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Earlier we shared that Disney World is starting to ask a large number of Cast Members back to work prior to opening select resorts on June 22 and prior to reopening of Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom on July 11. Cast Member with required face mask But while many Cast Members are returning, there are still questions surrounding what the future could hold for Disney College Program participants. Back in March, we saw the interruption of the Disney College Program (as well as the Disney Culinary Program, Disney Cultural Exchange Program, and Disney Academic Exchange Program). College Program Pins In an Orlando Sentinel article, Local 362 union leader Eric Clinton was quoted saying, “If anyone thinks that college program workers are coming back anytime soon, they are mistaken.” While Disney has yet to confirm this, this could potentially cause staffing problems for the company, as many College Program participants work in frontline positions including entertainment, food & beverage, attractions, custodial, and more in the parks. Cast Member Welcoming CPs on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Some other updates we’ve spotted include news relating to Disney’s Cultural Representative Program. Disney has a few interesting job applications listed on their website. Yesterday, Disney posted a job listing for the Mexico Cultural Representative Program. According to the site, these applicants would start their programs between January and June 2021. Today, Disney posted two more listings for Germany and Norway Cultural Representative Programs. What’s so interesting Disney says these positions will start between August and November 2020. We will continue to keep an eye out on Disney’s hiring process to see when some of these positions could begin welcoming back more Cast Members. Donald at Epcot’s International Festival of the Arts We shared last week that those who “do not meet the culturally authentic theming at Epcot may be temporarily assigned to work in positions which are otherwise reserved for cultural representatives.” You can read more about this here. As things start to open and return to normal there are bound to be updates along the way. We will continue to keep you posted on the lastest news, so be on the lookout. Learn more about some new info regarding the reopening of Disney World! How do you feel about this quote? Let us know in the comments? Related posts: News! The Disney College Program and MORE Have Been Unexpectedly Suspended Shanghai Disneyland Is Already Making Progress Less Than Two Weeks After Reopening! NEWS: This Is What Dreams Are Made Of! Adam Lamberg Returns as Gordo in the Lizzie McGuire Reboot on Disney+! View the full article

Did you hear? House of Blues Restaurant & Bar is — as of yesterday — reopen to guests on the West Side of Disney Springs! We will be sharing a review with you from our visit very soon, but in the meantime we wanted to let you know how you can grab a bite to eat at House of Blues and help other people at the same time! House of Blues Orlando has launched a campaign by the name of Get Some, Give Some to support the local community. ©House of Blues Orlando ©House of Blues Orlando For every entrée purchased at the Restaurant & Bar (which is serving both dine in and takeout), House of Blues will “provide one meal to Covenant House Florida in their fight against youth hunger.” We’ll see you soon with our House of Blues review right here! (Spoiler Alert: the ahhhh-mazing Toffee Bread Pudding is still there!) For now, you can check out some of the new safety measures we noticed in place before dining at House of Blues… and find even more by clicking here. Will you be dining at House of Blues in Disney Springs? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: New Cocktails at House of Blues in Disney Springs! Disney World House of Blues Adds NEW Sandwich Special Just In Time for Mardi Gras! Find Out How to Watch the Disney World House of Blues’ Gospel Brunch LIVE This Sunday! View the full article

Yesterday we showed you guys the amazing color-changing Confetti Cups we discovered at Starbucks in Disney Springs (click here if you missed it)! Starbucks Confetti Cup And now we’re just spotted even more adorable cups at World of Disney in Disney Springs! Let’s go check ’em out! It looks like World of Disney has had a close encounter with the Toy Story-kind today! New Light-Up Toy Story Cups have invaded the shelves, and they come topped with an incredible Alien lid! Toy Story Cup It looks like Sherriff Woody’s rounded up the entire Toy Story gang! Even socially-awkward Forky makes a cameo appearance on this cool cup! Toy Story Cup Plus there’s Hamm, Bullseye, Pricklepants, and a bunch of other guys from Toy Story 3 and 4! Toy Story Cup But wait! We told you this cup LIGHTS UP! Check out how adorable it looks when its Alien lid is all AGLOW! OOOOOO!!! Toy Story Cup We also spotted this adorable Light-Up Disney Princess Cup, which comes topped with a pink tiara, of course! Princess Cup The walls of the cup feature all of our favorite princesses including Aurora, Tiana, Ariel, and even Rapunzel! Princess Cup Cinderella and Jasmine are also hanging out — in fact, Cindy seems to have one side of the cup all to herself! Princess Cup We spotted both new cups at World of Disney for $14.99, so check ’em out! And if you’re looking for even more fun stuff to brighten up your life, take a look at these new Rainbow Disney Loungeflys here! Check out the sweetest new monorail merch we spotted at Disney Springs yesterday here! Will you be picking up one of these new cups? Let us know which one’s your favorite in the comments below! Related posts: This is the Most POPPIN’ Phone Case We’ve Ever Seen in Disney World! We’ve Found the PERFECT Way to Fill Those Holiday Stockings in Disney World! What’s New at Disney Springs — Baby Yoda Socks, the World of Pixar, and MORE Park Life Merchandise! View the full article

We have shared many details on if the NBA will finish their season in Disney World. NBA Experience at Disney World Now, the NBA is one step closer to making this a reality. Today, the NBA’s Board of Governors voted on whether or not they would finish out the season at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. Tomorrow, the plan is set to be reviewed by the National Basketball Players Association, which has scheduled a virtual meeting with its membership Friday afternoon according to the New York Times. This morning we shared the names of the 22 Eastern and Western Conference teams the NBA would be inviting to Disney World once the 2020 season resumed. The games have been proposed to take place from July 31st through October 12th. NBA Experience If approved, the season will take place in Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports (with no spectators permitted) and NBA players will likely be housed on Disney World property. While we don’t have all of the official details just yet, we’ve shared information regarding discussions about some teams being accommodated at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. We’ve also heard other Disney World hotels may be used by the NBA as well. Teams are likely to receive the first choice in picking which hotel they will stay at based on the order of their seeding. ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex The centralized location will diminish the need to travel between games and could help minimize risk for players and staff. Meanwhile, players and coaches will be allowed to golf and eat at outdoor restaurants in Disney World, but they will also be required to maintain social distancing according to sports columnist and NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski. Disney has not released a statement on how this could affect guests’ experiences, but as of now, Disney Springs is the only site on Disney World’s property open to the public. We will keep you updated as we learn more. Check out ALL of our coverage from the reopening of Disney Springs here! Why do you think the NBA chose Disney World to host the rest of the season? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: NBA To Vote Thursday On Resuming Season At Disney World When Does Disney World Start Putting Up Its Christmas Decorations? Disney World is the Reported Frontrunner to Host the Rest of the NBA Season View the full article

Ever since Disney Springs reopened on May 20th, we’ve been checking out all the restaurants and stores as they’ve reopened. Amorette’s Patisserie in Disney Springs We’ve noticed many locations in Disney Springs have updated their menus to reflect a more limited menu prior to reopening. While we don’t have an official reopening date just yet, we have spotted some new menu changes at Amorette’s Patisserie. Could this mean an opening announcement is coming soon? On the sweet menu, the Avant-gard, Amorette’s Petit Cake, Amorette’s Signature Cake, Amorette’s Seasonal Petit Cakes, Flavors of South Florida, and Amorette’s Seasonal Pastry are all no longer listed on the menu. HOWEVER, fans of the yummy Mickey Mousse should note that instead of white chocolate mousse, the pastry now appears to feature a dark chocolate mousse. Mickey Mousse Note that this doesn’t necessarily mean these treats are gone forever — they just might reopen with a much more limited menu to meet their needs for the time being. Amorette’s menu also seems to be no longer listing the House-made Caprese Crêpes OR the Ham and Cheese Crêpes. The last item to disappear from the menu is the Arendelle Aqua Drink. Arendelle Aqua Drink at Amorette’s We love these gorgeous displays at Amorette’s Patisserie! In addition to these changes, we also spotted some potential pricing switch-ups! The Mickey Mousse we mention above also appears to have increased from $8 to $9. Mickey Mousse Description Some availability changes to note as well! The $59 Character Cakes now require a 48-hour notice! Previously, all specialty cakes required 72-hour notice. ©Disney It looks like with a few changes coming to Amorette’s menu, it’s possible that a reopening date is just around the corner. Check back for reopening updates as they continue to be announced! Wondering what other menu changes have taken place recently at Disney World? What do you think of these menu changes? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: What’s New at Disney Springs: Frozen Merch, Frozen Merch, and MORE Frozen Merch! (Also Leia Ears, a Baloo Plush, and More!) Spotted! This NEW R2-D2 Cake At Disney World Is A REAL CUTIE! New ‘Mulan’-Inspired Mini Cake Coming to Disney Springs! View the full article

Walt Disney World is preparing to reopen theme parks to guests starting with Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom on July 11th followed by EPCOT and Hollywood Studios on July 15th. Cinderella Castle Of course, the reopening will be accompanied by a number of new health measures to promote safety among both cast members and guests visiting the Resort. Limiting physical contact is a primary focus, with physical distancing encouraged though the suspension of parades and fireworks upon reopening (to discourage large group gathering) and even utilizing things like contactless menus. And there is another way (among many) in which physical contact will be reduced. Instructions for Viewing Digital Menu at House of Blues According to an article by the Orlando Sentinel which features comments by Local 362’s leader Eric Clinton, cast members will politely decline if you ask them to use your phone or camera to take your picture. Tree of Life in Animal Kingdom This is something we experienced yesterday during an Annual Passholder preview for the reopening of Universal Orlando Resort, where team members were not permitted to handle guests’ phones. So, if you are planning a trip to Walt Disney World when it reopens, you may want to be prepared with a game plan for those family photos! Selfie sticks, as a reminder, are not permitted in the parks. But you might want to consider using the Disney PhotoPass Service where PhotoPass photographers take your pictures using the service’s own cameras. (We will be sure to keep you posted on any potential changes to PhotoPass as information is revealed.) PhotoPass Photographer and Attendant We’ll be keeping you updated on all the latest information when it comes to the reopening of Walt Disney World, and we hope you’ll stay tuned! In the meantime, you can visit any of the links below for more information. Source: Orlando Sentinel Are you following along with the new safety measures which will be implemented when the parks reopen? Please let us know with a comment. Related posts: NEWS: ‘Social Distancing Squads’ Will Make Theme Park Debut When Walt Disney World Parks Reopen NEWS: ‘Relaxation Zones’ May Offer Guests a Chance to Briefly Remove Face Masks When Visiting Walt Disney World NEWS! New Ticket Sales and Hotel Reservations On Pause for Initial Reopening Phase of Disney World View the full article

Lots of change has been happening around Disney World lately! Even though the parks have remained closed since mid-March, things are really starting to heat up. Bob Iger ©Disney Some Disney Springs businesses have recently begun to operate and Disney World’s theme parks now have an official reopening date. Now, sports fans’ attention is centered around the NBA’s decision to resume its season on Disney soil. The OFFICIAL announcement is expected to be made TODAY once the plan is approved. But while we await further details regarding the NBA finishing its 2020 season at Disney World’s Wide World of Sports Complex, we have found out WHICH Western and Eastern Conference teams are likely going to play in Disney World! Sports columnist Adrian Wojnarowski has provided the following list! Photo c/o Adrian Wojnarowski Wojnarowski posted on his Twitter account the NBA will be inviting these 22 teams to Orlando from July 31st through October 12th (which will hopefully be finalized with a vote today). The conference will include eight-regular season games per team. We hope to provide more details once the NBA makes an official announcement. See where the NBA players could potentially stay in Disney World here. Will your favorite NBA team be competing in Disney World? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: The NBA Discusses Latest Possible Play Off Dates and Hotel Arrangements in Disney World Disney Springs Area Hotels DISCOUNT Alert! Expo Hours and DISCOUNTS For 2020 Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend Runners! View the full article

SeaWorld pitched their June 11th reopening date the same day that Disney World announced theirs. Mako Coaster in SeaWorld Florida ©MidwayMayhem Since then, SeaWorld’s reopening has been approved and they are beginning to move towards the reopening of SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica Orlando, and Discovery Cove a week from today. Now, they’ve announced that the parks will require reservations and they’ve launched a new safety webpage for each of the parks. The new safety websites for the three parks help to detail information about the health measures and operational changes that will be implemented in the parks like cleaning and sanitizing, physical distancing, face-covering requirements, and information on temperature screenings. ©SeaWorld You can see the SeaWorld Orlando Safety Page here, the Aquatica Orlando Safety Page here, and the Discovery Cove Safety Page here. The company also announced that all of the reopening theme parks will require advance online reservations. Guests will be required to make a reservation on the individual reservation pages for the parks (SeaWorld, Aquatica, and Discovery Cove). Reservations will be required for entry so as to limit compacity in the parks. You can make reservations starting at 10AM ET on June 8th. ©SeaWorld Disney World will be requiring a reservation to enter the parks as well. At this time, Universal Orlando will NOT require a reservation to enter their theme parks, but they will be operating at a limited capacity. We will see what processes they implement once the parks hit capacity when they reopen to the public tomorrow. We will continue to report in on the updates on Florida theme parks to get an idea of what we can expect in Disney World. Follow along with DFB for all the latest news! Click here to learn more about SeaWorld’s opening proposal! Will you be headed to the SeaWorld reopening? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: News! SeaWorld Parks Extend Closures Until Further Notice BREAKING NEWS: SeaWorld Orlando Announces a Proposed Reopening Date of June 11th Find Out How to Score FREE BEER at SeaWorld Orlando this Summer! View the full article

As part of a multi-year transformation of Walt Disney World’s EPCOT, Spaceship Earth — the attraction that also serves as the park’s icon — was set to undergo a major refurbishment of its own. Spaceship Earth That refurbishment was supposed to begin on May 26th. And, in fact, even at press time, Spaceship Earth is still listed as being closed for refurbishment on Walt Disney World’s website. However, according to an article by the Orlando Sentinel, the refurbishment of Spaceship Earth has been postponed indefinitely. The article shares information provided by Eric Clinton, leader of the Local 362 union. Spaceship Earth In discussing cast members who will be returning to Walt Disney World for the reopening of the theme parks this summer, Clinton noted that employees will be needed to staff Spaceship Earth since the ride will be open to guests. So, it looks as though we will see the “grand and miraculous” attraction that we have known for a long time now… The Birth of the Rennaissance scene in Spaceship Earth … when EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios welcome guests back starting July 15th. They will follow the opening of Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom on July 11th, and you can find more information on the upcoming reopening of Walt Disney World by visiting any of the links below. Source: Orlando Sentinel What do you think of this latest development about Spaceship Earth? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: Could Spaceship Earth Be Closing Soon in Epcot? We Found a Few Clues… What’s New at Epcot This Week: Guardians of the Galaxy and Ratatouille Construction, Mission Space Restaurant, Cuties, and Christmas Kringla! Check Out This GRAND AND MIRACULOUS Spaceship Earth Accessory Spotted in Disney World! View the full article

Earlier we reported some Disney World restaurants and hotels had started notifying their employees about returning to their jobs. With Disney World reopening on July 11th, there is a lot to do around the parks and there are lots of new procedures that Cast Members need to learn. Animal Kingdom Lodge And while Disney hasn’t officially released a statement, thousands of furloughed employees are also gearing up to go back to work at the parks. First reported by The Orlando Sentinel, Local 362’s leader Eric Clinton says full-time Cast Members (as well as a significant number of part-timers) will be called back to work this month. According to Clinton, “Beginning in June, all Disney full-time attractions and custodian workers, as well as a significant number of part-timers, will get called back to work.” There is a need for Cast Members that will clean around ride queues and for people to take positions that maintain social distancing in lines while guests wait for their temperatures to be taken prior to entering the parks. Magic Kingdom Since Disney World’s water parks aren’t expected to reopen right away, Union members who work at these parks can transfer to other jobs where there are shortages. Especially since Disney World’s future cultural and college programs have been canceled this year and aren’t likely to resume anytime soon according to Clinton. Also mentioned was that cultural ambassadors will be replaced by domestic employees for the time being (which you can read more about here). Disney World “…There’s going to be a massive need for attractions workers across property. …There’s going to be a lot of work that needs to be done.” Clinton said. As many as 8,000 Cast Members could be called back to help clean the theme parks and get them ready to receive guests again. And as mentioned previously, Cast Members will need to undergo temperature checks before they’re allowed to work. Clinton emphasized Cast Members who have a temperature over 100.4 degrees will be sent home but get paid time off while they quarantine. Magic Kingdom Sign According to Clinton, “Employees will also need to staff Spaceship Earth, the ride inside Epcot’s iconic globe, since the ride’s rehabilitation is postponed indefinitely and will remain open.” Read MORE about Spaceship Earth’s halted refurbishment HERE! Spaceship Earth As you may know, Disney has postponed fireworks and parades for the time being. Clinton went into detail and also stated Hollywood Studios’ Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage might not resume, at least not initially. This is one of the first times a specific show has been mentioned, so we will continue to look for more updates on the status of entertainment offerings. We’ll continue to follow this developing story and keep you informed of any official statements released by Disney. We know that this is a crazy time and that a lot of new information is being released. So if you have ANY questions, please let us know and we will do our best to get you the answers you need. Read MORE about Disney’s reopening plan here! Are you excited about Cast Members returning to work at Disney World and Spaceship Earth’s refurb being postponed? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! Related posts: NEW Insta-Worthy Nighttime Magic Shots Are Coming to Disney World Soon! Disney World Has STOPPED Construction During Its Closure. Could This Cause Delays on Upcoming Attractions? Breaking News! Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Plan to Start Reopening Florida View the full article

We spent yesterday at Universal Orlando attending a special Annual Passholder preview! Gringotts And while we had some idea what to expect based on the new health and safety measures we’d already experienced when several CityWalk stores and restaurants began to reopen on May 14th, we knew our first time back to an ACTUAL theme park was probably going to look and feel A LOT more different! We had prepared ourselves for temperature screenings, social distancing, and wearing a face covering for the duration of our stay, but that doesn’t mean we weren’t thrown a few curveballs along the way! Here are a couple of things that really surprised us the most about our visit to the newly reopened Universal Studios! Which Attractions Are Harder to Ride with Face Masks We were totally expecting our face masks to fly off on Universal’s most-thrilling rides such as Hollywood’s Rip Ride Rockit or The Incredible Hulk Coaster (luckily we brought some back-ups, just in case!). But strangely enough, the speed of these attractions actually helps to hold your face mask in place! Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure The rides that proved to be the most challenging for us were ones where you had to wear 3D glasses such as Skull Island: Reign of Kong or Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts. Our breath kept fogging up the lenses until we figured out if we wore our glasses over our masks, it helped cut down on the fogginess! See what our experience was like on several Universal attractions while wearing face mask here! Mobile Order Was Glitchy Universal’s Mobile Order was having a rough go of it yesterday! Even though Universal offered Mobile Order at select restaurants before the temporary closures, a bunch of new locations have been added to the app — even the walk-up spots at Diagon Alley! Mobile Order Pickup Line at The Hopping Pot But all of these extra locations really added a lot of strain to the already struggling system (we even had some issues with the Virtual Line Experience in the early A.M.). The app was crashing a lot or not work properly throughout the day. This was the first day of Annual Passholder previews though, so hopefully Universal will be able to work out the kinks over the next few days. Read more about troubleshooting Universal’s mobile order system here! Characters Were Everywhere Even though we couldn’t walk up and hug our favorite characters, we were really shocked by how many of them were out! Dr. Seuss Characters Several sectioned-off stage areas have been set up throughout the parks where you can watch and wave to your favorite characters! We saw a bunch of Dr. Suess dudes (including the Lorax and the Grinch!) hanging out in Suessland yesterday along with some of The Simpsons, Blues Brothers, Hello Kitty, Beetlejuice, Spiderman, and lots MORE! Many of these characters wore masks, but there were also a few who did not. While Disney has shared that character meet-and-greets will be suspended, we’re eager to see if they interact like the character at Universal did. Water Rides and Misting Effects Were Running While earlier Universal had stated some of their rides that involve water such as Jurassic Park River Adventure might not reopen with the rest of the park, we were surprised to see it running yesterday! Guests are permitted to remove their masks once they board water rides and are they seated in an every-other row! One note on water rides, do hold onto your mask in your lap because it would be very easy for it to fly away! Jurassic Park River Adventure We were also told water effect features on some rides (such as misters) would be deactivated, but on The Incredible Hulk Coaster and Escape From Gringotts, they were STILL working! Personal Wand Shopper at Ollivanders Something we were truly amazed to see was how Ollivanders Wand Shop is operating now! Hogsmeade To keep the shop from becoming too crowded, each guest is given their own personal attendant! You can’t handle the wands like you could before, but we think the one-on-one service is pretty nifty! Virtual Lines Aren’t the Same as FastPassses Since we’re so used to using Disney World’s FastPass+, it took us a little time to figure out Universal’s virtual queue system is a bit different. We traveled with a group of two and since the apps aren’t linked, we were able to make two reservations at one time. There aren’t any tiers so our two reservations could be made for the same ride. And despite having a guaranteed ride time, there were still about a 20-30 minute wait to ride each attraction (unlike FastPass where you usually just walk-on). With no preshows, for the time being, the wait can feel a little long. Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure But similar to the My Disney Experience app, once you use one of your reservations, you can make another. We also noticed when we refreshed the app, sometimes new Virtual Line Venues appeared like they sometimes do when you refresh the available FastPasses. Click here to learn of the virtual queue system works at Universal Studios! We’ll be back at Universal tomorrow reporting all day once the theme parks officially open to the public, so stay tuned! And if you have any questions on the new processes that theme parks are implementing, please let us know! Did you attend Universal’s Annual Passholder preview? What surprised you the most? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: Here’s A Look at the Safety Measures Being Discussed By Major U.S. Theme Parks Right Now Universal Studios Has EXTENDED Its Temporary Closure Universal Orlando’s CityWalk Has Just Reopened! See What Our Experience Was Like Here! View the full article

We’ve got the info you need to make your April trip to Disney World awesome! Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival A Disney World vacation can be magical at any time of year — as long as you plan accordingly! Between weather patterns, special events, holidays, and crowds, the prep work for your trip can vary A LOT depending on what time of year you’re traveling. Here’s what you need to know if you’re headed to Disney World in April! Crowds at Disney World in April Between Spring Break and Easter travel, the parks tend to see pretty heavy crowds during the first half of the month. But since the majority of Spring Breaks are scheduled in March and early April, the second half of the month generally has more moderate crowds. Mr. Easter Bunny and Mrs. Easter Bunny So, if you have some leniency in your travel dates, you may want to aim for closer to the end of the month to avoid the rush. And if you are traveling in early April, be sure to make your Advance Dining Reservations early to increase your odds of getting in your must-dos! Check out three tips for mastering the Disney World FastPass+ tiers! Park Hours at Disney World in April While the park hours can vary by day and park, the most common opening time for parks in April is 9AM. But the closure times tend to be a little more varied! Magic Kingdom usually closes between 10PM and midnight depending on the day, while the other parks typically close between 8PM and 9PM. Happily Ever After So, if you’re more of a night owl, you should have some opportunities for late nights in the parks on your April trip — especially at Magic Kingdom! Looking for even more late-night fun?? Check out our ultimate guide to the Villains After Hours events in Magic Kingdom! Weather at Disney World in April In April, the average high temperature in Orlando is 84 degrees and the average low is 63 degrees. And here’s something that might surprise you — there are an average of four rainy days in April, which actually makes it one of the least rainy months in Disney World. Slinky Dog Dash Yup, despite the common “April showers” phrase, this is one of the best months to travel to Disney World if you’re looking to avoid the rain! Here are some tips to help you choose the right Disney World hotel for your family! How to Pack for Disney World in April Despite the generally warm afternoons, you could still experience a chilly morning on your trip. So, be sure to bring a light jacket or sweater that you can wear in the morning and then store in your park bag when it starts to heat up. And it will probably be a comfortable enough temperature for most people to swim, so bring your swimsuit if you plan to take advantage of the hotel pools! Luna Park Pool at Disney’s Boardwalk Don’t forget to prepare for those sunny days! Make sure you have sunglasses, a hat, and sunscreen (which you should take whenever you travel!) to avoid a painful and dangerous sunburn. Check out our ultimate Disney World packing list! Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival Epcot festival fans rejoice — the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival runs during the entire month of April. Flower and Garden has been been a yearly highlight since it first kicked off in 1994, and there’s plenty to enjoy! Topiaries As you might have guessed from the name, there are plenty of gorgeous gardens to experience! There are over twenty topiary displays throughout the park, and guests can even spot some of their favorite characters in flower-form! 2020 Flower and Garden Festival And the topiaries are just the beginning! There are intricate displays throughout the park including a bamboo garden, butterfly garden, floating gardens, and more! Miniature Garden Display in the Germany Pavilion And, of course, you can get your eat (and drink) on at the Outdoor Kitchens set up around the Promenade and World Showcase! Each year we see a mixture of both fan-favorite returning menu items and some brand-new additions. A few items that we’re still dreaming about from previous festivals are the Violet Lemonade, Canard Confit à l’Orange, and Fried Green Tomatoes! Violet Lemonade If you’re really interested in getting in the Flower and Garden spirit, you can check out one of the extra-ticketed special events or tours! In the past, offerings have included the Royal Tea Garden Tour, Gardens of the World Tour, Egg-Stravaganza Scavenger Hunt, and more! Royal Tea Garden Tour But you don’t have to spend extra to have a good time — the Garden Rocks Concert Series features three nightly performances that are totally FREE! Well, they’re included in the cost of park admission, at least. Just keep in mind, these events are super popular, so you’ll need to get there early to ensure you get a spot! Or, to bypass the wait, you can opt for the Garden Rocks Dining Package, which includes dinner and guaranteed seating at the concert! Garden Rocks! Whether you’re going all-out at the food booths and extra-ticketed events, or just enjoying the topiaries and atmosphere, there’s plenty to love about the Flower and Garden Festival. If you’re visiting Disney World in April, we’d say this festival is a must-do! Want to learn more about our favorite festival food? Click here to check out our “Best of the Fest” list from the 2020 Flower and Garden Festival! Earth Day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Earth Day might not be the first holiday that comes to mind when thinking of Disney World, but it does have a close connection to one of the parks. Animal Kingdom held its grand opening on Earth Day (April 22nd), and since the park focuses heavily on conservation, they celebrate the holiday in style. Tree of Life The Earth Day celebration in Animal Kingdom is known as the Party for the Planet, and there are all kinds of special activities to enjoy! In previous years, we’ve seen special character interactions, unique dining experiences, meet-and-greets with animal care specialists and conservation experts, themed merchandise, unique snacks, and more! “Up” Cake Push Pop So, if Earth Day happens to fall during your Disney World trip, be sure to check the dates for the Party for the Planet (it usually runs three days in total) and plan a visit to Animal Kingdom to celebrate! Click here to learn more about the Party for the Planet celebration! There are plenty of awesome experiences to enjoy at Disney World during the month of April! Guests are treated to warm and (relatively) dry weather, the Flower and Garden Festival, and Earth Day celebrations at Animal Kingdom. Just make sure to plan accordingly (don’t forget about those Spring Break and Easter crowds!) and you’ll be in for a magical vacation! Planning a Disney World vacation? Here are seven things you’re probably forgetting! Have you traveled to Disney World in April? Share your tips and must-dos in the comments! Related posts: Going to Disney World in January? Here’s What You Need To Know! Going to Disney World in March? Here’s What You Need To Know. Going to Disney World in December? Here’s What You Need To Know. View the full article

Passholders can't go to SeaWorld on a whim anymore when the parks reopen. All visitors must make advanced online reservations, the company said. View the full article

We all know it… there’s nothing quite like starting your day with a plate full of MICKEY WAFFLES. Mickey Waffles And now you can enjoy the sight (if not the taste) of just about everyone’s favorite Disney breakfast treat with the Mickey Waffles Phone case! Mickey Waffles Phone Case We found this D-Tech phone case on shopDisney earlier this year, and today we spotted it at World of Disney in Disney Springs. Complete with Mickey’s signature grin (two of them, in fact!), and “melting butter” pats, the waffles are placed atop a red case. Mickey Waffles Phone Case So far, we spotted two sizes for iPhone XS Max and iPhone X/XS for $34.99. Mickey Waffles Phone Case But this isn’t the only Disney snack phone case we’ve spotted popping up this week… Check out the NEW Disney Main Street Popcorn Phone Case here! We’re always keeping our eyes peeled for more fun-and-food-inspired finds, and we hope you’ll stay tuned with us for more from Disney Springs in Walt Disney World! Which Disney snack would you love to see represented on a phone case? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: What’s New at Disney Springs: The Lightfloat, More ABC Disney Merch, and the Return of the Avengers! Mickey Pretzels and Popcorn Never Tasted SO GOOD — Snacks are BACK at Disney World! Spotted! New “M” (for MICKEY!!!) Cap at World of Disney in Disney Springs View the full article

Maybe it’s not such a big secret that we love Disney snacks — lots and LOTS of Disney snacks. Spaceship Earth We’ve already put ourselves through the torturous decisions of ranking the Magic Kingdom lands by snacks AND ranking the lands in Animal Kingdom by their snacks. Whew. Well, we’re suckers for a little decisive turmoil so WE’RE BACK to ranking lands by snacks. This time, we’re examining Epcot’s World Showcase — arguably one of the snackiest spots in all of Disney World! WHICH PAVILION’S SNACKS WILL REIGN SUPREME? There are eleven total World Showcase pavilions in Epcot, each with their own unique dining locations and snack options. Hmm…this is going to be quite a challenge! Walking in World Showcase For each pavilion, we’re going to take a look at the most ICONIC snacks that it offers. Some have more than others, but that’s all a part of the metric isn’t it? So, without further ado, let’s get to that ranking! 11. Canada Pavilion We know, we KNOW! How can we possibly put the land of Canada popcorn in the lowest spot on the list?! Well, calm your britches, we have our reasons. Canada Popcorn Cart Though we absolutely adore the snacks in Canada, you have to admit — this pavilion has some pretty limited options! Come on, poutine isn’t even available in the pavilion itself (WHY is there no Poutine stand?!?)! Popcorn in Canada Though Canada has a great table-service restaurant with Le Cellier Steakhouse, the only place to really find snacks in the pavilion is at the Canada Popcorn Cart. Of course, we love us some Disney popcorn, so who are we to say no to a stop by the Canada cart? Maple Popcorn in Canada Here, you’ll find that classic Disney World popcorn but you’ll also find the DELISH Maple Popcorn that you can ONLY find here. This stuff is super yummy and kind of akin to kettle corn if that’s your jam. Plus, you can grab some Le Cellier’s proprietary Batch #5 Ketchup Chips or a tasty Canadian beer here as well. Click here to read our full review of Disney World’s Maple Popcorn! Still, low variety puts Canada low on our list. No matter how good Maple Popcorn is, Canada needs to step up its snack game if it wants to roll with the best of ’em! 10. Morocco Pavilion But Canada isn’t the only World Showcase pavilion that leaves us wanting for a few more options. Pastry Case and Coffee Bar The Morocco Pavilion will have you HUNTING if you’re looking for snacks (although it’s no secret that you can find a great meal here)! Tangierine Cafe If you ARE scoping out the snacks in Morocco, you’re going to want to head into Tangierine Cafe. You might know this dining location for its yummy lunch and dinner options that feature traditional Moroccan meals, but remember, we’re focusing on the SNACKS today. Mixed Strawberry and Tangierine slushies If you’re counting alcoholic beverages as a snack, then you’re in luck in this country. You can snag a Tangerine or Strawberry Daquiri from the cafe, AKA… GROWN-UP SLUSHIES. These are really good and super-refreshing. Plus, they’ve got a nice balance of alcohol that won’t have you incapable of riding Test Track after you drink one . Tangierine Coffee and Pistachio Baklava If you think that cocktails don’t count (HOT take, but alright), you can grab a Baklava from the dessert counter. Baklava is a buttery and flaky puff pastry filled with honey and nuts. If you’re a nut-lover, you’ll probably like this yummy treat! Want to see our REVIEW of the grown-up slushies? Click here! While we do love our occasional stops into Tangierine Cafe, Morocco Pavilion is really more suited to a full meal than just a snack. 9. China Pavilion Another low scorer on this list is the China Pavilion. Now, listen, we love the theming and spirit of the China Pavilion. Plus, we ESPECIALLY love the drinks in this spot! China Pavilion Still, China finds itself a little lacking in the actual snacks department, and we just can’t let those yummy cocktails make up for it. Joy of Tea Speaking of yummy cocktails, our first stop in this pavilion is Joy of Tea. This stand is home to one of our favorite drinks in the World Showcase with the Tipsy Ducks in Love. This libation is a surprising mix of coffee, tea, bourbon whiskey, and chocolate. Weird? Yes. Delicious? YES. And that’s not the only great drink here! We like a bunch of them on the menu, so you can pick what sounds best to you. Chicken Curry Pocket inside In the snacks-proper area, you might want to give the Curry Chicken Pocket a try! We tried this for the first time thanks to the suggestion of a Joy of Tea Cast Member and we are STILL thanking him to this day. The pastry part of the pocket is delicious and the curry adds a slightly spicy kick to the chicken. This is a great snack for a rainy Epcot day. If you gotta know more about the Tipsy Ducks in Love, click here! Lotus Blossom Cafe Lotus Blossom Cafe is the China Pavilion’s quick-service spot and it’s a good place to grab some Chinese staples, especially if you’re a big takeout Chinese food-lover. Strawberry Red Bean Ice Cream BUT on the snack side of things, you’re going to want to get your sweet tooth ready. This dining locale has some interesting ice cream flavors. Specifically, we’re talking about Red Bean and Ginger Ice Cream! Such interesting options are sure to expand your tastes and are definitely not to be missed. Has that Red Bean Ice Cream piqued your interest? Click here! You can probably tell things are starting to ramp up a little bit. Wait until you see the rest of the list! 8. Japan Pavilion Getting into the meaty middle of things, we’re jetting over to the Japan Pavilion. The Japanese snack options definitely have some merit but you have to have some more specific tastes. Japan Pavilion at Epcot That being said, we LOVE stopping for a snack in Japan — there are just some other countries that edge it out. Kabuki Cafe Right on the edge of the Japan Pavilion is a little stand called Kabuki Cafe. Though there are a few places to look for snacks in Japan, this is probs our go-to. First off, Kabuki features the famous and fan-favorite Kakigori. This snack is shaved ice with fruit syrup; so, kinda like a snow cone but better. Our favorite flavor is melon! Kakigori PLUS you can get a Sake Mist here too and let us tell you, these things are revolutionary. It’s an alcoholic shaved ice. Uh… yeah. If that sounds like something you might be into (WE ARE!), we recommend swinging for the more fruity flavors. Kabuki Cafe also offers some Sushi if you just need a quick pick-me-up. Click here to read our REVIEW of the Sake Mist! Katsura Grill Katsura Grill is the quick-service spot in Japan and we like dining there, but there are definitely better places to grab a meal in World Showcase. Still, if you’re craving Japanese food and not feelin’ a sit-down meal, it’s a great option! Green Tea Cheesecake Snack-wise, we recommend swinging for some Sushi as an option. Like at Kabuki Cafe, the sushi here is prepackaged but it’s still pretty good. A dessert snack suggestion? If you’re a green tea or matcha fan, you should def try that Green Tea Cheesecake. To check out a FULL review of Katsura Grill, click here! Sake Bar Ok, ok, maybe we’re stretching the limits of what a “snack” is so that we can include alcohol again. Can you blame us? Maybe you can, but we can deal with that. Sake Bar If you’re a fan of Sake, or if you’ve never tried any, you should check out the options over at the Sake Bar! Click here to see how we feel about the Sake Bar! Mitsukoshi Department Store You might be surprised but there’s one more place to get your snack on in Japan and it’s actually a RETAIL location! Easily one of the coolest stores in Epcot is the Mitsukoshi Department Store. Really, this MASSIVE shop is more like a bunch of stores all smooshed together, and one of those stores features some surprising snack options. Dried Crabs You can find a variety of Japanese snacks ranging from Japanese pop rocks and reverse lemon heads to rice crackers and… dried crabs?? You heard us. And yes, they are as weird as they sound. Still, you can’t miss trying out a few of the snacks in Mitsukoshi! (We LOVE the fizzy, chewy Ramune flavored candies AND Ramune sodas!) Ramune Soda in Japan’s Mitsukoshi Department Store If you keep traveling to the back of the store you’ll find their own Sake Bar! We prefer the wider selection at this small counter, so if you want to pair some sake with your adventurous snacks, this is a great choice! Want to find out more about those dried crabs? Click here if you dare! We really do have to give it to Japan on the variety front. Where else can you snack on dried crabs AND shaved ice? Spoiler alert: The answer is nowhere. 7. United Kingdom Pavilion Possibly the complete opposite of the Japan Pavilion, the United Kingdom Pavilion beats out Japan by just a little bit for the #7 spot. Epcot’s United Kingdom Pavilion There’s certainly less variety here, but those snacks that are here are oh-so-good. Yorkshire County Fish Shop We’re starting with an iconic one here and definitely our favorite food to grab in the UK Pavilion. Swing by Yorkshire County Fish Shop to snag those delicious Fish & Chips. Close-up of Batter Yes, it’s true, Fish & Chips are really more of a meal, but we like to be creative here. You can share an order to make for a great snack for two OR get just the Chips to stave off the hunger until later! Whatever you do, you’re in for some perfectly fried and perfectly British eats (don’t forget the malt vinegar!). Click here for the full low-down on those Fish & Chips! Rose & Crown Pub Rose & Crown Pub is nearby and we certainly consider the Pub Blends here a snack. Think about it, if you order one of the ones with Guinness, that’s going to be pretty filling (Guinness is basically a meal!). Rose and Crown Pub and Dining Room Pub Blends are basically two (awesome) beers layered on top of one another. We like the Black & Tan, Half Bass Ale and Half Guinness, the Snake Bite, Half Cider and Half Harp, or for our cider-lovers, the Cider and Black which is cider topped with black currant syrup! To check out more of the offerings at Rose & Crown, click here! The UK Pavilion pulls out its place thanks to how iconic its snacks (err…drinks!) are. We definitely don’t get tired of these snacks. 6. American Adventure Pavilion You might be kind of surprised to see the American Adventure Pavilion so high up in the list. After all, we’re IN America, how crazy can these snacks really be? American Adventure Well, you’re just going to have to hear us out on this one because the American Adventure is slaying the game. Fife & Drum Tavern Let’s start with Fife & Drum Tavern. This kiosk hides a serious gem of a beverage in the American Dream. This slushy is a non-alcoholic blend of strawberry and raspberry slushies with vanilla soft-serve and it IS as good as it sounds. American Dream in American Adventure Pavilion Plus, Fife & Drum has served some crazy Guardians of the Galaxy-themed snacks for Guardians of the Galaxy — Awesome Mix Live! If this show returns, we’d be pretty happy to see the return of some of these items like the Awesome Mix Slushy and the Mix Tart! Want to see more of the Guardians of the Galaxy — Awesome Mix Live! foods? Click here! Regal Eagle Smokehouse Next up, we gotta talk about the snacks to be found hidden in the brand-new Regal Eagle Smokehouse. The great thing about Regal Eagle is that pretty much any of the sides are super snackable. Choose from Beer-battered Onion Rings, Baked Beans with Burnt Ends, Creamy Coleslaw, Seasoned French Fries, Garlic Toast, House-made Pickles, and Macaroni and Cheese. Regal Eagle Smokehouse Plus, if you’re like us, then you like to make a snack out of dessert. At Regal Eagle, you can try the Banana Pudding or S’mores Brownies. Yummm. Click here for our FULL REVIEW of Regal Eagle! Block & Hans American Adventure has its own beer cart too with Block & Hans. Now, we’re not lovin’ this spot for the beer since we can get American beer pretty much anytime we want. What we DO love Block & Hans for are the delicious Pretzels! Block & Hans Craft Beer You’ve got pretzel choices too! You can snag the classic Mickey Pretzel, a Cream Cheese Pretzel, or a Jalapeno and Cheese Stuffed Pretzel. Oh, and OF COURSE they’ve got that plastic cheese for dipping!!! Wanna know more about Block & Hans? Click here! Funnel Cake Lastly, right on the edge of American Adventure, you can swing by the Funnel Cake Stand. So, we love this spot for obvious reasons (read: fried dough is irresistible. Duh.), but this stand has been working hard to help hold the pavilion in its 6th place position. Mini Funnel Cake This spot is KILLING it at festivals right now! We’re not kidding, they’ve got delicious funnel cakes down to a science. Check out the Mini Funnel Cake they served for Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival this year. Dare we say best funnel cakes ever? Yes, we do dare! Click here to learn more about that Mini Funnel Cake! See, we told you! American Adventure is killin’ it. So we bet you’re wondering what the top five could be. Let’s get into it! 5. Italy Pavilion Coming in at number five of our winning pavilions is the Italy Pavilion. Italy Pavilion Italy’s got some amazing options. Our one qualm keeping it from being higher on our list? The snacks here are a little pricy. Gelati First up we have to chat about Gelati. This easy-to-miss gelato spot has some serious “wins” on the menu. The different gelato flavors are always yummy (and they rotate so you might find something new depending on when you stop by!). Plus you can grab a Gelato Sandwich which is any flavors between two chocolate chip cookies. We’ll take two, please! Gelato Perfection! The Coppa Delizia in Epcot’s Italy Pavilion But those simple snacks aren’t the only stars here. This spot also has gelato sundaes like the strawberry Coppa Delizia and other Italian treats like Affogato and a Cannoli Cupcake. You can’t go wrong flavors-wise at this kiosk — just beware those prices! Click here to see why we love the Coppa Delizia! Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar Next up, we’re tucking into the hidden gem of Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar. If you DON’T think wine is a snack, then don’t worry, there are other options in this secluded location too (we promise we mean real food, not booze!). We like Tutto Gusto because it makes for a great escape from the Epcot crowds and definitely feels a little upscale. Tutto Gusto Plus, you can snag sliced meats, Italian cheeses like the L’Alpina Gusto Plate, and other delicious small plates like the Ravioli di Ricotta. Plus, we’re huuuge fans of their fresh-made cannolis! If you’re looking for a more refined snack and maybe some Italian wine to go with it, head to Tutto Gusto. Thinking about swinging by Tutto Gusto? Click here! Pizza al Taglio A bonus option when you’re in World Showcase may be Pizza al Taglio. This pizza window is a great spot to swing by for a quick slice of ‘za, but it is only open seasonally. So, you’ll have to keep an eye out if you’re looking to try out these Sicilian-style pizza by the slice. Pizza al Taglio The pizza at this window is super yummy and has a nice thick crust. You can snag classics like Pepperoni and Margherita, but we really like the special — Pizza San Gennaro! Click here to scope out our review of the Italy pizza window! See? Isn’t your mouth watering just THINKING about these Italy Pavilion snacks? 4. Mexico Pavilion Coming in at number four, we’re swinging over to one of our FAVORITE World Showcase pavilions. Mexico Pavilion in Epcot Call the Three Caballeros, we’re headed to Mexico!!! Choza de Margarita When you first step into the Mexico Pavilion, it’s hard to pass up a stop at Choza de Margarita. This kiosk, literally translated to “Margarita Hut” serves up a bunch of tasty margarita options AND some yummy foods. In our book, margs definitely count as a snack, but when in doubt there are other choices too! Fiesta Margarita Our favorite drink at this location is the Fiesta Margarita which is a delicious and knock-your-socks-off STRONG drink. It’s a layered combo of all three frozen marg flavors — Wild Strawberry, Classic Lime, and Mango Loco. Tacos al Pastor This is one of the stronger drinks in World Showcase, so it’s good that you can also grab some hearty Mexican food to soften the blow. We love the Esquites spicy corn for a quick refuel or the Tacos al Pastor or Empanadas de Barbacoa when we need a heavier snack! Click here to see our EVERYTHING ON THE MENU review of Choza de Margarita! La Cantina de San Angel La Cantina de San Angel is the quick service restaurant of this pavilion and it has some seriously great options. Did someone say $.75 Queso? Yes, someone did. We’re that someone. WHO WOULD DARE PASS UP ON $.75 QUESO??? Outdoor Seating This spot also has some killer Guacamole and Chips and the BALLER Empanada con Queso (think of it like a deep-fried Mexican grilled cheese!). These are literally just fried flour tortillas stuffed with cheese. Give your taste buds a talking-to before you eat these because they’re headed straight to taste bud heaven. Want to see our review of La Cantina? Click here! La Cava del Tequila And finally, you can head INTO the pyramid in the pavilion to find La Cava del Tequila. This tucked-away spot is home to an AMAZING variety of tequila, so it has some pretty great Specialty Margaritas too. La Cava del Tequila Plus, if you’re looking for Chips and Queso or Guac, this is the place to head. We’re not kidding when we say this just might be the best queso in ALL OF DISNEY WORLD. Want chips and queso TO GO??? Click here! If you know how much we love cheese, you know why Mexico is hanging out so high on our list. BUT we’ve reached the exciting ones. Let’s take a look at our TOP THREE! 3. Norway Pavilion Our third-place pick, with just ONE snack stop, is the Norway Pavilion?! But, HOW? How can Norway be so high up on our list with only ONE snack stop? The Norway Pavilion Well, dear reader, it all comes down to the quality of that snack spot. Kringla Bakeri og Kafe The one, single reason that Norway is killin’ it on the snack game is because it is home to Kringla Bakeri og Kafe! You can smell Kringla ALL OVER Norway (or is that the Laila perfume sold in the gift shop??) so it’s no wonder that tons of folks get drawn in to try the freshly baked desserts displayed inside. Kringla Bakeri og Kafe with Viking Guard The School Bread is the famous treat here; a soft pastry filled with sweet vanilla cream and topped with coconut is hard to pass up! This is seriously a fan-favorite that you’ve got to try at least once. Other great options include the Troll Horn, Sweet Pretzels, and Norwegian Beers and Coffee Cocktails! Click here to check out our Kringla School Bread review! If you’ve never been to Kringla, you might not think that one spot is good enough for the top three. But if you HAVE been to Kringla, then you probably agree with us that it deserves to be up here! 2. Germany Pavilion Coming in at second place is the Germany Pavilion! We love the snacks over here in Germany thanks to the ICONIC options in both the realms of savory and sweet. Clock in Epcot’s Germany Pavilion If you’ve got time for a sit-down meal, we recommend heading to Biergarten (all you can eat pretzel rolls and LITERS of beer?!), but if not, don’t despair. The snacks here are some of the greatest! Sommerfest We love the snacks offered at Germany’s Sommerfest! This quick-service counter has ALL the German essentials including Bratwurst, Sauerkraut, and Black Forest Cake. Get the Nudel Gratin in Epcot’s Germany! The must-get here is something you may not have heard of though. When you get to Sommerfest, glance at the “Sides” section of the menu. It’s there that you’ll find the Nudel Gratin which is a baked macaroni with cheese custard. Listen, this is mac and cheese on a WHOLE NOTHER LEVEL. This snack ALONE was enough to pull Germany into the top of our list. Want to see more from Sommerfest? Click here! Karamell-Kuche Remember how we mentioned that Germany has us covered on savory AND sweet? Let’s take a look at that sweet! We’re taking a jaunt over to Karamell-Kuche — that’s German for “Caramel Kitchen.” This sweets shop features caramel covered EVERYTHING and all of it is made with Werthers Caramels. Ugh, we’re dreaming about it now (Seriously, you can smell it across World Showcase!). Karamell-Küche This shop has some of the best Caramel Corn (plus Caramel Corn Cupcakes!) we’ve ever had, and if you’ve never had a Caramel Apple made with Werthers, then you’re not even really living. Pro tip: Ask the Cast Member to cut the apple up for you so your teeth (and dentist) don’t hate you later! Karamell-Küche popcorn And there are tons of other GREAT caramel treats to try! Do NOT miss out on a stop to snack in the Germany pavilion. Click here to check out that Caramel Corn Cupcake! Who knew Germany could have so many delicious and fan-favorite treats? Well, we all know now! So, grab your lederhosen and head on over! 1. France Pavilion Now, it’s time for the creme de la creme. We’re talking about the premiere choice. Yes, that’s right this is the piece de resistance of World Showcase! It’s the FRANCE PAVILION! WOOH! Break out the confetti cannons, we have a winner! Completed Epcot France Pavilion! If you’ve ever stepped just one FOOT in the France Pavilion and even SMELLED some of the amazing snacks here, you know why France is, by far and away, the NUMBER ONE snack choice in World Showcase. Crepes des Chefs de France France has got it ALL — quality AND variety. Our first stop on our tour of the snackiest pavilion is Crepes des Chefs de France. This spot is pretty self-explanatory, but that doesn’t make the eats here any less delicious. You can try all sorts of Crepes here! Crepes Sign Get ’em with chocolate, get ’em with strawberries. You can even get them with soft-serve ice cream! In fact, the Ice Cream Crepes are the FIRST (of many) don’t-miss snacks in the France Pavilion. Plus, there’s a full creperie coming soon with La Creperie de Paris! Want to learn more about the upcoming Creperie? Click here! Les Vins des Chefs de France Next up, we have another one of those kind-of-snacks/actually-alcohol spots with Les Vins des Chefs de France! This is the wine stand in the France Pavilion that we’d argue most folks DON’T head to looking to buy wine! They have something much better on the menu… France Slushes The Grand Marnier Slush or the Grey Goose Slush are the gems of this menu! These are both SO good and easily one of our favorite parts of drinking around the world. If these iconic boozy slushies aren’t your jam, you can pick up French beer and wine at this spot too! Click here to read why these slushes are SO good! L’Artisan des Glaces We know, it’s surprising that France is doing ice cream better than Italy is doing gelato, but it’s true! Swing by L’Artisan des Glaces to cool off on a hot Epcot day! One of the most iconic treats here is the Ice Cream Martini. This cocktail is two scoops of ice cream or sorbet served in a martini glass with a shot of Grand Marnier, Whipped Cream Vodka, or Rum. Yes, it is as good as it sounds. Ice Cream Martini from L’Artisan des Glaces in Epcot’s France Pavilion If alcohol isn’t your thing, we can also HIGHLY recommend the Croque Glace, a scoop of ice cream with sauce in a warm homemade brioche, or the Macaron which is a chocolate or seasonal macaron ice cream sandwich. Seriously, how do they come up with this stuff? The ice creams here are all freshly made in house and ALL so so good! Thinking you want to try the Croque Glace? Click here! Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie And we’ve saved THE best snack spot in THE best snack pavilion for the very end! Let’s talk about Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie! The snack options here are pretty much endless (ok, maybe not but it sure seems that way) and there’s nothing quite as charming as chowing down on a pastry in this sweet, tucked away bakery. Pro tip: Les Halles opens at 9AM so you can swing by first thing in the morning for a tasty breakfast! Frangipane at Les Halles Let’s talk favorite at Les Halles. Perhaps our absolute favorite pastry in ALL of World Showcase is the Frangipane. This is a flaky croissant-like dough filled with a sweet almond paste and there is nothing quite like it. If that sounds up your alley, you gotta try it! Entrance to Boulangerie Patisserie in Epcot’s France Pavilion Other faves at Les Halles include the Duo, a white and dark chocolate mousse cake, and the classic Macarons. Actually, though, you CAN’T go wrong with just about anything at Les Halles. Go ahead and try. We love everything that this bakery puts out (did we mention they make a bacon cheese roll? They totally do. And yeah, it’s awesome). Click here to read about why we LOVE the Frangipane! We think it really is no contest when it comes to our number one pick. But, hey, this is all just based on OUR taste buds! Maybe we’ve got a few rankings that you disagree with and maybe there are some you think we got spot on. Regardless, we hope you had fun touring World Showcase with us and we’ll see yah in the next snack ranking! Do you agree with our ranking? Tell us why or why NOT in the comments! Related posts: What’s New in Disney World’s Epcot! August 6, 2018 DFB Video: The 26 EXCLUSIVE Must-Eat Treats in Disney World’s Epcot 11 AWESOME Disney World Snacks UNDER $5 (Plus 4 BONUS Favorites!) View the full article

Disney hasn't revealed which attractions will be open again inside the theme parks next month. “What we do know is there’s going to be massive need for attractions workers across property," a union leader said. View the full article

Hey, friends! We’re back with another DFB Video, and today we’re talking about 6 unforgivable Disney World changes. Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights Disney has made some crazy changes over the years. We’re all for innovation and new ideas, but these decisions are downright unforgivable! Check out all this and more in our latest DFB Video and let us know if you agree with us! 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 Disney World changes you don’t agree with! Related posts: DFB Video: We Were at the Very FIRST Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in 2019 and We’ve Got ALL the Details! DFB Video: 9 EASY Disney World Tricks Everyone Should Be Using! DFB Video: 10 NEW Disney Dining Tips From the DFB Guide View the full article

These days, we’re all looking for any way to bring the Disney magic into our everyday lives. We’ve downloaded Zoom backgrounds, tuned into our favorite Disney music, and constantly checked in to the latest live performances! Dapper Dans There’s no denying that one of the things we all look forward to on our Disney vacations are the special treats that remind us that we ARE in Disney World! But if you look closely, you’ll discover that Disney doesn’t even MAKE many of our favorite snacks! Lucky for us, that means that we can score these yummy eats outside of the parks, and for a lower price! Jack-Jack Cookie Num Num This first treat stole our hearts when it debuted along with Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure, and then Neighborhood Bakery at Pixar Place in Hollywood Studios. A Jack-Jack Cookie Num Num is a warm, gooey, oversized chocolate chip cookie that will lure any superhero baby out from hiding. This thing is a cookie so thick it has to be baked in its own wrapper! Jack-Jack Cookie Num Num Disney has done us all a MAJOR favor by dropping the recipe for this slice of heaven, but we discovered that Disney doesn’t even make them in house! A local bakery in Central Florida makes the cookies for Disney World — and is serving them up at a fraction of the price! Douce France Bakery Jack-Jack Cookie Num Num Douce France Bakery in Winter Garden, Florida held a bake sale drive-thru a few weeks ago that we HAD to investigate; and lo and behold, “Num Num Chocolate Chunk & Chip Cookies” was on the menu for HALF the price Disney charges in the park! Douce France Bakery Saturday Morning Bake Sale We even double-checked to confirm that this was INDEED the Num Num cookie we all know and love, and Douce France Bakery confirmed that they have “been supplying baked goods to Disney for years!” Read more about where we spotted Jack-Jack Cookie Num Num in Central Florida here! Strawberry Fruit Bars If you’re visiting the parks on one of those blazing hot Florida days and you’re on the hunt for an ice-cold treat that won’t weigh you down, those frozen Strawberry Fruit Bars you’ll find at most outdoor ice cream carts can do the trick. But if you look closely at the menu, you’ll see that those fruit bars are by the brand Edy’s! Frozen Treats at Magic Kingdom While those ice cream carts may not offer the exact same snacks at each location, the strawberry fruit bars are typically easy to spot, and are a fan favorite! Some internet searching uncovered that these frozen treats are available at many local grocery and drug stores! © Edy’s While stocking up on any frozen treat could add up to quite the hefty bill in the parks, you can save BIG on these treats next time you’re at the store. You can probably get a whole box of them for the price of one bar in the parks! Be on the lookout next time you’re in your frozen food aisle and grab a box or two for a taste of your favorite Disney park! Read more about what you can get at those mobile ice cream carts! Pineapple Frozen Dessert Bar Much like the Strawberry Fruit Bars, the frozen pineapple bars are also by a non-Disney brand, this time Nestlé! There are several Nestlé products that Disney sells throughout the parks (some we’ll cover in a moment!), one of which being those delicious, refreshing Pineapple Frozen Dessert Bars you can also find at several ice cream carts throughout the park. Nestle frozen pineapple bar, spotted in Epcot! This has been a favorite of ours for YEARS, and it doesn’t hurt that we can pick these up at our local grocery store! A yummy frozen pineapple bar is the perfect fix on any hot Florida afternoon! Nestlé also has their Outshine line of frozen treats which aren’t exactly the same as the Delicias bars we’ve loved for years in the parks, but can still give you that Disney fix while you’re away from the parks! They also have a Strawberry flavor! Read more about these tasty frozen pineapple bars here! Minute Maid Frozen Lemonade Cups Another frozen snack you may see tons of folks walking around with on a hot summer day is the Minute Maid Frozen Lemonade Cups! Minute Maid Frozen Cups It may come as no surprise that Disney doesn’t make these themselves, but for many these frozen cups have become synonymous with their Disney vacations. Over the years, these Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade, and Orangeade snacks have practically saved our lives on many blazing hot afternoons. Frozen Strawberry Lemonade You can purchase these at many local grocery stores and warehouse club stores like Sam’s Club! The per cup price in the parks will definitely feel a little steeper once you’re used to scooping these up at the local store. © Minute Maid Whether you want to track down park snacks or you just need some good frozen treats to store in your freezer, you can’t go wrong with these lemonade cups. Read more about the Minute Maid Frozen Lemonade Cups you can find at Disney World here! Dole Whip Sometimes we’re quick to forget that one of the most iconic Disney World snacks has another name brand already in its name! The infamous Dole Whip comes from the agricultural company Dole, NOT Disney! But Dole Whip and Disney go together like peanut butter and jelly for many of us. Sold at places like Aloha Isle, Sunshine Tree Terrace, and Pineapple Lanai, this snack comes in both its classic pineapple flavor as well as some pretty exotic flavors and floats. Dole Whip The good news here is that there’s no “secret” ingredient that Disney keeps to themselves, and you’re able to recreate this frozen soft-serve snack at home! You can easily shop for the frozen pineapple soft-serve mix on Amazon (we even wrote up two ways to recreate your very own Dole Whip at home here!). © Amazon Some soft-serve frozen yogurt chains like Menchies have pineapple-flavored Dole soft serve, giving you even MORE options on tracking down Dole Whip-like treats outside of the parks. Learn how to easily re-create Dole Whip at home here! Mango Mini Pies Disney’s Animal Kingdom aficionados may know that Yak & Yeti Local Foods Cafe and Yak and Yeti Restaurant have a standout dessert dish that often finds itself on many people’s must-eat lists. You can find Mango Pie by the slice (in the table-service restaurant) or as a mini pie (at the counter service spot) and it’s a fan favorite — we’ve raved over these little guys for years! Mini Mango Pie at Yak & Yeti Local Foods Well, imagine OUR delight when we discovered you can find a mini Mango Pie that looks (and tastes!) notably similar at Kroger! Kroger may not accept Dining Plan Snack Credits, but something tells us you’ll be paying MUCH less to indulge in these mini pies at your local grocery store than you will at Animal Kingdom. Kenny’s Mini Mango Pie After researching, we confirmed that these are indeed the pies sold in Animal Kingdom! We’ll take a dozen, please! As the label implies, we’ll gladly stock up on slices of paradise. Read more about the Mini Mango Pies at Yak & Yeti Local Foods here! Mickey Bars When folks think about iconic Disney eats, one of the first snacks that pop into many people’s minds is the Mickey Premium Bar! Many would think that if you didn’t buy at least one of these guys on vacation, you didn’t even REALLY go to Disney World. These are most commonly spotted at those ice cream carts we were talking about earlier. Mickey Bar But you can pick up a box of these on your next run to the grocery store! While these are a slightly different size, there’s no denying that these are indeed Mickey-shaped bars meant to resemble the classic Disney Parks dessert! Mickey Ice Cream Bars at Home Now you may look at this pic and think that $7.99 for six bars might be a lot by grocery store standards! But when you think about how much money folks will spend on ONE of these cuties in the theme parks, it’s actually a pretty “sweet” deal. Learn more about how you can score these limited edition Mickey premium bars at your local grocery store here! Mickey Ice Cream Sandwiches Likewise, another Mickey-shaped dessert folks rave about are the Mickey ice cream sandwiches! Mickey Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Sandwich As part of Mickey’s Birthday celebration, this dessert was ALSO added to the shelves of our local stores. Fingers crossed these treats stick around for a while because we need our ice cream sandwich fix! Mickey Ice Cream Sandwiches from the grocery store! Again, while these aren’t carbon copies of what you’ll find in the parks, we’ll take any opportunity to pick up some Mickey-shaped food in our kitchen! Find out how we discovered the Mickey Ice Cream Sandwiches at our local store here! Nestle Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwich And if that wasn’t enough, we have ANOTHER frozen treat that you can find outside of the parks. The Nestlé Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwich can be found at most Disney theme parks and in the resort hotels, and is a vacation staple for many of us. We’ve even developed our own cookie sandwich HACK so you can DIY your own creation in the parks! Our Ice Cream Sandwich Food Hack Components! But while we’re not in the parks, we can thankfully stock up on these chocolate chip cookie sandwiches at our local stores like Walmart. © Nestle We’ll take any opportunity to bite into one of these delicious desserts. Find out how to build your own Mickey cookie sandwich next time you’re at Magic Kingdom here! Churros Frequent visitors to Disney World and especially Disneyland are possibly missing those churros above all else right now! These are a major fan favorite, especially out west where Disneyland seems to whip out new and specialty flavors on a regular basis! A yummy Churro is a classic Disneyland treat! We’ve heard that you can get the same churros at Smart & Final! Look for the Tio Pepe brand and heat them up at home to instantly transport your tastebuds to the Happiest Place on Earth! Pair them with your favorite dipping sauce and you’ve instantly recreated Disneyland magic (for a fraction of the price per churro!). Learn how to make your very own churros at home with this recipe! Stuffed Pretzels Finally, if you have a Wawa in your area, you may want to swing by and check out the stuffed pretzels. Cream Cheese Pretzel at Refreshment Corner In the past we’ve seen cream cheese pretzels as well as jalapeño cheese pretzels being sold at Wawa, and they’re pretty much the SAME as the beloved versions in the parks! So be sure to see which ones are available and stock up! Click here to see our first Mickey-shaped pretzel in reopened Disney World! It can be tricky to appease our Disney withdrawals these days. While we try our best to recreate the magic at home ourselves, sometimes we need the real thing! So we hope this gives you some ideas on where to track down some of your beloved Disney snacks. Turn on some park music while you indulge in these treats, close your eyes, and pretend you’re back on Main Street, U.S.A.! What is YOUR favorite Disney World snack? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: DFB Video: Where to Find Late Night Eats in Disney World Review: Contempo Café in Disney’s Contemporary Resort Typhoon Lagoon Splash-and-Dine Around! View the full article

Disney World has quite the reputation as the Most Magical Place on Earth — but it can be pretty pricey to make that magic happen. Main Street, U.S.A It’s no secret that a Disney trip is expensive. That’s why we’re always on the hunt for the best tips for saving money on your next vacation. There are some tactics, however, that Disney uses to get YOU to spend a little more — and you might not even notice that’s what they’re doing! Check out all the ways that Disney World tricks you into spending more money! Pushing Packages Chances are that if you’ve taken a Disney trip you’ve bought or at least considered a vacation package from the Walt Disney Travel Company. These packages bundle your hotel room, park tickets, and sometimes dining all together so that you’re not paying for everything a la carte. Typically, using a package can mean some serious savings. Mickey Bar So you might be wondering: How is Disney getting us to spend MORE money if they’re offering a bundle deal to help us save money? Well, the trick isn’t in the package itself but in how Disney markets the package. You’ll notice that marketing language for these packages will usually mention that they are available for 6 night/7 day trips. The trick is all in that detail. Walt Disney World In fact, if you read the small print on most of these packages, you can usually apply them to a much shorter trip; the minimum usually comes in at a 2 or 3-night trip. So, yes, you CAN use these offers on shorter trips but Disney will never say this publicly. If a guest doesn’t do their due diligence, they might book a trip longer than they were initially planning based on the marketing material and thinking that’s their only option, meaning more time spending money in the parks, at the resorts, and elsewhere on the property. So, check out that fine print when you’re looking at a vacation package! You might not need to book a trip that’s as long as you think. Disney’s Hollywood Studios Plus, if you’re hoping for some discounts without committing to a full package, you should check out the Special Offers page on the Disney World website. This kinda-hidden page tends to have smaller seasonal offers as well as special ticket offers for the military, general public, and more. Sometimes it can be a lot cheaper to buy the components of your trip separately (e.g. hotel room with a room-only discount and separate ticket purchase) than as a package. These also usually have a more generous cancellation date than a package. If you ever want to make SURE that you’re saving every penny, you can always consider using a travel agent! Travel agents are a totally free service and besides handling all the nitty-gritty aspects of your trip, they will also make sure that you get EVERY. DISCOUNT. YOU. CAN. They might even spot discounts that you don’t even know you have access to! If that sounds good to you, you should check out our friends at Small World Vacations (they seriously know their stuff). Looking for some Disney deals? Click here! Exit Through A Gift Shop This next trick is a little bit more conspicuous. You’ve maybe even joked about it to your family while you’re in the parks! You’ll notice that almost every attraction in Disney World has guests exiting through a retail location. That trip through the gift shop can definitely be a sneaky trick! Windtraders Without that exit through a shop, a frugal family could potentially avoid the temptation of going into a store altogether. By routing you through a shop, Disney makes sure that you’re subjected to all the compelling merchandise and marketing that might get you to spend a little bit more money. Memento Mori Sometimes, we want to spend on that perfect Disney souvenir, but sometimes we’re really looking to save. If you’re the type of family that wants to spend on vacation without thinking too much and then wait to get home to handle it, that’s fine! But the exit gift shops can be tricky for those with a tight grip on their wallets. The tip here is to know your budget ahead of time. Set realistic expectations for what you want to spend on souvenirs in the park and only buy if that retail exit has something that fits into your budget. If you’ve got kids, set boundaries! Tell them they can pick out one souvenir for the trip or per day — whatever is in your means. Yeti Hat We also love using gift cards to help stay on budget! Do the spending ahead of time so that you can’t overspend when you’re actually on your trip! Plus, Disney gift cards allow you to give big kids and teens a set amount to spend so that they can have some independence without breaking the bank. Got Disney World planning questions? Click here for answers! Bounceback Offers For some guests, they might notice something pretty interesting while they’re still in Disney World at the end of their vacation. Sometimes, Disney will send out a bounceback offer to guests before their trip is over! This allows you to get a (usually hefty) discount on your next vacation before your current vacation ends. Disney’s Magical Express Bus The catch is that you do have to book your trip before you leave, even if you weren’t planning another trip, in order to get the discount. These discounts can be super compelling, so they can get a guest to do a repeat trip much sooner than they were planning! Now, these can actually be a great resource if you ARE planning another Disney trip already by the time you’re done with the one you’re on. Just remember, bounceback offers aren’t guaranteed to come your way, so don’t plan on definitely getting one. Definitely be on the lookout towards the end of your vacation, though, or ask at the front desk if there’s a current bounceback offer if you’re interested! Art of Animation Lobby Plus, you’re not locked into these offers! You can, of course, cancel a trip booked through a bounceback offer just like you can any other trip. So, if you can’t resist the sweet prices they offer you and perhaps book a new trip when that’s not what you were really looking to do, don’t fear! When you get home and decide that another Disney trip might not be the best use of your money, you can always cancel. To learn about one of the bounceback offers we’ve seen, click here! Discounts for Longer Stays This next one is a discount that’s available to guests all the time and might be a pretty obvious way that Disney gets you to spend money that’s still flying under your radar. We’re taking a look at the ticket discounts for longer stays. If you’ve looked at ticket pricing, you know that “the longer you stay, the less you pay, per day!” Friendship Boat For instance, if you take a look at the park ticket pricing for Disney World right now, you’ll notice that a one-day park ticket starts at $109 while a 10-day park ticket starts at $52 per day. That’s more than 50% cheaper per day when you go for a longer time. Animal Kingdom Ticket Center So, why does Disney mark down the price SO much for a longer trip? To entice you to BOOK that long trip! The more days you have in the park means the more days that you’re spending on Disney food, Disney merch, and Disney resorts. All those extra expenditures really outweigh the loss that Disney is taking on discounting those park days for you. Want an easier Disney vacation? Watch our video on how to make your trip stress-free! Disney Vacation Club and Annual Passes This next tactic is a BIG one. Disney loves to get you to spend more money by getting you to commit to THEM for your vacation options, either by buying an Annual Pass or by joining the Disney Vacation Club. Both of these options have a way of locking guests in for the time being so that Disney is the first thing they think of when they’re planning a vacation. Disney Vacation Club Sales Kiosk The Disney Vacation Club is a bigger commitment. When you get DVC you’re telling Disney and yourself that, “Yes, I do want to take a Disney-operated vacation for the next 50 years!” and that very well may be true! Still, DVC guarantees that you’ll choose Disney as a vacation destination almost every time instead of just some years. Plus, those annual dues mean that even if you DON’T vacation at Disney, you’re still spending money with them. Disney’s Riviera Resort An Annual Pass has a similar effect. When people buy the Annual Pass they tend to think that they need to get the best use out of it to make the (v. expensive) purchase worth it, so they find ways to go to Disney parks more often. If you don’t live in Florida, this means more days in hotels as you take more trips, and you therefore likely spend more on dining and merch. Passholder Magnet Remember though, these options aren’t necessarily BAD things! Both DVC and Annual Passes will net you big benefits like discounts, early bookings, and free Memory Maker. Pretty much EVERYWHERE has some sort of Annual Pass. Capture magical vacation memories! ©Disney We renew our Passes again and again because, for us, they are worth it! But we do suggest that you do your homework! Find out if an Annual Pass is right for you and keep in the back of your mind that it IS a marketing tactic. Also note that not everyone in your party has to have an annual pass in order to get the benefits. If just mom has an annual pass, you still get the hotel and restaurant discounts, memory maker, and more, that would be used by the whole family. Click here to learn more about Annual Pass benefits! Limited-time Food and Merchandise We here at DFB always end up spending some extra money on this one! We’re talking about limited-time food and merchandise. Honestly, splurging a little bit to grab those holiday treats or special edition pins is pretty darn hard to pass up! Orange Bird Sipper Disney does SO many of these limited-time promotions. In fact, there’s pretty much always SOMETHING being sold “for a limited time only” in the parks. With Epcot Festival merch like the coveted Orange Bird Sipper, holiday treats like anything peppermint, special anniversary items like the Haunted Mansion eats and merch, or collectibles like souvenir popcorn buckets, there are lots of things that we feel the urge to get our hands on before they’re gone. The Haunted Mansion 50th Anniversary Mug The reason this stuff is compelling is that it makes you feel, “I gotta get this right now or I won’t have the chance to get it if I want it later.” Limited-time merch gives us less time to decide if we REALLY want the thing we’re buying! Peppermint Ice Cream Sandwich The tip here is to keep that budget in mind. If you’re feeling tempted by that cute sipper, think about whether it fits in the budget or not. You may not want to edge out a souvenir you’ve been eyeing for a limited-time option that you feel urgent about right now. Click here to see how CRAZY folks went over the Orange Bird Sipper this year! Scavenger Hunts Epcot Festivals don’t only get you with limited-time merchandise. There’s a really fun, typically free, activity at some festivals that could have you spending more than you normally would. We know, we know. How can we be spending more money on a FREE activity? Just because it’s free to start, doesn’t mean it’s free to finish! We’re referencing, of course, those fun scavenger hunts. Holiday Cookie Stroll with Completed Stamps in Passport 2018 Disney uses scavenger hunts at various times throughout the year. Think of the Cookie Stroll at Epcot International Festival of the Holidays, the Garden Graze at Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival, and other foodie scavenger hunts. Though it’s free to grab a map for these hunts, you have to pay for a food item at every location in order to complete it and claim your prize! Ultimately, you’re spending much more than if you only got one cookie . Animal Kingdom PinQuest We’ve even seen pin hunts like the PinQuest in 2016 that required you to pay to START the hunt and then again for each pin you collected! That adds up! But, the sense of accomplishment and want of a special prize at the end is enough to keep us coming back for more — even as we spend more money than we might have otherwise. Click here to read about last year’s Cookie Stroll! Keeping You on Property The way that Disney dupes you into spending a little bit more money is by enticing you to stay on property. Though you might be able to save a little money staying off property in Disney World, Disney seriously ramps up the benefits of staying at a resort hotel. Beach Club Resort Think about it. On property you can use Disney transportation, get room delivery from stores in the park, use extra magic hours, and make your Fastpasses a full 60 days out instead of 30. Those are some good perks. But Disney has a good reason for doing this. Not ONLY do they get the money from your hotel room when you stay on-site, but you’re also more likely to spend on Disney food, merch, and experiences when it’s all readily at your disposal. Staying offsite can mean that you look elsewhere at dinner time, and Disney doesn’t want that. Grand Floridian Lobby In fact, there have even been some developments to keep you on the property even MORE recently. You might think the overnight parking fee for resort guests is just a measure to make sure the lots don’t fill up, but it has another purpose, too. By charging for parking, Disney is encouraging you NOT to have your car at your hotel — making it harder to get anywhere except other places on Disney property. We see you, Disney! Very sneaky. Animal Kingdom Lodge Of course, the fact that this is a tactic shouldn’t deter you from staying in the resort hotels if that’s your jam. The benefits of being on property are awesome and, in our opinion, totally worth it. Weigh the options for your family. If you’re doing an all Disney trip, then the on-property resorts might be a no brainer. Consider off-site if you’re on a steep budget, or are looking to experience the other things Orlando has to offer too! Click here for some reasons NOT to stay in a Disney World hotel! Disney Dining Plan You know we couldn’t write this list without including the Disney Dining Plan. This one is pretty sneaky. Of course, the Dining Plan is the right decision for a lot of Disney guests, but for many, it is NOT and could mean that you’re spending more money than you need to. Think about it — why would Disney promote something this much that isn’t a profitable endeavor for them? They’ve done their research and know how much the average family eats while on a Walt Disney World vacation. And they’ve structured the Dining Plans to provide a bit more food — and cost a bit more money — than what the typical family would consume and spend. That’s why, in order to actually SAVE money on the plan, you have to make sure you’re sticking to a few rules. Disney Dining Plan Shirt The Disney Dining Plan is kind of similar to an Annual Pass in that when you have it, you want to make to most out of it. So, maybe you would typically not eat breakfast or only eat one snack a day. But on the DDP, you’ll want to use ALL of those credits — on the most expensive items — to make sure you get your money’s worth. Now, if you DO eat as much as the plan supplies, and purchase the most expensive things possible for those credits, then it tends to work out equally to what you would spend for that food out of pocket. On the other hand, if you don’t use all your credits, or if you purchase less expensive items with your credits, you really can be losing out on money spent. Folks who head home with unused credits are a big reason that the Dining Plan is such a moneymaker for Disney. You paid for food you never ate! P.S. If you do find yourself in this sitch, check out our tips on how to spend those unused credits! How Much is Too Much for the Disney Dining Plan? That’s not to say that the DDP isn’t right for you! But you really need to do your homework. DFB has a TON of great resources on how to decide whether to go Dining Plan or out of pocket. And we have a whole chapter in our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining where we break down the Disney Dining Plan — and the Disney World Free Dining Offer — to show you the comparison amounts to buying your food out of pocket. Think about your family, and make the decision that you think will keep money in YOUR pockets! Click here to learn EVERYTHING you need to know about the Disney Dining Plan! MagicBands Finally, we’re going to talk about how Disney can get you to spend a little more with that MagicBand on your wrist! We’ll start by saying that we love MagicBands. They make everything super convenient. No more carrying your park ticket, your room key, or even your credit card! Still, you’ve got to be careful when you link this functional accessory to a payment method. Pirate Minnie MagicBand Using the MagicBand to pay for purchases effectively separates you from your money. Purchases are just a touch of the band to the scanner. They’re so quick and simple, it’s easy to stop thinking about how much you’re spending! The solution to this is to keep tabs on your cash flow. Check-in on that credit card statement in the evenings so that you get an idea of how much MagicBand paying you did in a day. This is another overspending possibility that can easily be avoided with a smart budget — and by sticking to that budget once you make it! New MagicBand Designs In most cases, we recommend disconnecting kids’ and teens’ MagicBands from any connected payment methods, and instead use that gift card trick from before! That way, your kids can do a little spending without you having to deal with an unpleasant surprise when that bill comes. Want to learn some surprising things about MagicBands? Click here! And there you have it! Disney really is using some interesting methods to get us to spend more money. Remember, these are pretty standard types of marketing across many large companies! None of this is particularly down and dirty — it’s just good marketing. But it’s good to know these tactics are a thing so that you can avoid any crazy spending — unless you don’t want to! Looking to save some dough on your next Disney trip? Click here to watch our video! What do you think of these sneaky tactics from Disney? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: 10 Ways The DFB Guide Will Help You SAVE BIG in Disney World in 2020! NEWS! Three MORE Big Disney World Hotel Discounts for 2020! Why NOW Is Really the BEST Time to Be Planning Your Next Disney Trip. View the full article

In response to recent global events, theaters across the country have closed their doors. AMC Theaters in Disney Springs attempted to limit guest capacity for a short period of time before closing down temporarily. AMC But now that major film studios have pushed back premiere dates for several of their blockbusters, AMC decided to remain closed until these new films are released. Now — months into the closures — AMC shares the toll the shut downs have taken on their company. According to ClickOrlando News, AMC Theaters stated their concern for whether they can survive the next couple months financially. AMC stated in a regulatory filing, “substantial doubt exists about our ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time.” Maleficent at AMC AMC is currently one of the largest theater chains in the U.S. but shared that they might not have enough funds readily available if the summer reopening is delayed and might not be able to borrow the funds needed. They also noted their concern for decreased attendance after a reopening but are hopeful that social distancing will be a temporary measure and guests will eventually return to the movies. The Rise of Skywalker at AMC The first major Disney film set to premiere is Mulan on July 24th, but AMC in Disney Springs has not announced a specific plan for reopening at this time. You can read more about AMC’s plan to wait for blockbuster releases here! Which Disney movie release are you looking forward to most? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Is The Future Of Movies…On Demand? Saudi Arabia’s Investment Fund Buys Five Million Shares in The Walt Disney Company News! AMC Theatres Are Now Lowering Guest Capacity at Movie Showings! View the full article

Disney World began a phase reopening with Disney Springs on May 20th and plans to reopen their theme parks beginning July 11th. Beach Club Resort Although Disney initially announced that their hotels would reopen alongside the theme parks, they later retracted their statement. As of now, only Disney World’s Disney Vacation Club properties and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort are scheduled to reopen on June 22nd. But now we might have a hint about which resorts and restaurants could be included in the next phase of reopening. Thanks to Scott Gustin, we found out that Disney has reportedly started calling Cast Members back to work at various food, beverage, and resort locations. The Orlando Hotel and Restaurant Workers Movement is affiliated with the Unite Here Local 737 union which represents a number of Disney’s hotel and restaurant workers. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Decor The group posted to their Facebook page listing several Disney Resorts and restaurants calling their workers back to potentially start as early as June 14th. These locations include: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Disney’s BoardWalk Inn Disney’s Contemporary Resort Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Disney’s Old Key West Resort Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts Disney has not made an announcement confirming this news, but we will continue to keep you updated as we learn more! You can read the Orlando Hotel and Restaurant Workers Movement’s full post on their page here. You can read more about Disney World’s plan to reopen their hotels here! Do you have any questions for us about Disney World’s reopening? Please let us know in the comments! Related posts: The Rubber Duckie Drink RETURNS! We’re Back at The Boathouse in Disney Springs on Reopening Day Terralina Crafted Italian Is Back OPEN in Disney Springs! PHOTOS and TIPS: Our FULL Experience From Reopening Day at Disney Springs View the full article

Have you been missing some delicious Ample Hills Creamery ice cream from Disney’s BoardWalk (and soon to be Disney Springs)? Mickey Mouse Club Ear Bowl We can almost taste the Sally Sells Seashells, Chocolate Milk and Cookies, and Ooey Gooey Butter Cake just thinking about it! Well we have some great news for you Ample Hills Ice Cream fans! The Brooklyn-based ice cream shop is once again offering nationwide shipping! ©Ample Hills via Instagram At this time, Ample Hills is unable to send to every state due to shipping changes, so if you’re located in CA, NV, UT, OR, WA, TX, Hawaii, or Alaska, you’ll have to wait a little bit longer before Ample Hills can ship to you. Ample Hills Creamery But if you’re in any other states, order away! You can choose from a 4-Pack of pints for $66 or a 6-Pack for $75. Choose from flavors such as Baked/Unbaked, Nonna D’s Oatmeal Lace, and Fluffernutter Fudge. Ice Cream Flight at Ample Hills Creamery Orders typically take two or three days to travel, but Ample Hills guarantees that your ice cream will arrive frozen, or you can your money back! If you’re ready to dive into some chilly pints, order up a batch of your favorite flavors here! Click here to find out how you can create epic Disney sundaes at home! What is your favorite flavor from Ample Hills? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Ample Hills Creamery Introduces Marvel-Inspired Ice Cream Flavors to Commemorate 80th Anniversary! NEWS! Ample Hills Creamery Has Filed For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy News! Owners of Ben and Jerry’s Could Rescue Bankrupt Ample Hills Creamery View the full article

PEZ stand clear of the doors! Monorail Before the Disney parks closed in mid-March, we spotted some adorable Monorail candy dispenser displays at Disneyland. And it looks like these cuties are still making the rounds! Earlier today, we were strolling through World of Disney, when amongst a display of tasty treats, something caught our eye. Candy Display in World of Disney Yup, we spotted those adorable Monorail candy dispenser displays! Blue Monorail Candy Dispenser Display The display is available in both blue and red — in case you need a little extra room to display all of your Pez dispensers! Red Monorail Candy Dispenser Display Each display can hold up to eight Pez dispensers, so Mickey and the gang can all stick together! You can grab your own mini-Monorail for $14.99. Monorail Candy Dispenser Display And if you’re looking for a few more Pez dispensers to fill your Monorail to capacity, we spotted those for sale separately as well for $4.49 each! Disney Pez Dispensers Keep an eye out for this cute Monorail display in World of Disney if you want to treat your collection to their own highway in the sky! Check out these NEW rainbow bags covered in some of our favorite Disney snacks! What Disney merchandise do you collect? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: News! World of Disney Has Officially Reopened in Disney World — And You Won’t Believe the WAIT TIME! What’s New at World of Disney in Disney Springs: Inflatable Minnie Ears, Baby Yoda Plush, and Gifts for Grads! PHOTOS and TIPS: Our FULL Experience From Reopening Day at Disney Springs View the full article

The world is still (rightfully) obsessed with Baby Yoda. This little guy has been featured on a TON of merch since his adorable debut in The Mandalorian on Disney+ — and for good reason! He’s stinkin’ CUTE! Screenshot from Build-A-Bear website Build-A-Bear first released “The Child” plush in April and after a series of sellouts, he is coming back for the FOURTH time! If you’ve been trying to get your hands on a sweet Baby Yoda plush, you’ll be super happy to know that he will be released once again TOMORROW! Set your alarms because a virtual pre-waiting room will open at 11:30 AM CST and sales start at noon. You can sign up to be on the mailing list to find out when the plushes are restocked here! ©Build-A-Bear These little guys are quick to go and, like past releases, there are limited quantities available. If you join the pre-waiting room, you will be assigned a random spot in line for when the sales goes live at noon and each plush costs $59.75. Just in case you thought he couldn’t get any cuter, you can also jam out to The Mandalorian theme song by squeezing his little paw (er, hand?)! Click here to check out more features of this precious plush! Are you excited for the re-release of “The Child” plush from Build-A-Bear? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Wait, This Baby Yoda Necklace Costs HOW MUCH?! Our Wish Has Been Granted! “Baby Yoda” Merch is COMING…EVERYWHERE! Baby Yoda Plush IS HERE! ACT FAST! View the full article

We’ve been at Universal Studios today for an Annual Passhholder preview exploring all the sounds, sights, and smells of the newly reopened theme parks! Knight Bus at Universal Studios Yes, believe it or not, you can still smell the delicious aroma of theme park food, even while wearing a face covering! But while Universal Studios has pushed for more guests to use the mobile food ordering process at many of its restaurants, the app seemed to struggle a bit today. Even though select Universal Studios restaurants offered mobile order before the temporary closures, even more locations have been added to the app! The feature looks very similar to Disney’s mobile order system. Just pick your location and select what you want (Butterbeer, obvi!!). Mobile Order Screenshot Once you’ve got your items entered in, you simply check out (contactless payment, baby!). All of that seems pretty easy, right? Well, not so fast… . Mobile Order Screenshot We’ve been having quite a few issues with the app today. First of all, the app seems to be crashing A LOT. Also, mobile order isn’t recognizing which park we’re at! Even though we were standing inside Islands of Adventures when we tried placing this order, we received an error message. We were able to sort it out by refreshing the app in our settings. Mobile Order Screenshot Other times when our orders successfully went through, we noticed a lot of confusion when we went to pick up our food. Mobile Order Screenshot Since the system is new for a lot of folks (and Universal employees, too) there doesn’t seem to be a lot of guidance or direction. And while we’ve also noticed several of the Harry Potter-themed restaurants had SUPER long mobile order lines, we found out some of these guests were just wanting to order some food! They didn’t realize they were standing in an order pick-up line! The Hopping Pot From our experience today, it seems like full, sit-down meal restaurants are having a harder time with mobile order than grab ‘n’ go spots due to the limited capacity of these dining locations. Do remember that this is just the FIRST day of Annual Passholder previews, so issues may work themselves out over the next few days. If you still have issues, just ask! Universal team members will address these technical issues you’re having with mobile order and can help you navigate it a little better! Is my mask going to fly off? Learn everything you need to know about wearing masks on Universal Studios’ rides here! Are you experiencing any problems with Universal Studios’ mobile ordering? Let us know if you’ve encountered any issues in the comments below! Related posts: Here’s A Look at the Safety Measures Being Discussed By Major U.S. Theme Parks Right Now Review: Breakfast at the New Satu’li Canteen in Animal Kingdom’s Pandora News: Disney Dining Plan Credit Tracking Added to My Disney Experience App View the full article