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We’d be lying if we said we weren’t already feeling a little STUFFED after all the delicious snacks we’ve tasted at Disney Springs lately including Starbucks’ new Campfire Cold Brew, Picnic Punch, and the newly reopened Vivoli il Gelato’s Birthday Cake Shake which comes topped with an entire cupcake! Chicken Parm Sign at Pizza Ponte But when we saw Pizza Ponte had added a new item their menu, there’s nothing we couldn’t cram in for you guys! Were we just at Pizza Ponte reviewing their Pepperoni Pizza (sold as slices the size of your head) as well as their Cannolis, but we were intrigued by their new Chicken Parmigiana Sandwich offering for $9.95! Chicken Parm Sandwich You won’t find this special item on Pizza Ponte’s permanent menu quite yet, but let’s see if it’s good enough to make the cut! Judging by the looks of this bread alone, we’d say we’re in for a delicious pile of carbs! Chicken Parm Sandwich The chicken parm itself had a heavier breading than we personally like and the sandwich could have used a bit more sauce since it was a little dry with all that bread! But the seasoning of the breading was really nice and the chicken was moist, juicy, and packed with flavor! We consider ourselves to be chicken parm aficionados and this one was right up there — although not the quite best we’ve ever eaten. Chicken Parm Sandwich And as we suspected earlier, the bread is the true star of the Chicken Parm Sandwich — I mean, how could it NOT be since it’s freshly baked and has such a gorgeous crust and texture? Chicken Parm Sandwich We’re hoping the Chicken Parm Sandwich will be sticking around long enough so that you guys will have plenty of time to try it out for yourselves! Swing by and get your Chicken Parm party on at Pizza Ponte next time you visit Disney Springs! See what else we love to stuff ourselves with silly at Disney Springs here! Which do you prefer — pizza or sandwiches? Cast your vote for your favorite in the comments below! Related posts: Review: We’re Trying Starbucks’ New “Welcome Back” Drink in Disney World! Mickey Pretzels and Popcorn Never Tasted SO GOOD — Snacks are BACK at Disney World! News! Sprinkles in Disney World Will Be Reopening Tomorrow View the full article

The Disney World theme parks will begin reopening with Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom on July 11th, but guests actually will be welcomed to the resorts weeks before that. The Villas at Disney World’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House Disney Vacation Club Resorts and Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground are set to reopen on June 22nd. Notably, upon announcement, some DVC properties were not listed as one of the reopening resorts. Though Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas — Kidani Village were listed, the Jambo House Villas were not. Hmm. Oddly enough, we were just able to book a reservation at Jambo House! So what’s going on?! This morning, we were able to successfully book a stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas — Jambo House for a June 22nd check-in through the DVC website, despite the fact that it is still not listed under the reopening properties. Booking Confirmation At the time of writing, Kidani Village is still the only section of Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas to be listed as reopening online. Reopening Hotel Listing We’re not sure if this is a glitch, or if Jambo House really will be opening with the other DVC resorts, but it sure is interesting that we could book! We’ll keep an eye out for any new information about this situation and be sure to report in when we know more! Click here to learn about the reopening of DVC properties! Have you been able to see Jambo House as an option? Share in the comments! Related posts: NEWS! Walt Disney World Hotel Reopening DATES and Details Announced NEWS! Face Coverings Will Be Required in Public Areas at Disney Vacation Club Hotels BREAKING NEWS: These Disney World Restaurants Will Be OPEN Starting June 22nd! View the full article

Disney World will undergo some BIG changes when it reopens. Magic Kingdom While the idea of change might be a little worrisome, Disney has shared how they plan to keep guests and Cast Members safe. Since the parks will be going through some updates, that means your packing list will likely need some modifications as well. Before you start zipping up that suitcase or backpack, you’re going to want to make sure you have these NEW park essentials in Disney World! Keep That Breath Nice and Fresh When you’re wearing a mask for hours on end, your breath can get a bit stale. Since you can’t take it off most of the time when you’re in the parks, you’re basically hit with the smell of your breath all day in your mask (including whatever you ate for lunch!). But, you can avoid this problem by keeping a pack of chewing gum in your bag in the park! ©Extra Chewing minty gum will, of course, help with your breath and the mint from the gum makes you feel like you’re breathing in colder air, which would be great on a hot day (especially when you know that you’ll be outside for longer periods of time). Click here for one of our favorite types of gum! Where’s the Chapstick? Whether it’s dry or humid when you’re visiting the parks, it can be annoying for anyone when your lips get more chapped than normal. And masks can make your lips dry out really quickly. Chapstick can help keep your lips moisturized throughout the day while also getting rid of the discomfort of dry lips rubbing against your face mask. ©Amazon Chapstick can also be used on your cheeks and areas where your mask touches your face as a way to keep your mask from moving. Although it’s important to have breathing room in your mask, it can also be slightly annoying when it keeps shifting time and time. The chapstick can be used as a sort of sticky “glue” that keeps your mask in one place, so the movement doesn’t irritate your skin. You won’t find these items in Disney World! Refreshing Underneath Your Mask Even WITHOUT a mask, you’re bound to feel super sweaty when it’s hitting 100 degrees in Magic Kingdom. Although there are multiple ways to cool off, face wipes can help get rid of that sweat and excess oil so you feel a bit more refreshed. ©Amazon This can feel especially good underneath your mask when you have it on for 10 hours of the day. While disinfectant baby wipes are a must-have for your little ones, you can also pack some face wipes that will work on multiple skin types for a mid-day refresher. Here are some tips you need to know for wearing a face mask in Disney World! Personal Hand-Sanitizer to Take with You on the Go Disney Springs has been using stringent cleaning procedures at its stores and restaurants since the shopping and dining district reopened. As a part of Disney’s detailed reopening plan, the same high sanitization efforts will be happening in the parks too when they greet guests again. Hand-Sanitizer Station Sometimes it just feels like an extra layer of precaution to wipe things down with your own hand sanitizer wipes! You can do a quick sweep of tables and chairs before you sit down, or even use them on rides with high touch areas. There are individually packaged wipes and travel packs as well, so you can take as many as you need with you in the park. ©Amazon We also recommend packing personal hand sanitizer packs (when you’re able to find them ) to bring with you in the parks! ©Walmart Although Universal Orlando has been placing hand-sanitizer stations at some of its attractions and offering sanitizer as guests exit, it’s unknown at this time if Disney will be doing the same. It can be helpful to sanitize before and after you ride as an extra health measure. Need to find the nearest hand-sanitizing station in the parks? Check out this cool feature! Keep Your Makeup Set Throughout the Day Girls, you KNOW that feeling of your makeup “melting off” in the peek Florida heat! Although you can’t always prevent what happens to your makeup, you can help give your makeup a fighting chance with setting spray. Even if you’re sweating, the spray actually helps to keep your makeup intact throughout the day. ©Amazon Moisturizer is also a must before you put your makeup on! Since you’ll be wearing a mask all day that can be hard on sensitive skin, it can help keep your skin fresh without making it dry in the heat. ©Amazon The best moisturizer to pick is one that has SPF in it, so you have some added protection on top of your regular sunblock (it IS the Sunshine State, after all!). These are some of our top picks for masks in Disney World! Un-Fog Those Glasses and Contacts If you wear glasses, it can be pretty annoying when they start to get fogged up in the rain, humidity, or heat (especially when you’re wearing sunglasses). That extra breath on your eyes from many masks can be irritating to contact wearers as well. Before you head into the parks, make sure to pack some eye drops for your contacts to help keep them comfortable. And, take the time to wash your hands before and after you touch your eyes and face! ©Amazon If you prefer wearing glasses, anti-fog spray can help keep your glasses bright and clean in the parks! ©Amazon That way you don’t have to worry about that humidity affecting your view on rides or while walking around. Read about the things that will make a HUGE difference during your Disney vacation! Bring Your Own Utensils to the Disney Party Disney has been making an effort towards conservation in the parks by starting to get rid of plastic straws and mini toiletry bottles. While most restaurants have been wrapping silverware in the napkins so there is less contact, you don’t have to always use their cutlery. Paper Straw You can pack a set of reusable straws and silverware to take with you in the parks. This can help if you are looking to eat something on the go or even if you’re not a fan of paper straws or plastic single-use cutlery at quick-service locations. The best part about these reusable items is that you can take them home, wash them, and then bring them back with you the next day! ©Amazon Or, you could always pack some dish soap with you to wash them in the parks (if you really want to). ©Amazon We also recommend possibly grabbing an extra set of the reusable straws and silverware to bring with you so you don’t necessarily have to worry about rewashing them throughout the day in the parks if you want to use them again. This set of reusable cutlery is our favorite! Have a Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Day! Splash Mountain may provide Ziploc Bags to keep your items dry, but we think it would be helpful to bring your own set with you in the parks! Splash Mountain Ziploc Bags They would allow you to have a place to put your reusable straws and silverware (one bag for clean and one for dirty) as well as a spot to stick your extra snacks to take home with you. Splash Mountain Ziploc You can keep all your park essentials in one place instead of digging around for them in your bag! We learned these things the hard way with Disney World disasters! You Can Take the A/C with You Around the Parks?! Sometimes it just gets TOO hot in the parks when you’re in Disney World (and all that heat radiating up from the concrete doesn’t make the 100-degree temps any better!). Although you can pick up the misting fans from around the parks, you can also bring your own handheld fans! ©Amazon The airflow can help you breathe better in your mask as you walk around the park. Instead of walking inside an air-conditioned area like everybody else will be doing, you can even pack your own portable A/C unit! ©Amazon All you have to do is fill it with ice and charge it overnight to be able to use the next day (who knew you could take the A/C WITH you??). You might want to add these accessories for under $20 to your packing list! Double the Face Masks, Double the Fun Although you’ll have to be wearing a mask at all times in the parks, it’s important to bring some extra face masks with you in your backpack or purse. Since it rains so frequently in Florida and there are water rides around Disney World, your mask will probably get wet at some point. Instead of having to wear a wet mask (which actually might be a bit harder to breathe in), you can just switch to a dry one. Disney Cloth Masks ©Disney We’re also aware that it could be a possibility that your mask gets lost or flies off on an attraction. Since we don’t know if the Disney Parks will have any available for purchase at this time, you might as well just have extras with you at all times! Face Masks at American Threads We recommend figuring out if you prefer the tie-around masks or the ones that sit on your ears since one version may be more comfortable for you than it is for another person in your party. These are the 15 CUTEST Disney face masks we’ve seen so far! Even with all of the changes happening in Disney World, the first moments we get to walk down Main Street or ride Rise of the Resistance will be magical, even with these changes! We have to adapt to these new changes in Disney World for the time being, but with the right tips and tricks, it doesn’t have to be that bad! Check out these 12 essentials you also need to bring with you to the parks! What are some essentials you always bring to Disney World? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: Breaking News! Disney World Begins A Phased Reopening on May 20th With Disney Springs We’ve Gotten a LITTLE Hint About the NBA’s Housing at Disney World! NEW Insta-Worthy Nighttime Magic Shots Are Coming to Disney World Soon! View the full article

Seminole Casino Coconut Creek and Seminole Classic Casino in Hollywood also reopening for first time since coronavirus closing on March 20. View the full article

Did you know that City Works Eatery & Pour House is reopening to guests TODAY in Disney Springs? City Works in Disney Springs We are, in fact, grabbing a bite (and probably a brew!) there today. But before we bring you our full review, we wanted to share a little secret on how you can score a free appetizer at City Works! Simply visit the City Works website to sign up for the Rewards program! City Works Rewards Sign Up screenshot While the initial sign up gets you a free appetizer, additional perks include getting $20 when you spend $200, a $10 birthday gift, “and more!” City Works Rewards Sign Up screenshot The sign-up info reminds that you’ll want to look for and download the “Bottleneck” app where you can track your Rewards progress. Pretzel Bites with Gouda Cheese Sauce You can find additional City Works restaurants outside of Disney Springs in Pennsylvania, Texas, Illinois, and Massachusetts. Just visit the City Works website for information on specific locations. See our full review of City Works Eatery & Pour House in Disney Springs here! We’ll be sharing more from our first visit back to City Works right here soon. As a reminder, City Works just opened on the West Side of Disney Springs in February, so you can read about our first visit to this new Disney Springs dining location right here in the meantime! Have you ever visited a City Works restaurant? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: Menu Preview and Food Photos: Is This What We Can Expect At City Works, Coming Soon to Disney Springs? NEWS! We Know When City Works Will Be Opening in Disney Springs! NEW Restaurant Coming to Disney Springs! City Works Eatery & Pour House View the full article

Disney World on Wednesday released its plan to make sure its resort hotels are clean as they reopen for guests amid the coronavirus pandemic. View the full article

We’ve got our eyes on Disney World’s reopening, but other Orlando parks are opening too. Mako Coaster in SeaWorld Florida ©MidwayMayhem SeaWorld Orlando recently announced its upcoming reopening for July 11th — that’s TOMORROW! Now, their gearing up for the return of guests with some changes to procedures and an all-new guest reservation system for the theme parks. We noticed that the system seemed to point to SeaWorld being open five days a week and the company just confirmed — noting some capacity changes, too! SeaWorld’s interim CEO Marc Swanson noted that the parks would be open at 30% capacity for only five days a week, according to Orlando Sentinel. The closed days of the week are to help give team members more time to keep everything cleaned and sanitized. Select parks are open select days of the week. You can read more about that here. ©SeaWorld We’ve seen capacity limitations in place at many reopening theme parks including Shanghai Disneyland and Universal Orlando, so it makes sense that SeaWorld is doing the same. Swanson maintains that between the limited attendance and health measures, the parks are completely safe. ©SeaWorld You can learn more about the new health protocols at SeaWorld in their reopening proposal. We’ll be reporting in from the reopened park tomorrow, so make sure to tune in to see how that limited capacity works! Click here to learn more about the health measures at SeaWorld! Are you planning to visit SeaWorld soon? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: BREAKING NEWS: SeaWorld Orlando Announces a Proposed Reopening Date of June 11th NEWS: SeaWorld to Use Guest Reservation System Upon Reopening Theme Parks Reservations for the SeaWorld Orlando Theme Parks are Available NOW View the full article

Disneyland Paris has remained closed since mid-March, shutting down its theme parks and hotels right around the same time as its American counterparts. Disneyland Paris And while April’s Star Wars Rival Run Weekend in Disney World was canceled this year due to the temporary closures, another runDisney event has been delayed. The Disneyland Paris Run Weekend 5th Edition was originally slated for September 24th through the 27th, but runDisney has decided to postpone the event until the fall of 2021. The announcement was posted on their website as well as social media channels. ©runDisney But unlike Star Wars Rival Run Weekend which was canceled due to the Disney World being closed, it seems Disneyland Paris could potentially open by the fall. Disneyland Paris hasn’t released its official reopening date yet, but when discussing how runDisney guests should proceed with getting refunds for the postponed race, they’ve been given the option to keep their Disneyland Paris tickets and hotel reservations. Disneyland Paris Guests who were planning on attending the delayed event can choose to either keep their package reservation without the Disneyland Paris Run Weekend features and have just the Run Weekend features refunded to them, or they can cancel their entire package reservation for a full refund. Disneyland Paris Hotel Guests will need to fill out this electronic form with their choice before June 19th, otherwise, Disney will cancel and fully refund both the package reservation and Run Weekend features automatically. We’ll continue to monitor Disneyland Paris and let you know as soon as they announce their reopening! Click here for the most current news regarding Disney’s theme park closures including Disney World, Disneyland, and every international Disney theme park! Were you planning on going to Disneyland Paris Run Weekend this year? Let us know if your plans were impacted in the comments below. Related posts: NEWS! Dates for runDisney Events in 2020 and 2021 Are HERE! Here’s a Roundup of Every Cancellation and Postponement Officially Announced By Disney! Disneyland Paris Will Feature Frozen and Star Wars Celebrations in 2020! View the full article

Through thorough research, reading article after article, and knowing a thing or two about Disney Parks, we would LIKE to think that we have a crystal ball and can see into the future. Mickey Mouse We know, however, that is NOT the case! Disney always loves to surprise us and, after all, the only constant at Disney is change! So let’s take a look at the things we were WAY wrong about when it comes to Disney World’s reopening. How Temperature Screenings Would Work We anticipated temperature screenings would become a normal part of the reopened theme park experience when Shanghai Disneyland adopted these protocols upon reopening in May. And once it was officially announced that temperature checks would be a part of the Disney Springs reopening, we seemed to have even MORE questions! Shanghai Disneyland What we TOTALLY missed the mark on, however, is how the U.S. temperature screenings would differ from Shanghai! While Shanghai sends guests through temperature screening tents with thermal cameras, so far Disney Springs as well as Universal have used handheld scanners that a person holds up to the Guest’s forehead. Temperature Screening Speaking of those handheld temperature scanners, we were also surprised to see exactly WHO is doing the temperature screenings! While many believed Cast Members would be the ones responsible for checking temperatures, Disney is utilizing AdventHealth to handle all of their screenings. Learn more about what getting your temperature checked at Disney Springs is like here! Character Interactions: The Who, The Where, and The When! When Disney World announced that they would be enhancing their contactless experiences for guests, this meant a temporary suspension of character meet and greets. But we were quickly surprised, however, to see STORMTROOPERS in Disney Springs! We 100% did NOT see that one coming! Yes, there were STORMTROOPERS in Disney Springs! If someone had told us that these guys would be out and about patrolling Disney World’s shopping and dining district from above, we definitely would have laughed! It just goes to show that you never know what Disney has up its sleeves! This could also hint at some of the innovative ways Disney is going to incorporate character experiences in the future. Could this be the temporary future of character interactions at Disney World? What also took us by surprise was Disney’s decision to cancel character dining when the parks reopen. We saw Shanghai and Hong Kong Disneyland reintroduce characters into the dining experience relatively early in their reopening, implying that Disney would consider a work-around for their domestic parks, too. But as of right now, that doesn’t seem to be the case. The only character meal option, which will be modified, will take place at Topolino’s Terrace — Flavors of the Riviera at Disney’s Riviera Resort. Read more about Disney World temporarily canceling all character dining here! Which Disney Merchandise Items are Being Sold (and NOT sold!) When we first visited Disney Springs on May 20, only a select amount of third-party retailers and restaurants were open. It would be a full week before Disney owned-and-operated-stores, like World of Disney would reopen. But we were shocked to see some Disney Parks merchandise find their way to Disney Springs on day one! It appears this was short-lived though. Disney stated limited-edition merch won’t be released in-store for the time being going forward. Balloons in Disney Springs Oh, and we totally did NOT predict we would see Disney World balloons being sold at Disney Springs, especially before any Disney retailers opened! On the flip side, there was one MAJOR merchandise item that we talked about well before the stores opened: MASKS! Vera Bradley Face Masks While some third-party retailers like Vera Bradley were selling face masks on day one, Disney branded face masks are still nowhere to be found! Despite the fact that shopDisney is taking preorders for character-themed masks, we debated on whether or not we would see them being sold in person. We weren’t even sure if Disney would be handing masks out for free! Masks at Vera Bradley The face mask conundrum is certainly a hot button topic for discussion and one that probably won’t be going away anytime soon! As the theme parks reopen, it’ll be interesting to see if Disney starts selling face masks, like we’ve seen at Universal Orlando. See what wearing a face mask is like at Disney Springs here! Refilling Our Popcorn Buckets Part of the new Guest experience at Disney World will be enhanced contactless experiences. With this in mind, we were surprised to see that Disney is still allowing refillable popcorn buckets! Refillable Popcorn Bucket Cast Members will touch your popcorn bucket as little as is necessary, and the handle is wiped before it is given back to you! Refilled Bucket We’ll have to wait and see if this policy carries over to the theme parks, but this was a pleasant surprise for us in the meantime! Read more about refillable popcorn buckets at Disney Springs here! How Drink Refills Would Work We have been predicting some sort of change coming down the pike when it comes to Disney’s refillable drink policies. We could see this affecting both the refillable mugs folks acquire when they’re on the Disney Dining Plan (which has also been canceled for the time being), but also the drinks we all purchase at counter service dining locations. Disney World Refillable Mug While there were still lots of unknowns then and there are still some unknowns now, we have started to see just how Disney implemented their contactless experience when it comes to refillable drinks. Earl of Sandwich At many of the counter service locations in Disney Springs, guests cannot use the fountain machines to fill their cups. That is all handled by employees who will fill drinks for guests, often roped off near the drink stations. At Starbucks, they are not accepting refillable mugs at this time, which seems to be the protocol for their locations nationwide. See what other dining measures we have experienced so far at Disney Springs! We’ve learned over the past couple of months that Disney can definitely take us by surprise! While we can predict, analyze, and hypothesize all day long, ultimately we have to wait and see what Disney does themselves before we know the full picture! Until then, however, it’s an interesting challenge to analyze what COULD happen, especially when there’s lots of research involved! Keep checking back in with us at DFB in the weeks to come, because we’ll have even MORE information to help you prepare for Disney World’s reopening. What new protocols or measurements have YOU been the most surprised about? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: What’s New in Disney Springs: Retro Hats, Boozy Snacks, Sequin and Pineapple Backpacks! PHOTOS and TIPS: Our FULL Experience From Reopening Day at Disney Springs What’s New in Disney Springs: a NEW Caramel Sundae, Neon Merch Galore, and Refillable Popcorn Buckets! View the full article

Hey, friends! We’re back with another DFB Video, and today we’re talking about the BEST rooms in Disney World hotels, and HOW to get ’em. Disney’s Polynesian Resort Whether it’s the perfect view, the best location, or the most unique room at the resort, some rooms are just better than the rest. We’re going through nearly every single Disney resort to let you know about the best rooms and how to get them! 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: Your favorite Disney World hotel! Related posts: DFB Video: 9 Things You’re NOT Doing Right at Disney World DFB Video: 10 Important Things I Want to Warn You About at Disney World! DFB Video: 8 Surprising Facts about Disney World Right Now! View the full article

The Walt Disney World theme parks will begin a phased reopening on July 11th. Ahead of that, select Disney Resort hotels will begin to reopen to guests starting on June 22nd. Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Highlighting safety as the top priority, Disney’s reopening plans include new measures to protect both guests and Cast Members. Over the weekend, a lot of new information was revealed for how operations at Walt Disney World will proceed upon the initial reopening with new protocols presented for several guest experiences ranging from dining to their stay in a Disney Resort hotel. Disney has also provided a statement in an “Update on Disney Resort Hotels” by Katie Kelly, Vice President of Worldwide Safety Services to prepare guests for what they can expect with regards to enhanced safety and cleanliness measures. Animal Kingdom Lodge Room As we’ve discussed, online check-in will be strongly encouraged to start your stay, and “redesigned bell services” will allow guests to meet luggage at their room. In addition to increased cleaning and hand sanitizer stations in high-traffic areas (and much more), Disney is also giving rooms a “thorough cleaning” before your arrival, and notes that housekeeping cast members will receive additional training on these increased measures. While you can explore these measures in full here, this graphic below provides a good look at the all of the various room elements which will receive thorough cleaning prior to guest entry including everything from door handles, pulls and knobs to electronic devices, bathroom amenities, and more. Simply click the image to enlarge for easier reading. ©Disney — Click to Enlarge Additional measures include limiting capacity in select shared areas where appropriate such as restaurants and pools, in order to promote safe distancing. Disney also reminds of ways that technology will be utilized to limit contact with services such as Mobile Order in participating dining locations. Finally, a short video highlights “What To Expect During Your Next Disney Stay,” which you can watch in full below. Disney has shared this information so that guests may “have a magical visit with peace of mind.” Learn more about the new safety measures which will be implemented at Walt Disney World Resort hotels here. If you’d like to catch up on the all the latest information about the upcoming reopening of Walt Disney World, you can visit any of the links below. What is your favorite Walt Disney World Resort? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: DFB Video: 15 Disney World Hotel Hacks! DFB Video: Why People Keep Ending Up in the WRONG Disney World Hotel Disney World Annual Pass Price Increases for Disney Vacation Club Members View the full article

It’s no secret Disney World has REALLY been keeping us on our toes lately! Walt Disney World Not only have there been a ton of new announcements regarding transportation and hotel services for guests once the resorts reopen, but now that MLS and NBA players are headed to Disney World, there’s been a ton of questions over where these pro athletes will be housed! And here’s something interesting! Earlier, we told you guys Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort had just extended its temporary closure through July 29th despite being one of the only places you could still reserve a room at Disney World until recently and has asked all guests to confirm their July reservations. Swan and Dolphin Resort Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Resort is partnered with Disney World and located on-property but is technically owned by Marriott. Until June 8th, guests could still use Marriott’s third-party website to book a room at Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Resort prior to Disney World’s July 11th and July 15th reopening. Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Resort Since Disney World has frozen all new bookings (except for DVC members) and ticket sales as it gets ready to launch its new reservation system, this was the only way for guests to still find Disney World rooms. But all of that changed when the website began no longer showing availability before July 29th and now we know why — it’s where the Major League Soccer teams will be staying while they compete at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Disney World! ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Although the MLS hasn’t officially announced this is where teams will be staying for their “MLS is Back Tournament” which kicks off July 8th, we found the following statement in the MLS’s listed new health, safety, and medical protocols: “The Walt Disney World Resort and the Swan and Dolphin Hotel will be providing enhanced cleaning of all venues and enforcing appropriate capacity-management and other social distancing guidelines.” ©MLS The MLS is coming to Disney World! Learn more details here! We were really starting to wonder what was going on at Disney World’s Swan and Dolphin Resort, but this explains A LOT! We will continue to share more details on the MLS in Disney World as they are announced! See where NBA players are expected to stay while they finishing their season at Disney World here! Are you excited about MLS teams finishing their season at Disney World? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: News! Disney World’s Swan and Dolphin Resort Will Remain Closed Through July 29th There’s Still a Way to Book a Room on Disney World Property Right Now! News! Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Asking July Guests to Confirm Reservations! View the full article

Disney World is providing a solution for the return of major league sports. ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Last week, it was officially determined that the NBA would be resuming its 2020 season at Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex — and they’re not the only ones. Also coming to the complex for a season reboot is Major League Soccer! Today, the league announced some more details and WHEN they’ll be going for the goals again. Take a look! MLS announced this morning that season would return with an “MLS is Back Tournament” on July 8th. All 26 of the league’s clubs will be playing at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex with no fans in attendance and up to three matches each day. ©Disney Players will begin arriving in Orlando on June 24th and later for preseason training. Around 2,000 people will need to gather for the return of the season, so health measures will be very important to keep the players, coaches, and crews. Health considerations for the return of MLS include: Prior to traveling, all members of the clubs will undergo multiple illness tests and physical exams. Travel to Orlando will occur via a charter plane. Upon arriving, club members will be tested again and tests will resume every day for the first two weeks in Orlando. Beyond that, testing will continue regularly and prior to each match. Prevention measures will be taken into account such as face coverings, physical distancing, general hygiene, and cleaning and sanitation. During matches, members are asked to exercise care when spitting or clearing their nose, required to wear masks on the bench and in the technical area, asked not to exchange jerseys or kiss the ball, and asked to wear masks or face shields for press interactions. The league also has a detailed response plan for the event of a player becoming sick. You can learn about all of these health measures and more from the official MLS statement. ©MLS The statement also mentions that members of the club will be staying at the Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels, which might explain the delay of reopening for those accommodation options. An interesting note: Some of our readers have been able to confirm July reservations at the Swan and Dolphin. Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Resort The tournament will ultimately include 54 total matches which WILL count in the 2020 MLS regular season standings. The prize pool is set at around $1.1 million and the winning club will earn a spot in the 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League. We’ll be keeping an eye out for more updates about the MLS and other leagues coming to Disney World! Goooooooooaaaaaaaal! Click here to learn more about the return of Major League Soccer! Excited to be able to watch soccer on TV again? Tell us in the comments! Related posts: Confirmed: Major League Soccer Players Will Be Staying at Disney World’s Swan and Dolphin Resort! NEWS: Major League Soccer Set to Resume 2020 Season at Walt Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports There’s Still a Way to Book a Room on Disney World Property Right Now! View the full article

It’s official! Disney World will begin to reopen on July 11th (so that means all the Mickey Bars you can eat!). Premium Mickey Ice Cream Bar at Disney World Although there are sweet and savory snacks that we could eat ALL DAY LONG, Disney actually has some risky eats that you’ll have to be careful trying! You Can Eat the Whole Fish — Just Watch Those BONES! While you’re walking around Disney’s Animal Kingdom from Pandora to DinoLand U.S.A. and back again to Asia, you’re probably going to be pretty worn out from all that world traveling. If you make your way over to Discovery Island, you can find Tiffins for a great meal and a place to relax. Tiffins “Tiffin” means a kind of meal or a vessel to carry your food in — so you’re quite literally taking a lunch break when you’re at the restaurant! Although there is plenty of lamb, beef, chicken, and tofu on the menu, you’re definitely going to want to take a look at the seafood section. Nomad Lounge from Tiffins Check-In While you’ll find normal shrimp and market fish on the menu, you’ll also notice the “Whole-fried Sustainable Fish.” And, Disney isn’t playing around, you guys!! It is actually an entire fish fried and served up on your plate AS IS (including those teeth and eyeballs). Whole Fried Sustainable Fish After you get past how your meal looks (sometimes right at you), the flavor of the fish is AH-MAZING. Although the menu just says “sustainable fish,” it’s been yellow snapper whenever we’ve visited Tiffins. Whole Fried Sustainable Fish at Tiffins But, be careful when you’re eating! Since the whole fish is just fried and served to you, the bones are still intact inside! So, while you’re chewing, make sure to chew slowly and carefully (some of those bones are thin and sharp!). It may be tasty, but the Whole-fried Sustainable Fish is definitely a one of the more dangerous food items that you’ll need to be cautious of when you’re eating. Whole Fried Sustainable Fish — Up Close You can also find Whole Fried Fish on the menu at Jungle Navigation Co., LTD Skipper Canteen in Magic Kingdom. Same exact idea here but they seem to take the “whatever is fresh and sustainable” idea a bit more to heart. Whole Fried Fish(es) at Skipper Canteen We’ve been served one large yellow snapper before as well as two smaller snapper or two lionfish on past visits. If you’re interested in the whole fish at this location, be sure to ask what they have available that day to make sure it’s to your liking! When in Disney, try something unique, you know!! Take a look at other unexpected eats in Disney World! Your Meal Is on FIRE!! When we say that Disney meals are on fire, we actually MEAN it over at Wine Bar George! Although we could normally eat three servings of Mac and Cheese Bites here, the Saganaki on Fire has quickly become one of our favorite eats at the restaurant! Fire Cheese The Vlahoriti cheese comes with a side of crostini for dipping (but we could totally just eat the cheese by itself tbh). When your server brings it out, the appetizer will be doused with Greek Metaxa liquor and set ablaze for you to enjoy! Saganaki on Fire While Wine Bar George would previously squeeze fresh lemon juice over the Saganaki to extinguish the flames, now you’re given the lemon to do it yourself. Obviously, anything flammable is dangerous, so you have to be VERY careful handling this dish. Saganaki on Fire You might want to put your hair back and roll up your sleeves to keep anything from catching on fire along with your cheese. Nobody wants singed hair to go along with their meal! ;D These are the TOP 5 spots for cheesy goodness in Disney World right now! The Allergy Guessing Game Disney is top-notch when it comes to providing meals for guests with allergies and dietary restrictions (who knew plant-based items could be so GOOD?). The restaurants are all about letting guests know what is in their meals at Disney World. When you arrive, you can ask even ask them for an allergy menu that will list how each meal stacks up against the most common allergens. Satu’li Canteen Allergy Menu However, many of their dishes already state what their ingredients are on the regular menus without guests even having to specifically ask for an allergy menu. But, when you’re visiting spots like Goofy’s Candy Co., the Main Street Confectionery, and The Ganachery, things can get a li’l tricky when it comes to allergies. Goofy’s Candy Company Bakery Case The treats in the bakery cases don’t list what they are made of, so you can’t be entirely sure if you’re choosing a snack that could cause guests with nut, milk, and other allergies to have problems. Main Street Confectionery Case However, you can ask one of the bakery Cast Members for a full list of ingredients in the treats to make sure you’re picking something that fits the needs of your party members. Take a look at the restaurants with the BEST desserts in Magic Kingdom! Honorable Mention: Actually Spicy Fries Okay, we’re talking about Disney World food — so that means spicy is a relative term. Disney doesn’t usually add too much heat to their snacks and meals (although we’re big fans of all things spicy). BUT, last year, we pleasantly encountered a surprise during Epcot’s Festival of the Holidays that set our taste buds on fire. Shanghai Holiday Kitchen The Shanghai Holiday Kitchen served up lots of eats like Pork and Veggie Egg Rolls and Beef Bao Buns, but we were HOOKED on the Chendu Street Fries. We took a bite expecting “Disney spicy” and before we knew it, we were reaching for some water! The chili oil used on these packed a SERIOUS heat punch — these were crazy good, y’all. Chengdu Spicy Street Fries The sauce was similar to what you’d have with potstickers, but WAY hotter and drizzled all over the fries. Plus, the crunchy peanuts and green onions added even more crunch to the crispy fries. Trust us, these would have been WAY too hot for most guests who aren’t a fan of spice (not to mention an allergy hazard with the nuts!). Shanghai Chengdu Spicy Street Fries Although they might be a bit too spicy, we ABSOLUTELY hope they return for this year’s Festival of the Holidays since they were our favorite snack from the booths! Check out our Best of the Fest from the 2019 festival here! While these eats are slightly dangerous, it’s so much fun to try things that are more unique than the usual sundaes or chicken tenders. And, although Disney World might be the Most Magical Place on Earth, we like to add a little bit of risk in our vacations. These are the must-have eats you should have in Disney World in 2020! What are some of the most dangerous eats you’ve had in the Disney Parks? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: NEWS! Disney World Chefs are Giving Back With Two HUGE Charity Dinners Next Month Celebrate Valentine’s Day with THIS Limited-Time Tasty Dish in Disney Springs! What’s New at Disney’s Animal Kingdom: St. Patrick’s Day Treats, More ABC Disney, and the Almighty MUSHU! View the full article

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Tuesday to dissolve the city of Weeki Wachee, population 13, and have it absorbed into Hernando County. View the full article

SeaWorld's interim CEO sat down to talk with the Sentinel before the parks reopen to the public Thursday. Marc Swanson talked about everything from new safety measures, the reservation system and whether the Seven Seas Food Festival could still go on this year. View the full article

It turns out Winnie the Pooh is passionate about more than just “hunny!” Our favorite cuddly bear actually tried his hand (or, should we say, his paw!) at politics! Winnie the Pooh When you think of Disney characters that are perfect for leadership positions, Mickey Mouse might be the first to come to mind. But since he’s already so busy running…you know…Disney, it was Winnie the Pooh who ran for president back in 1972 and 1976! And even though he didn’t make it to The White House (spoiler alert!) it was still a campaign worth remembering! In 1972, the nation had their eyes on presidential candidates Richard Nixon and George McGovern. But in Disneyland, a new frontrunner had burst onto the scene! On October 21st, 1972, Disneyland began their Winnie the Pooh for President event with the willy, nilly, silly, old bear running for office! Winnie the Pooh for President Event in Disneyland in 1972 ©Disney The event ran for three days and featured entertainment including a stage show with Winnie the Pooh and friends, and a ticker tape parade down Main Street, U.S.A.! Winnie the Pooh for President Parade ©Disney Of course Winnie the Pooh’s pals got in on the excitement of campaigning as well — Tigger was tapped as his Press Secretary and Eeyore served as his Campaign Manager. Given Tigger’s enthusiasm and Eeyore’s realism, these two sound like they were well-suited for their positions! Pooh’s Friends Helped Him Out on the Campaign Trail! ©Disney So what were some of Pooh’s campaign promises? Well, according to the official press release, he planned to “lick the high price of ice-cream cones,” and, “put honey in every pot.” Winnie the Pooh Announced his Candidacy! ©Disney The Winnie the Pooh for President event was held again in 1976, but after that, Pooh retired from his career in politics. Even though Pooh didn’t make it into office, he may have helped lay the groundwork for the other unique events we see at Disney parks to this day! In an interview with D23, Imagineer Marilyn Magness said, “The first time Winnie the Pooh ran for president was a fun concept to put together. At that time, what a risk! […] Those were fun early shows because we were stretching the brand. Anytime we could stretch the brand and try to find out when the guests would go with us and when they wouldn’t go with us…learning that was a great opportunity.” Winnie the Pooh for President! ©Disney So, even though he didn’t end up becoming president, Winnie the Pooh still managed to change the (Disney) World! Without his groundbreaking campaign, we might not have other events that stray directly from the Disney brand — like the Lunar New Year celebrations in Disneyland and the Epcot International Festival of the Arts in Disney World. He’s quite accomplished for a self-described “bear of very little brain!” Are the Hall of Presidents wearing any underwear?? Click here to see the answer we found to this and other burning Disney questions! Do you know someone who experienced the Winnie the Pooh for President event in Disneyland? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Dining in Disneyland: Vintage Disneyland Menus from the D23 Expo Archives News! Disneyland Jungle Cruise Sunrise Safari Breakfast Booking NOW! News and Review: Rainbow and World of Color Goofy’s Glaciers! View the full article

An Update on Disney Resort Hotels View the full article

Major League Soccer will resume its 25th season at Walt Disney World Resort, hosting the MLS is Back Tournament at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex from July 8 to August 11. The unique tournament will include all 26 MLS clubs competing in a continuous schedule of 54 total matches that will take place nearly every day. The matches will count in the 2020 MLS regular season standings, and the tournament winner will also earn a spot in the 2021 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League. The event, which will be held without spectators in attendance, will be staged with an emphasis on the health and safety of all players, coaches, staff, crew, and cast members. MLS players and staff will follow specific medical protocols, including regular testing, throughout the tournament. ESPN Wide World of Sports is excited to continue its longstanding relationship with MLS by hosting the MLS is Back Tournament. Previously, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex hosted the 1998 MLS preseason, as well as events for the 1998 and 2019 MLS All-Star Games. For more information about the MLS is Back Tournament, including the detailed competition format and information about the live draw taking place tomorrow, June 11, visit www.mlssoccer.com. View the full article

Dear Guests, As we look towards reopening our parks and resorts around the world, your wellbeing – and the wellbeing of our cast members – is one of our top priorities. In March, we began the phased reopening of Shanghai Disney Resort, and on May 20, we took another step as guests returned to shop and dine at Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort. Just as we’ve started making plans for our theme parks, we are also making plans for our hotels and Disney Vacation Club resorts. With that in mind, we wanted to share what you can expect when you book a stay at a Disney Resort hotel. As Disney’s Chief Medicial Officer Dr. Pamela Hymel shared in her previous update, our health and safety team has taken a close look at the experiences at our hotels, from resort and room cleaning to check-in, dining and entertainment, so you can have a magical visit with peace of mind. During your stay, you’ll find updates and enhancements made with health and safety in mind, in line with the guidance of health and government authorities. At the Resort Staying with confidence starts at check-in, with options to use Online Check-in service at select locations and meet your luggage at your room with redesigned bell services. Throughout Disney Resort hotels, we’re increasing cleaning in high-traffic areas such as elevators and escalators, handrails, benches, tables, handles, restrooms, and more. We’ve also expanded the number of hand sanitizer locations across the property. At our restaurants, lobbies, pools, fitness centers, and other public areas, we’re looking at adjusting services to enable preventive measures and physical distancing, including reducing capacity where appropriate and implementing enhanced cleaning measures. We’re using technology to aid us in these efforts, with limited-contact services in place at our shopping and dining locations, with Mobile Order, cashless options and Magic Bands.** In Your Room Before arrival, every room will be given an enhanced cleaning. During your stay, a light cleaning service (including removal of trash and replenishment of towels and amenities) will be offered every other day.** Our housekeeping cast members will receive training on increased cleaning measures throughout the resort hotel and for each guest room, including updated practices for cleaning tools and managing in-room amenities, linens, luggage, and more. Of course, we all have an important role to play in promoting health and safety. We are asking our guests to help, by washing your hands frequently with soap and water; following physical distancing and other guidelines when you visit; and rescheduling your visit if you or a member of your party feel ill or are subject to quarantine or other travel restrictions. We’ll share more information about the health and safety measures at Disney Resort hotels with you ahead of your visit – and continue to monitor the situation and make adjustments as appropriate. While our new experience may be a little different from the last time you stayed with us, a magical and memorable visit awaits you at our Disney resort hotels. We’re looking forward to welcoming you – see you real soon! Katie Kelly Vice President of Worldwide Safety Services Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products *Owned-and-operated Disney resorts. **Available at Walt Disney World Resort only. ***Disney Vacation Club members will receive their traditional housekeeping service. View the full article

Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando has a selection of package deals for guests through the summer. View the full article

With the Walt Disney World theme parks reopening in July — and some Disney Vacation Club hotels opening later this month — it’s a good time to think about what you need to know for your next Disney World vacation and a travel agent should be at the top of your planning list! Magic Kingdom It’s important to know that your next Walt Disney World vacation will look different than before. Safety is the number one priority at Disney, and their reopening plans will include new measures to protect their guests and Cast Members. Right now it’s more important than ever to stay up-to-date on the latest news so you’re prepared for your next Disney World vacation. And make sure you’re in the know if things are being canceled or rescheduled. Our good friends at Small World Vacations are ready to help you plan your next visit — keep reading to see what a travel agent can do for you! What Can a Travel Agent Do For You? The agents at Small World Vacations have been creating magical vacations for 24 years, and during this time of unprecedented change in the travel industry their agents’ knowledge, experience, and dedication is invaluable. Your Small World Vacations agent will work tirelessly to make sure you’re aware of the current procedures and policies at Walt Disney World hotels and theme parks. They will help you prepare for what to expect during your Disney World vacation, including possible changes to dining plans, FastPasses, and safety and distancing procedures at the theme park and resorts. Simply put, there is no better time than right now to have a Small World Vacations agent to guide you as you book your next Disney World vacation. Beach Club Resort When you feel ready to start planning your next Disney World vacation, the agents at Small World Vacations can help you. Please note that at this time, pricing and availability for Walt Disney World vacations are suspended due to the phased reopening of the theme parks on July 11th. If you complete a request for a price quote, an agent will contact you to discuss your options and put you on their wait list for when reservations open up for booking. Contact Small World Vacations for a no-obligation quote. Epcot A note from Small World Vacations: At Small World Vacations our agents are working tirelessly to help their guests and to keep them informed of any changes and options when modifying their vacation plans. Many of our guests are optimistic about the future and they have been moving their travel dates to the fall or next spring. We are happy to assist you with your travel plans when you are ready to book your next Disney vacation. If you booked your vacation with Small World Vacations, please contact your agent for assistance and the latest news. Small World Vacations’ emergency phone line and email for current guests with an existing reservations is 201-497-5529 and the email is guestrelations@smallworldvacations.com Please rest assured that the agents at Small World Vacations are doing their very best to help their guests during the current situation. It really is a small world after all and together, we will get through this. Small World Vacations is happy to help with your Walt Disney World Vacation. Learn below what they can do for you! Small World Vacations is proud to be the preferred travel agency of the Disney Food Blog. Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. (Why should you use a travel agent when you go to Disney? See what we think here! Or click here for a no obligation price quote today! And tell them DFB Sent You! Small World Vacations agents have been to Walt Disney World over 2,500 times! We know what you need to know before you go. We’re Diamond Level Authorized Disney Vacation Planners (that’s the highest level, ranked by Disney!) who have been there, done that and are going back. Learn how we can help you and what our guests are saying about us: “I am a very hands-on type of person and I’ve always planned our vacations. I decided this time to give Small World Vacations a try. Best thing I could have done. My agent was able to handle the booking part, which is the tedious part of the planning. Then she was able to get me free dining for my trip, which saved me a ton of money. She answered all my questions very promptly as well.” If you are ready to begin planning your 2020 Walt Disney World vacation, simply fill out Small World Vacations no obligation quote form! Small World Vacations is happy to share over 22 years of Disney expertise and firsthand experience with My Disney Experience, discounts, dining reservations, and FastPass+ so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy some Disney Magic! Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you — they’ve literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They’re DFB’s recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!) So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you Related posts: Everything You Need to Know About the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin! Book Your Disney World Trip Before This Discount DEADLINE! Check Out The BEST SELLERS! View the full article

Over the weekend, there was STILL a way to book a non-DVC room on Disney property for the reopening of Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom on July 11th and the reopening of Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on July 15th. Guests could go through Mariott’s website and book a room at The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts. THEN, the Swan and Dolphin’s website was updated to state that both resorts will remain closed through July 29th. That left guests with rooms at the Swan and Dolphin with one MAJOR question: What would happen to their reservations?! Now we know it seems as though the Swan and Dolphin WILL be open to guests with previously booked stays. Swan and Dolphin Resort The Swan and Dolphin resorts are asking guests to confirm their reservations by 5PM on Monday, June 15th, otherwise the reservation will be canceled and refunded. If you have a reservation at the Swan and Dolphin for July, confirm by calling 800-227-1500 or by emailing reservations@swandolphin.com. Email From Swan and Dolphin According to the email, the Swan and Dolphin resorts will be operating with “limited services initially, which will impact amenities and restaurants typically available to guests.” Though these are third-party hotels, this is in line with what Walt Disney World resort hotels will look like after reopening on June 22. Animal Kingdom Lodge Note that the Swan and Dolphin did NOT confirm when they will be reopening to new guests, nor when the hotels will open to new reservations before July 30th. We’ll monitor this story and keep you updated as we learn more. Who Counts as a “Disney World Resort Guest” For the Reopening? We’ve Done Some Digging! Are you staying at the Swan and Dolphin anytime soon? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: There’s Still a Way to Book a Room on Disney World Property Right Now! NEWS! Annual Passholders Can Get Some AWESOME Discounts on Disney World Area Hotels This Spring! What’s New at Disney’s Caribbean Beach and Swan and Dolphin Resorts: Disney X Nike Gear and Princess Crown Pins! View the full article

There’s been a lot of speculation about whether or not AMC could survive the summer since they shut down all of their movie theaters in the U.S. as well as the U.K. due to the current global health crisis. AMC Theater in Disney Springs Before Its Closure And while the company had previously announced they would keep their theaters closed until studios began releasing new movies, they are currently working on a plan to reopen as many AMC theaters by July as they can. CNN reporter @frankpallotta first broke the news via Twitter after AMC’s first-quarter earnings report. AMC will implement several health and safety measures as part of their plan to reopen, including lowering guest capacity, spacing out parties, and enhancing their cleaning procedures — similar to what we saw them doing before closing down. We’ll continue to follow this story as it develops. What movie are you looking forward to seeing when AMC theaters reopen? Tell us in the comments below! Related posts: Is The Future Of Movies…On Demand? Saudi Arabia’s Investment Fund Buys Five Million Shares in The Walt Disney Company Roll Call! Here’s the Current Status of Every Disney Park After Yesterday’s BIG NEWS! View the full article

As many of us are already keenly aware, our summer Disney World vacations are going to look and feel very different this year. There’s going to be a lot fewer people in parks, tons of new health and safety measures, and no parades, fireworks or character meet and greets to start. Disney’s Hollywood Studios But with so many modifications being made to Disney World’s guest experiences, you might be asking yourself what’s going to happen with MagicBands? Will we still be using them? Can we still pre-order them? We’re just like you guys — we can’t picture a trip to Disney World that doesn’t include MagicBands since we’re so used to swiping them to enter the theme parks, our guest rooms, and even pay for stuff! Plus — that’s only a couple of ways we use ’em! The list goes on and on! Rest assured, while many changes are happening for Disney World’s July 11th and July 15th reopening, Disney World will still be using MagicBands. While we won’t have all the details for you until Disney World reveals its new reservation system, here’s what we know about MagicBands so far. What if I’ve already ordered my MagicBands? Shortly after the parks announced they were closing, Disney World suspended MagicBand orders. Guests who had placed orders that were shipped out would still receive their MagicBands while any upgraded MagicBands that were to be delivered to Disney World resort hotels after March 20th were automatically canceled and refunded. Screenshot from Disney World Website Since the Disney World theme parks and hotels were closed indefinitely, MagicBand orders were suspended. But now that the parks are reopening July 11th and 15th along with several Disney Vacation Club resorts and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort opening June 22nd, is there a way for guests to order their MagicBands again? We investigated! Will I still be able to order my MagicBands? Normally, Disney Resort hotel guests and Walt Disney World Annual Passholders can order MagicBands through the My Disney Experience website. But since Disney World has temporarily suspended its ticket sales, stopped taking new hotel bookings, and aren’t allowing guests to reserve any FastPasses or dining experiences at this time, we were curious to see if we could still place a MagicBand order. Beach Club Resort When we tried to place an order as a Disney World Annual Passholder this morning we received a message stating, “While the Walt Disney World theme parks and Resort hotels are temporarily closed, we are not currently accepting new MagicBand orders linked to Walt Disney World Annual Passholders or Disney Resort hotel reservations. Please continue to check this page for additional updates.” Screenshot from Disney World’s Website Okay, fair enough. Luckily, we also have a reservation to stay at Disney’s Contemporary Resort as well as Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort on July 1st. Screenshot from My Disney Experience App At first, it appeared as if we could order our MagicBands, because we saw this “Choose MagicBands” option… Screenshot from My Disney Experience App …but when we clicked on it, we still weren’t directed to the ordering process. Instead, we saw this screen which informed us we could order our MagicBands up to 11 days before our arrival date if we wanted them sent to our homes (which has been Disney World’s shipping policy on MagicBands since before the temporary closures). Screenshot from My Disney Experience App We searched high and low and didn’t find any way to place an order for MagicBands at the moment, so as far as we’ve been able to dig up, MagicBand orders are still being temporarily suspended at this time. We’re hopeful once Disney World launches its new reservation system, guests will be able to place their MagicBand orders once again. Check out Disney World’s newest solid color MagicBand here! I have 12 days left to order for a July trip and I’m not sure what I should do! Prior to the closure, Disney World advised guests to order their MagicBands at least 11 days before your arrival date if you would like your MagicBands shipped to your home and at least 6 days before your arrival date to have them shipped to your Resort hotel. Disney World’s website still states this as their policy. However, while we were attempting to order MagicBands today, we noticed this “Shipping Timeline” which reads a little bit differently. Screenshot from My Disney Experience App Disney World says you should choose a MagicBand 10-6 days before your arrival date and MagicBands will ship only to your resort for the time being. If you select your MagicBand 5-1 days before your trip, you won’t get to pick out a color or design. You’ll be issued a gray MagicBand, available for pick-up at the guest relations. Disney’s Beach Club Resort Once the hotels reopen, Disney World will be strongly encouraging guests to utilize online self-check-in as well as a new chat feature that will instantly connect guests with a Cast Member, saving you a trip to Guest Relations. However, Disney has informed us standard check-in will be available for guests whose MagicBands are shipped to the resort. It’s still very unknown when Disney World will resume shipping MagicBands out to guests’ houses or how fast they’ll arrive, but we’ll update you with any new information Disney provides on this matter. What if my Disney World hotel doesn’t have a reopening date yet? We’re keeping a watchful eye on Disney World’s hotels for any reopening announcements and we’ll let you know as soon they’re accepting new bookings. So far, we know in order to have priority access to the new reservation system, guests will need to have valid admission and Disney World accommodations booked. MagicBand reader in Walt Disney World We did, however, see the feature on the My Disney Experience app which allowed us to forego the option of ordering new MagicBands so we could recycle our old MagicBands from previous trips. While not everyone has old MagicBands lying around, any MagicBands you’ve used at Disney World and haven’t deactivated from your account could still work at the parks and hotels. Screenshot from My Disney Experience App You can also purchase MagicBands on shopDisney or other third party websites such as Amazon or eBay and link them to your account, but since Disney World provides MagicBands for free (included in the price of your reservation) you may want to hold off. Learn more about who will be allowed to visit Disney World hotels when they reopen here! Keep in mind — having just park tickets or only a hotel reservation will not guarantee you’ll have access to the theme parks upon their reopening. Since Disney World has suspended all ticket sales, new hotel bookings, and a bunch of other services (which we now know includes ordering MagicBands) we know many of you are anxious to get the ball rollin’ on your vacation planning. Just sit tight for now, try not to worry yourselves too much, and we expect Disney World to be releasing many new details about its procedures very soon! Check out 5 things that surprised us the most about Disney World’s MagicBands here! Are you waiting to order MagicBands for your Disney World trip this summer? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: NEWS: Who Ya Gonna Call? Maybe NOT the Disney World Dining Reservation Center! DFB Video: 10 NEW Ways To Use Your Smartphone in Disney World! Disney CEO Explains Why Disney World Is Opening AFTER Universal View the full article