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There’s so much to enjoy at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom Park – from characters in costume and complimentary treats, special shows, fireworks and more. Here are our top-five can’t-miss moments from this year’s party. Trick-Or-Treating! – Feeling like a kid again and being able to trick-or-treat right alongside our kids is so incredibly entertaining! Guests of all ages are welcome to do so at candy stops throughout Magic Kingdom Park on party nights. Be sure to pick up an event map on your way in to find your way to special treat stops. Disney Characters In Costume – Talk about fun photo opportunities! During Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Parties, many Disney characters are out and about in their Halloween best, ready to greet guests and pose for photos. You can catch even more in “Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade” at the event. Seeing the creative costumes our guests come up with is also a lot of fun. The “Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular” Stage Show – In this guest-favorite stage show, the Sanderson sisters – Winifred, Mary and Sarah – visit the mortal world for an all-new adventure, with a plan to use their magic to throw the best, evil Halloween party this side of the graveyard. You don’t want to miss the character appearances and fun musical numbers in this show. The “Mickey’s Boo To You Halloween Parade” – This spooktacular procession steps off twice each party night, led by an appearance from the Headless Horseman. Be on the lookout for an entire section of the parade inspired by residents of the Haunted Mansion, including marching butlers, waltzing spirits and the Hitchhiking Ghosts themselves! “Happy HalloWishes Fireworks” – Partygoers can’t miss the event’s special Halloween-themed fireworks spectacular. Narrated by the Ghost Host from The Haunted Mansion, the skies explode with color to the tunes of “Grim Grinning Ghosts,” “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” “Never Smile at a Crocodile,“ “The Skeleton Dance,” from Silly Symphony and more. To learn more about Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, click here. And don’t forget to tell us your favorite party moments in the comments section below. View the full article

In our Disney Doodles series, our team of Disney artists take turns imaging what different characters would do or see if they had the chance to visit a Disney theme park. Today, we’re kicking off a week on the Disney Parks Blog with a Doodle from artist Ashley Taylor, who imagines what Hercules would do if he had the chance to visit Epcot. “Hercules loves to go on new adventures!” she said. “I imagine Herc would be amazed at the technology in FutureWorld! Mission: SPACE will allow him to explore, see the constellations and go the distance!” View the full article

Happy weekend! We’re back with another edition of our Disney Food Round-up for you today. Disneyland Mummy Macaron HalloweenTime has begun in Disneyland, and we’ve got reviews of the adorably spooky eats! And the 2017 Epcot Food and Wine Festival is in full swing at Epcot! If you’re making plan to attend the Festival you should check out our Best of the Fest post and DFB Best of the Fest YouTube video! And don’t forget, the 2017 Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic is October 27 and 28! We have all the details for you! We have a lot to share with you this week, so let’s jump right in… Disney Food News See the spooky and fun HalloweenTime eats in Disneyland, and find our out thoughts! AJ is on the latest Passporter Mom Podcast talking about all things Epcot Food and Wine Festival! Check out our Disney FrankenFood creation – the Fried Banana Sundae! Disney World reopened on Tuesday, September 12 following Hurricane Irma. We checked out the cute Pumpkin Cupcake at the Magic Kingdom. We enjoyed another delicious meal at Epcot’s Via Napoli. We’re talking about CHEESE at Casey’s Corner in the Magic Kingdom! We reviewed the NEW Mickey Birthday Cake Scone at Disney World. New DFB YouTube videos: Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Review and the Worst Restaurants at Disney World. Check out all the latest Disney Food News — even the stuff we don’t mention in posts on the blog! — on our Disney Food News Pin Board, including menu updates, restaurant closures, special events, and more! We’ve got all the latest for you, so check it out before you go. New DFB Video: The WORST Restaurants in Disney World Have you subscribed to the DFB YouTube Channel? We’ve got great content going up twice a week showcasing our adventures in Disney World and Disneyland! This week, we list our Worst Restaurants in Disney World! Check it out below — and subscribe here. Deal of the Week: Save 20% off the DFB Guide to the 2017 Epcot Food & Wine Festival Start your Epcot Food and Wine Festival planning now! The DFB Guide to the 2017 Epcot Food & Wine Festival e-Book is now available to order! N 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. 2017 is a big year as the Epcot Food and Wine Festival runs 75 full days from August 31 through November 13. And The DFB Guide to the 2017 Epcot Food & Wine Festival e-Book features all the info you need to know about this year’s events, from what’s NEW, to brand new details and a FULL Daily Schedule of Events. This book is uniquely organized to make sure you have the best Food and Wine Festival, 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! What’s In The DFB Guide to the 2017 Epcot Food & Wine Festival e-Book? Full Booth Menus with over 100 full color food photos featuring what menu items you can expect at the World Showcase booths this year. A full Schedule of Events for every single day of the festival. Don’t mess with scrolling websites and making calendars — we’ve got everything organized so you know exactly what’s happening on each calendar day! It’s the most in-depth coverage of the Epcot Food and Wine Festival ANYWHERE. A full chapter on what’s NEW at the festival, including a full list of new menu items at the booths! Discount details and information Fully updated FAQ section Plans and strategies for Kids at the Festival​​​​​​​ And MORE! See Sample Pages from the Guide Here! As always, we’ve made this guide instantly downloadable for your convenience, and easily installed on your mobile devices. It’s a PDF guide with ​250+ pages of detailed information about the Festival as well as hundreds of photographs and customized bonus items to help you get the best experience possible. ​​​​​​​ This guide is guaranteed to help you better plan a rewarding Food & Wine Festival tour, or your money back! Use code Chefs at check-out for a 20% discount. Be sure to stay tuned to Disney Food Blog for all of the latest coverage about the 2017 Epcot Food and Wine Festival. DFB Reader Finds If you find a fun new food — or other edible awesomeness — in or around Disney, share a photo with us on facebook or twitter so we can add it to our DFB Reader Finds each Sunday. We recently shared the new Wine Slushies at Amorette’s Patisserie in Disney Springs (you really gotta try them!). DFB reader Katie Jane enjoyed a slush recently with the Amorette’s Signature Cake. She said it was a delicious combo – and it’s pretty too! Our kind of treat! Here at the DFB we LOVE Cafe Orleans at Disneyland. This iconic restaurant is home to some amazing foods including Mickey Beignets and a favorite around here, the Monte Cristo. Our pal Chris Hogstad shared this photo with us recently with the caption “At Cafe Orleans with the good stuff!” Lucky guy! One of our all-time favorites! Do you have a favorite Disney Food find? Share your photos with us! On to the Round-Up! Mickey Fix has a new How-To Guide for Hosting a Disney Villains Party! WDW for Grownups shared a review of the Best Friends Breakfast at ‘Ohana. Disney Parks Blog shared some healthy snacking tips for back-to-school and beyond. Star Wars shared a recipe for Rebel Alliance Chili-Lime Melon Pops. Have a great week! We’ll see you back here tomorrow with another great Disney food review! 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: Disney Food Post Round-Up: September 10, 2017 Disney Food Post Round-Up: July 23, 2017 Disney Food Post Round-up: April 2, 2017 View the full article

DIY Halloween: Make Hauntingly Good Mickey Ghost Apples View the full article

iNSIDE Disney Parks - Fall Returns to Disney Parks View the full article

Halloween is HERE! No matter what the actual calendar says , the Disney Parks on both coasts are already celebrating the most epic Halloween ever — especially when measured in Seasonal and Spookerrific eats! Disneyland Minnie Mouse Jack O’Lantern! We recently checked out Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World, so today we’re kickin’ it west coast style. Halloween-ified Disneyland Maps and Times Guide! And Disneyland is killin’ it this year! Take a spook… I mean, a LOOK! Haul-O-Ween in Cars Land They’ve introduced a super cool Halloween overlay in Cars Land that we can NOT get enough of! Cars Land Signage and Fun! The Halloween-ization of Cars Land is just… well, look for yourself. So much neon. So much spook. And it doesn’t end with colorful signs and bright up-lighting. Oh, no. Mater is totally in on the action. If you’ve seen Mater’s Tall Tales, you know he can pull off some looks. But THIS is a new one: VAMP-MATER! Vamp-Mater is the best Mater. Even the tractors got some love, all wrapped up like mummies. Cars Land has always been a mecca for incredible screen-to-real-life design, but this shows a whole new level of creativity. Mummy Tractor While we’re in Cars Land, we gotta check out some souvenirs and eats. Because our dear pals Sabrina (@EverythingDisney.55) and Heather (@DiningInDisney) really went above and beyond to capture all this Halloween magic! First up: Spooky Traffic Cone Bottles. They might not be the most practical souvenir cups we’ve ever seen, but they just might be the most original! Traffic Cone Bottle Of course, Cars Land doesn’t stop there with the traffic cone motif. You can also find one of the most hotly anticipated savory snacks of the Halloween season: the Slow Burnin’ Mac and Cheese Cone. Slow Burnin’ Mac and Cheese Cone This is one in a line of many bread cones served up at the Cozy Cone Motel, but this is the ONLY one served up in a “black cauldron cone”. Slow Burnin’ Mac and Cheese Cone Heather hypothesizes that this cauldron is pumpernickel bread, which explains the dark colored dough. But pumpernickel isn’t Heather’s jam, so this wasn’t a win for her. Black Cauldron Cone Inside this cauldron is macaroni in a spicy red pepper cheese sauce. It’s definitely got a fiery hue. And Heather reports that it is, indeed, spicy, which is great if you love heat. Spicy Red Pepper Cheese Sauce The bright red topping is crushed red chile-cheese puffs (which are basically screamin’ hot Cheetos!). They add a little textural interest, but just there’s not much of it on there. Gimme more, please! Slow Burnin’ Mac and Cheese Cone Overall, the Slow Burnin’ Mac and Cheese Cone was just okay, which is a bummer because it had so much potential! But! Cars Land has another cone-related snack: the Spoke-y Cone Macaron. Spoke-y Cone Macaron Those eyes are pretty intimidating, but fear not! The Spoke-y Cone is really just an orange-colored macaron. Spoke-y Cone Macaron But that’s not all there is to it. Tucked inside are several candy corns and marshmallow buttercream — so you candy corn fans, this one is DEFINITELY for you! Candy Corn Inside the Spoke-y Cone Macaron Like every good macaron, this one has a crisp outside and a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth inside that crumbles deliciously when you eat it. Spoke-y Cone Macaron Heather also stopped in at Flo’s V-8 Cafe to try one of their Halloween offerings: Car-Achnid Pot Pie. (Clever!) Halloween Menu at Flo’s V-8 Cafe This is a traditional chicken pot pie, but the inclusion of dried cranberries cranks up the autumn theme a bit. Of course, the awesome CAR-achnid on the top also helps to set the mood. CAR-achnid Pot Pie You’ll want to see that butter crust up close. It’s beautifully golden brown with an eight-legged friend perched on top. CAR-achnid Pot Pie This was Heather’s FAVORITE ITEM OF THE DAY — and that’s really saying something once you see what else makes up this list! If you find yourself hungry for some savory comfort food in Cars Land, go get this! Chicken Pot Pie Heather also picked up a Spicy Pepper Jack Cheese Stick from Corn Dog Castle in California Adventure. This one is a doozy as far as heavy snacks go. A pepper jack cheese stick is dredged in corn batter and deep fried. It’s drizzled with blackberry sauce and topped with pineapple salsa, pickled serranos, and crushed cheese puffs (regular this time — not the fiery hot ones!) Spicy Pepper Jack Cheese Stick Heather reports that it’s as hefty as the description seems. And while it was tasty, she advises sharing with at least one other person. Spicy Pepper Jack Cheese Stick The blackberry sauce is a sweet foil to the savory cheese stick and spicy peppers. And the pineapple salsa is pretty unexpected — but it’s good! And Heather was very happy to find that the cheese stick inside had melted. That’s a must if we’re deep frying cheese sticks, but it doesn’t always happen. So this is a winner! Spicy Pepper Jack Stick Now, those of you who follow Disney Food Blog on Instagram can’t have missed our endless musings on the glory of Groot Bread that was available for the Summer of Heroes, so it will come as no surprise that we were able to find a suitable Halloween substitute with Vampire Mater Bread! Vampire Mater Bread We do love some character-shaped carbs! And this one looks even better in person than it does on the sign. It’s sourdough with some cheese baked in, so this is good for just about everyone. (I wanna get my hands on those wings!) Vamp Mater Sourdough! As much fun as Haul-O-Ween in Cars Land is, we’ve got some more treats to check out! Dreamsicle Beignets Drift your ghostly self over to the Mint Julep Bar in New Orleans Square in Disneyland to grab this year’s Seasonal Mickey Beignets. Dreamsicle Beignets! You’ll recall that the Mint Julep Bar offers just a couple of specialties: their recently-revamped Mint Julep and Mickey Beignets. In years past, the Halloween seasonal beignet has been butterscotch — but not this year! Mickey-Shaped Beignets Instead, the seasonal topping is Dreamsicle. They’re your traditional Mickey Beignets (three or six to a bag), dusted with orange-tinted, orange-flavored sugar and complete with sugar stars. Bag of Beignets We’ve seen flavored sugar at Disneyland before, like for the anniversary celebration of Pirates of the Caribbean, where churros were coated in gold, lemon-flavored sugar. Orange Sugar Heather loved this iteration of one of our favorite Disneyland snacks. They are still powerfully sweet, although the sugar here is texturally different from the traditional powdered sugar (which is still available throughout the season, BTW!). Star and Sprinkles Inside as always, the beignets have lovely air pockets and soft dough. Just right for the fall. And spring, summer, and winter, for that matter. Beignet insides More Sweet Treats If you’re in the mood for pumpkin-everything, Jolly Holiday has some always amazing options. The Pumpkin Muffin is a guest favorite, with a dollop of cream cheese frosting on top and terrific texture as well. Jolly Holiday Pumpkin Muffin The Creamy Pumpkin Cheesecake is another perennial favorite, with this season’s version topped with swirls of chocolate and a festive chocolate bat. Jolly Holiday Creamy Pumpkin Cheesecake If you want some autumnal spice without the pumpkin, you’ll fall for the Spiced Bundt Cake. It’s indulgent, with glaze and frosting, candied orange peel, and dense cake. Spiced Bundt Cake Inside is even more frosting and glaze. Inside the Bundt Cake There’s no event too small or too big for a Disney Cake Pop, and the Halloween version is perfectly sinister! It’s a Black Rose Cake Pop, which is sure to give you all kinds of creepy feels. You can find these at the Candy Kitchens all over the park. Black Rose Cake Pops If you’ve heard the spectral whisper of cupcakes and cookies, you can find Halloween-inspired ones in the park as well. The Headless Horseman Cupcake has Oreo cookie crumbles and some ghastly red drizzles. The Bat Cookie, on the other hand, is a shortbread in one of the holiday’s quintessential shapes. Halloween Treats If you can’t leave Disneyland without a candy apple – friend, have they got two options for you! The Evil Queen and Maleficent have been immortalized once more this year! Evil Candy Apples And in case you don’t get over to California Adventure for that Spoke-y Cone Macaron (or if you just try to avoid candy corn, like some of us), there’s an equally festive option in the sweet shops in Disneyland: the Mummy Macaron. Mummy Macaron It’s completely picture perfect, with white chocolate strands wrapping a Mickey-shaped macaron. Simply AWESOME. Mummy Details Sabrina also scored a delicious cup of refreshing Green Apple Spell Lemonade with Cherry Drops at Smokejumper’s Grill in Disney California Adventure. The flavor combination of green apple, lemon, and cherry is terrifically sweet and sour. Green Apple Spell Lemonade with Cherry Drops Seriously, Disneyland has once again come out swinging with the seasonal refreshments. But even with all the choices this year (check out the full list here!), it’s still not Halloween Time in Disneyland without… Popcorn Buckets Okay, we’re starting off with this year’s Annual Passholder Exclusive Popcorn Bucket. But even if you don’t have a Disneyland Annual Pass, it’s so funky this year you’ve just GOTTA check it out. The sign doesn’t shed any light on things other than the price and the refillable details (unlimited for a buck through October 31st!). Annual Passholder Exclusive Popcorn Bucket But once you see it… Oogie Boogie Popcorn Bucket YES!!!!! And, my friends… Oogie Boogie GLOWS IN THE DARK (!!!). Glowing Oogie And if you’re not an Annual Passholder, you’ve still got a Perfectly Pumpkin-y Popcorn Bucket option with the seriously cute Pumpkin Mickey! Pumpkin Mickey Popcorn Buckets Of course, what’s Halloween anywhere without COSTUMES?!? This year, we present to you Daisy Duck. Perfectly bewitching as always, no? Daisy, you’re so cute. Folks, the holidays at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure are starting off with a bang! And you’ve got until the Big Day — October 31st! — to try all the Halloween tricks and TREATS!!! Headed to Disneyland? Check out more of our DFB Disneyland coverage, reviews, and recommendations here on our Disneyland Food page! Let us know your favorite holiday-inspired treats from the Disney Parks! 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: Dining in Disneyland: More Halloween Treats at the Disneyland Resort Review: Butterscotch Mickey Beignets in Disneyland for Halloween Time Disneyland Halloween Treats View the full article

iNSIDE Disney Parks - Top Costumes at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party View the full article

International Talk Like a Pirate Day is September 19, and if you’ll be visiting Walt Disney World Resort, scuttlebutt says Disney PhotoPass Service has the perfect way for you to capture your inner buccaneer! On September 19, you can visit the PhotoPass photographer across from the Pirates of the Caribbean clock tower from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. at Magic Kingdom park (weather permitting) to take the Pirates of the Caribbean-themed Magic Shot above. Not sailing to Walt Disney World Resort on September 19? Throughout the year, PhotoPass offers so many ways for you to bring home mementos of your adventures in piracy! Check them out below. When you hop on board Pirates of the Caribbean at Magic Kingdom park, keep a weather eye on the horizon, as a Disney PhotoPass camera will capture the perfect treasure of your crew’s voyage.* Adventurous junior pirates who are chosen to train during Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Tutorial in Adventureland will have their swashbuckling skills documented by a PhotoPass photographer. Seafarers who drop an anchor at Disney Springs should visit the Disney PhotoPass Studio in the Marketplace and ask a photographer for a pirate-themed virtual backdrop! After you’ve collected your bounty of PhotoPass photos, you can visit MyDisneyPhotoPass.com to add pirate-themed borders to your treasured memories. Don’t want to cast away any of your PhotoPass photos? With Memory Maker, you can download all of your Disney PhotoPass photos from your Walt Disney World Resort vacation for one set of doubloons. Savvy? Entertainment is subject to change. *To preview, purchase and download this attraction photo, you must be wearing an active MagicBand linked to your My Disney Experience account. View the full article

30 Stays in 30 Days Highlights – First 10 Days | Walt Disney World Resort View the full article

Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort returns this month with happy hauntings at both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks. One of those spirited special events is Mickey’s Halloween Party, which takes place on select nights from September 20 to October 31 in Disneyland park. Guests attending this event can search for treats, meet Disney characters decked out in Halloween costumes, and see the spectacular “Halloween Screams” fireworks. I recently spoke with Cathy Dawson, merchandise product developer with Disney Parks Merchandise, who gave me a preview of the colorful commemorative products she created for this event. “Mickey’s Halloween Party is such a fun and colorful event,” explained Cathy. “We captured some of those vibrant colors in the specially designed event logo with Disney characters enjoying Halloween. Guests will find elements of that logo on apparel for adults and kids along with several collectible pins. These products are a great way to remember a frightfully fun visit to the Disneyland Resort.” Annual Passholders attending the event will find a logo t-shirt with Mickey Mouse, and a limited edition pin featuring the Headless Horseman (edition size 5,000). For guests who enjoy collecting Disney pins, we are releasing a limited edition box set with images of classic Disney Villains. This set will have an edition size of 1,000. Other pins will include a limited release logo pin, a limited edition “Halloween Screams” pin that spins, and a limited edition pin inspired by the “Frightfully Fun Parade.” The latter pin includes images of Zero and Oogie Boogie from “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Both limited edition pins will have edition sizes of 4,000 each. One final item is a light-up pumpkin ornament that includes the event logo. The best locations to find these items during the event is Emporium on Main Street, U.S.A., Pioneer Mercantile in Frontierland, and Pieces of Eight in New Orleans Square. Select pins will also be offered in pin trading locations such as 20th Century Music on Main Street, U.S.A., Westward Ho Trading Company in Frontierland, or Little Green Men Store Command in Tomorrowland. Annual Passholders should visit Disneyana on Main Street, U.S.A., or Tomorrowland Starcade to find apparel and pins. For Mickey’s Halloween Party 2017 ticket details, pricing and party dates, please visit Disneyland.com. View the full article

Scones often leave me a little… underwhelmed. If they aren’t done well, they can be dry and bread-y and not very sweet. With so many other awesome treats to try (like cupcakes!), I just struggle to muster much enthusiasm for biscuit’s sometimes-dried-out cousin. But I might have to eat my words — AND a scone! — because I’ve found one to be pretty darn excited about! It’s the Mickey Birthday Cake Scone!! Mickey Birthday Cake Scone at Goofy’s Candy Co. So, Happy Birthday — or UN-Birthday — to you and me! It’s perfectly Mickey shaped, with totally munchable ears. A drizzle of hardened glaze adds some sweetness, and the colorful sprinkles are festive. Mickey Birthday Cake Scone at Main Street Confectionery Inside is that signature crumbly scone texture, as well as sprinkles baked into the batter like a terrific confetti cake. The scone is subtly sweet and buttery, creating a well-balanced sweet and salty flavor that I actually really enjoyed! Inside of the Mickey Birthday Cake Scone You can find this Mickey Birthday Cake Scone at Goofy’s Candy Co. in Disney Springs and Main Street Confectionery at the Magic Kingdom. You can often find Lemon Blueberry Scones at these locations as well. Blueberry Scones along with Mickey Birthday Cake Scones At $3.99 or a DDP snack credit on the Disney Dining Plan, it’s a great deal for the quality and quantity you’re getting. Believe it or not, I was wowed by a scone! I think you may be, too! Don’t Miss Out on Any Disney Fun! The 2017 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, Second Edition, is now available! With more than 650 pages, the 2017 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, Second Edition 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 get your copy of the 2017 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, Second Edition E-book — and use code SAVE2017 for a 20% discount for a limited time! Use code SAVE2017 at check-out for a 20% off the cover price! Have you ever been surprised by a Disney Parks treat? Let us in on the secret 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: Review: Birthday Cake Ice Cream (!!!) Cookie Sandwich at Disney World’s Sleepy Hollow Refreshments News: Celebrate Mickey Mouse’s Birthday with Special Treats at Walt Disney World and Disneyland! Review: NEW Mickey Mousse and Snowball Cake Amorette’s Patisserie in Disney Springs View the full article

Disney fans understand the power of dreams and wishes – and when Disney and Make-A-Wish® join forces, dreams really do come true! As part of this extraordinary relationship, last week Shanghai Disney Resort hosted the very first wish child from Make-A-Wish Shanghai: seven-year-old Yuanbao from China’s Anhui Province. Yuanbao’s wish was to meet the lovable snowman Olaf from Disney’s animated film Frozen, so the citizens of Arendelle worked together to make his dream a reality. Olaf and his best friend Elsa surprised Yuanbao with warm hugs at the Royal Banquet Hall in Enchanted Storybook Castle as part of a magical day at Shanghai Disneyland, followed by a ride on Dumbo the Flying Elephant with Mickey Mouse and the chance to join Mickey’s Storybook Express as the parade Grand Marshal. This was the first official wish granted by Make-A-Wish Shanghai through the Disney Wish Program, which was launched at Shanghai Disney Resort earlier this year to support children with life-threatening medical conditions in mainland China. The program helps make life-changing wishes come true to bring hope, strength and joy to children when they need it most. Disney and Make-A-Wish have a long history of wish granting, with more than 113,000 Disney wishes fulfilled globally, and we’re excited to see wishes granted in Shanghai. Nearly 10,000 Disney-related wishes are granted every year working with wish-granting organizations around the world – including experiences at Disney theme parks, voyages on Disney Cruise Line and meetings with Disney characters – and we’re just getting started. We’re so happy that Yuanbao and his family could visit us for a few unforgettable memories, and we can’t wait to help make more transformational wishes come true. View the full article

The Halloween season has returned to Disney Parks! There are many ways guests can celebrate this “spooktacular” holiday such as exciting after-dark events like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom Park, or new experiences for Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort. This year, Disney Parks Merchandise created new artwork for its annual collection of Halloween-themed products. Dave Keefer, principal designer with Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media Creative Group, recently gave me the inside scoop about these colorful new designs. “This year’s Halloween art was inspired by Halloween images and graphics from the 1960s,” explained Dave. “We used bold graphics with lots of bright colors. Guests will also find familiar Halloween icons, such as pumpkins, bats, and black cats, hidden throughout the art. I love how the artwork captures the Disney characters enjoying the spirit of this spooky season.” For the artwork this year, each Disney character was given a unique color – Mickey Mouse has red hues while Minnie Mouse is bathed in purple. These colors are best seen in the cameo pin collection, select apparel, or the Halloween-themed bangles by Alex and Ani. Guests will find several returning favorite items including a pumpkin-shaped mug; a towel set; and an updated Halloween countdown clock with Mickey and Minnie Mouse dressed in their Halloween best. New items include a fun, foam wall décor of Mickey Mouse holding a “Trick or Treat” sign; colorful head bands that light-up; and a soft pumpkin-shaped treat bag that glows in the dark. These items and more are available in a variety of merchandise locations throughout Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. Select items are also found via the Shop Disney Parks app or the Disney online store. View the full article

With the recent arrival of Star Wars: Command Post aboard the Disney Fantasy, the Force is growing strong on the high seas! Young Padawans have been busy training with members of the Resistance and heroes of the Star Wars saga to embark on missions against the First Order throughout this new youth space in Disney’s Oceaneer Club. Check out some of the activities that take kids from Padawans to Jedi in no time: 5. Kids can take a seat and set course for some pretty far out places in the galaxy via Starfighter Training Simulators. From the icy planet of Hoth to the vast forests of Endor, epic missions have them traversing the galaxy in less than 12 parsecs! 4. When training to become one with the Force, children are visited by BB-8 himself, guiding them to success in a vital mission against the First Order. Keep an eye out, because you never know where this skittish but loyal astromech droid will show up! 3. While exploring this hidden Resistance base, young ones can virtually join the cause and engage in games via tablets showing them what it takes to become a part of the Resistance. Remember, the location of this Command Post MUST be kept a secret! 2. Children can step up to the one-of-a-kind “holotable” and choose their larger-than-life vehicles or droid companions for their missions. Warning, if you don’t choose your droid, they might just choose you! 1. Once their training is complete, Jedi in-the-making are put to the test and able to channel their new-found Force in an ambitious battle against First Order Stormtroopers. Devotion to the Resistance and strength in the Force are a must in order to move objects and play Jedi mind tricks on unsuspecting foes. The out-of-this-world adventures don’t stop here. With seven-night cruises aboard the Disney Fantasy, there’s enough time for lots more epic fun. All this and much more are also available on special Star Wars Day at Sea sailings aboard the Disney Fantasy in early 2018. Throughout the day-long celebration, your family will enjoy encounters with the galaxy’s most formidable and heroic characters, a deck party spectacular with fireworks and other Star Wars-themed family fun. So, grab your droid and prepare to visit a galaxy far, far away in a whole new way! View the full article

30 Stays in 30 Days Highlights – Part 4 | Walt Disney World Resort View the full article

Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort starts today, and we have your first look at one of the most popular Halloween Time traditions – the 17th season of the Haunted Mansion Holiday gingerbread house. This year, the fanciful gingerbread creation features Oogie Boogie, who gets his chance to shine after a 13-year absence in the ballroom, thrilling fans of “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.” “The gingerbread mansion this year has a bug problem – gingerbread bugs! But it’s not a problem that a gingerbread Oogie Boogie can’t fix. He pried open the roof of the gingerbread mansion and has his fork at the ready, happy to fix the infestation in the only way he would – by eating them,” says Tim Wollweber, associate art director for Disney Parks, who designed this year’s house. “But quite a few bugs have gotten loose and are rampaging across the ballroom table, tormenting the gingerbread zombies there, who are forced to defend themselves with silverware!” The house is six feet tall to the roof point, but the animated Oogie Boogie himself is seven feet tall. There are more than 70 bugs “scurrying” across the ballroom table and the ballroom itself. We have been told there might be a few gingerbread bugs that have escaped out of the ballroom … think you can find them? What did it take to make this whimsical ginger-dread house? We asked the creative team at Disneyland Resort Central Bakery – Executive Pastry Chef Jean-Marc Viallet and Lead Pastry Chef Edgar Urtola – for their shopping list: 200 pounds gingerbread 200 pounds powdered sugar 4 gallons egg whites 1 gallon lemon juice 30 pounds white chocolate 50 pounds gum paste 8 ounces (each) food coloring (blue, purple, orange, yellow, red) 16 ounces green food coloring 50 pounds fondant 1/3 pound glitter 200 hours Disney Culinary Magic Haunted Mansion Holiday lasts through early January 2018, giving you plenty of time to check out this creepy cool gingerbread creation. View the full article

BB-8, the beloved droid sidekick to Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, has been delighting guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios since his arrival in April. This adorable astromech is creating a whole new generation of Star Wars fans as it interacts and “communicates” with fans in a themed greeting location inside Star Wars Launch Bay, the headquarters for all things Star Wars. Little ones can’t get enough of the droid and show their amusement in this #DisneyKids video above. To plan your own visit with BB-8, be sure to check the My Disney Experience app or the park’s Times Guide on the day of your visit. View the full article

CELEBRATION, Fla. – Animator’s Palate on the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder inspires creativity with “Drawn to Magic,” a black-and-white to color animation show that surrounds guests in the swirling colors of animated classics and transports their dining experience into a dramatic story of heroes and villains. The venue, cloaked from floor to ceiling in a classical black and white motif, tips a nostalgic hat to old-time animation in the Steamboat Willie era of Disney’s animation past. Over-sized digital canvases line the walls of Animator’s Palate, where unseen artists sketch character portraits in real-time as guests find their tables and make their dinner selections. Guessing which favorite Disney characters are being sketched becomes a fun game for the whole family, as the likes of their favorite heroes and villains begin to materialize on the walls of the restaurant. As appetizers begins to arrive, pencil tests of Disney characters are revealed throughout Animator’s Palate, bringing to life iconic moments—from Disney favorites like Beauty and the Beast, The Princess and the Frog and more—one canvas at a time. Guests get their first taste of color when the character pencil tests around the room are treated to ink and paint. Each of the characters are shown throughout the painting process of animation, highlighting both the traditional cel painting and modern digital art, which offers a unique look into the animation behind some of Disney’s most adored feature films. Pixie dust heralds the final element of animation, completing the arc from sketch, to pencil test, to ink and paint, leading to the result—storytelling. As dinner begins to wind down and desserts are selected, a grand “Drawn to Magic” finale begins, immersing guests in an animated show about a hero’s journey through Disney and Pixar animation from wishing upon a star to happily ever after. The tale begins as the room darkens so that the illuminated digital canvases can tell the story of dreams, featuring iconic wishing moments from films like Tangled, The Princess and the Frog, Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty and more. “When You Wish Upon a Star” tugs at heartstrings, as guests reminisce with the characters of dreams and wishes. The arrival of the Blue Fairy from the classic feature film Pinocchio, brings hope—and a dash of magic—to these stories, imparting a rich splash of color to the walls of Animator’s Palate, for the first time. With their dreams coming true, characters like Cinderella, Merida, Peter Pan and more show guests how animation can tell a story of beauty, hope, magic and wonder. Guests soar through the clouds with Aladdin and Jasmine, tumble to Wonderland with Alice and explore a new world with Ariel. The storytelling continues as the walls shift to a lighter, golden color with clips of lovable Disney characters featuring some of their most memorable, humorous and endearing moments. As the stories continue and become more intense, the room melds into more colors, bringing new life to the stories. The show takes a dramatic turn when these fanciful dreams are interrupted by fearsome Disney villains—from Maleficent to Jafar—drenching the entire room in a deep crimson red for the first time during the show. This dramatic shift in the lighting plunges guests into the story as characters, taking them on a fearful journey of darkness and despair, finally halting when the protagonists have been overcome. Wearied and worn, the canvases return to their normal state, and the walls become a pale washed-out color—our heroes have been defeated, and hope seems lost. As with happy endings though, magic, faith—and a little bit of pixie dust—raises our heroes (and guests), proving that dreams and hope prevail. Scenes from classic and modern Disney films play on canvases around the room, as the walls flash with moving watercolor medleys, bathing the black and white room in full color. The celebration comes to life, with a parade of color and “transformed” wait staff, led by Sorcerer Mickey, who knows more than anyone, that wishing and dreams can change everything. Set to an eloquent score composed by Randy Miller, and recorded at Capitol Studios in Hollywood, California, this show features music and animation from popular Disney movies that range from Disney’s classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, to the contemporary, including Disney’s hit feature film, Frozen. To learn more about Disney Cruise Line or to book a vacation, visit disneycruise.com, call Disney Cruise Line at 888-325-2500 or contact a travel agent. ### View the full article

Today, Walt Disney Presents, a re-imagined version of the One Man’s Dream attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, officially opens its doors to offer a new look at the past, present and future of Disney Parks. One of the exciting pieces of the “future” that Walt Disney Presents showcases is a model of the park’s Toy Story Land expansion, which will be on display for guests to view starting today. The Toy Story Land expansion, which will open in Summer 2018, will shrink guests to the size of a toy and allow them to explore all the fun of Andy’s backyard, which as you can see in these images, has been delightfully filled with familiar toys and sights from the “Toy Story” films. You can also see some of the charming detail our Imagineers have created for this new land and its two major attractions – Slinky Dog Dash and Alien Swirling Saucers. The Slinky Dog Dash attraction will be a family coaster themed as if Andy used his Mega Coaster Play Kit to build the ultimate coaster for Slinky. The land’s other major attraction, Alien Swirling Saucers, has been designed as a toy play set that Andy got from Pizza Planet, in which Aliens are flying around in their toy flying saucers and trying to capture guests’ rocket toy vehicles with “The Claw.” But the Toy Story Land model isn’t the only exciting draw to Walt Disney Presents. Tracing Disney history from Walt Disney’s beginning sketches, photos and storyboards, the attraction celebrates milestones in Disney film and theme park history up through today and beyond. Expect to see models, maquettes, sketches, artist renderings, a portion of the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge model, concept art for the new Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway attraction and more. Walt Disney Presents will also continue to host greetings with characters like Star-Lord and baby Groot, plus special sneak previews of upcoming Disney films. Check you My Disney Experience app for the latest. View the full article

The holiday season at Walt Disney World will feature new entertainment options at Epcot and new decor and projections at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and other changes. Among them: • At Epcot, there’s a new name: The Epcot International Festival of Holidays, replacing the old Holidays Around the... View the full article

A vista of the pressures faced by Disney Theatrical Productions fills the lobby of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts: Hundreds of bubbly children and unabashed adults dressed as Elsa, Anna, even the rotund sidekick Olaf, the animated snowman peripheral and problematic for a live Broadway... View the full article

Actress Claire Danes Visits Her Favorite Disney Dog, Goofy at Walt Disney World View the full article

Tonight’s Disney Park After Dark image was snapped in the Town Square area of Magic Kingdom Park, which is looking extra spooky this time of year. Already dressed up for fall, Town Square is stacked with not-so-scary jack-o-lanterns, pumpkins, wreaths and more. On Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party nights, themed background music and lighting effects transforms it even more into a Halloween wonderland. What’s your favorite part of fall at the Walt Disney World Resort? Tell us in the “Comments” section below. View the full article

Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort is expanding into Disney California Adventure park, bringing the first-ever Haul-O-Ween in Cars Land. The residents of Radiator Springs are getting into the spirit, decorating each of their establishments and even donning their own car-stumes! Lightning McQueen is already a super hero to race fans, and his car-stume reflects that. Here he is next to the scare-car which makes its Haul-O-Ween debut this year. Mater may not have a trunk, but that won’t stop him from trunk-or-treating in his vampire costume. Come see these and more “Cars” characters in their car-stumes during Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort, September 15 through October 31! View the full article

Hey Guys! We’re back with another DFB Video today, but we’ve gotta tell you — this one wasn’t easy to make. Because we’re talking Disney World’s Worst Restaurants. We get that this might be a little controversial. I mean, somebody has to love these places, right? But as far as we’re concerned, they’re spots where we’ve routinely — over more than once visit — had subpar experiences. Whether it’s the food, or the service, or both. These restaurants just don’t do much for us, and we think you’d be better off skipping them. Want all the details? Check out our video below! 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! Now, we’d love to hear your thoughts. What are your picks for the worst restaurants in Disney World? Leave a comment and let us know! 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 DFB Video: Best and Worst Disneyland Park Sit-Down Restaurants! New DFB Video: Best and Worst Character Meals in Walt Disney World New Video: 5 Disney World Restaurants We Can’t WAIT to Try! View the full article