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Curiouser and curiouser, indeed! Disney Style From new face masks to Corksicles, we’ve spotted some awesome new merch on our visit to Disney Springs today. And we’re falling down the rabbit hole for the Alice in Wonderland phone case we spotted at the DisneyStyle store! The design includes the iconic teacups and the case also has a pocket that can fit up to two cards. Alice in Wonderland Phone Case It also includes an adjustable strap that connects to the phone case for hands-free carrying! For $44.99, you can grab one for yourself as an Unbirthday present! This Disney Springs restaurant is bringing back brunch SOON! Do you own a Disney phone case? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: What’s New in Disney Springs! August 10, 2018 What’s NEW At Disney Springs? A WHOLE LOT! Check it out…. What’s New at Disney Springs — Loungefly Backpacks, Star Wars Merch, Pins, and More! View the full article

The new health and safety precautions at Disney Springs require all guests to wear a face covering in order to enter. But if you’re looking to stock up on extra masks while you’re there, we found some new designs at Chapel Hats! Chapel Hats Earlier this week, we also spotted some super-fancy face masks at this store (including a sequined design!), so we’ve been on the lookout for any new arrivals. And today, we saw two new face mask designs make their way into Chapel Hats! While these aren’t quite as flashy as the versions we spotted earlier this week, they’re great if you’re looking for something a little more understated. We found a solid red face mask available for $9.99. Red Face Mask And there was a red and white striped face mask, also priced at $9.99. Red and White Striped Face Mask So if you’re looking to stock up on some extra masks while visiting Disney Springs, you can swing by Chapel Hats to snag one of these designs! Read everything you need to know about wearing a face mask at Disney World here! Have you spotted any fun face mask designs for sale? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: The Art of Shaving Has Reopened at Disney Springs in Disney World. But You Can’t Get a Beard Trim…YET! PHOTOS and TIPS: Our FULL Experience From Reopening Day at Disney Springs 7 Tips For Wearing a Face Covering in Disney World View the full article

Disney World is definitely the Most Magical Place on Earth — at least we think so! While the parks already sprinkle pixie dust on your vacation regularly, they’ll even go the EXTRA mile with a few surprises! Festival of Fantasy Parade Although you might be able to meet Mickey or watch the Festival of Fantasy parade on a normal basis, there are a few rare things that happen in Disney World that most people don’t get the chance to see…unless you know where (and when!) to look! But, we’re giving YOU all the details, so you can keep an eye out for these uncommon sights the next time you’re in the parks! No Strings Attached Pass (AKA a Pinocchio Pass) You may have received a “Multiple Experiences” FastPass in Disney World if a ride you’re waiting for breaks down, but the “No Strings Attached” Pass, otherwise known as a Pinocchio Pass is like the HOLY GRAIL of passes. This golden ticket can get you anything from a free FastPass to a snack item and even some new merchandise! Pinocchio Pass Unfortunately, though, Pinocchio Passes are usually given out when something goes wrong during your trip (so don’t expect to be able to ask a Cast Member for one whenever you like!). If a Cast Member wants to add some extra magic to your day to try and fix a problem, you might be given one of these to rectify a problem. It’s a really wonderful way to brighten your day, especially since unexpected things happen on vacations all the time. Click here to see what to do if things go wrong on your Disney trip! Rainy Day Cavalcades Florida gets a LOT of rain, so there’s bound to be more than a few days when the weather gets in the way of outdoor entertainment in Disney World. While fireworks might be canceled altogether if the weather prevents them, there is actually a version of the parades meant for these kinds of circumstances! Although the parks will usually delay the parades first to see if the rain will subside, the “normal” parades may be canceled if the floats or costumes could be damaged. Minnie Mouse in the Rainy Day Cavalcade! They’ll send out a Rainy Day Cavalcade instead so you can still spot your favorite characters! Recently at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, we witnessed a cavalcade in the rain where the pirates carried mops! So, basically, it was the cutest thing ever!! And, we’ve seen Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party showcase a few characters in their holiday best, waving to guests on Main Street from a trolley. It might not be the parade you were expecting, but it still is so much fun to watch!! Click here to learn more about the Rainy Day Cavalcade! Rain-Check Voucher Speaking of rain, sometimes Disney has to make a few changes to their own schedules due to unforeseen circumstances. During one of the last Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party events we attended, it was VERY rainy — like raining cats and dogs, you guys. Even though we had a great time, it did affect the party’s entertainment, attractions, and characters. Magic Kingdom Rain Check Voucher When we were leaving, we received a “rain-check voucher” as a way of making up for the major changes the rain caused during the party. It basically stated that we would automatically receive a 1-day Disney Park ticket OR we could call Disney to have our ticket switched to another Magic Kingdom hard ticketed event in the future. Magic Kingdom Rain Check Voucher Pretty neat, right?? BUT, there wasn’t much of a notification about this! A lot of guests left the park without realizing that they received a “rain-check voucher.” So, you’ll want to ask at guest relations if your event gets rained out or check your My Disney Experience app to see if a voucher has turned up. Click here to learn more about Rain-Check Vouchers in Disney World! An Empty Disney World With all the wonderful Cast and Crew Members, along with the crowds of guests visiting the parks, it’s pretty hard to imagine an empty Disney World. Although it’s rare, it DOES happen from time to time! Here are a few ways you can possible experience a (mostly) empty Disney park. Kiss Goodnight If you stick around after the fireworks to let the crowds thin out before leaving, you may get a chance to see the “Kiss Goodnight” show that the Magic Kingdom puts on. The castle puts on a brief light show with music and a sweet announcement that the park has closed for the day. Main Street, U.S.A. at the End of the Night During this time, the park is usually mostly empty (so it’s perfect for those Nighttime Magic Shots in front of the castle without anyone around). Passholder Previews Sometimes when there is an Annual Passholder preview for a new land, there’s a limited amount of people that are allowed in that section of the park. When Pandora opened early for Passholder previews in 2017, we just WALKED ON to Flight of Passage without a huge line (unheard of nowadays!!). Pandora Plus, we practically had no wait to get a Pongu Lumpia and a Night Blossom to go along with it at Pongu Pongu. After-Hours Events The After-Hours events are also a GREAT way to take advantage of MUCH shorter lines, exclusive entertainment, and fewer people in the parks! There aren’t as many people who attend these hard-ticketed events so you can see and do more things than you’d typically be able to during the day. The downside to this though — these events do cost a pretty penny, so if you’re interested, see if your budget can fit an After-Hours event. Villains After Hours Plus, who wouldn’t want to party with ALL THE VILLAINS or go on a late-night waterslide trip at Typhoon Lagoon with glow sticks?? Click here to learn more about Villains After Hours in Disney World! Hurricane in Disney World Even though it’s smack dab in the middle of hurricane central, did you know that Disney World is actually deemed one of the safest places to be during a hurricane in Florida? If you happen to visit the parks during hurricane season, you might need to know that your vacation could change in some weird ways (it helps to have some pro-survival tips!). Oh no! It’s raining in the Magic Kingdom! While the parks might be a lot emptier before possibly closing as a safety precaution, hotels even have specific set-ups for hurricanes. The resorts plan activities to keep guests of all ages entertained as they’re kept inside during the hurricane, and they’ll even typically bring out some fan-favorite characters to meet with guests! Polynesian Village And, in case you wonder what happens to the Disney Skyliner during a storm, the gondolas are taken off the lines and stored (so no gondolas swinging in the wind!). Disney Skyliner Preparation for Dorian The parks can close in an abundance of caution, but they try to reopen as quickly as safely possible. Visiting during a hurricane may not seem ideal, but it can be a very unique experience. Want to know some tips for planning a Disney World vacation during hurricane season? We’ve got everything you need to know here! RARE Characters! Don’t get us wrong, folks! We LOVE see classic characters like Mickey and Cinderella when we’re visiting Disney World. However, sometimes you can spot some SUPER RARE characters during your visit. Character Palooza Every once in a while, an unadvertised event can happen in Disney’s Hollywood Studios called Character Palooza! This is hard to pin down and can change locations and times each day, so it really is all about being in the right place at the right time! During this awesome meet-and-greet, upwards of 10 characters, usually the characters on the steamboat at the end of Fantasmic, will gather in this one spot to briefly meet guests! Fantasmic! Sometimes a smaller version of Character Palooza will even pop up at the International Gateway over in Epcot with Mickey and Minnie or even princesses and villains, if you’re lucky. Holiday-Exclusive Characters The holidays may be a great time to visit Disney World in general, but they also bring out some AWESOME character costumes that are only seen during these events! We’re not just talking about Halloween and Christmas — you can also spot them during the 4th of July, Easter, and more! Mr. Easter Bunny and Mrs. Easter Bunny Many of the characters will greet in the resorts or even special spots in the parks (like the American Adventure Pavilion for the 4th of July). Unscheduled Character Appearances Did you know that sometimes characters will even ride attractions inspired by their films?? It’s not super common to see it, but sometimes Alice or the Mad Hatter will hop on the Mad Tea Party, Cinderella or her stepsisters will wave to guests on Prince Charming Regal Carousel, and Aladdin or Jasmine will fly on the Magic Carpets. Wanna Take a Carousel Ride With Drizella?? These special character rides happen on SUPER rare occasions but if you happen to be in the right spot at the right time, you could make a REALLY unique memory! Take a look at things you DIDN’T know you could do in Disney World! Even though you might not see these things very often in Disney World, they make for some pretty special memories if you have! Keep your eyes peeled when you’re navigating Disney World — you never know what unique experiences you might walk right into! Have you seen any of these rare things in Disney World? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: DFB Video: Can You Believe They Do This in Disney World?! Learn to Draw Three Mickey Cartoons with a Disney Artist From HOME! You Have to See the Sweet Way Disney World Is Giving Back to the Community This Easter! View the full article

The counter service window at Wine Bar George — The Basket — has rolled out a new Corkcicle design in celebration of a popular frozen beverage! The Basket at Wine Bar George If you’re new to the term “Corkcicle” let us introduce you! You can purchase these adorable, reusable cups at The Basket, and they come filled with your choice of frozen drink. We’ve spotted a few new designs lately, like the Colorblock Corkcicle, and now we have another gorgeous option to add to the lineup! In honor of National Rosé Day (which is June 13th, for those looking to celebrate accordingly!), The Basket at Wine Bar George has released a new limited-edition design called the Strawberry Shortcake Corkcicle! Strawberry Shortcake Corkcicle You can snag one of these beauties for $35 (while supplies last!) and it includes a complimentary Frosé or other frozen drink of your choice! So, cheers to National Rosé Day! Check out our review of these DELICIOUS fries and frozen drink pairings at The Basket! Do you have any of the Corkcicle designs from The Basket at Wine Bar George? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: SPOTTED: A NEW Colorful Corkcicle Arrives at The Basket at Wine Bar George in Disney Springs Say Cheers with the NEW Glampagne Corkcicle (and FREE Drink) in Disney World! And Then There Were None! The NEW Corkcicles at Wine Bar George in Disney Springs Are Sold Out! View the full article

Disney Parks around the world have started to open started to reopen. Mystic Manor at Hong Kong Disneyland Although Shanghai Disneyland has been open since May and Disney World and Disneyland are both projected to open in July, there hasn’t been much news on the other Disney Parks. However, the Disney Explorers Lodge Hotel has now reopened in Hong Kong Disneyland for everyone to visit! While the parks still remain closed since they first shut down in January, Hong Kong Disneyland is looking to reopen soon. Tomorrowland in Hong Kong Disneyland Character dining is open again at the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel as Cast Members begin to return and set up similar health and safety protocols to Shanghai Disneyland. Disney Explorers Lodge is just another step in Hong Kong Disneyland’s reopening process. Hong Kong Disneyland Resort Although Disney hasn’t made any official announcements surrounding when the parks will reopen, we will continue to keep you up-to-date on all the theme park news from around the world! Here’s everything you need to know about Disney World’s re-opening plans! Have you been to Hong Kong Disneyland before? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: NEWS! Hong Kong Disneyland Has Closed Temporarily DFB Video: Our Top Picks for the Most Outrageously Expensive Disney Experiences! DFB Video: Latest Disney News — Parks Extend Closure, Discounts on Future Stays and Ways to Stay Busy at Home! View the full article

Disney+ is blowing up with new and exciting content, like the recent release of Artemis Fowl and the upcoming debuts of Hamilton and The One and Only Ivan. ©Disney Although we’re excited about everything coming to the streaming service soon, we just heard some news that has us wanting to stomp our feet with excitement!! During the ABC game show “Don’t,” Ryan Reynolds gave fans a little teaser saying that Dinosaurs would be coming to Disney+ this Fall. In case you were living under a prehistoric rock in the 1990s, Dinosaurs was created by the Jim Henson Productions and ran for 65 episodes on ABC. ©ABC Through comedy (not the momma!!) and musical numbers, the sitcom commented on modern life and society through the lives of the Sinclair family. The star of the family was Baby Sinclair (who reminds us of a more talkative version of Baby Yoda from a prehistoric time far, far away). ©ABC Dinosaurs was a fun and interesting show that we are honestly so excited to be able to binge again when it makes its way to Disney+ soon! Although we aren’t sure when the release date of the series will be this Fall, we will keep you updated on more news. Take a look at everything coming to Disney+ this month here! Did you ever watch Dinosaurs growing up? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: Here’s EVERYTHING Coming to Disney+ in May! You Can Watch The NEW Simpsons Short FREE on Instagram for 24 Hours! THIS IS NOT A DRILL! Boba Fett Will Join the Cast of The Mandalorian on Disney+! View the full article

At this time, Disney World hasn’t revealed what their virtual queue system will look like when the theme parks reopen in July. But it seems like it is all but certain Disney will implement SOME sort of virtual queue experience, but it’s scope and intricacies are unknown at this time! World of Disney Virtual Queue sign We’ve seen Virtual Queues already in place at some experiences like World of Disney for when crowds get large. At Universal Orlando, not every attraction had virtual queues, so we may not see EVERY ride and attraction at Disney World add one. That said, we have a few ideas for which rides we think TOTALLY need a Virtual Queue in Disney World. One of the pros of Virtual Queues is that much of your “waiting” in line happens before you even step into the physical queue space! Much like FastPass+, you wait for your designated return time, and then you enter the attraction with an expedited wait time from there. That means that you would walk through the queue area at a much quicker pace! Universal queue We’ve already seen Disney implement Virtual Queues with Rise of the Resistance, to mixed reviews. But most would say that the in-queue experience tends to be smoother and faster (well…most of the time)! Rise of the Resistance There are SEVERAL rides at Disney World with less-than-stellar queue areas. They are either entirely outdoors (making for a super hot, super NOT fun experience), or they are just plain boring and long with nothing to do or look at! These are our first prime candidates! Read about our case for MORE Virtual Queues in Disney World! Big Thunder Mountain Railroad The queue for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is entirely open-air, with relatively no air conditioning to relieve you from the Florida heat. Big Thunder Mountain in Disney World While there are a couple of fun, interactive elements throughout the queue, like “blowing up” dynamite out on the mountain or checking out all the odd cages full of canaries, it’s not nearly as interactive as the queues for Peter Pan’s Flight or even Haunted Mansion. The “wildest ride in the wilderness” would definitely benefit from a Virtual Queue where we don’t have to stand in that line for an hour! Look back on the opening of Rise of the Resistance and their Virtual Queue system here. Space Mountain While we appreciate great air conditioning as much as the next person, we’re including Space Mountain on this list because it is an incredibly LONG queue. Space Mountain Space Mountain sometimes offers interactive games along the standby queue that give kids and adults something stimulating to do while standing in line. If this isn’t available, there are space-themed games you can play in the Play Disney Parks app. Space Mountain While interactive games on the Play Disney Parks app is a decent alternative to just standing in line, we would much prefer a Virtual Queue where we can just walk right on to the ride, more or less, when our return time comes up. And while the Star Tunnel’s music is among our favorites, it already takes several minutes just to walk through the entire hallway. That’s plenty of time for us! Learn about our experience with Virtual Queues at Universal Orlando’s grand re-opening here! Flight of Passage Some folks love certain aspects of the standby queue for Flight of Passage. Much of the queue is indoors, and there are some pretty interesting things to look at! But to get there, you still have to stand in a long, and we mean LONG, outdoor queue. Flight of Passage Years after the attraction has opened, Flight of Passage still frequently has a wait time of two or more hours, so a virtual queue could be a very welcome change for this ride! Read more about how Disney World is considering adding Virtual Queues to their parks. Slinky Dog Dash Slinky Dog Dash is another attraction in high demand, meaning that it is HARD to snag a FastPass for the attraction. And if you can’t snag a reservation, you have to resort to standing in the standby queue, and let’s just say…it’s miserable! Slinky Dog Dash Wait Time You would think that with all the innovations and improvements made to the rides and attractions over the years, the queue experience would grow and evolve with them! But Slinky Dog Dash is your typical 100% open-air, outdoor switch-back queue. And with wait times regularly well above one hour, that’s a LOT of time to stand around in the Florida heat! Check out our video on tackling Disney’s most popular rides here! Soarin’ Soarin’ also offers interactive games that are projected on the walls of the queue area from time to time through the Play Disney Parks app. The queue area for Soarin’ But if you don’t have the Play Disney Parks app, Soarin’ can be one pretty uneventful queue experience. While the app is a good boredom-buster while you’re waiting in line, like Space Mountain, we would rather walk onto the ride when it’s time to hop in line! Learn more about the massive transformation coming to EPCOT here! Kilimanjaro Safaris If you’re looking for a quintessential Animal Kingdom experience, there’s nothing better than Kilimanjaro Safaris. This is a truly one-of-a-kind attraction, not just at Disney World, but around the world! Kilimanjaro Safaris Wait Time The ride has seen some updates throughout the years. Its original version dealt with the dangers of poaching, and during the middle of your tour of the Harambe Wildlife Reserve, you would find yourself in the crosshairs of poachers! The ride has since been updated to just be a tour of the Reserve. Kilimanjaro Safaris Lions The queue area for Kilimanjaro Safaris is long and entirely outdoors. The pre-show video is a fun preview of the animals that you’ll see on safari, but we would much rather skip to the good part: the live animals themselves! Check out these hidden GEMS at Animal Kingdom! Rock N Roller Coaster Our final attraction that we would love to see get a Virtual Queue is Rock N Roller Coaster! Until you reach the pre-show room where you have your encounter with Aerosmith, there is quite literally nothing to do in the queue. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Entrance Most of it is outdoors in a traditional switch-back configuration. And while much of it is shaded, the extended queue can easily stretch around the front of the building, creating a very unpleasant, sunny experience. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster line Virtual queues for Rock N Roller Coaster could also make for an easier way of planning your trip to the far end of Hollywood Studios, where many guests will often try to get back-to-back FastPasses for Rock N Roller Coaster and its neighboring attraction, Tower of Terror. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror With FastPass+ temporarily suspended, guests will need to come up with another way of easily experiencing these two rides, and Virtual Queues may be just the solution! Read more about Disney’s decision to temporarily suspend FastPass+ here! There’s no question that the queueing experience at Disney World is already going to change drastically with the temporary suspension of FastPass+. And with a more-than-likely Virtual Queue system on its way, everything we know about planning your day around what rides you want to experience could look TOTALLY different! These changes are necessary as part of the new health and safety protocols, but we think some of these attractions will really benefit from having a new way of “waiting” in line! [cysc id=’Disney_Parks_Reopen’] What queue at Disney World do YOU think needs an upgrade, or could really benefit from having a Virtual Queue? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: We’ve Reached the End of Round THREE in the Disney World Rides and Attractions Throw Down! Which Attractions Made the Cut? FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND — Which Disney World Ride Will Win The PRIZE?? Three Tips You NEED to Master Disney World’s FastPass+ Tiers in 2020 View the full article

While film schedules have been changed and new releases have arrived, we’ve still been enjoying watching movies on Disney+! ©Disney Although we may be gearing up for the parks to reopen soon, you’re going to want to take a well-needed movie night at home with the next big Disney+ arrival! According to Deadline, The One and Only Ivan will be joining the list of Disney movies sent straight to Disney+! While Artemis Fowl and Hamilton will both appear on the streaming service, The One and Only Ivan will also make its way onto Disney+ starting August 21st. ©Disney Although the film was originally supposed to head to theaters on August 14th, director Thea Sharrock has stated that “The world has changed in a heartbeat. People all over the globe have shared important, life changing experiences in ways we have not seen for a century. In response to this, I am so happy that we can share Katherine Applegate’s delightful and original story, The One and Only Ivan with the world this August on Disney+, bringing some joy through this unique movie of true friendship, inspired by a true story.” Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom The movie will follow an unlikely friendship between 400-pound silverback gorilla Ivan and a baby elephant named Ruby. As Ivan finds out that Ruby was separated from her family to be brought to their communal habitat in the shopping mall, he starts to wonder what the meaning of life is and how he fits into this world. Pandora The movie adapted from Katherine Applegate’s Newbery Medal Award-winning book will feature the voices of Angeline Jolie, Danny DeVito, and Bryan Cranston when the film arrives on Disney+ soon. Although movie theaters are looking to reopen their doors to guests sometime soon, we’re still VERY excited to watch The One and Only Ivan at home when it arrives! Check out the ultimate list of Disney movies coming out in 2021 here! Have you read The One and Only Ivan before? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: NEWS! New Film Release Dates Announced For Mulan, Jungle Cruise, Black Widow, and More! Create Your Own Home Movie Theater With This Disney DIY Onward Screening! Here’s EVERYTHING Coming to Disney+ in May! View the full article

Hey, friends! We’re back with another DFB Video, and today we’re talking about the LATEST Disney news. Sleeping Beauty Castle We’ve got the opening dates for Disneyland, plus a whole slew of new updates for upcoming stays in Disney World, loads of restaurant news and reviews, plus an update Disney’s overseas parks! Check out all this and more in our latest DFB Video! And if you love this video, there’s plenty more for you to enjoy over on our DFB YouTube Channel! By the way, have you subscribed yet? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to the channel and never miss a single episode! So check out the video and let us know: Which updated you’re excited about. Related posts: DFB Video: 25 Disney World Snacks You MUST Get in 2020! DFB Video: What You Need To Know From the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge INFO BOMB DFB Video: 3 Reasons NOT To Go To Disney World in 2020 (And 2 Reasons You SHOULD)! View the full article

Along with Disney theme parks around the world, the Disney Cruise Line has closed for the time being to guests as a health and safety precaution. Disney Cruise Line While the Disney Magic won’t be sailing until October at the earliest and different cruises have been canceled through July (along with Adventures by Disney), the cruise ships are actually expected to resume sailing pretty soon. If you’d like to take a little getaway on the Disney Cruise Line, you can receive up to 25% off a cruise booked on the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy this August and September! Castaway Cay On August 14th, the Disney Dream will be setting sail on a 3-Night Bahamian Cruise from Port Canaveral for travelers to enjoy the island life and visit Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. The 3-night cruise costs $831 per person with taxes, fees, and port expenses of $76 per person. The price is based on double occupancy in a stateroom (and so are the rest of the cruises mentioned below). ©Disney If you just REALLY love Castaway Cay and that Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich Hack, you can get away on a 3-Night Bahamian Cruise aboard the Disney Fantasy that has 2 stops at Castaway Cay! The cruise departs from Port Canaveral on August 28th at $783 per person with $75 extra in fees. Cookie’s Too BBQ The Disney Fantasy is a gorgeous ship with so much to do and see (like the AWESOME themed kids’ clubs) when you climb aboard. While you’re setting sail from Port Canaveral on August 31st, you’ll be able to stop by Nassau, visit Castaway Cay, and maybe even spend a day at the Atlantis Aquaventure Water Park during the 4-Night Bahaman Cruise. Your family can go on the Disney getaway for $780 per person with $77 in fees. Captain Minnie ©Disney Did you know that Disney Cruises could be spooky?? Celebrate Halloween with spooktacular fun aboard the Disney Dream with decorations that will give you hot-and-cold running chills and special eats galore. The 4-Night Halloween on the High Seas Bahamian Cruise will depart from Port Canaveral on September 6th for $752 per person and $76 in fees, September 10th for $752 per person and $76 in fees, and September 14th for $732 per person with $76 in fees. Read more about Halloween on the High Seas here. ©Disney Below are a few additional details. Valid for new bookings only. Full payment is required at the time of booking for all Guests and is non-refundable. Full legal names of all Guests are required at time of booking and no name changes are allowed. Specific stateroom will be assigned at a later time, based on availability. Rate does not include gratuities or Port Adventures. Not combinable with Disney Vacation Club Points. The number of staterooms allocated for this offer is limited. This offer cannot be combined with any other Disney offers or discounts. Rates are in U.S. dollars. Offer subject to Disney Cruise Line Terms and Conditions. Although the ships may not all be open at the same time for a little while, guests can still make new bookings on these upcoming departures or receive future cruise credit for previously canceled vacations. We will continue to keep you updated with more details on the Disney Cruise Line and the Disney Parks reopening! Here are all the details on Disney World’s reopening plans! Have you been on a Disney Cruise before? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: Disney Cruise Line Cast Members Use Their Artistic Talents to Give Back to Hospitals! Decorate Your Home Like a Disney Cruise Stateroom With This FREE Kit! Disney Cruise Line’s Updated Refund Policy for Halted Departures! View the full article

Greetings from Disney’s Contemporary Resort! We’re stopping by this classic Disney World Resort hotel to share with you some of our favorite eats and drinks! The Contemporary is a Deluxe Resort, which means that they’re going to be offering TONS of food options, from Signature Restaurants to Character Dining to Quick Service. Disney’s Contemporary Resort The Contemporary is also on the Monorail loop (literally — the Monorail runs THROUGH the hotel!), making it super easy to dine at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa as well as Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Disney’s Contemporary Resort with Monorail Access to Magic Kingdom and Epcot And, of course, this also means it’s a quick ride (and walk!) to Magic Kingdom. Let’s take a closer look at what dining options the Contemporary has to offer! Note that as a part of Disney World’s reopening, certain experiences might be unavailable. Check with Disney prior to your visit to see what is available. California Grill Sitting high above Disney World (15 floors up to be precise) is California Grill, the Contemporary Resort’s Signature Restaurant. California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort You’re going to be paying top dollar for the food and service here. If you’re using the Disney Dining Plan, you’ll be redeeming two Table Service Credits. We think it’s a decent use of those two credits and, in fact, we included California Grill on our list of the best value Two-Credit restaurants of 2020! California Grill One of the huge draws to California Grill is the sweeping views of Magic Kingdom. By day the views stretch on and on, and by night, you have one of the best views of the fireworks! Views of Magic Kingdom from California Grill Even if your meal isn’t during the fireworks, you can come back and watch the fireworks from a special viewing terrace. Just bring back your receipt and you have access to the terrace! Magic Kingdom Fireworks From Disney’s Contemporary Resort But let’s chat about the food itself because this restaurant offers MUCH more than just a pretty view! Overall, the menu at California Grill, as the name of the restaurant and the resort implies, is going to be contemporary Californian cuisine. One of the highlights of California Grill’s menu is their hand-rolled sushi. Sushi Varieties at California Grill These are far from the priciest items on the menu, so if you’re looking for value on the Dining Plan, you’re better off ordering a more expensive item. But if you’re paying out of pocket, their Sushi Rolls are a great way to dine at a Signature Restaurant while keeping your bill relatively low! Sushi at California Grill Other highlights on the menu include wood-fired pizzas, a wide range of entrees, apps like the ah-mazing Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli (it’s been on the menu since the restaurant open in 1995!), and a huge selection of California wines. Enjoy the Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli at California Grill California Grill also has an adjacent lounge where you can order from the full menu without needing a reservation! This lounge is first-come, first-serve, so you may want to plan to arrive early if you want a seat. California Grill Lounge Note that guests who dine in the lounge will also have access to the terrace to view the fireworks! Just save your receipt to be permitted on the terrace before the show begins. Read our most recent review of dinner at California Grill here! The Wave…of American Flavors The Contemporary has a couple of additional table service restaurants that you should know about! The first is The Wave…of American Flavors. Commonly referred to as just The Wave, this restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. While lunch and dinner are decent here, The Wave really shines during breakfast. Full plate with Breakfast Potatoes You have your choice of a breakfast buffet or order a la carte off the menu. The Wave Breakfast Menu A great HACK at The Wave is for those of you interested in the buffet. You may find that there is no omelet station at the buffet — never fear! If you select the buffet, you can still order an omelet with your server and they’ll whip one up for you at no extra cost! Omelette from The Wave Their sweet potato pancakes are another highlight that you can pick up on the buffet or a la carte! And no breakfast is complete without a mimosa! At The Wave, you can get REFILLABLE mimosas! Sweet Potato Pancakes! The best part about breakfast at The Wave is that since this is more under the radar, you can typically find a last-minute reservation! Read our most recent breakfast review of The Wave here! As for lunch and dinner, we’re actually sticking with the breakfast theme for one of our favorite appetizers: Bacon and Eggs! This dish comes with crazy-good maple-lacquered Pork Belly with a “Perfect Egg” and Tillamook Smoked Cheddar Grits. Bacon and Eggs Like California Grill, The Wave also has a lounge where you can sip on some legendary cocktails. One of our favorites is the Seven Seas Lagoon Cocktail. This “fishbowl” beverage is big and strong! It features Skyy Vodka, Parrot Bay Coconut Rum, Blue Curaçao, Agave Nectar, Pineapple Juice, Fresh Lime Juice, topped with Fruit Boba, Gummy Fish, and a glow cube for good measure! Seven Seas Lagoon All in all, The Wave…of American Flavors is a hidden gem at The Contemporary. It’s a great breakfast option if you’re looking to fill up before heading into Magic Kingdom or a nice spot to unwind after a long day. Note that the decor at The Wave looks kind of like a 1970’s car dealership, so…there’s that. But the food is good and well-priced. Read our most recent dinner review at The Wave here! Chef Mickey’s While our first two restaurants we’ve talked about are definitely more “chill,” Chef Mickey’s is anything BUT! Chef Mickey’s Chef Mickey’s is classic Disney World character dining. It’s almost like a rite of passage to dine here, and combined with the fact that you get to meet the Fab 5 (Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, and Donald), reservations can sometimes be tricky to grab. Mickey Mouse at Chef Mickey’s A trip to Chef Mickey’s is all about the characters more than it is the food. The food has been GOOD, but not GREAT over the years (although we have noted that it has slowly but surely gotten better). Even with an improving menu, it’s still a loud, crowded restaurant that can make for a less than stellar experience for some. Chef Mickey’s Seating Chef Mickey’s serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. For the most bang for your buck, try to get a reservation time for brunch, that way you’ll be able to pick from the breakfast AND lunch selections. As far as specific food items go, you’ll have all the typical buffet selections to choose from like Mickey Waffles, bacon, and eggs for breakfast, and chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, a carving station, and more for lunch and dinner. Mickey Mac and Cheese If you have a sweet tooth, their waffle bar and sundae bar are both fun and tasty. Kids will also love constructing their own waffle or sundae creations. Mickey (and Minnie!) Waffles with Toppings There’s no denying that Chef Mickey’s is one of the most well-known restaurants in all of Disney World. While some consider this a must-do, we’ve often left feeling a bit rushed and disappointed. With SO many guests coming through the doors, it can feel a bit hectic in here. There are other great restaurants where you can meet Mickey, and many other character buffets or plated character meals to consider that have just as good food, if not better, and many offer more chances to interact with the characters. Read our most recent review of Chef Mickey’s here! Contempo Cafe We’re moving on now from the traditional table service restaurants at The Contemporary and we’re checking out Contempo Cafe! This is the primary Counter Service dining location at the resort. Contempo Cafe in the Contemporary Resort The Monorail passes right next to Contempo Cafe, making this an ultra-convenient pit stop for some food before hitting the parks! There’s not a whole lot of flash to Contempo Cafe. It can be loud at times due to its location in the middle of the Grand Canyon Concourse (the big open middle part) of the Contemporary’s main building (it’s also right next to Chef Mickey’s). It also lacks any discernable theming, so don’t expect much beyond grabbing some food here. The monorail and the Mary Blair Mural at Contempo Cafe Speaking of food, there are a variety of selections here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For a counter service location, Contempo Cafe is top-notch! Contempo Cafe Menu For lunch and dinner, their Grilled Cheese with Tomato Soup Combo knocks it out of the park. The French Dip is another sandwich selection that we have loved over the years! Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup Combo! We’re always checking in on Contempo Cafe because they are also known for serving up some seriously spectacular specialty cupcakes! Our Contempo Cafe Cupcake Hall of Fame includes the Churro Cupcake… Churro Cupcake …which is Cinnamon Cake with Cinnamon Icing and a Vanilla Pudding Center. Oh, and obviously a mini churro as a garnish! Churro Cupcake — Inside We’re also obsessed with their Monorail Cupcake! This treat is a vanilla cake topped with cookies and cream frosting, a chocolate shell, candy pearls, and an Oreo. And we can’t forget about that adorable white chocolate monorail! Monorail Cupcake A third cupcake that we found simply stunning is the Dulce de Leche cupcake! This beauty is yellow cake topped with salted caramel buttercream, candy crisps, a chocolate swirl, and a large salted caramel truffle chocolate. Contempo Cafe’s Dulce de Leche Cupcake And lest we forget our FAVORITE treat here — the Peanut Butter Pie. If you’ve read the site for a while, you know we’re suckers for peanut butter and this thing has YET to disappoint us! It’s a thick scoop of peanut butter cream cheese on top of a vanilla cream tart! This. Thing. Is. Delicious. Seriously, if you love PB too, it’s worth a hop off the monorail to grab even if you’re not staying here! Peanut Butter Pie — YUM Whether you’re running in for a cupcake or taking a few moments to eat a full meal, you could soon find yourself recommending Contempo Cafe to all your friends! Read our most recent review of Contempo Cafe here! Outer Rim Our last few stops at Disney’s Contemporary Resorts are going to be more or less centered on beverages. While The Contemporary has some great food spots, we wanted to make sure we gave a shout out to all the DRINK spots, too! Let’s start with Outer Rim. Outer Rim Lounge at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Outer Rim currently only serves beverages. In the past that you used to be able to grab a bite to eat here, but when we checked their official menu, the food items were removed. Outer Rim Bar While the Outer Rim is a good spot in the resort to sip on a tasty cocktail, you won’t find a ton of unique offerings here. Their “standout” drinks like the Blue Glowtini, Pina CoLAVA, and Moscow Mule are bar staples across Disney World Resort, and you’ll find Outer Rim’s generic “Disney Bar Menu” in TONS of other places. Glowtini That doesn’t mean we never see specialty menu offerings here. This past Valentine’s Day (or Villaintine’s Day, if you will), we spotted a few extra evil special concoctions to celebrate the occasion! The Antagonist Though their menu is typically limited, Outer Rim is a reliable watering hole to stop by to cap off your long day at Disney World. Read our review of Outer Rim here! Contemporary Grounds Moving on now to a necessary beverage of a different sort… coffee! When you’re running around the theme parks for days at a time without stopping, caffeine is going to be your best friend. So stop by Contemporary Grounds first thing in the morning for a delicious latte! Ordering and Serving Area at Contemporary Grounds Coffee Bar At Contemporary Grounds, you’ll have plenty of coffees, lattes, and cappuccinos to choose from. There’s also a decent variety of baked goods to munch on with your morning fuel! Contemporary Grounds case Contemporary Grounds is also home to one of our FAVORITE food accessories, Latte Art! Contemporary Grounds Latte Art You can choose from a wide selection of fun graphics to have printed on the foam of your drink for just 50 cents! Latte and Donut Art Options We can’t think of anything better right now than grabbing some latte art and then strolling over to Magic Kingdom from The Contemporary! Read our review of Contemporary Grounds here! The Sand Bar Before we hop over to Bay Lake Tower, we’re heading outside to visit The Sand Bar, the main poolside bar at The Contemporary. The Sand Bar This nautical-themed counter service dining location is going to be your go-to destination for a bite to eat or something to sip on while you lounge by the pool! There aren’t too many surprises here when it comes to their menu. Expect to find burgers, hot dogs, salad, and all the typical tropical alcoholic drink options you would expect to find at a poolside bar. The Sand Bar You can also escape the heat at The Sand Bar! This bar offers both outdoor and indoor dining experiences. Visit our main page for ALL of The Contemporary’s dining options here! Cove Pool Bar Head over to the connected Bay Lake Tower pool to find the Cove Bar. Note that only DVC members or guests of Bay Lake Tower can access this pool. Similar to The Sand Bar, the food options are limited and their drink menu features your basic poolside staples. Top of the World Lounge at Bay Lake Tower For our last stop on our tour around The Contemporary, we’re actually hopping over to Bay Lake Tower and to the Top of the World Lounge! Bay Lake Tower Bay Lake Tower is The Contemporary’s newest addition for Disney Vacation Club rooms and villas. But you can totally stay here even if you aren’t a DVC Member! But what you CAN’T do unless you’re a DVC Member is visit Top of the World Lounge. That’s right, you either need to be a DVC Member or be the guest of a Member to enter! Top of the World Lounge If you’re ever able to visit, we totally recommend you do so! Top of the World is quite the exquisite lounge as far as Disney World lounges go. They have the standard lounge menu to order from, with a few specialty selections. The Bay Lake Sunset was a lovely refreshing drink that we would order again! Bay Lake Sunset They also have small bites like soft pretzels and cheese plates to munch on. Soft Pretzels and Dips Overall, although access to the lounge is limited, it’s one of our favorite Disney World lounges! If you time your visit just right, you can get a spectacular view of the Magic Kingdom’s fireworks as well! Read our review of Top of the World here! We hope this foodie trip around Disney’s Contemporary Resort gave you an idea of what to expect next time you want to dine there! As a Deluxe Resort, we would expect a wide variety to choose from, and the Contemporary doesn’t disappoint! While some dining locations are worth checking out more than others, the location of The Contemporary in proximity to Magic Kingdom makes their restaurants and lounges among the most convenient choices around! What’s your favorite thing to eat at Disney’s Contemporary Resort? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: DFB Video: Disney’s Contemporary Resort Food Tour What’s New at the Monorail Resorts — Plant-Based Menu Items, Secret ‘Ohana Meals, And ALL The Frozen Fever! What’s New at the Monorail Resorts and Wilderness Lodge — The Gingerbread Castle, Cinnamon Roll Cupcake, And ALL the Christmas Stuff! View the full article

We’ve been exploring what a reopened Disney Springs is like for a few weeks now. Disney Springs With new health measures, requirements, and capacity limitations; things have definitely changed in Disney World. The reopening of the theme parks is on the horizon, so we’re taking a look back at what our first steps back in Disney mean. Here’s everything we’ve learned from two weeks in a reopened Disney World! Wearing a mask isn’t the worst thing ever. Perhaps the most jarring change that we’ve had to get used to is wearing masks when we’re in Disney Springs. What we’ve learned here is that even in the Florida heat, wearing a mask is not the worst thing ever. Would we rather not be wearing masks? Yes. But you definitely get used to wearing one quicker than you think! Cast Member with required face mask If you’re concerned about comfort, check out the tips we’ve put together about wearing your mask around Disney. We also have some recommendations for the most comfortable masks we’ve found so far. We also think they can be super fun when you get a pretty or fun pattern. Disney even came out with a series of official Disney mask designs you can check out! Disney Cloth Masks ©Disney We also learned that you CAN eat and drink while walking around Disney Springs. With this, remember to use your best judgment — you CAN pull your mask down to take a sip of your drink, but try not to leave it down. Try to remain considerate of others as you snack! Masks If you’re worried about the heat, go in and out of shops to cool off some. There are TONS of stores you can step into to get some much needed AC. We also recommend picking some restaurants you’ve been meaning to try and use that as an excuse to sit down and take a break from your mask — if you’re sitting and eating, you’re free to remove your mask, and you can try some new FOOD at the same time! Click here for all of our BEST mask tips! Disney is serious about new health measures. We’ve also learned that Disney’s new health measures are rules, NOT guidelines. Physical distancing, temperature checks, and masks are all musts for guests in Disney Springs and Cast Members will let you know when you’re not following one of the health measures. World of Disney Social Distancing Stickers We spotted a few Cast Members reminding guests to replace their mask if they had removed it without eating or drinking! You can refresh yourself on the scope of these new rules with our full breakdown HERE. Review all of the health measures in Disney Springs right HERE! Cast Members are still bringing the magic. Speaking of Cast Members, they are something that HASN’T changed in Disney World. As we’ve seen over the past few weeks, Cast Members are STILL bringing the magic — even from behind their masks. Cast Member We’ve had a wonderful time interacting with the Disney Springs Social Distancing Squad and Guest Services Cast. We’ve been cracking up at the fact that STORMTROOPERS are one of the more lighthearted means of enforcing the new rules as well! Cast Members still are just as awesome at putting a smile on guests’ faces — with good reason. One Cast Member told us that they underwent training for how to be friendly and expressive with their eyes when they can’t show their smiles to guests. Want to know more about reopening from a Cast Member perspective? Click here! Crowd levels can be a little wonky. Something else we’ve learned in the past few weeks is that attendance in Disney World is unpredictable right now. We’ve seen some CRAZY crowded days and some days where it seemed like we were the only ones there. Lines around World of Disney We’ve seen everything from a six-hour wait to get into World of Disney to entirely empty areas of the complex. Of course, some of this has to do with what’s reopening, the day of the week, and the weather, but we’ve learned NOT to have expectations when it comes to crowd levels from day to day! Click here for more about the reopening of World of Disney! Things definitely FEEL different. The biggest thing we’ve learned is that Disney World definitely feels different. Sure, we expected this, but there was a part of us that hoped things would just fall right back to the way they were before all this. It’s STILL Disney and STILL has all the good that comes with it, but it’s changed just a little bit. Disney Springs If you know that being around people or wearing a mask is going to be difficult for you, build up your tolerance in advance. Wear your masks on walks around your neighborhood to get used to the way they feel, especially outdoors in the heat. On top of that, know your limits and your surroundings. Be aware of “getaway” spots that will be less crowded if you need to get away from people for a moment. Disney Springs Things DO feel different but Disney is still Disney. We still love strolling the streets of Disney Springs even with these changes. The parks could still feel just as magical when they reopen, even if there’s a different experience that accompanies the old feelings. We’ll be here every step of the way to give you the best tips, tricks, and advice to make returning to Disney World easy for YOU too. Want to know more about the Disney World theme parks reopening? Click here! What have you learned with Disney World open again? Tell us in the comments! Related posts: PHOTOS and TIPS: Our FULL Experience From Reopening Day at Disney Springs News! World of Disney Has Officially Reopened in Disney World — And You Won’t Believe the WAIT TIME! These Face Coverings from Sephora in Disney Springs Are SO Cute! (And Give Back to Charity!) View the full article

Walt Disney World takes up thousands upon thousands of acres in Florida. And it should come as no surprise that Disney has to pay a LOT of taxes on said acreage. But, according to The Orlando Sentinel, the amount of money Disney should pay in property tax, is well, to be debated. Spaceship Earth Disney is suing Property Appraiser Rick Singh over its property taxes, saying that its 2019 property tax appraisals were too high. The company has filed a dozen lawsuits in the Orange Circuit Court. Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom According to Singh spokeswoman Beth Watson, “[Walt Disney World] had been undervalued for decades by previous property appraisers.” Meanwhile, Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Wahler said, “As we have shared before and as a matter of public record, we have challenged the property appraiser’s assessments and we will continue to dispute the errors by the property appraiser as any property owner in Orange County would do.” Cinderella Castle Makeover Was Stopped Due to the Halt in Construction According to Disney’s lawsuit, Singh listed the value for EPCOT at $539 million, Magic Kingdom at $504, Animal Kingdom at $435 million, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios at $394 million. Disney didn’t say what it thought its resort’s value was, but called Singh’s numbers “excessive.” Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Lawsuits between Disney and the Orange County Property Appraiser’s Office are a regular occurrence. According to the Sentinel, this has been happening every single spring since 2016, and Disney has “dozens of courts cases” pending. Epcot Monorail When this latest lawsuit gets resolved, you KNOW we’ll keep you updated. For Disney’s reopening information, click here. What do you think of Disney’s latest lawsuit? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: NEW Insta-Worthy Nighttime Magic Shots Are Coming to Disney World Soon! What Has To Happen Before Disney World Reopens Disney World Vacation Hacks the Pros SWEAR By View the full article

Walt Disney World resort hotels are getting ready to reopen soon, like, really really soon. Boardwalk Entrance And as guests get ready to head back to Walt Disney World, things are getting back to normal on My Disney Experience. Today we noticed that MagicBand selections and alterations are BACK for future check-ins at Disney World hotels! ©Disney When going to your reservations on Disney World’s website, you can once again pick the color of your MagicBand, choose to upgrade to a customized MagicBand, or decline a MagicBand! My Disney Experience screenshot This is a HUGE development for those planning to head to Disney World this summer. Previously, Disney World temporarily SUSPENDED MagicBand orders after the park closed. But they seem to be back now! However, Disney has yet to update its official website reflecting this change. MagicBands There are a LOT of changes coming to the check-in process and Disney World hotels in general in anticipation of a reopening, so your MagicBand is going to be more important than ever before. And you’re going to want to make sure it’s cute (as well as functional), so be sure to customize it before your stay! Here’s EVERYTHING We Know About MagicBands and Disney World’s reopening plans! Are you staying at a Disney World hotel this summer? Let us know your plans in the comments! Related posts: 5 Souvenirs We REALLY Regret Buying in Disney World! BREAKING: Upgraded MagicBands Restocked Online for Disney World Hotel Guests — But There May Be Another Glitch! BREAKING NEWS: How your Disney World Hotel Experience Will Be VERY DIFFERENT This Summer View the full article

Brunch lovers rejoice! Raglan Road Raglan Road Irish Pub reopened in Disney Springs on June 10th, and there was a line of (socially distanced) guests ready to return! Prior to the closure, Raglan Road offered brunch until 3PM on Saturdays and Sundays — and we wondered when we could expect this fun weekend activity to return to the restaurant as well! Pancakes at Raglan Road Brunch! So, a member of our team contacted the restaurant and confirmed that Raglan Road plans to resume brunch on Saturday, June 20th! As of this afternoon, we were able to find reservations for Saturday available on OpenTable. Raglan Road Reservations Available on OpenTable So, if you’re looking for somewhere to get your brunch on in Disney Springs, you can get your fix at Raglan Road starting next weekend! Is there any place in Disney World where you can get breakfast all day? Our team investigated and here’s what we found! Have you been to brunch at Raglan Road? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Review! New Wine Country Brunch at Wine Bar George in Disney Springs This Disney Springs Restaurant is Offering a Cast Member Discount for a Limited Time! News! Paradiso 37 in Disney Springs Has New Operating Hours View the full article

Of all the upcoming Disney World updates, we’re pretty excited to see what Disney does with the Star Wars Hotel. Star Wars Lightsaber Experience The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is set to be a 2-night ultra-immersive experience that opens in 2021. Aboard, you’ll be able to look out windows into space, operate the ship’s defense systems, and offer guests the chance to wield their own lightsaber. Woah! That lightsaber experience sounds pretty cool and, before today, we weren’t sure how we could ACTUALLY wield a lightsaber. Now though, Disney might have developed some tech that could help! If you’ve hung around DFB before, you might know that we love to look into the patents that Disney is filing for their newest inventions. Well, we spotted one patent that has some pretty interesting language — some language that might be an EXACT description of part of Galactic Starcruiser’s lightsaber experience or a similar experience elsewhere in the Disney Parks! The patent is for a new system that helps to bridge the gap between virtual reality (VR) experiences and the outside world. We’ve imagined that VR could be a good solution for bringing lightsabers to this reality and this patent seems to indicate that that’s EXACTLY what Disney intends to do. Fair warning! These details are pretty on-the-nose, so if you don’t want spoilers about a possible lightsaber experience, click away now! Sabers assembled! Here are the pieces of the patent that could be describing a lightsaber experience. It says, “a VR user is instructed that…a tool or weapon (such as an energy sword or saber that is the physical object in this example) will be made available for their use. In the VR world, they will use their superpower of telekinesis to concentrate on moving the tool/weapon, and, when they concentrate with enough energy, the tool/weapon will fly through the air and land…in their hand.” A robot moves the lightsaber handle into your hand as if it is flying through the air. ©Disney HOLD UP. Energy sword or saber? Telekinesis? Disney…did you mean to say “LIGHTSABERS” and “THE FORCE!?” It sure sounds like Disney has come up with a way for us to use the force to summon a lightsaber to our hands. Needless to say, we are freaking out. The patent goes into even more detail saying, “The user is…asked to stretch out their hand to see whether they can cause the object to leap into their hand from a distance away… The user is asked to move their hand back and forth slowly to see whether they can attract the physical object… When the user moves their hand…the object holder rocks the physical object back and forth. The rocking strength is varied by the control system from barely moving to rocking back and forth violently as if trying to fly depending on how close the user’s hand is to the future ideal interaction position in the later VR experience.” Imagine the sparkly object is a lightsaber handle. ©Disney This is super interesting. Basically, the patent says that, prior to putting on any sort of helmet, you’ll be tasked with bringing the lightsaber to your hand with the Force. Of course, we’re first-time force users, so we won’t be immediately successful. But, this “pre-show” as the patent calls it has two important effects. First, it “trains” the user where their hand should be for later in the experience (without the user knowing), and it helps with the story as the user feels like they’ve really accessed the Force. But the lightsaber can’t come flying into your hand just yet. Trying out hilt parts The patent continues, “After the user has tried unsuccessfully to pull the physical object to them without the [Head-Mounted Display] on, they are advised that their powers will be increased by dawning the [Head-Mounted Display] helmet, which may be disguised as a helmet from a particular movie or animation to fit the VR experience and/or otherwise themed to enhance the overall experience.” Hmm…how could they theme the helmet, do you think? We have an idea. In Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Luke uses a blast shield helmet to help him see through The Force. Another training helmet is used with Jedi Younglings in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones. So there’s even in-universe precedent for a themed lightsaber-training helmet. ©Lucasfilm/Disney The patent goes on in less detail about how the system can be configured for sword fighting, “In some cases, the handover robot (or other robot with an object manipulator) may be controlled not to simply provide an object but to provide other physical interactions with the participant such as a sword or other fight in which a physical object strikes or contacts the participant’s body or an object they are already holding.” VR view of the lightsaber fighting portion. ©Disney Um…WOW. Did Disney REALLY just come up with a way to give us Jedi powers!? We’re honestly freaking out. Obviously, we won’t have any idea how this tech will be used until we see it applied in Galactic Starcruiser or elsewhere. In the meantime, we’ll be keeping an EXTRA close eye on those Disney patents and crossing our fingers that we’ll be using the force next year! Click here to learn EVERYTHING we know about the new Star Wars Hotel! Do YOU think this tech is for the lightsaber experience? Share your thoughts in the comments! Related posts: News! Find Out How To Sign Up For Galactic Starcruiser Updates from Disney World! Star Wars Hotel Construction Update: See What Disney World’s Galactic Starcruiser Looks Like Now! Is The Star Wars Hotel Closer to Blasting Off in Disney World? Check Out Some Fun New Details! View the full article

We’re still obsessing over the Baby Yoda Loungefly, and now we have even more Star Wars Loungefly bags to add to our wishlist! ©Loungefly In honor of the 40th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back, Loungefly has released a new collection themed after the planet Hoth! For those who have yet to visit the planet, it’s known for its snow-covered terrain. So it only makes sense that these bags have icy color schemes and fuzzy material like visitors to Hoth may need to keep warm! ©Loungefly Show your allegiance to the Rebel Alliance with the Hoth Iridescent Mini Backpack! This is the first-ever fully iridescent backpack from Loungefly and it’s made of faux-leather with a 40th-anniversary interior lining. Plus, it converts from a backpack to a crossbody with removable and adjustable straps! You can pick one up for $75! ©Loungefly And the Hoth Sherpa Cross Body Bag is too fuzzy to resist! The faux fur bag also has a 40th-anniversary interior lining and it comes with an adjustable and removable strap! You can bring one home for $70! ©Loungefly And speaking of fuzzy, check out the Hoth Sherpa Zip Around Wallet! This wallet combines faux fur and faux leather, and it also has the 40th-anniversary interior lining. You can add it to your collection for $40! ©Loungefly We’ll be sure to keep an eye out for fellow members of the Resistance sporting this gorgeous new Loungefly collection! Have you seen these adorable new Wall-E and Eve Loungefly bags?? Which of these new Loungefly bags is your favorite? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: These Chic ‘Star Wars’ Loungefly Bags Are Bringing Us A New Hope! Did You Know You Can Buy This ONLINE? You Might Not Be Ready For How Cute These ‘A Bug’s Life’ Loungeflys Are! View the full article

Walt Disney World has been closed since mid-March, meaning that a number of park tickets for this spring have had their dates extended. Early Morning at Cinderella Castle We know that multi-day park tickets have been extended through September 26th, 2021, and that Annual Passes for those who paid in full can be extended, and now a DIFFERENT ticket option has been extended as well. Today, DFB reader @TX_Watts sent us a screenshot that showed that Disney Military Promotional Tickets have had their usability extended through September 26, 2021. MagicBand Scanner ©Disney Those who have purchased this type of ticket will see the new dates in their My Disney Experience app. We Use Our Phones ALL the Time in Disney World! Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom are set to reopen on July 11th, followed by EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on July 15th. These tickets WILL be valid starting then, however, you will need a reservation to enter the parks using Disney World’s new advance reservation system. Spaceship Earth Luckily for those in the military, guests staying at Shades of Green WILL have priority access to the new reservation system, just like those staying at other Disney World resort hotels! The reservation system is not live yet, but you know when it is, we’ll let you know how to maneuver it! Here’s what your Disney World hotel stay will look like this summer! Are you planning to use a Disney Military Promotional Ticket this year? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: 2020 Disney World Hotel Discounts, FREE DINING, and More Ways To SAVE BIG! Black Friday Shopper Alert! Disney Springs Announces Deals For Biggest Shopping Day of the Year! REVIEW! UMM…YES, There’s a Pulled Pork JELLY DOUGHNUT Sandwich in Disney World! View the full article

Disneyland Park has proposed a reopening for July 17th and we’re waiting for more details. Disneyland Main Entrance We know that Disney World went through a slew of systemic cancellations in preparation for reopening, including the removal of all upcoming Advance Dining Reservations. There has been no word on whether Disneyland will do the same, but today, we’ve noticed a change to the Disneyland website that looks a lot like the ones we’ve seen for Disney World. Typically, Disneyland has 30 restaurants listed with reservations available (it did yesterday!). Today when we checked in on our Disneyland meal options, we noticed that only nine were available, and they were all for dining events. There wasn’t a single regular reservation to be seen. Disneyland Website Screenshot When we browsed some of the individual restaurant pages, we spotted that there was no link or calendar for reservations either, despite the pages mentioning that we should be able to check availability. Reservations have been unavailable in Disneyland for some time, but the restaurants were still listed. This change is a lot like what we saw happen as Disney World canceled all upcoming dining reservations. Disneyland Oga’s Cantina Screenshot Our last option was to check the Disneyland App. When you select the “Reserve Dining Option” you are met with a screen that says, “Dining reservations are temporarily unavailable. In the meantime, you can learn more about dining experiences at the Disneyland Resort.” This is pretty similar to the screen that comes up on Disney World’s My Disney Experience app. Disneyland App We’re not sure what the deal with Disneyland’s Dining Reservations is just yet. It’s possible that Disneyland could be resetting their dining system as well. Still, Disney World and Disneyland are very different, so keep checking in with DFB for all of the latest Disneyland reopening updates! Click here to learn about Disney World’s current Dining Reservation suspension! Have you had trouble making Disneyland dining reservations? Tell us in the comments! Related posts: REVIEW! Rainbow Macaron Box at Disneyland Resort Review: LIMITED-TIME Rainbow Cheesecake at Disneyland Resort! May The Force Be With You If You Think We’re Sharing This Brand New Salty Snack in Disneyland! View the full article

Strolling through Disney Springs today, we walked by Terralina Crafted Italian in The Landing. Terralina Crafted Italian Terralina reopened to guests at the end of May with new safety protocols in place (as is the case with all the recently reopened eateries and shops in Disney Springs). This lovely spot hosts some pretty great Happy Hour deals, and we wanted to fill you in on the current special: Happy Hour On-The-Go! We spotted the sign in front of the outside bar. Happy Hour On-The-Go sign Beers for $5.00 and 1/2-price wines by the glass are available as the To-Go Only offerings from 4PM to 6PM daily! Outside Bar Of course, if you’d rather linger awhile, you most certainly may stop by and enjoy a full meal… which is exactly what we did recently! See our full review of Terralina Crafted Italian here! (P.S. If you do, you won’t want to miss the Limoncello Mojito… and we highly recommend the Rigatoni Calabrese, too!) So, when you’re up for a little Happy Hour while you’re out and about in Disney Springs, rest assured that Terralina Crafted Italian has got you covered! Have you dined at Terralina Crafted Italian in Disney Springs? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: Let It Go With Karaoke and Happy Hour at Disney Springs! Summer Dining Discount At Two Disney Springs Restaurants For Disney Visa Cardholders 10 Disney World Tips That AREN’T in the Guidebooks View the full article

It’s been a while since we’ve seen construction progress at Disney World since all projects were put on pause shortly after the shutdown. Cinderella Castle Construction Before the Closure But today, we’ve seen a lot of action happening at the resort today as some hotels are preparing to reopen on June 22nd along with the theme parks on July 11th and July 15th. The Disney’s Skyliner gondolas are back out, not to mention the walls around Homecomin’s new outdoor Shine bar have come down! And thanks to DFB Reader@bioreconstruct, we got to see Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom was receiving her royal beauty treatment again! Now, our eyes-in-the-sky reader has just captured a few images of the movable bridge that is expected to join Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort to Magic Kingdom! Photo Used With Permission By @bioreconstruct Polynesian Resort guests should be able to access and use this bridge as well. See what the walkway looked like last time we saw it here! Photo Used With Permission By @bioreconstruct Do keep in mind, Disney has not commented on this bridge, so things are still a bit up in the air in terms of details. But we’re pretty excited by the potential that Magic Kingdom could be that much more accessible from these two resorts. Check out which ride was actually open at Disney World today here! Are you excited to see construction has resumed at Disney World? Let us know which project you’re hoping will be completed by the time you visit in the comments below! Related posts: Construction UPDATE on Potential Walkway to Magic Kingdom from Disney World’s Grand Floridian Resort Will Disney World’s Grand Floridian And Polynesian Village Resorts Get A Walkway To The Magic Kingdom? The 31 Things To Eat In Disney World If You’re Obsessed With CHEESE!! View the full article

While 4 Rivers Cantina Barbacoa Food Truck reopened a weeks ago and Cookie Dough and Everything Sweet Food Truck just reopened yesterday, we’ve been waiting on the rest of the Disney Springs Food Trucks to open back up! Disney Springs Food Trucks Before The Temporary Closure And while we saw the Mac and Cheese Food Truck and the new Hot Diggity Dog Food Truck roll into town earlier this week, we just found out they’re opening today. We spoke with a Cast Member today who confirmed both trucks will be reopening at 4PM! Hot Diggity Dogs Food Truck Rev up your engines and motor on over to Exposition Park on Disney Springs’ West Side for a taste of the good life! And you’ll become our new personal hero if we spot you wearing THIS at the reopening! How do you socially distance while eating at a food truck? Click here to find out! Have you ever visited the Disney Springs Food Trucks? Tell us which one is your favorite in the comments below! Related posts: Cookie Dough and Everything Sweet Food Truck Is Set to Reopen in Disney Springs Today! Mickey Pretzels and Popcorn Never Tasted SO GOOD — Snacks are BACK at Disney World! It Must Be Five O’Clock Somewhere Because the Disney Springs Bar Carts Are Now Open! View the full article

A few weeks ago, we discovered construction walls alongside Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ in Disney Springs complete with concept art for an upcoming new spot: Shine Bar & Social. Chef Art Smith Shine Bar & Social Concept Art And though Homecomin’ won’t reopen to guests until this coming Wednesday, June 17th, today we got a glimpse at the spot’s new patio bar, as those construction walls have been removed! Here’s a peek… Shine Bar & Social And here’s another! Shine Bar & Social Wednesday’s highly anticipated reopening of Homecomin’ will include the Grand Opening of Shine Bar & Social. And Chef Art Smith himself will be present for the big day! Shine Bar & Social We’re looking forward to showing you this new spot (and enjoying some of our current favorites) when Homecomin’ reopens on Wednesday. To whet your appetite, you can check out the temporary menu that will be offered upon the initial reopening. (SPOILER ALERT: there will be TAKE-HOME MOONSHINE available!) And you can also… Click here to see our full review of DINNER at Homecomin’! In the meantime… keep on SHININ’! Are you looking forward to visiting the Shine Bar & Social patio? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: Yee-Haw! Here’s How To Get FREE CAKE at Homecomin’s 3rd Birthday Celebration in Disney Springs! Exciting News! Homecomin’ In Disney Springs Is Getting a NEW Patio Shine Bar! What’s New in Disney Springs: a NEW Caramel Sundae, Neon Merch Galore, and Refillable Popcorn Buckets! View the full article

At the start of the parks’ temporary closure, all of Disney’s Skyliner gondolas were put away for safekeeping. Disney World And while we just saw the carousel at Disney Springs’ marketplace spinning along with Cinderella Castle receiving her royal makeover, you won’t believe what else we just saw! Disney’s Skyliner gondolas have returned to their tracks and they’re on the move once more! Man, we’ve really missed seeing these guys! The wires looked so naked without them! Disney’s Skyliner Keep in mind, Disney World hasn’t indicated whether or not Disney’s Skyliner will resume when some of the hotels begin to reopen on June 22nd or when the theme parks reopen July 11th and July 15th. Disney’s Skyliner So far we only know details about a few modes of transportation that will be back on track soon including Disney’s Magical Express airport shuttle as well as the buses that transport guests back and forth from the theme parks and resort hotels. Disney has also shared the monorail and ferry boats will be operating, but service will be limited due to reduced capacity. Disney’s Skyliner Disney has also confirmed Minnie Vans won’t be operating, so the only thing missing is what’s going to happen with Disney’s Skyliner? We’re eager to hear more information and we’re taking the gondolas being out as a GOOD sign we might find out something soon! Have you had the chance to ride on Disney’s Skyliner? Let us know if you have in the comments below! Related posts: What’s New at Disney’s Art of Animation and Pop Century Resorts: July 4th Fun, a Cuddly Cupcake, and Phone Flippers (?!) Review! Toffee Flight Latte Soars into Joffrey’s NEW Caribbean Beach Skyliner Station Location NBA Could Resume Practices Soon And Other Important Details Discussed at Today’s Florida Orange County Task Force Meetings View the full article

Wanna know where you can get on a ride right now in Walt Disney World? No, it’s not in any of the four theme parks. (Those won’t start reopening until July 11th.) You’ll actually find it in Walt Disney World’s shopping and dining district, Disney Springs… The Marketplace Carousel is now spinning once again! Marketplace Carousel You’ll spy a few distancing markers on the ground as you wait in order promote safe distancing between guests. Marketplace Carousel And Cast Members wipe down the carousel horses after use. Marketplace Carousel And they are as pretty as ever… Marketplace Carousel The carousel welcomes guests from 1PM to 9PM (weather permitting). Marketplace Carousel While we continue to visit all of the recently reopened spots in Disney Springs, you can find all the latest information on the phased reopening of Walt Disney World by visiting any of the links below. Have you ever taken a spin on the Marketplace Carousel? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: Review! The Watermelon Margarita Has Some Serious Competition in Disney World… First Look and Review! Sunshine Churros in Disney Springs! We’re Breaking Down EVERYTHING That Happened at the Reopening of Disney Springs View the full article