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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

It’s that time again! Festival of the Arts has officially arrived in EPCOT, and we’re here to see everything on opening day! Time for Festival of the Arts! With tons of new menu items, live entertainment, a stunning Disney on Broadway exhibit, concerts, and interactive experiences, it’s no surprise that this festival is a popular one. It only lasts from January 16th to February 23rd, and it seems people are getting a head start by visiting on opening day! Let’s take a look at the crowds around the park so you can prepare for your trip! Each festival’s opening day is busy, and today is no exception! EPCOT Park Pass Reservations are even full for Annual Passholders. It is still possible to book a Park Pass for another park, scan into that park, and then hop over to EPCOT (as long as the park doesn’t reach capacity, which is super rare). Entrance crowds for Festival of the Arts We were at EPCOT before the parking lot even opened, so we’ve been watching the crowds form since the early hours of the morning! It is busy here today! The first wave of early entry crowds got into the park first, and there were lots of people enjoying that Disney World hotel perk! Early Entry crowds A bit later, rope drop crowds were able to enter the park, and there were even MORE people headed in for the festival. Rope drop crowds The festival food booths don’t open until later in the morning, but there are still lots of festival activities to do before then. One of the most popular things to enjoy right away when you get to EPCOT is shop the festival drop! This was certainly the thing to do this morning! Shopping crowds There were LOTS of people getting their hands on the new, colorful Festival of the Arts merchandise. Crowds at Creations Shop We’ll be checking in throughout the day with updates as we enjoy the first day of the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts, so keep following DFB for live updates! Grab those souvenirs now! If you’re planning a trip of your own to enjoy everything the Festival has to offer, you can click any of the links below for the information you need to know: Learn about the Disney on Broadway Concert Series and Dining Packages Check out ALL of the 2026 Festival of the Arts Food Booths and Menus Find ALL of our Festival of the Arts Food Booth REVIEWS here! And don’t forget to pick up our 2026 Festival of the Arts e-book! See more details about our Guide below. Stay tuned to DFB for more festival updates! Click here to see our reviews for EVERY single EPCOT Festival of the Arts food booth! 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 is your favorite EPCOT festival? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

The time has come! The 2026 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts has officially begun, and, of course, we are in EPCOT to experience it all. We will be eating our way through the booths, admiring a variety of art, enjoying the entertainment, and more. And we are bringing you all along with us! 2026 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts We’re experiencing it ALL so we can share the must-dos with you. Come along with us to get a peek at this year’s Festival of the Arts. Let’s go! Performing Arts Disney on Broadway performers will be returning to the stage in 2026 with three daily shows. You will get to see stars from Broadway shows such as Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Tarzan, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and more. Check out a complete list of performers right here. 2025 Disney on Broadway Concert Series These performances can be seen on the America Gardens Theater stage. CommuniCore Plaza will also host a variety of performances daily. You can check the My Disney Experience app for a list of performance times. Visual Arts You can also celebrate the visual arts throughout EPCOT with a variety of exhibits, hands-on experiences, and demonstrations. We always love checking out the Walking Chalk Gallery and seeing what the chalk artists are working on. Make sure to check the Festival of the Arts passport for more information! Chalk Art 2025 You can even meet artists during the festival! Some popular artists that will be appearing during this year’s festival include: Jerrod Maruyama (January 16th through 21st) Joey Chou (January 21st through 29th) Stacey Aoyama (January 31st; February 1st through 5th) Will Gay (January 23rd, 24th, 30th, and 31st; February 1st) Jason Ratner (January 16th, 18th, 24th, 25th, and 31st; February 1st, 11th, 14th, 15th, 18th, 21st, and 22nd) Ashley Taylor (January 16th to 20th) Dave Perillo (January 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 24th, 25th, and 31st; February 1st to 5th) You can find a full schedule on the Walt Disney World website (search for “Featured Artists”)or the My Disney Experience app. Culinary Arts Of course, it wouldn’t be an EPCOT Festival without FOOD! We can expect more than 20 Food Studios around EPCOT that bring together flavor and art — and we’ll be bringing you our full reviews of them all! Additional Food Locations A few permanent dining locations also serve up some festival eats! We will also be bringing you reviews of these additional locations — so stay tuned! Want to know how to handle the Festival like a PRO? Grab our DFB Guide to the Festival of the Arts for tips, tricks, and advice. Stay tuned to this post, as we’ll be updating it throughout the festival! Find Out EVERYTHING You Need To Know About the 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts 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 checking out the Festival of the Arts this year? Tell us in the comments. View the full article

Today is a BIG day for fans of Gideon’s Bakehouse! Gideon’s Bakehouse Gideon’s Bakehouse is celebrating its 5th anniversary today (January 16th), and it’s a special type of celebration. Gideon’s was giving out free gifts this morning for the anniversary, but the bigger gift has to be the huge news they just dropped! Earlier this week, Gideon’s started off its celebration by giving out new limited-edition commemorative art prints to the first 1000 transactions of the day, for free. This new print features Gideon’s Morsels version of the Gargoyle and perfectly mimics the original Gargoyle print! Gideon’s Bakehouse If you missed out on the print, Gideon’s is offering an alternative color version of this print, signed by Gideon’s art director, Michael Reyes. You’ll be able to purchase this one and have until Monday, January 19th, at 10 AM EST to place your order. Inside Gideon’s Bakehouse The fun didn’t end there; in fact, it just started! Gideon’s dropped some MASSIVE news about a new location in Disney Springs! According to the Orlando Sentinel, “a fast casual celebration of savory” called Six Ravens will open later this year. Site of new Six Ravens It will open in The Landing, just a few doors down from Gideon’s Bakehouse. The menu will feature all new offerings, including hand pie sandwiches called coffyns, housemade yeast rolls with fillings that support local. ©Six Ravens Gideon’s owner Steve Lewis said, “At the end of the day, it was The Polite Pig [owners, James and Julie Petrakis] that were kind enough to put a Gideon’s cookie on as a secret menu item. It’s always been in the back of my head that I need to repay that favor.” Gideon’s Cookies — Chocolate Chip They teased that they were dropping an announcement today for the anniversary celebration, but nothing could’ve prepared us for this! We’ve been watching the construction at the former Art of Shaving location with Gideon’s themed decals on the windows. Now, it’s all starting to make sense! Gideon’s themed decals We’re always keeping an eye out for all the latest Disney news and updates, so make sure to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog to make sure you don’t miss anything! ALERT! Magic Kingdom Fireworks Times Are CHANGING Soon 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 your thoughts on the announcement? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

The location of toy giant Mattel’s new indoor waterpark is no longer a mystery. It’s going to be 10 minutes from Disney on Vineland Road, just south of the Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores outlet mall. The development team, which is composed of Mattel and Orlando-based Martin Aquatic, filed conceptual plans this week for the 11-acre site that will feature a 90,000-square-foot indoor water park with a retractable roof, an outdoor waterpark and event lawn, a “slide zone” and 11,400 square feet of retail space, according to a report in GrowthSpotter. The building could be up to 60 feet high, which is definitely tall enough to fit a life-sized Barbie Dream House. The plan from Kimley-Horn shows parking for 752 vehicles, including 368 to be located in a parking garage. The company behind such iconic brands as Barbie, Hot Wheels and Thomas the Tank Engine, announced the water park venture just before Thanksgiving. Creative and operational work is underway, led by Orlando-based Martin Aquatic. The Mattel Wonder Indoor Waterpark is planned for an 11-acre site on S.R. 535, next to the Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores. (Orange County Property Appraiser) “I can say that we will have an exclusive ride that will be a water slide that you can only experience at Mattel,” Josh Martin, president and creative director, told the Orlando Sentinel. This will be the first of five such attractions, branded as Mattel Wonder Indoor Waterparks. The design focus is on bringing the world of Mattel products to life, and each park will have 12 or more unique brands featured, Martin said. “We’re looking at those classic, iconic elements … What is familiar but unique about a Barbie area? So we look at the architecture. We’re not so focused on having Barbie characters. That’s not going to be the intent,” Martin said. “Mattel has an incredible history of board games and Mattel toys and games, and so being able to look at things like Uno, and think outside the box — what if I were to design a water slide that was around Uno? What elements would I include that feels like you’re playing the game?” Some vendors have been selected, he said, including Canada-based OpenAire, which makes an aluminum-glass building with a retractable roof. “The beauty of their building is it’s not like the traditional Great Wolf Lodge or some of the old legacy indoor water parks. It has natural light. It’s got a roof that lets natural weather come in,” Martin said. “In Florida, it’s going to be weatherized and protect us. We’re not going to run the risk of afternoon thunderstorms clearing out our water park.” The vacant land, right on the Orange-Osceola line and north of the Sunrise City mixed-use district, is owned by Countyline Properties LLC. They previously submitted plans about a decade ago to build a second phase of the outlet mall on the property, which would have added roughly 110,000 square feet of new retail space, but never followed through on the project. Have a tip about Central Florida development? Contact me at lkinsler@GrowthSpotter.com or (407) 420-6261. Follow GrowthSpotter on Facebook and LinkedIn. View the full article

A huge shake-up is happening in the world of Lucasfilm, aka the studio in charge of all things Star Wars. ©Disney With a huge movie on the way (The Mandalorian and Grogu), as well as plans for more seasons of shows like Ahsoka, it’s long been rumored that Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy would soon step down. Well, that has now been confirmed by Deadline, and Kennedy’s replacements will actually be two people, Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan. Kennedy will be stepping down as Lucasfilm President after almost 14 years of leading the studio. However, she will still act as producer of the next two Star Wars movies, The Mandalorian and Grogu, which will release on May 22nd, 2026, and Star Wars: Starfighter, the highly anticipated Shawn Levy-directed film, which will release in 2027. After that, Kennedy has plans to produce other projects. ©Disney The new Lucasfilm presidents are already well-entrenched in Star Wars lore. Dave Filoni will be the new President and Chief Creative Officer of Lucasfilm, having previously served as Lucasfilm EVP and Chief Creative Officer. He’s also responsible for some of Star Wars’ most beloved stories, including the animated series and many of the Star Wars TV shows. Lynwen Brannon will be Filoni’s co-President, having previously served as the longtime President and General Manager of Lucasfilm Business. Sounds like a partnership made in a galaxy far, far away! ©Lucasfilm According to Deadline, the transition has been in the making for several years, and both Filoni and Brennan have worked closely with Kennedy since she took over as President of Lucasfilm in 2012, when Kennedy took over the role previously held by George Lucas, just ahead of Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm. Since then, we’ve been given a lot of new Star Wars content, including the two new movies, several animated series, and more Star Wars in Disney Parks, including Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in both Disney World and Disneyland. Now, it seems like the future of Star Wars is in good hands. We’ll keep an eye out for more big Star Wars updates, so stay tuned to DFB for more. Disney Announces MAJOR Changes for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge 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 news? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

It’s waffle time in Disney Springs! A few days ago, we noticed Marketplace Snacks had unexpectedly closed, but it has now officially reopened — and it has THREE brand-new snacks. Of course, we had to make a stop by to check them out! Marketplace Snacks Marketplace Snacks is known for its bubble waffle creations, loaded with sweet toppings and inspired by iconic Disney characters. If you were looking for a sugar rush in Disney World, Marketplace Snacks was the place to be. Well, now that Marketplace Snacks has reopened, it is bringing savory options into the equation, and we are SO excited to give them a try. Now you can have a bubble waffle as a meal AND dessert! The Marketplace Snacks menu now features 3 savory and 2 sweet waffle options. The two sweet options (the Mickey Cookie Waffle Sundae and the Minnie Sweet Strawberry Waffle Sundae) have been at Marketplace Snacks for a long time, but the savory options are brand spankin’ new, so we are ready to feast! Why get only one waffle treat when you can get three?!? New waffles! We started off with the Cheeseburger Waffle. The Cast Members told us that they anticipated this would likely be the most popular option, so we decided to start there. The Cheeseburger Waffle costs $12.99 and comes with a special-blend ground beef, crispy bacon, cheddar, dill pickle, iceberg lettuce, diced tomatoes, and burger sauce. All served inside a bubble waffle, of course! Cheeseburger Waffle We are huge fans of the Cheeseburger Spring Rolls in Magic Kingdom, so you know we were excited for this cheeseburger meets waffle treat. However, we were a bit disappointed in our first waffle. They use the same sweet bubble waffle for the savory items, which didn’t work super well with the cheeseburger concept. The burger sauce ended up making the bubble waffle soggy, too, and while a soggy bubble waffle from ice cream is delicious, we did not like the soggy bubble waffle from a mayonnaise sauce. Cheeseburger Waffle The ingredient ratio wasn’t great either. We got about three bites of ground beef in the entire waffle, although there was plenty of lettuce, tomatoes, and sauce. There was a tiny bit of pickle on the bottom and two slices of bacon. The pickles added a great freshness and crispiness to the snack, but we didn’t get to them until the very end. The bacon was really crispy, almost burnt, and had a great peppery flavor. Cheeseburger Waffle While the first waffle didn’t wow us, we still have two more to go, so let’s get eating! Next up is the BBQ Brisket Waffle for $12.99. This waffle is filled with BBQ brisket, sweet black pepper BBQ sauce, pickled onions, and chopped parsley. This was all that was listed on the menu, but it also had green onion and mac and cheese inside. And y’all, this one was SO much better. BBQ Brisket Waffle The flavors in this one are much more complementary to the sweet bubble waffle. The barbecue sauce has a decent amount of sweetness along with smokiness, which works much better than the mayonnaise-based burger sauce. This one also had LOTS of meat, which we needed more of in the cheeseburger one. While the brisket wasn’t of the highest quality, we appreciated that there was more of it. It was a bit dry and chewy. BBQ Brisket Waffle We loved the green onion and pickled onion stuffed inside. Plus, there was a generous scoop of creamy mac and cheese! The mac and cheese is delicious and better than the typical kids’ mac and cheese you can find at Disney World. We really enjoyed this one, and we would definitely get it again. BBQ Brisket Waffle Last but not least, we have the Hot Honey Chicken Waffle for $12.29 (yes, this one is 70 cents cheaper than the other two). It is filled with hot honey chicken, black pepper candied bacon, spicy pickle slaw, roasted jalapenos, garlic ranch, and chopped parsley. We had high hopes for this one since the flavors are already sweet and savory. While it didn’t beat out the BBQ Brisket waffle, it was better than the cheeseburger waffle. Hot Honey Chicken Waffle Our biggest complaint about this waffle is that they added ranch. We love ranch, but it did not need to be on this snack. There was a good amount of chicken, and we enjoyed the hot honey sauce. However, the ranch sauce overpowers the hot honey, making it the most prominent flavor. We also thought this one had too much slaw overall. The slaw had a bit of a kick, and we thought it added some good texture and a great crunch, but there was just too much of it. Hot Honey Chicken Waffle The chicken got lost in the slaw, and the ranch just kind of overpowered everything. We think this could have been much better if they had gotten rid of the ranch and decreased the amount of slaw on top. Overall, we were most impressed by the BBQ Brisket Waffle and would rate it 8/10. Next up was the Hot Honey Chicken Waffle, which we rated 5/10, and the Cheeseburger Waffle came in last at 3/10. We are happy to see some savory options at Marketplace Snacks, and we recommend trying the BBQ Brisket Waffle the most! Hot Honey Chicken Waffle Don’t forget, you can also still get sweet waffles at Marketplace Snacks. While there are fewer options than before, you can still get the Mickey Cookie Waffle Sundae and the Minnie Sweet Strawberry Waffle Sundae. So whether you are feeling savory or sweet, you can find an option at Marketplace Snacks! Mickey Cookie Waffle Sundae We are in the Disney parks every single day, and we are always reviewing new food items, plus revisiting dining locations to make sure you always have the most up-to-date information for your trip. Stay tuned to Disney Food Blog for more Disney food reviews, news, tips, and tricks! The Best Restaurants at Disney Springs 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 Are you going to stop by Disney Springs to try these new savory waffles? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

Is there seriously any better way to end your day at Magic Kingdom than hearing “Reach out and find your happily ever afterrrr!” Happily Ever After Magic Kingdom’s popular fireworks show, Happily Ever After, is a must-see on all visits to Magic Kingdom. If you have a Disney World vacation coming up, you’re going to want to be aware of changes coming to the fireworks showtimes! We just saw on the Disney World website that the showtime of Happily Ever After has been changed from 9 PM to 9:30 PM starting on March 8th, and every day after that as far as the calendar can go. This change is coming to the show because of Daylight Saving Time. Happily Ever After will also change This isn’t a surprising change, as Disney does it every time there is Daylight Saving Time. It’s something you’ll want to be aware of if you have a trip planned in March, so you can build your schedule accordingly for watching the show. Happily Ever After There are going to be a few minor changes made to the show this year, as it will need to be adjusted while the castle is being repainted. Disney has not yet confirmed how this show will change or when the change will take place, but we’re assuming there will be a little bit of a different viewing experience while the castle gets redone. Happily Ever After in Magic Kingdom The agents at Small World Vacations know how to save money on your Disney Vacation! When you book your trip with Small World Vacations, their experienced agents monitor your reservation for possible future savings. They also compare discounts and figure out which one works best for your travel party, dates, resort, and touring plans. And they share expert tips and first-hand advice with you about your magical vacation. Make sure to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog to get all the latest Disney news and updates. We’re here to help you plan for your upcoming Disney vacation, making it easier and smoother for you! CHANGES Are Coming Near Haunted Mansion in Magic Kingdom! 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 Do you have any Magic Kingdom plans in March? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

The one thing you gotta’ love about visiting Disney World is that it’s designed for all of the senses. You’re not just seeing magic come to life, but you’re also hearing it, touching it, tasting it, and smelling it. In fact, when it comes to the smells at Disney World, some are so iconic that many of us try to recreate them at home. Main Street Bakery in Magic Kingdom Well, one of those iconic smells is the smell you get when you walk into Main Street Confectionery or Main Street Bakery, where Disney creates some of its best sugary bakery treats. Well, that Main Street Bakery smell is now the theme of a new candle by Bath & Body Works. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Get the Main Street Bakery Candle ©Bath & Body Works Yes, you can get a new candle at Bath & Body Works called “Main Street Bakery.” The candle is described as “like a warm, friendly welcome to the neighborhood, this sweet, banana-y fragrance is exactly what you’d expect when walking into a small-town sweets shop.” The scents are “fresh banana, vanilla wafers, and cinnamon sugar.” We can confirm that the scent is more like banana bread and less like that sugary smell in Magic Kingdom, but still, it sounds LOVELY, doesn’t it? Buy at Bath & Body Works We’re always on the hunt for the latest and greatest Disney souvenirs and essentials, so don’t forget to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more! View the full article

You know, sometimes you don’t always need a reason to buy what you’re buying. Sometimes, you just gotta do it for FUN! ©Disney We have a list of nine Disney items on Amazon that we know will bring every Disney fan joy. From cool souvenirs to cute memorabilia, Amazon has it all! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Get the Adventure Book ©Amazon Adventure is out there, and it’s time to start logging yours with this “Our Adventure Book” Travel Diary! The travel diary is inspired by the book Carl and Ellie use to record their life in Disney Pixar’s UP. This thing is great as a scrapbook, a photo album, or even a guestbook for weddings. There are so many things you can do with this — plus, it’s the cutest book for Disney fans! View on Amazon This Unofficial Disney Cookbooks Set is a must! ©Amazon The Unofficial Disney Parks Cookbook Boxed Set brings together popular cookbooks from bestselling author Ashley Craft. The collection provides you with delicious recipes to recreate your favorite meals from Walt Disney World and Disneyland right at home. In the set, you’ll find “The Unofficial Disney Parks Cookbook”, “The Unofficial Disney Parks EPCOT Cookbook”, and “The Unofficial Disney Parks Restaurants Cookbook”, all for 33% off! View on Amazon We love the 3D Illusion Lamp Castle Night Light ©Amazon You need to check out this 3D LED Illusion Lamp Castle Night Light! This illusion lamp has a crazy 3D visual effect, with a pattern based on the Castle series. The 3D Castle night light comes with a remote control and touch control to adjust the 16 different colors. It also allows you to adjust the brightness with the dimmer on the remote control. View on Amazon Or, you can grab this Mickey Personalized Pin Board ©Amazon Where are all the pin collectors at?! You need to check out this Mickey Mouse Personalized Pin Board! If you like trading and collecting pins at Disney World, you’re going to love putting them on display with this pin board. Not to mention, you can also personalize it by getting your name at the bottom. View on Amazon Don’t forget about this Disney Stitch Slushy Maker ©Amazon Disney Stitch Slushy Maker?! Yes, please! Make delicious Stitch Hawaiian-style drinks with a Chill Factor slushie cup. This frozen smoothie cup is the ultimate fun experience, where you can enjoy creating crazy combinations and flavors that will be a guaranteed hit with kids or at parties. You can get it at a great price! View on Amazon These Disney Candy Series Keychains are the CUTEST ©Amazon This MINISO Disney Mickey Mouse Family Candy Series Keychain Box is beyond adorable! This blind box features a detailed bell-shaped plush with a candy theme, retro-modern accents, and an interactive pull-cord candy accessory. Collect 6 regular designs or seek the rare hidden Chip ‘n’ Dale pair. Time for us to find them all, especially since it’s currently 40% off! View on Amazon There’s also this Pixar UP House Ceramic Planter ©Amazon This Disney Pixar UP House Ceramic Planter is sure to liven up any home! The unique mold of this mini planter is authentically sculpted to look like Carl Fredricksen’s iconic balloon house with a realistic succulent sprouting from the top. You can get it for 20% off! View on Amazon Check out this Disney Dash Popcorn Maker ©Amazon Movie nights are about to get a lot more fun with this Disney Dash Popcorn Maker! The popcorn popper cooks using only hot air, with no oil necessary. We love the adorable and nostalgic Mickey and Minnie design; it’s perfect for Disney fans. What’s also perfect is the poppers 15% discount! View on Amazon And finally, this Charm Purse Hanger ©Amazon This NewCharms Castle Purse Hanger is one of those things that you know you don’t need, but can find a reason why you do! This purse hanger can be placed on elevated surfaces like tables and countertops, holding your purse to make sure it doesn’t sit on the floor. The hanger is small and foldable, making it easy to carry around. Top it all off with a gorgeous Disney castle design! View on Amazon We’re always on the hunt for the latest and greatest Disney souvenirs and essentials, so don’t forget to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more! View the full article

Mug fans, this post is FOR YOU! If you’ve been wanting to limit the amount of mugs you have and don’t want to be tempted by more…then you may want to save this post for later and/or throw your card as far away from you as you can. Let’s go mug shopping! Disney just dropped a new mug collection online, and it’s super tempting. Not only because the designs are super cute, but also because there’s not just one or two new ones, there are NINE! How are we supposed to resist nine new mugs? You know what, we can’t, so we’re just gonna hope that some of you buy them along with us so we feel less guilty. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Who Doesn’t Love Vintage? ©Disney If you’re someone who’s a sucker for nostalgia (like us) and loves anything that gives you a bit of a blast to the past (again, like us), then you won’t want to miss grabbing the Disney Parks Vintage Maps Mug! The base color is white, but has icons from all over the Disney parks, so it’s full of color. Each time you look at it, you’ll spot something new, which we adore. Grab it right here! You Can Never Have Too Much Sorcerer Mickey ©Disney There’s no such thing as too much Sorcerer Mickey — it just doesn’t exist! So we see no problem with adding the new Sorcerer Mickey Mouse Animation Mug to your collection, especially because, for a lot of you, it may remind you of one of our favorite childhood films, like it does for us! Grab it right here! Calling All Muppets Fans! ©Disney With Muppets Courtyard closed for good and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster’s transformation not started just yet, we’ve gotta get our Muppets fix elsewhere, right? That’s where the Muppet Treasure Island 30th Anniversary Mug comes in, and we’re so glad it exists. It looks just like a barrel from the film, and we know all of your friends will be asking where you got it when they see it in your cabinet. Grab it right here! We All Need A Little Mischief ©Disney Sometimes, a little mischief is good, and that’s exactly what the Cheshire Cat brings to the party! In the Cheshire Cat Animation Mug, you can see him in different stages of animation, bringing him to life right before your eyes. The outside of the mug is white, with his animation lines in black, but the inside of the mug is pink to match his coloring. Grab it right here! Classy and Gorgeous! ©Disney Want something classic, but still beautiful to add to your cabinet? Look no further than the Mickey Mouse Icon Rose and Ribbon Mug, which is cute as can be! The mug itself is white with light teal blue horizontal lines, and a pink Mickey bow on one side, and a bouquet of beautiful pink roses on the other. It’s great for any time of year! Grab it right here! We All Know Someone Who Needs This Mug ©Disney Let’s be real — we all know someone in our lives who is a little on the grumpy side…all the time. While maybe it’s not something you ALWAYS want to point out to them, if you know they’d be good-natured about it, the Grumpy Mug is a great gift! On one side, it has Grumpy with “Best Day Never,” and the other just has a larger graphic of Grumpy. Grab it right here! Bring Cinderella Castle Home With You! ©Disney If Cinderella Castle is one of your favorite parts of Disney World, or maybe it’s what reminds you most of the magic, the Cinderella Castle Mug is a great choice. The handle is gold, while the actual mug is a slight off-white, making the blue and gold outline of the castle really pop. It’s complete with a Mickey silhouette behind it, which really brings it all together! Grab it right here! Who Doesn’t Love Winnie the Pooh? ©Disney We don’t know what Disney’s obsession with tree-themed mugs is right now, but we’re not complaining, because the Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree 60th Anniversary Mug is cute as can be! The whole mug looks like it’s been carved out of a tree, and while Pooh has his pot of honey on one side, you can see his backside sticking out the other end, as if it’s stuck in the tree! Grab it right here! Perfect For Floral Fans ©Disney If you love flowers, then trust us when we say you don’t need to look any further than the Fantasyland Castle Floral Mug! It’s a beautiful dark blue with Cinderella Castle in the middle. It’s then all surrounded by pink, yellow, white, and blue flowers, completing the whole look. We have a feeling this is about to become our new favorite mug! Grab it right here! We’ll continue to keep you updated on all the latest Disney merchandise news, so stay tuned to DFB! View the full article

The Disney Adventure, the newest ship in the Disney Cruise line fleet, arrived at Port Canaveral today, bringing this ship one step closer to its maiden voyage in Singapore on March 10, 2026. The Disney Adventure draws on over 100 years of Disney storytelling from Disney, Marvel and Pixar to bring to life the first Disney Cruise Line ship for families in Asia. The ship will sail an inaugural season of three- and four-night cruises from Singapore. The Disney Adventure is a part of Disney Cruise Line’s multi-year expansion plan, which will introduce Disney cruises to new audiences around the world, further establishing the brand as a global ambassador for Disney stories. This expansion will grow the fleet to 13 ships by 2031, and also includes a fourth ship in the Wish class expected next year; the introduction of a brand-new class of ships in 2029; and an agreement with Disney and Oriental Land Co., Ltd. (OLC) to introduce Disney cruise vacations to Japan in 2029. The post Disney Adventure Cruise Ship Arrives at Port Canaveral appeared first on Disney Experiences. View the full article

Another new permit was just filed for work to be done in Magic Kingdom! We are always on the lookout for Disney news, and it seems that even more work is planned for the area near the Haunted Mansion. A new permit was filed in Magic Kingdom! While Magic Kingdom is home to LOTS of construction walls right now for Piston Peak National Park and the refurbishment of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, we were still intrigued by this new permit filed by Walt Disney Imagineering. The address on the Notice of Commencement (1455 Magic Kingdom Drive, Bay Lake, FL 32830) is the address for Keel Boat Landing in Magic Kingdom. Keel Boat Landing is the building in front of the Haunted Mansion entrance. While there are quite a few construction walls up in this area, Keel Boat Landing is usually used as an extended queue for Haunted Mansion. Prior to that, it was the entrance to the “Mike Fink Keel Boats” attraction in Magic Kingdom, inspired by the film, Davy Crockett and the River Pirates. ©Disney The permit was filed for “General Construction,” which doesn’t give us much insight into what might be happening in this area. Work on the area will be done by MLC Theming Inc. MLC Theming Inc is a creative, specialty construction company that specializes in “scenic painting and aging of structures, fabricating facades, carving rock work, and more.” ©Disney We have seen MLC Theming Inc listed on many Disney permits in the past, so it is not surprising to see them. Recently, MLC Theming Inc was also listed as the contractor on a permit filed just a few days ago for work at the Haunted Mansion. This new permit is near the last permit, so we will be interested to see if any visible changes happen at Haunted Mansion or Keel Boat Landing in the coming months! The building with the blueish roof is Keel Boat Landing! There is LOTS of construction happening in the area around Keel Boat Landing, too. What used to be the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island has now been permanently closed to make way for Piston Peak National Park. This will be a Cars-themed expansion featuring two brand-new attractions. Beyond Big Thunder Mountain, Disney is also working on what will eventually be a new Villains land. Tons of construction is happening! We are always on the lookout for the latest Disney World news, including keeping an eye on the latest permits! Stay tuned to DFB for more news, tips, and tricks. Why We’re NOT Worried About Villains Land Coming to Magic Kingdom 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 is your favorite land in Magic Kingdom? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! View the full article

Air travel rules have changed rapidly recently, and if you haven’t flown in a while, there are some updates you need to be caught up on. Orlando International Airport You could be forgiven for not keeping up. TSA is constantly adjusting airport security protocol, airlines are getting rid of decades-old traditions, and air travel is more complicated than ever. The same can be said about airfare policies. If your flight is canceled, what (if anything) can you get back? How locked are you into your flights? We’re taking a look at how your money is protected when you book a flight. How your flight is canceled matters. If your flight is canceled or undergoes a significant change like a flight moving by several hours, an airport swap, baggage delays, or other wild circumstances, you are entitled to a cash refund if you don’t take a new flight. Orlando International Airport This is currently a law in the United States, and refunds must be automatic and applied back to the original payment. So an airline can’t just offer you a voucher as compensation if you don’t plan to rebook. Additionally, extra purchases that include Wi-Fi and seat selection (among other perks) are refundable automatically if the airline does not supply those services. Orlando International Airport With that in mind, U.S. law doesn’t mandate that airlines pay you a full refund simply for being delayed. There is also no federal rule that forces airlines to cover meal or hotel costs if you’re stuck overnight — even if the airline is at fault. Maybe mechanical issues happened, or there was bad weather. Tough luck, you’re on your own. Some travel credit cards and other travel programs DO, however, cover these kinds of costs, so you should read your benefits if you are a member of such a program. Southwest Counter at MCO At one point during the Biden Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) proposed changes that would have required airlines to pay passengers cash compensation for delays and cancellations caused by airline problems within a $200 to $775 margin — depending on how long you were stranded. Additionally, the DOT proposed enforcing reimbursements for meals, hotel rooms, and ground transportation costs incurred while being stranded or delayed. However, those changes were never passed, and the current Trump Administration has withdrawn the proposal altogether, so those rules will not go into effect, at least any time soon. ©Tampa International Airport Each airline carries its own airfare policies, and the policies themselves differ based on which airfare you’ve selected. It’s never a bad idea to read up on what your fare grants you and how it’s protected BEFORE making your purchase. Remember, in most cases, voluntary cancellation reimbursements are not protected by law, so you may want to see what kind of travel protections your chosen airline has before making any purchases. In the meantime, be sure to ask for a refund if you don’t want the replacement flight if a flight is canceled beyond your control, keep records of your itinerary changes and communications, and check your airline’s contract of carriage. Southwest at Orlando International Airport We’re keeping up with all the latest travel trends and news, so keep it posted right here at DFB to stay in the know! “Hate the New Changes.” Fans Are NOT Ready for This HUGE Southwest Airlines Change DON'T DO IT ALONE! Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you -- they've literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They're DFB's recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!) So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you GET MORE INFO Have you ever experienced a flight cancellation? Share your experience in the comments below! View the full article

It feels like we just celebrated New Year’s, and now Valentine’s Day is FAST approaching! Have no fear, though, ALDI is coming to the rescue! It’s a new week, which means there are lots of new ALDI finds. You can grab these items from January 21st through January 27th, so start making those plans now to stop by ALDI. ALDI The upcoming week brings plenty of Valentine’s Day items, items for your Disney trip, and fugglers. No, we also didn’t know what a fuggler was until we looked through this week’s ALDI finds. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. It is time to start preparing for Valentine’s Day, and ALDI is coming in hot with lots of great items. Starting off with some adorable Valentine’s Day Pajama pants. You can choose from three sets, each containing a pair of pajama pants and a pair of pajama shorts. We think these are so adorable! ©ALDI You can also pick up Valentine’s Day Board Books. Each book features a different story with cute characters like an otter, dinosaurs, and a s’more. Perfect for reading to your kiddos around Valentine’s Day, or anytime of the year. ©ALDI We also spotted some adorable Valentine Squishmallows! There are six options to choose from, including boba, crepe, frog, monster, pickle, and waffle. We aren’t even sure which one is our favorite, but for $10, we might be grabbing more than one. ©ALDI If you don’t feel like making the trip all the way to ALDI for these Squishmallows, you can also head over to Amazon to grab a set of Valentine Squishmallows, too! ©Amazon This pack comes with four adorable Squishmallows: Besem the Mint, Pink Bigfoot with a heart headband, Delia the Pink Bear holding pancakes, Arthur the Alligator with a rose, and Danielle the Lavender Bulldog with a heart headband. You can snag it on Amazon to have it delivered straight to your door, so you can stay comfy and cozy in your pajamas. Get these Squishmallows here! Over at ALDI, you can also grab LEGO Botanical Sets for just $15 each. The sets you can grab include daisies, roses, and sunflowers. We love flowers, especially ones that last forever! ©ALDI You can also head over to Amazon to snag the Roses LEGO Botanical Kit for less than $10. ©Amazon These are the perfect LEGO set to put together for Valentine’s Day, on-theme, and you can use them for decorations or give them to your valentine! The kit contains 120 pieces, and once you put it together, you will have two beautiful roses. Get this LEGO set here! There are even more Valentine’s Day finds at ALDI. We spotted these Bluey Valentine’s Day figures. Each set includes two figures, and you can snag them for just $9 each. ©ALDI You can also head over to ALDI to grab some inexpensive candles! These 3-wick candles are just $5 each. Your wallet will thank you, and your home will smell great. ©ALDI We also spotted these Stanley look-alike tumblers for Valentine’s Day. They come in adorable patterns perfect for Valentine’s Day! ©ALDI We also spotted a similar tumbler on Amazon, so you don’t have to make a trip to ALDI. This Whaline Valentine Tumbler is so cute! ©Amazon It is covered in conversation hearts and a pretty light pink. Perfect for bringing your favorite beverage on the go and staying hydrated. It also spreads a bit of extra love wherever you go! Get this tumbler here! Alright, it is time for the moment you have all been waiting for: FUGGLERS! We spotted these and knew we had to share them. There are six different fugglers available, including Sasquoosh, Hearty, and Winged Bat. On first glance, we were a bit unsure, but they grow on you a bit the longer you look at them. We think ALDI is hoping to take advantage of the Labubu trend! ©ALDI We also saw these bento boxes that we think would be great for bringing snacks or meals to Disney. Although they would also be great for packing your lunch at home, too! We are just always thinking about what might help us at Disney. ©ALDI You can also snag Valentine’s Day cards. These are inexpensive and perfect for school, or we think it would be lots of fun to bring them to hand out to Cast Members at Disney World! There are LOTS of themes and options available, so you can pick out your favorites. ©ALDI Finally, we also spotted these Macaron Ice Cream Sandwiches. While it is hard to beat the joy of a macaron ice cream sandwich at the France Pavilion in EPCOT, we can’t always be at Disney World, so these treats would be a great way to relive the memories! ©ALDI We are always keeping an eye out for deals at ALDI and other deals on Disney merchandise, so stay tuned to DFB for more! View the full article

We would like to think of ourselves as cookie connoisseurs. We love cookies, and we know all the good spots in Disney World to get great cookies. Gideon’s Bakehouse! It’s no secret that one of our longtime favorite cookie spots is Gideon’s Bakehouse, which continues to surprise us with its unique cookie flavors and offerings (granted, the cake slices AND cold brew are great here, too). Well, if you love Gideon’s Bakehouse as much as we do…we have to tell you about a free gift the shop is giving away tomorrow, January 16th. Gideon’s Bakehouse is celebrating its five-year anniversary in Disney Springs. Yes, five years ago, this little bakeshop opened in Disney World, and our life has never been the same. We were there on DAY ONE, so you know we’re excited about this anniversary. Banana Bread Chocolate Chip Cookie In honor of the bakery’s five-year anniversary in Disney World, Gideon’s is mimicking its grand opening day celebration and giving away a new limited-edition commemorative art print to the first 1,000 people who come into the shop tomorrow, January 16th. This new print features the Gideon’s Morsels version of Gideon’s famous gargoyle. It measures 11 x 14, and note that if you grab one, it’s limited to just one per person per transaction. ©Gideon’s Bakehouse Can’t make it to Gideon’s Bakehouse in Disney Springs? You can go online and order an alternative color version of the print, signed by Gideon’s art director, Michael Reyes. You’ll have from tomorrow at 10 AM EST until January 19th at 10 AM EST to grab it, though, because it’s a limited edition. Two of these prints are limited to each household. ©Gideon’s Bakehouse Gideon’s Bakehouse also teased some BIG news coming tomorrow, so we’ll be keeping an eye out for what that might be and share it with you. So stay tuned to DFB for more. REVIEW: We Have To Say It…This Might Be The Best Gideon’s Bakehouse Cookie at Disney Springs YET 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’s your favorite cookie flavor at Gideon’s Bakehouse? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

If you need a drink in Disneyland’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge? You have a few choices. You can always grab a Cold Brew Black Caf at Docking Bay 7, but if you want to have a drink in a real hive of scum and villainy, there’s Oga’s Cantina. DJ R-3X in Oga’s Cantina in Disneyland Well, things at Oga’s Cantina has been changing in Disneyland. First, Oga’s got rid of advance reservations and now only has walk-up availability (meaning you might have to stand in line to get inside). But this popular bar is going to be closing soon, and although we originally thought the closure was only going to be for about five days, it looks like it might be closed longer than that. We initially reported that Oga’s Cantina in Disneyland would close on January 20th, but when we first reported that, we showed hours for the bar on the Disneyland calendar on January 25th. However, that has changed. The Disneyland calendar is now showing that Oga’s Cantina doesn’t have any hours between January 20th and February 26th, as far as the Disneyland calendar goes out. That’s a much longer closure than we anticipated. Yub Nub So instead of what we thought might be quick routine maintenance, it seems the bar is going to be closing for a longer refurbishment. Disney hasn’t yet revealed what this closure is for, but could it have something to do with original trilogy storylines coming into Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge? Will Oga’s get some kind of original trilogy update? Will we finally get an actual animatronic cantina band? Disney did tease that a “Cantina Band” will be heard from within the bar, after all. Dare we dream? (Granted, we’d be happy with more seating, too.) ©Lucasfilm Of course, this could just still be a regular maintenance thing, and the bar will reopen with a fresh coat of paint, and that’s about it. We’ll keep an eye out for more details, though, and keep you updated, so stay tuned to DFB for more. More About The MAJOR Changes Coming to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge DON'T DO IT ALONE! Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you -- they've literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They're DFB's recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!) So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you GET MORE INFO What do you think? Does Oga’s Cantina need an update? What kind of update? Let us know in the comments. View the full article

On January 14th, Disney announced that BIG changes are coming to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland. Disney is expanding the timeline for Galaxy’s Edge to include more Star Wars eras, unlocking the timeline in the biggest way yet. Changes include new characters, updated stores and merchandise, and updated music. The changes will be coming to Disneyland starting April 29th. Galaxy’s Edge The timeline is being rolled back several decades to include characters and storylines from The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, The Mandalorian, and Ahsoka. New characters, including Darth Vader, Leia Organa, and Han Solo, will be coming to Galaxy’s Edge. The music will be getting updated to include scores from the iconic composer John Williams. Multiple stores will also be updated. First Order Cargo will become Black Spire Surplus. Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiquities will display a different array of one-of-a-kind items from its past, changing with the times. An earlier generation of the Mubo family will now be operating Droid Depot, and you might even spot Luke Skywalker meeting with Savi in his search for information on lightsabers and the Force at Savi’s Workshop. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is scheduled to close for refurbishment starting January 20th, and fans began wondering whether that would mean changes to the storyline. However, it seems that Rise of the Resistance won’t be getting any major updates. Disney has confirmed that the closure is just a regular refurbishment; there won’t be any storyline or character changes to the ride during the closure. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance will be closed starting January 20th, 2026. Disney hasn’t announced a reopening date yet, but it is still listed on the refurbishment calendar as of February 26th (which is how far the calendar goes out at the time of writing). Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disneyland As of right now, the major changes will only be coming to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland. Disney has not announced that these changes will be coming to Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Of course, we will be keeping an eye out for any updates! Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge We are always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, and we are in the parks every single day to make sure you always have the most up-to-date information. Make sure to stay tuned to DFB for more! Disney Announces MAJOR Changes for Galaxy’s Edge 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 about the changes coming to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! View the full article

It is almost time for the 2026 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts! We are just ONE day away from the first EPCOT festival of 2026, and if you can’t tell, we are very excited! This colorful festival celebrates the arts, and while it is short, it is mighty. The festival runs from January 16th through February 23rd, so start making your plans if you haven’t already. It’s almost time for the Festival of the Arts! The Festival of the Arts celebrates three artistic disciplines: the culinary, visual, and performing arts. Admission to the festival is included with park admission, but food, merchandise, and select activities cost extra. Throughout the festival, you will be able to grab artistic bites from Food Studios, admire work from a variety of artists, hunt for chalk characters, sing along to Broadway performers, and so much more! We have already spotted signs, booths, and menus up for the festival’s start! We are ready to explore everything the festival has to offer and bring you full coverage. We will be trying all the new food, checking out the entertainment, and sharing our best tips and trips to make the most of your visit to the Festival of the Arts. This festival is always so much fun, and it’s a great time to channel your inner artist. Deconstructed Dish spread 2025 Some of our favorite highlights of the festival include the Food Studios — we can’t say no to food and drinks! We also love checking out the artist booths, where you can even meet the artist during signing times. Plus, you can check out chalk artists in action and even help paint a larger-than-life mural. Also, don’t forget to check out the Disney on Broadway Concert Series, where you can sing-along with Broadway stars to some of Disney’s iconic Broadway shows. Disney Lorcana is also coming to the festival this year with two different experiences! Chalk Art in 2025 That is just the start of everything there is to experience at the Festival of the Arts! Disney shared a sneak peek of the NEW Figment popcorn bucket coming to the festival, and there is also lots more merchandise you can snag. We can’t wait! Figment Artist Popcorn Bucket ©Disney The Festival of the Arts officially kicks off tomorrow and runs for just over a month. You have until February 23rd to see and experience everything at the festival. We will be in EPCOT for opening day tomorrow, so stay tuned to DFB for FULL coverage of everything there is to do at the festival, including a look at our favorite eats and drinks this year. Stay tuned! Here’s Everything You Need to Know About 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 headed to the Festival of the Arts this year? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

SURPRISE! The Disney Adventure has made its way to Port Canaveral, Florida! ©Disney || Marvel Landing concept art for the Disney Adventure While the ship will officially start sailing out of Singapore, the Disney Cruise Line brought its newest ship to Port Canaveral to show it off, and we were lucky enough to get a first look! Disney says the Adventure will “be packed with immersive experiences and entertainment featuring beloved characters where families can create memories to last a lifetime… without ever leaving the ship!” Let’s take a look at this brand-new ship! Will you be booking a cruise on the Disney Adventure? Let us know in the comments below. View the full article

For longtime experts, “Drinking Around the World” at EPCOT used to be pretty simple. You’d start in the Mexico pavilion and grab a margarita before (hopefully) slowly making your way around World Showcase in one piece. But EPCOT is constantly changing — and that includes the rules for “Drinking Around the World.” Cheers! Whether you’ve recently been to EPCOT or you’re going for the first time, it’s never a bad idea to brush up on the rules! In this case, we’re talkin’ unspoken rules about “Drinking Around the World”, and these are tidbits the DFB team agrees are important to know if you plan to participate in this popular Disney World pastime. Of course, there are the obvious rules, like pacing yourself…and the written-in-stone rules, like don’t become belligerent. For this one, we’re going over six NEW unspoken rules you’ll want to know before your next booze-filled marathon around World Showcase! 1. Consider Going Booze-less! In an era when Disney has been more mindful of diets than ever before, it makes sense that mocktails are EVERYWHERE at Disney World — including EPCOT! If you’re choosing not to drink alcohol for whatever reason, you can absolutely still drink around the world with mocktails! Piña Prix Many festival booths during festival seasons and permanent restaurants now offer creative non-alcoholic beverages that are layered in flavor, presented with fun little decorations, and offer plenty of reasons to skip the hard stuff. “Drinking Around the World” is now inclusive for all ages, tastes, and beverage preferences. 2. Be Open-Minded You’ve been getting the same margarita, beer, cocktail, or frozen drink for years. Honestly, we fall into that habit time and time again. Tradition is tradition for a reason, right? It works. But here’s the thing: Disney adds new drinks all the time, and you’re missing out by ignoring that fact. Grand Marnier Orange Slush This is especially true with the rotating festivals throughout the year. We’re talkin’ new cocktails, updated recipes, and drinks that shouldn’t work but absolutely do. Disney is always trying to one-up itself, and if you’re always sticking to the same list, you could be missing out on something better. Art-Garita Secret Menu Item 2024 It’s never a bad idea to treat Drinking Around the World like an exploration again. You might just find the next drink you refuse to move off of. 3. Pace Yourself for Monetary Reasons Hey, so inflation isn’t just a thing that affects your grocery stores. Disney World is constantly getting more expensive, and that includes EPCOT’s drinks. ©Disney While drinks are pricier, portions haven’t necessarily grown, and so every little thing adds up. We’re not telling you to stop “Drinking Around the World,” but you should plan smarter by making fewer stops, sharing drinks with your party, or prioritizing drinks that give you more volume/quality. Otherwise, get ready to break the bank and spend hundreds of dollars per person. 4. You Don’t Have to Do This in EPCOT Anymore Looking for a real hot take? EPCOT isn’t the only place to do drinking tours at Disney World anymore. Disney Springs Disney Springs has an incredible variety of bars, lounges, and restaurants that offer fantastic drinks — both mocktails and drinks of the alcoholic kind. In fact, an added bonus to drinking in Disney Springs is the opportunity for more seating in a relaxed environment. Additionally, other Disney Parks like Disney’s Animal Kingdom have quietly become a hotspot for cocktails — serving up creative drinks and immersive environments in places like Nomad Lounge. SO pretty When in doubt, look at menus, prices, and thematic offerings elsewhere versus just sticking with EPCOT. You are sure to find solid options no matter your preference. 5. Garden House Is Finally Worth the Stop** In years past, we had no issue skipping EPCOT’s Garden House in the Japan pavilion. It felt cramped, chaotic, and not worth the long wait. However, the redesign makes a huge difference. Garden House Crowd flow is much better now, and it’s easier to see what’s being offered. Now, it’s definitely worth a visit and yet another “Drinking Around the World” option. 6. Skip the Cardio — Camp Out at Tutto Gusto Instead Alright, so I’m going to level with you. One of the dumbest things you can do is murder your feet when blisters are already forming. Unfortunately, this is easy to do when you’ve had a few, and your body isn’t laboring the way it normally does. You may feel great, but I can promise you your feet won’t be in the morning. The solution? Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar in the Italy pavilion. Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar It’s indoors and air-conditioned, so you can beat the heat and get comfy. Kick your feet up and still get your fill with nine or 12 drinks. Treat yo’ self without trekking miles of concrete! Here, you can sip wine and cocktails, enjoy small bites, and skip the chaos outside. Honestly? This is an ELITE way to “Drink Around the World” if you want to give your body a break. This is great to try new wines out! “Drinking Around the World” continues to evolve with more options, higher prices, and more necessary strategic planning. Fortunately, we continually test new practices each week to bring you the best and most up-to-date tips available. Continue to follow us here at the Disney Food Blog to stay in the know, and from all of us here at DFB, let me say…”Happy drinking!” The SECRET To Getting Your Money’s Worth When Drinking Around the World at EPCOT 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 Share your best “Drinking Around the World” tips in the comments below! View the full article

You might know the bare basics of the Disney Cruise Line, but if you’re ready to take a much DEEPER DIVE to learn about hidden discounts, under-the-radar ship offerings, and the lesser-known ways to modify your trip for the better, then you’ve come to the right place! Because THESE DCL secrets will completely change your next Disney Cruise in the BEST WAY POSSIBLE. Check out our video below: 50 SECRETS That Will Completely CHANGE Your Disney Cruise Are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes! And stay tuned for more theme park news! 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 video? Tell us in the comments. View the full article

Forty years ago, Walt Disney World introduced an Epcot pavilion known as the Living Seas. In 1986, the company reportedly spent $90 million on the project, which the Orlando Sentinel called “its most ambitious and expensive pavilion to date.” Disney publicists referred to it as “the world’s sixth ocean.” This all happened before a short-attention-span fish hit big screens and park visitors knew nothing of something called a “clamobile.” Things change, and in 2006 – half its lifetime ago – the area was rethemed and renamed The Seas With Nemo & Friends. Other things stay the same, including the 5.7-million-gallon saltwater tank, said to have enough volume to hold Epcot’s iconic Spaceship Earth and then some. The emphasis on animal care and conservation continues. Disney World recently invited the Sentinel and other members of the media to see the latest version of the Seas from both the visitor side and behind the scenes. Here are a few takeaways. Minding the manatees The Seas visitors can see two manatees on the ground floor, but they aren’t Little Joe and Inigo, long-term residents who were moved to another Florida facility last year. “We’ve pivoted the program to only short-term rehab animals, and that’s been going remarkably well,” said Dr. Geoff Pye, animal operations director. “We’re getting them in a lot smaller and then kind of growing them out until they’re the right weight for us to be able to go ahead and release them back to the wild,” he said. Three more manatees are in the backstage area, one of which had major surgery for an infection last year. She had to be transported to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which has a larger medical operation. There’s a hefty task. Coming soon: Sea dragons Change in looming on the second level of The Seas. The attraction is adding a space for weedy sea dragons, Pye said. Thirteen of the animals have been transferred from an Ohio aquarium. “When they got here, they were only 2 inches long. They just looked like little twigs in the water. They’re about 7 to 8 inches now, and ultimately they get to about 18 inches in length,” he said. “As they age, they start taking on individual characteristics, and when they’re fully grown, they will take on quite impressive coloration. So you can get yellows and greens and purples and browns and black,” Pye said. “It’s all about creating camouflage for them in the wild.” He anticipates that visitors will be able to see the new creatures within a couple of weeks. There’s some physical work being done to the habitat to accommodate that, which includes cooling down the water. “They come from southern Australia, so the water is coming off the Antarctic so they live in much colder water than any other animal here,” said Pye, who also comes from Australia. They’ll be living in temps of about 54 degrees; the other tanks in the Seas are typically around 74, he said. Exam goes swimmingly Behind-the-scenes details included a routine wellness exam of Apollo, a bowmouth guitarfish. (“He’s a ray that looks like a shark,” Pye said.) To get Apollo’s vitals, the animal care team gets him to swim to a target where he is usually fed. From the big tank, he glides into a partially inflated pool within that pool. After it’s fully inflated, anesthesia is added to the water. It takes a wetsuited village, more than 20 cast members to wrangle pools, medical equipment and Apollo. “He’ll get ultrasound and blood collection and an exam from our veterinarians and some other sampling there,” Pye said. “We use all that information to try and understand the species better, so that we can take better care of them, and then, hopefully, at some point, be able to breed.” “There are highly endangered species that we are just learning more and more about every day,” he said. “They are threatened by fishing. They’re threatened by ocean plastics, the same things that we’re seeing facing a lot of different species in the ocean,” said Claire Martin, senior manager of biodiversity conservation with the Disney Conservation Fund. The guitarfish is a cool species, she said. “It’s like this dinosaur on Earth.” The Seas With Nemo & Friends features an enormous aquarium and many species of marine life at Epcot. (Dewayne Bevil/Orlando Sentinel) Animal attractions The Seas is a kid magnet at Epcot. Manatees and sharks are crowd pleasers, said Dario Silva, education manager. Young visitors “learn so much,” Silva said. “A lot of times it’s animal behavior. Why are fish swimming the way they’re swimming? Why do the rays eat the way they eat? What our main goal is is whatever they’re learning, they have some kind of emotional attachment, emotional connection to these animals and inspires them to take action once they go home.” One takeaway involves rescue. “We’ve got our vet and animal-care teams working on rehabilitating sea turtles right now,” Martin said. “We’ve rehabilitated 350 of them, have gotten them out in the wild.” He also touted DiveQuest, an in-tank experience available to certified divers. “The goal is really to get more people to come to the aquarium. So can more people get scuba certified? Can more people know we even exist?” Silva said. “It’s shocking that everyone comes to Epcot not knowing that there’s an aquarium here, and it’s actually the second-largest mixed environment aquarium in North America.” The 1986 grand opening of The Seas was a major moment at Epcot. Walt Disney Co. reportedly spent $90 million on the area. (Walt Disney Co.) Picture it: Epcot, 1986 Step into the Orlando Sentinel wayback machine, which is set for opening day in 1986. Frank Wells, then-president of Walt Disney Co., swam into the tank on opening day to cut the ribbon, as did Mickey Mouse (with a custom-made face mask) and 15 divers in sequin-covered wetsuits. Michael Eisner, who was chairman and CEO, stayed on dry land. Disney ads said to expect 200 varieties of coral reef sea life, “real marine biologists,” educational video games and an underwater robot at work. The aquarium was listed as 27-foot deep and the capacity of the seafood restaurant was 260 diners. Also on the scene: “hydrolators,” an elevator-like contraption that magically/allegedly moved visitors to another level in the Sea Base. Later, an hourlong special aired on NBC (this was about a decade before ABC became part of the Disney folk). The host of the show was John Ritter. He was joined by singers Laura Branigan (“Gloria”) and Simon Le Bon, lead singer of Duran Duran. Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. BlueSky: @themeparksdb. Threads account: @dbevil. X account: @themeparks. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters. View the full article