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We are bringing you LIVE coverage from the 2017 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival all weekend long! The 2017 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival Has Begun! Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram for the very latest updates! Yesterday, DFB’s own AJ and Dining in Disneyland columnist Heather were busy completing an extra delicious day of eating and drinking their way through every single dish and special drink at this year’s Festival. We’re busy putting together our Best of the Fest picks and we’ll have those for you very soon — stay tuned! But in the meantime, head over to the 2017 Disney California Adventure Main Menu Page to see photos of everything. Click here to go there right now! And while you’re there, stop by our Main Page to take in all the details about the Festival. From Special Events to Seminars and Demonstrations, we have all of the info you need to plan an extraordinary visit to the Festival yourself. And here’s a little foreshadowing: it’s an amazing event. You’re not gonna wanna miss it! Also, don’t forget — if you’re in Disneyland today, be sure to check out AJ and Heather as they take the stage for a Lifestyle Seminar all about Disneyland Secret Menu Items. The event is free and takes place today and tomorrow at 3:00PM, so head over! Go check out the pics! And then let us know: what are you looking most forward to trying this year at the DCA Food and Wine Festival? 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: News: FULL BOOTH MENUS for 2017 Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival! COME SEE US at the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival! News: Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival Returning to Disneyland Resort in 2017! View the full article

Disney Parks Moms Panel | Planning Tips for Animal Kingdom View the full article

This summer brings a pioneering “first” to Walt Disney World Resort as Disney’s Wilderness Lodge becomes the first property to feature two separate Disney Vacation Club Resorts. Following a timber-lined trail first blazed for Disney Vacation Club Members by the resort known today as Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (which opened in 2000 as simply The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge), the new Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (Currently in the final stages of construction, the Resort is scheduled to open July, 2017 – not yet registered in all jurisdictions) will add a new chapter to the property’s richly layered back story. Disney’s Wilderness Lodge pays tribute to the grand 19th century vacation lodges established along the First Transcontinental Railroad through the Pacific Northwest, while Boulder Ridge Villas draw inspiration from the residential communities that grew along those rails. Copper Creek Villas & Cabins pick up that story decades later, as more Americans opted to travel by car and plane. Unwilling to allow their communities to disappear with the railroad, Westerners resourcefully turned those “rails into trails,” repurposing industrial buildings, rock quarries and more as they reimagined spaces to welcome new generations of explorers. That spirit of reinvention and renewal is evident throughout the latest additions to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, from railroad-depot-turned-waterfront-restaurant Geyser Point Bar & Grill (now open) to abandoned-quarry-turned-pool-area Boulder Ridge Cove (scheduled to open this summer). Copper Creek Villas themselves repurpose everything from salvaged steel to railroad spikes as part of the transformation and refinement of former hotel rooms – reimagined as Deluxe Studios, one-bedroom villas, two-bedroom villas and three-bedroom Grand Villas, while rustically elegant Cascade Cabins re-imagine vacated lakeshore homes said to have once housed the railway company’s supervisors, site managers and VIPs. Copper Creek Villas & Cabins will become the 14th Disney Vacation Club Resort, the 10th at Walt Disney World Resort and the fifth in the Magic Kingdom Park Resort area – joining Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows and the aforementioned Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. View the full article

The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is underway at the park and guests are loving the Disney character topiaries that are on display this year. Among the 100 characters you’ll find in flower form scattered throughout the park are Anna and Elsa, Lady and the Tramp, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and many more. A new Belle and Beast topiary can also be found at the France pavilion, where Belle is dressed in a yellow ball gown created out of golden blooming Joseph’s Coat and Creeping Jenny plants. View the full article

Disney Parks Moms Panel | Planning Tips for Hollywood Studios View the full article

As you all know, Walt Disney’s hometown of Marceline, Mo., held a special place in his heart, so much so that it inspired him to create Main Street, U.S.A., among other parts of Disneyland park. Walt even said, “to tell the truth, more things of importance happened to me in Marceline than have happened since – or are likely to happen in the future.” This week, Disneyland Resort cast members had the opportunity to learn about Walt’s experiences in Marceline from Kaye Malins, who met Walt in her hometown as a young girl. Kaye met Walt and Roy Disney in 1956 when they stayed at her family home in Marceline. “At eight years old, I was fairly precocious, and the first time I met Walt and Roy Disney and their wives was in my living room,” Kaye shared. “So I walked up to Walt Disney and I said, “What room are you going to sleep in?” and he said, “Well, what room should I sleep in?” and I said, “Well, the pink one!” So my claim to fame was Walt and Lillian Disney stayed in my room.” When Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress came to Disneyland park from the New York World’s Fair, Walt had arranged for Kaye to have a job on its first crew. Today, Kaye is the director of the Walt Disney Hometown Museum in Marceline and shares her fond memories of Walt with those of us who wish we could have met him. Stories from Kaye about Walt Disney’s heritage and how the Walt Disney Hometown Museum developed were part of a special presentation for cast members with Peter Whitehead, the creative director of the museum. Housed in the restored Santa Fe Depot in Marceline, where Walt first arrived by train when he was five years old, the Walt Disney Hometown Museum tells the story of Walt’s childhood through exhibits and artifacts, like the classroom desk that he carved his initials into as a schoolboy. From left to right: Peter Whitehead, Creative Director, Walt Disney Hometown Museum; Becky Cline, Director, Walt Disney Archives; Kaye Malin, Director, Walt Disney Hometown Museum; Michelle Lund, Granddaughter of Walt Disney; and Jessica Bernard, 2015-2016 Disneyland Resort Ambassador. View the full article

Hey Guys! So, I’m totally in Disneyland today! And I thought to myself, what better way to share the love with you than by bringing you along with? So today’s DFB YouTube Video highlights one of my very favorite spots in Disneyland — in the WORLD, really — Cafe Orleans! There are so, so many reasons to love this classic stop. There’s a rich sense of history here — you’ll see what I mean when we take the tour! But of course, the main reason to visit is the amazing food! Cafe Orleans is home to not one, not two, but THREE of my favorite Disney Foods Of All Time! And you’re just gonna have to watch the video to see what they are! It’s all part of our effort to bring you full coverage of Disney, from coast to coast (and occasionally, around the world!) We love sharing it all with you. And the best way to ensure that you never miss a single adventure is to subscribe to our DFB YouTube Channel! But now, let’s hear from you! Is Cafe Orleans on you Disney Food Bucket List? Tell us about it in comments! 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 Video! Unique Disneyland Snacks Part I New DFB Video: Top Disneyland Meals Under $20 New DFB Video: Tajin Dole Whip Hack in Disneyland View the full article

Disney’s Copper Creek Villas & Cabins | Disney Vacation Club View the full article

Disney Parks Moms Panel | Planning Tips for Epcot View the full article

Just months ago, we hosted one of our favorite meet-ups of the year featuring a special screening of Disney’s animated film, “Moana.” Today, we’re offering readers an opportunity to be one of 50 winners of the Disney Parks Blog “Moana” Blu-Ray Combo Pack Sweepstakes. You can enter now for a chance to win a Blu-ray combo pack which includes a Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD of the film, plus an all-new “Maui Mini Movie,” that came out this week. “Moana” is an epic adventure from Walt Disney Animation Studios about a spirited teen who sets sail on a daring mission to save her people. Along the way, Moana (Auli‘i Cravalho) meets the once mighty demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson), and together they cross the ocean on a fun-filled, action-packed voyage. You can enter for a chance to win a Blu-ray combo pack 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. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Sweepstakes starts 3/10/17 at 1:00 p.m. ET and ends 3/10/17 at 3:01 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

Today is the day we’ve all been waiting for — Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival is now open! With over a dozen marketplaces featuring California-inspired cuisine, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at this year’s festival. You can experience new things every day of the festival, with daily educational beverage seminars and culinary demonstrations. Quench your thirst for knowledge about wine, beer and spirits during guided tasting seminars. Or, check out one of the culinary demonstrations, a 30-minute mini-cooking lesson which provides step-by-step instruction and recipe ideas, presented by a talented chef. Plus, you get to sample the delicious results! Reservations are still available, and can be made by clicking here. Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival runs daily now through April 16. For more about the festival, visit Disneyland.com/FoodAndWine. View the full article

What happens when you put 'Beauty and the Beast' stars at a piano with composer Alan Menken? Disney magic By Meredith Woerner March 10, 2017 92763534"Beauty and the Beast" actors Josh Gad and Luke Evans, along with composer Alan Menken, talk about the impact of the song "Gaston." In the alarmingly... View the full article

What happens when you put Josh Gad and Luke Evans at a piano with Alan Menken? Disney magic By Meredith Woerner March 10, 2017 92763534"Beauty and the Beast" actors Josh Gad and Luke Evans, along with composer Alan Menken, talk about the impact of the song "Gaston." In the alarmingly beige conference... View the full article

It’s an old, well-worn theme-park rumor: Those jumbo turkey legs are actually emu meat. It may get new life now that actor Zachary Levi announced it as inside information on Conan O’Brien’s talk show on Thursday night. His source? “Friends that have worked for Disneyland.” He didn’t say if they... View the full article

Yay! The 2017 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival officially starts TOMORROW! Mark you calendar for March 10-April 16, 2017. That’s six full weeks of daily delicious food and drink! The event, which celebrates the bounty and flavor of California, is one of our favorite Disneyland Festivals. There is so much to do and see, with Marketplace Booths, Special Events, and Culinary and Beverage Demonstrations and Seminars. But in addition to all of that, the Festival also offers Lifestyle Seminars. The seminars last 20-30 minutes, and offer a variety of tips on a range of lifestyle topics. And best of all — they’re FREE! Outdoor Stage at the DCA Food and Wine Festival And guess what? DFB will be there! Woo!! Come see Dining in Disneyland’s Heather Sievers (find her on Instagram and Twitter: @DininginDisney) and ME (AJ :-D), in person, as we present our own Lifestyle Seminar during the Festival. We’ll be chatting with guests about one of our favorite topics — Secret Menu Items in Disneyland! Come See Us at the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival! (Note: We’re totally NOT as cute as our cartoon selves) Mark your calendar for March 11 and 12 at 3:00PM and look for us on the stage directly across from Monsters Inc. in DCA. Also, don’t forget — between now and March 31, enter to win a Disneyland or Walt Disney World Prize Package by posting a pic of reading DFB with the hashtag #DisneyFoodBlogMickeyMarch! The winners will be announced via social media on April 1. See this post for all the details! Now Heather and I wanna hear from YOU! Will you be coming out to see us at the Disney California Food and Wine Festival? 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: News: FULL BOOTH MENUS for 2017 Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival! News: Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival Returning to Disneyland Resort in 2017! News! Booking Now Available for Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Events and Demos View the full article

Whether you’re Irish or not, St. Patrick’s Day is the best excuse for a party in March – and though the exact date is Friday, March 17, the Disney chefs are starting the wearin’ (and eatin’) of the green already – well, at least at The Ganachery at Disney Springs, where the ganache flavors now include Irish Stout Ganache, Irish Cream Ganache and Irish Whisky Ganache through March 18. The biggest celebration at Walt Disney World Resort is the Mighty St. Patrick’s Day Festival at Raglan Road at Disney Springs. This is the real deal, with Irish Chef Kevin Dundon’s authentic cuisine, Irish bands and pro dancers, a fine selection of beers and cocktails and all sorts of St. Pat’s fun. The party stretches from March 16-19, and the craic (Gaelic for fun) will be mighty. On St. Patrick’s Day, you can find the cutest cupcake at Fountain View at Epcot: yellow cake with green and white buttercream and a leprechaun hat made of a chocolate sandwich cookie and a marshmallow. Three gold nuggets (from the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow?) are the finishing touch. In Magic Kingdom Park’s Main Street Bakery, the St. Pat’s cupcake with vanilla buttercream frosting with four-leaf clover sprinkles is the perfect holiday Instagram opportunity. And beginning March 12 at Casey’s Corner, celebrate with a new gourmet hot dog, topped with corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and whole grain mustard. If you’re passing through Disney’s Contemporary Resort on the monorail (or a guest at the resort), stop in Contempo Café for a fancy Leprechaun’s Pot of Gold Cupcake, a delectable vanilla cupcake filled with green lemon filling with a dollop of yellow “gold” lemon filling in the center, then topped with green swirled buttercream icing and decorations of gold chocolate coins and sprinkles. Take a photo before you’re tempted to start eating. At Epcot, Rose & Crown Pub in the United Kingdom pavilion celebrates the day with green beer – perfect with the restaurant’s corned beef and cabbage. Sláinte (toast to “good health” in Gaelic)! View the full article

Coming up on Sunday we’ll be celebrating Daylight Savings and Springing Forward — and you know what that means: one less hour of sleep. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but let me also be the bearer of GOOD news: we at DFB have decided to add a silver lining to your weekend and offer some GREAT savings at DFBStore.com in honor of Daylight Savings time! Whether your visit is just around the corner during the Spring Break rush or you will be logging your Disney Days later on in 2017, one thing is for sure: Planning ahead is the key to a stress-less vacay. And that’s never more true than when it comes to dining. That’s where Disney Food Blog comes in! You already enjoy our reviews, news, and tips daily on our Blog. But did you know — that’s JUST the tip of the iceberg. Because we have lots more to share with you in our complete line of DFB Guides. So don’t let Daylight Savings time get you down; dig into some savings instead! Save 25% on 2017 The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2nd Edition Fully updated for your 2017-2018 adventures, the 2017 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2nd Edition e-Book is an instantly downloadable PDF guide. The book features over 650 full-color pages of photographs, information, and advice about our favorite subject — Disney foooood! So you save time and money as you enjoy planning one of the most important parts of your trip. DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Sample Pages And in honor of Daylight Savings Time and the return of Spring and Summer, we are offering extra savings on our most popular DFB Guide today. Just enter promo code DAYLIGHT at checkout and you’ll save 25% off of our cover price of the 2017 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2nd Edition e-Book! But if you’d like to enjoy even more detail, check out another great offer. Save 25% on the DFB Everything Bundle! Want even more great information, pictures, and tips? Then the DFB Everything Bundle may be just the right fit for you. And to get you ready for that next big trip, we are offering the DFB Everything Bundle for 25% off the already low price! It’s like getting an entire book for free. Just enter promo code DAYLIGHT at checkout to take advantage of this offer. The Everything Bundle includes, well, Everything! When you purchase this special bundle of DFB Guides, you’ll get it all: The 2017 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Second Edition The Updated DFB Guide to Magic Kingdom Snacks The Updated DFB Guide to Epcot Snacks The Updated DFB Guide to Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios Snacks A Pre-Order of the 2017 DFB Guide to the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, and the 2016 Edition for FREE as an immediate download A Pre-Order of the 2017 DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World Holidays, and the 2016 Edition for FREE as an immediate download DFB Dining Adventures That’s every book in our collection of critically-acclaimed DFB Guides. And with the convenient e-book format, you can load your books onto as many electronic devices as you want. Have them at your fingertips, ready to plan and take with you into the Parks. Just download and off you go! The DFB Everything Bundle is already a terrific bargain at well below 40% off the individual prices of the books, but we’re excited to offer you additional savings of 25% off for a limited time. Enter promo code DAYLIGHT at checkout to take advantage of this offer. Shop in confidence, knowing that all of our DFB Guides are 100% money-back guaranteed. As always, we thank you for your continued support of Disney Food Blog! We couldn’t do this without all of you! 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: Celebrate Daylight Savings with…MORE Savings! Celebrate (or Recover From!) Tax Day with Our Biggest Savings of the Year! Happy Presidents’ Day Weekend! Save on the DFB Guide and Our Most Popular Book Bundle! View the full article

Tonight’s “After Dark” image was snapped at Epcot of the guest-favorite “Illuminations: Reflections of Earth” show. This show, which debuted at the park in 1999, tells the history of our planet using pyrotechnics, water elements, projections, lighting and more. In case you haven’t experienced “Illuminations,” the story of the show is told in three parts: the Earth’s fiery birth, which includes flames and fireworks. Second is the “Triumph of Life” scene, in which a globe reveals the history of human achievements over time. Lastly, the “Hope for the Future” scene sends light into the sky as the globe blossoms like a lotus flower. Learn more about “Illuminations” here. View the full article

The masterminds behind Universal Orlando’s Harry Potter lands traveled the world in search of ideas and inspiration for a new water park they wanted to be unlike any other. “We wanted this to be above and beyond,” said Dale Mason, vice president and executive art director at Universal Creative. ... View the full article

The co-hosts of ABC’s “The View” had a great time celebrating their 20th season at Walt Disney World Resort this past week. Special guests stopped by and the co-hosts were able to experience all four Parks during their visit. Check out this behind the scenes look at their fun filled week. Tune in tomorrow at 11am on ABC, for “The View’s” final day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Joining the co-hosts are Tom Bergeron (ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars”); a performance by Train; and Celebrity Chefs Masaharu Morimoto and Art Smith. In celebration the big milestone, there is a spectacular Finale you won’t want to miss! View the full article

Three years ago today the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade first came alive at Magic Kingdom Park! I could write countless paragraphs about how much I adore this dazzling parade (the Tangled float is my favorite!), but instead, I’ll just let you appreciate the spectacular pageantry for yourself. Enjoy this video of parade highlights below, presented by Disney PhotoPass Service. Away we go, it’s a Festival of Fantasy! View the full article

Disney Parks Moms Panel | Planning Tips for Magic Kingdom View the full article

Let’s take a look around the Disney Twitter-sphere and see what’s happening this week! What is your Disney character DNA? Find out with Oh My Disney! View the full article

The arrival of Pandora – The World of AVATAR to Disney’s Animal Kingdom gets closer every day! And more and more details are starting to emerge about this new land opening on May 27th. Pandora Concept Art ©Disney Just a few days ago, in fact, we learned more about Pandora’s dining options, which include Satu’li Canteen, the restaurant’s main dining establishment, and Pongu Pongu, a drink station run by an expat who visited Pandora and decided to stay and set up shop for the long-term. Pongu Pongu Concept Art ©Disney Pongu Pongu will be home to an exclusive Pandora snack — Lumpia! The cast of the ABC daytime cooking show, The Chew, offered a sneak preview on today’s episode! The Cast of The Chew at the 2015 Rockin’ Burger Block Party Lumpia is a popular street food in the Philippines and Indonesia. It’s of Chinese origin and can be compared to egg rolls. Though typically filled with savory veggies and meat filling, Disney has created a sweet take on the snack. At Pongu Pongu, the rolls will be filled with pineapple cream cheese. Television Shot of Lumpia on ABC’s The Chew And the lucky ducks who host The Chew got to try them… Television Shot of ABC’s The Chew Among the reactions? “Wow!” (Note the thumbs up from Michael Symon). (Not that they’d be allowed to say anything else, but…whatever.) Television Shot of ABC’s The Chew To summarize the tasting, Clinton Kelly said they taste exactly like “pineapple cream pie in an egg roll.” Television Shot of Lumpia on ABC’s The Chew So, there it is… the very first taste of Pandora! Oh, and if you’re reading this on March 9th, there is still time to set your DVR or carve out time to catch Nightline on ABC for an in-depth look at the new land TONIGHT!! Will you be trying Lumpia at Pongu Pongu? 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: Menu Details for Satu’li Canteen and Pongu Pongu in Pandora – The World of AVATAR News: Pandora — The World of AVATAR Opens May 27th in Disney’s Animal Kingdom News! New Restaurants Revealed for Pandora — The World of Avatar, in Disney’s Animal Kingdom View the full article

Disneynature Brings Animals to Life in ‘Rivers of Light’ View the full article