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If you’ve been paying attention to Animal Kingdom recently, you’ll know that they’re planning one of their most exciting projects yet – a Tropical Americas-themed land. This new area will feature attractions where you’ll explore a temple alongside Indiana Jones and tour the Magdrigal’s house from Encanto. We’ve been following the latest news to keep you updated, and we stumbled upon a sentimental post. Jeff Vahle & Animal Kingdom Cast Members ©Disney Jeff Vahle, the President of Walt Disney World, took to Instagram today and posted an update on the expansion called Pueblo Esperanza, which brought up all the feels. Cast members across Animal Kingdom have signed a steel beam that will be inside the new Encanto ride! Here’s the Disney history behind this special moment and everything you need to know about the new ride. Historically, Disney rides have been signed by Imagineers who created the ride. In “Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway” at Hollywood Studios, the dumpster outside of Daisy’s dance studio is covered in the signatures of Disney Imagineers involved with the ride’s creation. There are also more hidden signatures – the handprints in the cave of the Avatar: Flight of Passage queue have the handprints of legendary Imagineer Joe Rohde and “Avatar” director James Cameron. Signed “Encanto” ride beam ©Disney What’s special about this Encanto beam is that it doesn’t just have Imagineers’ and celebrities’ signatures. The signatures belong to Cast Members all around the park, from ride operators to custodians. This is a big deal for Disney – the worker serving popcorn has left their mark on Disney history. Things like this are usually kept behind the scenes, so Jeff Vahle’s post publicizing the moment made it even more special. Jeff Vahle’s signature ©Disney The upcoming Encanto ride will take guests inside the Casita, the Madrigal family’s magical home. Riders will explore the iconic house and encounter their favorite characters in a story that expands on the film. The Casita ©Disney While we’re still waiting to hear even more from Disney, stay tuned to Disney Food Blog for more updates! When Is Disney World’s Encanto Ride Opening? Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Are you excited for the new Encanto ride? Comment below! View the full article

“Gourmet Landscapes” sounds like the kind of booth name that should come with a beret and a tiny easel. Like, are we about to eat a meadow? Do we need to whisper “bonjour” before taking a bite? This is EPCOT Festival of the Arts, so honestly, anything is possible, including a dessert that looks like it belongs in a museum and tastes like it belongs in your dreams. Gourmet Landscapes We’re live at the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts, checking out the food studios, artistic performances, merchandise, and more. There’s a LOT going on, but don’t let it overwhelm you. We’re here to tell you everything you need to know before your visit. But here’s the real question: is Gourmet Landscapes actually gourmet… or is it just wearing a fancy name tag and hoping we don’t notice? Let’s dig in and see if this booth is serving a masterpiece, or just… artsy confidence. Menu Gourmet Landscapes is the home of elegant comfort food. Most of the menu items and drinks are returning. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. However, it has us wondering, are these items enough to draw you in for a visit? Let’s dive into the food first and find out. 2026 Gourmet Landscapes Menu Now that we’ve taken a look at the menu, let’s dive into the food itself! Eats First up, we grabbed the Wild Mushroom Risotto for $9.79. This entree is made with aged Parmesan, truffle shavings, and zinfandel reduction. Wild Mushroom Risotto In the past, this was our favorite item at this booth! It’s plant-based, so that “parmesan” is really a coconut-based “cheese.” The dish was salty, delicious, creamy, and earthy. We even had to double-check with Cast Members that it is actually plant-based, as it is super creamy! While it doesn’t have the most glamorous presentation, the flavors more than make up for it. The risotto is slightly creamy, and the mushrooms add a satisfying, meaty texture, giving the dish real depth. The zinfandel reduction brings a rich, hearty note that ties everything together. It’s a warm, comforting dish that we’d happily order again, though it’s not our top pick of the festival. Mushroom Risotto Another returning item that we did not grab this year is the Roasted Bone Marrow with onion marmalade, pickled mushrooms, and petite lettuce for $10.79. 2025 Roasted Bone Marrow Didn’t have roasted bone marrow on your EPCOT Bingo card, did ya?! We’ve seen various versions of this dish here since 2022. In 2022, there was mache lettuce and bone marrow snow listed on the menu. But this is the same dish we experienced in 2023, so if you had it last year, you can expect a similar experience. 2025 Roasted Bone Marrow If you don’t know how to eat it, you’re supposed to spoon out the marrow and spread it over the bread that’s served with it. The marrow starts off salty and then has a very unexpected sweet flavor as an aftertaste. Our reporter described it as an “enigma,” because that aftertaste was so surprising. And finally, rounding out our trip to Gourmet Landscapes with the Citrus-braised Beet Tartare for $5.49. Citrus-braised Beet Tartare This dish comes with golden beet “egg yolk,” mustard vinaigrette, pickled mustard seeds, pickled mushrooms, spiced pistachios, and “feta” snow. It is a plant-based item, and is part of the Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine Item. The Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine is essentially a food challenge where, if you buy 5 of the 7 participating items, you can get a FREE prize. Each plant-based ingredient did a great job of playing the role of the real thing. The plant-based “feta” genuinely tastes like the real thing, while the spiced pistachios add a surprising kick, like the gentle heat of extra black pepper. The crustini serves as the perfect base, bringing everything together and making each bite deliciously balanced. Look at these colors! Drinks First, we have the Whole Hog Brewery Raspberry Chéret Double Radler. You can get a 6oz pour for $6 or 12oz for $9.75. You can also find a Schlumberger Cuvée Klimt Brut on the menu for $9. Or you can opt for the new Orin Swift Abstract California Red Blend for $8. And finally, while here, you can get another returning cocktail, the Frozen Scotch Cocktail with Scotch and herbal tea garnished with a chocolate nail for $15.50. Frozen Scotch Cocktail We were honestly surprised by how much we enjoyed this one. It’s strong, and the Scotch really shines, but the Chia provides balance, smoothing the burn without overpowering the drink. The dark chocolate garnish adds a subtle, bittersweet touch that complements the cocktail perfectly. We recommend taking a bit of the nail and sipping on the cocktail because the flavors worked so well together. Definitely a standout option for anyone looking for something bold and unique at the festival. OVERALL The Gourmet Landscape booth offers a mix of creative, flavorful dishes that showcase both comfort and innovation. From the warm, earthy Wild Mushroom Risotto to the bold and boozy Frozen Scotch Cocktail, and the vibrant, plant-based Citrus-Braised Beet Tartare, there’s something for a variety of palates. The risotto delivers hearty, satisfying flavors, while the cocktail surprises with a perfectly balanced, spirited punch. The beet tartare stands out as a festival favorite, combining color, texture, and a touch of heat in a playful, plant-based package. Overall, Gourmet Landscape is a booth that blends artistry and taste, making it a must-visit stop for anyone exploring the festival. Gourmet Landscapes That’s it for this booth, but there’s a LOT more where that came from! Click here to see FULL reviews of EVERY. SINGLE. BOOTH. at the Festival of the Arts! Trying to plan the PERFECT trip to the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts? We’ll be keeping you updated on all of the latest. Click our links below for the information you need to know: Check out all of the food booths getting NEW items this year! The full line up of this year’s Souvenirs and Entertainment 8 Menu Items To Order If You Want To Win a PRIZE at the EPCOT Festival of the Arts And don’t forget to pick up our 2026 Festival of the Arts Guide e-book! See more details about the book below. MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR FESTIVAL DAYS DFB's guide to the Festival of the Arts details everything you need to know to maximize your time, budget, and stomach space! Know what's worth it and what to skip with our full-photo menus of each booth, complete with DFB's Best of the Fest. It includes all the must-have information for navigating this colorful festival at Disney World, including: Booth & food photos, maps, and crawls with DFB's exclusive recommendations! The COMPLETE schedule of events (so you don't have to go hunting for all the dates!) All the details on special events, artist meet-n-greets, festival-exclusive merchandise, and more! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW MORE Festival of the Arts INFO! See the FULL LIST of Food Booths, Menus, and Photos from the Festival of the Arts Read ALL of Our Food Booth Reviews for the Festival Learn More About the Disney on Broadway Concert Series and Dining Packages Click HERE for All of the Latest News and Details About the Festival of the Arts! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Festival of the Arts news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What items from this booth would you most want to try? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

This is your reminder that “I’m just here for the art” is a lie you tell while holding warm brie in a bread bowl. L’Art de la Cuisine Francaise We’re live at the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts, checking out the food studios, artistic performances, merchandise, and more. There’s a LOT going on, but don’t let it overwhelm you. We’re here to tell you everything you need to know before your visit. Let’s go to L’Art de la Cuisine Francaise to try some returning snacks and a bunch of NEW drinks! Menu Over at the L’Art de la Cuisine Francaise, you’ll find a variety of French-inspired menu items (including the AH-MAZING cheese in a bread bowl) and some dazzlingly pretty cocktails. 2026 L’Art de la Cuisine Française Menu Now that we’ve taken a look at the menu, let’s dive into the food itself! Eats First up, we grabbed the Crème de Brie en Petit Pain, made with warm, creamy brie, in a house-made bread bowl, for $10.25. Crème de Brie en Petit Pain This is a returning classic and one of our top picks from this booth year after year! Every year we’ve had it, it’s wowed us. It’s melted cheese in a bowl made of bread, so….there’s not a lot to complain about here (unless you hate or are allergic to cheese)! This dish is creamy, the cheese is soft and smooth, and the bread is fluffy. This is a heartwarming, cozy (yet elevated!) snack that we will recommend over and over again. The bread was a bit denser this year than in previous years, but we still loved it! Crème de Brie en Petit Pain The cheese isn’t sharp; it is just nice, creamy, and comforting. We think this could be a good option for a picky eater or someone looking for a super comforting dish. What’s not to love about bread and cheese? This dish is definitely a favorite again this year! Crème de Brie en Petit Pain Now, let’s try a new item on the menu! The Gâteau de Crabe, Bisque de Homard, Crème Citron et Aneth, which you can pick up for $11.95. This is a crab cake, lobster bisque, and lemon-dill sour cream. Let’s break this one down a bit. The Gâteau de Crabe is your crab cake moment. Expect sweet, delicate crab meat with a lightly seasoned, buttery richness. It’s more “crab-forward and refined” than “heavily breaded and spicy,” with gentle aromatics (think a whisper of onion/shallot, maybe a little pepper). Gâteau de Crabe, Bisque de Homard, Crème Citron et Aneth Bisque de Homard is lobster bisque: velvety, rich, and deeply savory. You’re in creamy soup territory, with shellfish sweetness and a slow-simmered depth that can feel almost roasted. The texture is plush, like it’s wearing cashmere. Crème Citron et Aneth is the bright, bossy friend that keeps the party from getting too heavy. Gâteau de Crabe, Bisque de Homard, Crème Citron et Aneth Lemon cream brings tang and a little sweetness, while dill adds a fresh, green, slightly anise-y herbal note. Together, it cuts through the richness of crab and bisque like a squeeze of citrus over seafood, but smoother and more “sauce energy.” Gâteau de Crabe, Bisque de Homard, Crème Citron et Aneth Ready for dessert? Because we are! And no, we don’t mean getting another bread bowl (but if you do, we won’t judge because cheese is life!). It’s time for the Éclair au Chocolat et à l’Orange, Crème à l’Orange, Ganache au Chocolat, Croustillant de Noisettes et Oranges Confites (phew, that’s quite the mouthful!). In plain ol’ English, this is a chocolate-orange éclair, orange cream, chocolate ganache, crispy hazelnut, and candied oranges you can grab for $8.95. Éclair au Chocolat et à l’Orange The éclair wasn’t overly dry or perfectly moist, but it was definitely an improvement from years past. It was flaky, and the combination of dark chocolate and orange was delicious. The orange had great acidity, and the dark chocolate adds the perfect amount of sweetness. Éclair au Chocolat et à l’Orange The candied oranges on top added a great texture, and we really just enjoyed how all the elements meshed together. Drinks In terms of drinks on this menu, we got the Frozen French Martini for $15.50. This cocktail is comprised of Grey Goose Vodka, Chambord Liqueur, DOLE Pineapple Juice, Minute Maid Orange Juice, and grape juice with lemon-lime foam. This Frozen French Martini is less “velvet cocktail lounge” and more “sparkly fruit punch took a semester abroad in Paris, and came back with a foam hat.” Frozen French Martini The first sip is bright, cold, and fruit-forward. Chambord brings that unmistakable raspberry-blackberry liqueur vibe, so you get jammy berry sweetness right away. Then the juices pile in: pineapple adds tropical tang, orange adds sunny citrus, and grape juice gives it a round, candy-like fruit depth that makes the whole thing taste a bit like an upscale slushie (in the best way, if you’re into that). The lemon-lime foam on top adds a fizzy-sherbet aroma and a little tart lift, which is helpful because this drink is otherwise very sweet-leaning. Frozen French Martini The vodka is mostly there for strength and a clean alcoholic bite. In a frozen format, that bite is softened, making it sneaky. It tastes playful, but it still packs a punch. Who might enjoy it: People who love fruity frozen drinks, sangria-ish flavors, or anything that tastes like “dessert with a straw.” Fans of Chambord, berry-forward cocktails, or sweet-tart slush vibes. Anyone who wants an easy, fun drink that doesn’t taste very boozy. Who might want to avoid it: If you prefer spirit-forward cocktails, dry martinis, or anything bitter/hoppy, this will feel like a sugar parade. If you don’t like grape juice flavors (it can read “juice box” to some palates), that note is noticeable. People watching sugar intake or who get headaches from very sweet drinks. Anyone who hates frozen texture, or who wants their “martini” to taste remotely traditional. Frozen French Martini And France wouldn’t be complete without some wine, right? You can get a serving of Chardonnay, Laroque, Cite de Carcassonne for $6.95. This Chardonnay opens with a bright, citrusy note (lemon and lime peel), followed by a softer orchard-fruit middle (pear, melon, sometimes quince). Then it will mellow into some oak influence, giving you a gentle pastry echo. Or if it’s something bubbly you’re after, try the Charles Lafitte, Brut Rosé Prestige, Méthode Traditionnel Champenoise for $9.95. On the nose and first sip, you’ll get a spring-bouquet vibe with lots of red fruit like wild strawberry and raspberry. As it opens up, you can also catch a light bakery note, like a warm croissant or toasted bread. This is the kind of bubbly that leans more toward the sweeter than the drier side of the spectrum. OVERALL L’Art de la Cuisine Française is a big winner in our books. We would probably live at this booth if we could! The Crème de Brie en Petit Pain is a returning favorite that once again makes our list. There is just something so wonderfully comforting about creamy cheese and fluffy bread. We also really enjoyed the Gâteau de Crabe, and the flavors in the Éclair au Chocolat et à l’Orange worked so well together. We wish the éclair was a bit more moist, but it was definitely an improvement! The Frozen French Martini is also one of our favorites. L’Art de la Cuisine Française is definitely worth a stop at the Festival of the Arts. L’Art de la Cuisine Française Full Spread That’s it for this booth, but there’s a LOT more where that came from! Click here to see FULL reviews of EVERY. SINGLE. BOOTH. at the Festival of the Arts! Trying to plan the PERFECT trip to the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts? We’ll be keeping you updated on all of the latest. Click our links below for the information you need to know: Check out all of the food booths getting NEW items this year! The full line up of this year’s Souvenirs and Entertainment 8 Menu Items To Order If You Want To Win a PRIZE at the EPCOT Festival of the Arts And don’t forget to pick up our 2026 Festival of the Arts Guide e-book! See more details about the book below. MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR FESTIVAL DAYS DFB's guide to the Festival of the Arts details everything you need to know to maximize your time, budget, and stomach space! Know what's worth it and what to skip with our full-photo menus of each booth, complete with DFB's Best of the Fest. It includes all the must-have information for navigating this colorful festival at Disney World, including: Booth & food photos, maps, and crawls with DFB's exclusive recommendations! The COMPLETE schedule of events (so you don't have to go hunting for all the dates!) All the details on special events, artist meet-n-greets, festival-exclusive merchandise, and more! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW MORE Festival of the Arts INFO! See the FULL LIST of Food Booths, Menus, and Photos from the Festival of the Arts Read ALL of Our Food Booth Reviews for the Festival Learn More About the Disney on Broadway Concert Series and Dining Packages Click HERE for All of the Latest News and Details About the Festival of the Arts! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Festival of the Arts news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What items from this booth would you most want to try? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

Pop Eats! is a fan-favorite booth each year at the EPCOT Festival of the Arts, serving up grilled cheese and soup! This year, there’s a new grilled cheese on the menu, and we’re checking it out! Croque Monsieur Grilled Cheese with Tomato Soup We’re live at the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts, checking out the food studios, artistic performances, merchandise, and more. There’s a LOT going on, but don’t let it overwhelm you. We’re here to tell you everything you need to know before your visit. Let’s go to Pop Eats! and check out what’s on the menu this year. Menu This year at Pop Eats! you’ll find the iconic comfort foods — grilled cheese and tomato soup! First up is the classic — and returning — Grilled Cheese with Tomato Soup. The new food item for 2026 is Croque Monsieur-inspired Grilled Cheese with Black Forest ham, Gruyère, and béchamel sauce served with tomato soup. The Blanc de Bleu Cuvée Mousseux with fruit juice-filled pearls returns again this year, while the Gulf Stream Brewing Company Pixel Perfect Pilsner is new for 2026. 2026 Pop Eats! Menu Now that we’ve taken a look at the menu, let’s dive into the food itself! Eats We ordered the all-new Croque Monsieur-inspired Grilled Cheese with Black Forest ham, Gruyère, and béchamel sauce served with tomato soup for $6.79 (or a snack credit on the Disney Dining Plan). This is a really interesting grilled cheese. Although the bread has a crispy exterior like a traditional Croque Monsieur, it doesn’t have the melted cheese on top of the bread. But you do get melted cheese inside, and it’s SUPER gooey. There it is For some weird reason, the flavor gave us more Alfredo sauce than anything. The cheese is so heavy inside that you barely taste the ham. The tomato soup is the same as we’ve had before. It’s just tomato soup, but it’s nice for dunking the sandwich in. LOTS of cheese Next up, you can order the classic Grilled Cheese served with tomato soup for $5.99 or a Disney Dining Plan Snack Credit. In the past, we’ve found this dish to be comforting and delicious over the years. Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Drinks Returning again for 2026 is the beautiful Blanc de Bleu Cuvée Mousseux with fruit juice-filled pearls for $10.75. This cocktail is made with Blanc de Bleu Cuvée Mousseux with boba pearls and has been consistently offered at this booth since 2023! In the past, we’ve found it to pretty to look at but not our favorite drink at the Festival. This year, it was very sweet, and we thought it was very drinkable…maybe too much so! The boba pearls are kinda’ strange in it because you don’t really get to them until you’ve finished the drink. Blanc de Bleu Cuvée Mousseux New for 2026 is the Gulf Stream Brewing Company Pixel Perfect Pilsner. You can get a 6 oz pour for $6.00 or a 12 oz pour for $9.75. OVERALL If you’re craving those classic grilled cheese flavors with a bit of a twist and a cup of tomato soup, there’s really no other place in EPCOT that will satisfy like Pop Eats! The new grilled cheese is worth checking out if you like Croque Monsieur flavors, but otherwise, the classic grilled cheese is sure to make you happy, too. The classic is also one that kids will love. That’s it for this booth, but there’s a LOT more where that came from! Click here to see FULL reviews of EVERY. SINGLE. BOOTH. at the Festival of the Arts! Trying to plan the PERFECT trip to the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts? We’ll be keeping you updated on all of the latest. Click our links below for the information you need to know: Check out all of the food booths getting NEW items this year! The full line up of this year’s Souvenirs and Entertainment 8 Menu Items To Order If You Want To Win a PRIZE at the EPCOT Festival of the Arts And don’t forget to pick up our 2026 Festival of the Arts Guide e-book! See more details about the book below. MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR FESTIVAL DAYS DFB's guide to the Festival of the Arts details everything you need to know to maximize your time, budget, and stomach space! Know what's worth it and what to skip with our full-photo menus of each booth, complete with DFB's Best of the Fest. It includes all the must-have information for navigating this colorful festival at Disney World, including: Booth & food photos, maps, and crawls with DFB's exclusive recommendations! The COMPLETE schedule of events (so you don't have to go hunting for all the dates!) All the details on special events, artist meet-n-greets, festival-exclusive merchandise, and more! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW MORE Festival of the Arts INFO! See the FULL LIST of Food Booths, Menus, and Photos from the Festival of the Arts Read ALL of Our Food Booth Reviews for the Festival Learn More About the Disney on Broadway Concert Series and Dining Packages Click HERE for All of the Latest News and Details About the Festival of the Arts! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Festival of the Arts news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What items from this booth would you most want to try? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

Welcome to The Painted Panda at the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts! Painted Panda Food Studio Located in the China Pavilion, The Painted Panda is one of the 18 Food Studios (also known as Food Booths) at the Festival. And if you’ve got a craving for Bao Buns, Bubble Milk Tea, or one of the prettiest cocktail you’ve ever seen, then this is your place. We hope you’ll join us at The Painted Panda as we bring you our full reviews of every single Food Studio at the Festival of the Arts! Menu The Painted Panda has brought back two dishes to the Festival with General Tso’s Chicken Shumai and the Egg Tart. Joining them is the new Char Siu Pork Bun. Menu The Strawberry Bubble Milk Tea is a non-alcoholic option. But if you care to imbibe, two cocktails are up for grabs: Silk River Hard Lemonade and Butterfly Blue. Beer drinkers can try the Dragonfruit Lager. Let’s dig in and see what The Painted Panda has for us! Eats General Tso’s Chicken Shumai is back on the menu for $10.75. This trio of dumplings is filled with chicken, asparagus, onion, and water chestnut, then topped with General Tso’s sauce. General Tso’s Chicken Shumai We were expecting a thick, meatier dumpling here, which is what you get, but we were also surprised by how much we love the infusion of vegetables. They give a brightness and a crunch to the dumplings overall, and then there’s a salty flavor from the soy. This is a really solid dish! Shumai The new Char Siu Pork Bun is here for the steamed bun fans! For $8.75, the bun is filled with sweet-and-savory Cantonese-style BBQ pork. Char Siu Pork Bun The main word that came to mind when eating this bun was “balance.” There’s a delicious, meaty, fatty flavor from the filling, but then the bun itself is soft with a little bit of chew. The sauce offers just enough coverage that it enhances instead of distracts. A truly spectacular menu addition! Char Siu Pork Bun The Hong Kong-style Egg Tart makes a return, too! This egg custard-filled tart is $5.50. Egg Tart Unfortunately, there’s just not much that wows us about this dish. We find the mix of flavors and textures to be a bit off-putting. Egg Tart It has a consistency similar to flan, but a taste reminiscent of eggs whipped into gelatin form. It’s not one we would go back for again when there are so many delightful dishes at the Festival. Drinks At The Painted Panda, the beverages are given the artistic treatment as much as the food, starting with the Strawberry Bubble Milk Tea. This non-alcoholic drink is $8.75. It must have been a hit for The Painted Panda last year, because it’s one of the few featured Bubble Milk Teas that has returned to the booth for the second year in a row. And we understand why! The brightness of the strawberry so nicely complements the creaminess of the Milk Tea, while the popping boba pearls lend an element of fun. Strawberry Bubble Milk Tea The Silk River Hard Lemonade cocktail costs $14.50. This sweet sip is made with vodka, lavender-coconut syrup, and Minute Maid Premium Lemonade. Silk River Hard Lemonade It’s like an alcoholic pink lemonade without the strong, bitter taste. The presentation is absolutely beautiful, and it has a lovely sweetness. The toppings The Butterfly Blue is a returning favorite, and is known for being one of the prettiest sips at the Festival of the Arts! For $14.50, this Butterfly pea flower-infused cocktail features vodka, light rum, lychee syrup, and crystal boba pearls. Butterfly Blue But this one comes with a warning from us…it will hit HARD. That vodka is STRONG, y’all, and it’s pretty alcohol-forward. We don’t recommend ordering this on an empty stomach or if you’re averse to the taste of vodka in general. If you’re a fan of that liqueur and a slight butterfly pea taste, you’ll love it! It’s so pretty! The Dragonfruit Lager is also available at $6.00 for a 6-ounce pour or $11.00 for a 12-ounce pour. OVERALL Ultimately, The Painted Panda is a strong contender at the Festival of the Arts, though it’s not quite up there with our top picks. If you’re a fan of dumplings and buns or drinks that’ll stun on your TikTok feed, this is a great stop. But if you skip it, are you missing out on a lot? Well, not really. Solid menu that probably won’t disappoint, but probably mid-tier. The spread Thanks so much for joining us at The Painted Panda! And remember, there’s a LOT more where this came from… Click here to see FULL reviews of EVERY. SINGLE. BOOTH. at the Festival of the Arts! Trying to plan the PERFECT trip to the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts? We’ll be keeping you updated on all of the latest. Click our links below for the information you need to know: Find out how to participate in the Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine Don’t miss the Festival’s Disney on Broadway Concert Series! See ALL of the menus for the Festival of the Arts Food Booths HERE And don’t forget to pick up our 2026 Festival of the Arts Guide e-book! See more details about the book below. MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR FESTIVAL DAYS DFB's guide to the Festival of the Arts details everything you need to know to maximize your time, budget, and stomach space! Know what's worth it and what to skip with our full-photo menus of each booth, complete with DFB's Best of the Fest. It includes all the must-have information for navigating this colorful festival at Disney World, including: Booth & food photos, maps, and crawls with DFB's exclusive recommendations! The COMPLETE schedule of events (so you don't have to go hunting for all the dates!) All the details on special events, artist meet-n-greets, festival-exclusive merchandise, and more! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW MORE Festival of the Arts INFO! See the FULL LIST of Food Booths, Menus, and Photos from the Festival of the Arts Read ALL of Our Food Booth Reviews for the Festival Learn More About the Disney on Broadway Concert Series and Dining Packages Click HERE for All of the Latest News and Details About the Festival of the Arts! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Festival of the Arts news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Which items from The Painted Panda would you most want to try? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

There are some simply iconic Disney World restaurants, like the beloved ‘Ohana! ‘Ohana This is one of the most popular dining spots in all of Disney World, which makes it rather difficult to score a reservation. But if you’re dining there soon, we’re here to issue a warning — your spectacular view of Magic Kingdom might be impeded! A notice was recently posted on the ‘Ohana page on the Disney World website stating that as of January 15th, portions of the exterior of the Polynesian Village Resort will be undergoing maintenance. This means that your view from ‘Ohana may be impacted. ‘Ohana Specifically, they noted that views of Seven Seas Lagoon (and subsequently, Cinderella Castle) may be partially or fully obstructed during construction. This restaurant is often chosen by diners for its view of Magic Kingdom fireworks shows, so that blocked view could be a bummer if it’s the reason you made your reservation. ‘Ohana We’ll make sure to bring you more updates as construction takes place to let you know when the problems ease up. In the meantime, other restaurants in the area that may have a good view of fireworks include Narcoossee’s at the Grand Floridian and California Grill at the Contemporary. ‘Ohana bread pudding Stay tuned to our blog here and subscribe to our newsletter to get more updates on this situation and other Disney dining news. We’ll be stopping by the Polynesian Village Resort soon to check on the construction, so keep following us on social media for those updates. The Best Restaurants at Disney World in 2026 Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Have you ever dined at ‘Ohana? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

Somedays, it feels like just about everything is under construction or being refurbished or getting completely revamped in Disney World. Hotels are getting new lobbies AND rooms, while the theme parks are getting brand new lands with new rides, shops, and restaurants. Prime Rib Sliders Well, that construction is continuing over at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, where two restaurants will close soon, so if you want to grab a bite at Yachtsman Steakhouse or The Crew’s Cup Lounge, you’ll need to do it before they close! Disney has confirmed that Yachtsman Steakhouse, which is about as close to an old-fashioned classic steakhouse as you can get in Disney World, will close in May 2026 for a “refresh.” The restaurant is expected to reopen in August 2026. We’ll admit we’re very curious as to what this refresh will be, but it sounds like the restaurant might look a lot different when it reopens. Now, we have to wonder if we’ll be getting new food, too! Yachtsman Steakhouse In addition, the lounge adjacent to Yachtsman Steakhouse, The Crew’s Cup Lounge, will be closing even sooner, on February 23rd! However, that restaurant is expected to reopen in May 2026. Disney has not shared what plans it has for the lounge, but we’re certainly curious about it! If you love the Prime Rib Sliders at Crew’s Cup as much as we do, you’ll want to head over there ASAP to get that one last prime rib slider fix. Prime Rib Sliders In the meantime, you’ll still be able to grab food at Ale & Compass Restaurant, as well as at The Market at Ale & Compass. Yacht Club is also close to several other EPCOT-area resorts, so you have those choices of restaurants, too. We’ll keep an eye out for more closures (and reopenings) in Disney World, so stay tuned to DFB for more. 5 Restaurants I Regret Impulse Booking in Disney World  Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What do you think of this closure? Will this affect your upcoming Disney World trip? Share with us in the comments! View the full article

Like to play with your food? Come on, we know you do SOMETIMES! Well, you’ve come to the right festival review. The vibe at Deconstructed Dish during the 2026 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts is familiar flavors, unfamiliar presentation, maximum “wait, let me taste that again.” The Deconstructed Dish We’re live at the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts, checking out the food studios, artistic performances, merchandise, and more. There’s a LOT going on, but don’t let it overwhelm you. We’re here to tell you everything you need to know before your visit. Let’s go to Deconstructed Dish to try some creative classics. Menu Over at the Deconstructed Dish, you’ll find a variety of available items. All old favorites, but some with a new twist and presentation for us to experience! Deconstructed Dish Menu Now that we’ve taken a look at the menu, let’s dive into the food itself! Eats We were huge fans of this booth last year, so we’re excited to try it out again in 2026! Beginning with the Deconstructed BLT, it’s made with pork belly, soft poached egg, onion bread pudding, watercress espuma, and tomato jam for $7.29. The onion bread pudding was a new addition in 2023, and we’re glad to see it’s still a part of the dish! Deconstructed BLT This dish is fantastic and is one of our best of the fest picks. While it’s not totally clear how to eat this BLT at first, if you just dig in and build yourself a little sandwich with all of it, you’ll be in Heaven. It is SO good. The pork belly is so savory, juicy, and flavorful. The flavors all balance really well. We would say they could get rid of the egg, and nobody would care. It doesn’t really add anything to the meal. But other than that, this dish is something we will definitely be back to get again. This was SO good. The other food item on this menu is a dessert — it’s the Deconstructed Key Lime Pie. You can grab it for $5.29, and it’s made with Key lime curd, Key lime gelée, toasted meringue, and graham cracker crumbs with waffle cone triangles. The dish is also part of the food stroll called The Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine! Deconstructed Key Lime Pie Disney listed this as a “new” item, but we’ve seen this before, just in a different presentation. It has also been a hit for us at past festivals, so how did it hold up this year? Unfortunately, not well. This was SOOOO citrusy. It’s very tart. We had to bear our way through the tartness. It’s fun to eat, but the flavor was just too tart for us. The meringue is pretty rich, but not a flavor that really adds anything to the citrus custard. And is it just us, or does this key lime pie look like an egg? This was not our favorite this year. Overall, we were pretty disappointed in the Deconstructed Key Lime Pie compared to other years. Previously, we LOVED this dish. It was beautiful and bright with amazing flavors that all complemented each other. There was more than one very tart flavor, like we experienced this year. 2025 Deconstructed Key Lime Pie Drinks In terms of drinks on this menu, we got Deconstructed Strawberry Mint Julep. This is a returning cocktail from last year’s festival. It is made with Frozen mint and simple syrup blended with strawberry purée for $4.79, or you can get it with Old Forester 86 Bourbon for $12.25. Deconstructed Strawberry Mint Julep This is basically a Mint Julep that went to the pool bar, bought a strawberry smoothie, and came back wearing sunglasses. This drink is a little “interactive.” You get to make your own drink in a sense. We got the alcoholic version, and wow, was it strong! Typically, the festival drinks aren’t all that strong, but this one certainly was. It tastes like a typical strawberry mint julep once all the flavors are combined, but it was VERY good and lots of fun. There is a small amount of slush floating on top, but it didn’t really affect the drink for us. We really enjoyed this cocktail Who might enjoy it: People who like Mint Juleps but wish they were colder, sweeter, and more fruit-forward. Bourbon drinkers who don’t mind a playful, dessert-y presentation. Frozen cocktail fans (frosé people, this is your cousin). Who might want to avoid it: Anyone who dislikes mint (it can read toothpaste-y if you’re not a mint person). Folks who prefer spirit-forward, less-sweet cocktails (this is built to be refreshing, not brooding). People sensitive to icy drinks or prone to brain freeze. Anyone who doesn’t like fruit in whiskey, or who wants their bourbon flavors to stay front-and-center instead of “in the background, waving.” The Deconstructed Dish Full Spread Also on the drink menu is the Wicked Weed Brewing Blank Canvas Wheat Ale. You can grab this for $6.00 or for $9.75, depending on the size. Wicked Weed’s Blank Canvas Wheat Ale is a “spa day” witbier, offering light, hazy, citrusy, and gently herbal flavors, with almost no hop bite trying to pick a fight with your taste buds. The Deconstructed Dish Menu 2026 Who might enjoy it: People who like Blue Moon/Allagash White-style beers, anyone who wants something refreshing and not bitter, and folks who love citrus, light spice, and a soft, hazy wheat profile. It’s also a nice pick if you want a “sip while wandering” beer that won’t bulldoze your palate. Who might want to avoid it: IPA devotees chasing piney bitterness, anyone who hates coriander or that “citrus + spice” witbier signature, and people who don’t like hazy/yeasty wheat beers. Also, if you’re avoiding gluten, this is a wheat beer, so it’s not the safest bet. OVERALL We will absolutely be back for the Deconstructed BLT and Strawberry Mint Julep, but we likely won’t grab this new version of the Deconstructed Key Lime Pie again. We’re sad to see the changes to the previously delicious dessert. We’ll be back for more of the Deconstructed BLT for sure! That’s it for this booth, but there’s a LOT more where that came from! Click here to see FULL reviews of EVERY. SINGLE. BOOTH. at the Festival of the Arts! Trying to plan the PERFECT trip to the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts? We’ll be keeping you updated on all of the latest. Click our links below for the information you need to know: Check out all of the food booths getting NEW items this year! The full line up of this year’s Souvenirs and Entertainment 8 Menu Items To Order If You Want To Win a PRIZE at the EPCOT Festival of the Arts And don’t forget to pick up our 2026 Festival of the Arts Guide e-book! See more details about the book below. MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR FESTIVAL DAYS DFB's guide to the Festival of the Arts details everything you need to know to maximize your time, budget, and stomach space! Know what's worth it and what to skip with our full-photo menus of each booth, complete with DFB's Best of the Fest. It includes all the must-have information for navigating this colorful festival at Disney World, including: Booth & food photos, maps, and crawls with DFB's exclusive recommendations! The COMPLETE schedule of events (so you don't have to go hunting for all the dates!) All the details on special events, artist meet-n-greets, festival-exclusive merchandise, and more! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW MORE Festival of the Arts INFO! See the FULL LIST of Food Booths, Menus, and Photos from the Festival of the Arts Read ALL of Our Food Booth Reviews for the Festival Learn More About the Disney on Broadway Concert Series and Dining Packages Click HERE for All of the Latest News and Details About the Festival of the Arts! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Festival of the Arts news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What items from this booth would you most want to try? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

Festival of the Arts has officially arrived in EPCOT, and we couldn’t be more thrilled! Look for Figment! There are so many delicious offerings to try at the food booths, so much entertainment to check out, but did you know you can take part in a scavenger hunt to find Figment all around World Showcase? It’ll cost you $12, but yes, Figment’s Brush with the Masters is back this year, and we still think it’s a great offering for families experiencing the festival! Figment is hiding in works of art inside every single World Showcase Pavilion, and if you find him in each spot, you’ll get a prize for your efforts! This year, the scavenger hunt is priced at $11.99 plus tax, which means you can really go back and get the prize if you complete the scavenger hunt or not, since you’ve paid for it, but we say complete it if you can! Now, this is a $2 increase from last year, so let’s see if the prize is worth the price increase. Scavenger Hunt You can pick up your map from Creations Shop, Port of Entry, or World Traveler. You’ll find that your map provides some clues by way of stickers, as each one resembles a famous work of art that inspires the Figment versions in each pavilion. Figment’s Brush with the Masters Scavenger Hunt We’re not going to include any photos here of where to find him as to not spoil anything, but we’ll tell you this — he is TRICKY to find in multiple different pavilions, so you’ll want to look closely! When you’ve completed your scavenger hunt, head to Disney Traders (World Showcase Promenade), Creations Shop (World Celebration), or World Traveler (International Gateway between France and the United Kingdom) for your PRIZE! Figment’s Brush with the Masters Scavenger Hunt This year, the prizes are sticker activity sheets. You will match the number to the corresponding sticker number to create your own work of art. There are 4 different designs you can choose from! We think this is a great prize, especially for kids who want to be included in the festival fun! Is it worth $12? Well…that’s up to you. No matter what, it is a fun keepsake and activity! Mini Paint by Numbers — Figment’s Brush with the Masters Scavenger Hunt Looking for more recent Festival of the Arts news to help you plan? Check out our posts below! More Recent Festival of the Arts News! REVIEW: Welp, Disney Messed with One of Our Favorite EPCOT Festival Desserts…and It Did Not Go WellPrice Increase Hits Figment Scavenger Hunt in EPCOT — Is This Year’s Prize Worth It?REVIEW: This EPCOT Snack Is Back to Haunt My Dreams…Yet AgainREVIEW: EPCOT Says It Doesn’t Play Favorites…But This Festival Booth Seems to Get ALL the Good StuffREVIEW: The Hits, the Misses, and the Must-Tries at This Popular EPCOT Festival of the Arts Booth We’ll continue to keep you updated on all the latest festival news so you can prepare for your trip in full, so stay tuned to DFB! “I’ll Never Get Over That Lady Calling It FARTS” — Disney Fans Get Heated Over This Funny EPCOT Acronym MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR FESTIVAL DAYS DFB's guide to the Festival of the Arts details everything you need to know to maximize your time, budget, and stomach space! Know what's worth it and what to skip with our full-photo menus of each booth, complete with DFB's Best of the Fest. It includes all the must-have information for navigating this colorful festival at Disney World, including: Booth & food photos, maps, and crawls with DFB's exclusive recommendations! The COMPLETE schedule of events (so you don't have to go hunting for all the dates!) All the details on special events, artist meet-n-greets, festival-exclusive merchandise, and more! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW MORE Festival of the Arts INFO! See the FULL LIST of Food Booths, Menus, and Photos from the Festival of the Arts Read ALL of Our Food Booth Reviews for the Festival Learn More About the Disney on Broadway Concert Series and Dining Packages Click HERE for All of the Latest News and Details About the Festival of the Arts! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Festival of the Arts news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Are you going to participate in the scavenger hunt? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

Okay, friends, we’ve made it through dress rehearsal, and now it’s time for Opening Night… I mean, Opening Bites! Opening Bites Opening Bites is one of 18 Food Studios (also known as Food Booths) at the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts. You’ll find it at an outdoor window on the side of CommuniCore Hall in World Celebration. And, if you step inside the Hall after visiting the booth, you can enjoy the Festival’s walk-through exhibit: Once Upon a Stage: The Magic of Disney on Broadway! But before you do that, please join us at Opening Bites as we bring you our full reviews of every single Food Studio at the Festival of the Arts! Menu Disney shares that the dishes and drinks at Opening Bites are “all about paying homage to the foods and drinks immortalized onstage.” The food menu features two returning items: the Soft Shell Crab Slider and the Enchanted Rose. 2026 Opening Bites Menu Beer drinkers can try the Beer Flight featuring Crooked Can Brewing Company Fantasia Fusion IPA, von Trapp Brewing Bohemian Pilsner, and the Southern Tier Brewing Co. Caramel Cookie Bar Imperial Stout. Any of the beers can be ordered individually, as well. Or you can say “Cheers” with the Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve Champagne. Okay, let’s shine the spotlight on Opening Bites! Eats The Soft Shell Crab Slider is back on the menu at Opening Bites… claws and all! You might remember this vision from last year. Soft Shell Crab Slider Topped with a green papaya slaw and mango ketchup, it’s served on a sweet roll for $7.49. Soft Shell Crab Slider So, we once again enjoyed the crab slider for the most part this year – in fact, the bread may be even better this year! – and the fresh and tangy slaw really brings out the flavor of the crabmeat. However, that’s where our one issue with the dish comes in. There’s simply not enough crabmeat. What’s here is very good, but we find ourselves wanting more. The lovely Enchanted Rose has returned, as well, for $6.49. This dark chocolate mousse rose is an eligible item if you’re participating in the Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine. Enchanted Rose It also happened to make our Best of the Fest list last year, so we were excited to try it again… and it was slightly different. This year’s version had no jam inside. However, this really wasn’t a discernible downgrade in our mind. The dish is still aesthetically adorable, capturing both the magic of Beauty and the Beast and the Festival of the Arts. It’s pretty darn cute Flavor-wise, the treat has a nice chocolate taste – the menu specifies it as dark chocolate, though it seemed more like a mix of milk and dark chocolate to us – with the added crunch of the cookie balancing with the mousse. Drinks Opening Bites is offering a Beer Flight for $12.75 again this year. Opening Bites Beer Flight The new brew in the trio is Southern Tier Brewing Co. Caramel Cookie Bar Imperial Stout, and it joins the returning Crooked Can Brewing Company Fantasia Fusion IPA and von Trapp Brewing Bohemian Pilsner. Those wanting to try just one may order a 6-ounce pour for $6.00 or a 12-ounce pour for $9.75 for any individual brew. Both the Crooked Can Brewing Company Fantasia Fusion IPA … Crooked Can Brewing Company Fantasia Fusion IPA … and the von Trapp Brewing Bohemian Pilsner are returning from last year’s menu, and both should satisfy fans of pilsners and IPAs, respectively. von Trapp Brewing Bohemian Pilsner The most interesting element of the flight was the Southern Tier Brewing Co. Caramel Cookie Bar Imperial Stout. This beer had a sweet fragrance to it that really captured the cookie flavor in the name. In fact, it’s so sweet that even those who don’t generally enjoy heavy stouts would probably enjoy it! Southern Tier Brewing Co. Caramel Cookie Bar Imperial Stout Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve Champagne is also available for $12.00 if you’re hoping to enjoy a little bubbly at the Festival! OVERALL Opening Bites is once again a solid booth. The crab slider, while a bit light on meat for our taste, is still a delicious bite thanks to its slaw. Meanwhile, the beer flight offers basics for pilsner and IPA fans, plus sweet stout is an interesting twist. It’s all capped off by the Enchanted Rose, which remains one of our favorite desserts at the fest even without the jam inside. Opening Bites Full Spread Thanks so much for joining us at Opening Bites! And remember, there’s a LOT more where this came from… Click here to see FULL reviews of EVERY. SINGLE. BOOTH. at the Festival of the Arts! Trying to plan the PERFECT trip to the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts? We’ll be keeping you updated on all of the latest. Click our links below for the information you need to know: Find out how to participate in the Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine Don’t miss the Festival’s Disney on Broadway Concert Series! See ALL of the menus for the Festival of the Arts Food Booths HERE And don’t forget to pick up our 2026 Festival of the Arts Guide e-book! See more details about the book below. MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR FESTIVAL DAYS DFB's guide to the Festival of the Arts details everything you need to know to maximize your time, budget, and stomach space! Know what's worth it and what to skip with our full-photo menus of each booth, complete with DFB's Best of the Fest. It includes all the must-have information for navigating this colorful festival at Disney World, including: Booth & food photos, maps, and crawls with DFB's exclusive recommendations! The COMPLETE schedule of events (so you don't have to go hunting for all the dates!) All the details on special events, artist meet-n-greets, festival-exclusive merchandise, and more! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW MORE Festival of the Arts INFO! See the FULL LIST of Food Booths, Menus, and Photos from the Festival of the Arts Read ALL of Our Food Booth Reviews for the Festival Learn More About the Disney on Broadway Concert Series and Dining Packages Click HERE for All of the Latest News and Details About the Festival of the Arts! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Festival of the Arts news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Which items from Opening Bites would you most want to try? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

It’s time to feed your inner hungry artist at El Artista Hambriento at the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts! 2026 El Artista Hambriento Food Studio El Artista Hambriento — located in the Mexico Pavilion — is one of the 18 Food Studios (also known as Food Booths) at the Festival. We are always excited to visit every year… Why? Because it’s pretty much always a huge hit! (In fact, El Artista Hambriento received DFB’s “Best Booth” designation last year!) We’re glad to be back to see if this booth lives up to its great reputation once again with its lineup of all-new eats and drinks, as we bring you our full reviews of every single Food Studio at the Festival of the Arts! Menu It’s something of a tradition at El Artista Hambriento to create an entirely new menu for the Festival of the Arts, and this year is no exception. This year’s dishes include a Chile Relleno Taco, a Tostada de Cangrejo, and a Passion Fruit Paleta. 2026 El Artista Hambriento Menu Creative margaritas are on offer year after year, and this year’s concoctions feature the Matcharita and the Pear-fect Margarita. Beer drinkers can try a Mexican Craft Beer. Ok, Artista… let’s see what you’ve got for us! Eats First up is the new Chile Relleno Taco for $8.75. A flour tortilla is filled with seared beef tenderloin, poblano pepper, black beans, and salsa roja. Chile Relleno Taco This wasn’t quite as flavorful as we were expecting based on the ingredients. The poblano pepper had some heat to it, but not enough to carry the dish. The salsa roja had the biggest punch of the ingredients, but there wasn’t much heat…just a savory and smoky note that spread through the whole dish. Chile Relleno Taco The new Tostada de Cangrejo is $9.50. Here, a crispy corn tortilla is topped with guacamole, lump crab, mango, crispy onions, and hot sauce. Tostada de Cangrejo This was our favorite item we tried at this booth! The mango chunks are inside and the onions add a nice crunch. The hot sauce reminded us of Tabasco, which wasn’t quite as complex as the salsa roja from the taco, but we really didn’t mind. What helped make up for the sauce was the juicy beef tenderloin and the slightly hot poblano pepper. All around, a great mix of flavors and textures! Tostada de Cangrejo And for something sweet, the new Passion Fruit Paleta is $6.50. Passion Fruit Paleta This tropical passion fruit ice pop is filled with sweetened condensed milk, then topped with chili-lime seasoning. The chili-lime flavors really come through on the outside of the pop with a decent amount of salt. Once you get into the middle, you start to catch that sugary fruit flavor. Inside the ice pop This turned out really delicious and unique with its flavors! Drinks Okay, matcha drinkers, here’s a twist for you: presenting the new Matcharita! For $15.75, this drink combines Contraluz Reposado Cristalino Tequila, matcha tea, strawberry liqueur, and sweet cream. Matcharita We were honestly surprised that this was our favorite of the drinks at this booth! Our reporter isn’t a matcha drinker, but she found that this was much sweeter than anticipated. The strawberry liqueur and the sweet cream help balance out the earthiness of the matcha and make the flavor profile more interesting. On top of the drink The Pear-fect Margarita is also up for grabs for $16.75. This mix of Calenda Mezcal Joven, prickly pear purée, passion fruit purée, and LeJay Crème de Cassis is complete with a potpourri salt rim. Pear-fect Margarita This was fairly smoky, but not undrinkable. You’ll mostly get the prickly pear puree flavor coming through with a hint of passion fruit and salt rim. The potpourri salt rim was fairly distracting, and if you can get past it, the base of the drink is kinda fun. Overall, we liked the first drink better, but this could be right for someone who loves pear. A Mexican Craft Beer is available, as well. Be sure to ask the Cast Member what they are pouring during your visit. Mexican Craft Beer You can try 6 ounces for $6.25 or 12 ounces for $11.25. OVERALL We were fairly impressed by this booth, yet again! Mexico always seems to hit it out of the park, you guys. We’d choose the Matcharita for our drink, but you really can’t go wrong with any of the food items (our favorite was still the tostada, though!). Full Spread at El Artista Hambriento Thanks so much for joining us at El Artista Hambriento! And remember, there’s a LOT more where this came from… Click here to see FULL reviews of EVERY. SINGLE. BOOTH. at the Festival of the Arts! Trying to plan the PERFECT trip to the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts? We’ll be keeping you updated on all of the latest. Click our links below for the information you need to know: Find out how to participate in the Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine Don’t miss the Festival’s Disney on Broadway Concert Series! See ALL of the menus for the Festival of the Arts Food Booths HERE And don’t forget to pick up our 2026 Festival of the Arts Guide e-book! See more details about the book below. MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR FESTIVAL DAYS DFB's guide to the Festival of the Arts details everything you need to know to maximize your time, budget, and stomach space! Know what's worth it and what to skip with our full-photo menus of each booth, complete with DFB's Best of the Fest. It includes all the must-have information for navigating this colorful festival at Disney World, including: Booth & food photos, maps, and crawls with DFB's exclusive recommendations! The COMPLETE schedule of events (so you don't have to go hunting for all the dates!) All the details on special events, artist meet-n-greets, festival-exclusive merchandise, and more! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW MORE Festival of the Arts INFO! See the FULL LIST of Food Booths, Menus, and Photos from the Festival of the Arts Read ALL of Our Food Booth Reviews for the Festival Learn More About the Disney on Broadway Concert Series and Dining Packages Click HERE for All of the Latest News and Details About the Festival of the Arts! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Festival of the Arts news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Which items from El Artista Hambriento would you most want to try? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

Do you like your snacks served up with a side of literary references? Then, boy, are you ever in the right place… Welcome to Fictional Victuals at the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts! 2026 Fictional Victuals Booth Fictional Victuals is one of the 18 Food Studios (also known as Food Booths) at the Festival. It made its debut just last year, presenting dishes and drinks inspired by great works of fiction such as Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. But this year? Let’s just say we’re going down a rabbit hole, of sorts…. We’re glad to be back and check out these victuals once again, as we bring you our full reviews of every single Food Studio at the Festival of the Arts! Menu Even though Fictional Victuals is still fairly new when it comes to the Festival of the Arts, this booth is already undergoing massive changes this year with an entirely new menu, drawing inspiration from Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland! The dishes include Chapter 1: Beach Oysters (yep, they’re definitely leaning into that literary theme!), Chapter 2: Plate of Impossible Bites, and Chapter 3: Tea Treat. 2026 Fictional Victuals Menu The drinks are also completely new: the Upside Down Shake, featuring yellow cake soft-serve, is available with or without whipped cream vodka, and Central 28 Beer Company Rose Garden Red Ale is up for grabs as well. And now it’s time to turn the page and start our review! Eats Really, there’s no other place to start than with Chapter 1: Beach Oysters. This new dish is $7.99. Chapter 1: Beach Oysters Grilled oysters are topped with a mustard seed-peppercorn sabayon sauce and creamed spinach. The oysters themselves lacked the briny, ocean-forward flavor typically associated with the dish, instead serving as a subtle base for the toppings. The creamed spinach and mustard seed sabayon were the standout elements, delivering the most prominent flavors. While those seeking a classic oyster experience may find this different, the dish is still worth trying for its rich, well-executed accompaniments. Chapter 1: Beach Oysters Next up? Why, the second chapter, of course! The Chapter 2: Plate of Impossible Bites is $7.49. Chapter 2: Plate of Impossible Bites Roasted turkey breast is served with an onion and bacon custard tart, then plated with cherry gel, brown butter toast milk foam, and pineapple-toffee butter. While not unpleasant, the combination of flavors felt disjointed, with each component competing rather than complementing the others. The pineapple-toffee butter was particularly dominant, introducing an unexpected sweetness that overwhelmed the savory qualities typically associated with turkey. The onion and bacon custard tart delivered savory flavor, but its soggy texture was disappointing, as a crisp, structured bite is expected from a tart. Overall, this was our least favorite offering of the tasting. Though not poorly executed, the imbalance of flavors and textures led us to skip recommending this dish. The onion and bacon custard tart Our final chapter is Chapter 3: Tea Treat for $5.99. Chapter 3: Tea Treat An adorable Twinings Earl Grey Tea Treat Chocolate Pot de Crème is presented with a lemon madeleine, rose and raspberry jam, and a tea biscuit crumble. The presentation is delightful and visually striking, making it an ideal choice for photo-worthy moments. Despite initial hesitation from our reporter, who is not typically a tea drinker, the dessert proved to be beautifully balanced. The Earl Grey notes were subtle and approachable, complementing the sweetness without overpowering the dish. Overall, this was a standout offering, both in flavor and presentation, and an excellent option even for those who don’t usually order tea-infused desserts. Drinks Wondering what to sip on in between chapters? Choices include the new Upside Down Shake for $5.29. Upside Down Shake It’s made with a unique yellow cake soft-serve and also features Twinings English Breakfast Tea. Of-age guests can try it with whipped cream vodka for $12.50. We tried the alcoholic option, which immediately brought to mind classic birthday cake ice cream. The shake is topped with an adorable cupcake that adds to its visual appeal. When the cupcake is left in the shake long enough, the cupcake absorbs the surrounding flavors, enhancing the overall experience. Sweet, nostalgic, and well-executed, this was an enjoyable and whimsical treat. Upside Down Shake Beer drinkers can order Central 28 Beer Company Rose Garden Red Ale, which is available in a 6-ounce pour for $6.00 or a 12-ounce pour for $9.75. OVERALL This food booth delivered a mixed but memorable tasting experience, with creativity and presentation shining brighter than consistency across the menu. While not every dish hit the mark, several offerings stood out enough to make the booth worth a stop. The oysters were a pleasant surprise for those open to nontraditional preparations, with rich toppings that elevated the dish even if the oysters themselves lacked a classic briny punch. Dessert was where the booth truly excelled. Both the Earl Grey chocolate pot de crème and the Upside Down Shake impressed with thoughtful balance, visual appeal, and approachable flavors. You might want to skip the Plate of Impossible Bites if conflicting flavors aren’t for you. Fictional Victuals Full Spread Thanks so much for joining us at Fictional Victuals! And remember, there’s a LOT more where this came from… Click here to see FULL reviews of EVERY. SINGLE. BOOTH. at the Festival of the Arts! Trying to plan the PERFECT trip to the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts? We’ll be keeping you updated on all of the latest. Click our links below for the information you need to know: Find out how to participate in the Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine Don’t miss the Festival’s Disney on Broadway Concert Series! See ALL of the menus for the Festival of the Arts Food Booths HERE And don’t forget to pick up our 2026 Festival of the Arts Guide e-book! See more details about the book below. MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR FESTIVAL DAYS DFB's guide to the Festival of the Arts details everything you need to know to maximize your time, budget, and stomach space! Know what's worth it and what to skip with our full-photo menus of each booth, complete with DFB's Best of the Fest. It includes all the must-have information for navigating this colorful festival at Disney World, including: Booth & food photos, maps, and crawls with DFB's exclusive recommendations! The COMPLETE schedule of events (so you don't have to go hunting for all the dates!) All the details on special events, artist meet-n-greets, festival-exclusive merchandise, and more! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW MORE Festival of the Arts INFO! See the FULL LIST of Food Booths, Menus, and Photos from the Festival of the Arts Read ALL of Our Food Booth Reviews for the Festival Learn More About the Disney on Broadway Concert Series and Dining Packages Click HERE for All of the Latest News and Details About the Festival of the Arts! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Festival of the Arts news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Which items from Fictional Victuals would you most want to try? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

If you’re looking for some cool sweat treats at the EPCOT Festival of the Arts, check out Swirled Showcase! This year-round spot is always serving up something fun and unique for the EPCOT festivals. Candy Trio Flight We’re live at the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts, checking out the food studios, artistic performances, merchandise, and more. There’s a LOT going on, but don’t let it overwhelm you. We’re here to tell you everything you need to know before your visit. Come with us as we check out what’s on the menu at Swirled Showcase this year. Menu As the name indicates, Swirled Showcase is home to ice cream treats — and more — at the Festival. This year, you’ll find some new and returning items. NEW for 2026 is the Liquid Nitrogen Minnie Cake Pop with cotton candy sponge cake, white chocolate ganache, and colorful chocolate splats! Returning items include the adorable Imagination Cone made with pink vanilla soft-serve in a lavender cone, “sparks” of imagination, and white chocolate Figment wings; and the Candy Trio Flight made with DOLE Whip Strawberry with STARBURST MINIS fruit chews, DOLE Whip Lemon with SKITTLES POP’d Original Freeze Dried Candy, DOLE Whip Lime with chili-lime seasoning and LIFE SAVERS gummies. 2026 EPCOT Swirled Showcase Menu DOLE Whip in a cone is also on the menu in several unique flavors. You can also order the Pink Vanilla soft serve in a cone, minus the Figment wings. There are no drinks on the menu this year. Now that we’ve taken a look at the menu, let’s dive into the food itself! Eats Figment lovers will want to check out the Imagination Cone for $6.99. This is Pink vanilla soft-serve in a lavender cone, “sparks” of imagination, and white chocolate Figment wings. It looks really cool, sure, but it’s just plain vanilla ice cream that’s been colored pink. Pretty basic. The “sparks” are Nerds, and they’re super sour. They add texture, but we weren’t loving the flavors with the ice cream. As a whole, it’s pretty, but the flavors weren’t gelling well, y’a know? Imagination Cone Up next is the returning sugar overload Candy Trio Flight for $8.29 made with DOLE Whip Strawberry with STARBURST MINIS fruit chews, DOLE Whip Lemon with SKITTLES POP’d Original Freeze Dried Candy, and DOLE Whip Lime with chili-lime seasoning and LIFE SAVERS gummies. Candy Trio Flight, the DOLE Whips Yes, that’s a lot of sugar. You’ve got your standard DOLE Whip flavors with the lime being nice and tart (and we loved the Tajin on it). The other flavors were pretty classic: lemon and strawberry. Candy Trio Flight…the candy We added the candies on top of each other, and well, you’ll want to eat them right away, because if you wait, they get tough and chewy. We think the idea here is great, but as a whole, the candies with the DOLE Whip make the whole thing a little unwieldy. With the candies If you’re in the mood for something simple, you can choose from three DOLE Whip flavors in a cone — Lemon, Lime, or Pink Vanilla Soft Serve. We’ll start with the Pink Vanilla Soft Serve in a cone for $6.29, which is the same as in the Imagination Cone. It’s just vanilla. That’s it. If you love classic vanilla flavor, maybe this is for you, and hey, it’s pretty and pink. But it’s not anything new or exciting. It’s just boring. Pink Vanilla Soft-serve in a Cone The Lemon DOLE Whip in a cone for $6.29, though, is a favorite flavor of ours. It was in the Candy Trio, but the candy overpowered it. It’s way better on its own, so it can shine. It’s light and airy, but also has a tartness that’s not overwhelming. It’s not necessarily something new, but it’s way more interesting than the vanilla flavor. Lemon DOLE Whip in a cone And finally, NEW for 2026 is the Liquid Nitrogen Minnie Cake Pop for $4.79 with cotton candy sponge cake, white chocolate ganache, and colorful chocolate splats. This item was at the Festival in 2025, but this year’s version features a new cake flavor….so it’s technically ‘new’. First, we are obsessed with this cake pop because just look at it: Liquid Nitrogen Minnie Cake Pop We love cotton candy, so cotton candy ice cream is a favorite of ours! Now, this might not be something everyone loves, but we ADORED it. The cake’s taste is light and not too sugary, and the flavor really hits us with some nostalgic vibes of getting cotton candy as a kid. The outer white chocolate adds a nice creaminess to the cake. Then it’s covered in Pop Rocks, which just makes every bite a lot of fun because you get that little pop happening in your mouth. We also loved the texture those Pop Rocks added. Some folks might think it’s too sweet, but we beg to differ! OVERALL So, overall, if you’re looking for a fun frozen treat, you’ll want to make a beeline to Swirled Showcase, especially if you love DOLE Whip. However, if you have to make a choice from all the treats there, we’d recommend the Liquid Nitrogen Minnie Cake Pop because it’s interesting, very pretty, and tasty! We also think kids might really love the Candy Trio, though. That’s it for this booth, but there’s a LOT more where that came from! Click here to see FULL reviews of EVERY. SINGLE. BOOTH. at the Festival of the Arts! Trying to plan the PERFECT trip to the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts? We’ll be keeping you updated on all of the latest. Click our links below for the information you need to know: Check out all of the food booths getting NEW items this year! The full line up of this year’s Souvenirs and Entertainment 8 Menu Items To Order If You Want To Win a PRIZE at the EPCOT Festival of the Arts And don’t forget to pick up our 2026 Festival of the Arts Guide e-book! See more details about the book below. MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR FESTIVAL DAYS DFB's guide to the Festival of the Arts details everything you need to know to maximize your time, budget, and stomach space! Know what's worth it and what to skip with our full-photo menus of each booth, complete with DFB's Best of the Fest. It includes all the must-have information for navigating this colorful festival at Disney World, including: Booth & food photos, maps, and crawls with DFB's exclusive recommendations! The COMPLETE schedule of events (so you don't have to go hunting for all the dates!) All the details on special events, artist meet-n-greets, festival-exclusive merchandise, and more! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW MORE Festival of the Arts INFO! See the FULL LIST of Food Booths, Menus, and Photos from the Festival of the Arts Read ALL of Our Food Booth Reviews for the Festival Learn More About the Disney on Broadway Concert Series and Dining Packages Click HERE for All of the Latest News and Details About the Festival of the Arts! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Festival of the Arts news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What items from this booth would you most want to try? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

Me: “I’m just here to look at art.” Also me, 4 minutes later: inhaling a Beef Wellington croissant situation and contemplating the Coffee Old Fashioned like it’s a personality trait. Craftsman’s Courtyard We’re live at the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts, checking out the food studios, artistic performances, merchandise, and more. There’s a LOT going on, but don’t let it overwhelm you. We’re here to tell you everything you need to know before your visit. Let’s go to The Craftman’s Courtyard to try some crafted classics! Menu Over at The Craftman’s Courtyard, you’ll find some elegant yet hearty dishes. The menu is full of familiar returning classics, and we can’t wait to check it out! The common thread at The Craftsman’s Courtyard is classic, old-school technique and rich, savory ingredients that feel like they belong in a chef’s notebook: laminated pastry, cast-iron cooking, marrow, wine-y sauce, pickles, and herbs for balance. It’s hearty, intentional, and a little dramatic. 2026 The Craftsman’s Courtyard Menu Now that we’ve taken a look at the menu, let’s dive into the food itself! Eats First up, we grabbed the Beef Wellington-inspired Croissant Supreme for $8.49. This menu item is a returning favorite this year and is made with creamed spinach croissant pinwheel, mushroom-gorgonzola ragout, mustard-grilled flank steak, red wine sauce, and pickled mustard seeds. Beef Wellington-inspired Croissant Supreme When we first had this last year, we couldn’t rave enough about it. At first, we were caught off guard by its appearance since it didn’t look like a “typical” Beef Wellington. However, we quickly got over it as we ate. The meat was delicious, savory, and cooked to perfection, while the spinach-filled croissant was buttery and tasty enough that we would enjoy it on its own, even without the meat. This was so good! This year, it was really tasty again. You get sweetness from the red wine sauce, like it’s packed with flavor. They cooked the beef to a beautiful medium. The slices of meat were thin and easy to bite. The pickled mustard adds a nice zing and pop in your mouth. The mushrooms are a nice, hardy base. The croissant was crusty on the outside and soft on the inside — just perfect. The only complaint we had is that it is more on the salty side, but it doesn’t ruin it. Beef Wellington-inspired Croissant Supreme Next up, we grabbed a familiar dish, the Cast Iron-roasted P.E.I. Mussels for $7.99. Just like in years past, the mussels are served with sautéed tomatoes, garlic, and fresh herbs. When we had them before, they were cooked perfectly and offered some great flavors of garlic and red chili flakes for just a bit of kick. Cast Iron-roasted P.E.I. Mussels This year, we’re happy to say they were surprisingly good once again! We’re shocked they’re able to make these at this good a quality at a food booth at an EPCOT festival. They have huge skillets and mussels on the grill outside. You have to walk up to the grill when it’s time, and they are just so fresh! The mussels! They were so delicious and so well prepared. There was no grittiness to these at all, not even a note, so they were cleaned very well. This was so good! The tomato is nice and fresh, pairing perfectly with the mussels. There were big, nice, crunchy pieces of toast that came with this, just adding to the texture in the best way possible. It is a little on the simple side, but that’s never a bad thing. The tomatos Drinks In terms of drinks at this booth, we got the Coffee Old Fashioned Cocktail for $11.75. A Coffee Old Fashioned is what happens when a classic Old Fashioned puts on a cozy sweater and starts hanging out in a café at midnight. It’s still spirit-forward, still a slow sipper, but it carries espresso vibes in its back pocket. Coffee Old Fashioned Cocktail Last year, we loved how the hint of deeper whiskey taste blends with the coffee. You’ll taste bourbon first, so think caramel, vanilla, oak, and a little warm spice. Then the coffee comes in with roasted, slightly bitter espresso notes, often reading like dark chocolate, toasted nuts, or mocha. Sweetness usually shifts from “simple syrup” to something richer like coffee syrup, demerara, maple, or coffee liqueur, so the drink can feel rounder and more dessert-leaning than a standard Old Fashioned. Bitters keep it from getting syrupy, and the garnish often adds aromatics: orange peel brightens the roast, while a cherry can push it toward chocolate-covered cherry territory. This looks good! Who might enjoy it: Someone who likes their cocktails smooth, approachable, and a little sweet. Coffee drinkers who like flavored coffee notes (vanilla, caramel) and don’t mind a mocha vibe. Newer whiskey drinkers who find a standard Old Fashioned a bit too sharp. Who might want to avoid it: If you prefer bright, refreshing cocktails (this is rich, dark, and slow). People who want a drier, spicier, sharper Old Fashioned (rye fans especially). Anyone who dislikes that “sweet bourbon + roast coffee” combo, which can read like burnt caramel if it’s unbalanced. Folks avoiding caffeine. You need to try this! Another returning beverage is the BrewDog Black Heart Nitro Oatmeal Stout. Flavor-wise, think “coffeehouse dessert, but with a blackout curtain.” You’ll get a big wave of roasted coffee and cocoa, plus bitter dark chocolate and a little toasty malt depth. Under that is a softer, rounder sweetness: vanilla (noticeable but not frosting-level) and a gentle lactose creaminess that nudges it toward mocha. Some versions also read with a faint dark berry / dark fruit note in the background. The “nitro” part is the whole plot twist. Nitrogen makes the body feel silky and cushiony, with that creamy, cascading head and less prickly carbonation. The finish tends to be roasty-chocolatey, with a soft, lingering sweetness rather than sharp bitterness. 2023 BrewDog Jet Black Heart Nitro Oatmeal Stout Who might love it: If you like Guinness-style creaminess but want more chocolate/vanilla/latte vibes. If you’re into dessert-leaning stouts (cocoa, coffee, mocha) without going full pastry-cake. If mouthfeel is your love language and you chase that velvet nitro texture. Who might want to avoid it: If you want a dry, crisp stout (this leans creamier and a touch sweeter). If you dislike vanilla-forward notes or anything that reads “sweet stout.” If you’re lactose sensitive or avoiding milk ingredients, since it includes lactose (milk). You can get it for $6.00 for a 6-oz. pour and $9.75 for a 12 oz. pour. OVERALL All together, this is just a solid booth. We’d recommend everything on this menu, but we don’t think anything here will necessarily “blow you away”. Check out the booth, but don’t feel like you need to rush there or build your schedule around eating here! What we got! That’s it for this booth, but there’s a LOT more where that came from! Click here to see FULL reviews of EVERY. SINGLE. BOOTH. at the Festival of the Arts! Trying to plan the PERFECT trip to the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts? We’ll be keeping you updated on all of the latest. Click our links below for the information you need to know: Check out all of the food booths getting NEW items this year! The full line up of this year’s Souvenirs and Entertainment And don’t forget to pick up our 2026 Festival of the Arts Guide e-book! See more details about the book below. MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR FESTIVAL DAYS DFB's guide to the Festival of the Arts details everything you need to know to maximize your time, budget, and stomach space! Know what's worth it and what to skip with our full-photo menus of each booth, complete with DFB's Best of the Fest. It includes all the must-have information for navigating this colorful festival at Disney World, including: Booth & food photos, maps, and crawls with DFB's exclusive recommendations! The COMPLETE schedule of events (so you don't have to go hunting for all the dates!) All the details on special events, artist meet-n-greets, festival-exclusive merchandise, and more! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW MORE Festival of the Arts INFO! See the FULL LIST of Food Booths, Menus, and Photos from the Festival of the Arts Read ALL of Our Food Booth Reviews for the Festival Learn More About the Disney on Broadway Concert Series and Dining Packages Click HERE for All of the Latest News and Details About the Festival of the Arts! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Festival of the Arts news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What items from this booth would you most want to try? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

We’re so excited to officially welcome the planDisney Class of 2026, a passionate group of Disney vacation-planning experts who are ready to help guests create magical memories across Disney destinations around the world. This year, 18 new panelists are joining 32 returning alumni, bringing our total panel to 50 trusted Disney enthusiasts who are eager to share firsthand advice, thoughtful planning tips, and personal experiences to help you plan your next Disney vacation with confidence. From Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort to Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, and even Disneyland Paris, the planDisney panel represents a wide range of travel styles, family dynamics, and Disney expertise. Whether you’re planning your very first visit or returning for your 50th, there’s a panelist who’s been in your shoes and is excited to help. Training the Magic Before officially answering guest questions, the Class of 2026 came together for training at Disneyland Resort in early December 2025. There, they learned and prepared for the year ahead. From deep dives into planning tools and learning about new and exciting events headed to Disney destinations, the training ensured panelists are equipped with the most up-to-date knowledge to assist our guests. Sure, there was some pixie dust sprinkled throughout the week, all while strengthening the sense of community that makes planDisney so special. A Panel Powered by Passion What makes planDisney truly unique is the people behind the answers. This year’s panelists come from diverse backgrounds and bring a wide range of perspectives. From families with young children to seasoned Disney travelers, from first-time cruisers to longtime Disney Vacation Club Members. What they all share is a genuine love for helping others plan unforgettable Disney vacations. And remember, no question is too big or too small, and every answer is rooted in real-life experience, thoughtful planning, and a little bit of Disney magic. Let’s Meet the planDisney Class of 2026 Abi K.; (Walt Disney World) A resident of Scotland and mum of two, her favorite questions to answer are all about the attractions. Psst … she has been on them all! Allison F.; (Walt Disney World) This mom of two has mastered the art of planning Disney vacations for little ones and those young at heart. Bev W.; (Disneyland Resort) With one under three, Bev is here to give you all the tips and tricks of enjoying the parks with a toddler. Casey S.; (Walt Disney World) She is ready to answer your questions about resorts, dining and anything to do with kiddos from newborns to young adults. Catherine T.; (Disney Cruise Line) This cruising mom is ready to assist you with questions ranging from rotational dining to port adventures. Bon Voyage! Corey H.; (Disneyland Resort) A Disney dad and musician, he can point you in the right direction of all the fantastic entertainment within the parks, all while enjoying a churro along the way. Elizabeth L.; (Walt Disney World) Large family questions? This mom of six and one grandbaby can show you how easy it is to plan for a multiple age group Disney vacation. Karmeen M.; (Disneyland Resort) This mom has all the tips for planning a trip that includes navigating sensory needs as well as finding the most magical photo locations. Kimberly B.; (Disneyland Resort) She has been there and done it, and she’s ready to help you plan your Disney get away from rope drop to closing time. Kurt W.; (Walt Disney World) For this retired broadcaster and granddad of 4, grandparent trips are the best trips and he’s ready to share all his tried-and-true tips. Melanie A.; (Walt Disney World) Did someone say adults only trip? Look no further as this Disney Adult is here to answer all your planning questions. Michelle W.; (Walt Disney World) This military wife and mom of two and local to Florida is ready to assist first-timers, foodies and festival lovers of all ages. Olivier C.; (Walt Disney World) Our resident Canadian, this panelist can assist with navigating Lightning Lanes, transportation, and special events. He can also answer your questions in English and French. Rana M.; (Disney Cruise Line) This mom of two can’t wait to help answer questions from first-time cruisers as well as those with dietary restrictions, especially Halal. Robert D.; (Walt Disney World) This dad is here to help assist with all aspects of your next Disney vacation – even Make-A-Wish trips. Sakinah W.; (Walt Disney World) An event planner by day, this panelist is also the planner of all things to do on a Disney vacation including how to manage the My Disney Experience app and offering advice for those guests with mobility issues. Scott S.; (Walt Disney World) Disney Dad of two, this panelist is here to show you all of the adventures you can find at your Walt Disney World Resort hotel. Sean M.; (Disney Vacation Club) From how to use your points to making the most of your Disney Vacation Club membership, this panelist has all the answers you need. Be sure to check back throughout the year as we introduce you to these amazing panelists, share their tips, and highlight their favorite ways to plan Disney vacations. About planDisney planDisney is an online resource where guests can get answers to their Disney vacation-planning questions directly from a panel of experienced Disney fans. planDisney panelists provide personalized advice for Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, Disney destinations around the world, and more. Guests can submit questions year-round at planDisney.com and receive thoughtful, firsthand answers from panelists who know Disney vacations inside and out. One Day at Disneyland: Planning Your Visit from Morning to Night READ MORE Planning One Full Day of Memories at Disney’s Hollywood Studios READ MORE Top Tips for Disneyland with Little Ones READ MORE The post Meet the planDisney Class of 2026: Your Disney Vacation Planning Experts appeared first on Disney Parks Blog. View the full article

The 2026 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts has officially started! We are here for the opening day of EPCOT‘s first festival of the year, and we are bringing you all along with us to experience everything. One of our first stops of the day was to snag the brand-new Figment Popcorn Bucket! We can’t get over how ADORABLE he is!! Look at him!! It is no secret that we are huge Figment fans here at DFB, so the moment Disney released a sneak peek at the festival-exclusive popcorn bucket, we knew we needed to grab one! If you are hoping to grab one of these popcorn buckets, too, we have some important information you need to know! You will need to place a Mobile Order for the popcorn bucket. This is the ONLY way to get the bucket; there won’t be a traditional line you can stand in to get one. We placed our Mobile Order at 5:20 AM this morning, and were able to grab an 11:05 AM order time. The area where you can grab your bucket doesn’t open until 11 AM, so that was one of the first times available. As of 12:30 PM, arrival windows were a bit over an hour out (the earliest we could get was 1:55 PM). Figment Popcorn Bucket To place the Mobile Order, head to the My Disney Experience app and click on the hamburger menu in the bottom corner, then select “Order Food.” You will look for the option for “EPCOT Souvenir Release.” Select an arrival window, choose your quantity (guests are limited to one order per day and a max of 2 popcorn buckets per order). Pay for your order, then wait for your arrival window. Each bucket costs $29 and comes with colored popcorn. He comes with rainbow popcorn! Once your arrival window opens, head to the Odyssey building, located between Test Track and the Mexico Pavilion. Tap the “I’m Here, Prepare My Order” button, then head into the queue once you receive a notification that your order is ready. This process prevents long lines for the bucket, like we saw in 2023. It is an extra step, but we really think this process saves us SO much time! The beret!? The paintbrush!? Perfection. We can’t wait to bring Figment with us as we experience the Festival of the Arts’ opening day! He is so adorable in his little beret and his paintbrush. The perfect popcorn bucket for the Festival of the Arts! We are loving the popcorn bucket. His paintbrush even lights up! Spot for popcorn We are at the opening day of the 2026 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, and we are doing EVERYTHING! And of course, we are bringing you all along with us. Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for reviews of every single booth, best of the fest, and more information about everything there is to see and do at this festival. Come With Us To Eat and See EVERYTHING at the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts! MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR FESTIVAL DAYS DFB's guide to the Festival of the Arts details everything you need to know to maximize your time, budget, and stomach space! Know what's worth it and what to skip with our full-photo menus of each booth, complete with DFB's Best of the Fest. It includes all the must-have information for navigating this colorful festival at Disney World, including: Booth & food photos, maps, and crawls with DFB's exclusive recommendations! The COMPLETE schedule of events (so you don't have to go hunting for all the dates!) All the details on special events, artist meet-n-greets, festival-exclusive merchandise, and more! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW MORE Festival of the Arts INFO! See the FULL LIST of Food Booths, Menus, and Photos from the Festival of the Arts Read ALL of Our Food Booth Reviews for the Festival Learn More About the Disney on Broadway Concert Series and Dining Packages Click HERE for All of the Latest News and Details About the Festival of the Arts! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Festival of the Arts news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Are you headed to the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

The state’s quarterly theme-park injury report for the final three months of 2025 includes a Nov. 25 death following a ride on Revenge of the Mummy, an indoor roller coaster at Universal Studios Florida. An unidentified 70-year-old woman was unresponsive and later died at the hospital, according to the report compiled by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The state’s major theme parks self-report about visitors injured on rides if they result in at least 24 hours of hospitalization. The summary “reflects only the information reported at the time of the incident,” the report says. “Due to privacy-related concerns, the department does not receive updates to initial assessments of a patron’s condition.” A Universal spokesperson said via e-mail that the company does not comment on pending claims. The Mummy ride, which opened in 2004, reaches 40 mph as its rolls through dark Egyptian-themed scenes and fiery effects amid appearances by animatronic Imhotep and scarab beetles plus a drop hill of 39 feet. It has appeared on the quarterly report about 20 times since opening, including a death of an Apopka man who fell from the loading platform onto the tracks in 2004. He died after related surgery, and his death was ruled an accident by the Orange-Osceola Medical Examiner’s office. The latest injury report, posted Thursday, has a mix of spinning rides and high-intensity attractions and roller coasters, including Epic Universe’s Stardust Racers. On Nov. 6, a 78-year-old man had chest pain after being on the Epic coaster, and on Nov. 14, a 61-year-old man had cardiac arrest on the ride. Stardust Racers is considered Epic’s most intense ride, with dueling trains going up to 62 mph and a top height of 133 feet. Both sides include one inversion, sudden launches and intertwined-rails moments. The coaster debuted with the Universal Orlando Resort park in May. In September, 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala of Kissimmee died after riding Stardust Racers. His family and Universal reached an “amicable resolution” in December, but no details were shared. Later, five people filed lawsuits against Universal Orlando, claiming severe and permanent injuries after their heads slammed against the seats in front of them while on Stardust Racers. Of the nine fourth-quarter reports filed from the three Universal Orlando parks, five involved Epic rides. Other incidents included Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, where a 41-year-old woman had numbness and visual disturbance on Oct. 4; on Oct. 25, a 19-year-old woman had altered mental status during Mario Kart: Bower’s Challenge, a flat ride with virtual-reality elements; and on Nov. 14, a 47-year-old woman had nausea after Yoshi’s Adventure, a slow-paced flat ride. At Islands of Adventure, a 45-year-old women had motion sickness and stroke symptoms after riding the Incredible Hulk Coaster on Oct. 13 and a 49-year-old woman had chest pain after being on Jurassic World: VelociCoaster on Nov. 30. Also at IOA, a 61-year-old woman had lower back spasms after Doctor Doom’s Fearfall, a drop-tower ride. At Walt Disney World, three Epcot incidents are on the new report. On Nov. 12, a 72-year-old woman was disoriented after exiting Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, an indoor coaster; on Nov. 23, a 59-year-old woman had breathing difficulties while exiting Test Track; and on Dec. 28, a 35-year-old woman lost consciousness while on The Seas With Nemo and Friends, a low-speed dark ride that travels through an aquarium. At Magic Kingdom theme park, a 65-year-old woman felt chest pain after Peter Pan’s Flight ride on Oct. 28, and a 42-year-old woman had a seizure while on Mad Tea Party, the spinning ride commonly called the teacups, on Nov. 22. A 75-year-old woman had “stroke-like symptoms” aboard Slinky Dog Dash, a roller coaster at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, on Nov. 28. No reports were filed in the quarter from SeaWorld Orlando, Legoland Florida, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and their associated water parks. dbevil@orlandosentinel.com View the full article

The Disney Skyliner is a staple of Disney World. Eager resort guests and park hoppers alike run to these iconic gondolas for Hollywood Studios or EPCOT. But like everything at Disney, yearly refurbishments are a non-negotiable! Skyliner The Disney Skyliner will be closed from January 25th to January 31st, 2026. Disney will provide alternate transportation for guests, notably complimentary buses, but there are even more transportation methods you can take. Here’s everything you need to know, and how to get around in the meantime! Hotels along the Disney Skyliner will not be able to use the gondolas while they’re closed. The following resorts are impacted: Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Disney’s Pop Century Resort Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Disney’s Riviera Resort These resorts will all have complimentary bus transportation offered for guests going to EPCOT or Hollywood Studios instead. They’ll be at the same bus stop that picks you up for Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom. We typically recommend leaving for a Disney bus about an hour before you want to be at the park — they typically run every 30 minutes, but can sometimes be delayed for traffic or hit capacity during more crowded times like rope drop. Disney World’s Skyliner If you’re looking to park-hop from EPCOT to Hollywood Studios, or vice-versa, there are still 3 transportation options available. The most popular are the Disney buses with pickup at the front of each park. If you’re in the World Showcase and don’t want to walk that far, our Disney transportation hack has you covered. EPCOT Bus Stop One of the easiest ways to park-hop is by taking the Friendship Boat. The docks are located in the International Gateway of EPCOT and the main entrance of Hollywood Studios. They run about every 20 minutes and connect the two parks with Swan & Dolphin, Yacht & Beach Club, and the BoardWalk resorts. Take a relaxing ride around scenic Crescent Lake to park-hop in style! Friendship Boat Dock And if you want to get your steps in, Disney has a walking path that connects Hollywood Studios and EPCOT. This typically takes around 30 to 45 minutes, depending on your speed, but it is a popular spot for runners staying on Disney property to get moving. The path takes you through the BoardWalk resort, where you can grab a soda or a meal at their quick-service options along the gorgeous Crescent Lake. If it’s not hot out, it’s a great way to explore Disney on foot. We wouldn’t recommend this option to families with children, though – pushing a stroller that long is not ideal, and it can be a lengthy trip for kids who are already tired from a park morning. Bus Stop Directional Sign at Disney’s Hollywood Studios To take the walking path from Hollywood Studios, head to the bus stop station and turn at the bathrooms next to the Skyliner station, then follow the path along the water. To take the walking path from EPCOT, head down the International Gateway exit towards resorts, then cross the bridge and head towards the BoardWalk. The Skyliner closes temporarily in January Reminder, the Disney Skyliner will be down from January 25th to January 31st, 2026. But in the meantime, you can get around with Disney buses, boats, or walking paths. Happy traveling! Here’s another Disney World transportation closure! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What are you using to get around? Comment below! View the full article

The EPCOT Festival of the Arts is BACK for 2026! La Cava del Tequila This year, the festival runs from January 16th to February 23rd and brings lots of art, music, merchandise, and of course, FOOD to EPCOT. We’re here checking the whole thing out, so you know what’s worth spending your time and money on, and right now, we’re heading to La Cava del Tequila to get a SECRET drink! The Artgarita is available at La Cava del Tequila in EPCOT’s Mexico Pavilion throughout the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts! This drink is crafted with LALO blanco high-proof tequila, honeydew liqueur, coconut extract, and fresh lime juice, and is topped with cold foam cream and a watermelon-cherry salt. It’s available for $21 — but you’ll need a secret code! Artgarita Just tell the bartenders, “Dom sent me,” and they’ll know exactly what it is you want. This drink is in collaboration with artist Dom Corona, who you can also meet at this year’s festival. Oh, and did we mention the Artgarita comes in a souvenir cup designed by Dom?! Yep, you get to keep it! It’s so pretty! This is TASTY, y’all. It’s sour and tart thanks to the lime juice, but there is a really well-rounded, fruity flavor from the honeydew liqueur and coconut extract. It’s a tropical drink that’s well-executed. The watermelon salt on top of the cold foam helps the drink really lean into the melon flavor, and it’s just super refreshing overall, while still maintaining those margarita vibes from the lime and salt. We loved this! There’s also a subtle sweetness, but it’s certainly not an “in your face” sweetness that you often get with cocktails around Disney World — La Cava certainly knows what they’re doing. The LALO tequila is definitely present, so if you’re not big on tequila, you might want to consider a different drink. Still, though, we think this is a fun take on a margarita — just make sure to stir it up because the tequila on ours was primarily sitting on top, right below the cold foam. Make sure you tell them Dom sent you! We’re covering EVERYTHING there is to see, do, eat, and drink at the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts, so keep checking DFB for more updates. In the meantime, stay tuned for the latest Disney news and beyond! Check out more EPCOT Festival of the Arts updates here! MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR FESTIVAL DAYS DFB's guide to the Festival of the Arts details everything you need to know to maximize your time, budget, and stomach space! Know what's worth it and what to skip with our full-photo menus of each booth, complete with DFB's Best of the Fest. It includes all the must-have information for navigating this colorful festival at Disney World, including: Booth & food photos, maps, and crawls with DFB's exclusive recommendations! The COMPLETE schedule of events (so you don't have to go hunting for all the dates!) All the details on special events, artist meet-n-greets, festival-exclusive merchandise, and more! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW MORE Festival of the Arts INFO! See the FULL LIST of Food Booths, Menus, and Photos from the Festival of the Arts Read ALL of Our Food Booth Reviews for the Festival Learn More About the Disney on Broadway Concert Series and Dining Packages Click HERE for All of the Latest News and Details About the Festival of the Arts! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Festival of the Arts news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Will you be grabbing this exclusive drink? Let us know in the comments below. View the full article

It’s finally here, EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts is officially back! The festival begins today, on January 16th and continues through February 23rd. We’re so excited to dive into all the art, snacks, entertainment, events, and more. Once Upon a Stage Exhibit One thing in particular we were super stoked about was the Once Upon A Stage: The Magic of DISNEY ON BROADWAY exhibit. This exhibit is a celebration of Disney’s Broadway shows, bringing guests up close and personal with real props and costumes. It’s also a cool opportunity to learn about things happening behind the curtain! You can find the Once Upon A Stage: The Magic of DISNEY ON BROADWAY exhibit at Communicore Hall, happening from 9 AM to 9 PM each festival day. You know we weren’t waiting past the first festival day! We got to explore the exhibit, and instantly fell in love with it. Disney on Broadway exhibit There are TONS of displays featuring different costumes and props — like the costumes and props from “Frozen.” Frozen costumes and Sven! Or, “The Lion King.” “The Lion King” puppets! “Beauty and the Beast” costumes were there, and so much more! “Beauty and the Beast” costumes! The exhibit wasn’t just about the magic happening on stage; it was also about the magic happening backstage. We were geeking out when we saw a portion of the exhibit dedicated to the craft that happens to make sure the show runs smoothly. This included a whole section with a Stage Manager station… Stage Manager set …as well as a dressing room for costumes, wigs, and make-up! Dressing Room Station There was also a cool shot to give you a POV of what it would be like to be off-stage during a performance. Further adding to the cool and immersive experience. Shot of what it looks like to be off-stage Of course, there were boards up that you could read to learn more about the productions — yes, we were here for a LONG time, and we enjoyed every second of it! Information about the production There were a lot more props and costumes up from different shows! More props! We especially enjoyed looking at the masks from “The Lion King”! Masks from “The Lion King” We were fortunate enough to get to attend a media event about the exhibit. The event was located at the Living Seas pavilion. Unfortunately, it’s not available for guests, but that isn’t stopping us from sharing a couple of photos with you. Actors at the media event! We got to join a special panel hosted by Disney Ambassador Phelicia Blake, where Disney on Broadway performers shared their journey on the Broadway stage. They also reflected on what it means to be a part of the festival. Performers speaking! It was an awesome experience! We can’t recommend enough that you NEED to check out the exhibit — maybe even a couple times before the festival is over. Make sure you’re following the Disney Food Blog so you can get all the latest news and updates around the festival. You Won’t BELIEVE the Crowds at the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Are you going to check out the exhibit? Let us know in the comments! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disney World to attend their media preview of EPCOT Festival of the Arts. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ View the full article

It’s officially that time of year again — the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts has returned! We’re on the ground bringing you a fresh look at everything to see, do, and (most importantly) eat at this year’s festival. ©Disney But of course, the festival fun doesn’t stop with food and entertainment — merchandise is a big part of the experience, too. From wearable art to festival-exclusive souvenirs, we’re taking a look at what you’ll find at the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts. Apparel This year’s Spirit Jersey will be all the rage for the festival season and sports the puffy logo on the back side… 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts Spirit Jersey along with our pal, Figment! Home and Kitchen We’re already making space for the festival exclusive mug with Figment as the handle… ©Disney …and an exclusive Corkcicle design! A New Festival of the Arts Corkicle Accessories We were blown away by the work of art sported on this year’s festival Minnie ears! We especially loved that Spaceship Earth design on the emblem in the center that brings it all together. Plus, the bow is removable, so you can wear the ears with or without it, or put it creatively off to one side! New ears! There’s even an activewear hat that features the Festival of the Arts logo on the side with Figment painting on Spaceship Earth front and center! ©Disney Loungefly has really outdone itself with this unique crossbody bag, and we can’t peel our eyes away from all the vibrant colors! Loungefly Crossbody Plus, there’s a new Figment Loungefly backpack! 2026 Figment Loungefly Other Merchandise In other merchandise, you’ll also be able to pick up a commemorative ornament (complete with Figment, of course)… ©Disney …and an artist Figment plush! ©Disney Passholder Exclusive Merchandise Annual Passholders get exclusive souvenirs at the Festival of the Arts. Included in this year’s lineup is a Passholder art supply bag… Passholder bag …and a Passholder t-shirt! Passholder t-shirt These items are limited to two per guest. Some merch is limited We’ll continue bringing you along with us as we kick off the first day of EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts, so be sure to check back soon. And don’t forget to stay tuned to DFB for the latest festival news and updates. 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts – Booths, Menus, and FOOD PHOTOS  MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR FESTIVAL DAYS DFB's guide to the Festival of the Arts details everything you need to know to maximize your time, budget, and stomach space! Know what's worth it and what to skip with our full-photo menus of each booth, complete with DFB's Best of the Fest. It includes all the must-have information for navigating this colorful festival at Disney World, including: Booth & food photos, maps, and crawls with DFB's exclusive recommendations! The COMPLETE schedule of events (so you don't have to go hunting for all the dates!) All the details on special events, artist meet-n-greets, festival-exclusive merchandise, and more! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW MORE Festival of the Arts INFO! See the FULL LIST of Food Booths, Menus, and Photos from the Festival of the Arts Read ALL of Our Food Booth Reviews for the Festival Learn More About the Disney on Broadway Concert Series and Dining Packages Click HERE for All of the Latest News and Details About the Festival of the Arts! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Festival of the Arts news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Which of the merchandise items are you grabbing first? Tell us what caught your eye in the comments below! View the full article

ATTENTION Disney Fans! If you’re in the market for some new Disney jewelry and accessories, you have to head over to BaubleBar right now! ©BaubleBar The designer is in the midst of a massive Disney clearance event featuring a “treasure trove of beloved characters and iconic designs at prices that will make your dreams come true!” DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Some of our favorite items available include: Mickey Mouse Layered Necklace ©BaubleBar These layered necklaces feature three cohesive chains – a chain lined with brilliant glass stones, a sleek ball chain to add texture to your stack, and a dainty gold chain with a bezel-set crystal in the shape of Mickey’s signature silhouette – connected by a single clasp, giving wearers “just the right hint of Disney for every day.” SHOP HERE Mickey Mouse Disney Pisa Charm Bracelet ©BaubleBar This adorable bracelet features a charm with Mickey’s friendly face, another with Mickey’s signature gloved hand making a peace sign, and a red bubble letter “M” for Mickey, as well as classic Pisa beads that go well with anything! It closes using an n adjustable pull-tie, for an adjustable, perfect fit. There are also Daisy, Donald, Pluto, and Goofy variants available. SHOP HERE Minnie Mouse Disney Donut Ears ©BaubleBar Perhaps the sweetest pair of ears we’ve ever seen, this Minnie headband makes an “adorable statement for Disney lovers and dessert addicts alike.” SHOP HERE Disney Character Signature Necklace ©BaubleBar Available in Mickey, Minnie, Daisy, and Donald versions, the Disney Character Signature Necklace features the autograph of the Disney character of your choice, set in a gold color scheme and elegantly designed in their own “handwriting.” SHOP HERE If you want to take advantage of these MEGA deals, get over to BaubleBar FAST before they run out, and stay tuned to DFB for more on the best Disney discounts available RIGHT NOW! View the full article

It’s finally here! One of our favorite EPCOT festivals has arrived. That’s right…we’re LIVE from the EPCOT Festival of the Arts, eating all things, doing all things, and seeing all the things. 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts Passport We’ll be enjoying everything at the festival, but before we get started, we have to tell you about the one thing you NEED to pick up before you do anything else. You’ll want to get your hands on the Festival Passport, which is your pocket-sized guide to everything the EPCOT Festival of the Arts has to offer. We grabbed one, so let’s take a look at it! You can pick up an EPCOT Festival of the Arts Passport as you walk through either of EPCOT’s entrances. You’ll see these special booklets near where you would also pick up park maps. Passports are also available at any of the Festival Food Studios in the park. If you have trouble finding one, you can also always ask a Cast Member where to get one. Back of the Passport The opening section of the Passport welcomes you to the EPCOT Festival of the Arts. The welcome section also breaks down some details about the Festival and lets you know what information you’ll find throughout this little guide. Figment is right there, too, to get you started. Welcome pages Inside, you’ll find information on festival activities, like Figment’s Brush with the Masters Scavenger Hunt, which is a family-friendly search for Figment throughout EPCOT…you’ll spot him inserted into pieces of art throughout the park. You can also get more details about other activities like the NEW Disney Lorcana experience, Animation Academy, chalk art galleries, and more. Details about all the activities Looking for some fun festival photo ops? The Passport lists them out and tells you where to find them. It also explains details for the festival gift card, as well as lists out the entertainment you’ll find throughout EPCOT during the festival. Photo ops and entertainment details We’re sure you’ll want to pick up a festival souvenir to commemorate your visit. You’ll find locations with exclusive festival merchandise listed in the Passport, as well as learn where you can view and buy unique artwork. Looking for the artist-signing schedule? There’s a QR code in the passport you can scan to get that! Where to see the artists and merchandise info. The best part of the festival might just be the Disney on Broadway concert series. You’ll get details about that in the Passport, too. Disney on Broadway concert series If you need Allergy-Friendly festival food and drinks, you can scan a QR code in the festival to get a full list. Then, of course, you have a full list of all the food studios with their menus. Time to make some decisions on what to eat and drink, right? QR code for Allergy-Friendly Items in the 2026 Festival of the Arts Passport You’ll find every food studio listed in the passport, along with its menu. 2026 Passport The Passport also includes details about EPCOT restaurants that are offering special festival food and drinks, so you won’t want to miss out on those either! Other festival food and drinks This year’s festival even includes a few fun games for the kids, including a page where you can draw Tigger. How fun! Fun games for kids If you plan on participating in the Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine, you’ll find more details about that activity in the Passport, along with a full list of foods you can choose from. The idea is that you order five of the eight foods listed, get a stamp for each one, and then turn in your passport for a prize! Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine in Festival Passport So don’t forget to pick up your FREE festival Passport. Not only is it your guide to everything the festival offers, but it also makes for a nice souvenir. Click here to see FULL reviews of EVERY. SINGLE. BOOTH. at the Festival of the Arts! Trying to plan the PERFECT trip to the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts? We’ll be keeping you updated on all of the latest. Click our links below for the information you need to know: Check out all of the food booths getting NEW items this year! The full line up of this year’s Souvenirs and Entertainment 8 Menu Items To Order If You Want To Win a PRIZE at the EPCOT Festival of the Arts And don’t forget to pick up our 2026 Festival of the Arts Guide e-book! See more details about the book below. MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR FESTIVAL DAYS DFB's guide to the Festival of the Arts details everything you need to know to maximize your time, budget, and stomach space! Know what's worth it and what to skip with our full-photo menus of each booth, complete with DFB's Best of the Fest. It includes all the must-have information for navigating this colorful festival at Disney World, including: Booth & food photos, maps, and crawls with DFB's exclusive recommendations! The COMPLETE schedule of events (so you don't have to go hunting for all the dates!) All the details on special events, artist meet-n-greets, festival-exclusive merchandise, and more! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW MORE Festival of the Arts INFO! See the FULL LIST of Food Booths, Menus, and Photos from the Festival of the Arts Read ALL of Our Food Booth Reviews for the Festival Learn More About the Disney on Broadway Concert Series and Dining Packages Click HERE for All of the Latest News and Details About the Festival of the Arts! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Festival of the Arts news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Will you be checking out the Festival of the Arts this year? Tell us in the comments. View the full article

Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company whips up new coffee drinks for every EPCOT Festival! Come along with us as we get our caffeine fix at the EPCOT Festival of the Arts. Pop Art Latte We’re live at the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts, checking out the food studios, artistic performances, merchandise, and more. There’s a LOT going on, but don’t let it overwhelm you. We’re here to tell you everything you need to know before your visit. Let’s check out this year’s artistic latte at Joffrey’s! Menu At the Festival of the Arts, Joffrey’s features one specialty latte at the four EPCOT locations. This year’s drink is the Pop Art Latte — espresso with choice of milk and vanilla syrup topped with lavender whipped cream and SKITTLES POP’d Original Freeze Dried Candy. It comes as a non-boozy drink, but you can kick it up a notch with a shot of Baileys Original Irish Cream Liqueur. 2026 Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea kiosk menu Now that we’ve taken a look at the menu, let’s dive into the food itself! Drinks The Pop Art Latte is priced at $7.19 for the non-alcoholic version and $15.99 with Bailey’s. We’re already big fans of lavender lattes, so this one was kinda’ a no-brainer for us. It’s classic Joffrey’s vanilla latte, which already makes it delicious. The lavender whipped cream, though, is the…well, the icing (or cream, in this case) on top! So you’ve got that nice classic vanilla with the light lavender. YUM. Coffee with a view! So we’re not the biggest fans of the freeze-dried Skittles on their own, but they do add a nice decorative and artsy element to the drink. It’s a very Festival of the Arts vibe, and that’s what we’re here for. We LOVE it On a normal day, we’d get this drink without the Skittles, though. We will say that it’s fun to watch the baristas make the coffee and put the freeze-dried candies on top. It’s ART, and that’s what this festival is about. OVERALL Joffrey’s nailed its EPCOT Festival of the Arts offering this year. Not only is the coffee drink a little outside of a normal vanilla latte, thanks to the lavender whipped cream, but the freeze-dried Skittles add an artistic component that really vibes with what this festival is all about. Joffrey’s clearly understood the assignment. That’s it for this booth, but there’s a LOT more where that came from! Click here to see FULL reviews of EVERY. SINGLE. BOOTH. at the Festival of the Arts! Trying to plan the PERFECT trip to the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts? We’ll be keeping you updated on all of the latest. Click our links below for the information you need to know: Check out all of the food booths getting NEW items this year! The full line up of this year’s Souvenirs and Entertainment 8 Menu Items To Order If You Want To Win a PRIZE at the EPCOT Festival of the Arts And don’t forget to pick up our 2026 Festival of the Arts Guide e-book! See more details about the book below. MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR FESTIVAL DAYS DFB's guide to the Festival of the Arts details everything you need to know to maximize your time, budget, and stomach space! Know what's worth it and what to skip with our full-photo menus of each booth, complete with DFB's Best of the Fest. It includes all the must-have information for navigating this colorful festival at Disney World, including: Booth & food photos, maps, and crawls with DFB's exclusive recommendations! The COMPLETE schedule of events (so you don't have to go hunting for all the dates!) All the details on special events, artist meet-n-greets, festival-exclusive merchandise, and more! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW MORE Festival of the Arts INFO! See the FULL LIST of Food Booths, Menus, and Photos from the Festival of the Arts Read ALL of Our Food Booth Reviews for the Festival Learn More About the Disney on Broadway Concert Series and Dining Packages Click HERE for All of the Latest News and Details About the Festival of the Arts! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Festival of the Arts news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What items from this booth would you most want to try? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

If your Disney World vacation has ever felt like you paid thousands of dollars to speedrun only to be stuck standing still, welcome. Today we’re cutting out the biggest “time vampires” so you can spend more of your trip doing the fun stuff: rides, snacks, shows, vibes, and buying a Loungefly you definitely “didn’t plan on” (sure, Jan). Main Street U.S.A. clock Let’s dive into some of the biggest time wasters in Disney World, plus what to do instead. Because we are wildly protective of those precious park hours. (Because those minutes are your babies.) Sitting in the Lobby, Waiting for Your Room Arriving early is smart. Expecting your room to be ready at 9AM is… optimistic in a way that feels, well, fairy-tale unrealistic. Disney resort hotel check-in is typically at 3:00 PM (Deluxe Villas at 4:00 PM). So if you show up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at rope drop o’clock, you may have a chunky wait before you get the “your room is ready” notification. Grand Floridian Lobby What to do instead: drop your bags at Bell Services and start your vacation immediately. Pool time is also on the table on your check-in day, even if your room isn’t ready yet. And if you’re traveling in summer 2026, Disney is offering free water park admission on your resort check-in day for stays between May 26 and September 8, 2026. Blizzard Beach Translation: you can land, drop luggage, and cannonball into “we are on vacation now” without wasting half your day in a lobby chair. Typhoon Lagoon vs. Blizzard Beach: Disney World Water Parks Showdown Waiting in Line after a Ride Goes Down Nothing bonds humanity like collectively sighing under fluorescent queue lighting while an announcement says an attraction is “temporarily delayed.” Slinky Dog Dash queue Here’s the move: once you hear the announcement, decide how much time you’re willing to donate to the Queue Gods. Set an actual timer. When it goes off, you bail. Because the danger isn’t just losing time. It’s losing time AND missing something else you paid for. If you have a dining reservation coming up, get out of that line. Most restaurants charge a $10 per-person fee if you cancel too late or no-show. That’s not “Disney magic,” that’s “I just paid to be stressed.” Uh Oh! Rise of the Resistance has been known to break down One exception: if you scanned into a Lightning Lane and the ride goes down before you ride, it can be worth waiting a bit to see if Disney converts it into an alternate entitlement (this can vary from situation to situation). The key is: don’t panic-wait for 45 minutes with zero plan. Be strategic. The Attraction We PAID to Ride Broke Down THREE Times in Disney World & Here’s What Happened Next! Mega Ride Lines (AKA: The Standby Line that Ate Your Day) Look, some lines are inevitable. But two hours for one attraction can turn your whole day into “standing, sweating, and debating your life choices.” Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Queue Your options, from “free” to “my wallet just screamed”: Rope drop like you mean it. If you’re staying at a Disney resort (or select hotels), you can use Early Theme Park Entry, which is 30 minutes before official opening. Stay late. If you’re at an eligible Deluxe resort or other select hotels, Extended Evening Hours in select parks. Low crowds, lower waits, and the energy of “we’re still awake because we paid for this.” Use Single Rider when it makes sense. Disney currently lists Single Rider options at Test Track and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure (EPCOT), plus Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster, and Rise of the Resistance (Hollywood Studios). You will probably be split from your party. Decide if you love them enough to wait. Lightning Lane. Disney’s Lightning Lane Multi Pass lets you plan and book multiple Lightning Lane experiences (with rules that can vary by date and availability). This can save you huge time, especially on busy days. After Hours events. These are separately ticketed nights with lower waits and included snacks, and you can usually enter the park before the event officially begins (for example, Magic Kingdom After Hours lists 7:00 PM entry, with the event later that night). VIP Tour. If you want to feel like Disney royalty with a plaid escort, Disney’s Private VIP Tours list pricing ranges from $450 to $950 per hour, with a 7-hour minimum. This is not “splurge,” this is “we have chosen chaos, but make it expensive.” After Hours The ULTIMATE Guide to Planning A Walt Disney World Vacation Staying Off Property without a Realistic Transportation Plan Off-property can save money. It can also quietly steal your time in tiny bites until you’re like, “How did I lose two hours today to traffic and parking?” Magic Kingdom Entrance If you’re driving, remember: Orlando roads do not care about your dining reservation. Build in extra time, especially around morning commute, midday congestion, and that glorious 5–7 PM “everyone is leaving somewhere” crush. If you’re using hotel shuttles, check the schedule before you commit. Some are limited, some require reservations, and some will have you planning your day around their timing, which is basically letting a bus timetable run your vacation. Bold choice. Resort Shuttle Time-saving strategy: if staying off property, consider whether you can shift your “must-dos” into fewer parks per day, or prioritize parks where you can arrive early and stay late without complex transit. Your goal is fewer “travel blocks,” more “park blocks.” This Disney World Good Neighbor Hotel Is Taking Luxury to the Next Level Waiting Out Storms Like You’re in a Weather Documentary Central Florida loves an afternoon storm. It’s practically a hobby. What wastes time is everyone huddling under an awning like damp pigeons, refreshing radar apps, and slowly losing the will to live. Ponchos Everywhere What to do instead: treat storms like a built-in itinerary pivot. Aim for indoor attractions, big gift shops, and covered lounges. Magic Kingdom: indoor classics (Carousel of Progress, Country Bears, Tiki Room, Hall of Presidents), and keep an eye out for a Rainy Day Cavalcade if the weather is mild. EPCOT: World Showcase shops, Mitsukoshi (Japan) if you’re brave, and SeaBase for aquarium wandering. Animal Kingdom: Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo: The Big, Blue, and BEYOND are storm-proof crowd-pleasers. And yes, Nomad Lounge is a top-tier rainy day flex. Hollywood Studios: Walt Disney Presents is a fantastic “wait out the storm while learning things” option, plus indoor shows like Frozen Sing-Along and other theater-style entertainment. Japan Pavilion Storms don’t have to be lost time. They can be a “surprise lounge era.” We Just Found the BEST New Disney World Rain Jacket EVER Resort Refillable Mugs (The Convenience That Becomes a Side Quest) Refillable mugs can be a great deal if you’re at your resort a lot. But if you’re the kind of person who treats the parks like a competitive sport, the mug can turn into a daily pilgrimage: “I must refill. I must get my money’s worth. I must walk 11 minutes each way.” Here’s the truth: the mug saves money, not minutes. Refillable Mug How to make it worth it without losing your day: If you’re resort-hopping, bring it. You can refill at other Disney resorts, not just yours. That turns it into a “walking beverage perk” instead of a “backtrack tax.” If your resort is huge, consider how far your room is from refill stations. Those extra treks add up fast, especially at the sprawling resorts. Bottom line: if the mug starts dictating your movements, it’s not a mug anymore. It’s your new manager. 3 Disney World Refillable Mug Rules You Should Break Waiting in a Line for a Ride That’s Usually a Walk-On There are certain attractions that are normally your little “time savers.” PeopleMover. Living with the Land. The ones you do when you need a breather but still want dopamine. Living with the Land So when you see a posted wait that’s suddenly 30+ minutes for something that’s normally chill, that’s a signal. Either the crowds are wild, the weather is shifting people indoors, or something operational is off. What to do instead: Skip it for now and loop back later. Watch wait times in the My Disney Experience app for a few weeks before your trip so you can recognize what’s “normal” versus “something is weird today.” (This is the nerdiest advice. It is also extremely powerful.) Mind your P’s and Q’s in a crowd! Because waiting 45 minutes for something you could have walked onto at 6:30 PM is how you end up muttering “never again” into a Mickey pretzel. Use Paper Maps and NO Cellphones — The Chaotic Disney World Tips Disney Fans Love Getting Off at the Wrong Stop on a Resort Bus Loop The resort bus loop is helpful… until you step off at the wrong stop and realize you are now on an accidental hike through resorts you did not book. Disney Bus Transportation This happens most at the big, spread-out resorts with multiple internal stops (think places like Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs, Saratoga Springs, Old Key West, Port Orleans Riverside). Caribbean Beach What to do instead: Once you know your room location, find the nearest bus stop and memorize the name or number. Use the resort map (front desk, signage, or online). When heading back to your resort at night, stay alert and do not “autopilot exit” at the first stop you see. Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Because the only thing worse than the end-of-day blisters is the end-of-day blisters you didn’t schedule. What is the Best Time of Year to Go to Disney World in 2026? Booking Multiple Table Service Meals in One Day This one is a time-waster and a money-waster, holding hands, skipping through EPCOT, ruining your vibes together. Table service meals are great. But if you book breakfast, lunch, and dinner all in the same day, you’ve basically built a schedule where your main attraction is… sitting. Akershus Why it wastes time: A sit-down meal can easily take an hour (sometimes more, depending on the restaurant and timing). Three meals can eat a third of your park day. You’ll spend a lot. You’ll be full in a way that makes you hate walking, which is unfortunately the main Disney transportation method. Patriot’s Platter at Liberty Tree What to do instead: Pick one table service per day (or even every other day), then lean on quick service and snacks for the rest. Mobile order when available to avoid extra lines. ©Disney If you want “special,” do one signature meal and keep the rest casual. You’ll still eat well, but you’ll also actually experience the park you paid to enter. I’ve Tried Every Mobile Order Hack for Disney World, and I’m Sharing My 5 Favorites Losing Something (and Then Losing Your Mind Looking For It) Losing a phone or wallet in Disney is like spawning a side quest you did not accept. You’ll spend time retracing steps, worrying, and trying to remember if you set it down in a gift shop or if it vanished into another dimension. Magic Kingdom Lost and Found If you lose something important: Check with nearby Cast Members first. Items sometimes get held briefly before moving along. Visit Guest Relations or a Guest Experience Team location (the blue umbrellas) for guidance. File a lost item report ASAP through Disney’s system. Lost and found Disney uses Chargerback for Lost and Found reporting, and updates are provided via email (Disney notes you’ll receive an update within 48 hours). If the item is found, they’ll coordinate return. (Still, the faster you report, the better your odds.) Also, prevention is elite. Lanyards, phone tethers, zipped bags, and a designated “pocket policy” for your group can save you hours of stress. A Celebrity LOST Their Phone on a Roller Coaster – Here’s What To Do if It Happens to YOU Park Hopping Inefficiently Park hopping sounds efficient in theory: “We’ll just pop over to another park!” Like it’s a cute little stroll across the street. Main Street, U.S.A. In practice, Disney World is massive, and park-to-park transit can quietly eat an hour or two once you factor in walking, waiting, and transfers. And if you’re driving, Magic Kingdom adds the Transportation and Ticket Center layer, which is basically a whole side mission. EPCOT Monorail What to do instead: Park hop with intention. Group parks that are easiest to connect. EPCOT and Hollywood Studios are besties thanks to Skyliner (and other connections). If you’re staying on the monorail loop, Magic Kingdom access is a dream, and EPCOT is also in your orbit via monorail transfer. Skyliner at Caribbean Beach Resort If your must-dos are stacked across parks, hopping can be worth it. If you’re hopping “because we can,” you may end up spending more time traveling than doing. 4 Things You FORGOT About Park Hopping in Disney World A Behind-the-Scenes Tour Disney tours can be incredible. They can also be a stealth time sink if you only have a short trip and you’re sacrificing prime park hours. Behind the Seeds Tour Example: Keys to the Kingdom is about five hours. Cool? Extremely. But if this is your first time in Magic Kingdom and you’re paying for a park ticket that day, you may be trading a huge chunk of attraction time for a tour that’s better appreciated once you already know the basics. What to do instead: Save longer tours for repeat trips, or schedule tours on a “rest day” when you’re not also paying for a full park day. Look into tours and experiences outside the parks (resort tours, Disney Springs experiences, and other Enchanting Extras options) so you get the “special” without burning your most valuable park hours. Wild Africa Trek Basically, tours are the spice. Do not make the spice your entire meal unless you really mean it. It’s Official. This Is the BEST Behind-the-Scenes Tour You Can Do at Disney World The REAL Secret to “Not Waste Time” at Disney World It’s not one hack. It’s a mindset: protect your time like it’s the last Mickey bar in the freezer. Plan your big priorities. Build buffers for transit and weather. Use perks when they make sense. And when something goes sideways (because Disney loves a plot twist), pivot fast instead of sinking time into frustration. Early Entry at EPCOT And if you want the ultimate cheat code, it’s this: decide in advance what you’re willing to wait for, what you’re willing to pay to skip, and what you’re totally fine missing. That’s how you avoid the trip-killers and keep your days feeling fun instead of frantic. Wait times can be LONG in Disney World Follow these new rules, and have a great time with us at the park. We’ll be here, in your corner, helping you save your precious vacation minutes and dining dollars, so stay tuned to DFB for all of our pro tips and quirky insights. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW How do you save time in the Disney Parks? Let us know in the comments! View the full article