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This week, The Disney Parks Blog looked ahead to 2019 with several updates on exciting experiences coming to Disney Parks. We also shared new details on next year’s special 4-Park Magic Tickets at Walt Disney World Resort. Starting Jan. 18, 2019, you can purchase 4-Park Magic Value Ticket for $85 per day, plus tax (total price $340, plus tax) that include one day of admission to Magic Kingdom Park, one day of admission to Epcot, one day of admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and one day of admission to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, for a total of four admissions over four separate days*. The 4-Park Magic Value Ticket is valid for admission Jan. 18 – March 1, 2019, and must be used within seven days of first use or by March 1, 2019, whichever comes first. Two additional types of 4-Park Magic Tickets will also be available at higher price points and may be used on various dates through Sept. 30, 2019. For more information about the 4-Park Magic Tickets, visit Disneyworld.com/parkmagic. Also, visit our original Walt Disney World Special 4-Park Magic Tickets story for more details. And for the first time, our exclusive silhouette series featured Disneyland Resort artist Keith Lapinig explored Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks to create his yuletide works of art. Check out our original “Disney Parks in Silhouette” story for more amazing images. Here are some of the other stories we worked on this week. Now Open! Discover The Tropical Hideaway in Disneyland Park – The tiki torches are lit and the food is ready. The Tropical Hideaway is now open at Disneyland park! Cook Up the Magic with this Peppermint-Inspired Recipe from Disney Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure Park – Looking for that perfect peppermint dessert to add to your holiday table? The holiday season at Disneyland Resort is filled with sweets and treats galore, and one of my personal favorite dishes this year is from the Disney Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure park. From All of Us to All of You: Disney Christmas Cards Celebrate Disney Parks – Over eight decades, the artists of the Walt Disney Studios also created annual seasonal artwork for merchandise, greeting cards, advertisements, and publications, and in support of motion picture releases, television programs, and the Disney Parks & Resorts. Storybook Dining at Artist Point Starts Today! – Guests can now meet the beloved characters from Disney’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” while enjoying a bountiful dinner at Artist Point. Wetzel’s Pretzels Re-Opens its Flagship Store in the Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort – Wetzel’s Pretzels, an innovator of soft, fresh-baked pretzels, has returned to the Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort after an extensive renovation! Start Planning Your runDisney Race Calendar for 2019 – 2020 – If you’ve yet to experience the magic of runDisney – or if you just can’t wait to experience it again – event and on-sale dates for the 2019-2020 race season are now available. NBA Experience at Disney Springs Will Help You Feel Like a Pro – New Details Revealed! – In summer 2019, NBA Experience will open at Disney Springs and allow kids of all ages the chance to live out those dreams in a whole new way! Brighten Up Your Holiday Season With Disney Parks-Inspired Apple Music Playlists – Did you know you can bring the magic of a Disney Parks holiday vacation into your home this season, thanks to special Apple Music®* playlists? *One theme park per day and the tickets can be used to enter each theme park only once. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable and exclude activities/events separately priced. Higher-priced tickets are valid for use on dates with a lower price. For more information about the 4-Park Magic Tickets, visit Disneyworld.com/parkmagic. View the full article

If you raft on over to Tom Sawyer Island in Magic Kingdom between now and January 5th, you’ll find that Aunt Polly’s is serving up eats on the Island! Aunt Polly’s Open from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM during this busy holiday season, you can rustle up some grub from the limited time menu. Aunt Polly’s Aunt Polly’s Menu Featured items are Becky’s Buttery Biscuit Barbecued Pork Sliders and Soft Pretzel Sticks (served with your choice of beer cheese, nacho cheese, or creole mustard for dipping). Sweet treats include a Root Beer Float and a Mississippi Mud Brownie served a la mode. You can also try a Lemonade and Sweet Tea Slushy, which is awesome news since this item has been discontinued at Columbia Harbour House! (You can get either flavor individually as well). Tea and Lemonade Slush Becky’s Buttery Biscuit Barbecued Pork Sliders is a filling meal, thanks to the choice of dense, hearty biscuits for the sliders as opposed to typical slider rolls. Becky’s Buttery Biscuit Barbecued Pork Sliders And between the seasoning on the shredded pork and the cajun house-made chips on the side, there’s even a bit of spice to enjoy. Becky’s Buttery Biscuit Barbecued Pork Sliders But truly, though it’s fun to have a tasty meal and even some unique items on the menu, we’d look forward to stopping by Aunt Polly’s no matter what she’s serving, thanks to the awesome location on Tom Sawyer Island and — even better — the chance to relive some fun and fond memories from when this operated as a regular location. And what better time or place for fun and fond memories… A Happy Holiday Hello from the Magic Kingdom! … than the holiday season in Magic Kingdom? Want to stay informed of ALL the Disney News?? Sign Up for the Disney Food Blog Newsletter and don’t miss a thing! Click HERE to subscribe! Don’t Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! The 2019 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, is now available for Pre-Order! With more than 750 pages, the 2019 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 20+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2019 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2019 to save 25% today! But there’s MORE! Just like all DFB pre-order deals — when you pre-order your DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, 2019 Edition today for 25% off the cover price, you’ll also get our fully updated 2018 Edition for FREE immediately, so you can start planning TODAY! Use code WDW2019 at check-out for a 25% off the cover price, AND get the 2018 edition for free! Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Have you ever dined at Aunt Polly’s? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: Aunt Polly’s on Tom Sawyer Island in Magic Kingdom to Reopen for the Holiday Season Review: Lunch at Magic Kingdom’s Tortuga Tavern (Updated BBQ Menu) News: Baked Potato Now at Sleepy Hollow in Magic Kingdom View the full article

The holidays are REALLY on now in Walt Disney World… Animal Kingdom’s Tree of Life … and we’ve seen the crowds and the attraction wait times to prove it! Animal Kingdom Entrance Flight of Passage Wait Time Fortunately, in Animal Kingdom there are lots of new and limited time eats (in addition to all sorts of longtime favorites) to serve the increased number of guests. Meatball and Polenta at Terra Treats Because, as we always say, the best thing about more crowds in Disney World is MORE FOOD!!! Tasting Sampler Guide In fact, if you have plans to be in Animal Kingdom from today through January 2, 2019, you can pre-purchase the Animal Kingdom Tasting Sampler, which offers a $35 digital value card to redeem for select food and beverage items around the park for the price of $30, PLUS preferred seating for the second showing of Rivers of Light on the night of your visit. Find our how you can reserve the Animal Kingdom Tasting Sampler here! Lots of new, limited time items (available through January 2nd) have arrived in conjunction with the availability of the Tasting Sampler at various carts and kiosks throughout the park. However, these items are also available for regular purchase (including several that are available for Disney Dining Plan snack credits) even without the Tasting Sampler! Tasting Sampler Guide Even if you aren’t participating with the Tasting Sampler, you can still pick up a handy Tasting Sampler Guide if you’d like to know where all the items are! Tasting Sampler Guide That said, if you ARE participating with the Tasting Sampler, you’ll DEFINITELY want to pick up a guide to find out where your digital value card can be put into use! Tasting Sampler Guide Now, let’s dig into some of the additional items available around the park during this busy holiday season so you can start making your list — and checking it twice — of everything you’d like to try! Discovery Island Terra Treats is serving a specialty menu, and it gives a good idea of the “tasting-sized” items available throughout the park to begin. Terra Treats You’ll notice as we go that several items bear a strong serving resemblance to the Epcot Food & Wine Festival Food Booth items. Terra Treats Menu We tried the Meatball and Polenta along with the Butternut Squash, Potato, and Prosciutto Pizza. The Meatball and super creamy Polenta are delicious together, with the flavorful meatball also being packed with spinach. Meatball and Polenta Meatball and Polenta The Butternut Squash, Potato, and Prosciutto Pizza is really enjoyable, too, thanks to the unique and fresh toppings. Butternut Squash, Potato, and Prosciutto Pizza The Smiling Crocodile has specialty items as well. The Smiling Crocodile A Pastrami Beef Slider and a Plant-Based Chili make up the offerings. The Smiling Crocodile Menu The Plant-Based Chili is packed with flavor and just a perfect fit for these cool days. Aside from the variety of beans and tomatoes and more making up the chili, the cornbread croutons are also a great touch! Plant-based Chili The Pastrami Beef Slider is yet another winner. (And keep this one in mind, because we’ll show you another slider in a little bit that doesn’t live up to this one.) Pastrami Beef Slider The terrific toppings over the tasty pastrami include a unique sauerkraut-kale slaw and whole grain mustard along with a pickle spear. Pastrami Beef Slider Pastrami fans should not miss it! Africa If you’ve ever wanted to try several of the Dawa Bar signature cocktails in one go, now’s your time, thanks to the Dawa Bar Flight! Dawa’s Flight It includes tastings of Ngumu Jungle Juice, Lost on Safari, and the African Margarita. Dawa’s Flight Curry dishes are the focus for the Sampler offerings at Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery, featuring a Shrimp Curry, a Chicken Curry, or a Curry Sampler to try both. Kusafiri Specialty Items Before we dig in, just a note that regular menu items are still available at Kusafiri, too. Kusafiri regular offerings The Curry Sampler is quite tasty. In particular, the chicken is fall-apart tender, and the curry flavor isn’t too overpowering. Curry Sampler Curry Sampler As you can tell, though, you definitely need to appreciate plenty of cilantro in order to enjoy this dish! Curry Sampler Asia Strolling from Africa towards Asia, you’ll happen upon Caravan Road. Caravan Road On the menu is a Korean Fiery Beef Slider and a Tuna Bao. Caravan Road Menu The Tuna Bao serves up seared tuna, cabbage slaw, and spicy mayo. Tuna Bao While we didn’t pick up much spice at all from the mayo, it was impossible not to be impressed by the insanely fresh tuna and crisp slaw. Tuna Bao Unfortunately, we didn’t find anything special about the Korean Fiery Beef Slider. Korean Fiery Beef Slider Made with kimchi, black sesame seeds and rainbow carrots to top the beef, we expected to like it much more than we did. But it was just okay. Korean Fiery Beef Slider Directly across the way is Mr. Kamal’s. Chicken Dumplings are the specialty item. Mr. Kamal’s Mr. Kamal’s Menu Served with a tart ponzu sauce, the Chicken Dumplings are served in a fried wonton wrapper, giving them an especially nice crisp. They are seriously yummy. Chicken Dumplings Chicken Dumplings And Thirsty River Bar and Trek Snacks is getting in on the fun, too! Thirsty River Bar and Trek Snacks You can try three of their beers — including the Kungaloosh Spiced Excursion Ale — in a Beer Flight! Beer Flight on the menu Dinoland, U.S.A. Next stop? Dino Diner in Dinoland, U.S.A.! Dino Diner Specialty Menu Corn Chip Pie shows up as a specialty offering among the items! Corn Chip Pie Chili, sour cream, green onion, cheddar cheese, and jalapeno assemble to make this twist on nachos, which features corn chips as opposed to tortilla chips. (This is a fun one for the kids!) Corn Chip Pie And at Dino-Bite Snacks, a Peppermint Sundae is up for grabs. Dino-Bite Snacks Menu The base is a peppermint brownie with vanilla ice cream and it’s all topped with fudge sauce, peppermint candies, peppermint sauce, and a chocolate garnish. Peppermint Sundae As you can probably tell from the ingredient list, this one is for serious peppermint fans only! Peppermint Sundae And Trilo-Bites has added a seasonal milkshake to their selection. Trilo-Bites Find an Eggnog Shake on the menu (with or without bourbon)! Eggnog Shake on the menu Cheers! Eggnog Shake We were quite impressed with most of these new offerings today, and hope that some might even become regular menu items. (Hey, you never know!) And if your holiday plans include a visit to Animal Kingdom, we highly recommend checking out any of the items above that may have caught your eye. But before we leave… Friendly Reminders FOR GUESTS PARTICIPATING IN THE TASTING SAMPLER: Remember, the new items we’ve shown today are not the only items eligible when using your Tasting Sampler digital value card. The full list of eligible items and participating locations include items such as Pongu Lumpia at Pongu Pongu in Pandora and the Macaroni and Cheese dishes at Eight Spoon Cafe, and MUCH MORE. You can find all the eligible items by picking up a Tasting Sampler Guide. Tasting Sampler Guide Baked Mac and Cheese with Shrimp at Eight Spoon Cafe FOR GUESTS NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE TASTING SAMPLER: These new items highlighted here are not limited to those who are utilizing the Tasting Sampler. They are available through January 2nd for regular purchase (and, in many cases, for a Disney Dining Plan snack credit). You’ll always want to keep your eyes peeled for new food offerings in Animal Kingdom no matter what time of year you visit. In fact, the park is packed with all sorts of hidden gems from dining and beyond. Check them out in our DFB YouTube Video!  Are you visiting Animal Kingdom during the holidays? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: Disney World’s Animal Kingdom Menu UPDATES! What’s New To Eat?! What’s New at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom and Resorts! June 21, 2018 What’s New at Disney World’s Animal Kingdom: April 3, 2018 View the full article

Happy Weekend! We’re back with another DFB Video today, and we’re letting you know where you can get your TACO on in Disney World! TACOS!!!! After all, shouldn’t every day be Taco Tuesday, really? Because who doesn’t love tacos?! But here’s the thing: we’re going well beyond beef and cheese tacos. We’re checking out Kalua Pork Tacos, Cauliflower Tacos, Battered Shrimp Tacos, and MUCH more… including, of course, where to find them ALL! So join us for Taco Saturday in our latest DFB YouTube 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: Where is your favorite place to grab a taco in Disney World? Related posts: DFB Video: 11 Things Disney World Pros Do, And You Should, Too DFB Video: Tips for Eating Gluten Free in Walt Disney World DFB Video: My Favorite Walt Disney World Restaurants! View the full article

Epcot’s International Festival of the Holidays is in full swing. Guests are sipping hot cocoa, enjoying cultural storytellers in the World Showcase, and flocking to see the Candlelight Processional each night. 2018 Epcot International Festival of the Holidays With everything at Epcot moving merrily along this holiday season, you might not think we’d have anything new to tell you about this week. But guess what? We do! Read on to hear all about turkey legs, Mickey and Minnie tea infusers, construction updates, and holiday sweets! What’s New in Future World Let’s start with the current view of construction for the Guardians of the Galaxy coaster. Gotta love that galaxy-themed construction wall! Guardians of the Galaxy Ride Construction To learn more about the Guardians of the Galaxy ride, check out this post. This Future World pretzel cart has started serving Turkey Legs! Future World Pretzel Cart But don’t worry, pretzel fans: Mickey Pretzels are still available, too! Future World Pretzel Cart Menu Over in The Land Pavilion, we spotted lots of little updates at Sunshine Seasons. First: the Deep Dish Pizza now comes with a side of Pasta Salad instead of Caesar Salad. Sunshine Seasons Menu They’ve got new seasonal soup flavors, too! Seasonal Soups at Sunshine Seasons On the day were visited, there were two soups to choose from. Seasonal Soups at Sunshine Seasons Would you pick Vegan Lentil or Chicken Pot Pie? Vegan Lentil and Chicken Pot Pie Soups We also saw this Jack Fruit Vegan Wrap in the grab-and-go area for the first time. Jack Fruit Vegan Wrap Craving something sweet? Don’t worry; Sunshine Seasons has you covered! How about this Christmas Sugar Cookie? Christmas Sugar Cookie from Sunshine Seasons Plenty of our favorite year-round Sunshine Seasons desserts got makeovers for the holidays, too! Have a look at this Minnie Holiday Cupcake! Holiday Minnie Cupcake Check out our review right here! There’s also a pretty Presents Holiday Cupcake… and you’ll never guess what’s inside of these tiny gifts! Presents Holiday Cupcake Want the spoilers? Read the full story here. The classic Mickey Oreo Cheesecake is wearing a Santa outfit for the holidays! Santa Mickey Oreo Cheesecake Check out this post for more on the Santa Mickey Oreo Cheesecake. Annnnd don’t the sprinkles add the perfect amount of green to this Strawberry Shortcake? Strawberry Shortcake Fans of the Flower Pot PB&J Cupcake will want to check out this ADORABLE Snowman Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcake! Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcake Intrigued as to whats inside that snowman? Check out our full review here. What’s New in the World Showcase There’s construction happening in the World Showcase Lagoon! Could this have to do with the new nighttime spectacular coming to Epcot in 2019? World Showcase Lagoon Construction Read the full story and see more pictures here. Over in The American Adventure Pavilion, Block and Hans has added a beer flight. Beer Flight at Block and Hans More construction is going on over in the France Pavilion. We think this is most likely for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure! Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Construction What’s New with Merchandise at Epcot ‘Tis the season to enjoy a hot cup of tea, right? Well, perfect timing: we noticed these adorable Mickey and Minnie tea infusers for the first time this week. The Disney Parks Walkers Shortbread Rounds have new packaging, too! Disney Parks Walkers Shortbread Rounds Plaid-clad Mickey, Minnie, and Pluto… They’re all SO CUTE! Disney Parks Walkers Shortbread Rounds We know it’s not quite 2019 yet, but in case you want to plan head, 2019 merchandise has arrived at Walt Disney World! This hat we found at Epcot is too much fun. 2019 Mickey Hat Here’s a peek at the back: Mickey 2019 Hat Read our full story and see TONS of pictures of the 2019 Disney Parks merchandise here. Earlier this week, select holiday items were on sale throughout Walt Disney World, including these fun Chip and Dale mugs. Epcot Festival of the Holidays Chip and Dale Sale Merch Read the full story here. And that’s everything new we spotted at Epcot this week! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Planning to visit Walt Disney World this holiday season? Don’t forget to check out Disney Food Blog‘s guide to Epcot’s International Festival of the Holidays. Don’t Miss Out on Any Disney World Fun This Holiday Season! The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2018 is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World. Order The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2018 now! It includes over 400 pages of must-have information, including: A full What’s New!! chapter for the 2018 Holiday Season A full Monthly Schedule of Events for the Holiday Season How to avoid the crowds on Disney World’s busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!) ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM. And of course we’ll tell you where to eat! ;-D Order your 2018 Guide now and get 20% off with code PEPPERMINT! As always, our e-Books are 100% guaranteed! If you don’t love it, you get your money back! Which Epcot update are you most excited about this week? Let us know with a comment! Related posts: What’s New at Epcot This Week: Guardians of the Galaxy and Ratatouille Construction, Mission Space Restaurant, Cuties, and Christmas Kringla! Join Us on the Cookie Stroll at Epcot’s International Festival of the Holidays! News and Review: Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup and Poutine Debut at Epcot’s Refreshment Port! View the full article

This weekend edition of Disney Doodles comes to us from artist Evan Peltier, who imagines what Flower from the 1942 film “Bambi” would do first if he could visit Walt Disney World Resort. According to Evan, this sweet skunk may seek out some of the lovely poinsettias that can be seen around Walt Disney World Resort this time of year – and maybe even take in a seasonal treat or two! View the full article

It’s the most ‘run’derful time of the year! Whether you’re enjoying a few merry training miles at home or gathering the family for a fun holiday race, add a festive touch of Disney to your attire. Download our step-by-step tutorial to make your very own “Ugly” Sweater, just in time for the holiday season. Download all the instructions here and the templates you’ll need here. Please read our terms of use before downloading. From all of us at runDisney, we hope you have a wonderful holiday! Thanks for all the miles and memories and see you in 2019! Learn more about runDisney events here! Follow us: Twitter: @runDisney Instagram: @runDisney Facebook: @runDisney YouTube: @runDisney View the full article

It’s hard to believe 2018 is already coming to a close. Have you made your New Year’s Eve plans yet? For those of you looking to welcome 2019 at the Disneyland Resort, we have celebrations planned for both parks. Disneyland park will feature DJs in Tomorrowland, Fantasyland and Frontierland, while over at Disney California Adventure park, there’s quite a party lined up for Hollywood Land and Paradise Gardens Park. Here’s just a sampling of what’s in store there: Hollywood Land Music and Dancing – Heat up the dance floor throughout the night to tunes spun by DJ Juan. Countdown to Midnight – A special event stage turns the intersection of Hollywood and Sunset into our very own Times Square, complete with a countdown clock ticking off the hours, minutes and seconds to the new year. Paradise Gardens Park Live Music – The incomparable Phat Cat Swinger performs live at the Palisades Stage in Paradise Gardens Park at 8 p.m., 9:05 p.m. and 10:45 p.m. DJ Wendy – Join DJ Wendy Walker at the Palisades Stage, as she drops the hottest beats at 8:30 p.m., 9:45 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. East Coast Countdown – At 9 p.m., celebrate with our friends at Walt Disney World Resort as 2019 rolls in on the East Coast. Get ready for a special appearance by Mickey and Minnie, along with an awesome East Coast countdown moment. Midnight Celebration – You won’t want to miss this midnight countdown to welcome 2019 in style, complete with celebratory music and fireworks! And DJ Wendy returns to keep the party going all the way to 1 a.m. It promises to be one of the biggest parties of the year, launching us into 2019, which is quickly shaping up as the biggest year in Disneyland history! On Dec. 31, Disneyland park is open from 8 a.m. – 2 a.m. and Disney California Adventure park is open from 8 a.m. – 1 a.m. View the full article

They say it’s the most wonderful time of the year and we certainly agree here at Disney Cruise Line. During this season of giving, Disney Cruise Line crew members brought holiday cheer and Disney magic to more than 2,000 children throughout the port communities we visit. Captain Mickey and his pals joined Disney VoluntEARS visiting children at local schools, hospitals and children’s homes in many of our ports of call. There were nine visits total with stops in destinations such as Galveston, Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Nassau. “For children recovering from burn injuries and their families, the journey can be long and difficult,” said Katherine Jeschke, Donor Development Officer for Galveston’s Shriners Hospital. “Captain Mickey and First Mate Minnie’s visit to our hospital offered our children and families the chance to play and interact with two of their favorite characters. Having this chance to play encouraged children to get out of bed and walk, cope with their treatment and have a special moment during their recovery. It was truly a joy to see the kids smile and light up during this visit.” It’s a holiday tradition for crew members and cast from all across the Walt Disney Company to come together and give back to those around us. The Disney VoluntEARS program is based on a legacy of giving dating back to the 1930s when Walt Disney, accompanied by the studio animators, took his beloved characters on community outreach visits! From all of us at Disney Cruise Line, we wish your family a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year. View the full article

There are people who collect Disney memorabilia, and those who collect Starbucks mugs. But there's one memorable spot where those two collector fandoms meet. Starbucks sells souvenir You Are Here mugs for many cities and countries, and now the colorful mugs for Disney theme parks are for sale online. ... View the full article

According to Magic Kingdom Cast Members, Aunt Polly’s on Tom Sawyer Island in Magic Kingdom will be reopening to serve food once again for a limited time to Magic Kingdom guests! Rivers of America and Aunt Polly’s Our sources say that the beloved spot will be open daily from December 22nd through January 5th. Tom Sawyer Island will be receiving guests (coming by raft, of course) from 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM most days (with the exception of December 22nd, when it may not open until 11:00 AM). However, please note that Aunt Polly’s will have different operating hours, which we are waiting to confirm at this time. We also look forward to confirming menu information for you tomorrow! For those unfamiliar with Aunt Polly’s, this counter service location is beloved by many who made memories (and consumed some famous fried chicken) when it was open on a regular basis back in the day. Now, however, it really can’t even be considered an official seasonal location for high crowd seasons (like Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant and Tortuga Tavern), as there is never a guarantee that it will even be open during seasons like Spring Break or the busiest days of the holidays. So when it IS open… well, it’s a very big deal to those who want to relive fond memories and even make some new ones with those who have never had the chance to visit. And to all who get to go over the next couple of weeks, we hope you enjoy! Want to stay informed of ALL the Disney News?? Sign Up for the Disney Food Blog Newsletter and don’t miss a thing! Click HERE to subscribe! Don’t Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! The 2019 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, is now available for Pre-Order! With more than 750 pages, the 2019 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 20+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2019 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2019 to save 25% today! But there’s MORE! Just like all DFB pre-order deals — when you pre-order your DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, 2019 Edition today for 25% off the cover price, you’ll also get our fully updated 2018 Edition for FREE immediately, so you can start planning TODAY! Use code WDW2019 at check-out for a 25% off the cover price, AND get the 2018 edition for free! Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Would you love to pop over to Aunt Polly’s? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: Review: Sausage and Cheddar-Stuffed Pretzel at Magic Kingdom’s Sleepy Hollow Refreshments News: Rotating Specialty Hot Dogs and MORE on Updated Casey’s Corner Menu News: One-Day Disney Dining Plan to Begin Testing in the Magic Kingdom View the full article

Remember this summer when we broke the news about these enormous milkshake-y beauties from Walt Disney World’s Beaches & Cream? New Beaches and Cream Shakes Well hold onto your jingle bells and your Santa hat because a Beaches & Cream milkshake has gone full-on Christmas! Christmas Cookie Sandwich Milkshake Oooohhh, yeah! Merry Holidays to us! This Santa-worthy shake is Cookies-and-Cream Ice Cream, a Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwich filled with FROSTING, crushed Candy Cane around the rim, and a Chocolate Mickey Santa Hat piece on top. Christmas Cookie Sandwich Milkshake This is some seriously tasty holiday cheer — in milkshake form! The chocolate chip cookie is simple, but filling it with frosting? These are some cookie sandwiches after my own heart! Christmas Cookie Sandwich Milkshake The flavor combination is great. Chocolate and peppermint are natural partners this time of the year. But if you want to try this treat and you’re peppermint-averse, you can potentially eat around it or request the milkshake without. (Maybe they’ll sub in some chocolate chips or something equally sweet instead?) Christmas Cookie Sandwich Milkshake At any rate, if you’re in the vicinity of Beaches and Cream and just need a delicious holiday treat, order this deliciousness! (And ask for some napkins. This is serious business!) Huge thanks to my sweet friend, Amber J, for sending these pics and her review along! Worried you’ll miss another awesome Disney Parks treat? Worry no more! Sign up for Disney Food Blog’s Newsletter TODAY! Would you dig into this over-the-top milkshake? Let us know what you think in the comments below! Related posts: Is Disney World’s Beaches and Cream Still Worth The Reservation? What’s New at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Coronado Springs Resort: May 26, 2018 Disney World’s Poutine Obsession: 15 Ways To Get Your French Fry Fix View the full article

The tiki torches are lit and the food is ready. The Tropical Hideaway is now open at Disneyland park! This new marketplace is nestled between the Jungle Cruise and Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room and offers unique eats along the tropical shores of Adventureland. We met up with Michael Dobrzycki, an art director with Walt Disney Imagineering, who gave us an inside look at some of the details of the space and also introduced us to the one and only Rosita! The marketplace features an open-air dock where patrons can sit back and relax on the Jungle River waterfront while enjoying sweet and savory bites. As the sun goes down, flickering torch lights illuminate the area making for an enchanting nighttime setting. Rosita is also hanging out with the visitors, awaiting a Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. boat (which is running uncharacteristically late) to take her on a journey towards a solo career. She spends her time telling jokes and reminiscing about the hideaway from way back when. When you walk into The Tropical Hideaway, you’ll be greeted by local merchants peddling their goods. Over at the fruit whip counter, you’ll see a few new Dole Whip flavors, including orange and raspberry, as well as the classic pineapple flavor. These can be ordered in a cup or as a float. Swirl options are also available – pineapple and orange swirl or pineapple and raspberry swirl). An old boiler heats up warm hand-held food at the next booth over. Stop by this vendor and you can take a bit out of a delicious bao. The Spiced Vegetable Bao is filled with chickpeas and braised vegetables, while the Bulgogi Beef Bao is filled with sweet chilies and potatoes. And you definitely won’t want to miss the Sweet Lumpia or the Chilled Ramen Shaker with fresh vegetables, ramen noodles, togarashi cashews, and Asian vinaigrette dressing, YUM. Other grab and go options include baked potato chips, salt and vinegar potato chips, onion chips, organic chickpea puffs, and plantain chips. A variety of cold beverages will also be available with options including soft drinks, coconut water, tea, and even mango orange juice! The Tropical Hideaway is now open, so come on out and see it for yourself! To see more photos of this exciting new marketplace, check out our first look story from last week. For more information, as well as the full menu, visit the Disneyland Resort website. View the full article

YES! You read that title correctly… ArtistoCrepes in Disney Springs is serving up Edible Cookie Dough! Edible Cookie Dough ©Disney You can pick your choice of three flavors: Gingerbread Butterscotch, Chocolate Chip, or Brownie Batter… or you can try all three in an Edible Cookie Dough Flight! Each are complete with Mickey Ears in cookie form for dipping. Keep in mind that AristoCrepes typically opens later than most Disney Springs spots. AristoCrepes Kiosk For instance, today’s hours — like most weekdays — are listed on the Disney World website from 4:00 – 10:30 PM. However, on weekends you may find them open as early as 12:00 Noon (at least through these busy holiday season weekends). And — let’s be honest — EDIBLE COOKIE DOUGH may just be worth planning your visit to Disney Springs around, so be sure to check the hours on the Disney World website accordingly. You’ll find AristoCrepes in the Marketplace in Disney Springs. Take a complete Food Tour of the area in our DFB YouTube Video! Would you like to try an Edible Cookie Dough Flight? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: What’s New Around Walt Disney World — June 14, 2016 What’s New Around Walt Disney World: October 20, 2016 DFB’s Top 10 Disney Food News Stories of 2016 View the full article

Disney Parks Moms Panel | Tour the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort View the full article

Disney Parks Moms Panel | Disneyland Resort Digital Experiences Make Planning Easy View the full article

Are you planning to make a splash over the holidays at Disney World’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park? If so, you’ll want to know about a special offering just for adults available from December 26th – 31st. Typhoon Lagoon The Adult Cove will offer guests 18-and older food and beverage service at Hammerhead Fred’s Bar along with specialty drinks, live music, and a TV at the bar for game viewing. Hammerhead Fred’s So drop on in (no reservation needed) to the Adult Cove for some extra yuletide cheer from December 26th through 31st! Don’t Miss Out on Any Disney World Fun This Holiday Season! The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2018 is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World. Order The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2018 now! It includes over 400 pages of must-have information, including: A full What’s New!! chapter for the 2018 Holiday Season A full Monthly Schedule of Events for the Holiday Season How to avoid the crowds on Disney World’s busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!) ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM. And of course we’ll tell you where to eat! ;-D Order your 2018 Guide now and get 20% off with code PEPPERMINT! As always, our e-Books are 100% guaranteed! If you don’t love it, you get your money back! Will you be visiting Typhoon Lagoon over the holidays or in 2019? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: Specialty Sips and Eats for H2O Glow Nights at Disney World’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park Typhoon Lagoon Splash-and-Dine Around! Grand Launch! DFB Guide to Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios Snacks 2015 View the full article

The Grand Floridian Cafe in Walt Disney World’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is known for its relatively understated decor (free of Disney characters and over-the-top styling) and its relaxing atmosphere. But there’s one thing here that’s not at all understated: the food! Grand Floridian Cafe sign at entrance Last fall, I shared the Lobster Thermidor and the Floridian Pancakes, both of which were fantastic, and just a couple of months ago we let you in on a little chicken-and-waffles hack. Well now I’m back with several brunch options that, shall we say, put the grand in Grand Floridian Cafe. Grand Floridian Cafe Brunch Menu There are tons of options on the brunch menu, which still features the Lobster Thermidor Burger I enjoyed in addition to other lunch-y options like Caesar Salad and Miso-Glazed Salmon. Breakfast items include traditional items like pancakes, eggs, and waffles. Grand Floridian Brunch Menu My table started with a fairly traditional breakfast: Steak and Eggs. There’s not much to say about the plating here; it’s boring and not cohesive. At all. But the Sirloin Steak, Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole, and Eggs were decent. The House-Made Steak Sauce was flavorful, but overall, this was pretty ho-hum. Steak and Eggs But that’s OK, because everything else happening this morning is FLAWLESS. The Benedict Flight, y’all!!!! This trio of Benedicts includes one each of the restaurant’s options: Traditional, Lobster, and Spicy Chorizo. These are served with a side of lightly dressed greens, which are light and helped balance out the rich and heavy Benedicts. Benedict Flight The Traditional Eggs Benedict features Canadian Bacon, a Poached Egg, and thick, rich Hollandaise Sauce. This hit all the marks for a traditional eggs Benedict, and I enjoyed the salty hit from the ham. Traditional Eggs Benedict Lobster Benedict features the same egg and Hollandaise but includes a pile of Lobster and a stick or two of Asparagus. This was excellent, though some may argue that the Hollandaise was too strong for the subtle flavor of the lobster. In general, though, it’s rich on rich on rich. Lobster Benedict The Spicy Chorizo Benedict was terrific — my favorite of the three. The flavorful Spicy Chorizo and the Bell Pepper Relish were great counterpoints to the Hollandaise and the oozy egg. Spicy Chorizo Benedict And that oozy egg was beautifully oozy, if you like that sort of thing (and I do!). Poached Egg But how about a Grand Floridian Cafe food hack? A reader shared this tip with us a few months ago, and I had to give it a go. Order up the Buttermilk Fried Chicken (which is breaded with Corn Flakes!), and ask for it to be served on waffle instead of with the sides of potatoes and kale. The chicken itself is insanely delicious. Super tender, juicy, and perfectly cooked. I’m a fried chicken snob, and this stuff is where it’s at. Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Waffles Yup, this is a huge, crunchy, awesome combination. The waffle (I went with Belgian, but you can get the Mickey Waffle instead!) was golden and toasty, while the fried chicken had loads of crunch. Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Waffles Add a drizzle of the Sriracha Honey syrup and you’ve basically got the best thing I ate all week at Disney World. I’m still dreaming about this. Chicken and Waffles can be disappointing — the chicken could be dry, the waffle could be tasteless…but HERE you have a slightly spicy, slightly sweet, completely delicious plate of Chicken and Waffles. Get it. Get it now. Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Waffles Whew. OK. I’ll give you a minute to recover from that because you’re going to need your full focus for what’s next! If you opt for a (Disney) traditional Mickey Waffle or Pancakes, you’ll be offered the choice of adding on some toppings and a specialty syrup for $3.50. And, well, you know me and toppings/sauces: GET ‘EM ALL. Sooooo I ordered all three of the topping options to go with my Mickey Waffle! (Remember, unless you’re crazy like me, you’ll probably only get one of these little trays and be a normal human being. But you CAN order all three if you’re my spirit animal.) Mickey Waffle with ALL the toppings! Topping combinations include Mandarin Oranges, Chantilly cream, craisins, and Citrus-Pecan Syrup (build your own Floridian Pancakes with these!!); Sugar Cookie Crumbles, Whipped Cream, Fresh Strawberries, and Strawberry Sauce; or Granola, Lemon Curd, Fresh Blueberries, and Blueberry Sauce. Mickey Waffle Toppings Honestly, we don’t know how anyone is supposed to choose. All of the toppings were tasty and combined well with their counterparts. But seriously? Sugar cookies on a waffle? Sounds like a lot (and it is), but when on vacation… Mickey Waffle Sauces I’m still full from all of this delicious brunchiness, but I’d go back to Grand Floridian Cafe in a heartbeat and do it all again. The quality of the food items here is top-notch, especially considering that this isn’t a particularly lauded member of the Disney World restaurant pantheon. And maybe that’s also part of the appeal. Grand Floridian Cafe is relatively peaceful and relaxing for a theme park-adjacent table service restaurant. Combine that with the great eats, and you’ve got a real perennial favorite on your hands. Don’t Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! The 2019 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, is now available for Pre-Order! With more than 750 pages, the 2019 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 20+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to pre-order your copy of the 2019 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2019 to save 25% today! But there’s MORE! Just like all DFB pre-order deals — when you pre-order your DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, 2019 Edition today for 25% off the cover price, you’ll also get our fully updated 2018 Edition for FREE immediately, so you can start planning TODAY! Use code WDW2019 at check-out for a 25% off the cover price, AND get the 2018 edition for free! Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Have you dined in the Grand Floridian Cafe? Let us know what you thought in the comments below! Related posts: Disney World Food Hack: Chicken and Waffles at Grand Floridian Cafe! Recommended Disney World Dining Plan One Credit Restaurant Values 21 Myths About Walt Disney World Food DEBUNKED View the full article

Photographs are must-have souvenirs from any visit to Disney Parks. I love reminiscing by looking at wonderful family photos taken by Disney PhotoPass Service throughout Walt Disney World Resort at iconic locations such as the Tree of Life, Hollywood Tower Hotel, Cinderella Castle and Spaceship Earth. But did you know that Disney PhotoPass can also capture photos of you zooming through the galaxy, sailing through the Golden Age of Piracy, zipping through the Cretaceous Period, and dropping into the Twilight Zone? At participating attractions, Disney PhotoPass will help you remember your first (or fiftieth) time enjoying the incredible adventures, classic stories and thrills you experience onboard. The following Walt Disney World attractions offer photo capture: Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin DINOSAUR Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain Frozen Ever After* Pirates of the Caribbean* Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith Seven Dwarfs Mine Train* Slinky Dog Dash* Space Mountain Splash Mountain Test Track The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror The best way I’ve discovered to get unlimited, easy-to-share digital downloads of your Disney PhotoPass photos is by adding Memory Maker to your vacation. During your Memory Maker entitlement window, you can get digital downloads of all your attraction photos, plus all of your other Disney PhotoPass photos taken throughout Walt Disney World Resort.** Whether you prefer striking the perfect pose or can’t help but scream with delight, hang on tight and let Disney PhotoPass capture your memories! The Twilight Zone® is a registered trademark of CBS, Inc. and is used with permission pursuant to a license from CBS, Inc. *A MagicBand is required to collect attraction photos at Frozen Ever After, Pirates of the Caribbean, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Slinky Dog Dash. **Disney PhotoPass Service and Memory Maker are subject to the applicable terms and policies. Includes photos taken during the applicable Memory Maker Window as defined in such terms (generally, photos taken (i) within one day for Memory Maker One Day or (ii) within 30 days from the date of first activation for standard Memory Maker). If Memory Maker is purchased at the advance purchase price, any photos taken within 3 days of the date Memory Maker is purchased are not included and must be purchased separately. A MagicBand is required to receive certain attraction photos and other digital content. Online registration required. Disney PhotoPass Photos in your account will expire pursuant to the expiration policy. Downloads are restricted to personal use only. Not responsible for missing, lost or damaged photos. Subject to restrictions and change without notice. Valid theme park admission required for certain photo locations. View the full article

You know what your Walt Disney World Resort holiday vacation needs, after you create magical memories in the four theme parks? A relaxing day spent basking in the sun at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park. And from Dec. 26-31, you can take that relaxation to the next level by dropping in to the Adult Cove, a limited-time hideaway for guests 18 and older. Adult Cove will have everything you need to really unwind this holiday season: food and beverage service at Hammerhead Fred’s Bar, specialty drinks, live music and – this is the best part – there will be a TV at the bar, so you can catch the big game. Doesn’t that sound amazing? We think so! After hanging out in this adults-only getaway, get back to the thrills of Typhoon Lagoon by experiencing its signature attractions, such as Crush ‘n’ Gusher, Castaway Creek, Storm Slides and the Typhoon Lagoon Surf Pool, which produces waves up to 6 ft. tall. Adult Cove is just here next week, so be sure to add a visit to Typhoon Lagoon to your theme park plans. It’ll be one of the best places at Walt Disney World Resort to kick back, relax, grab some yummy treats and raise a glass to the final days of 2018. View the full article

Today, December 21, is the first day of winter. To celebrate this lovely season, we’ve designed a brand-new Disney Parks Blog wallpaper for you, which feature two of our favorite friends from The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh attraction at Magic Kingdom Park – Pooh and Eeyore, who seem to be enjoying the winter weather. This new wallpaper is available in both mobile and desktop versions. Be sure to check out the terms of use about using the wallpaper before you download it. Want to check out other designs? Visit our complete gallery of wallpapers. View the full article

What helps the medicine go down? Why, it’s a SPOONFUL OF SUGAR! And that’s exactly what you’ll find topping the new Mary Poppins-inspired CUPCAKE in Magic Kingdom’s Main Street Bakery! ©Disney This new cupcake makes its debut today in honor of the new film. And we’re not sure how long it will be available, so if you see one, we suggest you grab it… “Spit spot!” See ALL the food stops on Main Street, U.S.A. in our DFB YouTube Video Food Tour!  Will you be picking up a Spoonful of Sugar Cupcake? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: What’s New Around Walt Disney World: May 13, 2016 What’s New Around Walt Disney World: October 20, 2016 What’s New at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom: March 8, 2018 View the full article

The new Disney Junior Dance Party! live show, which will feature music and characters from beloved Disney Junior TV shows, will soon hit the stage at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The party will be held multiple times each day starting Saturday, December 22, and will feature the star of the spooktacular hit Disney Junior television show, “Vampirina.” This TV series follows the Hauntley family, friendly vampires who recently relocated from Transylvania to Pennsylvania. Viewers delight in watching Vampirina (aka “Vee”) as she experiences being the new kid in town and attending a new school in the human world. Disney Junior Dance Party! will also be hosted by Finn Fiesta and DJ Deejay, who will encourage guests to sing and dance to their favorite Disney Junior songs. Disney Junior Dance Party! features music and characters from “Doc McStuffins,” “The Lion Guard,” “Mickey and the Roadster Racers,” and “Vampirina.” Interested in learning more about Vampirina at Disney Parks? Check out this previous blog post. View the full article

“Of all of our inventions for mass communication, pictures still speak the most universally understood language.” — Walt Disney I recently had the pleasure of joining Disney Vacation Club Members attending the Phone Photography Workshop at Reunion Station. This workshop is one of many Membership Magic experiences offered, available as a paid, add-on option, at this relaxing retreat nestled on the shores of Bay Lake at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. With the holidays in full swing, this seemed like the perfect time to brush up on my phone photography skills and share with you a few tips and tricks, so that you, too, can capture memorable moments with your phone while celebrating with your family and friends this holiday season — or on your next trip “home.” And also a great excuse to share images of some of the amazing holiday decorations throughout Disney Vacation Club Resorts at Walt Disney World this year! The workshop, led by Disney Fine Art Photography & Video photographer Kevin O’Connell, included “classroom” work, yummy Reunion Station appetizers and drinks and even a field trip. With a strong focus on the amazing pictures we all love to take while on a Disney vacation, Kevin covered everything from capturing the emotions of a visit with a Disney character to grabbing that iconic fireworks-over-the-castle shot — no matter how many times we’ve seen that amazing spectacular! Tips from Kevin included both the obvious and the fine art of photography. Tip number one — clean your lens. I had to laugh, and yet, how often do we actually do that? Such a great tip! Kevin shared several of these and then moved into the finer points, the true craft of photography, and with a Disney lens, if you will. As Kevin spoke of the craft of filling the frame or the importance of the point of view of the camera, he shared several examples of Disney character interactions. When it comes to characters, the ones where the frame was filled, meaning there was more of the subject filling the full screen than say the floor or ceiling, the emotions of the Guests shone through, which is what we want so that years from now we can relive that magical moment again and again. Another tip — turn your camera horizontal to fill that frame. For point of view, Kevin noted how, throughout the park, the Disney PhotoPass Cast Members are always inviting us to join and stand next to them. This is because they have the perfect vantage point with the characters, the perfect lighting set up or even the best possible shot with the castle positioned just right in the background. He also noted how helpful it is to get on the level of your subject, especially with children. The Disney characters often kneel down, so dropping to one knee will also give you a better chance of capturing the faces of the children versus the tops of their heads. Such truth! When creating that picture-perfect postcard image, there were so many fun tips and tricks! Kevin talked us through everything from how to pose properly to where to not cut off a joint (elbow, knee) of a family member in a picture, avoiding that phantom hand that no one can figure out to whom it belongs! But my favorite tip was the finer rule of thirds. Kevin warned it wasn’t a “do it every time rule,” and yet it can add depth and a beautiful, asymmetrical composition that draws the eyes into the image. We all have grids on our camera (if you haven’t yet, go into camera settings and check to show the grid lines). You can achieve this rule of thirds by using those grid lines, both horizontally and vertically, and placing the subject along one of those lines or “thirds.” The beauty of digital photography is you can try it out and see the difference in real time. I’ll leave you with one final tip: zoom with your feet. We’ve learned to pinch the frame with our fingers, zoom in and grab that shot, but then we get home and it is a bit grainy. Kevin says, when you can, zoom with your feet, meaning literally walk closer, and you’ll end up with a higher resolution image that will allow you to crop as desired later. When you’re ready to sign up, please call Member Services at (800) 800-9800. Reservations are required and space is limited. Hope all of your holiday pictures are filled with magic! As a part of Membership Extras, an incidental benefit, these Member benefits are subject to change, availability or termination and may require a fee. Membership Extras are available with eligible ownership interests. Visit http://disneyvacationclub.com/memextraspolicy for more information. View the full article

A little over a year ago I set out to determine whether I could capture an entire performance of “Remember…Dreams Come True” fireworks spectacular at Disneyland park in a single exposure and it worked! I thought the final result was really interesting. With a proven photographic recipe in-hand, I recently set out to see if I could do the same thing with the “Believe…in Holiday Magic” fireworks spectacular. Every joyful holiday burst and blast is represented here. How is this possible, you ask? I’ll explain. I mounted my camera to a tripod with a 24mm lens and slapped on a 9-stop neutral density (ND) filter. For the uninitiated, just think of an ND filter as a tinted window for your lens – it limits how much light can get to the image sensor (or film) over time, which allows you to expose longer without blowing-out bright details. I also pre-set the camera’s long exposure noise reduction feature to tone-down or eliminate “hot pixels.” Hot pixels are bright dots that appear on digital pictures as the result of the camera sensor overheating during long exposures. My settings were: ISO 100, f/22, and shutter was left in bulb mode (which means the shutter will remain open once triggered until I signal the termination manually with a cable-release). I left the white balance set to auto. I triggered the shutter with the cable release as soon as the street lamps went dim and, learning from my previous experience, waited about three minutes after the finale to terminate the exposure. Last time around, I had to use Photoshop to make a slight curves adjustment to the castle mid-tones or Sleeping Beauty Castle would have looked too dark. Letting the post-show castle expose for that extra three minutes eliminated the need for any Photoshop adjustments: what you see here is the photograph exactly as it came out of the camera. My background is in photojournalism, so getting pictures right, in-camera, and with minimal or no lab work is a deeply-ingrained value that continues to shape how I do my work for Disney. That challenge and commitment to photographic ethics makes the work more fun and, in my mind, maybe a little more special. Total exposure time: 00:12:42 NOTE: Using the camera’s long exposure noise reduction feature adds about 15-minutes to the image write time on an exposure this long. So, keep in mind,if you’re going to try something like this on your own: do not turn off your camera until the image writing process is complete or you’ll ruin the photograph. Holiday magic abounds in every corner of the Disneyland Resort through Jan. 6, making this a perfect time to drop in for a visit. Don’t forget to catch “Believe…in Holiday Magic” while you’re here – it’s incredible. View the full article