Disney4me

Hey, pals! We’re here with another DFB Video and today we’re talking about the BEST time to go to Disney World. Main Street, U.S.A. Due to recent circumstances, many Disney World vacations are having to be rescheduled. Now you may not be sure about when the best time is to rebook that vacay. We’re breaking down what you need to know about the potential opening of Disney World and when is the best time to go in 2020 and 2021! Check out all this and more in our latest DFB Video!  By the way, have you subscribed yet? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to the channel and never miss a single episode! So check out the video and then let us know: When your next Disney vacation is supposed to be! Related posts: DFB Video: 9 Things You’re NOT Doing Right at Disney World DFB Video: Secret Disney World Tips I Didn’t Even Know Until Last Week! DFB Video: 8 Questions You Should Ask Yourself Before Going To Disney World! View the full article

While we’re staying inside daydreaming about the next time we can go to a Disney Park, we’re also craving some of that summer sunshine! Think Happy Magic Kingdom Thoughts! And, we can only imagine how much cooler we’ll be in summer with these must-have summer goodies from shopDisney that we’re wanting to stock up on (especially with that FREE shipping!). Grab a cold drink, a pair of shades, and your wallet because you’re going to want to kick back in the sunshine after seeing all this merchandise! Beach Towels While Disney World and Disneyland might be closed right now, you can still go on a “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride” with the Lilo and Stitch Beach Towel. You can build your own sandcastle around it… ©shopDisney …before you take a splash in the pool or ocean then dry off with The Little Mermaid Beach Towel! ©shopDisney Or, you can chill out with your friends and family (the Fab Five in your life) on the Mickey Mouse Beach Towel! ©shopDisney Each of the beach towels are $15 each and can be personalized for an extra $5.95, so everyone knows who owns the cutest towels around! The Cutest Swimsuits Whether you’re heading to the water parks or spending a day at the beach, you can pick up some comfy and stylish swimsuits to hop in the water! You can go for a more classic look wearing the Men’s Mickey Swim Trunks for $34.99… ©shopDisney …paired with the Men’s Mickey Rash Guard for $32.99. ©shopDisney Or, rock the Women’s Minnie Swimsuit with an adorable cross-back for $52.99! ©shopDisney The kiddos can even join in by wearing the Star Wars Swim Trunks for Boys for $22.99,… ©shopDisney …the Star Wars Rash Guard for Boys for $18.99,… ©shopDisney or the Moana Deluxe Swimsuit Set for Girls for $34.99. All we can say is you’re welcome for spotting these cute items!! ©shopDisney Plus, your whole family can even matching with the Summer Fun Swimsuits for mother ($49.99) and daughter ($22.99)… ©shopDisney …and Summer Fun Trunks for father ($42.99) and son ($22.99). You might just end up being the coolest crew EVER wearing these together!! ©shopDisney Ways to Entertain the Whole Family! While you’re at home, the fun doesn’t have to wait until this summer! You can float along your own pool in the Mickey Ice Cream Pool Float for $39.99 (hopefully while you eat a Mickey Bar or Mickey Ice Cream Sandwich)… ©shopDisney …or run around your backyard to show off that “life is the bubbles” with the Ariel Clamshell Bubble Wand for $25.35. ©shopDisney While Mom and Dad are cooking up some great eats on the grill, the kids can make their own dishes to serve on the Mickey Barbecue Play Set for $49.95… ©shopDisney …or help make breakfast in the morning with the Minnie Brunch Play Set for $29.95! As long as we get some Mickey Waffles, we’ll be happy!! ©shopDisney But, you can actually make some dessert as a team with the Mickey Popsicle Molds for $12.99! Now, we REALLY want a popsicle (or two). ©shopDisney With all the grilling, cooking, and baking, you can put everything in the Mickey Cooler Tote for $44.95 so you can have a picnic on your lawn! ©shopDisney Summer Clothes Sweater weather is gone and shorts have made their ways out of our closets! If you’re doing some spring cleaning to donate clothes, you can hop online to add some new looks to your wardrobe. You can look pretty groovy in the Mickey Tie Dye Tank that comes in a Disney World version… ©shopDisney …or a Disneyland version for $34.99 each! ©shopDisney Get ready to twirl around in that summer breeze because the Women’s Summer Fun Dress is SO stinkin’ cute for $39.99! ©shopDisney We are HUGE fans of Orange Bird, so the Men’s Orange Bird Aloha Shirt just happens to be one of the best pieces of merchandise from the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival this year for $64.99. ©shopDisney Just like summer vacation, your little princesses can look bright and fun in the adorable Ink and Paint Dress for Girls that’s perfect to dress up or dress down for $34.99. ©shopDisney While we’re missing those Disney fireworks, we can’t wait to light some of our sparklers and set off some poppers on the Fourth of July this summer! And, your kiddo can look as patriotic as Sam Eagle in the Mickey Americana Shirt for Boys for $16.99! Who else can smell the barbecue already?? ©shopDisney The Hottest Accessories Along with ALL that sunscreen you’re going to use, make sure to grab a pair of shades to take with you (because they’ll make you look awesome while also protecting those eyes). You can pick up the Mickey Sunglasses for Kids… ©shopDisney …or the Frozen 2 Sunglasses for Kids for $6.99 each! The sun never bothered us anyway, you know! ;D ©shopDisney While you’re relaxing by the poolside, slip on the matching Mickey Flip Flops for Kids… ©shopDisney …or the Moana Flip Flops for Kids for $8.99 each! We just can’t help but wonder how far you’ll go wearing these adorable shoes!! ©shopDisney Who else is ready for summer to be here already?? Check out how you can get FREE SHIPPING on shopDisney here! Which piece of summer merchandise are you looking forward to using the most? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: DFB Video: Latest Disney Parks News — CEO Shakeup, HUGE Refurb News, and MORE! DFB Video: 5 Disney Changes That Turned Out Way Better Than Expected DFB Video: Latest Disney Parks News — NEW Hotels, NEW Restaurants & TONS of Festival News for 2020! View the full article

If you’ve been social distancing recently, you’ll know that sometimes being at home 24/7 can get a little frustrating. Avocado Margarita Buuut, with all the Disney celebrities performing on live streams, Disney recipes you can make, and Disney+ shows and movies available to binge-watch, there’s still so much to do! And, now you can become a master mixologist without leaving your house with these sets of LIVE tutorials! La Cava del Tequila is teaching you how to mix up some of its famous cocktails all week long at 7 PM each day! La Cava del Tequila Starting March 23rd, mixologist Gustavo Ortega will be teaching you how to create drinks from things you can find around your house (um, AWESOME). All you have to do is tune into the live stream on La Cava del Tequila’s Instagram page at 7 PM and get ready to start mixin’! ©La Cava del Tequila Virtual dinner and drinks, friends?? Find out who else is entertaining or teaching us LIVE this week here! What is your favorite drink to get at La Cava del Tequila? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: NEWS! Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Dessert Parties Just Got a MAJOR Upgrade! EXCLUSIVE NEWS! A New Signature Margarita is Debuting At La Cava del Tequila in Epcot…And WAIT ‘Til You See Who Developed The Recipe! Review! The Frozen Cider and Black Is a MUST-HAVE During Your Next Epcot Visit! View the full article

Social distancing is pretty important right now to prevent the spread of illness to people around the world! Pixar Pier While we’ve been trying to do our part by quarantining inside (although we miss going to the Disney Parks with their recent closures), these Disney celebrities are doing everything they can to sprinkle some extra magic on your day! Celebrities from around the world are providing some of the BEST entertainment through live streams and videos for people at home to enjoy. And, we’re compiling a list of our favorites that we’ve spotted so you can watch along with us! Villains After Hours Jellyrolls is an ICONIC place for drinks, live music, and a great time on the Boardwalk in Disney World. So, it’s no surprise that some of the performers from Jellyrolls are giving us FREE concerts straight from their homes! While Rob Volpe has recently gone live on Instagram to take requests… ©Rob Volpe …and Scotty Kilwein has provided over an hour of music broadcasted from Facebook… ©Scotty Kilwein …Jordan Micheal Peterson will be going live tonight, March 22nd, at 8 PM EST on Instagram to perform some of his favorite songs and take a few requests! ©Jordan Micheal Peterson Anybody else here really missing some of that good ole’ Blaze Pizza in Disney Springs? Well, you can join in on a virtual pizza party on March 23rd at 3 PM EST with Chef Brad! All you have to do is go to Blaze Pizza’s Instagram page to join in the fun (while you eat homemade pizza, of course!). ©Blaze Pizza If you’re quarantined with your families, we can only imagine that your routine is a bit out of the norm with everything going on. Buuut, you can shake things up in a fun way by having celebrities read bedtime stories to your kiddos! Josh Gad, the voice behind our sweet Olaf, is reading some of his favorite books from Twitter every night with some of the GREATEST character voices we’ve ever heard. ©Josh Gad Along with Josh Gad, multiple celebrities have started to read for Save with Stories, which is an organization aimed at raising funds to provide food and educational tools to families that typically rely on schools for every day needs. The organization was started by Amy Adams, who played Giselle in Enchanted, and Jennifer Garner! So, you can literally have a Disney Princess read you a bedtime story. ©Save with Stories Or you can hear a story from the voice behind our favorite forgetful fish Dory: Ellen Degeneres! We’re just waiting for her to tell us to “just keep swimming,” or “just keep hand-washing” in our case! The best part of Save with Stories is that you can enjoy a live stream from different celebrities, all while supporting a wonderful cause. ©Save with Stories We’ll keep updating this page with more celebrity features as we see them! Do you have questions about the Coronavirus closures in Disney? We’ve got all the answers here! Heather Sievers is DisneyFoodBlog’s Dining in Disneyland columnist! Check out more of her adventures at @DininginDisney on Instagram! Which Disney celebrity live streams have you been watching recently? Let us know in the comments below and maybe you’ll see them pop up on our list! Related posts: We Dare You to Watch These Disney Commercials Without Laughing or Crying! DFB Video: Latest Disney Parks News — CEO Shakeup, HUGE Refurb News, and MORE! DFB Video: Disney Parks Around the World Close, New Lands Get Opening Dates & Mulan Merch Comes to shopDisney! View the full article

We’ve been hard at work in the parks scoping out all the latest news for you and today we have all the details on what’s happening due to the ongoing closures and more. Due to the current global situation, ALL Disney Parks will be closed until the end of the month. See all of our coverage HERE. Magic Kingdom We have a lot to share with you this week, so let’s jump right in… The Disney Park Closures — Everything You Need to Know Here’s what we know about the closures and and travel to Disney World and Disneyland. <—IMPORTANT READ! Disney World and Disneyland closure questions answered. <–ALL FAQs ANSWERED The DOs and DON’Ts to cancel, get refunds, or reschedule your canceled Disney vacation. Could Disney’s closure be extended? See what the analysts are saying. <—IMPORTANT READ! What is open and what is closed at Disney World. Disney World hotels closed as of March 20. Will Disney World reopen on April 1? <—IMPORTANT READ! “Are they fixing Disco Yeti?” and other questions about the Disney Parks closures. Disney has halted all construction projects during the park closures. Takeout and delivery service only now available at Florida restaurants. Orlando restaurants ordered to stop serving alcohol. Orlando is now under a nightly curfew. Four Seasons Resort Orlando is closing temporarily. MagicBand orders are being suspended for now. Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort has closed temporarily. Give Kids the World Village has closed temporarily. Disney World and Disneyland food donations have started. Disneyland Paris has donated excess food from the park closures. Cirque du Soleil has postponed all performances of ‘Drawn to Life.’ Universal Studios closes hotels and CityWalk. Raglan Road announced its temporary closure at Disney Springs. See the message from the president of Walt Disney World Resort. Disney World’s spas and salons have closed. Disney transportation suspended. Disney-owned stores closed in Disney Springs and Downtown Disney District. Walt Disney World Dolphin closes temporarily. TSA officer at Orlando International Airport tested positive and sent home All the News From the Disney Parks A Disney World room discount just got a major extension. Disneyland has announced a new discount for early summer. What does the current closure mean for crowds during the rest of 2020? Star Wars Rival Run Weekend has been canceled. We’re looking at the reasons why Disney World restaurants are firing their employees. Learn to draw Mickey Mouse just like a Disney artist! 12 throwback Disney rides that are keeping our spirits up! See the heartfelt message from Chef Morimoto to everyone. Erin McKenna’s in Disney Springs is open this weekend. See how to catch up with the animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom right now. How to “Mickey-fy” your life right now when you can’t be at the parks. Take a look at our favorite Disney commercials! We’re talking about 9 things we’d like to see Disney change when the parks reopen. See the current changes at Disney’s Aulani Resort. See more here. ‘Onward’ is coming to digital stores and Disney+! The 14 Disney memes you need in your life right now. Disney Cruise Line has changed payment deadline for summer cruises. How the current closures could change Disney World forever. Check out these 5 Disney crafts you can make at home right now. How does Disney World handle things when disaster strikes? Check out the Passholder discount for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. We shared some hidden secrets from the Disney Parks. Disney shared some fun online curriculum about Disney Imagineers. Catch the final performances of several shows from Tokyo Disneyland. See everything that’s coming to Disney+ in April. All the Disney and 20th Century movies that have been delayed. We shared our Disney+ movie marathon with you! Check out the Disney stars who are reading stories online! We shared our 10 most viewed DFB YouTube videos. See more of our best YouTube videos here! Ample Hills Creamery has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. See what the crowds were like at Disney Springs earlier in the week. Take a look at what the Magic Kingdom looked like on its first day of closure. Changes that were made to character meals prior to hotel closure. Watch the last showing (for now) of ‘Happily Ever After’ at the Magic Kingdom. See what the crowds were like at Disney World the day before the parks closed. Check out the progress on Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom. The Disney College Program students had to say goodbye. DFB Reviews Check out these easy Disney recipes to make at home — even if you’re not a great cook! Joffrey’s has shared some recipes to make coffee drinks at home. We checked out a new Irish Bundt Cake at Disney World. We reviewed breakfast at Trattoria al Forno on Disney’s Boardwalk. See how you can help support the employees from Jaleo. We shared 10 of our favorite Disney recipes that you can make right now. Check out these Disney recipes you can make with ingredients you already have on hand. We looked at the new Disney Dining Plan Plus option to see if it’s worth it. We reviewed the new tea service at the Bowers Museum. See where we found the Mickey Mouse Club Ear Bowl Sundae. Must-Have Merchandise 10 ways to online Disney shop during the quarantine. The March edition of the Minnie Mouse: The Main Attraction collection is here! Check out this new offer on shopDisney! A new Monsters, Inc. collection has arrived from HARVEYS. Check out the new Disney Dooney & Bourke collection! There is a new ColourPop collection inspired by ‘Mulan.’ Check out the new ‘Onward’ merchandise collection that’s now online. We spotted some new Disney engagement rings on shopDisney. NEW DFB YouTube Videos 9 New and Shockingly Expensive Things at Disney World The Only Times Disney World and Disneyland Have Ever Closed — And Why The 27 Most Surprising Things About Disney World’s Epcot The Disney Parks Are Closed — We’re Answering ALL of Your Questions New DFB Video — The Disney Parks Are Closed — We’re Answering ALL of Your Questions Have you subscribed to the DFB YouTube Channel? We’ve got FOUR brand new videos EVERY WEEK showcasing our adventures in Disney World and Disneyland! This week, we’re sharing our latest video: The Disney Parks Are Closed — We’re Answering ALL of Your Questions! — and don’t forget to subscribe here.  Deal of the Week: Order the 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining for 25% off It’s time to order the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2020 e-book! Get the 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining With over 700 pages of full-color photos, tips on the best restaurants, an ENTIRE chapter on snacks — including the best snack credit values throughout the parks and resorts — and a full break-down of whether the Disney Dining Plan is worth it for your family, now’s the time to get started! What’s in the DFB Guide? The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full to overflowing with tools and features to make your trip go smoothly, including: A 5-Step Strategy for Disney Dining Planning, covering everything you need to know from budgeting and booking to kids’ meals, dining discounts, and fireworks. A comprehensive and in-depth look at EVERY Disney World restaurant, kiosk, bar, and lounge, including our personal tips to ensure a positive and stress-free dining experience. Four free, downloadable worksheets for planning your trip. These worksheets are designed to help you execute all the steps of planning the perfect Disney dining experience. And they’re reusable for all of your future trips! Seven sample one-day dining itineraries for a head-start on planning. A comprehensive index of bars and lounges WITH reviews. An often under-appreciated option for both dining and entertainment, the e-Book devotes a whole index to the topic. The ability to be read on your mobile device or computer! It’s fully portable right in your pocket! You can order your copy today for 25% off the cover price! Just use code WDW2020! On to the Round-Up! Mickey Fix shared this 3D Sorcerer Mickey Puzzle. WDW for Grownups shared a review of Pizza Ponte in Disney Springs. Disney Parks Blog shared a recipe for cookie fries from Beaches and Cream. Disney Family shared a recipe for Anna and Elsa sugar cookies. Don’t Miss ANY Disney Food News! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Related posts: Disney Food News This Week: August 12, 2018 Disney Food News This Week: What’s NEW in the Disney Parks and More! Disney Food News This Week: EVERYTHING NEW At The Disney Parks and Resorts This Week! View the full article

The present state of the world is a strange one. With people around the world stuck home in self-isolation or quarantine, there’s definitely a lot of uncertainty. After all, the current situation is pretty unprecedented in our modern world. Magic Kingdom So you might be saying…why in the world would I plan a Disney trip right now? Well, we can be relatively sure that the parks WILL reopen (though timeline is unclear at the moment), and we know that Disney is already releasing discounts for later in the year! Also, with significant changes in the travel industry that could mean lower-risk booking…and an abundance of family time right now to fill with fun and positive projects…it may make a lot more sense that you think to start planning your next visit to the mouse. Let’s dig in! Take Advantage of Some Seriously Deep Discounts You know what’s even better than a Disney trip? A Disney trip on sale! The first great reason to consider planning your Disney trip NOW is that you might save some serious cash. Discounted Rates Are Already Starting To Pop Up The travel, entertainment, and even retail industries are taking a major hit from the current situation, and we’re already starting to see some serious travel discounts pop up for later in the year. Recently, Disney released a great hotel discount for Disneyland AND extended the Sun and Fun offer in Disney World. Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Hotels, flights, and experiences could continue to be deeply discounted over the next several months or into next year as the travel industry entices consumers to resume leisure travel once the current situation settles down. When more discounts and deals start to appear, you’ll have all of your plans ready for when you DO want to book your vacation so you can grab the deal before they run out. Usually Disney’s best discounts and deals are limited to a certain number of bookings and they can — and do — sell out, especially for the most popular resorts. View from California Grill Travel Change and Cancellation Fees Are Extremely Flexible On top of that, we’re anticipating that travel policies may look a little bit different as the year goes on. Already, many of the hotels on Disney World property and elsewhere have policies that make planning a more flexible process. Disney is waiving all change and cancellation fees up to the day of check-in through June 30th. Hilton, similarly, has flexible change and cancellation policies through April 30th; and Wyndham is accommodating all changes up to 48 hours prior to check-in indefinitely. Flexible cancellation and payment policies may continue for an extended period until we have more certainty about the future. ©Disney And if you’re looking for a cheap flight, prices and policies in the airline industry are taking a similar tack. You can book by the end of March with Delta or American Airlines and you’ll find that change fees will be waived if at any point in the future you decide to switch dates. In light of constant changes, however, you should note the cancellation policies for what you DO decide to book at this time! A Travel Agent Can Be More Helpful Than Ever Right Now And if you decide to book some of these discounted rates, we highly recommend using a GOOD travel agent. A qualified and experienced agent will keep an eye on all of the changing policies and discounts and will not only re-book you at a lower rate if it comes available, but also will sit on hold with Disney for hours at a time if any closure extensions or other changes occur. If at any time you feel overwhelmed by the change policies or looking for a deal, please, please reach out to Small World Vacations. They’re amazing. And 100% FREE. If things DO need to be canceled or switched around, it’s not YOU on the phone for three hours doing it. Not only will they help when planning, but they’ll also help save you time when making changes later! Trust me — not all travel agents are equal. These guys are *full-time* agents. This is what they do, day-in and day-out, and they can help you navigate any situation. Want to find out EVERYTHING a travel agent can do for you? Click here! Ready To Go Yet?? Make Planning Into A Fun Family Experience For most of us, planning a Disney trip can be ALMOST as much fun as taking one — especially when you get to work together on that planning with the whole family. With such a scary international situation, your kids (and you!) could definitely use a little de-stressor. If you’ve never thought of planning a vacation as a “fun family activity” now is the time to start! Does Everyone Want To Ride Splash Mountain?? Here’s how: have each person in the fam (including the kiddos) make lists of what they want to do on your trip. Everyone can pick out their must-do or want-to-do attractions, restaurants, character meet-and-greets, and out-of-park activities! Then, compare lists and figure out those high-priority adventures that everyone can agree on. DFB TIP: If you’re planning a trip with family who live somewhere else, get on a group zoom call or google hangout to share in the fun! If your kiddos are too little to make their own lists of must-do activities, have them sit with you and look at the ride pictures on the Disney website. Bonus! Making a list of Disney attractions they want to ride is a great opportunity to help teach your kids how to research something well — and they’ll likely enjoy it, too! Did someone say e-Learning?!??!?! Goofy Get Tips From The Experts! Ready to plan?? Let’s go!!! Spend some of that fun family planning time watching Disney Food Blog videos to get an idea of the best way to do Disney. After all, we have thousands of tips on how to build the perfect trip, so you can use this time at home to become EXPERT DISNEY PLANNERS. Not only are our videos full of great tips, but they’re also a really fun way to feel like you’re exploring the parks from the comfort of your living room. Cinnamon Roll Some suggestions? You could learn “What I’d Wish I’d Known BEFORE I Went to Disney World,” get up to date on allll the “Disney World PRO TIPS From the Experts,” and get your dining goals in order (and make your stomach growl) with the “14 Must-Do Disney World Restaurants for 2020!” Click here to take a look at ALL of the awesome DFB Guide videos! Pick up a copy of our 2020 DFB Guide to Disney World Dining! Oh, and don’t forget to grab your DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! We pour our hearts and souls into this guide every year, and it’s the NUMBER ONE RESOURCE for lots of Disney fan families. It’s got EVERYTHING we know in it — including recommendations, suggestions, reviews, tips, hidden secrets to planning the best Disney trip ever, and more. And, with planning a trip so far in the future, you don’t have to rush any decisions! Click HERE To Learn More About The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining e-Book Planning Doesn’t Have to Mean Booking — So There’s No Risk! Now, remember, planning doesn’t have to mean booking everything. A lot of us have been left with financial concerns and what-ifs about the rest of the year; but even if a Disney trip in the near future isn’t feasible, I’ve never heard anyone say they “over-planned” for a Disney trip. Planning one or even two years in advance is the norm for most families. So dreaming up the Best Day Ever for sometime next year could be a great way to lift your spirits! Mickey Mouse We Wish You Truly HAPPY PLANNING We know things are scary right now. We want to help to make this time as positive and stress-free as it can be. After all, we love planning trips to Disney (almost as much as we love being in the parks) and we think doing so will be a great way to have a little fun in these troubled times. Plus, you can tweak your trip to be absolutely perfect for your family AND make it as inexpensive as possible. What could be better? For more tips on planning the perfect Disney vacation, click here! Will you be planning a Disney vacation during your family time? Share your plans in the comments! Related posts: 10 Ways The DFB Guide Will Help You SAVE BIG in Disney World in 2020! NEWS! Three MORE Big Disney World Hotel Discounts for 2020! DFB Video: Can You Believe They Do This in Disney World?! View the full article

It’s almost been a week since we last stepped foot in one of the Disney World parks (and we’ve been missing it EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.)! Cinderella Castle And, we’re making our must-do list of things to do, see, and eat once the parks open up again (so you can come along with us, of course)! Take in the Parks and All Their Magic Since we’re having to stay away from one of our favorite places in the world for so long, that Disney magic is going to be even more amazing once we get to experience it again! We’re talking about that feeling when you listen to the ragtime music on Main Street, U.S.A. and smell the candy and popcorn,… Main Street, U.S.A. …or the moment you look up in awe at the floating rocks in Pandora,… Pandora …or even when a Cast Member smiles at you to welcome you “home.” Walt Disney World Cast Member We’re going to cherish each moment because they’re all special!! Ride Our Favorite Rides Over and Over Again While we have a special place in our hearts for ALL the Disney attractions in the parks, we’re ready to hop on our favorite rides so many times that the Cast Members know us by name!! We are excited to fly to Neverland on Peter Pan’s Flight,… Peter Pan’s Flight …take a thrilling trip through the stars on Space Mountain,… Space Mountain …celebrate sisterhood and a story of TRUE love on Frozen Ever After,… Frozen Ever After …escape the Yeti (and his strobe lights) on Expedition Everest,… Expedition Everest …drop into the 5th dimension on the Tower of Terror,… Tower of Terror …and join the Rebellion on Rise of the Resistance. Rise of the Resistance Who else misses being captured by the First Order as much as we do?? Cry Puddles of Happy Tears at the Disney Parades and Fireworks We already sob like babies when we see the entertainment in Disney World as it is, but we’ve been having some serious withdrawals recently. So, when we get the chance to park-hop and cry a million tears at the Festival of Fantasy,… Maleficent Dragon Float …Donald’s Dino-Bash,… Donald’s Dino-Bash …Epcot Forever,… Epcot Forever …Happily Ever After, we are going to see every one of them and shed lots of happy tears. Happily Ever After Eat Every Single Iconic Disney Treat Honestly, we’ve been craving Disney eats and treats every day we’ve been outside of the parks. And, the SECOND we set foot in Disney World, we’re going on a snack crawl for iconic treats like Mickey Bars,… Mickey Bar …Mickey Pretzels (and basically each of the other Mickey inspired snacks out there),… Mickey Pretzel and Cinderella’s Castle …Dole Whips, Dole Whip Floats,… Dole Whip at Typhoon Lagoon …Churros, and anything else our hearts desire. Original Cinnamon Churro Plus, we’re really looking forward to the new eats and treats that will most likely be making their way into the parks when they reopen!! Buy a New Piece of Merchandise Celebrating your first visit back to Disney World with something new and pretty sounds pretty great, right?? We always say that it’s a great thing to treat yo’self, you know! We’ve been saving our pennies so we can party in a pair of Minnie Ears,… Coral Minnie Ears …a stylish hat,… Rainbow Walt Disney World Hat …a fashionable tee,… Adult Pocket Tee …a cozy jacket,… Her Universe Denim Mickey Mouse Jacket …a set of park buttons (don’t forget to pick up a free celebratory button when you enter the parks too!),… Disney Parks retro buttons …or even some pins to add to our collection. Oooor, maybe we could just get all of the above!! ;D Tiara pin Hug ALL the Disney Characters Disney’s magic not only comes from the atmosphere, the shows, the food, and the attractions, but the characters have our hearts too! Even though we might have to wait a little while longer to be able to hug them with everything going on right now, the moment we we get to see them will make every second of waiting worth it. Whether you love hearing about life under the sea from Ariel,… Ariel …a galaxy far, far away from Chewbacca,… Chewbacca …what it’s like to be a toy from Jessie,… Jessie …or how the magic was created in the Disney Parks with Mickey, those meet-and-greets and hugs are full of happiness and love. Mickey Mouse It’s fine, we’re just getting a lil teary thinking about it… Thank Cast and Crew Members And, quite possibly the MOST important thing on our must-do list is thank the Cast and Crew Members who do everything they can to make our vacations joyful. They greet you with such warm smiles,… Walt Disney World Cast Members …help make fun and goofy memories with you,… Hi Zero!! …and sprinkle pixie dust on every aspect of your trip to Disney World. The parks wouldn’t be the same without them, and we think they deserve a MASSIVE round of applause!! Le Petit Cafe Cast Members While we aren’t completely certain when Disney World will reopen, we know that visiting again will be worth the wait. Do you have questions about Disney World’s closure? We’ve got all the answers for you here! What are you looking forward to doing the most when Disney World reopens? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: Disney News This Week: ALL the News and Updates from the Most Magical Places on Earth! DFB Video: Latest Disney Parks News — CEO Shakeup, HUGE Refurb News, and MORE! What’s New at Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Retro Platform Crocs and a SIMBA Popcorn Bucket! View the full article

Spending more time at home these days is a great opportunity to pick up a new skill, like drawing! We’ve found a ton of resources to guide you step-by-step in creating pieces of art to hang all over the walls of your house! Animation Experience Disney Parks offers daily drawing classes at Art of Animation Resort, The Animation Experience at Rafiki’s Planet Watch in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and the Animation Academy at Disney California Adventure. These are awesome ways to escape the crowds and the heat, and best of all, you get a free souvenir! While both Disney World and Disneyland remain closed at this time, Disney Parks Blog has made it possible to learn how to draw your favorite characters from the comfort of your own home! The Learn to Draw series on Disney Parks Blog has a huge collection featuring our favorite characters! We recently shared how to draw Mickey Mouse through the years — his original 1920’s look… …his contemporary design… …and ‘pie-eyed‘, which is much in the style of the newest animated shorts! Here’s a video on how to draw Mickey’s best friend, Pluto! For a different type of ‘pet’, here’s a tutorial on how to draw Stitch! For a fun challenge, you can also learn how to draw Anna! And of course, we can’t forget Mickey’s sweetheart, Minnie! You ain’t never had a friend like the Genie! Learn how to draw him in this video: Here’s a fun video on how to draw Pascal hanging from a branch! You can also learn how to draw Tinker Bell! We also found a tutorial on how to draw our favorite silly old bear, Winnie the Pooh.  We hope you have a TON of fun creating these characters. Once you do PLEASE share them with us as we’d love to see your beautiful creations! <3 What other Disney-inspired activities are you taking part in while staying at home? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: NEW Reusable Shopping Bags Available at the All-New World of Disney in Disney World Disney Collab ALERT! Check Out The Mickey Mouse x Adidas You’ll Need 3-D Glasses To See! You Can Score Even MORE ‘Year of the Mouse’ Goodies with the NEW Disney x Aldo Collection! View the full article

We are always on the lookout for the latest foods and restaurants in the Disney Parks, but you may be surprised to hear the storied past of how some of your favorite foods and eateries in Disneyland and Disney World came to be (or didn’t quite make end up as intended!). Mickey Ice Cream Bar in the parksToday we are delving into 10 surprising facts about Disney food that you may have never heard about! Disneyland and Pepsi Cola In the days of themed Coke bottles in the parks, it might be hard to picture of Disneyland or Disney World selling soft drinks other than Coco-Cola, but in the early days, they were all about Pepsi too! When Disneyland first opened, Coca-Cola and Pepsi Cola we both sold in the park. Both companies were part of the original 33 investors in Disneyland, which is rumored to be one of the ways Club 33 got its name. Club 33 Mosaic LogoPepsi’s partnership with Disneyland led to Walt and his team creating Pepsi’s main attraction for their pavilion at the 1964-1965 World’s Fair. What did they end up building? Oh, just a little show about the children of the world called “it’s a small world.” This attraction was one of the hits of the World’s Fair and is now a staple in Disney Parks around the world! ©DisneyWhen Disney World first opened, Pepsi sponsored the Country Bear Jamboree which made its debut on opening day! They also sponsored nearby Pecos Bills Tall Tale Inn and Cafe. Country Bear JamboreeDisney World and Disneyland have since transitioned to only sell Coca-Cola products, but when Shanghai Disneyland opened in 2016, it sold exclusively Pepsi products, rejoining the Disney and Pepsi labels once again. Disney World and McDonald’s In 1997, the Walt Disney Company entered a ten year partnership that Michael Eisner, CEO, deemed “the most ambitious promotional effort ever developed between two of the world’s best-known family-friendly brands.” Disney’s contract with McDonald’s not only changed the ad landscape for the popular fast-food chain but also altered the Disney Parks as we knew them! Michael Eisner ©Ed SchipulGuests could get McDonald’s French Fries at Fairfax Fries in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Petrifries in Animal Kingdom’s Dinoland, U.S.A., and Frontierland Fries or Village Fry Shoppe in Disney’s Magic Kingdom. Or if you needed a sweet treat to dunk your fries into, you could grab McDonald’s fries, Chicken McNuggets, and McFlurry desserts at Epcot’s Refreshment Port. If you couldn’t get your McDonald’s fix from sides alone, Restaurantosaurus sold even more familiar items like Happy Meals. RestaurantosaurusAfter 10 years of working together, the contract expired and Disney began to remove the McDonald’s branding from the parks. All of the in-park McDonald’s locations were phased out by 2008, but the two free-standing restaurants in Downtown Disney Orlando (now Disney Springs) and nearby the All-Star Resorts remained. It didn’t take long for the Downtown Disney location to close in 2010 and leave the location near the All-Star Resort to hold the golden arches alone. Speaking of, we have been keeping an eye on the LATEST renovation to this long-standing location here! With the McDonald’s and Disney agreement dissolving, the fast-food chain was no longer able to make Disney Happy Meal toys — that is, until recently. In 2018, just in time for the release of Incredibles 2, Disney and McDonald’s struck up a deal once again to create Disney Happy Meal toys since McDonald’s was willing to comply with Disney’s nutrition standards. Friar’s NookSince we said goodbye to the McDonald’s fries in the parks, Fairfax Fries became Toluca Legs Turkey Company (now Sunshine Day Cafe and Bar), Perifries became Trilo-Bites, Frontierland Fries got a makeover to become Golden Oak Outpost, and Village Fry Shoppe became the Friar’s Nook. Enchanted Tiki Room The long told story goes that Walt Disney found a mechanical bird in a cage in a little shop in New Orleans that gave him the inspiration to pursue what grew into audio-animatronics! One of his early visions for this technology was a singing bird show, but not quite how you know it today! Walt’s original vision for the Enchanted Tiki Room was to create a dinner show for his guests. He envisioned all guests being seated and served at the same time, which would allow the show to run on a schedule for everyone to get the full experience. As guests dined, birds would sing above their heads! Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki RoomIn the middle of planning, the design team concluded that adding in food service would limit the show’s exposure too much, so it quickly transitioned into an attraction — and Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room was born! Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki RoomWalt Disney World also built an Enchanted Tiki Room similar to Disneyland’s iteration. The show was named Tropical Hideaway and was later re-titled “The Enchanted Tiki Room: Under New Management” with Aladdin’s Iago and The Lion King‘s Zazu running the show. The show closed down in 2011 after a fire and reopened later in the year reversed back to the original version. Walt’s original vision of a luau dinner with a show was finally executed (sans birds singing words and flowers crooning) at the Polynesian Village Resort in Disney World with the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show! Frito Kid Disneyland used to be home to a counter service location known as Casa de Fritos. Not surprisingly, this spot was famous for shelling out Frito Corn Chips! This restaurant played host to the infamous “Frito Kid.” Frito Kid was a mascot-turned-chip-dispenser complete with rolling eyes, working tongue, and rotating head. Casa de Fritos Vintage MatchbookAfter you slid a nickel into the cash box, he would come to life and call to his partner, Klondike, to send some “golden chips of corn” down a chute that ran the length of a mini-mountain behind Frito Kid. Before you knew it, a bag of Frito’s was on its way to you in all its golden glory! Casa de Fritos MenuWe bid farewell to Frito Kid when the new mascot Frito Bandito took over as the face of the brand. The Frito Bandito never made it into the parks, so Frito Kid is still #1 in our hearts! This display was super unique and definitely a memorable piece of Disneyland history. Doritos But Fritos weren’t the only big draw at Casa de Fritos. Ready to have your mind blown? Disneyland. Invented. DORITOS. (Yes, we all owe Disneyland a collective “thank you!”) Early in Disneyland’s history, from the actual trash, they invented what we know today as Doritos. Casa de FritosRumor has it that the staff was throwing away stale tortillas from a local vendor, Alex’s Foods. When the salesman spotted some in the trash, he suggested to the chef that they turn the stale tortillas into chips by frying them up. They began selling bags to guests and it was a quick hit! The snack was wildly popular, leading a Frito-Lay marketing executive to work to commercialize the product into the Doritos we know today! California Grill Disney’s Contemporary Resort opened in 1971 with the Top of the World Restaurant nestled on the 15th floor. ©DisneyFrom 1981-1993, the restaurant housed the dinner show, “Broadway at the Top.” ©DisneyThe restaurant received a makeover in 1995 and was re-named the California Grill we know of today! Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship A Peter Pan-themed restaurant on a real pirate ship?? Sign us up! Back in 1955, Disneyland opened the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship and Restaurant in Fantasyland. Chicken of the Sea AdvertisementYou could eat your meal by the waterfall at Skull Rock Cove or explore the ship — and maybe even run into Captain Hook! Chicken of the Sea sponsored the restaurant until it was transformed into Captain Hook’s Galley in 1969. ©DisneyThe ship sailed into the sunset in 1982 when it was removed to make way for New Fantasyland and the Dumbo the Flying Elephant attraction. If you are sad you missed the boat on the Chicken of the Sea Pirate Ship, young lost boys and girls can still explore the recreation of the original Disneyland design over at Pirate Galleon in Disneyland Paris! The Original Mickey-shaped food You know we are always keeping our eyes peeled for new Mickey-shaped snacks — we think those two little ears make any treat even more delicious! But we wouldn’t be able to enjoy any of these snacks without the first, O.G. Mickey-shaped food: pancakes! These beauties are ICONIC. Featuring blueberry eyes, a cherry nose, and a pineapple smile, they’ve been putting smiles on generations of Disneyland guest’s faces for years. When Disneyland opened in 1955, it was home to Aunt Jemima’s Pancake House, which became Magnolia Tree Terrace in 1970, then received its current name, River Belle Terrace, in 1971. Disneyland’s Aunt Jemima Restaurant AdvertisementThe chefs at Aunt Jemima’s Pancake House are believed to be the creators of the first Mickey Mouse Pancake! Aunt Jemima’s KitchenAfter a quick stent at Rancho del Zocalo, the Mickey-shaped Pancake returned to the River Belle Terrace menu! You can also get your quick Mickey-shaped Pancake fix at Red Rose Taverne! Odyssey If you’ve ever been in Epcot’s Mexico pavilion and tried to cut over to Test Track, you have likely been sent on a winding journey past the restrooms, around a building, and along the side of the water. The Epcot Experience at the Odyssey CenterThis seemingly random building (helping you get your steps in) is known as the Odyssey and has been through quite the transitions through the years. It originally started as a counter-service restaurant when Epcot opened but was later transformed into the character show, Mickey’s Rockin’ Celebration, until the restaurant closed in 1994. Trailblazing Ladies of Disney Animation Complimentary SeminarThe dining space sat idle for years, but was eventually turned into an event space, named the Odyssey Events Pavilion, and has played host to many-a-festival events (such Minnie’s Garden Party)! Minnie Mouse!!Most recently, it has been renovated to house the Epcot Experience and gives guests a sneak peek into the future of Epcot’s transformation Orange Bird This year’s, Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival might as well have been named the Orange Bird festival, because the iconic sipper and slew of Orange Bird related merchandise stole the show and our hearts. Orange Bird SipperWe have seen the precious lil bird represented on SO MUCH merch this year, but many guests may not know he isn’t just the new face of the Flower and Garden festival! Orange Bird MerchandiseIn 1970, the Florida Citrus Commission partnered with Disney World to sponsor the Sunshine Pavilion, comprised of Tropical Hideaway (Enchanted Tiki Room) attraction and Sunshine Tree Terrace, in Disney’s Magic Kingdom. Orange Bird was created as the mascot and was featured in ads for Florida oranges. He could be found perched at the back of the Sunshine Tree Terrace counter-service stand, where guests could enjoy a glass of fresh Florida orange juice or, one of our favorites, the Citrus Swirl. Florida Citrus Growers’ Orange BirdHe even appeared as a walk-around character in Adventureland inside the Magic Kingdom! Disney’s partnership with the Florida Citrus Commission dissolved years later and Orange Bird seemingly disappeared along with it (*Judi Dench narrates* …or so we think…). ©DisneyTokyo Disneyland brought Orange Bird back to life in celebrating Orange Day in 2004 and we began seeing him on more merchandise in the United States soon after. In 2012 Orange Bird returned home to his original spot in Sunshine Tree Terrace along with his iconic snack, the Citrus Swirl! Orange Bird has now taken Disney World by storm and we’re totally fine with it. Click here to see the newest Orange Bird merch in Disney World! We always enjoy learning the history behind some of our Disney faves. With every new fact we learn, we love seeing how Disney has been committed to conserving the heart of Walt’s vision even as the parks continue to grow and adapt! What are some of your favorite Disney food facts? Any we left off? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Disney Food Post Round-Up: June 27, 2010 Grand Launch Sale: The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2012 e-Book The Year in Review: Top 10 Disney Food News Items of 2013! View the full article

With Disney Resorts everywhere closing from the Coronavirus, Aulani is following suit. Aulani Resort While the Hawaiian resort and spa updated its sanitation procedures and has allowed guests to switch their reservations without a change fee, Aulani is putting the safety of its guests, cast, and crew first during these difficult times. On March 24th at 5 PM, Aulani will be closing as a health precaution for the time being. Currently, the resort plans on staying closed through March 31st, along with the other Disney Resorts. Sunset View Disney has stated that guests with arrivals from March 24th through March 31st can visit the Aulani’s website or call (866) 443-4763 to reschedule reservations for a future date. They’ll be waiving all the cancellation fees of these dates, including rescheduled reservations with arrival dates through June 30th. Aulani © Disney While guests with hotel packages will need to call to rebook or cancel, room-only reservations booked through Disney will automatically be canceled if the arrival date falls between the closure. Disney Vacation Club Members will also see their point return to the current Use Year without placing them in holding. We’ll keep you updated with any new information! Want to know more about the Coronavirus closures? We’ve got all the deets for you here! Did you have plans to go to Aulani soon? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: DFB Video: Disney Parks Around the World Close, New Lands Get Opening Dates & Mulan Merch Comes to shopDisney! We Dare You to Watch These Disney Commercials Without Laughing or Crying! News! Tables in Wonderland Memberships Will Be Extended Due to Disney World Park Closures! View the full article

Restaurants around the world have been shutting their doors to protect guests (oh, how we miss a nice dinner out of the house!). Almond Milk Honey Flat White And, while ALL the Disney Parks and even their shopping locations have closed as well, you might shed a few tears over this next closure. Starting today, Starbucks is temporarily closing all its US and Canada in-store cafes. ©Starbucks However, you can still go to a select grocery store or Drive-Thru location or use food delivery services to grab your favorite Frappuccino or latte since these will remain OPEN. Yes, we just let out an audible sigh of relief. Starbucks While we will miss being able to relax in one of Starbucks’ comfy chairs, we are glad to see them doing everything they can to protect guests and employees during this time. We’ll keep you updated with any more information we find! Want to know more about the Coronavirus closures in the Disney Parks? We have all the answers to your questions here! What’s your favorite drink from Starbucks? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: Disney News This Week: ALL the News and Updates from the Most Magical Places on Earth! NEWS: Grab A FREE Cupcake with This Limited Time Offer in Disney World and Disneyland! Review! Cue the Star Wars Theme ‘Cause We Know How to Order the Secret Menu Chewbacca Frappuccino! View the full article

While we’ve been binge-watching Disney+, feeling nostalgic about our favorite attractions, baking up some new recipes, and going on shopping sprees (phew!!)… ©Disney …we’re ready to do some arts and crafts with a REAL Disney artist, all from the comfort of our homes! Stephen Ketchum, an awesome artist at the Art of Animation Resort, is taking a moment to sprinkle magic on your day! And, we’re learning how to draw three (!!!) different Mickey cartoons that will make you say, “Oh boy!” ©Disney Way back when Walt first created Mickey Mouse, he had a very distinct look in the late 1920’s. The tutorial shows you that all it takes is a simple circle with some curved lines to make the mouse that started it all! Then, you can move into a more contemporary Mickey by adding just a few more shapes and curves… …and finally wrap things up with a “pie-eyed” Mickey (with an oval head this time) that fits right along with the animation style from Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway!  And, there you have it! You can create Mickey from all sorts of eras, whether you’re a beginning artist or you’ve been drawing for years. After you’ve finished your masterpieces, you can use #Disney and #BetterTogether on Instagram and tag @DisneyParksBlog with pictures of your artwork for a chance to be featured on their page! And, don’t forget to tag @DisneyFoodBlog so we can see what you created too! Check out a sneak peek of pie-eyed Mickey in Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway here! Which version of Mickey are you the most excited to draw first? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: DFB Video: Can You Believe They Do This in Disney World?! Wanna Win a FREE TRIP to Disney World? Check Out This New Sweepstakes! We Dare You to Watch These Disney Commercials Without Laughing or Crying! View the full article

One of the silver linings that come with spending more time at home is the wonders of online shopping. The stores may be closed but that doesn’t mean we can’t shop ’til we drop on the world wide web! ShopDisney at Target! Here are ten different sites you can shop your way through during your time at home! shopDisney shopDisney is the ultimate online destination for official Disney merchandise. From clothes to toys, you can shop for your home as well as for your next Disney World vacation! But it’s not all fun and games! shopDisney actually has a collection of learning toys to supplement school time for all those kiddos currently learning from home! If you’re looking for a challenging puzzle, the Disney Parks Castle Wooden Puzzle by UGears will make the hours fly by! © Disney Check out the Castle Wooden Puzzle here! The Ink & Paint collection is full of goodies to inspire your creativity! Pick up this Sorcerer Mickey Mouse 3D Wood Model and Paint Set to build and paint your very own Sorcerer Mickey model! © Disney Get your own Sorcerer Mickey 3D Model here! This time at home also means more opportunities to cook and bake together as a family! shopDisney has tons of cooking and baking supplies with a Disney twist. Bake a yummy dessert in this adorable Mickey and Minnie Mouse Baking Dish. © Disney To give your meals at home a professional flair, don this Mickey and Minnie Mouse Apron. You can even personalize it so everyone in the family can have their very own apron! © Disney Click here to purchase the Mickey and Minnie Mouse Apron. If you’re looking to disconnect and nestle into a good book, there’s no shortage of options on shopDisney. One Day at Disney is a documentary on Disney+ highlighting a typical day in the life of Disney Cast Members across the entire company. From the theme parks to Imagineering and from Broadway to television, this book accompanies the series and gives a glimpse into “the people who make magic across the globe!” © Disney Take a closer look at the One Day at Disney Book here! If you’re dreaming of your next Disney vacation (perhaps one that needed to be postponed), picking up a copy of Poster Art of the Disney Parks might be the perfect way to appease your Disney World blues! © Disney HARVEYS HARVEYS is one of our favorite places to score adorable Disney bags and accessories! With their newest Monsters, Inc. collection that arrived on March 20th. © Harveys Check out the full Monsters, Inc. collection here! This Medium Streamline Tote – signature ‘seatbelt’ material, features none other than Mickey Mouse! © Harveys For Star Wars fans, there’s a Medium Streamline Tote with a comic strip design including all your favorite characters from a galaxy far, far away! © Disney And of course, you’re gonna need a wallet to drop into your new tote bag! Pick up this cute billfold with a sweet Mickey and Minnie design. © Disney Cakeworthy The theatrical release for the live-action remake of Mulan may have been pushed back but that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate our love for this classic story! This adult Mulan t-shirt will bring honor to us all! © Cakeworthy Take a peek at this Mulan Tee here! To pair with the t-shirt, complete your look with this Embroidered Denim Mickey Skirt! © Cakeworthy Treat yo’ self with this embroidered Mickey skirt! Click here! To REALLY seal the deal and have a completely new look to show off, throw on this Never Land Denim Jacket. © Cakeworthy You can get this Never Land jacket for yourself here!! ColourPop ColourPop just launched a new Mulan Collection inspired by the upcoming live-action remake of the beloved Disney animated film! First, we are sharing the Eyeshadow Palette, which comes with 15 different shades. © Colour Pop The collection also includes Lux Lip Trio, which comes with all three lip products released in this collection: a liquid lip, a lip gloss, and a lipstick. © Colour Pop The last product we’re sharing from this collection is the Face Milk and Lip Mask Set! © Colour Pop Box Lunch We could spend hours trying to decide what to pick up from Box Lunch, but today we’re sharing all things Loungefly! First, we found this adorable and classic Winnie the Pooh Plaid Mini Backpack. © Box Lunch Take a closer look at the Winnie the Pooh backpack here! Next, check out this Lilo and Stitch ‘Ohana’ Fanny Pack! Perfect for the warm weather ahead! © Box Lunch Purchase the Ohana Fanny Pack here! Third, you can “make it pink” and “make it blue” with this Princess Aurora Reversible Sequin Mini Backpack! © Box Lunch Choose to make it pink or blue by getting your very own Princess Aurora backpack here! Hot Topic Hot Topic carries one of our favorite brands, Her Universe, and we spotted some athletic apparel that we’re definitely gonna sport while we’re working out at home! Let’s get down to business with these bike shorts! © Hot Topic Get down to business by checking out the Mulan Bike Shorts here. They also come in plus size! © Hot Topic Pick up a pair of the Mulan Bike Shorts here! Pair those shorts with this mesh back tank top and you’ll be ready to take on the Imperial Army! © Hot Topic Be fierce like Mulan with this mesh tank! You can get yours here! This tank top features a really neat sword detailing on the back, and is also available in plus size. © Hot Topic Get your Mulan mesh tank here! And for those chillier days, bundle up in this bell sleeve hoodie! © Hot Topic Click here to get the Mulan Bell Sleeve Hoodie. RedBubble RedBubble is a site that supports independent artists and their unique creations! In the spirit of creativity, we’ll share some items we spotted that might come in handy if inspiration comes your way! First, write your next novel in this Mary Poppins Spiral Notebook. Designed by: Jess Purser Since we’re all going to be spending a little more time at home these days, we’re gonna want to be SUPER comfy. Be inspired to create the next blockbuster film when you rest against this Lion King Script Throw Pillow. Designed by: Jcranfill Click here to get your own Lion King Script Pillow! And you’re going to need somewhere to hold all your pens, pencils, and bright ideas! Store them all in this “Heart Rate Inspired Silhouette Zipper Pouch.“ Because let’s be honest, our hearts all beat to the sound of Disney Parks, right? Designed by InspiredShadows To purchase the Disney Heart Rate Pouch — click here! Walmart If you’re the patient type (we know we can hardly wait!), you can pre-order a TALKING Baby Yoda plush toy. Standing at 7.5″ tall, The Child can now accompany you on your adventures. © Walmart Get your very own BABY YODA here! While passing the time at home, perhaps throw some family game nights! Try out Monopoly inspired by Frozen II! © Walmart Jumpstart family game night with Frozen II Monopoly! Target Ah, Target. How we love you. Start planning your next Disney vacation now! When it’s time to travel, you’ll want to be prepared with this FUL 21″ Mickey Mouse Hardside Carry On Suitcase! © Target Travel in style by getting the Mickey Mouse Carry On Suitcase here! Before your travels, however, you’ll be enjoying more time at home with family. Why not take up baking? Store your tasty treats in this R2D2 Talking Cookie Jar! © Target Get the R2D2 Cookie Jar here! And speaking of Star Wars, fans of The Mandalorian will be happy to know that there are new LEGO sets to collect — including this BrickHeadz set including Mando and The Child! © Target Get your very own Mandalorian Lego set here! DFB Store! And last but not least, why not plan your next Disney vacation with DFB? Our shop is full of guides to help you plan your next trip when it comes to all things food! The DFB Guide To Walt Disney World Dining 2020 Pick up a copy of our 2020 DFB Guide to Disney World Dining! And you’ll also want to check out our t-shirt line! Yes, we have t-shirts too! DFB Tee We hope this gave you a few ideas for your online shopping! Where’s your favorite place to shop for Disney merchandise? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: GOODBYE MONEY! Disney and Colourpop Debut a Midnight Masquerade Collection of Makeup, Mugs, and MORE! Like An Icy Blast, Frozen 2 Merch Is Sweeping Its Way Through Disney Parks and Stores Across the U.S.! NEWS: The NEW Frozen 2 Dresses Have Landed on shopDisney and They’re BIG TIME on Sale! View the full article

Welcome back, DFB friends! We’re here with another DFB Video, and today we’re talking about some of the most expensive things you can find in Disney World! Oga’s Cantina Drinks and Coasters With ticket prices, food costs, and MORE increasing all around the parks, there are plenty of other expensive ways to burn through your wallet in Disney World. And, we’re here to give you the deets on some of the priciest things money can buy during your vacation (warning: you might be surprised at a few of these!). We’re talking about $600 Minnie Ears, a space beer flight, Cinderella’s Signature Celebration Package, and MORE! So, what are you waiting for?? Check out the most expensive things in Disney World in our latest DFB Video! And if you love this video, there’s plenty more for you to enjoy over on our DFB YouTube Channel! By the way, have you subscribed yet? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to the channel and never miss a single episode! So check out the video and then let us know: What is the most expensive thing you’ve bought in the parks before? Related posts: DFB Video: 5 Disney Changes That Turned Out Way Better Than Expected DFB Video: Latest Disney Parks News — NEW Hotels, NEW Restaurants & TONS of Festival News for 2020! DFB Video: Latest Disney Parks News — CEO Shakeup, HUGE Refurb News, and MORE! View the full article

When Disney World announced it would be temporarily closing, they noted they would continue paying full-time Cast Members who were unable to go to work. Disney World Will Be Closed For At Least Two Weeks But what does this closure and the current restaurant restrictions mean for employees of third-party-owned businesses on property? This is certainly a tough time for the world, but for those in service industries, it will be downright devastating. Making sure that everyone is doing what’s best for the staff and Cast Members around Disney World is of particular importance to us here at DFB, but what is “best?” Thousands of employees are out of a job for an indeterminate amount of time, not knowing where their next dollar is coming from or whether they’re going to be able to pay for rent, bills, healthcare, or food. Disney Cast Members And restaurants are faced with difficult decisions affecting not only how to keep their businesses afloat during this tough time, but how to care for their employees as well. Faced with tighter restrictions, many restaurants are seeing only a fraction of their normal patronage, leading some to have to make tough calls. So what does that mean for all of the restaurant workers at Disney (and the rest of the country!)? Are Restaurants Really Just Firing Everyone? The restaurant industry makes up 10% of the jobs in this country — roughly 15.1 million people. What’s happening to all of these people? Is everyone just out of a job? With government restrictions, no one coming through the doors to help pay the bills, and a staff needing the money to survive, many restaurants have been faced with laying off the majority of their staff. But it’s NOT as black and white, good-guy/bad-guy as you may think. No one disputes that we need to look out for the workers that have been uprooted, but the solutions are not as clear-cut as you may think. Firing Staff Makes Them Eligible for Unemployment… In the best of times, many restaurants work on very low margins. Trying to carry employees through an open-ended closure as well as paying rent and utilities for a restaurant that has stopped producing an income is a death sentence for many restaurants. And obviously if the restaurant goes out of business, this isn’t going to help the staff either. By instituting lay-offs, restaurants are banking on the fact that many employees (both hourly and salaried) will qualify for government assistance through unemployment. While that’s likely not nearly as much compensation as they were making at their jobs, employees would make more this way than if their employers paid them the reduced salary they could manage during the closures. Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ Will Lay Off Staff So They’re Eligible for Unemployment Through unemployment, most restaurant workers in most states qualify for roughly half the income they were making. This varies on job title and a variety of other factors, but it’s better than nothing. And it means the restaurant might still be there to come back to once the pandemic subsides and places start opening up again. Disney Springs’ Splitsville Luxury Lanes and Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ are two of many restaurants taking this tack. We reached out to these restaurants for comment and they very quickly responded with the following statement: “In this unprecedented time and after much deliberation, we were faced with the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic will likely continue for several months. It was clear that we had to set a course that would allow Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ Kitchen and Splitsville Luxury Lanes to be resilient so that at the end of this uncertain road we would have a business for our employees to return to. Other well-known hospitality companies nationwide have chosen to follow similar paths. It is the hardest decision we have ever faced. Our actions will allow our hourly teams to take advantage of their unemployment benefits and any other government assistance that will come available because of this crisis. In addition to their final checks, the company will continue to pay health insurance for employees who have elected to participate through April 30, 2020. Also, we are working on a plan to provide daily staff meals. There is no playbook for this difficult time. Our employees are family and we have immense gratitude for each and every one of them. We pray that everyone stays safe and healthy.” …But Is It Enough? But that’s, unfortunately, not the end of this story. While most restaurants — including those in Disney World and Disneyland — are trying to do right by their employees and still save their businesses, we’re hearing from multiple sources that although terminated staff are now eligible for unemployment, the website to apply has been very glitchy — crashing multiple times per day. This adds insult to injury and delays potential benefits. Also, while unemployment benefits may be an option for many out of work employees, will it be enough to live off of until the restaurant industry rights itself? In lots of high cost-of-living locations around the country, like New York City and San Francisco, the answer is a resounding no. On top of that, looking nationwide of course, undocumented U.S. citizens likely make up a significant portion of the restaurant industry in this country. Due to their status, they don’t qualify for unemployment at all, leaving a portion of restaurant workers completely stranded. Regardless of the current laws, thousands of unemployed workers will put a huge drag on an economy already strained from the effects of the pandemic. Many Disney Springs Stores and Restaurants Are Shuttered Relief Plans and Restaurant Assistance Programs There’s no clear answer to the question of whose job it is to maintain a paycheck and/or health benefits for restaurant workers through this unexpected and debilitating time for the restaurant industry, and the fall-out is significant for them. But the federal government and private restaurant groups are instituting some relief plans at the moment. The government’s new relief plan passed just days ago WILL provide paid sick leave for employees of qualified businesses with more than 50 employees or fewer than 500. This is great for small businesses, but it means if you work at a major food chain you could possibly not qualify for assistance. If you get sick, your options are to stay home and not get paid or go to work and potentially risk infecting countless others. Restaurant Groups are Doing What They Can to Help Many major food chains are stepping up to be included in the relief plan or opting to provide assistance themselves. For instance, Starbucks announced a plan to help employees in this difficult time. They’re implementing “catastrophe pay” for any worker who is found in close contact with or that contracts COVID-19. They’ll be allowed to stay home and receive pay for 14 days (the recommended 2 weeks of quarantine time) of sick time. In the event their condition continues, additional assistance can be given up to 26 weeks in some cases. Starbucks Will Offer Paid Sick Leave The massive Darden Restaurant Group, which runs Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse, among others, have shifted most of their operations around the country to primarily take-out and delivery options, requiring a significantly reduced staff. To compensate, they’ve begun offering their hourly employees, who previously didn’t qualify, paid sick leave to help take a bit of the burden off of reduced hours. They may implement a furlough program for employees to help them retain benefits through this time if it comes to having employees not come in at all. Some restaurant groups that are able to do so, such as those run by chef José Andrés who runs Jaleo and Pepe in Disney Springs, have begun to offer discounted gift cards, with proceeds going directly to paying employees during this tough time. Jaleo is instituting programs to help its employees through this time Currently, Jaleo is taking things one step further by paying its Disney Springs employees and other affected personnel for two weeks while also extending their benefits. With the new e-gift card program, they’re hoping to keep providing for their staff beyond that time. They hope to welcome back employees as soon as this situation improves. What’s To Come And What Can WE Do? The one positive we’ve seen in this has been the almost unanimous response from restauranteurs that they wholeheartedly plan to bring back every employee once things start to get better. They’re not simply letting everyone go, they’re working out plans to ramp back up when things improve and to quickly reopen with their former staff members in place. But this will be a long and arduous road for everyone in the hospitality industry — from restaurant workers to hotel employees to travel professionals. And following this unprecedented crash in profits, many companies and their employees will then have to weather an economic recession as well. This is an incredibly trying time for the U.S. as well as the whole world. We’re facing a lot of people out of work. The best thing we can do right now to help the industry overall is follow CDC guidelines. Stay home. Stay quarantined. Stay isolated so that we can conquer the virus as quickly as possible, and the world can start functioning again. Only then will things have a chance to get better financially for the millions of displaced workers and all other domino effects. Click Here To Read Our Disney Closure Coverage, Including Our Thoughts on When Disney World Will Re-Open Related posts: What’s New in Disney Springs This Week! February 13, 2018 What’s the Latest on Jaleo’s Opening Date in Disney Springs? Can You Have Disney Parks Food DELIVERED to Your Hotel? Find Out What Happened When We TRIED! View the full article

The March edition of the Minnie Mouse: Main Attraction collection celebrates the classic attraction “Mad Tea Party” and is available to purchase on shopDisney! ©shopDisney We’ve loved the Space Mountain and Pirates of the Caribbean collections and have been anticipating March’s release for weeks! This collection is perfect for spring and we can’t wait to get our hands on each piece. Starting with the ADORABLE Minnie Mouse Plush, her outfit has vibrant colors and a large bow detail on top of her head. Minnie is dressed for the occasion and is ready to attend a tea party! The bottom of her shoes features the signature Main Attraction logo. It retails for $29.99! ©Disney Next up is the Loungefly backpack! The bags have been one of the more popular items in each month’s collections, so we suspect these will be popular as well! This pack features cute ears and a bow with a little teacup! It’s priced at $75.00. ©Disney Moving on to the Minnie ears, you can live out your dreams of being an adorable Mad Hatter! The ears have the Mad Hatter’s iconic hat, with lace detailing cascading from the back of the ears. And of course there’s a small teacup decoration at the center of the bow. The ears are priced at $34.99, but it looks like they already sold out in minutes! ©Disney Much like the previous months, this month’s mug has a large bow design, this time with the signature teacup in the middle. ©Disney Perfect for sipping on while working at home! The mug retails for $19.99. ©Disney And finally, the set of pins includes Minnie ears, Minnie Mouse herself, and of course a teacup! The pin set retails for $19.99. Yet another adorable addition to your pin portfolio! ©Disney You can pick up these new Minnie Mouse: The Main Attraction items on shopDisney! You can check out a sneak peek of the April collection here! Which has been your favorite collection in the Minnie Mouse: Main Attraction Series so far? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Check This Out! Minnie Mouse: The Main Attraction Collection Will Include Special Items For Pin Collectors! New Monthly Disney Minnie Mouse: The Main Attraction Collection Is Launching SOON! The March Collection for the NEW Minnie Mouse: The Main Attraction Series Is Our Favorite One Yet! View the full article

While we all have more time on our hands to practice social distancing and cook delicious meals at home, some of us are more culinary-challenged than others! Goofy Poses at Chef Mickey’s Not to fear, there are some SIMPLE Disney recipes that anyone can master! Here are four recipes that cover breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even an adult beverage to enjoy! Smoothies from the Senses Juice Bar on the Disney Dream Start your day off right with a delicious and healthy smoothie! Or have a Senses Spa day at home and indulge in one of their Juice Bar recipes. Not only are smoothies easy to make, but they’re even easier to customize to your preference! The only tool you need is a blender! Smoothies include a Strawberry “Restoration” Smoothie, a Spinach “Replenishment” Smoothie, and a Banana-Blueberry “Rejuvenation” Smoothie! Feel restored with this strawberry smoothie ©Disney Get the recipes for the Smoothies from Senses Juice Bar here! Avocado Citrus Salad at Royal Palace on the Disney Dream Sticking to nutrient-packed, healthy foods, it doesn’t get much easier than salads! This salad recipe also comes from the Disney Dream, at Royal Palace! If you’re looking for a light lunch or dinner option, this is perfect! Avacado-Citrus Salad at Royal Palace on the Disney Dream Get the recipe for the Avocado Citrus Salad here! Cheesy Enchilada Soup from Jolly Holiday at Disneyland Soups are another easy dish to whip together! The recipe list is a little longer for this particular soup, but don’t let that deter you. Once you gather all the ingredients, the hardest step will be chopping the onion! This recipe comes from Jolly Holiday at Disneyland and is a seasonal favorite! If you want, you could even make a big batch of this and freeze the leftovers! This is a great meal option to make ahead of time. Cheesy Enchilada Soup is a Seasonal Favorite at Disneyland’s Jolly Holiday Bakery Check out the recipe for the Cheesy Enchilada Soup here! Tiger Lily Sangria from Jardin de Fiestas Booth And finally, you’ll need some liquid courage to tackle these recipes! Luckily, cocktails are also pretty easy to whip together. Just mix the ingredients and presto! The Tiger Lily Sangria comes to Epcot seasonally during the Flower and Garden Festival, making this a great way to reminisce if you’re missing the parks right now! Tiger Lily Sangria Stir up a Tiger Lily Sangria with this recipe! There you go! A full day of yummy, easy recipes! Want to step it up to the next level? Here are TEN more Disney recipes you can make from home this week! What’s your go-to simple recipe? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: EXCLUSIVE Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Recipe: Tiger Lily Sangria from Jardin de Fiestas Booth 2015 Epcot Flower and Garden Recipe: Burnt Ends Brisket Hash from the Smokehouse Outdoor Kitchen Review: 2016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Mix It, Make It, Celebrate It! Pastry Making Workshop View the full article

The Disney Parks around the world have all closed for the FIRST time in history. Magic Kingdom While Disneyland and Disney World are hopefully reopening at the beginning of April (but it could be longer), we’ve been using our time outside of the parks to reminisce about the memories we’ve made in Disney. And, with all the exciting new changes coming soon, we can’t help but think about the Disney Parks and attractions of the past! Although we’re seeing new rides like Rise of the Resistance and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, some of the most beloved attractions have come and gone in the parks (but a few have stuck around!). And, we’re sharing our FAVORITE throwback attractions with you, so get ready for some serious nostalgia. Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride While most of the rides in Disneyland are very family-friendly, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride has a bit of a twist at the end of the attraction that’s aimed more towards grown-ups. The attraction, based on The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, opened with the rest of the park in 1955 and saw a revamp in 1983. While the sister version in Disney World switched to The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, the original Disneyland ride is still one of the few remaining rides present at the park’s opening. ©Disney While you travel through a bar scene and end up getting hit by a train, the most ICONIC scene from Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride is at the end of the ride when you travel to the underworld. Yeah, we aren’t kidding, you guys!! Since Mr. Toad lives his life recklessly throughout the attraction, his final judgment comes in a room filled with demons, red lights, a high temperature, and even a visit from the devil himself. ©Disney This attraction has a completely different tone from the other rides in the park, and we LOVE a wacky plot! Snow White’s Scary Adventures Although we had to say goodbye to the ride in Magic Kingdom in favor of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Disneyland still has Snow White’s Scary Adventures! This is another original attraction that opened when the park debuted in 1955 with similar rides now in Disneyland Paris and Tokyo Disneyland. While the ride takes you through the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (with a few spooky moments, of course), the overall theme promotes that Disney “happily ever after.” ©Disney When Disneyland opened, the ride was named Snow White and her Adventures where the riders were actually the main character. But, it was kinda difficult to understand so the ride switched to the version we know and love in 1983. However, Snow White’s Scary Adventures is seeing a few more updates this year with “state-of-the-art audio and visual technology,” music, laser projections, LED black lighting, and an animation system put into the attraction. There will even be a new scene, an entirely different ending, and an update to the exterior of the attraction. ©Disney Check out all the details on Snow White’s Scary Adventure’s renovation here! 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Based on the novel of the same name, Disney Parks around the world have featured different versions of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Submarines. While the Disney World version was gutted to make way for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and the Disneyland attraction has been replaced with the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage… ©Disney …Tokyo DisneySea takes guests on small submarines made by Captain Nemo to explore Atlantis. Along the way, you can spot a shipwreck, artifacts, and mer-creatures — all while you narrowly escape the Kraken! ©Disney The special effects are worth a ride on the Tokyo DisneySea attraction, since they beautifully use light effects and sounds to make guests actually feel like they’ve traveled deep under the sea to Atlantis. Peter Pan’s Flight Think of the happiest things! It’s the same as having wings! And, taking a ride on Peter Pan’s Flight lets you soar through the air on a pirate ship sprinkled with pixie dust. When this attraction first opened in Disneyland in 1955, it completely changed the game for ride technology. Guests had never really been able to feel a simulated flight before, so the ride became a HIT. Peter Pan’s Flight It became so classic, in fact, that the attraction made its way to Disney World, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disneyland, and Shanghai Disneyland as one of the most beloved rides of all-time. Many of the attractions have kept their original animatronics, but have since added fiber optic lights, projections, and black lights to the ride to seamlessly blend the past with the present. ©Disney Plus, if you head through the stand-by queue in Disney World, the ride has been even more modernized with interactive technology à la those amazing Imagineers. “it’s a small world” Mary Blair’s innovative design and unique art style has given us perhaps the most well-known Disney attraction EVER. When “it’s a small world” opened in Disneyland in 1966, the iconic tune struck a chord with visitors around the world as the song promoted our connection to one another. The ride features different countries from around the world with animatronics representing different cultures and singing in their diverse languages. “it’s a small world” While some of the rides have seen updates, like the addition of Disney characters in the Disneyland version, the attractions have mainly stayed the same classic boat rides that guests of all ages love. ©Disney And, if you’ve got Disney+ at home, you can even find out how it’s a small world was created by watching The Imagineering Story (one of our favorite shows, tbh)!! Tower of Terror This e-ticket attraction has THRILLED guests everywhere with the use of its drop technology that takes you to the fifth dimension and back again (we’ve totally hopped on three or four times in a row). But, while the Tower of Terror is terrifying visitors in Disney Parks around the world, all of the attractions except one have strayed from the original The Twilight Zone plot. Tower of Terror Tokyo Disneyland tells the story about Harrison Hightower whose elevator plummeted to the ground after he made fun of an African idol that he had stolen. The curse that the gods put on him still haunts the tower, where Hightower’s body was never found. The Disneyland Paris version incorporates randomized drops and three different narratives that focus more on the little girl haunting the hotel as well as a sinister spectre, rather than The Twilight Zone storyline. And, Disney California Adventure has left behind the “haunted tower” theme entirely, bringing in the Guardians of the Galaxy for Mission: BREAKOUT! Tower of Terror Sign Hollywood Studios is the only park that has kept the original narrative of the Hollywood Tower Hotel as well as Rod Sterling’s introduction to the attraction. While we find it extremely cool that each of the parks around the world have their own unique take on the ride, we hope that Disney World will keep the original (since it does have that level of nostalgia for the 1940’s Hollywood the park was created with). Dumbo the Flying Elephant Dumbo is so iconic that ALL the Disney Parks feature the attraction! The timeless ride lets guests soar above the ground with a great view of the other rides in the parks. While Dumbo the Flying Elephant might seem pretty simple compared to the other attractions featured on this list, it has been around since the early days of Disneyland. Dumbo! And, if you’ve never been to Disney, taking flight on one of these adorable elephants is basically a rite of passage! Disneyland and Walt Disney World Railroads Yes, the railroads definitely count as rides in the parks!! Disneyland and Disney World both have trains that take guests around the parks, inspired by Walt’s own love for trains. ©Disney Although he might not be with us today, we think that the railroads in the park are a wonderful way to connect Walt’s hobbies to the heart of the Disney Parks. The Walt Disney Railroad Oh, and while you’re there, be sure to wave to all the people you’ll pass around the area (so you can feel like you’re one of the characters in the parades)! Journey into Imagination with Figment Imagine the Figment attraction with no journey through the senses, no Imagination Institute, and no Nigel Channing… And, now try to think of one of the CRAZIEST rides you can dream up. Yup, that was the original Journey into Imagination before it saw a complete revamp in 1999. Journey Into Imagination 1985 The previous version of the ride was all about the Dreamfinder, who was looking to find anything that sparked imagination and creativity. He dreamt up Figment then took us on a journey through art, science, space, and the most absurd (and awesome) scenes to “One Little Spark.” There was even a room that had so many Figments, you couldn’t escape images of the purple dragon wherever you looked. ©Disney After you exited, the ImageWorks building had more interactive elements than the current version. There were coconuts you could hit together to learn about sounds, paint brushes you could point up at the ceiling to draw Figment, and even a RAINBOW TUNNEL (!!!) that changed as each person walked through it. Rainbow Tunnel Captain EO There are plenty of whimsical and fun things around Disney, but the Captain EO film is an absolute GEM. Although the movie is no longer in Epcot or Disneyland (which has since replaced it with The Path of the Jedi), the sci-fi musical adventure was written by George Lucas, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, and starred Michael Jackson. ©Disney It was one of the first 4D films ever to be featured in a theme park. The story took you to a trash planet (no, really — the planet was basically made out of metal trash), where Captain EO and his crew used the power of music and dance to transform the Supreme Leader into a beautiful woman and her home into a garden-like state. The film featured bops like “We Are Here to Change the World” and “Another Part of Me” that enveloped the theater with stars, lasers, smoke effects, and more over the course of 17 minutes of pure 80’s bliss. ©Disney Honestly, with Disney World’s 50th anniversary coming up, we’d love to see Captain EO brought back in some way. We can’t dance as well as Michael Jackson, but we would DEFINITELY jam out to the film’s soundtracks in the park!! The Great Movie Ride While the Chinese Theatre is now home to Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway (which you can take a peek at here), it used to transform guests into the starring roles of their favorite Hollywood films on The Great Movie Ride. When you first entered the theatre, you could spot different costumes from the movies featured in the attraction… Great Movie Ride …as well as a pre-ride video montage of some of the BEST clips from the films! The Great Movie Ride made us say “Hooray for Hollywood,” even as our guide actually encountered a few baddies along the way. (Who else LOVED that skeleton scene from Indiana Jones??) Although the attraction featured classic films like Casablanca and The Wizard of Oz, it also sprinkled some Disney magic in there with Fantasia via Sorcerer Mickey! Dessert is in the Wizard of Oz scene! While Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway uses some AWESOME new ride technology, we will always have a special place in our hearts for the moment we got to “rise dramatically to our feet” after taking a trip through the movies. Disney Studio Backlot Tour Speaking of a trip through the movies, Hollywood Studios also used to have the Disney Studio Backlot Tour that let you go behind the scenes of television and film productions! Yeah, it was JUST as cool as it sounds. Disney Studio Backlot Tour The attraction took you on a walking and tram tour through the backlot of the park, where you could spot costumes from films like Pirates of the Caribbean… Pirates of the Caribbean Costumes …and even old props, like the organ from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea! 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Organ But, our favorite part of the tour was when they showed you “movie special effects” with fire, flood, and ALL THE DRAMA from a moving truck barreling towards you!! It was all for fun and you’re saved at the last minute, but you definitely got wet! Truck Waterfall Scene While we miss some of the attractions that we’ve said goodbye to, we can’t wait to see the finished transformations coming to the Disney Parks. And, who knows? Maybe we’ll even find a new favorite or two! Want to know how the recent closures could change Disney World forever? We’ve got all the details for you here! What’s your favorite Disney throwback ride? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: DFB Video: Latest Disney Parks News — CEO Shakeup, HUGE Refurb News, and MORE! Disney News This Week: ALL the News and Updates from the Most Magical Places on Earth! NEW Insta-Worthy Nighttime Magic Shots Are Coming to Disney World Soon! View the full article

While we might be staying nice and cozy at home instead of visiting the parks, there’s only so much Disney+ you can binge-watch in a day. ©shopDisney Buuut, if you’re tired of watching TV or even baking up some new recipes, you can go on a shopping spree with a discount that you don’t want to miss! On March 22nd, you can grab a new pair of Minnie Ears in prep for your next trip or the latest toy for your kiddo with FREE SHIPPING on shopDisney! Mulan Minnie Ears And, the best part about this deal is that there’s no minimum spending amount so you can get anything you want! All you have to do is use the promo code FREESHIP at check-out, and you’re good to go! ©shopDisney Ummm, now we have an excuse to buy a bunch of the new Mad Tea Party line from the Minnie Mouse: The Main Attraction Collection! Mark your calendars because this deal is good for one day only! Looking for more info about the park closures? Check out all the details here! What are you going to add to your shopping cart first? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: Disney News This Week: ALL the News and Updates from the Most Magical Places on Earth! NEWS: The NEW Frozen 2 Dresses Have Landed on shopDisney and They’re BIG TIME on Sale! Take a Trip in Style With This NEW Disney Travel Collection! View the full article

Chef Masaharu Morimoto released a touching statement via Instagram today asking for the community’s help on behalf of restaurant employees everywhere. Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto Holding back tears, the master of Japanese cuisine thanked his team members and publicly asked the nation for their support. Chef Morimoto rose to culinary stardom on the hit competitive cooking show, Iron Chef, which was filmed in his native country of Japan. The Food Network later launched Iron Chef America, bringing the Iron Chef to the U.S. where he opened several restaurants including two locations in Disney Springs. View of Morimoto Asia from STK Orlando in Disney Springs In his touching statement, Chef Morimoto said the restaurant industry’s workforce is made up of more than 50 million people in the U.S., many who are struggling right now. While he believes that closing your businesses is the right thing to do at this moment, the majority of these employees cannot survive without work. Morimoto Street Food Morimoto concluded, “Please continue to support your local businesses where you can. Together we’ll get through this and we look forward to seeing all of our guests again soon.” Thank you, Chef Morimoto, for your kind words and call to action on behalf of our many friends and family affected by this crisis. Together, we WILL get through this. How are you supporting your local businesses during this time? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Three NEW Ways to Celebrate Oktoberfest in Disney World! Chef Morimoto Returns to Host “12 Beers of Christmas” at Disney World (and Tickets Are Available NOW)! STK Steakhouse has a HUGE Black Friday DEAL! View the full article

If your supply of baked goods is dwindling by the second, we’ve got some exciting news for you! Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC sign Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC in Disney Springs is going to be firing up its ovens this weekend to bring you a bunch of their signature sweets and treats. That’s right, it’s time to restock your bunker with cookies, cupcakes, donuts, plus whatever else you may find. And, they have special diet restrictions in mind — all of Erin McKenna’s goodies are 100% vegan and gluten-free! Erin McKenna Cupcakes Doors open at 8 AM and the bakery will be open until 6 PM both Saturday, March 21st, and Sunday, March 22nd. Annnd so far they’ve only confirmed they’ll be baking this weekend, but we’ll let you know if we hear of any updates! What’s your favorite thing to get at Erin McKenna’s? Tell us in the comments section! Related posts: Loading Up on Chicken Guy! Loaded Fries and Mac ‘N’ Cheese!! Review! The 411 On ALL The Christmas Tree Trail HOLIDAY EATS You Need At Disney Springs! Review! Turkey Trot to Disney Springs for These NEW Delish Sliders! View the full article

Joffrey’s Coffee and Tea Company seems to know that our current situation calls for a little caffeination! Joffrey’s Kona Mocha That’s why they’ve decided to share some of their top-secret recipes that you can mix up for yourself right now! Bless UP, Joffrey’s. BLESS. UP! In fact, Joffrey’s has already shared the deets on make-at-home versions of two of their signature coffee drinks on their Instagram! While we can’t promise they’ll be as yummy as the ones Joffrey’s makes for us at the Disney parks, we’ll take anything we can get our hands on right now! First up, Joffrey’s Jamaican Me Crazy Cold Brew! © Jamaican Me Crazy Cold Brew Here’s what you’ll need to make it: French Press or Cold Brew Maker Bag of Joffrey’s Jamaican Me Crazy® flavored coffee (French Press grind) Refrigerator And here are the steps! 1. Take the coffee grounds and insert them into the French Press or Cold Brew Maker For a 3-cup French Press you’re going to want to use 2 ounces (4 tbsp) of coffee grounds and 10 ounces of water For an 8-cup French Press you’re going to want to use 5.5 ounces (11 tbsp) of coffee grounds and 30 ounces of water 2. Fill your French Press with the recommended amount of water (make sure the water temperature is cool or room temperature) 3. Cover the French Press with plastic wrap This captures the coffee’s aroma and ensure that it doesn’t pick up the scents of anything else in your fridge 4. Place the wrapped French Press in the fridge for 14-24 hours and take a load off or start a new Netflix show because we’ve got some time to burn Joffrey’s Specialty Iced Coffee 5. Take the French Press out of the fridge and plunge away! (Make sure you plunge slowly) 6. Upon consumption, combine 1 part cold brew with 3 parts water 7. Enjoy! ©Disney If you’re lazy like us, you can also order Joffrey’s Shakin’ Jamaican Cold Brew online which is similar and ALREADY MADE! Today’s other special is Joffrey’s Iced Cappuccino! Here’s the list of ingredients you’ll need: Cold Brew concentrate (which you can make or buy pre-made) Milk Flavored syrup of your choice (optional) Once you’ve assembled your ingredients, it’s time to put your barista skills to the test! ©Joffrey’s Iced Cappuccino Prep: 1. Use the same method as you used to make the Jamaican Me Crazy Cold Brew, or just buy Cold Brew Concentrate that’s already been made 2. Fill a tall glass with ice 3. Add 2 oz. of Cold Brew concentrate 4. Fill the rest of the glass with cold milk 5. Add in flavored syrup of your choice 6. Stir and top with whipped cream 7. Add some fun toppings, such as cookie crumbles or sprinkles for an extra treat! Toffee Flight Latte at Skyliner Joffrey’s Dang, Joffrey’s! You make all of this look so easy! We’ll be swigging back some delicious cold brew in no time, and we’ve got you to thank for it! Check out the 10 Yummiest Disney Recipes to Make at Home This Week HERE! What’s your favorite drink to get at Joffrey’s? Tell us in the comments below! Related posts: One of Our Favorite Coffee Drinks Has Vanished From Joffrey’s in Disney World! Will This New One Be Just As Tasty? Review! We Just Ate the INSANE Turtle Cinnamon Roll in Disney World! We’re Reviewing EVERY Holiday Treat At Walt Disney World! See Them ALL Here! View the full article

According to the Tampa Bay Times, all restaurants across Florida may only serve by takeout or delivery effective immediately as a precautionary measure at this time per a new executive order by Governor Ron DeSantis. Table Seating In addition to restaurant service changes, gyms across the state will also be closed. Governor DeSantis stated that all licensed restaurants and food establishments must “suspend on-premises food consumption for customers.” Kitchens may remain open for takeout and delivery, with the same applying for alcohol. This order, the Tampa Bay Times shares, “lifts some restrictions on restaurants to allow for the sale of drinks with to-go meals.” This new order is an update to one that was issued earlier this week, which mandated bars and nightclubs to close for 30 days. Restaurants, however, could host guests at table seating at 50% of the restaurant’s capacity. And end-date for the order was not stated. Also according to the Tampa Bay Times: “A spokeswoman for DeSantis wrote in an email that the measures are seen as ‘necessary to protect the public health, safety and welfare.’ ” Source: Tampa Bay Times To catch up on the latest information regarding Disney parks, you can click the link below. We here at DFB have been tracking the steps that Disney has taken around the parks to promote safety. You can learn more about that here. No related posts. View the full article

Mayor Jerry Demings has placed a curfew for residents of Orange County, Florida which includes Orlando and parts of Walt Disney World Resort. Main Street USA The nightly curfew begins tonight at 11 PM and runs until 5 AM until further notice. According to The Orlando Sentinel, Florida cases have been surging in recent days with over 500 infected and at least 10 deaths reported as of press time. When issuing the order, Mayor Demings stated enforcing this new policy is not intended to arrest people who disobey but to stop the spread of coronavirus among the community. Steps for Preventing Coronavirus The issuance is effective immediately and at this time no end date has been given. Exceptions will be made for those traveling to and from work, first responders, and medical professionals. We will keep updating this post with additional information as it’s released. Related posts: News! Disney World Purchases MORE Land! STK Steakhouse has a HUGE Black Friday DEAL! Hold Up… Did Electric Umbrella’s Closure Just Get Delayed in Epcot?! View the full article

Over the past week, Disney has reached out to homes across the world with engaging online content for learners of all ages to take part in. Recently, we talked about how Disney has been sharing Imagineering in a Box, a free online curriculum that launched last summer and takes you through the wide range of skill sets needed to become an Imagineer! ©Disney And now, Disney is allowing us to check on our favorite furry Animal Kingdom friends through Disney NOW. From fun facts to behind the scenes footage, Disney Animals is a series of educational and adorable videos for kids and adults alike! These short videos shares footage of all kinds of animals, including lions, flamingos, and gorillas! The videos also feature the Cast Members who care for these animals on a daily basis. Kilimanjaro Safaris Lions Check these cuties out online or with the Disney NOW App! We’re loving the free online content Disney has provided so far, and we can’t wait to see what else is in store in the coming weeks! Learn more about how to become a Disney Imagineer from home here! What’s your favorite animal in Disney’s Animal Kingdom? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Hakuna Matata Time Dance Party Brings the Beat at Animal Kingdom! Disney’s Animal Kingdom is Bringing “Bollywood Beats” to the Park! Here’s EVERYTHING Closed for Refurbishment in Disneyland AND Disney World Next Week! View the full article