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The groundbreaking new Disney attraction Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is officially open at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – and guests are loving it! Thousands of Disney Parks and Star Wars fans lined up before sunrise to be among the first to experience this groundbreaking attraction. Among them were multi-generation families who’ve enjoyed the Star Wars films for years, guests dressed in outfits inspired by their favorite character, and younglings ready to use the Force in this all-new adventure. At Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, guests are put in the middle of a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance, including a faceoff with Kylo Ren. The journey takes guests aboard a full-size transport shuttle and into a Star Destroyer on a thrilling adventure that blurs the lines between fantasy and reality. The attraction is one of the most immersive, ambitious and technologically advanced experiences in Disney history, using multiple ride systems working together to create a seamless story on a cinematic scale. Check out the video above to hear the jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring reactions from some of the attraction’s first guests! As a reminder, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance will debut at Disneyland park on January 17, 2020. View the full article

After so much waiting, the grand opening day of Rise of the Resistance in Disney World’s Hollywood Studios is finally here! Rise of the Resistance We already shared with you our first impression of Rise of the Resistance yesterday (read both our spoiler-free and spoiler-alert versions here!) But we also know you’ve got A LOT of questions about this highly anticipated new attraction, so we’re here to answer them ALL! Warning, though — there may be RIDE SPOILERS here so proceed with caution if you’re looking to be surprised! What is Rise of the Resistance? Rise of the Resistance is Disney’s “most epic” attraction to date. The ride just opened in Hollywood Studios while Disneyland’s version will open on January 17th, 2020. Rise of the Resistance will serve as the major headliner in the new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at both Disney parks, which previously only had just one ride — Millenium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run. Transport Vehicle Pre-Load Area Rise of the Resistance is one of the most ambitious undertakings we’ve ever seen from Disney, incorporating three unique ride sections and hundreds of animatronics, holograms, and special effects, all on an enormous scale! Read about our first ride on Rise of the Resistance here! Can I get a FastPass for Rise of the Resistance? Currently, Rise of the Resistance isn’t offering FastPass at this time. However, Rise of the Resistance DOES have a FastPass queue and a standby queue. No word yet on when you’ll be able to make FastPass reservations for the attraction, but we’ll keep you updated! Standby Line For Rise of the Resistance Is there a single rider line? While there IS a single rider line for Millenium Falcon: Smugglers Run in Galaxy’s Edge, at this time Rise of the Resistance does NOT appear to offer single rider. Is there a height limit? You must be at least 40″ tall to ride. Rise of the Resistance Height Requirement Any other safety information I need to know? Just the usual stuff! You must be in good health without any high blood pressure, heart, back, or neck issues to ride. Motion sickness or other conditions may occur if you have a sensitivity to rapid motion, sudden turns, abrupt stops, and a “swift drop!” Expectant mothers should not ride and children under the age of 7 must be accompanied by a person aged 14 or older. Safety Info Be sure to ask a Cast Member if you have any concerns that aren’t listed. What is the ECV and wheelchair accessibility situation? Guests can use ECVs (scooters, essentially) and wheelchairs up until boarding the ride vehicle and then must transfer. If you’re unable to transfer from your ECV you can still enjoy the in-queue interactivity, initial capture, and scope out the Stormtroopers in the airlock hangar, but you’ll be required to take the last chance exit before boarding the actual “ride” portion. Can I opt-out before the ride? Like many Disney attractions, should you change your mind while waiting in the queue, you can “opt-out” any time before boarding the ride vehicle. This way, you can enjoy spending time with your traveling party waiting in line, but don’t have to partake in the actual ride experience should you choose not to. Queue For Rise of the Resistance And since the buckled-in, prisoner transport ride vehicle section happens so far into the experience, you can experience the hangar with all the Stormtroopers if you’d like to well before exiting! Can I do a rider-switch/swap? Yes. Should you be traveling with a small child or children who do not meet the safety requirements to ride (or simply don’t want to!), adults may “swap” places without waiting in line again. Ask a Cast Member at the entrance for more info. Does Rise of the Resistance have an interactive queue? Sort of. There are cargo bins to scan and Aurebesh to translate on the Play Disney Parks app from time to time in the queue. Are there restrooms or water fountains in the queue? Restrooms: no! Water fountains: yes! But Cast Members do say that you can leave the queue to use the restroom and then return. Sounds kind of awkward and difficult though, so we’d recommend hitting up the restrooms before you get in line. How long is Rise of the Resistance? By our estimation, the duration of Rise of the Resistance is around 18-20 minutes long, with significant portions of the attraction being walkthrough areas and holding rooms. Hologram Rey Note however that if the ride is malfunctioning or there’s a backup in guests, your wait time to be sorted into your prisoner groups (after the transport is caught in the tractor beam and you’ve hung out with all those crazy stormtrooper dudes) can be LONG. What is the ride vehicle capacity? Each standard Rise of the Resistance ride vehicle accommodates 8 people in two rows of four — plus one R5 Astromech Droid who serves as your guide! Rise of the Resistance Ride Vehicle The seats were a similar shape and size to the ones you’d find on DINOSAUR in Animal Kingdom or Indiana Jones Adventure in Disneyland with seat belts for restraint. We had a good amount of legroom and even the floor space in front of us was enough to accommodate a large backpack. Are there animatronics? Yes! There are hundreds of animatronics, the vast majority of which are Stormtroopers, but you’ll see lots of other Star Wars characters as you make your harrowing escape! Stormtroopers! Are there live actors? We’ve received a lot of questions about if live actors are INSIDE the ride. We get it — many of the animatronics we’ve shown you are super life-like, but there are only a few parts in Rise of the Resistance where you’ll encounter live actors. First Order Officer After you’ve been taken captive by the First Order, you’ll interact with Cast Members dressed like First Order Officers who will help you get loaded onto your prisoner transporter. But don’t worry, the officers aren’t scary or mean at all (think of the bellhops at Tower of Terror or the butlers in the Haunted Mansion!) And during the ride, some Resistance fighters will come to aid you in your escape (meaning, they’ll help load you into the ride vehicle!), but the rest of the characters you’ll see are all animatronic. What is the “drop” like? You are seated for the drop a la Tower of Terror-style, but the drop is significantly shorter. According to a Cast Member, it’s about 23 feet, but it felt less than that to us because it happened SO QUICKLY and only lasts barely a second! Escaping! If you’re not anticipating the drop (which happens towards the end of the ride when you enter the “escape pod”), it could catch you off guard. But the set-up is pretty obvious. Your vehicle clearly moves into the escape pod (it has a screen at the front like Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run), and your vehicle is “locked in,” which is obvious. It’s big enough for a “tummy flip,” but it’s over so fast you’ll barely know it happened with everything else going on. Will I be scared? We found Rise of the Resistance to be very thrilling. If you think Pirates of the Caribbean is too thrilling, Rise of the Resistance is definitely more intense, but whether you’ll be scared or not really depends on what kind of stuff spooks you. Stormtroopers Some of us here at DFB aren’t big fans of drops, but none of us were too freaked out by the one on Rise of the Resistance. And while Millenium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run can feel a bit claustrophobic at times, there weren’t very many parts during Rise of the Resistance where we felt “closed-in”. Even though there are some live actors, none of them jump out or sneak up on you. Escape Pod Note that children or folks with sensory issues such as those who are sensitive to loud noises, flashing lights and frantic motion might not ready to ride Rise of the Resistance. You guys know yourselves and your kiddos better than we do, so use your best judgment and check out this post so you’ll know what to expect! How bad is it if I’m sensitive to motion? Most of Rise of the Resistance is walking, so although the attraction is quite long, there’s a good amount of time to stop and get your bearings. The “spinning” on the actual ride portion is similar to Magic Kingdom’s Buzz Lightyear’s Space Rangers Spin, only you have no control over the motion of your ride vehicle. We’ve definitely felt more queasiness after rides like Star Tours or even Millenium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run then we did after riding Rise of the Resistance. On scale of one to lightspeed, how fun was it? Lightspeed, friends. Lightspeed! Escape Pod If I’m not a diehard Star Wars fan, will I still enjoy it? Yes, we think so! Because of how ambitious, immersive and exciting this new attraction is, we think you’ll find something you like about it — even if you’re only vaguely familiar with the new Star Wars movies! Rise of the Resistance Who knows, after riding it, you might become a diehard Star Wars fan after all! If I only have time to ride either Smuggler’s Run or Rise of the Resistance, which one should I choose? Rise all the way, BB-8! The two Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge attractions couldn’t be more different, so don’t make the assumption you don’t need to ride Rise of the Resistance if you’ve already ridden Smuggler’s Run! Kylo Ren There’s short part on Rise where you’re riding in a flight simulator, but that’s the only scene that’s remotely close to Smuggler’s Run — the rest is all VERY different! Of the 2, hands down this is our favorite! Is Rise of the Resistance BETTER than Avatar: Flight of Passage? We’ve been asking ourselves this question ever since stepping off Rise of the Resistance, and it’s a tough one! They’re hard to compare, but if we had to choose, we’d probably go with Rise! To us, the storyline takes us into the ride even deeper and there are a lot more components to Rise of the Resistance than Flight of Passage. Rise of the Resistance For us, riding Rise of the Resistance is like being inside one of the Star Wars films, and it doesn’t get much better than that! (Flight of Passage is still mega fun and awesome and go ride that too though! ) Will Rise of the Resistance be the same at Disneyland as it is in Disney World? To the best of our knowledge at this time, yes! But we’ll be reporting live from Disneyland’s Rise of the Resistance on January 17th, 2020 and let you know if we spot any differences! Still got questions about Rise of the Resistance? Tell us what you’d like to know in the comments below, and we’ll get you the answers! Related posts: NEW PHOTOS! See INSIDE Rise of the Resistance at Disney World’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge With This NEW Preview! Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Cliffs Notes…Here’s What You Absolutely NEED To Know After The Galaxy’s Edge INFO BOMB Dropped Last Night! What’s New at Disney’s Hollywood Studios: LOADS of New Merchandise PLUS a Peek at Construction! View the full article

Tonight’s “After Dark” image is set to thrill Star Wars fans across the galaxy. Snapped at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the picture shows the land’s X-Wing illuminated as the sun sets. The X-Wing is just one of many ships guests can encounter on Batuu – including the iconic Millennium Falcon! Thanks to Mark Willard for the image. View the full article

Hey, Disney friends! We’re back with another DFB Video today (yay!!). We’re chatting about the 7 things you NEED to purchase before Disney decides to raise the price. Tree of Life at Sunset Disney is ALWAYS raising prices, so we want to help you make sure you’re ahead of that price increase curve. We’re also chatting about what to do if you missed a great deal on your next Disney World vacation. So buckle down, folks, and check out our latest DFB video!  And, if you love this video, there’s plenty more for you to enjoy over on our DFB YouTube Channel! By the way, have you subscribed yet? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to the channel and never miss a single episode! So check out the video and then let us know: If you’re planning a Disney vacation! Related posts: DFB Video: Latest Disney Parks News: Holiday Parties & Decor, TONS of NEW Snacks, Must-Have Merch, and MORE DFB Video: The 10 BIGGEST Disney News Stories From the D23 Expo! DFB Video: Latest Disney Parks News: Holiday Decor Arrives, Galaxy’s Edge Menu Changes, and NEW Frozen II Treats View the full article

We “never look back, darling, it distracts from the NOW.” Num Num Cookie ©Disney We’ve got big news on the Disney food front! As you probably know, we LOVE a good Disney recipe. Well, we just caught wind of the full recipe for Jack-Jack’s Num Num Cookies from The Incredibles. Wanna munch on some sweets superhero style? Read on! Jack-Jack goes crazy for these cookies, so we can’t wait to get baking! Let’s get into it. Ingredients 1 Cup Butter (2 Sticks) 1 1/4 Cup Brown Sugar 1 Egg 1/4 Cup Sugar 1 Egg Yolk 1 Tsp Sea Salt 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract 1 Tsp Baking Soda 2 1/4 Cups Flour 1 Cup Chocolate Chips Num Num Cookie ©Disney Instructions Step 1 Brown butter and let it cool until it begins to solidify. Num Num Cookie ©Disney Step 2 Cream butter, sugars, and salt in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Num Num Cookie ©Disney Step 3 Mix in whole egg, egg yolk, and vanilla. Num Num Cookie ©Disney Step 4 Combine your dry ingredients and mix them with the batter. Num Num Cookie ©Disney Step 5 Add those chocolate chips. Num Num Cookie ©Disney Step 6 Scoop your batter into balls and chill thoroughly, for at least an hour (preferably overnight). Num Num Cookie ©Disney Step 7 Bake at 350° for 7-10 minutes or until your cookies are a nice golden brown on the edges but still soft in the center. Num Num Cookie ©Disney Then, enjoy! The holidays are almost here, so now is the perfect time to whip of a patch of Num Num Cookies to enjoy with the fam. And how can you not want to follow along with this recipe when it comes with such cute pictures?? We can’t wait to try this recipe out for ourselves. If it’s good enough for Jack-Jack and Edna, then it’s great for us! Want to see more Disney recipes? Click here! Will you be trying out this cookie recipe so you can try Num Nums for yourself? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Disney Food Post Round-Up: June 27, 2010 Disney Food Post Round-Up: December 26, 2010 Disney Recipe: Chip’s Sticky Bun Bake from Epcot’s Garden Grill View the full article

Today is the day, folks! Stormtroopers! Rise of the Resistance is FINALLY open to the public! We got to check this awesome ride out yesterday for ourselves, but we’re back and keeping an eye on crowds and how the ride is holding up on opening day. But if you were hoping to get to the park and jump in line to ride, today is not your day. A long, long time ago in a theme park far away…ok, not THAT long ago, but remember back in August when Galaxy’s Edge opened in Disney World and in June when it opened to the general public in Disneyland how Disney utilized a virtual queueing system to try and keep down crowds going in and out of the land? It only lasted for the better part of a day in Hollywood Studios before the virtual boarding groups weren’t needed anymore, but it’s BACK for access to Rise of the Resistance. But there’s one teeny tiny problem…all the existing boarding groups are ALREADY GONE! Disney has said they aren’t adding anymore boarding groups “right now” so that’s not totally ruling out that more could be added later today, so keep checking if you’re hoping to grab one! No More Boarding Groups! Yup, the park has barely been open for the day and already if you were hoping to experience this new ride, you gonna have to wait a bit! While we’re not sure yet if they’ll extend the virtual queueing into tomorrow or beyond, clearly there’s a strong guest demand to see this new ride. We’ll keep you posted as we learn more about upcoming days. This is Not the Queue You’re Looking For Now IF Virtual Boarding is opened up again later, here’s the rundown so you can get in, get yo’ boarding group, and go on with your life! When you get into Hollywood Studios, open the My Disney Experience app and navigate to the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge section. You should see a “Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance — Access by Boarding Groups.” Rise of the Resistance If you click that it should take you to a screen showing what the boarding group situation currently is. You can see what groups are being allowed to enter the actual ride queue and, if boarding groups are available, you can join one and reserve your spot in line. If “Join Boarding Group” is grayed out, you may be out of luck — that means all boarding groups will have been issued for the day. Rise of the Resistance If you snag a boarding group, make sure push notifications are turned on your phone so you’ll know when it’s time to get in line! When it IS your boarding group, you have 2 hours to get in the REAL Rise of the Resistance line, so no need to rush! Also, if you have friends or family with you, make sure you’re all linked through My Disney Experience together — only one person needs to be in Hollywood Studios to join the boarding group for everyone in your party! Rise of the Resistance We were thinking this new ride was going to be popular but WOW. It’s already proving to be more of a draw than the original opening of the whole LAND in Hollywood Studios! Check back for new info as we learn it! Check out our first look at Rise of the Resistance here! Were you planning to ride Rise of the Resistance today? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Dedication Ceremony Prepares Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to Welcome Guests in Disney’s Hollywood Studios!! NEWS: Virtual Queue and Boarding Groups Are In Use For Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney World NEWS! Two Daily Fantasmic! Shows Will Be Held During Opening Weekend of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney World View the full article

Celebrities Experience Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance View the full article

Rise of the Resistance Dedication View the full article

If you’re as excited as we are about this week’s debut of the new One Day at Disney book and Disney+ streaming series, then you’ll be thrilled to know there are several book signing events coming to Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort. One Day at Disney, which showcases unique stories that depict a typical day behind the scenes at The Walt Disney Company, features inspiring Disney cast members from across the globe. In the book, all of the photos were taken on a single Thursday, beginning early in Tokyo and following the sun around the world through Shanghai, Hong Kong, Paris, Madrid, the Bahamas, Costa Rica, and dozens of places throughout the United States. Next week, you can learn more about the project and meet the author of the One Day at Disney book, Bruce Steele, at different locations and times in the parks. Here’s the list: December 9 Signing with author Bruce Steele and special guests 9 – 10 a.m. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Discovery Trading Company Walt Disney World Resort Signing with author Bruce Steele and special guests 1 – 3 p.m. Magic Kingdom Park Main Street Cinema Walt Disney World Resort Signing with author Bruce Steele and special guests 5 – 7 p.m. Disney Springs The Art of Disney Walt Disney World Resort December 14 Signing with author Bruce Steele and special guests 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Disneyana Gift Shop – Main Street, U.S.A. Disneyland park Disneyland Resort Signing with author Bruce Steele and special guests 4 – 6 p.m. Downtown Disney WonderGround Gallery Disneyland Resort All events subject to change. In addition to the book, the Disney+ team was on hand to capture stories along the way. A full-length documentary and 52 short-form episodes expand the profiles and delve deeper into the essence of what it’s like to be a Disney cast member. Check out One Day at Disney and let us know what you think! View the full article

This month’s Disney Doodles will showcase how different Disney characters would show their holiday spirit at a Disney theme park. Today’s Doodle focuses on the duo from the 1977 film, “The Rescuers” – Bernard and Bianca. These mice are always up for an adventure, and according to artist Ashley Taylor, they would likely want to take in a classic holiday offering at Magic Kingdom Park. “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade is a timeless and magical parade! It’s easy to imagine Miss Bianca wanting to share this experience with Bernard.” View the full article

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Now Open at Walt Disney World View the full article

Are you ready to rise up with the Resistance? Today’s the day this first-of-its-kind attraction, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, debuts at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. If you plan on going out to experience it, no matter if you’re partial to the Light side or the Dark side, we will be using a virtual queue as one of the tools to help reduce your time in line. This will give you more time to enjoy the rest of the theme park. For those going to Disney’s Hollywood Studios today, the first step is to make sure you download the My Disney Experience app if you don’t already have it. Once you enter the park, open the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge section and go to “Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance – Access by Boarding Group.” Click on “Find Out More.” The next screen will share the current boarding status of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. If boarding groups are available, you may be able to tap “Join Boarding Group.” There will also be a display indicating which boarding group may now enter the attraction. Additional information about virtual queue: If “Join a Boarding Group” is grayed out, that means the boarding groups are full for the day and are no longer available. As long as your My Disney Experience account is linked to park tickets for you and the others in your group, you’ll be able to enroll everyone in the virtual queue at the same time. Make sure push notifications are turned on for My Disney Experience so you will be alerted if your boarding group is called to return. You’ll have up to two hours from the time of the alert to go to the entrance of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, so there’s no need to rush right over. Once there, you can expect to wait and spend some time getting immersed in the story and soaking in the rich details before experiencing the attraction. Please note that joining a boarding group does not guarantee the ability to experience Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. If you have any questions or need a hand with the virtual queue, the members of the Guest Experience Team are available throughout the park to assist. And while you wait for your turn to rise, there’s plenty to do around Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Sing along with the Royal Historians of Arendelle at “For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration;” drop in for a visit at the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror; stop by Andy’s backyard in Toy Story Land; or enjoy any number of experiences that let you live your own adventure! We’re using the virtual queue because we expect this ambitious new attraction will be very popular. It’s safe to say, there is nothing in the world quite like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. View the full article

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance officially opens tomorrow, December 5, at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – but a handful of celebrities were lucky enough to get an early sneak peek. This week, Neil Patrick Harris, Josh Gad, Megan Fox, John Stamos and Daymond John all experienced an attraction they each described as mindblowing. Check out the video above to see their reactions as they ride through the newest addition to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. View the full article

And the holiday cupcakes just keep on rollin’ in! Christmas Tree at Animal Kingdom Here’s the thing folks, there’ been A LOT Rise of the Resistance stuff happening today and a TON of breaking Disney World news to report on, but don’t get your tinsel in a tangle — we’re still all about dem EATS! Afterall, we’re DFB, bb! And even though we’ve shared with you the new deets we just learn about Space 220, AND showed you our first look INSIDE Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway today (and also the opening date!) it’s time to tell ya about the Christmas Tree Cupcake! Christmas Tree Cupcake Sign As you can see from the ingredients listed above, it’s almost identical to the Cutest Holiday Cupcake of 2019 that we crowned earlier today! But the Christmas Tree Cupcake features a few DISTINCTIVE details! It’s got a little Christmas tree made out of buttercream frosting on top and a white chocolate reindeer! Christmas Tree Cupcake The cupcake is definitely the same gingerbread cake as the cupcake we reviewed earlier today, while the cream cheese icing and sprinkles are also carry-overs. This time though, NO fondant to get in the way! Christmas Tree Cupcake We also found the Christmas Tree Cupcake to be as good as it looks! The gingerbread cupcake was nice and moist without being too spicy and the icing really brought some sweetness to the holiday party… in our mouths! Christmas Tree Cupcake You can grab the Christmas Tree Cupcake this holiday season from Restaurantosaurus for $5.99! Which new Animal Kingdom cupcake do you prefer? The Polar Bear Cupcake or the Christmas Tree Cupcake? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: REVIEW! We Found the CUTEST Holiday Cupcake This Season in Animal Kingdom! REVIEW! We Found The Peppermint Bark Churro Stomping Around Animal Kingdom! REVIEW: A RARE New Treat Resurfaces In Disney World’s Animal Kingdom! View the full article

Rising Moons, friends! The day we’ve been waiting for is ALMOST HERE! Entrance to Rise of the Resistance TOMORROW (December 5th) guests coming from galaxies far, far away (or, just next door) will be able to experience the newest ride in Disney World’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – Rise of the Resistance! Today, we had the opportunity to RIDE Rise of the Resistance and now, we got to check out the official dedication ceremony of the new ride at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios! Rise of the Resistance Dedication Ceremony The ceremony, which took place at 7PM Eastern, was led by Bob Chapek and a few familiar Star Wars faces! Chapek shared a few words about the creation of this incredibly innovative ride, and thanked Disney Imagineers for their hard work in bringing the state-of-the-art ride to life! Rise of the Resistance Dedication Ceremony Plus, there were interesting Star Wars characters getting the crowd riled up for Rise of the Resistance’s dedication ceremony! Pumping Up the Crowd Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is the second attraction in Galaxy’s Edge, joining Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, which gives riders the opportunity to ride the “fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy”. And now that the major headliner will FINALLY be opening tomorrow, Disney World’s Galaxy’s Edge will be complete! Rise of the Resistance Dedication To commemorate this special occasion, we saw an X-Wing Droid take to the skies! The “ship” rose and hovered in the sky for a bit before turning and lowering back down. Rise of the Resistance Dedication Ceremony Be sure to follow along tomorrow as we will be reporting LIVE from the park giving you updates on wait times, crowds, and more at the newest addition to Batuu! We cannot believe the moment has finally arrived! Now it’s time to look forward to the ride’s opening on the West Coast, when Rise of the Resistance lands in Disneyland on January 17th, 2020! Read ALL about Rise of the Resistance here! Will you be visiting Batuu to ride Rise of the Resistance? Let us know in the comments below! 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 Rise of the Resistance. 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: Banshee or Millennium Falcon? Is Disney World’s Pandora STILL More Popular Than Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge? 4 BIG Disney World Transportation Transformations (And What They Mean For YOU)! First Look and Review: Chill Out With The NEW Coruscant Cooler at Ronto Roasters in Disney World’s Galaxy’s Edge! View the full article

We are all so excited for the opening of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance here at the Walt Disney World Resort. Our team is pretty nerdy about this otherworldly saga – collectively we’ve watched ALL nine movies – and the anticipation for the new ride is super high. One of our designers, LeeAnn Clayton, was inspired to create a new wallpaper for this ride based on the display screens used throughout the queue! Turn your computer into a HUD screen and ignite the spark with this new AT-AT wallpaper. 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

Oh Dawa Bar, oh Dawa Bar, how yummy are your cocktails! Decor at Dawa Bar in Africa And we just had to head over to this Animal Kingdom watering hole (all festively decorated for Christmas!) to sample their new holiday drink, the Sikukuu! The Sikukuu is a specialty cocktail that you’ll only find at the Dawa Bar this holiday season and we can’t wait to take our first sip! These ingredients on the menu board have our toes tingling! White sangria, Cointreau, cranberry juice, and soda water served up with a souvenier glow cube all sound delicious to us! Sikukuu Sign And we got ours right at dusk, which made our glow cube shine bright like Rudolph’s nose! Sikukuu Oh boy, you guys… the Sikukuu is deliciously smooth! It’s definitely a tasty Dawa Bar drink — and a little on the strong-side, which we enjoyed. Dawa’s cocktails usually have a tendency of sneaking up on us, and this one was no exception! Ours was heavy on the Cointreau, which was fine by us! SO GOOD! Sikukuu We’re super excited about grabbing another one of these to sip on while we watch the holiday version of Tree of Life: Awakenings! Grab the Sikukuu for yourself at Dawa Bar for $17! And while you’re hanging around Animal Kingdom this holiday season, be sure to check out the CUTEST Christmas treat we’ve seen this year — learn more about it HERE! Are you excited about trying the new Sikukuu at Animal Kingdom? Tell us in the comments below! Related posts: REVIEW: It’s Time to Get in the Thanksgiving Spirit with the Cape Gobbler in Disney’s Animal Kingdom! Experience All The New Holidays Offerings With EXTENDED Animal Kingdom Park Hours! NEWS! Disney World Announces Fall Annual Passholder Offerings at Animal Kingdom and Epcot! View the full article

It’s a beautiful time to be at Animal Kingdom, because the holidays are here! Satu’li Canteen In true holiday spirit, ’tis the season to stuff our faces, and the Animal Kingdom has certainly been delivering for that! Between the Peppermint Soft-Serve and Peppermint Ice Cream Sandwich, the park has placed a heavy emphasis on being merry n’ minty! Today we had the chance to add another minty-fresh treat to our list over at Satu’li Canteen in Pandora. The White-Chocolate Peppermint Cream Cheese Mousse is made with peppermint sauce and chocolate cookie crumbles and it’s topped with a cute chocolate piece! There’s no denying it is GORGEOUS to look at, with such attention to detail. But what about the taste? White Chocolate Peppermint Cream Cheese Mousse Sadly, this beautiful dessert was just too minty for our taste! White Chocolate Peppermint Cream Cheese Mousse If you’re a major peppermint fan, this might be a winner for you, but for us, we prefer our peppermint cut with something else like chocolate! White Chocolate Peppermint Cream Cheese Mousse It definitely tastes like it looks, though, as we would best describe it as a candy cane in mousse form! White Chocolate Peppermint Cream Cheese Mousse If you’re a major peppermint fan, you can pick up the White-Chocolate Peppermint Cream Cheese Mousse for $5.49 or a Disney Dining Plan snack credit, at Satu’li Canteen in Animal Kingdom. Read about ALL the holiday festivities happening at Animal Kingdom here! Are you a peppermint lover? Or do you get total toothpaste vibes when eating anything with peppermint flavoring? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: New Merch, Menus, and More in Disney World’s Animal Kingdom News: Tiffins Prix Fixe Menus! Plus: Review of Two New Eats in Pandora! What’s New at Animal Kingdom (Satu’li Menu Updates!) and the All-Star Resorts?? View the full article

#DisneyParksLIVE: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Dedication Moment | Walt Disney World View the full article

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is celebrating the holiday season in a BIG way this year! Polar Bear Puppet And while we love hangin’ around the Tree of Life holiday mural, Donald’s Dino-Bash (which has a holiday overlay!) and seeing Animal Kingdom’s unique Christmas decorations throughout all of its lands (including Pandora!) if you’re anything like us, it’s all about the Merry Menagerie puppets! And now, for all you folks who are equally enamored with all things holiday puppet, Animal Kingdom has a new Polar Bear Cupcake! This treat looks SO GOOD — it’s almost too CUTE to eat! Plus it looks so much like the Merry Menagerie polar bear puppet, we just GOTTA see what HE thinks of it! Polar Bear Cupcake Here, polar bear! C’mon over here, big guy! Oh good! He seems intrigued! I think he’s coming over to us now! Polar Bear Cupcake Oh wow! He seems quite taken by this little cupcake replica of himself! I think he definitely sees the family resemblance! Polar Bear Cupcake Whoa, big fella! We didn’t want you to actually EAT the cupcake! We haven’t even taken a bite of it yet! Inquiring minds need to know how the Polar Bear Cupcake tastes! Polar Bear Cupcake Whew! That was a close one! Alright, dear readers — we’re a safe distance away now — time to go to town on this thing! The Polar Bear Cupcake features a gingerbread cake with a blue cream cheese frosting! The little polar bear decoration on top is made out of white fondant while the top of this cupcake is covered in frosty-looking sprinkles! Polar Bear Cupcake Now we know why the polar bear wanted to take a bite! It’s seriously SO good! The gingerbread spice isn’t too strong, which makes us think even kiddos might enjoy it! And while the frosting is pretty sweet, it pairs really well with the flavor of the cake! Plus the texture of the cake is nice and moist! So YUMMY! Polar Bear Cupcake You can find the Polar Bear Cupcake roaming around Creature Comforts for $5.99! Just watch out for any roving hungry polar bear puppets nearby! They seem VERY interested in this tasty little dessert and might try to come after yours! Check out MORE of our holiday treat reviews here! Have you gotten to meet the Merry Menagerie puppets at Disney’s Animal Kingdom this holiday season? Tell us which animals are your favorites and why in the comments below! Related posts: Pandora’s Mo’ara Margarita Got a Makeover — Check Out Its New Flavor (And Color) Here! Listen UP! This is the ONE Treat You NEED This Holiday Season At Disney’s Animal Kingdom! REVIEW! We Found The Peppermint Bark Churro Stomping Around Animal Kingdom! View the full article

Things are really heatin’ up for Star Wars fans! The Mandalorian ©Disney Now that Rise of the Resistance is opening in Disney World TOMORROW and Disney+’s The Mandalorian is preoccupying most of the country’s spare time, we just spotted these new Funko POP! toys at Disney’s Hollywood Studios! While the Baby Yoda Funko we told you about yesterday is only available for pre-order, here’s some Mandalorian Funko POP! toys that are actually available right now at Hollywood Studios’ Launch Bay! Here’s the Cara Dune Funko! Cara Dune Funko POP! And here’s the IG-11 Funko! IG-11 Funko POP! We also scored the bobble-head Kuiil Funko! All three of The Mandalorian Funko POP! toys are currently priced at $14.99. Kuiil Funko POP! And while the back of the packaging shows a Mandalorian Funko POP! is part of the series, these were the only three toys that Launch Bay had in stock this afternoon! Funko POP! Packaging We’ll be sure to update you though as soon as we spot The Mandalorian Funko POP! in the Disney parks! Stay tuned! Until then, be sure to watch the Rise of the Resistance Dedication Ceremony tonight which is being live-streamed right here! And check out our thoughts after riding Rise of the Resistance for the FIRST time here! Have you been watching The Mandalorian on Disney+? Tell us who your favorite character is in the comments below! Related posts: Alien Popcorn Buckets, a New Dessert, and More Star Wars Updates: Everything New at Disney’s Hollywood Studios This Week! What’s New at Hollywood Studios This Week: Skyliner Progress, Tatooine Traders Construction, and More Holiday Fun! 2019 Disney Restaurant ULTIMATE GUIDE: What You Need To Know About EVERY Restaurant Opening In Disney World and Disneyland in 2019! View the full article

There are SO many aspects of the holidays to love at Disney World! Candlelight Processional From festive treats to cheery decorations, we can’t get enough! One of our favorite yearly holiday events at the parks, though, has to be the Candlelight Processional at Epcot’s International Festival of the Holidays. The show combines a reading of a traditional scripture (performed by a celebrity narrator), accompanied by a massive choir and live orchestra for a truly special experience. It was previously announced that Chita Rivera would be the narrator for the Candlelight Processional on December 11th and 12th, but that no longer seems to be the case. Candlelight Processional It looks like Alton Fitzgerald White will be replacing her as the narrator for those nights. Alton Fitzgerald White is perhaps best known for playing the role of Mufasa in The Lion King on Broadway! We’re so excited to see his narration for the two nights of the Candlelight Processional! Alton Fitzgerald White ©Disney The Candlelight Processional will be running November 29th through December 30th at the America Gardens Theater in the American Pavilion in Epcot, with shows performed three times each night! Read all about this year’s Candlelight Processional here! Will you be going to the Candlelight Processional this year? Let us know in the comments below! Related posts: TWO MORE Candlelight Processional Narrators Announced for the 2019 Epcot Festival of the Holidays! Check Out Our FREE DFB Checklist for Epcot’s 2019 Festival of the Holidays Here! Let’s Raise a Glass (or Two!) at the Prost! Booth at the Epcot Festival of the Holidays! View the full article

We tend to find a menagerie of good Disney parks merch at Magic Kingdom’s Big Top Souvenirs! Big Top Souvenirs And today was no exception! Not only did we see some fun 2020 merchandise for the New Year, but we also spotted something pretty surprising and SUPER fun — Disney Parks Pez Dispensers! Who woulda thought of these? Not sure we would have, but we sure are glad that someone did. These Pez dispensers are supah cute and feature some of our fave Disney characters! There’s a blue Pez dispenser that features the smiling face of Mickey Mouse himself! Mickey Pez Dispenser To match, you can nab the Minnie Mouse dispenser with its red color that matches Minnie’s bow! Minnie Pez Dispenser If you’re a Toy Story fan (who isn’t a Toy Story fan?) there’s a whole bunch of options to rep your fave toys in Pez dispenser form! You can pick up this super classic-looking yellow Woody dispenser. Woody Pez Dispenser Alternatively, show your love for your fave Space Ranger with the galactic blue Buzz dispenser. Buzz Lightyear Pez Dispenser If you find yourself wishing you were riding Slinky Dog Dash all the time, maybe you should grab a Slinky Dog dispenser to help quench that need! Slinky Dog Pez Dispenser And last but certainly not least is the Green Alien dispenser. We LOVE this one and its def our favorite. Let’s just say, if we saw this guy in a claw machine, he’d be chosen! Alien Pez Dispenser While Pez have clearly been around for a while, this is the first time we’ve seen exclusive Disney Parks versions. All of the dispensers are available at Big Top Souvenirs for $4.79, so hurry on ever a get yo’ self some Pez!!! Click here to check out other new merch in Magic Kingdom! Which Pez dispenser is your favorite? Tell us in the comments! Related posts: What’s New in Magic Kingdom — An Epic Sundae, New Jewelry, and Haunted Mansion Merch! What’s New in Magic Kingdom — Pandora Charms, the Minnie Milk Shake, Halloween Decorations, and MORE! What’s New in Magic Kingdom — Halloween Treats, Rainbow Glow Cubes, Construction Updates, and MORE! View the full article

We’re catching a sleigh down to Disney Springs this season because there are SO many ways to celebrate! Christmas Tree Trail Yes, SO MANY WAYS to get your holidays on! From a sleighful of holiday treats (we’re looking at you, Holiday Funnel Cake!) to super cute Christmas decorations all around (like at Jock Lindsay’s Hangar Bar!), we’re having a blast checkin’ out everything that Disney Springs has to offer for the season. Needless to say, it’s hard to pick a favorite, but we’re LOVING the Christmas Tree Trail! Now, there’s a new way to bring the charm of the Trail home with you — wanna see??? The Christmas trees are obviously super cool on the Christmas Tree Trail, but they’re not the only memorable decoration. The area is plastered with a ton of ADORABLE posters with references to our fave Disney attractions, foods, and films! Christmas Tree Trail Posters We LOVE these posters — like, a lot. The designs are SO COOL and we love picking out our favorite Disney references. Well, Christmas just came early because now some of the Christmas Tree Trail posters are available for purchase so that you can take your fave designs home with you! What better way to deck the halls? Christmas Tree Trail Posters ©Disney Just pop on over to The Art of Disney (right near the Christmas Tree Trail) and head to the Art on Demand kiosk. You’ll find select poster designs available there! Christmas Tree Trail Posters Madame Leota’s Music Lessons? That’s an ad we’d hang up in our house! Click here for allll the pics from the 2019 Christmas Tree Trail! Do you have a fave poster design from the Christmas Tree Trail? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: Star Wars Fans: Get Ready for a Triple Force Friday Shopping Spree in Disney Springs! We Just Met Them, But We’re Already in LOVE with the NEW Frozen Pandora Charms in Disney Springs! Pretty in Pink! The Cutest NEW Dooney & Bourke Line Blossoms into Disney World and Online! View the full article

Looking for the perfect holiday gift to give the wine aficionado in your life? Wine Bar George Then we’ve spotted a great deal for you at Wine Bar George! Wine Bar George is currently running a special gift card promotion! For every $100 you spend, you’ll receive a $10 bonus card that you can either give — or maybe secretly keep for yourself! Hey, you do you! We won’t say a word! Wine Bar George Gift Card You can currently take advantage of this special deal at any Wine Bar George location now through December 31st! And while you’re there, be sure to check out the new Glampagne Corkcicle Flute — which you can read more about here! Looking for more holiday goodies at Disney Springs? Be sure to check out this not so cute, but oh so delicious holiday funnel cake! Will you be giving the gift of Wine Bar George gift cards this holiday season? Let us know if you’ll be taking Wine Bar George up on this exclusive offer in the comments below! Related posts: Review! Wine Bar George Adds New Items to Its Menu Including CHEESE ON FIRE!!! Limited Time Only Valentine’s Weekend Menu At Wine Bar George in Disney Springs News! Hennessy Week Is Coming to Disney World! View the full article