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Are you just as sweet on the Haunted Mansion as we are? Constance’s For Better For Worse Wedding Cake Then we’ve got a delicious prize package to show you — they’re so pretty we have “running chills.” @LittleToothUniqueSweets has created this collection of handmade Haunted Mansion-inspired cookies in collaboration with the “Black Widow Bride” herself from Disney’s HAUNTED MANSION — @KatCressida! Haunted Mansion Cookies Okay, maybe not the real Constance Hathaway, but the voice-ver actress who portrays her in Disney’s Haunted Mansion WHICH is pretty much as close to the real thing as you can get! She also lent her vocal talents to the “Little Girl Lost” character in Hollywood Studios’ Tower of Terror! And can we just say — these Haunted Mansion cookies are absolutely STUN-NING! We can’t believe the level of artistry they were able to achieve with simple flour and sugar! They’re almost too pretty to eat! Haunted Mansion Cookies If you would like to win an incredible bounty of Haunted Mansion Cookies, all ya gotta do is donate $10 for the chance to be one of five winners! Plus, @KatCressida is matching every dollar that’s donated and will be giving 100% of the proceeds to No Kid Hungry. Click here to make a donation and enter the Haunted Mansion cookie raffle! Are you excited to “hurry back” to the Haunted Mansion? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: Disney News This Week: ALL the News and Updates from the Most Magical Places on Earth! This Is Not A Drill! You Can Get a FREE Treat at Disney Sprinkles Locations Through the End of the Month! DFB Video: Disney Parks Around the World Close, New Lands Get Opening Dates & Mulan Merch Comes to shopDisney! View the full article

Universal Orlando will officially be opening to the public on June 5th. Buuut, if you’re an Annual Passholder, you’ll get to go back home to Hogwarts early! Universal After Universal Orlando announced its extensive health and safety protocols, it also stated that they would be opening the parks to team members and Annual Passholders prior to June 5th. Universal Orlando posted this message on Facebook today officially welcoming back Passholders to a reopening preview! They will be sending out emails will information regarding how they can be some of the first people to reenter the parks. ©Universal Studios Starting today, Passholders will be able to register for early-access to Universal Orlando! Reservations are open to Premier Passholders starting at 12PM ET, followed by Preferred Passholders at 1PM ET and Power and Seasonal Passholders at 2PM ET! Space will be extremely limited and reservations will be first-come, first-serve. Islands of Adventure Gate We will keep you updated on what Universal Orlando will look like when the parks start to re-open in just a week! Take a look at ALL the details on Universal Orlando’s re-opening here! What is your favorite Universal Orlando attraction? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: NEWS! Florida Sports Venues Are a Go As Florida Moves Into the ‘Full Phase One’ of Reopening NEWS! Universal Hollywood’s CityWalk Could Reopen as Soon as Mid-June Disney Recipe! We’re Happy Campers Thanks to These Mickey S’mores Cupcakes View the full article

As Disney is in the process of establishing new safety measures for the Disney parks around the globe, one measure that the company has mentioned — and that we have already seen in progress — is phased reopenings. Disneyland Paris A phased reopening of Walt Disney World’s Disney Springs began on May 20th, and Shanghai Disneyland reopened a limited number of shopping, dining, and recreational experiences in Disneytown, Wishing Star Park, and Shanghai Disneyland Hotel in March prior to reopening the theme park on May 11th. And now we have received confirmation that Disneyland Paris will reopen an element of the Resort starting this weekend: Golf Disneyland. Golf Disneyland will reopen to guests starting May 30th! Interested guests may find contact information for Golf Disneyland on the Disneyland Paris website. Golfer Mickey Please note that the Disneyland Paris theme parks remain closed until further notice at this time. Footgolf Course in Walt Disney World Golfers near Walt Disney World Resort in Florida may already be aware that Walt Disney World Golf and FootGolf have remained available on their regular schedule throughout the Resort’s closure. You can find out more about the upcoming reopening of Walt Disney World by visiting any of the links below. Have you ever golfed on a Disney golf course? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: NEWS: Disneyland Paris Donates Excess Food To Local Communities During Temporary Closure Disney Parks Around the World Say Thanks to Healthcare Workers Roll Call! Here’s the Current Status of Every Disney Park After Yesterday’s BIG NEWS! View the full article

We know how uber-difficult it has been to get your hands on the new Minnie Mouse: The Main Attraction merch being released each month! Minnie Mouse: The Main Attraction Space Mountain Plush From attraction-themed Minnie Ears to Loungeflys, the items almost seem to sell out faster than you can say Space Mountain! But yesterday while we were browsing around the newly-reopened World of Disney, we spotted a whole NEW Minnie Mouse collection that is super K-A-W-A-I-I! (That’s a Japanese word for CUTE!). Check out this new range of adorable Minnie gear like these new Treat Yourself Journals for $16.99! Treat Yourself Journals And something about the style of these matching Treat Your Pens for $17.99 that reminds us of Tokyo Disneyland’s merch! Normally our friends overseas get all the cutest stuff, but it looks like our ship’s come in! Treat Yourself Pens Minnie even seems to be branching out from bows and is selling Rainbow Scrunchies now! We spotted this fabulous set of hair ties for $14.99 yesterday! Minnie Hair Set And how awesome is this little Minnie Purse for $14.99! We love how pink and sparkly it is! Youth Minnie Purse We spotted the same happy design of Minnie sliding down a rainbow on a Tie-Dye One-Piece for girls! Too bad they didn’t offer it in adult sizes, otherwise we definitely would have scooped it up! Minne One-Piece But our favorite piece has to be this Youth Minnie Hoodie for $44.99! This sweatshirt is a total showstopper from the adorable Minnie graphic on its front… Youth Minnie Hoodie …to all the bedazzling it has on the back! Who doesn’t love a little Minnie Mouse bling-bling? Youth Minnie Hoodie The hoodie would look so great with this new Reverse Sequin Shirt for 29.99! You can never have too much sparkle in our opinion! Youth Reverse Sequin Shirt But wait, there’s more! We also spotted this fantastic Minnie Door Hangers for $7.99! The little smiling rainbow castle in the background is literally the cutest thing we’ve ever seen! Door Hangers And these little Minnie Keychain Pouches are so adorable too! We love the accents of rose gold to go with the bright pink fabric! Minnie Keychain Pouch Last (but by no means least!), we practically screamed and fell over when we saw these new Minnie Pom Pom Keychains! They look like little ice cream cones!! Pom Pom Ice Cream Keychains Check out our entire World of Disney shopping spree from yesterday here! So um, yeah…we might have just leveled up of love of Minnie Mouse from totally infatuated to completely obsessed! Check out some of the other cool merch we spotted at Disney Springs yesterday here! Are you excited about this adorable new Minnie Mouse collection? Let us know if you’re a fan in the comments below! Related posts: What’s New at Disney Springs: Dooney and Bourke Ink & Paint Collection, a Kermit Hat, and More! 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! View the full article

Sivako! We’re celebrating Pandora – The World of Avatar, which three years ago this week officially welcomed guests inside Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort for the first time. And as you may imagine, the story behind this lush, awe-inspiring place goes back … quite a bit further. To tell that tale, we brought together two of the lead creative partners responsible for developing the land: Joe Rohde, portfolio creative executive for Walt Disney Imagineering, and Jon Landau, producer of “Avatar” and its sequels. These two visionaries assembled a team of thousands to turn a wondrous cinematic digital world into a complete physical environment that inspires and thrills. I have a great level of respect and admiration for the creativity and the commitment to design that both Joe and Jon have brought to the entertainment industry through the years. Pandora – The World of Avatar is a wonder of our world and has truly ushered in a new era of immersive storytelling at Walt Disney World Resort. As you listen to Joe and Jon, you’ll learn how Pandora – The World of Avatar meshes with Disney’s Animal Kingdom. You’ll hear them discuss the similarities between developing a themed environment and a major motion picture. And you’ll gain an understanding of how the stories of the film, the land and the park complement one another. I’m so excited to share this #DisneyMagicMoment with you, I feel like I could … uh … fly. Enjoy! For more #DisneyMagicMoments like this in the future, keep checking back with us here at the Disney Parks Blog. View the full article

Return to roller coasters reveals new fears, old-school screams View the full article

The times they are a-changin’ for Disney resorts, and now there’s a new potential change to be thinking about. Contemporary Arcade Gamers, listen up! The global health crisis has had widespread effects on everything from your dining menu to the way you shop around stores and now it seems that another facet of entertainment is taking a hit. Health measures and concerns have started to have an effect on the arcade game industry — and this could affect Disney World following its reopening. Let’s take a look! What’s happening with arcade games? According to WESH-2 in Florida, the future of arcade games is uncertain thanks to the health crisis. In fact, businesses around the country have been putting in calls to have the machines picked up by the warehouses that rent out the games. Some have expressed uncertainty about when and if these rentals will go back out. Extra seating during End Zone refurbishment in the arcade Essentially, arcade games can get in the way of new health measures that businesses are implementing. They are high-touch surfaces so arcade staff would need to wipe down machines after each use, which may not be feasible in a highly-automated arcade setting. Many are opting to forgo the arcade concept altogether during this time. Contemporary Resort Arcade For restaurant/arcade concepts, games can also take up valuable space that locations need to properly distance tables. So the crisis is definitely affecting the way that arcades run — but how will we see this reflected in Disney World? Click here to read about some of the changes we’re seeing in a partially reopened Disney World! How could this affect Disney World? Many resorts on Disney property offer small arcades. There are 20 arcades spread out among the Disney World resorts and all of them contain potentially-rented, high-touch games. As we’ve seen with other arcades affected, the ones in Disney World might not be exempt for new guidelines. Arcade Area On one hand, we probably won’t see games pulled to make room for more space. There aren’t any restaurant/arcade models in Disney World so they probably won’t be affected by distancing measures. Still, we have seen arcades used for extra space in the past during refurbishments so it isn’t completely impossible that these spaces may be used. Even if the arcades are not used for space, Disney may keep the arcades closed initially to reduce health concerns. When and if they do open, we may see increased cleaning protocols between use for the machines. Contemporary Resort Arcade NOTE that Disney has not confirmed that arcades will be affected by their current policies. As we wait for more information about the Disney World hotel reopenings, we’ll keep you updated! Arcades are a great option for kids during your resort day so the option may be more limited in the future. Plus, if you were dead set on setting a new Pac-Man record during your resort day, you might want to make other plans just in case. For more information on Disney World’s reopening click here! Do you think the Disney arcades will change? Share your thoughts in the comments! Related posts: News! Florida Aquarium Plans to Re-Open Next Week! How Do Their Re-Opening Policies Compare to Disney World’s? Shanghai Disneyland Is Already Making Progress Less Than Two Weeks After Reopening! How Reopening Theme Parks Could Mean LESS Profit For Disney View the full article

Following this week’s big news about the reopening of Walt Disney World Resort, Ryan Seacrest and Kelly Ripa, hosts of “Live with Kelly and Ryan,” updated viewers on some of the health and safety precautions coming to the Resort – and shared a touch of their own Disney magic! During the show, Kelly and Ryan reminisced about their first magical Disney parks memories as children before offering the audience an up-close look at a few of the new face masks. As we shared earlier, the non-medical, reusable cloth face masks feature favorite Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars characters and can be found at ShopDisney.com. Disney is donating one million masks for children and families in underserved and vulnerable communities across the U.S., including California and Florida. Be sure to visit the Disney Parks Blog for more updates on the Walt Disney World Resort. And check your local listings to see when you can watch Live with Kelly and Ryan every weekday morning View the full article

The past few days have revealed a lot of information in light of Walt Disney World’s proposed reopening starting with Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom on July 11th followed by Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT on July 15th. Walt Disney World Annual Passholder In order to promote physical distancing as part of the new safety measures upon reopening, the parks (as well as restaurants within the Resort, among other venues) will reopen with limited guest capacity. And Disney is beginning to send out communications to Annual Passholders about changes being put into place that will help implement these measures. Walt Disney World Annual Passholders will want to be on the lookout for an e-mail communication from the Resort regarding the upcoming required theme park reservation system and other recent updates concerning future visits that were revealed just yesterday. Email Update screenshot The message addresses that the new measures have required the cancellation of existing FastPass+ selections and Advance Dining Reservations and experiences. (You can read more about FastPass+ cancellations here, and Dining Reservations here.) The message goes on to say that “because you have valid Theme Park admission, you will have access to the Theme Park reservation system before new tickets are sold to other Guests.” (Note that — depending on your currently booked experiences — the phrasing in your message may vary slightly, if you are a recipient.) Annual Passholder Email screenshot Recipients are also advised that there is no action they need to take at this time, and that Disney will be contacting them “soon” with details on the new reservation system. We will be keeping you posted as this story develops and more details are revealed. And to read more about the reopening of Walt Disney World, you may visit any of the links below. Have you received an email from Disney regarding the latest updates? Please let us know with a comment. Related posts: NEWS! Walt Disney World to Utilize Guest Reservation System Upon Reopening Theme Parks Three Tips You NEED to Master Disney World’s FastPass+ Tiers in 2020 Here’s What Disney World Will Refund During the Resort’s Closure View the full article

We have a major question about the reopening of Disney World — and some ideas about how it might play out! Walt Disney World’s Epcot While the Disney World parks remain closed, the resort has taken its first step towards resuming operations with the phased reopening of Disney Springs on May 20th. We can look at the reopening of Disney Springs, as well as Shanghai Disneyland, for an idea of what to expect when the Disney World parks welcome back guests. But we have one HUGE question for which Disney hasn’t yet set a precedent. Here’s What We’ve Learned So Far We have several models to reference for a picture of what it may look like inside the reopened parks. There are some standard procedures that we’ve seen in the reopenings of Shanghai Disneyland, Disney Springs, and Universal CityWalk. Each of these locations has implemented safety measures including temperature checks, required face coverings, limited hours and offerings, and social distancing. So, we expect to see these precautions when the Disney World parks reopen as well. ©ShanghaiDisneylandResort on Instagram But even though we have somewhat of an idea of what the INSIDE of the parks might look like, we still have one major question about the reopening of Disney World. Read more about the Disney Springs reopening safety measures here! What About Transportation?? With many vacationers flying in from out of state, transportation is a huge part of the guest experience at Disney World. In fact, sometimes Disney transportation is unavoidable. Monorail With so many guests reliant on Disney transportation, that often leads to enclosed spaces packed tight with people. As a part of their proposed reopening plan, Disney noted that we may see modifications to the way that transportation is run. According to WDWMagic.com, Disney World will be offering limited transportation services such as the monorail and Friendship ferryboats. So, how will Disney address these limitations? Let’s take a look at the different forms of available transportation, along with potential solutions. Buses Disney buses are one of the primary modes of transportation around property, especially for hotel guests. And if you’ve ever been on one of these buses around park open or close, you’ve probably experienced just how many people they can pack in. So, with the importance of distance, how would the buses operate? Minnie Bus Well, let’s take a look at how other bus systems have adapted. According to the BBC, the buses in London have reduced capacity to 13-15% of their normal number of passengers. The largest, double-length Disney buses can typically carry over 100 passengers, so, in theory, this would need to be reduced to about 15 passengers per bus if Disney were to follow the same reduced capacity measures. Aladdin Bus Wrap The CDC has also recommended that bus drivers take precautions in order to ensure their safety. In addition to requiring both the passengers and driver to wear a mask, it’s also suggested that passengers enter and exit through a rear door, and that hand sanitizer be made readily available. Travel-Size Hand Sanitizer So, based on the precedent set by other bus operations and recommendations from the CDC, if Disney bus service is made available, they would need to greatly reduce capacity, change the loading and unloading procedure, and sanitize regularly. Monorail While buses might be more widely used, the Monorail is certainly an iconic form of Disney transportation. But similar to the issues with buses, the Monorail is often incredibly crowded, with little ventilation. So, what changes might we see to Monorail transportation? Monorail at Disney World We can look at the adjustments made to train and subway systems for some potential clues. In New York City, the subway service is suspended from 1 AM to 5 AM to allow for deep cleaning, and even daytime service is reduced to 25%. In 2016, Orlando Sentinal reported that the Disney World Monorail carries roughly 150,000 guests per day. If capacity were limited to 25%, that would be only 37,500 guests per day. Walt Disney World Monorail Luckily, sanitation could be done at night when the monorail isn’t already running, so that should not cut into the amount of guests who can be transported. Also, given the importance of distance (and the size of each Monorail compartment), Disney could place each party in their own compartment. Skyliner In theory, it would be easier to implement health and safety measures on the Disney Skyliner than other forms of transportation. Since each gondola can only hold up to ten guests, Cast Members could seat one party per gondola. Also, the windows on the gondola allow for airflow and ventilation. Disney Skyliner But, if the Skyliner gondolas must be sanitized after each party, we could see the line running much slower to give Cast Members the time to wipe down the surfaces. Depending on how much slower they would need to run, this could become uncomfortable for guests suspended in the air for an extended period of time. There’s still a major question as to how/if Disney will sanitize transportation compartments between riders on the Skyliner and Monorail. Boats There are also several boats that transport guests around Disney property, including the ferryboats that travel between the Transportation and Ticket Center and the Magic Kingdom, and the Friendship boats which connect Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Epcot, Magic Kingdom, and Disney Springs to surrounding resorts. Friendship Boat Transportation Cards Most of the boats have better ventilation than the buses and Monorail — some of them are even open-air. So, while guest distancing would still need to be practiced with staggered seating (or standing, in the case of the ferryboat), in theory, the boats should provide a safer travel environment than enclosed forms of transportation. Friendship Boat As with the other forms of transportation, services would need to be reduced to allow for regular sanitization and cleaning, and capacity would likely be limited, resulting in possibly longer wait times. Minnie Vans While this isn’t a free form of Disney transportation, Minnie Vans allow guests to request a rideshare service within Disney World property or between Disney World property and the Orlando International Airport or Port Canaveral. The service is run through the Lyft app, but all Minnie Vans are driven by Disney Cast Members. Minnie Vans don’t come cheap, but we could see more guests opt to utilize them if other transportation changes cause extended delays. This form of transportation has built-in social distancing since guests pay for a private ride. New Minnie Vans Driver Costume As reported by CNBC, Uber has recently started requiring that all drivers and passengers wear masks, and it’s likely that Minnie Van drivers and passengers would need to wear masks as well. In addition, the vehicles would need to be regularly sanitized between parties. Click here to learn more about Disney’s Minnie Van service Walking While many of the Disney World hotels require some form of transportation to get to the parks, there are a few that guests are able to walk directly to the parks! There’s a path from Disney’s Contemporary Resort to the Magic Kingdom and resort guests can walk to the park in five or ten minutes. And guests at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort, and Disney’s Yacht Club Resort all have access to walking paths directly to Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. What appears to be a walkway connecting Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa to the Magic Kingdom was under construction pre-closure. If completed, it would allow guests at the Grand Floridian and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort to be able to walk to the Magic Kingdom as well. Disney’s Boardwalk All of the resorts that do have access to a walking path directly to one of the parks are on the pricy side. But guests who are able to stay in one of these resorts can bypass Disney transportation all together — for certain parks at least! Click here to see Bob Chapek’s comments about Disney World’s reopening here Now that the first steps are being taken towards reopening theme parks, we are starting to get a picture of what operations in the park might look like. But given Disney World’s unique transportation needs, we’re waiting to see how buses, boats, the Monorail, and the Skyliner might change! And based on the precedent set by other transportation systems around the world, some of these are set up for success more than others. Which form of Disney transportation would you feel most comfortable using? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: News: Celebrate Mickey’s Birthday with Special Disney World Treats This Weekend Only! DFB Video: How to Master the Disney Dining Plan MORE Fall Snacking FUN Around Walt Disney World! View the full article

Disney Plus review: ‘Ichabod and Mr. Toad’ bring Sleepy Hollow, British tale to screen View the full article

We just learned that Disney World is temporarily suspending FastPass+ reservations, canceling existing Dining Reservations and Disney Dining Plans, and halting Extra Magic Hours once the parks reopen on the proposed mid-July date. Magic Kingdom And now, we noticed a quiet change to the language pertaining to who will be required to wear masks at the parks upon their reopening. Until now, Disney had stated that guests aged three and up would be required to wear face coverings at all times when visiting the parks. Now, we’ve spotted that Disney has altered its language to state that guests aged two and up will be required to wear a mask when visiting Disney World. Update Mask Requirements ©Disney Disney has not released any further information about this change at this time. We’ll update you as we learn more. Click here to learn more about required face masks at Disney World What do you think of this change to who has to wear masks in Disney World? Let us know in the comments. Related posts: PHOTOS: Disney World’s NEW Health Measures — Face Coverings, Distancing Signs, and MORE This Is the ONE Place We Found Masks For Sale in Disney World Today Updated! We’re Answering ALL Your Questions About the Reopening of Disney Springs! View the full article

We just shared the news that Disney will temporarily suspend FastPass+ and has canceled all FastPass+ reservations. Haunted Mansion This announcement was made out of the need for “additional queue space to manage capacity at our attractions and maintain physical distancing,” per Disney’s announcement. This is all in preparation for Disney’s proposed reopening, set to take place mid-July. If you go on the My Disney Experience app, you’ll notice that the FastPass+ feature has been removed. My Disney Experience While Disney has also canceled all dining reservations and Disney Dining Plans through the end of the year, at this time, the Reserve Dining function still appears on the app. It currently does not load the dining reservations, rather it points guests to the main Disney World website. Guests will be able to rebook dining at a later date. This is a developing story and we will continue to provide updates! Read more about Disney temporarily suspending FastPass+ here! Do you have an upcoming vacation booked at Disney World with impacted FastPass+ reservations? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Updated: NEWS! Disney World Guests’ FastPasses Are Disappearing in July — Even AFTER the Reopening Date 4 Important Tips You Haven’t Heard…But Need To Know…For Your Next Disney Vacation! Are You Sure You’re Choosing The Right FastPasses? Here’s What You’re NOT Thinking About. View the full article

Disney just announced a series of significant announcements that will have an impact on guests with 2020 arrivals. Already, we have heard about Disney’s plans to implement and advance reservation system for guests to access the parks. Magic Kingdom With Disney World intent on opening in mid-July, Disney has needed to adjust to fit the new health and safety protocols in place, which have included the cancellation of dining reservations, Disney Dining Plan packages, suspending FastPass+ and canceling all FastPass+ reservations. We saw some suspicious activity on Disney’s website over the past 24 hours or so, and now we know why. Disney has also announced that upon reopening, they will temporarily suspend Extra Magic Hours. There is no further information at this time for how long this suspension will last. © Disney In a statement made on Disney Parks Blog, Disney stressed that these decisions reflect the “guidance from health authorities and appropriate government agencies.” This is a developing story and we will continue to provide updates as they are announced. Read more about Disney canceling Advance Dining Reservations here Do you currently have a 2020 reservation and have been impacted by these recent announcements? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: What Are You Waiting For? It’s Your Last Chance To Snag Walt Disney World 2020 FREE DINING! 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

Disney World pulls plug on FastPass, cancels dining reservations as it reboots for reopening. Walt Disney World is moving forward in its preparations for reopening its theme parks by suspending its FastPass+ reservation system and by canceling all of its dining reservations for the rest of the year, the resort said Thursday. A driver amid these changes is the reduced capacity planned for its four theme parks and a new system in which park-goers will be required to secure date-specific reservations before going to the parks. On Wednesday, Disney World released its plans for a phased reopening beginning with Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom on July 11, followed by Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on July 15. The attractions have been closed since mid-March amid the coronavirus pandemic. Disney’s proposals are pending state approval. Among the changes announced Thursday: · All existing dining reservations and experience bookings, including Disney dining plans included in packages, are canceled through the end of 2020. New ones — in smaller numbers — will be able to made closer to when the parks reopen, and the booking window will shift from 180 days to 60 days. · FastPass+, which provides reservations for rides, shows and other experiences for park visitors, is being suspended. Disney will use that queue space to manage capacity at its attractions and keep the recommended physical distancing between parties. · Extra Magic Hours, a benefit for Disney hotel guests that allows them to stay in the parks later or go in earlier on select days, will be temporarily suspended at the time of the reopening. · The company has stopped, temporarily, the sale of new tickets and the taking of new Disney hotel reservations. Existing ticket holders and Disney World’s annual passholders will be allowed to make theme-park reservations before new tickets are sold again. The company has established a new “Know Before You Go” web page at DisneyWorld.com/Updates for the latest news on operations, including details on how to change plans. Other Central Florida attractions also are planning their reopenings. Legoland Florida opens to the public on June 1, followed by Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios and Volcano Bay parks on June 5. SeaWorld Orlando has proposed reopening on June 11. Disney Springs, the company’s retail and dining complex, began a partial reopening on May 20. View the full article

Disney World announced yesterday that they are planning to reopen July 11th beginning with Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. They then plan to reopen Epcot on Hollywood Studios beginning July 15th. Mickey Balloons When Disney announced their proposed reopening date, they also mentioned that they would be rolling out a brand NEW reservation system and that in order to accommodate guests with existing reservations, new hotel reservations and tickets would not be available at this time. Now, Disney has shared some more information regarding this new reservation system. According to Disney, Guests with existing Resort reservations will have priority access to the new park reservation system when it becomes available. Additionally, when reservations for dining and other experiences resume, Guests who had existing reservations will receive priority access to rebook. Keep in mind, for dining locations within our parks, Guests will need a park reservation and valid admission before they can rebook dining and experiences.” Magic Kingdom This is just one of many bits of information that Disney has released regarding the parks reopening. They are also suspending FastPass+ and canceling the Disney Dining Plan and existing Dining reservations. We will continue to keep you updated as Disney released more information regarding this new reservation system. Do you have an existing reservation? Let us know in the comments below. Related posts: Analyst Predicts Disney World Could Reopen in Late July Photos! Magic Kingdom’s TRON Coaster is Starting to Take Shape! Disney’s Mischievous Stitch-on-the-Shelf Is BACK This Holiday Season! View the full article

Following our earlier observation that dining reservations and the Disney Dining Plan were unable to be booked at this time, we now have some more details to share. Mickey Pretzel! It looks like guests planning to visit after Disney World’s reopening will NOT be permitted to have a Disney Dining Plan, among other big changes! According to Disney, “we have made the difficult decision to cancel all existing dining reservations and experience bookings, including Disney dining plans included in packages, through the end of the year.” DOLE WHIP! Additionally, Disney stated, “We will reopen dining and experience bookings with more limited numbers closer to when the parks reopen. We will also shift from a 180-day booking window to a 60-day booking window for dining and experience bookings going forward to allow Guests to make their plans closer to their visits.” ©Disney Note that the statement from Disney specifies impacted reservations will be from May 28th, 2020 all the way to Sepetmber26th, 2021. It’s unclear at this time if this is the actual end date or a typo from Disney. Disney Parks Blog specifies this will impact guests, “through the end of the year.” We’ll update as we learn more. If guests were recipients of the Free Disney World Dining Plan offered to guests impacted by the closure, their plans will be canceled as well and they will have the option to rebook at a later date with a hefty 35% room discount. Guests who hold a resort reservation or a canceled dining reservation will be given priority rebooking once that is announced. We’ll update this story as we learn more. What do you think of these cancellations? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Here’s How To Score Disney World Free Dining in 2020! Disney World Just Released a NEW Disney Dining Plan Plus Option! Is It a GAME CHANGER? Get All the Details Here! NEWS! PRIVATE DISNEY WORLD FREE DINING OFFER For Guests With Reservations Affected By The Closure View the full article

Yesterday, Disney announced their plan to reopen Disney World beginning July 11th with Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. They then plan to reopen Hollywood Studios and Epcot beginning July 15th. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Many changes have been announced as part of Disney World’s reopening plan. For starters, they have suspended new hotel reservations and ticket sales as they roll out a brand new reservation system. Now, they have made a HUGE update regarding FastPass+. According to Disney, due to the current health situation, “the FastPass+ service will be suspended for the time being as we plan to use additional queue space to manage capacity at our attraction and maintain physical distancing. We will automatically cancel existing FastPass+ selections and share any future updates on the service at a later date.” ©Disney Extra Magic Hours will be suspended for the time being as well. We have MANY more updates that Disney has released regarding the Disney Dining Plan and MORE. So be on the lookout. Related posts: Breaking News! Disney World Begins A Phased Reopening on May 20th With Disney Springs Updated: NEWS! Disney World Guests’ FastPasses Are Disappearing in July — Even AFTER the Reopening Date Behind the Scenes Look at Some of the NEW Holiday Puppets Coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom! View the full article

In case you missed it, this week we shared some big news about Walt Disney World Resort, including plans to welcome guests back to the theme parks as part of a phased reopening beginning July 11, pending state approval. We know many of you are excited to return to the magic and make new memories with your family, friends and loved ones. As we previously shared, as we take these next steps forward, we are introducing enhanced health and safety measures reflecting guidance from health authorities and appropriate government agencies. 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. Here’s some important information to help you plan ahead: New Ticket Sales and Hotel Reservations: At this time, we are temporarily pausing new ticket sales and Disney Resort hotel reservations so we can focus on guests with existing tickets and reservations. Existing ticket holders and Annual Passholders will be able to make a theme park reservation before new tickets are sold; we will be reaching out to these guests soon to provide additional details. We will resume new sales of tickets and Disney Resort hotel reservations after that period of time. Theme park reservations will be limited due to attendance limitations and will be subject to availability. Dining and Experiences: In order to foster physical distancing during this time, upon reopening, our offerings, restaurants and other experiences such as behind-the-scenes tours will be limited in capacity, and other experiences may remain closed. As a result of limited capacity, we have made the difficult decision to cancel all existing dining reservations and experience bookings, including Disney dining plans included in packages, through the end of the year. We will reopen dining and experience bookings with more limited numbers closer to when the parks reopen. We will also shift from a 180-day booking window to a 60-day booking window for dining and experience bookings going forward to allow Guests to make their plans closer to their visits.FastPass+ and Extra Magic Hours: As a result of the COVID-19 impact, the FastPass+ service will be suspended for the time being as we plan to use additional queue space to manage capacity at our attractions and maintain physical distancing. We will automatically cancel existing FastPass+ selections and share any future updates on the service at a later date. Also, please note that upon reopening, Extra Magic Hours will be temporarily suspended. We are reaching out to guests affected by these updates with additional information and details on options, including refunds. We understand how much excitement, thought and time goes into planning a Disney vacation and realize some of these changes may be disappointing. Please know we will be here to help you, as we remain focused on delivering a wonderful experience for everyone who visits. You can visit a new “Know Before You Go” hub at DisneyWorld.com/Updates, where you can find the latest updates on our operations and offerings, including details on how to modify your plans. If you booked through a third-party, we recommend you reach out directly to your travel professional or ticket seller. We appreciate your ongoing patience and understanding as we continue to keep the well-being of guests and cast members in mind. Stay tuned for more information over the next few weeks on how to use the theme park reservation system and other tips to be aware of prior to your visit. View the full article

Here’s What You Need to Know About the Phased Reopening of Disney Springs View the full article

Now there are even more ways to take advantage of Mobile Order at Disney World! D-Luxe Burger For years, Mobile Order has allowed guests to use the My Disney Experience app to pre-order and pre-pay for their food at select quick-service locations. Yesterday, we shared that they had added a new pick-up time feature to Mobile Order. Now, they have added new payment options. Guests now also have the option to pay with Apple Pay, Disney Gift Card, or a Disney Reward Card! For guests with Apple Pay set up on their mobile device, they will see the option to use Apple Pay on their order summary page. Mobile Order Summary Page with Option to Pay by Apple Pay By continuing to Checkout, you’ll also see the option to pay by Disney Gift Card or Disney Rewards Redemption Card! Mobile Order Payment Options By clicking on the “Add a Card” link within the Disney Gift Card section, guests can then select which type of card they’d like to enter. Add a Disney Gift Card in Mobile Order Note that only one Disney Gift Card or Disney Rewards Redemption Card can be applied per order. We love using Mobile Order to bypass long lines at quick-service dining locations, so we’re excited to see there are even more ways to take advantage of this feature! With the parks looking to reopen in July, they have mentioned that they will be pushing for contactless payments and Mobile Order is one easy way to do that. We will continue to keep you updated as new changes are implemented around Disney World! Click here for more information about Mobile Order in Disney World! Have you used Mobile Order in Disney World? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Disney World Mobile Order Offers Food Allergy-Friendly Ordering Updates to Mobile Order Now Live on My Disney Experience App NEWS: Mobile Order Is Getting an AWESOME Change in Disney World (And We Are SO Here for It)! View the full article

Yesterday, Disney World shared that they plan to reopen Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom July 11th followed by Epcot and Hollywood Studios on July 15th. Palm Trees Today, in a press conference, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings provided updates on the reopening of businesses and theme parks. Mayor Demings began the conference by addressing the fact that hurricane season begins this Monday, June 1st. He acknowledged that this could cause further complexities to other health and reopening initiatives in the future. Rainy Day in Disney World See why Hurricane Season could be EXTRA active this year here! Demings also noted that both SeaWorld and Disney World submitted reopening proposals yesterday. He has submitted letters of endorsement for both and is awaiting a response from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Walt Disney World Mayor Demings said that in the last hour, he has heard that 12 smaller theme park reopening plans had been approved, and he suspects Governor DeSantis will get back to him “soon” regarding the larger theme parks. Cinderella Castle and Main Street USA in Disney World Mayor Demings also addressed a question about how they will balance safety with the need for business in an economy dependent on tourism. He said that tourist attractions will reopen with reduced capacity and increased sanitation measures, and noted that the theme parks will “look drastically different.” See what Disney has said about their new reopening procedures here! He also said that multiple organizations could be involved in maintaining compliance, including the Department of Health, Department of Business Regulations, local law enforcement, and more. Animal Kingdom Entrance We’ll continue to keep a close eye out for any updates from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis regarding approval of the reopening proposals put forth by Disney World and SeaWorld. And we will keep sharing news and information regarding new Disney World processes and regulations as they are released. Click here to learn more about Disney World’s reopening proposal! Which Disney park are you most excited to visit upon reopening? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Why Disney World Could Be Very DIFFERENT When It Reopens NEWS: Walt Disney World Website States Attractions and More “May Be Modified” And Capacity Limited Upon Reopening Theme Park “Health Ambassador” and Standardizing Among Ideas Discussed in Florida’s Orange County Economic Recovery Task Force Meeting View the full article

Once upon a time, we found these adorable princess journals! World of Disney Now that World of Disney is officially reopened in Disney Springs, we’ve been popping in to see what merchandise is available. And we’ve found several things to add to our wish list! We spotted some beautiful princess journals (which we’ve previously reported on) in World of Disney, and it’s the first time we’ve seen them available in-store! First, let’s take a look at the Cinderella journal — check out the gorgeous detail on the front cover and clasp! Cinderella Journal An inscription inside the journal provides a backstory about the artwork contained before the lined pages of the journal. Cinderella Journal The front of the journal includes the story of Cinderella, complete with illustrations. Cinderella Journal And here’s a peek at the lined pages of the journal where you can write your own fairy tale! Cinderella Journal And we also saw a Sleeping Beauty journal that paid homage to Princess Aurora! The cover is incredibly ornate, with tons of sparkly jewels! Sleeping Beauty Journal This journal also starts with artwork that tells the story of Sleeping Beauty. Sleeping Beauty Journal And, of course, there are lined pages for you to fill with your own princess musings! Sleeping Beauty Journal Both of these journals were priced at $29.99, and they would make a great addition to any princess fan’s collection! Seriously, we can’t get over those GORGEOUS details on the covers! Click here to learn more about the super busy reopening of World of Disney! What Disney merchandise are you most excited to buy at World of Disney? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: What’s New at Disney Springs: The Lightfloat, More ABC Disney Merch, and the Return of the Avengers! The Grand Reopening of the World of Disney Store in Disney Springs! Peace, Love, and Tie-Dye! You’ve Gotta See These Rainbow Merch Items in Disney World! View the full article

Only moments ago we told you Cookes of Dublin would be reopening on June 3rd at high noon! Raglan Road And we included a little teaser about Raglan Road’s possible reopening date! Well, we can’t hold it in any longer! Raglan Road confirmed for us a while back they wouldn’t be among the first group of restaurants to reopen in Disney Springs, but now they’ve just confirmed they’re gearing up to reopen in Disney Springs on June 10th at 4PM! Photo c/o Raglan Road’s Twitter Account More details will be provided soon including whether or not we can expect to see some Irish dancing and live music! We’ll be sure to pass that info along to you as soon as Raglan Road gives us the full scoop! Maca at The Great Irish Hooley Until Raglan Road reopens next month, don’t forget you watch performances on its live stream channel — learn more details here! See what other Disney Springs restaurant with a music venue will be reopening soon here! Are you excited that Raglan Road is reopening? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: We Officially Have Reopening Date for Cookes of Dublin in Disney World Review! We’re Dining at T-Rex in Disney World, But Will Our Meal Be Dino-MITE?? Did Your Favorite Disney Springs Meal Survive These Menu Changes? View the full article

We’re out here at Disney Springs today working up an appetite like some kind of Paleozoic predator, which can only mean ONE THING! T-Rex It’s time to eat (or be eaten ourselves?!) at T-Rex — where our next prehistoric dining adventure AWAITS! If you haven’t been to T-Rex in Disney Springs before, you’re in for a brontosaurus-sized bounty of riches! Not only is this place known for its over-the-top theming (à la Rainforest Cafe), but did we happen to mention there are DINOSAURS and ice caverns inside? I mean, c’mon! It doesn’t get much cooler than THAT! T-Rex While T-Rex reopened last week along with several other third-party locations, we’ve been making the rounds to as many Disney Springs restaurants as possible to see what health and safety measures they’ve implemented. In fact, you can see for yourself what our firsthand experience has been like dining at several recently reopened Disney Springs restaurants over the last few days here! Welcome Back Sign at T-Rex We had previously seen some guests lined up in front of T-Rex waiting for the restaurant to open, but today there was a 10-minute wait! We noticed T-Rex’s gift shop was also open for business! See what our first day back at Disney Springs was like here! T-Rex’s Gift Shop Normally, we have some time to play with the Build-A-Dinos until our pager goes off and its time to be seated, but that wasn’t the case today. Our hostess simply called out our name instead of handing us a pager. Build-A-Dino at T-Rex On our way to the table, the hostess mentioned T-Rex is still getting set up and is operating with a smaller staff for now. Atmosphere Inside T-Rex’s dining room, it can feel a little Cave of Wonder-y at times. Photos don’t really do the place justice (and have a certain way of not really turning out due to the dramatic lighting effects). Our advice is to just soak it all in and not rely on just capturing it all on film! Oh look — a wooly mammoth! Atmosphere at T-Rex The lighting drastically changes from time to time depending on where you’re seated. This angry-looking red color seemed to signify some type of impending doom like a volcanic eruption or another cataclysmic event. Either way — none of the dinos really seem to mind! They’re just happy doing their thang! T-Rex We happen to love the look of T-Rex’s bar which looks like a giant sea monster has overtaken it! T-Rex And how sweet are these jellyfish-looking light fixtures? How great would these things look in our caves, I mean homes! T-Rex Parties were being distanced several tables apart when we stopped by. T-Rex If you’re not coming to T-Rex for the atmosphere, consider asking to be seated outside the cave. Otherwise, almost everything you eat or drink will become the exact same color (bright blue or warm red). If you’re wondering, yes we found this out the hard way. Menu We noticed the restaurant has switched over to single-use paper menus, a more common and popular option at Disney Springs these days. Paper Menus at T-Rex We ALSO noticed T-Rex was still offering its souvenir glassware that are included with the purchase of several drink options including one of our longtime favorite cocktails, the Cotton Tini! Paper Menus at T-Rex Drink Cotton Tini: think cotton candy meets alcohol — plus you get to keep the cute plastic T-Rex shaker your server pours it from! The drink is extremely sweet and SUPER popular at T-Rex. It’s made from Svedka vodka, flavored DeKuyper Sour Apple Pucker Schnapps, and a splash of sweet and sour mix. Cotton Tini Then it’s shaken with ice and poured tableside over a fluffy cloud of cotton candy. Cotton Tini Not a bad drink AND a keepsake for $12! To us, it tasted tart and JUICY! Food We ordered the vegetarian (or should we say herbivore) Grain Bowl along with a Paleozoic Chicken Sandwich. While waiting for our food to arrive, the server brought us a paper napkin with regular silverware rolled up inside. She also asked us if we needed any condiments since they aren’t keeping stuff like salt, pepper, or ketchup out on the tables. Our Grain Bowl was the first to arrive featuring barley, wheat berries, wild rice, red and white Quinoa, and oven-roasted vegetables tossed with a citrus vinaigrette for $18.99. You can also get it with chicken for $21.99 or shrimp for $22.99. Grain Bowl We gotta say, not a whole lotta flavor going on here but we were expecting this meal to be much more subtle and lighter than a lot of the rich stuff we’d been devouring lately (it’s hard to compete with BEER CHEESE). The veggies tasted crisp and fresh so if you’re in the mood for some a lighter option, this guy’s a good-but-less-exciting option. Grain Bowl Next, we dove into our Paleozoic Chicken Sandwich. For $18.99, it included a marinated chicken breast, candied applewood-smoked bacon, swiss, lettuce, tomato, pesto mayo, and artisanal sourdough served with seasoned fries. Paleozoic Chicken Sandwich This was a really solid chicken sandwich for us. Although the bacon didn’t really look candied, its sweet and salty porky flavor really shined through. The portion was a nice size too! We were definitely going to require a “dino bag” to take our leftovers home with us! We thought the french fries were super yummy too with just the right amount of seasoning. Paleozoic Chicken Sandwich For a sweet end to our dino meal, we ordered the Cosmic Key Lime Pie for $9.99. Cosmic Key Lime Pie It was made with a graham cracker crust, key lime filling, raspberry sauce, and whipped topping. The tartness from the key lime paired really well with what was left of our Cotton Tini! We could have used a little more graham cracker crust and whipped topping, though! Cosmic Key Lime Pie At the end of our meal, the server returned with our souvenir martini shaker which she had rinsed out for us and we said our goodbyes to our dining companion, the wooly mammoth! Nost or Not? Give T-Rex a Shot if: You love dinos, especially the Dinosaur ride and Donald’s Dino-Bash at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! You have a crowd of carnivores and herbivores palettes to please in your dining party (the menu has a wide array of special dietary offerings). You like big jellyfish and you cannot LIE — seriously, this place is a total HOOT and we can’t believe we’ve stayed away SO LONG! T-Rex Run Away From T-Rex Like Prey if: You don’t enjoy themed interactive dining “experiences” (your idea of a restaurant is just a place to CHOW DOWN!) or don’t want to pay higher prices for the atmosphere. You need somewhere quieter and more “normal” to relax and unwind after a long day at the parks– the dino sound effects and thematic noises can be a bit much for someone already close to the verge of extinction. You want some more exciting food options — most of T-Rex’s fare is pretty safe and standard. More adventurous eaters may prefer to eat elsewhere. Overall While there are many exciting dining options to try at Disney Springs, T-Rex might not be the most obvious choice, but it’s a solid dino two-thumbs-up from us (do they have thumbs?), especially if you have some little paleontologists in the making! Even adults can’t help but smile when confronted by some of these larger-than-life dino buddies. The food can be tasty (depending on what you get, Grain Bowls — not so much), and the crazy-fun atmosphere and Cotton Tinis might be the real reason people seem to keep coming back to T-Rex! T-Rex in Disney Springs We’ve enjoyed our time at T-Rex today, but now we better get back to the future to see what other foods we can forage up! In fact, we recently spotted some unsuspecting Mickey Pretzels and other Disney parks treats at nearby Disney Springs watering hole which you can learn more about HERE! Check out where else we ate in Disney Springs today here! Have you ever supped with a wooly mammoth at T-Rex before? Let us know if you have in the comments below! Related posts: The Rubber Duckie Drink RETURNS! We’re Back at The Boathouse in Disney Springs on Reopening Day PHOTOS and TIPS: Our FULL Experience From Reopening Day at Disney Springs News! Earl of Sandwich, Chicken Guy!, and Planet Hollywood in Disney Springs Share New Safety Protocols View the full article