Disney4me

Magic Happens has finally been creating some enchantment in Disneyland (and it is so beautiful that we want to watch it every day!). Coco Float in Magic Happens And, even though we’ve taken you with us to watch the parade with us, there are some new snacks coming to the park you’re not going to want to miss! Available starting TODAY in Disneyland, the Magic Happens Eats and Treats are making their way around the restaurants and bakeries (and they look pretty magical themselves)! You can nosh on the Esquite Hot Dog at the Refreshment Corner while you pick your spot to watch the parade! The foot-long hot dog is topped with crushed corn chips, corn esquite mix, cojita cheese, and chili-cayenne powder . It’s served with a side of chips or fresh fruit. ©Disney And, just around the corner, you can stop by Jolly Holiday Bakery Café to grab the Island Pork Toasted Sandwich made with kalua smoked pork (!!!), Black Forest Ham, Monterey Jack cheese, pineapple relish, and cilantro. It’s also served with a side of house-made chips. ©Disney On a sweeter note, Jolly Holiday is also serving up the Royal Cupcake. Although it might be a simple vanilla cupcake with buttercream, we are OBSESSED with the Aurora design. Just look at that color swirl, draping, roses, and crown (swoon)!! Plus, there’s even the Dia de los Muertos Hand Pie with a super unique guava filling. ©Disney Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor is swirling up the Dulce de Leche Sundae in honor of Coco too! The double scoop of dulce de leche ice cream is served in a waffle bowl and topped with whipped cream, bananas, a Mickey sugar cookie, caramel, and a cherry. ©Disney Plus, while you’re in Disneyland, you can even reserve the Magic Happens Dining Package so you can eat at the Plaza Inn AND watch the parade from a special viewing area! ©Disney You can read all about the Magic Happens Dining Package here! And, you can keep up with us throughout the day today as we try ALL the Magic Happens eats and treats in the park. Check out our Disneyland Food Reviews Here!! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Have you watched Magic Happens yet in Disneyland? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: Review! Get a Look at the AH-MAZING Wintery Strawberry Hand Pie in Disneyland! Review! Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas with the Mickey and Minnie Holiday Donuts in Disneyland! It’s Not Valentine’s Day Until You’ve Had These Heart-Shaped Treats in Disneyland! View the full article

Goodwill of Orange County’s Tierney Center for Veteran Services provides veterans access to a full range of job training, job placement services, coaching, financial wellness classes and access to Goodwill’s Career Resource Center. To help them serve more local veterans, the Disneyland Resort recently gave $60,000 to expand the Tierney Center’s team of employment specialists, focusing on helping veterans in north Orange County find jobs. Through the Disneyland Resort workforce development program, which provides training and professional development resources for Anaheim and Orange County residents, the resort will also support the Tierney Center with workshops, including business etiquette, resume writing, interview skills and more. “Disney is very involved in the community and this is a great example of reaching out to serve those who served,” said Denton Knapp, director, Tierney Center for Veteran Services. With the grant, the Tierney Center will be able to reach and serve at least 100 additional veterans and their families. View the full article

Magic is happening today with the debut of our newest daytime spectacular, “Magic Happens“, at Disneyland park. With the help of Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios, this incredible new parade comes to life with stunning floats, energetic music, artistic costumes, and now, thanks to our fabulous Disneyland chefs, a few deliciously magical eats and treats. These brand new bites were created to celebrate the latest addition to the park’s line up of fun entertainment offerings. Since the parade marches right down the middle of Main Street, U.S.A., it’s only fitting that these items can be found at Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor, Refreshment Corner, and Jolly Holiday Bakery Café. Oh, and did I mention, they’re all available starting TODAY! In addition, if you want to skip the lines and get straight to snackin’, be sure to check out the Disneyland app to mobile order your treats in advance! At Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor, grab a deliciously sweet afternoon treat – the Dulce de Leche Sundae! It comes served in a waffle bowl with a double scoop of dulce de leche ice cream topped with bananas, caramel, a Mickey sugar cookie, whipped cream and a cherry. On the savory side, Refreshment Corner is serving up the Esquite Hot Dog – a foot-long hot dog with crushed corn chips and corn esquite mix topped with cotija cheese and chili-cayenne powder and served with your choice of chips or fresh fruit. And finally, at Jolly Holiday Bakery Café, there is another savory item, the Island Pork Toasted Sandwich with Black Forest ham, kalua smoked pork, Monterey Jack cheese, pineapple relish, and cilantro served with house-made chips. Of course, also at Jolly Holiday, if you’re craving something to satisfy your sweet tooth, try the Royal Cupcake, a vanilla cupcake with buttercream icing, or the Dia de los Muertos Hand Pie with guava filling – YUM! In addition, a new dining package is now available at Plaza Inn! With this new experience, you’ll be able to enjoy a delicious lunch at Plaza Inn before enjoying reserved viewing for “Magic Happens.” All packages include one lunch entrée, one beverage, one Plaza Inn credential, and one voucher that provides access to the parade’s reserved viewing area. For adults, your entrée will include slow-cooked short rib with chimichurri, chicken thigh fried to a golden brown, pesto-infused mashed potatoes, roasted seasonal vegetables, corn relish, and dessert. For kids, they’ll enjoy fried chicken tenders, mashed potatoes, corn relish, their choice of applesauce or baby carrots, and dessert, as well as their choice of a small Dasani water or small lowfat milk. Vegetarian options are also available upon request. For more information and to make reservations, visit the Plaza Inn Dining Package page, check out the Disneyland app, or call 714-781-DINE (714-781-3463). For more information on all of the locations listed above as well as details on the ‘Magic Happens’ Parade at Disneyland Park, visit the Disneyland Resort website or check out the Disneyland app. Happy Snacking! View the full article

We could have Disney pretzels all day, errryyday! Reimagined Wetzel’s Pretzels in Disneyland ©Disney And, even if you aren’t visiting the parks, you can take a bit of the salty or sweet treat home with you straight from Downtown Disney! Pin collectors, get your lanyards ready! Wetzel’s Pretzels has these ADORABLE limited edition pins that are exclusive to Downtown Disney. Wetzel’s Pretzels Pins The pins feature sayings like #GetTwisted, So Salty, Love is All You Knead, and I Heart (a pretzel version ofc) LA! While we were there, we did spot some other exclusive locations mixed in, so be on the look-out when you’re in Downtown Disney! Check out our Disneyland Food Reviews Here!! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What’s your favorite thing to get at Wetzel’s Pretzels? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: What’s New at the Disneyland Resort and Downtown Disney: Haunted Mansion Refurb and the Best Popcorn Bucket EVER! What’s New at Disneyland Resort: Food & Wine Booths, Ink & Paint Merchandise, and the Sweetest Sundae EVER! Disney News This Week: ALL the News and Updates from the Most Magical Places on Earth! View the full article

Marko Cheseto celebrated with some joyful dance moves after being the fourth runner to cross the finish line at the Disney Princess Half Marathon at Walt Disney World Resort this past weekend. For him, finishing fourth was almost like winning, given that 11 years ago the Orlando-based runner lost both of his feet to frostbite. Born in Kenya, Cheseto moved to the United States to run competitively at the University of Alaska-Anchorage. He had to have both feet amputated after getting lost for three days in the woods during a run, during which it snowed more than a foot. Cheseto didn’t let that stop him from doing what he loves, though. He was fitted for running blades and continues to run competitively, holding the double amputee marathon world record of 2:42:24. “The only disability we have as human beings is the way we think,” Cheseto said after finishing the Disney Princess Half Marathon in 1:17:45 this morning. “But a physical disability that we have does not prevent one from achieving great things in life.” The Disney Princess Half Marathon was one step on his journey to his next marathon, the Boston Marathon in April. He said running through the Walt Disney World theme parks was an incredible experience, especially running past icons like Cinderella Castle. The Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend was truly enchanting, from the Moana-themed 5K on Friday, to the Pocahontas-themed 10K on Saturday, and the Cinderella-themed Half Marathon on Sunday. Sunday’s winner, Kelly Wehman from Georgia, finished the half marathon with a time of 1:24:26, inspired by her 6-year-old son’s journey through Down syndrome and cancer. “He’s my hero,” she said, after crossing the finish line. “That’s what I think about when I’m running. That’s what pushes me.” Check out the video of Cheseto’s incredible race, and be sure to visit www.rundisney.com for information on upcoming runDisney races and how to register. View the full article

We’re officially a week out from the premiere of Disney and Pixar’s newest animated adventure, Onward! ©Walt Disney Studios This high fantasy-meets-modern day story centers around the two elven Lightfoot brothers, Ian and Barley, as they set out on a quest to spend one last day with their father. Disney’s been getting us hyped for the movie with a whole spread of new merch to add to our troves, but right now we only have eyes for this sweet ride that’s coming to Disney Springs. Tomorrow, February 29th, you’ll be able to pull up next to Barley’s tricked out van, Guinevere, for an exclusive photo-op. She may not look like much, but Barley swears by this mighty steed. ©Disney Springs You’ll be able to find Guinevere outside of the AMC Theatres from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Don’t miss out, because the next time you’ll see this bad boy will be on the silver screen when Onward premieres on March 6th. You can still catch a sneak peek of the movie at Hollywood Studios! Have you got your tickets to see Onward yet? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: What’s New at Disney Springs — A BRAND NEW Store, Potato Chips IN A Cake, and MORE Mermaid Merch… It’s National Crème Brûlée Day! Celebrate With Half Price Desserts In Disney World! You NEED to Check Out Disney World’s Shark Week Frappuccino! View the full article

Golden Dreams is returning for its second year at the 2020 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival! 2020 Golden Dreams Booth Despite being still relatively new to the annual food fest, Golden Dreams has completely revamped its menu and we’re trying it out to see if the new menu is what dreams are made of! The Golden Dreams booth is an absolute sight to be seen! 2020 Golden Dreams Menu Food Goodbye, last year’s Deconstructed Teriyaki Chicken Musubi and Chili Relleno Bites, and hello NEW FOOD! Even though all of Golden Dreams’ eats made our Best of the Fest list last year, it looks like this year they may have their sights set on a wider audience. 2020 Golden Dreams Offerings There’s a new Brunch Fried Chicken & Waffle Sandwich with Mimosa-inspired Slaw and OJ Bubbles for $8! We think this one’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser! Brunch Fried Chicken and Waffle Sandwich No standard chicken tenders here! This was a juicy piece of chicken coated in a breading that packed a little heat. It paired well with the thin and slightly savory waffle. The slaw added a nice texture and we thought the OJ popping pearls were great— although we would have preferred our sweetness in the form of honey to really bring this dish together. Overall, a pretty solid choice! Golden Dreams’ other offering is Seared Verlasso Salmon with Lemon Pea Purée, Black Rice and Meyer Lemon Relish for $7.75! While they were sold out of this offering last night, we will be back today to try it out. We will be sure to update this post with our review. Beverages For drinks, Golden Dreams has two brand new pours! For a quick cool down, there’s a non-alcoholic Strawberry-Rose Lemonade for $6! This one here was VERY flavor-forward…like, we may have preferred it a little less condensed and more watered down. If you’re a big floral fan, you’ll likely enjoy this one! Strawberry Rose Lemonade And for a quick pick-me-up (hey, we still have a lot more booths to get to!) we’re fueling up with the Fig & Lavender Cold Brew for $6.50! This is another option that we will be back to try today! We think Golden Dreams’ 2019 menu was a tough act to follow! And even though the eats this year were awesome, we definitely miss the yummy Chocolate Peanut Caramel Parfait! What, no dessert for 2020? That’s ok though, there’s plenty of other places to get your sweet fix like the Caramel-Peanut Milk Chocolate Macaron from Off the Cob at Disney California Adventure right now! The Food and Wine Festival runs through April 21st, so come check it out! Click here to see the 2020 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival menus! 2020 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival Index 2020 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival Booth and Menu Index 2020 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival Low-Cost Seminar and Demonstrations 2020 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival Wine, Beer, and Spirits Education and Tasting Seminars 2020 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival Special Events Epcot Festival Fans Facebook Page 2019 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival Menus and FOOD PHOTOS Booking Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival Events Booking for all special events, seminars, and demonstrations is available at the official DCA Food and Wine Festival reservation page. What looks good to you at Golden Dreams this year? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: Review! What’s Poppin’ at Uncork California at the 2020 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival! Ticketed Event Dates Announced For the 2020 Food and Wine Festival in Disney California Adventure! REVIEW! Find Out What We’d PICK Again From Disney California Adventure’s Berry Patch Food and Wine Booth! View the full article

Meet the Martinez Family | Fun for Everyone on Disney Cruise Line View the full article

Feast your eyes on THIS… Ruby Cacao Raspberry Pistachio Sundae ©Disney Springs | Haagen Dazs You’re looking at the Ruby Cacao Raspberry Pistachio Sundae, which you can currently find for a limited time at Haagen-Dazs in Disney Springs! But it’s not the only Ruby Cacao treat on the menu these days… Check out the Ruby Cacao Dipped Ice Cream Bar! Ruby Cacao Dipped Ice Cream Bar ©Disney Springs | Haagen Dazs According to @DisneySprings on Twitter, you’ll find these lovely Ruby Cacao treats now through April 30th at the Haagen-Dazs location on the West Side of Disney Springs. And they look just about perfect for welcoming SPRING while IN Disney Springs… Enjoy! Which Ruby Cacao treat would you like to try at Haagen-Dazs? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: What’s New in Disney Springs! August 10, 2018 COFFEE ALERT! Grab a FREE Espresso Drink at the Starbucks Pop-Up Party in Disney World! A PURPLE Poison Apple Stein and Glow Cube Have Bubbled Up At Disney Springs! Find Out Where To Get Yours! View the full article

Since Cirque du Soleil La Nouba ended its nineteen year run in Disney World, we’ve been itching for more high-flying acrobatics and stunt choreography. We thought about doing our own show, but we guess we’ll let the professionals handle it. Cirque du Soleil The new show, Drawn to Life, is set to go live in Disney Springs in a little under two months and Disney is sharing another behind-the-scenes look at one of the biggest stars of the show! No, we don’t mean the acrobats themselves. We’re talking about the big top, the Cirque du Soleil theater that will be drawn to life through special effects, lighting, and artistry. In this preview video, Michel Laprice, the writer and show director for Drawn to Life, talks about the goals for the production, as well as reveals what the inside of the new theater space will look like. You can catch a sneak peek at the acrobatics for Drawn to Life here! Previews for Drawn to Life will begin on March 20, 2020 and then it’s just a matter of waiting for the official premiere on April 17th. You can already buy your tickets for the show here. Learn more about the new Drawn to Life show here! Are you excited for this newest production from Cirque du Soleil and Disney? Let us know down in the comments! Related posts: News! Disney’s Cirque Du Soleil Announces Its NEW NAME and Concept With Photos! What’s New at Disney Springs! NEW Menus, Ball Gowns, and Spooky Merch! NEW Cirque du Soleil Show Is Coming to Disney Springs in March 2020 — and Tickets Are Now On Sale! View the full article

Ah, Disney World FastPass+. Whether you love it or hate it, there’s no denying it’s incredibly useful during your Disney World vacation. Disney World’s FastPass+ system is notoriously complex to master, and understanding the different Tiers and the way they work is integral to making the most of your Disney vacation. After all, those precious minutes in the park are EXPENSIVE. Why waste them standing in line? Cinderella Castle Still, it takes some effort to use FastPass+ to its fullest potential and the system is constantly changing. In fact, we’ve ALREADY seen some pretty big updates this year. So, if you’ve got a Disney World trip this year (or you’re dreaming of one), read on! Here are the three tips you need to master Disney World’s FastPass+ Tiers in 2020! The Basics Now, before we dive into the tips, let’s get down to the basics of what the FastPass system is all about! Rise of the Resistance’s FastPass What is FastPass+? FastPasses are special passes included with Disney World theme park admission that allows you to get on a ride without having to wait in the full line. You book a FastPass for a certain window of time and head to the ride sometime during that window. You’ll enter the FastPass line for the ride, bypassing the regular line, and have a very short wait before you can board the attraction. Slinky Dog Dash This can be pretty invaluable, especially when the alternative is two-hour (or more) waits for rides like Avatar: Flight of Passage or Slinky Dog Dash. How to Book FastPasses You book FastPasses using the My Disney Experience app or the Disney World website. You can book up to 30 days in advance of your trip, or 60 days if you’re staying at a Disney World Resort Hotel. You can also book FastPasses using kiosks inside the parks on the day you intend to use them, but you’re going to see a lot fewer options day-of, so we definitely recommend booking in advance if possible. Space Mountain How Many FastPasses Do You Get? Here’s where it gets a little more complicated. You can book up to three FastPasses per day in advance. Note that your initial 3 do all have to be in the same park. After you use your 3, you’re free to book other available FastPasses one at a time in any park of your choice. The rides you can book are limited by Tiers in every park except Magic Kingdom. Tier 1 attractions are the highest demand rides (think Frozen Ever After in Epcot or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Magic Kingdom) and Tier 2 attractions are everything else that offers FastPasses in that park. My Disney Experience In parks with Tiers, you can only pre-book ONE Tier 1 FastPass per day. You’re going to have to choose which Tier 1 attraction in each park is most important to you and use your other two passes for Tier twos. But how do you decide?! More on that soon. With the basics out of the way, let’s jump into those juicy tips for 2020! Click here to watch our video on FastPass+ Tips from the PROS! 1. Book as Early as You Can! Thousands of people visit each Disney World park each day, and those same massive amounts of people are likely all hoping to score FastPasses just like you before their trip! So how can you ensure you’ve got the best odds at nabbing your top picks? Stay On-Site First piece of advice is to stay at an on-site resort. If you’re staying at a Disney resort, 60 days out from the first day of your trip you can make your FastPass selections beginning at 7 AM EST. Remember, EVERYONE out there staying at a Disney resort who has a trip 60 days out can book FastPasses starting at this time, right when you do. This can make availability for the more high-demand rides go QUICK! Honestly, it can sometimes feel a little bit like a mad dash! It can definitely be stressful if you’re not expecting it! Pandora What about off-site guests or Annual Passholders who get to book 30 days out from their trip? All is not lost for you, but the advantage certainly goes to the guests with an extra 30-day head start! Sadly, many of the most popular rides will often have all FastPasses distributed once folks 30 days out are able to begin booking, but that’s not always the case. If you really want the best odds though, consider staying on-site. Have a Plan! So how do you best prepare to get those FastPasses you want most? Make sure you’re ready to book right when FastPasses release at 7 AM EST. Make a reminder on your calendar for that day, set an alarm, and have a clear idea of what rides you want in each park for each day of your trip. In the immortal words of Scar from The Lion King, “Be prepared!” Early Morning Since you can book all your FastPasses for the full length of your trip, a fairly reliable technique is to try and book rides you know run out of FastPasses quickly on later days of your trip, assuming the farther out you go there will possibly be fewer guests fighting for the same FastPasses! Having your whole trip planned out before the system opens up helps a lot here. Hollywood Studios You’ll want to put your initial focus, once that clock strikes 7 AM, on those Tier 1 rides, then circle back to the Tier twos. For reference, here are typically the most difficult FastPasses to get in each park: Magic Kingdom Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Epcot Test Track (Tier 1) Frozen Ever After (Tier 1) Hollywood Studios Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (Tier 1 as of February 19th) Slinky Dog Dash (Tier 1) Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway (Tier 1 as of March 4th) Animal Kingdom Avatar: Flight of Passage (Tier 1) If any of the above rides are ones that you want FastPasses for, focus on booking those FIRST thing when you get on at 7 AM. Otherwise, they very well could be gone. Test Track After you’ve booked all of the hard-to-get passes, you can move on to filling out the rest of your trip with Tier twos. Want to ride Flight of Passage with NO wait? Click here! 2. Know Which Tier 1 Ride is Best to Book in Each Park Now, before you get to that crucial 7 AM booking time, you’re going to want to figure out what rides are a priority for you! For many of the popular and Tier 1 FastPass rides, there are times during the day that you can hop in the regular line with a shorter wait, so you won’t necessarily need FastPasses if you know when to head that way. Flight of Passage Since you can only book one Tier 1 FastPass per day, here’s an idea of which ones should be a priority in each park! Epcot The Tier 1 FastPasses in Epcot are for Test Track, Frozen Ever After, Soarin’, and Epcot Forever. We don’t recommend using your Tier 1 slot on Epcot Forever, since you can get a great view from most locations around World Showcase. Plus, you can always get a good view of the show with the right dining reservation in World Showcase. Epcot Forever We also wouldn’t use your slot on Soarin’ as the wait can drop significantly for that ride throughout the day, as well as first thing in the morning and closer to close. Soarin’! Now, the choice between Test Track and Frozen Ever After gets a little bit more difficult. Both rides often have a substantial line throughout the day. If you’re traveling with little ones, getting them on Frozen to see Anna and Elsa is probably going to be a higher priority than getting them on Test Track (especially if you have any kiddos who don’t meet the height requirement!). An older party might want to opt for Test Track with its more thrilling high speeds. Frozen Ever After Entrance You also can get both rides into your day with relatively short waits if you FastPass one and hop in line early for the other. Keep in mind Test Track opens at park opening, but Frozen Ever After doesn’t open until World Showcase does, typically at 11 AM, so plan your attack accordingly! To learn more about Epcot Forever, click here! Hollywood Studios For 2020, your priorities for Hollywood Studios may have recently been shaken up (in a good way!). There are be 2 BIG Tier changes happening! As of February 19th, the Tier 1 rides have shifted! Tier 1 rides previously included Slinky Dog Dash, Tower of Terror, Toy Story Midway Mania, and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. With the update, many of those rides have slid down to Tier 2 leaving only the new Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Slinky Dog Dash to choose from in Tier 1! But not for long… Toy Story Land The second shift happens on March 4th (but you can book FastPasses now!) for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. It will be a Tier 1 attraction when it opens! So your FastPass Tier 1 choice will be much more difficult in a few weeks! ©Disney Overall, this is a GREAT change because so many of those popular rides like Tower of Terror and Toy Story Mania can be scooped up in your Tier 2 selections! But as for Tier 1, it is hard to predict which ride should be your priority. Are you a family of ride or die Star Wars fans or are you all about the Toy Story life? What about the fun for all ages Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway? Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney World As with Epcot, you’ll want to be aware of height limits and overall ride experiences. Slinky Dog Dash IS a roller coaster, but it is incredibly tame and can be fun for all ages (if they meet the height requirement, that is!). Millennium Falcon, on the other hand, is a motion simulator similar to Star Tours with interactive elements and a large, sometimes confined queue. Mickey and Minnie has no height requirement and is suitable for your whole crew! All three experiences are unique and thrilling, but one may be more suited to your party than the other. We put together a comparison of the more thrilling rides, Millennium Falcon and Slinky, to help you choose right here! Slinky Dog Dash! Now, it is important to note that Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway are not the ONLY ride we expect to join the Tier 1 Line-up at Hollywood Studios in the future. Rise of the Resistance recently opened in the park and it’s possible that (once the massive hype cools down a little bit) it could be added to the FastPass system as a Tier 1 attraction. Facade Concept Art ©Disney So, if you have a trip further down the line in 2020, it’s important that you keep an eye on the changes for FastPass in this park. These updates could have a significant effect on your strategy! Click here for a full breakdown of the FastPass+ Tier changes in Hollywood Studios! Animal Kingdom The Tier 1 prioritizing is definitely easiest in Animal Kingdom. There are only two Tier 1 rides in the park: Avatar: Flight of Passage and Na’vi River Journey. In most cases, we recommend going for Flight of Passage. The wait for this attraction rarely dips below an hour (in fact, it can sit at two to three hours or MORE!) and the ride is considered by many to be one you don’t want to miss. ©Disney Now, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t certain groups that should choose Na’vi River Journey. Again, check that height requirement! It may not make sense for your group to spend your Tier 1 slot on a ride that your little one will have to sit out. Flight of Passage can also be difficult for those with acute motion sickness or claustrophobia due to the ride vehicle and system. Inside Na’vi River Journey If any of that sounds like a concern to you, opt for the calm boat ride on Na’vi River Journey. This ride is still quite impressive to see and the whole family can ride. Magic Kingdom So, even though Magic Kingdom doesn’t have FastPass Tiers like the other parks, we want to note a few rides you should prioritize. FastPasses for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Peter Pan’s Flight, and Space Mountain go the quickest in this park. So, think about which of these is best for your party and prioritize it first. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Since there are no Tiers, you can use your additional FastPassess for the other two if you like if they’re available (and if they’re what you were hoping to ride!). That’s the bonus of the no Tier system! Learn more about a MAJOR upcoming attraction here! 3. Book FastPasses For the Morning No matter which park you’re booking, we recommend trying to book your 3 FastPasses throughout the morning hours, if possible. Space Mountain The sooner into your day you use all 3, you’ll be free to book MORE. You can book one additional FastPass after your 3 are used up in any park of your choice, but keep in mind selections will be more limited. As SOON as you scan your MagicBand for your last FastPass ride you had booked, grab your phone and open up My Disney Experience. You can book your next FastPass while waiting in line! Tower of Terror Now, it is important to note that you probably won’t get too lucky with using the day-of method to snag Tier 1 passes as those are going to be booked up pretty solid at that point, but ya never know! People drop FastPasses all the time throughout the day. Maybe a lunch ran long or they’re heading back to their room. Whatever the reason, if you’re looking at the right time, you can snag a great FastPass, so keep checking! With these 3 tips, we hope we’ve filled you with confidence to get those FastPasses you want the most! With some pre-planning, you can make the most of the FastPass system in each park like a PRO! Click here to learn more about the most recent update to the FastPass+ Tier system! Do you feel prepared to tackle your Disney World FastPass plans now? Got any other tips and tricks for others? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Play Disney Parks App Debuts in Disney World and Disneyland Resort SOON! Should You Even Go to Disney World with All This Construction? Your Questions Answered. DFB Video: The Cutting-Edge Effects and Details of Disney’s Newest Attractions! View the full article

Can you believe we’re less than two months away from the grand opening of “Drawn to Life,” the new collaboration between Cirque du Soleil and Disney, coming soon to Disney Springs? As the team preps for the world premiere on April 17, 2020, we’ll be sharing some behind-the-scenes videos on the Disney Parks Blog revealing more details about the story, new custom animation and acrobatic artistry that makes this first-of-its-kind show so special. In this week’s video, you’ll see the enthusiastic reactions of the Cirque du Soleil artists as they see the very first glimpse of the theatre where they’ll be creating mesmerizing moments of acrobatic mastery for our guests after months of training. (Their faces are priceless!) You’ll also hear a little more from Michel Laprise, writer and show director for “Drawn to Life” as he takes you through his vision for the production as the team prepares to bring this amazing story and tribute to the art of Disney Animation to life, in Cirque du Soleil signature style. Take a look: For more show information, visit DisneySprings.com/Cirque. Keep an eye out for another behind-the-scenes video soon! View the full article

The Animation Experience at Disney’s Animal Kingdom offers guests the chance to learn to draw a selection of Disney characters inspired by the animals they may also see in the park. Today, Character Artist Joshua Jordan gives you a lesson in how to draw Shere Khan from “The Jungle Book,” one of the many characters you’ll get a tutorial in at this location. Check out the video above for step-by-step directions. Click here for a template to get started! View the full article

It has certainly been a busy week in Disney news! From a new CEO being announced to Festival menus on BOTH the east coast and the west coast, there has been no shortage of exciting announcements. ©Disney Artist Concept for New Cinderella Castle Let’s take a look at some of the biggest news stories from the past week! A Jungle Cruise Boat Sinks! It was reported on February 27th that a Jungle Cruise boat sank while guests were on board! Jungle Cruise Sinking There are 15 Jungle Cruise boats in circulation and the one that sank yesterday is Bomokandi Bertha, which is one of the wheelchair lift-equipped boats. No injuries have been reported. We will continue to keep you posted as we learn more information. Read more about the Jungle Cruise situation here! Disney Announces a New CEO! It was announced on Tuesday that Disney’s CEO Bob Iger was stepping down, effective immediately, and that Bob Chapek (now former President of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products) would assume the role as CEO. Bob Chapek Bob Iger will stay with the Company as Executive Chairman through the end of 2021, focusing on “creative endeavors” while Chapek assumes the day-to-day responsibilities as CEO. You can read the full official Company statement here! Bob Iger Read MORE about the Disney CEO change here! Cinderella Castle Refurbishment Update Our second story we want to catch you up on involves Cinderella Castle! It was reported last week that the iconic castle would undergo a very noticeable refurbishment ahead of Disney World’s 50th Anniversary celebrations. This project has already begun with some noticeable work being done around the base of the castle. Cinderella Castle refurbishment Many concerns were raised regarding the visibility and appearance of the castle during this refurbishment, Magic Kingdom Vice President Jason Kirk eased our minds by announcing that the castle will remain UNCOVERED during this transformation! Walt Disney World This should come as a big relief to families looking to capture that classic group photo in front of the castle. While the impact of this project should be minimal, keep an eye on DFB as we will continue to update you with photos and reports from the park! Read more about Cinderella Castle’s transformation here! Spaceship Earth Has a Closing Date! In preparation for Epcot’s 40th Anniversary and as a part of the MASSIVE transformation that’s currently in progress, Spaceship Earth will be re-imagined and renovated to include new scenes, new technologies, and much more! ©Disney We now know the exact date when this massive refurbishment begins: May 26, 2020! Epcot’s Spaceship Earth This could end up being a LONG downtime for this attraction. While we do not have an exact timeframe or date for when the ride will reopen, we will let you know as soon as we do. So, if you can make it to Disney World before May 26, be sure to ride Spaceship Earth and thank those Phoenicians one last time! Read what else we know so far about Spaceship Earth’s transformation here! There’s a New Dining Plan Option! For those of you looking to add the Disney Dining Plan to your vacation package, there are now even MORE options to choose from. Introduced this week was Disney Dining Plan Plus, offering more flexibility in how you choose to plan your day when it comes to dining. Sour Cream Waffles at Topolino’s Terrace This plan allows for two meals of any combination per day. So, you could do two quick service meals one day, then the next day do two table service meals, and then the next day do one of each! The choice is yours! New York Strip Steak at Grand Floridian Cafe Disney Dining Plan Plus costs $94.61 (per night) for adults (ages 10 and up) and $35.01 (per night) for children (ages 3-9) including tax. And keep in mind that the Disney Dining Plan does NOT include gratuity! For comparison, the price of the new Plus plan is right between the Disney Standard Dining Plan and the Disney Deluxe Dining Plan. Read ALL about Disney Dining Plan Plus here! Epcot Flower & Garden Festival Menus We’re less than a week away from the official kick-off to the 2020 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival! This week saw a lot of Flower and Garden news, from a sneak peek at all the new merchandise to the beautiful topiaries appearing throughout the park! 2020 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival This festival will continue for nearly three months, from March 4, 2020 through June 1, 2020! The biggest news and what we’re most excited about of course are the FULL festival booth menus! Popsicle Trio See the FULL Flower and Garden MENUS and BOOTHS here! We’ve been thrilled to see some fan favorites returning to the Festival this year, as well as returning specialties, like the Orange Bird Sipper and the Chinese Cotton Candy. 5-Layered Spring Fantasy Cotton Candy We can’t wait to try all of the Flower and Garden treats for ourselves! Keep an eye on DFB as the Festival officially kicks off next week! Read all of the full menus for the 2020 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival here! Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival Menus We’re wrapping up our week’s worth of news by hopping over to Disneyland Resort, where the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival is set to begin today, February 28, and run through April 21! Road Trip Mimosa Trio ©Disney The full menus were also released this week, and we were thrilled to see so many NEW additions coming to the festival this year! Mickey-shaped Caramel-Peanut-Milk Chocolate Macaron We’re even seeing Downtown Disney get in on the Festival action this year! Be sure to keep an eye on DFB for Food and Wine Festival coverage! Read all of the full menus for the 2020 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival here! Are you planning on visiting the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival or the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival this year? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: 4 NEW Disney Food Experiences You Won’t Want To Miss! Find Out Which Restaurants Have Been Added to Disney’s Mobile Order System! Do You Know Why January 17th is SO IMPORTANT at the Disney Parks in 2020?! View the full article

Have you ever dreamed of attending your very own royal ball? At Disney, if you can dream it, you can do it. AND WE DID IT! ©The Edison The Edison at Disney Springs recently hosted a one night only MASQUERADE and we’re giving you the scoop on all the action. Time to break out the fancy dresses and masks! The Edison’s Masquerade was a ticketed event that offered appetizers, signature cocktails, and themed entertainment for guests 21 & up. ATMOSPHERE & CHECK-IN The swanky soiree took place from 8:30 PM to 2:00 AM and The Edison was reserved entirely just for us! Check-in The fun part: Masks were REQUIRED! Our Mask! Upon arrival, there was a pretty long line at check-in. We’d recommend for future events of this nature arriving early so you can enjoy the full party. Check-In Line At check-in, you were presented with your 3 drink tickets. But have no fear if you want to keep the party going after you use those babies up, additional drinks could be purchased at the cash bar. Cheers! Drink Tickets There was plenty of open seating throughout the multi-level space (but you could find us on the dance floor!). Open Seating The event was brought to life with an abundance of live entertainment! Throughout the evening, we were treated to a band, solo singers, and dancers. The Band! The must-see of the entertainment portion had to be the aerial performers. Aerial Entertainment We thought we were at Cirque du Soleil for a second! How cool? Aerial Performer COCKTAILS Drinks were available from roaming Cocktail servers or you could belly up to the bar yourself. The event featured a small menu of Specialty Cocktails crafted just for the evening! Cocktail Menu The Butterfly Effect was not just cool visually but absolutely delicious and probably our favorite of the evening. This one featured Grey Goose Vodka, St. Germain Elderflower, Lime Juice, Simple Syrup, and Pea Flower Infusion. How pretty? The Butterfly Effect We also enjoyed the playfully named, Sip In Moderation. This one featured Sipsmith Gin, Simple Syrup, Hibiscus Cordial, Pineapple Juice, Lemon Juice, and Chambord. Sip In Moderation The Marg Me! was a sweet twist on a classic Margarita and featured El Tesoro Reposado, Triple Sec, Lime Juice, Watermelon Juice, Agave, and Strawberry. Marg Me! The Masked Mule was a boozy meets sweet blend of Maker’s Mark Bourbon, Lime Juice, Honey, Blackberries, and Ginger Beer. The Masked Mule To complete the menu, the Cuban Carnival featured Bacardi Ocho Rum, Lime Juice, Simple Syrup, Strawberry Puree, and Cucumber. Cuban Carnival While there were plenty of Cocktail Servers to be found, it seemed they were a little understaffed with Bartenders and we waited longer than we would have liked for our drinks. The Bar FOOD We certainly worked up an appetite by now! Food for the evening was in the form of passed hors d’oeuvres and included party favorites like Jalapeño Poppers, Buffalo Meatballs, Oyster Shooters and more. ©The Edison Let’s have a look at what we sampled… Oyster Shooters If you enjoy raw oysters, you’d likely enjoy this. There was a lot of mignonette to work with here, but you could fish out the oyster with as much as you’d like to eat. Oyster Shooters Scallops Wrapped in Bacon Super straightforward. Salty bacon wrapped around a small scallop. Scallops Wrapped in Bacon Blackened Shrimp Cocktail The shrimp here was well cooked and not particularly spicy. We enjoyed it paired with the remoulade sauce. Blackened Shrimp Cocktail BBQ Shortrib We loved the presentation here! The shortrib was mega tender and flavorful. BBQ Shortrib Buffalo Meatballs We really enjoyed these. They were packed with flavor! Buffalo Meatballs Buffalo Chicken Springrolls These were REALLY good. They were super crispy and the chicken inside was just spicy enough. Buffalo Chicken Springrolls Cucumber Canape This felt very “fancy party food” to us, like what you picture people eating off servers’ trays in a movie. It was a fresh small bute, thanks to the cucumber and the salmon mousse wasn’t overly fishy. Cucumber Canape The final passed appetizer also happened to be our personal favorite of the evening, Jalapeño Poppers! These weren’t on the menu, but we were happy to eat them up when we saw them passed around. Jalapeño Poppers The one snack we never saw make its way around to us was the Portobello Fries. Around 11:00 PM, they started handing out Cheesecake Pops which were a welcome sweet treat amongst all the savory. Cheesecake Pops The entire food selection was yummy and we thought they provided a nice variety! OVERALL This was a super unique and fun night at Disney Springs. We loved seeing the costumes and masks that the other attendees had crafted up. The entertainment was top notch and we were happy to see a dance floor got going as the night went on. Dance floor! At $65.00 per person plus tax, this seemed like a fair price point and we could easily see the value with just the drinks and food alone (Cocktails a la carte here are quite pricey). Any night where you could dress up in anonymity and indulge in delicious bites and craft cocktails is a win for us! Have you visited The Edison at Disney Springs? Let us know! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disney World to attend their media preview of The Edison’s Masquerade. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ Related posts: Live Out Your Disney Princess Dreams at This Masquerade Event Coming to Disney World! News! Jaleo at Disney Springs to Host A WINE Dinner! 3rd Annual Sake & Shine Returns to Disney Springs with Chefs Morimoto and Smith View the full article

We’re feeling those West Coast vibes because the 2020 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival has begun! LA Style Booth From now through April 21st, feast your fancy on a copious amount of California inspired eats and drinks throughout the park! The LA Style booth is back, baby! We have to say that we’re loving the updated look. With a new year comes several new goodies and ONE returning item! LA Style Menu Food The Asian Style Beef Barbacoa Street Tacos have made their return this year! Priced at $8.00, they come with a generous portion and continue to be a good festival value. Asian-Style Beef Barbacoa Taco with Pickled Ginger New this year, the Smoked Bacon Barbecue Beef Loco Moco on Rice is Gluten-Friendly Item. Smoke Bacon Barbecue Beef Loco Moco Priced at $7.50, it’s the easy stand out at the booth this year. There were a lot of fun textures going on here, the meat was tender, and the sauce was soooooo good (like lick your fork good). Also new this year: SPIKED Monkey Bread! What?! The Monkey Bread with Caramel Whiskey Glaze and Candied Pecans is priced at $6.00 and contains trace amounts of alcohol. We are expecting sugary greatness. Monkey Bread Well, bummer. This one had MAJOR potential BUT our piece was very stale tasting. The flavors were there (and actually amazing) but the toughness of the bread completely ruined it for us. We’re really hoping this batch was a fluke because it could have been SO delicious! Monkey Bread Drinks For beverages, LA Style brings us two alcoholic options. The Blue Angeleno Cocktail is served on the rocks and you better hold onto your lil toothpick umbrella because this one is SOOO SWEET. We’re talking take a piña colada and then add three more spoonfuls of sugar in there SWEET. Priced at $13.00, it has a nice mix of fruity and coconut flavors, but you REALLY gotta like the sweet stuff to enjoy. Blue Angeleno Cocktail If caffeine with booze if your thing, they are also serving a Amaretto Stout-Cream Cold Brew that is priced at $13.00. LA Style is serving up a pretty well rounded menu this year, but the Beef Loco Moco was a clear standout! We may come back to give the monkey bread another chance, but fortunately the Blue Angeleno Cocktail helped us finish our snacks on a sweet note! Click Here To Check Out ALL The Booths From the 2020 California Adventure Food and Wine Festival! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Check out more Disneyland Food Reviews Here!! Will you be visiting the 2020 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival? Let us know! Related posts: Disneyland Food Review: Maple Bacon Churro in Disney California Adventure for Get Your Ears On! REVIEW: Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice? The Sugar Cookie Churro Rolls Into Disney California Adventure REVIEW: Go Nuts Over the New Caramel and Coconut Churros in Disneyland View the full article

We’re making our way across Disney California Adventure to highlight standout dishes from this year’s Food and Wine Festival! Nuts About Cheese Booth We stopped at the Nuts About Cheese booth to check out some new dishes as well as classic favorites! We’re kicking things off with a crowd favorite returning this year! Nuts About Cheese Menu The Fiscalini White Cheddar Lager Soup comes served in a Mini Boudin Sourdough Bowl. While this was one of our favorites last year at the festival, we have to say that it is still JUST as good as we remember it (and another Best of the Fest contender for this year!). The creamy cheese soup is perfect with that sourdough bread for dipping, and we can’t get enough of it for $6.75. Fiscalini White Cheddar Lager Soup from the 2019 Festival NEW to Food and Wine this year is the Impossible Cheeseburger Mac & Cheese (yeah, it is just as good as it sounds). Mac and cheese dishes are typically pretty popular at the Disney California Adventure festivals, so we were ready to see how this one measured up! Impossible Cheeseburger Mac and Cheese And, boy, is it amazing! There was plenty of thousand island dressing, mustard, and pickles mixed throughout the dish so it was packed with flavor. You can get it for $8, or even the use of one of your Sip and Savor Pass tabs. Impossible Cheeseburger Mac and Cheese If you’re looking to end your time at Nuts About Cheese on a sweet note, the Oikos Greek Yogurt Banoffee Tart is a slight variation on last year’s Yogurt Cheesecake. Okay, we have to say that this treat is already on the Best of the Fest list for us since it’s sooo wonderful! Oikos® Greek Yogurt Banoffee Tart It almost reminds us of a thicker banana pudding crossed with banana cream pie. BUT, the addition of lots of caramel makes the light dish a bit richer. We might need this every day for dessert tbh (and it’s only $6.25)! Oikos® Greek Yogurt Banoffee Tart And, we couldn’t forget washing everything down with the NEW Honey Bourbon Lemonade! Don’t be fooled by the “lemonade” in the title because this drink is strong, you guys! However, the sweet flavor from the honey balances the bourbon, making it super refreshing and a great sip for $13. Honey Bourbon Lemonade Nuts About Cheese really outdid itself this year, and we TOTALLY would take another trip back for seconds while the festival runs through April 21st. Check out FULL Menus at this year’s Food and Wine Festival here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Check out our Disneyland Food Reviews Here!! Do you have plans to visit this year’s Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: Review: This Disneyland Hard Float Has a TWIST! We’re Live From Lunar New Year in Disney California Adventure! What’s New at Disneyland Resort: Food & Wine Booths, Ink & Paint Merchandise, and the Sweetest Sundae EVER! View the full article

What a time to be alive as we’re eating our way around this year’s Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival! 2020 Uncork California Booth But now it’s time to enjoy some fine WINE, so join us over at Uncork California! Uncork California is always pouring up a good time with its selection of yummy local wines available by the glass or in flights. 2020 Uncork California Menu Food We always need a few nibbles to go with our bevvies! This year, you’ll find a new variety of California Artisan Cheese with Central Coast Creamery Holey Cow Swiss and Vintage Cheese Co. Cabernet Cheddar for $8.50. California Artisan Cheese Selection While a generous portion, this was pretty standard and arrived pre-packaged in a plastic box. If you’re hangry– go for it! We don’t discriminate and enjoy cheese in all forms. Beverages And we wouldn’t be uncorking California without some WINE! If you visited last year, you’ll spot just a few familiar names, but most of the wines have been swapped out! White Wine Flight – $17.00 (individual glass prices listed below) Malibu Rocky Oaks, Sauvignon Blanc, California – $15.00 Rombauer, Chardonnay, Carneros – $18.00 Francis Ford Coppola Winery, Sofia, Rosé, Monterey County – $11.00 Red Wine Flight – $18.00 (individual prices listed below) Erath, Pinot Noir, Oregon – $14.00 The Prisoner, Red Blend, Napa Valley – $17.00 Quilt, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley – $17.00 The Mimosa Flight that debuted last year is BACK, but with a variety of new mimosas to sip on: Road Trip Mimosa Trio – $17.00 (individual prices listed below) Pacific Mimosa – $15.00 Mojave Mimosa – $15.00 Sierra Mimosa – $15.00 Road Trip Mimosa Trio The Mimosa flight was delicious BUT superrrr small pours. The Coconut was very present in the Pacific Mimosa and was definitely on the sweet side. The Mojave Mimosa was alllll peachy and absolutely delicious. We found the Sierra Mimosa to be fairly one noted, with just the lavender shining through. And if you’re looking for something a little more sparkly, Uncork California’s still got you covered! Their last selection is a Chandon Brut, Sparkling Wine from California for $15! Disney California Adventure’s Food and Wine Festival runs through April 21st, so you have plenty of time to take a sip of the good life at Uncork California! Click Here to See ALL the Menus at This Year’s Festival! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Check out more Disneyland Food Reviews Here!! Which wine are you most excited about trying at Disney California Adventure’s Food and Wine Festival? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: Even MORE 2019 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival Booths Spotted! REVIEW! Find Out What We’d PICK Again From Disney California Adventure’s Berry Patch Food and Wine Booth! Review! We’re Tasting Cluck-A-Doodle-Moo’s New Menu at Disney California Adventure’s Food and Wine Festival! View the full article

Due to growing concern over the coronavirus outbreak, Tokyo Disney Resort will be closing its doors this weekend. ©Disney According to The New York Times, the Japanese theme parks Disneyland and Disney Sea are expected to remain closed until March 15th. The statement that Tokyo Disneyland would be shutting down was issued by Oriental Land Co., the owner and operator of Toyko Disney Resort citing the government’s request issued by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe this week to cancel or postpone any big events, gatherings, or sporting events in an effort stop the transmitting the infection. ©Disney With Hong Kong Disneyland, and Shanghai Disneyland already closed due to the coronavirus outbreak, Toyko Disneyland is now the third overseas Disney park to succumb to take precautions. We’ll continue to follow this story closely for any updates as more information develops. What do you think about these Disney parks closing? Let us know your concerns in the comments below. Related posts: Chinese Chili Popcorn Debuts at Tokyo Disney Tokyo Disney Resort to Build New Toy Story Hotel! NEWS! Opening Date Announced for New Experiences Coming to Tokyo Disneyland View the full article

We’ve been having a blast at Disney California Adventure today! One In a Melon Booth And while it’s only the first day of the 2020 Food and Wine Festival, we’re already gotten to try so many new foods (like garlic mac and cheese and a caramel peanut macaron). But since we left our melon ballers at home and we’re suddenly finding ourselves struck by a hankering for some refreshing fruit, it’s time to hit up One in a Melon — the festival’s brand new booth! That’s right, foodies — 2020 marks One in a Melon’s big Food and Wine festival debut! Let’s see if she’s a keeper, shall we? Food One in a Melon is serving up fresh and brightly colored melony eats at this year’s fest. One In A Melon Let’s take a look at all these fresh and fruity options… Everything from One In A Melon First up, we tried the Compressed Watermelon and Tomato with Whipped Ricotta and Lemon Olive Oil for $7. Compressed Watermelon and Tomato We didn’t expect much but we actually enjoyed this one. This light bite was super fresh and packed some flavor. Next, we sampled the new Poke-style Watermelon with Cucumber for $6.75. This dish is also a plant-based and gluten-friendly option. Poke Style Watermelon The flavors here were just not working together for us. We appreciate the creativity but we just did NOT love this one. For dessert, we grabbed the Pabana Cream Puff with Mango, Passion Fruit and Banana Mousse for $5.50. Cream Puff Stop what you’re doing right now and GET THIS! IT WAS SO GOOD. There’s lots of tropical flavor going on here and the textures were WOAH. Perfection. A definite Best of the Fest here! Beverages For tasty sips, One in a Melon is serving up a delicious Berry Mule for $14! Berry Mule If you like ginger, you’ll enjoy this yummy and refreshing festival beverage. There wasn’t TOO much melon flavor going on so just imagine a classic mule with a little bit of a fruity twist. You’ll also find a non-alcoholic House-made Watermelon Agua Fresca for $6. House-made Watermelon Agua Fresca We were expecting something fun with a little tang, but sadly it was very bland. One in a Melon’s food is definitely on the healthier and lighter end of the spectrum of eats you can enjoy at the 2020 Food and Wine Festival, but we think it’s also bringing a ton of flavor and freshness to this year’s line-up! Check it out for yourself at this year’s fest which runs through April 21st, 2020! Check out all the booths and menus at this year’s Food and Wine Festival HERE! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Check out more Disneyland Food Reviews Here!! Will you be checking out new One in a Melon food booth at this year’s Food and Wine Festival? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: Review! We’re Tasting Cluck-A-Doodle-Moo’s New Menu at Disney California Adventure’s Food and Wine Festival! Ticketed Event Dates Announced For the 2020 Food and Wine Festival in Disney California Adventure! We’ve Got The FULL MENUS For The 2020 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival! View the full article

We hope you like your food with a little extra KICK to it, because we’re about to turn up the heat at Disney California Adventure! 2020 Peppers Cali-Ente Booth That’s because we’ve already cooled off with the Aperol Cocktail over at Garlic Kissed, and now we’re ready to feel the burn at Peppers Cali-ente, one of the 2020 Food and Wine Festival’s spiciest booths! Food Last year, Peppers Cali-ente was serving up a Ghost Pepper Mac & Cheese with Chili Cheese Corn Chip Dust and Verlasso Sustainable Salmon Peruvian Poke — and we’re still putting out the flames! But this year, Peppers Cali-ente is offering a completely new menu! Let’s hope they’re retained their signature heat! 2020 Peppers Cali-ente Menu First up, we’re getting our game faces on to tackle the new Creamy Poblano Pepper Pasta for $7.75. This one’s a veggie-friendly option! We’ll be honest, we were REALLY looking forward to trying this dish. We may have placed our expectations a little too high on this one because we wound up disappointed. Creamy Poblano Pepper Pasta We found the dish to be filled with CILANTRO, which confused us because we couldn’t find cilantro listed anywhere on the menu! So you can imagine the shock when you expect something ‘creamy’ and wind up with a mouth full of cilantro instead (darn you, soapy cilantro gene)! Creamy Poblano Pepper Pasta Peppers Cali-ente’s offers more spice with the Grilled Shrimp Tacos served on Jicama Tortillas for $8. This dish was an interesting mix of flavors and textures. While the shrimp was grilled, the jicama was served cold. We think there’s a very specific audience out there that this dish is perfect for, but the mixture of temperatures was a little off-putting for us! Grilled Shrimp Tacos Beverages We don’t know about you, but we could sure use a drink to help extinguish this fire! The Cantarito-style Paloma for $13 should do the trick nicely, … right? Cantarito-Style Paloma …Think again. This SUPER yummy drink should come with a warning. That spice will hit the back of your throat approximately three seconds after you swallow. This is a SERIOUS drink that may or may not induce heartburn. But it’s delicious, so we think it could be worth the risk! Cantarito-Style Paloma And if you’re lookin’ for a glass of wine, Peppers Cali-ente is pouring Annabella, a Chardonnay Special Selection from Napa Valley by the glass for $18. We think it’s safe to say Peppers Cali-ente is STILL bringing the heat to this year’s Food and Wine Festival, so if you’re looking to take a walk on the wild side (a.k.a. enjoy a few bites that actually BITE back!) you know where to go! Check out ALL the booths at the 2020 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival HERE! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Check out more Disneyland Food Reviews Here!! Will you be trying out any of these spicy options? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: We’ve Got The FULL MENUS For The 2020 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival! Halloween Time Churro Bites Cereal Sundae at Disneyland’s Hungry Bear Restaurant! We’re Reviewing EVERY Holiday Treat At Disneyland Resort! See Them ALL Here! View the full article

Your favorite pop culture phenomenon, officially known as the Child, but affectionately known as “Baby Yoda,” is making waves as new items debut! In addition to dozens of products previously announced, a number of all-new items across multiple categories were revealed for the first time at this year’s New York Toy Fair, where more than 1,000 exhibitors gathered to showcase over 150,000 new toys. The mysterious alien revealed in the series premiere episode of the hit Disney+ series The Mandalorian has made its way into hearts across the galaxy – and if yours is one of them, you can bring your love for this adorable icon home, with toys, plush, books, clothing, and more! Check out books, games, and products inspired by the Child available now and for preorder at shopDisney.com, Disney Parks, or your favorite retailers! Available at Retail Build awesome LEGO Star Wars BrickHeadz versions of the two most popular The Mandalorian characters! Strap a blaster rifle to the Mandalorian’s back or animate the Child by adjusting its ears for happy and sad expressions. Both construction models come with a baseplate so you can proudly display your creations. Preorder yours from Best Buy, LEGO, Target and more! If you’re looking to add to your Star Wars book collection, The Mandalorian Poster Book from Lucasfilm Press is add-to-cart-ready. This book features sixteen double-sided pull-out posters with exciting artwork of the Mandalorian, the Child, and more. Now available at shopDisney.com, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon, as well as other retailers! Want a little company on your daily adventures? Preorder Hasbro’s Star Wars: The Child Talking Plush Toy, which stands at just 7.5-inches tall, includes incredible detail, and five points of articulation to allow fans to pose their adorable sidekick. Accessories include a bone broth cup, a ball, and a tasty Sorgan frog. Now available for preorder at mass retailers globally. Hasbro’s The BountyCollection (available globally), has six collectible, and giftable figures to choose from! Each figure comes in its own window box showcasing the Child’s memorable poses and personality. Get yours at Target, Walmart, Amazon, Hot Topic, and other retailers. Check out the cuteness of the 50-year-old phenom with this adorable 11-inch plush toy. The toy plush has a soft body with molded head and hands, plus a sturdy base filled with beans, perfect for cuddling or to display as a collectible. Available for pre-order from Mattel. Embrace this adorable alien with a soft, cuddly plush toy featuring a faux suede coat and fuzzy trims. Starting on March 29 the Child plush will be available for purchase in U.S. Disney stores and is available to pre-order today on shopDisney.com. The plush will also be available across Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort. The Child from Build-A-Bear is sure to bring bountiful hugs for fans who can’t get enough of this mysterious alien. The Child is available for pre-order at Build-A-Bear Workshop! The Child Animatronic Edition toy from Hasbro comes with sounds and motorized sequences! Touching the top of the Child’s head activates over 25 sound and motion combinations, including happy and excited sounds, giggles, babbles, and more, all while the toy’s head moves up and down, ears move back and forth, and eyes open and close. Available for pre-order at most major retailers. With life-like glass eyes, this 9” Child plush toy from Mattel is the ideal addition to your collection. Available fall 2020. The 6.5-inch Child figure From Hasbro adds huge fun to any collection! Featuring design inspired by the live-action series and several points of articulation for poses, kids and fans of all ages will love imagining favorite moments from The Mandalorian adventures! Available at most major retailers, including Target, Walmart, and Best Buy. You can also preorder the Funko The Child Pop! or the 10” Super-sized Pop! These collectible figures are ready to melt the heart of even the coldest bounty hunter. Trouble: The Mandalorian Edition game combines all the fun of the traditional Trouble gameplay with adventures inspired by The Mandalorian series. Race around a dangerous planet in the outer reaches of the galaxy to rescue the Child. Available at select retailers. With this Operation: The Mandalorian Edition game, kids can help stop the Child’s mischief by removing the objects the Child has taken, including a froggy, a cup of broth, and a mudhorn egg! Players can have fun using the tweezers as they try to remove the most pieces from the game unit without setting off the buzzer. Available at select retailers. Get a new set of playing cards featuring 52 separate images from The Mandalorian. Available on Amazon June 1, 2020. RockLove’s The Child Necklace makes an ultra-cute addition to your jewelry collection. Solid sterling silver, the Child is lovingly sculpted in life-like detail, capturing a charming smile and curious, outstretched hand. Preorder today! Bring the Child with you wherever you go with Loungefly’s the Child Cradle mini backpack. Available June 2020. Bitty Boomers wireless Bluetooth speakers now come outfitted as the Child. Don’t be fooled though, what they lack in size they make up for with mind-blowing sound. Available for pre-order on Bitty Boomers now. This costume is what cosmic dreams are made of. For parents who want their own galactic sidekick, “the Child” Toddler Costume by Rubies delivers. Costume coming to retail soon. This collection by Love Your Melon will include beanies and pom beanies for adults and kids, as well as Love Your Melon’s first infant products in collaboration with Lucasfilm, that feature the Mandalorian and the Child patchwork. Check out shopDisney.com, for more of your the Child fashion, homeware, toy and accessory needs! Available at Disney Parks You can also find the latest and greatest the Child merchandise on your next visit to Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort. Exclusive to Disney Parks, you can find a new trading pin, two different tumblers, on-demand printable phone cases and magic bands, plus a handful of unique t-shirts. Yes, the Child merch is here… and we are SO here for it. What about you? Tell us which items you’re most excited about in the comments below! Be sure to follow StarWars.com for the latest on these items and even more products featuring the pint-sized star coming soon… Watch The Mandalorian and Star Wars: The Clone Wars streaming now on Disney+, for more Star Wars content. View the full article

We’re having a dandy ole time eating and drinking our way around the 2020 Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival! The festival returns for a whopping 56 days (longer than ever!) from now through April 21. Join us as we make our way through the park and indulge in a bounty of California-inspired eats and beverages! We know ‘ya gotta eat your greens’ so we were happy to see the return of the Avocado Time booth! With a focus on fresh, the booth got a pretty big makeover this year with several new items and only one returning favorite. FOOD The Vegetarian-friendly Petite Impossible Burger with Guac and Pepper Jack returns. Petite Impossible Burger Priced at $8.00, you certainly get your money’s worth in the size of the patty alone. This thing is THICK, almost like a hockey puck level of thickness. It makes it really difficult to bite down into the burger! Once you do get a decent bite in, the flavor was overall just okay! While we’re glad to see they kept the Impossible Burger as a vegetarian option for the festival, but we wished there was more flavor! Petite Impossible Burger If you’re looking for a new savory option this year, there’s the Tortilla-crusted Fried Guacamole with Carne Asada. The crust itself had a little bit of a spicy kick to it, but definitely more mild to medium than hot! Tortilla-crusted Fried Guacamole with Carne Asada This crust was the standout component of the dish because we thought the carne asada was a little tough and didn’t offer anything crazy unique. Priced at $8.25, however, it’s a good use of your Sip and Savor Pass tabs! DRINKS If you’re looking to get yo drink on, there are two new options this year! First, there’s the Mezcal Cocktail priced at $14.00. No surprises here, this Mezcal concoction was SMOKEY. It can be a big turn-off if you aren’t expecting it, but if you like the smokiness of Mezcal drinks, this could be a big hit for you! Mezcal Cocktail You can also grab the Chapman Crafted Slow Riser with Coconut, Red Ale on Nitro, priced at $11.75. If you’re looking for a plant based option, you can stop by this booth to pick up the Petite Impossible Burger, but we didn’t find any stand out dishes that would have us racing back to Avocado Time! Check out ALL the 2020 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival MENUS here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Check out more Disneyland Food Reviews Here!! Will you be visiting the 2020 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival? Let us know! Related posts: Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival FIRST LOOK! NEWS! We Spotted More Food & Wine Festival Booths (Plus a NEW One) in Disney California Adventure! Celebrate America’s Birthday in Disneyland Resort! View the full article

It’s almost time! The BRAND NEW Magic Happens Parade officially begins tomorrow in Disneyland! Magic Happens preview! And today, we got our FIRST LOOK at the new floats and costumes as they made their way down Main Street USA in a special preview! Here’s a special sneak peek of what’s in store for you lucky folks who’ll be at Disneyland tomorrow to watch Magic Happens big debut! Mickey’s Float Of course, Mickey Mouse himself kicks off the parade in grand style, dressed colorfully as Sorcerer Mickey. Mickey Float Not far behind is his leading lady, Minnie Mouse! Minnie Mouse The lovely duo are accompanied by pals Goofy and Pluto… Goofy & Pluto …as well as dancers and performers who represent different aspects of magic! Parade Characters The costumes Mickey and his pals wear are SO COOL! We’ve never seen them like this before, and love the variety of bright colors and patterns on display. Mickey Float Characters Moana Float Following Mickey was the Moana float! The waves on this float have massive, flexible LED screens that play images of the ocean and characters from the film as seen through Moana’s eyes! Moana Float Moana, Maui, and Pua all make an appearance on this two-part float, embracing the magical powers of water! Maui and Pua But clearly the BEST part about this float is Hei Hei in a basket following along!! Hei Hei From the floats themselves, to the dancers and details following along, we simply can’t get enough of the Moana float! Moana Float Coco Float Next up is the float we’ve been dying to see: Coco! Coco float We seriously went POCO LOCO for the guitar strumming Miguel! Miguel on the Coco Float The float depicts the bridge between the world of the living and the world of the dead, and the animatronics and figures on this float are REALLY neat. Just take a look at Mama Imelda and Hector! Mama Imelda and Hector The performers surrounding the float are dressed in alebrije costumes. The performers are an extension of the story, representing the different spirits seen throughout the film. Character from the Coco float Of course, they couldn’t forget a massive Pepita puppet (it even roars!). Pepita Frozen 2 Float The next float definitely brings the WOW factor to the parade. The Frozen 2 float was actually developed alongside the movie, so the parade designers worked with designers from the film to create the look they were going for! A large Nokk leads the float, which embodies a fall look and color scheme as seen in Frozen 2. Frozen float There’s Olaf, Anna, and Elsa! And it actually snows as this float passes by, courtesy of Elsa’s powers, of course! Olaf, Anna, and Elsa The dancers and performers surrounding this float represent the elements of nature! We’re happy to see that Sven and Kristoff also make an appearance. Sven! Grand Finale – Story of the Magic Makers This multi-float finale is all about freezing magical moments in time for us to witness! It kicks off with the Blue Fairy… Blue Fairy …Followed by a procession of some of our favorites, including Pinnochio, Fairy Godmother, Genie, Aladdin, and Tinker Bell! So Many Friends in the Finale! Cinderella arrives looking absolutely dazzling in her famous gown! She’s riding in style in her pumpkin coach, which is midway through its transformation! Cinderella Following her is the Sword in the Stone float, where we actually get to see Arthur for the first time ever in a Disney Park! Merlin and Arthur are seen in the pivotal moment in the film where Arthur pulls the sword from the stone! Sword in the Stone Float Next up is the Princess and the Frog Float, where we see Tiana and Prince Naveen atop a beautiful float of golden flowers. It’s actually inspired directly from a float they’re on in the film! Princess and the Frog Float Last, but certainly not least, we’ve got the biggest float in the parade, which depicts Sleeping Beauty Castle, led by the three fairies. The grand finale! The magic ends with Prince Phillip dancing with Aurora as her dress changes from pink to blue, a transformation you can watch happen before your very eyes! True love’s kiss! After watching this parade, we can say that MAGIC HAPPENS for sure! You can catch the parade daily starting TOMORROW, February 28th, at 3:30PM and 6PM! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Check out our Disneyland Food Reviews Here!! Are you excited to see Magic Happens in person? Do you have plans to visit Disneyland soon to check it out? Let us know in the comments! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disneyland to attend their media preview of the Magic Happens parade. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ Related posts: Disneyland has Revealed MORE Floats and Costumes for the Upcoming Magic Happens Parade! Reservations Are Now Available for the New Magic Happens Parade Dining Package in Disneyland! A Closer Look at What You Can Expect When Disneyland’s New Magic Happens Parade Debuts! View the full article

We’re continuing our coverage of this year’s Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival with a stop at Off the Cob! Off The Cob Not only is the Off the Cob booth is back this year, but it has an entirely NEW MENU! While we were sad to say goodbye to our beloved corn dog nuggets, we were also excited to try something new! Food Off the Cob Menu Three new food items have found their way to Off the Cob this year. Starting our roundup is the NEW Mini Chicken Chimis with Chimichurri Corn Pico de Gallo and Chipotle Crema for $8! Mini Chicken Chimis We thought the chimis were pretty good. They had a nice flavor to them and were very cilantro-y if you’re a fan of that fresh herb flavor! Mini Chicken Chimis Taking the place of last year’s shrimp tacos is the NEW Shrimp and Braised Corn with Chorizo. Shrimp lovers will be glad to hear that a shrimp dish has remained on the menu, but in new fashion! This Gluten-Friendly dish costs $8.25, an excellent value for your Sip and Savor Pass tabs. Shrimp and Braised Corn with Chorizo This dish really stood out to us for being fun and different. The corn was our favorite part and kinda stole the show! Sorry, shrimp! Shrimp and Braised Corn with Chorizo For dessert, there is the NEW Mickey-shaped Caramel-Peanut Milk Chocolate Macaron for $6.50. Mickey-shaped Caramel-Peanut-Milk Chocolate Macaron BEST OF THE FEST ALERT! We have a WINNER! This delicious treat has peanuts and caramel inside a hard shell coasting of chocolate and tastes almost EXACTLY like a Snickers. This one’s NOT to be missed, y’all! Mickey-shaped Caramel-Peanut-Milk Chocolate Macaron Beverages: There are two beverage options at Off the Cob this year, and both NEW additions to the Food and Wine Festival! First, the non-alcoholic option is the Farmstand Punch for $6. We thought this one was KILLER — although we’d totally add some rum to ours if we could, just sayin’… Farmstand Punch Finally, for those looking for an adult beverage, Off the Cob has the Fields & Orchards with Elderflower and Artichoke Liqueurs for $14. This one was really delicious, too! It kinda tasted like a Fuzzy Navel to us! Really awesome stuff! Fields & Orchards Off The Cob is CRUSHIN’ IT at Disney California Adventure’s Food and Wine Festival! Who knows, once we sample the rest of the dishes throughout the Festival, we might be bumping a few more of these items up to BEST of the FEST status when we compile our official list — stay tuned! Follow along with our live coverage from Disney California Adventure’s Food and Wine Festival HERE! See our FULL Food and Wine MENUS here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What dish do you look forward to trying at the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Confirmed! Soarin’ Over California Will Return to Disneyland Resort Once Again! Ticketed Event Dates Announced For the 2020 Food and Wine Festival in Disney California Adventure! It’s TIME! Special Event Tickets Now Available For Disney California Adventure’s 2020 Food and Wine Festival! View the full article