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We’re here in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom today as the park prepares to reopen officially to guests on Saturday, July 11th. Space Mountain Today, we are here with a friend who invited us along as a Cast Member preview is currently taking place. From Seven Dwarfs Mine Train to Splash Mountain, we’ve been visiting attractions (of course!) as part of our day. And — speaking of those Magic Kingdom Mountains — a visit to Space Mountain was also on the list. In fact, as we were exiting Space Mountain, we happened to notice a now-familiar sight in Walt Disney World. A selection of the Disney character face masks was available for purchase in the Tomorrowland Light & Power Co. gift shop. Disney Face Masks in Magic Kingdom As a reminder, Disney World is operating under health and safety guidelines where guests and Cast Members are required to wear masks when they’re on property. Although the Disney Character Masks have been in demand in Disney Springs (and selling out quickly) and have also made their way to the Disney Resort hotels, this was, of course, our first time seeing them in the parks. Disney Face Masks in Magic Kingdom So, even though you can’t enter Magic Kingdom without a face covering to begin with, it’s still good to know that it seems they will be available across the Resort when the parks reopen, in case you would like to pick up some Disney masks or if you would like some additional options during your trip. As we saw in the Resort hotel gift shops, the masks are priced at $6.00 (or 4 for $20.00). Disney Cloth Face Masks signage It’s important to note that many of the Disney Character Masks run small, so you’ll likely want to size up when you’re buying a mask. Disney Cloth Face Masks In fact, Disney has just released a NEW size: Extra-Large. But we have not seen that size in person yet, including our visit today — we have only seen Extra-Large available online (available for pre-order) through shopDisney so far. And if you’re looking for more information on face masks… See our top tips for wearing a face covering in Disney World here. And that’s the latest from Magic Kingdom… so far. We’ll continue to keep you posted on all the latest with the reopening of the Walt Disney World theme parks right here on DFB! And in the meantime, you can visit any of the links below for more information. What is your favorite Disney Character Mask design? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: These Face Coverings from Sephora in Disney Springs Are SO Cute! (And Give Back to Charity!) Do the Old Plush Rush Over to Disney Springs to Get These NEW Toy Story Socks! What’s New in Disney Springs: Merch That’s Flying Off Shelves and the Reopening of SO. MANY. BARS! View the full article

Disney World opens this weekend, but that doesn’t mean it’s simple to travel there. Florida Sunset Florida is currently under a State of Emergency and has been since March 9th. Recently, a quarantine order was put in place that mandates all travelers from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut must quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in Florida. As you can imagine, this can be an obstacle to heading to Disney World. The State of Emergency and quarantine order were both set to expire today, but now Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has filed an executive order to extend the State of Emergency by 60 more days. According to Fox 35 Orlando, DeSantis issued an order to extend the State of Emergency through September 5th. Since the expiration of the quarantine order is contingent on the expiration of the State of Emergency, the travel restrictions are extended as well. Check health and safety information prior to your visit As of now, any travelers from New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut will be subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine through September 5th. This order is subject to change; we may see another extension or we may see an order to let it expire early depending on the health crisis. Read MORE about travel restrictions to and from Florida here. Academic and professional travel is exempt from the order but leisure trips (such as one to Disney World) are very much affected. For now, guests from these states should keep an eye on Florida news as a quarantine may keep them from visiting the parks. Welcome to Orlando! We will be checking in on this situation often so stay tuned to DFB for the latest updates on the travel restrictions. We’re live from Magic Kingdom today. Follow along with us here. Does this travel restriction affect your Disney plans? Tell us in the comments. Related posts: More Restaurant Reopening Details Discussed By The Re-Open Florida Task Force News! Florida Theme Parks to Submit a Plan for Reopening Says Governor Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Comments on the Reopening of Universal Orlando’s Theme Parks View the full article

Ever since Disney’s Park Pass reservation system was unveiled, checking the Disney Park Pass availability calendar every day has become one of our regular activities! Magic Kingdom That’s because, in order to visit any of Disney World’s reopened theme parks, guests are required to obtain a theme park reservation for each day of their visit. Previously, some days were showing no availability for guests to book new Park Pass reservations, but we’ve been noticing Park Pass availability return for some days and levels of eligibility. When we looked at the reservation system moments ago, every day with the exception of July 24th was showing full Disney Park Pass availability for resort guests! Previously, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios were fully booked for multiple dates in July. ©Screenshot From Disney Park Pass At this time, Annual Passholders are still faced with almost no remaining availability for Park Passes in July. The only dates that were still available when we checked were July 29th and 30th and for EPCOT only. But hey, scoop those up! ©Screenshot From Disney Park Pass EPCOT’s 2020 International Food & Wine Festival begins July 15th when the park reopens! Check Out the 20 Booths We HOPE to See at Disney World’s 2020 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival! In addition to resort guests, guests with theme park tickets still have a wide range of dates to choose from as well. Disney’s Hollywood Studios has filled up for guests with this type of admission from July 15th through July 19th, but the rest of the Disney Park Pass availability calendar remains open. ©Screenshot From Disney Park Pass The moral of the story: Given how quickly things can change when it comes to Park Pass availability, we recommend acting swiftly if you’re interested in any of these upcoming dates in July. The capacity of the Disney theme parks is currently extremely limited and liable to fill up again FAST! Click here to learn more about the ever-changing availability of Disney Park Pass! Have you made theme park reservations using Disney Park Pass? Tell us about your experience using the new system in the comments below! Related posts: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park Pass Reservations Are FULL for July 14th…BUT More Might Be Coming! NEWS! Some Disney World Annual Passes Now Display Extended Expiration Dates Update! Disney Launched A New Annual Passholder Webpage With New Information on the Reservation System View the full article

We’re digging all the retro Star Wars gear shopDisney is doling out recently! Check out all the BRAND NEW Star Wars merch that’s totally groovy. ©Disney We recently found a whole slew of Baby Yoda gear and a retro Star Wars tee. And the good vibes aren’t stopping there! We’ve got a ton more Star Wars merch that will add a little throwback to your wardrobe. Star Wars came out in the late 70s so the flashback vibes fit nicely on these Star Wars tees. PLUS, there’s a new Boba Fett helmet cooler that you gotta see. It not only keeps your food cool but looks cool too! ©Disney Let’s start with our favorite tee of the bunch. ©Disney This child-size baseball tee is $29.99 and features Boba Fettin a classic yellow and teal combo. Gear up and grab with this baseball t-shirt here! Excuse us while we die from heartwarming nostalgia. We love the classic and worn look on this child t-shirt featuring our favorite characters! ©Disney YES, we’ll join the Rebellion! This lovable tee is $22.99. Click here to join the Rebellion and grab this tee! Kids don’t get to have ALL the fun. ©Disney The adult Bounty Hunter shirt is just as retro and rad for $36.99. Get your groove on with this Bounty Hunter t-shirt! To match your Boba Fett shirt, grab one of these insulated lunch totes! ©Disney The yellow and teal matches the Bounty Hunter shirt real nicely! The tote is $39.99. Get the Boba Fett Helmet Cooler right now! We love the psychedelic paint dripping effect on this Darth Vader and Storm Trooper tee! ©Disney The artistic adult t-shirt is $26.99. Click here if you gotta have this Darth Vader shirt! Any of these shirts would be a good fit to fight The Resistance or face Darth Vader himself. And how awesome is the new retro look that Disney is throwin’ at us?? I don’t think we’ll have enough room in our closet if they keep making gear like this! Need a real Baby Yoda to pack along in your Boba Fett cooler? Check out the Baby Yoda animatronic and take him home with you! What do you think of the new Star Wars tees? Do you like the new retro vibes? Related posts: Stop the Presses! These NEW Baby Yoda MagicBands, Phone Cases, and MORE Are MUST-Gets For Mandalorian Fans! Buy Me, You Will! The New Baby Yoda Animatronic Toy Has Already Started to SELL OUT Online! May The Force Be With You This Father’s Day With These NEW Star Wars Tees! View the full article

California recently enforced a new mandate that requires indoor dining locations to close in 19 counties, including Orange County, where Disneyland Resort is located. Although Disney recently announced that the reopening of Disneyland’s theme parks would be delayed, Downtown Disney remains on track to reopen on July 9th. This led us to wonder which Downtown Disney restaurants would still be reopening in light of the mandate. An empty Downtown Disney on the last day before its temporary closure Restaurants with outdoor seating and patios still have the option to open for outdoor dining, and today we confirmed TWO Downtown Disney restaurants that are DEFINITELY reopening along with the various merchandise and shopping locations! Uva Bar and the newly remodeled Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria will both reopen to the public this Thursday! Hours of operation are from 11AM to 8PM and, similar to the restaurants in Walt Disney World, there will be limited menus for both locations. Naples in Disneyland’s Downtown Disney Naples recently got a huge overhaul with major improvements to their indoor seating. In addition to modernizing the indoor restaurant, they also added a big outdoor patio and show bar. The is one of our favorite places to grab a slice — or a whole pie — after a long day in the parks or shopping at World of Disney! Naples Ristorante Outdoor Seating Uva Bar is an entirely outdoor restaurant so it’s not too surprising that they will be reopening as well. It’s a great place to people-watch while you sip a cocktail! Uva is located right outside Catal Restaurant. While Catal has some outdoor seating, the restaurant hasn’t yet confirmed when they will be reopening. Uva Outdoor Bar We’re hoping there will be quite a few more restaurants also reopening at Downtown Disney and we’ll be sure to update you as we learn more! Need some dessert options for your visit to the grand reopening of Downtown Disney? Salt and Straw has you covered! Will you be hitting up Naples or Uva Bar this week? Let us know your Downtown Disney plan of attack! Related posts: All You Info You Need to Know to Score Half Off Wine at This Spot in Downtown Disney! Get The Meaty Deets On Uva Bar’s New Burger of the Month at Disneyland Resort! Find Out Where to Grab a PEPPERONI PIZZA Burger in Downtown Disney! View the full article

We are LIVE in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom today ahead of the park’s upcoming reopening to guests on Saturday, July 11th. Splash Mountain We are here thanks to a friend who brought us along for today’s Cast Member preview. So far, we’ve visited Happy Haunts in the Haunted Mansion, seen some old friends, and taken a splash on Splash Mountain. Of course, if you’ve been keeping up with the latest news about Splash Mountain, then you know the attraction will be closing to be reimagined with a full re-themeing inspired by The Princess and the Frog. So, not only were the lines to ride Splash Mountain longer than those at other attractions we’ve ridden today… the nearby Briar Patch — the ride’s accompanying gift shop — was experiencing some lines all its own as fans were hoping to get some commemorative Splash Mountain merchandise! Let’s take a look… Splash Mountain merchandise A small selection of t-shirts and hoodies can still be found. Splash Mountain merchandise And, as of this morning, there was still some plush available… Splash Plushes Frames for your PhotoPass picture to remember your BIG SPLASH on Splash are available, too. Splash Mountain merchandise You can also find the Splash Mountain Mickey Ear Hat ornament. Splash Mountain merchandise The Park Pal that we recently spotted in Disney Springs is here at the Patch, too. Splash Mountain merchandise And for all our fellow mug collectors… “Today’s Forecast” features a “High Chance of Showers…” Splash Mountain merchandise We can vouch for that! Splash Mountain Now, as far as getting the merchandise… guest are directed to line up outside of the store, so you can’t just stop in after riding the attraction. Once inside, you’ll notice things like distancing markers on the ground, and plexiglass installed in front of the registers. The Briar Patch A manager informed us that items are going fast (and we noticed in particular that folks were really going for the plush). The Briar Patch But there is no limit as to how much guests may purchase… at least not now. We’ll be keeping you posted on all the goings on around Magic Kingdom today and again later this week as Walt Disney World prepares to welcome guests again to the parks this weekend! Related posts: What’s New in Magic Kingdom — Starbucks Drinks, Spirit Jerseys, and a BIG Attraction Closure! This New Splash Mountain Shirt Has a Magical Surprise! Spotted! The COOLEST New Shirt Splashes Into Disney World’s Magic Kingdom! View the full article

Last month, Disney announced its proposal to reopen Downtown Disney on July 9th, Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure on July 17th, and select hotels on July 23rd. Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland And while Downtown Disney will be moving forward with its plans to welcome back guests starting this Thursday, the other Disneyland Resort reopenings have been delayed. Since it is unknown when Disney’s Californian Hotel and Disney’s Paradise Pier Resort will reopen, we chatted with a Disneyland Resort Cast Member who confirmed these hotels are no longer accepting new bookings for the month of July. The earliest new reservation you can now make is August 1st. It is also still unknown when the Disneyland Hotel will reopen. Screenshot From Chat with Disneyland Resort Cast Member The Cast Member also informed us that the standard reservation cancellation policy has been re-instated. Screenshot From Chat with Disneyland Resort Cast Member Previously, the policy stated Disney would waive cancellation fees through July 22nd. Now the policy says they will work with guests that may have been impacted by the closure with no specific date listed. As of today, here’s how Disneyland Resort’s cancellation fee policy now reads on its website. Screenshot From Disneyland’s Website The friendly Cast Member also informed us it is still unknown at this time when Disneyland Resort’s theme parks and hotels will reopen. We’ll continue to keep an eye on Disneyland’s homepage for the most up-to-date information regarding Disneyland’s phased reopening and we’ll let you know as soon as Disneyland releases more information soon! Disneyland Cast Members are being invited to attend a special Downtown Disney preview! Learn more details here. Are you thinking about going to Disneyland this summer? Let us know if you’re hoping the theme parks and resorts will be reopening soon in the comments below. Related posts: Disneyland Hotel Guests Can Enjoy This Exclusive Halloween Event — AND THERE’S FREE CANDY!!! MAJOR BUMMER ALERT! A Popular Way to Get to Disneyland is Stopping Soon! NEWS! Disneyland Resort Pushes Back Date For First Available Hotel Reservations to Mid-July View the full article

This is a big week for Disney fans as Walt Disney World is preparing for its phased reopening of the Resort’s four theme parks which begins this Saturday, July 11th with Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, followed by EPCOT and Hollywood Studios on July 15th. Monorail One big topic we’ve been exploring is what getting around the property will look like. We’ve taken a look at buses with the recent reopening of select Resort hotels, but what will it be like to ride the Disney Skyliner, the boats, and (of course) the Monorail? Well, we took our first cruise on a reopened Monorail today (with thanks to a friend who invited us to a Cast Member preview which is currently taking place) and we’re here to tell you what it was like! We took the Monorail from the Transportation and Ticket Center to Magic Kingdom. The Transportation and Ticket Center (or TTC, for short) serves to offer parking for Magic Kingdom guests in addition to transportation options to the park itself. (The picture below, just for reference, was taken during a previous visit.) Monorail Station at Walt Disney World Ticket and Transportation Center It’s worth noting that the Tram vehicles — which guests can ride from the parking lots to the TTC in order to shorten the walk — were not in operation this morning. However, we’d like to remind that today is a cast member preview, so things may work differently when the parks officially reopen. (P.S. Ferry Boat transportation was also available.) Approaching the Monorail station, numbers are placed on the ground, giving guests the ability to easily spot where they may stand in order to keep a safe distance from other groups. (We’d like to thank @aleyafromdisney on Instagram for sharing the picture below with us!) Physical Distancing Stickers Number signage is also put in use as guests await the arrival of the next Monorail to carry them along the “Highway in the Sky” that leads to the Magic Kingdom. Monorail stickers A cast member gave us a number to stand on prior to boarding, which helped not only with traffic flow but also with the ultimate purpose of dispersing guests — keeping appropriate distancing in mind — throughout the cars themselves. Cars are now split with physical distancing barriers, and our car was limited to us and one other party of four. Monorail partition Overall, it was nice to ride along the “Highway in the Sky” once more. We’d like to state again that, because today was a Cast Member preview, things may change when Magic Kingdom reopens to guests this weekend. So be sure to stay tuned to DFB this week for all of the HUGE new Disney World updates! Click here to learn more about riding the bus in a reopened Disney World! Have any specific questions about riding the Monorail in a reopened Disney World? Ask them in the comments and we’ll do our best to get you answers. Related posts: Magic Kingdom’s Tram Refurbishment: Find Out What it Means for Your Trip Why Disney World Could Be Very DIFFERENT When It Reopens Potential Solutions For Disney World’s New Guest Transportation Problems View the full article

If there’s one ride that’s been the talk of the town while Walt Disney World has been closed, it’s Splash Mountain. Splash Mountain Disney recently announced that the attraction would be getting a full re-theming inspired by “The Princess and the Frog.” Although Walt Disney Imagineers are already hard at work on the new project, Disney told fans of the attraction they would get an opportunity to ride Splash Mountain before it shutters temporarily to make way for the overhaul. Today, some guests are getting that possible LAST chance to ride Splash Mountain in its present state during Walt Disney World’s reopening of Magic Kingdom for a special Cast Member preview, and we were there to check it out! Even though Disney hasn’t announced when Splash Mountain will close for refurbishment, this morning it appeared folks weren’t taking any chances! Most of Magic Kingdom’s attractions had very short lines with wait times of only 5 to 10 minutes. Splash Mountain, however, was a different story. Splash Mountain Wait We’re LIVE inside Magic Kingdom today for the park’s reopening! Follow along here! Even though the posted wait time at the standby entrance said 15 minutes when we got in line, we thought we might be biding our time for much longer than that once we saw the crowds lined up. Splash Mountain Attraction Line The line actually moved pretty swiftly. Even though the queue was backed up well beyond the entrance to Splash Mountain, guests were socially distancing themselves appropriately which made the line seem much longer than it actually was. Splash Mountain Line At times, the line stopped moving and we heard an overhead announcement stating there would be a brief pause while Cast Members cleaned the ride vehicles. We also noticed Splash Mountain wasn’t giving out its free Ziplocs today. They don’t have them every day, so we’ll let you know if they return during Annual Passholder preview days or once the park opens to the general public! Splash Mountain Line It ended up taking us about 35 minutes to get through the line. Once we made it to the loading area, we could see why. Cast Members wearing face shields and masks were thoroughly disinfecting the ride vehicles between guests by spraying them down with sanitizer. Meanwhile, they were only loading one party per log. Even small groups (of just two people!) were given their own log to ride. Sanitizer Cast Members didn’t say anything about letting us remove our face masks, so we kept them on the whole time. Luckily, the water cannons aren’t on, so we didn’t get too wet — you still get a little wet, though, so it’s a good idea to have an extra face mask on hand if yours gets too wet on the ride. Once we exited off the ride, we were routed past the Splash Mountain gift shop, but you can also get in line to shop for some Splash Mountain march — which has been FLYING off the shelves lately — before it’s gone for good! We’ll let you know what we see once we’re INSIDE! Click here to see what it’s like to ride Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in a newly reopened Magic Kingdom! What’s the first attraction you’ll ride at Magic Kingdom? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: Eight Lessons We Learned the Hard Way About Taking a BABY to Walt Disney World Can You Conquer These 5 Disney World CHALLENGES? QUIZ! Did You Know THIS About Disney World’s Mountains?? View the full article

When Walt Disney World announced that the theme parks would be reopening, they also shared that select experiences such as fireworks, parades, and character meet and greets would be temporarily suspended. Magic Kingdom Although Disney has put these experiences on hold, for now, they told us that guests would STILL be able to see some of their favorite characters in new and exciting ways! TODAY, during Cast Member previews at Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, we got to see some of these new entertainment offerings for the first time EVER! We’ll keep updating this post as we spot more of Disney World’s new Character Cavalcades, but this morning, we’ve already had a chance to see this adorable Pooh & Friends Cavalcade riding down Main Street, U.S.A. on a horse-drawn trolley! No sign of that silly old bear yet, but Piglet, Eeyore, and Rabbit all made cameo appearances! Pooh’s Friends Everybody got their ears on as the Mickey & Friends Cavalcade made the rounds in front of Cinderella Castle! Mickey, Minnie, and Pluto were wearing their special 90th-anniversary celebration outfits! Mickey & Friends Cavalcade Over in Frontierland, we ran into the Main Street Philharmonic! They were marching on through while playing their brass instruments and drums at full blast! Main Street Philharmonic Other Magic Kingdom entertainment offerings guests will be able to check out include: The Royal Princess Processional Fantasyland Friends Cavalcade A Goofy Cavalcade Tinker Bell & the Lost Treasure Mickey & Friends Cavalcade Performers And don’t forget EACH of the newly reopened Disney World theme parks will have their own unique Character Cavalcades which we’ll be hoping to see in the next few days and next week when the remaining theme parks welcome guests back! At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, guests will be able to spot their favorite characters as they cruise down the Discovery River. Today we’ve already spotted Pocahontas and Meeko waving to guests from their riverboat. Pocahontas and Meeko cruise Discovery River. We also spotted Chip and Dale in their Donald’s Dino-Bash! costumes along with Goofy looking VERY DAPPER. Chip and Dale and Goofy cruise Discovery River. At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, guests can watch: Discovery River Character Cruise Discovery Island Drummers Donald’s Dino Boat Bash! Mickey & Friends Flotilla Disney’s Animal Kingdom If you find yourself in Disney’s Hollywood Studios next week, you can see Character Cavalcades throughout the day, with favorite Disney friends appearing along Hollywood Boulevard, including: Disney Junior Stars Motorcade Mickey & Friends Motorcade Pixar Motorcade Disney’s Hollywood Studios entrance And if you’re in Epcot, be sure to check out: Frozen Promenade Mickey & Friends World Tour Princess Promenade Spaceship Earth Don’t forget Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival will kick off on July 15th — the same day the theme park reopens to the general public. Check out which 20 food booths we’re hoping to see return this year HERE! We’re LIVE inside the Magic Kingdom today — follow along here! When are you planning to visit Disney World? Let us know in the comments below. Related posts: Discount News! Mid-Day Magic Tickets Announced for Disney World When Disney World Reopens THESE Are at the Top of Our Must-Do List Character Interactions Won’t Be Planned or Scheduled — But Here’s Where You’ll Find Them When Disney World Reopens! View the full article

We are reporting LIVE from Disney World’s Magic Kingdom today. Though the park will not officially reopen to guests until this Saturday, July 11th, today is the first day of Cast Member previews. Mickey and Friends Cavalcade in the Magic Kingdom today We were invited by a friend, so today we are giving you a sneak peek of all the updates to the park experience in Magic Kingdom. And one of our first priorities of the day was to pay a visit (and our respects) to the 999 Happy Haunts that reside in the Haunted Mansion. Of course, there are some changes to the experience in light of new health and safety measures around the park (as well as the rest of the Resort), and they begin upon entering the attraction. Haunted Mansion For instance, one of the most memorable moments of the Haunted Mansion is when your Ghost Host welcomes all “Foolish Mortals” into the Stretching Room featuring four iconic portraits of beings as they appeared in their “corruptible, mortal state.” The Haunted Mansion However, as you most certainly recall if you’ve ever visited the Haunted Mansion, it is in this room that guests are asked to kindly step in and gather together in the “dead center of the room.” Seeing as that one primary measure to promote the safety of both guests and cast members is the encouragement of physical distancing between people… Walking through The Stretching Room …guests are now quickly ushered into the moving queue to enter their Doom Buggies (with seating of guests taking place in every other Buggy). To put it another way, when your Ghost Host inquires: “Is this haunted room actually stretching??” No, it’s not. Now, since there is no other way into the queue than through the Stretching Room, guests still do get a glimpse of the portraits (though, from our experience today, it is a pretty quick walk-through). The Stretching Room Beyond that, however, you’ll be accompanied by all the Grim Grinning Ghosts you’re accustomed to seeing throughout the ride! From our Tomb Sweet Tomb in Liberty Square, we’ll be seeing you from Magic Kingdom throughout the day. We’ll be sure to “Hurry Back… Hurry Back…” In the meantime, you can catch up on all the information regarding the phased reopening of Walt Disney World Resort by visiting any of the links below. Is the Haunted Mansion one of your favorite attractions? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: Cast Members Can’t Do THIS When Walt Disney World Reopens NEWS: Walt Disney World Website States Attractions and More “May Be Modified” And Capacity Limited Upon Reopening So What’s the REAL Backstory of Disney World’s Haunted Mansion Residents? View the full article

Disney World has implemented a lot of new health and safety measures since our last visit to the theme parks back in mid-March. Mickey & Friends Cavalcade Performers And while we’ve been sharing with you our live coverage from Magic Kingdom today (including pics of the nearly finished Cinderella Castle!) the time has come to ride some attractions and see what changes have been made. One of our favorite rides at Magic Kingdom debuted a few years ago with the rest of New Fantasyland. Of course, we’re talking about Seven Dwarfs Mine Train! Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Sign Once upon a time, getting a FastPass for this attraction was NOT an easy feat while standby wait times could easily exceed 2 hours. But due to the parks operating at such a greatly-reduced capacity, there are NO reservations (reminder FastPass+has been suspended) required to hop on this Snow White-themed experience — for now! We only waited about 5 minutes to get on! As a reminder, wait times will likely vary over the next few days. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train But before we get way too ahead of ourselves, let’s talk about what riding Seven Dwarfs Mine Train was like today one-step-at-a-time! Queue Area Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is using its standby queue which is partially outdoors. They’ve installed some temporary barriers to help guests socially distance themselves since the line has a lot of switchbacks. Physical Distancing Barriers They’ve roped off the interactive sections since this Disney World is trying to reduce the number of touchpoints. Interactive Elements A hand sanitizer station has also been installed just before entering the attraction. Loading Guests are being seated every-other row with an empty row of seats in between each party. Cast Members did touch our lap bars, instead, we were directed to push up on it ourselves. Masks must be worn for the duration of the entire ride. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train When it came to riding with a mask on, the speed of the attraction actually helped to keep the mask in place. We will be checking out even more lines and attractions today to see what has changed. If you have any questions about our experience on a Disney World ride please let us know!! Follow along with us LIVE from Magic Kingdom today! Which rides do you want to see photos of? Let us know in the comments below. Related posts: NEWS! Here’s the FULL LIST of Rides and Attractions That Will Be Reopening at Magic Kingdom in Disney World! These Musical Groups Are CONFIRMED To Return to Disney World NEWS: Registration For Disney World’s Annual Passholder Previews Is NOW LIVE! View the full article

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We’re finally back INSIDE Magic Kingdom for the first time since March! Magic Kingdom And while we got to check in on Cinderella Castle’s makeover progress during our stay at Disney’s Contemporary Resort a few weeks ago, we got to see the (almost) finished goods today! Just for reference, here’s what Cinderella Castle looked like before she underwent her royal makeover. Cinderella Castle And just like that, it appears Cinderella Castle’s refurbishment is just getting a few final touches! Cinderella Castle With Magic Kingdom’s 50th-anniversary coming up, Disney World wanted its iconic centerpiece to look her absolute best! We learned Cinderella Castle would be receiving a royal makeover back in February, and that its paint job would entail a new rosy-pinkish hue! Here’s the artists’ concept they shared with us at the beginning of the year. ©Disney Artist Concept for New Cinderella Castle We weren’t really envisioning such a bright shade of PINK as what we saw in person today! The renderings made Cinderella Castle’s new pink look a bit softer with a muted blushy pinkish tone. But in person, the pink is more of a salmon color and it’s pretty vibrant! Cinderella Castle The lower half of the castle will remain its former grayish color while all of Cindy Castle’s architectural features have been turned to gold. Cinderella Castle Even the spires have received a much deeper, bolder blue hue than we were expecting! Don’t get us wrong — the colors are really visually striking, but it’s going to take us a little time to process our thoughts on such a different-looking castle! The deeper blue really sticks out against the sky now! Cinderella Castle For now, the cranes are still up. We will continue to keep you posted on the progress of the castle as the finishing touches are completed. So, stay tuned for more details!! We’re reporting LIVE from Magic Kingdom today. Follow along with us here! What do you think of Cinderella Castle now that its royal makeover is finished? Let us know if you’re a fan of the new paint job (or not!) in the comments below! Related posts: You’ve GOTTA See How Construction Is Progressing on Cinderella Castle in Disney World! BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom Will Be Undergoing a HUGE Refurb Soon! The Major Cinderella Castle Refurbishment Has Started in Disney World! View the full article

Walt Disney World is preparing to re-open this week while many of the Disney hotels are already open and operational. Some restaurants will modify the dining experience while others are not set to re-open until further notice. Disney’s Riviera Resort was one of the Disney resorts to re-open first. Here, we got our first taste of what it is like experiencing character dining under the new conditions. As operations continue to update we noticed that one of the resorts onsite bars has been removed from Disney’s list of available dining locations. Earlier, we reported Bar Riva, the resort’s pool bar, as being listed under the available dining experiences at Disney’s Riviera Resort. In fact, when the resort reopened on June 22nd, we checked out the newly reopened pool bar ourselves! Bar Riva Disney has unexpectedly removed the bar from the list of available resort restaurants while other resort bars like Barefoot Pool Bar at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows remain on the list. Disney’s Riviera Resort Current Available Dining Experiences Some establishments like Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar were closed immediately due to the Florida Alcohol Ban. After some evaluation, Jock Lindsey’s has since re-opened again. There is no indication of reasoning behind Bar Riva’s unavailability as of yet. We will continue to keep you updated as events unfold. Are you visiting Disney World soon? Check out all the restaurants that will re-open with the parks this week! What do you think of Bar Riva’s unexpected removal from the list of dining experiences? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: See What FOOD Bar Riva Will Be Serving at Disney’s New Riviera Resort Here! FULL Photo Tour! Disney World’s New Riviera Resort Rooms, Restaurants, Pools, and MORE! Review! It’s Time to Party with the NEW Riviera Resort Cupcake in Disney World! (P.S. It’s SUPER Cute) View the full article

Whew! We woke up to some exciting Disney news today. Outside of Droid Depot in Galaxy’s Edge As you might have seen, Disney World officially reopened dining reservations to the public today with their new 60-day booking window. Well, your meals aren’t the ONLY plans you can get back to making today. Reservations for select experiences are now available too! According to the Disney World website, all guests are now able to make advance reservations for experiences up to 60 days in advance. To make new Enchanting Extras Collection experience reservations call (407) 939-6690 or (800) 800-9800 for Disney Vacation Club members. Disney Website Screenshot Only a select few extra experiences are currently open. You can see which experiences are available in the following list. Rest & Recreation Golf and FootGolf — available on a regular schedule at Walt Disney World golf courses Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf Ft. Wilderness Archery Experience Horseback Riding Wilderness Back Trail Adventure Fishing excursions Private pool cabanas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Make-Believe & More Droid Depot Tours, dining events, dessert parties, nature experiences, and more will be unavailable during the initial opening period. Mini Golf The available experiences are certainly only a taste of what Disney typically offers. We will continue to keep you updated as Disney rolls out more news prior to the grand reopening. Click here to learn more about available dining reservations! Will you be making an experience reservation today? Tell us in the comments! Related posts: Why Disney World Could Be Very DIFFERENT When It Reopens Updated! Here Is EVERY Detail Disney World Shared About Their Reopening Procedures This Week Was CRAZY. We’re Gathering ALL the News and Disney World Cancellations You Missed! View the full article

Magic Kingdom in Disney World officially reopens on July 11th. But we’re inside reporting LIVE today from Cast Member previews. We were invited by a friend, which means we can give you a sneak peek of what to expect when the parks officially reopen in just a few days. MK entrance — social distancing stickers A lot has changed…and we mean LOTS! Not only are there new health and safety procedures, but even the castle is a different color. Follow along with us as we journey through the park this week to check out what it’s like to dine, ride, and shop in Disney World. Be sure to check back as we will be updating this post throughout the WEEK. Parking and Transportation When parking today, we were directed into every other spot. Disney later fills these spots in after guests have exited their vehicles. Now, since this is just a preview, transportation is operating a bit differently. Today, the tram was not operating, but the monorail and ferryboats are available. Monorail We were given a number to stand on prior to boarding the monorail. Monorail stickers A partition has been added inside of the monorail as well. Monorail partition Bag Checks and Temperature Checks Disney is now asking guests to put all electronics and anything metal into a clear plastic bag when going through the bag check. This can add a bit of time depending on how many electronics you have with you. Don’t forget, guests must have their temperatures checked prior to entering the parks as well. Health Measure Signage The entrance had stickers on the ground to help guests in physical distancing as they enter the park. Magic Kingdom Entrance Cinderella Castle Refurbishment Our first priority, once we were actually IN Magic Kingdom, was taking a look at the new pink Cinderella Castle! The refurbishment is still a work in progress, but Disney has made some serious progress on this iconic structure. Cinderella Castle Refurb Character Interactions Character meet and greets aren’t an option currently. Instead, you can see characters parading along the parade route in the new Character Cavalcades. The first one we spotted was the Mickey and Friends Cavalcade featuring Mickey, Donald, Daisy, Pluto, and Minnie. Mickey and Friends Cavalcade The single float was accompanied by a number of dancers and performers. Mickey & Friends Cavalcade Performers The big Cavalcades aren’t the only way to see characters either. We also spotted some Hundred Acre Wood friends cruising by on a Main Street Vehicle. You can spot Eeyore, Piglet, and even Rabbit. Main Street Vehicle Do keep in mind, this is just a preview. Therefore, procedures could always change prior to reopening. Cast Members and guests alike are still figuring these new processes out, so things may vary on a daily basis. We know that things look pretty different. So, if you have any questions that you’d like answered, please let us know. We will do our best to get you all the answers you need!! Related posts: REVIEW: A New Ingredient Makes These Disney World Limited Time Fries Even HOTTER! Progress Update! Take a Look at the Cinderella Castle Makeover Happening in Disney World! Terralina Crafted Italian Is Back OPEN in Disney Springs! View the full article

For guests making plans to visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge when Disney’s Hollywood Studios begins welcoming guests again on July 15th, we have a bit more info for your visit to Batuu. Oga’s Cantina Just a few days ago, we shared the news that Oga’s Cantina — the famous watering hole of Black Spire Outpost — will indeed be reopening on July 15th along with the park itself. However, a small note has been added next to Oga’s Cantina on the Walt Disney World website, sharing that while Oga’s will be open, guests are asked to “please note that this experience will be modified.” Walt Disney World website screenshot What that means exactly… we don’t yet know. However, what we DO know is that Advance Dining Reservations are available for guests hoping to pay a visit to the Cantina, and — as of this morning — they are officially open to ALL guests within a 60-day booking window. Oga’s Cantina Please note that when the parks reopen, you will need the following to dine in a restaurant that accepts Advance Dining Reservations: (1) valid park admission (2) a required reservation for park entry AND (3) a dining reservation to dine at a Table Service restaurant in one of the parks. You can click here to learn more about all of the restaurants that will be reopening in the parks, as well as all of the stores and in-park entertainment specifically reopening in Hollywood Studios by clicking here. Remember, EPCOT is also reopening on July 15th. Both Hollywood Studios and EPCOT will be preceded in reopening by Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom on July 11th. And we will be keeping you posted on all aspects of the phased reopening along the way, so we hope you’ll stay tuned to the DFB. In the meantime, you can catch up on the latest information regarding the reopening of Disney Parks and destinations by clicking any of the links below. Are you hoping to visit Oga’s Cantina? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: 2019 Disney Restaurant ULTIMATE GUIDE: What You Need To Know About EVERY Restaurant Opening In Disney World and Disneyland in 2019! Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Cliffs Notes…Here’s What You Absolutely NEED To Know After The Galaxy’s Edge INFO BOMB Dropped Last Night! More Hints About Oga’s Cantina in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge? View the full article

As part of our phased reopening, guests can now book additional dining and experience reservations at Walt Disney World Resort. From dining inside Beast’s castle at Be Our Guest Restaurant in Magic Kingdom Park and the culinary adventures of World Showcase at EPCOT to select table-service restaurants in our Disney Resort hotels, guests can take advantage of a 60-day booking window (beginning July 7) to plan meals and other experiences. To help you plan, here are important updates to our food and beverage experience: In-Park Dining: Theme park guests will need valid park admission and a reservation for park entry through the new Disney Park Pass system, as well as a dining reservation for in-park, table-service restaurants for the same park on the same date. Dining reservations do not guarantee admission to the park.Disney Resort Hotel Dining: A confirmed dining reservation is required for day guests and reservations are highly recommended for guests staying overnight at a Disney Resort hotel. Disney Springs Dining: Select dining locations at Disney Springs are currently accepting reservations. Please visit https://DisneySprings.com/dining for schedules and availability.Guests can also take advantage of the new My Disney Experience mobile check-in feature, which allows guests to bypass the line at the podium and check in for dining reservations at select Walt Disney World Resort table-service restaurants on their own mobile devices. For reservations, booking windows and other offerings, visit our “Know Before You Go” page at https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/experience-updates/dine/. Be sure to also check out https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/ for the latest menus and offerings as we implement wellness, physical distancing and minimized contact for guests at our restaurants. We’re looking forward to welcoming you back to dine in our Walt Disney World Resort restaurants! Be sure to stay connected with Disney Parks Blog for more Disney dining updates. View the full article

Disney World will officially begin the phased reopening of its theme parks on July 11th with Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. Be Our Guest Sign A few months back, Disney canceled all existing dining reservations and shared that they would “reopen these bookings with a more limited number closer to when the parks reopen.” Now, dining reservations have officially opened to all guests again! All guests can now make advance hotel and theme park dining reservations up to 60 days in advance. Remember, if you are booking a dining reservation for inside the parks, you will need park admission, a reservation through the new Disney Park Pass reservation system, and a dining reservation. Do keep in mind that park hopping and Disney dining plans are unavailable at this time. Take a look at all of the dining locations expected to be open when the parks reopen here! ©Disney If you are booking at advance dining reservation at a hotel, it is important to note that a confirmed dining reservation is currently required for those not staying the night. This also applies to those looking to dine at a table service location at a hotel different from the one they’re staying at. Guests can currently book online, through the phone, or on the My Disney Experience App. We will continue to keep you updated on the reopening of Disney World, so stay tuned!! When are you planning to visit Disney World? Let us know in the comments below. Related posts: The Rubber Duckie Drink RETURNS! We’re Back at The Boathouse in Disney Springs on Reopening Day Terralina Crafted Italian Is Back OPEN in Disney Springs! REVIEW! We Ate at the Reopened Wolfgang Puck Bar and Grill (AND Their To-Go Counter!) in Disney World View the full article

Carnival Cruise Line announced it’s delaying the planned fall debuts at Port Canaveral of its newest, biggest ship Mardi Gras as well as the transformed Carnival Victory that was set to get new name Carnival Radiance. View the full article

We’ve gotta give Disney props — they make some super cute kitchenware! Drizella and Anastasia Pot Holders But really, those Anastasia and Drizella Pot Holders are fabulous! And now, you can serve up your snacks Disney-style with these awesome new additions! First, we invite you to relax, let us pull up a chair, as the dining room proudly presents this Beauty and the Beast Serving Stone! Given the iconic “Be Our Guest” musical number, Beauty and the Beast seems like the perfect movie to inspire kitchenware! Made with white marble and acacia with rose gold inlay, you can snag this serving stone for $74.99. ©shopDisney Or, if you prefer to keep it classic, check out this Mickey Mouse Lazy Susan Tray! Made from fired acacia wood this rotating tray also includes a chalkboard rim and soapstone pencil, so you can label your delicious appetizers! You can entertain with the main mouse himself for $99.99. ©shopDisney And finally, check out this Star Wars “Beware the Dark Side” Cheese Board and Tools Set! This acacia wood cheese board is hiding a secret, as it swivels open to reveal three cheese knives! You can add this to your kitchen collection for $39.99. ©shopDisney We think appetizers taste even better when they’re served on a Disney dish! Snag one of these serving trays to add a little extra magic to your next wine and cheese night! Need something to transport your snacks? Check out these new Baby Yoda coolers! Which of these serving trays is your favorite? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Our Favorite Star Wars Bounty Hunter Finally Shines In This New Kitchenware Collection! This NEW Inside Out Romper Has Us Feeling All Kinds of Interesting Emotions… Disney Just Released a Fly New Mickey Collection That’s Made With Recycled Plastic Bottles! View the full article