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What does The Land Pavilion in Epcot’s Future World share with the Food and Wine Festival? The Land Pavilion You’re about to find out if you join me on a little FIELD TRIP on Living with the Land! Living with the Land “For your safety, remain seated with your hands, arms, feet and legs inside the boat at all times.” Living with the Land Boat “Thank you. Now sit back, relax, and enjoy Living with the Land…” Living with the Land … and its special Food and Wine Festival presentation, the Roots of the Ingredient! Roots of the Ingredient I KNOW it’s hard to take a break from eating ALL THE FOOD during the Festival, especially in its few remaining days. And even outside of Food and Wine season a lot of people pass right on over Living with the Land in the Pavilion and head straight to Soarin’ Around the World. But not this kid! Though the attraction may not be the exact same Listen to the Land that it was for all of us 80s peeps, it still takes me right back to my very first trip to EPCOT Center. How about you? Living with the Land Anyway, if you do happen to find some time between bites to ride Living with the Land, you’ll find that the ingredients that make up some of your favorite Festival items are pointed out with signs throughout The Land’s Living Laboratory. Production and Research Center You’ll get to see what these ingredients look like long before they become part of your dish. Pineapple For instance, here are the tippy tops of pineapples… one of the ingredients topping the Kalua Pork Slider at the Hawai’i Booth. Kalua Pork Slider And here’s a bit of lemongrass that makes up part of the Lump Crab Cake with Napa Cabbage Slaw and Avocado Lemongrass Cream at the new Coastal Eats Booth. Lemongrass Lump Crab Cake By the way, my apologies if some of these pics are a little blurry. Living with the Land seems like the slowest ride on earth EVER… until you’re scrambling to take pictures on either side. Then suddenly it feels like Expedition Everest. Olive Tree At any rate, above is an olive tree which will eventually yield olives like the ones in the Charcuterie in a Cone found at the Spain Booth. Charcuterie in a Cone Cacao trees will produce the beans that in turn create chocolate. Cacao Of course, you can enjoy that in the Liquid Nitro Chocolate-Almond Truffle with Warm Whiskey-Caramel at The Chocolate Studio. Liquid Nitro Chocolate Almond Truffle with Warm Whiskey Caramel And these beautiful trees produce bananas that may one day be included in something like the Banana Almond Sundae at The Almond Orchard. Banana Trees Banana Almond Soft-serve Sundae with Fresh Berries and Crunchy Chocolate Oats Let’s all take a break to wave “Hello!” to Mickey!! Mickey!!! And “Hey!” to some of the tomatoes representing the Korma Chicken with Cucumber Tomato Salad at the India Booth. Tomato Korma Chicken with Cucumber Tomato Salad, Almonds, Cashews, and Warm Naan Bread These small pots house chives and celery. Chives and Celery Chives top the Beer-braised Beef in Belgium with bits of celery in the stew. Beer-braised Beef served with Smoked Gouda Mashed Potatoes Floating along, we pass the corn. Corn Corn is part of the Griddled Cornbread that’s served with the Crispy Chicken at Farm Fresh. Crispy Chicken with Griddled Cornbread and Red Eye Gravy It’s always fun to see the some of the lettuce that becomes part of your delicious (I mean it! It’s the best.) Farmer’s Salad at the Garden Grill located right upstairs in The Land Pavilion. Lettuce A better photographer would’ve caught the entire 35 “written” out in the colored leaves in honor of Epcot’s 35th Anniversary this year. I was thisclose ! Cucumbers The cucumbers above represent an ingredient for the Grilled Tuna Tataki with Pickled Cucumbers at Hawai’i. Grilled Tuna Tataki with Seaweed Salad and Pickled Cucumbers and Wasabi Cream Two key ingredients — beets and green beans — are displayed representing the Roasted Beet Salad with Green Beans at Farm Fresh. Beets and Green Beans Roasted Beet Salad with Green Beans, Feta Cheese, Minus 8 Vinaigrette, and Toasted Walnuts And here’s the Arugula, which you’ll find oodles of on top of the (surprisingly HUGE) Caramelized Onion Boursin Garlic and Fine Herbs Cheese Tart at The Cheese Studio. Arugula Savory Caramelized Onion Boursin Garlic and Fine Herbs Cheese Tart with Cold Arugula Salad and Aged Balsamic And here’s some more celery to represent its use in the Cheddar Cheese Soup at Canada. Celery Which is awesome, because now you can claim you’re eating a bowl of cheese and bacon for all the healthy celery involved. Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup with Pretzel Roll Next, a little Grape & Dill for some of the tastes in the Taste of Greece Stuffed Grape Leaves from the Greece Booth. Grape and Dill Taste of Greece Mint and spinach are both crucial flavors in the Spinach and Paneer Cheese Pocket with Mint Raita at the Africa Booth. Mint and Spinach Spinach and Paneer Cheese Pocket I’m wondering if the Rosemary & Thyme for the Lamb Meatball at the New Zealand Booth put the song “Scarborough Fair” in your head, too? Rosemary and Thyme Lamb Meatball with Spicy Tomato Chutney Unless, of course, there is another song from back in the day already spinning in there. C’mon, you might as well sing it with me before we sign off … “Let’s listen to the land we all love, nature’s plan will shine above! Listen to the LAAAA—AAA—AAA-AAND! Listen to the land!” That song still pops in my head every time I set foot on this ride. You, too? Anyway, I hope you had a bit of fun on this trip through Living with the Land with me today! And now… “Please keep your hands and feet inside the boat, and remain seated until the ride comes to a complete stop.” Ready to Plan for Your 2017 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Trip? Order the DFB Guide to the 2017 Epcot Food & Wine Festival e-Book today!This 250+-page guide to the Festival offers insider tips and advice as well as all of the details you need to know to plan your best Festival visit ever. Your purchase includes several bonus items as well — including a full daily schedule of events at the Festival and a printable World Showcase Booth Menu Checklist to carry with you as you Eat around the World! Use code Chefs at check-out for a 20% off the cover price! Is your favorite Food and Wine Festival dish represented in Living With the Land? Please let us know with a comment! 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: Win a Trip to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival from The Chew! Plus — How to Get Tickets to the Live Taping! 2016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Preview: Chocolate Studio and Wine and Dine Studio 2017 Epcot Food and Wine Festival: NEW Booths, Special Events, and More! View the full article

I learned about the Warm Salted Caramel-Stuffed Pretzel’s arrival at The Lunching Pad last week. Learn About: The Lunching Pad Magic Kingdom Disney World Restaurants So you know I was ALL OVER IT when I got into the Magic Kingdom for the very first Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party of the year! Here’s the deal: The Lunching Pad in Tomorrowland serves a variety of pretzels, including classic Mickey Soft Pretzels and flavor varieties like the Pepper Jack (Jalapeno Cheese) Stuffed Pretzel. And until last week, it was one of the only spots that carried the Sweet Cream Cheese-Stuffed Pretzel. But the day after the Warm Salted Caramel-Stuffed Pretzel showed up on the Mobile Order menu, the Sweet Cream Cheese Pretzel disappeared… as it has many times before. And that’s the thing with these Stuffed Pretzels: they tend to come and go without any rhyme or reason. So that’s why you gotta HOP ON IT when you see one, because you never know how long they’re going to stay on any menu in Disney World. So that’s exactly what I did with the new Warm Salted Caramel-Stuffed Pretzel! Warm Salted Caramel-Stuffed Pretzel Now, you know I love me some pretzels. So much so, in fact, that this isn’t even my first post about pretzels THIS WEEK. If you joined me earlier, you may know I highly recommend purchasing a side of chocolate sauce to go with your Mickey Soft Pretzel. But in the case of the Warm Salted Caramel-Stuffed Pretzel? Warm Salted Caramel-Stuffed Pretzel with Chocolate Sauce It ALREADY COMES WITH THE CHOCOLATE SAUCE. YES!! Just consider all the elements at play here. First, you’ve got the saltiness of the pretzel. THEN you’ve got the golden sweet-and-salty buttery taste of the caramel. And THEN you’ve got the rich sweetness of the chocolate sauce. Warm Salted Caramel-Stuffed Pretzel And we’re still not done, because you’ve ALSO got that slight hint of crunch from the outer brown pretzel shell, contrasted by doughy center and the gooey caramel and chocolate. Warm Salted Caramel-Stuffed Pretzel Dipped in Chocolate Salty. Sweet. A bit of Crunch. The GOOEY Factor. If there’s anything missing here, I sure can’t think of it. At $4.79, this thing is a snack steal. I know we’re already into the holiday swing of things here in Disney World, but it IS still November — and therefore technically still fall. And this Caramel Pretzel is perfect for the current season….even though I’m hoping it sticks around even longer! Will you be grabbing a Warm Salted Caramel-Stuffed Pretzel if it’s available on your next visit to the Magic Kingdom? Please let us know with a comment! 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: WUT?!?: Warm Salted Caramel Stuffed Pretzel Now at The Lunching Pad in Magic Kingdom Review: Ham and Cheese-Stuffed Pretzel at The Lunching Pad in Magic Kingdom Review: Sausage and Cheddar-Stuffed Pretzel at Magic Kingdom’s Sleepy Hollow Refreshments View the full article

This week we shared some of the first images of Sunset Seasons Greetings, the new holiday offering at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Throughout the holiday season, the Sunset Boulevard area of the park will come alive with holiday cheer. The billboards will come alive with iconic characters sharing their love for the season. As you can see, Hollywood Tower Hotel also transforms into a pile of Christmas gifts, a gingerbread house and a frozen winter wonderland throughout the night. Be on the lookout for appearances by the Swedish Chef from The Muppets, Toy Story friends, Olaf from Frozen and more! View the full article

Are you ready to take on the ultimate ice cream challenge for National Sundae Day? Then come on down to the Beaches and Cream Soda Shop at Disney’s Beach Club Resort. In addition to the many yummy floats, shakes and sundaes they have to offer, you can order the famous Kitchen Sink. This crazy sundae serves four or more and includes everything AND the kitchen sink – with scoops of vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, cookies and cream and mint chocolate chip smothered with every single topping available. Is your team up to the challenge? Try it today and let us know if you’ve ever finished this sweet sundae! View the full article

What started out as 40 military care packages, packed by a small team at the Walt Disney Travel Company, has turned into an office-wide, biannual military care package drive that has reached more than 10,000 troops overseas. “Our packing events have flourished in a wonderful way,” said Ivy Goodman, a team leader of travel reservation agents at the Walt Disney Travel Company. “Our latest drive generated more than 3,000 care packages to show the brave men and women of our Armed Forces that they are appreciated.” For each packing event, Ivy and Cheryl Evans, a sales agent, offer colleagues a chance to sponsor a care package or create their own. Cast members hand-write messages on postcards to include in the care packages, which are shipped to troops overseas in partnership with Operation Interdependence. In addition to postcards, the care packages include a protein like beef jerky, a small treat like a granola bar, candy left over from Mickey’s Halloween Party, and personal care items like lip balm and dental floss. Disney-related items like luggage tags or Mickey Mouse lapel pins also are included. The packages are small in size, but huge in gratitude. Ivy is motivated by her stepfather, Bob, who served three tours in Vietnam, and retired from the Marine Corps as a Master Gunnery Sergeant, after 23 years of service. When Bob returned from Vietnam, he eventually married Ivy’s mom, who was the love of Bob’s life. “With every postcard I write, I think of the brave servicemen and women who may read it, and thank them for their strength of character and sense of duty,” said Ivy. “In my heart, I say a prayer that they will make it home to their loved ones, too.” View the full article

We have some exciting news to share with you from Toy Story Land and thought the Disney Parks Blog audience should be among the first to see. Jessie and Rex became the first “Toy Story” characters to be installed in Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, earlier this week. According to their storyline, Rex and Jessie decided to help Andy build a rollercoaster using his Mega Coaster Play Kit in his backyard by stringing up the lights on towers of blocks. Rex, of course, has got tangled up in the lights, but Jessie is nearby to help. Check the Disney Parks Blog soon a video that will take you inside Toy Story Land, which is set to open at the park in summer 2018. View the full article

The holidays begin here at the Disneyland Resort – and today, Holidays at the Disneyland Resort has begun! From new delicious bites at Festival of Holidays to new holiday overlays in Cars Land, there is so much to see during this festive season. Take a look at some of our favorites! What are you looking forward to most during Holidays at the Disneyland Resort? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

One of the great, simple joys of visiting the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World is grabbing a Mickey Pretzel in the shadow of Cinderella Castle. And not just because Mickey Pretzels come with a container of cheese (although that’s also idyllic). It’s just such a sweet moment. Mickey Pretzel and Cinderella’s Castle But I admit, for years I’ve been missing one of the great opportunities of the Magic Kingdom pretzel carts. Because not only can you buy a pretzel at the pretzel cart, you can also grab a Churro — with its tasty chocolate sauce. But what if… Cheese and Chocolate Dips! Y’all, I can’t believe I didn’t think of this before now! Since you’re already at the cart, you can ask for both the cheese and the chocolate sauces (yeah — ya gotta pay extra for one of them) — and then proceed to create sweet, salty, carby bites. Dip it good! So full disclosure: when I was in college, a restaurant nearby served pretzels with both cheese and chocolate sauce. GENIUS! How it took me so long to come up with this Mickey Pretzel/Chocolate Sauce combo… I just don’t know! Mickey Pretzel with Chocolate Sauce But now that I’ve done it, I can never go back. And if you love yourself some sweet/salty snacks, you’re going to want to try this! Have you ever combined two snacks into one super-snack at the Parks? Tell us! So we can try it too! Wanna see a seriously OVER THE TOP Disney food hack?? Click here!!! 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: Snack Series: Jalapeno Cheese Pretzel Review and Some Pretzel Updates Cream Cheese Pretzel Spotted in Disney’s Hollywood Studios News: Sweet Cream Cheese Pretzel Returns to Magic Kingdom View the full article

Festival of Holidays returns to Disney California Adventure park this year with a wonderful and diverse array of food and beverage offerings! Through Jan. 7, you’ll be able to feast on these delicious items at the Festive Foods Marketplace and Disney ¡Viva Navidad!. This year, 12 different marketplaces are scattered throughout the area with dishes spanning various cultures and holidays. Here’s your list of everything available this year! Chips, Breads & Holiday Spreads Chicken Liver Paté with cherry jam and pistachios Cranberry-Pear Tart with rosemary-infused cream White Chocolate-Dipped Lingonberry Speculoos Cookie Chorizo Queso Fundido with house-made tortilla chips Making Spirits Bright White Cranberry, Pear and Blood Orange Mimosa Flight (Also sold individually) White Wine Flight with Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand; Fess Parker Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County; and Bertenura Moscato, Italy (Kosher) (Also sold individually) Red Wine Flight with Castle Rock Pinot Noir, Reserve, Russian River Valley; Joel Gott Zinfandel, California; and Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County (Also sold individually) Chandon Sparkling Wine, Brut, California Red & White Rotational Wine Selection Joy to the Sauce Seared Salmon Filet with lemon-caper sauce Beef Short Rib with mashed potatoes and gravy and topped with cranberry sauce Sticky Toffee Pudding with brandied vanilla sauce Conundrum White Wine Blend, California Rodney Strong Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley Holiday Eggnog Cocktail with whipped cream and nutmeg Apple Lemonade with whipped cream and caramel Spicy Celebrations Nashville Fried Hot Turkey with dill pickles Beef Corn Tamale a la Plancha with spicy rojo sauce Spicy Peanut Brittle Pomegranate Margarita with a chipotle-smoked sea salt half-rim Winter Michelada with Modela Negra and a brown sugar rim Modela Negra Lager, Mexico Brews & Bites Sliced Calabrese Salami with crackers Warm Bavarian Pretzel with whole-grain Dijon mustard Beer Flight: For a Snowy Day with Victory Prima Pilsner, New Belgium Accumulation White IPA, Aftershock Oatmeal Rasin Cookie Ale and Great Divide Hibernation Ale (Also sold individually) Beer Flight: For a Sunny Day with TAPS The American Cream Ale, Brewery Ommegang Witte, Backstreet Raspberry Sour and Refuge West Coast Red Ale (Also sold individually) Stone Brewing IPA Unsung Naturia Double IPA Karl Strauss Holiday Porter Holiday Duets Macaroni and Cheese with cornbread crumbles Warm Polenta with chilled crab salad Cookie Butter and Jelly Cheesecake Holiday Mickey and Minnie Cookies Pomegranate Mule garnished with pomegranate seeds and rosemary sprig Fever Tree Ginger Beer (non-alcoholic) Warm Chocolate Float with whipped cream and brownie crumbles Classic Crocks and Casseroles Chana Masala with grilled garlic naan Green Bean and Mushroom Casserole with crispy onions Milk Chocolate Candy Cane Pot de Crème Cup Ice Green Mint Tea with mint sprig Blissfully Braised Braised Pork Belly Adobo with garlic fried rice Braised Lamb Cheeks with Mediterranean cauliflower Fruit and Nut Rugelach Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co., Hoppy Poppy IPA ACE Premium Craft Hard Apple Cider A Twist on Tradition Reuben Potato Smash with Russian dressing and rye toast crumble Butternut Squash and Almond Pakora Fritters Chocolate Yule Log with candied chestnuts and clementine compote Horchata Fudge Pumpkin Spice Float Cocktail with cream liqueur, vanilla ice cream and pumpkin seed brittle Frosty Frosé – Frozen Rosé with blue curacao and white cranberry juice with mint sprig Winter Sliderland Holiday Ham Slider with pineapple relish Roast Turkey Slider with cranberry sauce Egg Nog Macaron Hot Buttered Rum with a cinnamon stick La Crema Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley Festive Beer Flight with Bottle Logic Brewing (714), Blonde Ale; Oaskar Blues Brewery Pinner, IPA; Barley Forge Brewing Co. The Patsy, Coconut Rye Stout; and Modern Times Fruitlands, Passionfruit and Guava Gose (Also sold individually) White Hot Chocolate with house-made cinnamon marshmallow Grandma’s Recipes Grilled Chicken Sausage with red beans and rice Beef Brisket with brown sugar-glazed carrots Sweet Potato Pie Molasses Gingerbread Cookie Merry Cherry-Pineapple Punch with assorted jellies Warm Bourbon Cider with bourbon-infused marshmallow Festive Holiday Extras Brussels Sprouts with goat cheese, cranberries and bacon Baked Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes Pineapple Kesari with golden raisins Holiday Sherbet Punch with flavors of pineapple, lime and orange Ballast Point Brewing Company Piper Down, Scottish Ale, San Diego Treats for Santa Mickey Snowman Cookie Decorating Kit Warm Bourbon Cider White Hot Chocolate Disney ¡Viva Navidad! at Paradise Garden Grill Street Tacos – Trio of corn tortilla tacos filled with carnitas, carne asada and chicken, topped with white onion and fresh cilantro, served with lime-cilantro rice and black beans Chicken Mole Plate – Chicken slowly cooked in Mole Sauce, garnished with cotija cheese, served with lime-cilantro rice and tortillas Burrito – Flour tortilla filled with black beans, lime-cilantro rice and choice of carne asada, carnitas, or chicken with salsa and Mexican crema Torta al Pastor – Soft telera roll, chorizo beans, al pastor, cabbage, guacamole and Mexican crema House-Made Pozole – Mild chile and pork stew with hominy and oregano, topped with sliced radishes Buñuelos – Two golden fried flour tortillas dusted with cinnamon sugar, served with a side of cajeta Kid’s Cheese Quesadilla Kid’s Street-Style Taco – Corn tortilla taco filled with choice of carne asada, chicken or carnitas, topped with white onion and fresh cilantro, served with lime-cilantro rice and black beans topped with queso blanco, served with choice of small lowfat milk or small Dasani® Water Dos Equis Lager Dos Equis Ambar Red Sangria Corona Negra Modelo Disney ¡Viva Navidad! at Paradise Pier – Outdoor Vending Elote – Street-style corn with mayonnaise, parmesan cheese and tajin Horchata – Sweet rice beverage with a hint of vanilla and cinnamon Jamaica – Traditional slightly sweetened hibiscus tea Chicharrón – Puffed wheat wagon wheel, tapatio and lime wedges Strawberry Paleta – Fresa (strawberry) fruit bar View the full article

Yes, this season, we’re hosting a second Disney Parks Blog holiday party at Walt Disney World Resort – and it’s happening next week! On Wednesday night, November 15, 2017, we are celebrating one of the most magical times of the year with 100 winners of our first Disney Parks Blog Sunset Seasons Greetings & Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! Party Sweepstakes at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The Disney Parks Blog Sunset Seasons Greetings & Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! Party begins at 5:45 p.m. ET on Wednesday, November 15 but winners can arrive as early as 4 p.m. Winners will receive admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios to enjoy the “Sunset Seasons Greetings” experience and the popular “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” spectacular including complimentary parking. You can enter for a chance to win by clicking here and following the entry instructions to complete an official entry form. Your entry must state your valid email address and full name. Also, there are a few things you should know: All entrants must be 18 years or older and legal residents of, and physically located within, the state of Florida. However, guests of the winners do not need to be 18 or older (as long as the guest is the child or ward of the winner). Limit one guest per winner. We will send a notice, via email, to the winning entrants. It will be necessary for the winner and guest to check in at the front of Disney’s Hollywood Studios for access to the event. An emailed notice will include those details. Valid photo I.D. will be required at check-in. Prizes are not redeemable for cash and are not transferable. Hope to see you there. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Starts 11:00:01 a.m. ET on 11/10/17, and ends 2:00:00 p.m. ET of same day. Open only to legal residents of Florida who are 18 years of age or older at time of entry. Limit 1 entry per person. For full details including eligibility requirements, odds of winning and prize limitations, see Official Rules. Prize does not include accommodations or transportation between winner’s home and the event taking place on November 15, 2017. Void where prohibited. View the full article

“Beauty and the Beast,” a brand-new musical production inspired by Disney’s live-action adaptation of the animated classic, premiered earlier today aboard the Disney Dream. To celebrate the opening of this new show, Disney Cruise Line has given us this brand-new downloadable wallpaper to share with you. Be sure to check out the terms of use about using the wallpaper before you download it. View the full article

#DisneyParksLIVE: Beauty and the Beast | Disney Cruise Line View the full article

In just a few minutes, you will be immersed in a fresh take on a tale as old as time during a special sneak peek of “Beauty and the Beast,” live from the Disney Dream. Join us right here on the Disney Parks Blog to see a portion of this brand-new musical production inspired by Disney’s live-action adaptation of the animated classic. The #DisneyParksLIVE stream will begin at 10:40 a.m. EST. In the meantime, follow along on Twitter using the hashtags #DisneyParksLIVE and #DisneyCruise. View the full article

As many Disney Parks Blog readers know, we recognize and show support for the brave men and women in our armed forces with special flag retreat ceremonies at both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort. This Veteran’s Day weekend, we’re sharing something special from one of our ceremonies – a heartwarming video of a retired veteran whose ordinary visit to Magic Kingdom turned extraordinary. In the video, Steve Warner, a retired Master Sergeant with the United States Air Force, retells his experience of how he discovered the Power of Magic during a 2015 trip to the Walt Disney World Resort. Steve and his son-in-law were visiting from Pennsylvania and showed up early to see one of our flag retreat ceremonies at Magic Kingdom Park. While waiting, Disney cast member, Bob, approached and asked if Steve would like to be part of the ceremony. Steve participated – and during the ceremony, Bob told him ‘Welcome home soldier.’ Later, Steve said the Disney cast member was the first person, outside of his immediate family, to meaningfully acknowledge his return from Vietnam. Support for the U.S. Armed Forces is a long-standing Disney tradition. And since the launch of the Heroes Work Here initiative, more than 7,500 veterans have been hired, and Disney continues to dedicate itself to the reintegration of our veterans. Thank you to all who serve today and to all who served in the past. View the full article

HOORAY!! The dates for the 2018 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival have been announced! Mark your calendars for February 28 – May 28, 2018*, when the Festival will be celebrating its 25th Anniversary throughout the 90 days of the Festival! The Epcot Flower and Garden Festival That’s the time you can expect to be enjoying Disney Character Topiaries all around Epcot, the Garden Rocks Concert Series (with Dining Packages for the Series returning for 2018), Garden Tours and other activities dedicated to gardening for all those Green Thumbs — and aspiring Green Thumbs — out there! Fresh Epcot Also returning will be the Flower & Garden Festival’s Outdoor Kitchens! Primavera Outdoor Kitchen Booth These are just like the Marketplace Booths at the Epcot Food & Wine Festival, but with an emphasis on Spring’s fresh flavors! Frushi at the Hanami Outdoor Kitchen in Japan Disney has confirmed that there will be 15 Outdoor Kitchens in 2018, and we can’t wait to hear more! *Please note: At publishing time for this post, the Disney World website currently has the end date listed as May 18th, but the Disney Parks Blog post has the end date as May 28th. Because the Festival typically wraps around Memorial Day Weekend, we believe the 28th to be the correct date. Check out our 2018 Flower and Garden Festival Page here, and keep an eye out for more updates as the Spring Festival draws near! Will you be in Disney World for the Flower & Garden Festival? Please let us know with a comment! 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! 2015 Epcot International Flower and Garden (PLUS FOOD!) Festival Details Announced News! FULL BOOTH MENUS for 2017 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, PLUS Garden Rocks Concert Series, and MORE News! Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Menu Items Announced View the full article

As we continue to celebrate the cooler weather and fall holidays, we at the Disney Parks Blog can’t help but look toward spring as well, with an update on plans for the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Held each day from February 28 – May 28, 2018, the Festival’s 25th anniversary event will feature fan favorites like exhibits, events and tastings including: Disney Character Topiaries 15 Outdoor Kitchens serving creative, flavor-rich cuisine that highlights spring garden offerings Garden Rocks music series – with its classic rock ‘n’ roll stars from the ‘60s, ‘70s ‘80s and ‘90s. Garden Rocks Dining packages will be available for certain Epcot restaurants – pairing a fabulous meal with reserved seating for your favorite concert Garden Tours – Including Gardens of the World Tour (spring edition); the English Tea Garden Tour; and Royal Tea Garden Tour (extra fee required) New interactive kids play areas And – of course – the millions of extra plants, trees, shrubs, flowers and themed gardens that decorate Epcot in spring. Also returning will be our Egg-Stravaganza scavenger hunt and hand-crafted and Festival merchandise to extend an already-packed day of adventure at Epcot. For more information on the Festival, check out epcotinspring.com. And keep checking back to the Disney Parks Blog for updates throughout the Festival. View the full article

As the holiday season draws near, the Walt Disney World Resort pastry chefs are bustling with excitement as they prepare their magnificent gingerbread displays! Each year, guests travel from around the world to see the beautifully-crafted gingerbread creations that adorn our parks and resorts. Today, I’m giving you the inside scoop on what’s in store for this year! Starting at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Tusker House Restaurant will have a 3-foot long African-inspired gingerbread marketplace on display from Dec. 10 to Jan. 2, created by Pastry Chef Amber Vega. Over at Epcot, Pastry Chefs Noah French, Jason Stricker, and Crystal Saunders will be putting together two gingerbread displays at The American Adventure featuring the United States Capitol Building as well as the Lincoln Memorial. These will be on display starting Nov. 19 and will contain over 50 pounds of gingerbread! On Black Friday, Nov. 24, Pastry Chefs Yoly Lazo and Joseph Lodato from Disney Springs will have a set of gingerbread icons that celebrate the story behind Town Center; look for a display in the window of Amorette’s Patisserie where you can enjoy a sweet treat in between shopping stops. If you’re planning to go resort hopping to see the festive holiday decorations, our deluxe resorts will be featuring gingerbread displays that you won’t want to miss. Starting Nov. 9 on the 3rd floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort, you’ll find the beautiful Cinderella Castle, designed by Pastry Chef Jeff Barnes and his talented pastry team. This display recreates the castle in the style of legendary artist Mary Blair on a backdrop inspired by “it’s a small world.” With oversized gingerbread cookies depicting Cinderella and Prince Charming greeting guests from the castle forecourt, this 18-foot tall display is crafted from thousands of gingerbread blocks, rolled fondant, and a mouth-watering amount of modeling chocolate! This year also marks the 18th anniversary of the Holiday Carousel – a life-size, edible spinning carousel that’s become a holiday tradition at Disney’s Beach Club Resort. This year’s carousel is designed by Pastry Chefs Thomas Huebner, Jennifer Ladisky and Cindy Roman. The Lilo and Stitch-themed carousel will feature horses with hand-painted holiday characters and hand-crafted gingerbread snow flakes. See if you can spot all 18 hidden Mickeys on this display! There will also be a limited-edition pin featuring Lilo and Stitch available for purchase starting 11/17 at the Beach Club Marketplace. And right next door at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, you’ll also find the annual Holiday Miniature Train! These beautiful holiday displays will be in the lobbies of each resort starting Nov. 17. And for our “Grand” finale, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is celebrating the 19th anniversary of its famous life-size gingerbread house, which will be located in the main lobby of the resort Nov. 15-Jan. 1. Each year, the Grand Floridian pastry team, led by Executive Pastry Chef Erich Herbitschek, spend over 400 hours baking the gingerbread and over 160 hours constructing and decorating the house, which also contains The Bake Shop. There you can find gingerbread ornaments, cookies, and gingerbread house kits, all made using a classic gingerbread recipe from Austria. On Nov. 18, there will be a pin trading event with a special limited-edition pin featuring the penguins from “Mary Poppins.” What’s more, decorating aficionados will be excited to attend gingerbread house decorating demos conducted daily in the lobby in front of the display starting Dec. 1. Note: Parking at the Walt Disney World Resort hotels is for the exclusive use of guests with confirmed rooms, dining and recreation reservations. However, bus transportation is available from each of the four parks and Disney Springs. Guests may also park at the Ticket and Transportation Center and visit Epcot, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Disney’s Contemporary Resort via the Walt Disney World Resort Monorail. View the full article

HOORAY!!! We’ve got all the info you need about one of the best Disneyland Holiday traditions EVER. The famous Hand-Pulled Candy Canes are on the way back for the season… and we’ve got all the WHENS and WHERES for you right here! Hand-Made Candy Canes in Disneyland! If you’re new to these legendary treats, you can learn all about the Disneyland Candy Canes by clicking here! Disneyland Candy Canes Once again in 2017, the Candy Cane making will alternate between Candy Palace on Main Street U.S.A. in Disneyland and Trolley Treats on Buena Vista Street in Disney California Adventure. The Candy Palace Trolley Treats sign Candy Cane Tips Here’s our annual fair warning for folks planning to line up to try to get a Candy Cane of their own: the rule is that guests are not supposed to line up prior to park open. But, we advise trying to line up about 30-45 minutes ahead of park opening anyway… ‘cuz everybody does it. Proceed to the designated shop upon opening (locations are specified by date below). Wristbands will be distributed upon the shop’s opening. Based on previous years, typically 40 wristbands are distributed per batch with three batches per day, for a total of 120 wristbands. We have received feedback that more than 120 wristbands have been distributed at times, but your mileage may vary. Disney simply states that “wristbands are limited.” One wristband allows the purchase of ONE Candy Cane (with a limit of one wristband per guest). Candy Cane Those with the coveted wristbands should go to the Candy Kitchen producing the day’s Candy Canes according to the batch time listed on their wristband. You may pick up your candy cane any time after your batch time, but prior to 4PM. Note that in previous years, if you didn’t pick up your candy cane by 4PM, it would be sold to someone waiting on standby. WHERE and WHEN To Get Your Candy Cane Please note that these dates are subject to change, and that additional dates may be added. CANDY PALACE at Disneyland November 24 November 29 December 1 December 4 December 6 December 8 December 11 December 13 December 15 December 18 December 20 December 24 TROLLEY TREATS at Disney California Adventure November 25 November 28 December 2 December 5 December 7 December 9 December 12 December 14 December 16 December 19 December 21 December 25 For more information or if you want to confirm weekly dates before you go, check Disneyland’s Candy Kitchen Hotline at 714-781-0112. And be sure to brush up on what goes into making the Disneyland Candy Canes!! Candy Cane Info Good luck… and let us know here if you’re able to grab one! Are you hoping to get a Disneyland Candy Cane this season? Please let us know with a comment! 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: 2016 Disneyland Candy Cane Dates Announced! 2015 Disneyland Candy Cane Dates Announced! 2014 Disneyland Candy Cane Dates Announced! View the full article

Ho, ho, ho, it’s here! Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is here! And I went on the very first night so I could give you the scoop on all the holiday bites and sips! Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party! The Magic Kingdom was bedecked in her absolute finest, Cinderella Castle was positively glowing, and there was more than enough merriment to go around! Holiday Decorations on Main Street, USA! Let’s party! Exclusive Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Merchandise One of the fun things about a holiday party event at the Magic Kingdom is the party-specific gear! And I found lots of cool tee shirt options! This hooded dancing reindeer shirt seemed to be a favorite among guests. Dancing Reindeer He is very happy to be celebrating with Mickey. And Mickey is very happy to be celebrating with Minnie! I love that this holiday shirt deviates from traditional red and green with this pretty mint color. So you can, you know, wear it all the time! Mickey and Minnie Shirt This dark green kids’ shirt has Mickey surrounded by gifts, as any kid on the nice list knows is the ideal thing to be surrounded by. :p Kids’ Shirt If you like to commemorate the major Disney events in your life by donning awesome Magic Bands, there’s a band for you! The year is clearly printed on it, and we love the little starbursts around the center icon. Note that it’s a limited edition of 3,000! Party-Specific Magic Band There are also Passholder-only party shirts and tons, tons, tons of pins! Collectors, get your wallets out! So much merch! I feel like I also have to get the Mickey and Minnie ornament. Because it’s so cute and understated. I love it! But what about the food? Friends, there’s so much. All Day Eats So first up are treats you can get even if you’re not attending the party because these are available all the live-long day at counter service locations around the park! (Well, according to Disney they’re supposed to be…but tonight they didn’t put the peppermint cupcake out until 7PM.) You might remember the Spider Mickey Cinnamon Bun that was available for the Halloween season (was that just a couple weeks ago?!). Well, the Mickey Cinnamon Bun is back — with a Christmas twist! Mickey Cinnamon Bun with Christmas Icing The bun, we’re happy to say, is great — sweet, cinnamon-y, and big enough to share. We do miss the chocolate spider web (that made the Halloween version!), but this one has a little more icing and a white chocolate snowflake, so we can live with it. The Peppermint Cupcake is tasty and has terrific cooling action from the shard of white chocolate peppermint bark on top and the Peppermint Mousse Filling. Peppermint Cupcake We love the texture of the bark, too, since it adds a little contrast to the otherwise soft cake — which is Red Velvet! — and Cream Cheese Frosting. Cream Cheese Frosting and Red Velvet Cake This cupcake was really, really good. Well, I’m not sure if it was really, really good out of context, but it was really, really good compared to a lot of the other Christmas Party eats… . Tons of Peppermint Filling Peppermint fans will want to head to Main Street Plaza Ice Cream Parlor or Storybook Treats for the Peppermint Ice Cream Sundae. It’s basically a mint chocolate chip sundae with a sprinkle of candy cane on top, so it’s maybe not the most inventive treat of the year. But if you want some ice cream, this is yummy. Peppermint Sundae at Plaza Ice Cream Parlor Party Exclusive Treats: FREEEEEEEE!!! (with admission) So there are two categories of treats available exclusively during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. The first treats we want to share are complimentary to party guests — so find those Peppermint Stick Treat Markers, and load up on the free stuff! Peppermint Sticks Show the Way to Complimentary Party Snacks! In the past, these treats were the same across the board: snickerdoodles and hot cocoa for everyone! And while those are some good eats, we really appreciated when they party offered a variety of different treats all around the park last year. Snickerdoodle and Hot Cocoa If you really want the Snickerdoodles and Hot Cocoa, hit Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe, where they’re serving these. Solid snack options, friends. Snickerdoodle and Hot Cocoa Nearby at Auntie Gravity’s, guests get a Santa Claus Cookie and a Snow Cone. We love an edible Santa as much as the next guy, so even though he was a little (lot) dry, he was still pleasant to munch on. Santa Cookie and Snow Cone Pinocchio Village Haus is the spot for Apple Cider and a selection of cookies. I grabbed some Allergy-Friendly Cookies from Enjoy Life. Allergy-Friendly Enjoy Life Cookies with Apple Cider I also grabbed one of each of the other cookies offered here, which turned out to be all the cookies. So if you’re at the party and don’t want to spend time going from snack locale to snack locale, it might be worth it to stop at Pinocchio’s first. All the cookies at Pinocchio’s! We loved the Peppermint Crunch Cookie and rich Nestle Chocolate Milk available at Pete’s Silly Sideshow in Storybook Circus. The chocolate milk satisfied the kid inside, while the peppermint crunch was, for the second year in a row, the cookie winner of the night!! Chocolate Milk and Peppermint Crunch Cookie If you want some straight-up chocolate, you’ll find Dove Chocolates at Friar’s Nook, along with Sparkling Apple Cider. The creamy chocolates were simple but a nice departure from the several servings of cookies I ate. (Although let’s be honest: who stops at just two Dove Chocolates?) Dove Chocolates and Sparkling Cider For quintessential Christmas treats Egg Nog and Ginger Molasses Cookies, head to the Ticket Booth in Liberty Square. These were a great pair of treats, with the slightly spicy cookie contrasting well with creamy Eggnog. Ginger Molasses and Eggnog Over in Adventureland at Tortuga Tavern, we tried the Sno-Cone and Snowman Soft Pretzel. The Pretzel was a decent portion size (especially considering everything else there is to eat at the party!). Soft Snowman Pretzel Party Exclusive Treats: For Purchase Now for the Exclusive Treats that’ll cost you a little extra. You’ll recall that Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party absolutely slayed the treat game with four Haunted Mansion-inspired tarts. Yeah, those are pretty unforgettable. I was so happy that the Christmas Party pulled out all the stops!! If you follow our Instagram, you already know I was pretty freaked out by the Red Velvet Mickey Waffles at Sleepy Hollow Refreshments. Mickey Red Velvet Waffles They’re served with Vanilla Ice Cream, Whipped Cream, Caramel Sauce, and Sprinkles. And they were actually pretty good! The flavor was really chocolatey, and they tasted great with the ice cream. Red Velvet Mickey Waffles And I was relieved to discover that they were a lot less electric-red than they appeared in promo shots! Red Velvet Mickey Waffles Sleepy Hollow also has a Sandy Claws Cake Push-Pop. (You might remember that we weren’t fans of the Jack Skellington Push-Pop version that was here during the Halloween Party.) Sandy Claws Push-Pop The Sandy Claws version was much more enjoyable. It’s comprised of Orange Vanilla Cake, Cranberry Cherry Mousse, White Crispy Pearls, Cream Cheese Buttercream, and holiday sprinkles. The fruity mousse was not at all like the icky panna cotta of the Halloween version, and the buttercream on top was yummy. He’s a winner! Sandy Claws Push-Pop Main Street Bakery and Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe are both serving up specialty, gluten-free yule logs! (There are several gluten free options at the party, which we love!) At Main Street Bakery the yule log has a base of Flourless Chocolate Cake, a triangular log of Raspberry Mousse, White Chocolate Mousse, and Cassis Pate de Fruit (basically a sleeve of jellied fruit!). Yule log purists might want to think of this as a spin on a yule log. Or a fruit yule log. Fruity Yule Log It’s like a fruity cheesecake in terms of consistency, and it’s pretty good…but…unexpected. The tartness of the Raspberry Mousse balances well with the sweet White Chocolate Mousse. The Flourless Chocolate Cake was dense and rich, but it did combine well with the other flavors. The Pate de Fruit was super tart. It tasted great, but completely overpowered everything else in the mix. Prepare to pucker. Interior of Fruity Yule Log Peco Bill’s Yule Log has the same base of Flourless Chocolate Cake, a swirl of Chocolate Mousse and Chocolate Ganache, and a Chip and Dale and Donald Duck White Chocolate Piece. Chocolate Yule Log The exterior has a classic yule log look, with ribbed chocolate to mimic bark and a nice nob of marshmallow and chocolate for a stump. And the white chocolate character piece is so colorful and fun! Chocolate Yule Log This yule log is a little more traditional with all the chocolate and the rolled cake/mousse, and it’s insanely chocolately!! If you’re not a HUGE chocolate lover, skip this one. Interior of Yule Log Over at Gaston’s Tavern, party-goers can purchase an Enchanted Christmas Belle Dessert (another gluten free option!). Enchanted Christmas Belle Dessert It’s really lovely to look at — with the White Chocolate Belle seeming to dance atop her yellow, mirror-glazed dome. Enchanted Christmas Belle Dessert Inside the dome is Flourless Chocolate Cake and White Chocolate Peppermint Mousse. These simple flavors should have worked, but while it wasn’t too peppermint-y, it left behind a weird aftertaste. This is a skip for us, unfortunately. I had NO desire to keep eating this one after the first bite. Interior Next up was the Eggnog Custard Dessert at Storybook Treats. This is simple enough: Eggnog Custard is topped with Spiced Chocolate Cake and Meringue. Eggnog Custard OK, this was just…not worth it for me. The supposed eggnog custard itself was flavorless, and the ‘meringue’ was very whipped creamy. Egg Nog Custard The best part about it is the Scrooge McDuck Chocolate Coin. Seriously. Don’t bother with this dessert. Scrooge wouldn’t like the Eggnog Custard either. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a fun and festive experience, and now that there are so many treats to try, it’s possible to spend the entire party trying them all! We definitely recommend prioritizing the desserts you want to try most — or delegating your friends and family members to gather them all! You won’t want to miss the entertainment, including character meet and greets (some in their holiday best!). The Seven Dwarfs are a major party get — but the line grows at an exponential rate. Seven Dwarfs Meet and Greet You’ll also want to catch the Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, the Holiday Wishes Spectacular, and special entertainment like the dance party Club Tinsel (where you can get jingly with it)! Club Tinsel! And — of course — you’ll still have access to the Magic Kingdom’s rides and attractions! There’s so much holly jolly fun to be had! If you want to know more about this year’s parties, we’ve gathered all the info you need! And if you want to know everything there is to know about the holidays at Walt Disney World, there’s a DFB Guide book for that! Got a Disney World Trip Planned for November or December? CHECK THIS OUT! The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2017 is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World. It includes over 400 pages of must-have information, including: A full What’s New!! chapter for the 2017 Holiday Season A full Monthly Schedule of Events for the Holiday Season How to avoid the crowds on Disney World’s busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!) ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM. And of course we’ll tell you where to eat! ;-D Order your 2017 Guide now and get 20% off with code PEPPERMINT! As always, our e-Books are 100% guaranteed! If you don’t love it, you get your money back! 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: New! Exclusive Treats and Complimentary Eats At Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party! News: 2017 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Eats! Review: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Treats View the full article

HAPPY HOLIDAYS from Disney’s Hollywood Studios!!! Moving Billboard on Sunset Boulevard From now through December 31st, guests can celebrate the season with a Flurry of FUN! Highlights include the return of the Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! Holiday Spectacular, special seasonal touches around Echo Lake, and much more. We’re starting that “much more” with the all-new Sunset Seasons Greetings — and all the Season’s EATINGS — on Sunset Boulevard and beyond! Sunset Seasons Greetings Falling snow, twinkling lights, moving billboards, and festive projections on the Hollywood Tower Hotel all make for the magical transformation of Sunset Boulevard into Sunset Seasons Greetings! Projections on the Hollywood Tower Hotel Just taking in the atmosphere is enough to make the season special. Unlike the Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! Spectacular which takes place at a scheduled time each evening, simply stroll onto Sunset Boulevard after the sun goes down (on this, the first night, things started around 6:15 pm). There you’re bound to catch the two-minute stories on the moving billboards, featuring festive moments with Disney characters like Mickey — I mean, Bob Cratchit! — and his family in Mickey’s Christmas Carol (one of my favorites every year!). Moving Billboards The Swedish Chef appears to wish you Seasonings Greetings! Seasonings Greetings from the Swedish Chef And so does the gang from Toy Story. (We’ll be seeing a LOT more of them in Hollywood Studios in 2018!) Toy Story Moving Billboard Olaf makes an appearance on screen (and in a LOT of the holiday snacks at the Studios), too! Olaf on the Moving Billboard They’re all introduced by Lanny and Wayne from Prep & Landing, who are also featured in Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! later in the evening. Prep and Landing Elves Your eyes will lift towards the Hollywood Tower Hotel (The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror) where projections will make things a lot more festive… and much less terrorizing . Toy Story Projections on the Tower of Terror By the way, you can still DROP IN on the Tower of Terror during Sunset Seasons Greetings. It’s still in operation throughout the evening. Projections on the Tower of Terror After that? Enjoy the snowfall and the twinkling stars on Sunset Boulevard as you await the next yuletide tale on the billboards! Sunset Boulevard And remember… there are LOTS of snacks in the area to enjoy while you take in the festive atmosphere. You can check out ALL the FOOD for the Flurry of Fun here, but allow us to recommend a few of our favorites right now! Find the Hot Chocolate Flight for guests 21-and-over at Fairfax Fare on Sunset Boulevard and at Min & Bill’s Dockside Diner at Echo Lake. Hot Chocolate Flight That’s a Hot Chocolate Martini, Bailey’s Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa, and a Black Cherry Bourbon Hot Chocolate you’re looking at right there. YUM! And Hollywood Scoops right on the Boulevard is serving Olaf Sundaes. Olaf Sundae Everyones favorite snowman sits atop a JELLY DONUT! Olaf Sundae You can find the Red Velvet Holiday Whoopie Pies at Sweet Spells and Fairfax Fare! Christmas Tree-shaped Red Velvet Whoopie Pie And there’s plenty more where that came from… check it ALL out here! Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! Cap off your festive evening with the Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! Holiday Nighttime Spectacular! Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! Returning for the second year in a row, this projection and fireworks show follows Wayne and Lanny from Prep & Landing as they try to rescue Santa and save Christmas, sharing holiday scenes from beloved Disney films all the while. The BAM! Part :-) If you’d like a reserved viewing area for the show, the Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! Holiday Dessert Party has returned as well. Find out more here. Echo Lake Decor Not only is Echo Lake completely full again (coming back from its refurbishment that took place throughout early fall), it’s also THE place to see the Hollywood Studios Christmas Tree, and take in all the new extra-large ornaments dotting the lake. Echo Lake This was our vantage point for catching Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! tonight. Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! from Echo Lake To give you more of an idea, here is the Hollywood Studios Christmas Tree during the day. Hollywood Studios Christmas Tree Don’t forget to say “Hello!” to the one and only GERTIE of Dinosaur Gertie’s Ice Cream of Extinction while you’re around Echo Lake, especially since she is all dressed up for the season! Holiday Gertie at Hollywood Studios! Don’t forget… Gertie has some extra Holiday Offerings for you. Holiday Offerings at Gertie’s Look for Olaf Carrot Cake Push Pops and Winterberry Coolers (Vodka and Chambord with cranberry) here! Olaf Pop Minnie’s Holiday Dine If you have an Advance Dining Reservation for Lunch or Dinner at Hollywood and Vine Restaurant through January 7, 2018, then you’ll be dining with Minnie, Mickey, Goofy, Donald and Daisy for Minnie’s Holiday Dine! Minnie’s Holiday Dine The gang is dressed in their festive best, and you’ll have the chance to grab pictures with every single character at this yuletide buffet! Mickey Mouse Donald Duck Daisy Duck You can read our full review of Minnie’s Holiday Dine here! Visit Santa Need to tell the Big Guy what you want most for Christmas? Stop in the Once Upon a Time store back on Sunset Boulevard to greet and get your picture taken with SANTA CLAUS! Meet Santa Claus Here!! Of course, he’ll have to take his annual sleigh ride on Christmas, so his last day at the shop will be December 24th. Santa Meet and Greet Location After that, Santa GOOFY will greet guests from December 25th through the 31st! Santa Goofy It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year to be at Disney’s Hollywood Studios! Until next time… Moving Billboard Joyous Tidings to you!! Got a Disney World Trip Planned for November or December? CHECK THIS OUT! The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2017 is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World. It includes over 400 pages of must-have information, including: A full What’s New!! chapter for the 2017 Holiday Season A full Monthly Schedule of Events for the Holiday Season How to avoid the crowds on Disney World’s busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!) ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM. And of course we’ll tell you where to eat! ;-D Order your 2017 Guide now and get 20% off with code PEPPERMINT! As always, our e-Books are 100% guaranteed! If you don’t love it, you get your money back! Will you be enjoying the Flurry of Fun at Hollywood Studios? Please let us know with a comment! 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: FOOD for the Flurry of FUN Coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios Review: Season’s EATINGS for the Flurry of Fun at Disney’s Hollywood Studios! First Look: NEW Disney’s Hollywood Studios Holiday Decor!! View the full article

#DisneyParksLIVE: A Frozen Holiday Wish 2017 | Walt Disney World View the full article

As many of you just heard during our #DisneyParksLIVE coverage of “A Frozen Holiday Wish” castle lighting at Walt Disney World Resort, we’re kicking off the holiday season by offering readers a chance to be one of 50 winners to receive a Disney Parks Blog logo T-shirt. You can enter now to win one T-shirt right now. “A Frozen Holiday Wish,” features the royal sisters Anna and Elsa. Along with their friends, Olaf and Kristoff, Queen Elsa uses her incredible powers to present a gift to everyone in the kingdom – transforming Cinderella Castle into a glimmering ice palace for the holidays. You can enter for a chance to win one T-shirt here and follow the entry instructions to complete an official entry form. Your entry must state your valid email address and full name. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Sweepstakes starts 11/09/17 at 8:15 p.m. ET and ends 11/09/17 at 9:15 p.m.. ET. Open only to persons who, upon entering, are not deemed minors in their jurisdiction of primary residence and are legal residents of, and physically located within, the 50 U.S. or D.C. Limit 1 entry per person/per email address. For complete details, including full eligibility requirements, odds of winning and limitations, see Official Rules. Void where prohibited by law. View the full article

Tonight’s “After Dark” image was snapped by Photographer Mark Willard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where the new Sunset Seasons Greetings is adding holiday cheer to Sunset Boulevard and the Hollywood Tower Hotel. This new holiday experience features projections of Mickey, Minnie and other beloved Disney characters sharing their favorite Christmas stories as a snowy Sunset Boulevard twinkles with stunning holiday decorations. Holiday magic brings billboards to life and transforms the famous Hollywood Tower Hotel into scenes of the season – a giant pile of Christmas gifts, a gingerbread house and a frozen winter wonderland. This fantastic and heartwarming experience will run continuously throughout the holiday season. View the full article

One day, I may be sick of Walt Disney World’s fondness for putting shows up on the sides of iconic theme park buildings. Doctors will call it “projection rejection” or the Latin equivalent. But don’t call the ambulance yet. I have survived and thrived after the latest round, just for the holiday... View the full article

I told you it was coming… . Check out the Starbucks 2017 Holiday Disney Parks Mug! 2017 Holiday Starbucks Disney Parks Mug As a taller mug, it’s a bit of a different style, but the snowed-upon Gingerbread Castle and whimsical swirls make it just as fun as previous versions of the Starbucks Disney Parks Holiday Mug. 2017 Holiday Starbucks Disney Parks Mug I found it at Main Street Bakery, the Magic Kingdom Starbucks location. You may have already seen the recently updated version of the Magic Kingdom “You Are Here” Mug, but just in case, here it is again. New Magic Kingdom “You Are Here” Mug New Magic Kingdom “You Are Here” Starbucks Mug But now the teeny, tiny tree ornament version is available, too! Itty Bitty “You Are Here” Mug Ornament It’s SO CUTE! Magic Kingdom “You Are Here” Mug Ornament Be on the lookout for these mini mug ornaments at the other parks, too. You’ll find them at Creature Comforts in Animal Kingdom, Fountain View in Epcot, and The Trolley Car Cafe in Hollywood Studios. So, there’s the latest news in Disney Parks Starbucks Mugs… until they change them again . Will you be adding to your Disney Parks Starbucks Mug collection on your next Disney vacation? Please let us know with a comment! 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: Spotted: New Disney Parks Starbucks Tumblers and New Magic Kingdom Ceramic Tumbler Spotted: 2015 Starbucks Disney Parks Holiday Souvenir Mug Spotted: Disney Parks Exclusive Starbucks Mug and Cup Ornaments View the full article