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With great new attractions, experiences and places to eat on the way, 2020 is shaping up to be an absolutely thrilling year for guests to visit Walt Disney World, The Most Magical Place on Earth. If you’re considering planning a Disney vacation in 2020, be sure to check out our 20 reasons why the new year should be the year for your visit! 1. Jump Into New Star Wars Experiences at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – From the newly opened Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to the new destination that was just added into Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is overflowing with offerings for Star Wars fans of all ages. 2. Enjoy Disney After Hours Events at Magic Kingdom Park & Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Disney After Hours events allow guests to explore a theme park at night with little wait times for many favorite attractions and character greetings. (Select snacks are also included). Tickets to 2020 Disney After Hours event nights are already on sale. Learn more here. 3. Immerse Yourself in the Arts at the Epcot International Festival of the Arts – The Epcot International Festival of the Arts will return to the park Jan. 17-Feb. 24. Get ready to explore a variety of galleries, watch live art demonstrations, purchase artwork and get it signed by the artist, or take in a live performance in the festival’s Disney on Broadway Concert Series. 4. See Epcot’s New Films – New films will debut at Epcot on Jan. 17. “Awesome Planet” in The Land pavilion showcases the Earth’s beauty and diversity in a 10-minute film featuring spectacular imagery, in-theater effects and an original musical score from Academy Award-winning composer Steven Price. “Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360” in the Canada pavilion is an update to the previous “O Canada!” film with new scenes, a new musical score by Canadian composer Andrew Lockington and new narration by award-winning actors Catherine O’Hara and Eugene Levy. Sing Along to “Beauty and the Beast” in the France Pavilion – The “Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along” will debut in the France pavilion Jan. 17. Directed and produced by Don Hahn, producer of the animated and live-action “Beauty and the Beast” films, the show invites you to participate in a twist on a tale as old as time. It features narration from Angela Lansbury, who played Mrs. Potts in the original film. 5. Celebrate Your Villainous Side at Disney Villains After Hours at Magic Kingdom Park – Disney Villains After Hours which returns to the Magic Kingdom Park on 24 select nights starting Feb. 7. This year, the event will feature a new Villains Caravan that will feature favorite baddies like Gaston, Oogie Boogie, Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook and more! Check out Sarah’s recent blog post for full details. 6. Grab Barbecue at Regal Eagle Smokehouse at Epcot – One of the first restaurants set to open in 2020 is Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue a fast-casual barbecue experience at The American Adventure. Expect sliced Texas beef brisket sandwiches, Kansas City smoked chicken, Memphis dry-rub pork ribs, North Carolina chopped smoked pork butt, power green salads and more. Check out Alex’s previous blog post with all the details. 7. Journey to Space 220 for ‘Out of this World’ Cuisine – Set to open this winter, Space 220 restaurant will offer a one-of-a-kind dining experience. You’ll board a special elevator for a journey 220 miles above Earth to a space station where you’ll enjoy fantastic meals and drinks while taking in views that are truly out of this world. 8. Cool Down with Ample Hills Creamery Sweet Treats – At Disney Springs you’ll soon be able to tempt your taste buds with flavors like Ooey Gooey Butter Cake, Peppermint Pattie and Nonna D’s Oatmeal Lace when Ample Hills Creamery opens this winter. 9. Grab Grub at City Works Eatery & Pourhouse at Disney Springs – City Works Eatery & Pour House is set to open on the West Side of Disney Springs this winter. The restaurant and bar, offeing more than 80 beers on tap, will feature plenty of high-def TVs including a 165-inch screen, perfect for viewing live sporting events. 10. Take in the Topiaries During Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival – Welcome spring’s arrival with this popular festival, which runs March 4-June 1. This year’s event will feature delectable bites at outdoor kitchens, as well as dozens of world-renowned, Disney-themed topiaries. In addition, the Garden Rocks Concert Series will include three shows a day for all 90 days of the event. 11. Hop Aboard Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, set to open March 4 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, will be the first Disney ride-through attraction featuring Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. Here, you will travel inside a Mickey cartoon for a fun-filled adventure where “Mouse rules apply” and anything can happen! 12. Step Into the Mickey Shorts Theater – A new Mickey Mouse-inspired theater will debut at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in March. Stop in to watch an original cartoon short and enjoy special photo opportunities. 13. Prepare to Be Astounded at the New Cirque du Soleil Show ‘Drawn to Life’– Get ready to journey into a world where an animator’s desk becomes the stage and drawings come alive. Tickets are already on sale (including preview performances in March), so grab your seats now! 14. Embark on Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at Epcot – Set to open in Summer 2020 in the France Pavilion at Epcot, the Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure attraction will invite you to join Chef Remy on a super-sized journey through Gusteau’s kitchen. 15. Savor a Sweet Treat at La Creperie de Paris in Epcot – La Crêperie de Paris, offering both table- and quick-service options, opens this summer. The menu from celebrity chef Jérôme Bocuse is inspired by the Brittany region of France. 16. Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Will Spice Up Fall –The aromas and flavors of global marketplaces will welcome you to the 25th anniversary of this fan-favorite festival. You’ll have a chance to meet celebrity chefs, try new food and wine pairings, and listen to great music during the Eat to the Beat Concert Series. 17. Enjoy the Return of Halloween and Holiday Events – Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Parties and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parties are guest-favorite events here at Walt Disney World Resort. Keep checking Disney Parks Blog for more information we’ll have for you later this year! 18. Gather for ‘Harmonious’ at Epcot – In 2020, Epcot is on track to debut the largest nighttime spectacular ever created for a Disney park. It will celebrate how the music of Disney inspires people the world over, carrying you away harmoniously on a stream of familiar Disney tunes reinterpreted by a diverse group of artists from around the globe. The show will feature massive floating set pieces, custom-built LED panels, choreographed moving fountains, lights, pyrotechnics, lasers and more. Stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog for more. 19. Lasso Some Grub at Roundup Rodeo BBQ at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Roundup Rodeo BBQ, a new table-service location, is riding into Toy Story Land in 2020. This immersive restaurant will surround guests with a kaleidoscope of toys, games, and playsets while serving up delicious dishes. 20. Celebrate many milestones at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park – It’s the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and the 25th anniversary of the Disney Conservation Fund. Plus, our gorilla family will be celebrating Lilly’s 10th birthday and Grace’s 1st birthday this spring! Which attraction or offering are you most excited to experience in 2020? Tell us in the comments section below! View the full article

As you may have just heard during our special New Years Eve #DisneyParksLIVE stream of “Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks” from Magic Kingdom Park – we’re offering Disney Parks Blog readers a chance to be one of fifty (50) winners of the Disney Parks Blog Maleficent: Mistress of Evil Comes Home Sweepstakes. You can enter now for a chance to win. The story of Disney’s most iconic villain continues in “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil,” starring Angelina Jolie. Maleficent and her goddaughter Aurora begin to question the tangled ties that bind them as they are pulled in different directions by impending nuptials, unexpected allies and new forces at play. “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” releases on Digital in HD and 4K Ultra HD and Movies Anywhere today and physically on 4K Ultra HD, and Blu-ray on Jan. 14, 2020. You can enter for a chance to win a digital copy by clicking here and following the entry instructions to complete an official entry form. Your entry must state your valid email address and full name. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Sweepstakes starts 1/1/20 at 12:05 a.m. EST and ends 1/1/20 at 1:05 a.m. ET. Open only to persons who, upon entering, are not deemed minors in their jurisdiction of primary residence and are legal residents of, and physically located within, the 50 U.S. or D.C. Limit 1 entry per person/per email address. For complete details, including full eligibility requirements, odds of winning and limitations, see Official Rules. Void where prohibited by law. View the full article

Happy New Year! We’re kicking off 2020 with the first in a collection of stunning new poster art celebrating the much-anticipated March 4 debut of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The new “Wish Upon a Coin” poster – inspired by Mickey’s popular cartoon short – was just unveiled during our special New Year’s Eve LIVE stream. As you can see, Mickey and Minnie are at the wishing well and we thought it was the perfect artwork to begin our countdown series and a new year of magical wishes! At Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, the park’s Chinese Theater serves as the magic portal through which you can actually step into a colorful cartoon world where anything can happen. Why? Because here, mouse rules apply! On this zany, one-of-kind adventure, expect the unexpected as you ride through the NEW Mickey Mouse cartoon “Perfect Picnic”! As you make your way to the “premiere” of “Perfect Picnic” in the attraction, you’ll move through the theater’s lobby and see whimsical posters of existing award-winning Mickey cartoon shorts created specifically for the attraction by Walt Disney Imagineering and Disney Television Animation. We’ll be releasing more exclusive poster art in the coming weeks. In the meantime, be sure to check out the “Wish Upon a Coin” video short for a look inside an amazing cartoon universe you’ll be able to experience like never before at Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway beginning March 4, 2020 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and later at Disneyland park in 2022. Also, here are some of our earlier stories featuring Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway: New Details Unveiled for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Coming to Disneyland Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway to Roll into Disneyland Park New Image Unveiled for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Opens Next Year at Disney’s Hollywood Studios View the full article

Looking back on 2019, this year was an incredible year for Disney foodies! From new openings, yummy treats, plant-based dishes, dining experiences, and so much more, this past year was full of delicious memories at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. Here are just a few highlights from throughout the year! At Disneyland Resort, GCH Craftsman Bar & Grill opened at Disney’s Grand California Hotel & Spa while two popular restaurants were introduced to the Downtown Disney District: Black Tap Craft Burgers & Shakes and Ballast Point Brewing Co. At Walt Disney World Resort, we stepped into a tale as old as time with the opening of Enchanted Rose at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and enjoyed fine Japanese dining at Takumi-Tei at Epcot. Disney Springs also saw the opening of Jaleo by José Andrés and two new foods truck serving up specialty mac and cheese bowls and yummy edible cookie dough treats! We also opened two new resort hotels at Walt Disney World Resort which both feature incredible views and delicious cuisine from their rooftop restaurants. Gran Destino Tower celebrated its grand opening this summer at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort with Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood, while Disney’s Riviera Resort opened in December with Toppolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera. Of course, our biggest opening this year was celebrated on both coasts. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened at both the Disneyland Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, letting us travel to a galaxy far, far away. We piloted the Millennium Falcon and explored a new world in the Star Wars universe, but most importantly, we FINALLY GOT TO TASTE BLUE MILK! One of the lands most popular offerings, Blue Milk has become a staple for any galactic traveler visiting the Black Spire Outpost. At Star Wars: Galaxy’s, you can also dine at Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo, grab a Ronto Wrap at Ronto Roasters, or kick back and mingle with other smugglers and ruffians at Oga’s Cantina. We also announced several exciting new projects coming in 2020 to Walt Disney World Resort, and you won’t want to miss any of them! Dine in true toy-fashion at the Roundup Rodeo BBQ Restaurant coming to Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or try different BBQ flavors from around the country at Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue at Epcot. You’ll also soon be able to travel 220 miles above Earth’s surface to dine at the Space 220 Restaurant at Future World in Epcot, offering celestial views of our beloved planet. And at Disney Springs, even more foodie spots are on the way including City Works Eatery and Pour House, Beatrix, and Ample Hills Creamery. All of these new restaurants will open in 2020, so be sure to keep an eye out for all of the announcements throughout the year! In addition to new restaurants, we had tons of special events, limited-time menus, and themed treats throughout the year. Our chefs created countless new imaginative items from Potion Purple and Arendelle Aqua cupcakes and Lion King-inspired bites at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park to eats and treats celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Haunted Mansion and the 30th anniversary of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. At both Disney California Adventure park and Epcot, our festivals were more popular than ever this year, celebrating cuisine and special dishes, wines, and chefs from all over the world! At Disneyland Resort we enjoyed the Lunar New Year Festival, Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival, and Disney Festival of Holidays. While at Walt Disney World Resort, our classic four festivals returned to Epcot for another great year with the International Festival of the Arts, International Flower & Garden Festival, International Food & Wine Festival, and finally, the International Festival of the Holidays to close out the year. Finally, I have to highlight all of the amazing Halloween and holiday goodies our pastry chefs baked up this year. From specialty churros and cupcakes to sundaes, macarons, cake pops, and more, this year’s array of treats once again delighted our taste buds and kept us coming back for more! It’s been an incredible year for Disney Parks Food & Beverage, and we can’t wait for what’s in store for 2020! Be sure to keep an eye out on the Disney Parks Blog for more Foodie Guides, restaurant announcements, and more throughout the year. Happy New Year, Disney Foodies! View the full article

#DisneyParksLIVE: Fantasy In The Sky - New Years Eve Fireworks 2020 | Walt Disney World View the full article

Hey, everybody! It’s time for another roundup of What’s New in Magic Kingdom! Crowded Magic Kingdom Believe it or not, a bunch of stuff has been happening at the Magic Kingdom since our last visit (where we watched the Once Upon a Christmastime Parade WITHOUT a Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party ticket)! Let’s head there now and see what new construction, food, and merchandise we can spot! The word of the day is…CROWDED! Say it with us! That may come as no surprise to you savvy Disney World folks who know this is usually one the BUSIEST times to visit Disney World, but we thought we’d treat you, folks, at home to some of the madness we witnessed yesterday! Just look at the FastPass line for Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin — yup, we said FASTPASS line! It stretches almost all the way to the Tomorrowland sign! Crowded Magic Kingdom Standby wait times were around 180 minutes mid-day for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train… By our calculations, that’s 3 hours! Crowded Magic Kingdom And the standby line for the Haunted Mansion went allllll the way back to the Liberty Square Ferryboat dock! Crowded Magic Kingdom For us, it takes a devoted soul and nerves of steel to wait any longer than 20 minutes for “it’s a small world”, but there were quite a few takers for the classic Disney attraction yesterday! Crowded Magic Kingdom Now that we’ve set the mood, let’s get on with our discovery! Food Update at Magic Kingdom Liberty Square If the throngs of people everywhere weren’t a dead giveaway, you really know it’s a busy day at the Magic Kingdom when Disney deploys its secret crowded day weapon — the Turkey Leg Cart in Liberty Square! Liberty Square Turkey Leg Cart Hey, at least all those park guests in line for the Haunted Mansion had something delicious to gnaw on! Can we just climb in here and eat our way to the bottom of this tasty-looking pile ‘o turkey legs? Liberty Square Turkey Leg Cart Construction Update at Magic Kingdom TRON Coaster We shuffled our way over to Tomorrowland to see how the TRON: Lightcycle Run construction is progressing! TRON Construction The ride’s show building is definitely coming along! TRON Construction And even though we’ll be celebrating the New Year tonight, we won’t be zipping around on TRON: Lightcycle Run until sometime in 2021! TRON Construction We’ll be really looking forward to checking it out, though when it does finally open, hopefully in time for Disney World’s 50th anniversary — as projected! Read about 50 memories you should make before Disney World’s 50th-anniversary celebration here! Merchandise Update at Magic Kingdom Now, we’re making our way very slowly over to The Emporium! The Emporium The Emporium Check out this adorable new Dory Hat for $27.99 we spotted! It’s so sparkly and says “I’m Having a Dory Moment”! This would be perfect for when we forget which Magic Kingdom lot we parked in. So true, so true! Dory Hat And the back of the hat has a nifty coral reef design! Pretty darn cute! Dory Hat For the kiddos, we spotted this jawesome Bruce Youth Hat for $24.99! Bruce Youth Hat Check out the brim on this thing! It’s like some sort of blue see-through plastic! Bruce Youth Hat And we can’t wait to blow out our candles wearing this new Best Birthday Ever Mickey Ears Hat for $24.99! Birthday Mickey Ears Hat Read more about the new Best Birthday Ever Mickey Ears Hat here! We also spotted a ton of adorable new Phone Cases yesterday — including this rather grumpy-looking Mickey Mouse Phone Case for $29.99. Mickey Mouse Phone Case While Mickey seems to be having a mood, our girlie Minnie seems to be her normal, bubbly self! Check out the new Minnie Mouse Phone Case for $29.99! Minnie Mouse Phone Case This Monster’s Inc. Boo’s Door Phone Case for $29.99 also caught our eye! Monster’s Inc. Boo’s Door Phone Case And this Maleficent Phone Case for $29.99 almost had us under her spell! Maleficent Phone Case Find out more about the new Phone Cases we spotted at The Emporium here! Anyone up for a round of canasta? Scope out these new “Park Life” Playing Cards we spotted for $12.99! “Park Life” Playing Cards The deck features the same Disney park icons we’ve seen throughout this cute new collection of merch! “Park Life” Playing Cards See the rest of the “Park Life” Disney line here! Disney Youth Tees seem to be having a Renaissance moment at the parks right now. We spotted two more we wish we could squeeze our ample adult bodies into including this Raised by Wolves Youth Shirt for $19.99… Raised by Wolves Youth Shirt …and this sweet Chill Duuude Youth Shirt for $19.99! Chill Duuude Youth Shirt Uptown Jewelers We already shared with you the fantastic new Fantasia Jewelry Collection we spotted earlier, but it warrants another mention! We’re in love with its vintage style — very reminiscent of some of the old cloisonne pieces we played dress-up with from our grandma’s jewelry box when we were kids! Fantasia Necklace See the entire collection of Fantasia-inspired jewelry here! The Main Street Confectionery We spotted the same sweet deal on Holiday Mickey and Minnie Gummies that we saw earlier on our trip around the Magic Kingdom monorail resorts! It’s a buy 2 situation where the candies only cost $5 each instead of $8.99! Holiday Mickey and Minnie Gummies We also discovered this gorgeous cookbook called Delicious Disney for $34.99! Delicious Disney It’s full of magical recipes and memories from the Disney parks and Disney Cruise Line! Ah, hello perfect Disney Foodie love gift! Delicious Disney Allow us to rifle through the pages just a bit to tantalize your tastebuds! The photos in this book are so pretty and all the dishes look sooooo good! Delicious Disney And check out this stunning photograph of Be Our Guest Restaurant! It looks so regal…so majestic…so… EMPTY! That’s a sight for sore eyes on such a crowded day like today! Delicious Disney Well, friends, that’s it for this edition of What’s New in Magic Kingdom — until next time! We’ll be back next year (a.k.a. next week!) to see what new construction, food, and merchandise we can spot! We here at DFB hope you have a very Happy New Year and we’d love to help you plan your 2020 Disney World trip, so be sure to subscribe to our newsletter for all the most up-to-date happenings at the Disney parks! Are you planning a trip to Disney World next year? Tell us when you’ll be going to Disney World in 2020 in the comments below! Related posts: What’s New in Magic Kingdom — Baby Yoda Merch, Aunt Polly’s Opening Info, and More! What’s New at Magic Kingdom — TRON Construction, Make-Up Minnie Bags, and Arendelle Aqua EVERYTHING! What’s New at Magic Kingdom — Gummy Worm Caramel Apples, PhotoPass Camera Boxes, And CHRISTMAS TIME! View the full article

It looks like we’ll be starting off our 2020 on a sweet note! Sprinkles in Disney Springs Sprinkles Cupcakes just announced their flavors for January, and they sound sooo good we’re planning our trips to Disney Springs and Downtown Disney already! If you’re a fan of sprinkles, then you are going to flip for the first limited-edition flavor of the new year. Say hellooo to the Sprinkle Filled Sprinkle Cupcake, which is not only topped with tons of rainbow sprinkles, but filled with them as well! This one will be available in-store from January 2nd to January 5th, 2020. Sprinkle Filled Sprinkle Cupcake ©Sprinkles Instagram While sprinkles are a classic, these next options are certainly a little more unique! From January 3rd to 16th, they will be offering the Dr. Pepper Cupcake and Flamin’ Hot Cheeto Cupcake! While we’ve seen the Hot Cheeto Cupcake before we’re still…intrigued? Flamin’ Hot Cheeto and Dr. Pepper Cupcakes ©Sprinkles Instagram From January 4th to 9th, you can enjoy the S’More Cupcake, which is topped with a perfectly toasted marshmallow. S’More Cupcake ©Sprinkles Instagram We are FULLY on board with these Girl Scout Cookie flavors coming in mid-January! From January 14th to 19th, you can enjoy the Thin Mint Cupcake, with the Tagalong Cupcake debuting January 27th to 31st. Girl Scout Cookies Cupcakes ©Sprinkles Instagram Um, YUM! The German Chocolate Cupcake looks simply delicious, and we can’t wait to try it when it makes an appearance from January 20th to February 2nd. German Chocolate Cupcake ©Sprinkles Instagram These limited-edition flavors will each debut throughout January at Sprinkles Cupcakes, including at the store’s location in Disney Springs and Downtown Disney! BRB, making our 2020 New Year resolution to eat ALL the cupcakes! While you’re in Disney Springs, check out these new FREE souvenir sippers over at Homecomin’! Will you be stopping by Sprinkles this January to check out some of the new flavors? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: Design Your Own Bake Box at Sprinkles Cupcakes! NEWS! TWO Favorite Sprinkles Cupcakes Flavors Return For A Limited Time! Don’t Miss Out! Sprinkles’ Red Velvet Bread Pudding is Leaving Disney Springs Soon — We’ll Tell You When! View the full article

New Year’s Eve is a notorious time of year for bringing huge crowds to Disney World, looking to ring in the New Year in the Most Magical Place on Earth! Holiday Crowds at Magic Kingdom If you were still thinking of heading to Magic Kingdom in Disney World today, then heads up — it looks like you may want to adjust your plans! Disney World has officially reported that the Magic Kingdom has reached capacity for the day, and is “not accepting new Guests at this time.” Disney may allow Guests into the park that are staying at Disney Resorts, as well as those with dining reservations, and Annual Passholders (without blackout dates). This all will depend on the level of capacity that the park has reached, which can change throughout the day. If you have any questions please contact Disney at (407) 939-2273. Capacity Message While the Magic Kingdom has reached capacity for New Year’s Eve, guests are still able to celebrate the New Year at Hollywood Studios, Epcot, or Animal Kingdom! Disney Springs is also still open, with many restaurants hosting special events to ring in the New Year. You can always call (407) 560-5000 for updated availability! Remember, things can always change and Magic Kingdom may reopen to Guests later today! Click here to check out ways to celebrate the New Year around Disney World! Are you braving the NYE crowds in Disneyland or Disney World today? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Get The DEETS On The Edison’s New Year’s Eve Party in Disney Springs HERE! EVERY Place to Celebrate the New Year and Ring in 2020 in Disney World! Disney News This Week: ALL the News and Updates from the Most Magical Places on Earth! View the full article

Hey everybody! It’s time for another roundup of What’s New at the Magic Kingdom Monorail Resorts! Disney’s Polynesian Resort We’re climbing aboard one of our preferred methods of transportation at Disney World to see what’s been happening at Disney’s Contemporary, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian Resorts! First stop: Disney’s Grand Floridian! Construction Update at Disney’s Grand Floridian It looks like construction is slowly progressing on the new bridge which will hopefully connect the Grand Floridian to the Magic Kingdom! Bridge Joining the Grand Floridian and Magic Kingdom How exciting is it going to be to walk over to the Magic Kingdom once it’s done?! Ah, pretty EXCITING! Bridge Joining the Grand Floridian and Magic Kingdom Of course, we’re not holding our breath until it’s finished. It looks like it could be a while before we’ll be stepping out over the Seven Seas Lagoon! Bridge Joining the Grand Floridian and Magic Kingdom Still, you gotta be super-STOKED to try this thing out! Whatta great way to escape from the parks and take in a little scenery when the Magic Kingdom reaches critical mass on a busy day! This new bridge is going to provide some much-needed relief for park guests, and a cool way for folks staying at the Grand Floridian to enter the Magic Kingdom! Bridge Joining the Grand Floridian and Magic Kingdom We’ll keep you updated as construction progresses! Merchandise Update at Disney’s Grand Floridian M. Mouse Mercantile We, of course, had to hit up M. Mouse Mercantile, the gift shop inside the Grand Floridian’s lobby to see what new wares we could find. Nothing stuck us as a new arrival, but we did see the Holiday Gummies had been significantly marked down! They’re only 5 bucks a pop now when you buy 2! Holiday Mickey and Minnie Gummies We know they’re filled with delicious candies, but even the containers make cute holiday decorations! How cute is the Mickey Ear Hat this little guy is wearing? Holiday Mickey and Minnie Gummies And we love how the Minnie one has a cute striped bow! These would make a great gift for the folks back home! Holiday Mickey and Minnie Gummies Read more about the Holiday Gummies and other treats here! Merchandise Update at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Bayview Gifts We had better shopping success at The Contemporary’s Bayview Gifts. We spotted a TON of new holiday plush — but instead of celebrating Christmas, these new stuffed toys were honoring Valentine’s Day and St. Patricks Day! Here’s the adorable new Happy Valentine’s Day 2020 Stitch Plush for $21.99? Happy Valentine’s Day 2020 Stitch Plush And this new Mickey and Minnie “I Love You! 2020” Plush for $29.99 is just too sweet! So romantic! Mickey and Minnie “I Love You! 2020” Plush And even though Christmas isn’t out the door quite yet, we now turn your attention to shamrocks and leprechauns with this adorable new St. Patrick’s Day 2020 Mickey Plush for $21.99. St. Patrick’s Day 2020 Mickey Plush Read more about the new Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day Plush here! We also spotted two new pieces of headgear! Check out this awesome I Conquered The PeopleMover Hat for $27.99! I Conquered the PeopleMover Hat The embroidery of which is suuuper nice! I Conquered the PeopleMover Hat And we love the little shout out to Tomorrowland on its back! You know, ’cause Tomorrowland Transit Authority gotta represent! I Conquered the PeopleMover Hat We also spotted this hat earlier in the week at Magic Kingdom! Get all the PeopleMover hat details here! We also noticed this rad Most Magical Place on Earth Ear Hat for $19.99! Most Magical Place on Earth Ear Hat Merchandise Update at Disney’s Polynesian Resort Moana Mercantile Our last stop brings us to Disney’s Polynesian Resort! At the upstairs gift shop, we spotted this new-to-us Oh Hei Hei Youth Shirt for $19.99! Oh Hei Hei Youth Shirt We’re not sure what it is about Disney World Youth Shirts these days, but they’re SERIOUSLY slaying the game! And we love how this one featuring Hei Hei has turned up in Moana Mercantile — them being buddies and all! Boutiki Heading downstairs, we discovered these new 2020 Mystery Pin Sets for $15.99 at Boutiki! 2020 Mystery Pin Set What design will you get? Who knows! That’s part of the fun and MYSTERY! But to us, all of these styles look pretty adorbs. 2020 Mystery Pin Set Well folks, that’s it for this installment of What’s New in the Magic Kingdom Monorail Resorts! Please stand clear of the doors until next time! Do you enjoy staying at the Magic Kingdom monorail resorts when you visit Disney World? Which resort is your favorite? Let us know in the comments section! Related posts: What’s New at the Monorail Resorts and Wilderness Lodge — The Gingerbread Castle, Cinnamon Roll Cupcake, And ALL the Christmas Stuff! What’s New at Disney World’s Monorail Resorts! What’s New at the Monorail Resorts — Plant-Based Menu Items, Secret ‘Ohana Meals, And ALL The Frozen Fever! View the full article

Wow. Somehow it’s the last day of the decade??? Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks IMO, the 2010s FLEW by, and we can’t believe that 2020 is here in a matter of a few hours! Well, what better way to celebrate than at Disney World (even with all the holiday crowds)?! We were taking in the New Year vibes on Main Street when we spotted all sorts of cute light-up merch to help bring in 2020. Check it out! There are a bunch of blinky outdoor carts around the park to help get the merch to the masses. These carts have some seriously cute 2020 merch too! Check out these Light-up 2020 Mickey Ears that are super festive and colorful. You can sport these babies for $20. New Years Ears The silliest item is definitely this pair of 2020 Light-up Glasses! You can seriously rep the New Year with these for $17. We have to say, it’s a good year for glasses like this! The zeros make perfect eye holes. New Years Glasses And finish up your New Year’s Eve ensemble with a colorful Light-up Mickey Necklace for $17! The fab four are featured on the little placard and there’s the giant Mickey ball with blinking colors at the end! New Years Necklace So if you want to get decked out in merch for the New Year, head to one of the many outdoor carts around Magic Kingdom and grab yourself some light-up goods. Oh, and HAPPY NEW YEAR! Click here to check out all of the ways Disney World is celebrating the New Year! Which piece of New Year’s merch do you like the best? Tell us in the comments! Related posts: What’s New in Magic Kingdom — Hitchhiking Ghosts, TRON Construction, and LOTS of New MagicBands! Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time with Disney World’s New Holiday Plush! REVIEW! New Stitch Extreme Gummies Cause Delicious Mischief in Disney World! View the full article

Buongiorno from Italy friends! Today we’re heading back to one of our favorite restaurants in all of Epcot for lunch! The Italy Pavilion We’ve loved Via Napoli ever since it opened, thanks to its wood fire ovens, incredible pizza, and all the cheesy carby goodness that comes with an Italian meal. However, with so many delicious spots in Epcot and the surrounding resorts to choose from (looking at you, newly re-opened Beaches and Cream), we wouldn’t be very good at our jobs if we only ate here (though we wouldn’t be mad about it.). So needless to say, anytime we can swing by Via Napoli, we do our happy pizza dance! Let’s get to it shall we? Atmosphere: Via Napoli is located in the back of Epcot’s Italy Pavilion. Via Napoli After checking in, you’ll be greeted by tall ceilings, colorful light fixtures, and giant ovens. Via Napoli Dining Room The ovens are shaped like giant faces and named after three Italian volcanoes: Stromboli, Vesuvio, and Etna. These wood-burning ovens are the source of Via Napoli’s power (AKA where they cook the pizzas). Via Napoli’s Pizza Ovens You’ll also see vaulted ceilings and hand-painted walls. Via Napoli Dining Room Window and mural side by side Che bello! There’s a small covered porch on the side of the restaurant, as well as a few outdoor tables. Outside Seating We were lucky enough to sit outside for our lunch, which was great since it was about 70 degrees out. Possibly not as great in August. Speaking of lunch, are you ready to dig in? Eats First things first, we had to check out the cocktail offerings! Drink Menu (Click to Enlarge) Being in Italy, Via Napoli has an extensive selection of Italian wines and beers. However, something special caught our eye… Menu A popsicle IN a cocktail? By (DFB) law, we had to give it a whirl. Strawberry Dream Rossini The Strawberry Dream Rossini is Prosecco sparkling wine and strawberry puree and topped with a Strawberry Popsicle. Strawberry Popsicle! It was a fun and easily sip-able drink! It was clear the puree was fresh and not a syrup, and we’ll never say no to a glass of bubbly or starting with dessert. (P.S. if you don’t want to start the meal with a popsicle, you can grab these tasty frozen treats at the Italy Donkey Cart nearby.) You can read our full review of the Strawberry Dream Rossini here! Another specialty cocktail we love at Via Napoli is the Limoncello Mule. Limoncello Mule – so cute! This adorable creation is a play on the popular Moscow Mule and is made with grey goose l’orange vodka, limoncello, peach purée, orange juice, pineapple juice, lime juice, and ginger beer. This one isn’t as sweet as the Strawberry Dream Rossini, and is a good option for those who want something refreshing and more exciting than a wine or beer. Now that we had our cocktails, it was time to check out which combination of cheese and carbs we’d be getting into. Menu (Click to Enlarge) While known for their pizzas, Via Napoli also features several other Italian options from soup to pasta to Chicken Parmesan! And when we were scanning the menu, we noticed a few items we hadn’t seen before, which sounds like an excellente reason to try them! First up, the Fettucine “Via Napoli.” Fettucine Via Napoli This dish is fettuccine noodles topped with mushrooms, crispy prosciutto, chicken, and a cream sauce. Fettuccine Via Napoli Oh wow, was this a tasty dish. The noodles were perfectly cooked and coated in creamy, cheesy white sauce that was full of flavor, yet not too terribly heavy (all things considered). We loved the big chunks of mushroom in the dish, as well as the crispy pieces of prosciutto which added a nice texture and hint of salt. This is a fabulous option for someone who’s not in the mood for pizza, or could be shared alongside a pie considering how large the portion is! In a place largely known for its pizzas, it’s nice to see they (still) aren’t skimping on the rest of the menu. Fettuccine Via Napoli Next up, we tried the Lasagne Napoletana. Lasagne Napoletana Via Napoli’s version of the classic dish is made with beef, veal, and pork ragù, fresh egg pasta, and a béchamel sauce. Lasagne Napoletana As far as lasagnas go, this was quite tasty. The fresh noodles were once again cooked perfectly, and there was a good noodle to meat to sauce ratio. You could tell the sauce was freshly made, with hints of basil and sweetness balancing the meats. And take a look at all this cheeeeeeeese: Cheeeeeeeeeeese! While we quite enjoyed the lasagna, and at other restaurants, this might top our meal, we’re not sure if we’d order this again at Via Napoli. There just wasn’t anything overwhelmingly special or unique about the dish, and honestly, it’s gonna have to be phenomenal for us to sway from our true love of pizza. Pastas Both pasta dishes we tried were quite good — perfectly executed noodles, good flavor, and hearty portions. Everyone in our group leaned towards the Fettucine, but still, the lasagna was delicious and a great choice for someone who wants familiar flavors. But now, the real reason to visit Via Napoli: PIZZZZZZZZZZZAAAAAAAAAAAAA. Large Pizza: Half San Gennaro Half Carciofi Because we’d already stuffed ourselves with two tasty pastas, we opted for one large pizza (20″) but TWO different signature toppings, the San Gennaro and the Carciofi. That’s right — you don’t have to choose! Well you do, you have to narrow the list to two….but then you don’t have to choose! What a time to be alive. Have you ever seen anything so wonderful in y our entire life? Let’s look at the newest signature pizza option first, the San Gennaro. San Gennaro This is a white pizza, topped with mozzarella and fontina cheese, sweet Italian sausage, cherry peppers, onions, and tomato. San Gennaro Pizza Slice First of all, the peppers were incredible and totally what sold us on this pie. They balanced out the richness of the cheese and complimented the sausage nicely. Speaking of which, the sausage was full of flavor with a little bit of heat. It wasn’t overwhelmingly hot, but if you’re fairly heat adverse, this probably isn’t your pizza. We also loved the slightly cooked onions and tomatoes, which added some crunch and sweetness to the slice. As always, the crust was cooked perfectly, and the fresh Italian cheeses just made the dish sing. This is definitely one we’ll order again — in fact, it was a few people’s favorite thing they ate all meal! San Gennaro Pizza Meanwhile, on the other side of the pie, we lovingly gazed upon a DFB favorite: the Carciofi. Carciofi This is also a white pizza with artichokes, fontina and mozzarella cheeses, and topped with truffle oil. Carciofi Slice At first bite, we could hear the birds chirping louder, feel the sun shining brighter, and very faintly, a chorus of angels was singing. Too dramatic? But seriously, this is a little slice of Heaven. Carciofi Slice The artichokes are perfectly cooked and are complimented perfectly by the richness of the truffle oil and fresh decadent cheeses. Something about truffle oil just makes us feel fancy, and gosh is it perfect on this pie. As with the other half, the crust is perfectly cooked — crispy on the outside and strong enough to hold up to the cheeses and toppings but still has the ideal chew on the inside. (Honestly, it would be real weird if one half of the crust wasn’t as good as the other, right?) Pizza The pastas were really good (and we’d absolutely recommend them!) but nothing beats pizza at Via Napoli. If you haven’t had it, it should definitely be on your Disney Eatin’ Bucket List. As full as we were, we couldn’t resist a peek at the Dessert Menu. Dessert Menu We were sad to see our beloved Zeppole wasn’t on the menu, but hopefully, they will be returning to the 2020 Flower and Garden Festival! Our server recommended the Coppa di Brutti Ma Buoni, and who are we to turn down gelato? Coppa di Brutti Ma Buoni The sundae, which is literally referred to as “ugly but good” on the menu, is a vanilla gelato sundae, topped with amarena cherries, fresh whipped cream, cherry sauce, shaved chocolate, and both a chocolate and vanilla Italian cookie. ugly but good! We didn’t think it was very ugly, but we can sure agree it was good! The gelato was unsurprisingly delicious and was enhanced greatly by the cherry sauce and fresh whipped cream. We enjoyed the crunchy cookies, which we highly recommend eating after they’ve been slightly softened by the gelato and cream. Coppa Di Brutti Ma Buoni It was a perfect ending to a fabulous meal! It wasn’t overwhelmingly rich, so we were able to enjoy it after all of the heavy carbs. We do highly recommend sharing as it’s a pretty generous size, especially if you’ve just eaten pizza. And if cherry isn’t your thing, then we always recommend the classic tiramisu. Tiramisu Overall: Once again, Via Napoli is a winner. We were delighted to find the pasta dishes were delicious and stars in their own right, while the pizza remains the main attraction for good reason. If you are a lover of Italian food, then we absolutely recommend dining at Via Napoli when visiting Epcot. The best pizza in Disney, decadent desserts and pastas, and popsicles in our cocktails? We’re already dreaming of our next visit. Want to learn more about Pizza in Walt Disney World? Check out our DFBGuide Video here! < 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 eaten at Via Napoli? Let us know what your favorite pie is in the comments! Related posts: Review: Lunch at Via Napoli in Epcot’s Italy Pavilion Review and Food Photos: Tutto Italia in Epcot’s Italy Pavilion Review: Italian Food and Wine vs. Beer Pairing at The Epcot Food and Wine Festival! View the full article

It’s New Year’s Eve, y’all! Magic Kingdom Which means it’s almost time to pop some bottles (and dodge a few flying corks!) as we get ready for the clock to strike midnight! And if you’re ringing in the New Year in Disney World, check out this beautiful champagne dessert our friend @chef_annam (winner of the popular Netflix series Sugar Rush) has in store for you over at Epcot! Feast your eyes on this delicious-looking creation! It’s got sparkling apple jelly, with a pink champagne cake, topped with a rich, creamy passionfruit mousse and it’s garnished with fresh raspberries and a white chocolate Happy New Year topper! And since our New Years Resolutions don’t officially start until we go back to work on Thursday, we’re totally ending 2019 with this sweet treat! Courtesy of @chef_annam You’ll find this New Year’s goodie over at Sunshine Seasons in Epcot! And did you hear? We now also know when HarmonioUS, Epcot’s new nighttime fireworks spectacular is starting — another reason to celebrate with a glass of champagne…CAKE! Are you celebrating New Year’s Eve at home or at the Disney parks? Tell us about your plans in the comments below! Related posts: Review! NEW Annual Passholder Secret Treat Arrives in Disney World! What’s New in Epcot — LOTS of Construction, Halloween Merchandise, and the Return of Beverly! Oh What Yum! A First Look at NEW Foods Coming to Epcot’s International Festival of the Holiday 2019 View the full article

It’s New Years Eve, which means 2020 is just HOURS away! Happy New Year! 2020 is shaping up to be a huge year over at Disney World. With Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway opening, and the gorgeous new Riviera Resort, the start of the new decade is looking to be the best year ever! And if you’re planning on visiting the parks in 2020, then, boy oh boy, are you going to want to stay tuned for an amazing deal coming your way tomorrow, courtesy of Small World Vacations! That’s right, tomorrow, to ring in the new year on January 1st, Small World Vacations will be releasing a special offer for your 2020 Disney World vacation! Magic Kingdom With tons of new rides, restaurants, and more coming to the Most Magical Place on Earth in the new year, 2020 is a pretty great time to visit the World! Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway ©Disney This is a deal you aren’t going to want to miss, so be sure to join our DFB Newsletter and stay tuned tomorrow, January 1st, for our announcement on this special offer from our travel agent buddies at Small World Vacations! Join the DFB Newsletter To Be The First To See the Deal Tomorrow! Looking for more info for Small World vacations? Click here for all the info! Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you — they’ve literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They’re DFB’s recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!) So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you Are you planning a 2020 trip to Disney World? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: Join the DFB Newsletter to Get EARLY Access to An Exclusive Code for a FREE Memory Maker at Walt Disney World National Geographic to Appear at D23 Expo for the First Time! NEWS! Merchandise Debuts for Soaring: Fantastic Flight at Toyko DisneySea View the full article

While it was sad to lose the beloved IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth in 2019, Disney assured us a new nighttime spectacular was in the works for 2020! HarmonioUS Concept Art ©Disney And although we’ve enjoyed the temporary show Epcot Forever, we’re ready for the “largest nighttime spectacular ever created for a Disney Park” to begin — HarmonioUS! Luckily for all of us, it looks like we won’t have to wait very much longer! That’s because Disney’s just announced when HarmonioUS is slated to start! According to Disney, the new HarmonioUS nighttime show will debut in Epcot’s World Showcase Lagoon in the spring of 2020! HarmonioUS Concept Art ©Disney Read more about HarmonioUS here! With Space 220 Restaurant, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, and now HarmonioUS coming soon, Epcot’s going to be one exciting place to be in 2020! So far we only know the opening season for the new show, but we’ll keep posted on the exact date as soon as it’s announced! Are you looking forward to the new HarmonioUS fireworks show at Epcot? Tell us if you’re excited to see it in the comments below! Related posts: Epcot’s NEW Nighttime Spectacular is HarmonioUS! Don’t Forget! Here’s When You Can Get Your Epcot “Farewell IllumiNations” Merchandise! Get a Behind-the-Scenes Look at Disney World’s Upcoming Epcot Forever Nighttime Spectacular! View the full article

Sweet, sweet victory! There are TWO new kitchenware collections from Disney! Disney Eats Treats Collection We love to eat, that’s like our whole thing, so we’re super excited to see that two new collections of kitchenware popped up online today! There’s the dessert-inspired Disney Eats Treats Collection and the classy and gorgeous Disney Eats Gold Collection; we can’t decide which we like better! Treats Collection First off, let’s take a look at the super sweet Treats Collection! This batch of merch has a ton of different ways to show your sweet new style like the Mickey and Minnie Mouse Treats Canvas Tote for $34.99. You can also match your kitchen with the Treats Apron for Adults ($29.99) and the Mickey and Minnie Pot Holder and Kitchen Towel Set ($16.99)! Treats Tote Of course, while you’re sporting your adorable new dessert-inspired pieces, you are gonna want to cook some treats up too! Luckily, you can use the Mickey and Minnie Cupcake Kit for $14.95 and toss them on the Cupcake Stand and Caddy for $39.99 when they’re all done. OR, if you’ve got some fresh cookies whipped up, keep them in this ADORABLE Cookie Jar for $54.99. Say hi to Mickey and Minnie in the window! Treats Cookie Jar And now for our FAVE part of this collection! There’s basically everything you need to throw a build-your-own sundae party! Your sundaes will be the cutest around with the Bowl Set and Spoon Set for $16.99 each. Plus, the spoons even have the same sprinkles-inspired handle as the $12.99 Ice Cream Scoop! Finish it off with toppings kept in the Treat Tray for $19.99 and you’ve got yourself a parrrtay. Disney Eats Treats Collection Mickey Mouse Gold Icon Collection Now let’s switch gears from the fun treats and look at the WAY classy Mickey Gold Icon Collection! We think a table setting could get a major upgrade with the Table Runner for $24.99, Dinner Plates for $12.99 each, the Salt and Pepper Mill Set for $24.99, and the Glass Set for $24.99. Talk about pretty! Disney Eats Gold Collection But the award for the absolute prettiest piece of this collection goes to the GORGEOUS Flatware Set for $69.99. The design of each utensil is so sleek and the handles even have little Mickeys at the end! Disney Eats Gold Collection Flatware Aaaand there you have it! That’s a round-up of these super cute new collections. They can be found online and we’ll keep an eye out for them in stores too! Click here to check out more Mickey and Minnie merch! Which new collection do you like better? Share your thoughts in the comments! Related posts: It’s Time for a Shopping Spree! A New Subscription Box and MORE Are Coming Soon to shopDisney! GOODBYE MONEY! Disney and Colourpop Debut a Midnight Masquerade Collection of Makeup, Mugs, and MORE! Christmas Time is HERE! The shopDisney Holiday Shop Is Now OPEN! View the full article

While New Year’s Eve is often a time of excitement and toasting, it’s also a time to reflect back on the wonderful moments and memories shared throughout the year. At Disney Springs we shared so many new openings with all of you in 2019 including The Art Corner by Artistic Talent Group, Jaleo by José Andrés, the Disney Ticket Center, NBA Experience, and Ron Jon Surf Shop. As I look ahead to 2020, I’m very much excited for two venues that will bring even more magic and dining to Disney Springs West Side. Just a few weeks ago, we announced the name of the new Cirque du Soleil show opening in spring 2020 called “Drawn to Life.” This new show will be the first-ever collaboration between Cirque du Soleil, Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering where guests will journey into a world where an animator’s desk becomes the stage and drawings come to life. It’s the perfect mix of the beauty of Disney animation with the thrilling spectacle of Cirque du Soleil. What more could you ask for?! Planning to visit us next year? Tickets are now on sale here or by calling (855) 473-7783 or (702) 352-0221. A few steps away near the NBA Experience, City Works Pour House & Eatery will soon bring classic American fare and an incredible beer menu to the mix. I love a good craft beer and when I saw the extensive menu of what’s to come, I knew this would be my next go-to happy hour spot. This restaurant will bring over 90 local and global craft brews (on tap!) with a premium sports-viewing experience that’s hard to beat featuring massive, state-of-the-art HDTVs at every angle. If that’s not enough to get you excited, the food menu will feature everything from bar bites, burgers, sandwiches, tacos, salads, brunch and more. Keep an eye out in the new year for more updates on official opening dates for these venues. I wish you all a happy New Year’s Eve and I’m looking forward to sharing all the exciting happenings with you in 2020 from Disney Springs! View the full article

It’s less than 24 hours until we say goodbye to 2019 and hello (and please be better) to 2020. As the new year gets closer, we want to recap all of the amazing things that 2019 has brought us in Disney World! 2019 Holiday Decorations at Magic Kingdom From the addition of the long-awaited Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to the opening of the Skyliner, we’ve seen a lot of BIG changes at Walt Disney World this year—like the opening of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance earlier this month! Now, though, we want to hone in on some of the smaller changes that could have been overlooked or swept up in all the big news. Here are 10 changes that seemed tiny, but they all made a big difference this year! 1. Now More Than Ever Disney World introduced a new theme for 2019 called “Now More than Ever,” campaigning that now, more than ever, is the best time to visit the Walt Disney World Resort. Move It! Shake It! MousekeDance It! Street Party In honor of Mickey’s 90th birthday, he and Minnie donned new celebration outfits, and Magic Kingdom became home to Mickey and Minnie’s Surprise Celebration. This, of course, resulted in a character meet and greet with our two favorite mice at Town Square Theater, as well as tons of treats and colorful merchandise! Mickey and Minnie Meet-and-Greet Not only that, but the “Move It! Shake It! Dance & Play It!” Street Party was given an update to match the new campaign, becoming “Move It! Shake It! MousekeDance It!” For frequent Disney-goers, this is a great opportunity to see something new at the parks, and the celebratory atmosphere makes the day even more special! Move It! Shake It! MousekeDance It! Street Party Disney definitely enjoys switching up their themes to celebrate special occasions, and we can expect even more for its 50th anniversary in 2021. Check out our recap of Mickey’s 90th Birthday here! 2. Fountain View Epcot’s got A LOT going on but we wanted to focus in on this smaller change that, sadly, meant no more Starbucks in Epcot. Each of the parks has one Starbucks location, and removing Epcot’s has resulted in many confused and noncaffeinated guests. Fountain View Closure Those willing to can try Joffrey’s at several locations throughout the park, but for our Starbucks die-hards, a temporary Starbucks location, Traveler’s Cafe, FINALLY just opened near the Refreshment Port. The coffee gods have heard our pleas! We can one again sip our venti caramel lattes in Epcot! Epcot’s Temporary Starbs is OPEN! We haven’t heard about a permanent replacement for Fountain View just yet, but we’ll be keeping our ears open! Click here for more news about Epcot’s transformation! 3. Resort Expansions! If you’ve been to Disney World recently, you’ve probably noticed that it seems PACKED no matter what time of the year it is. Luckily, 2019 saw the additions of the Riviera Resort and the Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs Resort. Riviera Resort Entrance The Riviera Resort just opened on December 16. Inspired by the European Riviera, it’s categorized Disney Vacation Club Resort but is available for booking at the Deluxe Villa level for non-DVC guests. Riviera Resort What makes it so enticing? It’s part of the Epcot Resort Area, has views of both Epcot and Hollywood Studios, and has a Skyliner station at the resort, making it more accessible to Disney guests. It also features a new type of room: a Tower Studio, which sleeps two adults and an infant, making it a great option for couples and smaller families in particular. Riviera Resort Meanwhile, the Gran Destino Tower brought 545 new rooms to Disney property as well as new dining experiences like Toledo. While this location isn’t as central as the Riviera Resort, Coronado Springs has its benefits as well. The resort houses a convention center, making it convenient for business trips and has plenty of dining options. It’s also classified as a moderate resort—it’s the Goldilocks of Disney resorts, providing a more economical option than some of the deluxe resorts. Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs Resort It’s always nice to see Disney putting energy into not just the parks, but where the guests stay as well, and at multiple resort tiers! Click here for more about Disney’s latest resort, the Riviera! 4. Updated Park Rules Last spring, Disney Parks introduced new policies regarding strollers, smoking, and even ice. Smoking areas were removed from the parks, including the water parks, Downtown Disney, and ESPN’s Wide World of Sports; however, there will still be designated smoking sections outside of parks and on resort property. Strollers cannot exceed 31″ inches wide and 52″ inches, and wagons were outright banned from the parks in an attempt to clear congestion within the parks. Don’t worry though, double stroller fams! Most double strollers fit within Disney’s new size limit, even those popular double jogging strollers many guests rent or bring along! Stroller Size Checkpoint In addition, both loose and dry ice were banned from the theme parks. While this seems like an odd choice, according to Disney Parks Blog, this was done in order to “streamline” security checks. You can still bring ice packs in coolers though! Each of these changes—while inconvenient for some—were made in order to enhance guest experience, something always appreciated by Disney-goers. Disney Parks Blog even listed tips to assist guests in finding alternate solutions for each of these changes. New Park Rules In Effect May 1 So enjoy strolling the parks without bumping into mega stroller wagons, walking into clouds of smoke, and…loose ice? Lol! Read more about stroller guidelines here! 5. Dole Whip Galore Of course we can’t resist talking about some of the tasty treats 2019 gave us! Disney rolled out a bunch of new themed Dole Whip flavors that had Disney guests on the hunt for them all. The cones change based on the season as Disney introduces new featured flavors, which include raspberry, lemon, lime, strawberry, and mango. Lost Princess Cone There are also options to get character cones, which are based on Disney movies like Moana, Tangled, Up, and Monster’s Inc. and include decorative features like candy or flowers. These are primarily found throughout Magic Kingdom and at the Polynesian Resort. We always love a new treat, so these tasty, adorable, AND affordable snacks have really taken the cake (er, the cone?). The fact that Disney made so many different Dole Whips options definitely speaks to how they’ve seen Disney junkies latch on to certain snacks. 2319 Cone Most importantly, by adding Dole Whip to different locations and expanding the selection of flavors, they’ve made them even more accessible and more appealing to guests! Obsessed with (Baby) Yoda? Learn about one of Disney’s most recent character cones! 6. Changes to My Disney Experience My Disney Experience is the ultimate compass of Disney World navigation, allowing users to book and change FastPasses, create dining reservations, place Mobile Orders at select locations, and view Photopass photos and other plans. Introduction screen for latest update One of the updates included a more intuitive navigation system and made upcoming plans more prominent. Another more recent update changed the FastPass creation process. Users can now search for FastPasses by the hour instead of just morning, afternoon, and evening. FastPass Booking These are definitely tiny changes, but because My Disney Experience has become such a huge part of planning a trip to Disney World, it’s a big deal. Bus Schedules on My Disney Experience You can do so much from your phone that it should be more of a help than a hindrance, and it’s evident that Disney is definitely looking to minimize any frustration while using the system. Click here for more details on FastPass+ changes! 7. PhotoPass Wins and Fails PhotoPass has had its ups and downs this year, that’s for sure! Disney World received huge backlash in September when PhotoPass photographers at select character meet-and-greets were replaced with automated cameras. These cameras are placed inside a box themed to match the location and were in use at Mickey, Anna and Elsa, and Tinker Bell’s meet-and-greets, among others. Themed Photo Box in Royal Sommerhus Guests were upset, claiming that the new cameras weren’t getting all of the same candids and that part of the magic of PhotoPass was the interaction with the cast member. They even petitioned to get PhotoPass cast members back, and while there’s been no official update, PhotoPass cast members have been spotted back at Mickey’s meet and greet at the Town Square Theater, Anna and Elsa’s meet and greet in Epcot, and more. PhotoPass photographer at Town Square Theater On a more positive note, PhotoPass also introduced some awesome new experiences. Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios each feature a “Super Zoom” shot that comes along with an animated video! These take magic shots to a whole new level! These can be found on Main Street and in Batuu, and a variety of animated videos can be found around property. Zoomed Out Super Zoom Shot Capturing memories is such a big part of Disney trips, so we love seeing more opportunities to do so. We’re hoping that the boxes are a thing of the past, seeing as how quickly Disney was to put PhotoPass photographers back in some locations, and hopefully we’ll see more magic shots pop up with the success of the super zoom shots! Learn more about PhotoPass magic shots here! 8. FuelRod Changes The automated PhotoPass camera situation certainly wasn’t the first time guests made their opinions known. Recently, Disney announced a change to its FuelRod system that was met with A LOT of backlash. For those who are unfamiliar, FuelRods are portable chargers available for purchase at the Disney Parks for $30. Once you’ve used up all of the power in it, you can swap it for a new rod for free at any machine in the parks. FuelRod Machine It was announced earlier this year that swapping would now cost $3 per swap. Well, Disney-goers didn’t react well to that. Only a few days after a lawsuit was announced, Disney and FuelRod reversed the fee. Swapping your FuelRod will cost $3… or not! Though the change was certainly supposed to be a small one, it definitely blew up in Disney’s face. While the decision to reverse the fee might not last forever, it just goes to show what can happen when you make your opinions known! Read more about the FuelRod fee reversal here! 9. Going Green! In the past few years, we’ve seen an environmentally-focused shift in a lot of places, including Disney World. In 2018, it was announced that Disney would do away with single-use plastic straws and stirrers, and in 2019, they did just that! Resort-wide, plastic straws have been replaced by paper ones. Paper Straws at Quick Service This comes along with the discontinuation of the use of plastic bags in Disney Stores nationwide, and the parks now serve most drinks without lids. Additionally, resorts are in the process of transitioning from single-use toiletries to refillable pumps. Reusable straws are also for sale at the parks for those who prefer that option, and for those who bring their own water bottles, refillable water stations (a.k.a. hydration stations) have popped up at parks and resorts. Won’t Be Seeing These Around Disney Anytime Soon! Only a few years ago, it was just Animal Kingdom that offered paper straws and lid-free cups for the safety of the animals. Now it’s everywhere! Magic Kingdom Reusable Shopping Bags While all of these things seem small, and even a bit controversial, it’s important that such a huge company is taking these steps to help reduce waste and preserve our environment. (Just be careful carrying that tray loaded up with drinks without lids. Yikes!) Read more about Disney World’s conservation efforts here! 10. Skyliner Mugs When the Skyliner opened, a whole bunch of new merchandise rolled out with it (would it be Disney World without the swag to go with something opening?), including a Skyliner Refillable Mug. Skyliner Refillable Mug Sounds like just another cup to you? Not quite! It’s actually part of Disney’s Refillable Mug Program, a.k.a. Rapid Fill. While regular Refillable Mugs are made of plastic, these are made of stainless steel and claim to keep drinks cold for 12 hours or hot for four hours. Mickey Mouse Refillable Resort Mug The new Skyliner mugs are $29.99 versus the typical $19.99 for a plastic one (or $10 to upgrade if you’re on the Disney Dining Plan and receive the free plastic one), but you do get a better quality cup with the newer option. While they may not be for everyone (see the lack of handle for juggling multiple mugs), we love seeing that the mugs are evolving after so many years of the same mug design, and maybe we’ll see even more options in the future, like the newly released Star Wars mug. Click here to learn more about the Refillable Mug Program! 2019 has been an exciting year full of changes, big and small. A lot of these tiny changes are focused on enhancing the overall guest experience—from making sure Epcot guests have their Starbucks fix during the construction to reversing the FuelRod fee. It shows the power that Disney-goers actually have when they make their voices heard since some of these changes were inspired by guest reactions. Disney’s conservation policy, meanwhile, is one change on a bigger scale, helping benefit the outside world. What do ALL of these things have in common though? They all mean that bigger and better things are coming for Walt Disney World, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store! What are you looking forward to most in Disney World? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: News! Disney World Has Announced the ULTIMATE Christmas Package The Holidays Will Be VERY DIFFERENT at Disney World This Year! What’s New Around Walt Disney World — January 23, 2017 View the full article

New Year’s Eve is upon us and here at the Walt Disney World Resort, thousands of families will gaze at the sky tonight, ringing in the new year with a fireworks display. In our latest – and final – Disney Parks Blog digital wallpaper of 2019, artist Ashley Taylor has imagined what Aladdin and Jasmine would do if they had the chance to celebrate at the Walt Disney World Resort. No doubt they’d take to the skies with a little help from their Magic Carpet. Download the wallpaper now for your desktop or mobile device! Be sure to check out the terms of use about using the wallpaper before you download it. View the full article

Happy New Year from Disney Food Blog! We’ve wrapped up another year of bringing you all of the Disney Food News as it happens all around the world! And, we can’t wait to see what 2020 brings! As we bid adieu to 2019 and ring in what we know is going to be a GREAT 2020, we want to thank you in the best way we know how — with HUGE SAVINGS just in time for your next Disney trip on our 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! TODAY — use promo code HAPPYNEWYEAR for 50% off our most popular Disney food e-book guide, packed with hundreds of color photos and expert tips! Get the 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining This deal won’t last long — so get your pre-order of the 2020 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining today, and make a resolution to start planning your next Disney trip right away! REMEMBER: This is still two books for the price of one! By pre-ordering today, you’ll get the 2019 Guide for FREE immediately, and we’ll send you the 2020 guide as soon as it’s completed! The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining includes over 700 pages of our best tips, suggestions, reviews, and recommendations — and over 500 color photos! There’s something for everyone! See What Our Readers Have to Say About the DFB Guides Wanna know more before you commit? See what other readers just like you are saying about our collection of DFB Guide Books at the DFB Store Reviews Page! Read MORE Reader Reviews HERE! As always, THANKS TO YOU for supporting Disney Food Blog! Happy New Year from YOUR DFB Team! Related posts: Today is THE Day to Start Planning Your Next Disney Vacation with A HUGE Sale on the DFB Everything Bundle! Our BIGGEST Sale of the is BACK For a Limited Time! 50% Off Everything at the DFB Store! Happy Anniversary to Hollywood Studios! Start Your Vacation Planning NOW with Discounts at the DFB Store! View the full article

While New Year’s is a time for visiting your loved ones and family… Magic Kingdom …that doesn’t mean that hardships and tragedy don’t occur (even in Disney World). According to the Orlando Sentinel, “a 56-year-old woman jumped from a Walt Disney World ferryboat Monday evening in an apparent suicide attempt.” Ferryboat Entrance Although she was rescued from the Seven Seas Lagoon by local authorities, the woman was taken to a local hospital for a mental evaluation and treatment of any injuries. There is no other information on the incident at the moment. Magic Kingdom Ferry If you or a loved one have talked about suicide or given signs of distress, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or access their 24/7 online chatting service. Related posts: DFB Video: Our 13 Favorite Ways Celebrate Christmas in Disney World! Disney News This Week: ALL the News and Updates from the Most Magical Places on Earth! Celebrate New Year’s for THREE. WHOLE. DAYS. at Disney World’s Wilderness Lodge! View the full article

Okay, we know everyone’s in a bit of a post-holiday haze, but exactly WHAT day is it?! Disney’s Contemporary Resort Santa may have just come and gone, but already it looks like Cupid AND St. Patty have made their way to the Most Magical Place on Earth! That’s right, believe it or not, we’ve already spotted Valentine’s and St. Patrick’s Day merch over at Disney’s Contemporary Resort! Who better to celebrate Valentine’s Day with than with the always in love Mouse couple? We found the Mickey and Minnie I Love You Plush at Bayview Gifts in the Contemporary Resort for $29.99! Mickey and Minnie I Love You Plush There’s also the less likely (but still oh-so lovable) little blue alien to help celebrate the day of love! Also in Bayview Gifts, we found the Stitch Happy Valentine’s Day Plush for $21.99. Stitch Happy Valentine’s Day Plush But, wait wait, there’s more! St. Patrick’s Day may be a ways away, but we can’t deny that this Mickey St. Patrick Day’s Plush is pretty stinkin’ cute! Mickey St. Patrick’s Day Plush We found this lucky guy over at Fantasia Market in the Contemporary Resort, available for $21.99. Mickey St. Patrick’s Day Plush If you’re looking to get a head start on your Valentine’s or St. Patrick’s Day shopping, then head on over to Disney’s Contemporary Resort! We found the Valentine’s Day plushes at Bayview Gifts, and the Mickey St. Patrick’s Day Plush at Fantastia Market! We’ve still got another holiday to celebrate before these two — New Year’s! Check out a BUNCH of 2020 Disney World merch we’ve found around the parks here! What do you think of the new Valentine’s and St. Patrick’s Day plushes? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! Related posts: Elegant Valentine’s Day Menu at California Grill in Disney’s Contemporary Resort REVIEW: The Gingerbread Snack Stand Is BACK and Better Than Ever at Disney’s Contemporary Resort! What’s New at the Monorail Resorts and Wilderness Lodge — The Gingerbread Castle, Cinnamon Roll Cupcake, And ALL the Christmas Stuff! View the full article

Hang up the streamers and balloons! It’s time to celebrate this newest Mickey Ear Hat that’s just arrived at Disney World! Mickey Birthday Souvenir Sipper And while we’ve recently seen the new Mickey and Bride Ears Hats tie the knot, the Birthday Ear Hat is all about YOUR big day! We can’t think of a more festive hat to wear on your birthday — especially because it’s embroidered with the phrase, “Best Birthday Ever” right on the front! There’s also some serious confetti and pompom action going on with the new Birthday Mickey Ear Hat! Birthday Mickey Ears Hat We love the classic red, black, white, and yellow color scheme — reminds us of our favorite Leader of the Club! Birthday Mickey Ears Hat And the new Birthday Mickey Ear Hat comes topped with its very own two-tiered cake, decorated for the occasion! Birthday Mickey Ears Hat We spotted the new Birthday Mickey Ear Hat at The Emporium in Magic Kingdom today for $24.99, so keep your eyes peeled for ’em while you’re at the parks! And if you’re looking for something a little more sparkly, check out the super-popular new Redd Minnie Ears HERE! Will you be scoring the new Birthday Mickey Ears for your next birthday bash? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: EMERGENCY! 2319 Cone Lands at Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies! NEW Additions Coming to Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade in Disney World! Photos and Review! Is Cruella’s Halloween Hide-a-Way Wonderfully Wicked…Or A Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Mishap? View the full article

If you’ve got little ones and are headed to Walt Disney World Resort in 2020, you don’t want to miss these must-do tips from Lindsey P. Join her as she points out attractions and experiences the entire family can enjoy at Magic Kingdom Park. To learn more about planning your Disney vacation with preschoolers, or for general Disney vacation planning questions, visit DisneyParksMomsPanel.com for an answer from one of our panelists. Panelists receive compensation for their participation on the Disney Parks Moms Panel. View the full article

References to Disney’s Fantasia are getting harder to come by these days at Disney World now that Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat no longer resides in Hollywood Studios. All Star Movies Resort Which is why we were super-surprised to see this new line of Fantasia-inspired jewelry at the Magic Kingdom today! We’re putting on our ballerina slippers and dancing for joy after seeing this new Fantasia jewelry collection! I mean, it’s not every day you see merch themed after the 1940 Disney classic! Plus we love the vintage look of the pieces which harken back to the era of the film’s release! Here’s the new Fantasia Necklace for $24.99. Fantasia Necklace The style of the new Fantasia jewelry resembles cloisonné, a decorative technique where enamel is applied to metal. From close-up, you can tell the images have just been heat-transferred, but from further back, the pieces actually look quite old-timey! We ADORE the little beaded accents and flowers the necklace features! Fantasia Necklace Close-up Plus, how cute is this fan-shaped drop pendant decorated with Sorcerer Mickey and his dancing broom? Fantasia Necklace Close-up The Fantasia Earrings for $19.99 pick up the same retro-inspired fan shape and have drop pendants featuring floral designs! So cute! Fantasia Earrings And the Fantasia Bracelet for $24.99 completes the look! The double-strand bracelet is decorated with images of Fantasia’s dancing hippo, ostrich, elephant, broom and of course, Sorcerer Mickey! LOVE! Fantasia Bracelet We spotted the new Fantasia jewelry at The Emporium in Disney World today, so tippy-toe over to the Magic Kingdom today if you wanna score ’em! That’s also where we spotted the new Birthday Mickey Ears Hat and these totally adorable new Phone Cases today, so be sure to see them out, too! What do you think of the new Fantasia jewelry line? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section! Related posts: What’s New at Magic Kingdom — Bridal Bling, Entryway Construction, and Ebenezer Scrooge! We’re in LOVE With These NEW Disney Parks Alex and Ani Bracelets! Spotted! NEW Hats in Disney World That Celebrate Two of Disney’s Most Iconic Rides! View the full article

Happy almost New Year!! Elsa and Anna While we’ve been telling you about all the ways you can celebrate 2020 in Disney World, we’re heading to Disneyland ‘cause there’s some extra Frozen magic crystallizing for the holiday! During the 2020 Rose Parade, Disney will be a part of the first half-time show, featuring the national touring cast of Frozen the Musical! Frozen Float In case you aren’t aware of the tradition, Pasadena has been hosting the annual Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day since 1890. While Walt Disney and his family grew up watching the parade in the 1930s, he officially became a part of it in 1938 with the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs float! Walt then starred in the Tournament of Roses again in 1955 with the Disneyland float, which happened to win the Judge’s Special Trophy that year (that a boy, Walt!!). Walt Disney and His Family at the Rose Parade ©Disney After the hit of the Disneyland float, the Rose Queen and her court have held events of honor at Disneyland each year. In fact, Walt himself became a part of the court when he served as the Grand Marshal of the 77th Annual Tournament of Roses Parade in 1966 with his best pal, Mickey Mouse! After Walt passed away, Disney has continued to have a presence in the parade each year, even creating the tallest float in Rose Parade history with The Tower of Terror float (live performers actually hung from elevators, you guys!!). Tower of Terror Float ©Disney Buuut, this year, Disney is making history again as the Frozen the Musical cast joins together to perform “For the First Time in Forever” for… well, the first half-time show ever! After the song, multiple Cast Members will travel through the parade in stylish sleigh decorated by the FTD (or the Official Floral Company of the Tournament of Roses) with California grown flowers. They’re making the day a perfect day for us!! Disneyland 50th Anniversary Float ©Disney You can tune in to the Rose Parade to catch the Frozen performance (and Kristoff’s decked out sleigh) on New Year’s Day at 8 AM PST on ABC! Will you be watching the Rose Parade this year? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: Here’s How To Get Exclusive Disney Commemorative Pins with the Play Disney Parks App! NEW Avengers Campus and “Frozen” Area Details Announced for Disneyland Paris DFB Video: Latest Disney Parks News: Holiday Decor Arrives, Galaxy’s Edge Menu Changes, and NEW Frozen II Treats View the full article