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All of a sudden, we’re learning LOTS of new details regarding Disney World’s phased reopening plan! Fantasia Mini Golf Course Some of the news has been really exciting (a new Flower & Garden and Food & Wine Epcot festival mash-up!) and some not-so-good (Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party got canceled!). Disney also shared lots of information regarding the new reservation system. And now we’ve just learned about another activity guests shouldn’t expect to see returning to Walt Disney World. According to their website, miniature golf will not be available for the time being. Screenshot From Disney World’s Website Disney World’s Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf and Winter Summerland will be closed until further notice. Standard golf and FootGolf will remain open. We hope to provide you with more details soon! Click here to see a list of guest experiences we know are being modified at the Disney World resort hotels! Do you enjoy recreational activities when you visit Disney World? Tell us about your favorite ones in the comments below! Related posts: BIG Changes Announced for Transportation and Water Parks When Disney World Reopens Here’s The Complete List of Retail Locations That Are Reopening in Disney Springs on May 20th! Could Disney World’s Water Parks Be Reopening SOON?! View the full article

Between Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party being canceled in 2020, Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival starting early this year, and Disney World 2021 Bookings scheduled to begin on June 28, we know there has been a ton of information to keep up with. Well, House of Blues Orlando just released an awesome deal you gotta see! House of Blues Orlando Calling all Annual Passholders, Disney Vacation Club Members, and Cast Members to the stage for this discount! As if you needed another reason to dine at their house, Disney Annual Passholders, Disney Vacation Club Members, and Disney Cast Members can ALL now enjoy 20% off their bill! This meal is hitting all the right notes! You can find House of Blues tucked into the West Side of Disney Springs. If you get lost, follow the rocking music, and you’ll be able to find the rustic wooden building. Since reopening on June 3, the restaurant has implemented new safety practices and is “excited to welcome you back” during their adjusted hours of operation. For the time being, you can visit: Monday – Friday 4pm-9pm Saturday and Sunday 12pm-9pm Restaurant: Live Music on The Front Porch: Monday – Friday | 4pm-9pm Saturday & Sunday | 12pm-9pm (4-5pm break) Happy Hour: Monday – Friday 4pm-5pm Saturday & Sunday 12pm-5pm Bourbon Bread Pudding Note that the Smokehouse is currently closed, but you can still enjoy live music at happy hour. We have been missing the bluesy atmosphere and southern and creole cuisine ourselves, so you just might see us taking advantage of this sweet deal! Check Out The Family Bundles Being Offered At House Of Blues! Will you be taking advantage of this 20% off deal? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: This Annual Passholder Holiday Weekend is Filled With DISCOUNTS and MORE in Disney Springs! Disney Springs Area Hotels DISCOUNT Alert! Find Out How to Watch the Disney World House of Blues’ Gospel Brunch LIVE This Sunday! View the full article

Disney has just released a BUNCH of details regarding the new required theme park reservation system for guests visiting Walt Disney World when the Resort reopens, including its official NAME! Walt Disney World’s Epcot We now know it’s officially called the Disney Park Pass System — and it will be going live in just a few days! But while we’re relieved to finally know WHEN and HOW we’ll be able to book our Disney World theme park visits again (with more information coming soon!), we were bummed to learn that guests will only be allowed to visit one park per day upon the reopening of the theme parks, according to information which Disney has just released. Per Disney, “At this time, Guests will be able to select one park per day; visiting more than one park per day will be temporarily unavailable upon the reopening of the theme parks due to attendance limitations.” Disney’s Hollywood Studios entrance That means no Park Hopper or Park Hopper Plus (the add-on ticket options that allow guests to visit multiple parks each day) until further notice. Entrance to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Disney also notifies that guests who currently have tickets that include Park Hopper or Park Hopper Plus will have ticket modification options available, and are suggested to visit Disneyworld.com/updates for more information. Disney also states that “We hope to bring back the ability to visit more than one park per day soon and will continue to offer these add-ons for 2021 ticket purchases.” We will continue to keep you posted on the developments surrounding Walt Disney World theme park tickets and the new Disney Park Pass System as they are revealed! To find out more information about the reopening of Walt Disney World Resort, you may visit any of the links below. What do you think so far of the Disney Park Pass System? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: NEWS! Walt Disney World to Utilize Guest Reservation System Upon Reopening Theme Parks NEWS: ‘Social Distancing Squads’ Will Make Theme Park Debut When Walt Disney World Parks Reopen NEWS! New Ticket Sales and Hotel Reservations On Pause for Initial Reopening Phase of Disney World View the full article

Disney World details theme park reservations, ends park-hopping for now View the full article

Yesterday, Disney shared a few reopening details including the fact that they would be canceling Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Magic Kingdom They also announced that the Epcot Food and Wine Festival would kick off on July 15th this year. And just this morning, Disney shared a full list of tours and special events that will not take place during the initial phase of reopening. Now, they have just released a BIG update regarding MagicBands. Disney will be discontinuing FREE MagicBands in January 2021. Previously, Disney World Hotel guests would receive a complimentary solid colored MagicBand. This will no longer be the case beginning next year. MagicBand Options ©Disney Instead, Disney plans to launch new offerings as part of the My Disney Experience app that will bring features of a MagicBand to your smart devices. While expanding upon the app’s Digital Key Feature (which allows guests to unlock their rooms using their smartphones), Disney will be “retiring complimentary MagicBand distribution” for all Disney Resort hotel guests starting January 1st, 2021. MagicBand reader in Walt Disney World Disney Resort hotel guests will still be able to purchase new MagicBands at a discounted price, and Disney says they will continue releasing new MagicBand colors and designs. These will continue to be sold at retail locations as well as online. New MagicBand display at World of Disney Guests who prefer not to purchase a discounted MagicBand will be able to use the My Disney Experience app or a Key to the World card during their visit. We’ll continue to provide you further details as soon as they’re released! What do you think about Disney’s decision to discontinue distributing free MagicBands to resort guests? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: The NEW Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway Designer Ears Are Coming to Disney World SOON! 10 Things You Can Personalize with Your Name in Disney World! Solutions For 5 Last-Minute Disney World Disasters! View the full article

Disney World’s theme parks will officially begin to reopen to guests on July 11th. Magic Kingdom At this time, all hotel and ticket sales have been placed on hold as Disney rolls out their brand new reservation system. But now, we have a HUGE update for guests looking to book a 2021 trip. Disney World 2021 bookings are scheduled to begin on June 28th. Disney just announced that all guests will be able to purchase new Disney Resort hotel packages and theme park tickets and make their theme park reservations for arrivals starting in 2021. These bookings open on June 28th. Magic Kingdom in Disney World Keep in mind that guests will be able to see theme park reservation availability before booking their trip. You don’t have to worry about purchasing a ticket package only to find out that you won’t be able to get into the theme park that day. Walt Disney World Stay tuned to DFB for all the latest updates on 2021 (and 2020!) bookings for Disney World. We’ll keep you updated! Click here to find out more details about theme park reservations! Are you looking forward to a 2021 Disney vacation? Tell us in the comments! Related posts: NEWS: Vice President Pence Discusses Disney World and Other Parks Reopening In Orlando Inspectors Deem Disney World as Ready to Reopen in Mid-July Frontera Cocina Launched Online Ordering in Disney Springs for ALL Your Taco To-Go Needs! View the full article

We’ve shared a few Disney-inspired crafts in the past, and we’ve even been inspired to paint ROCKS to look like our favorite Star Wars characters. But today we’re gonna see what we can come up with on a serious BUDGET! ©Lucasfilm Whether you’re looking to pass the time this weekend or your kiddos need to come up with some crafts for their virtual summer camps, we’re getting crafty with these DIY Disney projects that should keep your budget UNDER $5.00! DIY Disney Coloring Book Recently we shared 25 FREE printable coloring pages, and we wanted to come up with a way to keep your new works of art organized. So we thought, why not come up with a DIY coloring book? As long as you have a hole puncher, all you need to stock up on is some yarn or twine. © Matthew Lane @mattwithapen And if you already have both of those materials, then this project is completely FREE! What you’ll need: Coloring pages (check out these 25 FREE printable coloring pages to start!) A hole puncher (this is a bit more than $5 but is a reliable one if you don’t have your own) Yarn (we found some here on Amazon for under $5 that comes in a bunch of different color options) Credit: justcolor.net Stock up on some yarn for your DIY coloring book here! Instructions: Print out your coloring pages Stack each of the coloring pages neatly on top of each other (you can even add construction paper pages as covers!) Punch three holes along one of the sides Tie a small piece of yarn through each of the holes It couldn’t get any easier than that! Take a look at these awesome coloring pages that you can print right now, for FREE! DIY Disney Door Hanger Since we’ve all been spending more time at home over these past several weeks, having a space to call your own is so important! Whether it’s your bedroom or a home office, claim that door with a DIY Disney door hanger! Putting a Disney spin on this project is super easy! We recently spotted cute new door hangers in Disney Springs, so we thought…let’s make our own! Door Hangers What you’ll need: Foam door hangers (we found this 9-pack on Amazon for under $5!) Accessories and embellishments to fulfill your wildest dreams! This means glitter, markers, stickers, buttons, etc. The sky is the limit! (don’t want to hunt for goodies around the house? This box is more than $5 but will last you for YEARS!) © Amazon The instructions are fairly simple. Since the hangers are already made, all you need to do is decorate that door hanger to your heart’s content! Shop for these foam door hangers here! You could totally model different color hangers after different Disney characters! Maybe take the red hanger and make it look like Lightning McQueen! Or take that pink one from the set on Amazon and fashion it after Boo’s door in Monsters, Inc.! Looking for more craft ideas? Learn how to make your very own scratch & sniff stickers at home here! DIY Disney Paper Bag Puppets We were inspired by the stunning puppets that debuted last holiday season in Animal Kingdom for this next DIY craft! Holiday Puppets These paper bag puppets might not look EXACTLY like the polar bears and penguins wandering around the Tree of Life, but you can certainly be just as imaginative! What you’ll need: Paper lunch bags (we found this ONE HUNDRED pack at Target for just $1.99!) Googly eyes (you can get this 52 count pack of fun colorful googly eyes at Target for $1.99) Any other crafting supplies you want to decorate your puppet with (markers, glitter, yarn for hair, construction paper for clothes, etc. Hey — don’t you have some left over from those door hangers? ;-D) © Target Re-create your favorite Disney film with the paper bag puppets and put on a puppet show! Or maybe re-enact your favorite Disney parks stage show, like Fantasmic or Finding Nemo the Musical! Let’s look back on those incredible puppets from Animal Kingdom last holiday season here! DIY Mickey Ears Nothing says “Disney World” like a pair of Mickey ears or Minnie ears! These have been a classic park souvenir for years, but collecting these cuties can add up the dollars rather quickly. Updated Classic Minnie Ears What if we were to tell you that you can MAKE your very own ears for a fraction of the cost? It’s super easy to do since you can find the ears to use as a base online for under $5.00! What you’ll need: A base pair of Mickey ears (we found these for $3.99 each on Amazon!) Hot glue & hot glue gun Any craft decorations you can imagine for decorations: yarn, fabric, beads, bows, or pom poms! © Amazon Instructions are simple: since the ears are already made, all you need to do is gather your materials and begin attaching decorations to the ears with hot glue! Make sure you don’t over-do it with the hot glue! And be SUPER careful not to burn your fingers! Soon you’ll have a pair of ears that are entirely your own, and you won’t have to fight the crowds to score the newest pairs to hit the shelves! Shop for these Mickey ears here! DIY Slinky Dog Paper Link Chain When you can’t ride Slinky Dog Dash in Hollywood Studios, you can still channel your inner Toy Story fan by creating your very own Slinky Dog paper link chain! Slinky Dog in Toy Story Land What you’ll need: Brown, white, black construction paper Googly eyes Glue, Tape, or Stapler, and Scissors Instructions: Cut out evenly-sized strips of brown construction paper. You want to make sure the strips are long enough to create a chain link. Cut out as many as you like, but aim for at least 5 or 6 links! Loop each of the links one at a time to create one long chain, and secure each link with some glue, tape, or a staple! For the face, cut out a circular piece of brown construction paper and attach it to one end of the chain. Again, make sure all the proportions are correct! Cut out brown, black, and white pieces of paper to make his ears, eyes, and nose! Attach with glue or with tape. For bonus points, make a green collar! Use this photo below for a reference: Slinky Dog Dash ©Disney Want to be even more imaginative? Your Slinky Dog doesn’t have to be brown! Use any color of the rainbow to create your very own unique paper chain link. And obviously, you can make him as long as you want. If you have enough construction paper, maybe use this as an opportunity to create a paper link countdown to your next Disney World vacation! Missing Slinky Dog Dash? Take a virtual ride by clicking here! Need to stock up on some supplies? Some of these DIY projects require some basic crafting supplies that you can easily find online! If you happen to be missing any of these, or you’re currently in short supply, be sure to restock before you dive into your Disney crafting session! Pom Poms Pom poms are a great way to add some three-dimensional color to your crafts! We found this pack of 100 pom-poms for $4.99 on Amazon! © Amazon Add them to your Mickey ears, door hanger, or paper bag puppet! Stock up on your pom-poms here! Construction Paper When it comes to arts and crafts, construction paper is a STAPLE. Elevate your paper game by having a wide assortment of colors to choose from (plus it’ll hold up better!). © Target Like we mentioned earlier, you can use these to create a cover for your DIY coloring book, or you can use it to create your Slinky Dog paper chain! You can grab this pack of 240 sheets at Target for just $4.99! Grab some construction paper here! Buttons Buttons are a fun way to add some different dimensions and textures to your DIY creation. They would also make a unique substitution for googly eyes! © Amazon You can shop for this package that includes HUNDREDS of buttons for $9.99! Level up your button game by shopping here! Markers Like construction paper, markers are an essential arts and crafts supply. It’s a super-easy way to add a pop of color to anything you’re doing, and it makes creative endeavors a breeze! © Target Make sure you’re fully stocked on a fresh set of markers! We spotted this 20 count of colorful Crayola markers at Target for $3.99. Grab a new package of colorful markers here! Hot Glue Gun And finally, if there’s one tool we would recommend you grab before you begin crafting, it’s a hot glue gun. This one came with a lot of good reviews on Amazon, and it’s super affordable! © Amazon Whether you want to fashion a new pair of Mickey ears, or you want your new Disney door hanger to stand the test of time, a hot glue gun will be your best friend. Grab this one (it comes with 30 glue sticks!) on Amazon for $19.99. Shop for a new hot glue gun here! We hope these affordable DIY Disney crafts gave you some inspiration to bring some creativity to your evening or weekend plans! A trip to the craft store can QUICKLY add up, so we wanted to make sure you had plenty of options to make some crafts on a budget! With more free time on our hands these days, we think there’s nothing better than creating something original and spending some quality time with the family! What Disney DIY crafts have you created lately? Tell us in the comments! Related posts: 5 Disney Crafts You Can Do While Drinking Your Quarantine Wine Stash! CHECK THESE OUT! Brand NEW it’s a small world Ears Have Arrived! TWO New Artsy Designer Ears Are Coming Soon to the Disney Parks! See ‘Em HERE! View the full article

As many of you may know, Disney is implementing a BRAND NEW reservation system and up until this point, we had few details on how the system would operate. Cinderella Castle Now, Disney has just released ALL the details on when this new system will go live and what guests will need to do in order to get a reservation. Beginning June 22, Disney Resort and other select hotel guests with valid theme park admission can make reservations. On June 26th, Annual Passholders WITHOUT a resort stay can make reservations. Then on June 28, existing ticket holders can make reservations. Spaceship Earth These theme park reservations will be available through September 26, 2021, and will be based on your resort stay and ticket eligibility or ticket eligibility window. We will be updating you with ALL the details soon. Stay tuned. Are you planning to snag a reservation? Let us know in the comments below. Related posts: Your Questions Answered! Disney Just Canceled Everything! Here’s What’s Going On — And What You Should Do Next. Could This Annual Passholder GLITCH Keep You From Getting Into Disney World? Special Merchandise Events Bring the Force to Walt Disney World Ahead of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Opening! View the full article

When Disney World announced their plan to begin reopening on July 11th, they also announced they were pausing all hotel and ticket sales for the time being. Walt Disney World Resort entrance We know many of you have been eager to find out when you’d be able to start booking trips again, and it appears we’re closer to a solid answer. Disney just revealed that new hotel reservations and new tickets sales will resume “later this summer.” ©Disney If you were hoping to plan a trip to reopened Disney World, you’ll still have to wait a bit. We’ll let you know as soon as Disney shares a more concrete date to begin making new bookings. We’ll keep updating you on the latest from Disney World as we near their reopening. Check back for all the latest news and share your questions with us in the comments below. Are you planning to make a reservation when sales resume? Let us know below! Related posts: Why Disney World Could Be Very DIFFERENT When It Reopens Florida Surgeon General Warns That Current Measures Should Continue Until a Vaccine Exists. What Does That Mean for Disney World? NEWS: Disney World Cast Members Are Being Called to Return to Theme Park Restaurants, Festivals, and Hotels View the full article

It’s almost time for magic as we prepare for the reopening of Walt Disney World Resort theme parks, starting July 11 with Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom and followed July 15 by EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. We’re taking a deliberate approach that includes limits on attendance and controlled guest density to align with guidance from health and government authorities on physical distancing. We’re also using technology to power creative solutions as we develop new ways for guests to visit The Most Magical Place on Earth in this unique environment. To manage attendance during this reopening period we are introducing the new Disney Park Pass system. During this time, all guests with a ticket or Annual Pass will be required to make a reservation in advance for each park entry, using this new online tool on DisneyWorld.com. Here are a few important details to know about this new system: You’ll need a My Disney Experience account, as this is where your Walt Disney World Resort plans are stored and managed.You’ll also need a valid theme park ticket or Annual Pass that’s linked to your My Disney Experience account. If you have a Disney Resort hotel reservation, be sure to link it to your My Disney Experience account beforehand, as well. Once you’ve logged into your My Disney Experience account and linked your ticket, you’ll have access to a calendar of available reservation dates for each theme park. If you have a multi-day ticket, you will be required to make a park reservation for each date of your visit. Families and friends can link their tickets together and look to arrange theme park entries at the same time. Please note, park reservations are limited in number and subject to availability. Availability can change until the reservation is finalized. At this time, guests will be able to select one park per day; visiting more than one park per day will be temporarily unavailable upon the reopening of the theme parks due to attendance limitations. Guests with existing tickets that include the Park Hopper Option or Park Hopper Plus Option have options available to them for ticket modifications and cancellations, and can visit DisneyWorld.com/Updates for more information. We hope to bring back the ability to visit more than one park per day soon and will continue to offer these add-ons for 2021 ticket purchases. For Existing Ticket Holders and Annual Passholders: Beginning this week, we will reach out to existing ticket holders and Annual Passholders with more information on when they will be able to check availability to make their park reservations. We will open the Disney Park Pass system to these guests in phases, beginning with those with future Disney Resort and other select hotel stays. Later this summer, we will resume sales of 2020 tickets and Disney Resort hotel arrivals, based on availability of park reservations, while we continue to provide guests with existing tickets and Annual Passholders the opportunity to make park reservations for 2020 dates. Planning a New Trip for Next Year: By June 28, all guests will be able to purchase new Disney Resort hotel packages and theme park tickets and make their park reservations for arrivals starting in 2021 as our phased reopening continues. Guests will be able to view park reservation availability on DisneyWorld.com prior to purchasing their tickets. As you begin planning your upcoming visits, we’re also exploring engaging ways for guests to use their mobile tech to experience the magic – particularly now as the use of phones and apps continues to evolve. In 2021, we plan to unveil an innovative new offering as part of the My Disney Experience app that will bring features of a MagicBand to your smart devices, building on the app’s existing digital key feature. With this new offering on the horizon, we will be retiring our complimentary MagicBand distribution to Disney Resort hotel guests for new reservations with arrivals beginning Jan. 1, 2021. Disney Resort hotel guests will continue to have the option to purchase new MagicBands at a discount, and we’ll be introducing even more colors and designs featuring favorite Disney characters in the future. Guests who prefer not to purchase a discounted MagicBand will be able to use the My Disney Experience app or a Key to the World card during their visit. We will still offer MagicBands in retail locations and on shopDisney.com, and guests will be able to continue using the wearables throughout Walt Disney World Resort. We understand these updates may change the way you plan your visits to the Walt Disney World Resort theme parks and Disney Resort hotels for the time being. We are focused on making your Walt Disney World Resort experience magical, convenient and enjoyable. To find out more information, please visit DisneyWorld.com/Updates and continue to check back with us here at the Disney Parks Blog. You can also call the Disney Reservation Center, submit questions to the Disney Parks Moms Panel or speak with your travel provider for more details. We look forward to welcoming you back to The Most Magical Place on Earth! View the full article

With Disney World set to reopen its Disney Vacation Club Resorts on June 22, along with Disney’s Fort Wilderness, we’re ready to head back to some of our favorite hotels on property and catch up on EVERYTHING we’ve missed since March! Polynesian Village Resort Lobby But not so fast! While we were perusing which restaurants will open on June 22, we noticed there were SEVERAL dining experiences missing from those lists that made our jaws hit the floor! Here are six restaurants that we are SHOCKED to find will not be a part of their resorts’ initial reopenings. ‘Ohana ‘Ohana has consistently been one of our favorite character breakfasts on property, and their dinner service is equally as memorable and delicious! It broke our hearts when we heard that it won’t open right away along with the rest of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Mickey at ‘Ohana’s character breakfast! With the news that experiences like meet and greets and character dining will be unavailable when the parks and resorts reopen, we would have been less surprised if just the characters were temporarily removed from ‘Ohana’s breakfast service. But to hear that the restaurant will remain closed altogether for the time being was certainly shocking to us! ‘Ohana Breakfast Platter We do know, however, that Kona Cafe, Captain Cook’s, Pineapple Lanai, and Barefoot Pool Bar will be reopening on June 22! At least we can still get our beloved Tonga Toast! Check out some of our favorite things to eat at The Polynesian here! Chef Mickey’s Chef Mickey’s is a character dining experience first and foremost. With character dining temporarily suspended, Chef Mickey’s loses its biggest draw. That said, its location within Disney’s Contemporary Resort combined with the star-studded lineup of Disney characters you get to meet, makes it one of Disney World’s most popular restaurants. Mickey Mouse at Chef Mickey’s While we’re surprised Chef Mickey’s isn’t attempting to implement an alternative character dining experience like what we will see at Topolino’s Terrace, the fact that Chef Mickey’s is a buffet is probably another major reason why it won’t reopen right away. Is character dining a MUST when you visit Disney World? See how you can still do that here! California Grill We’ve also seen that most Signature Dining experiences will be temporarily unavailable when the resorts and theme parks reopen. That means that restaurants like California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort will remain closed. California Grill California Grill has sweeping views of Magic Kingdom, and one of the biggest benefits to dining here is that you can come back in the evening to watch Happily Ever After from a special viewing deck. With no fireworks being offered right away when the parks reopen, California Grill loses out on one of its best assets. Magic Kingdom Fireworks From Disney’s Contemporary Resort Still, lots of folks love to visit California Grill for its menu and refined atmosphere, and this is sure to be a disappointment for travelers with reservations in this initial reopening period. If you find yourself staying at Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, you can still dine at The Wave, The Wave Lounge, Contempo Cafe, and Cove Bar when the resort reopens on June 22. See what other MAJOR discoveries we’ve made so far from Disney World’s resort hotel reopening announcements. Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue at Fort Wilderness, along with Spirit of Aloha at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, both fall in the same category of dinner shows where you have the unique combination of dinner service as well as entertainment. Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue Pioneer Hall Players With entertainment offerings being temporarily suspended to promote physical distancing, dinner shows could most likely not open under conditions conducive with distancing requirements. For those staying at Disney’s Fort Wilderness in the coming weeks, you can still dine at P & J’s Southern Takeout, Meadow Snack Bar, and Crockett’s Tavern. See which restaurants ARE reopening on June 22 here! 1900 Park Fare 1900 Park Fare is a character buffet restaurant at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. In the morning, guests can meet characters including Mary Poppins, Alice in Wonderland, and Winnie the Pooh. For dinner, guests can meet characters from Cinderella (including those wicked Stepsisters Drizella and Anastasia!). Cinderella Like Chef Mickey’s, the combination of being both a buffet as well as a character dining experience make 1900 Park Fare a prime candidate for NOT coming back initially when Grand Floridian reopens. But where else are we supposed to get our Strawberry Soup!? Strawberry Soup at 1900 Park Fare While 1900 Park Fare could come back without its characters, it would most likely need to come back as a totally modified buffet experience, or a family-style or plated table service option in order to comply with the heath and safety guidelines Disney is following. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa WILL be reopening Grand Floridian Cafe, Gasparilla Island Grill, Enchanted Rose, and Beaches Pool Bar & Grill. Read more about the lack of character dining we’ll see when Disney World reopens here! Storybook Dining at Artist Point The final restaurant that we are shocked isn’t opening is Storybook Dining at Artist Point! This table service restaurant at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge recently went through a massive re-imagining, and what used to be a Signature Restaurant is now a whimsical character dining experience with Snow White! Storybook Dining at Artist Point We loved Storybook Dining when we last ate there so we’re super bummed to see it not returning in this initial reopening phase. Whereas many other character dining experiences are buffets, Storybook Dining could totally come back temporarily without its characters and still give us that awesome food we’ve come to fall in love with. Royal Prime Rib Roast If you’re staying at Wilderness Lodge, your food options that will be open for the time being are Whispering Canyon Cafe, Roaring Fork, and Geyser Point Bar & Grill. Read our full review of Storybook Dining at Artist Point here! While we expect all of these restaurants to eventually reopen (and some of them have already reportedly started to call back cast members!), it’ll definitely be a strange feeling to know that these popular restaurants are temporarily unavailable! Keep in mind that “resort hopping” will be limited when the resorts reopen, and if you are not staying at a particular resort, the only way you are allowed in is if you have a confirmed dining reservation at one of its restaurants! So be sure to plan ahead if you have summer travel accommodations at Disney World! Learn more about the new Disney World Resort hotel guidelines here! What restaurant are you most shocked to see will NOT reopen right away? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: The 12 Best Meals To Eat in Disney World…Without Leaving Your Hotel!! The Most Popular Disney World Restaurants (and Alternatives When They’re Full) Five Dining Memories To Make at Walt Disney World View the full article

Walt Disney World Resort will begin reopening to guests at select Resort hotels on June 22nd followed by the theme parks beginning on July 11th. Cinderella Castle While we have known for some time that — upon initial reopening — experiences around the Resort will see modifications (and, in some cases, will be unavailable), we are getting a full picture of what that means for specific offerings and special events. For instance, it was just announced that Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party has been canceled for this fall. (The Epcot Food and Wine Festival, however, will return SOON!). Offerings that will also be unavailable upon initial reopening include things like unique dining experiences (which you can see listed here), and enhancements such as backstage tours. At press time, these include — but are not limited to — the Disney Private VIP Tours and nature experiences including the Wild Africa Trek at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Animal Kingdom Tours sign We’ll take a look at the lists of unavailable experiences — as found on the Walt Disney World website — for each of these kind of offerings below. Walt Disney World Tours The following Walt Disney World Tours will be unavailable upon the initial reopening: Backstage Magic Behind the Seeds Disney Private VIP Tours Disney’s Family Magic Tour Disney’s Keys to the Kingdom Tour Disney’s The Magic Behind Our Steam Trains Tour Taste of Magic Kingdom Park VIP Tour The UnDISCOVERed Future World Ultimate Day of Thrills VIP Tour Ultimate Disney Classics VIP Tour Ultimate Nights of Adventure VIP Tour Up Close with Rhinos Walt Disney: Marceline to Magic Kingdom Tour World Showcase: DestiNations Discovered Wild Africa Trek Wild Africa Trek (Morning) Wild Africa Trek is also mentioned under the next group of impacted offerings, featuring nature experiences. Walt Disney World Nature Tours The following Walt Disney World Nature Tours will also be unavailable upon the initial reopening: A Path Less Traveled Tour Behind the Seeds Caring for Giants Dine with an Animal Specialist Epcot Seas Adventures – Aqua Tour Epcot Seas Adventures – DiveQuest Epcot Seas Adventures – Dolphins in Depth Savor the Savanna: Evening Safari Experience Sense of Africa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Starlight Safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Up Close with Rhinos Wanyama Safari Wild Africa Trek Wild Africa Trek (Morning) As a reminder, Disney has already stated that guests who have previously booked experiences that are impacted will receive refunds. Also note that Disney states that details may change, so we’ll be keeping you posted as more information is provided! To learn more about what the Walt Disney World Resort experience will look like upon reopening, you can visit the links below. What are your thoughts of the modified offerings at Walt Disney World upon reopening? Please let us know with a comment. Related posts: NEWS! Revised Park Hours Posted for Disney World’s Planned Reopening! How To Get Your Hands on the Starbucks “You Are Here” Disney Parks Mugs WITHOUT Actually Visiting the Parks! Check Out Which Disney World Attractions are Closed for Refurbishment This Week! View the full article

Here at DFB, we take pride in our Disney World trouble-shooting capabilities! We love decoding the theme parks and breaking down all of the key pieces of advice we need to equip y’all with so that you can have the best time EVER on your vacations! Hollywood Studios Recently it dawned on us while we’ve been dishing out Disney World advice to our family and friends that some of the theme parks’ biggest challenges might no longer be applicable when the parks reopen! We Feel Ya, Mickey Mouse Yes, we’re bummed that certain guest experiences are being modified or will be temporarily unavailable for a large portion of 2020, but try to look on the bright side — with less stuff happening, we might be in for a MUCH easier time at the parks when Disney World officially reopens July 11th and July 15th! Here are some major problems you likely WON’T have to solve in Disney World this year! Finding a Parking Space How much do you dislike parking at Magic Kingdom? No? Just us? Magic Kingdom Since the parks will be opening with a limited capacity, we’re thinking this could mean waaay fewer cars! Of course, more folks might be driving instead of flying to Disney World this year so we can’t guarantee you won’t still lose your car (as we have on occasion!). But the idea of an easy-breezy time finding our car at the Transportation and Ticket Center sounds like a dream! Ever lost your car at Disney World? Find out what you should do if this happens to you here! Getting a Seat on the Bus Sometimes finding a spot to sit down on the bus is next to impossible! We can count on one hand how many times we’ve actually been able to sit down and relax on a bus heading home from the parks at the end of the night! Normally we’re elbow to elbow, standing room only, and counting down the seconds ’til we get to our resort! Minnie Bus But thanks to fewer passengers being loaded onto Disney World’s buses when the parks reopen, and required limited capacity and physical distancing, finding a seat might not be such a rare treat! Now that’s a big change our tired feet and aching bodies could really get used to! Click here for the latest updates regarding Disney World’s ground transportation! A Shared Log It’s likely that when rides begin operating at Disney World again strangers won’t be seated together on some attractions that place guests in close quarters, like Splash Mountain. Logs are normally filled to capacity, but we have a feeling Disney World will be taking a lot of extra precautions by spacing out peeps as much as possible! This has some potential to be a one-log-per-family scenario! Splash Mountain And that’s just one example — think about riding Pirates of the Caribbean, it’s a small world, or even Spaceship Earth with smaller groups or JUST your fam (btw, Spaceship Earth WILL be reopening since its reno got postponed!). A lot fewer friends in our ride vehicles sounds downright magical to us — not to sound antisocial or anything! Omnimovers in Action on Spaceship Earth This also means PERFECT on-ride pics of JUST your family! No more wondering why grandma’s face is blocked by some guy in front of her in the pic from Frozen Ever After! Finally, a PhotoPass in-ride family portrait worthy of a frame! Waiting in Long Standby Lines And while we’re still awaiting more details about the new virtual queue system Disney World will be implementing, Disney CEO Bob Chapek has already stated rides will have significantly shorter wait times due to the parks operating with a limited number of guests! Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Fewer people? Less waiting? This is starting to sound like a pretty sweet deal if you ask us! Not Bringing Enough Hand Sanitizer With You Didn’t we hear somewhere that all the water rides and pools are having their H20 replaced with Purell? Boy wouldn’t that be nice, but we kid, WE KID! Travel-Size Hand Sanitizer Ok, hand sanitizer madness hasn’t gotten THAT bad, but here’s the thing — Disney World will provide plenty of free hand sanitizer as well as additional places for guests to wash their hands when the parks reopen. Don’t freak out if you can’t find the stuff at your local grocery stores. Rest assured hand sanitizer will be in high supply! Click here to learn about the new feature Disney added to its app that shows guests where the nearest hand sanitizing station is located! Having to Stake Out Your Spot for the Parade or Fireworks Even though we’re sad about Disney World’s parades and fireworks being canceled for now, at least we won’t have to lose an hour (or MORE!) of our time staking out the perfect viewing spot! (Real talk — we love the fireworks and parades and are quite bummed these will be missing for a while — and we know lots of you are, too — but we’re trying to see the bright side.) Heavy Fireworks Crowds We’re also not going to miss getting caught and almost trampled in the mass exodus of people once the parade and firework crowds let out. That doesn’t mean we won’t be wishing for these special events to return — but if there’s a silver lining to be found, we’ll just enjoy more time on rides than waiting for shows! Click here to learn more about the parades and fireworks being put on hold in Disney World Making Awkward Chit-Chat With Disney Face Characters Since most character experiences (except for Topolino Terrace’s character breakfast) won’t be resuming right away, another thing we’ll be cutting back on is the awkward small talk we sometimes have with face characters. Meeting Mickey and Minnie seems easy-breezy, but coming up with a few topics to discuss with princesses requires a lot of effort! Snow White! Don’t get us wrong — we love a chance to gab with Cinderella or Snow White! But there are only so many ways a grown man or woman can ask about gooseberry pies or talking mice before it starts to get weird! We’re just trying to stay positive and hopeful about the new routine once Disney World reopens (which is shaping up to be something we NEVER thought we’d ever experience!). But if you only take away one piece of info from this story, remember this — Disney World is so much more than just a sum of its parts. Take some of those parts away, and it will still be Disney World, no matter what! We just have to look on the bright side! Read about 6 good things that might come out of Disney World’s temporary closure, click here! What are some things you’re looking forward to not having to deal with when Disney World reopens? Tell us what they are in the comments below! Related posts: How To Know If Disney World Is The Right Place For a First Date…! We’ve Reached the End of Round THREE in the Disney World Rides and Attractions Throw Down! Which Attractions Made the Cut? Disney World Parades, Fireworks, and Character Meet and Greets Will Be Temporarily Suspended When Theme Parks Reopen View the full article

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ICYMI, yesterday delivered a LOT of news about special events at Walt Disney World Resort. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party With decisions made to promote safety in light of the current global health situation, it was announced, for instance, that Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party has been canceled for the fall. The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, however, will return — and SOON! (You can read all about it here.) Of course, these are just two examples of Special Events and unique experiences that are typically available to guests, either as seasonal offerings or year-round enhancements. Afternoon Tea at The Grand Floridian And — even though we have known for some time that experiences will be modified, with many not offered upon the initial reopening of Walt Disney World — a full list of experiences that will NOT be available upon reopening has been added to the Walt Disney World website. Of course, standing reservations have been canceled for experiences, and the ability to book these experiences has been unavailable since. But we thought this specific list would be helpful for those currently in the planning stages. Walt Disney World Dining Experiences Offerings that will not be available include select special Dining Events — ranging from Afternoon Tea at The Grand Floridian to Jiko Wine Tasting and more (such as Dining Packages for select shows and spectaculars) — as listed below: Afternoon Tea at the Garden View Tea Room Cake Decorating Experience at Amorette’s Patisserie Circle of Flavors: Harambe at Night Dine with an Animal Specialist Dining with an Imagineer – Cítricos Dining with an Imagineer – The Hollywood Brown Derby Disney Early Morning Magic – Fantasyland Epcot Forever Dining Package Fantasmic! Dining Package Festival of the Lion King Signature Dining Package Highway in the Sky Dine Around Jiko Wine Tasting Rivers of Light Dining Package Savor the Savanna: Evening Safari Experience Sense of Africa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Signature Celebration at Cinderella’s Royal Table Taste of Magic Kingdom Park VIP Tour Tiffins Talks Victoria & Albert’s Chef’s Table Dinner Wanyama Safari Wonderland Tea Party at 1900 Park Fare Walt Disney World Dessert Parties Of course, we have also known that — upon the initial reopening — nighttime spectaculars and parades (essentially, in-park events which lend themselves to large group gatherings) will not be part of the park experience. This naturally affects the availability of Dessert Parties and Dining Packages, which are add-on offerings that include reserved viewing areas for these popular shows. The Dessert Parties that will NOT be available upon reopening include: Fantasmic! Dessert & VIP Viewing Experience Ferrytale Fireworks: A Sparkling Dessert Cruise Fireworks Dessert Party at Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert Party with Plaza Garden Viewing Frozen Ever After Dessert Party Pirates & Pals Fireworks Voyage Rivers of Light Dessert Party Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party at Disney’s Hollywood Studios As a reminder, Disney has already stated that previously booked experiences that are affected by cancellations will be refunded, and you can read about that here. We will be taking a look today at additional experiences that will not be available upon the reopening of Walt Disney World, which includes select Tours, Nature Experiences, and more. In the meantime, to learn more about the upcoming reopening of Walt Disney World Resort — which begins with select Disney Resort hotels on June 22nd, followed by the theme parks starting with Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom on July 11th and EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on July 15th — you can visit any of the links below. What do you think of these modifications? Please let us know with a comment. Related posts: 36 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do at Walt Disney World! The 10 Disney Meals You Don’t Know About — But Should! When Does Disney World Start Putting Up Its Christmas Decorations? View the full article

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During this Father's Day in Central Florida, head out for a round at Topgolf with dad or visit the springs instead. Take a bike ride or have a backyard barbecue. Here's a list of ideas for how to celebrate with dad. View the full article

Military Discounted Tickets have NOT been announced for the 2020 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. UPDATE 18 June 2020 – Disney has officially cancelled the 2020 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Disney will be refunding any pre-paid tickets. If you purchased yours ahead of time from Shades of Green, contact them directly. NOTE: General Public dates […] The post Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party – 2020 – Cancelled appeared first on Military Disney Tips Blog. View the full article

As Hong Kong Disneyland Reopens, Guests Once Again ‘Believe in Magic’ View the full article

There’s a LOT we know about Walt Disney World’s plans to reopen in the coming weeks, but there’s a lot we DON’T know yet. Entering Walt Disney World Resort We know that certain Disney World hotels are opening on June 22nd, the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom are reopening on July 11th, and Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios are reopening on July 15th. One this we DON’T know, however, is when Disney World’s two water parks — Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon — will open back up. But a post on one of the Disney World Cast Member union Facebook pages indicates it could be soon! Typhoon Lagoon Plenty of Disney World Cast Members for restaurants, festivals, and hotels have been called back to work and so have Cast Members for attractions. And in a Facebook post for Unite Here! Local 362 — a union representing Disney Cast Members — full-time attraction Cast Members at the water parks are being called to go back to work on June 28th. Enjoy a day at Blizzard Beach! This is the same time that other Cast Members are being called back for early summer reopening dates, and this COULD mean that the water parks are reopening sooner than we thought! ©Disney But, so far, we don’t know when Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon will reopen as Disney has made no official announcement. However, we DO know that the H2O Glow Nights at Typhoon Lagoon have been canceled for 2020. H2O Glow Nights Whenever Disney does announce when the water parks are reopening, you KNOW we’ll tell you ASAP! So stay tuned for more reopening info! Read MORE about Cast Members coming back to work here! Will you visit Disney World’s water parks when they reopen? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: NEWS! Even MORE Disney World Cast Members Were Called Back Today! Typhoon Lagoon vs Blizzard Beach? Which Disney Water Park is Worth Your Non-Park Day? 38 Things You Didn’t Know Guest Services Could Do For You in Disney World View the full article

Disney World just made some MAJOR announcements about some of their 2020 events. We just learned that a modified version of the Epcot Food and Wine Festival will begin when the park reopens on July 15th (without the Eat to the Beat Concert series). And, in LESS fortunate news, Disney announced that Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party for 2020 has been canceled and H2O Glow Nights have also been canceled. These HUGE pieces of festival news have a lot of folks asking…what’s going to happen to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Epcot’s International Festival of the Holidays (which features the Candlelight Processional)?! Epcot Candlelight Processional The news is…Disney hasn’t made a decision about their winter seasonal events yet. Main Street at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party According to a post on Disney Parks Blog, Disney World is “monitoring our new environment closely, and will make a decision on these events as we continue to learn more from government and health officials. As always, our goal is to explore every option and look at ways in which we can still host events and festivals full of Disney magic, while still operating responsibly with the health and safety of our guests and cast members in mind.” Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party was canceled, in part, because major parts of this event includes stage shows, fireworks, parades, and character meet-and-greets, and those things will not be happening initially when Disney World reopens. Those things are ALSO huge parts of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, but as the global health crisis is constantly evolving, so too are the decisions being made by Disney. Mickey’s Very Merry Parade Tickets for these special events (and tickets for Disney World in general) have been suspended, and there are no dates announced for either MVMCP or Epcot’s International Festival of the Holidays. But you KNOW the second there is news, we’ll fill you in on all the deets! To read more about Disney’s seasonal event cancellations, click here! What do you think of Disney’s seasonal events upon reopening? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: The Holidays Will Be VERY DIFFERENT at Disney World This Year! Why Disney World Could Be Very DIFFERENT When It Reopens Consider Making THESE Weird Choices On Your Next Disney World Trip. View the full article

Disney World cancels Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Eat to the Beat concerts View the full article

Disney has made some calls about what to expect in the months following the park reopenings. Sugar Ray performs during the Eat to the Beat concert series We just got some serious clarification for the future of Disney World’s 2020 special events. To our delight, the 2020 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival will occur, but in a new form — A Taste of Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. Unfortunately, one popular offering will not be available; the Eat to the Beat Concert Series has been canceled. Eat to the Beat Concerts are extremely popular and typically draw large crowds. In the interest of physical distancing and the safety of guests, performers, and Cast Members; Disney has announced that they will not be hosting these concerts this year. Wilson Phillips at Eat to the Beat They have, however, introduced a replacement. Local Epcot entertainment like Mariachi Cobre, the JAMMitors, and more will be performing at the America Garden Theatre in lieu of the concert series. Performances will be spread out over the course of the day so that guests have more of an opportunity to see them. Eat to the Beat Concert Series We will be learning a lot more about what a reopened Disney World will look like in the coming days — especially with the reopening of some Disney World resort hotels on June 22nd. Keep an eye on DFB for all of the latest updates and tips to navigating Disney’s new normal. Click here to learn more about the pared-down version of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival! Sad that Eat to the Beat is canceled? Share your thoughts in the comments! Related posts: Are Disney World’s Epcot Food and Wine Festival Eat to the Beat Concerts Being Canceled? Final Performer Announced for Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival Eat to the Beat Concert Series! FULL MENU For The NEW Cool Wash Booth at the 2019 Epcot Food & Wine Festival! View the full article