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When Kathleen Kennedy took over the "Star Wars" franchise last year, she became an important test case in an industry with few female executives. A major assumption undergirding conversations about diversity and inclusion not just in Hollywood, but in business more broadly, is that putting women... View the full article

With Thanksgiving behind us, there’s no denying it – it’s officially crunch time for holiday shopping! I’m only halfway done with my gift-giving purchases this season, but with over 50 new retailers in Town Center, I’m feeling confident that I can find the perfect something for everyone on my “nice” list. If you need a little inspiration, follow @DisneySprings on Twitter and keep an eye out for tweets tagged with #25DaysofDS – each day from Dec. 1 – Dec. 25, 2016, we’ll be sharing a new gift idea. If you need some suggestions in the meantime, read on: For the fashion-forward, ZARA, Anthropologie, and UNIQLO are top picks. For a more customized selection, the on-site tailor at the Levi’s store can create something truly unique. Those that crave a year-round beach vibe will love the options at Shore, Everything but Water and Curl by Sammy Duvall. Know an athlete? UNDER ARMOUR BRAND HOUSE and Fit2Run, The Runners Superstore aren’t to be missed. Of course, jewelry and accessories top many ‘wish lists’ each year, and Disney Springs delivers with PANDORA Jewelry, Alex and Ani, UNOde50, Na Hoku, Erwin Pearl and the new Luxury of Time by Diamonds International. This is in addition to the Disney mainstays found at the Marketplace – Once Upon a Toy, Marketplace Co-Op and Art of Disney offer countless surprises for Disney lovers of all ages – and that’s on top of all the treasures available at World of Disney! For a full list of retailers, visit www.disneysprings.com. And follow @DisneySprings on Twitter now to ensure you don’t miss a single tweet! If you score a great find at Disney Springs, I’d love to see it – tag #DisneySprings in your Twitter or Instagram posts for your chance to be featured. Happy shopping! View the full article

Disney’s new animated hit “Moana” and J.K. Rowling’s “Fantastic Beasts” should have no trouble dominating the domestic box office charts again this weekend, as Hollywood sleeps off its Thanksgiving feast. “Moana,” featuring the voices of Dwayne Johnson and newcomer Auli'i Cravalho, is expected... View the full article

Holidays at Disney Springs | Walt Disney World View the full article

A new Walt Disney World dining experience will feature the resort's famed monorail and eateries in the hotels it stops at. The Highway in the Sky Dine-Around debuts Friday, Dec. 2. Visitors will have priority boarding on the monorail as it travels between Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, Disney's... View the full article

A new Walt Disney World dining experience will feature the resort's famed monorail and eateries in the hotels it stops at. The Highway in the Sky Dine-Around debuts Friday, Dec. 2. Visitors will have priority boarding on the monorail as it travels between Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's... View the full article

DOLE. WHIP. ALERT!!!!!!! OK, there’s tons of Dole Whip news this week, y’all! We just told you about Dole Whips expanding their reach into Disney Springs in Walt Disney World. Now you can fuel your craving at Marketplace Snacks while you shop until you drop. But an even bigger story is brewing in Disneyland. Dole Whips — and more! — are now available outside of the Parks for the first time that we can remember! Dole Whip Float Goodness! I was recently in Disneyland for a super fast visit to check out the Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure. But while I was there, I couldn’t pass up the chance to stop by and cover this story first hand. (I was also staying at Disneyland Hotel, so, you know, super easy and whatever. Plus…um…Dole Whips. Like I’d pass that up.) Dole Whips, Dole Whip Floats, and Dole Whips with Rum at The Coffee House So just like you can find Dole Whips in a Walt Disney World Resort (that would be the Polynesian’s Pineapple Lanai) — now you can find them outside of Disneyland Parks as well! Just head to The Coffee House at the Disneyland Hotel. The Coffee House — Outside Do keep in mind though that The Coffee House has limited hours. So if you’re looking to get your outside-the-Park Dole Whip fix, you’ll need to do it before 4:00PM. The Coffee House Details While we’ve grown somewhat accustomed to enjoying a Dole Whip in new places, Dole Whip Floats are still a rare treat. But you can score one here! And it totally has the quintessential Disneyland cherry and umbrella! There’s also an adult beverage twist. We totally agree that Dole Whip and Rum are a match made in heaven. And while you can’t score a Dole Whip with Rum at the Tiki Juice Bar, you can totally have one here! Dole Whip Menu Options (Said umbrella and cherry. Noted.) Dole Whip Float These babies are a DL exclusive, and I was so excited to see that the tradition will be observed here, too. Dole Whip Float — Up Close Can you even?? Me neither!!! Now I really wanna hear from you guys! Will you be stopping into The Coffee House at Disneyland Hotel for a Dole Whip treat? Leave a comment and let me know if you’ll be joining me in a Dole Whip Float soon! 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: Tiki Juice Bar (and Dole Whip!) in Disneyland Reader Question: Is Dole Whip Vegan and Gluten Free? News: Food and Beverages — Including Dole Whip! — Allowed Into the Enchanted Tiki Room Attraction in Disney World View the full article

Maybe you’ve talked about it, or even tried your own dine-around on the Walt Disney World Resort monorail with stops for cocktails, appetizers, dinner and dessert along the way. Now you can sit back and let us take care of the travel plans, making it easier than ever to experience this culinary journey around some of our favorite Disney resorts. The new Highway in the Sky Dine-Around gives guests priority boarding on the monorail for an unparalleled dining journey around the circuit between Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Contemporary Resort. You’ll start the journey by checking in at The Wave…of American Flavors at Disney’s Contemporary Resort then board the monorail to be whisked off to Disney’s Polynesian Resort to celebrate the spirit of the South Pacific with island-inspired sips and appetizers. Hop back on the monorail and head to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, stepping into the elegant hotel to enjoy a sumptuous wine dinner at award-winning Cítricos. After dinner, sip sparkling wine and sample artisanal cheese in the lavish lobby. Then head back to the monorail for a final stop at Disney’s Contemporary Resort for dessert, cordials and coffee on a private patio with the Magic Kingdom Park fireworks over Cinderella Castle as your backdrop. Highway in the Sky Dine-Around is offered Tuesday, Friday and Sunday beginning Dec. 2. Reservations open Nov. 29. (No dine-around between Dec. 18 and Jan. 3). Cost is $150 plus tax and gratuity. Valet parking is included. For reservations, 407-WDW-DINE. View the full article

Have you had the chance to see one or all of the phenomenal gingerbread displays at some of the Walt Disney World Resort hotels yet? If you have, then you know how spectacular it is to see a life-size gingerbread house at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, or the whimsical Mary Blair-inspired “Frozen” display at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Take our quiz to see how much you know about these amazing gingerbread creations! .quiz-container#wp-quiz-181525{ background-color:#f0f8fb; color:#565656; border-color:#dce4e7; } .quiz-container#wp-quiz-181525 .quiz-section h1{ color:#8bb428; } .quiz-container#wp-quiz-181525 .quiz-title{ color:#10628b; } .quiz-container#wp-quiz-181525 .quiz-header-image{ text-align:right; } .quiz-container#wp-quiz-181525 .quiz-section{ border-color:#ffffff; } .quiz-container#wp-quiz-181525 .quiz-details, .quiz-container#wp-quiz-181525 .quiz-results, .quiz-container#wp-quiz-181525 .quiz-embed{ border-color:#dce4e7; } .quiz-container#wp-quiz-181525 .quiz-result{ background-color:#dce4e7; } QUIZ: Gingerbread Displays How many hidden Olafs are there in the Gingerbread Holiday Castle at Disney’s Contemporary Resort? 16 Hidden Olafs 18 Hidden Olafs 21 Hidden Olafs How many pounds of honey were used to build the life-size gingerbread house in the lobby of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa? 920 Pounds 1,050 Pounds 1,125 Pounds How many pounds of icing were used to create the United States Capitol Building in the American Adventure Pavilion at Epcot? 11 Pounds 17 Pounds 20 Pounds How many Hidden Mickeys can you look for in the Holiday Carousel is back at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts? 12 Hidden Mickeys 17 Hidden Mickeys 19 Hidden Mickeys Embed Quiz on Your Website Embed Code <div class="wp-quiz" data-quiz-id="181525" 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

Holidays Around the World at Epcot is a celebration of the Season as it is recognized around the globe! Holidays Around the World Holiday traditions from various cultures are expressed through decorations, stories, music and food, while additional events include the nightly Candlelight Processional and a holiday version of the evening spectacular IllumiNations — Reflections of Earth. Epcot’s Candlelight Processional As in years past, this special event will run through December 30th. What’s different this year, though, is the addition of new and enhanced Marketplace Booths serving up tastes of the season…not unlike another festival that’s near and dear to our hearts — the Epcot Food and Wine Festival. (Yep — I keep saying they’ll eventually make the festival a year-round thing; and they’re getting closer and closer… .) Wanna see all the food? Visit our Holidays Around the World Page for pictures of every food item, PLUS prices and menus! American Holiday Table Booth Well… almost. The similarities to the Food and Wine Festival are probably obvious — additional food kiosks are set up around World Showcase serving food and drinks themed to the booth (though there are only seven in comparison to the Festival’s thirty-plus). However — now pay attentch!! — there is a pretty significant difference at this particular event. The Food and Wine Festival booths are known for serving tapas-sized dishes ranging from about $3.00 – $7.00. As it turns out, the booths for Holidays Around the World are serving portions that in many cases are closer to full meals (and by full meals, we mean you can barely hold the dish it comes in ’cause it’s so full!) — and you’ll see that reflected in the prices (though there are still snack-sized items as well — mostly in the form of desserts — in case you’d rather snack your way around). Whew. That’s a lot of parentheses. American Holiday Table Menu In general, though, the focus here — for the sake of both your tummy and your wallet — might be more on selecting an item or two that you’d really like to try (perhaps even in place of a Counter Service meal) instead of sampling several as you might at the Food and Wine Festival if you decide on trying the headliner items. THAT’S why we’ve tried ALL of them for you! (Now, for those of you who don’t have time to read and just want to see the food…) Be sure to visit our Holidays Around the World Page for pictures of every food item, PLUS prices and menus! But in the meantime, you can check out our favorite item (or two!) at each booth! Hold onto your Santa Hats, because even though there are just a few booths, there’s LOTS of great stuff. And we’ve just GOTTA start with… Alpine Haus You’ll find Alpine Haus tucked between the Morocco and France Pavilions. And it’s important to know where it is, because otherwise you might miss this enormous bowl of CHEESE FONDUE! Cheese Fondue And you do NOT want to miss the Cheese Fondue! OR the bread bowl it’s served in. OR the way it even makes the steamed veggies that come with it taste downright fantastic. (By the way, those veggies are carrots, potatoes, and zucchini, mostly.) Cheese Fondue The Duck Confit (who doesn’t love meat cooked in its own fat?!?) served with dumplings and roasted Brussels sprouts (Wha?!? So good!) with a fig reduction also impresses with its terrific flavor and tenderness. The thing I didn’t love about this one was the somewhat gummy dumplings. But stick to the duck and the sprouts and yummo! Duck Confit They’re also serving a truly decadent, rich dark chocolate Sachertorte as well as a spiked Chocolate Apple Shake (you can see pics of all these items here). So Alpine Haus is really a booth full of winners, but I think you can see why we just had to hand it to the Cheese Fondue at the top of the list. Ohmigosh, so good! American Holiday Table Stop by American Holiday Table to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal with (almost!) all the trimmings! Slow-Roasted Turkey This dish of Slow-Roasted Turkey served with stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and cranberry sauce probably gives you a better idea of what we mean about the portion size for this event. Seriously, this dish is HUGE. (And, honestly, the second time we got it, it was even bigger!!!) The turkey was very well-prepared; not dry at all. And the gravy accompanying the whole thing was nicely seasoned (we preferred this dish to the Pork Tenderloin that’s also served here). Served up near Santa’s Village in the American Adventure Pavilion, everything about this says “Happy Holidays.” That’s even MORE true when you pair it with this terrific find: the Shipyard Eggnog White Porter Aged on Bourbon. Shipyard Eggnog White Porter Oh, my. This Epcot exclusive (Yep! You can only get it here, folks!) is a sweet brew that tastes just like eggnog-meets-beer. It’s not your typical porter (it’s not very dark, and is a little more carbonated than most), but it was a very pleasant surprise, nonetheless. Oh, and speaking of eggnog, don’t forget that this is also the place where you can get the FIRENOG!!! Yes, that is fireball and eggnog. So get on it. Oh, and don’t forget to step inside the American Pavilion’s main building after your meal to check out the annual Gingerbread Display featuring Washington, D.C., where the Lincoln Memorial is new this year! Washington, D.C. Gingerbread Display For real?!?! Check it out! Lincoln Memorial Seasonal Southern Delights Next up: keep an eye out for this flock of flamingos to find Seasonal Southern Delights! Seasonal Southern Delights Sign Though we also thought the Hoppin’ John here was great, with the ham and cornbread crumbles lending some sweetness to the Black-eyed Pea dish, we ultimately chose the Blackened Catfish with White Cheddar Grits and Okra, Tomato and Onion Stew as the favorite. Blackened Catfish The catfish was great, and had a really nice, spicy kick that was balanced out by the grits. If you’re on more of a snack search, though, we also recommend the Chocolate Pecan Tart. Chocolate Pecan Tart Even though it’s one of the event’s smaller items, it’s still larger than most tarts sold around Disney World (PLUS: caramel drizzle!!). Feast of the Three Kings Feast of the Three Kings celebrates the traditions of Three Kings Day, and you’ll find it at the World Showcase Plaza. Feast of the Three Kings Sign Feast of the Three Kings Booth area Feast of the Three Kings Booth area Feast of the Three Kings Booth area Stop by to try the Shredded Beef Tamale with Avocado Crema and Cilantro Rice! Shredded Beef Tamale Not only did we love the texture and flavor of the tamale itself, but the avocado cream is out of this world. (OK, AJ’s not up for the cilantro rice, but the rest of the team loved it!) Shredded Beef Tamale cross-section For dessert, or as a small snack, you can also try a traditional Three Kings Cake, which is made of a bread that is mildly sweet on its own, even before the added icing. Three Kings Bread (Oh, and the Coquito here was reminiscent of eggnog, only with coconut! Worth a try, spiked or not.) Holiday Eats and Treats Holiday Eats and Treats is a “new” booth with a few returning items. (You’ll likely recognize this booth as Promenade Refreshments, which functions as Pineapple Promenade for the Flower and Garden Festival, and Desserts & Champagne for the Food and Wine Festival). Holiday Eats & Treats sign We don’t mind the lack of new items here. Not when it means the return of the Holiday Sandwich! Holiday Sandwich Though it was called the Warm Turkey Sandwich last year, it’s the same tasty helping of roast turkey, mashed potatoes, and gravy all tucked inside a unique and delicious cranberry bread. Check out the other returning treats here. Prost! Prost! has also returned this year, and the the delicious beverages served here every year have become a tradition for us at the DFB. However, in order to match the expanded offerings around World Showcase, Prost features a new food item this year with a Sauerbraten dish. But the best of the bunch is the traditional German holiday fruitcake, Stollen. Stollen Say what you will about fruitcake ;), but it’s not a well-known tradition for nothin’, and it has its place in the holidays… especially when it tastes this good. (And, honestly, I have to say “Pass” on the Sauerbraten, which I found to be a bit dry and SUPER overwhelmed by the vinegar — is that even vinegar? it was crazy strong. — from the cabbage). And — even though they aren’t new this year — I ALWAYS have to give a shout out to the Caramel Kiss (Werther’s Drinking Caramel, which I can’t even put down…ever) and the hot-spiced Glühwein. Caramel Kiss Glühwein They’re served in hot cups this year as opposed to the clear drinking glasses from years’ past, but fortunately they still taste just as lovely. Mexico Yep, this is the same Mexico booth that has remained open beyond Spring’s Flower and Garden Festival. And while offerings have changed for the holidays, this is the one booth that has stayed true to the smaller tapas-sized dishes from the other Festivals. That said, food here is typically solid (read: good) no matter what time of year, and the Tacos de Carnitas (Crispy Pork Carnitas served with Tomatillo Relish and Corn Tortilla) is pretty great. Tacos de Carnitas Overall, though, I prefer the eats at the other kiosks for this event in particular. More Festive Treats! Now, don’t forget… even if you don’t partake of the Marketplace Booths (I’m telling you, though, you totally should!), you’ll still spot additional festive fare all around World Showcase. For instance, the beautiful Bûche de Noël (Yule Log) can be found once again at Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie in the France Pavilion. Buche de Noel And the neighboring L’Artisan des Glaces is serving the seasonal Gingerbread Ice Cream once again. Gingerbread Ice Cream Gingerbread ice cream I bet Pere Noel — one of the event’s Holiday Storytellers — wishes he had some right about now… Pere Noel Kabuki Cafe in Japan is serving Strawberry Shortcake and a Green Tea au Lait. Strawberry Shortcake and Green Tea au Lait sign Strawberry Shortcake and Green Tea au Lait Don’t miss your chance to learn about the Daruma dolls by the Pagoda while you’re there (I love this presentation!)! A Daruma Seller In Italy, you can try Panettone or sip a glass of Prosecco (find both at the Gelato Stand) while listening to La Befana. Prosecco and Panettone sign Panettone and Prosecco La Befana in Search of Gesu Bambino Honestly, the Pai Cha at China’s Joy of Tea was not my favorite of the new offerings this year. Pai Cha sign I was thinking, “Fried dough, what’s not to love?” Pai Cha But it was too crunchy and crumbly. It might have been better served warm and a bit more pliable. Pai Cha Still, you’ve got to see the amazing dance of the Lion in the Pavilion if you get the chance! Lion Dance In the Morocco Pavilion, you’ll spy Chocolate Honey Baklava in the bakery case inside Tangierine Cafe as part of the festivities. Chocolate Honey Baklava All truths told, though, it’s available pretty much year-round these days. Fine by me. It’s delicious! Bring your Baklava outside to munch on while learning about the “Spice of Life” that are the celebrations in Morocco! Celebrating the Spice of Life in the Morocco Pavilion But hold onto your hats, because Kringla Bakeri og Kafe in Norway is serving an AWESOME Pumpkin Cheesecake Roulade with Pumpkin Seed Brittle! Pumpkin Cheesecake Roulade sign No idea how long thing one will be around, but it’s SERIOUS!!! Creamy pumpkin cheesecake (SO amazing) all wrapped up in what really seemed like chocolate to yours truly… . Definitely worth a try! Pumpkin Cheesecake Roulade Watch out, though… it’s so good that the mischievous Julenissen may try to take yours! Julenissen Spinning His Tale He’s sneaky, that one . Tea lovers, take note: there’s a Twinings Iced Christmas Toddy waiting for you in the United Kingdom Pavilion, but you’ll need to head INSIDE The Tea Caddy shop to find it. Iced Christmas Toddy sign Iced Christmas Tea Toddy sign Twinings Christmas Tea Meanwhile, TG Lee Eggnog with Irish Whiskey (don’t mind if I do!) is available outside at the Rose & Crown Beer Stand. Rose & Crown Beer Stand Menu Speaking of sips, be on the lookout at Joffrey’s Coffee Kiosks all around World Showcase for seasonal beverages with and without alcohol, like the Crazy Elf, the Gingerbread Chai ($9.49 each) and yuletide espresso drinks. Crazy Elf sign Gingerbread Chai sign Seasonal Espresso Drinks And the Craft Beer Marketplace is carrying over from the Food and Wine Festival, and will remain open on most days through December 30th. Craft Beers Marketplace Finally, we have an oldie but a goodie… Pecan Maple Bark is up for grabs once more at the Popcorn Cart in Canada. Pecan Maple Bark Pecan Maple Bark And the Holiday Voyageurs are back, too! Holiday Voyageurs Sign Canadian Holiday Voyageurs No matter where you look in Epcot — and no matter what you choose to eat! — there is no shortage of holiday fun and food to be had! I honestly think they’ve outdone themselves with some of these new offerings, and if you get the chance to attend Holidays Around the World, I think it will truly enhance your yuletide vacation! Oh, and if you’ve come this far… Be sure to visit our Holidays Around the World Page for pictures of every food item, PLUS prices and menus! Hee hee! Signing off from Epcot… Prost! Which item would you most like to try at Holidays Around the World? 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! MORE FOOD BOOTHS (Menus Here!) Coming to Epcot’s Holidays Around the World! Review: Festival of Holidays Food Booths in Disney California Adventure at Disneyland Resort Coming Soon! The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World Holidays, 2012! View the full article

Each year, from mid-September through early January, everybody screams for Haunted Mansion Holiday at Disneyland park. Since 2001, this lively seasonal overlay transforms the classic and delightfully unlivable Haunted Mansion in New Orleans Square into a merry collision of Halloween and Christmas. In 1993, the animated classic “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas” debuted, garnering a devoted fanbase with great affection for the film’s hero Jack Skellington — the king of Halloween Town who decides to bring the joy of Christmas to his spooky village for the very first time. The film introduced beloved characters such as heroine Sally, the flying ghost dog Zero and the green villain Oogie Boogie, and they have been delighting Disneyland park guests off the screen each season for more than 10 years. Haunted Mansion Holiday is just one of the many attractions at the Disneyland Resort that bring guests into the magic of the big screen. The 999 happy haunts residing in the stately mansion are eager to welcome their friends from Halloween Town for an extended stay each season. The attraction overlay enhances the festivities with frightful additions like creepy wreaths, kooky toys, ghostly Christmas trees and glowing jack-o-lanterns. This season, Haunted Mansion Holiday has become even more magical with the debut of a new Sally figure in the graveyard scene and the 15th season of the homemade Gingerbread House in the ballroom. What’s your favorite festivity inside Haunted Mansion Holiday? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

Disney animated feature “Zootopia” came in ahead of the pack when the Annie Awards nominations were announced Monday. The film scored 11 nominations from the International Animated Film Society, ASIFA-Hollywood, whose members were taken by the charming parable about tolerance and prejudice as played... View the full article

Natural Wonders Delight on an Adventures by Disney Costa Rica Vacation View the full article

The holiday season at Walt Disney World Resort holds a special place in the heart of the Disney Parks Moms Panelists. With so many festive experiences, the panelists share personal favorites to make holiday memories with their families. Jackie P.’s favorite holiday event is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, especially with the new holiday treats and beverages premiering this year. She shared her best tips for this event last week, and says “Holiday Wishes” and “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas Time Parade” are not to be missed! Candlelight Processional is Ricardo S. and his family’s favorite Walt Disney World Resort holiday memory, sharing the story of Christmas as told by a celebrity narrator. His best advice for this event is to combine it with dinner using the Candlelight Dining Package to guarantee your seats. Brandy B.’s favorite holiday event also takes place at Epcot. Holidays Around the World showcases holiday traditions from across the globe, with new food kiosks available this year. Her family have even incorporated several customs they’ve learned from the Holiday Storytellers into their own holiday celebration. Some of your favorite experiences even get in the holiday spirit with festive additions, like Jingle Cruise and Illuminations: Reflections of Earth. Kay B.’s favorite holiday activity is visiting all of the Walt Disney Resort Hotels to see the festive decorations, giant trees and life-sized gingerbread houses. Plus, this year don’t miss out on the all-new “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios or the fantastic activities and holiday shopping at Disney Springs, a great place to snap a family photo with Santa Claus. For more tips or to ask questions about planning your upcoming holiday Disney vacation, be sure to visit DisneyParksMomsPanel.com for a personalized response from our knowledgeable panel. View the full article

Move over, “Moana.” There’s a new hot ticket in town. Despite Disney’s latest animated tale scoring an estimated $81 million over the five-day Thanksgiving weekend, it was an upcoming Disney release that had the internet abuzz Monday morning. Ticket sales for “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” began... View the full article

Disney’s 'Moana' | Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa View the full article

For many guests, “it’s a small world” Holiday is a must-do during Holidays at the Disneyland Resort. This year, we are celebrating the 20th season of this beloved seasonal attraction, which combines the classic “it’s a small world” with festive decorations, holiday-inspired costumes and a mix of favorite holiday songs. Here are some things you might not know about this holiday favorite! In a tribute to its 20th season, there are at least half a dozen “Hidden 20s” in “it’s a small world” Holiday this year. Decorators use 50,000 lights on the façade of “it’s a small world” Holiday, and an additional 350,000 mini-lights in the trees, hedges and animal topiaries surrounding the attraction. Thousands of additional lights decorate the nearby shops and food kiosks, bringing the total to more than 400,000 lights adding sparkle and wintry ambiance to the plaza area around “it’s a small world.” After dark, the smiling clock at the front of “it’s a small world” Holiday, decked out in a Santa hat, reveals a sparkling projection show. On every quarter hour, the brightly light façade of the attraction is transformed into an enormous clockwork mechanism with advanced 3D-projection technology presented by Siemens. The gears and springs pull back to reveal a world of holiday wonders hidden behind the whimsical clock. Among the holiday-inspired special effects inside the attraction are scents of fresh pine and peppermint in the European scenes. In the South Seas scene, hundreds of iridescent bubbles float through the air. Nearly 150 giant candles decorate the Christmas tree in the European scene. The attraction’s finale features a 14-foot snowman standing atop a 10-foot-wide snowflake. The snowman joined the attraction in 2011, bringing an extra sprinkle of holiday pixie dust with him. It takes a talented and dedicated team of nearly three dozen cast members 35 days to install the glittering façade and nearly 18 days to decorate the holiday attraction’s dazzling interior. Don’t miss “it’s a small world” Holiday, now in its 20th season at Disneyland park! View the full article

A 30-second TV spot for "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" debuted overnight to herald Monday's ticket-sales kickoff, and what we glimpse in that trailer cleanly encapsulates everything we've seen so far. The new trailer opens with a sand-swept nod to the Jedi arts - an aspect that had been little... View the full article

Ziplining and White Water Rafting in Costa Rica | Adventures by Disney View the full article

Television host and actor, Mario Lopez, takes his family on a tour of all that Disney Cruise Line has to offer. Mario, joined by wife Courtney, daughter Gia and son Nico, along with Grandma Elaine, embark on a cruise of a lifetime onboard the Disney Dream. From a Star Wars experience for the little ones in the Oceaneer Club to a dinner just for the grownups in the fine dining restaurants Palo and Remy, check out this video of the family as they explore and plan their time onboard the ship to include both family time and adult time. View the full article

‘Tis the season for holiday parties! I love celebrating this time of year with friends or loved ones. A holiday party, such as Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom Park, is a great excuse to get dressed up in festive attire. Here are a few suggestions from Disney Parks Merchandise that will add some holiday magic to your wardrobe. Both Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts offer a variety of holiday apparel for adults and kids. Guests will find similar items at each destination, just with a different resort logos depending on where you are celebrating the holidays. Some of my favorite items in recent years are the fun holiday sweater t-shirts. Living in Florida, it’s the easiest way to stay “warm” during the winter. This year, guests will find tees with Pluto, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. For women, look for a variety of fashion pullovers with holiday artwork. I suggest pairing these long-sleeve shirts with colorful sequin headbands, which are a simple accessory item that can add sparkle to any outfit. Guests will also find sleepwear such as an extra-long t-shirt, lounge pants for men, or a flannel pajama set for women. Finally, I have exciting news for guests wanting to commemorate the new nighttime spectacular “Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida. Through Dec. 31, this show comes to life on, above and around the Chinese Theater with state-of-the-art projections, special effects, fireworks and a rousing seasonal musical score. From Nov. 28 through Dec. 11, 2016, we will be offering a limited release commemorative t-shirt for adults and kids on the Disney Parks online store. This shirt will only be found online, and will not be carried in merchandise locations at Walt Disney World Resort. Please allow 3-5 weeks for delivery. To place an order starting Nov. 28, please visit DisneyStore.com/ParkEvents. Guests may find many of the other items shown in this article at select merchandise locations at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts. You can also order products online via the Disney Parks online store or using the free Shop Disney Parks mobile app. View the full article

In the 1994 film “Aladdin,” Jasmine sneaks out of her palace in disguise and heads into a local marketplace to get a taste of freedom. Her outfit and visit to the marketplace inspired artist Ashley Taylor when creating this week’s Disney Doodle. “The Morocco Pavilion is my favorite place to shop in the World Showcase,” Ashley said. “My favorite part of this illustration was being able to draw Jasmine in her Marketplace attire!” View the full article

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! The Holidays are off to a great start! We are making our lists and I know you are, too! And I bet you’re wondering, “What should I get the Disney Food Lover on my list?” We have the perfect idea: our most popular DFB e-book Bundle — deeply discounted for a VERY limited time! For Cyber Week, take 50% off of our DFB Guide + Snack Bundle! Just use promo code CYBER16 for incredible savings on our most popular DFB Bundle. The DFB Guide + Snacks Bundle includes our critically acclaimed 2017 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining as well as our Snack Guides covering all four Walt Disney World theme parks. Whether you’re planning a trip in 2017, or you just love reading all of the details about Disney food, this is the perfect DFB Guide Bundle for you. But that’s not all. You can also scoop up these special savings on our DFB Guide + Snacks Bundle Gift Certificate! And that means one thing — getting them what they’ll love the most has never been easier or more convenient. Don’t wait! Get your DFB Guide + Snacks Bundle for 50% off TODAY using code CYBER16! As always, we thank you for all of your support of Disney Food Blog! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the entire DFB Team! 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: DFB Cyber Monday Sale: DFB Guide + Snacks Bundle for $10 Off! DFB Cyber Monday Sale: DFB Guide + Snacks Bundle for 50% Off TODAY! BIGGEST Sale of the Year: 50% Off Our DFB Everything Bundle! View the full article

Today in Entertainment: Kanye West out of the hospital, Netflix offers some downloads Dec. 1, 2016, 9:27 a.m. Here's what's new and interesting in the world of entertainment and the arts today: What sent Kanye West to the hospital?Netflix offers downloads of some shows, moviesWill Scorsese's 'Silence'... View the full article

'Moana' bests 'Fantastic Beasts' with $81-million five-day Thanksgiving box office haul View the full article