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Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay theme parks reopen June 5 View the full article

Just yesterday, we found out that Universal Orlando had submitted a reopening plan that included an early June opening date. Islands of Adventure Main Entrance From there, the plan had to go through several rounds of approval. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings approved the plan last night. From there, the plan went on for approval from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and apparently it was approved. Universal Orlando just released a statement that Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure, and Universal’s Volcano Bay will open to the public on June 5th. A statement on the Universal Orlando website begins with the phrase “Welcome Back” and goes on to announce the reopening of Universal Orlando theme and water park properties. Health, safety, and hygiene procedures are acknowledged. Universal Orlando Screenshot The company also reminds guests that on top of the new protocols in the theme parks, guests will need to abide by CDC guidelines and the guidance of health officials. They remind that they cannot guarantee that a guest will not be exposed to health risks. Click here to read about Universal Orlando’s reopening proposal. Related posts: Universal Studios Has EXTENDED Its Temporary Closure News! Epic Universe Theme Park Construction Delayed at Universal Orlando Resort Universal Sends Out Surveys About Potential Re-Opening Scenarios View the full article

Shopping and dining is becoming more and more plentiful at Disney Springs in its initial reopening phase. Disney Springs For those looking for a little adventure on their next trip to Disney Springs, there is an attraction currently OPEN and ready for guests! The hot air balloon at Disney Springs, also known as Aerophile, has reopened! Aerophile is flying high in the sky! We noticed that it was still closed when Springs initially reopened on Wednesday, but today we spotted it flying high above Disney Springs so we went to go investigate! Employees said they simply weren’t ready to open Wednesday, but things are up and running now! Aerophile A ride in the balloon is still $20 per guest. There are physical distancing measures in place while you stand in line as well as once you get on the balloon itself. The queue area for Aerophile Parties are kept at a six-foot distance from other parties, and whereas before you were able to roam around the balloon during flight, you are now kept in one designated section on the balloon. Queue area for Aerophile The balloon is wiped down and cleaned after every flight to keep guests and employees safe. Cleaning supplies at Aerophile So if you’ve ever dreamed about getting a bird’s-eye view of Disney World, you can do so once again at Disney Springs. Be sure to check back in as we continue to cover all of the latest developments and openings. Read more about some of the new health and safety measures we’ve seen at Disney Springs here! Have you gone up in the hot air balloon at Disney Springs before? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: NEWS: STK Orlando Joins the List of Disney Springs Locations Reopening on May 20th News! Chicken Guy In Disney Springs Will Reopen on May 20th Three MORE Retail Locations Confirmed to Open on May 20 at Disney Springs View the full article

Disney Springs began a phased reopening on May 20th. A number of third-party stores and restaurants are currently open in Walt Disney World’s shopping and dining district, and select Disney-owned and operated locations will open on May 27th. Paddlefish And now, we have reopening information for two more eateries in Disney Springs, as both Paddlefish and Terralina Crafted Italian have announced their shared reopening date. Paddlefish and Terralina Crafted Italian will welcome back guests starting Friday, May 29th according to their Instagram accounts (which you can follow @terralinacrafteditalian and @paddlefishorl). Terralina Crafted Italian Both will begin with operating hours of 12 PM – 8 PM daily, and encourage guests to make reservations on OpenTable.com. Southern Sangria with a view over the water at Paddlefish Additionally, the locations have shared new safety measures with the reopening announcements. Dining Table at Terralina Crafted Italian Guests will be required to wear a face covering at all times except “when enjoying their meal or sipping on a refreshing cocktail.” Both Paddlefish and Terralina Crafted Italian will also seat guests with regards to physical distancing in compliance with local and state regulations. You can read more about the safety measures being implemented in Disney Springs here. And you may click any of the links below to learn more about the current status of Disney Parks and destinations around the world. Have you dined at Terralina Crafted Italian or Paddlefish in Disney Springs? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: Find Out Which Disney World Restaurants Will Participate in Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining Month in 2019! Treat Mom and Dad to Specialty Entrees on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day in Disney Springs Check Out All The Egg-Cellent Easter Menu Offerings in Disney World! View the full article

Victoria and Albert’s Restaurant is one of Disney Word’s most critically-acclaimed restaurants. It offers some of the finest signature dining restaurants you’ll find on the property and it’s where a lot of guests like to spend some BIG BUCKS! Victoria Room at Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort But while the AAA Five Diamond Award-winning restaurant at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort will already set you back some major moola, it looks the price of the Chef’s Table is about to go up by A LOT! We can say we’ve enjoyed quite a few gourmet meals at Victoria and Albert’s over the years, all of which cost us a pretty penny, but hey, it was worth it! Texas Wild Boar with Elote and Salsa Verde at Victoria and Albert’s Restaurant But as much fun as it is to dine in Victoria and Albert’s luxurious dining room, our favorite seat in the house happens to be in the kitchen! Is there such a thing as too many truffles at Victoria and Albert’s Restaurant? Find out here! Victoria and Albert’s Chef’s Table That’s right — every night one party is seated at the Chef’s Table — located right inside the heart of Victoria and Albert’s bustling kitchen! Not only will you and your guests have a front-row seat of the culinary action happening around you, but you’ll also dine on a special prix fixe meal tailored to your precise food preferences! We hope you saved room for 11 courses of gourmet delights such as caviar, Maine scallops, and Japanese Wagyu beef! Chef Joe prepares Octopus in the Victoria and Albert’s Kitchen Like we said, only one party gets to sit at the Chef’s Table per night and you must reserve it in advance. But let’s get to the cost of this delicious experience. The price of admission is currently $25o per guest — which DOESN’T include any beverages. If you want some wine to go with your fancy Chef’s Table meal (which why wouldn’t you?) be ready to shell out an additional $150 per guest, and that’s just the minimum. Wine pairings only go up from there! (We did get some free bubbly, though!) See if we think dining at Victoria and Albert’s is worth the extra $$$$ here! Complimentary Champagne Toast at Victoria and Albert’s Chef’s Table You can enjoy the chef’s table with a group of up to eight, so if we did our math right — that’s about a final bill of $3,200 before tax and tip. But get this — on August 30th, 2020, the prix fixe meal at the Chef’s Table will increase to $350 per guest! That means if you dine with 8 people, the same meal is going to cost you another $800! We noticed the increase listed on the restaurant’s website. © Victoria and Albert’s Website Not scared away by that hefty price increase? Well, then there are a few more things you should know before you go! Berkshire “Porchetta”at Victoria & Albert’s The incredible Chef’s Table experience normally lasts 3 hours, and while the table seats up to eight guests, you can reserve it for as few as two guests! You can make your reservations for the Chef’s Table at Victoria and Albert’s up to 180 days in advance and everyone in your party must be at least ten years old. Learn from the Chefs at Victoria & Albert’s Chef’s Table There is also a dress code which means your normal jeans and capris aren’t going to cut it! Make sure you pack the appropriate clothes you’ll need for this once-in-a-lifetime dinner! For guys, this means a sport coat, dress pants, and shoes. Ladies may wear dresses, dressy pants, or a skirt and blouse combo — no tennis shoes! Skillfully Prepared Sweet Endings at Victoria & Albert’s The Chef’s Table was already one of the most expensive meals you could find at Disney World, so we’ll be curious to see if guests will think it’s worth the extra $100 upcharge! Here’s to your champagne dreams and caviar wishes coming true on your next trip to Disney World! Click here to read about EVEN MORE insanely expensive stuff at Disney World! Have you ever eaten at Victoria and Albert’s Chef Table? Tell us about your experience in the comments below! Related posts: Review: Is There Such a Thing as TOO MANY Truffles? We Find Out at Victoria and Albert’s in Disney World! Disney Restaurant Review: Is Victoria and Albert’s Worth the $$$? EVERY Place to Celebrate the New Year and Ring in 2020 in Disney World! View the full article

Just yesterday we found out the Universal Orlando intends to open on July 5th. Disneyland Main Entrance Naturally, this has us wondering when Disney parks will seek to reopen (they are set to submit their proposal next week). Today, the Guest Relations team from the domestic parks released a statement about expectations for Disney World and Disneyland. Here’s what they said. The statement posted on Disney Parks Blog, serves as an update to the many Disney guests who are seeking an upcoming Disney vacation. In it, the Guest Relations team explains that there is still much uncertainty about when the Disney parks will reopen, so they have had to periodically adjust the booking window and cancelations. Guest Relations Update Screenshot The team explains that these adjustments are not necessarily the final dates and that changes to booked experiences, park tickets, and park passes may continue to shift in the coming weeks. Just yesterday, guests received emails that vacations through mid-June had been canceled and at this time Disney is accepting new reservations beginning July 1. Cinderella Castle in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom As a reminder, if you have any reservations that need to be changed or canceled, the Guest Relations team will work with you to make sure all of the necessary modifications are made. Stay tuned with DFB as we report in on any more updates from the Disney team. Click here to learn more about the proposed reopening of Universal Orlando. What do you think of this statement? Share your thoughts in the comments. Related posts: One Wall Street Analyst Thinks That Disney World Could Reopen SOON Disney Parks Around the World Say Thanks to Healthcare Workers News! Disney Racks Up $5 Billion More In Credit View the full article

We have another fun lineup of the latest Disney merch to share with you! There’s definitely a wide range of merchandise to shop from. Ahaoka Tano Ear Headband ©shopDisney How wide of a range, you ask? We’re talking everything from skateboard decks to diamond pendant necklaces! There’s surely someone on your shopping list (perhaps yourself!) that can find something they love! It’s been a busy couple of weeks in Disney merchandise! With Star Wars Day, aka “May the Fourth” still in full swing WEEKS later, we’ve seen tons of out-of-this-world merchandise launch online. Let’s De-Brief From May the Fourth! This included the latest in designer Minnie Ears by Her Universe and Baby Yoda mugs that you can personalize with your own name for just $12.99! © Bethany Lane We believe May the Fourth is a celebration to be had all year long, so be sure to stock up on enough Baby Yoda supplies to last you for months to come! Check out the personalized Baby Yoda mugs here! Jam Out To Your Favorite Tunes with “The Child” Oh, and speaking of Baby Yoda – you know we take every opportunity to share the latest in “The Child” merchandise. We came across an itty bitty Baby Yoda Bluetooth speaker for $19.99! © Bitty Boomers So now, no matter where you go, you can carry a pocket-size Baby Yoda with you and the two of you can “rock out” together! Read more about this adorable Baby Yoda speaker here! Stock Up on Your Very Own Disney Face Mask We also saw the pre-order launch for Disney-designed cloth face masks for you to wear when you head out in the world! These come in a ton of cute designs, from classic Disney characters to Star Wars! Disney-themed Cloth Face Masks ©Disney These are currently available for pre-order online with estimated deliveries later this summer! A pack of 4 will cost $19.99, and Disney will donate all profits from the sales of the masks in the United States up to $1 million to Medshare now through September 30, 2020 Read more about the new face masks from Disney here! We’re Still Out Here Collecting All the Latest Disney Parks Merch! Just because the parks are still closed doesn’t mean we can’t scoop up all of our favorite park merchandise! We saw some familiar items appear online like popular Minnie Ears for $29.99, as well as the newest Country Bears Wishables collection, which sold out mighty quick! New Briar Rose Gold Minnie Ears You can strut down the hallway of your home in all your Briar Rose Gold glory when you sport these beauties! Who says you need to be in the parks to wear them? Shop for these dazzling Briar Rose Gold Minnie Ears here! Send Playtime “To Infinity and Beyond” We also found perhaps THE coolest ball pit we’ve ever seen. That’s right, you can actually purchase a Buzz Lightyear-themed BALL PIT online! Toy Story Ball Pit! We like to think we’ve come up with some pretty creative ways to keep us entertained while we all spend more time at home, but never in our wildest dreams could we have imagined an inflatable ball pit for $49.99 complete with the claaaaaaawww. Read more about this incredible ball pit here! Animal Lovers, Get Ready to Splurge on Some New Dooneys! And for all you Dooney collectors out there, the latest collection launched this week online! ©Disney Inspired by the film Bambi, this series features a bunch of our favorite Disney woodland critters! It includes a tote bag for $298 to hold ALL of your essentials as well as this cute wristlet for $158, perfect for the “bear necessities.” Check out the newest Dooney & Bourke collection here! In addition to this massive collection of new Disney swag, we spotted some unique items that we want to share with you here! From moms to skateboarders (LITERALLY), Disney really knows how to cater to a wide clientele! Let’s dive into the full lineup of new merchandise. A Shiny New Bracelet for Mom Mother’s Day may now be behind us, but that doesn’t mean we can’t spoil the special women in our lives all year round! No one needs a date on a calendar to shower mom with some pretty Disney jewelry! © Disney Starting off with this princess bangle bracelet, your mom can sparkle and shine inside AND out. You can grab it today for $30.99. Shop for the princess bangle bracelet here! A Stunning Matching Necklace For the ultimate Disney mom, we found just the right necklace! Your mom can let everyone know simultaneously that A) she’s a cool mom, B) she’s a cool DISNEY mom, and C) she’s a cool, stylish, dazzling Disney mom. © Disney This Mickey Mouse “Mom” Necklace can be found online for $30.99. Pick up this Mickey Mouse Mom Necklace here! A “FaBOWlous” Accessory If the special mom in your life is more of a Minnie gal, don’t worry! We got you covered. © Disney We spotted this adorable Minnie Mouse “FaBOWlous” Necklace (the back of the sparkly pendant reads “Mom, you are FaBOWlous!“) online! It also retails for $30.99. Shop for this FaBOWlous Mom necklace here! For the Most Important Woman in our ‘Ohana’! This next bracelet would make a great gift for that special mom who loves all things Lilo and Stich, or simply loves the idea of ‘Ohana! © Disney This ‘Ohana charm bracelet can be found online for $30.99. Embrace the spirit of Ohana with this charm bracelet! An EXTRA Special Necklace for that Extra Special Someone! If she REALLY loves Lilo and Stitch, go all-out with this beautiful pendant necklace! This one isn’t mom-specific, so any fan can add this to their wardrobe! © Disney This diamond necklace is simply stunning and can be yours for $357.99. Shop for this diamond pendant necklace here! Now’s your chance to become the next Tony Hawk, thanks to Disney and National Geographic! We found a trio of skateboard decks by the brand Element that is sure to bring you some major street cred. We’ve Got our ‘Eye’ on This Skateboard Deck! The first one features a series of animal eyes. We aren’t gonna lie, we’re getting some major Roz vibes looking at this (I’m watching you…always watching…). © Disney This skateboard deck retails for $55.00 online! Pick up this ‘eye’ skateboard deck here! Yellowstone Fans Can Rep Their Favorite National Park! The next skateboard deck features a geyser from Yellowstone National Park! © Disney It also comes with a “clear slick shred bottom.” This skateboard deck is priced at $60.00. Shop for this Yellowstone geyser skateboard deck here! Skate With the Power of the Sun! The third skateboard deck features the National Geographic logo, along with this sweet image of the sun! © Disney You can add this totally rad deck to your collection for $55.00. Channel the power of the sun when you pick up this skateboard deck here! Dress the Part of an Earth-Loving Skateboarder with National Geographic But of course, there’s way more that goes into a signature skateboard look than just the board itself! Complete the look with this fun National Geographic apparel, also by Element! © Disney This t-shirt for men features a satellite image of the earth — pair it with that sun skateboard deck and you’ll practically have your own galaxy! This t-shirt can be yours for $28.00. Shop for this Earth t-shirt here! Bundle Up for Those Chillier Evenings! In case those temperatures start to dip when the sun goes down, layer up with this National Geographic pullover hoodie! © Disney The image of the sun will provide extra warmth (that’s how that works, right?). The hoodie can be yours for $55.00. Gear up with this National Geographic sun pullover hoodie here! Rep Your “Scary” Alma Mater! And are you looking to switch the look up a bit more? Perhaps you’re rocking the National Geographic brand on your skateboard but you also want to show off how much ya LOVE Disney or Pixar! © Disney We found a cute new baseball t-shirt to rep your “alma mater,” Monsters University! You can get this shirt for $36.99. Sport your Monsters U. pride with this baseball shirt! Challenge Yourself to a Fun Puzzle! But wait! There’s more! Moms and skateboarders can come TOGETHER and solve this 3D Castle Puzzle! © Disney If you’re still on the hunt for a stimulating activity to pass the time, this should certainly fill up a weekend! It costs $69.99. Shop for this 3D castle puzzle here! But Wait! There’s More Where That Came From! But why have just one castle when you can have TWO!? © Disney Once you finish the first castle you can move onto this Frozen 2 3D Castle Puzzle! This one also goes for $69.99. Take your puzzle skills “into the unknown” with this 3D Frozen puzzle! We hope you found something you liked on our virtual Disney shopping tour! BRB, gotta go learn to skateboard now that we found all those cool Nat Geo gear! What’s your favorite NEW piece of Disney merch that you’ve seen online this week? Share with us in the comments! Related posts: Did You Know You Can Buy This ONLINE? 10 Ways To Online Disney Shop Your Way Through Quarantine! The 16 Cutest Disney Face Masks We’ve Seen So Far! View the full article

Disney Springs has been open for a couple of days now, and we’re already getting word on new menu offerings at some of our favorite dining locations. The Basket at Wine Bar George The Basket at Wine Bar George is a counter service window that brings the best of Wine Bar George to-go! And now it’s easier than ever to order your favorite loaded french fries and frozen beverages TOGETHER! A new combo on their menu is “Frozen & Fries,” aka our new go-to snack this summer! These combos come with your choice of loaded french fries and frozen drinks to-go. Honestly, we’re going to have a hard time deciding between combos like Queso Fries with their signature Frosé… Queso Fries with Frosé © Wine Bar George …Togarashi Fries with Friezling made with Dole Whip Lime… Togarashi Fries with Friezling made with Dole Whip Lime © Wine Bar George …California Fries with Frozcato made with Dole Whip Pineapple (anything Dole Whip is a winner in our book!)… California Fries with Frozcato made with Dole Whip Pineapple © Wine Bar George …and Buffalo Fries with Freaujolais! Buffalo Fries with Freaujolais © Wine Bar George We may need to order one of everything! Note that you can still order these fries and drinks individually. Next time you visit Disney Springs, stop by The Basket and grab some loaded fries and a frozen beverage! Read more about The Basket at Wine Bar George here! Which combo of fries & drink would YOU order? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Check out The Basket at Wine Bar George in Disney Springs! Your Newest Ice Cream Stop in Disney Springs is The Basket at Wine Bar George NEW Summer Treat! Frozcato Sugar Cookie Sandwich Debuts at The Basket at Wine Bar George View the full article

While yesterday we informed you Legoland Florida had received initial approval to reopen June 1st, Governor Ron DeSantis has now given the Winter Haven City-based theme park the green light. ©Legoland Legoland has officially announced it will be reopening its Central Florida location in just over a week. Once its plan was approved by the Florida Governor, Legoland immediately sent out announcements. We received an email moments ago confirming June 1st if Legoland’s official reopening date. ©Legoland Legoland’s reopening plan included modifications such as operating at a maximum 50% capacity (about 6,000 guests). The park will be “highly recommending” the use of face masks by guests, but is not requiring them at this time. For the water park, masks are only recommended for use when visitors are dry. Face Masks Are Strongly-Encouraged, But Not Mandatory at Legoland Face coverings do not need to be worn in Legoland by: Children under 2 years of age People who have trouble breathing Anyone who is unable to remove the face covering without assistance Additionally, Legoland says they will be providing guests with face coverings if they did not bring one. ©Legoland Legoland’s New Health Screening Process Guests with temperatures of 100.4 or higher will not be allowed to enter the park. According to Legoland’s website they also say you will not be admitted if you have: Coughing, fever (over 100.4 º F), or difficulty breathing Traveled internationally in the last 14 days Been on a cruise ship in the last 14 days Been in a location with widespread COVID-19 transmission in the last 14 days Been in close contact with a person known or suspected of having COVID-19 in the last 14 days Tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 14 days ©Legoland Legoland says their touchless temperature screenings will be required for all guests, including children, and employees before entering the park. Any families or groups that have a member with a fever (of 100.4º F or above) will not be allowed in. Disinfecting Touchpoints and Commonly Used Surfaces More Frequently Legoland says they will be cleaning and disinfecting all surfaces more regularly especially “tables and chairs, service counters, LEGO® Bricks, ride restraints, door handles, and more.” They will also be adding more hand sanitizer dispensers and hygiene stations throughout the park. Similar to Disney World’s My Disney Experience app, guests can use Legoland’s official mobile app (which is also free) to locate these additional locations. ©Legoland Social Distancing Markers and Additional Safety Measures Markers have been installed throughout the resort reminding guests to stay six feet apart while employees will monitor the queues to ensure social distancing is being maintained. Ride vehicles will be loaded leaving empty seats between guests. Dining areas are also being reconfigured to ensure a safe distance separates each parties’ table. Indoor shops and restaurants will have a limited capacity while the self-service buffets will also be reconfigured to reduce the number of touchpoints including cutlery and condiments being left out on the table. These items will now be provided to guests upon request. Some guest experiences, entertainment offerings, retail locations, restaurants, and other park features such as water fountains may be temporarily suspended. ©Legoland New Safety Measures at Legoland’s Hotel and Other Recreational Areas Inside the hotels, Legoland is asking only one party per elevator and to take the stairs where possible to help maintain social distancing regulations. For their mini-golf course, they are asking groups to maintain a one-hole distance at all times. You can click here to read Legoland’s FAQ as well as their Peace of Mind policy for new bookings. Now that Governor Ron DeSantis has twelve other reopening proposals of Central Florida attractions to consider, we could know more details about other theme parks that are planning to reopen soon. So far, Disney World is expected to submit its proposal next week while Universal Studios has requested a reopening date to receive guests starting June 5th (which is still pending final approval). What do you think of Legoland’s reopening plan? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: Here’s A Look at the Safety Measures Being Discussed By Major U.S. Theme Parks Right Now Roll Call! Here’s the Current Status of Every Disney Park After Yesterday’s BIG NEWS! STK Has Reopened in Disney World…And They’re Doing Things a Little Differently View the full article

It’s Memorial Day weekend and we are FEELING the summer vibes! Woody says, “Howdy!” at Toy Story Land! What better way to celebrate than with a themed binge of Disney movies? Disney+ has given us some great watchlists before like a parks-based list and a throwbacks list. Obvi, we finished those because we’re actual maniacs. Now though, we can feed our need for Disney movies with the new summery watchlists from Disney+! School’s (Almost) Out! Summer vacation is so close for kiddos that they can almost taste it! Celebrate the kick-off of school being done for the year with this School’s (Almost) Out! playlist. We’ll be binging some summer vacay classics like Camp Rock, Phineas and Ferb, and Toy Story 4! ©Disney/Pixar Bug Juice: My Adventures at Camp The Suite Life: On Deck Paradise Island The Wild High School Musical 2 Phineas and Ferb Mr. Mouse Takes a Trip Blank Check Muppet Treasure Island The Even Stevens Movie Heavyweights Toy Story 4 Recess: School’s Out Toy Story Toons: Hawaiian Vacation Gravity Falls Teen Beach Movie 1-2 Camp Rock 1-2 Hero’s Journey Movies For some of us, summer means a journey to a far off place. Get in the wanderlust mood with a viewing of one (or all, we don’t judge) of these Hero’s Journey Movies! Get inspired by Hercules, The Lion King, Up, and more! The Lion King Poster at AMC Beauty and the Beast Captain America Doctor Strange Finding Nemo Free Solo Hercules Iron Man 3 Moana National Treasure Onward Primal Survival Star Wars: A New Hope The Lion King The Muppet Movie The Princess Bride Toy Story Up Short Films for a Long Weekend And finally, we’ve got a long weekend coming up wit Memorial Day. What better way to kick back on your long weekend than with some SHORT films? Check out the Short Films for a Long Weekend watchlist featuring flicks like Bao, The Goddess of Spring, and Forky Asks a Question! Bao Tutorial ©Disney Bao (Academy Award Winner) Forky Asks a Question How to Play Baseball How to Play Baseball Inner Workings Maggie Simpson in… Playdate with Destiny One Day at Disney: Shorts Pixar SparkShorts: Float (Peabody Award Nominee) Pixar SparkShorts: Out (Premiering Friday May 22) Short Circuit: Experimental Films Silly Symphony: The Goddess of Spring Star Wars: Forces of Destiny The Goddess of Spring Under the Sea: A Descendants Short Story And there you have it! If you can’t find us this weekend, it’s because we’re 25 shorts deep into Disney+ and we can’t stop. Don’t bother looking for us; we’re happier this way. Let’s get binging! Looking for some MORE Disney+ watchlists? Click here! Will you be binging some of these flicks during your long weekend? Tell us in the comments! Related posts: Blast Right to the Past with the New Throwback Watchlists from Disney+! Disney CEO Says Theater Closures Could Affect Disney’s Approach To Movies NEWS! New Film Release Dates Announced For Mulan, Jungle Cruise, Black Widow, and More! View the full article

Disney Springs began its phased reopening on Wednesday, May 20th, and we have been reporting from Walt Disney World’s shopping and dining district throughout the week. Disney Springs We have been observing and experiencing the new safety measures now implemented for guests visiting Disney Springs. Additionally, we’ve been stopping by all of the restaurants and shops that are currently in operation, which — at the moment — are third-party vendors. (Select Disney-owned locations will begin reopening on May 27th.) And one of the things we have been on the lookout for are face masks available for purchase. Remember, you cannot enter Disney Springs without a face mask, as they are required for all guests and cast members and must remain on throughout the entirety of your stay. However, it is good to know where you may find some additional ones available should an elastic break on your current mask, or you would just prefer another to have more options for comfort. Vera Bradley On Wednesday (the first day of the reopening), we only found face masks for sale at one retail location: Vera Bradley. Vera Bradley Face Masks However, today we spotted them at two more locations. The first is American Threads, a retail location in the Town Center of Disney Springs. American Threads The breathable, light weight masks are available in lavender, black and grey (which are reversible between solid grey and grey-with-white-stripes). Face Masks at American Threads The GILLI brand masks are priced at $15.00, and additional features are that they are re-washable and quick-drying, and the packaging states they offer UV Protection. Face Masks at American Threads Face Masks at American Threads They are also selling out rather quickly, but we were informed there are more on the way! (They are even considering ordering ones with straw holes.) American Threads signage Beyond the masks available, other differences to note in American Threads are that no cash is currently accepted, and fitting rooms are unavailable (though they do have a return policy for items with tags within 14 days). The other location we spotted masks available for purchase is The Polite Pig in the Marketplace. The Polite Pig We recognized the masks with the restaurant’s logo from our very first visit back to The Polite Pig. Polite Pig Available for $12.50, they’re the same ones that The Polite Pig cast members wear during their shifts. So, there you have it — these are the current three spots where we have found face coverings available in Disney Springs. Keep in mind, though, that the World of Disney is one of the locations that will be opening on May 27th, and while we don’t know whether they’ll have face masks for purchase, we will certainly be on the lookout and keeping you posted! You can learn more about the new safety measures in place at Disney Springs here. And to find out more about the current status of Disney Parks and destinations around the world, you can click any of the links below. Are you following the reopening of Disney Springs? Please let us know with a comment. Related posts: PHOTOS and TIPS: Our FULL Experience From Reopening Day at Disney Springs 3 Things We Hope We DON’T See At The Disney Springs Reopening This Week PHOTOS: Disney World’s NEW Health Measures — Face Coverings, Distancing Signs, and MORE View the full article

Disney news is showing no signs of slowing down! These days we’re seeing major updates and stories drop almost on a daily basis, and we’re keeping up with all of it so you can stay informed! Disney Springs Let’s review this week’s news, from Orlando to Hong Kong! Disney Springs Has Officially Reopened On May 20, Disney Springs began a partial reopening after two months of being closed. During this initial reopening phase, hours will be from 10:00AM – 10:00PM and they will operate with limited capacity in place. In addition, guests will be required to wear face masks and must have their temperatures checked before entering the premises. Disney Springs We started to see some of the new protocols on May 19 when news media were invited to preview the health and safety measurements ahead of Disney Spring’s reopening. And then the big day arrived to check Disney Springs out for ourselves! Disney Springs We visited some of our favorite dining locations like Wine Bar George and Chicken Guy! to see how the new safety protocols were being implemented while you dine at Disney Springs. We also popped into all of the retail shops currently open to take a look at those floor markings, signage, and other physical distancing measures. Note that at this time, Disney owned and operated locations like World of Disney are still closed but will reopen on May 27. Disney Springs Keep checking back in the coming weeks as we continue to cover Disney Springs’ initial reopening phase! Check out our full coverage of Disney Springs’ reopening day here! Menu Changes at Many Disney Springs Restaurants Before Disney Springs reopened, we noticed that several restaurants saw some menu changes that took place during the closure. Guests may notice that their favorite dishes are gone from dining locations including Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming, Wine Bar George, Splitsville Luxury Lanes, and Paddlefish. Jasper Board The only constant at Disney is change, and with some restaurants like Frontera Cocina offering limited and modified menus during the initial reopening phase, it is unclear at this time if we’ll see all of the old menu items return! Read more about all of the recent menu changes at Disney Springs here. Walt Disney Company Leadership Shake-Up One of the biggest pieces of news to come out of the Walt Disney Company this week was the announcement that Josh D’Amaro, now former President of Walt Disney World, was named the new Chairman of Parks, Experiences, and Products. D’Amaro will now oversee all six Disney resorts worldwide, in addition to Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, and Adventures by Disney. D’Amaro will directly report to CEO Bob Chapek. ©Josh D’Amaro Taking D’Amaro’s place as Disney World’s President is Jeff Vahle. Rebecca Campbell, now former President of Disneyland Resort, was promoted to Chairman of Direct-to-Consumer & International. Her position at Disneyland will be taken over by Ken Potrock. Learn more about the leadership changes at the Walt Disney Company here! Hong Kong May Be Preparing to Reopen This week, we started to see some signs hinting at a possible soft reopening of Hong Kong Disneyland. Since Shanghai Disneyland reopened on May 11, we’ve been wondering which Disney park would be next to reopen. Now, we are hearing that Cast Members have been called back from May 19-21 to take part in a soft opening specifically for them. Hong Kong Disneyland We will keep a close eye on Hong Kong Disneyland in the coming days and will provide updates as we see them come in! Read more about the potential soft opening of Hong Kong Disneyland here Adventures by Disney Cancels Departures Through July 31 We also learned this week that Adventures by Disney has continued to cancel departures, and is now canceled all trips through July 31, 2020. Previously Disney had canceled all June departures and some rolling into July. Impacted Guests may request a full refund or transfer the funds to a future booking. Adventures by Disney Like much of the cancellations coming from Disney, Adventures by Disney seems to be updating their cancellations on a rolling basis, so we will continue to keep an eye on this and will keep you up to date on all things ABD! Read more about the canceled Adventures by Disney Departures here! In this strange time, lots of new policies are being implemented and a large number of changes are happening. We are always on the lookout for news and will continue to keep you posted as more information on Disney World, Disneyland, Universal, and the International Disney Parks and Resorts are released. What are your thoughts on the new leadership team at Disney? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: The Year in Review: Top Disney Food News Stories of 2015! Roll Call! Here’s the Current Status of Every Disney Park After Yesterday’s BIG NEWS! The 10 Most Important Dates in 2020 For Disney Fans View the full article

An update from Guest Relations at the Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort Dear Guests, It’s an understatement to say that the past few months have been a challenging time for us all. As we navigate the longest park closures in our histories, we’ve loved hearing your kind words of hope and seeing how you’ve made your own Disney memories at home has uplifted and inspired us all. During this time, we know it can be difficult to plan your Disney vacation. Now more than ever we’re longing for the opportunity to come together with family and friends to escape, to celebrate, to re-do missed milestones, like birthdays and anniversaries and to make new Disney memories. Given the current uncertainty as to when we will reopen Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort, we’ve had to periodically adjust the schedule for the ability to book hotel reservations at our resorts. While we’re currently accepting reservations starting in July 2020 at both resorts, as this situation evolves, timing may continue to shift. As we continue to follow guidance from government and health care officials regarding how we’ll be able to reopen our parks and resorts in a responsible way, we may also need to make real-time adjustments to booked experiences, park tickets and park passes. Please know that if any reservations you may have made need to change, we will work with you to make the necessary modifications. If you haven’t already, we encourage you to check out the recent blog post from our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Pamela Hymel, on how we’re planning for re-opening our parks and resorts. Our focus remains on the safety of the entire Disney community. Be sure to keep checking our websites for more details, and stay tuned for more information right here on the Disney Parks Blog. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we navigate this unprecedented time together. We continue to be moved by the incredible support and passion our guests have shown for our Disney family, and we hope to see you real soon. View the full article

Now that some of the restaurants and stores at Disney Springs have started to reopen, there’s been a lot of attention on Central Florida lately. Soarin’ Over California But that doesn’t mean our friends in SoCal don’t have some stuff happening, too! In fact, a brand new Spirit Jersey has just magically appeared on shopDisney which we think you guys are going to be clamoring to get your hands on! Check out this adorable new Mickey Mouse Spirit Jersey! The adult-size sweatshirt is white with little gray classic Mickeys all over the front, back, and sleeves! Plus it has a cute black, white, and red Mickey design on its front! ©shopDisney But didn’t we say something about this being a special Spirit Jersey for our Cali pals? That’s right — wait for it…wait for it…check out the BACK! BOOM! ©shopDisney Click here to buy the Mickey Mouse Los Angeles Spirit Jersey! The Mickey Mouse Los Angeles Spirit Jersey is now available for $64.99, but it looks like a few sizes have already sold out, so don’t delay if you want one of these puppies! ©shopDisney How cute is this little number going to look with a pair of Converse sneakers and some Rose Gold Minnie Ears, right? And while you’re starting your weekend off the right way with a little retail therapy, check out this latest collection by HARVEYS featuring some of our favorite Monsteropolis friends! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Check out our Disneyland Food Reviews Here!! What do you think of this new spirit jersey? Are you as obsessed with it as we are? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: April’s Minnie Mouse: The Main Attraction Series Has Just Been Released Online! shopDisney is Bringing Pin Trading to Your Living Room with New Limited Edition Disney Park Pins! NEW Park-Exclusive Pins and Release Dates Have Been Added to shopDisney! View the full article

Miami Beach city commissioners agreed Friday to reopen beaches and hotels beginning June 1, a week after the Memorial Day holiday weekend. View the full article

While several third-party restaurants and stores have reopened this week in Disney Springs, crowds have really thinned out since Wednesday. No Traffic Around Disney Springs This Morning When we arrived at 10AM to visit some of the restaurants we knew would be reopening today (although one of them didn’t) we were surprised to see what a literal ghost town Disney Springs has become. Crowds were relatively light on May 20th when many retailers and restaurants opened their doors to the public after being shuttered since mid-March. But yesterday and today, we’ve noticed attendance has dropped off significantly. Disney Springs We did hear from several Cast Members on Wednesday that many guests showed up only to realize World of Disney wasn’t open yet. World of Disney along with other Disney-owned locations will reopen in Disney Springs on May 27th. Check out our full Disney Springs experience on the first day of its partial reopening here! Disney Springs Many of the employees we talked with feel like once World of Disney reopens, things might pick up again, but so far, business has really slowed down. Find out which other Disney-operated businesses will be reopening next week here! Disney Springs Disney is also currently working on plans to reopen its theme parks (which could be submitted to the Orange County Mayor by as early as next week). No Wait Joffrey’s This Morning We did see pockets of people here and there and some businesses seemed to think things might pick up a little over the weekend, but they expect things to remain relatively calm until major anchor stores like World of Disney reopen. Can you walk around Disney Springs will sipping a Joffrey’s coffee? Find out here! Disney Springs See what it’s like to shop at Disney Springs now here! The most people we saw today were waiting in line while social distancing in front of Vera Bradley. This was the first store at Disney Springs we were able to confirm had face masks for sale. Line Outside of Vera Bradley We’ve also now confirmed American Threads and The Polite Pig also have face masks for purchase. We’ll continue to monitor the crowd levels here and let you know if anything changes once World of Disney reopens next Wednesday, but for now, we’ll enjoy all this extra elbow room at Disney Springs while it lasts. What is your favorite shop or restaurant at Disney Springs? Let us know in the comments below. Related posts: Updated! These Restaurants Will Be Reopening at Disney Springs in Disney World on May 20th PHOTOS and TIPS: Our FULL Experience From Reopening Day at Disney Springs News! Vivoli il Gelato Will NOT Be Reopening Today in Disney Springs View the full article

We’re daydreaming of our next trip to the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival! Duck Confit Poutine When it comes to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival, we’re constantly impressed by the awesome menu items Disney brings to the table — literally! Every year we put together our Best of the Fest List with all of our must-eat items from the Festival (c’mon Frothy Ramen!) but we wanted to know what eats our readers can’t stop thinking about! So, we asked our Instagram followers, “What menu items do you hope return to Epcot Food and Wine this year?” And here were the most popular responses! As we were reading through the responses, we noticed a few things. First, lots of our readers have the same favorites as us — great minds really do think alike! And second, the majority of the most popular answers were savory menu items. Very interesting! Let’s hear it — what do the people want?? Teriyaki Chicken Bun Let’s dive right in with the top choice from our readers — the Teriyaki Chicken Bun from the Japan Booth! This was the most popular menu item people requested in their responses! Teriyaki Chicken Bun And we definitely agree! This soft, steamed bun filled with chicken, bits of veggies, and mildly sweet teriyaki sauce made our Best of the Fest list last year! Click here to see the full menu and photos from the Japan Booth last year! Warm Raclette Swiss Cheese Another top requested item was the Warm Raclette Swiss Cheese from The Alps Booth! Yup, this is another one we wholeheartedly agree with! Warm Raclette Swiss Cheese The Cast Members at this booth scrape the warm, melty cheese onto bread, potatoes, and gherkins as they serve it to you, so this one is VERY fresh and delicious! Click here to see everything offered at The Alps Booth at last year’s festival! Canadian Cheddar Cheese and Bacon Soup Now, here’s a staple that our readers just can’t get enough of — the Canadian Cheddar Cheese and Bacon Soup at the Canada Booth! Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup with Pretzel Roll This soup has been around for years and years, but we still keep coming back for more! It’s served with a pretzel roll for dipping which adds an extra salty kick to this fan-favorite. Here’s everything the Canada Booth offered at the festival last year! Le Cellier Wild Mushroom Beef Filet Mignon And the Canada Booth is home to another one of our readers’ favorites — the Le Cellier Wild Mushroom Beef Filet Mignon with Truffle Butter Sauce! Le Cellier Wild Mushroom Beef Filet Mignon with Truffle Butter Sauce So, as home to TWO of the top picks, no wonder the line at this booth is always so long. Here’s hoping the staples at the Canada Booth keep returning to future festivals! Want to learn more about the iconic Le Cellier restaurant? Click here for our review! Kalua Pork Slider And lots of our readers are keeping their fingers crossed for the Kalua Pork Slider to return to the Hawai’i Booth! Kalua Pork Slider This festival favorite is served on a Hawaiian roll, with sweet-and-sour Dole pineapple chutney and spicy mayo! Check out everything on the menu at the Hawai’i Booth during the 2019 festival! Pão de Queijo Here’s another cheesy item people raved about — the Pão de Queijo from the Brazil Booth! Are you wondering what exactly that is? Well, it’s the Brazilian Cheese Bread! Pão de Queijo As simple as this item may seem, it’s greater than the sum of its parts — it’s slightly crisp on the outside, and chewy, soft, and VERY cheesy on the inside! Our readers hope they’ll be able to snag it at the festival this year! Click here to see what else you could order at the Brazil Booth last year! Spicy Hummus Fries Another meatless option our readers hope to see return is the Spicy Hummus Fries at the Morocco Booth! Spicy Hummus Fries Yup, this is another item we find ourselves gravitating towards every year (and hopefully this year too!) The hummus fries are topped with cucumber, tomatoes, onions, tzatziki, and chipotle sauce for a delicious mix of spicy and fresh flavors! Check out the full menu from the Morocco Booth at the 2019 Food and Wine Festival! Smoked Corned Beef Our readers are can’t stop thinking about the Smoked Corned Beef from Flavors from Fire — and neither can we (shoutout to yet another one of our 2019 Best of the Fest picks!) Smoked Corned Beef The super tender and delicious corned beef is served with crispy thick potato chips, cheese curds, pickled onions, and beer-cheese fondue. Yep, friends — beer cheese. The flavors in this are INCREDIBLE, so we’re hoping for its return right along with you guys! Click here to see what else the Flavors from Fire had to offer last year! Butternut Squash Ravioli This is the perfect menu item to transition us from the savory to the sweet since it has a little bit of both! The Butternut Squash Ravioli was served at the Wine and Dine Studio last year. Butternut Squash Ravioli It’s served with brown butter vinaigrette, shaved parmesan cheese, and pumpkin seeds. The sweet and sour flavor of the vinaigrette mixed with the sharp flavor of the cheese and the creamy squash filling really elevates it to the next level! Check out the full menu from the Wine and Dine Studio last year! Maple Bourbon Cheesecake We were a little surprised to see that this was the only dessert item that cracked the top responses from our readers. But hey, we think they rallied behind a solid option! The Maple Bourbon Cheesecake was available at The Cheese Studio, Hosted by Boursin® Cheese. Maple Bourbon Boursin Cheesecake The super creamy cheesecake is topped with maple bourbon cream, caramel, and pecan crunch. We agree with our readers on this one too, we’re keeping our fingers crossed that we see this amazing treat again! What else could you order at The Cheese Studio? Find out here! Guinness Baileys Shake So this one is a little bit dessert, a little bit beverage, and a little bit boozy. And according to our readers, it’s also a must-do if it returns this year! The Guinness Baileys Shake was served at the Ireland Booth, of course! Guinness Baileys Shake Nervous about what kind of flavor you’ll get from this concoction? Well, if it makes you feel better, the most pronounced flavors are chocolate and Baileys with just a little something extra. We agree, it’s an indulgence we would gladly wait in line for again! Check out the full 2019 menu at the Ireland Booth! Frozen Apple Pie Rounding out our top reader responses is the Frozen Apple Pie from the Appleseed Orchard Cider Bar, a new location from the 2019 Food and Wine Festival! Frozen Apple Pie This frozen beverage is non-alcoholic, so the whole family can enjoy this one — that is, if our readers get their wish and it returns this year! It’s loaded with the great taste of apple pie and has a really yummy apple crumble topping! Click here to see pics from Appleseed Orchard! We’re hungry just reading your responses to this one! And we think you have some solid requests for the next Food and Wine Festival. In fact, a lot of the top choices from our readers matched up with our picks for the Best of the Fest! Here’s hoping you get to enjoy all of your favorite eats at the next festival! Check out our picks for the Best of the Fest from the 2019 Food and Wine Festival! What menu item do you hope to see return to the Food and Wine Festival this year? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Best of the Fest: Here’s What To Get At The 2019 Epcot Food and Wine Festival! Best of the Fest: What to Eat (and Sip!) at the 2018 Epcot Food and Wine Festival! The 12 Things You MUST Eat at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival This Year View the full article

You might remember that just yesterday we got a sneak peek of the new Monsters University collection from HARVEYS. ©Disney Well, it’s already HERE! Time flies when you’re scarin’ up a storm, huh? We’re pumped to check out these new bags. So, without further ado, wave hi to Mike and Sulley, and let’s take a look at the HARVEYS Monsters University collection! First up we’ve got this sa-weet new Monsters University Tote by HARVEYS. It’s got Mike and Sulley on one side with the MU logo on the other. Make it yours for $198! ©Disney Want the MU Tote? Click here to buy it! Or if you’re looking for something a little smaller and easier to carry, check out this fun Monsters University Crossbody Bag for $148. It comes with that cute coin purse! ©Disney Click here to buy the MU Crossbody! And probably our favorite bag of the collection is the Monsters University Backpack for $178! It’s SO cute and SO versatile. ©Disney To buy the MU Backpack, click here! All of these bomb new accessories are available on shopDisney RIGHT NOW! We’ll see you at checkout . Click here for more PICS of the new Harveys collection! Will you be snagging a new Harveys bag? Tell us in the comments! Related posts: Look as Classic as Mickey and Minnie with these NEW Loungefly Backpacks! The Cinderella Series in the Disney Castle Collection Makes Its Magical Debut! News! Disney Subscription Boxes Will Be Unavailable Soon! View the full article

Universal Orlando got an endorsement to reopen on June 5 — two weeks from today — from Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings whose letter to the governor supports the resort’s “phased-approach.”Demings sent the letter to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday morning outlining the county’s review of Universal safety plan. View the full article

Earlier we reported Vivoli il Gelato in Disney Springs would be among the second group of businesses to reopen on May 22nd (which is today!). Vivoli il Gelato But on our walk through Disney Springs this morning, it appears Vivoli il Gelato will NOT be reopening today. When we stopped by Vivoli il Gelato shortly after 10AM (which was when they were supposed to open), the store was still locked up tightly and a “Sorry, we are closed” sign was posted on the door. Vivoli il Gelato We were able to speak with a Vivoli il Gelato employee who said he thinks they might be reopening next week, but he wasn’t 100% sure. He also didn’t know why the reopening had been delayed. Since June 10th is Vivoli il Gelato’s five-year anniversary, the employee told us they are workings on some special menu items which may include a new shake, bombolato, and peanut butter cannoli! These specialty items haven’t been finalized yet, so things could change between now and when the store reopens, but we’ll definitely be on the lookout for them! Vivoli il Gelato See what our full experience was like at Disney Springs on the first day of its phased reopening here! Vivoli il Gelato is operated by the Patina Group, and so far, the other Disney Springs locations it owns are still on track to reopen today. We’ll be sure to let you know if anything changes, but so far, Morimoto Asia will be open from 4:30PM to 9PM, Morimoto Asia Street Food from 11:30AM to 9PM, and Pizza Ponte from 12PM to 8PM. Were you planning on going to Vivoli il Gelato today? Let us know if this change affected your plans in the comments below. Related posts: NEWS! Get CASH BACK On Disney Food With This Limited Time AmEx Deal! Confirmed: Joffrey’s Coffee and Tea Company Will Be Reopening in Disney Springs on May 20th We’re Adding Another Restaurant to the List! Blaze Pizza in Disney Springs Will Reopen May 20th View the full article

While you may know us to be quite the Disney World experts, trust us when we say we didn’t start out this way! Cinderella Castle at Night We actually had to figure out some stuff at Disney World through trial and error or after peril befell one of our family members (or us!). That’s why our team wants to share with you a few lessons we learned at Disney School of HARD KNOCKS. Well, alright, we made that place up, but let’s just say, these are all true stories from some of our real-life misadventures! 1. Left Our Phones in a Rideshare or Minnie Van How many times have you FINALLY arrived back at your hotel after a long day and are getting ready to check your messages only to realize you just left your phone in the backseat of some stranger’s car? No? Just us? How to Get Your Phone Back From a Rideshare Service Believe it or not, we have MORE THAN ONE personal experience on this matter! I was so excited about going to Disneyland once that I left my phone in the back seat of an Uber I took from the airport. I had to figure out how to call the driver WITHOUT my phone! Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Luckily, I realized my mistake pretty quickly and it wasn’t THAT big of a disaster, even if it felt like that way at the time! I was able to log into my Uber account with my husband’s phone and use the “contact your driver” feature in the Uber app. Disneyland’s Magic Happens Parade It got us in touch with the driver and he was able to circle back and drop off the phone for us within 20 minutes. Now, the Uber website states they’ll charge a “return fee” whenever this happens, but we weren’t charged anything (either this fee didn’t apply until more recently, or our nice driver spared us!). Either way, we provided him with a nice cash tip for his troubles! How to Get Your Phone Back From a Minnie Van If you happen to forget your phone in the back of a Minnie Van at Disney World (hey, it happens when you’re super distracted by all the magic that’s in the AIR!) you can call (407) 828-3500. If you’re traveling by yourself (and thus need to use a phone since you no longer have YOURS) visit the nearest Guest Services and they’ll likely be able to get a hold of your driver on your behalf! Minnie Van Remember — time is of the ESSENCE! As soon as you realize your phone’s disappeared and you suspect you may have left it somewhere, reach out and CALL SOMEONE or go to Guest Relations! If you wait too long, you might not get your phone back, and that truly WOULD be a disaster! Click here to learn more about Disney World’s Minnie Vans 2. Suffered a MAJOR Wardrobe Malfunction! One of the most frustrating things at Disney World involves fighting with clothing that just can’t cut the mustard! You’ll be pushing your shoes, shorts, socks, and shirts to their absolute limits — and many of these every-day articles of clothing can buckle under the sheer brutality of Disney World’s conditions! How to Protect Thyself Against Chafing Alright, ladies (and some of you fellas, too!) — you know what we’re talking about! Even if none of us want to fess up to the embarrassment of rubbing our “chicken tenders” (a.k.a. upper thighs) raw while walking through the parks, it happens to the best of us! Princess Aurora Probably Gets Chafed TOO! That’s why we love glide-on anti-chafe sticks! These look just like a stick of deodorant but you rub them on to reduce friction just about anywhere. These work well for shoes that are rubbing your feet the wrong way, runners use it for their arms, and there are lots of other applications. If your legs are the primary problem, though, we’ve also been known to throw on a pair of bike shorts (like these!) to spare our thighs from being sacrificed to the chafing gods, too. Always make sure you test drive any shorts you’re bringing to Disney World with a long day at the zoo or mall first to see how they hold up to heavy walking! Want to stock up on anti-chafing sticks? Click here! Dreaded Melted Mickey Ice Cream Bars and Other Frequent Stain-Offenders You might not realize something you’re snacking on has just dripped ALL over your shirt or pants until it’s TOO LATE! In our profession, this happens A LOT! Premium Mickey Ice Cream Bar at Disney World That’s why we highly recommend bringing a Tide Stain Remover Pen or a similar product to help pre-treat any stains you may encounter so that they don’t end up permanently ruining your clothes! © Amazon Did you know you can even wash your clothes at any Disney World Resort property? Each hotel is equipped with its own self-service laundry facilities for all guests. The washers and dryers also utilize an app called LaundryView which will text you when your clothes are done! How NEATO is THAT?! Click here to purchase Tide to go stain remover pens! There’s a Reason Why Travel Sewing Kits Exist Several Disney resorts used to equip their rooms with cute little sewing kits back in the day (you can still sometimes get one from the front desk of your resort if you’re in need!). To cover our bases, we pack a small travel sewing kit! This handy Travel Sewing Kit sold by Amazon does the job nicely! © Amazon Throw in a few safety pins while you’re at it for any quick-fixes, too! Our mothers always taught us to have a safety pin handy “just in case” and you’d be surprised how many times that little tip has gotten us out of a bind! Click here to purchase a Travel-Size Sewing Kit for your next Disney trip! You Can Never Bring Enough Hair Ties. Never. Maybe you don’t normally pull back your hair in your everyday life, but trust us — if you’ve got medium to long hair, you’re going to get VERY hot walking around the parks! That’s why we always bring lots of spare hair ties to make sure we don’t overheat at the parks! © Amazon Some of the gift shops sell hair ties, but it’s much cheaper to bring them from home. Pack them in your suitcase as well as in the bag you’re bringing with you to the parks and bring MANY! The more, the merrier! That way, in case a few break, you’ll still have plenty of back-ups! Click here to buy some extra hair ties — just in case! 3. Our Glasses Just Flew Off on a Ride It can be pretty traumatic losing your glasses on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, especially if you need them to SEE! This has happened with our sunglasses, too (and hats…and Minnie Ears…)! How to Get Your Glasses Back Depending on the ride (and where they flew off), Cast Members might be able to help you retrieve them, but more than likely you’re going to have to wait out until it’s safe for someone to go get them. That puts you (and your vision) out of commission for a long time if you didn’t bring a back-up pair (which we highly recommend you have a spare if you need them to properly see!). New Years Glasses If you don’t have a back-up pair of glasses, consider bringing a sports strap to secure them to your face! You can also take your glasses off and put them in your pocket before the ride starts, too! Click here to get a glasses strap (in lots of fun colors too!) 4. Our Kids Were Terrified of Rides If your kids are young and it’s your first time taking them to Disney World, you might be very excited to introduce them to some of your favorite rides such as Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion, or Pirates of Caribbean…but here’s why that’s not always the best idea. Ease Your Kid Into Thrill Rides and Dark Rides Even if your kid has been to other amusement parks, they’ve never seen anything like Disney World or Disneyland! The Disney parks can be truly overwhelming — and maybe even a little frightening! Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom And even though some Disney rides seem really tame to YOU, through a child’s eyes they can be MUCH scarier! That’s why some younger kids need help working up to bigger attractions. You know your kid best, but our best advice is to start with some tamer dark rides such as Peter Pan’s Flight and it’s a small world. Once they’ve mastered a few of these milder experiences, THEN you can ramp them up to bigger stuff! Rock N Roller Coaster at Hollywood Studios For example, after you ride it’s a small world, you can explain Pirates of the Caribbean is very similar but does involve a teeny, tiny drop in the dark. Riding Pirates of the Caribbean first is risky because your kid might think all of Disney’s rides have an unexpected “element of surprise” to them, which simply isn’t the case at all! Learn from our mistakes — start mild and work up to wild! Curious which age you should take your kids to Disney World? Click here! 5. Someone Got Dehydrated The struggle is real to stay well-hydrated at the parks, especially if you’re drinking lots of coffee, soda, and the occasional alcoholic beverage. Signs that you’re getting dehydrated include fatigue, headache, muscle cramps, lack of sweat, and confusion — all things you should be constantly on the lookout for, especially on hot, sunny days. Drink Lots of Water If it’s a million degrees and you’ve been pounding nothing but Starbucks drinks and beer, it’s time to slow your roll and drink plenty of water. Even if you’re drinking plenty of liquids, that doesn’t mean they’re hydrating your body. Coffee and alcohol actually dehydrate you! If you’re enjoying lots of these beverages, make sure you’re increasing your water intake as well. Night Blossom at Pongu Pongu Bottled water is available throughout the parks as are drinking fountains and even bottle refill stations. You can also ask for cups of free ice water from any quick-service restaurant by asking a Cast Member. Some dining locations throughout Disney World also provide free self-serve dispensers of ice water, so be sure to look around. If Someone’s in Trouble, Get Help Dehydration can happen quickly with adults, but it happens even faster with kids. Plus, kids might not realize they’re getting dehydrated until things start to go downhill fast. Always monitor how much water your children are drinking, and at the first sign of trouble, find a Cast Member for help. Magic Kingdom You can head directly to any First Aid Center (which are located at every park) or find a Cast Member nearby. They will assess how severe the situation is and will help you by any means necessary. Whether it’s providing food, drink, or a cool place to lie down and rest, they will be there to assist you. 6. Someone Got Heatstroke Heatstroke is another dangerous situation that can creep up really fast at Disney World — and it’s super-serious. If your body temperature goes above 104° (usually due to prolonged exposure to the sun), you start to get a swirly, dizzy feeling that might eventually lead to passing out! How to Avoid Heatstroke You can help prevent heatstroke from occurring by wearing clothes that are lighter in color (darker clothing absorbs light whereas light-colored clothing will help reflect the sun’s rays better). Limit your time outdoors and take frequent water breaks. Even if you just take a quick trip through an air-conditioned gift shop, it will help cool off your body temperature. Rocking Chairs in Liberty Square Make sure you’re eating regularly, too. You’ll probably want to consume more calories than you’re used to (we know, how cruel of us to suggest!). Since you’ll be burning a lot of calories walking around, your body will likely need more energy than it usually does. Need some ideas about where to get those extra calories from? Click here for our ranking of the lands in Magic Kingdom by their snacks! What to Do If Someone Faints If someone loses consciousness or looks like they’re about to, you must get them cooled down as fast as you can and seek help! Things can go from bad to awful really fast, so you want to act swiftly. In fact, some of us have experienced heatstroke before or seen family members pass out and know it can happen out of the blue! Each time a Cast Member has swooped in and helped us get through the whole ordeal. Cups of Water Ready to Take In fact, Cast Members are stationed throughout the parks so that someone can quickly respond if an emergency should arise. And if hospitalization is required, Cast Members will arrange to get you and your family out of the park and to the emergency room. Of course, if it’s less serious, they can provide you with a place to cool down and get your blood pressure back to normal before you’re back up and walking on your feet again. 7. Someone Got Sick If a member of your family feels like they might be coming down with something or forgot to bring their prescription medication along, there are a few ways to get the medical treatment and medicine you need. See a Doctor Many practitioners now offer virtual doctor’s visits. Check with your family’s doctor to see if they offer this feature, otherwise, for most minor symptoms, you can talk to a doctor using an app. These virtual doctor’s visits are often at least partially covered by most major insurance carriers, so we recommend checking with your insurance to see if they recommend one before your visit. Spaceship Earth Doctors can call in prescriptions you may need for a variety of ailments. And here’s another tip — if your kiddo gets the flu while you’re out of town, you can usually get prophylactic tami-flu for yourself through a virtual doctor visit via an app. Note — we are NOT DOCTORS, but this was our experience. Get Medicine Most resorts sell common over-the-counter medications for pain relief, upset stomach, and cold and flu; but for other stuff, you can take a Rideshare service to a nearby pharmacy or have the medicine brought directly to you. Gift Shop Options Turner Drugs is a local pharmacy near Disney World that specializes in delivering prescriptions to travelers. They will deliver any prescriptions to your resort for a fee (it cost us around $9, but it was well worth it not having to disrupt our vacation too much). Turner Drugs will also deliver prescriptions to the FIRST-AID LOCATIONS INSIDE THE PARKS! Note that Turner Drugs does NOT file with your insurance, so you may have to pay significantly more out of pocket for your prescription. BUT they do provide documentation so you can submit a claim to your insurance company once you return home. Just remember — when you’re picking up your prescription at the First-Aid location in a park, you’ll need to have the actual prescription there to give to the cast member. Epcot First Aid Sign Get Rest If you’re sick with something contagious, the best thing you can do for yourself (and others) is to stay in your room. Order some room service or have food delivered. Relax, watch some Must Do Disney, and get the rest you need! Once you recover, you can hit the parks again. And if you’re not contagious but just having a bad allergy day or asthma-related issues, still try to take it easy until YOU feel better! Don’t over-do-it even though you want to experience everything Disney World has to offer! You might end up making yourself too sick to enjoy anything! Learn more about how to handle if your family gets sick at Disney World here! 8. Mishaps Leading to Injuries Occurred Disney World is a truly magical place, but that doesn’t prevent slips, trips, and spills from happening. You can still fall flat on your face in front of Cinderella Castle! What To Do if Someone Gets Injured Whether you scrape your knee getting out of the pool or get rammed in the shins by a rogue stroller, you might get injured on vacation — accidents happen! Any minor injuries such as cuts, scrapes, and mild abrasions won’t require much more than a little antiseptic spray and a band-aid. We like to carry a travel-sized first-aid kit with us, but you can also ask for bandages and more at any First Aid Center or at Guest Services! First Aid More severe injuries (like hyperextending your leg, breaking your wrist, or stitches) will most likely require extra care. If something happens, Cast Members can call other Cast Members over and form a circle around the injured person to provide the guest with some privacy while they assess the situation. They can then arrange transportation out of the park for you or your family member should you need to get to a hospital or urgent care center. Need a great travel First-Aid kit to toss in your park bag? Click here! 9. We Became Lost Parents This is the polite term Disney uses for when you accidentally get separated from your child, which can happen in an instant! What To Do if Your Child Is Missing First of all, it’s important to teach your children about what they should do if they get separated from you. Make sure they have your cell number memorized (If they’re too young to remember a phone number, many parents swear by these temporary tattoos you can write your number on!). Tell them it’s very important to find a Cast Member and let them know that they are lost. You can tell them they can identify a Cast Member by looking for their oval name tags. Look For the Oval Name Tags! All Cast Members are trained to bring any lost children under the age of 10 directly to the Baby Care Centers in the theme parks to wait for their parents while kids over the age of 10 are brought to Guest Relations. Guest Relations Although this is every parent’s worst nightmare, try to stay calm. Believe it or not, this happens ALL THE TIME in Disney World and, in our experience, the parents get more freaked out than the kids! Locate the nearest Cast Member and they will work quickly to report the lost child. Make a mental note of what your child is wearing each day (or snap a picture!) so you can provide a description if necessary. Disney World is a BIG and crowded place, so trust the process and Cast Members will reunite you as soon as they can. Click here to see other problems we’ve run into in Disney World (and how to solve them!) We know we’ve just rehashed some very unhappy times from some of our most MEMORABLE Disney trips, but rest-assured these are worst-case scenarios only! Your Disney World vacation is MUCH more likely to go off without any major hiccups, and even if it doesn’t, Disney’s wonderful Cast Members have got your back! Has disaster ever struck you or your family at Disney World? Tell us about your experience in the comments below! Related posts: We’re Reviewing EVERY Holiday Treat At Walt Disney World! See Them ALL Here! NEW Insta-Worthy Nighttime Magic Shots Are Coming to Disney World Soon! Small Price Increases That Could Have a BIG Impact on Your Next Disney World Vacation! View the full article

We’re continuing our #DisneyMagicMoments with a special virtual viewing of the spectacular stage show “The Lion King: Rhythms of the Pride Lands” from Disneyland Paris tonight at 7 p.m. ET! For this pre-recorded viewing of “The Lion King: Rhythms of the Pride Lands,” you’re front and center to experience the iconic moments of a Disney classic. To quote the fearsome Scar, “be prepared” to jump to the beat as a tribe of singers, dancers and acrobats brilliantly bring famous Pride Rock anthems to life for everyone at home. And to prepare for tonight’s virtual viewing, we’re offering an extra dose of pixie dust with some fun “Lion King” augmented reality effects on Instagram. With the effects, you can wear the colorful, detailed costumes of The Lion King on Broadway! Click here on your mobile device to enjoy these special AR effects! We’re also sharing several downloadable “Lion King” activity sheets for everyone at home. While you’re enjoying the show’s renditions of favorites like “Circle of Life” and “Hakuna Matata,” you can create your own magical artwork! Click here now to download our “Lion King” activity sheets. We hope tonight’s viewing of “The Lion King: Rhythms of the Pride Lands” and our extra offerings add a touch of Disney magic to your night! Keep checking back for more #DisneyMagicMoments coming soon. View the full article

While last night we learned Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings had given Universal Studios Orlando’s reopening plan for its theme parks the green light, several smaller attractions have also been approved. We shared that a few of these locations are hoping to open THIS weekend just yesterday. Disney Springs Since Demings approved the plans for thirteen other Central Florida attractions, they will now go to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ office for his acceptance. First reported by WESH 2 News, here is the list of attractions who have submitted their plans to reopen: Fun Spot of Florida, Inc. Gatorland I-Drive Thrill Park LLC (Magical Midway Family Fun Center) ICON Park Orlando K1 Speed Orlando Nona Adventure Park, LLC Orlando Slingshot, LLC Orlando Starflyer Wonderworks Orlando Aloma Bowl Boardwalk Bowl Andretti’s Indoor Karting and Gaming Disney Springs Take a look at the dates these locations hope to open here. Andretti Indoor Karting and Games has been training its staff this week on social distancing and new disinfecting techniques while Magical Midway and the Orlando Sling Shot are gearing up to reopen at 50% capacity with the Governor’s approval along with other safety modifications. The arcade will remain closed while only the outdoor attractions will be open. West Side Starbucks In Polk County, Legoland has also submitted a plan to reopen at 50% capacity on June 1st. It is also awaiting Governor Ron DeSantis’ approval. ©Legoland Read more about Legoland’s reopening plan here. Disney World is expected to submit a reopening plan for its theme parks to the Orange County Mayor by as early as next week. We’ll continue to follow this story as it develops. Have you ever visited any of these attractions in Florida? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: News! Plan to Reopen Florida Expected to Be Shared By Governor DeSantis Tomorrow! Starting Tomorrow The Entire State of Florida Will Be Under Stay at Home Orders News! Disney Has Joined Florida’s Re-Opening Task Force View the full article

We have to tell you, folks, Disney just dropped some content that we didn’t know we needed — and we LOVE it! ©Disney We were checking in on some new Disney+ content this morning when we spotted a pretty interesting new series of shorts. Ever felt like you needed to relax with the help of some beautiful Disney animation? Now, it’s super easy to with the Zenimation series. Check it out! Zenimation is a new 10-episode series of shorts that are meant to help you chill out and relax at home. The episodes feature iconic animation from classic and recent Disney films accompanied by calming sounds. ©Disney For instance, the first episode “Water” shows us some of Disney’s beautiful water animation with Moana, Ariel, and Elsa. The water sounds are turned up with other sounds minimized so that the compilation is as relaxing as possible. Other episodes include “Cityscapes,” “Discovery,” “Flight,” and more! ©Disney Honestly, we’re very here for it and can’t wait to zen out to some Disney animation. You can find all 10 episodes streaming NOW on Disney+. Deep breath! Click here to check out MORE new content coming to Disney+! Will you be chillin’ with Disney’s Zenimation? Tell us in the comments! Related posts: ALL the NEW Content Coming to Disney+ Through January 26th! Hey, Western Europe! We’ve Got A Big Disney+ Update For Ya News! Disney+ Has Officially Launched in Europe! View the full article

The past few weeks, it’s been especially heartwarming to see people come together from across the world to celebrate 2020 graduates in creative and unique ways. And we knew we had to celebrate our own graduates— nearly 700 cast members and employees who are proud alumni of the Disney Aspire program, the company’s education investment program that pays for 100% of our hourly cast member and employees’ tuition upfront at in-network schools. That’s why we are sprinkling some pixie dust from afar, recognizing them for an exceptional job well done and celebrating their incredible achievements in making their educational dreams come true. From successfully completing trade programs to earning high school diplomas and securing Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees — we are so proud of all our Disney Aspire participants who have successfully completed their programs of choice. Disney Aspire empowers our employees to put their #DreamsWithinReach, and we couldn’t be prouder to see the dreams of our graduates coming true. To all of our Disney Aspire graduates—and to the rest of the 2020 graduates around the globe— thank you for your hard work, dedication, and inspiring all of us to be the best we can be. Join us in celebrating our grads by using the hashtags #DreamsWithinReach and #DisneyAspire! To learn more about Disney Aspire, visit Aspire.Disney.com. View the full article