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Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend is officially in full swing, with over 50,000 runners ready to lace up and set out to pound the pavement across Walt Disney World property through Sunday. The ultra-popular running event has grown significantly since it’s inception. In 1994, when the starting... View the full article

Tonight’s “After Dark” image was snapped at PizzeRizzo, the first Muppets-themed restaurant to open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This two-story quick-service eatery dishes up personal-sized pizza pies and other Italian favorites like meatball subs, cannoli and tiramisu. The interior theming is, of course, full of Muppets fun and features décor chosen by Rizzo, plus some special touches from his extended family and friends. Head to the second floor for a peek at Rizzo’s Deluxe Supreme Banquet Hall, where there’s a wedding reception already in progress. PizzeRizzo is open daily for lunch and dinner at the park. View the full article

'Wishes for Wildlife' - New Year Resolutions | Disney's Animals, Science & Environment View the full article

The "Discover Disney" ticket offer is back, allowing Florida residents to visit three Walt Disney World theme parks for $139. That's the same price as last year's deal. For an additional $20, Floridians can add a fourth day to the offer. This price applies to visitors ages 3 and older. The deal... View the full article

The "Discover Disney" ticket offer is back, allowing Florida residents to visit three Walt Disney World theme parks for $139. That's the same price as last year's deal. For an additional $20, Floridians can add a fourth day to the offer. This price applies to visitors ages 3 and older. The deal... View the full article

The New Year is here, but I can’t stop reliving the amazing time I had on the Adventures by Disney Holiday Danube River Cruise last month. I could go for days about all the things I loved about this experience, but in the interest of time I’ve pulled together a (somewhat) short list of my favorite things from throughout this 7-night, 8-day vacation. Exploring Charming Salzburg The word “charming” is an understatement when describing Salzburg, a town that serves as the muse for many songs and movies (including one you may have heard of called “The Sound of Music”). While all of Salzburg is a feast for the eyes, my favorite spot is Mirabell Gardens. In the summertime this destination is bursting with floral color, but the wintertime also brings an almost dreamlike wonderment to the gardens, which might even be covered in an ethereal dusting of snow. European Christmas Markets Sipping on mulled wine I browsed through endless one-of-a-kind trinkets. My holiday shopping list steadily shrank as my cookie-laden waistline stretched, but I couldn’t help but continue to indulge. Fun mugs shaped like boots, unique Christmas ornaments, wooden toys for my little guy, quaint little light-up Bavarian houses and more are among my favorite take-home items from my shopping spree. Oktoberfest Party in Germany If there’s one German word I’ve conquered it’s “bier,” and it was especially fun to sip this timeless beverage during a full-fledged Oktoberfest style party, complete with oompah band! It was the perfect excuse for my husband and I to break out the lederhosen and dirndl we donned for our honeymoon five years ago on the Adventures by Disney Germany vacation. Hiking to Hilltop Castle Ruins As a Floridian I’m used to flat (very flat) terrain. So, imagine my delight as we sailed through the rolling vineyard-covered hills of Austria’s Wachau Valley. Breathtaking for sure, but even more jaw-dropping was the view from the famous hilltop ruins of the castle Burgruine Dürnstein. Making My Own Hungarian Goulash Stirring a giant cauldron of goulash was not on my “must do” list in life, but it turned out to be an experience I’ll never forget. I felt like I was in my own foodie tv show, learning the authentic cooking methods Hungarians have practiced for ages, and then sampling it all for myself. As someone who’s a sucker for great culinary stories, this one whetted my appetite for sure! I could go on, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you the very best part of Adventures by Disney river cruising: The new booking offer that allows you to save $1,000 off on kids and teens or $500 off per adult for summer 2017 Danube river cruises when you book by March 4, 2017! The $1,000 per child and teen discount and the $500 per adult discount may not be combined. Discount is taken from the non-discounted prevailing River Cruise Package price as quoted on AdventuresByDisney.com on date of booking (“Regular Rate”). Guests 11 years of age and younger at time of travel will receive the $1,000 discount off the child rate. Guests 12 – 19 years of age at time of travel will receive the $1,000 discount off of the adult rate. Regular Rates vary by departure date. Offer not valid for Suites. Lead Guest of the booking party must travel on the Package booked. Valid for new bookings only. Bookings must be made through Adventures by Disney Travel Services, Inc. Discount not applicable toward deposit. Packages subject to availability. Cannot be combined with any other offer or promotion. Subject to change without notice. See AdventuresbyDisney.com for additional Terms and Conditions. View the full article

A total of nine dinners will be offered in the Delicious Disney, A Chef Series in 2017. Unfamiliar with the Delicious Disney Series? These unique events offer guests the opportunity to enjoy culinary creations by Walt Disney World Resort Chefs — along with wine pairings — in a more intimate setting (capped at 60 guests). ©Disney The 2017 theme is “Storytelling with food,” and dates, times, locations, and themes are as follows: Celebrate the Magic Kingdom Park’s 45th Anniversary! Where: Cinderella’s Royal Table When: January 31st at 7:45 pm (with a Fireworks Reception at 9 pm) Featuring: Magic Kingdom’s Culinary Director Robert Gilbert and Team Price: $499 per guest, including tax and gratuity Cinderella’s Royal Table Come Explore a Journey around the World of Flavors Where: Markham’s at Golden Oak, hosted by Chef de Cuisine Phillip Ponticelli When: February 22nd at 6:30pm Featuring: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Culinary Director Robert Adams and Team Price: $249 per guest, including tax and gratuity Enjoy Legendary Culinary Moments from Disney Animation History Where: Markham’s at Golden Oak, hosted by Chef de Cuisine Phillip Ponticelli When: April 26th at 6:30pm Featuring: Victoria & Albert’s Chef de Cuisine Aimee Rivera and Team Price: $249 per guest, including tax and gratuity Celebrating the Silly Symphony Flowers and Trees Anniversary Where: Markham’s at Golden Oak, hosted by Chef de Cuisine Phillip Ponticelli When: May 31st at 6:30pm Featuring: Park Event’s Culinary Director Chef John Clark and Team Price: $249 per guest, including tax and gratuity A Culinary tribute to Ratatouille’s 10th Anniversary Where: Markham’s at Golden Oak, hosted by Chef de Cuisine Phillip Ponticelli When: June 28th at 6:30pm Featuring: Citricos’ Chef Dominque Filoni and Team Price: $249 per guest, including tax and gratuity Sparkling Wine Enjoy the exotic and exquisite tastes of a journey Under the Sea Where: Markham’s at Golden Oak, hosted by Chef de Cuisine Phillip Ponticelli When: July 19th at 6:30pm Featuring: Flying Fish’s Timothy Majoras and Team Price: $249 per guest, including tax and gratuity A Walk around the World with Disney Where: Markham’s at Golden Oak, hosted by Chef de Cuisine Phillip Ponticelli When: August 16th at 6:30pm Featuring: Culinary Director Edwin Wronski and the Flavor Lab Team Price: $249 per guest, including tax and gratuity Enjoy a sampling of the Beast’s favorite French Cuisine Where: Be Our Guest Restaurant, West Wing When: September 5th at 8:30pm Featuring: Flavor Lab’s Chef de Cuisine Roland Muller with Magic Kingdom Park’s Culinary Director Robert Gilbert Price: $349 per guest, including tax and gratuity Farm to Table Dining Experience Where: Walt Disney World Tree Farm (Backstage) When: December 6th at 6:30pm Featuring: a Collaboration of Disney Chefs Price: $199 per guest, including tax and gratuity Interested guests may learn more and make reservations by calling (407) 939-5773 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily. Would you be interested in the Delicious Disney Series? Please let us know with a comment! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com! Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our Newsletter Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook Fan Related posts: News! Epcot Food and Wine Festival 2017 Dates!! News! Dates for the 2015 Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic Announced News: Sake & Shine Event with Chef Masaharu Morimoto and Chef Art Smith Coming to Disney Springs Dec. 3 View the full article

Head on over to Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin for a wacky ride through the streets of downtown Toontown at Disneyland park! This “hare”-raising adventure is based on the 1988 Academy Award-winning film “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” directed by Robert Zemeckis and produced by Steven Spielberg. In 1993, the Toon residents of Mickey’s Toontown opened their once-secret gates to the human guests of Disneyland Resort. With that, Toontown Cab Co. made the sound business decision to offer their new human friends free taxi rides through wild streets and alleyways. The first sight you see before you enter the queue is Roger Rabbit’s fountain, which was built not only to honor this colorful Toon rabbit, but also to keep him from crashing into the fire hydrant that once stood in its place. This flowing fountain features of statue of Roger Rabbit holding a taxicab steering wheel suspended upon an erupting column of water. Once you enter the building, you wind your way through through five entertaining scenes of the downtown district of Toontown as you wait to board your very own taxicab. You then hop aboard a yellow and black taxicab with whitewall tires named Lenny, a cousin of Benny the Cab from the film, and whirl your way through the adventures of Roger Rabbit. On a mission to save the stunning starlet Jessica Rabbit from the no-good Weasels, you’ll maneuver around the nefarious green Toon-toxic Dip they have purposely been spilling on the streets. Each time a taxi rolls into the toxic dip, it starts to spin wildly. As a passenger of this zany cab, you can help steer it along, all while taking in the views of downtown Toontown in full 360 degrees. I hope you’re inspired to take a spin on a Toontown Cab Co. taxi during your next visit to Mickey’s Toontown. Don’t forget to leave a comment letting us know which attraction inspired by the silver screen you’d like to see next! View the full article

Baby Elephant Stella Born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom View the full article

Today’s Disney Doodle takes a look at what the Blue Fairy from “Pinocchio” may do if she visited a Disney Park. In the film, she’s remembered for bringing Pinocchio to life as a “real boy” after proving himself “brave, truthful and unselfish.” So there’s no doubt she’d flex her wish-granting skills to similar lifelike figures at Magic Kingdom Park. “The window displays on Main Street are so magical,” said artist Ashley Taylor. “It’s easy to imagine the Blue Fairy being able to bring them to life!” View the full article

We know what we like, right? Whether it's pizza, Jennifer Lawrence movies, the color purple or a rolling theme-park attraction, we have an opinion, and that opinion tends to stay pretty steady. Mine just changed a little about Move It! Shake It! Dance & Play It Street Party at Magic Kingdom. I... View the full article

As the song sort of goes, it's the most wonderful time after the most wonderful time of the year. Yes, theme-park fans, long lines and massive crowds have faded after the holidays. They should advertise January as "now with more elbowroom." If you've avoided the tourism corridor because of congestion... View the full article

We’re back at The BOATHOUSE for dinner today on DFB! Learn About: The Boathouse Downtown Disney Disney World Restaurants (And you’re gonna have to pardon me. Because I know it’s called The BOATHOUSE — but all those caps get a little tiresome, IMO. So I hope it’s ok with you if I write it all normally and stuff from here on out.) So, here’s what happened. I had some time to kill on a recent holiday trip to Walt Disney World one evening. I found myself hungry and without an advance dining reservation when I remembered the excellent lunch that I’d had at The Boathouse. That hadn’t been the only DFB trip to the restaurant. While we enjoyed our first visit and look around the place, we definitely walked away with a mild case of sticker shock. Our second lunch time visit, during which we checked out both the lunch and bar menu, yielded a much more enjoyable experience. We found some truly delicious fare at a far lower price point. So — it seemed like a good time to check back in, and see if we could work the same hocus pocus on the dinner hour — a meal at The Boathouse that didn’t require a small loan to afford. Did we succeed? Let’s check it out. Atmosphere You’ll find The Boathouse sort of anchoring The Landing area in Disney Springs. As you travel through the shops on your way from West Side to Marketplace along the water side, you can’t miss it. The Boathouse The Boathouse Entrance The restaurant is much larger than it looks from the outside, with four separate dining rooms and three different bars. I’m still waiting for my turn to sit here… . Anyone want to join me? Boat Booth Seating One of Boathouse’s Three Dining Rooms Of course, The Boathouse’s other claim to fame are the vintage Amphicars that ply the waterways outside of the restaurant. One of the Captains Taking an Amphicar for a Spin Amphicar Tours at The Boathouse Please be sure to head over to our account of our first visit to see an extensive tour of the space. This time, we’re going to focus on just a couple of areas. All of our other visits to The Boathouse have taken place during the day, so I thought you might like to see the restaurant at night. As I mentioned above, there are three separate bars here — and I’m showing you two of them! Here’s the Dockside Bar, which is situated right on the water. It’s a beautiful spot for enjoying a drink or even a full meal. Dockside Bar and Outdoor Seating And this brings me to another point: I’ve had no trouble getting a table at The Boathouse as a walk up. I’d imagine that unless you are dining at a peak time of day, or during a particularly busy time of the year, you’ll probably find a similar situation. This time, I opted once more to sit in the Main Bar. It really does look much different at night here, when natural light isn’t streaming down from above. It gave me a chance to notice details, like the backlighting above the bar. Bar Seating Also worth noting were the white tablecloths that appear on tables for dinner service. It definitely has a fancier feel than daytime. Bar and Bar Seating The bar also continues to feature live music. These guys were great! And isn’t that fluffy white Christmas tree gorgeous? Live Music and Seasonal Decor Like I said, please be sure to check out that first review if you’d like the full tour. I was more interested in food than sightseeing on this most recent visit. Let’s check out the options. Eats It seemed to me that the menu was very similar to what I had encountered the last time. Things are just arranged a little differently. Raw Bar items appear at the top left, and you’ll also find Salads and Appetizers (“Launch”). There were also Dock Side Buckets, which are fried items served with French Fries on the side. Menu — Raw Bar and Other Starters — Click to Enlarge Further down the menu, I found Fish Features and Sandwiches. Menu — Fish Features and Sandwiches — Click to Enlarge Sea & Shore and Steaks, Chops, & Provisions feature the higher priced items. We did note that the Tomahawk Rib Chop and the Niman Ranch Heritage Pork Chop aren’t currently on the menu — making the “Chops” part of the menu seem a little odd. In fact, the red meat options also seem slimmed down across the board. Menu — Sea & Shore, Steaks & Chops — Click to Enlarge In addition to other Raw Bar options, there was a large variety of Oysters, priced per piece. Menu — Oyster Varieties — Click to Enlarge A list of Chef’s Dailies featured a few Fresh Catch and Market-Priced Options, including Caviar. Sweet! Menu — Chef Dailies — Click to Enlarge We had no trouble arriving at a decision fairly quickly. To begin, we opted for the Firecracker Shrimp. The Shrimp are tossed in a Sriracha Mayo and are sprinkled with Black and White Sesame Seeds. I’d fallen in love with the firecracker shrimp over at Yak & Yeti on my earlier visit, so I couldn’t wait to try the dish here. It wasn’t a disappointment. In fact, it was probably my favorite dish of the night! So, note to self, always order firecracker shrimp on any menu! ;-D Firecracker Shrimp I had enjoyed the Gibsons “Sandwich King” Burger tremendously on my previous visit, so I was confident in the restaurant’s ability to handle Turf as well as Surf. This time, I splurged, and went for the NY Steak. NY Steak and Fries It was topped with Maitre d’ Butter and Roasted Garlic, and came with a hearty helping of Hand Cut Fries. NY Steak and Fries — Up Close While the steak was a little thinner than I might have liked it, the meat was cooked perfectly. This dish was a winner overall, and backs up the many, many claims I’ve heard of the Boathouse being a favorite for steaks. But the fries — exquisite. Don’t they look amazing? I know — how often does one rave about french fries? But these took some serious effort to stop eating! NY Steak — Inside My friend and I decided to stretch the two courses with some of The Boathouse’s generous side dishes. All side dishes are listed as big enough to share. And truly, they are. I had really enjoyed the Shrimp and Andouille Mac and Cheese (sans Shrimp) during a previous visit, so I tried the plain Mac and Cheese this time. The look of this stuff reminds me of Velveeta Mac and Chese, which you may love or hate. I, personally, love it. So I have good associations already with the Boathouse mac. And the taste is great on this one as well. Good, savory (seriously, how can some mac and cheese options be so tasteless?? But they ARE, right??) flavors on this one, and the creamy texture is just what you’re looking for. So this is going to be a good choice if you’re in a mac and cheese mood. Mac and Cheese I normally can’t resist Truffle Fries, so we had an order of those as well! They’re served with a tangy Lemon Aioli for dipping. Again, more excellent french fries (I’ll have to ask how they get them so good). But, oddly, I enjoyed the non-flavored ones more than the truffle version on this evening. Truffle Fries Dinner was filling, but we simply couldn’t pass up dessert. I had tried the Key Lime Pie in a Mason Jar before (YUM) as well as the S’mores Baked Alaska. (meh). Menu — Desserts — Click to Enlarge And yep — you’re reading that right. $40. For a bunch of rocky road ice cream with some marshmallow fluff on top and some hershey bars. It is NOT Baked Alaska. I seriously canNOT believe it’s still on the menu. I guess enough people order one for the table to keep it around. As far as I’m concerned — SO not worth it. And to add insult to injury, the other desserts are SO SO GOOD! So why would you spend $40 on a crappy one when you could get four of the amazing ones for the same price?!? Don’t do it, people. Don’t get sucked into the Baked Alaska scam here. OK, rant over. There is also a very impressive selection of Whiskey and Scotch to indulge in as well. Menu — Whiskey and Scoth — Click to Enlarge As much as I love that Key Lime, it was time to try something new. First, we chose the New York Style Blueberry Cheesecake. The dressed up version of this classic is topped with Cinnamon Streusel and lots of Blueberries. This was good, but the Key Lime is WAY better. New York Style Blueberry Cheesecake Speaking of Streusel, I couldn’t pass up one of my comfort food favorites, Warm Apple Crisp. This version is topped with Dulce de Leche Ice Cream and Caramel Sauce. Apple Crisp I mean, seriously. You can KEEP all your fancy desserts. Give me this right here any day of the week. It was fantastic. On a par with the Key Lime. So get both! Apple Crisp — Inside Perfect ending to a terrific meal. Overall Every visit to The Boathouse has gotten better. This spot is still a bit of a headscratcher, though. At least as far as price goes. I mean, this is a Disney Dining Plan Two Credit spot. And I get it, if your tastes run to Filet Mignon Oscar Style. But seriously — there are GREAT meals here that are far more reasonable, and are, pricewise, on par with One Credit Table Service spots. In a nutshell, the menu is AAAALLLLL over the place when it comes to price, for what it’s worth. As for quality, I continue to recommend it. I was a little afraid that it wouldn’t live up to the hype initially, but a year and a half later, and I have to tell you — I think they’re settling in nicely. Oh, and when it comes to service, this place is still great. I’ve been well taken care of on all of my visits here — even when sitting in the bar. So, really, I gotta hand it to the Boathouse! But I’m really interested in hearing your thoughts! Has The Boathouse become a favorite Disney Springs Dining Spot for you? Leave a comment and let us know what you think below! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com! Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our Newsletter Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook Fan Related posts: Review: Lunch at The Boathouse in Disney Springs Review: The Boathouse at Disney World’s Disney Springs Rumor: Yeeha Bob to Perform at The Boathouse in Disney Springs View the full article

This is the final video in our “Wishes for Wildlife” series, and we hope you have enjoyed hearing from these children as much as we have. Our goal to inspire kids around the world to become environmental stewards and care for nature is an important one, and it started with Walt Disney himself, who said, “I have learned from the animal world, and what everyone will learn who studies it is, a renewed sense of kinship with the earth and all its inhabitants.” There’s still time to add a resolution to your new year’s list about protecting nature and wildlife. Check out the video below for some ideas and let us know in the comments how you plan to make your wish for wildlife come true this year. View the full article

One of the most cherished traditions in Latin American cultures and a very special one for me and my family, is celebrating El Día de los Tres Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day). It’s the day we celebrate the Three Wise Men – Melchor, Gaspar, and Balthazar – who traveled by camel across the desert to present baby Jesus with three symbolic gifts. In my house, we always cut grass and place it in a box under our beds on the night of January 5th so the Kings’ camels are fed when they arrive the next day. Sometimes, in the box there is also the list of gifts we want to receive. So if your child hasn’t made his or her list yet, or need some inspiration, here are some Disney gift ideas that can help The Three Kings bring some magia to your familia! Elena of Avalor figure doll – for the princesa in your home that wants to rule the kingdom! Classic Mickey Mouse shirt – for all those fans of the one who started it all! Moana necklace – The warrior in your home will love to wear this close to their heart! Big Bucket O’Little Green Man – Toy Story fans will spend hours planning a new mission! Romero Britto Mickey figurine – Art lovers will appreciate this whimsical gift by the Brazilian artist All of these items are also super easy to find on the free Shop Disney Parks app, where you can search and browse thousands of original Disney Parks products! You can find them at stores at Walt Disney World Resort. What are you wishing for this coming Reyes? View the full article

So… speaking of hot dogs!!! We’ve long enjoyed Disney California Adventure’s Award Wieners not only for its punny name, but also for its often unique take on typical Hot Dogs and Sausages. Award Wieners sign Recently, they changed things up even more with a new selection of Street-style Dogs, so our Disneyland Correspondent, Heather Sievers, made her way over to Hollywood Land to check things out! Award Wieners Though the menu has never been huge here, it’s still fairly sizable considering that it’s simply a counter-and-window operation. Four new Dogs make up the “Stars of the Show”: the BBQ Crunch Dog takes the toppings typically associated with a BBQ Burger but places them instead on a Cheddar Sausage, while there is more to the Bacon Street Dog than the name implies (we’ll be taking a closer look at that one soon). Stars of the Show The Spicy City Dog features a Cheddar-Jalapeno Sausage with chipotle crema, queso fresco, and pico de gallo; and the Uptown Chili Dog takes your classic Chili Dog and adds pepper jack cheese and corn chips (which offers a slight change from the previous Chili Cheese Dog served here). Full Menu Vegetarian guests still have the option of the Portobello Mushroom Philly: marinated and grilled Portobello Mushroom with onions and bell peppers topped with pepper jack cheese. Street-style Dogs And those craving a traditional dog can always order up the plain All-Beef version. No matter which you choose, your dog will come to you on a toasted potato bun (the “Supporting Roll” ;-D) with your choice of seasonal fruit or Filmstrip Fries. Heather went with the BBQ Crunch Dog, the Bacon Street Dog, and the All-Beef Hot Dog for good measure. Hot Dogs and Sausage at Award Wieners The BBQ Crunch Dog is a Cheddar Sausage topped with barbecue sauce, cheddar jack cheese and crispy fried onions. BBQ Crunch Dog “The smokiness of the Cheddar Sausage went really well with the flavorful BBQ toppings, and I’ve come to learn that few toppings are greater for any type of dog than crispy fried onions!” BBQ Crunch Dog This flavorful combo led to the BBQ Crunch Dog being deemed as Heather’s favorite. That said, the Bacon Street Dog was no slouch, either! It’s an All-Beef Hot Dog, which is first dipped in a house made roasted red pepper ketchup then topped with grilled onions, bell peppers, and crispy bacon crumbles. Bacon Street Dog The toppings on this Dog — like the others — are plentiful, so it’s a VERY good thing that one of them is crispy BACON. The real surprise here, though, was the intensity of the heat in the roasted red pepper ketchup. While Heather thought this Dog was another winner for Wieners, those averse to spicy-heat should take note and make another choice (umm… aside from the Spicy City Dog, that is ). A standout with all the dishes — including the good ol’ All-Beef Hot Dog — were the Filmstrip Fries on the side. All-Beef Hot Dog with Filmstrip Fries Essentially, they’re curly steak fries!! Heather was completely impressed with these — not only are they thick and tasty with a totally cool texture, but they’re also unique… and clearly ready for their close-up! Filmstrip Fries Award Wieners never seems to disappoint. For a setting that’s not exactly “red carpet,” given its small size, it’s still packed with yummy and fun choices that step outside the norm. And those extra touches like the toasted potato buns and this new twist on standard Fries don’t hurt, either! Totally worth a stop on your next DCA visit! Have you tried any of the new Street-style Dogs at Award Wieners? Please let us know with a comment! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com! Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our Newsletter Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook Fan Related posts: Review: Award Wieners in Disney California Adventure Dining in Disneyland: Big Hero 6 Teriyaki Street Dog & Coconut Milk Tea from Award Wieners Dining in Disneyland: The Banana Corn Dog from DCA’s Award Wieners View the full article

Many Happy Returns | Walt Disney World Resort Annual Pass View the full article

Walt Disney World Resort chefs will storytell with food as a part of a fairly new dinner series, “Delicious Disney,” this year. I got a chance to experience one of these dinners last year. Between the amazing food and the opportunity to meet Disney chefs, it was an incredible experience. The first... View the full article

When I was growing up in Pittsburgh, there’s nothing I loved to do more during the winter than build a snowman. Now that I live in Central Florida, I welcome ways to add a touch of wintery decor into my home or office. That’s why I’m loving this tutorial from Disney artist Simone Miranda on how to create your own Snow Mouse. The best part? They never melt! Here’s what you’ll need: store bought pom pom makers; colored felt; scissors; 3 skeins of 4 or 5 weight white yarn; pencil; hot glue gun/glue sticks; buttons; floral wire; wire cutters; and a 3/16 dowel rod. Check out the step-by-step instructions here. View the full article

There's a new calf in town. A baby elephant was recently born at Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park, Walt Disney World announced on Wednesday. She has been named Stella. The newborn has a part of the park's savanna at Kilimanjaro Safaris. The addition of Stella brings Animal Kingdom's African elephant... View the full article

How-To Make an Apple Pie Candy Apple | Walt Disney World View the full article

Imagine an intimate evening filled with delicious cuisine prepared just for you by an award-winning culinarian from Walt Disney World Resort. This year, the Walt Disney World Resort chefs launched a new dinner series to showcase the stellar talents of the culinary team; with unique and inspired culinary creations coupled with deliciously creative wine pairings. And the “Delicious Disney, A Chef Series” will continue in 2017 with the theme of “storytelling with food.” These dinners are a wonderful opportunity for epicureans to meet our amazing chefs as they prepare specially themed meals for you, our guests. The dinners are often intimate (no more than 60 guests), and the kickoff for 2017 will be Jan. 31 at Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom Park. There will be nine dinners in all, in other locations including Markham’s at Golden Oak, Be Our Guest Restaurant in Magic Kingdom Park, and backstage at the Walt Disney World Tree Farm. See the full schedule below. All reservations may be booked by calling 407.939.5773 daily between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. January 31st at 7:45 p.m. Fireworks Reception – 9 p.m. Dinner Celebrate the Magic Kingdom Parks’s 45th Anniversary! Featuring Magic Kingdom’s Culinary Director Robert Gilbert and Team Location Cinderella’s Royal Table, Cinderella Castle, Magic Kingdom Park February 22nd at 6:30pm Come Explore a Journey around the World of Flavors Featuring Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s Culinary Director Robert Adams and Team Location Markham’s at Golden Oak* April 26th at 6:30pm Enjoy Legendary Culinary Moments from Disney Animation History Featuring Victoria & Albert’s Chef de Cuisine Aimee Rivera and Team Markham’s at Golden Oak May 31st at 6:30pm Celebrating the Silly Symphony Flowers and Trees Anniversary Featuring Park Event’s Culinary Director Chef John Clark and Team Location Markham’s at Golden Oak* June 28th at 6:30pm A Culinary tribute to Ratatouille’s 10th Anniversary Featuring Citricos’s Chef Dominque Filoni and Team Location Markham’s at Golden Oak* July 19th at 6:30pm Enjoy the exotic and exquisite tastes of a journey Under the Sea Featuring Flying Fish’s Timothy Majoras and Team Location Markham’s at Golden Oak* August 16th at 6:30pm A Walk around the World with Disney Featuring Culinary Director Edwin Wronski and the Flavor Lab Team Location Markham’s at Golden Oak* September 5th at 8:30pm Enjoy a sampling of the Beast’s favorite French Cuisine Featuring Flavor Lab’s Chef de Cuisine Roland Muller with Magic Kingdom Park’s Culinary Director Robert Gilbert Location Be Our Guest, West Wing, Magic Kingdom Park December 6th at 6:30pm Farm to Table Dining Experience Featuring a collaboration of our Disney Chefs Location The Tree Farm *Markham’s at Golden Oak Events are hosted by Chef de Cuisine Phillip Ponticelli View the full article

Just keep swimming! In honor of “Finding Dory,” Disney Movie Rewards is giving away a 4-night Disney cruise to the Bahamas aboard the Disney Dream or Disney Wonder. Both of these ships have a whimsical water play area inspired by your favorite underwater Disney•Pixar friends from the film: Nemo’s Reef on the Disney Dream and Dory’s Reef on the Disney Wonder. Giant sea anemones, coral and seaweed create a cool ocean-floor atmosphere, while fountains, bubblers and character figures that move and spray water keep kids coming back again and again! This grand prize also includes Castaway Ray’s Stingray Adventure, where you can feed, touch and snorkel among real-live stingrays at our private island, Castaway Cay. During this incredible experience, a marine specialist will show you how to use a specially designed feeding tray so the stingray takes food right from the palm of your hand. Then, you can head out further in the lagoon to snorkel amongst more than 40 rays who call Castaway Cay home. For more information and the full official rules, click here. View the full article

On behalf of Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment team, I’m thrilled to introduce you to Stella, a female elephant calf born recently and now exploring the savanna at Kilimanjaro Safaris. Stella’s mother is 28-year-old Donna, who gave birth to the park’s seventh elephant. Donna and her baby spent a short time backstage where Stella began nursing, bonding with mom and getting to know some of the other elephants in her family. This is the third calf for Donna, who has given birth to two other female calves, Nadirah in 2005, and Luna in 2010. Stella raises the number of elephants in the Disney’s Animal Kingdom herd to 10, including three males and six females. Donna became pregnant through natural breeding in January 2015 and received extensive pre-natal care throughout her pregnancy. In addition to regular ultrasounds, veterinarians, scientists and elephant managers monitored Donna’s hormone levels on a daily basis to help them determine when she would give birth. Our elephant program makes an important contribution to the worldwide conservation and understanding of these amazing creatures. In fact, our scientists study the behavior and vocalizations of our elephants, and have learned a lot about how they communicate with each other. We have used this knowledge to work with Save the Elephants on the Elephants and Bees project to fund the development and installation of beehive fences around farms in Kenya, which not only protect the farmers and their crops from elephants, but also help protect the elephants from the farmers. Elephants instinctively avoid African honey bees, keeping them safe from human conflict. Learn more about elephants at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and what we’re doing to help Reverse the Decline of elephants in the wild. And remember to check the blog for updates on Donna and Stella. View the full article

It’s a New Year!!! Learn About: Casey’s Corner Magic Kingdom Disney World Restaurants And to ring it in, there are some NEW GOURMET HOT DOGS coming to one of our very favorite Counter Service spots… Casey’s Corner in the Magic Kingdom! Casey’s is, of course, THE quintessential place to enjoy a dog in Disney World. While you can always grab a standard hot dog to top at the condiment bar, Casey’s has also long been home to the classic Chili-Cheese Hot Dog and the less traditional Barbecue Slaw Dog (in addition to the fan favorite Corn Dog Nuggets). But you may notice something new on the menu during your next visit to Casey’s… and any subsequent visits after that. Because a new rotating specialty menu will feature new Hot Dogs every month. Casey’s Corner And they’re starting with a foot-long version of the Mac & Cheese and Bacon-topped Hot Dog! Macaroni and Cheese Hot Dog formerly served at Fairfax Fare For a time, it was not at all difficult to find Macaroni & Cheese Hot Dogs around Disney World. From spots like Fairfax Fare in Hollywood Studios to Animal Kingdom’s Restaurantosaurus, it was close to becoming a park staple for a time. But since it disappeared from those menus, it’s been harder and harder to find. And I, for one, am SO glad to see it back… even if it’s just for January! Mac and Cheese Hot Dog Now I know what you’re thinking (or at least I know what I’M thinking): “Hot Dogs AND Mac and Cheese? AND Bacon? How could it possibly get any better?!?” Well, here’s an option: Casey’s Corner has also added Croissant Donuts to the menu, too! Croissant Donut at Epcot’s Refreshment Port Disney was super late on the croissant doughnut trend, but the sweet snacks have been available since they appeared on the menu at Epcot’s Refreshment Port just over three years ago. Layers of the Croissant Donut So the classic Casey’s will be even more of a destination now that the menu is carrying goodies like Mac and Cheese Hot Dogs and Croissant Donuts… plus MORE Specialty Hot Dogs on the way. I’ll be curious to see how they follow up the Mac and Cheese Hot Dog in the coming months. In the meantime, we’ll be joining the big ol’ pretty-much-always-worth-waiting-in line at Casey’s Corner to start the year off right! What kind of Hot Dogs would you like to see on the new rotating menu at Casey’s Corner? Please let us know with a comment! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com! Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our Newsletter Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook Fan Related posts: Review: Specialty Hot Dogs at Casey’s Corner in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Guest Review: New Specialty Hot Dogs at Casey’s Corner News! Casey’s Corner in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Reopens with Updated Indoor Seating Area View the full article