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Walt Disney World has announced the beginning of their slow re-opening process! UPDATE: 5/16 Added details about Disney location openings on 5/27 and health details. It will begin with the opening of third-party operating participants (non-Disney owned restaurants and stores) at Disney Springs on 20 May 2020. During the initial opening phase, Disney Springs will have […] The post Disney Springs Set to Re-Open appeared first on Military Disney Tips Blog. View the full article

Tomorrow will be the first day of the phased reopening of Disney Springs. A number of restaurants and shops owned by third-party vendors will start to welcome guests on May 20th, while select Disney-owned-and-operated locations will open starting May 27th. Disney Springs Town Center We know that there will be changes at Disney Springs with regards to new safety measures upon the reopening of Walt Disney World’s shopping and dining district. And as individual locations prepare to reopen, we are also becoming aware of menu modifications we might anticipate at various restaurants, according to changes as spotted on online menus. Yesterday, we explored menu changes for Wine Bar George, Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’, Splitsville Luxury Lanes, and Paddlefish. And Frontera Cocina has released a look at the location’s temporary menu upon reopening. And now, we’re checking out changes we spotted for Planet Hollywood, Ghirardelli, and The BOATHOUSE. Planet Hollywood Guests at Planet Hollywood can typically expect to find a HUGE array of items on the menu. For that reason, the menu at Planet Hollywood looks at though it remains fairly extensive. Planet Hollywood However, among the removed options, we noticed the following: appetizers including the Hummus Trio, Potato Wedge Dippers, Fried Jumbo Shrimp, and Spinach and Berries have been removed. Among Entrees that are no longer listed are the Six-Cheese Chicken Macaroni and Cheese, Shrimp Florentine, Turkey Pic A Nic, Fresh Florida Mahi Mahi, the New York Strip Steak for 2, and — a DFB Planet Hollywood pick — the Pimento Grilled Cheese. Pimento Grilled Cheese Unavailable side options include the Baked Potato, Fresh Cut Fruit, and House Salad. And desserts — at least upon the reopening — appear to not include Sticky Toffee Pudding, Key Lime Pie, Planet Meltdown, or the Brownie Sundae Martini. Planet Meltdown — Melt Commencing Additionally, Big Dipper Shakes are not currently listed. Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop Ghirardelli appears to be preparing a highly modified menu for the initial reopening, with the most notable change being the reduced selection of specialty sundaes. Ghirardelli Soda Fountain Offerings including the Golden Gate Banana Split, the Treasure Island Warm Brownie Sundae, Strike It Rich Butterscotch, the Marina Raspberry Sorbet Sundae, and the Crissy Fields Cookie Bits Sundae and more are all currently removed from the menu. Crissy Fields Cookie Bits Sundae And The Earthquake — a HUGE, made-for-sharing, family-sized sundae made to serve four (similar to the Kitchen Sink at Beaches & Cream) is also missing from the options. Earthquake Family Favorite For Sundaes, the Ocean Beach Sea Salt Caramel Sundae, World Famous Hot Fudge, and Gold Rush Sundae are all still listed. And guests will be able to order up a classic shake in chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, or cookies and cream, and a good ol’ scoop or cone of ice cream — single, double, or take on the triple! However, specialty Quake Shakes (such as Sea Salt Caramel and chocolate bar infused-shakes) are not currently listed on the menu; and neither are Ice Cream Floats or Waffle Bowls. Ghirardelli’s Quake Shake Specialty coffee beverages (lattes, cappuccinos, and the like), as well as tea varieties have been removed from the selections. And we are not seeing the Decadent Drinking Chocolate on the list. Ghirardelli Drinking Chocolate A selection of Ghirardelli chocolate drinks that are still listed include the popular Classic and Sea Salt Caramel Hot Cocoa — and, now that the temperatures are definitely warming up, the still-available Frozen Hot Cocoa will likely be an even more popular option. The BOATHOUSE Before we look at changes for The BOATHOUSE, it’s well worth noting that, as a Signature restaurant, the menu at The BOATHOUSE does change with some frequency for seasonal offerings, so change is often the name of the seasonal game here! The Boathouse That said, the removals we noticed include the Lobster Cocktail, Broiled Wild-Caught Swordfish Steak, BOATHOUSE BBQ Shrimp & Grits, BOATHOUSE BBQ Bacon Burger, and the FBA State Champion 2017 Pulled Pork Sandwich. Boathouse’s Dockside Lager at The BOATHOUSE Also no longer spotted on the menu are the Award-Winning Cherry-Smoked BBQ Chicken, Lobster with Orecchiette Pasta, New England Sea Scallops, and the BOATHOUSE Lobster Clambake. We ARE excited to see the Shrimp & Andouille Mac & Cheese still on the menu, along with plenty of other favorites at this popular waterfront-dining spot. Boathouse Andouille Mac and Cheese We will be following the happenings at Disney Springs all day tomorrow for the reopening, and we hope you’ll join us here. In the meantime, you can read more about the current status of Disney parks and destinations around the world by visiting any of the links below. Will you be following the reopening of Disney Springs? Please let us know with a comment. Related posts: Where to Find All the HOLIDAY EATS in Disney Springs! What’s New at Disney Springs — Personalized Ornaments, The Little Mermaid Merch, And ALL The Arendelle Aqua Treats! What’s New at Disney Springs — Cauldron Bath Bombs, Duck Tales Merch, And WonderFall Treats Galore! View the full article

As important as it is to get up and be active during this extended time at home, we could all use some occasional (perhaps DAILY) peace and quiet. Is the TV constantly on? Have you exhausted your Disney+ watch list? Are there children full of energy running around your house (or polar opposite: turned into total TV zombies!)? Some arts and crafts may be just what the doctor ordered. Switch up your routine and offer some “quieter” activities like coloring! Coloring Pages at Caribbean Beach Resort You can get some instant relief with PRINTABLE coloring sheets. That’s right, you don’t have to order a coloring book on Amazon and wait for it to arrive – these are available right NOW (assuming you have a working printer!). Whether your house is full of rambunctious kiddos or you’re are looking for some coloring therapy, we got you covered! “Find and Color” Sheet We found this EPIC “Find and Color” coloring sheet by Matthew Lane. You can spot some of your favorite Disney characters along with some iconic park snacks like Mickey Mouse ice cream bars and Dole Whip! © Matthew Lane @mattwithapen There’s even a list of ALL the characters and items hiding in the picture so you can make sure you found ’em all when you’re done! Click here to download the “Find and Color” coloring sheet by Matthew Lane Crayola Coloring Sheets We also found some super cute and fun printable coloring pages on Crayola’s website! You can color in Tinker Bell, Darth Vader, Jack Sparrow, your favorite Frozen characters, and some familiar faces from Finding Nemo! © Crayola It doesn’t stop there — we found this site that has OVER 4,500 PRINTABLE IMAGES of Disney characters for you to color in!! Print out this Frozen coloring page here! Disney Coloring Sheets Disney has a wide variety of coloring pages that you can either download and print, or you can color online! They have every character imaginable, including Tiana, Yzma, Darth Vader and his Stormtroopers, Crush, Squirt, and Marlin, and some adorable Tsum Tsums! © Disney By the way, if you’re looking for more Pixar characters to color in, we found a site that has a ton to choose from! Color in this FABULOUS drawing of Yzma here! Extra Challenging Coloring Pages To take your coloring skills to the next level, we have more fun designs to share with you! Credit: bestcoloringpagesforkids.com We found “adult” coloring pages featuring Stitch, Mickey Mouse, the Avengers, BB8, and an AWESOME image of Darth Vader’s helmet. Challenge your coloring skills by downloading this image of Mickey here! Castle and Disney Park-Inspired Coloring Sheets We even found some fun castle pictures to color in if you’re at home missing the theme parks! You can download those images here and here! Credit: justcolor.net And if that’s not enough, we found a site full of unique coloring pages, including additional park-inspired images! Color this castle picture in by downloading here! Disney Princess Coloring Sheets And finally, we found some SERIOUS coloring pages for the ultimate Disney princess fan! Credit: coloringhome.com These images of Snow White, as well as the stained glass window from Beauty and the Beast, can be transformed into true works of art with your exceptional coloring skills! Download this image of the stained glass window from Beauty and the Beast and color it in! Miscellaneous Disney Coloring Sheets Some other fun coloring pages for the kiddos we spotted that you can download and print include Simba, Miguel and Dante, Elsa, Mickey Mouse and Pluto, and Baby Groot! Credit: coloring-4kids.com Color in this fun summer image of Mickey and Pluto here! We hope these drawings gave you some ideas to bring more peace and quiet to your home! While we’re all spending more time at home, it’s important to have a good balance of fun and games ALONG WITH quiet time! Your sanity will thank you for it! So print some of these pictures out, grab your favorite box of crayons, and become the aspiring artist you’ve always wanted to be! What has been your household’s go-to at-home activities lately? Share with us in the comments! Related posts: What To Watch on Disney+ If You Want To Feel Like You’re In The Parks! A Brand-New Disney Castle Collection is Coming to shopDisney SOON! Disney Collab ALERT! Check Out The Mickey Mouse x Adidas You’ll Need 3-D Glasses To See! View the full article

Not too long ago, we told you about a Federal Aid plan that included a $25 billion airline rescue package to bail out the hard-hit travel industry due to the country’s recently shut down. Orlando International Airport And now Disney along with top industry leaders of several major companies are moving forward with a plan to seek over $1 trillion in government aid. First reported by CNBC, California Governor Gavin Newsom is asking for more state and local funding along with his task force which includes Disney Executive Chairman(and former Disney CEO) Bob Iger as well as Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos among many others. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge During It’s Dedication Ceremony The task force sent a letter to Congress last Friday addressed to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. In it, they formally requested an additional $1 trillion in flexible economic relief to be distributed throughout all states. Closed Lost and Found booth at Disneyland after the parks close due to Coronavirus The task force says the additional funds could be used for essential resources to trace and prevent the spread of the virus and to assist operations like child services, job training, and small businesses. Sleeping Beauty Castle The House of Representatives passed a bill on Friday which included $1 trillion in funding for state and local governments. We’ll continue to follow this developing story and keep you informed of any updates. Related posts: ALL the Disney NEWS and REVIEWS This Week: Everything You NEED To Know! “It’s About The Data, And Not The Date” Says Disney Chairman Bob Iger to NBA Owners ALL the Disney NEWS and REVIEWS This Week: Here’s Everything You Gotta Know! View the full article

Jill Caruana's family can't get to New York City for their Airbnb rental. Can they get their money back? View the full article

Here’s the info you need to maximize the magic on your February trip to Disney World! Valentine’s Day Cupcake By February, many of us are feeling the winter blues. And a Disney World vacation can be the perfect cure! But before you start planning, you need to BE PREPARED — Scar might be a Disney villain, but that’s a solid piece of advice that we’re going to borrow! Here are all the deets you need to know in order to set yourself up for a fabulous February vacay! Crowds at Disney World in February In general, the crowds at Disney World in February tend to range from light to moderate. But there are a few holidays and happenings that can cause attendance to spike! Typically the parks will be busier during President’s Day weekend since lots of guests take advantage of the long weekend for a quick getaway! And with the Epcot International Festival of the Arts running through most of the month (more on that later!), Epcot tends to be busier on the weekends with locals visiting for the festival. Sunshine Seasons Cupcake In addition to these more predictable crowd boosters, some schools around the country have Spring Break or Winter Break during February. Since these dates vary by school and change from year-to-year, unfortunately, they’re more difficult to account for while planning. So just be aware that if you’re planning a trip in February, you could run into some early Spring/Winter Break crowds! Click here to see our take on whether Disney World is a good place for a first date! Park Hours at Disney World in February The parks hours throughout the month of February tend to be pretty steady! Most parks will open at either 8AM or 9AM, and close at either 8PM or 9PM. Hollywood Studios Magic Kingdom will usually stay open a little later (usually 10PM), but outside of that, Disney World park hours are pretty consistent in February! Looking for some late-night fun in the parks? Check out our ultimate guide to the Villains After Hours event in Magic Kingdom! Weather at Disney World in February The temperatures tend to start warming up a little bit this month compared to January, which has the lowest average temps throughout the year! In February, the average high is 75 degrees and the average low is 54 degrees. So, typically the mornings and evenings are chilly, but the afternoons can warm up a bit! Disney’s Boardwalk February is also relatively dry — by Disney World standards! There are an average of 4 rainy days throughout the month, which is less frequent than you could expect during the summer months. We bet you didn’t know you could do these things in Disney World! How to Pack for Disney World in February Okay, we just touched on how the temperature can be chilly in the mornings and evenings, but warm up during the afternoon. So that means you’ll want to pack clothes you can layer for your February trip! We suggest bringing a sweatshirt or jacket, gloves, scarf, and hat so you can wear them out in the morning, and store them in your park bag when it starts to warm up! Big Thunder Mountain Railroad And don’t forget those closed-toe shoes! Even if you’re usually a sandals in the park kinda person, the frigid temps in the mornings and evenings can be especially hard on the feet. So make sure you come prepared! Check out the essentials you NEED in your Disney World park bag! Epcot International Festival of the Arts If you’re traveling to Disney World in February, there’s a good chance your trip will overlap with the Epcot International Festival of the Arts! The event usually runs through late-February, so if your vacation lands at the end of the month, be sure to check the festival dates and plan your park days accordingly. Trust us, this isn’t an event you want to miss out on if you can help it! Festival of the Arts Sign The Festival of the Arts has so much to see and do, including Food Studios, live entertainment, unique merchandise, complimentary seminars, and extra-ticketed workshops! 2020 Pop Eats! Food Studio We looooove the festival Food Studios because the food is both delicious AND beautiful! Since it is the Festival of the Arts, there’s a huge focus on the presentation of the menu items at each of the booths. In past years, we’ve seen favorites like the Sushi Donut, Smoked Salmon and Cream Gâteau, and Festival of the Arts Mini-Cake! Sushi Donut Festival entertainment includes Performing Arts like the Disney on Broadway Concert Series, live music, living statues, and more! And the Visual Arts are represented as well! Guests can find Artful Photo Ops, chalk art, and character art throughout the park! Peter Pan Photo Op And guests can commemorate their time by picking up some festival merchandise! In addition to classic options like tumblers, clothing, and plushes, you can also purchase work by featured artists located throughout the park! Festival of the Arts Merchandise If you want to take your exploration of the arts to another level, check out one of the free seminars or extra-ticketed workshops offered during the event! Trailblazing Ladies of Disney Animation Complimentary Seminar Even though it’s the newest addition to the Epcot lineup, the Festival of the Arts is quickly becoming one of our favorite events! It’s definitely worth checking out during your February trip! Click here to see our Best of the Fest from the 2020 Festival of the Arts Food Studios! Annual Ride Refurbishments Another thing to consider if you’re planning a February trip — several of the rides and attractions in Disney World will be down for annual refurbishments! This is particularly important if you’re a water ride enthusiast. Both Splash Mountain in Magic Kingdom and Kali River Rapids in Animal Kingdom usually go down for refurbishment in mid-January and remain unavailable until mid to late-March. Splash Mountain Refurbishment And you’ll have limited access to the water parks as well! Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Blizzard Beach go down for refurbishment in alternating months. So, if you’re traveling in February, only one of them will be open! Should your family go to Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon? Click here to find out! Valentine’s Day Treats If you’re traveling in mid-February, you’ll see a lot of pink, red, and heart-shaped treats! We typically see Valentine’s Day themed snacks available at least a few days before and after the holiday. Of course, there are plenty of Valentine’s Day Cupcakes available around the parks and resorts! And we’ve spotted some more inventive desserts as well — like the (almost too pretty to eat) Bella Notte Petit Cake at Amorette’s Patisserie in Disney Springs! Bella Notte Petit Cake If you’re traveling in February, be sure to keep an eye on menus across Disney World for fun, Valentine’s Day menu options! For instance, in the past, Kona Cafe at Disney World’s Polynesian Village Resort has offered Red Velvet Pancakes with Cream Cheese Topping as a limited-time offering! Red Velvet Breakfast Special And there are plenty of places in Disney World to have a date night! Several locations in Disney Springs offer Valentine’s Day specials and menus for a romantic night out on the town! So if you find yourself in Disney World with your Valentine, you can have a Bella Notte, indeed. Check out this glittery cupcake we spotted at Disney World last Valentine’s Day! If you’re planning a trip to Disney World in February, you have a lot to be excited about! The (usually) manageable crowd levels, super-fun Epcot Festival of the Arts, and delicious Valentine’s Day treats can make Disney World even more awesome! Just be sure to prepare yourself for the ride refurbishments and potentially chilly temps and you’ll be in for a magical vacay! Planning a Disney World vacation? You’re probably forgetting THIS! Are you planning a trip to Disney World in February? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Going to Disney World in January? Here’s What You Need To Know! Going To Disney World in November? Here’s What You Need To Know! Going to Disney World in December? Here’s What You Need To Know. View the full article

Not to long ago, we told you guys about Kona Island Brewing Co’s Spiked Seltzer featuring one of Disney World’s most iconic beverages, POG JUICE! Polynesian Lobby For those of you who haven’t discovered this mystical elixir of the tiki gods, its a tropical mix of passion fruit, orange, and guava juices that we ADORE and sometimes it goes by other names such as Jungle Juice or Liliko’ i Juice, as well! But did you know there’s actually another boozy POG-like beverage outside of Disney World? It’s actually produced by the same company as the POG Juice hard seltzer we told you about earlier, only this one is for beer drinkers! Hanalei Island IPA by Kona Brewing Co. Check out some POG Juice drinks you can get SPIKED at Disney World here! It’s called Hanalei Island IPA and it’s made by Kona Brewing Co.! Believe it or not, we actually found this one being sold at our pool bar where we RESIDE! Talk about a little taste of Disney World without having to leave home! Check out the POG Juice logo it has on the label — that’s what makes it OFFICIAL! Hanalei Island IPA by Kona Brewing Co. The American IPA style beer has a refreshing fruit-forward taste, so if you really enjoy fruitier IPAs, we think you’ll get a kick out of trying this guy! It’s brewed in California but sold at many locations throughout the U.S. — including Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort’s Tambu Lounge and Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto! Hanalei Island IPA by Kona Brewing Co. Meanwhile, our friends in Texas say they’ve seen it at Total Wine & More, Spec’s, and even Target, so keep your eyes peeled for it next time you do an “essential supplies run”! Check out the POG Kona Island Brewing Co’s Spiked Seltzer here! Have you tried the Hanalei Island IPA by Kona Brewing Co. yet? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: REVIEW!!! We’re JUICED About the NEW Frozen POG Wine Slushie at Disney World! Ranking all the Disney World Mickey Mouse Character Meals from Best to…Don’t Bother The BEST 32 Disney World Snacks You’ll ONLY Find at the HOTELS! View the full article

Recently, we shared with you over 50 Disney World upgrades that cost less than $50 and that got us thinking… Disney World …what about some upgrades you can find for even CHEAPER? That’s why we’re coming back at ‘cha with even more food grades at Disney World — most of which cost only a few bucks! CHEESE! Some folks say the best things are life are free, and we’d like to (kindly) disagree. They actually cost about a dollar. $1 Cheese Sauce at Various Locations Throughout the Disney World Parks That’s right, plastic cheese lovers, we’re talking about our beloved Disney parks Cheese Sauce! Plastic Cheese at Casey’s Corner For a crisp $1 bill, you can turn any snack into a make-you-wanna-happy-dance Cheese Sauce PAR-TAY! Add cheese sauce to your french fries at Backlot Express for just $1, or get a cup of the good stuff on the side of ANYTHING at Casey’s Corner. And as of recently, the Corn Dog Nuggets at Casey’s come with their own vessel of liquid orange awesomeness, but sometimes you need a little MORE cheese sauce to go with the rest of your meal! Not ALL locations offer up sides of cheese sauce, but it sure can’t hurt to ask! We’ve found them available NOT listed on the menu before but lo and behold, it’s available if you ask! Click here to see the cups of cheese at Backlot Express! 75-Cent to $1 Queso at Various Locations Throughout the Disney Parks What’s that you say? Queso is the SAME as a cup of cheese sauce?! Oh no, dear friends. True cheese sauce, like the kind found at Casey’s Corner, is pretty much the same industrial, mass-produced cheese sauce anywhere you find it. It’s always that telltale yellow-orange and always tastes just about the same (meaning: delicious, but there’s a reason we call it plastic cheese!). QUESO is the REALLY good stuff. It usually has spice or peppers mixed in and is typically found around Mexican eateries. This cheese is typically creamier and a bit more flavorful than the vats of plastic cheese. Now you know. At Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe in Magic Kingdom, you’ll find their Queso Blanco for just one buck! Queso Blanco at Peco Bill’s And over at Epcot’s La Cantina de San Angel you’ll also find a cup of creamy, rich Queso for only 75 cents! Word of caution, though — these ones do tend to run a little smaller than the $1 cups of queso, so you might need to buy two depending on how much damage you’re planning on doing! Click here to see the 75 cent queso at La Cantina de San Angel! SMC (Super Melty Cheese Sauce) at Chicken Guy! for 50 Cents We’re pulling out big guns with our next stop on this Oregon Trail of cheesy wonders with Chicken Guy! Their cheese sauce is so famous, it goes by the moniker “Notorious SMC!” Loaded Fries with SMC at Chicken Guy! Actually, it’s just SMC which stands for Super Melty Cheese Sauce (that Guy Fieri has a way with words)! We love to drizzle it over our fries or dunk our chicken in it! For only 50 cents, you can’t go wrong! And if you’ve got the time (and appetite) try one of Chicken Guy’s other remaining 22 unique sauces for only 50 cents extra! We like the Buffalo! Check out our review of Chicken Guy! and its 22 sauces here! Add Caramel, Hot Fudge, or Peanut Butter Sauce to your Ice Cream Sammie for 69 Cents at Plaza Ice Cream Parlor! We truly could write a post about nothing but cups of cheese and be pretty pleased with ourselves, but we understand some of you guys have OTHER taste cravings to satisfy at Disney World. That’s why we want to tell you about this little hack — you can take any dessert at Magic Kingdom’s Plaza Ice Cream Parlor truly over-the-top for only 69 cents! Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich with Peanut Butter at Plaza Ice Cream Parlor The awesome Cast Members will ladle some Caramel, Hot Fudge, or Peanut Butter Sauce over your treat or in a cup for less than a dollar. Now if only they would just ladle it straight into our mouths! Actually, on second thought, that sounds a bit desperate — it’s just really THAT good is all we’re tryin’ to say! Click here to see our FAVORITE hack with this peanut butter sauce! Add Some Ooey Gooey Butter Cake (or a Brownie!) to Your Ice Cream at Ample Hills Creamery If ice cream is your true passion in life, allow us to escort you to Disney’s BoardWalk Inn Resort, where you’ll find Ample Hills Creamery! This little spot sells some AH-MAZING house-made ice cream flavors, including an exclusive flavor of ice cream called Sally Sells Seashells — an orange marshmallow ice cream with housemade salty chocolate seashells! Sally Sells Seashells in an M&M Cone You can get a cup of ice cream here for $6.99 for a small or $7.99 for a large. But did you know for just TWO DOLLA MORE than a large cup, you can upgrade to a sundae? Why is that such a good thing? Oh, because on top of that large cup of ice cream, you get a choice of sauce, whipped cream, sprinkles, a cherry, and A WHOLE SLICE of their amazing Ooey Gooey Butter Cake or a brownie! Ooey Gooey Butter Cake Sundae — Best $2 Upgrade EVER Their Ooey Gooey Butter Cake ice cream is pretty fantastic so we’re THRILLED to have a way to get even more of that freshly made yummy cake in our mouths! Click here for our review of Ample Hills! Spike Your Milkshake For Only $2! Did you know Disney World has a bunch of places where you can grab a Boozy Milkshake? One of our favorite spots is The Fountain at Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Resorts! Milkshake of the Month at The Fountain And the best part? Getting a little rum or vanilla vodka mixed in with your milkshake only costs $2 at The Fountain. With prices so low, it’s pretty hard to resist the urge to get a spiked one every time, and The Fountain even features a new Milkshake-of-the-Month which comes in both a boozy and non-alcoholic version! Click here to see our review of one of these Milkshakes-of-the-Month (sans booze!) Refillable Resort Mug Upgrade Have you noticed Disney World has been upping its Refillable Resort Mug game lately? These newer cups cost about $10 more than the standard plastic mugs, but we like them so much BETTER! Since a Refillable Mug is included with every Disney Dining Plan, you can pay the difference and get this nicer mug instead or, if not on the dining plan, they’ll run you about $30! Skyliner Refillable Mug You’ll still get free unlimited refills for the length of your stay at your Disney resort, PLUS they’re made out of stainless steel! We also think they’re insulated waaaay better than the standard refillable mugs and if you’re like us, you’re probably more likely to reuse one of these upgraded travel mugs long after your Disney World vacation is over! (Anyone else have a cabinet in their house overflowing with the plastic ones?!) Check out some of the other styles of upgraded Refillable Resort Mugs we’ve spotted here! Dole Whip Upgrades We’ve talked about Cheese Sauce upgrades, Ice Cream upgrades, and Refillable Mug upgrades; now it’s time to discuss some Dole Whip upgrades! We gotta admit, we’re still quite smitten with Aloha Isle’s Pineapple Upside Down Cake with Dole Whip for $6.99 even though it’s been around for a while now. A moist, delicious cake AND the frosty deliciousness that is Pineapple Dole Whip? Yes, PLEASE! Pineapple Upside Down Cake with Dole Whip at Aloha Isle You can also get a Pineapple Dole Whip Float at Aloha Isle for only $1 more than a cup of plain Pineapple Dole Whip (not that we’re saying there’s anything PLAIN about Pineapple Dole Whip — Disney World’s most PERFECT food [as voted by YOU!]). Check out more even more ways to upgrade your Pineapple Dole Whip here! Boozy Pineapple Dole Whip! You can also add a little splash of liquor to your frozen Pineapple Dole Whip treat at a few spots throughout Disney World. Some of our favorite spots? At Pineapple Lanai you can get your Pineapple Dole Whip Float with a Rum Floater for $12! Pineapple and Vanilla Swirl Dole Whip Float at Pineapple Lanai Tamu Tamu Refreshments at Disney’s Animal Kingdom also has a number of options to choose from! Go for their King’s Cooler for $10 which features Pineapple Dole Whip with Watermelon, Strawberry, and Coconut-flavored Syrup served with Plantation Dark Rum or Parrot Bay Coconut Rum! King’s Cooler Whenever Epcot is throwing one of its annual festivals, look for fancy spiked Pineapple Dole Whip concoctions to appear often (We actually spotted boozy Dole Whip for the first time EVER at Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival way back in 2013!). Click here to learn more about the boozy King’s Cooler in Animal Kingdom All Drink Upgrades in General Did you know you can usually upgrade your alcohol at several spots in Disney World for just a few dollars more? Hey, if you’re only going to enjoy a cocktail or two on vacation, why not make it a top-shelf one, baby! Negroni at la Cava del Tequila And for a little extra festivity, we like throwing in a Glow Cube or a fun Novelty Straw. Nothing says “I’m at Disney World” quite like sipping your drink through an Elastigirl or Mickey Mouse Straw! Souvenir Straws Some Glow Cubes make great souvenirs, too! We have a drawer full of them at home that we pop into our drinks anytime we miss the parks! Extra Icing at Gaston’s Tavern for Free?!? Before we get your hopes up too much, we’ve only been mildly successful with this feat a handful of times at Gaston’s Tavern in Magic Kingdom. Some Cast Members simply won’t do it (which we totally get, but still…) while others are happy to fork over an extra cup of icing for your massive Cinnamon Roll! Cinnamon Roll at Gaston’s Tavern Like we said, this seems to be very “your mileage may vary” when it comes to free cups of icing, but it doesn’t hurt to ask! After all, the ratio of icing to giant bun is a bit unbalanced, don’t ya think? An extra cup of icing might be all it takes to help restore order! Wanna make these cinnamon rolls at home? Click here for all the deets! Hack Your Own Churro Sundae Last but not least, we want to tell you about another special ice cream upgrade we invented ourselves! Well, we DID borrow the idea from some versions of Churro Sundaes we’ve seen come and go over the years — and now that the Churro Ice Cream Sandwich is off the menu at Sleepy Hollow Refreshments, you really have to get creative if you want your own Churro-Ice Cream treat, so here’s what you need to do! Churro Sundae Buy a Churro FIRST (we usually get ours in Frontierland when in Magic Kingdom) then order up any scoop of ice cream or sundae of your choice (we’re fans of the wide selection of flavors over at Plaza Ice Cream Parlor)! Break up your churro over your ice cream or use it for dunking. It’s that easy! Find out what has replaced the Churro Ice Cream Sandwich here! Well, friends, there you have it! Not everything in Disney World has to cost an arm and a leg! We hope you’re more ready than ever to take your next Disney World trip to the NEXT LEVEL now that you know it’ll only cost you a few bucks to do it! Until next time! What’s your favorite “cheap thrill” at Disney World? Tell us in the comments below! Related posts: The 31 Things To Eat In Disney World If You’re Obsessed With CHEESE!! Going to Disney World?? You Need Our BEST Disney Dining Plan Snack Credit VALUES for 2020! News: New Dining Discounts for Disney World Annual Passholders for 45th Anniversary Year View the full article

Disney Springs will begin a phased reopening of several third-party restaurants and retail locations in Disney World starting tomorrow. Wine Bar George And while we’ve been curious about what to expect at Disney Springs since dining at a few restaurants at Universal Studios’ CityWalk’s which reopened last week, we just received a text message from one of the places we’ll be stopping by tomorrow informing us of some of the changes they will be implementing. It appears instead of using disposable menus, Wine Bar George will be utilizing a digital menu. You will scan a QR code provided at your table and you will view the menu on your own personal electronic device. This is the text we received this morning: Text Message We Received Today from Wine Bar George Check out the additional safety precautions Wine Bar George will be implementing here! Wine Bar George will also be checking in all guests with advance dining reservations digitally. Guests should text Wine Bar George once they arrive to be seated. Reservations are currently available on the My Disney Experience app starting the second week of June as well as on OpenTable with times still showing for tomorrow evening as of press time. Former Wine Bar George Menu Also note, Wine Bar George, The Basket (Wine Bar George’s grab ‘n go counter), and several other Disney Springs restaurants have recently removed several items from their menus. You can check out which items have been removed (as well as a few that have been added) here. Check out the modifications Frontera Cocina has made to its reopening menu here! Are you planning on going to Disney Springs tomorrow? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: Did Your Favorite Disney Springs Meal Survive These Menu Changes? Here’s The Complete List of Retail Locations That Are Reopening in Disney Springs on May 20th! News! Planet Hollywood Will Be Reopening on May 20th in Disney Springs View the full article

Disney Springs reveals restaurants, stores opening on May 20 View the full article

Now that Shanghai Disneyland has partially reopened, it seems Hong King Disneyland might be taking steps in the same direction. Hong Kong Disneyland Shanghai Disneyland was the first Disney theme park to close on January 25th while Hong Kong Disneyland shut its gates only a day later, but has yet to welcome back guests. And today, according to @hkdl_0f_fantasy, there appears to be some activity at China’s other Disney theme park. The tweet states Hong Kong Disneyland Cast Members have been invited back to attend a soft opening from May 19th to May 21st. Learn about Shanghai Disneyland’s new advance purchase ticketing process here! We’ll continue to watch for more signs that Hong Kong Disneyland is getting ready to reopen, but for now, the website still states the theme park is closed until further notice and they “will announce a reopening date once they determine it is advisable.” Stay tuned! Do you think Hong Kong Disneyland might be gearing up to reopen soon? Tell us what you think in the comments below! Related posts: NEWS! Hong Kong Disneyland Has Closed Temporarily Breaking News! Character Dining Is Resuming at the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel UPDATED! Here’s What We Know About the 2020 Closures and Travel To Walt Disney World and Disneyland View the full article

In its first step towards resuming operations, CityWalk at Universal Orlando began a phased reopening on May 14th. Disney Springs Our team was on-site to check out the reopening of CityWalk on May 14th; and with Disney Springs scheduled to begin its own phased reopening on May 20th, we want to share our most important takeaways from our experience to help you prepare! Here are some things we learned at CityWalk that we need you to know before you visit Disney Springs! Security is Serious About Enforcing the Mask Policy The reopenings of both CityWalk and Disney Springs include additional health and safety measures. As part of these new safety policies, both locations require face coverings for all guests aged three and older. And we confirmed with a CityWalk employee that they are absolutely serious about enforcing this policy — no one (aged three and older) is slipping by without a mask! CityWalk Reopening CityWalk security informed us that guests with a disability that prevents them from wearing a face covering will be directed to Guest Services to discuss reasonable accommodations. But our major take away was this — if you’re wondering whether this policy is a little lax, the answer is a hard NO! And we assume that masks will be taken just as seriously at Disney Springs as well. So make 100% sure you have your mask before you head to Disney Springs! Read more about the health and safety precautions being taken at Disney Springs The Temperature Checks are Quick and Easy Both CityWalk and Disney Springs also require guests to have their temperature screened before they will be allowed to enter. This is a process that many people (us included!) were curious to see in action. At CityWalk, the temperature check was super quick and easy! Temperature Check Security used touchless forehead thermometers for the scan, and it only took a matter of seconds to complete the process per guest. As long as Disney Springs uses a system similar to what we’ve seen at CityWalk or Shanghai Disneyland, we don’t foresee any serious time delays with this measure. Click here to learn more about our experience with the temperature check at CityWalk! Walking Around in a Mask Takes Some Getting Used To This is something that caught our team a little off-guard at CityWalk — if you’re not used to wearing a mask, it might take a while to build up your stamina! We found ourselves out of breath a few times when walking between shops and restaurants. CityWalk If you have time before your trip, practice walking around in your mask to get used to the sensation of breathing while wearing one for extended periods of time. And regardless, be sure to take your time making your way around Disney Springs so you don’t lose your breath! Here are the Disney Springs retail locations that are opening on May 20th Hand Sanitizer is Everywhere… We spotted a ton of hand sanitizer stations during our time at CityWalk. They were placed at the entrances and exits of stores, restaurants, and throughout CityWalk. Plus, there was plenty of hand sanitizer being sold in the Universal Studios Store. Hand sanitizer We anticipate that Disney Springs will have lots of hand sanitizing stations as well — especially since they had started popping up around Disney property before the shutdown. We spotted face masks and hand sanitizer at the Universal Studios Store …But You May Still Be Glad To Have Your Own! Here’s a little tip we picked up at CityWalk — even if there are plenty of hand sanitizing stations available, still bring your own bottle! While table-service restaurants had stations to sanitize before you are seated, if guests feel more comfortable re-sanitizing before eating, it might be a good idea to pack your own bottle. Margaritaville at CityWalk So, even though sanitizer will probably be offered throughout Disney Springs, if you have concerns you should still bring your own supply as a backup when sanitizer isn’t handy. Here are the Disney Springs restaurants that have confirmed they are reopening on May 20th! The Restaurant Waits Were Long, So Get a Dining Reservation if They’re Available! We saw some really long waits on the first day CityWalk reopened — there was a 2.5 hour wait for a table at Margaritaville! With limited capacity at the dining locations, seating can fill up pretty quickly. So we definitely suggest that you grab a dining reservation if they’re available at the restaurant you’d like to try! Wine Bar George Keep in mind that you can find reservations for some Disney Springs restaurants on third-party sites — our team found reservations for Wine Bar George and STK on OpenTable! Click here for more info about how we got our reservation for Wine Bar George! Capacity Was Being Managed at Stores and Restaurants CityWalk had employees posted at the entrance of stores to manage capacity and restaurants had limited seating. Disney Springs will take similar precautions to allow for physical distancing, so prepare for the possibilities of long lines to enter Disney Springs locations — especially if you’re on a time crunch! Disney Springs It’s also important to prioritize your must-dos. If you’re used to packing your Disney Springs day full of snacks and shopping trips, you’ll probably have to cut a few things out of your plans given the limited capacity. So pick the most important thing on your to-do list and head there first! These are the Disney-owned locations that will be opening at Disney Springs on May 27th Distancing is a Thing EVERYWHERE! At CityWalk, there were markers in stores, restaurants, security, etc. to show proper physical distancing. The visual aids were helpful since it can be difficult to retrain our brains to keep such a wide space between ourselves and others! CityWalk physical Distancing Markers Prepare to maintain physical distancing at Disney Springs as well, and keep an eye out for similar markers that indicate proper spacing! Check out our experience buying Voodoo Donuts at CityWalk! Touchless Payments Weren’t Required The locations we visited at CityWalk were still accepting cash payments. At Disney Springs, locations like Wine Bar George are “encouraging” touchless payments but they aren’t required at this time. Disney Springs If you have a form of touchless payment available, like Apple Pay, you should be able to use it at some locations. If you’re concerned about touching a pen when signing receipts, consider packing your own. The Florida Governor asked theme parks to submit a plan for reopening. Learn more here! Employees Were Super Helpful From temperature checks, to servers, to cashiers, the CityWalk employees we encountered were incredibly helpful and on top of the new procedures! And we expect that Disney Springs employees will likely be pretty similar. We suggest being EXTRA patient and kind during your visit to Disney Springs since everyone is still adjusting to the new processes! Disney Springs Just know that everyone — both guests and Cast Members — is probably a little nervous and stressed. So do your best to stay calm and be kind! Click here for our live coverage of the reopening of CityWalk! Overall, we thought the reopening of CityWalk was well-run. The new safety procedures were smoothly implemented and employees were helpful and knowledgable — and we learned a few things, too! Remember these tips on your visit to Disney Springs to make your trip less stressful! Read more about our experience at the reopening of CityWalk here! Have you visited CityWalk since it reopened? Share your tips in the comments! Related posts: 3 Things We Hope We DON’T See At The Disney Springs Reopening This Week Here’s The Complete List of Retail Locations That Are Reopening in Disney Springs on May 20th! We Asked Our Readers: “Should Disney World Give out Free Masks for Guests?” Here’s What They Said. View the full article

Disney Springs will begin a phased reopening tomorrow, May 20th. We have been keeping readers informed of all the restaurants and shops that will reopen in Walt Disney World’s shopping and dining district starting tomorrow. Disney Springs As a reminder, Disney-owned and operated locations will begin opening on May 27th, while the initial phase that begins tomorrow will involve third-party vendors. And today we are adding several retail locations to the list of shops that will reopen tomorrow. The following locations have been added to the list of spots reopening tomorrow on the Disney Springs website. Town Center The Disney Springs Town Center is host to a wide array of retail locations. Disney Springs Town Center Columbia Sportswear, Edward Beiner Purveyor of Fine Eyewear, Lucky Brand, Luxury of Time by Diamonds International, Pandora Jewelry, Sugarboo & Co., UGG, UNOde50, Volcom, Vera Bradley, and Zara are all among the spots reopening tomorrow in the Town Center of Disney Springs. The Landing Chapel Hats, Royally Yours by Arribas Brothers, Sanuk, and Savannah Bee Company will be welcoming guests tomorrow. The Landing These locations are all found in The Landing in Disney Springs. Marketplace In the Marketplace, the Happy Hound kiosk joins the list of locations reopening on May 20th. Marketplace Co-op As a reminder, the Marketplace Co-op (pictured above) will be reopening as part of the Disney-owned locations that will begin reopening on May 27th. West Side On the West Side, guests will find Sosa Family Cigars reopen. Disney Springs West Side These locations will join other previously announced shops which you can find here. Disney has also provided information about the measures that will be implemented upon reopening for the safety of all guests and cast members. These protocols include temperature checks, capacity limits, and more, and you can read about those in detail here. Click here to learn about the safety measures that will be implemented in Disney Springs upon reopening. To learn more about the current status of Disney Resorts and parks around the world, you can visit any of the links below. Are you following the reopening of Disney Springs? Please let us know with a comment. Related posts: What’s NEW At Disney Springs? A WHOLE LOT! Check it out…. What’s New in Disney Springs! August 10, 2018 NEWS: Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill in Disney Springs Now Accepting Reservations for May 20th Reopening View the full article

#VoicesFromHome: Happy Birthday from the Dapper Dans View the full article

We’ve all been finding creative ways to celebrate moments at home — including birthdays! For anyone with a birthday (or even perhaps an “un-birthday”) coming up, Disney Parks has a special #DisneyMagicMoments to help you celebrate! The Dapper Dans are here to help you sing “Happy Birthday” in the video below. This talented troupe from Disneyland park brought their voices together from their homes a few weeks back. It’s quite simple — they’ll sing the song, while you sing along and add the name of who you’re celebrating! We hope you enjoy this special #VoicesFromHome moment: If you’re looking for a special treat to go along with your birthday wishes, try our at-home recipe inspired by the ultimate “Grey Stuff” found at Disney Parks around the world. It’s delicious! Keep checking the Disney Parks Blog for more #DisneyMagicMoments stories. Happy Birthday! View the full article

Is there anything more quintessential on a Disney World trip than meeting Mickey Mouse? We’ll make the executive call: No, no there isn’t. Mickey Mouse You’ve been able to meet Mickey since the very earliest days of Disney World and it’s a tradition that will likely stand the test of time for years to come. Still, meeting Mickey used to be a VERY different experience. Scoring that hug from the Mouse has changed a lot over the years. Now, you’ll have some decisions to make if you want to schmooze with the Big Cheese. Characters used to be free-roaming (believe it or not)! Back in the opening months of Magic Kingdom, Disney characters used to roam the parks freely. Nowadays, seeing Mickey take a stroll down Main Street, U.S.A. might cause some serious traffic jams! Still, characters remain somewhat free-roaming over in Disneyland, but Disney World characters are a little more (ok a LOT more) scheduled. Meeting characters back in the day was a free-for-all! To meet Mickey in Disney World today, you’ll need to head to an existing meet and greet location in the parks, or schedule a character meal. The good side of this is that these meetings are a lot more controlled than free-roaming. You can guarantee that precious face-to-face time with Mickey without having other guests clamoring for his attention too! On the other hand, you will have to pay for your experience — either with your time or money! Click here for EVERYTHING you need to know about character meals! Now, meeting Mickey is a lot less random AND a lot less “free.” If you’re looking to meet Mickey in present day, you have some options. You can choose to wait in a LONG line to meet the Mouse, spend one of your daily FastPasses, or book a character meal. Meeting Mickey at a Meet and Greet Let’s talk option one — meeting the Mouse in a meet and greet format. There is a Mickey meet and greet in every Disney World park. He meets at Town Square Theater in Magic Kingdom, in the theater in the Imagination Pavilion in Epcot, Adventurer’s Outpost in Animal Kingdom, and Mickey and Minnie Starring in Red Carpet Dreams in Hollywood Studios. Mickey Meet and Greet The meet and greets are free (with your park ticket, of course) but wait times can be over an hour and even spike above 90 minutes long at times. Whew! That’s a big chunk of your park day for a quick hug and a picture! So even though you’re not spending any extra cash, you’ll still “pay” with your time when you go the standby route! Alternatively, you can snag a FastPass for the Mickey meet and greets in Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. Just remember there’s currently no Fastpass option for the Epcot or Hollywood Studios meet and greets. Mickey Meet and Greet In this instance, you’ll be “paying” with one of your FastPasses. Since Magic Kingdom doesn’t have a tier system, you’ll be using up one of three potentially better-used FastPasses for a chance to briefly meet Mickey. This could work for you if meeting Mickey is a MUST for your family, but it could mean having to wait a couple of hours for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Space Mountain, or any other ride you gave up using that FastPass on. In Animal Kingdom, the Adventurer’s Outpost is a Tier 2 Fastpass so you’ll be passing up on a Fastpass for Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Dinosaur, or another popular attraction. But still, using your Fastpass in Animal Kingdom might be a better move than using one in Magic Kingdom since you can usually spot shorter waits for the Tier 2 attractions in this park. Mickey Mouse Whichever way you choose to handle your Mickey meet and greet, you’ll be spending coveted park time or FastPasses, so be wary! Need tips on navigating the Disney World Fastpass tiers? Click here! Meeting Mickey at Character Dining Instead, you could opt to spend your money and go the character dining route. Mickey meets at Chef Mickey’s in Disney’s Contemporary Resort, ‘Ohana breakfast in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Tusker House in Animal Kingdom, Topolino’s Terrace breakfast in Disney’s Riviera Resort, Garden Grill in Epcot, and a few other locations. Click here to check em all out! Farmer Mickey This option is great because you’re GUARANTEED time with Mickey AND other characters, a cute pic, and NO WAIT. Plus, you get to chow down while you’re at it. For us, food is always a plus. On the other side of things, character dining tends to be expensive and a lot of times you might only get a quick hug and a pic before Mickey has to move on to another table. Topolino’s Terrace Breakfast a la Art Characters Plus in this case, you’re paying for the experience ON TOP of a park ticket (unless you dine in one of the resort restaurants where he meets). That can get pretty pricy! But hey, you gotta eat, right? So if you can factor into your budget a character meal, this is a great way to meet Mickey (and more!). Click here to see our ranking of ALL the Mickey Mouse character meals in Disney World! Meeting Mickey at Hard-Ticketed Events There’s a third option to meeting Mickey as well, although this one is under special circumstances. Some of the After Hours events in the parks feature Mickey. Mickey met guests at the Hollywood Studios After Hours, the Animal Kingdom After Hours, and the Magic Kingdom After Hours (NOT Villains!) plus Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party in the past. Mickey Mouse If you’re headed to one of these events make sure to check in advance whether or not Mickey will be there! Remember though, this one is probably going to cost you just as much, if not MORE than the other options. You’ll be paying to attend the hard-ticketed event AND you’ll have to wait in line once you get there. So this one is a combo of money and time. Still, it’s important to note that it’s an option if you ARE planning to get your party on. Curious if Disney World After Hours are worth it? Click here! So, what’s the best way to meet your favorite character? These tips don’t ONLY apply to Mickey. You’ll pay with money, fastpasses, or park time to meet other members of the Sensational Six, the Seven Dwarfs (you can meet a couple at Storybook Dining at Artist Point or the whole gang at the Halloween and Christmas parties), Winnie the Pooh and friends (at some character meals or the holiday parties), and the Princesses too! Wait Time to meet Anna and Elsa That leaves us wondering, what’s the best way to meet your favorite character? Well, that depends on your family and your needs! Wait in line for a meet and greet if… You don’t mind taking the time to wait. You’re willing to head to the park right when it opens or stay until it closes to get the shortest lines. You’re really hoping to use those FastPasses for other attractions. Get a FastPass to meet your favorite character if… FastPass is an option for their meet and greet. Meeting your fave character is a must. You’re not bothered by losing out on other FastPasses. You see a day-of FastPass for the meet and greet when you’re in the park. Head to a character meal if… You want to meet a bunch of characters all at once. You really don’t want to wait in line. You don’t mind spending the extra money for the experience. Meet your favorite character at a hard-ticketed event if… You’re looking to meet your chosen character in a special, seasonal outfit. You’re hoping to meet a rare Disney character (like Jack and Sally at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party). You’re already heading to a party and you’re looking to meet Mickey (or anyone else!) while you live it up! So there you have it! We’ve laid out all the different ways that you can meet Mickey nowadays so that you can pick what’s best for YOUR trip! What’s your favorite way to meet Mickey? Tell us in the comments! Related posts: Ranking all the Disney World Mickey Mouse Character Meals from Best to…Don’t Bother Best Disney World Character Meal Recommendations By Age Disney Food for Families: Great Disney World Restaurants for Boys View the full article

Here at Disney Food Blog, we’re ALWAYS snacking on cookies, cupcakes, and more to tell you which of Disney World treats you don’t want to miss, but we’re also constantly on the lookout for new crumbs of wisdom for how to have the best overall experience possible on our Disney World vacations (see what we did there?)! Bee Cupcake at Animal Kingdom! Our Disney World habits have helped us pick up quite a few tricks over the years which have, until now, stayed pretty much under-the-radar — meaning you’re not likely to find them in any guidebooks or Facebook groups! We’re sharing our top ten most-handy bits of advice when it comes to prepping for your next trip to Disney World! Let’s get right down to business! 1. Take Screenshots of Your Itinerary on the My Disney Experience App Capturing a screenshot image of your scheduled FastPasses or Advance Dining Reservations will really help save your phone battery at the parks! That battery life will start to dwindle FAST with all the opening and closing of the My Disney Experience app you can do in a day! © My Disney Experience App We like to take this hack one step further by saving the image as our home screen — that way, all we have to do is “jiggle” our phone to see our plans that day! On an iPhone, you can take a screenshot by simultaneously pressing the power button on the side of the phone and one of the volume buttons. Then go into settings and select your image as your background! GENIUS! Click here for even more tips for your Disney World vacation! 2. Also, Take Photos of Your Hard Tickets and MagicBands By now you probably think we’re a little obsessed with taking pictures of everything — annnnd you wouldn’t be wrong! But we do it for a reason — it’s saved our skins a number of times in the parks! Pirate Minnie MagicBand That’s because it’s a lot easier for Cast Members to help you replace something you’ve lost if you have a record of “having it” in the first place! Hard tickets, Photopass cards, and back of your MagicBand (with its number visible) are all things we always snap a quick pic of — just in case we misplace any of them! Disney can look them up by their number and help you get a replacement that much faster. Learn five super surprising facts about MagicBands here! 3. Consider Buying Disney Gift Cards Ahead of Time If you’re looking to curb some of your vacation spending habits and save a little money at the same time, consider buying some prepaid Disney gift cards before you head off to Disney World! ©Disney They can really help you stay on budget PLUS if you shop at Target, a Target RedCard gives you 5% off your purchase of Disney gift cards! Grab your rain ponchos and any last-minute toilettes for your vacation while you’re at it! Check out our answers to ten of your biggest planning a trip to Disney World questions here! 4. Be on the Lookout for Extra Fees From rental fees, to cancellation fees, to parking fees, and every fee in between, fees are a pesky problem to have at Disney World if you don’t know about them in advance! Disney’s BoardWalk Inn To keep hidden fees from sneaking up on you, here are some common culprits! Nightly Parking Fees For Disney World Resort Guests Disney World Resorts began charging an overnight parking fee in March of 2018. Here are the current rates being charged: Disney World’s Value Resorts: $15 per night Disney World Moderate Resorts: $20 per night Disney World Deluxe Resorts & Deluxe Villas: $25 per night Valet parking is available at certain resorts for $33 per night Riviera Resort Entrance Note: Disney Vacation Club members are NOT charged for parking when using their DVC points to book a room or when staying at a Deluxe Villa because the cost is included in membership dues. For campers, one parking space is complimentary per campsite for guests at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground. Staying Offsite Fees If you’re planning on staying somewhere offsite, be prepared for additional fees like the cost of parking at the Disney theme parks. Theme park parking is complimentary for Walt Disney World hotel guests and Annual Passholders, but everyone else will be paying: $25 per day for standard parking $45-$50 per day for preferred parking $30 per day for oversized parking Does Everyone Want To Ride Splash Mountain?? Once you pay at one Disney World theme park, you won’t have to pay again if you decide to visit more than one park in a day — just save your receipt! And if you’re a Walt Disney World resort guest or passholder you can upgrade to preferred parking by paying the difference between the standard rate and the preferred rate. Free parking is available at Disney’s Water Parks as well as ESPN Wide World of Sports and at Disney Springs. Learn about 8 fees at Disney World nobody ever told us about here! Gratuity Tips can really add up quick at Disney World! Even if you’ve already paid for all of your meals ahead of time with a Disney Dining Plan, note that gratuity isn’t included. The Farmer at California Grill We highly recommend budgeting an extra 18-20% of your planned table service meals to cover the tip of your hard-working server. Keep in mind, if you have a party of 6 or more, an 18% gratuity will automatically be added to your bill. And if you’re using a Tables in Wonderland card, you’ll also have an 18% gratuity added to your check no matter your party’s size. Read our Disney Dining Plan FAQ here! 5. There Are Special Perks for Kids Under Three But enough about fees! Let’s talk about something A LOT more pleasant — FREEBIES! And if you have any children under the age of three, then lucky you! There are all sorts of great ways you can save some money! For instance, children under the age of three are allowed to eat off of a parent’s plate for free! This is especially nice at buffets where you’re free to make a plate for your toddler and one for yourself. Piatta Alla Parmigiana con Pollo And did you know children under the age of three don’t need a park ticket to get inside any of the Disney parks? Just remember, though, that if you plan to fly to Disney they might not be TOTALLY free — while Disney World lets kids under three in for free, children two and up require a full-priced plane ticket to fly. So if you’re in that two to three age range, keep that in mind! FastPass Touchpoint This little tip might really help you plan out when you should go to Disney World if you have children under three! The difference between going a few weeks before your child turns three or after their birthday could mean spending hundreds of dollars more! Are your kids old enough to go to Disney World? Click here to find out! 6. Don’t Forget About Rider Switch Worried about bringing a small child along and not getting to enjoy the thrill rides? Don’t forget about a magical little thing called Rider Switch! With Rider Switch, you and your partner won’t have to wait in line twice if you have a child who’s too small or doesn’t want to ride. Here’s how it works: the person riding can let a Cast Member know they want to use Rider Switch BEFORE they get in line, and they’ll give them a special pass to give to the last Cast Member they encounter before boarding. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge When they’re done, they go outside and switch places with the second person, who can hop in the FastPass line to ride without a lengthy wait! Rider Switch has been around for years and it has been a lifesaver for those of us who travel frequently with small kiddos in tow! Check out our top 20 favorite Disney World ride hacks here! 7. Start in the Back Many guests get hung up on the first few attractions they encounter when the parks open (ever noticed Spaceship Earth in Epcot has a LONG wait in the morning?!), but for the shortest wait times, always head to the back! Big Thunder Mountain Lots of times you can knock out some pretty popular rides without a FastPass if you head straight to the back of a park and get on ‘em right away! Then you can relax and enjoy a more leisurely pace while working your way back up to the front of the park for the rest of the day. Keep in mind this doesn’t ALWAYS work — Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a good example of this. The most popular attractions are at the back of this park, like Slinky Dog Dash and all of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, so everyone ELSE will likely be rushing to the back of this park first. In general, this tip works well for the other three parks. Click here to see which Tier One FastPass you should pick in Hollywood Studios! 8. Be Ready to Meet Disney Characters Chances are you’ll probably run into some “colorful characters” at Disney World, especially if you’ll be enjoying a character meal at one of the park’s many dining locations. To make life even easier for your Disney pals, bring a Sharpie marker from home which is a lot easier for characters with fuzzy or big-gloved hands to hold. They can even sign your shirt or backpack with it (as long as you’re not wearing it)! (Just don’t let it fall into your toddlers’ hands or they could do some SERIOUS damage!) Goofy We also like to keep our autograph books in a Ziploc bag we brought from home. That way, we don’t have to worry if it rains or our bag gets splashed on a ride. Asking an attending Cast Member BEFORE you get in line how long the character will be out is also a really good idea. Characters can only be out for about 20 minutes at a time, so by asking, you can decide if it’s worth the wait or something you should circle back later on to see! See how we ranked all of Mickey Mouse’s character meals from “best” to “don’t bother” here! 9. Know How to Exit Magic Kingdom on a Crowded Day (Without a Major Headache) Did you know many of the gift shops on Main Street, U.S.A. are connected? That means if there are heavy crowds due to a parade or fireworks show ending, you can sometimes escape a little faster and a little easier through the gift shops. Hello from the Magic Kingdom! We also like to exit the park through the gift shop to get a nice, cool blast of AC before waiting at the bus stop (which can be a long, HOT wait!). This exit strategy is also really helpful when it’s raining. You can practically get to the front of the park from Adventureland by entering at Casey’s Corner and exiting through the Emporium. There is a break between some of the buildings on the other side of Main Street, U.S.A., but the same general rule applies when exiting the park from Tomorrowland as well! Click here to see other time-wasters (and how to avoid them!) in Disney World! 10. Always Check the Special Offers Tab Before You Book (and Check It After, Too) Disney room and package discounts and offers are usually released closer to your travel date, so while something might not be available right when you book your trip, keep checking. Disney doesn’t advertise this, but you can usually get in on any deals by re-booking your reservation with the new discount applied! Hi Mickey and Minnie! Keep in mind, most special offers cannot be combined and some promotions, such as Disney World’s Free Dining offer, and they tend to fill up especially FAST! That’s why we always like to recommend our trusted travel agency, Small World Vacations. If a special offer is announced after Small World Vacations helps you make your arrangements, they’ll even help you get the discount applied to your vacation without you having to do any of the legwork! Click here to see a current Disney World guest room discount that’s now available! We hope we helped provide you with a few not-so-common tips to make the most of your trip. A LOT of work goes into planning the perfect Disney World vacation both before you go AND once you’re there, so knowing how to work around common problems and some tips to save time or money can be a huge help! Click here to watch out DFB Video: 11 Weird Ways the Pros Spend Their Time in Disney World! Which tip was the most helpful? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: The BIGGEST Time Wasters in Disney World — And How To Avoid Them! 21 Myths About Walt Disney World Food DEBUNKED Consider Making THESE Weird Choices On Your Next Disney World Trip. View the full article

Disney Springs will begin a phased reopening on May 20th, and we are keeping readers informed of all the restaurants and shops that will reopen in Walt Disney World’s shopping and dining district tomorrow. Disney Springs While select Disney-owned and operated locations will begin opening on May 27th, the initial phase that begins tomorrow will involve third-party vendors. And today we are adding T-REX and Paradiso 37 to the list of restaurants opening tomorrow. Though we are not certain how offerings might differ upon reopening, Paradiso 37 Entertainment often features live music in their covered outdoor dining area while guests enjoy cuisine from North, Central and South America. Paradiso 37 Outside View Reservations are currently available for Paradiso 37 through OpenTable.com. T-REX in the Marketplace is also slated to reopen tomorrow, according to the Disney Springs website. T-Rex Restaurant We will continue to keep you posted on more retail locations that will reopen as well, so please stay tuned. And to learn more about the current status of Disney Resorts and parks around the world, you can visit any of the links below. Find out more about the phased reopening of Disney Springs here! Are you following the reopening of Disney Springs? Please let us know with a comment. Related posts: Select Disney Springs Restaurants Are Now Accepting Reservations Starting June 1st! Have a Roaring Good Time at T-Rex with Their Thanksgiving Menu in Disney World! Celebrate the Ho-Ho-Holidays at Breakfast with Santa in Disney Springs! View the full article

Disney Springs will begin a phased reopening on May 20th, with select third-party restaurants and retail locations welcoming back guests. Frontera Cocina Frontera Cocina will reopen with Disney Springs on May 20th. And, the restaurant has just shared the temporary menu that they will initially offer! When Disney Springs reopens, there will be several changes in place. In addition to health and safety measures across property, there will be some location-specific differences as well. One such change — some restaurants will temporarily feature different or limited menu items. And Frontera Cocina has just given us a peek at the delicious bites we can enjoy when they reopen! Queso Fundido The menu features several starters, salads, tacos, entrees, sides, and desserts for guests to choose from. And we were excited to see some of our favorite eats will be available (hellooooo Queso Fundido)! Here’s a look at the starters, salads, and tacos that will be offered. ©Frontera Cocina And here are the entrees, sides, and desserts! ©Frontera Cocina And, of course, there will be drinks as well! Here are the margaritas, tequila, and sangria guests 21 and older can enjoy. ©Frontera Cocina Plus, cocktails, beer, wine, mezcal, and other beverages will also be available. ©Frontera Cocina Frontera Cocina will be reopening with this temporary menu on May 20th. Until then, you can check out our review and see the previous menu here! Click here to see other Disney Springs menu changes just in time for reopening! Have you eaten at Frontera Cocina? Share your experience with us in the comments! Related posts: Review: Two NEW Menus at Frontera Cocina in Disney Springs! Have a Roaring Good Time at T-Rex with Their Thanksgiving Menu in Disney World! Marg Our Words! You’re Going to Want to Check Out This Drink Deal in Disney Springs! View the full article

Big changes are in store for Disney Springs on May 20th — and we’re not just talking about the shops that will be reopening. Filet Sliders at Splitsville What we’re actually referring to are the several menu changes we’ve noticed cropping up recently at a handful of the dining locations set to open on Wednesday. While we’ve been keeping track of the confirmed Disney Springs restaurants and stores that will be reopening this Wednesday, it seems several establishments are dropping items from their menus in preparation to reopen. Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming The Jasper Board at Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming (which is an array of smoked fish dip, pimento cheese, char-grilled smoked sausage, bread and butter pickles, candied pecans, and buttermilk crackers) along with the Key West Shrimp Cocktail have been removed. The Char-grilled Chicken Tenders (a newer addition which we recently tried) have also been taken off the board. Chargrilled Chicken Tenders Other detracted items include Homecoming’s Braised Short Ribs, Addie Mae’s Chicken & Dumpling Soup, Braised Kale and Collards, Southern Slaw, Sweet Corn Spoon Bread, Slow-cooked Baked Beans, Bradley’s Grits, Shine Cake (Chef Art’s signature dessert), and Auntie’s Chocolate Cake. Shine Cake The Kitchen Plate (a sampling of three different house-made sides) is subbing out its Slow-cooked Baked Beans for Southern Slaw instead. But, Hand-Cut Okra Fries served with icebox dressing for $16 has been added. Additionally, the Whiskey Breeze Bulleit Bourbon and Honey Lavender Fresh are no longer listed. Wine Bar George Over at Wine Bar George, the menu cuts continue. The White and Dark Chocolate Trifle and Teriyaki Salmon Salad have been taken off the menu. Welcome to Wine Bar George! Meanwhile, more menu changes were made Wine Bar George’s grab ‘n go counter, The Basket! The Basket at Wine Bar George Sandwiches including the Goat Cheese (with Fig, Arugula, and Ficelle), the Prosciutto (with Brie), and the Ham and Gruyère Baguette are no longer listed. The Basket Sandwich For Bites & Boxes, The Basket’s Olives & Hummus and Calabrese, Brie, and Honey with Crackers Boxes are not listed on the menu. However, there is a new French Fries option. For $8, you can get French Fries served with your choice of either Queso, Togarashi, California, or Buffalo toppings. The Basket For drinks, the Delirum Nocturnum Belgian Strong Dark Ale and Halter Ranch have been taken off the menu. Truth or Consequences Moscato is now being sold for $9 a glass in addition to a new seasonal selection. Bud Light is also now available for $8. Splitsville Luxury Lanes At Splitsville Luxury Lanes, the Filet Sliders, Impossible Sliders, Fig & Pig Flatbread have been removed from the list of appetizers. And while Splitsville’s other pizza options are still available, the Firehouse Mozzarella Pizza and Veggie Mozzarella Pizza are no longer being listed. Firehouse Pizza Several sushi options including the Ninja Crunch Tempura-fried Salmon and Kani Kama Krab Roll, Crouching Dragon Tempura Shrimp Roll, and Yum Yum Roll Tempura Shrimp Rolls have also disappeared. Splitsville Sushi Several entrees including the Buddha Bowl, Spicy Veggie Bowl, and Vegan Bowl have been cut as well as the Chimichurri Skirt Steak. The Foghorn Burger, Bacon Cheeseburger, and Turkey Burger, have been removed as well. Paddlefish Now that Mother’s Day has come and gone (and Paddlefish has remained shuttered since mid-March), they’ve removed their Lobster Ravioli Dish and replaced it with their Father’s Day offering. The Steak Oscar served with Lump Crab Meat, Béarnaise, and Mashed Potatoes will be available on Sunday, June 21st for $52. Paddlefish Lobster Bisque Soup, the Maine Lobster Roll, and Table-side Lobster Guacamole, the Chilled Trio, and Seafood Boil with 1¼ Pound Maine Lobster have also been taken off. Lobster Roll We’ll keep you posted on any more menu updates as soon as we spot them! In the meantime, if you’re planning to visit Disney Springs when it reopens, check out their new safety procedures here. Did one of your favorite menu items get cut? Let us know which one in the comments below! Related posts: Review! The NEW Dole Whip Friezling is Tart AND Sweet in Disney World! News! Hennessy Week Is Coming to Disney World! What’s New at Disney Springs — The Quake Shake, A Retro Throwback, And The Spookiest Halloween Decorations EVER! View the full article

Today, Disney announced a new leadership team including Josh D’Amaro in his new position as Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products. @joshdamaro on Instagram Other members include Rebecca Campbell, Jeff Vahle, Kareem Daniel, and Thomas Mazloum. Campbell took on the position of chairman of Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer and International, which was formerly held by Kevin Mayer. However, Mayer is moving on to a position with a popular video service. According to Variety, Mayer stepped away from The Walt Disney Company to assume the role of chief executive officer at the “short-form video platform,” TikTok. He will also be taking on the position of chief operating officer at TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance. Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney ByteDance CEO stated, “Kevin’s wealth of experience building successful global businesses makes him an outstanding fit for our mission of inspiring creativity for users globally. As one of the world’s most accomplished entertainment executives, Kevin is incredibly well placed to take ByteDance’s portfolio of products to the next level.” Mayer will support ByteDance by overseeing TikTok, music, gaming, Helo, and other new ByteDance businesses. He is scheduled to start officially working with the company in Los Angeles on June 1st. Disneyland Main Entrance Mayer spoke out on his new position by stating “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to join the amazing team at ByteDance. Like everyone else, I’ve been impressed watching the company build something incredibly rare in TikTok — a creative, positive online global community — and I’m excited to help lead the next phase of ByteDance’s journey as the company continues to expand its breadth of products across every region of the world.” Epcot Monorail Kevin Mayer started working with Disney in 1993, but left in 2000 to become the CEO of Clear Channel Interactive. He returned to Disney in 2005 as EVP of corporate strategy. Most recently, Mayer oversaw Disney’s launch of Disney+ and ESPN+. ©Disney Disney CEO, Bob Chapek, stated “Kevin has had an extraordinary impact on our company over the years…He has done a masterful job of overseeing and growing our portfolio of streaming services, while bringing together the creative and technological assets required to launch the hugely successful Disney Plus globally.” Former Disneyland President, Rebecca Campbell, will take on Mayer’s previous role at The Disney Company. You can read more about Disney’s new leadership team here! Which streaming platform is your favorite and why? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: 10 Ways The Current Crisis is Particularly BAD for The Walt Disney Company Saudi Arabia’s Investment Fund Buys Five Million Shares in The Walt Disney Company Bob Iger Comments Reveal How Set-Backs Could Affect The Walt Disney Company Long-Term View the full article

As United States businesses begin to reopen, movie theaters are starting to come back online as well. AMC Theatre Even though AMC Theatres has announced that its locations plan to remain closed until closer to the release dates of films such as Tenet on July 17th and Mulan on July 24th, other movie theaters across the country are slowly beginning to reopen. As reported by Variety, as of Friday, May 15th, there were about 200 movie theaters open in North America, which is nearly double the number of open locations than the week prior. Making up a large portion of the total, there are about 150 drive-in theaters open, while about 50 brick and mortar locations are open. AMC Theatre in Disney Springs The states that make up the majority of open theater locations are Texas, Arkansas, Georgia, Oklahoma, and South Dakota. However, many other movie theaters may take a similar approach as AMC and remain closed until closer to summer movie premiere dates. Read more about AMC Theatres’ decision to remain closed until the summer here! Have any of your local movie theaters reopened? Let us know in the comments. Related posts: News! Disneyland Paris Hotels and Disney Village Closing Due to Health and Safety Concerns! Updated! Will Disney World Really Re-open April 1st? Guy Fieri Is Helping Restaurant Workers With This New Relief Fund! Find Out How To Apply Here! View the full article

We’ve seen a lot of Disney World president Josh D’Amaro over the past few weeks as he’s sent us some friendly messaging during the Disney World closure. ©Disney Now, Josh D’Amaro is no longer leading Disney World. In a press release today, Disney announced its new leadership team, including D’Amaro moving into the position of Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products — the role previously held by the current CEO of the Walt Disney Company, Bob Chapek. The new position will take D’Amaro from overseeing the operations of Walt Disney World resort to overseeing the entirety of Disney’s travel and leisure businesses including all six international theme parks, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, and Adventures by Disney. He will also head all of Disney’s global consumer product operations including their licensing business, children’s print publisher, the Disney Store, and shopDisney. @joshdamaro on Instagram The Chairman position reports directly to the CEO, and Chapek commented on his happiness with D’Amaro filling his old role. Of the leadership shift, Chapek said, “I am certain he will take Disney’s Parks, Experiences and Products segment – home to some of our company’s most iconic and beloved businesses – to exciting new heights in the years to come.” D’Amaro made a statement on his new position explaining, “I look forward to following [Chapek’s] record of driving innovation, value, and growth as we deliver unforgettable experiences for our guests. It is an incredible honor to lead our team of talented and dedicated cast members around the globe, who go above-and-beyond every single day. Even during this challenging time, their enthusiasm for what we do is unwavering, and my goal is to bring our cast members back to work as soon as possible so they can continue to create that magic.” ©Josh D’Amaro D’Amaro isn’t the only one to receive a new position either. In fact, the new leadership team includes several new faces. Rebecca Campbell, previously the President of Disneyland, is moving into the position of Chairman for Direct-to-Consumer and International. She will oversee the company’s streaming businesses (Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, and Hotstar) as well as Disney’s International Channels, Fox Networks International, and Star India. Replacing the two executives are Jeff Vahle, formerly the President of Disney Signature Experiences, as the new President of Walt Disney World and Ken Potrock, formerly the President of Consumer Products, as the new President of Disneyland. Rebecca Campbell ©Disney Other new appointments on the leadership team include Kareem Daniel (former President of Walt Disney Imagineering Operations/Product Creation/Publishing/Games) replacing Potrock as the President of Consumer Products, Games and Publishing and Thomas Mazloum (former Senior Vice President of Resort and Transportation Operations at Disney World) replacing Vahle as the President of Disney Signature Experiences. Sleeping Beauty Castle We will be keeping a close eye out for statements from the new executive team and will report in on any developments as the team settles into their new roles. Click here to learn more about the changes to the Disney leadership team this year. What do you think of the new leadership appointments? Tell us in the comments! Related posts: Just How Much Money Are Disney’s Chiefs Bob Iger and Bob Chapek REALLY Giving Up? The Twitter Thread All Disney Fans Have an Opinion About Today NEW Presidential Leadership Announced for Disney World and Disneyland Resort! View the full article

Josh D’Amaro, Disney World president, promoted; Jeff Vahle takes over View the full article

The most exciting part about STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) is that it takes all five disciplines to create something really special. There are Imagineers who are experts in each area, collaborating to create experiences much greater than the sum of their parts. Last week, we shared STEAM tips about the arts, and the series continues today with STEAM tips from Imagineers about how to think like an engineer! Angela Jay, a senior software developer who worked on many of the interactive elements in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, said, “A user interface is anything that allows a user (you!) to interact with a system, like a ride or a robot or an app. First ask what a user might want to know about a system and how they might need to control it. Then decide how to organize everything, which starts with drawing it out. Where should the information be displayed? Where should the buttons go? What kind of buttons? Maybe a dial would work better? Since this is a sketch, you can rearrange things until the layout looks right to you. You can even cut them out of paper and lay them out. Test out your design with a family member to see if they understand what everything is and does. This is called ‘user testing’ and is a part of User Experience design. If something doesn’t make sense, try again!” Armand Dao, a senior civil engineer, works on utility designs such as stormwater management plans. Armand recently worked on the utility designs for Pandora – The World of Avatar. He suggested, “When designing complex utility systems, think about it like a layered cake. The bottom of the cake is the base and most stable, therefore, you can start stacking your systems from there. We start with the deepest utilities and then work our way up. Once that’s complete, our show production team puts the icing on the cake for guests to see.” Senior Project Controls Planner Jason Bayer helps to plan the design, production and installation of attractions such as Avatar Flight of Passage and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. Jason advised, “Engineering is really about developing a way of thinking that makes you a good problem solver. If you ever think to yourself, ‘When will I ever use this in real life?,’ try to shift your perspective and view it as a way to help develop your problem-solving skills. The ability to assess a problem or situation, think through possible outcomes by applying your knowledge and come to a good answer or decision is something that will be valuable your entire life.” Stay tuned for more STEAM tips from Imagineers! View the full article