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WonderWorks offers $2 off for tickets purchased online with a code. View the full article

The National Basketball Association suspended its 2019-2020 season earlier this year as a response to the recent global events. NBA Experience Since the season was paused, the NBA has been in talks with potential locations to resume games including Las Vegas and Disney World. And next week, the NBA will make its decision on how the season will proceed. Disney World was recently referred to as the “front-runner” with the potential to host the remainder of the season at the ESPN Wide World of Sports. ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex According to the Orlando Sentinel, the NBA commissioner and other league officials have notified the Board of Governors of their goal to resume the season on July 31st. The board will vote on Thursday, June 4th, to determine the specific date and setting for the remaining games. NBA commissioner, Adam Silver, has reportedly recommended finishing the games in Orlando and the board is expected to approve this proposal. NBA Experience The league will continue to work with the National Basketball Players Association to determine the schedule and safety protocols if the season is to resume. We will continue to keep you updated on this developing story. You can read more about Disney World’s reopening plan here! Were you following the 2019-2020 NBA season? Let us know your thoughts about resuming the season below! Related posts: Disney World is the Reported Frontrunner to Host the Rest of the NBA Season The BIGGEST Time Wasters in Disney World — And How To Avoid Them! When Does Disney World Start Putting Up Its Christmas Decorations? View the full article

Disney World has been rolling out new information about their parks’ reopening — set to begin on July 11th. Cinderella Castle In preparation for the reopening, Disney has canceled all existing dining reservations and dining plans until a new reservation system is unveiled. But Disney just offered clarity on one specific dining experience we have been wondering about: character dining. Disney has been reaching out to guests who had booked Disney World dining plans to notify them that character dining will NOT be available when Disney World reopens. Snow White Thanks to our reader, @ashleyrakow , we have access to one of these emails. The message states, “As a result of physical distancing, capacity in restaurants and availability of dining experiences is very limited and certain experiences such as Character dining cannot be provided.” ©Disney via @askleyrakow We understand that this statement is very limited and does not provide you with a lot of information. What we do know is that at this time Disney has suspended new dining reservations but they have not shared which specific dining locations will reopen when the parks reopen. There is potential that character dining locations could open, just without characters for the time being (again though, Disney has not released specifics). When Disney does give us more information on dining reservations and open restaurants, we will make sure to update you with the latest information. When it comes to characters, Disney has shared that meet and greets will be temporarily unavailable but that characters will still be available in some capacity. As things continue to change, we will continue to provide you will the lastest news. We are here to help you during this strange time, so if you have any questions at all, please let us know!! You can learn more about Disney canceling dining reservations here! Did you receive a notification that character dining will not be available? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Breakfast and Lunch Review! We ate TWO Meals at Once at Tusker House in Disney’s Animal Kingdom! DFB Video: Disney Dining Plan SECRETS You Need To Know Before You Go to Disney World! DFB Video: 11 Things People Don’t Realize About the Disney Dining Plan! View the full article

Now that Governor Ron DeSantis has approved Disney World’s proposal, Disney will officially reopen July 11th. Disney World’s reopening has come with a LOT of changes. At this time, Disney is no longer accepting new hotel reservations and guests cannot purchase tickets as Disney rolls out their new reservation system. Mickey Waffle at Magic Kingdom Last night, Disney shared that ALL FastPasses and dining reservations were suspended for the time being. They also shared that they were canceling the Disney Dining Plan through September 2021. And tonight, many guests are receiving an email with even more new information. Huge thanks to DFB reader @ashleyrakow who shared her email screen shot with us so that WE can share it with you! Ashley’s original Disney World vacation was canceled as a result of the theme park closures, and upon rescheduling her trip to a July date, she received a “consolation” Free Disney World Dining Plan as part of the new vacation. According to the email, Disney “will be modifying your package to remove the dining plan,” since all currently booked Disney Dining Plans have now been canceled. The email goes on to say, “As an accommodation, the price of the package will be adjusted to reflect a 35% savings on the room portion.” Interesting! When info on the 35% discount was released yesterday, Disney had shared that you would have to rebook to a later date in order to receive the 35% discount. This no longer seems to be the case. The email goes on to share that, “This modified package and price will be provided in a new confirmation. You will receive a refund of the difference in the package price if you have already paid in full or a reduction in amount due if you have not yet made final payment.” ©ashleyrakow Therefore, this 35% discount was automatically added to the rescheduled package in place of the Free Disney World Dining Plan. If Disney releases more information regarding this discount or the Disney Dining Plan, we will be sure to let you know. We know things are constantly changing and are hard to process, so we’re here to help. If you have any questions at all, please let us know and we will do our very best to get you the answers you need!! Read more about canceled dining reservations and the Disney Dining Plan here. Had you purchased a Disney Dining Plan? Let us know in the comments below. Related posts: Two NEW Princess-Themed Cupcakes Available in Walt Disney World! Photos! Magic Kingdom’s TRON Coaster is Starting to Take Shape! Maurice’s Amazing Popcorn Machine in Magic Kingdom Has MOVED! Find Out Where Its Rolled To HERE! View the full article

Things have been shaken up in Disney World and we are here to help you sift through it all. Epcot Monorail Quick recap: Disney World closed in March, kept accepting reservations, announced reopening dates, then wiped out existing dining and FastPass+ reservations. Now what? Disney is still sorting our their plan of action for the reopening, but let’s take a look at each part of your vacation to see what they are currently refunding! Disney World plans to open Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom on July 11th followed by Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on July 15th. To help limit the parks’ capacities, Disney is rolling out a new reservation system. But what does that mean for guests who already booked resort reservations? Disney World Resort Hotels As the closure has been extended, Disney has been cancelling and refunding hotel reservations that were scheduled during the closure automatically. Animal Kingdom Lodge Disney retracted their previous announcement that Resort Hotels (Other than Disney Vacation Club and Disney’s Fort Wilderness) would be reopening and have not released a reopening date for these other hotels. However, in order to accommodate guests with existing reservations, Disney World placed a hold on new hotel and ticket reservations. Guests with existing Resort reservations will have priority access to the new park reservation system. Disney World Tickets As we mentioned, you can’t purchase a new ticket right now, because Disney is focusing on guests with existing tickets for the time being. But with all the different types of Disney tickets available, Disney World is handling each one a little differently. Park Tickets Unexpired multi-day park tickets or date specific park tickets that would have been valid on March 12th are still being extended through December 15, 2020. Or, you can apply the value from an unused ticket towards a ticket at a later date. Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom At this time, park-hopper add-ons will NOT be automatically refunded. According to a Cast Member we spoke with, “It will not happen automatically do to the fact that we currently do not have information on if our Guests will be able to park hop.” You can read more about Disney World’s Ticket extension policy here! Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway sign Disney’s new reservation system will require guests to book a ticket for a specific date, similar to how Shanghai Disneyland reopened. Guests with resort reservations will have priority access to this new system. Guests will also be required to have a valid park reservation and admission before they can book dining or other experiences. We will keep you updated when we hear more details about this new system! You can read more about the reservation system here! Florida Resident Discovery Disney Tickets Florida Resident Discovery Disney Tickets are currently valid through September 30, 2020. Disney World Annual Passes Disney stated that Annual Passholders might have access to special experiences and priority booking once the parks reopen. However, the website is still reflecting the same cancellation policy from the closures. You can read more about Disney World’s Annual Pass refund process here! Special Ticketed Events During the closure, Disney has been refunding event tickets for cancelled events including Disney’s After Hours, Villains After Hours, Early Morning Magic, and H20 Glow Nights. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in Magic Kingdom Disney has discontinued ticket sales for upcoming events such as Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, but a Cast Member confirmed that — as of now — the tickets are still valid. We will keep you updated as we learn more about these parties. You can read more about Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party tickets here! Disney World Dining In anticipation of the reopening, Disney has canceled all existing dining plans and dining reservations “including Disney dining plans included in packages.” ©Disney So if you grabbed an advance dining reservation, you booked a Disney Dining Plan with your trip, OR you received a free Dining Plan with your vacation package — these will be automatically canceled and refunded. This cancellation applies to plans from May 28, 2020 through September 26, 2021. All pre-paid dining or dining experience reservations will be automatically refunded and you will not be charged a cancellation or no-show fee. Be Our Guest Note: This does not mean Disney will not have dining plans or reservations by 2021, they are just clearing their current bookings to make way for a new system. Once the new reservation system is live, the traditional 180 day booking window will change to a 60 day booking window prior to the reservation date. Additionally, if you are a Tables in Wonderland member, your membership will be extended by the number of days the parks are closed. Cinderella’s Royal Table Similar to the park reservation system, once the new dining reservation system goes live, guests with existing reservations will receive priority access to rebook dining reservations. You can read more about the dining cancellations here! Now What?? A LOT has changed in the past several hours, so things are very much up in the air. Take a deep breath and know that you aren’t alone in this. We’re tracking down as much info as we can and will keep you posted here at DFB with the most up-to-date news we have! If you have questions about your booking, you can call (407) 934-7639 for Disney Customer Support or use the chat feature to message with someone on the Disney World website. To cancel or change your reservation, you can do so online using My Disney Experience. As you can imagine, Disney World is receiving a high volume of calls and messages, so there might be a bit of a wait. If you booked your trip with a travel agent, you can contact them for more details and for next steps. We’re in this together and please let us know your questions so we can help you out as much as possible! If Disney World adds or changes any refund policies, we will keep updating this post with the newest information! Click here to learn more about Disney World’s CONFIRMED reopening dates! What questions do you have for us about the reopening? Let us know in the comments and we’ll do our best to get the answer to you! Related posts: The Rubber Duckie Drink RETURNS! We’re Back at The Boathouse in Disney Springs on Reopening Day Disney World Confirms That Dining Reservations are Currently Unavailable Review: One of the BEST Disney World Restaurants to Come Home To ❤️ View the full article

There was A LOT of news about Disney World last night! And with huge updates like the suspension of FastPass+, the cancellation of all Disney Dining Plans and dining reservations, and details about the new reservation system for park entry, some of the other new info has gone relatively unnoticed! Spaceship Earth Here are the Disney World announcements you might have missed! All Experience Bookings Have Also Been Canceled In addition to FastPass+ and dining reservations, Disney World also announced that all experience bookings such as behind-the-scenes tours have also been canceled. Information from the Disney World Website Regarding Canceled Experiences According to Disney, these experiences were canceled in order to promote social distancing among guests. We reached out to Disney and at this time they are not providing information regarding which behind-the-scenes tours and experiences are being canceled. They did however inform us that Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party tickets are valid at this time. Click here to read our update regarding Mickey’s Not-S0-Scary Halloween Party! Updates to the Dining and Experience Booking Window Also, while all Disney dining and experience reservations are canceled, there will be changes implemented when guests are able to book again. When reservations resume, guests will be able to book dining and experience reservations up to 60 days in advance. Information from the Disney World Website Regarding Updates to Dining and Experience Reservations The shortened booking window will allow guests to make their plans closer to the date of their trip. We know that this can really put a damper on plans, especially if you already had dining reservations or like to plan ahead. As more information is shared regarding this new reservation window, we will be sure to give you all the details! Click here to read more about the cancellation of Disney Dining Plans and dining reservations. Park Hopper Add-Ons Will NOT Be Automatically Refunded At this time, park-hopper add-ons will NOT be automatically refunded. According to a Cast Member we spoke with, “It will not happen automatically do to the fact that we currently do not have information on if our Guests will be able to park hop.” Keep in mind, this was what we heard this from one Guest Relations Cast Member and could possibly change. Disney has not shared specific information on if guests will have the ability to park hop or not at this time. Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom Guests who are interested in changing their tickets may call the Ticket Services department at (407) 566-4985. Click here to learn more about the Disney World park reservation system. While dining, FastPass+, and park reservations have received most of the attention since last night’s announcements, these are a few of the other changes that you may have missed! We’ll continue to be on the lookout for more information regarding the reopening of the parks and keep you informed with any updates. Click here to learn about the updates to the Disney World mask policy. Do you have a Disney World trip planned this year? Let us know in the comments. Related posts: News: Reopened Theme Parks Will Look “Drastically Different” According to Florida’s Orange County Mayor News: Celebrate Mickey’s Birthday with Special Disney World Treats This Weekend Only! DFB Video: 8 Things You SHOULD NOT EAT in Disney World View the full article

The World of Disney in Disney Springs is taking you back to the Pleasure Island days with a new hat! World of Disney Whether your spot was The Adventurers Club, Mannequins, or maybe even 8TRAX, you can declare your love for the clubs that made up what was once Pleasure Island (in what was once Downtown Disney but is now Disney Springs ) with this topper. We’re goin’ back in THE DAY with this one! Pleasure Island Hat We found this item at the newly reopened (as of Wednesday) World of Disney store in Disney Springs for $27.99. Pleasure Island Hat And before we sign off, please join us in that classic greeting from The Adventurers Club — even though we’re saying “See you real soon,” for now… “KUNGALOOSH!” Will you be donning the Pleasure Island hat? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: Peace, Love, and Tie-Dye! You’ve Gotta See These Rainbow Merch Items in Disney World! Go on a Grand Circle Tour of Tomorrowland With the NEW PeopleMover Hat in Disney World! What’s NEW at Disney Springs: The Her Universe Star Wars Collection, NEW Park Life Dooneys, and Rock the Dots Merch! View the full article

Happy Friday, friends! You made it through another LONG week! Sprinkles Cupcake ATM And we think you deserve a special TREAT! Let’s head to Sprinkles in Disney Springs to do a little caloric “banking!” Sprinkles announced yesterday they would be reopening their Disney Springs location today but there’s a catch — they aren’t allowing walk-ins right now, which means you have to order your cupcakes in advance! (All of this is easy enough to do on their website, btw!) Sprinkles in Disney Springs But don’t worry if you lack cupcake foresight — there’s a delicious and easy solution: use the Sprinkles Cupcake ATM! This wonderful piece of machinery works just like a regular ATM, but instead of dispensing moola, it dishes out Sprinkles Cupcakes! Just place your order on the touchscreen, swipe your payment, and VOILA! A perfect little brown package magically appears in the window! Sprinkles Cupcake ATM See photos of what it’s like to dine at Disney Springs right now here! And what’s inside this mystery box, you ask? Why, a Sprinkles Cupcake, of course! Delivered right to you WITHOUT ever having to ever step foot inside the store! Funfetti Cupcake The cupcake flavor we picked up today is called Funfetti! Gee, we wonder why? Funfetti JK — it’s pretty obvious! Check out what this fun guy’s got goin’ on with his frosting and all those rainbow-colored sprinkles! Funfetti Cupcake Wanna pig out with us? Check out The Polite Pig’s new snack HERE! Its flavors are truly CLASSIC! While we always appreciate Sprinkles’ more off-the-wall flavors like Flamin’ Hot Cheetos or Watermelon Mojito Cupcakes, this one simply reminds us of a nice, thick slab of yellow birthday cake! Plus the sweet, rich buttercream was super YUMMY! Funfetti Cupcake You can access the Cupcake ATM while the shop is open and their cupcakes cost $4.95 to $5.95 depending on which flavor you get! Not sure about you, but we’ll be making A LOT more of these transactions in the months to come! Check out some of the other snacks we’ve been FEASTING on at Disney Springs this week here! Have you ever used the Cupcake ATM at Sprinkles? Let us know what you got in the comments below! Related posts: News! Sprinkles in Disney World Will Be Reopening Tomorrow What’s New at Disney Springs — The Quake Shake, A Retro Throwback, And The Spookiest Halloween Decorations EVER! Review: We’re Trying Starbucks’ New “Welcome Back” Drink in Disney World! View the full article

Wheel at Icon Park to reopen June 3 on International Drive View the full article

Moments ago we shared with you the news that Disney World launched a new Annual Passholder webpage with new information on the reservation system. Cinderella Castle in Walt Disney World There was another HUGE bit of information on this page that we thought we’d share. While Disney mentioned “soft openings” in their proposal, they did not specify who would have early access to the parks. Now, on this page, Disney World has confirmed Annual Passholders will receive early admittance to the Disney World theme PARKS. The website states, “As we prepare for the reopening of the parks, we’re planning a special preview opportunity for Annual Passholders. We look forward to sharing details with you soon.“ Screenshot from Disney World’s Website Now that Universal Studios has begun to allow its Annual Passholders to preview the theme parks early, it appears Disney World has announced a similar plan for its APs. Big Thunder Mountain In fact, a few of our team members with Annual Passes received an email which states, “We truly value the role our Passholders play in making the Walt Disney World Resort experience so magical. And as our re-opening progresses, we are planning a special Passholder preview opportunity to access the magic.” Those are all the details we have so far, but we’ll be sure to let you know when and how you can reserve your spot when the time comes so you can start planning! Are you an Annual Passholder? Let us know if you’ll be attending the preview in the comments below! Related posts: All Your Questions About the New Disney World Passholder Payment Changes ANSWERED NEWS: Orlando Mayor Cancels 4th of July Fireworks Display Disney World Parades, Fireworks, and Character Meet and Greets Will Be Temporarily Suspended When Theme Parks Reopen View the full article

Discover the secrets of Pandora—The World of Avatar! View the full article

This week, Disney-owned locations like World of Disney reopened in Disney Springs. Disney Springs Now, a few more third-party locations have just reopened their doors and one of these spots had QUITE the appeal! We went to check out Sephora this morning to see what new safety and health procedures have been put into place only to find that the store had already hit capacity! Sephora But while this might make it sound like there were a lot of folks shopping, we mostly had the store to ourselves! You see, Sephora is only allowing a few guests in at a time, so we waited outside until a group of guests left. Then it was our turn to enter the store! Sephora An associate handed us a freshly sanitized shopping basket so we could do some serious damage! Sephora New safety signage was sprinkled throughout the store. This includes notices about testers no longer being offered and all Beauty Bar services being temporarily suspended. Safety Measures at Sephora Sephora was also providing a special 10% off your entire purchase offer for healthcare workers and first responders as a nice way of saying thank you! Sephora Sign The store itself looked immaculate. Associates were busily wiping down counters. While Sephora is still accepting all forms of payment, contactless pay is being highly-encouraged. Sephora And here’s something interesting — Sephora employees have been trained to help match your shades just by looking at you! Normally you can apply some foundation to the back of your hand to find your perfect match, but the friendly lady who helped us find ours from six-feet-away! Sephora Employee She was also able to look up our account to make sure we went home with the right color! All of the Sephora employees are also wearing a button with their faces on it so you know what they look like without a mask! While the store hopes to sell masks soon, they are currently accepting returns and have a free bag offer with any $75 purchase! Sephora Bag At check out, they’ve placed social distancing markers designating where each guest should stand while waiting to make their purchases. Sephora After ringing us up, the cashier gave our bag a fresh spritz of sanitizer before handing it to us! Sephora All in all, while it is a different shopping experience since we can’t test out our favorite fragrances and cosmetics, the store was clean and the experience and the process overall went very smoothly. Check out our recent shopping trip to Basin in Disney Springs here! Have you visited Disney Springs yet? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: Here’s The Complete List of Retail Locations That Are Reopening in Disney Springs on May 20th! Review! We’re Dining at T-Rex in Disney World, But Will Our Meal Be Dino-MITE?? Before You Go To Disney Springs, You Need To Know These 10 Things We Experienced At CityWalk Last Week View the full article

We know we’ve been piling a lot on your plate lately, but Disney World is dishing up a heaping amount of news lately! Our cup runneth over, TOO! ©Disney Now that Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom are officially reopening on July 11th along with Epcot and Hollywood Studios on July 15th, Disney World has created a new Annual Passholder webpage with some VERY important information! Disney has shared that they are rolling out a brand new reservation system to limit capacity therefore Disney World has temporarily stopped selling park tickets and isn’t currently accepting new reservations. Disney has kind of been piecing together what will be needed in order to obtain a reservation. For starters, they have shared “When our theme parks reopen, we will manage attendance through a new theme park reservation system on DisneyWorld.com that will require all guests to make a reservation in advance for theme park entry. Over the coming weeks, we will be making some necessary updates to prepare for the launch of this park reservation system,” They also informed guests that “Guests with existing Resort reservations will have priority access to the new park reservation system when it becomes available.” Cinderella Castle Accessing the New Webpage Now, Disney has rolled out a new webpage with updated information for Annual Passholders. This webpage is pretty hard to find you guys so we thought we’d walk you through it a bit. Visit the Disney World website. On the website, you will see a large chunk of text describing the closures. Click view important details at the bottom of this text and you will be taken to a new experience update page. If you scroll to the very bottom of this experience page you will see a blue text box that reads Annual Passes. Click learn more and you will be redirected to the new Annual Passholder update page 2020 Annual Passholder Magnet New Annual Passholder Information Regarding Reservations Information on this page shares that due to high-demand for re-entry (and the parks not being able to accommodate as many guests each day) Annual Passholders will only be allowed to hold a certain number of reserved days at one time once the new reservation system is put in place. They also share that it may be difficult for Annual Passholder’s to get reservations on certain dates. Here’s how the statement reads on Disney World’s website: Screenshot fro Disney World’s Annual Passholder Website Disney World also notes some AP member benefits and features might not be available while Annual Passes will still be subject to blackout dates. We know that this statement can be rather confusing. But what we can take from it is that dates for Annual Passholders may be limited and that passes will be subject to block out dates and depending on your pass type, these dates may vary. So while this can all be confusing and even overwhelming, take a deep breath! Disney is still saying that Annual Passholders will have the ability to make reservations. Those reservations just may have a few limitations based on the type of pass you have. We’re not gonna lie, things are gonna be a little bit weird for a while. But we here at DFB have got YOU! We will do our best to brake these weird statements down and will do our best to get you all the answers you need. So, if you have any questions, please let us know! Are you an Annual Passholder? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: All Your Questions About the New Disney World Passholder Payment Changes ANSWERED Annual Passholders Can Celebrate the Holidays with Exclusive Photo Ops in Disney World! Small Price Increases That Could Have a BIG Impact on Your Next Disney World Vacation! View the full article

Now that Disney World has dropped a bombshell of updates to their policies regarding their July 11th reopening date, there’s a lot of confusion going around! Walt Disney World Following the announcement that a new reservation system will be needed to gain access to the parks, all previously booked Fastpass+, dining reservations, and Disney Dining Plans have been canceled, many guests are now left wondering if they’re even ELIGIBLE to gain access to the parks when they reopen. While we’ve known for some time Disney World would reopen with a limited capacity, we didn’t know to what extent they’d be scaling back admission (and it’s still unknown at this time!). BUT, we DO know guests who have previously purchased theme park tickets AND have hotel reservations ON THE BOOKS will be given priority access. Disney World has temporarily paused ticket sales and new hotel reservations! Learn more here! Some of our readers who have BOTH of these essentials still feel in the dark following the announcements. We’re going to help clarify. Walt Disney World Partner Hotels What does this mean for guests who have booked stays at non-Disney operated hotels such as Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Resort as well as Shades of Green? Remember — while these properties are situated on Disney World’s property, they’re only partnered with the resort. Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Resort We reached out to Disney World today to get some answers. We chatted with a Cast Member who told us guests staying at Disney World’s partner hotels will also count as resort guests. Screenshot of Chat with Cast Member from Disney World’s Website That means if you have already purchased Disney World park tickets and have a hotel reservation at a partner resort, you will be among the first group of guests to gain access back in the parks if you’re staying at one of these hotels. Disney Vacation Club Hotels It has been previously announced that Disney Vacation Club Resorts will begin reopening to guests on June 22nd. While regular guests cannot book reservations at this time, Disney Vacation Club Members are STILL able to book new room reservations with their points at the time of writing this. Disney Vacation Club So if you’re a DVC member, you might still be able to snag a reservation around the reopening. Disney-Owned Hotels Finally, Disney-owned hotels on property are a bit trickier. It was announced that Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground will be reopening on June 22nd along with the DVC resorts. Welcome to Fort Wilderness! Aside from Ft. Wilderness, no reopenings have been officially announced for other Disney hotels. Prior booked reservations have not been canceled by Disney at this time. We know all this news to come out of Disney in the past few days is a massive bomb dropped on many guest’s vacation plans, and we’re doing all we can to get you answers. Please share in the comments ANY questions you may have about your upcoming trip and we will do everything we can to help you get answers. It’s official! Disney World theme parks and hotels will be reopening soon! Learn more details here! Are you one of the lucky folks with valid tickets and a hotel reservation? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: Review! We’re In Chocolate Heaven Thanks to This Delicious Dessert in Disney World! News! Disney World’s Swan and Dolphin Resorts Are Now Fully Closed News! Disney World’s Shades of Green Resort Set to Remain Closed Until Mid-May View the full article

Attention CHOCOLATE LOVERS! (And ice cream fans! And people who love caramel and pretty much anything that tastes yummy!) Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop is now reopen in Disney Springs! Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop Mostly, that is… the Soda Fountain portion is now open to guests looking for some sweet treats. The Chocolate Shop (retail) section remains closed for the moment. But we’re here to show you around the newly reopened space, check out the new safety measures, and grab a (HUGE) sundae while we’re at it. So, let’s head in! Aside from the lovely Ghirardelli sign and a not-so-small reminder of what’s in store (LOTS of ice cream, as evidenced by the larger-than-life sundae prop), you’ll also notice hand sanitizer available right when you enter. Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop Hand Sanitizer You’ll also see plenty of clear reminders around the store to “Please keep a safe distance.” Distance Markers Distance Markers Additional signage provides more reminders of the new safety measures for shopping and dining in Disney Springs, which also include the required wearing of face masks, more distancing notices, and more. Safety Sign There is no indoor dining available at the moment, with the inside tables sectioned off from the ordering area. Indoor seating closed Indoor area closed But even though the indoor dining and the store part are closed, you can still pick up some of those classic Ghirardelli Squares! Ghirardelli Squares And another noticeable difference is the reduced menu upon the reopening. Previously, the paper lists guests picked up to peruse was packed with a huge selection of sundaes and more (including the family-sized Earthquake). Sundae Menu Ice Cream Menu But things are starting back up with a more limited selection for the time being featuring three Sundaes, ice cream scoops and some toppings, shakes, and cocoa — including the Frozen Hot Cocoa in time for the rising Florida temps! Shakes and Cocoa Menu So it was impossible NOT to notice the intriguing Gold Rush Caramel Sundae — designated as NEW! Gold Rush sign But, wait a minute… how can it be new? We’ve had a Gold Rush Sundae at Ghirardelli before. (Okay, more than one — it was a favorite!) When we asked about it, it was confirmed that this Gold Rush is indeed a new version, featuring (obviously) Salted Caramel instead of the old Gold Rush Peanut Butter Sundae (pictured below) that was once one of our absolute favorites. PREVIOUS Gold Rush Sundae Yeah, that’s it…. and it was a beautiful thing. Of course, since Ghirardelli stopped serving up peanut butter as an ingredient in 2015, this is not a huge surprise — we haven’t had the “old” Gold Rush in Disney World for years. (The Disneyland Ghirardelli location did continue to be the only spot to serve it for a while.) So, how is the new Gold Rush different? Well… The NEW Gold Rush Caramel Sundae Instead of peanut butter as the toppings star, this one serves up oodles of caramel sauce over vanilla ice cream with sea salt, diced almonds, and whipped cream. It’s topped with a White Chocolate Caramel Ghirardelli Square. White Chocolate Caramel Squares Before we dig in, here’s how serving works now. After placing your order, you step outside to wait. A cast member brings your treat on a tray with your spoon and a napkin. Cast Member delivering Sundae You, in turn, take the whole thing, including the tray. (It’s also worth mentioning that cast members were wiping things down the entire time.) And NOW… here’s a full look at the NEW Gold Rush Caramel Sundae! NEW Gold Rush Caramel Sundae I mentioned those “oodles” of caramel, right? Check it out… they’re not playing around! NEW Gold Rush Caramel Sundae And you know what? As much as we loved the old Gold Rush… there’s really nothing to complain about with the new one, either! In fact, it’s better than just “no complaints.” NEW Gold Rush Caramel Sundae It’s really, REALLY good. It’s flavorful, while not being as rich as the chocolate sundaes (in a good way, what with it being SO HUGE.) The sea salt brings some terrific balance to the super sweet caramal, and the almonds — which are plentiful — really deliver a nice crunch. All in all… things are still decadent and delicious at Ghirardelli’s! We’re still checking out all of the recently reopen shops and restaurants around Disney Springs. And speaking of reopening… Walt Disney World theme parks have received the official approval to open to guests starting on July 11th. You can read more about the reopening and catch up on all the latest news by visiting any of the links below. Will you be trying a new Gold Rush Sundae? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: What’s the Status of the Chocolate Square Samples at Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop? You Might Be Surprised… What’s New in Disney Springs? Frosé, Potion Purple, Loaded Mac and Cheese and More: January 16, 2019 REVIEW! Ghirardelli’s Quake Shake Has Us SHOOK in Disney World! View the full article

Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld must get their massive operations up and running again after more 2 1/2 months of shutdown. Will there be any government oversight to make sure visitors are following the new safety rules? View the full article

I recently learned that May is national lū‘au month. But at Aulani Resort, we’re always ready for a lū‘au! Aulani’s KA WA‘A Lū‘au is special because it continues Aulani’s celebration of Hawai‘i’s storytelling by sharing, through beautiful music and dance, how Hawai‘i’s ancestors settled on O‘ahu’s ‘Ewa Plains – the very place where Aulani Resort is located. While you may not be able to travel to Aulani Resort right now, we wouldn’t want you to miss out on celebrating national lū‘au month. That’s why we’ve come up with a few recommendations to help you create your very own KA WA‘A Lū‘au at home. First, you need to the right outfit. Because, let’s face it, we all need a reason to dress up right now. For women, I suggest an outfit with bright colors that will keep you cool in the early evening sun, and will look great flowing in the island breeze. A beautiful pua or flower in your hair is the perfect accessory. For men, your nicest pair of shorts, a bright aloha shirt, and your favorite sunglasses will keep you looking cool – both literally and figuratively. Next comes my favorite part – the food! Limu Poke is a Hawai‘i staple and the fresh taste will instantly transport you to Aulani Resort. The KA WA‘A Lū‘au limu poke recipe is easy to recreate at home by following these simple steps. Now, we’re ready for some activities! KA WA‘A Lū‘au features a range of fun, interactive activities designed to immerse the whole ‘ohana in Hawai‘i’s culture. For your at-home lū‘au, we suggest creating your own paper lei, reminiscent of the fresh flower lei making activity favored among many of our guests. Before we start the show, we like to engage our guests in a special hula that was created specifically for Aulani – the Aulani Hula! It’s easy to learn, and in this video, Aunty’s Beach House Cast Member Kanoa and his family walk you through the steps. Now it’s time to sit back and enjoy the entertainment! Disney Imagineer Jeanette Lomboy gave a great description and preview of the wonderful entertainment when we first launched KA WAA Luau in 2016. Take a look! We can’t wait to see how you will create your own lū’au at home! Keep checking the Disney Parks Blog for more fun and be sure to share the magic with other Disney fans using the hashtag #DisneyMagicMoments. View the full article

Disney World recently proposed a reopening plan to the Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force for approval. Walt Disney World The plan, which includes a soft reopening of July 11th for Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom and of July 15th for Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, was approved by Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and set to move on for review by the state government. Today, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis officially signed off on the proposal, which means the plan is approved for use. With this go-ahead from government officials, Disney will open the theme parks in mid-July with significant added health measures. Prior to this, we will see the Disney Vacation Club resorts and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Lodge & Campground begin to reopen on June 22nd. Reopening Approval Letter Disney plans are likely set as a baseline with the approval from the governor, but that does not mean that certain aspects will not develop or change. We will keep you updated as we learn more or as any modifications are made. At this time, Disney is not accepting new hotel reservations or allowing guests to purchase additional tickets. This is because Disney is introducing a brand NEW reservation system. Read the latest details on the new reservation system here. FastPass+ and the Disney Dining Plan have been suspended for the time being. And all Disney dining reservations have been canceled at this time. Click here to read the DETAILS of Disney’s reopening proposal! Have questions about Disney’s reopening plan? Ask them in the comments! Related posts: Florida Surgeon General Warns That Current Measures Should Continue Until a Vaccine Exists. What Does That Mean for Disney World? Florida Governor Says Disney is “Ahead of the Curve” When it Comes to Reopening Disney World Says, “We Do Not Have an Opening Date Yet.” View the full article

Good news for theme park fans. SeaWorld and Disney World got the state approval to reopen. View the full article

While tickets for the 2020 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Parties went on sale in February, we haven’t heard very much on the subject of Disney World’s spookiest season since then! Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in Magic Kingdom With so many changes happening right now regarding Disney World’s reopening, including a new reservation system, including suspending all Fastpass+ and dining reservations, and canceling all Disney Dining Plans through 2021 (not to mention you can’t purchase park tickets or book a room at Disney World right now), what could this mean for Magic Kingdom’s annual Halloween celebration? Well, we had to get to the bottom of this pressing matter and, after speaking with a Cast Member today, we were able to confirm all Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party tickets ARE still valid…but they aren’t selling any more of them right now. Screenshot of Our Chat with a Cast Member from Disney World’s Website Now whether or not this means Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Parties will happen or not, we can’t confirm at this time. The 2020 separately-ticket parties are scheduled to begin August 13th and run on select nights through November 1st. That doesn’t leave Disney with a lot of time to get its stuff figured out since Magic Kingdom’s tentative reopening date is July 11th. Boo to You Parade Keep in mind, Disney has stated that everything is subject to change, so things might be altered at any time. It’s also worth noting that if Disney reopens with their proposed plan to halt fireworks, parades, and character meet-and-greets, it’s possible that many of the experiences people are eager to experience at the Halloween parties may be altered or missing entirely. We’ll keep you posted if Disney announces anything further. Click here to learn more about Disney World’s reopening proposal! And keep in mind we are also still waiting on Disney World to release tickets for the 2020 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parties which came out on April 8th last year. Main Street at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party See what other big announcements we’re STILL waiting on from Disney here! We’re continuing to dig and look for answers and we’ll report back soon with any information we uncover, but for now hold onto those Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party tickets because as far as we know, they’ll still GOOD! Do you have tickets to attend a Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party this year? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: 2020 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Tickets NOW ON SALE! Ticket Discounts on Disney Theme Parks, Water Parks, and Special Events! See How Much You Can SAVE! Updated! Will Disney World Really Re-open April 1st? View the full article

Just yesterday — among several other updates regarding the reopening of Walt Disney World — it was announced that all existing Advance Dining Reservations would be canceled by Disney. This action is being taken to limit guest capacity throughout the Resort (with restaurants included) in light of new safety measures for the reopening. Disney Springs While you can read all about that by clicking here, we wanted to fill you in on a way you can still get a reservation for select restaurants in Disney Springs. We gave a ring to the lovely folks at Wine Bar George in Disney Springs. They expressed that to their knowledge all reservations booked through My Disney Experience (either through the app or by logging in to the Walt Disney World website) are in the process of being canceled. Wine Bar George in Disney Springs However, Wine Bar George also accepts reservations through OpenTable.com, and guests are welcome to rebook by finding Wine Bar George on that website! And existing reservations made on OpenTable still stand. Burrata and Saganaki at Wine Bar George Speaking of Wine Bar George… You can read about our visit to the recently reopen Wine Bar George here! Additional Disney Springs restaurants that you can find on OpenTable include STK Orlando, Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, The BOATHOUSE, Morimoto Asia, Paradiso 37, Paddlefish, Frontera Cocina, Planet Hollywood, and Terralina Crafted Italian. (And remember, there are no cancellation fees when booking through OpenTable!) There have been lots of news updates regarding the proposed reopening of Walt Disney World, and you can find out more by visiting any of the links below. Will you be dining in Disney Springs? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: Select Disney Springs Restaurants Are Now Accepting Reservations Starting June 1st! NEWS!! All the Treats for WonderFall Flavors at Disney Springs Announced Taste the Flavors of Florida 2019 in Disney Springs! View the full article

With the global health crisis going on, a lot of folks are wanting to give back. ©Disney Disney has made a few big donations to help out with the crisis. They are donating 1 million cloth masks to children and families in underserved communities and the parks donated 150,000 rain ponchos for use in hospitals around the country. Now, Cast Members are showing their love with customized thank-you cards for healthcare workers through Disney Magic Moments. Cast Members created more than 17,500 customized cards that Disney then printed and mailed to healthcare workers at almost 40 hospitals around the country. This Disney Magic Moments effort was to thank workers personally for their support, courage, and sacrifices. ©Disney Cast Members and employees were able to visit the Disney VoluntEARS Thank You Card page where they could build the card with customizable options. They were able to choose from designs inspired by Disney films, select their thank-you message of choice, and stylize it with their favorite font. The cards were delivered earlier this week. ©Disney According to Elissa Margolis, Disney’s Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility, “Since the pandemic began, we’ve heard repeated requests from our employees for ways that they can give back. We are thrilled to provide this opportunity to show our gratitude to the medical professionals who continue to go above and beyond and sacrifice so much in caring for others during this crisis.” Click here to see the other ways Disney has looked to support healthcare workers! What ways have you given back to healthcare workers? Tell us in the comments! Related posts: NEWS: Unlimited Disney Movies or FREE Trips to the Parks? Cast Members Can Now Choose Between Park Tickets or Disney+! Disney Parks Around the World Say Thanks to Healthcare Workers Show the World One of Your Disney Magic Moments with the My First Disney Character Challenge! View the full article

The Universal Studios universe seems to be exploding with news right now! Universal Studios Only moments ago we told you Universal Studios Annual Passholders were officially invited to attend an early preview before the theme parks open to the general public on June 5th! And now we finally have confirmation on when several of the Universal Studios Resort hotels are reopening. The following hotels will reopen on June 2nd: Hard Rock Hotel Loews Royal Pacific Resort Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort Universal’s Aventura Hotel Universal’s Endless Summer Resort — Surfside Inn and Suites. Plans for Loews Portofino Bay Hotel and Universal’s Endless Summer Resort — Dockside Inn and Suites will be announced at a later time. And while guests may start arriving at Universal Studios Resort hotels as early as June 2nd, they won’t be allowed access to the theme parks until June 3rd. “Hotel guests must have valid theme park admission in order to access the theme parks on June 3 and 4. Guests can visit the Vacation Planning desk in their hotel to purchase or pick-up tickets,” Universal’s website states. Hollywood Drive-In Golf Universal Studios Resort hotels will also be enhancing their health and safety measures as well as increasing sanitation practices. Guests and employees will be required to wear face masks in all public areas at the hotels. CityWalk Reopening As with its theme parks, all employees and vendors will be screened daily while Universal is asking guests to self-screen before arriving at their hotel. According to Universal’s website, “Guests will have temperature checks upon arrival and return unless previously checked at the hotel that day prior to boarding our resort transportation system. Anyone with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or greater after three checks, including one with a new thermometer, will be asked to seek medical attention and obtain medical clearance prior to being permitted to enter. We understand some guests may feel they have special conditions, which we will consider upon request.” Universal Studios Check out our experience with Universal’s temperature screenings here! And according to Universal, “If a guest registers a temperature of 100.4 degrees or greater upon check-in, they will not be allowed to check-in until they receive medical clearance to do so. The rest of the guest’s party will be allowed to check in. We understand some guests may feel they have special conditions, which we will consider upon request.” Universal Orlando Resort Also, if a guest registers a temperature of 100.4 degrees or greater anytime following the check-in screening, they will be required to self-quarantine and seek medical attention. “The hotel will follow medical professional’s recommendations as to whether the guest can safely remain on hotel property. An additional guest room may be provided for other members of their party and they will still be able to move about the resort as they continue to successfully undergo temperature screenings,” Universal states. Voodoo Doughnut Universal also stated, “When possible, guest rooms will be left vacant for 24-48 hours upon checkout, before thoroughly cleaning and checking in a new guest.” Universal Orlando Hotels will be reopening with several contactless experiences for guests, including hotel texting-services, express checkout, and contactless room deliveries. Express passes and early morning hours will also still be happening. We’ll continue to provide more information as soon as it becomes available! Please note: Universal Orlando’s theme parks officially reopen to the general public June 5th. Team Member and Annual Passholder previews will take place a few days prior. Are you planning on booking a room at Universal Studios now that the hotels are reopening? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: Updated! Legoland in Central Florida Announced Reopening Date Before Governor’s Approval BREAKING NEWS: Universal Orlando Is Officially Opening June 5th Universal Orlando Is Reopening June 5th and We’ve Got ALL the Details! View the full article

The first Universal hotels are reopening June 2 after shutting down from the coronavirus pandemic. Here's how they will keep customers safe, Universal says. View the full article

Virtual-reality game based on Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney planned View the full article