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Victoria & Albert’s Restaurant at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is the foremost restaurant for fine dining in Walt Disney World. Learn About: Victoria and Albert’s Restaurant Grand Floridian Disney World Restaurants Elegance is paramount in every aspect of the dining experience at Victoria & Albert’s, from decor to service to food. If you and your significant other want a fancy, sophisticated night out, Victoria & Albert’s — with its dinner jackets-level dress code and ten-and-older age restriction — is a unique experience. What sets Victoria & Albert’s apart from other fine dining at Walt Disney World is the personalization that goes into each guest’s experience. About a week before guests dine here, the restaurant reaches out to learn about each diner’s allergies, likes, and dislikes. Personalization can take multiple forms at Victoria & Albert’s, from the substitution of a specific ingredient to the creation of an entirely new dish, and so diners receive dishes that suit their likes from start to finish. That’s pretty amazing. Victoria & Albert’s I’ve dined at Victoria and Albert’s multiple times, but usually I choose the chef’s table in the kitchen. This time I headed into the regular dining room. I wanted to figure out 1) Is the experience worth the money, and 2) Which is better — the Chef’s Table or the Main Dining Room? Let’s find out. Atmosphere Victoria & Albert’s has three dining room experiences from which to choose: the Main Dining Room, the Queen Victoria Room, and the Chef’s Table. As I mentioned, on this visit, I dined in the Main Dining Room, which houses layers upon layers of tasteful Victorian style. Luxurious window and wall treatments, muted colors, and classic wood accents create a space that is comfortable, but formal. Main Dining Room at Victoria & Albert’s Place settings are meticulous, and tables are spaced to provide a bit of privacy. Main Dining Room at Victoria & Albert’s In the Queen Victoria Room, there are fewer tables, and thus the experience in this dining room is a bit more exclusive. Victoria Room at Victoria & Albert’s Details even extend to the ceilings at Victoria & Albert’s, including this beautiful painted ceiling and intricate chandelier. Opulent chandelier in the Main Dining Room at Victoria & Albert’s For the ultimate dining experience, guests can opt for the Chef’s Table, which brings a small group of diners into the kitchen, where they can speak to sous chefs throughout the meal and watch the action in the kitchen. Chef’s Table at Victoria & Albert’s View of Kitchen at Victoria & Albert’s No matter where you dine, place settings include these embellished Victoria & Albert’s plates. Something about that gold filigree style writing means you’re in for something special. Victoria & Albert’s Monogrammed Plates Eats The Menu at Victoria & Albert’s is extensive — but only one sheet of this menu is for the meal itself. Rather the bulk of it consists of various available drinks meant to be selected and enjoyed at different times throughout the meal. Victoria & Albert’s Menu Cover Believe it or not, there’s a Still Water Menu. This is worth a look for the sheer craziness of the whole idea. You’ll find the “House Water” toward the bottom. That’s included with the meal. Water Menu at Victoria & Albert’s I did NOT order myself a glass of Svalbardi Polar Iceberg Water, which apparently can only be harvested during like one hour every year and has to be done with golden ice picks filled with unicorn hair. It’s vintage — aged 4000 years — so you know it’s good. Iceberg Water at Victoria & Albert’s I did, however, order the $9 Danish water, just to see if it was something special. Spoiler alert — it tasted like water. There’s also an extensive Single Malt & Blended Scotch Menu, with prices ranging from $11.50 to $460.00 per two-ounce pour. Victoria & Albert’s Scotch Menu Toward the end of the meal, diners might prefer to peruse the Tea Selections menu. Varieties include Oolong, Black, Green, and White with a range of flavors and scents. Victoria & Albert’s Tea Menu Coffee Selections are varied. (Wait until you see how it’s brewed!) Victoria & Albert’s Coffee Menu There are also Cordials & Digestifs for every palate and price point. Victoria & Albert’s Cordials and Digestifs Menu Please note: the menu experience was altered somewhat after my most recent visit. Previously (as on my visit), guests were able to choose from either a seven or ten course tasting menu. However, the experience has just changed to the Chef Degustation Tasting Menu. The difference is that guests will enjoy anywhere from eight to twelve courses, with the amount of courses varying based on the portion size of some of the dishes. The current price is set at $235 per guest plus tax and gratuity. Wine pairing is also an option for an additional $150.00 per guest. I had chosen the Chef’s 10 Course Tasting Menu. The menu comes personalized with your name and the date on which you dine, making this a worthwhile souvenir of this once-in-a-lifetime experience. It also includes a brief description of each course as it has been designed. Ten-Course Menu at Victoria & Albert’s To be honest, this personal touch is something I really love. For the price of the meal, it’s expected that each course will be thoughtful and expertly crafted. But the attention to each diner’s preferences shows a desire to please that, honestly, you don’t find in every high-end restaurant. Personalized Menu at Victoria & Albert’s My dining companion and I began our meal with cocktails. The Mint Pineapple Julep was delicious, with lots of muddled mint and a cover of swirled, hardened sugar. This was refreshing and light — a good way to begin a long, rich meal. Victoria & Albert’s Cocktail The Ultimate Long Island Ice Tea is likewise light and refreshing, with a large wedge of lemon and a splash of Coca Cola. Victoria & Albert’s Cocktail Bread is brought to the table, warm and fresh from the oven. Bread, Butter, and Himalayan Salt It’s accompanied by Himalayan salt and a quenelle of soft butter. You don’t want to fill up on bread, but this is a delicious and homey way to start the meal. Himalayan Salt and Butter My meal began with an Amuse-Bouche (translating to mouth amusement, basically). It’s a small, single bite of food meant to excite the palate. My Amuse was Delta Asparagus with Champagne and Buttermilk. The innovation was intriguing and delicious. My next course was New Zealand Langoustine with Pickled Daikon (radish) and Avocado. The langoustine — which are like incredibly supple, large prawns — were arranged well to create just a couple of nice-sized bites. But just a heads’ up: this comes to the table cold, which I was not expecting. I like shrimp, but I’ve never been a fan of cold shrimp or shrimp cocktail, so this wasn’t my favorite dish. New Zealand Langoustine with Pickled Daikon and Avocado My third course was Gulf Shrimp with Poppy Seed and Lemon Ravioli, and it was very good. The shrimp with the soft ravioli was a surprisingly great combination, and the lightly cooked celery placed around the plate lent the dish some welcome crunch. Gulf Shrimp with Poppy Seed and Lemon Ravioli Between the third and fourth courses, my server brought around an herbed bread with a crazy-cool presentation of butter. This second service of bread is timed to cleanse the palate before diving into some of the richer dishes of the evening. Herbed Bread Ball of butter atop a sculpted mountain, anyone? It was beautiful, and the bread was delicious. Ball of Butter For the fourth course, my dining companion received Wild Turbot with Toasted Capers and Preserved Lemon. It was perfectly cooked and well-balanced, with acid coming both from the capers and the lemon. Wild Turbot with Toasted Capers and Preserved Lemon We also received Dover Sole with Spanish Chorizo Bouillabaisse. This was really fun, from the roulette of Dover sole to the stewed tomatoes and perfectly cooked shrimp. The sauce was complex and delicious. Dover Sole with Spanish Chorizo Bouillabaisse Next up we got away from the sea and had Marcho Farms Veal with Fava Beans and Summer Truffles. This was a dish full of surprises and complimentary flavors. The summer truffles were phenomenal with the meat. Marcho Farms Veal with Fava Beans and Summer Truffles The Rohan Duck with Lavendar and Glazed Florida Peaches was a good combination. The peaches were sweet and paired surprisingly well with the duck. The lavender was (thankfully) subtle. I loved the little crisp on top of the duck. Rohan Duck with Lavender and Glazed Florida Peaches The penultimate course was beef, and it was my favorite of the meal. The dish is Australian Kobe-Style Beef with Potato Pinwheel and Ramps. There’s an option to add a spectacular piece of Miyazaki Japanese Beef, and you know I had to have that. Miyazaki Japanese Beef is top-grade Wagyu raised and classified in Japan, and there is no finer bite of beef on the planet. Everything on this plate was just awesome. Australian Kobe-Style Beef with Potato Pinwheel, Ramps, and Mizyaki Japanese Beef Add-On And then there was cheese — a Selection of Cheese From the Market. This was a great way to transition from the savory courses to the desserts. Selection of Cheese from the Market For the final dessert courses, my dining companion had a quenelle of Berry Sorbet with crispy bits. This was super refreshing. Berry Sorbet Remember that coffee menu? Here’s how they do coffee at Victoria & Albert’s: in this fabulous coffee siphon. You will not regret ordering the coffee. Coffee Service For the dessert courses (yup, there were two!), I was served this ab.so.lute.ly awesome Lemon-Strawberry Cremeux. The circle of rich, creamy lemon pudding was flawless. Lemon-Strawberry Cremeux The strawberry compote was hidden inside (and carried throughout the garnishes, save for that simple, sweet violet). I can’t say enough about this dessert. The texture of the cremeux was smooth and full of lemon flavor, and it was divine with the accompaniments. Interior of Lemon-Strawberry Cremeux The next dessert, a Bittersweet Chocolate Dome on Praline Crunch, was rich and playfully plated. Each component was well-executed, and combining those components kept the dish from becoming one-note. Plus there’s a bit of edible gold on there. So pretty. Bittersweet Chocolate Dome on Praline Crunch And with that, our ten courses were complete — but the delicious bites weren’t over. Victoria & Albert’s provided White Glove Chocolate Truffle Service, and they did not skimp on the sweets, which were packaged so I could take them with me. I left with a delicious box of exquisitely crafted truffles. White Glove Chocolate Truffle Service The final piece: I was given a rose at the end of the meal. A nice touch. Nosh or Not? Treat yourself to Victoria & Albert’s if: You want to have a SUPER High-End dining experience while on vacation. You appreciate fine dining and want to try one of the most highly rated restaurants in the country. You and your significant other want a quiet, adult night out. Skip Victoria & Albert’s if: You are vacationing with the kiddos and don’t want to find a sitter for the night. You balk at spending hundreds of dollars on a single meal. You don’t care for “fancy” food. Overall There is no dining experience quite like Victoria & Albert’s in the World or, really, in the world. You’re a monorail ride away from the Magic Kingdom, and yet you are cloistered away into an elegant space and receiving world-renowned service and celebrated cuisine. Every meal is a unique dining experience — so even if you choose to splurge on Victoria & Albert’s more than once in your Disney travel lifetime, it’ll be a new experience every time. Now, let’s answer those questions from the beginning: Is it worth the month? Personally, I think it is worth the money. The experience and quality is unmatched. However, compared to my experience in the Main Dining Room, I would absolutely recommend the Chef’s Table. While the meal is terrific anywhere you dine, there’s something special — and a bit more relaxed — at the Chef’s Table, and a meal there is a grand culinary adventure. I’m not a fan of SUPER fancy dining, and in the kitchen, things are lot less formal. Plus, you get the opportunity to ask the chefs what they’re working on, what they enjoy about working there, how the kitchen “works,” etc — which is so much fun as far as I’m concerned! It’s worth the added cost for this opportunity. But no matter where you dine with Victoria and Albert, expect to have the meal of a lifetime. See where Victoria and Albert’s Falls in our rankings of signature restaurants in Disney World here! And get great tips on date nights, specialty dining, and more in our DFB Guide to WDW Dining e-Book! Don’t Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! The 2018 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, is now available! With more than 650 pages, the 2018 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 order your copy of the 2018 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2018 to save 25% today! Use code WDW2018 at check-out for a 25% off the cover price! Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Related posts: 21 Myths About Walt Disney World Food DEBUNKED Recommended Disney World Dining Plan One Credit Restaurant Values Tips For Visiting the 2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival View the full article

Cozi Zuehlsdorff became an honorary toy during her recent trip to the brand new Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. She had a great time exploring Andy’s backyard and felt like she really was shrunken down to the size of a toy. She had a rootin’ tootin’ time on the Slinky Dog Dash attraction with fellow Disney Channel Star Isaak Presley from “Stuck in the Middle.” Cozi enjoyed the roller coaster and was surprised by how fast it went! No visit to Toy Story Land is complete without meeting favorite pals Buzz Lightyear and Woody. To get ready for the release of her new Disney Channel Original Movie, she even had a true ‘Freaky Friday’ swap moment with a Toy Story Mania! attraction cast member. Watch the video below to see what happened next! Don’t miss “Freaky Friday,” Premiering Friday, August 10th at 8pm only on Disney Channel. Check out the trailer here: View the full article

Hey, friends! We’re back with another DFB Video today, and we’re sharing 7 Perfect Food Days in Disney World! Don’t Miss a Dole Whip! Yep, we’re gonna have some fun with this one! Let’s say you’ve got a week-long vacation to Walt Disney World coming up and you’d like to make sure your dining is absolutely epic. Well, we figured we’d help out by putting together a list of all of our favorites for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner AND a Snack for each of those seven days! (Plus another snack. Plus dessert. You get the idea .) We’ll also share how you can get a full list of these itineraries for your personal reference! 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: What would you add to your 7 Perfect Food Days in Disney World? Related posts: DFB Video: Best Disney World Restaurants for Vegan and Vegetarian Food DFB Video: Best Disney World Sit Down Restaurants for Kids DFB Video: Disney World Cupcake Challenge View the full article

The death of a tourist who visited Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park in June was from natural causes, according to a medical examiner’s report released Thursday. James Persons, 71, was pronounced dead in the emergency room June 10 after he collapsed while exiting the wave pool, according to the... View the full article

BOO!!! That’s my Halloween-themed greeting to get you in the mood to check out the Halloween Souvenirs that will be haunting Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World at various times throughout the 2018 Halloween Season! Cauldron Popcorn Bucket ©Disney Perhaps it seems a little early… but remember, Halloween Time kicks off in Disneyland Resort on September 7th, and the very first Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is on August 17th in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. And bearing in mind how quickly the Halloween specialty items tend to sell out, you’ll want to be VERY well prepared! Happy Halloween Popcorn Buckets and Travel Mugs The Happy Halloween Popcorn Bucket for 2018 will feature Mickey and Minnie fleeing a spooky scene on broomsticks, with Chip and Dale bats not too far behind! You’ll find it around popcorn carts all over Disneyland Resort and Disney World parks. 2018 Happy Halloween Design The Happy Halloween Travel Mug will feature a similar design. And get this! In Disney World, the Happy Halloween Travel Mug will be available as a Refillable Resort Mug for Disney World Resort guests! (In Disneyland, the mug will be sold as a non-refillable mug.) The Return (and Debut!) of Oogie Boogie Popcorn Buckets Remember this huge hit from last Halloween? The glow-in-the-dark Oogie Boogie Popcorn Bucket will make its way back to Disney California Adventure popcorn carts and the New Orleans Popcorn Cart in Disneyland park. Oogie Popcorn Bucket from Halloween 2017 But wait… there’s more! A new version of the Popcorn Bucket (pictured on the right below) will be an exclusive offering at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in Disney World! Later in the season, the new version will be available in Disneyland Resort. Both versions of Oogie Boogie Popcorn Bucket ©Disney Only in Disney California Adventure, however, will guests find the new Disney California Adventure Oogie Boogie Base Popcorn Bucket, where Oogie Boogie is joined by the likes of the Headless Horseman. Disney California Adventure Oogie Boogie Popcorn Bucket ©Disney Look for it at the Buena Vista, Grizzly Peak, Pixar Pier, and Hyperion Popcorn Carts. Poison Apples… and Cauldrons The new Cauldron Premium Popcorn Bucket (!!) will be available starting mid-September in Disneyland Park… AND all four Disney World Parks AND Disney Springs! Cauldron Popcorn Bucket ©Disney Special features of the Cauldron Premium Popcorn Bucket are that it glows in the dark, AND has a Hidden Mickey! Look for the popular Poison Apple Glow Cubes in THREE different colors this year! Poison Apple Glow Cubes Below the colors are listed by location: Green Poison Apple Glow Cube: AbracadaBar and Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar in Disney World; Various locations throughout Disneyland Resort Red Poison Apple Glow Cube: Various locations throughout Disneyland Resort NEW PURPLE Poison Apple Glow Cube: Exclusive to Carthay Circle Restaurant in Disney California Adventure Purple Poison Apple Glow Cube ©Disney The Green Poison Apple Stein will be available throughout Disneyland Resort. Green Poison Apple Stein You’ll also find it in various outdoor vending locations throughout Disney World’s Animal Kingdom park. The Headless Horseman Look who’s galloping into BOTH Disney World as well as Disneyland Resort this year! Headless Horseman Clip and Straw The Headless Horseman Straw Clip will be available at various locations throughout Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and the Disneyland Resort. Tire Pumpkin The Tire Pumpkin Straw is inspired by Halloween in Cars Land, so you’ll find it at Cozy Cone Motel and Flo’s V-8 Cafe in Disney California Adventure. Tire Pumpkin Straw ©Disney But you’ll find it at Disney World, too! Look for the Tire Pumpkin Straw in Counter Service locations around Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Good Stuff to Know! Each of the Halloween novelty items is only available while supplies last. They will be available at various times at the noted locations throughout September and October, so if you find one you want, don’t hesitate. And note this: they WILL go FAST. In honor of the famous Horseman… Headless Horseman Straw Clip ©Disney …consider it a HEADS UP! 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! Ready to scare up all sorts of seasonal fun? 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. Pre-order The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2018 and get the 2017 edition as a free, instant download! 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 Pre-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 2018 Halloween item would you love to get this year? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: DFB’s Top 10 Disney Food News Stories of 2016 Oogie Boogie Popcorn Bucket, NEW Hitchhiking Ghost Tiki Mugs, and MORE Lines To Get In This Halloween Season at Disney Parks The Year in Review: Top 10 Disney Food News Items of 2013! View the full article

Disneyland Hotel’s Tangaroa Terrace, an island-inspired dining getaway, will close soon for a rather lengthy refurbishment. Tangaroa Terrace Entrance The quick service spot will shutter its Polynesian-style doors beginning on September 4, with a reopening anticipated for mid-January 2019 according to the Disneyland website. Tangaroa Terrace webpage screenshot Tangaroa Terrace is beloved for its convenient location and its tasty eats, which most recently included popular bites from nearby Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar. During the closure, Trader Sam’s and The Coffee House will serve up a few Tangaroa favorites. Tangaroa Terrace Pu Pu Platter No word yet on what refurbishments are taking place, but we’ll keep our eyes and ears open for more info! Don’t miss the latest Tangaroa Terrace news — or any Disney food news at all!! Sign up for the DFB Newsletter today! What do you think of changes coming to Tangaroa Terrace? Let us know in the comments! Related posts: The New Tangaroa Terrace Menu at Disneyland Hotel May Look Familiar… The Best Disney Donuts EVER. NEW! Disneyland’s Jolly Holiday Carrot Cake Cupcake View the full article

Calling all ghouls and ghosts who love Disney-themed food novelties – Halloween is almost here at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts, and this year we’ve got a whole new set of novelty items for you to enjoy! Available at various times throughout the Halloween season, you never know when they will materialize … and remember – these popular novelties sell out fast, so be on the lookout and keep this guide handy during your search! First up is the Happy Halloween 2018 Base Popcorn Bucket –this year’s design features Mickey and Minnie all decked out in their Halloween best as well as Chip and Dale as adorable little bats! A similar design is featured on the Happy Halloween 2018 Base Travel Mug. The base popcorn bucket can be found at various popcorn locations across Disneyland park at Disneyland Resort and Magic Kingdom Park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Epcot, and Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort. The base travel mug will be available as a non-refillable mug available across Disneyland Resort, while the base travel mug at Walt Disney World Resort will be available as a refillable mug (only refillable for the duration of your stay) available at all resort hotels across property. Only available at Disney California Adventure park at Disneyland Resort is the Disney California Adventure Oogie Boogie Base Popcorn Bucket. Featuring everyone’s favorite villain from “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” and even a familiar Headless Horseman, you’ll find this base popcorn bucket at the Buena Vista, Grizzly Peak, Pixar Pier, and Hyperion Popcorn Carts. Do you remember last year’s Oogie Boogie Premium Popcorn Bucket? Well, I’ve got good news! This popular bucket is returning again this year to Disneyland Resort! Roll the dice with your popcorn-filled Oogie Boogie available at the Disney California Adventure park Popcorn Carts and at the New Orleans Popcorn Cart at Disneyland park. But that’s not all – a new version of this popular bucket will be available exclusively at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort – and later in the season at Disneyland Resort. Double, double toil and trouble – get ready to cast some spells, brew a potion, and make that delicious popcorn disappear with the new Cauldron Premium Popcorn Bucket. Starting mid-September, this light-up bucket will be available at Disneyland park at Disneyland Resort and all four parks and Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort! And it even features a Hidden Mickey … but you’ll have to find that one on your own! The Poison Apple Glow Cube is also back again this year in three different colors! You’ll find this spooky light-up cube floating in specialty drinks on both coasts. At Walt Disney World Resort, get the Green Poison Apple Glow Cube at AbracadaBar at Disney’s BoardWalk or Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar at Disney Springs. At Disneyland Resort, you’ll find Green and Red Poison Apple Glow Cubes at various locations throughout Disneyland Resort. But there’s also a new color this year – a Purple Poison Apple Glow Cube! This one is available exclusively at Carthay Circle Restaurant at Disney California Adventure park. If the cube just isn’t enough, though, you can get the Green Poison Apple Stein! You’ll find it throughout Disneyland Resort as well as various outdoor vending locations throughout Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort. The Headless Horseman Straw Clip returns this year as well. You’ll find him galloping around at Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort and throughout the Disneyland Resort! Get ready to burn rubber with the Tire Pumpkin Straw – the ultimate “Haul-o-ween” novelty. Inspired by Halloween at Cars Land, you’ll find this light-up straw at the Cozy Cone Motel and Flo’s V8 Café at Disney California Adventure park. And what’s more – they’ve driven on over to Walt Disney World Resort too! Find them at various quick-service locations throughout Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. Remember – these amazingly spooktacular Halloween novelties are quite popular and are only available while supplies last! These novelty items will be available at various times throughout September and October at both Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort begins August 17. Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort begins September 7. And if you’re interested in those fun Halloween sweets, fear not! My 2018 Halloween Disney Parks Foodie Guides are soon to come. Stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog to find out more! All Disneyland Resort 2018 Halloween Premium and Base Popcorn Buckets and 2018 Halloween Travel Mugs are non-refillable. All Walt Disney World Resort 2018 Halloween Premium and Base Popcorn Buckets are refillable during your length of stay for $1.75 per refill. Walt Disney World Resort 2018 Halloween Travel Mugs are refillable during your length of stay. All of the novelty items listed above are only available for a limited time while supplies last. Prices are subject to change without notice. View the full article

The 2018-19 runDisney race season is off to a delicious start with the 2018 Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend presented by MISFIT just around the corner! Today we’re sharing our excitement for this year’s events and serving up a reveal of the beautiful finisher medals that will be awaiting participants at the finish line. As a toast to the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival taking place, the race weekend medals celebrate some of the popular classic Disney Chefs from throughout the years. Starting off the weekend, the Disney Fall Feast 5K and its festive theme returning for the second year will feature a ‘paws’itively adorable finisher’s medal highlighting Chef Tony and Lady and the Tramp. Participants diving into the Disney Wine & Dine 10K will ‘sea’-lebrate their finish and earn this medal featuring Chef Louis and Sebastian from Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Runners setting their course for 13.1 miles around Walt Disney World Resort during the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon will find a finisher medal inspired by the Tuscan countryside and featuring Chef Mickey awaiting them at the end. Our esteemed guests taking on the most delectable event of the weekend, Disney Two Course Challenge, will finish their tale as old as time earning a beautiful rose gold medal celebrating everyone’s favorite host, Lumiere, from Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.” As Chef Gusteau would say, anyone can cook … or in this case, run! Our littlest Chefs participating in runDisney Kids Races presented by GoGo squeeZ Applesauce on the Go will earn a fun medallion featuring Chef Linguini and Remy from the Disney•Pixar film “Ratatouille.” There’s still limited spots remaining for the Kids Races. Will you be joining us for this year’s race? Enhance your weekend menu of events and have the entire family join in the fun! Space still available for friends and family for both Ch’EAR Squad and the Post-Race Party celebration. Share your excitement for the weekend with @runDisney on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube using the hashtag #WineDineHalf. Learn more about runDisney events here! View the full article

Many popular theme-park rides live up to their hype. The reputation of attractions such as Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey or Avatar Flight of Passage precedes them. Those attractions have legions of dedicated fans, but other rides fly just below the radar and need a little more love. We... View the full article

Many popular theme-park rides live up to their hype. The reputation of attractions such as Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey or Avatar Flight of Passage precedes them. Those attractions have legions of dedicated fans, but other rides fly just below the radar and need a little more love. We... View the full article

New York teenager Michelle Husslein practically grew up at Walt Disney World, not that she can remember. Her mother tries to trigger the memories. They look at old photographs or videos of Orlando on some of their 38 trips over the past 14 years. There’s Michelle as an infant dressed as Minnie... View the full article

Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler and his daughter, actress Liv Tyler, visited Disneyland Paris over the weekend! Liv indulged her inner child with her dad by rockin’ around the merry-go-round (the traditional Le Carrousel de Lancelot, that is) and paying a visit to the Big Cheese himself. Of course, a trip with the Tylers to Walt Disney Studios would not be complete without a joy ride on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. The duo also stopped by Armageddon: les Effets Spéciaux, based on the special effects in Liv’s 1998 film Armageddon. Along with her husband and children, Liv also paid a visit to Sleeping Beauty Castle and “it’s a small world”, making time to meet Tigger and Goofy along the way. It was an action-packed trip for sure! View the full article

Much to the dismay of kids and the delight of parents everywhere it’s Back to School season! We’ve found a lot of cool Disney stuff that should make going back to school a little easier for the kids this year! Personalizable Princess Backpack Let Cinderella, Belle, Pocohantas and more help your princess keep everything together in this backpack. Plus, you can personalize it with your princess’ name to add that special touch to the first day of school. Personalizable Princess Backpack Incredibles Backpack Send your kiddo back to school with a truly Super backpack! Even Edna Mode would approve of this selection of Incredibles themed backpacks! Incredibles Backpack Take the whole family to school, or just Edna – or others. There are seven incredible designs to choose from! Edna Mode Backpack Minnie Mouse Rock the Dots Sneakers Rock-the-dots with Minnie Mouse on these sneakers! We love the bow adornment on the shoe laces the best! Rock the Dots with these Sneakers Star Wars Retro Themed Lunch Tote Check out this lunch tote for your Star Wars or video game fan! The graphics are a throw-back to early video game graphics. The tote comes with an insulated sandwich envelope to keep your kids’ lunch fresh during the day. Star Wars Lunch Tote Winnie the Pooh Backpack Ok, we confess this one is for you moms and dads out there – plus it was too cute to not include! We can’t let the kiddos have all the fun! This Winnie the Pooh backpack/diaper bag includes a zip-out diaper changing station for baby with removable changing pad and pockets for diapers and wipes. Winnie the Pooh Backpack/Diaper Bag Now we want to hear from you! Which item are your ordering? And confess – is it for you or your kids? Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don’t Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! The 2018 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, is now available! With more than 650 pages, the 2018 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 order your copy of the 2018 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2018 to save 25% today! Use code WDW2018 at check-out for a 25% off the cover price! Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Related posts: News: Holiday Drinks at Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar in Disneyland Hotel Epcot Food and Wine Festival Tip: Make Your Own Custom DFB Food and Wine Fest Tray! How to Make Mickey Waffles at Home! View the full article

One of my favorite parts of traveling is finding the perfect keepsake to bring home to remind me of all of the fun memories from my trip. With the end of the summer travel season just a few weeks away, I wanted to share some exciting additions to the Disney Parks Collection by PANDORA that serve as the perfect Disney Parks vacation memento. This travel-inspired charm, featuring Mickey Mouse, is the perfect way to celebrate not only your Disney Parks trip, but all of your summer travels! Or, you can pay homage to a classic attraction or favorite character with the Enchanted Tiki Room and Orange Bird charms. These new charms are available at various retail locations at Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort and Disney Cruise Line beginning August 15. Can’t wait that long? A little (orange) birdy told me that the Tiki Room and Orange Bird charms are available starting this week, August 10 at the following locations: The Dress Shop at Marketplace Co-Op at Disney Springs Ever After Jewelry Co. & Accessories at Disney Springs Uptown Jewelers featuring PANDORA Jewelry at Magic Kingdom Park La Mascarade d’Orleans at Disneyland park Happy shopping! View the full article

The Seventh Annual ‘Great Irish Hooley’ Music Festival returns to Raglan Road in Disney Springs for Labor Day Weekend! If you’re wondering what a “Hooley” is, then wonder no more! It’s a traditional Irish social celebration combining music ranging from traditional to rock tunes with entertainment and fun for the whole family (no cover charge). 7th Annual ‘Great Irish Hooley’ Music Festival Rocks Labor Day Weekend Mark your calendars for August 31-September 3 and start preparing for this high-voltage Irish music festival serving up a colorful live playlist of traditional Irish, Celt grass, folk, blues and soul into the wee hours each night. Plus, the Raglan Road ‘Great Irish Hooley’ will feature Celtic face-painting and the opportunity to learn some traditional Irish dance steps throughout the festival– no experience necessary! JigJam is one of the headliners for the 7th Annual ‘Great Irish Hooley’ Music Festival You’ll find entertainment inside and outside the Pub. The Grand Room stage inside the Pub will feature crisp acoustics and stunning video choreography. Bands also will play outside on the pub’s patio stage, where you can enjoy dinner, drinks and toe-tapping entertainment. This year’s Hooley entertainment headliners include: JigJam — The multi-award-winning Irish quartet will bring their captivating brand of “CeltGrass” (a.k.a. I-Grass) – blending the best of traditional Irish music with Bluegrass and Americana. (Friday through Monday) Lisa Canny Band – The outrageously talented Lisa Canny, 7-time All-Ireland champion on harp and banjo, is an emerging Irish force blending pop and hip-hop with traditional Irish rhythms. (Saturday through Monday) Billow Wood – Known as Flat Out when they played Raglan Road in 2016, this male/female four-piece band fuses their unique brand of instrumentation with multi-vocals and harmonies for a blend of Irish and folk music. (Monday) The Raglan Road Irish Dancers, of course, will perform throughout the ‘Great Irish Hooley’. Plus champion Irish dancer Ciaran Keating, Raglan Road’s show choreographer, will host an entertaining workshop that traces the origins of Irish dance from earliest jigs and reels through contemporary times. Raglan Road Dance Troupe ©Disney Additional music acts throughout the long weekend will include: Strings & Things — Strings & Things are an original Irish folk/trad crossover four-piece band from Tipperary/Galway. Over the years together they have created their own original sound and produced a variety of crossover songs by putting their own stamp on them. The Byrne Brothers — An exceptionally talented traditional Irish music family from Donegal. They are Luca, 13 (button accordion); Finn, 11 (banjo, mandolin and whistle); Dempsey, 8, (whistle and bodhran); and father, Tommy (guitar, Uilleann pipes, fiddle, whistles, bagpipes and bodhran). Their show combines traditional Irish tunes with modern dance beats, and they love to interact with every audience. Reel Republic –- Hailing from the southwest corner of Ireland, Reel Republic are four seriously talented musicians revving up audiences with a solid spectrum of Irish tunes and songs. TradGad – Three talented lads from Kerry, Dublin and Edinburgh charm Raglan Road audiences singing and playing guitar, fiddle, mandolin, uileann pipes, tin whistle, banjo and bazouki. High Road – Three talented musicians hailing from Dublin, Kilkenny and Glasgow meet in the middle to play a crowd-pleasing symphony of traditional Irish tunes and songs. Aaron O’Grady – An Irish import who will entice and beguile with his eclectic mix of Irish music. The Raglan Road Irish Dancers — Plucked from the cast and stages of the world’s greatest Irish dance shows, the Raglan Road Irish Dancers perform throughout the Great Irish Hooley. Remember, this is a family-friendly event; kids of all ages are welcome to join in the fun. The complete entertainment schedule will be posted at www.raglanroad.com closer to the event. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don’t Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! The 2018 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, is now available! With more than 650 pages, the 2018 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 order your copy of the 2018 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2018 to save 25% today! Use code WDW2018 at check-out for a 25% off the cover price! Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Would you like to attend the Great Irish Hooley at Raglan Road? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: Review: Lunch at Raglan Road in Walt Disney World’s Disney Springs Fun Follow: Raglan Road Twitter Account Dishes to Try at the Great Irish Hooley Starting TODAY at Raglan Road in Disney Springs View the full article

Dole Whip Donuts in Disneyland, Dole Whip Cupcakes in Disney World, and now… DOLE WHIP ECLAIRS!! Amorette’s Patisserie The talented chefs at Amorette’s Patisserie have create a Whipped Pineapple Éclair that we found to taste quite Dole Whip-like… Pineapple Éclair at Amorette’s Patisserie Let’s start with the pastry case where you’ll find this pineapple goodie. The wide array of baked goods are arranged in there with a preciseness you have to admire. Pineaplle Éclair at Amorette’s Patisserie The presentation is something to talk about, too. They don’t just throw these in a bakery bag. These are presented to you in a very stylish way. To paraphrase Lumiere said in Beauty and the Beast: “After all dear, this is French!” Pineapple Éclair at Amorette’s Pattiserie Pineapple Éclair at Amorette’s Pattiserie It was time for us to dig into this. The pâte à choux pastry is the carrier for the pineapple mousse. Pineapple Éclair at Amorette’s Pattiserie And, yep — that mousse has a distinct Dole Whip flavor! Our taste-testers agreed that it was delicious and tasted just like the iconic frozen pineapple soft-serve treat. Pineapple Éclair at Amorette’s Pattiserie Pineapple Éclair at Amorette’s Pattiserie The éclair is topped off with a white chocolate piece decorated with the Amorette’s logo as well as a pineapple. Pineapple Éclair at Amorette’s Pattiserie We found this to be a new style for a Dole Whip and a very enjoyable snack. Also new at Amorette’s — a Chocolate Slushy. They offer a Hibiscus Lemonade Slushy as well. In addition to these, you can still get the guest-favorite slushy style frozen wines. Chocolate or Hibiscus Lemonade Slush at Amorette’s Pattiserie Chocolate Slush at Amorette’s Patisserie The chocolate flavor was rich, but we always find these chocolate slushies to be missing the creaminess we crave in a frozen hot chocolate. Chocolate Slush at Amorette’s Patisserie The Éclair is $6.00, the Chocolate Slush is $5.00. Amorette’s Pattiserie Menu Want some more info about Dole Whip? We’ve got a video for that… ;-D Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Don’t Miss Out on the ALL the Best Snacks Walt Disney World Has to Offer! Get four awesome e-Books FULL of Disney park dining advice, bundled for 30% off the already discounted price! Yep, we’ve scoured the parks to find any and all snack choices — from the mundane to the spectacular — and we tell you all about them (with full-color pictures!) in our snack guides! These are updated every year, so you know your guide will be perfect for your upcoming trip, and they’re bundled with our DFB Guide to WDW Dining! This money-saving bundle includes all of the following: The 2018 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining The DFB Guide to Magic Kingdom Snacks The DFB Guide to Epcot Snacks The DFB Guide to Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios Snacks All four are being sold together — for 30% off the already hugely discounted bundle price. Use code BUNDLE18 at check out to get the discount. It’s a $63 value for under $30!! With this Bundle of e-books you’ll have everything you need at your fingertips to plan the best Disney World vacation ever. And with our handy e-book format, you can download the Guides to all of your electronic devices and take them with you wherever you go! And with our 100% money-back guarantee, what do you have to lose? Related posts: “Cool” Summer Themed Dome Cake and MORE at Amorette’s Patisserie in Disney Springs News: Dole Whip Now Available at Disney Springs Marketplace Snacks DFB’s Top 10 Disney Food News Stories of 2016 View the full article

Hey, friends! We’re back with another DFB Video today, and we’re taking you on a Food Tour of The Landing in Disney Springs! Gooey Grilled Cheese at The Edison Actually, we’re taking you on half of a Food Tour of The Landing . You see, there are SO MANY dining options packed into this section of Disney Springs — from longtime favorites to OODLES of new additions — that we are breaking this tour up into TWO parts! So enjoy Part 1 of our tour of The Landing now, and we’ll see you back here soon with Part 2! 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 dine in The Landing? Related posts: DFB Video: Food Tour of Disney Springs Town Center Disney World FOOD TOUR! The Marketplace in Disney Springs Video! DFB Video: The BEST THINGS I’ve Eaten in Disney World So Far in 2018! View the full article

In our Disney Doodle series, different Disney artists take turns imagining what different Disney characters would do or see first if they had the chance to visit a Disney Park. In today’s Doodle, artist Ashley Taylor envisions what Esmeralda from “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” would do if she had the chance to visit Magic Kingdom Park. In the film, we meet Esmeralda as she dances at the city’s Festival of Fools, a day of fun, celebration and merriment for the townsfolk. So it’s only natural that Esmeralda would want to catch the park’s “Festival of Fantasy Parade.” The park’s daily parade is full of merriment, bright costumes, elaborate floats and more. “Esmeralda and Djali love to dance, so it’s easy to imagine them joining Magic Kingdom Park’s ‘Festival of Fantasy!’” Ashley said. View the full article

Disney PhotoPass Day is returning to Walt Disney World Resort on August 19, 2018, and today we’re thrilled to share all of the photo opportunities you’ll find at Disney Springs and each of the four theme parks! We’ve got a lot to cover, so let’s jump right in! Below are all of the special photos you can take during the event on August 19 with Disney PhotoPass photographers. Disney Springs Peter Pan Shadow Magic Shot: between the LEGO® Store and World of Disney® Original Selfie Magic Shot: outside of the Disney PhotoPass Studio Special balloons virtual background: at the Disney PhotoPass Studio Both Disney Springs Magic Shots are available from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Virtual background at the Disney PhotoPass Studio is available from 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Character Experiences: Meet Bolt: Discovery Island Trails from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Meet Baloo and King Louie: Upcountry Landing in Asia from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Additional photo opportunities:* Huey, Dewey and Louie Magic Shot: DinoLand U.S.A. Kevin Magic Shot: near “UP! A Great Bird Adventure” Russell’s grape soda bottlecap pin prop: near “UP! A Great Bird Adventure” Finding Nemo prop: near “Finding Nemo – The Musical” Kilimanjaro Safaris prop: near the attraction entrance *These additional photo opportunities at Disney’s Animal Kingdom are available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Disney’s Hollywood Studios Character Experience: Meet Jawas: Star Wars Launch Bay Cantina from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Additional photo opportunities:* Rizzo Magic Shot: near Muppet★Vision 3D Green Army Man Magic Shot: near the entrance to Slinky Dog Dash Hollywood Tower Hotel luggage prop: Sunset Boulevard Beauty and the Beast light painting next to Theater of the Stars (available from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.) *These additional photo opportunities at Disney’s Hollywood Studios are available from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., unless otherwise noted. Epcot Character Experiences: Meet Cruella de Vil: United Kingdom Pavilion from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Meet Jafar: Morocco Pavilion from 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Additional photo opportunities:* Original Selfie Magic Shot: France Pavilion (available from noon to 8 p.m.) World Traveler Magic Shots: available at all 11 countries in World Showcase (available from noon to 8 p.m.) Baby Groot Magic Shot: Future World East at the galaxy-themed wall Finding Nemo prop: near The Seas with Nemo & Friends Spaceship Earth prop: near the attraction entrance *These additional photo opportunities at Epcot are available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., unless otherwise noted. Magic Kingdom Park Character Experience: Meet Pinocchio and Geppetto: near Pinocchio Village Haus from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Additional photo opportunities:* Dole Whip Magic Shot: across from Sunshine Tree Terrace Dumbo Magic Shot: near Dumbo the Flying Elephant Mickey Mouse Magic Shot: on the bridge near Fairytale Garden Jungle Cruise prop: near the attraction entrance Pretzel prop: Purple Wall near Tomorrowland Terrace (available from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.) *These additional photo opportunities at Magic Kingdom Park are available from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., unless otherwise noted. And here’s the grand finale: You can take home digital downloads of all your Disney PhotoPass photos from the day for one price with Memory Maker One Day!* Memory Maker One Day will be available at the Disney PhotoPass Centers located in each of the four parks and at Disney Springs for the special price of $39, only on August 19, 2018, and only at these five locations.** Whether you’re celebrating with us August 19 at Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort, smile big and be sure to share your photos using #DisneyPhotoPassDay! Parks, attractions, entertainment or character experiences may change operating hours; close due to refurbishing, capacity, weather, special events, character availability or other reasons; and otherwise change or be discontinued without notice and without liability to the owners of the Walt Disney World Resort. Disney PhotoPass Service at Walt Disney World Resort is subject to the PhotoPass terms and expiration policy found at https://mydisneyphotopass.disney.go.com/help-and-support/policies. Online registration required. Downloads are restricted to personal use by Disney account holder only and may not be used for a commercial purpose. Not responsible for missing, lost or damaged photos. Subject to restrictions and change without notice. Separate theme park admission required for certain photo locations. *Memory Maker is subject to the applicable terms and policies available here. Includes photos taken during the applicable Memory Maker Window as defined in such terms (generally, photos taken (i) within one day for the One Day product or (ii) within 30 days from the date of first activation for standard Memory Maker). A MagicBand is required to receive certain attraction photos and other digital content. Disney PhotoPass Photos in your account will expire pursuant to the expiration policy available here. **Not available for online or in-app purchases. Cannot be combined with any other promotion and discount. No adjustments to prior purchases. View the full article

Disney PhotoPass Day is returning to Disneyland Resort on August 19, 2018, and today we’re sharing details about all of the one-day-only props, magic shots and character experiences you’ll find at Disneyland park and Disney California Adventure park! Check them out below: Disney California Adventure Park Character Experiences: Meet Joy and Sadness: Paradise Gardens Park across from Jumpin’ Jellyfish from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Doctor Strange or Loki heroic encounter: near the Hollywood Backlot Stage from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Additional photo opportunities (available until 7 p.m.): Koda Magic Shot: near the sawmill in Grizzly Peak Huey, Dewey and Louie Magic Shot: near the entrance to the Hyperion Theater Russell’s grape soda bottlecap pin prop: Grizzly Peak waterfall Piston Cup prop: entrance to Cars Land Clapperboard prop: “Storytellers” statue on Buena Vista Street Disneyland Park Character Experiences: Meet Marie: Toon Park in Mickey’s Toontown from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Meet Hook and Mr. Smee: near “it’s a small world” from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Additional photo opportunities (available until 7 p.m.): Dumbo Magic Shot: next to Dumbo the Flying Elephant Mickey Ice Cream Bar Magic Shot: at the Town Square flagpole Fairy Wings Magic Shot: near Pixie Hollow Mickey pretzel prop: in front of Main Street Photo Supply Co. Want unlimited Disney PhotoPass downloads from your day’s visit? Purchase Disney MaxPass to help you maximize your experience with unlimited downloads of Disney PhotoPass photos captured during the entire day and the added convenience of mobile Disney FASTPASS selections while in the Parks through the Disneyland app!* It’s the best way to complete your Disney PhotoPass Day experience. We hope you can join us during this celebration of Disney Parks photography and the priceless memories our photographers capture every day. Have a picture-perfect time, and don’t forget to share your photos with #DisneyPhotoPassDay! Parks, attractions, entertainment and character experiences may change, close or be discontinued without notice. Separate theme park admission required for certain photo locations. *Separate Theme Park admission ticket purchase required. Disney PhotoPass service is subject to the PhotoPass terms found in https://disneyland.disney.go.com/photopass-terms-conditions/. Online registration required. Disney PhotoPass Photos captured during the day your Disney MaxPass is valid must be linked to your Disney account and may be downloaded pursuant to the expiration policy at disneyland.disney.go.com/photopass-expiration-policy. Not responsible for missing, lost or damaged photos. Downloads are restricted to personal use by Disney account holder only and may not be used for a commercial purpose. Please check the day’s FastPass ticket availability and other Park details before purchasing Disney MaxPass as certain attraction FastPass tickets may not be available at the time of purchase. FastPass tickets are limited and availability is not guaranteed. Disney MaxPass is nonrefundable and is subject to restrictions and change without notice. View the full article

One of the most common questions we hear from our readers is, “When do you think future discounts will be released?” I wish we had a crystal ball for the answer! Magic Kingdom It would be wonderful if we could predict when popular discounts like Free Dining or even room-only discounts were announced, wouldn’t it? Well, don’t despair; there really is a crystal ball of sorts to help you guess which travel dates are most likely to be included in future discounts. Possible Dates When Special Offers Are Announced You see, Disney often releases discounts at the same general time each year. It’s not guaranteed, but it IS likely. Special Deals and Offers This is a list of the times when special deals for Walt Disney World have been offered in the past. They are for reference only. Discounts are limited and are not guaranteed! Offers during these timeframes are often between 15%-30% off room-only reservations (e.g. does not include tickets or dining) for Annual Passholders, Florida Residents, or other amenity groups; or discounted play-stay-and-dine packages that include hotel room, tickets, and dining options and are offered for the general public. January through April (excluding Marathon Weekend, Martin Luther King Weekend, Presidents Day and Easter) May through August (Excluding Memorial Day and July 4th) Late August through mid-December (this is typically when Free Dining is offered excluding October and Thanksgiving) Late October through mid-December (excluding Thanksgiving) Disney World Free Dining Disney World Free Dining, an offer where guests are able to book a Disney World vacation package and get the Dining Plan for free, is one of the most highly anticipated offers of the year. For the past four years, Free Dining has been announced at the end of April or beginning of May (for the past two years, it’s been announced on April 24th exactly), and the offer has applied to vacations taking place on select dates August through mid-December. Click here to get more information about Disney World’s Free Dining Offer! Note that Disney World nearly ALWAYS has a special offer available…but they will NOT tell you about it when you call to book your vacation. You need to have the information ahead of time, and the best way to have that info is to work with a Small World Vacations travel agent. They’ve got a full list of every single Disney World discount currently offered and can help you get access to the one that will save YOU the most money (it might not be the one you THINK!). Click the link below to learn more about working with a Small World Vacations travel agent — it’s FREE! Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. (Why should you use a travel agent when you go to Disney? See what we think here! Or click here for a no obligation price quote today! And tell them DFB Sent You! Of course, the possibility of a discount is only part of the equation when you’re deciding when to visit Walt Disney World. Crowds, weather, and other seasonal events must also be considered. Plan accordingly for crowds! Other Things to Consider When Choosing A Good Time to Visit Disney World When choosing your travel dates, a good rule of thumb is to go during the off peak seasons and to avoid major US holidays. Off peak seasons include January 5th through mid-February, late April and early May, mid-August through mid-December (avoiding the major holidays like Labor Day, Veteran’s Day and Columbus Day weekends, and Thanksgiving). You might also want to check to see which resorts were excluded from previous offers such as 3-bedroom villas, campsites, the Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian, Bay Lake Tower, Copper Creek Villas – Cabins, Disney’s Polynesian Bungalows, and Disney’s Art of Animation Little Mermaid Rooms. Some hotels are excluded from discounts! Can I Get A Future Discount If I Book My Vacation Now? Now is time to lock in availability for your preferred travel dates and resort for next year. But don’t worry — if you book now, you can still take advantage of future discounts on your vacation! Your Small World Vacations travel agent will be able to update and re-book your vacation if necessary to take advantage of any discounts that are released during your travel dates! And since discounts are very limited, you definitely want an agent on your side who will be up at 6AM the day the discount is released, making sure YOU get the biggest savings possible on your trip. Small World agents are Authorized Disney Vacation Planners who monitor your reservation for possible (but not guaranteed) savings. They’ve saved millions of dollars for people around the world! Disney is all they do, so they know all about Advance Dining Reservations, FastPass+, My Disney Experience, dining, resorts, rides and attractions. Small World Vacations agents are ready to save you time, headaches and money. And their invaluable service is FREE! Learn how Small World Vacations can help you. Exclusive Disney Food Blog and Small World Vacations Limited Time Offer Considering booking a Disney World trip? If you want to save time and money, you definitely want to book with a Small World Vacations travel agent. And now is the perfect time! Book a new 2018 Walt Disney World Vacation Package valued at $3600 or more and get one FREE In-Room Gift Set including an embroidered it’s a small world canvas backpack and a personal mister bottle, valued at approximately $50. (Believe me…you’re going to WANT that mister bottle!) Mention code DFBSAVE in your request for a price quote to qualify. You must check-in to your Walt Disney World Resort between September 1, 2018 and March 1, 2019. Gift will be delivered to your room. Offer valid on bookings with code DFBSAVE — must book between August 8 and September 1, 2018, to get the special offer. Previously booked reservations made with Small World Vacations are not eligible. Void if reservation is cancelled. No cash value. (While supplies last. Substitutions may be necessary.) Contact Small World Vacations for a price quote today! You must include code DFBSAVE to get the special offer. Maximize the Dining Plan! If you book a 2018 Walt Disney World Vacation Package with table service dining, you will receive one FREE digital e-Book, the Disney Food Blog Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World valued at $19.95. This guide helps you to get the most out of your Disney Dining Experience! Small World Vacations is proud to be the preferred travel agency of the Disney Food Blog. Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you — they’ve literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They’re DFB’s recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!) So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you What’s your favorite Walt Disney World Resort vacation discount? Let us know with a comment. Related posts: How To Score Disney World Free Dining in 2018! Disney World Hotel Activities For The Whole Family! 2018 Disney World Free Dining: Possible Details and Dates View the full article

A school board president in Nevada is accused of skipping out on part of an anti-bullying conference in Orlando and heading to Walt Disney World instead on a taxpayer-funded vacation, according to a columnist from the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The newspaper obtained her expenses on her trip, including... View the full article

Dessert Parties have become increasingly popular in Disney World as a way to enjoy a dessert buffet with reserved viewing for a nighttime spectacular in the parks. The Frozen Ever After Dessert Party in Epcot pairs a dessert buffet with reserved viewing for IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, and also adds an after-hours ride on the Frozen Ever After attraction. Frozen Ever After Dessert Party It is not unusual for the booking window for dessert parties to be less than the 180-day window typically available for booking dining experiences, since the party start time is based on what are often yet-to-be-determined showtimes at that point. But we have received a lot of questions about the Frozen Ever After Dessert Party in particular, since so many guests are excited for the potential to fit it in with their plans for the Epcot Food and Wine Festival. Frozen Ever After Dessert Buffet So we wanted to let interested guests know that the Frozen Ever After Dessert Party is now open for select dates through December 24th via the Disney World website (which brings us through much of the run of the Epcot Festival of the Holidays as well)! Desserts! And if you’d like to learn more about the Frozen Ever After Dessert Party — no matter what time of year you are planning to visit Disney World — you can read our full review of the party here. Check out our review of the Frozen Ever After Dessert Party! Are you planning to book the Frozen Ever After Dessert Party as part of your Food & Wine Festival plans? The Festival begins on August 30th, so there’s no better time than now to put together your Food and Wine Festival strategy! Ready to Plan for Your 2018 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Trip? Order the DFB Guide to the 2018 Epcot Food & Wine Festival e-Book today! This 250+-page guide to the Festival offers insider tips and advice as well as all of the details you need to know to plan your best Festival visit ever. Your purchase includes several bonus items as well — including a full daily schedule of events at the Festival and a printable World Showcase Booth Menu Checklist to carry with you as you Eat around the World! Order your 2018 edition today! Don’t miss a moment of the fun! Use code Chefs at check-out for a 20% off the cover price! Would you like to attend the Frozen Ever After Dessert Party? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: News: Frozen Ever After Sparkling Dessert Party with Fireworks Viewing Coming to Epcot Review: Frozen Ever After Dessert Party at Epcot! Epcot’s Newest Dessert Should Go On Your Snack Credit List. Now. View the full article

We know. It’s downright impossible to choose among the dining options in Disney Springs these days. You’ve got everything from artistic pastries to chicken tenders to high-end Pan-Asian cuisine and MUCH more. But the purpose of this post is to give a little reminder about AristoCrepes. AristoCrepes Sign Because this Crepe Kiosk is churning out some epic treats that — if you’re visiting Disney Springs with a serious sweet tooth — you will probably want to add to your list. And you now have your choice of two Bubble Waffles on the menu, in Salted Caramel and Strawberry! But here’s the thing…your window to get them is SHORT. More about that later. AristoCrepes Menu Bubble Waffles often serve as unique, fun “cones” for ice cream. But these aren’t cones…they’re legit waffles! AristoCrepes fills the Strawberry Bubble Waffle with vanilla ice cream, fresh strawberries, whipped cream, and strawberry pearls for a sundae-on-the-go! Strawberry Bubble Waffle Here’s a better look at those bubbles. Strawberry Bubble Waffle The Salted Caramel Bubble Waffle is filled with chocolate ice cream, chocolate-covered pretzel pieces, crispy pearls, caramel sauce, and more of that vanilla bean whipped cream. Salted Caramel Bubble Waffle Though this one is equally fit for a sweet seeker as the strawberry, the subtle hints of salt and crunch from the pretzels upped the game for this one a bit. Salted Caramel Bubble Waffle Either choice is a fun, filling option (even more filling than the tasty crepes you can find here!) with a touch of coolness from the ice cream for these hot months in Orlando. But here’s the situation. Aristocrepes is basically never open. Well, they’re open RARELY. On weekdays, this little kiosk doesn’t open until 4:00PM. Which means crepes and waffles — typically breakfast eats — can’t be had for breakfast on weekdays. On weekends, Aristocrepes opens a little bit earlier — 12:00PM. But that means you have to time your visit perfectly to grab these photogenic goodies. Plan carefully, because you don’t want to miss this snack! 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! You’ll find AristoCrepes in the Marketplace of Disney Springs. See ALL the food the Marketplace has to offer in our DFB YouTube video!  Would you like to try a Bubble Waffle? Please let us know with a comment! Related posts: News! Menus and Opening Dates for Aristocrepes, B.B. Wolf’s, and The Daily Poutine in Disney Springs New DFB Video: EAT THIS at Disney Springs Part 1 News: Christmas in July Treats at Disney Springs View the full article

They don’t call Florida “the sunshine state” sin razón. Sunny days year-round make Walt Disney World Resort the ideal vacation destination. Even when it’s hot at the parks, there are always ways to beat el calor that don’t involve missing out on any of the diversión. Here are some tips for keeping cool around the resort. Savor a Frozen Treat – Ice cream on a hot day is a classic, but Disney’s offerings for sweet frozen treats go above and beyond. Pineapple Dole Whips or Pineapple Floats from Magic Kingdom Park or Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort are particularly refrescante. If you’re at Epcot, you can’t go wrong with gelato in the Italy pavilion. It comes in a variety of flavors in a cup, cone or, if you’re feeling particularly indulgent, between two galletas de chocolate chip. Spend the Afternoon at a Disney Water Park – Walt Disney World Resort is home to two distinctive and themed water parks, Disney’s Blizzard Beach and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon. No matter which park you choose, you and your familia will find exciting rides ranging from peaceful to thrilling. Slides, wave pools and shaded lounging areas make for a cooler and entertaining afternoon. Enjoy the Cooler Attractions Across the Resort – If you need a break from the heat, but don’t want to stop experiencing attractions, consider something with a little aire acondicionado. Mickey’s Philharmagic at Magic Kingdom Park offers a nice break. The family-friendly 4D musical show seats many guests at once, so it’s usually a good option for a quick rest. Cooling off can be thrilling, too. Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom Park and Kali River Rapids at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park both have exhilarating drops that end with a splash. Take Care of Yourself and Your Familia – Make sure everyone is feeling their best during their stay. Wear sunscreen (and reapply often!) and make sure todos in your group drinks plenty of water. Water fountains are plentiful throughout the theme parks, and you can get cups of ice water at all Quick Service dining locations. Stay hydrated! Do you have other consejos for beating the heat at the parks? Let us know! View the full article