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Disney World planning never really slows down, especially when new perks start popping up for the year ahead. Blizzard Beach If you’re already thinking about a 2026 trip or just love staying in the loop, you’re going to want to hear about these updates. Disney is rolling out some new exclusive perks that could seriously change how you budget and plan your days. Let’s talk about the three perks that have us doing a double-take. Water Park Seasonal Passes Are Back With Built-In Discounts Water park fans, this one’s for you. Disney World is bringing back water park seasonal passes, and they come with some genuinely useful perks this time around. Blizzard Beach For adults, the pass costs $89, while kids ages 3 to 9 are $83. The pass includes blackout dates from March 28th, 2026, through April 5th, 2026, so you’ll want to avoid planning spring break visits during that window. Outside of those dates, you can splash away through the season since the pass is valid until May 9th, 2026. Typhoon Lagoon Now for the perks. When you first arrive at the water park, you can score 20% off a cabana rental. This is a walk-up deal only, which means it’s based on availability and you need to ask in person. If you’ve ever priced out cabanas before, you know even a small discount can make a difference. Blizzard Beach At the time of writing, Typhoon Lagoon is open and will remain open until February 14th, 2026. Blizzard Beach will reopen the following day on February 15th, 2026, which means there’s no downtime between parks. That alone makes the seasonal pass feel like a stronger value. A Free Round of Mini Golf Is Included With the Water Park Pass Yes, this is technically part of the same seasonal pass, but it deserves its own spotlight. Along with water park access, passholders get one free round of mini golf during the season. Winter Summerland miniature golf You can choose between Winter Summerland Miniature Golf or Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf, as long as you visit before 4 PM. This is a great add-on for rest days, arrival days, or those afternoons when you want to do something fun without committing to a full park ticket. Fantasia Mini Golf Course There is one important caveat. You only get one round of mini golf per pass for the entire season. Still, for families or groups who already enjoy mini golf, this perk feels like a nice bonus rather than a throwaway add-on. Free Dining Plans for Kids in 2026 This one is huge for families. In 2026, Disney is offering a free dining plan for kids ages 3 to 9 when you book a qualifying Walt Disney Travel Company package. DDP symbols To qualify, your package must include a room at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel and a dining plan for each guest age 10 and up. The free dining plan your child receives matches the dining plan you purchase for the adults, whether that’s the Disney Dining Plan or the Disney Quick Service Dining Plan. Look for that Disney Dining Plan Snack symbol! Dining plans include meals and snacks, which can take a lot of stress out of meal budgeting during your trip. The offer is valid for arrivals in 2026, but availability is limited, and everyone in the same room must be on the same package. Children must stay in the room with an adult, and advance reservations are required. Watch for the snack credit symbol around the parks If you’re booking online, your package also needs to include theme park tickets. If you already have tickets, you’ll need to book by phone by calling a Disney Family Travel Specialist at (407) 934 7639 or working with your travel professional. There are a few extra details to keep in mind. Dining plans exclude gratuities, children must order from kids’ menus when available, and valid theme park admission is required. The offer can be combined with select discounts, which could make this an even better deal. Look for the purple “DDP Snack Credit logo” on price signage and menus! Disney keeps giving us reasons to plan ahead, and these 2026 perks are definitely worth paying attention to. Be sure to keep following DisneyFoodBlog for more updates that’ll help you plan smarter and stress less. Your 2026 Disney World Hotel Strategy Needs To CHANGE Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Which of these perks would actually change how you plan your next trip? Tell us your thoughts in the comments! View the full article

The My Disney Experience app just got an update — and it is going to be a game-changer for anyone with a Disney Visa card! Have you ever been at Disney World trying to hunt down the list of discounts your card gets? Or maybe you were trying to find the details of the exclusive Disney Character Experience? Disney Visa Card Well, it just got SO much easier to see all of the perks of the Disney Visa card! There has been a new update to the My Disney Experience app, and we are loving how easy it is to see all the perks now. Let’s take a look at how you can access the new portal and what it looks like! A NEW Disney Visa portal is now available in the My Disney Experience app! No more going back and forth to see your discounts on the Disney Visa website, as you can access all the information in the My Disney Experience app. To access the portal in the My Disney Experience app, you will need to link your Disney Visa to your account. To do this, log in to the My Disney Experience app, tap on the hamburger menu, select “Profile”, then select “Payment Method”. Add your Disney Visa to your payment methods, and then the Disney Visa portal should appear on the home screen of the My Disney Experience app. ©Disney Once you have linked your card, you can access the Cardmember portal and have easy access to all of the perks! For instance, say you are in Disney’s Hollywood Studios and curious which restaurants offer discounts. You can head into the portal and find that Roundup Rodeo BBQ, Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant, and The Hollywood Brown Derby all offer 10% off! Each park has its own section, so you can easily find what discounts are available. ©Disney You can even find the discounts for dining and shopping at Disney Springs! ©Disney There is even a section for dining, shopping, and experience discounts at the Disney World hotels. Saving 10% at Boma – Flavors of Africa? Count us in! ©Disney Plus, you can find information about your discounts for experiences like the Wild Africa Trek at Disney’s Animal Kingdom — you can save 15% on the tour! ©Disney We are so excited about this new feature in the My Disney Experience app! We have a feeling it will help us make the most of our Disney Visa perks. We are always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so make sure to stay tuned to DFB! Plus, we are in the parks every single day, providing you with up-to-date coverage of all the Disney World happenings. Disney Is Opening 11 New Rides in 2026. Here’s the Full List Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What is your favorite Disney Visa Cardmember perk? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

Do you love Winnie the Pooh as much as we do? If that’s the case, then this is news you CANNOT miss! It’s Pooh! Did you know that the end of 2025 marks 100 years of Winnie the Pooh and the Hundred Acre Woods gang? It’s true! In fact, Pooh appeared for the first time in a children’s story commissioned by London’s Evening News for Christmas Eve in 1925. To celebrate, Disney has released tons of merchandise online featuring the cuddly, honey-loving bear and his friends that you’ll want to check out before they’re gone! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. The Cutest Overalls! ©Disney The most adorable new set of overalls is online right now to celebrate this big anniversary! The Winnie the Pooh and Pals Overalls come in sizes XS through XXL, and they’re meant to have a relaxed fit. Embroidered on the front pocket are Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, and Tigger, and we can’t get over how adorable they are! Grab it right here! The Coziest Jacket ©Disney Need a warm, cozy, but also adorable jacket for winter? Look no further than the Winnie the Pooh Cloud Quilted Jacket! The whole jacket is blue with a white cloud pattern, and you’ll find Pooh on the front right breast pocket, as well as on the back with his pot of honey. Grab it right here! We Love A Good Spirit Jersey Moment ©Disney If you love spirit jerseys and want to snag yourself a new one for the new year, you’ll want to check out the Winnie the Pooh Hundred Acre Wood Map Spirit Jersey! This is light yellow in color and has a map of the Hundred Acre Woods on it, but since it’s an online exclusive, you won’t be able to find it in the parks. So if you find that you love it, grab it online before your trip! Grab it right here! A New Plush! ©Disney There’s also a brand new plush available as part of this special collection — the Winnie the Pooh Knit Limited Edition Plush! There are only 7500 of them available, so you’ll want to act fast. He looks entirely knit, which is a very unique style, and not one you often find. Grab it right here! The Perfect Long Sleeve ©Disney Not chilly enough where you are for a sweatshirt, but too cold for short sleeves? The Winnie the Pooh and Pals Long Sleeve T-Shirt is calling your name then. It’s a dark blue color, and while you’ll see just Pooh with his honey on the right breast pocket, the back has more details, including the Winnie the Pooh logo, some of your favorite characters, and a sketch of Pooh Bear’s house. Grab it right here! Who Doesn’t Love A Classic Button Down? ©Disney Need something a little more upscale? The Winnie the Pooh Striped Seersucker Button Down Shirt is perfect! It’s a subtle blue and white striped pattern, and you’ll find a tiny Pooh on the front pocket. Not only is it cute, but it’s also practical! Grab it right here! We’ll continue to be on the lookout for all the latest Disney merchandise news, so stay tuned to DFB! View the full article

Few things are more important than a great pair of shoes during a Disney World vacation. Fortunately, Amazon offers plenty of great options — including some of our favorites! Hoka Women’s Clifton 10 Sneakers We visit Disney World EVERY DAY, so believe us when we say the right pair of kicks can save your trip. Fortunately, some of our favorites over the years are currently on sale on Amazon — let’s take a look! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. These Women’s Brooks Shoes are more affordable than usual! ©Amazon The Brooks Women’s Launch 11 Neutral Running Shoe has a bunch of different sizes and color options on Amazon with varying discounts. This shoe is breathable, lightweight, and provides responsive cushioning. Whether you’re going for a run or trying to survive a long Disney day, these shoes will do the trick! BUY ON AMAZON These Nikes are massively discounted right now! ©Amazon The Nike Women’s Winflo 11 Road Running Shoes also have a ton of different color and sizing options on Amazon, and all with varying discounts. These shoes are well-regarded, offering breathability up top as well as a cushioned midsole. Featuring a spacious forefoot, this shoe is PERFECT for a Disney World vacation! BUY ON AMAZON The New Balance Shoes are high quality AND on sale ©Amazon New Balance is back in style, and these Women’s FuelCell Walker Elite V1 Walking Shoes give you that and some great quality. This shoe (which has several different sizes and colors on Amazon) is all about performance and stability. Responsive and comfortable, give your feet all the support they need during a long park day with these shoes! BUY ON AMAZON These Brooks Shoes provide awesome support ©Amazon The Brooks Women’s Adrenaline GTS 24 Supportive Running Shoe has a lot of customization options online through Amazon and is praised for its plush cushioning. Lightweight, yet durable, this shoe is a solid choice to break in and bring with you during your next Disney World vacation. BUY ON AMAZON These are some of our FAVORITE sandals to wear to Disney World! ©Amazon The Teva Women’s W Original Universal Sport Sandals are perhaps our favorite sandal recommendations for a Disney World trip! Available online in many different colors and sizes, these sandals are affordable while providing quick-dry webbing made from recycled plastic, as well as tons of support. Great for weird weather scenarios like a day at Disney World, these sandals are a smart purchase. BUY ON AMAZON We’ll continue to monitor deals for all kinds of Disney World essentials, so stay tuned right here at DFB to stay in the know! View the full article

We have a reminder for you if you are heading to Disney World in 2026! While Disney World’s biggest draw is the theme parks, Disney Springs is also a very popular destination with plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment. Admission and parking are free, making it an excellent option on non-park days. However, Disney Springs might be a bit more chaotic in 2026, and we have all the details on why! Disney Springs Parking is about to get a bit more limited, and we don’t want you to be caught by surprise! A construction project is about to begin that might impact your Disney Springs visit, and we want you to be prepared. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) will start a “Lime Garage Maintenance Project” early next year to fix up all levels of the parking garage. The garage will be closed beginning January 12th, 2026, and the project is expected to be completed on March 13th, 2026. The plan currently includes a temporary reopening for President’s Day Weekend, from February 12th through February 16th. Here is a full look at the schedule: Closed: January 12th through February 11th Open for a short window: February 12th through 16th Closed again: February 17th through March 13th Reopening: planned for March 14th, 2026 Disney Springs Lime Garage The project plan states that CFTOD is trying to “minimize parking disruption” with an “aggressive schedule to coincide with minimum disruption of holiday coverage.” It sounds like the plan is to get the work done quickly and efficiently, as it was also stated, “work shall be completed in phases, and Contractor shall work with the District to minimize disruptions and facilitate maximum garage capacity and operations around work zone(s). Contractor shall note this project has a critical schedule and a required completion date.” While CFTOD is trying to minimize disruptions, the closure could definitely impact your trip to Disney Springs in 2026! Lime Garage The Lime Garage is one of Disney Springs’ parking garages. It offers over 2,000 parking spaces and direct pedestrian access to Disney Springs Town Center. When the Lime Garage is closed, the Orange Garage, the Grapefruit Garage, and surface parking will still be available. However, during busy times, the closure of Lime Garage could make it challenging to find parking. Lime Garage parking If you’re staying at a Disney World Resort, don’t forget you can use their free bus transportation to avoid dealing with parking! While Disney Springs can get busy at any time, the evenings and weekends are the busiest, and trust us, you don’t always want to deal with parking far away and walking in, especially if the Lime Garage is closed. Disney Springs We will keep you updated as this construction project begins and how it is impacting the crowds and parking situation at Disney Springs. We are in the Disney World parks every single day, and we are always on the lookout for the latest news so you have the most up-to-date information for your trip! Make sure to stay tuned to DFB for more. A Special Dining Experience Is Returning to Disney Springs in January Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What is your favorite store or restaurant at Disney Springs? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

Calling all sweet tooths! (Sweet… teeth?) Pineapple and Orange DOLE Whip Swirl Today’s video is ALL ABOUT the best dessert in Disney World – and WHERE you can track them down! Check out our video below: Disney World’s BEST Desserts Are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes! And stay tuned for more theme park news! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What do you think of this video? Tell us in the comments. View the full article

STOP right there if you’re planning a Walt Disney World Resort vacation in 2026. Disney’s hotels have some new and updated perks, and MAJOR savings opportunities that you NEED to know about before booking. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is a Deluxe Resort Whether you’re planning on splurging on a Deluxe Resort or swinging through a value resort for a few days, every Disney hotel guest has to know about these perks and offers. Save BIG on 4-Night, 4-Day Packages in 2026 For stays most nights from February 22nd to July 25th, 2026, guests can save up to $250 per night on a 4-night, 4-day (or longer) Walt Disney Travel Company room-and-ticket package. The Monorail INSIDE Contemporary Resort The $250 a night savings are eligible for stays at Disney Deluxe and Disney Deluxe Villa Resort hotels, $150 a night savings at Moderate Resorts, and $75 a night at Value Tier Resorts. Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort In addition, savings of $150, $75, and $40 a night are available at Deluxe, Moderate, and Value Tier Resorts from January 4th to February 19th. Disney’s All-Star Movies The Water Park Perk is Returning… but ONLY in the Summer. In 2025, Disney introduced a new water park perk for hotel guests, which gave each member of their party admission to one of Walt Disney World’s water parks on their check-in day. While the perk is confirmed to return in 2026, it will only be offered during the summer season. Blizzard Beach Hotel Refurbishments As with the rest of Disney World, there will be a litany of construction around the resort’s hotels in 2026. While some projects will spill into 2027, the following are scheduled to wrap in the ’26 calendar year: Disney’s Skyliner: The popular gondola, which directly serves Art of Animation, Pop Century, Caribbean Beach Resort, Riviera Resort, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios with indirect access for Boardwalk, Yacht, and Beach Club guests – will be closed from January 25th through the 31st. Pop Century: Disney’s pop culture-themed Value Tier resort has been in the midst of an ongoing major refurbishment of rooms, the lobby, and other common areas for a while now. According to Disney, it’s set to finish sometime in February 2026. All-Star Sports: Both the Surfboard Bay Pool and its associated kiddie pool area will be closed from January through April of 2026. According to Disney, the Grand Slam Leisure Pool will still be available, as will the other pools throughout Disney’s All-Star Resorts, including the Calypso Pool, Piano Pool, and kiddie pool at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort; and the Fantasia Pool, Duck Pond Pool, and kiddie pool at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort. Animal Kingdom Lodge: The resort’s Kidani Village area will finish its current refurbishment in May 2026. Note that when that’s complete, the Jambo House area will enter its own refurbishment from May 2026 through January 2027 Disney Skyliner The Value Resort Luggage Perk While this perk has been around for a while, there are still many guests who are unaware of it. In 2025, Southwest Airlines teamed with Disney to bring an element of the dearly departed Magical Express back. Specifically, the airline introduced a service for guests at Disney’s Value Tier Resorts (the All-Star Resorts, Pop Century, and Art of Animation) that delivers bags straight from their flight to their hotel, no bag claim required. All you’ll need to do is the following: Fill out the registration form for the Airport Luggage Transfer at Disney service anytime from 30 days to 5 days prior to your departure flight. You will need your Disney Resort confirmation number and your Southwest Airlines confirmation number when you register. You will receive a confirmation email after registering. Check in to your flight online as normal and pay any necessary baggage fees. Head to the airport and follow the Southwest Airlines procedure to drop off your luggage. From there, the bags will go straight from their flight to their hotel room. When returning home, you’ll simply: Check in for your Southwest Airlines flight online starting 24 hours before departure and pay any necessary baggage fees via the Southwest mobile app or online. Drop off your bags at Luggage Assistance in the Resort hotel lobby area by the required drop-off time. Please be aware that you will need to provide a valid government-issued form of photo identification in order to drop off your bags. You can also call Luggage Assistance from your in-room telephone to ask for help with your bags. For a smoother experience, leave all inbound tags on your bags. Head to the airport, skip the check-in line, enjoy your flight, and pick up your bags at baggage claim when you arrive at your final destination. The luggage assistance desk! 2026 Disney hotel guests need to know about all the perks and deals available for their next stay. Stay tuned to DFB for more tips on how to book the best possible Disney World vacation. 3 Disney World Hotels in Desperate Need of New Life Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Are you heading to Disney World in 2026? Let us know in the comments below. View the full article

When we hear that we can get something for FREE, our first instinct is to grab it ourselves, and then the second instinct is to immediately share it with you all! ©Dunkin’ Donuts If you’re a big coffee fan, especially coffee from Dunkin’, there’s a deal today you cannot miss out on. If you use one particular promo code, you can get a FREE coffee today only! Today, December 29th, ONLY, you can grab a free coffee from Dunkin’ if you order online and use a special promo code. The code is proDUNKtivity, and you’ll want to use it in the Dunkin’ app. However, this is only for rewards members. The good news is, if you’re not a rewards member, you can quickly sign up for free, then grab yourself the free coffee by using the code! The coupon is good for coffee of any size, hot or iced, but the deal CAN run out, so you’ll want to snag it sooner rather than later. ©Dunkin’ Donuts Some people in the comments of the post have already used the code and gotten their free coffee, while others have said that in their state, it doesn’t appear to be working. It’s possible the code has already been used up in some areas, but when we tried it ourselves, it worked just fine! Even better, as long as you load the coupon today, you can use it in your app until January 3rd! ©Dunkin’ After we loaded in the coupon, it showed up in our app, no problem. ©Dunkin’ It’s important to make sure that the drink you’re looking to order is included in the deal — below are the terms and conditions of the deal so you can check in advance! ©Dunkin’ We know this will make a lot of people’s days better and brighter, especially as we enter the new year, so be sure to grab it while you can! More Recent Deals to Help You Save! The SECRET Code to Getting FREE Coffee at Dunkin TodayThe 8 Biggest Disney Souvenir Drops of the Month9 Fun, Random Disney Things To Buy For YourselfLast-Minute Disney Gifts That STILL Arrive Before Christmas13 Disney Loungefly Bags On Amazon That Will Arrive In Time for Christmas Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest deals and discounts that could help you save money on your Disney trip, and in everyday life! Check Out ALL the Current Disney Deals and Discounts Right Here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What coffee are you planning to get? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

Cooler weather is coming to Disney World! If you are heading to Disney World soon, you will want to pack some warmer clothes as lows are about to dip into the 30s and 40s. While the high will be about 79 degrees today, December 29th, get ready for some sweater weather starting tonight! Disney’s Hollywood Studios The high on Tuesday and Wednesday is just 60 degrees, with a low of 35 degrees on Tuesday and 40 degrees on Wednesday. It will start to warm up a bit on Thursday, with a high of 68 and a low of 44. Then, it will be back up to highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s starting Friday. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. While Florida is known as the Sunshine State and for its warm weather, it can get a bit chilly at times! You will especially want to prepare for the evenings, as it usually gets cooler and you don’t have the sun to warm you up a bit. The cold front is coming just in time for the New Year, so if you are headed to New Year’s Eve festivities in Disney World, you will want to pack some warm clothes! New Year’s Eve Fireworks Here is a look at the highs and lows for the next few days: Monday, December 29th: 79/45 Tuesday, December 30th: 60/35 Wednesday, December 31st: 60/40 Thursday, January 1st: 68/44 Friday, January 2nd: 71/53 Saturday, January 3rd: 76/59 Sunday, January 4th: 72/53 Magic Kingdom We recommend packing layers so you can easily add or remove them. It isn’t uncommon to start the day on the chilly side, and by the afternoon, it feels warm. There might even be days when you will want to have a sweater all day, and possibly an additional layer for the evening. While Florida doesn’t get bitterly cold, we still want to make sure you are comfortable during your trip. Disney’s Animal Kingdom The good news is that Disney will happily sell you a sweatshirt when the temperatures drop, but to save a bit of money, we definitely recommend packing your own sweater! Also, if you plan to visit a waterpark during your trip, make sure you keep a close eye on it. The water parks will close during cooler temperatures, so be prepared for a change in plans. Currently, Typhoon Lagoon is the only waterpark open, but it will likely close due to the upcoming cold front. Of course, we will keep you updated if Disney announces a temporary closure! Typhoon Lagoon If you are looking for stylish, warm sweatshirts (and want to snag them for less than at Disney World), here are a few of our favorites! Snag this Mickey & Co. Sweatshirt ©Amazon How adorable is this sweatshirt?! It features Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Donald, and Mickey! You will stay warm and look stylish. This sweatshirt is customizable, and you can choose from a variety of colors. Get this sweatshirt here! Get this Disney Princess Sweatshirt ©Amazon If you have always dreamed of being a Disney Princess, then this sweatshirt is perfect! It is cozy and features iconic Disney Princesses like Cinderella, Snow White, Aladdin, Tiana, Ariel, and Mulan. You can also choose from a variety of colors. Get this sweatshirt here! Grab this Minnie Mouse Sweatshirt ©Amazon She’s a classic, and you can show off your love for her! Minnie Mouse is lookin’ gorgeous, and we think this sweatshirt is so much fun. It’s cozy and perfect for the cool front coming to Disney World this week. Get this sweatshirt here! Get this Pirates of the Caribbean Sweatshirt ©Amazon If your trip to Disney World isn’t complete without a ride on Pirates of the Caribbean, then you need to grab this sweatshirt! Show off your love for the ride, the movie, or just your love for pirates in general. It will help keep you warm and look good in the on-ride photo! Get this sweatshirt here! We are always keeping an eye out for the latest updates that might impact your Disney World vacation, so make sure to stay tuned to DFB for more! Celebrating New Year’s Eve in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Are you heading to Disney World this week? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

What is Orlando’s biggest theme park story of 2025, and why is it Epic Universe? There’s little debate. The theme-park capital of the world gained its first major park in more than 25 years, thanks to a major expansion of — and $8 billion investment by — Universal Orlando. Epic methodically dribbled out details about its lands, rides, previews, ticket sales and trio of hotels. It played host to international media and a star-studded build-up – complete with “celestial carpet” – to its May 22 debut. Early reviews were mostly positive, lauding the immersive nature of Super Nintendo World, Dark Universe, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk and Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic. The latter’s signature ride, Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry, drew praise for its mesmerizing queue design and high-tech ride experience. But the resulting long waits, even with capped attendance for the park, prompted complaints. Online reviews of Epic Universe visits were divided into a “not enough to do” crowd and an opposing “you can’t do it all in one day with Express Pass” contingent. A portal leads the way into Dark Universe at Epic Universe, Orlando’s first new theme park in a generation. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel) A common criticism throughout the summer concerned the lack of shade in the park, but overall, Epic had escaped the rocky public-perception road that Universal Studios had with its 1990 opening. On Sept. 17, headlines turned tragic after 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala of Kissimmee died after riding Stardust Racers, Epic’s most high-speed and intense roller coaster. Universal Orlando initially found that ride systems “functioned as intended,” equipment remained intact, and park employees correctly followed procedures. The ride reopened Oct. 4. In mid-December, Zavala’s family said they had reached an “amicable resolution” with Universal; the settlement’s terms were kept confidential. Epic speculation continued six months after the park’s opening. Expansion talk has been common, bolstered by the company filing a construction permit for an unidentified 150,000 square-foot structure. Orlando-based Universal Destinations & Experiences also has been involved in unspecified projects at the resort’s original two parks, Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure, as well as Horror Unleashed’s opening in Las Vegas, the building of a kids-oriented park in Texas and a proposed theme park in England. Stay tuned. WWDD? The arrival of Epic also sparked the burning question/Central Florida parlor game: What Will Disney Do? Some experts maintain that Walt Disney World is destined to open a fifth theme park, but nothing of that scale has been announced. Instead, Disney has started working on multiple expansion projects, including “Cars” attractions and a villains-based land at Magic Kingdom; Tropical Americas, featuring “Encanto” and “Indiana Jones” rides, at Disney’s Animal Kingdom; and a “Monsters, Inc.” land plus Magic of Disney Animation attractions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Moana gestures from atop a float in the Disney Starlight Parade, which debuted at Magic Kingdom in July. (Phelan M. Ebenhack for the Orlando Sentinel) In the meantime, Disney World introduced a handful of attractions in ‘25, including the Disney Starlight Parade at Magic Kingdom; “Zootopia: Better Zoogether” show at Animal Kingdom; and two stage shows at Hollywood Studios: “Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After” and “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure.” But, wait, there’s more Other Orlando-area additions in 2025 beyond Epic Universe and Disney World: • SeaWorld Orlando debuted Expedition Odyssey, a flying-theater attraction, in May and “Hydro Surge,” a seasonal stage show, in June. Aquatica water park added a holiday-season after-hours event called Illuminate. • The Orange County Regional History Center developed “Orlando Collected,” an exhibit celebrating the 150th birthday of the city. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center guests check out the Gantry at LC-39, an experience that includes a test-fire simulation. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel) • Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex opened The Gantry at LC-39 attractions in July. The Brevard County attraction added “Fraggle Rock: A Space-y Adventure” stage show in December. • Sea Life Florida Aquarium opened at Legoland Florida Resort in Winter Haven in May. • Busch Gardens Tampa Bay opened Wild Oasis, a “kid-friendly adventure realm,” in June. Going, going … Additions can mean subtractions. For whatever reason, these attractions moved into our “Gone Forever – Probably” file in 2025. • Tom Sawyer Island, Rivers of America and the Liberty Belle paddleboat are no longer available to Magic Kingdom visitors. Their grounds will serve as a Frontierland expansion for two “Cars” rides. • “MuppetVision 3-D,” PizzeRizzo, Mama Melrose restaurant and other Grand Street structures at Hollywood Studios are repurposed for the under-construction “Monsters, Inc.” land. • “It’s Tough to Be a Bug,” an opening-day attraction at Animal Kingdom, was replaced by “Zootopia: Better Together” show. Meanwhile, the Triceratop Spin ride, the Boneyard and select other Dinoland attractions closed to make room for Tropical Americas. (Also gone: the tall Cementosaurus figure.) Universal Studios Florida theme park dismantled its Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster in the fall of 2025. (Dewayne Bevil/Orlando Sentinel) • Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster was dismantled at Universal Studios Florida. There is construction on the site, but its future has not been identified by the company. • Volcano Bay water park ended use of TapuTapu, a wearable technology that managed the queue for Krakatau Aqua Coaster and other uses. • Sleuth’s, an International Drive dinner attraction, closed in November after a 35-year run. • Busch Gardens Tampa Bay closed Stanley Falls Flume, a ride that debuted with the theme park in 1973, in September. Return engagements • Hall of Presidents, with its animatronic Donald Trump back front and center, reopened at Magic Kingdom in June after a five-month closure. An Epcot visitor holds on to his hat during a high-speed stretch on the renovated Test Track attraction. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) • A revamped version of Test Track debuted at Epcot in July. • Capone’s, a dinner theater attraction in Kissimmee, closed in August, then reopened at Dezerland Park on International Drive in October. Tweaks and turns • At Magic Kingdom, Tron Lightcycle / Run roller coaster received an overlay of lighting and Nine Inch Nails music as a promotion for the “Tron: Ares” film. • A new verse — written years ago by Richard Sherman — was tacked onto the finale of the “it’s a small world” attraction at Magic Kingdom in July. • Virtual queues were removed from Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ride at Magic Kingdom and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind coaster at Epcot. • The “Wicked: The Experience” walk-through attraction at Universal Studios was enhanced with costumes from the “Wicked: For Good” film. • Legoland Florida updated its brick U.S. Capitol structure in Miniland USA and participated in the first Global Lego Festival with other Legolands. • Ripley’s museum on I-Drive added an exhibit named “True Crime: Blood, Lies and Alibis.” • Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition displayed a black-glass necklace found 2.5 miles below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean in the debris field of the luxury liner. Consumed • Epcot opened GEO 82, an adults-only lounge, in a space within Spaceship Earth in June. • The Beak and Barrel, an all-ages tavern with a pirate theme, debuted at Magic Kingdom’s Adventureland in August. • Universal Orlando rolled out “Wicked” foods at multiple locations, with menus that included Ozdust punch, Pink Goes Well with Green Scroll cake and Emerald City focaccia. • Theme park fests and events featured distinctive fare, including Halloween Horror Nights’ Camp Bloody S’mores; SeaWorld’s Seven Seas Food Fest and its footlong pretzels on a stick and bananas foster beignets; and the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival items from the Gyozas of the Galaxy kiosk and the fun-to-say zwiebelkuchen (plus the International Festival of the Holiday’s prototype cookie). • Orlando Science Center teamed with Barnie’s Coffee & Tea Co. to develop three flavored coffees themed to elements of the museum. Gino, a longtime gorilla resident of Animal Kingdom, enjoys some solitude after a rambunctious start to his day with younger gorillas in 2021. He died at age 44 in 2025. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Animal outlook • Gino, a 400-pound western lowland gorilla and original inhabitant of Animal Kingdom, died in September. He was 44. • Four-legged additions include Tucker, a Masai giraffe calf born at Animal Kingdom and Ginny, a critically endangered addax, born at Animal Kingdom Lodge. • A red-rumped agouti was born in the “Life” exhibit at Orlando Science Center. • SeaWorld announced the rescue of its 1,000th manatee. • Emperor penguins from SeaWorld San Diego were incorporated into Orlando’s Penguin Trek habitat. • Gatorland Global, the conservation arm of the longtime Orange Blossom Trail attraction, became an official 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. A wax figure of Taylor Swift has its own room, soundtrack and video wall in the Madame Tussauds Orlando attraction on International Drive. (Dewayne Bevil/Orlando Sentinel) The icons • Madame Tussauds Orlando added fresh wax figures of Angela Bassett, Selena Gomez, Jeff Goldblum, Taylor Swift (in a room of her own) and Beyonce in Cowboy Carter mode. • Baby Evie became available for meet-and-greets at Peppa Pig Theme Park. • Gaylord Palms’ “Ice” event was anchored by icy sculptures representing “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” • Orlando Auto Museum added a 41-foot, guitar-shaped pink Cadillac once driven by Elvis Presley to a concert in Las Vegas. • Orlando Science Center hosted “DC Super Heroes: Discover Your Superpowers” exhibit, designed to educate visitors about teamwork, deduction, cognitive thinking and more. • Volcano Bay Nights featured appearances by Scooby-Doo and the gang. • Disney Jollywood Nights holiday event included encounters with rare characters, including Bing Bong (“Inside Out”), Partysaurus Rex and Chewbacca in a Life Day ensemble. Business matters • For the first time in the post-pandemic era, both Disney World water parks — Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach — will be operating at the same time in summer 2025. • The expansion of the Universal Studios Store at Universal CityWalk was completed. • Legoland Florida laid off about 230 entertainment workers in the first quarter of the year. • The federal Justice Department opened a civil rights investigation into Orlando-based United Parks & Resorts after its attractions — including SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay — banned visitor use of “rollator walkers.” • Orlando Science Center began the upgrade of its domed theater and ended its real reel-to-reel era. A theater for Blue Man Group is under construction at Icon Park near the base of the Orlando Eye attraction. (Dewayne Bevil/Orlando Sentinel) • Icon Park continued or began construction projects for Ripley Crazy Golf, Blue Man Group and a multilevel Build-A-Bear Workshop. • Orlando-based Falcon’s Beyond Global, an attractions and experiences developer, completed its purchase of Oceaneering Entertainment Systems, a designer of ride systems, also based in Orlando. • Dutch ride manufacturer Vekoma opened a North American office in downtown Orlando. • Disney announced it was transforming the former Galactic Starcruiser building into office space for Walt Disney Imagineering. Odds and ends • Magic Kingdom again was determined to be the world’s most attended theme park in the TEA Global Experience Index. The park welcomed 17.84 million guests in 2024. • The IAAPA Expo, held in November at the Orange County Convention Center, set a record for attendance with more than 43,800 registered participants. • Space Mountain, Florida’s oldest standing roller coaster, celebrated its 50th birthday. • BDX droids, small robots, visited Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios. • Orlando-based Ripley Entertainment purchased a golden toilet/art piece for $12.1 million. Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. BlueSky: @themeparksdb. Threads account: @dbevil. X account: @themeparks. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters. View the full article

While many families adore watching their little ones explore Disney World for the first time, or just through a child’s eyes (even if it isn’t their first trip), sometimes you want to head to a nice dinner without the kids, but still want them to have a great time. ©Disney Over at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort, you’ll find Camp Dolphin, which is a club exclusively for kids aged 5-12. This is a great spot to drop your kids off at while you have a night out on the town or a nice dinner, but it does cost extra. However, if you dine at one of these three restaurants, you can get TWO hours of complimentary childcare! While we were waiting at a bus stop near the Walt Disney World Swan Hotel, we saw a sign that advertised this amazing deal. If you dine at Todd English’s bluezoo, AMARE, or Il Mulino New York Trattoria, you’ll receive two complimentary hours of childcare for your kids at Camp Dolphin! What a great deal! The best part is that you do not need to stay at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort to take advantage of this deal — it’s available to everyone! You can scan the QR code to make reservations, or you can check out the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Camp Dolphin website to make reservations as well. Regularly, the cost is $10 per child, per hour. Camp Dolphin What will your kids do, you may ask? Well, Camp Dolphin is staffed by a team of well-trained counselors who supervise age-appropriate activities like arts, crafts, movies, board games, video games, and nightly themed activities. They’ll even get a snack and a delicious meal! Yes, that basically means that if you’re dining at one of the three restaurants listed, your kids could eat FOR FREE, saving you lots of money. Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Camp Dolphin is open for drop-offs from 4-5 PM, the program itself runs from 4-11 PM, and pick up time is between 9-11 PM. You’ll need to make reservations in advance, so be sure to plan ahead if this is something you’re thinking of doing during your vacation. More Recent Disney Hotel News! Don’t Forget! Disney World Is Changing Moderate Hotel Bookings in 2026Disney World’s 7 New Hotel Changes Are…Mostly GoodWarning: Disney World Hotels Will Soon Be Cracking Down on ParkingWhy Fort Wilderness is The Absolute BEST This Time of YearDisney World Hotel Bathrooms Just Got a MAJOR Upgrade Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney World news — that way, you know everything you need to know before your upcoming trip! Learn all about the Swan and Dolphin Restaurants Here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Have you ever used Camp Dolphin in Disney World? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

STOP EVERYTHING! Whatever you’re doing, it’s NOT as important as this, we promise! @popmart on Instagram We are LOSING our minds over here, because we were obsessed with Labubus when they first came out, and while there were a few Disney-like creations that were included, there wasn’t anything that made us freak out just as much as the original Labubus did. That’s all about to change, though, because PopMart, the creator of Labubus, is partnering with Disney to bring us the new Disney Mickey Boundless Creativity Series! In just a few short days, on January 2nd, 2026, the Disney Mickey Boundless Creativity Series will release on PopMart’s website, and we CANNOT wait! There are 13 different figurines in this collection, and while they don’t have official names, here’s what you’ll want to look out for: Artwork Mickey @popmart on Instagram Sorcerer Mickey @popmart on Instagram Picture Frame Mickey @popmart on Instagram Paint Splatter Mickey @popmart on Instagram Labubu Mickey @popmart on Instagram Rock Sculpture Mickey @popmart on Instagram Hieroglyphic Mickey @popmart on Instagram Wooden Carving Mickey @popmart on Instagram Painter Mickey @popmart on Instagram Baby Mickey @popmart on Instagram Glass Vase Mickey @popmart on Instagram Monochrome Mickey @popmart on Instagram Rock Crystal Mickey @popmart on Instagram We have a feeling these will sell like WILDFIRE, and we know we can already see a few of them we’d like to grab. They’ll cost you $19.99 each, or you can purchase the whole set for $239.88, and they will actually release a day EARLY online! You’ll want to hop online at 9 PM ET on January 1st, 2026, to snag them. If you’d like to grab them in store, they’ll release at 10 AM on January 2nd. As these are blind boxes, the only way to ensure you’ll get one of each is by getting the whole set, which is certainly an investment. More Recent Shopping News! A New PopMart Disney Collection is Coming in LESS Than ONE Week!The 8 Biggest Disney Souvenir Drops of the Month10 Amazon Prime Member Exclusive Perks You Didn’t Know AboutNEW Disney Crocs Dropped, and We Think Minnie Would Approve3 NEW Stanley Cups Just Dropped at Target, and We’re Head Over Heels for Them Be sure to set those alarms to grab them if you know you’d like them, and stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney merchandise news! 10 Amazon Prime Member Exclusive Perks You Didn’t Know About Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Which of these is your favorite? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

Construction is ALL over in Disney World right now, but Disney’s Hollywood Studios is home to TWO different massive land overhauls, which means lots of walls (and that’s not even counting the smaller construction projects happening around the park). Muppets Courtyard behind walls (August 2025) Muppets Courtyard is in the process of becoming Monsters Inc. Land, and Animation Courtyard is undergoing lots of changes to become the new Walt Disney Studios area. We’re beyond excited for what both of these projects will bring, but for right now, they’re behind walls, and we’re just getting slight glimpses whenever we can. Starting over in the former Muppets Courtyard area, there’s not too much that has developed, but it’s clear that any mention of The Muppets is gone. It now just looks like tons of brick buildings, with a few having blank spots where signage used to be. Current status of construction While the iconic clock is still there, there’s no signage for Muppet*Vision 3D anymore, and any nod to the former theming is totally gone at the front of the land. Signage is definitely gone The new land will be themed to Monsters, Inc., and the story of it will pick up after the events of the popular Pixar film. Humans have now been invited to visit the world of Monsters, Inc., so we’ll be able to “stroll the streets alongside some of your favorite monsters” and even visit the Laugh Factory!” according to Disney. It’ll also be home to Disney’s first-ever suspended coaster! ©Disney Over at the former Animation Courtyard location, soon to become Walt Disney Studios, all mention of Star Wars Launch Bay is 100% gone. Star Wars Launch Bay signage is definitely gone We’re curious to see how the outside of this spot may change as construction continues, because from looking at Disney’s concept art, it’s going to look VERY different. In fact, this should be where we’ll see the iconic blue Sorcerer Mickey hat! Construction walls around Animation Courtyard Part of this new land will be The Magic of Disney Animation, where animated characters will come to life and leap from their portraits. “Off the Page!” is a collaboration between Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering, where you can meet characters across six unique departments from the animation studio: Story Layout Hand-Drawn Animation Computer Animation Lighting Effects ©Disney “Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!” will also be coming to the area, which will be fantastic for kiddos to dance and get some energy out. Or, you can spend some time at the Drawn to Wonderland playground, inspired by Mary Blair’s original concept art of Alice in Wonderland. ©Disney We’ll continue to keep you updated with all the latest Disney World news as construction continues, so stay tuned to DFB! “That Section Was a Bottleneck Nightmare.” Disney Announces Plan to Solve a Major Crowd Problem Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Which of these two new lands are you looking forward to the most? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

As we close out 2025, you HAVE to take a look at some of the biggest Disney souvenir drops for the month! ©Disney We know — you’re probably shopped out after Christmas, but that’s why we rounded up the biggest and best finds in one easy-to-read list. So without further ado, let’s see the new Disney-themed goodies! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Get this Muppets Loungefly Bag ©Amazon It’s time to play the music, it’s time to light the lights, on this Muppets Group Mini Loungefly Backpack! Any fan of the Muppets will love this bag, as it features some of the popular franchise’s most beloved characters. You’ll find Fozzie, Miss Piggy, Kermit, Gonzo, Animal, and more. With this bag, literally light up the lights, as the bag lights up! View on Amazon And there’s this Muppets Loungefly Bag! ©Amazon Just hold on, Muppets fans, we’ve got one more bag for you — this Muppets Crossbody Loungefly Bag! The bag features a molded metal top handle, an adjustable crossbody strap, arrow spins, and coordinating interior lining. It also has applique, debossed, distressed, and printed details. It’s the perfect crossbody bag for fans of the franchise! View on Amazon We love this Hunchback Quilted Blanket ©BoxLunch Who doesn’t love a good blanket?! Check out this BoxLunch exclusive Hunchback of Notre Dame Quilted Blanket! The blanket is inspired by the beloved Disney animated classic and features Quasimodo. We can just picture ourselves getting all cozy with this. View price online Or, you can grab this Hercules Blanket ©BoxLunch BoxLunch has even more exclusive Disney quilts — like this Hercules Quilted Blanket! The blanket is inspired by Disney’s Hercules, and features Hercules, Meg, and Pegasus. You can see the other side has one of the monsters that Hercules needs to fight in the movie. View price online Don’t forget about this Pocahontas Blanket ©BoxLunch We can 100% see us getting cozy with this Disney Pocahontas Blanket! The blanket features an all-over print of the iconic Disney princess in multiple different poses. Of course, her hair is blowing in the wind! This Disney blanket collection is starting to make us feel sleepy. View price online Then, there’s this 101 Dalmatians Blanket ©BoxLunch The last BoxLunch exclusive blanket is this 101 Dalmatians Quilted Blanket! The blanket is inspired by one of Disney’s oldest classics and features a bunch of the dalmatian puppies in the movie, with Pongo and Perdita at the center. Dare we say this one might be our favorite?! View price online You’re going to love this Sorcerer Mickey Jean Jacket ©Disney Store The Disney Store has some great Disney finds, too — this Sorcerer Mickey Mouse Jean Jacket instantly stood out to us! This jacket for adults has some nostalgia to it, as it features Sorcerer Mickey from Disney’s Fantasia. The back features Mickey putting on his hat, whereas the front features Mickey casting a spell on the broomstick above the chest pockets. View price online And finally, check out this Fantasia Tee ©Disney Store Lastly, we found this Fantasia T-Shirt, and we think it would make for a great outfit for the Magic Kingdom! The shirt features Sorcerer Mickey and a ton of nods to the classic film. If you’re looking for style, vibrant colors, and a touch of nostalgia, this shirt is for you! View price online We’re always on the hunt for the latest and greatest Disney souvenirs and essentials, so don’t forget to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more! View the full article

Well, Christmas has come and gone, and before you know it, the holiday season in Disney World will be over, and we’ll be celebrating a brand new year. Thundering Surf Peanut Butter and Chocolate Sundae Now, a lot of exciting things are happening in Disney World in 2026, but we’re most excited about whatever new foods come to the parks. Well, before all that happens, though, we’re going to take a look at Disney World restaurant menus to see what’s changed over the past week. Magic Kingdom Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies Holiday Exclusives REMOVED: Cherry Cordial Cold Brew ADDED: Happy “Root Beer” Float — Root Beer with Vanilla Soft-serve, Chocolate Cookie Biscuit “Sparkler,” and Shimmery Sprinkles for $7.59 Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies Disney’s Hollywood Studios Backlot Express Holiday Exclusive Mickey Toy Soldier Drummer Sipper changed from $24.49 to $26 Backlot Express Fairfax Fare Holiday Exclusive Mickey Toy Soldier Drummer Sipper changed from $24.49 to $26 Fairfax Fare Disney’s Animal Kingdom Isle of Java Breakfast Snacks ADDED: Tiger Tail Chocolate Twist for $6.29 Coffee Espresso changed from $2.99 to $3.49 Isle of Java Nomad Lounge Churros Churros changed from $10 to $11 Nomad Lounge Churros Tiffins Appetizers REMOVED: Pineapple-glazed Pork Belly ADDED: Gobi Manchurian — Crispy-fried Cauliflower, Manchurian Sauce, Green Onion for $11 Tiffins Restaurant Disney’s BoardWalk Inn BoardWalk Deli Bakery REMOVED: Snickerdoodle Muffin BoardWalk Deli Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Gasparilla Island Grill Kid’s Disney Check Meal REMOVED: Turkey Wrap Meal Gasparilla Island Grill Disney’s Saratoga Springs The Artist’s Palette Holiday Exclusives REMOVED: Pumpkin Tart Kid’s Meals PB&J Uncrustable changed from $5.29 to $7.29 Artist’s Palette Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge The Mara Allergy-Friendly ADDED: Allergy-Friendly Chicken Strips — Served with French Fries for $10.99 The Mara Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Spyglass Grill Allergy-Friendly Breakfast REMOVED: Breakfast Cuban, Kids’ Breakfast Cuban Spyglass Grill Disney Springs D-Luxe Burger Beverages with Alcohol ADDED: High Noon Pineapple Vodka Hard Seltzer for $12.75 D-Luxe Burger Disney World menu changes happen a lot, so if you want to keep up with them, you can check menus on the Disney World website or the My Disney Experience app. We’ll also keep an eye out for menu changes, so stay tuned to DFB for more. Disney dining changes are a lot to keep up with! We’ve done all the research for you in writing our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! We’ve got details on EVERY dining location at Walt Disney World inside our eBook – and it’s easy to download to your tablet or smartphone to take with you on your next trip. Why Disney Adults Keep Eating at the WRONG Restaurants Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Did Disney World change the menu at your favorite restaurant this week? Sound off in the comments! View the full article

Disney World, oh Disney World, how you keep changing! The theme parks are expanding in so many ways, it’s almost hard to keep up with it all. (Don’t worry, we said almost.) Cinderella Castle Each week, we like to do a weekly round-up post of the biggest Disney news from each week, so you never have to miss a single thing. This week, Disney had some major updates from new characters to construction progress, and we’re sharing it all right here. 2025 has been a year of growth and change for the Disney theme parks. Even with the year coming to a close, Disney is in no way slowing down. In reality, they’re hard at work focusing on projects that will change how we see the parks! First Look at a New Character Starting off strong, Disney’s Christmas present to us all was a first look at a new character! Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is currently closed for a big refurbishment that will include new ride vehicles, targets, and a scene featuring a new character named Buddy. ©Disney Disney showed us our first up-close look at Buddy and even gave us some more insight about the canon Toy Story character. Buddy is a support bot at Star Command, and she helps us to get ready for our mission by making sure blasters are calibrated, ensuring our star cruisers are ready to go, and giving us the chance to have some target practice ©Disney She has a youthful energy that’s trapped inside her big, robot body. They also shared that she has feelings of play and excitement that you get when you go on an adventure with your hero! Disney even pointed out an “If You Had Wings” attraction nod on Buddy’s base. ©Disney She will be featured in the brand-new scene when the attraction reopens sometime in 2026. FIRST LOOK at the CHANGES to Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin in Disney World Monsters, Inc. Coaster Construction Progress In addition to every other change around the resort, Disney is also working on a Monsters, Inc. inspired land over in Hollywood Studios. This land will feature a roller coaster inspired by the famous door scene from the movie. ©Disney The new land is replacing Muppets Courtyard (sigh) and part of the Cast Member parking at Hollywood Studios. Thanks to @bioreconstruct on X, we’ve been able to keep up with the construction of this massive coaster through aerial photos. The newest update for the coaster is that the concrete floor has been poured! ©bioreconstruct Like anything in life, you have to start building from the ground up, so this is a really exciting update about the building the coaster is going to be in. You can tell based on the size of the vehicles next to the floor that this ride is going to be massive! ©bioreconstruct Disney hasn’t shared an opening timeline for the new land, but it seems like construction is coming along nicely. Monstropolis — Monsters, Inc. Land Coming to Disney World’s Hollywood Studios New Cast Member Costumes Disney World Cast Members got some new costumes this week! Parking Cast Members began wearing new costumes earlier this year, ditching the old yellow and white for dark blue shorts or pants and a white shirt. This week, the Cast Members debuted a brand-new shirt that is complete with sketched Disney vehicles! New costumes! We are obsessed with the attention to detail on the new shirts. We spotted the Kilimanjaro Safaris truck, the TRON ride vehicle, Herbie the Love Bug, and more. Closer look at the pattern Not only are the costumes a fun way to shake things up for the Cast Members, but they also contribute to increased safety and ease in the parking lots. That green will shine on the dark asphalt, so the Cast Members are more visible to guests driving in. It will hopefully cut down on any directing confusion! FIRST LOOK: NEW Cast Member Costumes Debut in Disney World! Castle Repaint Timeline Finally, Disney shared when the Cinderella Castle makeover will begin! The castle is saying goodbye to its current pink color scheme to return to its classic blues, grey, and gold. This change was announced at D23, but this week, they confirmed the makeover will begin in January 2026. ©Disney The project will begin with draining the moat around the castle, and then painting will begin. Cranes for the project should be lowered by 12 PM (noon) each day at the latest, so photos shouldn’t be too disrupted. Cinderella Castle currently There will be some minor adjustments to the “Let The Magic Begin” welcome show, Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire, and the Happily Ever After fireworks starting January 28th. Disney hasn’t stated exactly what these adjustments will be just yet, but they should be minimal. Disney World Is Trying to Fix a Major Issue in 2026…And We’re Curious If It’s Gonna Fly This week had some big updates for the future of Disney World! Be sure to keep following DFB for more Disney news, updates, and more. 7 Hotel Changes Hit Disney World in 2026 Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Tell us what you’re most excited about in the comments! View the full article

I’ve been an Amazon Prime member for many years now, and I’ll admit that I still don’t know every kind of benefit an Amazon Prime membership offers. Let’s face it — we all sign up for that free shipping, right? And maybe Prime Video streaming. But if you’re not taking full advantage of your Amazon Prime Membership, you may be missing out. Prime So we’ve gone and checked out ALL the big Prime member exclusive perks you can get right now, and you might just be surprised there are so many! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Here are 10 benefits that are exclusive to Amazon Prime members. Unlimited Photo Storage We don’t know about you, but we have thousands of photos on our phone, and not always a lot of space to back them all up. If you’re an Amazon Prime member, though, you get unlimited full-resolution photo storage, as well as 5 GB of video storage with Amazon Photos. ©Amazon You don’t even have to pay extra for the service like you do for cloud storage elsewhere! Prime Gaming and a Free Twitch Subscription If you love to play video games, you can get FREE games and in-game content through your Amazon Prime membership. New games arrive every month! ©Amazon You also get one free Twitch channel subscription, which usually runs around $5. NICE. Prime Reading and First Reads If you love to read, you can get thousands of ebooks, magazines, and comics to read FOR FREE with your Amazon Prime membership. Yes, FREE BOOKS, people! ©Amazon Even better? You can grab new book releases every month through the Amazon First Reads program. Free Grubhub+ Membership If you love ordering food for delivery, you probably already know about Grubhub, but with Amazon Prime, you can get a free membership to Grubhub+, which nabs you free delivery on orders that meet a certain minimum. ©GrubHub You’ll also get lower service fees on Grubhub orders and credits back on pickup orders. Fuel Savings at Participating Gas Stations If you have an Amazon Prime membership, go download the Earnify app and link it to your Amazon account to save around 10¢ per gallon at thousands of gas stations across the U.S., including BP, Amoco, and more. ©Amazon Who doesn’t love saving money on gas? Exclusive Grocery Discounts & Delivery If you want to order groceries from Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods, you can get member-only deals and discounts. You can also get delivery on qualifying fresh orders in many areas. ©Amazon Free delivery on groceries? Yep, we’re in! This is one of our favorite hacks for Disney World since you can get deliveries to your hotel. Order groceries on Amazon! Prime Visa Credit Card Rewards It pays to get a Prime Visa credit card if you have a Prime membership. You’ll earn 5% back on all purchases from Amazon, Whole Foods, and Chase Travel. ©Amazon You also earn bonus rewards for EVERYTHING you use the credit card for. You’ll also often get an Amazon gift card of up to $250 when you sign up. Early Access to Lightning Deals & Promotions You know we love a good sale and are always ready for Amazon Prime Days. But Prime members can also get select Lightning deals up to 30 minutes before everyone else. ©Amazon This comes in especially handy when a big sale is happening on the site. Release-Date Free Delivery If you’ve pre-ordered that new book you’re super excited about, or a video game, music, or movie, you are guaranteed to get them delivered on the release day at no extra cost. Get that highly-anticipated item on its release day! All you have to do is order that item early and sit back and relax until it’s delivered on its release day. Budget Car Rental Discount If you have an Amazon Prime membership, you can get up to 30% off rental cars with Budget PLUS, you can get 10% of your rental cost BACK to spend at Amazon. ©Amazon So if you need to rent a car, be sure to check out Budget and log in to your Amazon account from the Budget website. If all of this sounds good and you want to sign up for an Amazon Prime membership, you can sign up here! Sign up for Amazon Prime Which perk surprised you the most? Have you been using all of these? We’re always on top of new perks and deals, so stay tuned to DFB for more. Disney Souvenir Fans Are Racing to Amazon for These 14 Deals Do you use any of these Amazon Prime perks regularly? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

EPCOT restaurants are some of our favorites inside the Disney World parks, but there’s a big change coming to one of them that you need to know about if you’re heading into the park this January. Coral Reef Restaurant Coral Reef Restaurant is located right near The Seas with Nemo and Friends, and is a bit divisive. Some people love it, others have dined there once and never want to again, but regardless of how you feel about it, there’s a change you need to know about. Starting in early January, one entire meal won’t be available at this spot! Starting on January 4th, 2026, lunch reservations can no longer be made for Coral Reef. January 3rd, 2026, will be the last day for now to experience both meals, where lunch and dinner reservations range from 11:30 AM to 7:15 PM. January 4th Hours We spoke to a Cast Member and confirmed this change, but it’s unclear exactly why it’s taking place. Currently, the Disney World calendar goes out to February 26th, and dinner is the only meal available from 4-9 PM each day. Coral Reef Coconut Fried Shrimp and Chicken Wings Does this mean it’s possible that we won’t see lunch reservations for 2026 at all? We have no way of knowing that right now since Disney hasn’t announced any changes officially, but for now, we know that for almost all of January and February, lunch won’t be an option. If you have your heart set on dining at this spot, we suggest moving around your other plans to ensure you can eat here for dinner. Coral Reef Menu If you need some suggestions for where to head for lunch instead, you’re in luck, because EPCOT is home to TONS of incredible restaurants. For quick service options, meaning you don’t need a reservation, we recommend Regal Eagle Smokehouse, La Cantina de San Angel, Les Halles, and Sunshine Seasons. If you want a character meal restaurant, we recommend Akershus Royal Banquet Hall or Garden Grill. Le Cellier, if you’re looking for a fancier meal that won’t totally break the bank, or Via Napoli, if you’re a lover of Italian food, are also great options. If you’re visiting during an EPCOT festival, though, we highly recommend snacking around the different booths instead of one big meal! Via Napoli Looking for more recent EPCOT news? Check out our posts below! More Recent EPCOT News! Why Your Lunch Plans Might Need To Change on January 4th in Disney WorldThis POPULAR Disney World Hotel Pool Is Closing Soon12 Lightning Lanes That RARELY Sell Out at Disney WorldHURRY! There’s a New Starbucks Collection in EPCOTWARNING: A Disney World Annual Passholder Souvenir Is Disappearing Next Week Looking for some help planning your upcoming Disney World trip? Look no further than our friends at Small World Vacations! Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney World news to help you plan your upcoming trip! “Now I Have Guilt” — Are You Also Breaking This Unspoken Disney World Food Rule? Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW How do you feel about Coral Reef Restaurant? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

Hotel stays have been a part of Walt Disney World from the very beginning, and guests staying on property in 2026 are going to have a slew of perks available to them. Skyliner These perks range from extra time in the parks and early Lightning Lane bookings to theme park transportation and baggage transport. However, not every perk is available to guests at every tier of Disney hotels. Free Transportation Disney’s massive transportation apparatus — which includes buses and boats, as well as access to Disney’s Skyliner and Monorail — is available to Walt Disney World hotel guests at no additional charge. Monorail We would recommend looking into WHICH vehicles are available at your hotel, however. For example, if the Skyliner is make-or-break for you, the only hotels it services directly are Art of Animation, Pop Century, Caribbean Beach Resort, and the Riviera Resort. Inside the Disney Skyliner Free Water Park Tickets… with a Catch In 2025, Disney introduced a new water park perk for hotel guests, which gave each member of their party admission to one of Walt Disney World’s water parks on their check-in day. Typhoon Lagoon While the park is confirmed to return in 2026, it will only be offered during the summer season. Blizzard Beach 30 Minute Early Entry Guests staying at Disney Resort hotels (and select other hotels) can take advantage of a 30-minute early entry into each of Walt Disney World’s theme parks every day of their stay (including check-in and check-out days). Early Entry at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Extended Evening Hours Extended Evening Hours are offered at select Walt Disney World theme parks on select nights. However, these two extra hours are only available to guests at Disney Deluxe Tier or Deluxe Villa resort guests. Extended evening hours in Animal Kingdom Lightning Lanes Guests staying at Walt Disney World Hotels can begin booking their Lightning Lanes 7 days in advance of the first day of their stay for the duration of their stay (up to 14 days). This is 4 days sooner than non-Disney guests who’ve purchased theme park tickets. Rise of the Resistance Lightning Lane Dining Disney hotel guests can also book their dining 60 days in advance of the first day of their stay, once again for the full duration of their stay (up to 14 days). Be Our Guest Value Resort Luggage In 2025, Southwest Airlines teamed with Disney to bring an element of the dearly departed Magical Express back. Specifically, the airline introduced a service for guests at Disney’s Value Tier Resorts (the All-Star Resorts, Pop Century, and Art of Animation) that delivers bags straight from their flight to their hotel, no bag claim required. All you’ll need to do is the following: Fill out the registration form for the Airport Luggage Transfer at Disney service anytime from 30 days to 5 days prior to your departure flight. You will need your Disney Resort confirmation number and your Southwest Airlines confirmation number when you register. You will receive a confirmation email after registering. Check in to your flight online as normal and pay any necessary baggage fees. Head to the airport and follow the Southwest Airlines procedure to drop off your luggage. From there, the bags will go straight from their flight to their hotel room. When returning home, you’ll simply: Check in for your Southwest Airlines flight online starting 24 hours before departure and pay any necessary baggage fees via the Southwest mobile app or online. Drop off your bags at Luggage Assistance in the Resort hotel lobby area by the required drop-off time. Please be aware that you will need to provide a valid government-issued form of photo identification in order to drop off your bags. You can also call Luggage Assistance from your in-room telephone to ask for help with your bags. For a smoother experience, leave all inbound tags on your bags. Head to the airport, skip the check-in line, enjoy your flight, and pick up your bags at baggage claim when you arrive at your final destination. The luggage assistance desk! If you’re staying at a Walt Disney World hotel in 2026, be sure to take advantage of all these perks and stay tuned to DFB for more tips on staying at the “Most Magical Place on Earth.” 4 Things Disney World Custodians Want To Tell You But Won’t Cause They’re Too Nice Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What’s your go-to Disney World hotel? Let us know in the comments below. View the full article

You know, it’s not often that we’re wildly jealous of the shoes kiddos get to wear, but today? Yeah, today is one of those days. Crocs in Disney Springs There are TONS of Disney Crocs out there, and we often have no issue finding some designs for adults that we can’t get enough of. However, every now and then there’s a design that’s only made for kids that we find ourselves wildly jealous of. As it turns out, today is one of those days, because just LOOK at these adorable Minnie Mouse Crocs! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Kiddos Will Love These New Minnie Mouse Crocs! ©Disney Disney just released the most adorable Minnie Mouse Crocs online, but they’re only for kids! They’re available in sizes 4-13, and they appear to be going fast, because sizes 4 and 5 are already sold out. The shoes themselves are pink with white polka dots, but are white on the inside with the Disney logo. ©Disney Then you’ll find a Minnie Mouse icon on the side of the back strap of the shoe, and on the front of the main portion, you’ll find Minnie’s pink sparkly bow! ©Disney Crocs are a great choice for Disney parks, especially for people who know they’re traveling during a rainy time of year or plan to experience lots of water attractions, because they’ll dry quickly. It is important to be careful on escalators, because sometimes the shoes can get caught. Grab them right here! We’ll be sure to keep you updated on all the latest Disney merchandise news, so stay tuned to DFB! View the full article

Heading to Florida for New Year’s Eve to celebrate at Disney World or maybe Universal Orlando? We’re jealous, first of all! We’ll be there to ring in the new year and share all the details here with you, but knowing you’ll get to celebrate yourself is pretty cool, too. New Year’s Eve 2024 at EPCOT Second of all, we hope you’re packing your jackets, because it’s about to get CHILLY in Orlando! In fact, it’s about to get so cold that there’s a warning of falling iguanas everyone should heed. We know that sounds silly, but let’s be honest — if you’re about to be walking around and have an iguana fall on your head, you likely want to know why it’s happening! WINK News Chief Meteorologist Matt Devitt has warned Floridians on his Instagram that this New Year’s Eve, it’ll be so cold in and around Orlando that it’s possible iguanas could fall from their perches in trees! However, don’t panic — these iguanas aren’t dead, they’re just temporarily stunned and immobilized from the chill. @mattdevittweather on Instagram In Orlando, with the wind chill on Wednesday morning, it’ll be around 40 degrees. Fort Myers will be 42 degrees, Gainesville at 30 degrees, but Crestview will be the coldest at 26 degrees! The further north you go, the colder it will be, so prepare yourself! EPCOT New Year’s Eve crowds (2024) If you’re spending New Year’s Eve in Disney World, it’s important to prepare yourself for the intense crowds, especially if you find yourself in EPCOT, Magic Kingdom, or Disney’s Hollywood Studios. All three parks will be open until midnight, have their own special shows to experience, and count down to 2026, and some even have special snacks that are only going to be available on New Year’s Eve. More Recent New Year's Eve News! The STRANGE Way We Know Orlando is About to Get COLDDisney World Reveals 8 New Snacks (And One Special Meal!) for New Year’s Eve3 RARE Fireworks Shows Return To Disney World This MonthEverything You Need to Know About New Year’s Eve in Disney WorldUniversal Orlando Announces New Year’s Eve Celebrations (Including at Epic Universe!) Need some help planning an upcoming Disney trip for this year? Look no further than our friends at Small World Vacations! They’re so knowledgeable, and their services are TOTALLY free to use! Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney World news — we’ll keep you updated on it all! The Best Things To Buy on Amazon Before the End of 2025 DON'T DO IT ALONE! Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you -- they've literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They're DFB's recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!) So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you GET MORE INFO Where are you planning to spend New Year’s Eve? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

If DOLE Whip is your Disney World love language, there is one hotel that deserves your full, undivided attention. It’s so pretty If you’ve ever planned a snack strategy before a park day, you already know DOLE Whip is not just a treat; it is a personality trait. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort has quietly become the ultimate DOLE Whip destination, and we are here to explain exactly why. From classic cups to boozy floats to full-on desserts, this resort offers more DOLE Whip options than anywhere else on property. Let’s get into why the Polynesian is truly unmatched when it comes to this iconic Disney snack. Polynesian Village Resort First up, let’s talk about the pool bars, because yes, you can sip your DOLE Whip here. Both Oasis Bar and Grill and Barefoot Pool Bar serve the same fan favorite, and it is one of the most unique versions of DOLE Whip you will find anywhere. Barefoot Pool Bar menu The Frozen Margarita with DOLE Whip Lime is made with Corazón Blanco Tequila blended with DOLE Whip Lime and finished with chili-lime seasoning. This is not your typical pineapple soft serve situation. It is tangy, refreshing, and perfect for a hot Florida afternoon. Having this available at two different pool bars means you do not even have to wander far to get your fix. Click here to check out our most recent review! Now we need to talk about Trader Sam’s, because if you love DOLE Whip and themed drinks, this place is basically your personality in bar form. At Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto and Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace, you can order the Spikey Pineapple. Spikey Pineapple This drink blends Cruzan Mango Rum with DOLE Whip Pineapple, and it is every bit as tropical as it sounds. Whether you prefer the immersive indoor experience or the laid-back outdoor terrace, you are getting the same delicious DOLE Whip-based cocktail either way. Click here to check out our most recent review! Over at Capt. Cook’s, DOLE Whip shows up in dessert form, and it is not messing around. The Pineapple Cupcake features a vanilla cupcake topped with DOLE Whip Pineapple cheesecake and pineapple buttercream, plus white chocolate décor. Pineapple Cupcake This is one of those desserts that feels extra, but in the best possible way. It is a great option if you want the DOLE Whip flavor without ordering straight soft serve. Click here to check out our most recent review! Then there is Pineapple Lanai, which is honestly doing the most in the best way possible (this spot alone could justify a trip to the Polynesian). Pineapple Lanai offers the classic DOLE Whip Cup with your choice of pineapple, vanilla, or swirl, so the purists are covered. Pineapple Dole Whip You can also order a float with pineapple juice and your choice of DOLE Whip, which is a classic for a reason. Pineapple and Vanilla Swirl Dole Whip Float at Pineapple Lanai During the holidays, Pineapple Lanai takes things even further with the Olu Mel Holiday Float. This version includes DOLE Whip Lime with DOLE Pineapple Juice, a white chocolate piece, and strawberry popping candy. ‘Olu Mel Holiday Float It is festive, fun, and another example of how this location keeps things interesting. Click here to check out our most recent review! Finally, we have Wailulu Bar and Grill, which brings a slightly more elevated twist to the DOLE Whip lineup. Island Tower The DOLE Whip Sundae here features hibiscus meringue, macerated pineapple, and berries. It feels a little fancier than your average DOLE Whip, but it still hits that familiar tropical flavor you are craving. The infamous DOLE Whip Sundae Click here to check out our most recent review! When you look at all of this together, it’s honestly wild. One resort offers classic DOLE Whip, lime DOLE Whip, floats, boozy versions, cupcakes, sundaes, and specialty drinks, all within walking distance of each other. No park hopping required, no long snack treks, and no settling for just one version. If you consider yourself a DOLE Whip fan, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is not optional. It’s essential. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World snack tips! This RARE Snack Experience in Disney World Needs To Be Added to Your Bucket List Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Which DOLE Whip version are you grabbing first at the Polynesian? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

We’ve got some fantastic news for people who often drive to Disney World, whether they drive into the parks frequently, come from surrounding areas, or rent a car for their vacation. Welcome to Disney World! There are a few different roads around the backside of Disney World (and by that, we mean the back roads that aren’t as commonly used by most guests) that get pretty backed up, especially during the hours around park open and park close. However, Ficquette Road is notoriously one of the worst, but things will be changing soon to fix that — it means more construction, but widening this road will be well worth it! Ficquette Road helps connect Horizon West to Windermere behind Magic Kingdom. In 2019, it carried about 17,000 vehicles a day, but now? That number has grown to 22,000, and 20 years from now, that number is expected to grow to 38,000. With those numbers, it’s very important that construction on this road begins now, to get ahead of the traffic getting even worse. Magic Kingdom Entrance Starting in early 2026, construction will begin to widen Ficquette Road from the Reams Road/Summerlake Park Boulevard intersection to near Ingelnook Drive, according to Spectrum News 13. It’ll expand to four lanes, and a roundabout will replace the congested Fiquette/Reams/Summerlake Park intersection. ©Orange County Stephen Herron, a frequent traveler on the road, said in a statement that he often has to add 15-20 minutes to a trip just in case the area is bad, as he’s been stuck there for 20-25 minutes before. The only downside? Well, this construction is planned to take about two years, so it’s going to be rough still for that amount of time, but by early 2028, it should be much improved! ©Spectrum News 13 Not ready to deal with the construction? Don’t forget to take advantage of the free transportation at your Disney World hotel. Even if you drive to your hotel, you can park your car for free and then take the buses, monorail, Skyliner, boats, and more to get from point A to point B. While you may still be dealing with traffic, at least you can use your phone to plan what food you’ll grab while waiting. Disney Bus Looking for more recent travel news? Check out our posts below! More Recent Travel News! Driving to Disney World Is About To Get SO MUCH Easier!Popular Florida Airport Adds NEW Nonstop RouteNEWS: Americans Urged Not To Travel To This Iconic Disney Film LocationWhy You’ll Need to Pack Your Patience If You’re Flying This WeekNEW Southwest Airlines Rule Starts on January 27th Need some help planning your Disney World trip? Check out our friends at Small World Vacations! Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney area news so you know what to expect on your upcoming vacation! The 10 Best Books The DFB Team Read in 2025! DON'T DO IT ALONE! Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you -- they've literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They're DFB's recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!) So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you GET MORE INFO Have you experienced traffic on this road? Tell us in the comments! View the full article

It may still be December, but just like we see companies prepare for Halloween and Christmas MONTHS in advance, we’ve already started seeing Valentine’s Day decor, treats, and gifts arrive in various stores around us. ©Target While most of this makes some of us feel a little rushed, Target just released some ADORABLE Stanley cups that are perfect for someone you love this Valentine’s Day — but you’ll want to act fast, because we have a feeling they’ll sell out quick! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Stanley 30 oz Stainless Steel H2.0 Flowstate Quencher Tumbler ©Target If you’re in need of a large cup to keep yourself hydrated throughout the day, look no further than the Rouge Heart Gradient Stanley 30 oz Stainless Steel H2.0 Flowstate Quencher Tumbler! However, it’s also available in the other two new Valentine’s Day patterns available — Frost Heart Gradient and Powder Pink Heart Gradient, which you’ll see more of below. Grab it right here! Stanley 16 oz Stainless Steel Aero Light Transit Bottle ©Target In need of something that’s easier to travel with? Then you won’t want to look past grabbing the Stanley 16 oz Aero Light Transit Bottle, which comes in both the Powder Pink Heart Gradient color and Rouge Heart Gradient. We love that this design has a completely closed lid, so you don’t have to worry about germs accidentally getting on the mouthpiece. Grab it right here! Stanley 20 oz Stainless Steel H2.0 Flowstate Quencher Tumbler ©Target For those who are big fans of the tumbler designs but want something a little smaller, the Stanley 20 oz Flowstate Quencher Tumbler also comes in all three of the new colors. Pictured above is the Frost Heart Gradient, but you can also grab it in Rouge Heart Gradient and Powder Pink Heart Gradient. Grab it right here! Stanley 40 oz Stainless Steel H2.0 Flowstate Quencher Tumbler ©Target Go big or go home with the Stanley 40 oz Stainless Steel H2.0 Flowstate Quencher Tumbler, which is available in all three of the new Valentine’s Day styles! While this is the most expensive option, it’s also the one that will hold the most of your drink, so it may be the best for a long trip, or any day where you need extra hydration. Grab it right here! Again, we expect these to sell out relatively quickly, so be sure to snag them fast if you know one of these is something you want for yourself, or something you’ll want to gift to someone else. Stay tuned to DFB for all the latest merchandise news, especially on new items that may be helpful for your upcoming Disney trip! View the full article

Some big changes are coming to Disney World in 2026, and they’ll be here before you know it! Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster A lot is happening that will cause closures in Disney World to the point that some people are considering 2026 to be a skippable year at the theme park resort. In fact, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be home to plenty of those changes, including a notable closure set to begin in March 2026. Let’s see how this massive closure (and several others) might affect your upcoming Disney World vacation. Disney officially announced that Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster will close on March 2, 2026, with March 1st being the last day guests can ride. It’s set to reopen in the summer of 2026 (a notably quick turnaround) with some monumental changes. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster area entrance on Sunset Boulevard Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is dropping the “Starring Aerosmith” theming and adopting a Muppets theme! This thrilling coaster with corkscrew inversions and a high-powered launch will be rethemed over the spring and summer to include a first-of-its-kind Muppet audio-animatronic of Scooter! Scooter is the band manager for the Electric Mayhem, and — along with the penguin audio engineers — will be working hard to get the band to their concert on time. Disney has also hinted that we’ll see more animatronics on the ride. ©Disney As for the music and on-ride theming, get ready for a heavy dose of Electric Mayhem, as well as Kermit, Miss Piggy, Scooter, and Gonzo! ©Disney Of course, the giant guitar at the front of the attraction will also be getting a Muppet-fied makeover, as well. ©Disney While a lot of fans are excited for the change, we still expect March 1st to be a VERY busy day at Hollywood Studios. Whenever Disney announces a permanent closure or retheme like this, fans flood the park. As we say goodbye to Aerosmith, get ready for Heavier crowds at Hollywood Studios in late February and early March (and VERY long lines for the ride on March 1st). There’s going to be plenty of “one last ride” energy, to be sure. If riding the Aerosmith version matters to you, you’ll want to prioritize this attraction early in the day. Rope drop or Lightning Lanes go a long way. A large crowd waiting for the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster on July 1st, 2024 If you’re looking to get a final ride in before Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster closes in March, there are several deals available to you. Some deals include: Save up to $250 Per Night on Select Packages: Valid on select 4-night/4-day Walt Disney Travel Company room-and-ticket packages — select nights January 4th to July 25th, 2026. Save Up to 25% on Rooms this Spring: Valid at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels, select nights from January 4th to April 30th, 2026. FREE Dining Plan for Kids (Ages 3 to 9) in 2026: Get a FREE dining plan for kids (ages 3 to 9) when you purchase a Walt Disney Travel Company package that includes a room at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel, and a dining plan for each Guest ages 10 and up. More deals are sure to come up for residents, pass holders, and out-of-state visitors, and we’ll keep you updated as soon as those are announced. Disney’s Hollywood Studios Of course, the move for The Muppets to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster isn’t totally unprompted. Muppets Courtyard was shut down in 2025 and is currently being rethemed into a Monsters, Inc.-themed land, complete with Disney’s very first suspension roller coaster that will be themed after the flying doors from the film. At least this way, The Muppets are remaining at the park. However, massive construction in the area that once housed attractions like Muppet*Vision 3D will be ongoing all throughout 2026. ©Disney Animation Courtyard is also getting a touch-up to include The Magic of Disney Animation — set to open in the summer of 2026. Here, animated characters will come to life, and you can meet characters across six unique departments from the animation studio: Story Layout Hand-Drawn Animation Computer Animation Lighting Effects ©Disney A Disney Jr. show will also be coming to the area –“Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!” — and will feature upbeat and dance-a-longs with Mickey and Minnie as they embark on a road trip to find their pals. This is a cloned version of the dance party over at Disney California Adventure. There will also be the Drawn to Wonderland playground, inspired by Mary Blair’s original concept art of Alice in Wonderland. ©Disney There’s no doubt that 2026 will be a weird yet exciting time to visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios! But don’t worry — we’ll be visiting the resort every single day to bring you all the latest updates, tips, and tricks so that you feel completely prepared and ready to win Disney World! Keep it posted right here at DFB to stay in the know! 5 Reasons I’m SKIPPING Disney World In 2026 Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW How are you feeling about the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster retheme? Share your thoughts in the comments below! View the full article