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Disney has been busy making live-action versions of beloved animated classics, and perhaps none has been as closely watched - and criticized - as "Aladdin." The latest blowback started after the Hollywood Reporter reported Tuesday that Billy Magnussen is joining the cast to play a new character... View the full article

Disney's big move away from Netflix just took another major step. Bob Iger, the company's walking winning streak of a chief executive, announced Thursday that two of its biggest cinematic franchises, "Star Wars" and Marvel, will migrate to Disney's streaming service that's set to go live in 2019. ... View the full article

As we’re in the thick of the 2017 Epcot Food and Wine Festival, we have another new(ish) Epcot Festival to prepare for. The newly-named Epcot International Festival of Holidays will run from November 19 – December 30, 2017! The Epcot Christmas Tree Holidays Around the World at Epcot has been a beloved seasonal tradition for many years. Holiday Storytellers, the Candlelight Processional, an extra-festive Peace on Earth Holiday version of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, and enhanced food offerings have all been part of the celebration year after year. In 2016, however, the addition of Holiday Kitchens changed the landscape of the event. While Holidays Around the World had always featured snacks representing traditional holiday foods from around the globe, the new Holiday Kitchens brought entire food booths and — much like the Marketplace Booths for the Epcot Food and Wine Festival — they offered their own complete menus. So, for 2017 — with the promise that the Holiday Kitchens will return — Disney has rebranded the event as the new Epcot International Festival of the Holidays! American Holiday Table Holiday Kitchen In fact, the Holiday Kitchens will be bigger and better than last year! According to wdwmagic.com, the count for Holidays Kitchens will be fifteen (as opposed to last year’s seven!). So far, Disney has confirmed the return of the following: American Holiday Table, Feast of the Three Kings, Holiday Sweets and Treats, and Mexico. Feast of the Three Kings Booth area And remember, unlike any other Epcot Festivals (which also include the Festival of the Arts and the Flower and Garden Festival), many of the Holiday Kitchens featured full-sized entrees in addition to small plates! Case in point: the Slow-Roasted Turkey from American Holiday Table: Slow-Roasted Turkey from American Holiday Table As you’re getting ready to plan your Epcot Holiday Eats, be sure to check out all the offerings from last year — along with our review of the event — to get an idea of what the Holiday Kitchens may have to offer for 2017! One more new addition to the Festival will be Chip & Dale’s Christmas Tree Spree — an add-on ($6.99) Scavenger Hunt experience similar to Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak Scavenger Hunt for the Food and Wine Festival. A note: while the Holiday Kitchens will make their debut on November 19th as part of the start of the Festival, it is anticipated that the Candlelight Processional and the holiday version of IllumiNations will maintain their previously scheduled start dates of November 24th. Candlelight Processional So get ready for a new way to celebrate the Holiday Season at Epcot! Holiday Disney Trip Planning? Pre-Order the DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2017 to Jump Start Your Fun! 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. We’ll guide you through all the special events, activities, and dining so that you can get the biggest bang for your buck! Yep — Our Holiday Guide covers everything Disney holiday-related — not just the food! And if you pre-order the 2017 Guide now, we will send you an instant download of the 2016 Guide so that you can start your planning right away! Then, you will automatically receive the 2017 Guide as soon as it’s published the Fall! As a special thank you to our readers for pre-ordering the DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2017, we are also offering a discount. Enter discount code PreHoliday at check out, and receive 20% off the list price of $14.95! That’s both the 2016 Guide and the 2017 Guide for $11.95! Two for the price of one! What do you think of the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays? 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! MORE FOOD BOOTHS (Menus Here!) Coming to Epcot’s Holidays Around the World! News: Festival of Holidays Returns to Disney California Adventure on November 10 News! Epcot Food and Wine Festival Booths Going UP! View the full article

Hurricane Irma is forcing the cancellation of two sessions of Walt Disney World events. The resort will not hold neither the Saturday evening edition of Night of Joy, its two-day Christian music festival, nor the Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party that is scheduled for Sunday, the company announced... View the full article

Yes, yes, I’m one of those people who just couldn’t embrace Halloween celebrations in August. So I waited until September to attend Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom. But in Central Florida, September is really August: Part 2, and, in my opinion, too warm to be going around... View the full article

Hurricane Irma is already wreaking havoc on Central Florida’s arts scene. The Amway Center has announced that Disney on Ice’s “Dare to Dream” has been postponed. “In an effort to ensure the safety of our patrons, all performances of Disney On Ice presents Dare To Dream previously scheduled for... View the full article

In our Disney Doodles blog series, our team of artists imagine what a Disney character would do or see they had the chance to visit a Disney Park. In today’s Doodle, artist Ashley Taylor imagines what Bambi and friends would do first if they could step into Disney’s Animal Kingdom for a day. According to Ashley, they’d head for the Africa section of the park, where butterflies are known to make an appearance. “I love visiting the butterflies at Disney’s Animal Kingdom!” Ashley said. “I would imagine Bambi and Thumper would have a lot of fun making new friends there!” View the full article

Decades of work experiences around the world for Walt Disney Co. form the basis of a new book called “Beyond the Castle: A Guide to Discovering Your Happily Ever After” by Jody Jean Dreyer. Dreyer says she held 22 different positions with the company, starting with a merchandise job on Magic Kingdom’s... View the full article

To celebrate the return of the popular nighttime spectacular, “Fantasmic!” at Disneyland park, the Disneyland Resort Design and Engineering team brought Maleficent to life with 5,250 canned and packaged goods at the 10th anniversary of CANstruction Orange County. For the past six months, this hard-working group has brainstormed, designed and planned the 10-foot-tall character. “It is important to always get involved, volunteer and help those in need. We participate in CANstruction because it serves a great cause in providing food for our local community, and we get to have fun while doing so!” said Giuliana Haro, Architecture and Facilities engineer. CANstruction Orange County is a design competition that raises funds and collects donations for the Orange County Food Bank to help put an end to hunger. The Disneyland Resort Design and Engineering team has participated for all 10 years and continues their dedication to this annual event. “Disney cast members have helped educate people about the issue of hunger in a creative and compelling manner through magical and visually stunning structures that have entertained people,” said Mark Lowry, director of the OC Food Bank. Past years’ entries have included TOW Away Hunger, a “Cars”-inspired structure, which won the Juror’s Favorite award, and Sea the Difference a CAN Makes, a “The Little Mermaid”-themed structure, which won the award for Best Use of Labels. Disney VoluntEARS regularly assist in efforts at the Orange County Food Bank, and over the past decade the Disneyland Resort has provided more than 65,000 meals for the local community. This year’s CANstructures will be on display from September 2-24 at South Coast Plaza, John Wayne Airport and the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC). Vote here for your favorite! View the full article

Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! has been taking Disney California Adventure park guests on an out-of-this-world adventure since its opening earlier this summer. If you’ve ever wondered what inspires the storytellers behind experiences like this, join us at the Disney Parks Blog Galactic Meet-Up! The evening of Tuesday, Sept. 19, NASA representatives will join Imagineers along with the creative minds behind some of your favorite Super Hero stories for a unique panel discussion exploring how the science of space exploration influences the storytelling that we bring to life in innovative ways at Disney Parks. Following this exciting discussion, event guests will have the opportunity to experience the new Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark. Scheduled to participate in panel discussion*: Capt. Mike Foreman – Retired U.S. Navy pilot and NASA astronaut Kimberly Ennico Smith – Astrophysicist, Space Sciences Division, NASA Stephen Wacker – Vice President of Development, TV and New Media, Marvel Entertainment John Mauro – Regional Executive Producer, Walt Disney Imagineering Amy Jupiter – Executive Media Producer, Walt Disney Imagineering *Panelists are subject to change or cancellation without notice Space for this experience is limited, and you must sign up here. Confirmation emails will be sent after registration has reached capacity. Please remember the following: All participants who sign up for this experience must be 18 years or older, but guests of the participants may be younger than 18. Limit one guest per registrant. Confirmations are non-transferrable and have no cash value. Confirmation will be for the accepted registered person plus one guest. Valid photo I.D. will be required at check-in. Space is limited to 450 registrants. Registrations will be accepted in the order received based on eligibility and capacity. Disney California Adventure park admission will be provided beginning at 8 p.m., but participants will be responsible for any parking fees. I will give an update at the top of this post when capacity has been reached. Please note this experience is subject to restrictions, change and cancellation without notice. View the full article

You’re invited to bring your family and friends to discover Plaza de la Familia, an all-new festivity beginning September 15 at Paradise Gardens in Disney California Adventure park that celebrates Disney·Pixar’s “Coco” and the everlasting bonds of family. A highlight of Plaza de la Familia is “A Musical Celebration of Coco,” featuring an entertaining group of storytellers and original songs from “Coco” in a performance of dance and music. Our singing host, Mateo, is joined by an ensemble of Folklórico dancers and the GRAMMY®-winning Mariachi Divas, bringing to vibrant life three of the film’s enchanting songs. In addition to daily performances of “A Musical Celebration of Coco” at Plaza de la Familia, you’ll also enjoy authentic Mariachi music on the Paradise Gardens Bandstand, The World of Coco exhibit, a Tree of Life interactive photo location and a delicious all-new menu of Mexican foods. Plaza de la Familia is inspired by the beautiful tradition of Día de los Muertos that celebrates loved ones who have passed and honors the familial bonds that last forever. You can experience Plaza de la Familia, A Celebration of “Coco” for a limited time, September 15 – November 2 at Disney California Adventure Park, and look for Disney·Pixar’s “Coco” when the film arrives in theaters in 3D on November 22. View the full article

With highly anticipated new attractions coming to Disney World in the next several years, a historically high volume of road construction is taking place to get the parks ready. Reedy Creek Improvement District — the Disney-controlled taxing district that provides government services to the resort... View the full article

What’s “The Chew” cooking up with Minnie? A magical sweepstakes so that you can have a chance to win a vacation to Walt Disney World Resort at the most delicious time of the year – a vacation to see a live taping of the Emmy award-winning ABC hit show, “The Chew,” at the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival! There is one week left to enter – and we don’t want you to miss out on the fun, magic, or food! The Chew’s Magical Culinary Adventure Sweepstakes winner receives a vacation to Walt Disney World Resort to experience all four Theme Parks, a stay in the middle of the magic at a Disney Resort hotel, a $500 Disney Gift Card, plus the opportunity to attend a live taping of “The Chew” at Epcot. Enter for your chance to win at magicalculinaryadventure.com now! For more information, see our other blog post for a detailed description of the fun event. We hope to see you there! NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Sweepstakes ends at 11:59 PM ET on 9/15/17. Open only to legal residents of the 50 U.S. & D.C., 18 years of age or older. Winner must travel between October 3 – 8, 2017. Limit one (1) entry per person per day. See [Official Rules] for full details including entry requirements, eligibility restrictions, odds of winning, prize description and limitations. Void where prohibited. View the full article

Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort begins September 15, and this year the celebration is expanding to Disney California Adventure park with new spooky experiences around every corner! Here is what we are most excited to see: Cars Land Haul-O-Ween Celebration – The residents of Radiator Springs are decorating their establishments for the season, with Fillmore showing off his Jack-Oil-Lanterns and ghostly folk art, a Spider-Car spinning webs all over Flo’s V8 Café and more. Two Cars Land attractions will transform for the first time ever, with Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters becoming Luigi’s Honkin’ Haul-O-Ween, and Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree becoming Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree! Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark – Once the sun sets each evening during Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! will transform into Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark. The Guardians have successfully escaped The Collector’s Fortress, but they have accidentally left Groot behind! Help Rocket distract the creatures that have been released so he can find and rescue his little buddy. Headless Horseman Statue at Buena Vista Street – A new 10-foot-tall statue of the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow, holding his jack-o’-lantern head up to the sky, will haunt Carthay Circle throughout the season. Characters in Costume – Mickey Mouse and his friends will appear in new costumes along Buena Vista Street, with Mickey Mouse as a bat, Goofy as a ghost, Daisy Duck as a witch and more! Oogie Boogie Welcomes You – A spell will be cast the moment you enter Disney California Adventure park, with new Halloween decor inspired by “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Oogie Boogie’s oversized silhouette beckons guests through the main entrance as a swarm of bats encircle Carthay Circle Theatre. Which new experiences are you most looking forward to this year during Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

This Sunday, Sept. 10, is National Grandparents Day, and what better place to spend quality time with your grandparents than the Disneyland Resort? We asked our guests to share their favorite things to do — grandparents and grandkids together — for a day of fun in the parks. Check out their answers! What is your favorite thing to do with your grandparents or grandchildren at the Disneyland Resort? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

For the second time this summer, Lucasfilm and Disney have sacked the directing force behind a "Star Wars" film. On Tuesday, they announced the removal of Colin Trevorrow as director of "Star Wars: Episode IX." The news comes just over two months after Phil Lord and Chris Miller were fired as the... View the full article

Imagine this: you walk straight up to Aloha Isle in Magic Kingdom and walk away with your Dole Whip or Dole Whip Float… WITHOUT WAITING IN LINE. No muss, no fuss. Dole Whip Float Well, now you can do exactly that, because Aloha Isle has been added to the list of participating Counter Service locations offering Mobile Order! Mobile Order gives guests the opportunity to pre-order and pre-pay for their food items via the My Disney Experience app at select restaurants in Disney World parks, and even one restaurant — D-Luxe Burger — in Disney Springs. This allows guests to pickup their food upon arrival, bypassing the ordering queues in the restaurant! (You can read step-by-step instructions to learn how the process works here.) Thus far, the participating restaurants all offer full Counter Service meals. Aloha Isle is the first snack location to offer Mobile Order. And whenever that particular snack is DOLE WHIP… well, that’s very good news, indeed! Will you be pre-ordering your next Dole Whip? 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: Disney Dining Classic: Dole Whip Float at Magic Kingdom’s Aloha Isle News: Vanilla Dole Whip Is BACK at Magic Kingdom’s Aloha Isle Rumor: Saying Goodbye to Magic Kingdom’s Aloha Isle? View the full article

Several cruise lines have either canceled or shortened sailings as Hurricane Irma threatens Florida. Disney Cruise Line has canceled the seven-night cruise on Disney Fantasy that was to depart Port Canaveral on Sept. 9 and two planned cruises from Port Canaveral on Disney Dream slated to depart... View the full article

Several cruise lines have either canceled or shortened sailings as Hurricane Irma threatens Florida. Disney Cruise Line canceled the seven-night cruise on Disney Fantasy that was to depart Port Canaveral on Sept. 9 and two planned cruises from Port Canaveral on Disney Dream slated to depart Sept.... View the full article

Shhh – don’t spoil the surprise! Hong Kong Disneyland Resort is turning 12 next week, and a dozen Disney friends are throwing a “Surprise Birthday Party” until September 14 with surprise character appearances, exclusive food and beverage offerings and dozens of new 12th Anniversary-themed merchandise items. During the birthday extravaganza, the Royal Banquet Hall in Fantasyland is offering new 12th Anniversary cupcakes themed to one of 12 Disney friends: Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale, Duffy, ShellieMay, Gelatoni and StellaLou. Order one of 12 delectable dishes and you’ll receive a special anniversary Cheese Cake at the Main Street Corner Café hosted by Coca-Cola®, Royal Banquet Hall or Explorer’s Club Restaurant, and enjoy a 12th Anniversary Chocolate Cookie at the Outdoor Vending Carts. Mickey, Donald, Goofy and Pluto will also be making surprise appearances at select restaurants, dressed in their chef outfits with 12th Anniversary commemorative gold medals. And Duffy will stop by Main Street Corner Café Hosted by Coca-Cola® to visit fans. Dozens of 12th Anniversary-themed merchandise items are now available, including accessories, gift sets, plush toys, pins and more. Items feature a “Disney in the Stars” fireworks display with Sleeping Beauty Castle in the background. They also include various park attractions, including “it’s a small world,” Cinderella Carousel, Mad Hatter Tea Cups, Orbitron and the Hong Kong Disneyland Railroad. And if you’re visiting on September 12th, you’ll also have the chance to collect a limited-edition 12th Anniversary Birthday Button as we celebrate the big 1-2 at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. View the full article

Hooray! Dates have been announced for the return of Festival of Holidays in Disney California Adventure! As part of the Holidays at Disneyland Resort, the Festival of Holidays celebrates the season with special entertainment, music, and FOOD! Disney Festival of Holidays Last year, that food came by way of Fourteen Festival Marketplace Booths, featuring everything from global bites to comfort foods to traditional holiday goodies. And today Disney announced that the Festive Foods Marketplace will return for its second year. Winter Sliderland Booth No specific booths have been announced as of yet, but last year featured spots like Southern Home Holidays (with its hit Sweet Potato Pie), Winter Sliderland (I loved the Praline and Bourbon Whoopie Pie), and Nosh & Nibbles (where the Reuben Potato Smash was the highlight). Praline & Bourbon Whoopie Pie That said, I was somewhat underwhelmed by the offerings, finding that in many cases the quality of the items didn’t quite justify the prices. (As a refresher, you can check out my full review of the event here.) Will that change when the event returns this year? We don’t know… yet. What we do know is that some other pretty terrific aspects of the Festival of Holidays will return, such as the opportunity to cap off your visit by viewing the special holiday version of World of Color — Season of Light. And part of the entertainment lineup will include Disney ¡Viva Navidad! And the fun won’t stop there! Over in Disneyland park, the Believe… in Holiday Magic fireworks show will return along with “A Christmas Fantasy” Parade and Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle. Plus, be sure to make time to experience “it’s a small world” Holiday and Haunted Mansion Holiday, too! Haunted Mansion Holiday It’s (almost ) time to start gearing up for the Holidays at Disneyland Resort! Will you be trying the Festive Foods Marketplace this year? 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: Festival of Holidays To Bring New Eats to Disney California Adventure News! Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival Returns in April 2016 Review: Festival of Holidays Food Booths in Disney California Adventure at Disneyland Resort View the full article

Disney Parks How-To Make a Bento Box Magical: Humphrey the Bear View the full article

Disney Parks How-To Make a Bento Box Magical: Br’er Rabbit on Splash Mountain View the full article

For those who have travel plans to Orlando’s theme parks, here’s what you should know as Hurricane Irma is under officials’ watch. At Universal Orlando Resort, the parks’ hours are operating as normal as they monitor the weather but visitors can reschedule or seek refunds, according to spokesman... View the full article

Hey Guys! We’re back with another DFB Video, and today, we’re sharing with you some of our favorite hidden gem dining spots at Walt Disney World. Trader Sam’s We love checking out some of Disney World’s more out of the way spots, like Trail’s End at Ft. Wilderness, or Boatwright’s at Port Orleans. Want to see even more of our favorite hidden gems? Check out the 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! So check out the video and then let us know: what are your favorite Disney World dining hidden gems? Leave a comment and share 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: New DFB Video: Stage Door Cafe in Disneyland’s Frontierland — A Hidden Gem! New Video: BIG Disney World Dining Mistakes (We Don’t Want You to Make!) New Video: 20 MORE Disney Snacks You Have to Try! View the full article