Disney4me

This month, I’m putting the spotlight on some of the countries we visit during our summer in Europe. The Disney Magic returns to Europe in May, starting with a season in the Mediterranean, followed by cruises to northern Europe, Norway and Iceland. Last week I gave you a glimpse of destinations in Italy, and today I’ll give you a preview of places we visit in France. Marseilles A gorgeous locale in southern France, Marseilles is the second largest city in France and one of the country’s oldest cities. Marseilles is home to many historic landmarks and monuments and is also a vibrant cultural center with a robust collection of theatres, opera houses and museums. Don’t miss your chance to enjoy fresh seafood at the Vieux Port (Old Port). Cannes and Villefranche Our Mediterranean cruises visit Cannes or Villefranche, enchanting seaside towns on the French Riviera. Cannes is revered as one of the most famed cities in all Europe with sweeping marina views, exquisite restaurants and luxury shopping, while Villefranche is beloved for its almost perfectly preserved medieval city. These popular destinations are also gateways to the world-famous Monte Carlo and Nice. Cherbourg Situated northeast of Paris in the Normandy region, Cherbourg boasts spectacular sea vistas and a massive sea wall that rims the harbor and the star-shaped fortress that guards it. You can journey to the beaches of Normandy where the famous Normandy invasion took place in WWII or visit the gorgeous Mont Saint-Michel Cathedral on a rocky tidal island off the shore of Cherbourg. Next week I’ll show you the vibrant locales you can visit in Spain on a Disney cruise this summer. View the full article

Happy Thursday! We’re back with another DFB Video today, and we’re discussing a question we get asked quite often: What’s the difference between Disney World and Disneyland? Welcome to Walt Disney World… OR is it Disneyland for you? Now, I think we can all agree that both Disneyland and Disney World are magical places where vacation memories are just waiting to be made. But depending on your traveling group’s needs and vacation desires, one may be better than the other for your specific party. So in our latest DFB Video we’re talking about the differences and similarities in everything from Resorts to dining to attractions to parks and even more as we try to help you discover which of these two Disney destinations is best for you! And if you love this video, there’s plenty more for you to enjoy over on our DFB YouTube Channel! By the way, have you subscribed yet? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to the channel and never miss a single episode! So check out the video and then let us know: Is it Disney World or Disneyland for your group? Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com! Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our Newsletter Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook Fan Related posts: DFB Video: 11 Things Disney World Pros Do, And You Should, Too DFB Video: Things Most People Don’t Know About Walt Disney World DFB Video: 5 Memories to Make in Disney World! View the full article

Vivoli il Gelato in Walt Disney World’s Disney Springs is a delicious place to grab a frozen treat — we’ve enjoyed the Creamsicle Shake and Nutella Brownie Sundae in the past. And the gelateria has just introduced a few new items! Vivoli il Gelato Vivoli il Gelato has another location besides Disney Springs — in Florence, Italy. So if you’re after authentic Italian sweets (and sandwiches and biscotti), this is the place for you! And with so many creative and classic flavors from which to choose, you might just want to visit over and over again! Inside Vivoli Gelateria The new menu items include this visually impressive sundae: Nuts for Love (just in time for Valentine’s Day!). This combination of pistachio and hazelnut gelato, crushed nuts, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream is a twist on a classic. Nuts for Love Sundae Milkshakes are the other big news at Vivoli, as guests can now opt to Build Your Own Shake (sweet!) or indulge in one of the Gelateria’s designs. The Red Velvet Cake Shake sounds pretty killer! Milkshakes at Vivoli Il Gelato King’s Shake has one of our favorite combinations: peanut butter, banana, and chocolate! We totally need to get this as soon as humanly possible. King’s Shake But it’s the Cannoli Shake, served with a massive chocolate pistachio-dipped waffle to mimic the cannoli shell, that is your new MUST-DO! Cannoli Shake Joining the waffle is cannoli gelato spun with milk and topped with whipped cream, crushed cannoli shells, pistachios, and chocolate drizzle! Cannoli Milkshake There are also bits of chocolate in the cannoli gelato itself, so the combination of flavors is matched by the awesome combination of textures as well. And just look at that chocolate pistachio dipped waffle! Doesn’t it make you want to break off a big chunk and dip it into the shake? Yeah, we think so, too! Cannoli Shake Shell So for all the fine dining you can do in Disney Springs, it’s nice to know that there’s super special, fine frozen dining to be had as well! Enjoy! Don’t Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! The 2018 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, is now available! With more than 650 pages, the 2018 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 20+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2018 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2018 to save 25% today! Use code WDW2018 at check-out for a 25% off the cover price! Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. Is your Disney World vacation incomplete until you’ve had a frozen treat? Tell us about your favorite in the comments below! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com! Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our Newsletter Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook Fan Related posts: News: Vivoli il Gelato Debuts Tiramisu Gelato for a Limited Time Review: Creamsicle Float and Nutella Brownie Sundae at Vivoli il Gelato in Disney Springs News: Where to Find Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream and Pumpkin Gelato in Disney World View the full article

When the hotly anticipated “Black Panther” opens in theaters nationwide Feb. 16, comic book collector Lori Hill said she and three of her best girlfriends will be ready to celebrate the film as if it were a royal affair. Attending the earliest Friday morning screening possible, Hill and friends... View the full article

This month, our Disney Doodles series is taking on a “couples” theme in honor of Valentine’s Day. First up is the loveable dalmatian duo of Pongo and Perdita from the 1961 film, “101 Dalmatians.” In our doodle, artist Ashley Taylor imagines what these puppy parents would do or see first if they had a date night at Magic Kingdom Park. According to her, they’d likely belly up for a dinner together at one of the most romantic restaurants at the park. “Cinderella’s Royal Table is such a beautiful restaurant, it’s easy to imagine a Pongo and Perdita having a romantic night there!” she said. View the full article

5 romantic ways to spend Valentine's Day at Disney World View the full article

With fewer than 100 of their species remaining, the Sumatran rhino holds the title of the most endangered land mammal in the world. Found in Indonesia, these rhinos are so elusive that most people have never seen one. The International Rhino Foundation is working to increase awareness of this beautiful animal so that sightings may one day become less rare. One of the ways they are doing this is through an art exhibition and auction, and Imagineers are lending their creativity to the cause. As part of Disney efforts to reverse the decline of Sumatran rhinos, Imagineers Joe Rohde, Morgan Richardson and Zsolt Hormay joined Indonesian artists and wildlife photographers in contributing artwork to the Sumatran Rhino Art Exhibition: Indonesia’s Hidden Treasure. The exhibition and online auction are raising awareness and advocacy for the Sumatran rhino while also raising funds to support future conservation initiatives. All the proceeds from the sales of their artwork will go to Sumatran rhino conservation programs within the International Rhino Foundation. Bidding will end Feb. 14. Joe, portfolio creative executive for WDI, believes we all have a responsibility to be a voice for the voiceless and help every animal in need. “Each of us must do our part in our own way to help the world of wild animals and wild places,” Joe said. “We who are artists have a particular skill to inspire and move people’s emotions. I am happy to have the opportunity to apply those skills on behalf of these wild brothers and sisters of the forest.” You, too, can be an advocate for the Sumatran rhino. Engage in the conversation on social media and let everyone know about these amazing animals, and what you are doing to protect them in the wild. Quick Facts about the Sumatran Rhino: Sumatran rhinos can only be found in Indonesia. It is the smallest living rhino and the only Asian rhino with two horns. Sumatran rhinos are typically hunted for the keratin that can be found in their horns. This keratin is highly desired for medicine, although it’s been proven to have no medicinal value. It’s also used as a status symbols by humans, thus making us the rhino’s biggest predator. View the full article

More than three decades before Walt Disney opened a theme park in Florida, Snow White caused a stir in downtown Orlando. “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” made its Orlando debut on Feb. 8, 1938 – 80 years ago this week – at the Beacham Theatre. It spent a couple of days there, the Orange Avenue... View the full article

February 13th is “Fat Tuesday,” and you can celebrate it at your choice of events happening in two of the newest restaurants in Disney Springs. Enzo’s Hideaway and Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante You can celebrate Carnevale at Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante from 5:00 to 10:00 PM which will feature a complimentary amuse-bouche with special drinks and live music. Reservations may be made via OpenTable. ©Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante Or you could visit Enzo’s Hideaway Tunnel Bar from 5:00 – 11:00 PM and likewise enjoy a complimentary amuse-bouche, Enzo’s Tunneltini, and music. Reservations also may be made via OpenTable.com. Until Fat Tuesday… Ciao!! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com! Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our Newsletter Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook Fan Related posts: News: Reservations for The Edison, Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante, and Enzo’s Hideaway in Disney World Now on OpenTable First Look! Enzo’s Hideaway Tunnel Bar and Restaurant in Disney World News: Enzo’s Hideaway Tunnel Bar and Restaurant Now Open in Disney Springs View the full article

Disney crew members from the Disney Magic cruise ship shared their love of reading with more than 300 military family members during a special event February 4 held at the US Coast Guard Air Station Miami. Blue Star Families and Disney Cruise Line partnered in hosting this “Books on Bases” event to encourage reading and provide free books to children of those who serve our country. As part of the occasion, Disney crew members read stories to children and helped them browse tables of books to select up to five books to take home. The children also received a Disney plush and had the opportunity to meet the mouse behind it all, Mickey! At the end of the day, more than 2,500 books found new homes with children and their families. Participating in Disney VoluntEARS events like these is one of many ways in which Disney Cruise Line crew members give back to the communities in the ports around the world we visit or call home. It was truly an honor for us to be able to share a day full of magic with the families who have given so much! View the full article

Golden Globe winning actress Laura Dern visited Star Wars Launch Bay at Disneyland park this past weekend. Celebrating all things Star Wars, the Tomorrowland attraction features an epic exhibition that takes you behind-the-scenes of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. What a perfect match for Vice Admiral Holdo herself! View the full article

Every dozen parsecs or so, the "Star Wars" universe seems to expand. Just one day after the world glimpsed "Game of Thrones" star Emilia Clarke in the first full trailer for this summer's "Solo: A Star Wars Story," Disney announced Tuesday that "Game of Thrones" creators David Benioff and D.B.... View the full article

That name change for Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Not so fast, my friends. The name of Walt Disney World’s most in-flux theme park will remain the same for the “foreseeable future,” according to a Wednesday post on the official Disney Parks Blog. At the tail-end of a post about the Alien Swirling... View the full article

With blockbuster expansion continuing at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, we’re rolling out the red carpet for the new Toy Story Land opening this summer. Our guests will get to play big in Andy’s backyard and also get to ride big on two family-friendly attractions planned for the new land and one popular fan favorite. Here’s a first glimpse at the latest artwork for one of them – Alien Swirling Saucers. Once the aliens have powered up their flying saucers, you’ll get to climb into a toy rocket and hang on as aliens lead the way on an interstellar romp set to an out-of-this-world beat. And if you’re really lucky, you just might get “chosen” by the claw! In response to questions we have been receiving, we also want to let fans know that the Disney’s Hollywood Studios name will remain the same for the foreseeable future since we are immersing our guests in a place where imagined worlds of Hollywood unfold around them from movies and music, to television and theater. For more about Toy Story Land, visit the posts below: 5 Things We Know About Toy Story Land So Far Jessie & Rex Arrive in Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios All in the Details: First Look at Woody’s Lunch Box in Toy Story Land Toy Story Land Model & More Now on Display at Walt Disney Presents All in the Details: Slinky Dog Dash Track Completed in Toy Story Land View the full article

Nothing says portable, edible happiness like a cupcake. And if you’re anything like us, your Disney vacation just isn’t complete until you’ve had one. Or two. Or fifteen. It’s hard to stop, really, because the Disney food gods have designed so many beautiful and delicious options. But how does a good, cupcake-lovin’ guest like yourself know which cupcakes to choose? Fret not! Your pals at the DFB have just the thing you need. We’ve developed your map to the tastiest and prettiest cupcakes created by Disney. We give you a brand new Cupcake Crawl! Here we go! 1. Rose Gold Minnie Ears Cupcake, Sunshine Seasons, Epcot We’re starting the crawl with the Rose Gold Minnie Mouse Ears Cupcake, which has taken the Disney cupcake world by storm! Minnie’s rose gold ears are something of a legend already, and the cupcake they’ve inspired is getting the same treatment. You will find your Rose Gold Minnie Mouse Ears Cupcake at Sunshine Seasons in the Land Pavilion in Future World at Epcot. (Yes, there are other Rose Gold Ears cupcakes in Disney World currently, but this one is the best. Trust us.) Rose Gold Ears Cupcake All the frosting on the Rose Gold Ears Cupcake is vanilla buttercream with a bit of cream cheese, while the ears themselves are fondant. Inside, the cake is a vanilla and nutella chocolate marble. Inside Rose Gold Minnie Ears Cupcake 2. Peanut Butter and Jelly Flower Pot Cupcake, Sunshine Seasons, Epcot While you’re collecting your Rose Gold Ears Cupcake at Sunshine Seasons, dig up the Peanut Butter and Jelly Flower Pot Cupcake as well. This one wins points for being both delicious (the PB&J are prominent and tasty!) and pretty. (The toppers are technically edible, too!). Flower Pot Cupcake 3. Belle Cupcake, Main Street Confectionery, Magic Kingdom Disney World’s Magic Kingdom is the place to treat yourself like a royal, and thankfully, there are cupcakes for that. Ask you horse and carriage to deliver your regal self to the Main Street Confectionery, and pick up the Belle Cupcake. This vanilla cupcake has Beauty-full yellow vanilla buttercream and a petite rose decoration. Belle Cupcake There’s nothing overtly over the top on this cupcake, but my experience — and that of many of our readers — has been that the balance between cake and frosting here is perfect. And the simple flavors make this a classic and elegant choice. Note that you can also find this one at other confectioneries and candy shops around the parks and resorts, e.g. Screen Door General Store at the Boardwalk Resort. 4. Master’s Cupcake, Be Our Guest Restaurant, Magic Kingdom Then, because the only thing better than one royal cupcake is a second royal cupcake, make an ADR for Be Our Guest Restaurant, and order the Master’s Cupcake. It’s frosted in “the Grey Stuff” — a cookies and cream mousse — and wrapped in a fancy silver wrapper, so basically you’re a member of the enchanted household once you eat it. Here’s hoping you have your own Master’s Cupcakes soon! 5. Churro Cupcake, Contempo Cafe, Contemporary Resort Monorail resorts are great departures from all the Magic Kingdom attractions — and because they don’t require a ticket to visit, you can get your hands on this cupcake without even going to a park! Just travel on the rail to Disney’s Contemporary Resort and head to Contempo Cafe. Pick up the Churro Cupcake, if it’s available, or select another from the case. The specialty cupcakes here change out regularly, so you might see anything from a Candy Bar Cupcake to a Cherry Pie Cupcake. And they’re all delicious. Churro Cupcake But this one is especially epic — the sweet cinnamon flavored cake topped with buttercream and a churro piece are incredible. But the custard inside the cake brings this one to the next level. 6. Campfire Cupcake, Roaring Fork, Wilderness Lodge If you’re looking for another non-theme park addition to crawl, take a leisurely boat ride to the Wilderness Lodge, and visit Roaring Fork. The Campfire Cupcake is almost too well-decorated to eat. But since the decorations are made of sugar, you can dig right in! Campfire Cupcake at Roaring Fork Chocolate cake is topped with vanilla frosting, crushed cookie “dirt”, candy rocks, and a frosting “campfire.” On top is one tiny roasted marshmallow! Adorable and fun. 7. Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Cupcake, Trolley Car Cafe, Disney’s Hollywood Studios Over in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you can find one of the OOCs — Original Obsession Cupcakes. We’ve been fawning over this masterpiece for years (check out original post on this way back in 2009!), so when its original home (Starring Rolls Cafe) closed last year, it was a relief to find the Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Cupcake at Trolley Car Cafe across the street. Phew! Crisis averted! Butterfinger-y crunch retained! Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Cupcake This one is chocolate cake filled with chocolate fudge. The whole thing is topped with a mound of vanilla buttercream and covered in crushed butterfinger. Seems simple, but it’s truly amazing. And might very well do you in! 8. Spaceship Earth Cupcake, Fountainview Cafe, Epcot Over at Epcot is a cupcake for the cake lovers out there. (Frosting fans, feel free to skip ahead.) For the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow’s 35th anniversary, Epcot’s connoisseurs of sweet devised this awesome treat: the Spaceship Earth Cupcake. The iconic sphere is the star, of course, and while we not-so-secretly hoped that the top was full of frosting, it’s not. There’s some sweet strawberry filling inside, but otherwise, the majority of this cupcake is… cake. Which — yum! — if you love cake! But no one can resist this amazing design. Plus, it’s so sparkly! Epcot 35th Anniversary Spaceship Earth Cupcake 9. Salted Caramel Cupcake, Karamell Küche, Epcot Step into this guest favorite caramel haven in Epcot’s Germany to pick up your Salted Caramel Cupcake. The combination of rich chocolate cake and decadent salted caramel frosting and drizzle is a must for caramel lovers! Salted Caramel Cupcake The cake itself is so dense that it’s almost a brownie. This is a good one to share if you’re not into super sweet desserts. 10. Star Wars Cupcakes, Backlot Express, Disney’s Hollywood Studios While we anxiously await the completion of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Hollywood Studios has loads of franchise-inspired treats to keep us happy and full. The BB-8 Cupcake features a lemon-flavored frosting and lots of edible galactic rocks. I found it to be really delicious, though I didn’t expect much. This is one I could really go back for! BB-8 Lemon Cupcake With Vanilla Buttercream If you’re not into eating droids — or you prefer chocolate — snag a Darth Vader Cupcake or a Chewbacca Cupcake. We won’t judge you for whichever side you join because they’re all delicious. (For those who were fans of the old Chocolate Peanut Butter cupcake at Starring Rolls, that’s basically become the Darth Vader Cupcake — chocolate cake, chocolate fudge, chocolate peanut butter frosting, and chocolate curls on top.) Darth Vader Cupcake 11. Spaghetti and Meatballs Cupcake, Mama Melrose Ristorante Italiano, Disney’s Hollywood Studios Mama, you’ve got us all kinds of confused with this one. Our brain says dinner, but our taste buds say dessert! The Spaghetti and Meatballs Cupcake is a chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream ‘noodles’, strawberry sauce, and a chocolate ‘meat’ball. It’s delicious and so fun for the kiddos. You’ll find it on the kids’ menu at Mama Melrose, so if you want to try it for yourself be sure to ask for the kids’ dessert menu. Spaghetti and Meatball Cupcake 12. Cotton Top Tamarin Cupcake, Creature Comforts, Animal Kingdom Pick up a Cotton Top Tamarin Cupcake along with your morning Starbucks — or munch on one while in line for Flight of Passage. Either way, this cute/creepy primate is a delicious combo of dark and white chocolate and tops a chocolate cupcake with chocolate buttercream. It’s delicious and (sort of?) educational. Cotton Top Tamarin Cupcake 13. Mickey Oreo Cupcake, Boardwalk Bakery, Boardwalk Resort This no-ticket-required stop is a must for all sorts of sweets, but you’ll want to focus on the cupcakes. The Mickey Oreo Cupcake is a great choice, as it’s topped with a full Oreo cookie. Mickey Oreo Cupcake If you prefer a little more style than substance, though, you could go with one of the seasonal cupcakes at Boardwalk Bakery, like this Rose Cupcake. This beauty is subtle in the flavor department (vanilla cake, very subtle raspberry frosting), but it is very high on style! Rose Cupcake 14. Frosting Shots, Sprinkles Cupcake Bakery, Disney Springs WDW, Downtown Disney Disineyland Y’all knew we couldn’t do a Disney cupcake crawl without a stop at the cupcake mecca, right? Stop into Sprinkles and select any of their classic and creative cupcakes! All the cupcakes! But our go-to here at Sprinkles has always been the Frosting Shots. They’re the best way to get that direct line of sugar as quickly as possible! ;-D Sprinkles Frosting Shots And now for the Bonus Round! (We can’t stop!) Bonus Round! OK, if 13 cupcakes isn’t enough for you, it’s time for the DFB Cupcake Challenge BONUS ROUND! These aren’t necessarily cupcakes…and two of them are on a Disney cruise ship, but they ARE amazing, so we had to include them for extra points! Peanut Butter Brownie, The Mara, Animal Kingdom Lodge The Peanut Butter Brownie isn’t technically a cupcake, we know, but it’s irresistible. The base is a dense, chocolatey brownie, and the swirl is super-thick peanut butter frosting (so basically a cookie dough texture). We never pass one up, and if you’re anywhere in the vicinity of Animal Kingdom Lodge, we suggest you don’t pass it up either. Peanut Butter Brownie Unicorn Cupcake and Go-Kart Sundae, Vanellope’s Sweets and Treats, Disney Dream Cruise Ship If you happen to be on the Disney Dream cruise ship, make your way up to Vanellope’s Sweets and Treats and pick up the Unicorn Cupcake. This is possibly the most visually stimulating cupcake on the crawl, what with allllll that’s going on. You’ve got the unicorn horn and ears made from fondant, sprinkles of various types, several colors of buttercream, etc. It’s ridiculously awesome, and actually delicious. Unicorn Cupcake While you’re there, you might was well also order the Go-Kart Sundae! This indulgent treat is three scoops of ice cream and five toppings — all your choice! And it comes in this totally cool Go-Kart/Race Car, which the cast members will wash out for you — because it’s yours to keep! What a fun souvenir! (FYI, the wheels actually turn in case you have a tiny car enthusiast in your party like I do.) Race Car Sundae Whoopie Pies, Sweet Spells, Disney’s Hollywood Studios Whoopie Pies are the sandwich of the cupcake world! Sweet Spells has several versions, including Cookies and Cream, Banana Cream, Orange Cream, and Maple Bacon. Grab a fork and get in there! Whoopie Pies from Sweet Spells! #WorthIt And while you’re at Sweet Spells, we insist you not leave until you’ve gotten a Carrot Cake Cookie. These disks of carrot cake sandwich an epic cream cheese frosting. Get this. Nope — scratch that. Get two. Carrot Cake Cookie King Whoopie Pie, Everything Pop, Pop Century Resort The King Whoopie Pie at Pop Century Resort is a must try simply because it’s so packed with flavors. The chocolate cake is topped with peanut butter frosting, a banana chip, chocolate drizzle, and bacon crumbles. It’s got us all shook up just thinking about it. The King Mini Whoopie Pie at Everything Pop Okay, we could go on and on. But this is a crawl of our favorite cupcakes — the ones we think you’ll love and that will give you a good cross-section of the available goodies available around the World. Cupcake on, food friends! And if you’re looking for even more amazing snacks while you’re in Disney World, check out our Top 8 for 2018 here! Plus, we can help you with all of your planning (yes, there’s more to Disney World dining than cupcakes!), check out our 2018 DFB Guide to all things Disney Dining! Don’t Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! The 2018 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, is now available! With more than 650 pages, the 2018 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 20+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs! With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet. Click here to order your copy of the 2018 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2018 to save 25% today! Use code WDW2018 at check-out for a 25% off the cover price! Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. What’s your favorite way to crawl around the World? Let us know what you’d like to see! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com! Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our Newsletter Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook Fan Related posts: Food Challenge: The DFB Holiday Cupcake Crawl Food Challenge: The Disney Food Blog 2012 Cupcake Crawl Challenge: The Disney Food Blog WDW “Cupcake Crawl” View the full article

The Toocheck Family Visits Walt Disney World View the full article

The Thompson Family Aboard Disney Cruise Line View the full article

It should come as no surprise that Guests love special mementos from their Disney vacations. The Disney Parks Merchandise team annually introduces commemorative merchandise celebrating a particular year. Embellished with images of Disney characters and attractions, these products with a date quickly become the most popular items found at Disney Parks. But how does the merchandise team keep this annual assortment looking fresh? According to Dan Howard, senior creative director with Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media Creative Group, artists and product developers look to the latest design trends as seen in this year’s Disney Parks 2018 Collection. “This year’s artwork has a handcrafted, tonal look with nods to the rich heritage of The Walt Disney Company. This design approach gave merchandisers many options for making stylish new products that appeal to even more Guests,” explained Dan. Almost two years in the making, work on this collection began with a style guide. Product developers use elements from this guide – such as logos, graphics, colors, or patterns – to ensure the overall merchandise assortment has a consistent look. Products in this year’s assortment include everything from collectible pins and toys to headwear and accessories. Inspired by hand drawn animation, Disney characters – Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto and Goofy – are often seen interacting with the products in creative ways. “We interjected some playfulness into the designs by using iconic items from Disney Parks such as Chip and Dale hiding under an oversized Mickey Mouse ear hat. It became a plush figure and a holiday ornament,” continued Dan. The number 8 in “2018” also ties the collection together as artists incorporated repeating circles filled with sketches of Disney landmarks, attractions and icons throughout the designs. The apparel team created fashionable options for adults and kids by adding these circles to t-shirts and sweatshirts. For the home décor team, the number eight made the perfect handle for a coffee mug. Look for the Disney Parks 2018 Collection in select merchandise locations throughout Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. Select products are also available on ShopDisney.com or Shop Disney Parks. View the full article

When “Happily Ever After” – the most spectacular fireworks showcase in Magic Kingdom history – debuted last May, I immediately fell in love with the title song, performed by Jordan Fisher and Angie Keilhauer. Angie’s voice particularly captivated me and I was happily (see what I did there?) eager to know more about her. To my sorpresa, I found out that she not only speaks Spanish, but she was also born and raised in El Salvador! For her, being part of “Happily Ever After” has been a dream come true and an incredible experience. “I wasn’t always a musician. I was working on cars and going to school four years ago. And I took a leap of faith…,” she said. Check out the video below to learn more about Angie and her role in this amazing show! You can watch the Spanish version here. It has been almost a year since the show made its debut, marveling our Guests every single night. What do you like most about “Happily Ever After”? View the full article

Earlier this week, Disneyland Paris was temporarily transformed into an eye-catching winter wonderland, thanks to snowfall that came through Marne-la-Vallée, France. The park, which is in the middle of celebrating its 25th anniversary, was blanketed in white, giving the park’s Sleeping Beauty Castle, Pirates of the Caribbean, Restaurant Hakuna Matata, Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse and Big Thunder Mountain a whole new look. Check out the gallery below for a photo tour through the park. Gallery PHOTOS: Watch Disneyland Paris Turn Into A Winter Wonderland view all And Disneyland Paris isn’t the only international Disney park that has enjoyed a rare snowfall this year. Last month, temps dropped in Tokyo enough to give guests a unique look at that park dusted with flakes. See those incredible photos here. View the full article

"Game of Thrones" creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss are going to write and produce a new series of "Star Wars" films, Disney announced on Tuesday. The new series will be separate from the main episodic Skywalker saga that started with "Star Wars: A New Hope" and is slated to wrap up with 2019's... View the full article

Fine chocolates, fine jewelry, fine dining? Check, check and check. Of course, Disney Springs offers all the traditional gifts you typically think of for Valentine’s Day, and let’s be honest – with over 15 incredible table service restaurants, there’s no better spot for a special dinner out with your love! But if you want to think outside the box this February, consider adding an over-the-top experience to wow the special someone in your life. Ideas abound, but here are a few of my current favorites: A Delightful Date for Two: Make a splash with a romantic dinner followed by a ride for two in a fully-restored, vintage Amphicar at The BOATHOUSE. Start with seafood or steak (the venue does both really well!), then add on a 20-minute tour that includes your own Boat Captain. My favorite part? During my amphicar experience, everyone waved at me while I was out on the water, making me feel like a VIP! Amphicar tours are available until 10 p.m., weather permitting. Call 407-939-2628 for full details or to make a dining reservation. Futuristic Fun with Friends: Great for groups of four, The VOID: Star Wars Secrets of the Empire is a whole-body, fully immersive Hyper-Reality experience that’s full of surprises at every turn. Though I’m not a super fan of video games or Star Wars, this was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done. Really. Ever. I’d try to explain it, but words won’t do it justice – you’ll have to try it for yourself! Tickets available here. Galentine’s Girls’ Night Out: There are countless ways to enjoy a night out with the girls at Disney Springs, but my perfect agenda starts with mini-makeovers at M.A.C. Cosmetics followed by a chocolate tasting at The Ganachery. (Tip: pair a square of dark chocolate ganache with a glass of Rosa Regale, my favorite red sparkling wine). From there, you’ve got lots of options for dinner: consider sushi at Morimoto Asia, a seafood boil at Paddlefish, or guacamole and tacos (with margaritas, of course!) at Frontera Cocina. Want more? Hit up The Edison and try to score some seats at the first-floor Boiler Bar where craft cocktails take center stage; open nightly until 1 a.m. most nights and ‘til 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. This season, there’s so much to love at Disney Springs; in addition to the many experiences you can take part in, you can also expect special promotions and limited-time offers. Check out this list of featured offerings. Gallery Celebrate Valentine’s Day by Making New Memories at Disney Springs view all Which Disney Springs experience or gift item would you most “love” to add to your February wish list? Share in the comments below – I’d love to know! View the full article

Sounds silly but it’s true: The third longest-running show in Broadway history is based on a children’s cartoon. Disney’s “The Lion King” debuted in November 1997 and has been belting out the “Circle of Life” ever since. With more than 8,000 performances under its belt, or mane, it has run longer... View the full article

Disney Legend Alan Menken was joined today by some of the new cast of the highly anticipated Beauty and the Beast Mandarin production coming to Walt Disney Grand Theatre at Shanghai Disney Resort this summer. With more Academy Awards than any other living person, Alan Menken has helped compose so many of the musicals we know and love around the world. Today, he performed a few of his chart topping songs, including a special duet of the Oscar-winning song “Beauty and the Beast” with Chinese actress Xu Meng, who will play Mrs. Potts. “This is my first visit to China, and I am thrilled to be here to support the newest Mandarin production of the musical recreated from the original Broadway show, and to meet the gifted local cast and crew,” said Alan Menken. “There are some special new elements for this exciting production, which, combined with the talented local performers, will make it a truly one-of-a-kind entertainment experience for the Chinese audience.” The new cast includes musical theater stars and talent from across China performing one of the longest-running and highest-grossing Broadway shows of all time. This Mandarin production will be the second collaboration with Disney Theatrical Productions to recreate the renowned stage musical. View the full article

This spring, Disney’s Animal Kingdom will celebrate its 20th anniversary, so the D23 team felt it would be the perfect time to reach out to Joe Rohde — who’s been working on the park since its inception — for a few of the ways that this spectacular place broke the mold. A few? Joe thought that 20 ways would be most appropriate. So, in the new issue of Disney twenty-three magazine, which ships this month to D23 Gold Members, Joe lays it all out for us. Here are two of our favorites: At more than 500 acres, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the largest theme park ever built. It’s far and away the largest that Disney has ever done. It required so much acreage because the whole park is predicated on live animals, and live animals require tremendous amounts of space to lead natural lives. They need space to move about freely, to graze for food, and for each of the species on the savanna to interact and have their own territory. And we, the designers, need space to create natural views, so that you’re seeing these animals in the context of the life they would live in the wild. The park features a unique “lived-in” design to re-create authentic real-world locations and stories. We’re telling a story that we want you to understand is real, about real conservation issues that are happening in the world. All the lands in the park are obsessively realistic, down to the telephone wires, rough pavement, and peeling posters on the walls. It’s a detailed, realistic, and not always pristine look, which is another unique thing about Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The at times “rough around the edges” aesthetic provides a unique level of realism. It’s not a classic fantasy look. The spaces are lived in and authentic in their attention to detail. It’s a real place where anything can happen, and the design reflects that. The details in the aged buildings, the weathered vehicles, and, of course, the immersive environments of the animals are all designed to reiterate the authentic story of a real-world experience. To read all of Joe’s story—and to see exclusive stories about Frozen on Broadway, Black Panther, and A Wrinkle in Time — join D23 today! View the full article