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If meeting characters in Disney World is a priority for your family, we highly recommend you consider booking at least one character dining experience. The main benefit of character dining is pretty significant: you don’t have to wait in long lines to meet multiple characters. Mickey Mouse And if you want to meet the Big Cheese, Mickey Mouse, you have a few great options both in the parks and at the resorts. He even has a different outfit in each of these restaurants, so he’ll always have a unique look no matter which restaurant you pick! Let’s run through them all of them from best to worst and see which restaurants are better than others! Now, there are a few things that differentiate character meals from one another: Cost Amount of face time with characters Food quality Atmosphere Experience Buffet: All you can eat, but you also have to juggle your kiddos through the buffet line AND rush back so you don’t miss characters at your table Family Style: All you can eat, but NO buffet juggling or rushing back to your table for characters, BUT limited menu so might not be best for picky eaters or special diets A la Carte: Not all you can eat, so usually a worse value from a food quantity perspective, but NO buffet juggling or rushing back to your table for characters This is the basis of our grading scale for our rankings, but as always, we here at DFB have the goal of giving you the full story on each restaurant so you can make the best decisions for your family. So without further ado, here are our rankings of Mickey Mouse character meals from best to…don’t bother! Garden Grill – Epcot At the top of our list is Garden Grill Restaurant in Epcot! This has always been a favorite of ours for MANY reasons! This unique rotating restaurant (that’s right, the restaurant SPINS, though veeeery slowly!) is located on the second (entrance level) floor of the Land Pavilion (that’s the one where Soarin’ is). You’ll have a chance to meet Mickey, Pluto, Chip, and Dale at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and Mickey is dressed in a cute little farmer’s outfit! As the restaurant rotates, you get some unique views of the Living With the Land attraction down below! Mickey Mouse at Garden Grill in Epcot Compared to other restaurants on this list, Garden Grill is perhaps the smallest and most laid back option. Due to its smaller size, the characters can usually take multiple trips around the restaurant during your meal, which means YOU GET MORE MICKEY! Seeing as you’re paying big bucks for a character meal to spend time with the Big Cheese, the more character interaction you get, the better the value. This perk is truly invaluable, and you will probably get way more time with the characters here than you will in most other character meet-and-greet scenarios. Booth — with a hidden Mickey — at Garden Grill The food is served family-style, meaning you don’t have to worry about juggling your kiddos while you stand in a buffet line to get your meal. And you don’t have to worry about rushing back to your table before the characters get there! It’s also all-you-care-to-eat, so you still benefit from being served a TON of food. The food itself is delicious, and much of it comes from the greenhouses in The Land Pavilion. Breakfast Skillet For breakfast, you’ll be served an overflowing skillet of eggs, bacon, sausage, Mickey pancakes, and more (along with a plate of delish sticky buns!). And lunch and dinner feature a hearty skillet of a variety of meats, mac and cheese, fries, and veggies with a berry shortcake for dessert. So, you’re getting super fresh food, brought to your table, and you can eat as much as you want? Sign us up! This location also happens to be a great value compared to other character meals. Breakfast is priced at $42 per adult and $27 per child, while lunch and dinner costs $55 per adult and $36 per child. Hey There, Pluto! In short, we cannot recommend Garden Grill enough. You can often get last-minute reservations here too, which is always a shock to us because it’s such a gem. A lot of character dining exists JUST so your kids can meet the characters, but this is not the case with Garden Grill. You can meet Mickey (usually multiple times), eat a ton of excellent food, and enjoy a quieter break from the hustle and bustle of Epcot all in one place! PROS: Small restaurant means you can likely meet characters more than once. Family style food means you’re not managing a buffet with kiddos. Food is delicious. Food is all you can eat. CONS: Family style food and set menu means picky eaters or those with special diets may not have choices they enjoy. Have to pay for a park ticket to dine here. Read our most recent review of breakfast at Garden Grill here! ‘Ohana – Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Coming in Second Place is breakfast at ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort! There are many draws to this fan-favorite restaurant. For starters, the location couldn’t better. The Polynesian is located along the monorail loop, just minutes from Magic Kingdom. This makes ‘Ohana an excellent breakfast option to fill the family up before hitting the parks! Note that the characters are ONLY out during breakfast here! Mickey at ‘Ohana’s character breakfast! In addition to meeting Mickey in his cute Hawaiian shirt, you can also meet Pluto, Lilo, and Stitch! Currently, this is the ONLY place on property where you can meet Lilo, so if you have Lilo & Stitch fans in your household, ‘Ohana is a must-do! Aloha, Lilo! Like Garden Grill, the food is served family-style, which again is a HUGE PLUS if you have young kiddos. The food comes to you, but it’s still all-you-care-to-eat. WIN-WIN. As far as pricing goes, this character breakfast will run you $42 per adult and $27 per child, the same as Garden Grill’s breakfast. ‘Ohana Character Breakfast Speaking of food, the breakfast food at ‘Ohana is great! There aren’t too many surprises on the menu, and most of what you are served is traditional breakfast food your entire family should be able to enjoy. There are some unique specialty items though that we ADORE, like their yummy breakfast bread. It’s also the only place on property where you can get Stitch waffles! Mickey AND Stitch Waffles! ‘Ohana is a solid option if you’re looking for a great character dining experience. Just keep in mind that this is a popular restaurant and reservations often go quick! So if you know you want to dine here, be ready to book your Advance Dining Reservation once your 180-day window opens up! If there are no tables available, there’s another great character breakfast option where you can meet Mickey, and it’s coming up next! PROS: Small restaurant means you can likely meet characters more than once. Family style food means you’re not managing a buffet with kiddos. Food is all you can eat. Food is delicious. Don’t have to pay for a park ticket to dine here. CONS: Family style food and set menu means picky eaters or those with special diets may not have choices they enjoy. Character meal is breakfast only. Read about our most recent trip to ‘Ohana for their character breakfast here! Topolino’s Terrace – Disney’s Riviera Resort The newest character dining option is next on our list! Topolino’s Terrace: Flavors of the Riviera is a rooftop restaurant in the new Disney’s Riviera Resort. The restaurant has gorgeous, sweeping views of Disney World! Their character breakfast, otherwise known as Breakfast à la Art, includes Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy in their finest Renaissance-inspired attire! Here, you’ll find Mickey has a cute and colorful painter’s smock! Like ‘Ohana, the characters only come out for breakfast here! Topolino’s Terrace Breakfast a la Art Characters If you’re on the Disney Dining Plan, it’s also worth mentioning that breakfast at Topolino’s Terrace is worth only 1 dining credit, while dinner costs 2 credits. So, if you want to experience this new restaurant BUT want to budget your meal credits, go for breakfast! Croissant au Jambon Standout breakfast menu items here include the Quiche Gruyere, Croissant au Jambon, and Sour Cream Waffles with a DELICIOUS orange-maple syrup. While you order off of a set menu and this is NOT all-you-can-eat, Topolino’s Terrace is a prix-fixe price at $42 per adult entree, and $27 per child entree, on par with the other options on this list so far. Quiche Gruyere at Topolino’s Terrace This is definitely going to be a more ‘fine dining’ experience, ESPECIALLY for character meals, so keep that in mind if you’re considering giving Topolino’s Terrace a try. And once you’re done, hop on the Disney Skyliner and head to Epcot or Hollywood Studios fueled up for your day! PROS: Food is delicious. More refined atmosphere than a buffet meal. Don’t have to pay for a park ticket to dine here. A la carte menu means there are more options for picky eaters than family style meals, but fewer than buffet meals. CONS: Character meal is breakfast only. Just as expensive as other character meals, but NOT all you can eat. Read our full review of Topolino Terrace’s character breakfast here! Tusker House – Animal Kingdom Tusker House is our first traditional character buffet on this list. Located in Africa in Animal Kingdom, this character dining experience includes Mickey, Goofy, Donald, and Daisy! They are ALL decked out in super cute safari outfits, making for great photo opportunities to commemorate your time in Animal Kingdom. Safari Mickey When it comes to the food, Tusker House is a solid option. It has a “best of both worlds” approach where you’ll find a lot of typical American food for your pickier eaters, but they also have a lot of interesting African-inspired dishes for your more adventurous eaters! For breakfast, expect to find everything from Simba & Nala waffles to Beef Bobotie (it’s kind of like an African shepherd’s pie!). Like the other character options on this list so far, breakfast will cost $42 per adult and $27 per child. Tusker House Breakfast Haul For lunch and dinner, you’ll find your carving station and your salad station, but you’ll also find an assortment of hummus, curries, and tabouli. This is a good option if your party is a mixture of wild and tame eaters (don’t worry, they still have plenty of chicken nuggs and mac and cheese!). Lunch and dinner cost $55 per adult and $36 per child. Kushari – A popular rice dish from Egypt, served at Tusker House! Overall, this is a good option if you’re looking for unique food offerings you won’t find anywhere else in Disney World, while still appealing to those picky eaters! Plus having a chance to cool off while in Animal Kingdom is great! PROS: Food is plentiful and interesting while still including some standards for pickier eaters. All you can eat. CONS: Large restaurant means characters may only come to see you once. Buffet means managing kiddos while also potentially rushing back to your table so you don’t miss character encounters. Have to pay for a park ticket to dine here. Read about our most recent trip to Tusker House here! Hollywood and Vine – Hollywood Studios Next on our list is Hollywood and Vine! This character restaurant in Hollywood Studios does a bit of a switch-up during the day. For breakfast, you can meet an assortment of Disney Junior characters, but for lunch and dinner, however, it transforms into Minnie’s Seasonal Dining. SO, if you want to meet Mickey and not Vampirina, make sure you’re booking the right meal! At Minnie’s Seasonal Dining, you can meet Mickey, Minnie, and the rest of the Fab Five in specialty seasonal outfits, depending on the time of year you visit! Mickey at Minnie’s Holiday Dine The seasonal parties throughout the year include Silver Screen Dine (during Awards Season, of course), Springtime Dine, Summertime Dine, Halloweentime Dine, and Holiday Dine! Outfits vary from their cozy Christmas best, to not-so-spooky costumes, to Hollywood Glam, and more! This character buffet is priced at $55 per adult and $36 per child. Holiday Dine The food at Hollywood and Vine is…just OK. It’s not bad by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s also probably not the best meal you’re ever going to eat. Keep in mind that at the end of the day it is STILL a buffet. Is it worth $55 per adult? That’s up to you! While we would recommend this to anyone who likes buffets and is looking for a unique character dining experience, we think Hollywood and Vine just got beat out by the other fabulous restaurants on this list that offer great food AND great character experiences. Hollywood & Vine Buffet We do love how this restaurant switches up with the seasons, however, meaning you can visit multiple times throughout the year and have a totally unique experience each time with the characters in new outfits! PROS: Plenty of food options for picky eaters. All you can eat. Fun “seasonal” experience with characters. CONS: Large restaurant means characters may only come to see you once. Buffet means managing kiddos while also potentially rushing back to your table so you don’t miss character encounters. Have to pay for a park ticket to dine here. Food is largely mediocre. Read our review on Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood and Vine here! Chef Mickey’s – Disney’s Contemporary Resort And finally, we have Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Those of you who have followed us for a while may already know about our love/hate relationship with Chef Mickey’s. We DO want to point out some positives first. Like ‘Ohana, this is a great location if you want to do a character meal on your Magic Kingdom day. Just a quick Monorail ride or WALK away from the park’s main entrance, it’s a good spot to grab breakfast before you head in or to take a break for lunch or dinner. Chef Mickey’s The one thing Chef Mickey’s has going for it OVER ‘Ohana is that you can meet characters at all three meals of the day, providing your family with more flexibility if you want to meet Mickey in a character dining setting near Magic Kingdom. You meet Mickey along with the rest of the Fab Five, and they’re all in super cute chef outfits that you won’t see anywhere else on property. Mickey Mouse at Chef Mickey’s And to be totally fair to Chef Mickey’s, the food HAS gotten better over the years. It’s a far cry from the best food on property, and it’s definitely not the best food on this list, but we’ve absolutely noticed an improvement. Our biggest bones to pick with Chef Mickey’s are still the fact that it’s big, it’s crowded, you pretty much ONLY get one shot with the characters, the atmosphere is blah, and it’s loud. Chef Mickey’s Buffet And this meal ain’t cheap: breakfast will run you $50 per adult and $33 per child, whereas lunch and dinner will cost $60 per adult and $39 per child. This means that Chef Mickey’s is the MOST EXPENSIVE option on this list! Seating Area Not only is it a large restaurant, but Disney made sure to fit as many tables as possible into this place! Due to the size of the restaurant and the number of tables, the characters don’t have a ton of time to spend at your table. In order to make sure they make their rounds and say hello to every guest, that means less individual time at your table! This is a huge contrast to Garden Grill, where we’ve had Mickey stop at our table multiple times in one visit, and stick around for longer to play. Mickey and Minnie Waffles Like we mentioned before, the food is getting better every time we go, although there’s still plenty of room for improvement. You will definitely find no surprises here. Breakfast will have plentiful Mickey and Minnie waffles to choose from, and lunch and dinner will have your standard carving stations, chicken nuggets, and mac & cheese. We do recommend you check out the waffle bar and sundae bar — it’s the perfect “cherry on top” for your trip to Chef Mickey’s. Toppings Overall, however, while this is definitely a classic Disney World restaurant that we ALL have those old family photos from, if your goal is to meet Mickey and you want to truly enjoy your time while you do so, we recommend you check out the other restaurants on this list first! PROS: Plenty of food options for picky eaters. All you can eat. Close to Magic Kingdom. Don’t have to pay for a park ticket to dine here. CONS: Most expensive option. Large restaurant means characters may only come to see you once. Buffet means managing kiddos while also potentially rushing back to your table so you don’t miss character encounters. Food is largely mediocre. Atmosphere is blah, frenetic, and very loud. Read about our most recent trip to Chef Mickey’s here! So there you have it! All the character meals starring the Mouse, himself! There are a few great character meals at Disney World we didn’t cover here, if you’re looking for your fill of princesses or other whimsical characters. But when we think of a solid character meal at Disney, more often than not, we want to meet “the leader of the club” so we hope we helped you evaluate all your options! What is YOUR favorite character meal in Disney World? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Small Price Increases That Could Have a BIG Impact on Your Next Disney World Vacation! Tips from the DFB Guide: Disney Character Meal Pros and Cons EVERY Place to Celebrate the New Year and Ring in 2020 in Disney World! View the full article

Wish Grace from Disney’s Animal Kingdom Gorilla Family a Happy 1st Birthday | #DisneyMagicMoments View the full article

We’re already used to dealing with some level of mystery surrounding when Disney World decides to release its free dining offers, but we’re especially curious about what will happen during these unprecedented times! Nile Nelly’s Noodle Bowl at Skipper’s Canteen If you like going to Disney World without having to pay for most of your snacks, meals, or beverages on the fly, you’re probably just as anxious as us to find out if another Disney World free dining offer will be released in 2020! What is the Disney World Free Dining Offer? Normally, you can purchase a Disney Dining Plan for a separate cost with the purchase of a Disney Vacation Package. This is typically purchased for a set fee before a Disney World vacation and gives guests the ability to pay ahead of time for their meals. Disney offers plans that range in terms of budget and meal options. Depending on which Disney Dining Plan the guest chooses, they will have a set amount of Quick-Service (fast food) meal credits, Table-Service (sit down) meal credits, and snack credits per day, along with a refillable resort mug per guest. Mama Melrose’s But with the Disney World free dining offer, Disney World gives guests a dining package for FREE with their full price Disney World Resort hotel reservation and theme park ticket purchase! Click here for more information about Disney World Free Dining offers! Current Free Dining Offer Is Only For Guests Impacted By the Park Closures Disney World had previously released a batch of free dining offer dates available for all guests in January 2020, but bookings for this offer had to be made by January 16, 2020. Tangled Eclair at Pinocchio Village Haus Disney World currently has a private promotion for guests who had to cancel their Disney World trips during the temporary closure. Guests who had previously reserved Disney World hotel accommodations and had already purchased park tickets are eligible to book this Disney World free dining offer for most dates from June 1st through September 30th, 2020 — as long as they book before the end of the day on May 31st, 2020. Click here to read more about the private free dining offer for guests impacted by the Disney World park closures Should We Expect More Disney World Free Dining Offer Dates to Be Released in 2020? So, with no free dining offers currently available for the general public to book, is that it for this year?! Or will we see Disney World release more free dining offer dates? Here’s Why We Think It Might Happen: In the past few years, Disney World has usually released a free dining offer towards the end of April. Casey’s Corner Last year, there was an exclusive Visa cardholder free dining offer as well as a special free dining offer for U.K. residents. But so far, we haven’t seen any of these promotions reappear in 2020. Disney World Released a Free Dining Offer TWICE in 2019 In 2019, Disney World released a free dining offer in early January for guests booking trips in the late summer to mid-fall, which is when crowds generally tend to thin out at Disney World. This was UNPRECEDENTED at the time (but like we mentioned earlier, they did it again in January of 2020!). Pork Nachos at Tambu Lounge In July of 2019, Disney World released a SECOND unexpected round of free dining offer dates for the late fall to winter season. They even extended their free dining offer for stays over Thanksgiving and Christmas, some of the BUSIEST times to visit Disney World! This was super shocking since Disney has typically used the free dining offers to encourage attendance during slower seasons! Cinnamon-Apple Lunchbox Tart Not knowing exactly when Disney World will reopen…or what it will be like when it does…may have something to do with Disney World not yet releasing more free dining offers for 2020. Once Disney World has a reopening plan, it’s possible they could use free dining offers as an incentive to help drive guests back to the park! Here’s All the Disney World Free Dining Offer Info You’ll Need to Know! To book your Disney World trip with a free dining offer, there’s usually a required minimum purchase. It could be as few as 2 nights from some of our previous bookings, but it could also be longer. Your package must include a full-price, rack rate room at a select Disney World Resort as well as a park hopper or park hopper plus ticket option in most cases. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort’s Lobby You’ll most likely have only two Disney Dining Plan options to choose from, which will ultimately be determined by which level of Disney World resort you choose. Cars Building at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort If you book your stay at a participating Value or Moderate Resort, you’ll normally receive the Quick-Service Dining Plan (meaning two fast food type meals and two snacks per night) for FREE. (Note that you can usually upgrade to the standard or deluxe dining plans by paying the difference in cost per night.) Nemo Cupcake at Disney’s All Stars Resorts If you reserve a room at a participating Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resort, you will normally receive the Standard Dining Plan (meaning one fast food meal, one sit down meal, and two snacks per night) for FREE. (You can upgrade to the deluxe dining plan by paying the difference in cost per night.) Some Disney World resorts are usually excluded from these free dining offers, and others will sell out quickly if and when a free dining offer is announced. Also, keep in mind Disney World’s free dining offers usually cannot be combined with other offers such as the Sun & Fun room discount, which is also still available. How to Be the First to Know IF Disney Releases MORE Free Dining Offers Subscribe to our DFB Newsletter and DFB Social Media Channels We keep vigil and never blink our watchful eye so that you don’t have to sit at your computer all day and keep refreshing Disney World’s special offers page — unless you really want to do so! Mickey Mouse Club Ear Bowl at Ample Hills Creamery We’ll be breaking the news as soon as it’s time to book your Disney World trip with a free dining offer, so make sure you’re following us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook AND you’re subscribed to our newsletter so you won’t miss out! These free dining offers tend to book up INCREDIBLY fast! Early Access for Disney Visa Cardholders If you’re a Disney Visa Cardmember, check your email often for special early access to Disney World’s free dining offer if and when they’re released! Pizza at Via Napoli You’re likely to receive an email before the free dining offer is extended to the general public! You might want to check your spam settings as well to prevent any news from slipping through the cracks! Book Your Disney World Trip Now and Have a Travel Agent Update Your Reservation With a Free Dining Offer Once It’s Announced! With only so many rooms to go around, you could just take the leap and book your trip to Disney World using a Disney World expert’s help! We’ve been working closely with Small World Vacations for many, many years, and highly recommend their services to anyone looking to take the hassle out of planning! Click here to see why! Kakamora Float The best part about using Small World Vacations is they’ll help you book your trip at no cost to you! And if Disney World releases a free dining offer, they’ll update your reservations for you! That way, you don’t have to wait on the phone while you try to connect with a Cast Member to cancel and rebook your Disney World vacation with a free dining offer if one is released (which, on free dining mornings, can take hours). Small World Vacations will handle it all for you, for FREE! All American Sundae at Plaza Ice Cream Parlor We’ll be here watching (and waiting!) for any and all news pertaining to Disney World! We certainly hope to have some good news to tell ya about free dining offers in the near future, but we also understand Disney World is still figuring out a lot of other stuff right now. Free dining offers tend to be a super popular and easy way to fill guest rooms, so we know if one gets dropped on us in the next few months, it could possibly really help get guests back in the door! Check out our list of top uses for your Disney Dining Plan snack credits in 2o20 here!  When do you think Disney World might release another batch of free dining offer dates? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: 21 Myths About Walt Disney World Food DEBUNKED What Specialty Drinks are Included on the Disney Dining Plan? Disney World Mac and Cheese Gallery View the full article

Every mom cherishes her child’s first birthday, so with Mother’s Day approaching this weekend our team at Disney’s Animal Kingdom would like to share a recent celebration we held for Grace, a beautiful western lowland gorilla. It was just over a year ago now that Grace was born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. And while the park is temporarily closed, our team was able to throw her a special princess-themed birthday party! The team created a cardboard princess carriage attached to plastic horses by paper chains for Grace and her family to play with. There was also a cardboard castle and colorful piñata. The materials we used in the decorations are enrichment items we give the gorillas as a special treat – perfect for a birthday surprise! Grace’s birthday “cake” was made of three layers of ice treats – blocks of ice with berries and currants for the gorillas to pick out as the ice melts. We also froze pureed sweet potatoes and kiwis and cut them into shapes for another birthday surprise. Grace was born May 1, 2019, at Disney’s Animal Kingdom to mother Kashata and father Gino, who were selected to breed as part of the Species Survival Plan overseen by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The plan ensures responsible breeding of endangered species so they will have healthy, genetically diverse populations for years to come. Grace is named after the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Center (GRACE), a gorilla sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is dedicated to helping gorillas orphaned by poaching. Our animal care experts at Disney’s Animal Kingdom have spent more than a decade helping the GRACE team and local community rehabilitate orphan gorillas and protect the species in the wild. We’re thrilled to watch Grace every day as she matures and develops magnificent new skills. She likes walking upright and hanging upside down, for example. She’s also very energetic, inquisitive and social, and loves to play – especially with her three older siblings. It was a wonderful time celebrating Grace’s big day, and we’re looking forward to the time you can come see her and her family again on the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail here at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! View the full article

Earlier this week, it was announced that Shanghai Disneyland will reopen on May 11th, and just yesterday Walt Disney World announced that Disney Springs will begin a phased reopening of the shopping and dining district on May 20th. However, aside from Shanghai Disneyland, all other Disney Parks remain closed until further notice due to the current global situation. ©Disney And an update on the Tokyo Disney Resort website reveals the closure of Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea remains extended. While no official reopening date had been proposed, the website previously stated that a reopening date announcement would be determined in mid-May. However, in light of the fact that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe recently extended the state of emergency order he issued for Japan back in March through May 31st, the website now states that “the decision on the reopening date will be made and announced once the requests from Government and local municipalities have been lifted.” Tokyo Disneyland website screenshot You’ll also note in the screenshot above that “the opening date for the Tokyo Disneyland major expansion area will also be determined once the situation can be gauged after reopening both parks.” Tokyo Disneyland Concept Art ©Disney Additional changes to the site provide updated information to ticket holders. Ticket changes will now be accepted “without a fee, or charge resulting from price difference”, to a ticket (Revisit Passport) valid for admission until March 31, 2021 for guests with fixed date tickets with a Park admission date from February 29 to June 30, 2020, or who hold tickets with an expiration date within that same period. Impacted guests can find full information on the Tokyo Disneyland website. To find out more about Disney Parks around the world during this time, you may visit any of the links below. To learn more about safety measures Disney is considering for all Parks, Resorts, and stores, you may click here. Have you visited Tokyo Disneyland? Please let us know with a comment. Related posts: Chinese Chili Popcorn Debuts at Tokyo Disney NEWS! Tokyo Disneyland Set to Close Saturday Until Further Notice It’s Costing Disney HOW MUCH To Close The Theme Parks?! View the full article

SeaWorld's attendance was on pace to break records in 2020 but then plunges as the Orlando-based company reported at $56.5 million loss Friday for the first quarter. View the full article

Walt Disney World has announced the beginning of their slow re-opening process! It will begin with the opening of third-party operating participants (non-Disney owned restaurants and stores) on 20 May 2020. During the initial opening phase, Disney Springs will have limitations on capacity, parking and operating hours. Disney states: As we continue to monitor conditions, and with […] The post Disney Springs Set to Re-Open appeared first on Military Disney Tips Blog. View the full article

Disney Plus review: ‘The Three Caballeros’ fly, flirt, sing, samba View the full article

Did you know that there are Military Discounts available for you on Dining, Merchandise, and Entertainment at Walt Disney World’s Disney Springs? Disney Springs is Walt Disney World’s shopping and entertainment complex. There you’ll find great dining options, many merchandise stores (Disney and others), as well as entertainment venues. See our list for California’s Downtown […] The post Disney Springs Military Discounts At Walt Disney World appeared first on Military Disney Tips Blog. View the full article

Did you know that there are Military Discounts available for you on Dining, Merchandise, and Entertainment at Walt Disney World’s Disney Springs? Disney Springs is Walt Disney World’s shopping and entertainment complex. There you’ll find great dining options, many merchandise stores (Disney and others), as well as entertainment venues. See our list for California’s Downtown […] The post Disney Springs Military Discounts At Walt Disney World appeared first on Military Disney Tips Blog. View the full article

Today, Disney announced that Disney Springs in Disney World would partially reopen beginning May 20th. ©Disney This news came just two days after the company shared that Shanghai Disneyland would reopen with new health and safety measures on May 11th. Now, Walt Disney World President, Josh D’Amaro has sent out an email sharing more information on the partial reopening of Disney Springs. The biggest difference we’re seeing from the initial information released by the company earlier involves the language used when discussing face coverings. The first portion of the email reads as follows. “Hello everyone, Following recent state and local guidelines permitting the reopening of some Florida businesses, we’ve seen a strong interest in what our next steps may be. As we plan for the future, we’re keeping the health and well-being of both our cast members and our guests at the forefront of planning efforts. Today, I’m pleased to share that we’re preparing for a phased reopening of select locations owned by third-party operating participants in the Disney Springs shopping and dining district, starting on May 20. We continue to monitor conditions and look forward to welcoming each of our guests back with enhanced health and safety measures in place including the changes below: Limited capacity based on Florida state and local guidelines Appropriate physical distancing Requiring both our cast members and guests to wear face coverings Additional cast safety training with a focus on limited-contact guest services and enhanced cleaning procedures” Disney Springs When Disney Parks Blog released the info earlier today it read as “Disney Springs will begin to reopen in a way that incorporates enhanced safety measures, including increased cleaning procedures, the use of appropriate face coverings by both cast members and guests, limited-contact guest services and additional safety training for cast members.” Now, Josh D’Amaro has clarified that the face coverings will indeed be required by both Cast Members and guests. Shanghai Disneyland is implementing similar measures when it comes to face coverings. You can read more about the health and safety measures being implemented in Shanghai here. We will continue to keep you updated as more information regarding the parks and the new health and safety measures that will be implemented are announced. Related posts: What’s New in Disney Springs: Toy Story Treat Overload, Sake Slush, Seatbelt Bags, and MORE! IT’S BACK!! This Popular Cupcake Has Returned to Sprinkles! NEW! French Dip at Splitsville in Disney Springs and Downtown Disney View the full article

Shanghai Disneyland will reopen on May 11th, and tickets are now on sale for reopening day through Tuesday, June 9th. Shanghai Disneyland The reopening of Shanghai Disneyland will, of course, usher in new safety measures for both guests and cast members in light of the global health situation. One of those measures is limiting guest capacity within the park. In order to manage that, Shanghai Disneyland is requiring that tickets be purchased in advance for guests to enter the park. All other Disney Parks around the world remain closed until further notice. (Do note, though, that Walt Disney World just announced a phased reopening for Disney Springs only starting May 20th.) Disney Springs However, as Disney is considering safety measures for the eventual reopening of all parks (which includes physical distancing with capacity limitations), we’re keeping an eye on the goings on for Shanghai Disneyland in case they shed some light on how Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort, and the parks beyond may reopen. Sooo…what does the release of the required tickets look like? Well, this was our experience. Shanghai Disneyland website screenshot At first glance, the Theme Park Tickets purchase page will look somewhat familiar to those who have purchased tickets for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (or similar ticketed events where you need to select a certain date). However, one notable difference is the ability to purchase tickets for a Half Day OR a Full (1) Day, with Half Day entry beginning at 2:00 PM. Shanghai Disneyland website screenshot The text prior to selecting your preferred date notes some of the new requirements as part of safety measures for entering the park, including Health QR codes and required ID. Shanghai Disneyland website screenshot It also reminds that some attractions and experiences in the parks may be limited. (You can read more about that here.) After selecting Half or Full Days and updating your party numbers accordingly, you can see prices for tickets (in Chinese Yuan here), which are priced to reflect Regular tickets and different pricing for Regular Plus (weekends). Shanghai Disneyland website screenshot Your selected date will be highlighted in green, and unavailable dates are already blocked in gray. Shanghai Disneyland website screenshot Now, THIS is where things get interesting… . For May 11th (reopening day), we noticed that Full Day tickets had become unavailable in 20 minutes, with Half Day still having some availability. That said, there was some variability. May 16th, for example, displayed as “Unavailable” for a bit, but upon refreshing became briefly available again (perhaps due to glitches, or perhaps due to guests having tickets in their carts then releasing them). Interestingly enough, May 11th became available again, too (for a time)! Shanghai Disneyland website screenshot What we DO know for certain is that website speed was greatly reduced upon the announced ticket release time of 8:00 AM in Shanghai. (The ticket page actually went live at least a few minutes prior.) Whether or not Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort and other Disney Parks will follow the same reopening ticket procedure remains to be seen. However, if they DO follow suit, it’s not difficult to imagine similar site delays and fast-selling date options. MagicBand reader in Walt Disney World And THAT is the latest regarding the upcoming (SOON) reopening of Shanghai Disneyland! We will continue to keep you posted on the reopening of Shanghai Disneyland and the status of other Disney destinations around the world right here. In the meantime, you can learn more by visiting any of the links below. Find out more about safety measures Disney is considering for the Parks, Resorts, and stores by clicking here. Are you following the Shanghai Disneyland reopening? Please let us know with a comment. Related posts: Shanghai Disneyland Expected To Reopen Within Weeks Will We Get to Hug Mickey When Walt Disney World and Disneyland Reopen? Shanghai Disneyland May Shed Some Light The Reopening of Shanghai Disneyland Will Not Include Parades or Fireworks. So What Will Guests See Instead? View the full article

Theme park reporters Dewayne Bevil and Gabrielle Russon discuss when Orlando’s Disney World turnstiles might spin again and what protocols will be in place to make guests feel safe. View the full article

Wine Bar George has provided details about additional measures they will take to help keep their guests and team members safe upon reopening. Wine Bar George Earlier today, we learned that Disney Springs will begin a phased reopening on May 20th. Disney Springs will implement additional safety measures, including limited capacity, reduced operating hours, increased cleanliness procedures, and safety training. And now, we’ve learned more details about steps Wine Bar George will take to maintain a healthy environment. According to the Wine Bar George website, the restaurant will reopen Wednesday, May 20th at noon. The website also includes a list of health and safety promises they will implement — or in some cases, continue to practice. The promises made on behalf of their team include ensuring all team members are certified in safe food handling, strict kitchen sanitation standards, requiring all team members to pass a health check before their shift, and strict handwashing policies. Wine Bar George First Floor For dining room safety procedures, social distancing guidelines will be followed for both indoor and outdoor seating, and place settings, tables, chairs, utensils, and condiments in both dining areas and common areas will be sanitized after each use. ©Wine Bar George In addition, all menus will be contactless. Digital menus will be used, which will require guests to view menus with their own personal devices. Contactless payment will be encouraged but is not required at this time. Wine Bar George A few of our team members were able to secure a reservation for Wine Bar George on May 20th. While there were no reservations listed in My Disney Experience, we were able to find reservations on Open Table as early as 12:45 PM. There Were No Reservations Available in My Disney Experience Here’s where we found reservations listed on Open Table. Open Table Listed Reservations for Wine Bar George Our team also searched for reservations on May 20th for Morimoto Asia, The Edison, and STK Orlando, but there at the time of writing were no reservations listed for any of these locations yet. We’ll continue to keep an eye out for any additional information or available reservations for Disney Springs locations and pass along any updates! Click here to learn more about the phased reopening of Disney Springs Have you made any dining reservations at Disney Springs for the reopening? Let us know in the comments. Related posts: Find Out Which Disney World Restaurants Will Participate in Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining Month in 2019! News! Hennessy Week Is Coming to Disney World! Cozy Up to Warm Mulled Wine at Wine Bar George in Disney Springs View the full article

Last night, members of our Security teams at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort “took over” our Twitter accounts (@WaltDisneyWorld and @Disneyland) to give our fans an inside peek at our parks. In case you missed it, we’re sharing their tweets along with the photos they snapped below. What a fun perspective they have! We hope you enjoy it. Walt Disney World Resort View the full article

Calling all Disney movie fans! ©Disney Looking for a place outside of Disney+ to get your Disney movie fix? Well then, you’re in luck! ABC is bringing back its Wonderful World of Disney banner for a series of movies airing soon! While movie nights used to be a staple of broadcast schedules, they’ve been slowly phased out since the 1990s, with premium cable taking the lead on showcasing theatrical films. In fact, ABC hasn’t had a regularly scheduled movie night since the 2007-08 season. But soon, that streak will come to an end! The NBA Finals were originally scheduled to air on ABC in June. But since the league is currently on hold, the network is rolling out additional programming to fill the gap. This includes the early release of their game show line up, as well as the return of the Wonderful World of Disney banner for a weekly movie series! ©Disney/Pixar The films will run on Wednesday nights for four weeks beginning May 20th. Leading off the series on May 20th is Moana, which is very fitting since she’s such a trailblazer! Next, the network will feature Thor: The Dark World on May 27th, followed by Up on June 3rd, and then Big Hero 6 on June 10th. ©Disney And there’s even more good news for Marvel fans! Starting with Thor: The Dark World, the movies will lead into the final season of Agents of SHIELD, which premieres May 27th. Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. Cast ©Disney So, if you’re looking for a movie night that doesn’t require a streaming service, be sure to check out the return of the Wonderful World of Disney on ABC! Check out these eleven Disney movies to watch when the news has you feeling overwhelmed! Which of these movies are you the most excited to watch? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Find Out Which ABC Stars You’ll See at D23 Expo 2019! You’ve Got to See the INSANE Lineup For ‘The Disney Family Singalong!’ Coming to ABC Disney HOW-TO! Decorate Your Own DIY Adventure Book Inspired by Disney’s “Up!” View the full article

Disney just announced that Disney Springs in Walt Disney World Resort will begin a phased reopening on May 20th. (You can read more details here.) Disney Springs Along with the announcement, updates have been made to the Walt Disney World website regarding the reopening of the Resort. At this time, a phased reopening has only been announced for Disney Springs — the rest of the Resort remains closed until further notice. However, the updated language includes potential information for the theme parks, Resort hotels, and areas beyond. The language states: “Upon reopening, theme parks, Disney Resort hotels, restaurants, attractions, experiences, and other offerings may be modified and will be limited in capacity and subject to limited availability or closure, based on direction from health experts and government officials to promote physical distancing.” Walt Disney World website screenshot It goes on to share that attractions, experiences, services, and amenities may have limited availability or that they may remain closed. Much of the language on the page remains unchanged (save for the section regarding Disney Springs reflecting today’s phased reopening announcement). An additional note states that “Our focus remains on the health and safety of the entire Disney community,” specifically mentioning the well-being of the Cast Members who are caring for the Resort and keeping it secure during the closure. Walt Disney World Cast Members We will continue to keep you posted on these and other changes to the information provided regarding Walt Disney World as this story develops. And of course, we will be staying tuned regarding the status of Disney Parks around the globe — we hope you will join us. You can visit any of the links below to learn more. To read about the safety measures Disney is considering for the reopening of Resorts around the world, you may click here. What are your thoughts on the possible modifications of experiences in Walt Disney World? Please let us know with a comment. Related posts: The BIGGEST Time Wasters in Disney World — And How To Avoid Them! Disney World Mac and Cheese Gallery DFB Video: Where to Find Late Night Eats in Disney World View the full article

Walt Disney World's reopening process will begin with parts of Disney Springs on May 20 View the full article

Back in January, we learned Disney would be releasing a new Mickey plush design on Amazon every month! ©Disney But that’s not all — they also announced Gold D23 Members would be able to order these limited-edition items before the rest of the general public! The very first design was this adorable Gold Mickey Mouse released to celebrate the Lunar New Year! And now Disney has just shared with us the new Mickey plush for May — Movie Star Mickey Mouse! ©Disney After all, Mickey is internationally-recognized for his 120 performances on the silver screen! Due to the extreme popularity of these limited releases, D23 and Amazon have announced they’re making a few adjustments! Here’s what you’ll need to know if you wanna score Movie Star Mickey Mouse: D23 Members will continue to be among the first to be notified about each month’s theme and have an opportunity to order the month’s design. Each month, D23 will provide Members with advance notice of the date the plush will be available for purchase on Amazon.com. On Monday, May 11, at 9 a.m. PST, visit this page on D23.com for the link to purchase the Movie Star Mickey Mouse plush. Please Note: You must be signed in as a D23 Member to access the link to purchase. Click “Sign In” at the top of the page. Please note extremely limited quantities of the plush will be available on Amazon.com. Extended delivery time: Amazon is temporarily prioritizing the delivery of some items in order to serve their customers in need and ensure the safety of their associates. As a result, some delivery times are longer than usual. ©D23 April’s Mickey Plush Check out last month’s Mickey Mouse plush here! We’ll be doing some finger exercises so we can snag our Movie Star Mickey Mouse! Have you picked up any of the limited edition Mickey plushes yet? Tell us which ones in the comments below! Related posts: D23 Members Can Get Early Access to a NEW Mickey Mouse Plush Collection! Find Out How! Don’t Miss Out on Early Access to This Limited-Edition April Mickey Plush! Baby Yoda Plush IS HERE! ACT FAST! View the full article

Disney has just announced they’re moving forward with plans to reopen parts of Disney Spring in less than two weeks! ©Disney After Disney World closed as a safety precaution for guests, Disney Springs followed suit by shutting down its stores and restaurants. Now we’ve just learned Disney plans to open a limited number of locations during what they’re referring to as “the initial phase.” Following the guidance of government and health officials, Disney Springs will be re-opening to the public on May 20th while the rest of Walt Disney World Resort will remain closed until further notice including theme parks and hotels. Disney Springs According to Disney, “Disney Springs will begin to reopen in a way that incorporates enhanced safety measures, including increased cleaning procedures, the use of appropriate face coverings by both cast members and guests, limited-contact guest services, and additional safety training for cast members.” Starbucks Disney Springs will have capacity limitations when it opens as well as reduced parking and operating hours. Disney Springs Keep up with all the other Disney World re-openings here! Additional safety measures and procedures may be announced at a later time which Disney will provide on DisneySprings.com as May 20th approaches. This information will potentially include which stores and restaurants will be re-opening along with their operating hours and safety procedures. This will be the first Disney World location to reopen. Disney has also announced that Shanghai Disneyland will reopen on May 11th with new health measures as well. You can learn more about the reopening of Shanghai Disneyland here. We’ll continue to report of this developing story! Related posts: Support Your Fave Teams at All-Star Weekend at the NBA Experience in Disney World! You Can Build Your Own MAGIC WAND in Disney World (and We’re Basically Obsessed)! The Paella Block Party in Disney World Is Getting Rescheduled! View the full article

Well, bless my Fozzie Bears! We’ve got some very exciting Muppet-related news to share with you all today! Bob Iger ©Disney Disney has just announced a new Muppet series will be landing on Disney+ sometime this summer! That leaves us plenty of time to get our rubber chickens in a row — thankfully! The new short-form series is called Muppets Now and in an official press release, Disney says, “Fans of The Muppets can also see more of Kermit, Miss Piggy, and friends in the upcoming Disney+ series, Muppets Now, premiering this summer.” Okay, but what about Gonzo? Rizzo? The SWEDISH CHEF?!! ©Disney We need soooo many more details! Alas, all we currently have is a name and a timeframe. At least you can busy yourself until summer comes by checking out some of this sweet Muppets merch! We’d spotted previously at the parks, but most of it is now available on shopDisney including the adorable Kermit the Frog Loungefly Backpack! Another Disney+ show was also announced today! This one will focus on R.L Stine’s ‘Just Beyond’ novels. Check it out here! Are you excited to watch Muppets Now? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: Life Is the Bubbles! Today’s International Mermaid Day (and We’re Celebrating with Some Disney Magic)! News! Here’s a Full Breakdown of How the Closures Are Affecting Disney’s Value You Can Watch The NEW Simpsons Short FREE on Instagram for 24 Hours! View the full article

A phased reopening of Disney Springs will begin on May 20. Following the guidance of government and health officials, a limited number of shopping and dining experiences that are owned by third-party operating participants will begin to open during this initial phase. The rest of Walt Disney World Resort will remain closed, including theme parks and resort hotels. As we continue to monitor conditions, and with the health of guests and Disney cast members at the forefront of our planning, we are making several operational changes. Disney Springs will begin to reopen in a way that incorporates enhanced safety measures, including increased cleaning procedures, the use of appropriate face coverings by both cast members and guests, limited-contact guest services and additional safety training for cast members. We will apply learnings and ideas from leaders in the health and travel industries, and we’re also talking to our unions as we prepare for some cast members to return to work. During the initial opening phase, Disney Springs will have limitations on capacity, parking and operating hours. Given this unprecedented situation, we appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we navigate through this process as responsibly as we can. Additional protocols and procedures may be announced closer to the opening date. Please check DisneySprings.com as we get closer to May 20 for the most current information on operating hours, locations and safety procedures. View the full article

Loungefly has come out with some cool Disney-themed bags and wallets in the past. I mean, we recently shared a new Loungefly collection featuring Disney princesses in ice cream form! ©Loungefly And now, we just spotted ANOTHER new collection with a slightly different tone. Marvel fans out there, get ready to suit up with this new series of bags and accessories! First up is this canvas backpack! Loungefly has recently switched-up their backpack game and has started to offer a variety of designs. This is not your typical mini backpack we’ve all come to know and love. Instead, this is a canvas bag with a square silhouette! This new design is $75.00. © Loungefly Grab a canvas backpack here! Next up is this sling bag! You can wear it around your waist or around your torso (that’s how all the cool kids wear these bags, right?). The bag, along with the strap and the zipper, will show off your “Marvel” pride! The Marvel sling bag is $50.00. © Loungefly Shop for the Marvel sling bag here! And finally, you’ll need to fill up your new bag with some Marvel goodies! So start off with a sleek new wallet. This bi-fold wallet will be hard to miss with its bright red coloring. The wallet will cost ya $30.00. © Loungefly Grab this Marvel wallet here! This new collection really has us thinking about Avengers Campus — a new land coming to Disney California Adventure. Today, we learned that Disney is resuming construction on this new land that was originally set to open July 18th (Disney has now updated the website to say “coming soon.”). Learn all about Avengers Campus here! Thinking of grabbing something from this new collection? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Hiya, Pals! There’s a CUTE New Mickey and Minnie Shorts Loungefly Backpack in Disney World! Minnie Mouse Fans NEED to See These New “Positively Minnie” Accessories! Be the Coolest Kid on the Block With These Rad Items From Disney View the full article

For many families, Disney parks are the center of longstanding traditions! ©Disney That also means that a lot of us have silly or sweet pics of memories made with our moms (or as the mom!). Walt Disney World ambassadors are challenging YOU to share those memories using #DisneyMagicMoments! The challenge started when Walt Disney World ambassador Marilyn West shared a sweet compilation of memories with her own mother on Instagram. She challenged others (that means YOU) to share their own Disney memories with mom and to tag 3 friends to do the same! To participate in the challenge, post your picture or video on your social media of choice and tag #DisneyMagicMoments. We can’t wait to see all of the sweet Disney mems’! For more from #DisneyMagicMoments, click here! What’s your favorite Disney memory with your mom? Share it with us in the comments below! Related posts: Show the World One of Your Disney Magic Moments with the My First Disney Character Challenge! Frozen Lovers! You HAVE to See Disney’s New Olaf Short Series! Take a Virtual Tour of Disneyland Paris With This Fun Video Series! View the full article

Hospitals can be a scary place through the eyes of a child even during the best of times. Mickey Balloons That’s why we were truly moved to tears when we saw what these frontline heroes were doing for their pint-sized patients today! Take a look at what these incredible doctors and nurses have done to their protective face shields to help put their patients’ minds at ease! Photo Credit: Manchester Evening News First reported by The Manchester Evening News, the children’s unit medical staff at the Salford Royal Hospital have added familiar Disney characters to their PPE! They say it’s to help make the kids they’re treating less anxious about being in the hospital, and it’s working! What a sweet and caring thing for them to do! Photo Credit: Manchester Evening News Of course, our love and gratitude go out to all of you guys who are fighting the good fight out there! Keep up the awesome job and a BIG THANK YOU from all of us!! If you’re looking for ways to help out our heroes right now, click here for some ideas and resources! Related posts: Naughty Or Nice, The Nightmare Before Christmas Wishables Are CUTE in Disney World and Disneyland! NEWS: Go “Into the Unknown” with THIS Frozen 2 Sweepstakes to Norway! Disney Cruise Line Refund Information For Sailings Affected By the Massive Amount of Cancellations View the full article