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Today, Tuesday, August 16, is National Roller Coaster Day! And to celebrate we wanted to share with all of you this special ride-through video of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom Park. This family coaster is a favorite attraction for many guests at the park. The attraction tells the story of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” from the perspective of the dwarfs themselves. Guests first enter the mine where they can see some of the glittering gems that the dwarfs collect each day and play interactive games along the way. Then, families board a train made of mine cars that whisks them through caverns, past the Dwarfs themselves, out and around the mountain and through the Enchanted Forest. If you plan to visit, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is highly popular, so making FastPass+ reservations on the My Disney Experience app or website is highly recommended! Is Seven Dwarfs Mine Train a must-do for you at Magic Kingdom Park? View the full article

Take flight over Storybook Circus aboard Dumbo the Flying Elephant, a guest-favorite since Magic Kingdom Park’s opening day. Inside each Dumbo-themed gondola, you can direct Dumbo to fly low or soar high as you magically fly around and around. See if you can get all of these questions right! .quiz-container#wp-quiz-162963{ background-color:#f0f8fb; color:#565656; border-color:#dce4e7; } .quiz-container#wp-quiz-162963 .quiz-section h1{ color:#8bb428; } .quiz-container#wp-quiz-162963 .quiz-title{ color:#10628b; } .quiz-container#wp-quiz-162963 .quiz-header-image{ text-align:right; } .quiz-container#wp-quiz-162963 .quiz-section{ border-color:#ffffff; } .quiz-container#wp-quiz-162963 .quiz-details, .quiz-container#wp-quiz-162963 .quiz-results, .quiz-container#wp-quiz-162963 .quiz-embed{ border-color:#dce4e7; } .quiz-container#wp-quiz-162963 .quiz-result{ background-color:#dce4e7; } Dumbo the Flying Elephant at Magic Kingdom Park In what area of Magic Kingdom Park is Dumbo the Flying Elephant located? Adventureland New Fantasyland Liberty Square How many sets of rotating elephants are available at Magic Kingdom Park? Two sets Three sets Four sets Who greets you from the arched entry as you enter Dumbo the Flying Elephant? Mrs. Jumbo The Ringmaster Timothy Q. Mouse What year did “Dumbo,” the film that inspired this attraction, open in theaters? 1939 1941 1943 Embed Quiz on Your Website Embed Code <div class="wp-quiz" data-quiz-id="162963" data-site-url="http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog"></div> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://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

Grab a magic feather and take to the sky with Dumbo the Flying Elephant! Inspired by the classic animated film and Magic Kingdom Park attraction, Disney artist Leo Cardoso created this adorable custom wallpaper. Enjoy it as part of the 45th anniversary of Magic Kingdom Park. Be sure to check out the terms of use about using the wallpaper before you download it. Want to check out other designs? Visit our complete gallery of wallpapers here. View the full article

As Magic Kingdom Park’s 45th anniversary approaches this fall, this new weekly series will take a look at one of the park’s opening day attractions that can still be enjoyed today. This week, we’ll focus on Dumbo the Flying Elephant. When the park’s Fantasyland opened on October 1, 1971, Dumbo the Flying Elephant was a highlight of the area. Then located in front of the soon-to-open 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea attraction, Dumbo the Flying Elephant let guests soar to new heights on the back of Dumbo, as he learned he could fly. Dumbo the Flying Elephant relocated to the Storybook Circus section of New Fantasyland in July 2012 as a part of the land’s expansion. Not only did the attraction double in size, but it also added an indoor, air-conditioned (yes!) Big Top Tent kids’ play area that’s charmingly themed after the circus in the 1941 film. Here, kids can enjoy slides, climbing nets and more before they enjoy the attraction. Now a question – when it’s your turn to take a spin on Dumbo the Flying Elephant, do you have a go-to attraction vehicle color that you run for? View the full article

If you ever wanted to meet the Queen of Hearts or Mulan, now's your chance as Walt Disney World hosts its first-ever "Disney PhotoPass Day" on Friday. Disney PhotoPass photographers are at Disney's four Florida parks every day, snapping photos of guests in front of iconic Disney scenery or meeting... View the full article

Every day, Disney PhotoPass photographers and cast members capture special vacation moments in ways that make them last a lifetime. And on Friday, August 19, our teams at both the Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort will celebrate the art and fun of photography at Disney Parks through the first-ever #DisneyPhotoPassDay, a one-day celebration that will feature exciting offerings and experiences for guests. Read on to learn how you can join in the fun at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort. (Note: All theme park offerings are included in park admission and any character experiences are subject to change). Special Character Experiences At Magic Kingdom Park & Epcot Enjoy special character experiences at Magic Kingdom Park and Epcot, where Disney PhotoPass photographers will capture your encounter with Pinocchio, Gideon and Foulfellow in Storybook Circus from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. At Epcot, a friend or foe will join some of your favorite Disney characters around World Showcase, including Mushu and Mulan in the China Pavilion; Snow White and Dopey in the Germany Pavilion; and the Queen of Hearts, who will join Alice in the United Kingdom Pavilion. Check the My Disney Experience app or the Epcot Times Guide on August 19 for these Disney characters’ schedule. Complimentary Photo Locations at All Disney Parks & Disney Springs There will be one location at each of the four theme parks (and Disney Springs) at the Walt Disney World Resort and at both parks at Disneyland Resort where a Disney PhotoPass photographer will capture your special moment. That photo will be available in the My Disney Experience app at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland app at Disneyland Resort to download and share at no charge as part of the #DisneyPhotoPassDay celebration. (Normal My Disney Experience registration is required to access the image). Check out Disney’s PhotoPass Service Facebook page on Tuesday for a list of participating photo locations. Participate in a Disney PhotoPass Challenge Complete a Disney PhotoPass Challenge at any of our parks at the Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort to get a Disney PhotoPass photo on us. All you need to do is get your photo taken by a Disney PhotoPass Photographer at each of the designated challenge locations on August 19. Once you’ve stopped by all of the locations, visit a Disney PhotoPass Sales Center to claim your Disney PhotoPass photo. At the Walt Disney World Resort, participants will receive a voucher for one Disney PhotoPass download. Participants at Disneyland Resort will receive one 5×7 print of a Disney PhotoPass photo. Challenge locations and details will be posted on the Disney’s PhotoPass Service Facebook page on Wednesday. Follow Disney PhotoPass Service on Facebook and Twitter for more information about this event and share your all-time favorite Disney photos with us using the hashtag #DisneyPhotoPassDay. We look forward to celebrating with you in the parks and online. View the full article

Disneyland’s Main Street Electrical Parade is coming back to Anaheim. The Electrical Parade, a nighttime cavalcade of floats adorned with thousands of lights, was a fan favorite at Disneyland from 1972 to 1996. For the last six years, the parade has been entertaining visitors at Walt Disney World... View the full article

It’s hard to believe summer is nearly over, fall is just around the corner, and across the country kids are going back to school. Luckily for you, I have an easy, no-bake treat straight from Walt Disney World Resort to make heading back to school a little sweeter. This No-Bake Granola Treat recipe comes from the bakery team at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. I think you’ll agree it makes the perfect after school snack or great for packing in lunches – whether you’re young or simply young at heart. View the full article

One of the great things about my job at Disney Parks is to get to work with great artists like the ones playing at Night of Joy this year. With eight GMA Dove Awards and a host of other accolades under their collective belts, Christian supergroup MercyMe seems to just get more humble and grounded every time we speak to them – even as the hit records continue to roll in, like with their latest Christmas release “MercyMe, It’s Christmas.” We caught up with the guys at a recent event where we got their thoughts on their music, Disney memories and their Night-of-Joy-history-making performance at this year’s event. (This year will see them become the artist with the most performances in the event’s history.) Night of Joy at Walt Disney World Resort is enhancing its offerings, with the concerts being held for the first time ever at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. This year’s artists represent one of the best lineups in all of Contemporary Christian Music with 18 top performers and groups. Friday, September 9 – MercyMe, Casting Crowns, Chris Tomlin, Francesca Battistelli, Crowder, Matthew West, Stars Go Dim, Zealand Worship, OBB Saturday, September 10 – Newsboys, for King & Country, Young & Free, Switchfoot, Red, Thousand Foot Krutch, Timmons, VERIDIA, Derek Minor Tickets are on sale now. Here are the details: A single-night, concert only ticket for Friday, September 9 – $39 plus tax (in advance); $45 the day of the show (if available). A single-night concert and one-day Disney theme park ticket (valid for one of the four Walt Disney World Resort theme parks) for Saturday, September 10 – $99 plus tax (in advance); $114 plus tax the day of the show (if available).* A two-night concert ticket (which includes both nights’ concerts and one-day Disney theme park ticket (valid for one of the four Walt Disney World Resort theme parks) – $119 plus tax (in advance).* And, if that weren’t enough, guests who purchase the two-day ticket on or before August 9, 2016 will also receive one (1) admission to their choice of Disney’s Blizzard Beach or Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon valid from September 6 – September 12, 2016. Additional group discounts and premium seating options also are available. For more information or to purchase tickets, check out nightofjoy.com and stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog for updates on entertainment and events. View the full article

Let’s go to the beach to check out a new menu item! Learn About: Beach Club Marketplace Disney World Restaurants OK, we all know that the demise of the Clam Chowder in a bread bowl at the Magic Kingdom’s Columbia Harbour House has been LONG lamented. But here’s a…maybe…replacement? The Marketplace at Disney’s Beach Club Resort is the counter-service restaurant shared by Yacht and Beach Club Resorts for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We don’t talk about this one much, because there’s not a lot here; and what IS here isn’t much to talk about. ;-D But that said, every once in a while this spot wows us with something unique and delicious. If you walk into the lobby from the parking lot and take a left, you’ll see the entrance sign on your right. You’ll find a few indoor seats in the Solarium, a peaceful, sunny room down the hall, and outdoor seating along the covered walkway going toward the Beach Club Villas. Beach Club Marketplace entrance sign Now, let’s talk about what really matters – bread!! Beach Club Marketplace menu (click to enlarge) As you can see from the menu, there are two soup options: the Soup of the Day and the New England Clam Chowder. The soups are not new, but the Bread Bowl option is! By itself, the soups are Disney Dining Plan snack credit eligible, but served in a bread bowl, it’s no longer a snack credit. We decided to give the chowder in a bread bowl a shot, of course! We owe it to you! New England Clam Chowder in Bread Bowl I LOVED this bread bowl! I was a little skeptical at first, but it turned out to be delicious. The bread was very soft and fresh tasting, served warm with the top nicely toasted. Toasty Bread Bowl There was no skimping on soup as there sometimes can be with bread bowls (as we experience a tad bit at the Disneyland Food and Wine Festival this year). And there was no problem with bread sogginess. Close-up of Clam Chowder Bread Bowl If you’re wondering about the soup, it was a creamy consistency and packed with vegetables (celery, onions and potatoes) and, of course, clams. Delicious. Definitely better suited for a colder day in Orlando, but, believe it or not, those are just around the corner. Overall I can see going back to get this on a rainy day in between park visits! I was pleasantly surprised by how tasty and toasty the bread was, and I was full enough to go about my day. I guess you could say I was happy as a clam (sorry, couldn’t resist!) Have you tried the bread bowl at Beach Club? Let us 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: Review: Clam Chowder in a Bread Bowl at Min and Bill’s Dockside Diner Review: Beach Club Marketplace at Disney’s Beach Club Resort Review: French Toast Bread Pudding at the Beach Club Marketplace View the full article

This year’s medal collection for Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend at the Disneyland Resort is marvelous! I shared on the Disney Parks Blog that the Avengers are joining forces with more Super Heroes in 2016, which means the most epic medal lineup yet! I recently revealed the Captain America 5K medal with the news that all of our 5K domestic medals will now be metal. This shield is based on the vintage style of the original artwork to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Captain America’s first appearance! “Doctor Strange” hits theaters on November 4, 2016. The medal is inspired by the Eye of Agamotto, a spectacular mystical artifact worn by the Sorcerer Supreme. Can you imagine better motivation for the Doctor Strange 10K? The Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon medal celebrates Earth’s mightiest heroes. Spider-Man webs his way onto the runDisney Kids Races medallion: And lastly, those who complete the Doctor Strange 10K and the Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon, which is 19.3 miles in two days, will receive the Infinity Gauntlet Challenge medal! This year’s Infinity Stone is the Mind Stone. Of the six Infinity Stones, the Mind Stone provides incredible psychic abilities including telepathy, mind control, telekinesis and more. There’s still a chance to earn your Doctor Strange 10K, Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon or Infinity Gauntlet Challenge medal here. Which race are you looking forward to participating in? Let us know using the hashtag #AvengersHalf on our social media channels! Twitter: @runDisney Instagram: @runDisney Facebook: @runDisney YouTube: @runDisney View the full article

Recently, I had the chance to visit Tiffins in Disney’s Animal Kingdom to experience the new lunch menu—Taste of Tiffins. The new menu is just that, and a perfect way to try big flavors in lunch-sized portions, such as the Marinated Grilled Octopus (which is cooked to perfection). Served daily from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., you can choose two appetizer-sized dishes, served with Jade blend rice. For our lunch, we each ordered different small plates from the “Taste of Tiffins” menu, and shared – a perfect way to truly sample everything Tiffins has to offer. A few of our favorite tastes from the “Taste of Tiffins” menu were the 72-Hour Beef Short Rib, Masa and Pulled Pork Tamale, Flash-Fried Icy Blue Mussels, Salad of Roasted Baby Beets, Sustainable Seasonal Fish Crudo and my personal favorite, the Market Vegetable Curry. Also on the menu you’ll find Chilled Shrimp and Noodle Salad, Black-Eyed Pea Fritters, Chermoula-rubbed Chicken and Crispy Yellowtail Snapper. I also enjoyed the refreshing (and non-alcoholic) Zingiber Fizzie with passion fruit puree, mint, ginger beer and lime juice, a perfect treat for a hot Florida day. Light Bites such as the deliciously rich Lobster-Popcorn Thai Curry Soup or the Archaeologist Salad as well as the full Tiffins menu are also served during lunch. Give lunch time at Tiffins a try, and I think you’ll agree—the stunning gallery-style dining rooms, welcoming cast and delicious cuisine make Tiffins a true oasis at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Reservations can be made by visiting DisneyWorld.com/dine or by calling 407-WDW-DINE. View the full article

When it comes to the summer months in Central Florida, there’s nothing I find more relaxing than an early morning trip to a Disney Water Park. Just looking at this week’s “Good Morning” photo gives me chills and makes me want to visit again. This shot was snapped of the sun rising over Gangplank Falls, one of the park’s 11 waterslides. Gangplank Falls is a family whitewater ride that sweeps guests along a 300-foot journey of refreshment. View the full article

If you’re anything like me, then you’ve got a little something called “Olympics Fever” right now. Symptoms include red eyes from vegging in front of the TV for hours on end and fatigue from staying up waaaaay to late to watch Michael Phelps nab yet another gold medal, or the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Team completely dominate… well, pretty much everything they attempt. (U.S.A.! U.S.A.!) But, hey, who needs sleep?! We’ve only got one more week to cheer on the champs in Rio… and while I’m cheering for them, I’d love to cheer for YOU, too! Why, you ask? Because it’s the DFB Readers that make this whole Disney Food Blog thing possible! Your support helps us to be able to provide the in-depth coverage of Disney parks food, discounts, deals, and more every single day. And so, with gratitude, we’d like to celebrate YOU with a Gold Medal offer for our DFB Readers! 35% Off Three of Our Most Popular Products This week only, enjoy 35% off any of our three most popular products: The DFB Guide, The Everything Bundle, and the DFB Guide & Snacks Bundle! Use the code DFBGOLD to get the discount at check-out. We feel that we put our heart and soul into these books, and we can’t wait to share them with you! If you’ve been THINKING about picking up a DFB Guide, but weren’t sure — NOW is the time. With this discount and our 100% Money-Back Guarantee (NO questions asked!), you can shop safely with us! These e-Books are downloadable instantly, and you’ll be able to add them to any mobile device for easy reading and toting with you to the parks. Enjoy!! As always, THANK YOU for your support of the DFB! 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: Last Minute Sale: Save 35% on Gifts for your Favorite Disney Fan DFB 12 Days of Christmas: Day 5 — Save 30% on Our Most Popular Disney Dining Guidebook Bundle Save BIG With Our Father’s Week Sale! View the full article

Happy Sunday! We hope you’re having a wonderful summer weekend. Now it’s time to sit back, relax, and enjoy this week’s Food Post Round-up! We’re still celebrating the grand launch of the DFB Guide to Animal Kingdom & Hollywood Studios Snacks 2016! To celebrate the launch of the e-book use the code SNACKS16 to get 20% off the cover price! We have a lot to share with you this week, so let’s jump right in… Disney Food News We have review of Chef Art Smith’s Homecoming Florida Kitchen and Southern Shine! The Chocolate-Covered Peanut Butter Sandwich has returned to Disneyland for a trial run! Greenhouse Guru Marketplace Booth might be coming to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival! We checked out the new Blaze Fast Fire’d Pizza in Disney Springs. The ‘Best of Epcot Festivals Cookbook’ available at this year’s Food and Wine Festival. We have a first look and review of the reopened Flying Fish at Disney’s BoardWalk. Several new restaurants have been added to Tables in Wonderland. We found a Berlin Wall beer stein in Epcot’s Germany pavilion! We have a review of the Mickey Oreo Cheesecake at Sunshine Seasons in Epcot. There are new menu items at the Harambe Market in Disney’s Animal 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 about Disney, share a photo with us on facebook or twitter so we can add it to our DFB Reader Finds each Sunday! The California Grill at Disney’s Contemporary Resort started serving brunch earlier this year and DFB fan Lauren Pane says it was “amazing!” Lauren says the brunch offered “great food, views, and service!” The bread service looks incredible! Starring Rolls at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is one of our favorite spots to grab a sweet treat (like a cupcake!), but it’s also a good place for lunch. Our friend Barry Ripley shared this delicious-looking lunch photo with us and now we’re really hungry! Looks like a well-balanced lunch to us! Do you have a favorite Disney Food find? Share your photos with us! DFB Readers #OnTheList Suggestions As part of our new #OnTheList series we’ll be sharing weekly some of our readers’ suggestions for what they would add to the Disney Food bucket list! Check out our #OnTheList page to see what’s on OUR Disney Food Bucket List! Deal of the Week: 20% Off the DFB Guide to the 2016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival with code Chefs16 With more than 250 pages of new information for 2016, the DFB Guide to the 2016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival has everything covered to ensure that you have your absolute best Food and Wine Festival yet! And to celebrate our grand launch, we’re offering 20% off the cover price! Just use discount code Chefs16 at check-out to secure your savings! The DFB Guide to the 2016 Epcot Food & Wine Festival e-Book features all the info you need to know about this year’s events, from what’s NEW, to brand new touring strategies — created with this year’s special events in mind! The DFB Guide to the 2016 Epcot Food & Wine Festival includes customized bonus items that surpass any other Food & Wine Festival coverage that’s out there. These include: A full, daily schedule of events for every day of the festival — this is the only place you’ll find this schedule anywhere! A printable World Showcase Booth Menu Checklist that you can use to plan, and easily bring with you to the festival Themed World Showcase booth crawls, including “Fun Eats for the Kids,” the “Carnivore Crawl,” the “Continent Crawl,” and so many more! Food and Wine Festival customized Touring Strategies for One Day visits, Budget-Conscious visits, and even one to celebrate the TV Show The Chew! A chapter dedicated to all “New for 2016″ events, menu items, booths, and more Full food, wine, beer, winery, cocktail, and chef indexes, including dates and locations of where you can find your favorites Epcot Food and Wine Festival recipes Top tips on how to use MyMagic+ and the Disney Dining Plan at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival And more! Whether this is your first festival or your 21st, you’ll appreciate knowing what you are getting before spending time and vacation dollars. And no matter what you want do — sample wine, explore the world’s beers, taste something you’ve never tried before, or find your next favorite dessert — The DFB Guide to the 2016 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is the perfect resource for navigating the biggest Epcot Food and Wine Festival ever. And we’re so excited to share it with you that in celebration of the grand launch, we’re offering 20% off the purchase price! Order your copy now for only $11.96 (regularly $14.95). To secure the discount, use code Chefs at the check-out. 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 Star Wars Jelly Belly Dispenser! Walt Disney World for Grownups shared their favorite healthy snacks at Disney World. Disney Parks Blog shared some new S’mores treats on the menu at Disneyland. Babble shared some really fun Disney-inspired food art! Smart School House shared a recipe for 10-minute Mickey-shaped pretzels. Disney Family shared a recipe for Winnie the Pooh Cake Pops. 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: July 31, 2016 Disney Food Post Round-Up: July 17, 2016 Disney Food Post Round-Up: July 24, 2016 View the full article

Disney Parks Blog Unboxed – Mickey Not So Scary Halloween Party View the full article

This week, Disney Parks Blog readers were among the first to learn that the Main Street Electrical Parade, Magic Kingdom Park’s long-running nighttime parade, will officially end its historic run at Walt Disney World Resort on October 9 and then head to Disneyland Resort for a limited-time encore engagement. If you’re planning to see the parade one last time at the Walt Disney World Resort, please keep in mind that Main Street Electrical Parade is not offered on Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party nights. Check for the latest parade dates and times here on WaltDisneyWorld.com or in the My Disney Experience app. Check out our update for more details. And at Disneyland Resort, there’s still time enjoy “Paint the Night” parade. “Paint the Night” parade will continue nightly performances, just before “Disneyland Forever” fireworks, through September 5 as part of the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration. The parade will return on select nights during the holiday season later this year. Check the entertainment calendar at Disneyland.com for performance dates and times. Visit Erin’s story for more details. And if you missed our live coverage of the royal welcome of Princess Elena of Avalor at Magic Kingdom Park this week, we’re sharing a weekend replay of the event. Starting this month, guests at Magic Kingdom Park will be able to see Princess Elena, Disney’s first princess inspired by diverse Latin cultures, in a daily welcome ceremony on the Castle Forecourt Stage. You can also catch her starring in the new Disney Channel series “Elena of Avalor.” Here are some of the other stories we worked on this week. Disney Parks Blog Unboxed – Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 2016 – I recently visited Magic Kingdom Park where I attempted to get a sneak preview of the party. Instead, I received a surprise visit from the Disney Delivery Guy. New Disneyland Resort Eastern Gateway Coming in 2018 – Disneyland Resort is planning to break ground on our Eastern Gateway, a new arrival point that will provide guests even more choices for access and parking when it opens in late 2018. Craft Cocktails Star at New AbracadaBar at Disney’s BoardWalk at Walt Disney World Resort – Guests are discovering the whimsy of AbracadaBar, the newest Walt Disney World watering hole located on Disney’s BoardWalk between Trattoria al Forno and the just-opened Flying Fish restaurant. Wildlife Wednesday: Disney Helps ‘Reverse the Decline’ of Elephants – Friday, Aug. 12, is World Elephant Day! Elephants are amazing for so many reasons – they are the largest land mammals, have one of the longest gestation periods in the animal world and are one of the only animals other than humans to mourn the passing of another member of their species. Welcome to Our World! What Is The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival? – Loyal fans of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival have many different answers for the question, “What is the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival?” For some, it’s all about noshing and sipping your way around World Showcase Lagoon and continuing on to the latest new global marketplaces in Future World. A Fabulous 45th: The Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse – As Magic Kingdom Park’s 45th anniversary approaches this fall, this new weekly series will look at one of the park’s opening day attractions that can still be enjoyed today. This week, we’ll focus on the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse. View the full article

Time to head over to Disney’s Contemporary Resort for this new cupcake! Learn About: Contempo Cafe Disney World Restaurants August’s cupcake at Contempo is a Turtle Cupcake featuring everyone’s favorite kid turtle, Squirt! Radical, Dude! Contempo Café is known for its totally awesome cupcake selection! The Café, if you’re not familiar, is the counter-service restaurant in the Contemporary Resort, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the Grand Canyon Concourse near the popular character buffet, Chef Mickey’s. The restaurant has great options like Cajun Seared Mahi and Chicken Alfredo Pasta — and you can’t miss the amazing Pot Roast! And breakfast here features one of our favorite giant Mickey waffles, because it’s served with salty caramel bananas foster sauce. But today, we’re going to focus on this month’s Squirt cupcake – sweeeeeet! Turtle Cupcake, dude! So cute, right?! You’ll be thrilled to know that this cupcake tastes just as good as it looks! The cake is a caramel flavor, which I thought was the perfect balance between tasting like caramel and not being overly rich. The icing is a chocolate-caramel mix, which leaned on the side of chocolate. But, there’s a TON of caramel sauce drizzled on top, so you get plenty of both flavors. It’s topped off with a thin white chocolate square with a Squirt print and praline and caramelized pecans around the edges. But wait, there’s a special surprise inside… Cross-section of Turtle Cupcake The filling!! It’s a creamy, dreamy chocolate filling with finely chopped pecans mixed throughout! I think it adds a great texture! Overall If you can’t tell, I really loved this cupcake! It wasn’t overly rich like a lot of Disney cupcakes, so I had no problem finishing the whole thing. Plus, I think the connecting a chocolate-y, caramel turtle cupcake to one of our favorite Finding Nemo characters is brilliant. It’s $5.99 and snack credit eligible. Right now, you can find this cupcake, the Frozen, and Banana Flip cupcakes in the refrigerated section at Contempo Café. Cupcake selection at Contempo Café Our other favorite cupcake from this summer, the Cherry, has already disappeared! Are you making a trip to Contempo Café this August? Tell us which cupcake will you try in the comments! 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: Snack Series: Mickey Cupcake at Contempo Cafe in Disney’s Contemporary Resort Review: Hot Chocolate Cupcake from the Contempo Cafe at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Snack Series: “Frozen” Cupcake at Contempo Cafe in Disney’s Contemporary Resort View the full article

At ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, soccer athletes of all ages and skill levels can get their kicks during open registration tournaments, camps, seasonal showcases and more. Our very own Mickey Mouse put his skills to the test when our friends at Orlando City Soccer Club recently stopped by the ESPN Complex. Watch how the team matched up: Did you know that Orlando City played their last USL-Pro season at the ESPN Complex? It was great to welcome some of the players back for a friendly competition. Thanks to Orlando City players Brek Shea, Antonio Nocerino, Servando Carrasco and Tyler Turner. Better luck next time! Follow @DisneySports on Twitter and ESPN Wide World of Sports on Facebook for more updates. View the full article

Earlier this week, we officially welcomed Elena of Avalor, the newest Disney Princess into the family with a special Royal Welcome ceremony at Magic Kingdom Park. The ceremony included a ton of pageantry, a special welcome from Cinderella and Prince Charming and a special musical performance from Princess Elena herself. Did you catch the event live on the Disney Parks Blog? If not, be sure to catch the full replay below! View the full article

When you first enter the gates of Disneyland park, you’re transported to the bygone era of smalltown America on Main Street, U.S.A. Imagineered after Walt Disney’s idealistic view of his hometown, Marceline, Mo., feelings of nostalgia are evoked for the turn of the century, when horse-drawn streetcars were common and barbershop quartets like The Dapper Dans could be heard serenading folks with charming tunes. Speciality shops and general stores line the street, fashioned after those from a time gone by, and they are the focus of our new series … starting with the Candy Palace and Penny Arcade! Opened on July 22, 1955, only several days after the grand opening of Disneyland on July 17, 1955, the Candy Palace has been a treasured favorite for six decades. Colors of vanilla, mint green and cherry pink, along with signs shaped like wrapped candies and chocolate bars, bring out the sweet tooth in every guest. This charismatic candy shop, full of savory popcorn, gooey caramel apples and sweet taffy, is also home to the Candy Kitchen. You can even peek inside the glass-walled kitchen and watch the candy makers create delicious confectionaries! When the scents of these freshly baked treats fill the air, an inviting aroma carries down the street, beckoning guests to come inside and experience this traditional, old-time candy counter. Located within the Candy Palace is the Penny Arcade. Another classic from 1955, this location houses antique Mutoscopes and Cail-o-Scopes playing some of the world’s first motion pictures. Designed to be reminiscent of the arcades from Walt Disney’s youth, the Penny Arcade is where you’ll also find the Fortune Teller Esmeralda and the Welte Orchestrion. This hand-carved, majestic orchestrion, purchased by Walt Disney for his collection of unusual instruments, plays tunes every seven minutes. So, while you’re shopping for some delightful fudge or chocolate-covered strawberries, be sure to take a look around and experience the sights and sounds of these simpler times. What is your favorite memory or sweet treat from the Candy Palace and Penny Arcade? Let us know in the comments! View the full article

Sooo… do you remember that fantastic Duck Confit dish we enjoyed at the Epcot Food & Wine Festival Preview Event earlier this summer? We’ve been keeping a special eye out for it, because the Duck Confit with Creamy Polenta and Fire-roasted Salsa was — hands down — our favorite new dish from the event. Well, the BIG DAY revealing the official list of Marketplace Booths and Menus that will be at the 2016 Epcot Food & Wine Festival came and went… with no mention of either the Duck Confit OR the yet-to-be-named Marketplace coming to the 2016 Epcot Food & Wine Festival. It’s been an unsolved mystery… until now, that is! We believe we’ve spotted the future home of the Duck Confit as well as the previously-unnamed Marketplace Booth… Duck Confit with Creamy Polenta and Fire-roasted Salsa Greenhouse Guru hosted by Village Farms is now showing up on the What’s New page for the Epcot Food & Wine Festival! What’s New Page Screenshot While there is no official menu available at this time for Greenhouse Guru (and you won’t spot it yet on Disney’s full menu page list), we do know that the salsa on the Duck Confit dish featured Village Farms Tomatoes, produced in Florida. And staff at the Preview Event mentioned that a Marketplace Booth would be dedicated to the produce from Village Farms. Again, a menu is not available at this time, but we also heard tell of the possibility of Gazpacho and a Tomato Salad with a Tomato Vinaigrette being featured at the booth as well. So, get ready to welcome the Greenhouse Guru to the Food & Wine Festival…we hope! Ready to Plan for Your Epcot Food and Wine Festival Trip? The DFB Guide to the 2016 Epcot Food & Wine Festival e-Book is now available! This 250+-page guide to the Festival offers insider tips and advice as well as all of the details you need to know to plan your best Festival visit ever. Your purchase includes several bonus items as well — including a full daily schedule of events at the Festival and a printable World Showcase Booth Menu Checklist to carry with you as you Eat around the World! Order your 2016 edition today! Don’t miss a moment of the fun! Use code Chefs at check-out for a 20% off the cover price! Which new Marketplace Booth are you most excited to visit at the Food & Wine Festival? 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! 2016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival FULL BOOTH MENUS and Food Photos! 2016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival News! Details on Booths, Menus, Special Events, Booking Dates, and More News! Cast of ABC’s ‘The Chew’ Returns for the 2016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival PLUS Menu Updates! View the full article

‘Pete’s Dragon’ Actor Oakes Fegley Visits Walt Disney World Resort View the full article

Bryce Dallas Howard celebrated the opening of her newest film, “Pete’s Dragon,” with a visit to Disneyland park where she caught up with Mickey Mouse at Sleeping Beauty Castle. In this video, she talks about what it’s like to be a part of the Disney family and the thrill of riding a dragon! A reimagining of Disney’s cherished family film, “Pete’s Dragon” is the adventure of an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliot, who just so happens to be a dragon. The film opens nationwide today. View the full article

The Sanderson sisters will once again be featured on limited edition merchandise for this year's Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. The likeness of Winifred, Sarah and Mary will be found on T-shirts, limited edition pins and even a Christmas ornament at the event, which takes place at Walt... View the full article