distance from the diners. It’s Sonny Eclipse! Placing an Order Disney World is highly encouraging guests to use mobile order via the My Disney Experience app to order and pay for food. If you have a food allergy or wish to pay cash, you can talk to a Cast Member outside the restaurant and they’ll direct you to a register. Ordering Area Plexiglass shields have been installed at each of the cash registers as well as at the pick-up windows. Social-distancing markers have been placed on the ground directing guests where to stand while they wait. Ordering Area We placed our mobile order and went to the pick-up window. Cast Members asked to see our order number on our phone before our food was brought out. Mobile Order Pick-Up Area Dining Experience Before we went to go find a table, we scoped some things out. We noticed drinking fountains were still working. Drinking Fountains Were Working Individually packaged condiments were available in large tubs for guests to grab. Condiments Meanwhile, the rest of Cosmic Ray’s topping bar (where you normally doctor up your sandwich with lettuce, tomato, pickles, and other fixins) was closed. But don’t worry — you can still customize your meal with your choice of toppings using mobile order. The app will tell you which toppings are already included and you can pick and choose what you want! We also noticed new utensil dispensers which we’ve previously seen at other newly reopened Disney World restaurants. Toppings Bar Leaving the counter area with our trays, arrows now direct guests down to the main seating area in front of Sonny Eclipse’s stage. Directional Arrows Comic Ray’s has placed special markers on every other table to indicate which ones are unavailable for guests. Cosmic Rays It wasn’t long before we were sitting down to enjoy our 1/3 lb Angus Bacon Cheeseburger with French Fries while listening to some sweet Sonny Eclipse tunes! And yes, once you’re seated at a socially distanced table, guests are free to remove their face masks and dig in! 1/3 lb Angus Bacon Cheeseburger It’s hard to see the juicy patty underneath all that lettuce, tomato, cheese, and crispy bacon. Be we can assure you it tasted out of this world. Cosmic Ray knows his way around a grill and our Bacon Cheeseburger really hit the spot. 1/3 lb Angus Bacon Cheeseburger We also ordered the S’mores (which we’ve had before), but this dessert just looked too good to pass up trying it again! Smore It has a graham cracker cookie crust flecked with chocolate and is stuffed with a gooey marshmallow filling as well as more warm and melty chocolate. YUM! S’more And that about sums up our refueling session! Now that the theme park restaurants are firing back up, we’ll be on the lookout for some new snacks and goodies to review. In the meantime, you can check out our live coverage of everything we experienced on our first day back at the Magic Kingdom! Click here to see what riding the monorail at Disney World is like now! Do you have plans to visit Disney World this week? Let us know what you’re looking forward to eating THE MOST in the comments below! Related posts: What’s New at Magic Kingdom — PIZZA ROLLS, Strawberry Vanilla Ice Cream, the BEST Little Mermaid Mug Yet, and MORE! HE’S BACK!! Sonny Eclipse Has Made His Long-Awaited Return To Magic Kingdom! Guess Who’s Gone Missing (Again!) in Disney World? View the full article

SeaWorld Orlando introduces event with drive-in movies, fireworks, food trucks View the full article

An Update on Disney Resort Hotels View the full article

We spent the day in a Disney World park for the first time in months. Jungle Cruise Thanks to an invite from a friend, we were able to attend the Magic Kingdom Cast Member preview. You know what that means? We got to hunt down some new parks MERCH. Wait until you see this ADORABLE Jungle Cruise dress! Take a look! We spotted this super cute new number at the Main Street Emporium in Magic Kingdom. Um…a dress inspired by the Jungle Cruise? Yes, please! Jungle Cruise Dress Here’s a close-up of the pattern! You can see jungle creatures like snakes and rhinos, those infamous jungle tiki masks, and jungle boats cruising through. Jungle Cruise If you just HAVE to have this cute dress (we know we do!), you can snag it from the Emporium in Magic Kingdom for $128. Happy sailing! We’ve spotted lots of Jungle Cruise merchandise, like a new bag and some new ornaments, popping up lately, so we’re keeping our eyes peeled for even more. Stay tuned! Click here to see another cute Disney dress! What do you think of the super cute Jungle Cruise dress? Tell us in the comments! Related posts: There’s A New Way to Rep Your Love For Disney Food in Disney World! One of the Most Colorful Spirit Jerseys EVER Has Made Its Debut in Disney World! What’s New at Magic Kingdom: A Missing Fan-Favorite Snack, TONS of Mulan Merchandise, and a NEW Cake Pop! View the full article

Wow. We really spent the day back in Magic Kingdom. It’s crazy to think about! Magic Kingdom Of course, there is a LOT that’s different in a reopened Magic Kingdom and we took a good look around today at the Cast Member preview (thanks to an invite from some friends!). Even the way you take your picture with Cinderella Castle has changed! Yep, let’s take a look at everything different about snapping that iconic pic and pics in general! Keep in mind that this is a Cast Member preview so everything is subject to change. We’ll be reporting in throughout the rest of the week so follow along with DFB for the most up-to-date information. The Castle looks different. First of all, you might have heard that the Castle looks preeeetty different. This iconic structure is getting totally glammed-up ahead of Disney World’s 50th Anniversary with new golden hues, royal blues, and a soft pink color! Cinderella Castle Keep in mind that the refurbishment on the Castle isn’t quite finished, so there were still cranes up with workers painting today. Depending on how much longer they’re working, this might be a factor when you’re taking your Castle pics. Cinderella Castle One thing is for sure — your Cinderella Castle pictures are going to look pretty different than they did before! Hopefully, your outfit doesn’t clash with that pretty pink! Click here to see more pictures of the new Cinderella Castle look! You’ll have to wear your mask. Beyond that, you might have to wear your mask in pictures. After chatting with a PhotoPass Cast Member, we were informed that face coverings are required at all times in the Disney parks and that includes during your Castle photoshoot for the time being. Now, this may change as the parks reopen to guests but it’s definitely a possibility. Magic Kingdom Mask Just in case you do need to keep your mask on for a photo, wear a cute one and practice smiling with your eyes so you’re happy with your pic when you take it. You could even get one with a character’s smile on it or one of our AWESOME DFB face masks to help turn it into a totally Disney-rific accessory. PhotoPass photographers have new protocols. Finally, if you enlist a PhotoPass photographer to help you snag the perfect Castle pic, there are going to be some changes to the protocol. For one, photographers will no longer be able to handle your personal device, so if you want them to snap a pic for you you’re going to need to get it THROUGH the PhotoPass service. Or you can always as a friend/member of your group to take one for you. Main Street They’ll also keep their distance as much as possible during your interaction. They’ll still use your MagicBand or Card to link photos to your account, but they’ll do it as quickly and as distanced as possible. Click here to learn more about the new PhotoPass protocols. So there you have it! Now you can keep these three changes in mind when you’re heading to Magic Kingdom to snap that perfect Cinderella Castle picture. Follow along with DFB for all of the latest reopening updates from IN the parks! What do you think of Cinderella Castle’s new pink look? Tell us in the comments! Related posts: Cinderella Castle Refurb at Disney World Got You Down? See What This DFB Reader Did To BRIGHTEN Our Day! Cinderella Castle Walkway Officially Reopens at Magic Kingdom! NEW Insta-Worthy Nighttime Magic Shots Are Coming to Disney World Soon! View the full article

We are BACK at Magic Kingdom for the first time in MONTHS! From checking out some of our favorite rides to admiring Cinderella Castle’s new glow-up from close up, it has been A DAY! Magic Kingdom And after seeing which shops would be reopening in Magic Kingdom (as well as EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom!) we started prepping our lists of must-buy items! We popped into a couple Magic Kingdom shops today to scope out the scene and see how our retail-therapy session compared to the ones we’ve previously experienced at Disney Springs as well as the select Disney World resorts that have recently reopened! Crowds and Waiting to Shop One of our biggest questions was whether we would have to wait in a virtual queue like we did at World of Disney on its first day back in operation! The process was relatively smooth but still a change from what we’ve been used to in Disney World! Main Street Confectionery We were told by Magic Kingdom Cast Members that just like the Disney-owned Disney Springs stores, some theme park gift shops may activate a virtual queue system if a crowd forms. You’ll check in at the front of the store and give your phone number to a Cast Member. Then, when it’s your turn to shop, they’ll contact you to return. Magic Kingdom We noticed that none of the stores (at lease when we were there), including the Emporium, had activated their virtual queues today so we were able to walk right into any shop without waiting. At Uptown Jewelers, there’s a separate virtual queue just to view the Pandora jewelry case. Designated Exit Most stores now have a designated entrance and exit too to help control the flow of foot traffic. Compare today’s experience with our experience waiting in a virtual queue at World of Disney! Shopping Once we got inside, our shopping experience was pretty similar to what we’ve seen elsewhere in Disney World so far. We saw some familiar signage throughout the store, reminding guests to maintain physical distancing and to handle the products as little as possible. Signage Inside the Store Dressing rooms are also unavailable at most locations. Fitting Rooms Are Closed There’s still plenty of merchandise on the sales floor, but some of the product displays have been reoriented to allow for easier social distancing. Sales Floor Checking Out and Payment Once we selected our treasures to bring home with us, it was time to hop in line! Physical distancing floor markers are present at the checkouts much like they are at other shopping locations throughout Disney World. New plexiglass barriers have also been installed at the cash registers. Emporium’s Check-Out For payment, Disney is encouraging all guests to utilize contactless payments, such as Apple Pay or your MagicBand. See what shopping was like at the reopened Disney Vacation Club resorts here! Emporium And just like that, our first Magic Kingdom shopping excursion is complete! Keep in mind, anything you purchase at ANY Disney World theme park gift shop will not be available for front-of-park package pick-up or hotel delivery for the time being. They CAN, however, still ship your items home for you for an additional shipping fee! Check out the SUPER RARE Splash Mountain merchandise we spotted at Magic Kingdom today HERE! What is your favorite store in Disney World? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Disney Springs Is a Little Busier Today With a Short Virtual Queue in Place What’s New at World of Disney in Disney Springs: Inflatable Minnie Ears, Baby Yoda Plush, and Gifts for Grads! Spotted: Sequined Minnie Mouse Loungefly in Disney Springs! View the full article

Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom have reopened for a special Cast Member preview today and we’ve been bringing you along with us — all day LONG! Pandora We’ve already gotten to ride a newly reopened Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and took our first plunge on Splash Mountain since mid-March! Now we’re hopping over to Disney’s Animal Kingdom where the other Disney World Cast Member preview is currently underway. Since we couldn’t be in two places today, our friend @allisonxella on Instagram let us know what’s was happening over at Animal Kingdom! First of all, we couldn’t believe our eyes when we saw Avatar Flight of Passage only had a five-minute wait time! Is the My Disney Experience app broken or something? This ride usually has a least a two-hour standby line! Screenshot From My Disney Experience App But the reports actually appeared to ring TRUE! Our friend pretty much walked straight through the line in record time! We’ll be curious to see how the wait times hold up for the rest of the week once Annual Passholders and the general public return! Waiting in Line At present, every ride at Disney World is only utilizing standby queues during the initial phased reopening. That means there’s currently no FastPass option to ride Flight of Passage “and, uh… fly!” But, with a five-minute wait, who needs a FastPass?! Read more about Disney’s decision NOT to use virtual queues here! Social-distancing markers have been placed at roughly 6-foot intervals throughout Flight of Passage’s rather lengthy standby line space. They’re prominently positioned outside along the winding mountain trail… Social-Distancing Markers …as well as inside! Guests were being moved quickly through the laboratory area of the queue. Normally we don’t mind spending a little extra time in this room to appreciate all the details and science experiments that are happening, but our friend said the line moved so FAST that the room was all a blur! Flight of Passage Queue And just like that, she reached the end of the line! A plexiglass barrier has been installed in this section where the queues break apart and guests are assigned to their boarding groups. Flight of Passage Queue We were wondering what would happen next since Flight of Passage has a rather long pre-show experience before your journey officially begins. Pre-Show Before you get to “SIVAKO!” (That’s Na’vi for “Rise to the challenge!”), you normally have to pause in a briefing room. That’s where your body is scanned for “Pandoran micro-parasites” and ultimately, you’re paired up with an Avatar! Pre-Show Skipped For now, guests will walk straight through this part of the pre-show — but Dr. Jackie Ogden still wants to have a word with you right before you board the ride. Looking for face mask tips while in Disney World? We got you! Click here to learn more. The Ride Experience Cast Members hand out 3D glasses (like they normally do). Two link chairs are left empty between each party and up to three parties are seated per row. Flight of Passage Link Chair Aside from having to wear a face mask the entire time, our friend reported that the rest of Flight of Passage looked and felt just as she remembered it! You know — breathtaking visuals, lots of swooping and diving, all while feeling your banshee panting and flapping its wings! At the end of the ride, 3D glasses get returned in the same bins they normally use for sterilization before being redistributed. Check out the ways Disney World is breaking the theme park reopening mold here! We still can’t quite get over only having to wait FIVE MINUTES to ride one of Disney World’s most popular attractions! It remains to be seen if those wait times increase during Annual Passholder previews and during the official park opening to all guests on July 11th, but we will be there to check it all out firsthand and will most definitely keep you posted! Click here to see the full list of rides and attractions reopening at Animal Kingdom! What’s your favorite attraction in Disney’s Animal Kingdom? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: New Merch, Menus, and More in Disney World’s Animal Kingdom DFB Video: GET THIS at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Pandora’s Mo’ara Margarita Got a Makeover — Check Out Its New Flavor (And Color) Here! View the full article

As we explore Magic Kingdom for the first time since mid-March today, we’ve been on the lookout for the locations where guests can temporarily take a break from their face masks — otherwise face masks must be worn at all times by all guests over the age of two for the entirety of their visit. Cinderella Castle Other than when guests are seated in restaurants, Disney World’s “relaxation stations” are currently the only spots where guests can remove their face coverings while inside the theme parks. Face masks can be lowered if you’re enjoying a snack or drink, too! Let’s take a look at where you can find these mask-free spots and we’ll keep updating this post as we visit the rest of the Disney World theme parks! Previously, we’ve spotted similar mask-free locations in Universal Orlando’s theme parks which they refer to as “URest Areas.” There is a limit to how many guests are allowed inside each relaxation station at one time, but we weren’t given specifics. Once your inside, you can relax without your mask on for as long as you’d like! But while there is no official time limit, we were told they encourage no more than 30 minutes if it’s busy. Relaxation Station So far, Cast Members have been stationed at each of the relaxation stations we’ve visited to ensure guests were socially distancing themselves while their face masks were removed. We also saw hand sanitizer stations were set up near the entrance! Magic Kingdom Adventureland This relaxation station is located conveniently between Adventureland and Frontierland next to A Pirates Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas and the quick service dining location, Golden Oak Outpost. The restaurant will remain closed for the time being so its seating area can be used as a relaxation station instead. Relaxation Zone Although there’s no covered awning, partial shade provided by the trees and shrubbery. Golden Oak Outpost’s tables and chairs are available for use and guests may sit without their face coverings while social distancing. Relaxation Station Since the tables at this relaxation station are fixed (can’t be moved around) there are markers on which tables aren’t available for guests to use. Relaxation Station Tomorrowland On the other side of the park, Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant is also being used as a relaxation station while the dining location itself remains closed. Tomorrowland Relaxation Station The partially-enclosed area is open-air but provides ample protection from the sun. You’ll find lots of seating in this spacious dining area with plenty of tables and chairs. Tomorrowland Relaxation Station Fantasyland Magic Kingdom has one additional relaxation station found at Pete’s Silly Sideshow in Storybook Circus where character greetings used to occur before the closures. Note: Magic Kingdom’s new maps show where each of the three relaxation stations can be located. Disney World Map We’ll be back to add more relaxation stations in the coming days, but for now, check out what it’s like to ride the monorail to new;y reopened Magic Kingdom! Learn more about what qualifies as a face mask at Disney World here! Do you have an upcoming trip to Disney World planned? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: NEW Insta-Worthy Nighttime Magic Shots Are Coming to Disney World Soon! Why Disney World Could Be Very DIFFERENT When It Reopens 10 Things You Can Personalize with Your Name in Disney World! View the full article

Disney Parks Commitment to Health & Safety Measures View the full article

Before Disney World reopened, they told us parades and character greetings weren’t going to happen right away and would return at a later date. But fret NOT! We gotta say — things are interesting at Magic Kingdom with these new Character Cavalcades they’ve replaced their normal entertainment offerings with instead! Disney Princess Cavalcade We’ve probably seen just as many Disney characters today with these new experiences than we would on an ordinary day at Magic Kingdom — we might have even seen more! We also saw something else pretty interesting! Prepare your eyes for all this man stallion we’re about to show you — it’s Gaston…ON A HORSE!! Gaston That’s right — the infamous Beauty and the Beast (self) love interest had mounted a steed and was clip clipping his way down Main Street, U.S.A.! While we’ve seen this during Villains After Hours, we weren’t expecting to see it today. Gaston But hold the phone…Merida from Brave also arrived in My Little Pony style! Angus is that YOU??? Merida We’re taking this as proof you never know WHAT you’ll see at a newly reopened Magic Kingdom! We’ll let you know what other strange and exciting things catch our eye just as soon as we spot ’em! Check out all the Splash Mountain merchandise we found for sale at Magic Kingdom today here! Were you expecting to see equestrian-versions of these Disney characters today? Tell us which characters you’d like to see ride a horse in the comments below! Related posts: Here’s How You’ll Interact With the Characters When Disney World Reopens! We Have an UPDATE on Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Parties in Reopened Disney World! Be Our Guest Restaurant in Disney World Will NO LONGER Be Serving Quick Service Breakfast or Lunch For the Time Being! View the full article

As we continue the phased reopenings of our parks and resorts across the world, promoting health and safety for our guests, cast members, and the larger community is a responsibility we take very seriously. On Saturday, we will continue the phased reopening of Walt Disney World Resort, marking the first of our domestic theme parks to welcome guests back to the magic. While we await California guidelines for reopening Disneyland Resort, and will adjust as necessary, we wanted to share more information on our approach to health and safety in the Disneyland and Walt Disney World theme parks. We remain deeply committed to focusing on your well-being when you visit or work at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts. From increased cleaning and disinfecting across our parks and resorts, to updated health and safety policies, we have reimagined the Disney experience so we can all enjoy the magic responsibly. We implemented our health and safety measures after considering the guidance of government and local health authorities, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in addition to the U.S. Travel Association and Disney’s team of health experts. Together, we are a Disney family, and while COVID-19, and the risk of contracting it, is present in public places, there are many important ways that we can all help promote each other’s safety. As we implement our guidelines at our parks and resorts, we want to thank our guests and cast members for all they do to care for one another by doing their part. 1. Health & Wellness At Disney, our approach emphasizes a combination of measures to help reduce risk in the carefully managed environment of our parks and resorts. Limited and carefully managed attendance: All guests will be required to make advanced ticket purchases and reservations.Reduced capacity and physical distancing: We’re reducing capacity by letting fewer people enter our parks and are adjusting experiences to allow for physical distancing, a key measure reinforced by the CDC. This includes physical distancing in dining experiences, attractions, queues and other locations. Additionally, physical barriers have been installed in areas where physical distancing may be difficult to maintain, like cash registers.Temperature checks: Quick temperature checks are required for all guests at entry to our theme parks.Face coverings: We will be requiring both cast members and guests ages two and older to wear a face covering – unless swimming or when eating or drinking – and enforcing this policy across our parks and resorts.Handwashing and hand sanitizer: We have increased the number of hand sanitizer locations and handwashing stations throughout our parks and resorts.First Aid locations: Our first aid locations are staffed by experienced nursing staff and have updated their protocols for responding to symptoms of illness.2. Cleaning & Disinfecting We’ve updated our already high standards for cleanliness across our parks and resorts, with a special emphasis on areas such as attractions, queues, dining, lobbies, transportation and other common spaces. Increased cleaning & disinfecting: We’re increasing the frequency of cleaning, especially for frequently-touched surfaces and high-traffic areas. Following park close, each park will receive an enhanced cleaning before guests arrive the next day.New procedures for resort stays: In addition to increasing cleaning in areas such as elevators and escalators, handrails, tables, handles, and restrooms, we’ve updated our procedures for guest rooms at our owned-and-operated Walt Disney World hotels. Before arrival, every room will be given an enhanced cleaning and a light cleaning service (including removal of trash and replenishment of towels and amenities) will be offered every other day during the stay.3. Technology Solutions We are tapping into Disney innovation to help promote health and safety for our guests and cast members. Disney apps: With the My Disney Experience and Disneyland apps our guests already know and love, guests can view hand sanitizer and handwashing locations, explore digital menus, and more.Limited-contact options: From Mobile Order and cashless payments, to Walt Disney World’s MagicBands and online check-in at select locations, we’re offering technology solutions that can make it easier for our guests to minimize contact and maintain physical distancing.4. Cast Member Training & Workplace Safety Safety starts with our cast, and we’ve adopted a number of new policies and practices for cast members at work. Training: Cast members are receiving additional training on both new measures and the continued importance of personal health and hygiene, such as handwashing and of course, staying home when ill. For some, this includes training on how to help everyone who visits to follow new health and safety measures, including wearing a face covering and maintaining physical distancing. Workplace health and safety: We’ve increased the frequency of cleaning in work areas, adjusted our work practices to promote physical distancing, and introduced new protocols for temperature checks and face coverings. Health screenings: Cast members will self-screen for temperature and symptoms of illness before each shift and will stay home if they are not feeling well.5. Working Together Because each of us shares a responsibility for the health of our community, we’re making resources available to make guests aware of our new policies, so they too can do their part. Guest communication: We’re proactively sharing information with guests about what to expect ahead of their visit to support their planning. In our parks and resorts, we have added signage about personal health and hygiene measures, physical distancing, and more. Following our guidelines: A special group of cast members will also be present in the parks to explain our new procedures, answer questions guests may have, and encourage everyone to follow these measures to promote the well-being of us all.“Together We Can Make Today Incredible” campaign: In June, we introduced “Together We Can Make Today Incredible,” a health and safety campaign that spotlights healthy behaviors featuring fan-favorite characters from the Incredibles animated movies. The campaign emphasizes that everyone has an important role to play in health and safety while engaging guests in a uniquely Disney way.We’re looking forward to upholding this plan each day, and to the return of our guests and cast members to our parks and resorts. If you have additional questions about a specific experience, we hope that you’ll explore the resources below: Walt Disney World: Know Before You GoWalt Disney World Resort Hotels: Know Before You GoDisney Springs: Know Before You GoDowntown Disney District: Know Before You GoReopening Disney Parks – Our Continued Focus on Health and Safety, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pamela HymelAn Update on Disney Resort Hotels, Vice President of Worldwide Safety Services Katie KellyWhen you’re ready to join us at your favorite Disney destinations, we’re excited to welcome you back. Until then, be well – see you soon! Dr. Pamela Hymel Chief Medical Officer Disney Parks, Experiences and Products View the full article