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Recently, Phil Morgese and his daughter Emma vacationed at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa. You may be familiar with the dad-daughter duo from Babble’s Dad Hair School video series. While visiting our Hawaiian paradise, Phil and Emma jumped into the fun at the resort—from splashing around the water oasis in our Waikolohe Valley to receiving a special Moana Makeover in Painted Sky. Take a look at Phil and Emma’s travel diary below! For fun tips and tricks from Dad Hair School, check out their Playlist on YouTube. View the full article

First Hug – Kindermoon | Walt Disney World Resort View the full article

If you can’t wait for spring to get here, then book early to get a jump on your Disney vacation plans. You can save up to 25% on rooms at Walt Disney World Resort hotels. Plus, get an extra day added to your ticket when you upgrade to a Magic Your Way package with a minimum 4-day ticket. Offer is good for stays most nights February 20 – June 10, 2017. Book by February 26 for stays February 20 – June 10 and book by March 30 for stays April 9 – June 10. Click here for full details about this offer. Or, if you’re planning to come this summer, you can also book from December 28, 2016 – February 12, 2017, to take advantage of one Quick-Service meal per person, per night with the purchase of a non-discounted 5-night/6-day room & ticket package at select Disney Value Resorts for arrivals most nights from May 30 – August 24, 2017. You can choose from breakfast, lunch or dinner at a wide array of quick-service locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort. Special events, shows and attractions to look forward to this spring and summer include: the 2017 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, nighttime experiences at Disney’s Animal Kingdom such as the Kilimanjaro Safaris after dark or the Tree of Life awakenings, new Star Wars experiences, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the new “Once Upon a Time” castle projection show at Magic Kingdom Park. Find more information about this summer 2017 offer here. View the full article

Move over honeymoons and babymoons. The newest “moon” celebrates those precious first few years of your little one’s life: the Kindermoon. It’s right before they become a “big kid” and head off to kindergarten. Unencumbered by school calendars and homework, this is the perfect time when the magic is as real as it is endless. It’s when your child’s best friends they’ve only seen on television or movie screens are in front of them to hug and dance with. Celebrate your Kindermoon with a three-night/two-day package for a family of three that includes a standard room at a select Disney’s All Star Resort and two-day Magic Your Way tickets for as low as $987. Book through February 26 for stays most Sunday through Thursday nights February 26 to March 9 and April 23 through May 25, and larger parties can be accommodated. Plus, traveling with your children is easier than you imagined thanks to Disney FastPass+, which lets you reserve access to select attractions online before you even arrive. Included in this package are two additional FastPass+ tickets to use at select preschool-friendly attractions: 1 ticket valid at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for Disney Junior – Live on Stage! 1 ticket valid at Magic Kingdom Park for choice of: Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid, Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor or Mickey’s PhilharMagic. Some restrictions apply. Click here for more information about this Kindermoon package. What memories and traditions will you start with your Kindermoon? View the full article

No. 5 Penn State Nittany Lions and No. 9 University of Southern California Trojans will soon face off in the 2017 Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual in Pasadena, Calif., but first they stopped for fun during the traditional visit to the Disneyland Resort today. USC head coach Clay Helton and Penn State head coach James Franklin were welcomed to Disney California Adventure park by Lightning McQueen and friends, along with Disneyland Resort Vice President Patrick Finnegan. Featured USC players were offensive tackle Zach Banner, quarterback Sam Darnold, defensive back Adoree’ Jackson and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. Among the Penn State players were linebacker Koa Farmer, wide receiver Chris Godwin, defensive end Garrett Sickels and center Brian Gaia. During their visit to the Disneyland Resort, the teams enjoyed two attractions in Cars Land, joining in a celebratory “dance” aboard micro-cars at Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters and zooming through the desert landscape of Ornament Valley at Radiator Springs Racers. The 103rd Rose Bowl Game will be the third time that Penn State has faced USC in a Rose Bowl Game. The two teams met in the ninth Rose Bowl Game in 1923, when the Trojans won, 14-3, and in the 2009 Rose Bowl Game, where USC defeated Penn State, 38-24. The teams will play in the 103rd Rose Bowl Game on Monday, Jan. 2, 2017. View the full article

We’re back at Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming Florida Kitchen for another visit today! Learn About: Homecoming Florida Kitchen and Southern Shine Downtown Disney Disney World Restaurants You might be scratching your head and wondering, “But AJ, you guys were just there a little bit ago. Why a return so soon?” Well, lots of reasons, actually. But the primary one is this: Once is never enough when it comes to reviewing Disney restaurants. Restaurants in the ‘World are notoriously inconsistent, and while Homecoming impressed us initially, I always like to duck into a new spot after it’s been open for a bit, just to see if the shine and sheen are still around. In fact, we review spots over and over, so we can always make the best recommendations for our readers. In addition, dear friends of mine invited me to tag along for a catch up session, and Homecoming was the agreed upon choice for dinner. And like I’m gonna say no to Fried Chicken? Not likely. Besides, there’s plenty to cover on this menu, and a follow up visit gave me a chance to show you a few new things. Let’s check out how Homecoming is doing, a few months along in the journey. Atmosphere The premise of Homecoming Florida Kitchen (HFK) is pretty cool, actually. Chef Art Smith is a native Floridian, who even spent some of the early years of his career as a Cast Member at Disney. So it’s befitting that the restaurant’s name is Homecoming, as he returns to his home state. Sign The restaurant is a celebration of Old-Meets-New Florida in so many ways. The architecture echoes Florida Vernacular style, with lots of windows to let the light in, and deep overhangs from the hip roof to keep the heat out. Since the whole premise of the re-imagined Disney Springs is that of an old Florida town, the style and substance of the restaurant make it a natural choice for the area. Outside View To the far left of the entrance, you’ll see the Shine Bar. It’s accessible from inside the restaurant as well, but this separate entrance is convenient if you’re just stopping by for drinks. Shine Bar Exterior Back to the main entrance of the restaurant, wood cabinetry boxes in the waiting area and lends warmth. Entrance Podium I like the glass backing for the cabinets, though, which allow plenty of light to filter through. Decor and Cabinetry at the Front Once you enter, take a moment to observe the details. The rustic chandeliers are an example of art from repurposed materials. Those are actually potato sacks that form the shade! Chandeliers The mural above the kitchen depicts Florida’s agricultural heritage. Mural Pull back a bit from the individual details, and you start to see the shape and overall theme of the space. While the elements are homespun and rustic, the feeling of the open floor plan is modern. Kitchen and Seating Area Open Kitchen Kitchen Table Seating I found a mix of seating. There are tables and chairs as well as booths, and many of the seats carry the striking “HFK” symbol, which looks like a vintage post mark. Booth Seating Seating and View The bar occupies an area to the left. Don’t those chairs look super comfy? Inside Bar Seating The bar forms a square that adjoins to an outside bar area. The shaded area is comfortable and relaxed. Outside Bar In speaking to Chef Art Smith, we know that he puts a premium on “porch time”, and so it was no surprise when Homecoming debuted with plenty of porch seating overlooking the springs. Again, this is such a comfortable area, and the views are really lovely. Porch View House Made Hot Sauce adorns each table, and copper toned salt and pepper grinders lend additional warmth. We told you about Chef Art’s housemade hot sauce during our previous review. When we raved about it to him, he generously sent us home with a bottle! Place Setting It’s time to take a look at some of the dishes we decided to try this time. Eats The menu at Homecoming focuses on Southern comfort food with Florida flair. While it’s not huge, we certainly found plenty of tempting choices. A look at the Starters menu gives you a glimpse into the restaurant’s vibe. You’ll find clever names, some of which include Florida locales, like Jasper (Chef Art’s hometown) and Anna Maria, named for Anna Maria Island. And seriously — who can resist something called Bee Haven Bay Fried Green Tomatoes? (Spoiler alert: we didn’t.) Menu — Starters — Click to Enlarge We also found some interesting Salads, including a headliner that features Homecoming’s signature dish, Fried Chicken. Menu — Salads, Dumplings, and Sides — Click to Enlarge The Main Plates section reads like a “who’s who” of regional Southern favorites. And if you’re visiting Homecoming with hopes of trying Fried Chicken, there are two more ways to indulge in the dish here. Menu — Main Plates — Click to Enlarge Buns & Such offers up some interesting takes on Sandwiches. Menu — Buns and Such — Click to Enlarge Beverage Menu — Click to Enlarge At the outside bar, you’ll also find a selection of breezy Cocktails as well as a Grab and Go Menu of to-go foods. Drinks Menu Grab and Go Menu During our first visit, we shared plenty of pictures highlighting Homecoming’s interesting Cocktail selections. Don’t miss the Old Fashioned Elder — a contemporary twist on a classic favorite. Old Fashioned Elder As the bar name implies, the restaurant also makes ample use of Moonshine in cocktails. We found the Moonshine Mash, with refreshing flavors of Watermelon, to be perfect libation for a sunny day. Moonshine Mash Be sure to take a look at that review for photos of nearly all of the drinks available. As you may have guessed by now ;-), we decided to kick off our meal with Bee Haven Bay Fried Green Tomatoes. The sliced tomatoes are prepared traditionally and deep fried with a Corn Meal Crust. Served on a bed of Local Greens, they’re topped with Shaved Ham and a drizzle of Remoulade. Bee Haven Bay Fried Green Tomatoes These were a hit for us, and we’ve heard positive reviews from friends as well. The flavor combo is fantastic. Bee Haven Bay Fried Green Tomatoes — Up Close Next, we couldn’t pass up the Barbecue Chicken Wings. Jumbo wings are tossed in Homecoming’s signature sweet and spicy Barbecue Sauce. They’re topped with a sprinkling of Benne, or Sesame, Seeds. What a great touch! The dish is at once reminiscent of both Asian and Southern specialties. These might have been my second…no, third…favorite thing of the night! And, honesty, so many things were SO SO good that third down on the list is still pretty spectacular. Barbecue Chicken Wings We opted for a couple of selections from the Salads menu as well. Our first selection, the Kitchen Plate, gave us the opportunity to sample our choice of three selections from Homecoming’s side dish menu. We went for Southern Style Green Beans (YUM), Momma’s Mac and Cheese (DOUBLE YUM), and Cucumber Salad (MEH…compared to the others). Kitchen Plate: Sides — Southern Style Green Beans, Momma’s Mac and Cheese, and Cucumber Salad One of my friends chose a salad for her entree, and the Fried Chicken Chopped Salad won out. The large dinner salad combines diced Fried Chicken Breast with Mixed Greens, Chopped Boiled Egg, Cherry Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Icebox Dressing, and Cheddar Biscuit Croutons. This was acceptable, but there were other dishes that we’d recommend over this one. But if you’re looking for lighter, though still filling, fare, this is a good choice. Fried Chicken Chopped Salad I decided that I couldn’t visit Homecoming without trying the signature dish — Chef Art Smith’s Fried Chicken. The plate comes with three pieces of Buttermilk-Brined Fried Chicken, garnished with house made Hot Sauce and Pickles. Normally, it’s served with Mashed Potatoes and Cheddar Drop Biscuits. I opted for a side of Southern Style Green Beans in place of the potatoes. And this fried chicken isn’t just spectacular…it’s legendary. Seriously, if you eat here, don’t miss it! Chef Art Smith’s Fried Chicken Of course, since I made room in my carb budget by skipping the ‘taters — THIS happened. Cheesy pasta is a favorite of mine, so I had to give Momma’s Mac and Cheese a try. Note that the mac and cheese here is beloved by many, and it’s perfect if you’re looking for the scratch mac your mom used to make. To my taste, it needed salt. Lots of salt. But I was apparently born with a salt deficiency, because nobody ever wants things as salty as I do. Salt. (There. I’m done.) Momma’s Mac and Cheese Another friend decided to try one of the the sandwich selections and went for The Hamilton. This homespun take on a burger combines two Beef Patties, White Cheddar, Grilled Onions, Chow-Chow Relish, Bread and Butter Pickles, and Tomatoes — all served on thick sliced, Griddled Bread. House-Made Chips with are drizzle of Icebox Dressing serve as the side. There is a lot a lot a lot going on in this sammich. And it’s all worth it. The Hamilton After a dinner full of hearty comfort food, we decided dessert was definitely in order. We started with the Shine Cake. Rich Butter Cake is soaked liberally with a Moonshine-spiked Simple Syrup, and served with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream. Children need not apply for this one. Note that while it’s “soaked” in simple syrup, it’s not soggy at all. Just moist. So those of you who, like me, don’t like soggy bready type desserts (tres leches cake, tiramisu, etc), you don’t have anything to worry about here. In fact, I only tried this one because I figured I should…but it turned out to be my FAVORITE of the night! Even more so than the cream cheese frosting-bedecked Hummingbird Cake! And if you know me, THAT’s saying something!! Shine Cake And speaking of the Hummingbird Cake: Rich Cream Cheese Icing enrobes moist Pineapple Banana Cake. This was incredible, too. Both signature desserts are worth ordering, for sure. Hummingbird Cake A scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream and a drizzle of Fruit Coulis complete the plate. Overall Art Smith’s Homecoming Florida Kitchen is comfort food done right. There is a lot to love about this new Disney Springs restaurant. First, it’s beautiful, and it totally captures the feel of what they were going for here — a taste of old Florida, dressed up a bit for a modern audience. It also successfully straddles the line between “Southern” and “Florida.” I think those of us who visit Walt Disney World sometimes think of the area as just a tourist attraction. It’s good to remember that the World is located in a place of history and heritage as well. That said, the menu at Homecoming does feel a little pricey. True, the food is good quality, but if you are dining without the benefit of the Disney Dining Plan, you may experience a little sticker shock when the bill comes. I’m happy to report though that the spot seems to be continuing to offer the great quality that we experienced from the get go. Now, I’d like to hear from all of you. Will you be dining at Homecoming the next time you visit Disney Springs? Leave a comment and let me know what you think! 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: First Look! Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming Florida Kitchen in Disney Springs Menu Sneak Peek for Homecoming: Florida Kitchen and Southern Shine by Chef Art Smith Homecoming: Florida Kitchen and Shine Bar, Coming Soon to Disney Springs View the full article

Not only will you be able to see, taste and listen to the best of the art world at the new Epcot International Festival of the Arts, you’ll be able to bring out your inner artist with select experiences available to book starting today. Over the six weekends of the festival beginning Jan. 13, you can sign up for interactive workshops like the Gesture Drawing Class, led by former Disney animator Todd Bright. Gesture drawing of people is foundational practice for animators, storyboard artists, and directors. A single drawing tells a story. Todd’s Story Telling Drawings class will teach you the art of quick sketching from life. Other select workshops include watercolor painting, mixed media art, calligraphy and floral arrangements. The Interactive Workshops are $39+tax each Friday-Monday of the Festival. You can also make a reservation for a meal and performance combo: a delicious breakfast, lunch or dinner, followed by a phenomenal Disney on Broadway inspired concert – nightly during the Festival from January 13 – February 20, 2017. The concert series will pair Broadway talent with favorite songs from award-winning Disney shows such as “The Lion King,” “Newsies” and “Aladdin”. The Dining package includes a three-course meal or full buffet and priority seating at the 8:00 p.m. concert at participating Epcot restaurants. Prices range from $39-$69+ tax for adults, $23-$41+tax for children. The festival runs Fridays through Mondays starting Jan. 13–Feb. 20. To give you an idea of the experiences you can reserve, check out this list. A complete list of offerings will be available online starting Jan. 6. You can book now by calling 407-WDW-PLAY. A great benefit to Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club members: 15 percent off the select experiences. What experiences are you looking forward to during #ArtfulEpcot? View the full article

Travel Weekly unveiled its winners for the trade publication’s latest Readers Choice Awards and we’re honored to have made the list – not once, not twice, but three times! Readers named Adventures by Disney as the best tour operator in the “adventure” category, Disney Cruise Line as the best “family experience” cruise line and Walt Disney World Resort as the best “theme park.” The winners, ranging from hotels to tour operators and airlines to cruise lines in a total of 78 categories, represent the finest in travel and we couldn’t be more honored to be among them. Whether you’re looking to explore faraway lands with Adventures by Disney, sail the high seas with Disney Cruise Line or discover the magic of Walt Disney World Resort, you’ll make memories that will last a lifetime. View the full article

If you visit our Canada Pavilion at Epcot, you can now join a celebration of the country’s upcoming 150th birthday and receive a special button marking the milestone. From now until July 1, 2017, commemorative buttons will be available to guests at Epcot’s Canada Pavilion. Everyone is invited to join in the fun and answer questions like, “What do Canadians call a one dollar coin? Answer – A Loonie” and “Who hosts Hockey Night in Canada Coach’s Corner? Answer – Don Cherry and Ron MacLean” to receive a button. The Canada birthday buttons are available at Epcot now through July 1, 2017, while supplies last. No purchase is necessary. View the full article

With new year just around the corner, some of the most popular products from Disney Parks are now arriving in merchandise locations emblazoned with the 2017 date on them. These special items are wonderful mementos and a great way for guests to recall when they visited Disneyland or Walt Disney World Resorts. This year, we are offering an out-of-this-world collection that has a dash of Disney magic. Disney Design Group artists were inspired by the nighttime skies found at Disney Parks when creating this year’s cosmic-themed artwork. You’ll find patterns and colors reminiscent of distant galaxies mixed with whimsical constellations featuring Disney characters. Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice from Walt Disney’s “Fantasia” is a key Disney character found throughout the art. The merchandising team used elements from the Disney created artwork when designing a variety of products. I recently spotted some new arrivals at World of Disney in Disney Springs Marketplace. For example, I love the tote bag that contains a silhouette of Cinderella Castle with a colorful nebula as a background. A similar bag was created for Disneyland Resort using artwork seen in the first image of this story. The men’s apparel program incorporates celestial artwork in natural colors. Guests will find moon calendar-inspired items with Mickey Mouse. I love the “D Logo” with a silhouette of Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey used on a tumbler. Other items include popular souvenirs such as key chains, photo albums, notebooks, toys, and calendars. Guests who enjoy collecting or trading Disney pins will find open edition pins along with a new four-pin starter set. My favorite pin item is the eight-pin mystery collection which has Disney characters pictured in front constellations. Each box contains two randomly selected pins. Look for these items and much more in select merchandise locations at Disney Parks. You may also find products using the free Shop Disney Parks mobile app. To download, please visit DisneyWorld.com/Shop. View the full article

If 2016 is any example, 2017 should be another banner year of restaurant openings in Central Florida. We already have an indication of what’s to come with this list! There’s nearly a handful of new eateries expected in Disney Springs, several local favorites branching out with second locations,... View the full article

The year is winding down, but holiday festivities at some theme parks and attractions linger on. Here’s our list, sorted chronologically for your pleasure, of the last date for key events, including when to say goodbye to the “Peanuts” gang at Gaylord Palms, the big balloons at Universal Studios,... View the full article

2016 brought so many brand new experiences and attractions at both Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort, let’s see if you can remember some fun facts about all of them in our last quiz of the year! .quiz-container#wp-quiz-182571{ background-color:#f0f8fb; color:#565656; border-color:#dce4e7; } .quiz-container#wp-quiz-182571 .quiz-section h1{ color:#8bb428; } .quiz-container#wp-quiz-182571 .quiz-title{ color:#10628b; } .quiz-container#wp-quiz-182571 .quiz-header-image{ text-align:right; } .quiz-container#wp-quiz-182571 .quiz-section{ border-color:#ffffff; } .quiz-container#wp-quiz-182571 .quiz-details, .quiz-container#wp-quiz-182571 .quiz-results, .quiz-container#wp-quiz-182571 .quiz-embed{ border-color:#dce4e7; } .quiz-container#wp-quiz-182571 .quiz-result{ background-color:#dce4e7; } Quiz: What Were the Top Disney Parks Experiences in 2016? How many costumes were created for the new “Frozen - Live at the Hyperion” stage show at Disney California Adventure? 600 800 More than 1,000 More than 2,000 All of the following are scents that you can smell on the “Soarin’ Around the World” attraction at both Disney California Adventure and Epcot except: An ocean breeze over the South Pacific Oranges over California orange groves Grass over Africa Roses over India Projections of butterflies come together to create the face of which type of big cat during the Tree of Life awakenings at Disney’s Animal Kingdom? A tiger A panther A cheetah A lion Which Disney Princesses appear in “Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire” stage show at Magic Kingdom Park? Princess Tiana Princess Rapunzel Princess Anna All of the above The “Frozen Ever After” attraction at Epcot celebrates what? (Hint: A royal proclamation poster announces the celebration.) Coronation Day A Summer Snow Day Elsa’s Birthday Anna’s Birthday Embed Quiz on Your Website Embed Code <div class="wp-quiz" data-quiz-id="182571" data-site-url="https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog"></div> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/wp-quizzes/js/embed.js"></script>Copy and paste above embed code where you would like the quiz to appear on your website. View the full article

For more than a year now, we’ve shared DIY candy apple tutorials from the Candy Cauldron at Disney Springs, with Confectioner Matt Burdick guiding us through how to make some of the shop’s most popular treats. This week we have tasty new tutorial that features Matt’s personal favorite – the shop’s Apple Pie Candy Apple. One of the more surprising apples, this snack combines a Granny Smith apple with white chocolate, caramel and crushed graham crackers. Check out the tutorial below to make this perfect-for-winter snack! Interested in our other Disney apple tutorials? Check out the list below. DIY Apples With Character: ‘Finding Dory’-Inspired Apples DIY Apples With Character: Mickey Mouse Valentine’s DIY: Make Disney Bride & Groom Candy Apples from Walt Disney World Resort Holiday How-To: Create An Olaf-Inspired Candy Apple View the full article

This year has been filled with exciting products from Disney Parks Merchandise. Here is a look back at some of the most popular items from 2016. Thank you for the many comments on the Disney Parks Blog this year (I love reading and answering your questions). I look forward to sharing the latest and greatest items from Disney Parks in the New Year! The Disney Castle by LEGO – One of the most popular items this year was The Disney Castle by LEGO. This highly detailed model contains over 4,000 pieces and comes with an array of exciting Disney-themed features and functions. In spring, we introduced the first-ever Disney character collection of Minifigures by LEGO. Disney PinQuest – This summer, guests of all ages enjoyed mini-adventures throughout Disneyland park and Magic Kingdom Park while looking for clues and collecting pins. ALEX AND ANI – Summertime also saw the debut new “Words Are Powerful” color infusion bangles by ALEX AND ANI. These bangles contained Disney sayings and attributes of some of our most beloved Disney characters. Disney Parks-Inspired Products – This year, we offered a selection of products inspired by classic attractions and characters from Disney Parks. The Disney Kingdoms team released a five-part comic series featuring Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room. Disney Publishing released “Disney Parks Presents The Haunted Mansion,” which is the first in a series of picture books with CDs and original artwork based on beloved Disney Parks rides and attractions. Guests who collect Funko Pop! figures discovered two Indiana Jones-themed figures with nods to the Indiana Jones Adventure in Disneyland park. We also introduced Disney Tsum Tsum plush inspired by Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion, Fantasyland, and Adventureland. 45th Anniversary of Magic Kingdom Park – We counted down all summer long to the 45th Anniversary of Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort. To celebrate the occasion on October 1, we released commemorative logo products including a dangle charm by PANDORA Jewelry. Guests could also find vintage apparel on the Disney Parks online store as part of the YesterEars Collection. Star Wars – Fans of Star Wars and the incredible new film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story found a galaxy of new products at Disney Parks. New Shopping Destinations – Guests visiting Walt Disney World Resort found new places to shop this year. At Disney Springs, we opened Disney TAG (Travel-Accessories-Gear) in the Marketplace Co-Op; a beautiful new location for the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique near Once Upon a Toy; and a Disney home décor store in Town Center called D-Living. World Showcase at Epcot – As part of a monthly series, I traveled around World Showcase at Epcot offering looks at architecture and unique products. Disney Parks Blog Unboxed – Throughout this year, the Disney Delivery Guy surprised me with boxes containing never-before-seen products for Disney Parks. We had a blast revealing products for the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival; new handbags and accessories by Dooney & Bourke; frightfully fun products for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party; and fall fashion created for Disney Parks. View the full article

When the clock strikes midnight on December 31, where will you be celebrating? Chances are some of you might be ringing in the New Year with us either at Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort or even aboard a Disney Cruise Line ship. We asked the Disney Parks Moms Panelists to share their best tips on navigating the most celebrated night of the year. Kay B. has spent many New Year’s Eves at Walt Disney World Resort. She recommends you pack your patience and arrive early because the parks will all be crowded due to the anticipation of the great firework shows “which are bigger and better than the normal wonderful displays.” Try to make sure the little ones get in a nap, so they can toast the New Year with smiles on their faces. Kay also suggests that you don’t plan early morning events the next day, since New Year’s Eve will be a late night. Pick up a park map and times guide, Jackie P. recommends, so you don’t miss out on special or added entertainment, fireworks and activities. Plus, did you know there are incredible fireworks for New Year’s Eve at Magic Kingdom Park, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Epcot, and Disney Springs? Jen R. recommends playing Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom and eating a snack, preferably a Dole Whip, when things get a little crowded. She also shares “the fireworks were, honestly, the most amazing show we’ve ever experienced. The show surrounds the park at midnight. It’s hard to explain other than it’s worth seeing in person!” If you are ringing in the New Year at Disneyland Resort, Kiki Y., one of our resident Disneyland Panelists, offers up some practical. In a recent answer on DisneyParksMomsPanel.com , she gives a first-timer to Disneyland Resort some great New Year’s Eve tips, including making dining reservations early! She says the “atmosphere is festive, fun and filled with enthusiasm and excitement!” And should you find yourself aboard a Disney Cruise Line ship for New Year’s Eve, there are many special, extra events planned! Marcy G. shares all the festive fun aboard the Disney Fantasy with a Guest who is departing on New Year’s Eve. The special events include an exclusive dinner menu, themed deck party, your favorite characters in their New Year’s best, and so much more! For more tips or to ask questions about planning your upcoming Disney vacation, be sure to visit DisneyParksMomsPanel.com for a personalized response from our knowledgeable panel. View the full article

Way back in December 2010, we showed you beautiful holiday sights, took you to the other side of the world and even gave you the moon. Let’s take a look back at the stories we brought you six years ago this month. Time-Lapse Video: Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle at Disneyland Park We shared this beautiful time-lapse video showing how Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle transforms from day into night. Celebrating Walt’s Birthday To commemorate Walt Disney’s birthday, George shared this charming photo from the second anniversary of the opening of Disneyland park. A View From…Disneyland Paris Take a look at these amazing photos showing the season’s first snow covering Disneyland Paris. Full Moon at Magic Kingdom We showed readers these beautiful photos of the moon over Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom Park. Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle We ended the month with one of my favorite photos from Paul – this colorful view of Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle at Disneyland park. View the full article

Merry Christmas from DFB! We hope you had a wonderful holiday! We’ve wrapped us this week’s food posts with a pretty bow and delivered it to you with some extra holiday cheer! Holiday Cupcakes There is still time to enjoy Holidays Around the World at Epcot and we recently had a chance to check out all the food! We have all the booth menus and food pictures for you! Speaking of holiday food, Disneyland’s Festival of Holidays is still going strong, featuring 14 food booths with themed menus! Check out all the menus here!! We have a lot to share with you this week, so let’s jump right in… Disney Food News We have a first look at the culinary treats coming to the Epcot Festival of the Arts. Dining packages for the Main Street Electrical Parade at Disneyland are now available for booking. Check out what’s new at Disney World! The Colossal Cinnamon Roll at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is #OnTheList this week! We reviewed the ice cream flights and hard floats at Ample Hills Creamery! We checked out the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Savory Feast Kitchen at Universal Orlando’s CityWalk. Check out our newest YouTube video: The Main Street Confectionery at the Magic Kingdom. Check out all the latest Disney Food News — even the stuff we don’t mention in posts on the blog! — on our Disney Food News Pin Board, including menu updates, restaurant closures, special events, and more! We’ve got all the latest for you, so check it out before you go. DFB Reader Finds If you find a fun new food — or other edible awesomeness — in or around Disney, share a photo with us on facebook or twitter so we can add it to our DFB Reader Finds each Sunday! This week’s #OnTheList item was the Colossal Cinnamon Roll from Disney’s Animal Kingdom. DFB reader Jonathan Bailey recently had a chance to enjoy the cinnamon roll and declares it was “amazing!” Breakfast of champions. We love asking our readers what is on their Disney food bucket list and this week Sara McCaslin said the Lobster Risotto from Ravello at the Four Seasons Orlando is #OnTheList for her! This looks amazing! Do you have a favorite Disney Food find? Share your photos with us! Deal of the Week: 20% Off the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2017 with code SAVE2017! Now is the perfect time to order the 2017 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! This valuable resource is fully updated for 2017 Disney vacations, and is now available for purchase and download to help you make the most of your dining plans while in Disney World. Just use code SAVE2017 at checkout! The 2017 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is chock full of tons of great features to ensure you have your best Disney trip, every time. These include: A 5-Step Strategy for Disney Dining Planning, covering everything you need to know from budgeting and booking to kids’ meals, dining discounts, and fireworks. A comprehensive and in-depth look at EVERY Disney World restaurant, kiosk, bar, and lounge, including our personal tips to ensure a positive and stress-free dining experience. Four free, downloadable worksheets for planning your trip. These worksheets are designed to help you execute all the steps of planning the perfect Disney dining experience. And they’re reusable for all of your future trips! Seven sample one-day dining itineraries for a head-start on planning. A comprehensive index of bars and lounges. An often under-appreciated option for both dining and entertainment, the e-Book devotes a whole index to the topic. The ability to be read on your mobile device or computer! It’s fully portable right in your pocket! We put tons of time, effort, and research into ensuring that we share with you the most relevant, up to date Disney Food Information that’s available. We do this so that you can plan your own Disney visit with confidence, and have the trip of a lifetime, every time. We’d love to share our best tips with you! And remember, because the guide is an e-Book, it’s super easy to download it to all of your mobile devices and take it right into the parks with you! Order the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, 2017 Edition, and receive 20% off with code SAVE2017. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to get the latest version of our most popular Guide! And don’t forget to check out our Money-Saving Bundles — More Stuff for Less Dough! Remember, with a 100% money-back guarantee on all of our guides, you have nothing to lose! On to the Round-Up! Mickey Fix found this must-have Mickey Mouse Waffle Iron. WDW for Grownups shared their Top 5 Bars and Lounges for 2016. Disney Parks Blog shared a recipe for Beef Tamales from Epcot’s Holidays Around the World. Disney Family shared a recipe for Mickey Mouse Chocolate Cookies. OMGiri shared a fun ‘Moana’-inspired Bento Box! Have a great week! We’ll see you back here tomorrow with another great Disney food review! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com! Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our Newsletter Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook Fan Related posts: Disney Food Post Round-Up: December 11, 2016 Disney Food Post Round-Up: December 4, 2016 Disney Food Post Round-Up: December 18, 2016 View the full article

The calendar has flipped over to December, and we once again find ourselves on the cusp of another incredible new year. For anyone planning to welcome 2017 at Walt Disney World Resort, we have quite a party in store. Here’s a rundown of some of the entertainment planned for this year’s celebration. Epcot – It’s a party throughout Epcot from 7 p.m. – 1 a.m., with unique entertainment including a DJ at the Future World Fountain Stage, dancing to a DJ under flame effects and a smoke-billowing dragon in China, a blast to the past with British Invasion in the United Kingdom, a Euro-pop DJ and lasers in Italy, a Latin band and DJ on the America Gardens Stage and a “Silent Groove” party in Japan. Cap it all off with one of two showings of “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.” The 6:00 p.m. show will include our holiday finale, while the 11:40 p.m. performance will be followed by a countdown and pyrotechnic salute to the New Year. Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Ring in the New Year beginning at 7 p.m. with a high energy DJ dance party at Center Stage, leading up to a countdown to midnight and fireworks celebration. You can also enjoy two incredible nighttime spectaculars, with “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” at 9 p.m. and “Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular” just after midnight. Magic Kingdom Park – Get a head start on the festivities, with a special New Year’s Eve eve presentation of “Fantasy in the Sky” fireworks at 11:50 p.m. on Friday, December 30. The same show will be repeated on December 31. For families looking to wrap things up a little earlier, both nights will also feature the Holiday Wishes New Year’s Celebration at 7:30 p.m., complete with expanded fireworks and a New Year’s Eve countdown. So tell me … What are you doing New Year’s Eve? View the full article

This week’s Disney Doodle focuses on two friends from Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog,” Tiana and Lottie. “I love Tiana and Lottie’s friendship,” artist Ashley Taylor said. “I imagined them being a fun pair to go shopping with!” Here, Ashley has depicted them shopping on the streets of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Picking out the perfect gown to wear to a New Year’s Eve ball, perhaps? View the full article

Despite its reputation as a brand "where dreams come true," I was almost in tears as I boarded the Disney Wonder in Galveston, Texas, in November. After an exhausting week, the combination of a judgmental parenting post from an acquaintance on Facebook, the swirl of political vitriol on social... View the full article

See floating mountains, bioluminescent plants and fly on the back of an ikran. You'll be able to do it all next summer when the world of Pandora from the Academy-Award wining movie "Avatar" is brought to life at Disney's Animal Kingdom. The theme park giant released a behind-the-scenes look at... View the full article

Behind the Scenes of Pandora: The World of AVATAR | Disney's Animal Kingdom View the full article

The Mungia Family Visit Disneyland Resort View the full article

The Washington and Houston Families Visit Walt Disney World View the full article