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Starting to feel a little stir crazy? Yup, let’s just say the feeling is MUTUAL! But we’ve got to wonderin’, what can help us pass the time right now while ALSO lifting our readers’ spirits? Mickey and Minnie at the Skyliners Since we know many of you are going through and re-organizing your kitchen cabinets (we bet you’ve been finding all sorts of stuff in your pantries you forgot you had!). We’re going to give you some inspiration from INSIDE the Disney parks for how you can Mickey-fy your LIFE at home RIGHT NOW! Let’s make some Mickey-shaped magic happen, people! Oh, and we forgot to mention… since we’re Disney Food Blog, all these hot takes are EDIBLE because food is our number 1 coping mechanism — as if you didn’t know that already. Poof! It’s Mickey Mouse at Your House! Add Mickey Ears to EVERYTHING! Many of our favorite treats at the Disney parks have one factor in common — they all got their EARS ON! You’ll see A LOT of Oreo Cookies at play here –not only because they’re the perfect size, color, and shape, but they’re also super delicious. Take for instance the over-the-top Cookies ‘n Cream Funnel Cake at Hollywood Studios’ Epic Eats. It wouldn’t be half as much fun (or EPIC!) without it’s Oreo Mickey ears. Cookies & Cream Funnel Cake Read about the Cookies ‘n Cream Funnel Cake and other EXTREME uses for your Disney Dining Plan snack credits here! And while we certainly don’t expect you’ll be frying up fresh batches of funnel cakes while you’re house-bound (but if you are, can we come over???), we’ve often found you can pop two Oreos on just about anything to make it more MICKEY APPROVED. We’re talkin’ ice cream sundaes, cookies, pudding cups — you name it! In fact, if you’ve got a box of cake mix on hand, why not bake up some Mickey Cupcakes like the resorts and parks have in their bakery cases? Cookies and Cream Mickey Cupcake Don’t got any Oreos handy? Then let your CREATIVITY shine! Mickey-shaped ANYTHING is super EASY to make with stuff that’s around… and ROUND! Wafers, cookies, crackers, cakes, cereal, marshmallows, and candies will all get the job done nicely, plus you can really play around with flavors and textures — something us foodies love to do. Rise and SHINE to a Mickey-shaped Breakfast! Instead of just adding da ears, how about shaping your food to LOOK just the like Mickey Mouse? We think he’d be so honored to be joining you at your table! Breakfast is probably the easiest meal to start with if you’re new to “The Wonderful World of Mickey-shaped Foods!” In fact, we even know how to make the exact version of Mickey Waffles you’ll find throughout the parks! Get all the info you need to recreate Mickey Waffles at home HERE! More of a pancake person? We got chu, boo! Take a gander at this short stack of fluffy Mickey Pancakes — while we found this one at the resorts, all it takes is a steady hand and a little batter to make this pile o’ magic appear! Mickey-Shaped Pancakes But let’s not limit our imaginations to breakfast — even though we could eat breakfast foods any time of the day. There’s plenty of other eats to explore as you’ll soon see. Make Your Meal Time All About Mickey! Admit it — eating ALL the FOODS shaped like Mickey at Disney World is why you go there as often as you do. And there’s A LOT to choose from. But even though they’re in a special, magical place like Disney World, they’re not very hard to make at home! Abbondanza! How’s about a slice of Pepperoni Mickey Pizza pie? Mickey Pepperoni Pizza Anyone fancy a spot of tea? These adorable Mickey-shaped PB & J Sandwiches would require a Mickey cookie cutter, but if you don’t have one of those, just cut your sandwiches into circles and arrange three of them (1 big circle and two small circles) into Mickey formation! Mickey PB & J Sandwiches You can do all sorts of cool stuff! Make a hidden Mickey out of three meatballs on top of your spaghetti all covered with CHEESE! We know you’ve probably been scolded before NOT to play with your food, but these are some strange times we’re living in, so those rules are officially out the window! Spaghetti The Mickey Chinese Hot Dog Bun is one of our favorite snacks to enjoy at Disney California Adventure’s Food and Wine Festival. Alright, so maybe we don’t know the exact recipe, but we bet you could recreate something close enough with a can of refrigerated crescent dough, a sliced up hot dog and some sesame seeds. Any leftover hot dog slices would be great for Mickey-fying other foods too! Think of the Mickeybilities! ©Disney Mickey Chinese Hot Dog Bun Check out what made our Disney California Adventure’s Food and Wine Festival Best of the Fest List this year HERE! Stacks and Stacks of Mickey-shaped SNACKS Some of our favorite Mickey eats just so happen to be categorized as snacks. Of course, the beautiful snack math we like to do in our minds tells us if you put enough snacks together, they somehow add up to a meal. Don’t quote us on that, though. How’d this Minnie Chocolate Chip Lava Cake get in here? Oh yeah, we wanted to mention any Mickey-shaped snack can don a bow to become a beautiful Minnie snack instead! Minnie Mouse Chocolate Chip Lava Cake Read our FULL REVIEW of the Minnie Mouse Chocolate Chip Lava Cake HERE! We have soooo many Mickey (and Minnie!) shaped indulgences at the parks because we’ve tried them all. And you know what? If loving this Mickey Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich is wrong, then we don’t want to be right — plus it gets extra points for being a double-sided Mickey treat. Mickey Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich Click here to read our “Can You Eat All 19 Mickey-shaped Foods” Challenge! Sometimes the best treats have the fewest ingredients. We find more often than not, a classic Mickey Rice Krispy Treat is just what the doctor ordered. Mickey Rice Krispy Treat Sometimes you can even find jumbo versions of these guys at The Confectionery on Main Street, U.S.A. How big of a Mickey Rice Krispy Treat do you think you can make? All you need is a lot of butter, puffed rice cereal and marshmallows to find out. Treat Yo’ Self We get it — not all among us are keen to roll up their sleeves and get dirty with some home cooking. Luckily, there’s a bunch of Mickey-shaped snacks in grocery stores that you can buy already made. While last year we saw Mickey Ice Cream Bars hit the shelves, 2020 has been the year of Mickey Ice Cream Sandwiches. Mickey Ice Cream Sandwiches Find out where we spotted the Mickey Ice Cream Sandwiches here! And we know the grocery store situation is a bit iffy right now, so we’re not suggesting this stuff is still readily available but last month we saw Mickey Mouse Vanilla Ice Cream in the freezer section studded with little chocolate Mickey candies. Who knows — maybe they’ll have some next time you venture out to replenish your stockpile of toilet paper! Mickey Mouse Classic Vanilla and Fudge Ice Cream Read more about the Mickey-shaped Ice Cream we’ve seen in stores here There are a few healthy options out there like these Mickey-shaped Veggie Chips. We’ve discovered these at Target stores before and they’re better for you than regular potato chips. Plus they’re shaped like Mickey and come in three colors. Mickey-shaped Veggie Chips If your kiddos don’t like eating their veggies, maybe they won’t protest these. One can hope and dream, right? Put it in a Bucket Truly at a loss for how to Mickey-fy your life right now even after all our beguiling instructions? How about brushing of that Premium Mickey Popcorn Bucket that’s been up on the shelf collecting and using it again? Premium Mickey Balloon Popcorn Bucke We’re especially fond of this new Bubble Waffle Sundae at AritoCrepes that’s served in its very own Mickey Ear Hat Bowl! If you had the chance to snag one of these before the parks closed, we bet you’ll be taking all your meals from this gorgeous piece of Disneyana from now on. Bubble Waffle Sundae at AristoCrepes Click here to learn more about the Bubble Waffle Sundae that comes in a Mickey Ear Hat Souvenir Bowl! And if you didn’t have the pleasure of grabbing one yet, you can look forward to getting it when Disney World reopens! Plus who knows who you’ll run into! Mickey and Minnie Meet-and-Greet We’ll continue to find new ways to keep yourself amused, so stay tuned, and may all your meals be MICKEY-FIED! We’d love to see your Mickey-shaped creations! Please tag us @disneyfoodblog so we can eat with our EYES! Related posts: Disney FOOD CHALLENGE! Can You Eat All 19 Of Our Favorite Mickey-Shaped Foods?!? What’s New at Animal Kingdom — A Rotten Apple Cocktail, Up Phone Cases, And Your FAVE Disney Recipes! Review! Exclusive Gelato Flavor Only Found at Disney’s Riviera Resort! View the full article

When you go to Disney, the memories you make last a lifetime. And, before we even go, we get pretty hyped up by watching park videos (and those DFB videos ;D)! Magic Kingdom While we might not be able to visit the Happiest Places on Earth, these weird (and nostalgic) Disney commercials will have you laughing, crying, and giving you all the nostalgic Disney feels. So, sit back, relax, and get ready for some TV watchin’ (while you plan your next vacation, of course). Spaceship Earth Our DFB team is here to help you make every moment in the Disney Parks magical. But, this kid really seems to know his stuff (even how to pace yourself during the day)! Looking for a job at DFB, kid?? This little girl has got her priorities straight!! We LOVE meeting all the Disney characters in the parks, especially that special guest at the end of the commercial. When we wish upon a star, we’re dreaming of our next trip to Disney World too! And, this commercial captures all those happy feelings (plus the song is a bop, you know). This might be one of our favorite commercials out of this list because the magic of Disney really happens for all ages. Anybody else been too excited to sleep before a trip to the parks?? If you want to cry just a l’il bit (before we make you sob like a baby later), we just get all the feels from this sweet father/son gesture. Nobody’s ever really alone, you know! So, if you remember when “Stitch’s Great Escape” first came out, Disney released a line of promo commercials that featured Stitch wreaking havoc on Magic Kingdom. And, honestly, we still think they’re SUPER entertaining!! (P.S. Let us know if you spot the cameraman in this one…) Walt Disney’s imagination has changed the lives of everyone around the world. And, this commercial gives you a sneak peek at the magic he created, starting from his childhood bedroom. And we CAN’T forget about this Splash Mountain commercial. And you guys…we will never be able to get this Splash Mountain RAP out of our heads.  The Disney ducks have become icons of their own, but this sweet little duck meeting his hero basically has us in a puddle of tears. (Pass the tissues, please!) Alright, this one’s another tear-jerker, friends!! Whether you’re a parent or you’re leaving home for the first time, this commercial captures how special those Disney memories are to a family. Excuse us while we go cry and look through our photo albums now… Although we might have to miss out on visiting the parks with all the closures around the world, we think there’s a bit of extra magic in remembering the times shared with family and friends! Do you have questions about how Disney is handling the Coronavirus? We’ve got all the answers here! What’s your favorite Disney commercial? 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! DFB Video: Our Top Picks for the Most Outrageously Expensive Disney Experiences! DFB Video: Latest Disney Parks News — CEO Shakeup, HUGE Refurb News, and MORE! View the full article

Planning the perfect trip to Disney World takes courage, skill, and most of all, A LOT of time! Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom We’re talking AT LEAST 180 days for those of you who are brave enough to go after those highly-prized dining reservations! That’s why a lot of folks who were planning on being at Disney World right now are feeling especially downhearted. With the parks being shut down so unexpectedly, they gotta start the process of planning their dream vacations ALL over again! That led us to think — “What would really cheer up the folks who are in this sticky situation?” We’re talking if we could play the role of your DFB Fairy Godmother for the day and grant you some TOTALLY MAGICAL WISHES! Cinderella Castle Yes, DFB fam — we’re FANTASIZING here because it’s a fun (and much-needed!) escape from reality right now! While we’d really love to see our buddies who are eager to reschedule their trips get a few “extra enchantments,“ we know that not all of these can happen! But…let’s be honest, Disney…a few of them sure COULD! Splash Mountain Yep, sometimes, just SOMETIMES, Disney World has been able to “work a little magic” for guests impacted by some of the temporary closures that have happened before. Let’s take a look! How Disney World Has Compensated Guests in The Past Yes, before we get WAAAY too ahead of ourselves in this vivid and quite detailed hallucination, let’s examine a few occasions where Disney World has historically closed its doors and what that meant for guests who were visiting at the time. Park Closures When 9/11 occurred, guests were cleared from the parks within 30 minutes and it’s reported many were given complimentary tickets at the turnstiles as they exited. Resorts remained open and the parks reopened the next day, September 12th, 2001. Cinderella Castle Disney World has also experienced several hurricane-related closures over the years. Typically, these shutdowns have been brief and only minimally disruptive, usually only closing down the parks for a few hours. When Hurricane Irma struck in 2017 forcing the parks to close early, Disney made it up to guests by adding a special Extra Magic Hour at Magic Kingdom for Resort guests. Walt Disney World Disney World’s resorts have remained open during these storms for guests while Cast Members assembled as “Ride Out” teams to keep everyone safe until the storms passed. Disney World’s staff has truly gone above-and-beyond to protect everyone during these weather emergencies while still offering guests special entertainment such as rare character greetings and activities. Meanwhile, Disney World has a Hurricane Policy. If Orlando’s National Hurricane Center issues a hurricane warning within seven days of your vacation, you can usually contact guest services to cancel or reschedule your trip with reduced or no fees. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Soooo that’s how Disney World has made it up to guests for closing its parks in the past. This current situation we’re facing will be Disney World’s longest closure in history — which has given us plenty of time to really mull things over! Let’s put on our pajamas (actually, we’re already wearing ours since we’ve been working from home all week! HA!) and fluff up our pillows to start dreaming BIG! In fact, let’s start dreaming really, REALLY BIG! Off to Fantasyland WE GO! Allow Displaced Guests Priority Re-booking Of Advance Dining Reservations We know a lot of would-be guests had their hopes dashed when their advance dining reservations were wiped out. Some of these reservations weren’t easy to come by — it isn’t uncommon for Be Our Guest Restaurant at Magic Kingdom to book up 180 days in advance! Entrance into Beast’s Castle While we understand each restaurant can only accommodate a certain number of guests, it would be really wonderful if Disney could sprinkle a little magic pixie dust on this situation and allow guests with canceled trips a priority timeframe to re-book some hard-to-get ADRs they lost in when the parks closed. Will it happen? It isn’t likely. After all, the popular restaurants are likely already booked up, and Disney can’t prioritize displaced guests over others. But we’ll be sending some positive vibes your way (which is the best any of us can do!). Issue Multi-Experience FastPasses+ To Replace Lost Bookings And just like dining reservations, if you were lucky enough to score some sweet Tier 1 FastPasses for popular attractions like Slinky Dog Dash or the new Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, we think it’s pretty unfair you had to give them up. Besides, if you do re-book your Disney World vacation in a window of time shorter than 60 days, all the best FastPasses will most likely have already been distributed! Runaway Railway Dedication Ceremony While Disney probably couldn’t re-issue all of your original choices (but one can dream!), it would be awesome if they could at least give out some Multi-Experience FastPasses+ to guests who lost their initial selections. These little beauties are like Willy Wonka’s golden ticket and are sometimes handed out by Disney when they make a boo-boo (like when the Skyliner stops running). They can be used on any attraction of your choice! If ever there was a situation that merited makin’ it rain some “golden tickets,” we think you’re looking at it! Add More Disney After Hours Parties And due to Disney World’s sudden closure, three After Hours parties were canceled including two Disney Villains After Hours events at Magic Kingdom. We had some big plans to hang out with all our favorite baddies while enjoying party-exclusive treats, reduced crowds, and shortened wait times for some of our favorite rides! Disney Villains After Hours Party Although there’s a significant number of these parties still scheduled from April to July, we wouldn’t mind having a few more opportunities to hobnob with Disney’s worst villains! Hey, we totally understand if they’ve got a lot of evil plans in the making. It’s more likely they won’t be able to extend their social calendar for us, but who knows! Finish Cinderella Castle’s Magical Makeover Early And even though we told you construction projects were being temporarily postponed at Disney World, maybe “less intensive projects” such as Cinderella Castle’s refurbishment might be able to continue forward at some point? Cinderella Castle Aided by the fact that Cinderella Castle’s paint job seemed to be going up very quickly last time we saw it makes us all the more wishful Magic Kingdom could re-open with a completely finished castle! A dream is a wish your heart makes after all! We think we remember hearing that tune somewhere! But we won’t be too bummed if we see the cherry-pickets again as long as it means we’ll get to see the castle! (And, of course, we want all the workers to be as safe as possible!) Postpone Spaceship Earth’s Refurbishment When Disney World recently announced Spaceship Earth would be closing on May 26th to undergo a lengthy “reimagining” process, fans of the iconic attraction were hoping to get in one last ride! Epcot But depending on how long Disney World will remain shuttered, many guests might not get to say farewell to the version of Spaceship Earth they know and love. We’re certainly hoping Disney would consider delaying Spaceship Earth’s refurbishment. (Heck, call us old-timey, but we wouldn’t be mad if they called off the refurb entirely!) Extend Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival Speaking of Epcot, one of our favorite festivals had only just begun when Disney World announced it would be temporarily closing. Epcot’s 2020 International Flower and Garden Festival is currently only scheduled to run through June 1st. Since it’s the highlight of many guests’ Disney trips, it would be a bummer to miss out on so much of the festival this year! 2020 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Can we all just agree right now to extend Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival well into the summer? That way, we can enjoy all the food and topiaries PLUS get our hands on more of that adorable merch this year including Spike the Bee and Orange Bird! This news would be so wonderful to hear, but this would be a really hard one for Disney World to pull off — especially with no College Program cast members. Give Annual Passholders Some Love We know Disney World’s Annual Passholders could also use some lovin’ right now! Disney’s already assured AP members their passes will be extended for however many days the parks remain closed, but we hope they can give APs a couple of extra perks, too! Magic Kingdom Since Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival was only in its first few weeks, we know you APs would love to have some extra time to pick up your free AP magnet! Especially because the design is so stinkin’ cute this year! Passholder Magnet And we know Florida resident and Silver Annual Passholders have dates blocked from June to August. Folks would really love seeing some of these restraints lifted. So many of you have contacted us about this one, but we’ll just have to take this one day at a time! Grant Automatic Rise of the Resistance Boarding Groups Okay, all of these suggestions have been pretty nuts so far, but now we’ve got one that’s even CRAZIER! How about guaranteeing guests who had to cancel their vacations boarding passes for Rise of the Resistance? That would certainly help to soften the blow since the attraction is notoriously difficult to get on! Rise of the Resistance Actually, Rise of the Resistance had several breakdowns the first day it opened. Reports vary somewhat, but it seems Disney gave out FastPasses+ to ride Rise of the Resistance the very next day, and a complimentary 1-day park hopper for guests who were able to join a Boarding Group on opening day but unable to ride. Rise of the Resistance We were hoping there might be some downtime to work on the attraction since Rise of the Resistance has continued to experience operational delays, but as of now, it looks like Disney World has ceased all construction projects. Rise of the Resistance Ride Vehicle Stricter safety recommendations recently issued by health and government officials have advised people not to gather in groups of more than 10 for the next 8 weeks, which has made it nearly impossible for work to continue at the parks. While it’s not likely Rise of the Resistance will be “fixed” we’re still chomping at the bit to ride it again when Hollywood Studios reopens! Free Disney+ Since many of us are stuck at home now (or worse…WORKING from home!) during what was supposed to be our Disney vacation, how about sliding us over a free subscription to the live-streaming service, Disney+? That way, at least we’d have something with which to bide our time until the parks reopen (and take our minds off of this madness!). Disney+ Streaming Service ©Disney Actually, most of us have already lost the little willpower we had left and have signed up for Disney+ already! It’s just the Disney fix we need to get us through this difficult time! Well, Cinderellas, that’s it for our little jam session! We had a BALL bringing all of our ideas to you! As for you folks who will be re-booking the Disney World vacations you had to cancel, we’re thinking about you! While we can’t grant you any of these wishes, we hope we brought a smile to your face! And remember — we’ll be here to help you plan your next Disney World trip every step of the way! Do you have anything you’d like to add to the list? Tell us your suggestions in the comments below! Related posts: 21 Myths About Walt Disney World Food DEBUNKED NEW Insta-Worthy Nighttime Magic Shots Are Coming to Disney World Soon! News: New Dining Discounts for Disney World Annual Passholders for 45th Anniversary Year View the full article

HARVEYS has released collections in collaboration with Disney in the past, from Dumbo to Toy Story and beyond! Mike and Sulley Bus And now they are releasing a BRAND NEW collection! The newest collection is all things Monsters, Inc. and is available for purchase online now! The first item in the collection is a tote bag, which includes all of our favorite Monsters, Inc. characters: Sulley, Mike, Randall, and Boo! © Harveys The bag is large enough to fit all of your essentials for a day on the Scare Floor! © Harveys The bag is fashioned in HARVEY’S signature ‘seatbelt’ design and retails for $178. © Harveys And, it can be switched out with the matching crossbody for $138… © Harveys …or paired with the makeup case for $68. You gotta make sure you look as fab as Celia! © Harveys The next item in the collection is for all the Sulley fans: this adorable foldover bag! © Harveys Made with Harvey’s seatbelt material and a really good size to fit all your essentials, this cutie has a zipper feature to look like Sulley’s scary teeth for $168! © Harveys But, Sulley wouldn’t have nothin’ if he didn’t have his best friend, Mike! And, you can pick up the famous duo with the Mike Convertible Crossbody that has a scary face… © Harveys …and a laughing face that would fill BOTH sets of scream and laugh canisters for $178! © Harveys Speaking of canisters, you can take home your own coin purse version for $38. © Harveys Even though the monsters visit all sorts of kids around the world, Boo has a special place in Mike and Sulley’s hearts. That’s why we love the hip pack of her flower door… © Harveys …which comes with Little Mikey for $118! We still get emotional at that ending!! © Harveys Oh, and when you purchase some of these items online, they’ll come in this ADORABLE dust bag (or you can get it on its own for $14)! Seriously, we’re considering buying these items just so we can get the dust bag… © Harveys The next item in the collection is a wallet! This wallet comes in an identical design to the tote bag and crossbody and retails for $98. © Harveys You can even get it in a billfold version for $64 too! © Harveys And to match your wallet and tote bag, the design also comes in a lanyard… © Harveys …and an adorable keychain for $28! © Harveys For the pin collectors, this Monsters, Inc. collection has FOUR adorable pins, starting with the “Accident-Free For 0 Days” pin. There are three other pins to collect to add the perfect touch to any look! © Harveys You can pick up this hardhat pin for $12… © Harveys …a sock pin for $12… © Harveys …watch out, you might have to call a 2319… © Harveys …and to make sure you’re ALWAYS watching, be sure to pick up this pin, inspired by none other than the lovely Roz and her signature glasses… © Harveys …she’s watching you, ALWAYS watching… © Harveys The Roz pin retails for $12. Again, all of these items are available online today! Which item in the new Monsters, Inc. collection will you be purchasing first? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Cute Alert! HARVEYS Has Released Brand New Disney Keychains! DFB Video: 5 Disney Changes That Turned Out Way Better Than Expected It’s Cheesecake Time Because Disney Just Released a NEW Must-Have Book! View the full article

It wasn’t too long ago we told you Disney World’s Sun & Fun discount had been just been extended through the early summer. Main Street USA But guess what, friends? Today, Disney has just lengthened its timeframe, giving you even longer to get in on this great deal. What exactly is the Sun & Fun discount? Funny you should ask! It’s a great way to save money on your room at select Disney Resort hotels for stays during most nights. In some cases, you can save as much as 25%. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad And now, thanks to Disney World’s most recent extension, you’ll have until August 31st to snag these savings. Screenshot from Disney World’s Website Here’s a list of the Disney World Resorts by category and how much you can save based on which tier you choose: ©Disney Important Details The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Savings based on the non-discounted price for the same room. Length of stay requirements may apply. Additional per-adult charges may apply if more than two adults per room at Disney Value, Moderate and Deluxe Resorts, and Studios at Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts. Cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion. Advance reservations required. Offer excludes the following room types: campsites, 3-bedroom villas, Cabins at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows. Cinderella Castle Need some help choosing a Disney World Resort? Let our friends at Small World Vacations help you decide! In fact, they’ll even handle booking your entire Disney World vacation package for you at no cost. Plus, these trip planning experts know all the ins and outs of how to get you the best Disney discounts. They’ve been our trusted and preferred travel agency for years and we highly recommend them. Call them today to get the ball rolling! Have you started planning your spring or summer trip to Disney World yet? Tell us which resort you’ve chosen in the comments below! Related posts: This Magical Disney World Resort DISCOUNT Just Got Extended for 2020! Disney Springs Area Hotels DISCOUNT Alert! NEWS! Disney Announces a Special Disney World Offer Just for Florida Residents! View the full article

Happy Friday, friends! Can you believe we’ve almost made it to the weekend? This calls for a celebration! Pluto at Epcot’s 2020 International Flower and Garden Festival Who’s up for a little virtual window shopping? We’re big fans of “man’s best friend,” and if you are too, we think you might find these new Disney Dog Dooney and Bourke styles quite fetching! Can we just say this new Dooney and Bourke collection might be one of our favorites yet? It’s got so many of Disney’s most-loved pups featured all over it! We can spot Pluto, Lady and the Tramp, Nana, Stitch, Pongo and Perdita, Oliver, and so many more. And of course, no new line of Dooneys would be complete without Dooney and Bourke’s signature silhouette. Here’s the adorable Disney Dogs Sketch Tote Bag by Dooney & Bourke for $298. ©Disney Click here to buy the Disney Dogs Sketch Tote Bag! And if that last one had you rolling over and begging, check out this cute Disney Dogs Sketch Mini Backpack by Dooney & Bourke for $268. Yeah, we wouldn’t mind adopting this one and giving it a good forever home! ©Disney Wanna buy the Disney Dogs Sketch Mini Backpack? Click here! The Disney Dogs Sketch Ambler Crossbody Bag by Dooney & Bourke for $228 is the perfect accessory for taking your doggos for a walk. Maybe you can even tuck a few little doggie treats in the pocket — as long as they promise to behave themselves. ©Disney Pick up your Disney Dogs Sketch Ambler Crossbody Bag right here! Wherever we go, we wouldn’t mind taking this Disney Dogs Sketch Wallet by Dooney & Bourke for $158 — as long as it doesn’t try to stick its head out the window! ©Disney Snag the Disney Dogs Sketch Wallet by clicking here! How about a pouch to show off your passion for Disney’s poochies? The Disney Dogs Sketch Cosmetic Case by Dooney & Bourke for $48 is quite the fido fashion statement! ©Disney “Retrieve” the Disney Dogs Sketch Cosmetic Case HERE! Normally, the new Dooney and Bourke collections are released first at the Disney parks, but guess what? All of these bags are available online right now! And if you have some puppies of your own that need a little pampering, check out some of the dog treats and pet accessories we’ve recently spotted at the parks here. Are you excited about the new Disney Dogs Sketch Dooney and Bourke collection? Let us know which styles you’ll be picking up in the comments below! Related posts: FINALLY! The Best Phone Case EVER (imho) Is On Its Way To Disney Parks! Look as Classic as Mickey and Minnie with these NEW Loungefly Backpacks! TREND ALERT! We’re Loving These New Customizable Disney Shoes! View the full article

It might be less than a week since Disney World closed, but we’re missing the parks already. Disney’s Saratoga Springs While Disney Springs has already closed along with the parks, the Disney Resorts will be shutting their doors TODAY at 5 PM. So, you might want to get ready for the day and head over to Saratoga Springs ASAP for this new treat!! Even though St. Patrick’s Day was on Tuesday, you can celebrate all week long with the Irish Car Bundt Cake! Thanks to our friend @yellowbeadsandme, you can spot the cake looking as sweet and festive as ever. Irish Car Bundt Cake The Guinness chocolate cake is filled with Bailey chocolate mousse (!!!) and topped with MORE mousse, crispy pearls, and a white chocolate clover. There’s even a hint of salted caramel flavor to make this yummy dessert even better than it already is! Baileys Mousse You can grab your own Irish Car Bundt Cake for $4.49. Irish Car Bundt Cake Want to know all about the Coronavirus closures in Disney World? We’ve got all the answers for you here! Have you tried the Irish Car Bundt Cake yet? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: What’s New at Coronado Springs, Old Key West, and Saratoga Springs Resorts: Spicy Firecracker Shrimp and ADORABLE Disney Parks Watches! DFB Video: Disney Parks Around the World Close, New Lands Get Opening Dates & Mulan Merch Comes to shopDisney! There’s a NEW Fruity Minnie Mouse Cupcake in Disney World! View the full article

We’ve seen our fair share or warrior paint over the years, but never anything as CHIC as THIS! ©Disney X ColourPop Mulan Cosmetics We’re talking about this new line of cosmetics inspired by one of the fiercest heroines we know — Disney’s Mulan! Disney and ColourPop have teamed up to bring honor to us all — and celebrate the new Mulan live-action remake! The range features an assortment of eyeshadows, lipsticks, and more. The Mulan Shadow Palette for $22 features 15 shades of Mulan’s signature hues including warm red and sparkly golds. ©Disney X ColourPop Mulan Cosmetics Looking a good luck charm to go with your little Mulan rouge? The Matchmaker Pressed Powder Blush for $12 is double-duty! ©Disney X ColourPop Mulan Cosmetics And we can’t wait to bring some honor (and much-needed pop of color!) to our puckers with this Mulan Lux Lip Trio for $25. You can also get glosses and lipstick separately for $9 each. ©Disney X ColourPop Mulan Cosmetics And to keep you skin looking battle-ready at all times, there’s the Mulan Brave Kit for $17. It includes a moisturizing Face Milk and Lip Mask because, let’s face it, the last thing you need when you’re engaged in hand-to-hand combat is dry skin! ©Disney X ColourPop Mulan Cosmetics The new Disney X ColourPop Mulan Cosmetic line is now available online, so no need to leave your couch! We think it would be fun to test out some new Mulan “lewks” while you watch the original animated movie on Disney+! Speaking of which, check out all the new stuff that’s coming to Disney+ in April here, including, Disney and Pixar’s Onward!!! Are you excited about the new Mulan makeup collection? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: GOODBYE MONEY! Disney and Colourpop Debut a Midnight Masquerade Collection of Makeup, Mugs, and MORE! Release Your Inner Warrior with The New Mulan Collection Now Available on shopDisney! Minnie Mouse Fans NEED to See These New “Positively Minnie” Accessories! View the full article

The recent closure of the Disney parks is a pretty unprecedented situation. But what exactly does a multi-week park closure mean for the rest of the year in Disney World? Fireworks Crowds Thousands and thousands of people just had their Disney vacations canceled out of nowhere which, as you can imagine, is a major bummer for many. Well, it’s only right that all of those people get another chance on their trip once they reschedule! So, if all those affected are coming back later in the year, we can expect to see some changes to crowd levels. Read on to find out what you may be able to expect for the rest of 2020 when it comes to crowds in Disney World! What’s The Significance Of This Closure For Future Crowds? Disney World is a pretty fun place no matter when you go, but there are some times of the year that are notoriously busier than others. Unfortunately, the current closure has come at a time that can be pretty busy in Disney World. Guests from all over flock to the parks in early spring to enjoy the milder weather. School-aged kids and college students are getting a break from classes right now, and usually that means a large number of families head to Disney World. Crowds But this year…this is not the case. Instead, the thousands of families who had trips planned for their spring break are stuck at home and rescheduling their trips. Outside of spring break, big draws to travel at this time of year can be holiday weekends or the ever-popular Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival. So, with everyone who had made Disney plans during the closure having to reschedule, what does that mean for the rest of the year? Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival Those families missing out now are going to likely reschedule. Could that mean spring break crowds later on this year? Click here to read the closure of Disney World announcement! How Many People Could Be Rescheduling For Later This Year? According to the 2018 Global Attractions Attendance Report from the Themed Entertainment Association and AECOM, Disney World parks had over 158,500 visitors on average per day in 2018. Whew! That’s a ton of people having a blast in the parks! That means that there are over 2,000,000 park visits that would have taken place during the (as it currently stands) 15-day closure! Of course, many of these are the same people going to the parks multiple days, but that still means that 2,000,000 park entries will need to be rescheduled. Now, these numbers are an estimate. The numbers come from two years ago and not everyone will reschedule their trips for later this year. However, Disney has automatically extended the use of tickets affected by the closure for use any date before December 15th, 2020. Many will take advantage of this automatic extension and will make plans to be in the parks this year. Toy Story Land crowds It is important to note that if guests affected by the closure cannot travel later this year, they can apply the value of an unused ticket to the purchase of a ticket dated past December 15th. Plus, if the Disney World closure faces any extensions (heavily dependent on the status of the virus in the U.S. at the end of the month), the company may extend the affected tickets further. That said, it is likely that many guests will take advantage of the automatic extension, which could have a significant effect on crowds for the rest of the year. Magic Kingdom Curious if Disney World will ACTUALLY reopen on April 1st? Click here! When Could Crowds Start To Ramp Up After Parks Reopen…And By How Much? A big thing that we’re wondering is how soon after reopening will Disney World’s attendance start to look normal again. Recent Wait Time for Frozen Ever After It’s likely that for a few weeks after the parks reopen, park attendance could be below average. Many will still be wary of large crowds and health concerns, and it’s possible that Disney could adopt a phased reopening (as they have in Shanghai) with modifications to what a day in Disney World looks like. Guests may want to reschedule their trips several months into the future so as not to risk being any further inconvenienced by possible travel restrictions, or in an attempt to avoid a “half-open” Disney World if the parks start opening back up in phases. Magic Kingdom May Open in Phases Plus, the effects of the current state of affairs will likely leave a lasting impact on many families. It may not be possible for some guests to make the trip to Disney World immediately after restrictions begin to lift. It could take some time for people to return to their regular ways of life after significant economic impacts from the closures around the country. Animal Kingdom’s Pandora However, we anticipate that after a period of wariness and caution, things will inevitably fall back into a normal pattern in Disney World and guests will be pounding the pavement of the parks just like they always have. When everything returns to normal, it’s pretty safe to say that already crowded times will get more crowded. Summer vacation, Halloween time, and the Holidays are sure to be packed as usual — maybe even with thousands of extra guests who have rescheduled their vacations. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Guests who had planned their trips around Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival may make a point to visit Disney during the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival to get their fix of an Epcot Festival. At the same time, guests who were traveling for spring school holidays, may look to reschedule for Halloween or Christmas. Holiday Crowds at Magic Kingdom Now let’s take a look at the math. If the parks DO reopen on April 1st, then there will be an average increase of about 8,500 people in the parks each day if all 2,000,000 affected park entries were to distribute evenly throughout the rest of the year. That ultimately comes to an increase of about 18% to Disney World attendance which is pretty significant. Granted, an even distribution of guests across all remaining days of the year is highly unlikely, so that number may actually be notably higher on expectedly busy days. Epcot Check out the food at last year’s Epcot Food and Wine Festival, click here! So based on that math — and the expectation that many guests will reschedule their trips for later this year — 2020 may be a much busier year after the parks reopen. If there is an extension of the closure, the crowds will only get bigger when the parks do finally reopen. Yikes! What Does This Mean For You? The increase in crowds could have a big effect on a lot of guests in the coming year, so let’s take a look at what you can expect and how you can maximize your trip! Whether your trip was one that was canceled during the closure, or you just have plans to head to Disney World sometime this year, there are a few things you’ll want to do if you’re hoping to make the most of your trip! Cinderella Castle Choose Your Travel Time Wisely First of all, consider what level of crowds you want to deal with. Even with the increase this year, there will still be times that are slower than others. Consider planning your trip for late August or early September or for the few weeks between Thanksgiving and the Disney holiday celebrations. It’s common to see a lull during those times which might help you dodge some of those larger crowds. High Animal Kingdom Wait Times Make Dining Reservations and FastPass+ Reservations As Soon As You Can Whenever you decide to go, you need to plan, plan, PLAN! Make those Advance Dining Reservations for restaurant meals ASAP (they open up 180 days before your arrival)! Crowded days are also much more tolerable when you have good FastPasses. If you have a stay booked in a Disney World resort hotel you can book your FastPass+ reservations 60 days in advance. If you’re not staying on property, you can still book your FastPasses 30 days in advance. Game Plan To Ride New Attractions If you have your eye on a new attraction, you’ll want to plan ahead and know the ropes! Check out our tips on how to “rope drop” (that’s getting into your favorite park RIGHT at opening time!) so that you can ride even the most popular rides on the busiest days! Rise of the Resistance will likely still be using a virtual queue later this year, so take a look at the best ways to make it on this crazy cool attraction. Plus, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is set to open this summer in Epcot, so we’ll be bringing you all the best tips for that attraction, too! Rise of the Resistance Does A Hard Ticket Event Make Sense For Your Family? One way you might be able to sidestep crowds during busy times is by considering a hard ticket event. After Hours ($129 per ticket in advance) or Early Morning Magic ($89 for adults, $79 for kids in advance) events allow guests exclusive access to the parks when they’re closed to the general public. Usually, this means much lower ride wait time and fewer crowds than what you’d see on a typical day — and a significantly better experience than what you’d encounter on a very busy day. But prices on these events are HIGH. So we sometimes recommend foregoing a park day (which runs $100+ per person to purchase) and attending an After Hours event instead — especially in Magic Kingdom. This way, you can ride most big-ticket rides multiple times with little to no wait. Pirates of the Caribbean Finally, whether you’re rescheduling or not, please be patient with Cast Members during your planning process. These sweet magic-makers have been dealing with a lot of confusion and questions thanks to this unprecedented closure so always, always, always be kind! Get The DFB Guide! Our critically-acclaimed DFB Guide To Walt Disney World Dining e-Book has hundreds of pages of our best tips, suggestions, and recommendations. We have thousands of repeat buyers on this guide yearly, and it really does make a huge difference no matter when you’re planning your trip. Get the 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Your purchase is always guaranteed. If you don’t like it, we’ll give you a full refund — risk-free.l Remember, the DFB Guide has TONS of tricks to maximize your vacation, no matter how crowded it is! Get it here! What About Next Year? It’s likely that some of the extra crowding will affect the first half of 2021, too. Of course, next year is also the 50th anniversary of Disney World, which is sure to be VERY crowded. So, it’s likely that avoiding crowds completely will be pretty impossible for a while. Happily Ever After But we’ve got tips for that ;-D. Check out our Ultimate Survival Guide to Crowded Days in Disney World to make sure you’re prepared! Worries about crowds on your next Disney trip? Click here to check out our ULTIMATE Survival Guide to Crowded Days in Disney World! Of course, we will update you on any changes to how people might reschedule and how Disney is dealing with the closure. And you can always check in with us for tips on how to make your Disney trip the best it can be, no matter when you go! Do you have any other questions or comments regarding the crowd levels for the rest of 2020? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Updated! Will Disney World Really Re-open April 1st? DFB Disney Dining Tips: How to Eat Keto at Walt Disney World 4 Important Tips You Haven’t Heard…But Need To Know…For Your Next Disney Vacation! View the full article

Since runDisney’s 2020 Star Wars Rival Run Weekend was scheduled to take place from April 16th through 19th, we’ve been wondering what would happen due to these uncertain times. ©runDisney Yesterday, we shard that Disney was closely monitoring the situation. Now, runDisney has just made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s race. runDisney released the following statement on their website today. ©runDisney All participants will receive a full refund for their race registration and processing fees due to the cancelation of runDisney’s 2020 Star Wars Rival Run Weekend. Racers will also be reimbursed for any commemorative merchandise they might have pre-purchased as well as anyone who bought ChEAR Squad tickets. Here’s more information regarding refunds and timing. ©runDisney While we’re sad to see runDisney have to cancel such a fun event, we know this decision was made with a lot of thought and consideration. We’ll continue to keep you updated as this story develops. Wondering if Disney World will really reopen on April 1st? We have all the details here. Related posts: The First Look at the Star Wars Rival Run Medals for 2020 Has Blasted into Disney World! Get Ready to Run for This 2020 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Merch! News! Disney World’s 2020 Wine and Dine Half-Marathon Registration Begins TOMORROW! View the full article

Disney’s Aulani Resort and Spa in Hawaii is currently modifying offerings at the resort to promote safety during this time as it remains open. Aulani Resort Effective today, March 20th through March 31st, “in line with state guidance, an abundance of caution and in the best interests of our Guests and Cast Members,” certain offerings around the resort will be temporarily suspended. While you’ll see the list in full from the Aulani website below, offerings that are currently unavailable include ‘AMA‘AMA – Contemporary Island Cooking, Aunty’s Beach House, and the KA WA’A Lū’au. Aulani Resort website screenshot Additionally, ‘Ohana Disney Movie Nights, Aloha Fun, and the Shake-A-Shaka Pool Party are cancelled until further notice. Modifcations are also being put into place for select locations which remain open. For instance, bar seating will no longer be available at Off the Hook and Wailana Pool Bar. Limits are also being placed on the number of guests allowed in resort merchandise locations. And premium and free programming will be suspended in the Pau Hana Room – Community Hall (the Hall itself remains open). Aulani Resort website screenshot You can read about other preventative measures around the Resort and find information for guests who may have a booking in place at Aulani here. We here at DFB have been tracking the steps that Disney has taken around the parks in order to promote safety. You can learn more about that here. Related posts: Wanna Know Where To Find PUMPKIN Dole Whip!? Adorable NEW Wishables Available Now at Disney’s Aulani Resort! Say “Aloha” to the New MINNIE Musubi Snack at Disney’s Aulani Resort! View the full article

Hellllllllo from Disney’s BoardWalk! Disney’s Boardwalk We love visiting the BoardWalk — it’s a convenient walk from Epcot, home to iconic entertainment at Jellyrolls Dueling Piano Bar, and has some delicious eats! Recently we’ve feasted on some tasty snacks, such as the Caramel Corn Funnel Cake or the Boardwalk Loaded Chips, but today we’re in the mood for something a little more royal. That’s right — we recently had breakfast with some of our favorite princesses (and their princes) at Trattoria al Forno! In the past, we’ve thought this was a fabulous character meal and experience — but would we still want to swim with Ariel and bake with Rapunzel after this visit? Keep reading! Atmosphere: Trattoria al Forno is a character meal by day and an Italian restaurant by night, nestled along Disney’s BoardWalk. Benvenudo! Upon arriving for the “Bon Voyage” Adventure Breakfast, you’ll check in at the podium, and wait for your name to be called. Check in Podium While you’re waiting, Disney has conveniently provided a little merchandise to scope out. There are autograph books and princess dresses in case you forgot yours, as well as other Tanged and The Little Mermaid goodies! Trattoria al Forno Merchandise Trattoria al Forno Princess Dresses Once inside the restaurant, you’ll notice its classic feel — almost as if you’ve stepped into an Italian family restaurant. (Well Disney’s version of an Italian family restaurant.) Dining Area You’ll see old photos on the wall — along with pizza oven peels! Exhibition Kitchen We love the big exhibition kitchen along one side of the restaurant, where you can see the chefs in action! Exhibition Kitchen Overall, this is a warm, welcoming environment that’s literally fit for a princess! (Or two. Plus some princes.) Rounded Booth And speaking of princesses, let’s talk about who you’ll be dining with! Characters Joining you at the Bon Voyage Breakfast are two couples who love an adventure! You can meet everyone’s favorite little mermaid, Ariel, who’s stunning on her human feet. Ariel Joining Ariel is her dashing seafaring man, Prince Eric! Prince Eric Everyone’s favorite lost princess, Rapunzel, has found her way to breakfast as well! Rapunzel And don’t forget Flynn Rider! Although, with that smolder, how could you? Flynn Rider These characters are lots of fun and very unique — the princes very rarely make appearances around the parks. But keep in mind, as with any character meal, the famous friends are subject to change. However, this the foursome you’re most likely to meet! We should note, that on our last visit to the Bon Voyage Adventure breakfast, we were given an adventure journal. We asked and they currently don’t offer them — which bummed us out a little bit! We thought these were a fun activity for the kids. Bon Voyage Adventure Journal Eats: Of course, in addition to swooning over Flynn, the main reason to go to a character breakfast is…breakfast! Let’s start with beverages — included with your meal is coffee, tea, juice, and soda. Orange Juice You can also pay additional for alcoholic beverages or specialty coffee. Remember if you’re on the Disney Dining Plan, a specialty beverage is included! Signature Cocktail Menu We decided to sip on the Magic Flower. Magic Flower This gorgeous cocktail was made with Absolute Vodka, Cranberry Juice, and Pineapple Juice. And yes it is literally glittering. It was refreshing and tasty — a perfect way to start the meal. You can read our full review of the Magic Flower Cocktail here! As far as food goes, the menu at Trattoria al Forno has a great mix of classic and more elegant breakfast options. Menu (Click to Enlarge) Kid’s Menu (Click to Enlarge) No matter what you decide to feast upon, everyone starts with assorted pastries! Assorted Pastries They’re served in a frying pan — a la Rapunzel. Isn’t that adorable!? Pastry Frying Pan Inside the frying pan we found a Sun Cookie, designed to resemble Rapunzel’s kingdom symbol. Rapunzel Sun Cookie It was crispy and buttery, with the powdered sugar providing the perfect hint of sweetness. Next up, was Rapunzel’s braid — aka a chocolate-filled braided bread. Rapunzel’s Braid This was soooo yummy — with a perfectly flaky crust and loads of chocolate chips. This was one of my favorites and is perfect for chocolate lovers. We also enjoyed a Raspberry Clamshell — this one being a nod to Ariel and her under sea adventures! Raspberry Clamshell This was another of our favorites — the pastry itself was crisp and light, with the raspberry jam adding a perfect sweetness. If you’re not a chocolate lover, this one is for you! Rounding out the skillet were two muffins — a blueberry and a colorful one inspired by Ariel! Muffins While the colorful one is the cuter of the two (see the red for her hair, green for her fin, and purple for her shell bra?!) it basically tasted like a funfetti cupcake with no frosting..not that that’s a bad thing! Ariel Muffin We just really enjoyed this simple blueberry muffin! Blueberry Muffin It was moist and delicious, complete with big berries and sugar crumble on top! On our last visit, we also received our choice of a granola and yogurt parfait or a fruit salad with the pastry course, but sadly that is no longer an option. While neither one was absolutely incredible or unique, it was a nice addition to the meal. For our main course, we decided to try a newer option on the menu, the Royale Breakfast. Royale Breakfast This meal is fit for a king with Oak-grilled Steak, a Cheesy-Egg Torte topped with Asparagus and Fonduta sauce, and Breakfast Potatoes topped with Crispy Onions. Royale Breakfast Steak The steak itself was very generous in portion and cooked perfectly! It was nice and tender with lots of natural flavors. Truly it was an excellent piece of meat for breakfast — or for a one table service credit in general! We also really enjoyed the breakfast potatoes! Breakfast Potatoes They were nice and crisp on the outside, soft on the inside, and well seasoned. Plus, anything topped with crispy onions is a win in our book! But the real winner on this plate was the egg-torte! Egg-Torte The torte itself was light and flavorful — clearly, there is a cheese or cream mixed in. Plus the fonduta sauce — which is mainly butter, egg whites, and cheese — added a creamy, richness to the dish. Egg Torte Cross Section And lastly, the asparagus was crisp and buttery — a perfect accompaniment for the egg and steak. If a big piece of meat isn’t your style for breakfast, in the past we really enjoyed the King Triton’s Shipwreck al Forno, which is basically a calzone filled with scrambled eggs and meats. King Triton’s Shipwreck al Forno Or if you’re a sweet breakfast kinda person, you can never go wrong with pancakes. Especially when there’s a literal tower of them! Tower of Pancakes Overall, the quality and creativeness of the food at Trattoria al Forno’s breakfast is quite high — especially considering this is a character meal! We also love that the food comes to you, making it much easier than a buffet. You don’t have to worry about helping little ones with their plates or missing a character at your table while you’re up getting food. Overall: While a few small touches were missing since our first visit, we still quite enjoyed the Bon Voyage Adventure Breakfast at Trattoria al Forno. For starters, these are fun characters, that (in our experience) have been great to interact with, whether you’re a kid or not. Plus, it’s always fun to see the men with their leading ladies — and for all those Flynn fans out there this is the only spot to meet him regularly at ALL. He doesn’t have meet and greets on standard park schedules. Plus, it’s the only princess meal where Rapunzel visits frequently from her tower, so Tangled fans should really consider booking this meal. We also love the location. It’s walking distance from several Disney resorts (BoardWalk Inn, Yacht and Beach Clubs, and the Swan and Dolphin). Plus, with the addition of the Disney Skyliner, guests staying at Caribbean Beach, Art of Animation, or Pop Century could easily fly over for a meal in the morning. And no matter where you’re staying, it’s walking distance to Epcot, making it a great way to kick off your park day. They also typically seat as late as noon, so you could also spend a few hours in Epcot early (gotta get on Frozen Ever After somehow!) and pop out for a later breakfast. That’s basically brunch or lunch at that point, meaning this one meal could really serve as two. If you’re a character fan and looking for a leisurely and enjoyable breakfast, we highly recommend a visit to the Bon Voyage Adventure Breakfast! It could very well be the start to your BEST DAY EVER in Disney World! To learn more about character meals in Walt Disney World, check out this DFB Guide 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! Have you been to the Bon Voyage Adventure Breakfast? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! Related posts: Review: New Rapunzel Bon Voyage Character Breakfast in Disney World News: Trattoria al Forno Bon Voyage Character Breakfast Starting April 2nd We Found a NEW Glittery Drink in Disney World! View the full article

Since we’re stuck inside, it seems like a good time to binge some Disney movies and shows on Disney+. Disney+ Streaming Service Frozen II has already been released early on the streaming service to give us some new content binge-watch, but now another recent Disney animated adventure is heading to digital devices sooner than expected. Disney and Pixar’s latest outing, Onward, released in theaters on March 6thm just before we started to get real comfortable with the words “social distancing.” The quest begins! ©Disney If you’ve been wanting to see the new film, Disney has announced it will be coming to digital stores and Movies Anywhere starting today at 5:00 PM PST/ 8:00 PM EST. You’ll be able to snuggle on your couch and watch the quest for $19.99. ©Walt Disney Studios You will also be able to start streaming Onward on Disney+ starting on April 3rd!!! We’re SO excited! This should hopefully make these days inside a little more magical! We’ve got a whole list of picks to binge on Disney+ right here! Are you excited to bring Onward home early? Let us know down in the comments! Related posts: EVERYTHING You Need To Know From The Walt Disney Studios Panel at The D23 Expo! ALL the NEW Content Coming to Disney+ Through January 26th! Hey, Western Europe! We’ve Got A Big Disney+ Update For Ya View the full article

A weekend hike on the Florida Trail through Ocala National Forest yields views of scenic prairies, companionship while camping and a taste of the "real Florida." View the full article

In light Disney World’s recent decision to close down its resorts after March 20th, some other hotels are now choosing to do the same. ©Four Seasons Orlando Today, the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World has decided in the best interest of their guests’ and staff’s safety, they’ll be shutting down as well. The Four Seasons Resort Orlando officially announced they’ll be closing via Twitter. They are anticipating the temporary closure will last from March 24th through April 5th. Four Seasons Resort Orlando’s Twitter If you had made reservations to stay at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando during this time, you should contact them at (407) 313-7777 to inquire about a refund or to rebook your room. We’ll continue to monitor Four Seasons Resort Orlando and let you know of any updates including if this temporary closure gets extended. Related posts: Is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Temporarily CLOSING Next SPRING in Disney World? Florida Residents Can Get a Special DISCOUNT at the Four Seasons in Disney World! All Disney World Resort Salons and Spas Are Closed Including Grand Floridian’s Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique View the full article

In the days since having to close down, Disney World has regularly been modifying its operating procedures. MagicBands for Resort Guests Now Disney World has just released the following information regarding all pending MagicBand orders. In an official statement given today by Disney, “all MagicBands that have been previously shipped out will still arrive. Any MagicBands you had requested to arrive at your resort between March 20th and March 31st will be canceled automatically. If any of were “upgraded” character MagicBands, you will be given a refund.” MagicBand Scanner ©Disney Since Disney World is currently closed, they are unable to process MagicBand orders at this time. They ask that if you have an arrival date scheduled after March 31st but haven’t placed your MagicBand request yet, standby for further instructions. Screenshot from Disney World’s Website We’ll continue to monitor this situation and let you know when it’s time to place your MagicBand orders again! Are you planning on going to Disney World in April or May? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: These NEW MagicBand Colors Coming to Disney World are MINT to Be! HURRY! My Disney Experience Has Just Added Special Grand Flo and Riviera MagicBands! HO! HO! HO! These New Holiday Ears From Disney World Are Totally On Our Christmas List! View the full article

Yesterday, we brought you some amazing ways you and your family can learn from our talented Imagineers through their “Imagineering in a Box” lessons. Today, we wanted to share more family-friendly content that will have you enjoying the magic of Disney from the comfort of your home. Today’s content is brought to you by The Disney Channel and the amazing team of animal scientists from Disney’s Animal Kingdom. While Walt Disney World Resort is temporarily closed, we have a dedicated animal care team tending to the thousands of animals who roam our savannah. We’re excited to share an educational and informative look at some of the majestic animals in our care at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. From a behind-the-scenes look at the hippopotamus, to fun facts about beautiful creatures like the magnificent meerkat, check out Disney Animals on DisneyNOW for videos that are sure to delight and inspire. To learn more about the many species we are working to protect, visit DisneyAnimals.com. With so many families at home together right now, we look forward to sharing more stories and insights about our animals and amazing Cast who are caring for them. Keep an eye out for more #bettertogether learning opportunities soon. And be sure to watch the blog tomorrow for a special animal story that we know will warm your heart! View the full article

With Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Springs, and Downtown Disney closing to protect Cast, Crew, and guests, from the Coronavirus, we’re REALLY hitting that post-Disney withdrawal. Cinderella Castle And, while we’re watching lots of Disney+ movies and shows and baking up our own Disney recipes, we’ve got some extra magic to sprinkle in your lives during this difficult time! (Just call us your personal DFB fairy godmother!) We’re bringing you the Disney memes that you need to brighten your day or give you a laugh! And, trust us, memes have basically become our specialty. Kakamora Float You know that moment where you haven’t washed your hair in days and you’ve been wearing the same sweatshirt the past week? Yeah, we don’t have a reason to care either (especially when we can binge-watch The Mandalorian again). Winnie the Pooh Meme Since we won’t be able to set foot into the parks until at least April 1st to see our favorite characters, we’re channeling our inner Disney Princess by crying until we can hug Mickey again. Anybody want to join in (from social isolation, of course)?? Disney Princess Meme And, while we are crying, we’re totally spending this time reminiscing about better days by looking at our trip photos. Buuut, some of them don’t exactly match the magic we remember… Disney Fireworks Meme You know that moment when your family told you that you’d never use all those Disney mugs you bought? Well, the joke’s on them because now you have a chance to use EVERY. LAST. ONE. in quarantine!! Disney Mugs Meme Disney isn’t the only park closed right now. Universal Studios has shut its gates to protect guests until the end of the month too (double the waterworks, you guys). But, even though the two parks are completely different, we can’t help but feel like Rex should have starred in Jurassic Park as his film debut. Rex in Jurassic Park Meme Frozen 2 may have given us many of the answers we were looking for, but we STILL don’t know what happened to Hans! So, we can’t help but feel like he reinvented himself to get away from those 12 brothers by becoming a general of the First Order. Coincidence?? We think not!! General Hux and Hans Meme Baby Yoda has taken the world (and everyone’s hearts) by storm. And, honestly, we can’t help but feel just as cute in our favorite pair of Minnie Ears and Disneybounds when we visit the parks! However, we’ve kind of drifted more towards the Yoda side recently… Yoda vs. Baby Yoda Meme If you’re a fan of The Office, you’ll know that Dwight’s dry sense of humor can make an entire audience erupt with laughter. So, we can’t help but laugh at his viewpoint on Frozen 2 (even though it still stings a l’il bit). Frozen 2 Meme While some people are working from home or just chilling with the Coronavirus outbreak, we can all band together and say that Disney+ has basically taken over our lives. And, we’re not even mad about it. Disney+ Meme Speaking of Disney+, we highly recommend a break from those Marvel movies or Frozen 2 to watch The Imagineering Story. It’s one of the BEST things on the streaming service because you get to watch how all the attractions and parks were built!! What more could you need from a show? Scar Meme We apologize to our neighbors currently for the number of times they’ve had to hear us sing “Part of Your World” while we pretend to be The Little Mermaid in our showers. Disney Song Meme We’re SERIOUSLY missing all our favorite Disney snacks right now, but we really could use a Dole Whip just about now. What’s your favorite Disney World eat or treat that you’re craving with the parks closed?? Disney World Snacks Meme Yeah, we might be isolating at “home,” but we all know our real home is in Disney World. We’re just waiting for that moment we can walk down Main Street again towards Cinderella Castle (which is obviously our actual house). Home Meme If you’re like us, you’re already planning out the next time you can visit the parks, even when they’re closed at the moment! Who else is ready for their next magical vacation?? Trip Planning Meme We did want to note that unless watermarked, these memes are not our own. Do you have questions about how Disney is handling the Coronavirus outbreak? Well, we’ve got all the answers for you here! What are some of your favorite Disney memes? Let us know in the comments below or tag us on social media! Related posts: DFB Video: Disney Parks Around the World Close, New Lands Get Opening Dates & Mulan Merch Comes to shopDisney! There’s a SECRET “Chewie Mode” in Disney’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge?! Find Out How You Can Do It HERE! DFB Video: Latest Disney Parks News — CEO Shakeup, HUGE Refurb News, and MORE! View the full article

Disney Cruise Line has had to make another update to their booking policy after they’ve already suspended all departures until April 12th due to Coronavirus concerns. ©Disney Magic While businesses are temporarily closing across the county and people are trying to pay the bills, Disney Cruise Line has made some changes to when you can make your final booking payment. The new policy began yesterday and will affect select sailings during the 2020 summer season. All deadlines for final payments have been extended out an additional 30 days from when the payment was originally due. ©Disney Cruise Line Sailing to Alaska Here is the full list of sailings that are being affected: Disney Dream: Sailing embarking on June 17 through sailings embarking on August 30 Disney Fantasy: Sailing embarking on July 18 through sailings embarking on August 31 Disney Wonder: Sailing embarking on July 20 through sailings embarking on August 31 Disney Magic: Sailing embarking on August 5 through sailings embarking on August 30 Disney Cruise Line Returns to Croatia Despite the payment deadline being extended, you will still have to take note of the following policies: Guests will not be able to complete Online Check-In or book Cruise Activities/Port Adventures if they have not paid in full Disney Cruise Line Air will continue to follow existing policies Payment will be due at time of final for Flexible Air Restricted Air is non-refundable once paid The cancellation policy will shift by 30 days for all non-suite/non-concierge staterooms There are no changes to the cancellation policy for Suites and Concierge Staterooms Hopefully, this will make it a little bit easier to make that final payment for your Disney cruise during this stressful time. You can read up on Disney Cruise Line’s refund policy during this time right here! Where are you going on Disney Cruise Line this year? Let us know down in the comments! Related posts: Here’s the MOST IMPORTANT News Disney Announced This Week! Sail Away with These Disney Cruise Line Cyber Week DISCOUNTS! Say Goodbye to Sleigh Rides and Hello to Sail Away Parties with the CUTEST New Disney Cruise Line Holiday Merch! View the full article

As all of the Disney Parks around the world are closed, we are stepping into uncharted territory. Cinderella Castle We have seen closures for hurricanes, an earthquake, and other critical moments in our nation’s history, but we can’t help but wonder what kind of impact a closure of this magnitude will have on the future of the parks. The primary goal for nearly every unexpected park closure was to ensure the safety of all guests and Cast Members. In the most recent instance of the Coronavirus, Disney parks began taking extra precautions to prevent cross-contamination such as sanitizing stations, extra hand-washing sinks, and increased safety training for Cast Members. However, “in an abundance of caution,” Disney decided its best defense against the virus was to promote social distancing. This decision has shaken up the plans of Cast Members and guests alike, but could this closure cause longer-lasting effects that alter the parks as we know them? Let’s examine some possible ways that this event could change the future of the Disney Parks. Major Events Have Changed Disney Parks Policies In The Past Many of us wondered what life would look like moving forward from September 11, 2001. Walt Disney World had already opened for the day when the first plane struck the World Trade Center and Cast Members banded together to evacuate guests from the parks safely. Epcot New Security Measures Disney World and Disneyland remained closed for the rest of the day, but when they reopened the following day, new security measures were in place. There were police on property with K9s, and Disney had set up security tables overnight to inspect all purses and bags guests were carrying into the park. This was just the beginning of the increased security measures we continue to see evolving over the years. Bag Check The Disney Parks are a “No-Fly Zone” The events on September 11th also led to flight restrictions through a Congressional act called Operation Liberty Shield in 2003. It restricted planes from flying within certain distances of government facilities as well as only 2 non-government properties — Disney World and Disneyland. This prohibits all aircraft (including drones) from flying within 3 miles of the parks or under 3,000 ft over them unless they are military, medical, or law enforcement. Planes, even Disney-Themed Ones, Can’t Fly In Disney’s Restricted Zones Even More Increases in Security Fast-forward to 2015, and Disney World and Disneyland installed metal detectors at the security checkpoints to bring about the security procedures as we know them today. In a flurry of uncertainty and vulnerability, Disney sprung into action and began implementing policies that are still in place for guests’ safety today. Hollywood Studios Bag Check The Latest Disney Closures With the recent Coronavirus outbreak, we have been stepping into unknown territory. We aren’t sure what the weeks ahead will hold, but all of us (including Disney) are doing our best to protect ourselves and those around us. We imagine that once the parks begin to reopen, everyone will still be feeling the weight of the latest events — especially the Cast Members, who are tasked with providing a magical, safe, and joyful atmosphere. Hades Hatred What Changes Could We See? Increased Health and Safety Procedures Since the virus may have not run its full course before the parks reopen, we expect to still see sanitizing and hand-washing stations prominently throughout the parks. We would expect Disney will continue to practice the more stringent cleaning procedures implemented prior to closure as well. Cast Members were on high alert before the closure and it’s likely that Disney will continue to institute the extra precautions for enough time that they simply become a standard part of the safety routine. Hand-washing Station Possible Changes to Ticket Scanning Even with so many shared surfaces around the parks, many guests share particular concern with the finger scanners at the entrance touchpoints of Disney World’s theme parks. After scanning their tickets, guests must scan their finger to verify their biometric “Ticket Tag.” Although Disney states guests can opt-out of scanning by using a photo ID, we wonder if the Coronavirus will shift Disney World’s gate procedures to match Disneyland’s current process. Hollywood Studios Entrance On the West Coast, Disneyland guests scan their tickets at the gate and a Cast Member either takes a picture of the guest to link to the ticket or verifies that the person scanning the ticket matches the previous picture in the system. This process removes the need for the finger scanner and allows guests to enter the park with just the scan of a ticket. Disneyland Main Entrance – Closed due to Coronavirus Construction Delays Amongst all of the news rolling in each day, we found out that Disney will likely have to halt all construction during the Coronavirus closures to protect all crew members involved. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure It’s hard to predict just how long the parks will stay closed — we are dealing with a virus, after all — so the closures’ repercussions on construction could extend beyond just pausing work for a few weeks. The global pandemic could cause long-term shipping delays or difficulties securing raw materials that could halt construction even after the parks reopen. This could potentially mean opening dates will have to be pushed back to compensate for delays. ©Disney Artist Concept for New Cinderella Castle Disney has canceled or significantly delayed previously announced projects before. For instance, at D23 in 2017, it was announced a large theater that would show Broadway-style shows was to be built behind Main Street, U.S.A. in Magic Kingdom. Construction appeared to be ready to begin, then the project was canceled a year later with no public explanation. Disney could be forced to re-evaluate all currently planned projects and figure out which plans can continue as scheduled and which may need to be moved to the back burner or canceled outright. TRON Construction What Will This Mean For Disney World’s 50th Anniversary? Disney World has a big 50th Anniversary looming next year, and they’ve been working on a number of projects expected to be ready by then. We have to wonder whether Disney will commit to delaying opening dates to maintain the integrity of their vision for the projects, or if they will compromise on certain elements in an effort to expedite opening. Guardians of the Galaxy Construction While smaller projects such as the Cinderella Castle refurbishment and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure may be able to continue construction or simply be shifted back however long the parks are closed, larger projects such as Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Spaceship Earth’s refurbishment, Epcot’s Transformation, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, and TRON Lightcycle Run may face more substantial challenges due to the delay caused by the coronavirus closures. Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser Atmosphere Disney Moving Forward Apart from increased sanitation procedures and delayed construction, this outbreak and resultant park closures have forced Disney to overcome an obstacle the company has never faced before. This will likely help Disney be more prepared for large events like this in the future and be able to respond with more streamlined procedures for Cast Members and more effective communication with guests. Following the attacks on 9/11, The Walt Disney Company’s CEO, Michael Eisner, told his Cast Members this: “Finally, let me say, our company around the world will continue to operate in this sometimes violent world in which we live, offering products that reach to the higher and more positive side of the human equation.” Michael Eisner (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Nickelodeon) This was his plea to acknowledge the tragedy that had occurred while reminding Cast Members that people may need Disney magic now more than ever — not to forget or ignore reality, but as a way to see the “higher and more positive” in people and our world. The events of the Coronavirus are unfolding by the minute and we are facing uncertainty in the future, but we have hopes of a future filled with Disney trips. We think these closures could bring Disney Parks back stronger than before — prepped with new safety procedures and ready to take on whatever lies in the future! Click here to find out all we know about the closures in the Disney Parks so far! How do you think these closures could affect the future of the Disney Parks? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: Where to Find Disney Dole Whip Without A Park Ticket! The Best Disney Donuts EVER. Who Owns The Disney Theme Parks? The Answer Might Surprise You… View the full article

It’s time to get crafty! Forky Photo Opp Some of us may have more free time on our hands than what we’re used to. While some of us may have no free time at all since the kiddos are home, you’re home, and things are all out of whack. So, why not pull out a bottle of wine, your crayons, and other arts & crafts supplies and create some Disney-inspired crafts? Lolea, Red Sangria Here are FIVE fun family-friendly ideas that you and your entire family can try! We hope this sparks your imagination and the hours just fly by! Minnie Ears There’s nothing quite like adorning a pair of Minnie ears to truly feel like you’re on a Disney vacation. Rose Gold Minnie Ears While some of us may have dozens of “official” Minnie ears to wear at home, why not get a little more creative? Put those Etsy shops to task by creating your very own pair of Minnie ears! Lunar New Year Minnie Ears This is a craft you can be totally creative with, depending on what supplies you have on hand — are your ears going to be fuzzy and soft or bright and glittery? Will you draw your favorite characters on the ears? How big do you want the ears to be? Will you add a bow? The options are virtually limitless! Redd Minnie Ears No matter how you design your ears, you’ll want to make sure you have the basics. To build your own ears, you’ll want the following supplies: An old headband Fabric Hot glue and/or sewing kit Sturdy material to fashion the ears, i.e. wire You could fashion some ears using materials that are as simple as pipe cleaner or wire. You could also go more elaborate than that, depending on if you want these ears to have some longevity and sturdiness to them. The best part is that there are tons of tutorials online for making all sorts of Minnie ears! Snag a pair of solid black ears to get you started here! Vacation Countdown Calendar Once you have your Minnie ears built, you’ll obviously want to hang on to them and show them off next time you’re at Disney World! How many more days until your next Disney World vacation? Why not create a DIY countdown calendar? Walt Disney World Entrance There are a few different ways you could go about doing this! If you have a dry erase board, you could make a Disney-themed whiteboard countdown calendar by printing out and attaching characters to add a little magic. How many more days until you arrive home? You could also go a more classic route with a traditional wall calendar, and add stickers and draw or print out your favorite characters. You could create a paper chain countdown with each ‘link’ representing one day, or perhaps you could create a large poster using a poster board and decorate to your heart’s content! There are tons of different ways you can create your own countdown calendar. Build Your Own Forky Perhaps Disney’s most iconic arts and crafts project, Forky, is easy to whip together if you have the right supplies! Forky at Pixar Pier To build your own Forky, you will need the following: A plastic spork (a spoon or fork will also work fine!) A popsicle stick for his feet Putty (we don’t recommend used gum like in the movie!) to attach his feet to his body Red pipe cleaner for his arms Googly eyes Red and blue plasticine for his eyebrow and mouth And don’t forget to write your name on the bottom of his feet! Toilet Paper Roll Dolls Let’s face it: chances are, we all have at least a little more toilet paper in our homes than we’re used to. Save those toilet paper rolls and fashion them into a cylinder cardboard doll of sorts! After all, your new DIY Forky is going to need some new friends! Toilet Paper As long as you have the cardboard rolls, you can use any and every type of craft supply to make your doll entirely unique! Markers, felt, glitter, pipe cleaners, yarn, fabric…you could easily spend hours creating an entire army of toilet paper roll dolls (and we know you have enough toilet paper to do so!). Maybe host an online toilet paper roll doll-making party with your friends! Paper Bag Puppets These are SUPER easy to create if you have a supply of brown paper lunch bags! All you need are the bags and some markers and crayons to fashion your favorite Disney characters! You can get even more creative and add glitter, googly eyes, yarn for hair, felt…the sky’s the limit! Think you can make your puppets as elaborate as these?! You can also make stick puppets if you have a popsicle stick or another type of stick, some paper, and glue! Animal Kingdom Lanterns Once you create your cast of characters, go ahead and put on a play with your paper bag puppets! You can re-enact your favorite Disney film, or create an entirely original story! Then share all your fun crafts creations wth us!! What activities are you taking part in to pass the time this week? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: CHECK THESE OUT! Brand NEW it’s a small world Ears Have Arrived! Review: Ultraviolet Purple Ears Cake Pop Debuts at Disneyland Resort! First Look! 2019 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Merchandise View the full article

If you’re looking for a fun, creative way to add some Disney magic to your day, we’re sharing something special – a complete series of how-to tutorials on drawing Mickey Mouse through the years. Disney cast member Stephen Ketchum has been drawing Mickey at Disney Parks for years and has expert tips for artists of all skill levels. While the parks remain temporarily closed, we’ve combined Stephen’s best Mickey tutorials and the collection includes learning to draw a vintage 1920’s Mickey as well as lessons on creating more contemporary and whimsical “pied-eyed” versions you’ll want to show your friends and family. First, we’re beginning with easy to follow instructions on how to draw Mickey as artists would have created him in the late 1920s. You begin with a simple circle and then use lightly drawn curved lines to create Mickey. Drawing a more contemporary looking Mickey has just a few different shapes added. And finally, creating a perfect “pied-eyed” Mickey begins with an oval shape instead of a standard circle followed again by lightly drawn curved lines to finish your own work of art. Grab some paper and try all three Mickeys now! Use #Disney and #BetterTogether on Instagram and tag us at @DisneyParksBlog with your artwork, and for a chance to be featured. And be sure to keep checking the Disney Parks Blog for more stories like this. In the meantime, we’re sharing some of our other most popular character tutorials for you to try today: Learn to Draw: Sally from Tim Burton’s ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ Learn to Draw: Celebrate Spring With Daisy Duck Learn to Draw Aladdin’s Pal, Genie Learn to Draw Tinker Bell Learn to Draw Buzz Lightyear from ‘Toy Story’ Learn to Draw Special Edition: ‘Frozen’ Voice Actor Josh Gad Tests His Skills at Drawing Olaf Learn to Draw Hiro from ‘Big Hero 6′ Learn to Draw Mickey’s Pal Pluto Learn to Draw Baymax From ‘Big Hero 6’ Learn to Draw Rapunzel’s Buddy, Pascal Learn to Draw Stitch Learn to Draw Winnie the Pooh Learn to Draw Jack Skellington Learn to Draw Oswald the Lucky Rabbit Learn How to Draw ‘Frozen’s’ Anna Do You Want to Draw a Snowman? View the full article

During this time of social distancing, you can still get your daily dose of Disney by grabbing the popcorn and snuggling into the couch for some TV time. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Tomorrow, Vudu (a streaming service) will be holding a Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker viewing party with a VERY special guest from the galaxy far, far away. If you want to stream the Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker viewing party, you can head onto Vudu tomorrow, March 20th, at 6:00 PM eastern time. The party will be hosted by none other than Chewbacca himself, Joonas Suotamo. ©Vudu Since this may be the last Star Wars movie on the big screen for a while what better way to catch up with the Skywalkers then with one of the stars of the show? You can join in on the party by signing up on Vudu for the low, low price of free and signing in tomorrow. Need more flicks to watch? Check out our Disney+ binge list here! Are you down to stream The Rise of Skywalker tomorrow? Let us know down in the comments! Related posts: EVERYTHING You Need To Know From The Walt Disney Studios Panel at The D23 Expo! The FINAL Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Trailer Is Here (And We Have All the Feels)! Behind the Scenes Footage From Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Plus Some Bonus Original Trilogy Goodies)! View the full article

Last May, Jaleo by Chef José Andrés joined the Disney Springs dining scene. The location is in addition to other Jaleo locations in cities such as Washington, D.C., Bethesda, Maryland, and more. Jaleo During this time of temporary closures, Chef Jose Andres announced that his locations in the Washington, D.C. area would be repurposed as “community kitchens” with a limited takeout menu available at flexible pricing. And now, Chef Andrés has announced an additional way to help people affected by closures. A post by JaleobyJose on Instagram shares how individuals may help Jaleo employees during this time. A special e-gift card program has been created which allows individuals to purchase gift cards at 20% off, with all the money going directly towards Jaleo employees. Screenshot of JaleobyJose on Instagram The post shares that half of the funds will be used to extend pay and benefits beyond two weeks, and half will go towards the ThinkFamilyFund, which provides relief to the team and their families in the instance of financial hardship. Interested readers may visit this link for more information or to purchase a gift card from now through April 30th. You can also click here to learn more about Chef José Andrés and his dedication to disaster relief work through his non-profit organization World Central Kitchen for which he was nominated for the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize. JaleobyJose also shares these words: “Thank you to everyone for helping us through this difficult time.” Related posts: New Concept Art and Details for Jaleo by José Andrés — Opening Soon in Disney Springs! Sneak Peek: Dishes at Jaleo by Chef José Andrés, Opening March 17 in Disney Springs More Tastes — And What We Can’t Wait to Try Next — at Jaleo by Chef José Andrés in Disney Springs View the full article

When Disney World announced they were closing due to Coronavirus concerns, we were interested to see how the company would navigate such an unprecedented move. Epcot Unscheduled closures of Disney World are rare. In fact, the current instance marks only the ninth large-scale closure in the nearly 50-year history of the park. And, since it is Florida, you won’t be surprised to hear that most of these were weather-related! Let’s take a look back at how Disney World has handled different types of closures in the past. Coronavirus Closure Let’s start with the instance at the top of everyone’s mind: the current shuttering due to the Coronavirus. This is the longest park closure in Disney World history. Several of our readers who were in the parks when the news came out were generous enough to share their stories with us. One reader was surprised to hear the news from social media before getting any official word from Disney: “Disney has not officially contacted us. They didn’t even call us and it seemed like social media knew before Cast Members. But we did see on social media that they were closing after Sunday. So we went to speak to the front desk at our resort last night. They were very friendly and helpful with all of our needs.” Coronado Springs Front Desk This wasn’t the only instance we heard of a guest hearing about this news from social media before getting an official word from Disney. Another guest shared this letter they received in their room while they were out in the parks. Coronavirus Closure Letter Sent to Resort Guests Along with the closure information released by Disney at the time, the letter instructed hotel guests they could use their in-room phones to call the front desk and work out how to modify or cancel their travel plans. While this type of large-scale closure had a huge impact on travel plans for guests, especially those mid-trip, the good news is that Disney has been very accomodating about refunds and adjustments to travel plans. Any guests with a Disney Hotel reservation between March 16th and March 31st have the ability to cancel online through My Disney Experience under “My Reservations” or call (407) 934-7639 to modify or cancel their Disney World Hotel reservations. The full value of the booking can be applied towards future visits without penalties or fees. Disney’s Pop Century Resort As far as park tickets go, Disney will automatically extend multi-day tickets with unused days or tickets that were specifically-dated between March 12th and March 31st, 2020 until December 15th, 2020. Disney will credit guests for the value of unused tickets toward another ticket purchase for a future date if they’re unable to reschedule before December 15th. Tree of Life You can read MORE about what Disney is currently refunding here. While the parks were closed after the end of the day on March 15th, 2020, it was also announced that Disney will be closing all Disney-owned locations at Disney Springs starting March 17th and all Disney World Resort hotels at 5:00 p.m. on March 20th. Disney Springs As of now, the parks are set to remain closed until at least the end of March, but based on the extended closures in Tokyo, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, that date could possibly be extended. Since this is an unprecedented closure, we’ll keep you posted! Magic Kingdom Click here for the latest in the COVID-19 Disney World closure Hurricanes Disney World being located in central Florida places it right in the path of many hurricanes for the better part of each year. Hurricanes are the most common reason for unplanned closures of Disney World. In fact, seven of the nine closures in Disney World history have been hurricane-related. Pandora in Animal Kingdom Most recently, Disney World parks closed in preparation for Hurricane Dorian in 2019. With hurricane closures, activities like the parks, Disney Springs, and sporting events are closed before the storm is projected to make landfall, for the safety of both guests and Cast Members. ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex But, the Disney Resort hotels have stayed open during hurricanes in the past. We have seen restrictions implemented during particularly dangerous times to ensure guest safety. Guests with external rooms (not in the same building as the lobby or dining area), have been asked to remain in their rooms. Coronado Springs Entrance During hurricanes, Disney implements a Cast Member “ride-out crew” that stays at resorts with guests, as well as Cast Members dedicated to staying with the animals at Animal Kingdom. With other activities being shut down, Resort hotels have offered additional activities for guests during previous hurricane closures. We’ve seen these ride-out crews help bring events like character meet and greets, movie marathons, and kids activities to guests during these times. Cinderella Disney is also more lenient on their cancellation policies when severe hurricanes threaten closures. In the past, we’ve seen them waive cancellation and change fees for vacation packages and room-only reservations scheduled within 7 days of the arrival date. Since Disney’s policy is subject to change, you can check out the current information here. Epcot Rain Clouds September 11, 2001 When news broke of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the gates at Disney World parks had already opened for the day. The decision was made to shut down the parks, so Cast Members ushered guests out by forming a “human chain” and directing everyone to the park entrances. Magic Kingdom Hub Cast members were instructed not to tell guests the reason for the sudden closure. While this caused confusion and even anger amongst some guests, this was intended to avoid a panicked response from the crowds. Walt Disney World Guests were given complimentary tickets at the gates as they exited the parks. Back at the Resort hotels, pools were kept open late and additional activities were provided for guests. The parks were reopened the following day, with additional security measures that had been implemented overnight. The next day, there were police on property with K9s and Disney had set up security tables to inspect guests’ purses, packages, and bags before they entered the park. Hollywood Studios Bag Check The current closure is the largest one to date in Disney World history. A few trends that we’ve seen across all of the closures are that Disney does enact more lenient policies for refunds and rescheduling and Cast Members are willing to help guests with questions and concerns as these situations develop. We realize the magnitude of the current situation and the stories we’ve heard only represent a selection of experiences. We would love to continue hearing your stories and help in any way we can. Thank you to our readers who shared their stories with us and we will keep you updated as we hear more information! Looking for more info on Disney and the coronavirus? Click here for all the coronavirus news we have so far. Were you at Disney World when the park closure was announced? Share your story in the comments below! Related posts: What Is Still Open and What Is Closed in Walt Disney World Today NEWS: Date Announced for Suspension of Disney Transportation in Walt Disney World Resort NEW Wedding Venues Added in Walt Disney World! View the full article