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Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Meet-Up | Disney Springs View the full article

We continue to highlight children’s holiday “Wishes for Wildlife” in this new video. Each week during the holiday season, we will share another video of a child’s “Wish for Wildlife” on the Disney Parks Blog. We will also show you some of the more than 100 pieces of art they created to illustrate their wishes. We will post the children’s art on the Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment Facebook page – so be sure to check it often! View the full article

The year 2017 is fast approaching and we’re ready to ring the new year in right. Today we’re happy to share that this New Year’s Eve, our #DisneyParksLIVE team will bring you a live stream of “Fantasy in the Sky” fireworks live from Magic Kingdom Park on 12/31 at 11:45 p.m. The live stream will begin at 11:45 p.m. EST in a fresh blog post that will appear at the top of the blog. You can also follow along on Twitter with the hashtag #DisneyParksLIVE. View the full article

At Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, supporting local communities is in our DNA, especially during the holidays. The tradition dates back to Walt Disney himself, who in 1948 helped create the now famous Toys for Tots train logo still in use today. And as our parks have grown throughout the years, so too has the continued dedication of our cast members! In 2016, Disney VoluntEARS donated more than 214,000 hours of community service to benefit nonprofit organizations and enrich the lives of children and families around the world. From collecting toy donations to making magic for children in hospitals and decorating hundreds of cookies, here’s a look at how cast members shared the joy this holiday season. The Disneyland Resort brought the spirit of the season to Children’s Hospital of Orange County. Accompanying Disney characters in their holiday finest, Disney VoluntEARS helped children decorate gingerbread cookies to embellish a giant gingerbread castle made by the Disneyland Resort. Walt Disney World Resort VoluntEARS collected more than 25,000 gifts for children in Central Florida as part of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots campaign. A group of VoluntEARS even set off to deliver hundreds of the gifts aboard a Disney’s Magical Express Bus in celebration of the momentous occasion. In Shanghai, Disney VoluntEARS helped decorate the corridors of local children’s hospitals to create merry and bright memories for children and their families. They also decorated a dazzling Christmas tree to be featured in the Pudong Special Needs School, where more than 100 students enjoyed a special photo moment with Santa. At Tokyo Disneyland, VoluntEARS brought the joy of the holidays to children at the Aiji-no-ie Orphanage. Patients and their families at Siu Lam Hospital in Hong Kong were also surprised with a special visit from Mickey Mouse and Hong Kong Disneyland VoluntEARS bearing gifts. Disneyland Paris VoluntEARS hosted a traditional Christmas brunch for more than 250 children from local community centers including holiday treats, face painting, balloon sculptures and a festive concert. In Hawaii, Disney characters joined VoluntEARS from Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa, spreading holiday cheer to children and families at two local hospitals, posing for snapshots and sharing countless unforgettable moments. Disney Cruise Line crew members spent time ashore with children in port communities across the Bahamas and the Caribbean, with extra help from Mickey and Minnie, and Disney Vacation Club cast members gave hundreds of children a few extra merry and bright memories, in addition to donating more than 150 handmade chew toys for furry friends at a local animal shelter. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts VoluntEARS are committed to bringing positive change around the globe, donating hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours each year to the communities where they work, live and play. Stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog to see what our Disney VoluntEARS do next in 2017. View the full article

This year, the wondrous eight-day celebration of Hanukkah begins at sundown on December 24, 2016, and ends at sundown on January 1, 2017. Here is a quick look at gift items from Disney Parks that are perfect for welcoming the Festival of Lights. The Disney Parks merchandise team has released two new Hanukkah-inspired pins for 2016. Guests will find an open edition pin (seen in the first image), and a limited edition pin containing a spinning dreidel. The latter pin has an edition size of 2,500. Speaking of dreidels, we also carry a set of toy dreidels created especially for Disney Parks. Other items include a decorative banner with bells, a mug, a wine goblet, and a small serving plate. Look for these items in select merchandise locations at Disney Parks. You may also order select items using the free Shop Disney Parks app. I wish you a Happy Hanukkah filled with wonder and light! View the full article

Forget partridges – the residents of Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room are much more entertaining! They’ve appeared in today’s Holiday Countdown graphic, by Disney Artist Simone Miranda and team, to happily remind us that there are only four days left until Christmas. Click below to see previous “Countdown” posts. Holiday Countdown: Five Green Alien Friends Holiday Countdown: Six Friends A Singing Holiday Countdown: Seven Dwarfs A Mining Holiday Countdown: Eight Fairies Flying Holiday Countdown: Nine Villains Plotting Holiday Countdown: Ten Disney Dogs-A-Barking Holiday Countdown: Eleven Epcot Countries Holiday Countdown: Twelve Monorail Trains View the full article

Disney has provided a glimpse at some of the culinary items coming to the Epcot International Festival of the Arts. ©Disney And at first glance, ART certainly seems like the operative word! (Oh, and FYI, Disney didn’t mention what any of these things actually were, so your guess is as good as ours. Though this first picture definitely looks like Disney is adding pop tarts to its culinary line-up ??!?!?!?!??!?!) ©Disney (Ummmm…are those pop tarts?! Those are totally pop tarts, right??) This new Festival will make its debut on January 13th and will run on Fridays through Mondays for six weekends (through February 20th). The Festival will focus on three aspects of art: Visual, Performing, and Culinary. ©Disney The Culinary Arts will be represented by the food items and beverages that will be served at Food Studios (aka Booths) located along the World Showcase promenade. ©Disney Disney shares that, “While the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival strives for seasonal flavors, and the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival is all about global cuisine, the Epcot International Festival of the Arts is all about works of art on a plate.” In fact, as part of the experience, guests will be able to watch chefs plating some of the dishes. ©Disney ©Disney ©Disney One thing it looks like the Festival of the Arts will share with its counterpart Festivals is that it will offer savory dishes… ©Disney ©Disney ©Disney ©Disney ©Disney … as well as plenty of sweet treats. ©Disney ©Disney ©Disney And, of course, a few beverages to complement the whole thing! ©Disney ©Disney The Visual Arts will be represented by art pieces ranging from the work of Mary Blair and Herb Ryman to current Disney artists such as Costa Alavezos and Joe Kaminski, and the Performing Arts will be celebrated with Broadway talent performing at the America Gardens Theatre. So get ready to please your palate (and your palette! ), when the first ever Epcot International Festival of the Arts begins on January 13th! Will you be attending the Festival of the Arts? 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 Festival of the Arts (with food, of course!) Coming in January and February 2017 2010 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Dates 2009 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Pins Posted View the full article

New Fun for Kids, Adults & Families on the Disney Wonder View the full article

There are some new monkeys running around Disney's Animal Kingdom. The park at Walt Disney World is now home to four lion-tailed macaques, a species that's never called Animal Kingdom home. The one male and three females reside in the park's Maharajah Jungle Trek. They are an old-world monkey that... View the full article

2016 is almost over and in just a few weeks thousands of guests will kick off the New Year by participating in the 2017 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna, January 4-8. From Diaper Dashes for the little ones to the full 26.2-mile marathon for adventurous runners, a runDisney race is the perfect way to get a running start on those New Year’s resolutions with the entire familia! Adrenaline seekers looking for an extra challenge can take part in four days of fun for a total of 48.6 miles in the Dopey Challenge, which includes running all four races (5K, 10K, Half Marathon and Marathon) during the upcoming Walt Disney World Marathon. If you are running in an upcoming runDisney race and/or know someone who is running that has a unique and inspirational story to share, we want to hear from you. Please submit your story for consideration at WDPR.DisneySportsStories@Disney.com. Buena suerte to all that are training! And see you at the finish line! View the full article

2016 has been an incredible year for runDisney! A big thank you to all of those runners who participated in our runDisney events this year. We have loved seeing your energy, excitement, strength and in many cases AMAZING race day outfits. Watching you cross the finish line has been the biggest highlight of the year! From launching our first international race in Paris to expanding Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend, what a year it has been. Here’s a deeper look into some of the other reasons that made runDisney great this past year from each event: 1) Walt Disney World Marathon presented by Cigna: Fredison Coasta, the Brazillian runner who trains at Walt Disney World Resort won his third straight Walt Disney World Marathon and his fifth in the last six years. Crossing the finish line in 2:33:24 he exclaimed, “…I’m the happiest man on earth.” 2) Star Wars Half Marathon – The Light Side: StarWars.com contributor Cole Horton started running BECAUSE of the runDisney Star Wars race series. He decided to run all three races in one weekend to share his journey! 3) Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend presented by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals: Running Princesses from the weekend embodied the spirit of Disney’s new “Dream Big, Princess” campaign, which strives to inspire girls and kids around the world to realize their full potential and dream big. From watching inspiring video to special backdrops, runners were inspired during “The Little Mermaid” themed event weekend! 4) Star Wars Half Marathon – The Dark Side: We launched the inaugural Star Wars Half Marathon – The Dark Side consisting of kids races, a 5K, 10K and half marathon distance. In addition, participants who ran the Star Wars Half Marathon – The Light Side and Star Wars Half Marathon – The Dark Side received the inaugural runDisney Kessel Run Challenge medal! 5) Tinker Bell Half Marathon presented by PANDORA Jewelry: Tinker Bell Half Marathon celebrated its five-year anniversary at the Disneyland Resort! The half marathon medal celebrated the anniversary on our traditional pixie-dusted Tink medallion! 6) runDisney Virtual Running Shorts Series: The all-new runDisney Virtual Running Shorts Series launched this summer and included three 5Ks that you could complete from whatever course you chose – through your neighborhood, on the treadmill, etc. Participants received a uniquely designed finisher medal for each 5K completed plus a challenge medal for finishing all three virtual 5Ks. More to come in 2017! 7) Disneyland Paris Half Marathon presented by Cigna: Did we love the Inaugural Disneyland Paris – Val d’Europe – Half Marathon Weekend? Oui! The event kicked off this past September at Disneyland Paris. 50 nationalities were represented among runners. The race weekend included Kids Races, a 5K and a Half Marathon. 8) Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend: Disney duos were the theme of the 2016 Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend and runners came out in full force, donning their favorite duo- and group-inspired looks! 9) Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend presented by MISFIT: Our Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend menu was expanded! We added the inaugural Disney Wine & Dine 10K and a challenge for runners who participated in the 10K and a half marathon – Lumiere’s Two Course Challenge! 10) Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend: A reimagined half marathon course and new super heroes added to the weekend such as Spider Man and Doctor Strange were the highlights of this amazing event! Our events are special because of our runners and we can’t thank you enough. Those are just a few of the highlights from 2016! Which races will you conquer in 2017? Check out our event schedule with on sale dates as well as event times here: Let us know which event you’ll be participating in using the hashtag #runDisney. Learn more about runDisney and make sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. View the full article

Gorillas are one of our closest cousins in the animal world. They have 32 teeth, opposable thumbs and live in close-knit family groups with complex social relationships. They are impressively intelligent, and they depend greatly on social learning from their mothers. All four gorilla subspecies are critically endangered. They are threatened by poaching, habitat loss and disease. Mining for minerals like coltan used in electronics has intensified these threats. Illegal wildlife trade also poses grave dangers for gorillas in the wild. The Disney Conservation Fund and Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment teams are supporting the Jane Goodall Institute, the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education (GRACE) Center, and more than a dozen local organizations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to “Reverse the Decline” of great apes and their habitat, including Grauer’s gorillas, the largest and arguably most-threatened gorilla. They are found exclusively in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and are considered one of the world’s 25 most-endangered primates, given that their population has declined by almost 80 percent in only 20 years. The GRACE Center, the only sanctuary for Grauer’s gorillas, cares for young gorillas rescued after their families were poached. Amani, whose name means “peace” in Swahili, is one of these orphans. She was rescued in 2009 and was intercepted while being illegally sold as a pet. She was found dehydrated at the bottom of a plastic bag with a bullet in her leg. She was treated, and although she will always have lingering effects from her wound, she will be able to live her life in the gorilla group at GRACE. Today, Amani loves to play with the other gorilla orphans, make peace after conflicts between group members and climb trees inside GRACE’s large forested habitat. GRACE’s ultimate goal is to return rehabilitated gorillas back into the wild to help the struggling wild population. Here at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you can see two troops, or groups, of western lowland gorillas, a bachelor troop and a family troop. Wilderness Explorers can even earn a gorilla observation badge for watching the gorillas’ behavior! While visiting Gorilla Falls, you may have a chance to meet some of the cast members who have visited GRACE or hear the stories of how Disney is helping protect gorillas. Everyone can help “Reverse the Decline” of great apes by taking action: You can reduce the need for coltan by recycling old electronics like cellphones, laptops, tablets, and video game systems. You can donate them to GRACE or the Jane Goodall Institute to help raise money for great apes in need of protection. Purchase wood and paper products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. (Look for the FSC logo.) Take notice of where your products come from and purchase forest-friendly products like shade-grown coffee and items made from sustainable bamboo. Visit DisneyAnimals.com to learn more about gorillas and share the information you learn with friends and family! To learn more about GRACE or the Jane Goodall Institute, visit www.gracegorillas.org or www.janegoodall.org View the full article

In need of a little Disney Parks magic to keep your little ones busy this week? Check out our latest DIY tutorial on how you can make a mini Mickey Holiday Wreath for your home. First, download a Mickey-shaped template here. You’ll also need: 1 piece of cardboard; scissors; yarn (your choice of colors); 1 pencil; and a hot glue gun and glue sticks. Ribbon, a frame hook and other embellishments are optional. Then follow our step-by-step instructions here. Thanks to Simone Miranda and team for the cool tutorial! View the full article

As guests arrive at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, they are welcomed into the expansive Maka‘ala lobby. Maka‘ala, which translates to “wide awake” or “watchful,” encourages guests to remain alert and watchful as they explore the resort. Beyond the colorful murals and soaring architecture are layers of stories waiting to be discovered. This installment of “Meet Aulani’s ‘Ohana” features Cultural Greeter Kaleimakamae. She is one of six cultural greeters at the resort who share their passion for Hawaiian culture with guests and our fellow Disney ‘ohana. Based in the Maka‘ala lobby, the setting is a natural place for our cultural greeters to tell the many stories behind the lobby’s artwork, artifacts, design and architecture. Meet Kaleimakamae in the video below! Be sure to say “aloha” to one of our cultural greeters during your next visit to Aulani Resort! View the full article

“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” is expected to rule the box office during the long Christmas weekend, despite a glut of new films jostling for moviegoers’ dollars. The second weekend for the Lucasfilm prequel is expected to easily top newcomers, including the new animated musical “Sing,” the romance-in-space... View the full article

360 Video: A Christmas Fantasy Parade | Disneyland Resort View the full article

With so many unforgettable holiday experiences happening at all four Walt Disney World Resort theme parks this week and throughout the season, we’re quizzing you to see how much you can recall about these special holiday favorites. .quiz-container#wp-quiz-182451{ background-color:#f0f8fb; color:#565656; border-color:#dce4e7; } .quiz-container#wp-quiz-182451 .quiz-section h1{ color:#8bb428; } .quiz-container#wp-quiz-182451 .quiz-title{ color:#10628b; } .quiz-container#wp-quiz-182451 .quiz-header-image{ text-align:right; } .quiz-container#wp-quiz-182451 .quiz-section{ border-color:#ffffff; } .quiz-container#wp-quiz-182451 .quiz-details, .quiz-container#wp-quiz-182451 .quiz-results, .quiz-container#wp-quiz-182451 .quiz-embed{ border-color:#dce4e7; } .quiz-container#wp-quiz-182451 .quiz-result{ background-color:#dce4e7; } QUIZ: Holidays Around Walt Disney World Resort All of these holiday songs play during Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios except for: Jingle Bell Rock Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree Jingle Bells We Need a Little Christmas Who is narrating the Candlelight Processional at Epcot tonight? Ming-Na Wen, actor and voice of Mulan Joe Morton, actor who has starred in ABC Scandal Jodi Benson, actor and voice of Ariel Cal Ripken Jr Baseball's Hall of Famer How many reindeer appear in Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade at Magic Kingdom Park? 4 6 8 10 Which Disney Characters are dressed in their holiday best and greeting guests at Adventurers Outpost at Disney’s Animal Kingdom? Donald Duck and Daisy Duck Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse Baloo and King Louie Dug and Russell Embed Quiz on Your Website Embed Code <div class="wp-quiz" data-quiz-id="182451" 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

By definition, a Super Hero is a fictional character with superhuman powers. Recently a seven-year-old girl from San Gabriel, Calif., defied that definition during runDisney’s Avengers Half Marathon Weekend at Disneyland Resort. Far from fictional, Carissa Leung is a beautiful young girl full of energy, excitement and dreams. Joining her mom, Elene Wong, sister, Katelyn, and brother, Ryan, she participated in the Captain America 5K, a 3.1-mile journey through Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks. What unfolded during the race is inspirational, motivational and unforgettable. Carissa proves super heroes are not just fictional. They come in all shapes, sizes and ages. They motivate and inspire us everyday, we just need to take time to see it. I hope you will take time now to experience Carissa’s 3.1-mile superhuman journey, witness the amazing things that happened along the way and learn from her super powers. Congratulations Carissa – you are a super hero! For more information on Avengers Half Marathon Weekend and other runDisney event weekends at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort, visit www.runDisney.com. View the full article

Walt Disney World's annual passholders are getting a holiday treat at the theme park gates. They'll be able to bypass long lines at the entrances by using gateways that are designated for annual passholders only. The benefit begins Wednesday, Dec. 21, and is scheduled to run into sometime in January,... View the full article

Walt Disney World's annual passholders are getting a holiday treat at the theme park gates. They'll be able to bypass long lines at the entrances by using gateways that are designated for annual passholders only. The benefit begins Wednesday, Dec. 21, and is scheduled to run through the end of... View the full article

This Maple Pecan Bark would make a great gift for friends and neighbors - or a simple treat to have on hand for guests. You can find it at Epcot’s Holidays Around the World, or try making it yourself with the recipe below. Maple Pecan Bark Makes 24 Pieces 3/4 cup pecans 1 teaspoon sea salt 1 cup... View the full article

Are your halls decked? Are your presents wrapped? Are you bursting with anticipation as you’re getting ready to celebrate the HOLIDAYS?!? Cinderella Castle all lit up! Because it’s the Most Wonderful — and Delicious! — Time of the Year at Walt Disney World! And we’re taking a tour around the Parks, Disney Springs, and several Disney Resorts to find out What’s New for this most festive season! Resort Gingerbread Displays It’s GINGERBREAD TIME! A wonderful tradition across several Deluxe Disney World Resorts each year are over-the-top, larger-than-life Gingerbread Displays. Last month, we caught glimpses of the Grand Floridian and Contemporary Resort’s displays in progress, and since that time we’ve been back to see them up and running! Contemporary Gingerbread Display Of course, the Grand Floridian’s display is not only a gorgeous Gingerbread House… Grand Floridian Gingerbread Store … it’s also a fully functioning treat spot! Gingerbread Ornament Truffle Pops My personal favorite — the Gingerbread Carousel — is back at the Beach Club. Gingerbread Carousel at the Beach Club The horses on the Carousel are uniquely themed each year. Now, who does this year’s fleet remind you of ? Donald Duck Horse Mickey Mouse Horse The BoardWalk Inn is trying something new this year. Rather than one large Gingerbread Display (last year, it was Ginger’s Bread & Cookie Shoppe), the Resort’s Pastry Chefs have created individual Gingerbread Creations, reflecting a theme and inspiration of their choosing. Boardwalk Inn Display Individual Gingerbread House Individual Gingerbread House Individual Gingerbread House Individual Gingerbread Display Feeling inspired by the displays? Then you can attend a Bakery Activity — or the Gingerbread Academy — to try your own hand! Holiday Baking Activities at the BoardWalk Gingerbread Academy sign Be sure to check out our full photo tour and review on this year’s Gingerbread spots and snacks! Epcot Happy Holidays Around the World from Epcot! Holidays Around the World at Epcot This annual celebration of the season as it’s celebrated around the globe is back… only this time, it’s been enhanced with seven Marketplace Booths featuring regional and global cuisine. American Holiday Table Booth And, BOY, did they bring in some GOODIES! Cheese Fondue from Alpine Haus The event is still running through December 30th, so be sure to check out our very favorite items — like the Cheese Fondue at Alpine Haus, and the Slow-Roasted Turkey Dinner at American Holiday Table — before you go! You can also see pictures of EVERY SINGLE FOOD ITEM here! Slow-Roasted Turkey from American Holiday Table Duck Confit from Alpine Haus But maybe you’re not going to get the chance to attend this particularly festive festival. Well, don’t worry… because a brand new Festival will follow shortly after, when the Festival of the Arts makes its debut in January 2017! Epcot Festival Dates for 2017 It will be followed promptly by the Flower & Garden Festival (which will feature two new Outdoor Kitchens) in the Spring… but we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Because in the meantime, we’ve got bigger things to conquer. And I do mean BIG. Get a load of the new JUMBO Pretzel in the Germany Pavilion! Jumbo Pretzels in Germany This baby is GIGANTIC. It’s also 10 BUCKS. Seeing as it’s a “snack” that two can easily share, that brings things to $5 apiece… Germany Hovels Menu Stop by the Popcorn Cart in the Canada Pavilion for a Chilled Maple Cafe, which will hopefully remain around for the cooler weather that lingers beyond Holidays Around the World. Canada Popcorn Cart Menu It features Joffrey’s Le Cellier Blend Coffee with Brown Jug Maple Bourbon Cream Liqueur and topped with ExlPure MAPLE COTTON CANDY! And though these are not exclusive to Epcot, that’s where we first spotted the current Joffrey’s Seasonal Drinks: the Gingerbread Cookie Latte, the Wintery White Latte, and the Peppermint Mocha Latte. Seasonal Espresso Drinks Look for them at any of the Joffrey’s Espresso and Pastry kiosks around Disney World, for at least the next few weeks! Magic Kingdom Everyone in Magic Kingdom is excited to celebrate the season! Main Street, U.S.A. Fire Chief, Mayor, and Suffragettes Magic Kingdom Decorations Just a few menu changes to let you know about here, but they are rather small in comparison to the BIG news that four more Magic Kingdom Table Service restaurants (in addition to Be Our Guest Restaurant) will begin serving wine and beer very soon. Liberty Tree Tavern These include Liberty Tree Tavern, Cinderella’s Royal Table, the Jungle Skipper Canteen, and Tony’s Town Square. Tony’s Town Square To learn more — including why this change is so surprising — click here. Now back to those menu changes we mentioned, starting with a new Pumpkin Cheesecake for dessert at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe. Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café Dessert Menu at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe If you are traveling to Magic Kingdom as the holiday traffic picks up, you’ll have more of a chance to find seasonal locations in operation like Tortuga Tavern and Golden Oak Outpost. Also included on that list is Tomorrowland Terrace. Entering Tomorrowland Terrace! Here, a Strawberry Shortcake has replaced the Coconut Tres Leches Cake for dessert. Sides, Dessert, and Kids’ Menu These aren’t the only menu updates at the Magic Kingdom. Jingle Cruise sign Jingle Cruise Boat Jingle Cruise decor It seems the Jungle Cruise Skippers have a special holiday menu to look forward to as the Jingle Cruise sails on throughout the rest of the season! Seasonal Crew Mess Menu Seems like a nice change of pace from the usual… Regular Crew Mess Menu But maybe that’s just me . Hollywood Studios Just a few weeks ago, we said “Welcome” to Rizzo the Rat and his new dining establishment, PizzeRizzo! Welcome to PizzeRizzo! The City’s Top Rated Pizza Read our first review from this new Counter Service eatery! Pepperoni Pizza from PizzeRizzo But while we say “Hello” to that new spot, we’re VERY happy to say “Welcome Back” to an old favorite… the Sweet Cream Cheese Pretzel is back at Hollywood Studios at select Pretzel Carts! Pretzel Cart We’ve been hoping for this since this classic snack found its way back to Magic Kingdom a few months ago. You’ve still got a couple weeks left to catch the Jingle Bell Jingle BAM! nighttime spectacular… Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! Sign Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! … and all the festive food and drink at Sunshine Day Cafe to go along with it! Sunshine Day Cafe Menu Evergreen Spritz Stollen Bites They’ve also added German Pretzels to the seasonal offerings, and you can add a souvenir Christmas Light Glow Cube to any beverage for $3.50. German Pretzel and Glow Cube signs This year’s Chocolate and Candy Cane Holiday Cupcake can now be found at Counter Service spots all over the Studios, including The Trolley Car Café and Starring Rolls. Holiday Cupcakes Holiday Cupcake Anaheim Produce has brought back the Candy Cane Kah-lada for the season. Candy Cane Kah-lada at Anaheim Produce Candy Cane Kah-lada And the Winter Berry Margarita and Twinkling Twilight are available once again at the Pop-Up Bars around the park. Pop-Up Bar Menu Sweet Spells has added Pumpkin to its Whoopie Pie selections! Sweet Spells Pumpkin Whoopie Pie If you’re looking for more than snacks and drinks, though, you may want to try out the new “fast-casual” dinner at ABC Commissary. The ABC Commissary They’re switching it up from the typical Counter Service setup (which still exists for lunch) to a new system where you order and pay for your dinner at the counter, then go to a table and wait for it to be delivered right to you. Chimichurri Steak ©Disney Drinks are likewise refilled for you by a Cast Member. Read more about it here, and look for a review soon! Stop by Mama Melrose’s to try the new Wood-Grilled Chicken and Penne Pasta, or the Seasonally Inspired Chef’s Selection (which is currently Osso Buco). Mama Melrose’s Menu Animal Kingdom Jambo — and Season’s Greetings! — from Animal Kingdom! Animal Kingdom Christmas Tree Further construction at Flame Tree Barbecue has been completed, and the result is expanded seating in a lovely new dining gazebo along with a covered walkway. Flame Tree Barbecue Gazebo Flame Tree Barbecue Walkway Flame Tree Barbecue Gazebo Flame Tree Barbecue Gazebo The Halibut dish at Tiffins has been replaced by a Hoisin Glazed Grouper. Tiffins sign Tiffins Entrée Menu And the current coffee brew at the Anandapur Royal Tea Company is the Kenya Muranga Blend. Specialty Coffee Menu Kenya Muranga Disney Springs Marketplace Merry Christmas from the Christmas Tree Trail in Disney Springs! Christmas Tree Trail Fifteen trees themed to Disney characters and films can be found in the Marketplace. Here’s a quick glimpse at just a few… Jungle Book Tree Jungle Book Tree Cinderella Tree Cinderella Tree Alice in Wonderland Tree Alice in Wonderland Tree You know what else can now be found at the Marketplace? Dole Whip! Pineapple Dole Whip Soft-Serve Ice Cream Grab yours — under the name Pineapple Soft-Serve — at Marketplace Snacks. Marketplace Snacks at Disney Springs Dole Whip signs at Marketplace Snacks For other sweet treats, you’ll want to check out Goofy’s Candy Co. where some new additions to the seasonal standards include this adorable Mickey Holiday Sugar Cookie (with just a hint of almond flavor). Giant Mickey Christmas Sugar Cookie And a CARAMEL POP. Woo! Caramel Pops At B.B. Wolf’s Sausage Co., the Bratwurst and Cheese Spatzle has replaced the Portuguese Sausage. B.B. Wolf’s Sausage Co. B.B. Wolf’s Sausage Co. menu Remember the Holiday Turkey Poutine that showed up at The Daily Poutine (thick-cut fries all topped with turkey and Thanksgiving trimmings)? The Daily Poutine Well, we were pumped to learn it will remain around for the remainder of the holiday season! Special Menu — Holiday Turkey Poutine It’s GOOD, folks. Holiday Turkey Poutine So good, in fact, that it’s the one Thanksgiving guest you’ll be glad extended its stay . Hey-OH!! Town Center Winding into the Town Center, you’ll spot news signs at the future home of The Polite Pig, coming in Spring 2017! The Polite Pig sign The Polite Pig sign It will be just steps away from Amorette’s Patisserie where they are decking the halls with these beautiful Lemon Chiffon Ornament Dome Cakes and Red Velvet Snowballs. Read our review here! Ornament Dome Cake Snowball Snowball Description These are in addition to pieces like the mini Mickey Mousse Chocolate Chiffon Cakes, and the Goofy Dome Cake. Mickey Mousse Mickey Mousse Goofy Cake Mickey Peanut Butter Blondie Cookies are new in the Patisserie, joining the Savory and Sweet Crepes that hit the scene last month. Peanut Butter Blondie Cookies Crepes at Amorette’s Crepe Menu More seasonal sweet treats are available at Sprinkles, where they are serving up Gingerbread Cupcakes. @sprinkles Twitter And a Bacon and Bleu Burger is now on the menu at D-Luxe Burger. D-Luxe Burger sign D-Luxe Burger Menu The Landing Yes, Virginia, it DOES get cold in Florida… occasionally . And Joffrey’s Tea Trader’s Cafe is prepared with a seasonal selection of Winter Warmers. Joffrey’s Tea Traders Cafe Winter Warmers Raglan Road still has until Fall of 2017 to welcome its future next door neighbor, Wine Bar George, but groundbreaking has occurred and construction is underway! Wine Bar George Construction Wine Bar George Rendering Meanwhile, directly on Raglan Road’s other side at Cookes of Dublin, we were surprised to see that the menu has been rather significantly downsized. Cookes of Dublin Cookes of Dublin Menu I already miss you, Vintage Bacon and Cheese Dip! Maybe — if we’re all REALLY GOOD — Santa will see fit to bring you back one of these days… . (FYI — AJ stopped in and voiced a sincere complaint on this one.) A few Disney Princesses have received a place of honor on their very own Chocolate Bars at The Ganachery. Princess Chocolate Bars Princess Chocolate Bars sign These Chocolate and Nut Trees are just around for the season! @DisneySprings Twitter And seasonal selections of ganache include Apple Pear and Amaretto. @DisneySprings Twitter Stop by Morimoto Asia for a Winter Wonderland. Morimoto Asia It’s made with White Chocolate Godiva, Vodka, and Peppermint Schnapps. @MorimotoAsia Twitter Just across the way at Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming, Moonshine Flights have been added to the drink options! Homecoming Sign Choose any three Moonshine flavors and receive a pickle juice chaser and candied pecans along with them. @DisneySprings Twitter Also, you can now find Braised Short Ribs served with sweet mashed potatoes and broccolini and a new Apple Pie a la Mode Cocktail on the menu. Braised Short Ribs @DisneySprings Twitter Apple Pie a la Mode Cocktail @DisneySprings Twitter Follow things up with… more cocktails at Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar! Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar Or perhaps you’d prefer a small bite to eat. The current seasonal food menu features a Matterhorn Rosti and Pork Belly Sliders. @DisneySprings Twitter And for dessert? Vivoli il Gelato Stop by Vivoli il Gelato for one of the seasonal flavor options. @DisneySprings Twitter Pumpkin Spice, Amaretto, and Maple Pecan make up the holiday offerings. Resorts Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory has reopened from its lengthy refurbishment to debut a new look. Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory Mardi Gras Parade Props Near the Ceiling AND new food items! Cajun Grit Bowl with Shrimp House-made Cheese Coffee Cake Cajun King Burger House-made Pecan Praline Check it all out here! Wilderness Lodge Though Wilderness Lodge doesn’t feature a Gingerbread Display, that doesn’t mean that guests there will be missing out on some Seasonal Snacks! Wilderness Lodge Christmas Tree Holiday Treats at Wilderness Lodge Holiday Treats at Wilderness Lodge And Territory Lounge is currently serving coffee and pastries once again from 7:00 am – 2:00 pm daily. Territory Lounge Find out about the Wilderness Bark Latte — one of the featured beverages on the Specialty Menu — here. Territory Lounge Coffee Menu Roaring Fork has a cute Raspberry Seasonal Cupcake up for grabs. Raspberry Cupcake And outside at Trout Pass Bar, some festive holiday beverages made their debut. Trout Pass Pool Bar DFB Reader Chelsea B. kindly shared her photo of the Elf Elixir (Godiva White Chocolate and Peppermint Schnapps) with us. A Snowball Martini (Godiva White Chocolate and vanilla) and Smoky Mountain Cider (Cider with Apple Moonshine) are also available. Elf Elixir and Other Holiday Drinks at Trout Pass Pool Bar Read her review here! Contemporary Resort In addition to the Gingerbread Treats mentioned earlier, an Egg Nog Spiced Cupcake has found its way to Contempo Cafe for the season. Contempo Cafe Entrance Egg Nog Spiced Cupcake Look for a Gingerbread Santa Hat Cupcake from December 23rd through 25th, too! Animal Kingdom Lodge The fast, casual breakfast option at Sanaa in Animal Kingdom Lodge — the Sanaa Kuamsha Breakfast — has passed its trial run, and can now be considered a regular option for your breakfast choices! Sanaa It’s available daily from 7:00 – 10:00 am. Kuamsha Breakfast Menu Hot Station with Bobotie Banana Bread, One of the Breakfast Offerings Find out more about this new option here. Polynesian Village Resort Following in the footsteps of Grand Floridian’s Gasparilla Island Grill and the Contemporary’s Contempo Cafe, the procedure for receiving your food order at Captain Cook’s has changed. Captain Cook’s Ordering Area Place your order and then, when it’s ready, a Cast Member will deliver your food directly to your table. @danielstaten We’d like to thank our good friend Daniel (@danielstaten on Instagram) for the info… and the pic of the Seared Chicken Breast with pineapple sambal, red quinoa and edamame salad (His thoughts on the dish? “So good!”). Boardwalk Inn Before we wrap (a few more presents…), I’m guessing we could all use a little Yule Fuel right about now. Wanna know where you can get some? Big River Grille & Brewing Works At Big River Grille and Brewing Works! It’s their current seasonal brew. Yule Fuel Tap MANY THANKS to you for joining us on all of our trips Around the World in 2016! We hope you enjoyed them, and we can’t wait to take you along for more fun-filled food adventures in the year to come. Until then, we’d like to wish you a VERY Happy Holiday! Have you spotted anything new during a recent trip around the World? We’d love to hear about it in 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: What’s New Around Walt Disney World: October 20, 2016 What’s New Around Walt Disney World: August 18, 2016 What’s New Around Walt Disney World: November 15, 2016 View the full article

It’s festive in the tourist corridor hotels serving the attractions in Orlando. From Westgate lakefront resorts to the Rosen hotels and all through Disney, Universal and their partner hotels, tourists and local alike can experience a feast for the eyes this holiday season. New at Gaylord Palms... View the full article

'The Disney Parks’ Magical Christmas Celebration' View the full article

With its gorgeous backdrop of iconic architecture from around the globe, Epcot’s World Showcase is perfect for outdoor events or a delightful stroll around the pretty lagoon. Sipping and tasting culinary delights along the way is one of the best parts of any festival, and the new Epcot International Festival of the Arts is taking food to new heights in “Food Studios” along the promenade. Running Fridays through Mondays from Jan. 13-Feb. 20, the festival will combine visual, culinary and performing arts, unveiling brand new art each week. While the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival strives for seasonal flavors, and the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is all about global cuisine, the Epcot International Festival of the Arts is all about works of art on a plate (Instagram-worthy, for sure!). At many of the Food Studios, guests will be able to watch the chefs plating and see the creative process as the dish comes to life. Here’s a gallery of some of the artful dishes. View the full article