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Fellow Disney Parks Blog author, Darrell Fry was among the first to share the exciting news about the Invictus Games taking place for the first time in the United States, May 8 – 12, 2016 at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. These amazing games which celebrate our wounded servicemen and women from around the world, involve over 500 competitors from up to fifteen nations, as they compete in a ten different sporting events, inspiring us to help others who give their live to serve their country, as well as their families and caregivers. If you’re planning to attend, look for a special selection of merchandise created in honor of the Invictus Games, available to athletes and spectators at select locations at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Items will include adult apparel, youth tee, golf shirt, baseball hat, water bottle, mug, sport sling backpack, magnet and more. Here’s a closer look! A few of my favorites to consider sporting is the ladies tank which reads — I AM Brave-Strong-Tough-Noble-Willing-Able, the Invictus Games – The Captain of My Soul event T-shirt, the spectator T-shirt and last but certainly not least the performance jackets. Finally, I couldn’t pass up the chance to give you a sneak peek at the specially created lanyard and some of the trading pins that will be available, themed to each sport. While I’m not able to show them all to you right now, I hope that you will be joining in the excitement of the Invictus Games and can check them out for yourself. I’m sure that Darrell will be sharing many more details on this momentous event, so keep watching the Disney Parks Blog for all the latest information. View the full article

I don’t know about you, but the pressure is on for me to find my mom the perfect gift for Mother’s Day. As many of you know, at Disney Parks there are a lot of options. That’s why I relied on a few of my friends, who shared some of their fun finds and quick picks to help mom celebrate her special day. Take a look! While the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration themed scarves can only be found at the Disneyland Resort, many of the other items shown can be found at merchandise locations located at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort. Which item tops your list of gifts to give? View the full article

In this week’s Disney Doodle, artist Ashley Taylor explores what the Lost Boys from “Peter Pan” would do if they had the opportunity to visit a Disney Park. With their penchant for building treetop hideouts in Neverland, they’d no doubt make a stop to scope out all the details of The Swiss Family Treehouse in Adventureland at Magic Kingdom Park. View the full article

It’s a lovely morning to wake up at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Looks like some of the savanna’s more than 200 residents are already up and eager to explore. The giraffe is just one of the one of the species you can spot during your stay at this Walt Disney World Resort hotel. Other animal occupants include zebras, gazelles, kudu and flamingos. View the full article

It’s the story that we’re continuing to watch: Disney’s Animal Kingdom is undergoing major changes! Learn About: Pizzafari Animal Kingdom Disney World Restaurants And you may think that the updates are just relegated to attractions as the park transitions from a daytime-only to an all-day destination. But it only makes sense that more people staying longer will mean that they’ll need to eat! While we look forward to brand new spots, like Tiffins Restaurant and the Nomad Lounge, we’re also seeing lots of menu updates to existing favorites. Today, we throw the spotlight on Pizzafari! Atmosphere You’ll find Pizzafari en route to Africa on Discovery Island. The counter service restaurant offers mostly inside seating, which is always a major plus when trying to beat the heat. Pizzafari Sign Though the outside has been refurbished to reflect the more natural, earthy colors that are now prevalent around Discovery Island, the inside seating areas remain bright, colorful, and whimsical. Pizzafari Dining Room Throughout the restaurant you’ll find differently themed dining rooms in addition to mural-ed hallways. Wall Murals Wall Murals Colors are bold and cheery, and add a really great dimension to this quick service spot. Brightly Painted Decor Be sure to look up as well! I love these cool bats that seem to be sleeping overhead in a room dedicated to “upside down” animals. Hanging Bats! Back in the ordering area, you’ll spy another one of my favorite murals. A colorful peacock holds court here, and butterflies stretch up all the way to the high ceiling. Painted Peacock Above the Ordering Area Butterflies Going Up To The Ceiling While awaiting your food, check out the back wall of the kitchen as well! You’ll see that the pizza ovens are adorned with more underwater scenes depicted in mosaic tile. Decorated Pizza Ovens There’s so much to see everywhere you turn! But now it’s time to get down to the business at hand: eating. Eats So — of course Pizzafari still offers a Pizza-heavy menu, with some additional Italian-American options. You’ll still find plenty of Pies here, including Cheese and Pepperoni as well as Mediterranean and Meat Lover’s options. They also make great use of those pizza ovens by offering a Baked Pasta Bolognese. But a new food item that caught our eye is the Shrimp Flatbread! (At present, this is the only flatbread on the menu; the rest of the items in this genre are still designated as pizzas.) Shrimp Flatbread with Antipasto Salad! It comes with a side of Antipasto Salad, full of Roasted Veggies and Marinated Cheese. Antipasto Salad The flatbread itself is really colorful and fresh-looking. Clearly, it was prepared to order. Shrimp Flatbread The bread has a great texture, both crispy and flakey. Flatbread Closeup The Roasted Shrimp are scattered on top with the other Salad-type ingredients. The shrimp themselves were large and well-seasoned. Shrimp The Vegetables included Tomatoes, Onions, Red Peppers, and Arugula. Shrimp Flatbread Toppings Beneath the toppings, the flatbread itself offered a layer of melted Mozzarella topped with Alfredo Sauce and Pesto. All three combined to be a perfect flavor match for the seasoned shrimp. Melted Cheese, Alfredo Sauce, and Pesto In addition to looking pretty, it was quite good. Given that Pizzafari’s pizza hasn’t always been my favorite, I was delighted to see this pizza-salad hybrid flatbread option. I hope they add more! Another beautiful addition to the menu is the Heart of Romaine Salad. While a Caesar Salad is nothing new on the Pizzafari menu, this new iteration featuring an entire Heart of Romaine sliced down the middle is a dressed up version. You can choose from Chicken or Shrimp to top your salad. Since the shrimp is new to the menu, that was my choice. Hearts of Romaine Salad with Shrimp Again, I was struck by the presentation of the salad. This is another really attractive plate, especially for a counter service joint. Served on a Large Heart of Romaine The salad is topped with Roasted Shrimp and a tangy, creamy Caesar Dressing. Roasted Shrimp You’ll also find generous helpings of shredded Parmesan Cheese and Croutons. Shredded Parmesan and Croutons But entrees weren’t the only new items we spotted. There were also a couple of new sides to check out. First up, Pizzafari now offers Tomato Basil Soup. Tomato Basil Soup This soup is a total no-brainer! We all know that Disney makes some incredible Tomato Basil Soup, so I’m happy whenever it pops up on a menu. And with such a big indoor eating area, Pizzafari is totally a soup-friendly spot! Closeup of the Tomato Basil Soup The soup comes with packages of crackers, but you’re gonna wanna trade them for the next item I’m about to show you. Check out the upgraded Garlic Knots! Still available as a snack credit, you get large, delicious garlic knots (there were 6 in my order), served with a side of Marinara Sauce for dipping. Garlic Knots and Marinara Sauce Up close, you can see that the bread is generously coated with Olive Oil and a combo of Herbs, Garlic, and shredded Cheese. Garlic Knot Closeup Inside, the bread texture is tender and fluffy. Garlic Knot Cross-Section They are perfectly paired with the Tomato Basil Soup! But you also have another new option: Garlic Butter Dipping Sauce. Yes. You read that right. Regardless of what you order, it’s going to run you an extra buck. But it is WELL worth it, especially when you’re dunking Garlic Knots. Garlic Dipping Sauce Having the two sauces makes this a great item to share as a simple pre-meal appetizer for your whole table! Overall Pizzafari hasn’t always been my go-to option in Animal Kingdom. In fact, it was usually my last choice, and I only ate there because I knew I had to review it for the blog. So to be able to share that there are a few updates to the menu that make it not the debacle that it used to be makes me pretty excited. The Heart of Romaine Salad, topped with either Chicken or Shrimp, is my favorite salad option when I’m going with a park counter service spot. And the generous portion sizes here also mean that you aren’t going to leave hungry. I’ve got to hand it to Pizzafari: everything I ate both looked beautiful and tasted fresh and fantastic. While I hope to see more flatbread options in the future, I still think it’s safe to say that, with this menu refresh, they’ve definitely upped their game a bit. Will be trying one of the new items available at Pizzafari? Let us know in the comments below! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com! Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our Newsletter Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook Fan Related posts: New Menu Items at Restaurantosaurus, Pizzafari, and Flame Tree Barbecue in Animal Kingdom Review: Meat Lovers Pizza at Animal Kingdom’s Pizzafari Review: New Breakfast Items at Animal Kingdom’s Pizzafari and Dawa Bar View the full article

Happy Sunday and happy May!! We hope you’re having a wonderful weekend! What an exciting week of Disney food news! We have so much to talk about including the news that kicked off the week – Free Dining is back this Fall at the Walt Disney World Resort! The free dining offer is good on select dates from August 23 through December 21. Guests at Value Resorts will receive the Quick Service Dining Plan while guests at Moderate, Deluxe, and Deluxe Villas will receive the standard Dining plan. We have a lot to share with you this week, so let’s jump right in… Disney Food News More free dining news! Residents of Canada and Disney Visa Cardholders can book for arrival dates starting August 14! We stopped for lunch at the Flame Tree Barbecue in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Sprinkles is opening at Town Center in Disney Springs on May 15! Did someone say cupcakes?!? In other Disney Springs food news, Fulton’s Crab House is reopening this fall as Paddlefish! We reviewed the Astronaut Ice Cream Sandwich from Mission:SPACE in Epcot. Tutto Italia in Epcot’s Italy Pavilion is offering a prix fixe lunch menu this summer. A Corn Dog Nugget meal is on the menu now at Casey’s Corner in the Magic Kingdom. Check out all the latest Disney Food News — even the stuff we don’t mention in posts on the blog! — on our Disney Food News Pin Board, including menu updates, restaurant closures, special events, and more! We’ve got all the latest for you, so check it out before you go. DFB Reader Finds If you find a fun new food — or other edible awesomeness — in or about Disney, share a photo with us on facebook or twitter so we can add it to our DFB Reader Finds each Sunday! We think the Contempo Cafe at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is an above-average spot for a quick service meal and the flatbreads are always good! DFB reader Barry Ripley recently enjoy the Smoked Pulled Pork and Caprese flatbreads on his recent visit and shared this pic with us. Yum! Delicious! My good friend Colin Buchanan stopped by the newly-expanded Cove Bar at Disney California Adventure and had a chance to enjoy the new menu item Chorizo Fundido! It looks amazing! A new addition at the Cove Bar. 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 ALL Purchases at DFBStore.com This Weekend ONLY With Code 20SALE The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining e-Book is an instantly downloadable PDF guide, featuring over 530 full-color pages of photographs, information, and advice about our favorite subjects — food and dining in Walt Disney World. Order the 2016 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining today — or any of our other DFB Guide or money-saving Bundles — and use promo code 20SALE for 20% off! Our team of Walt Disney World food experts have put together the most comprehensive guide to Walt Disney World food and dining available. With more than 25 years of experience eating and drinking our way through the Parks and Resorts, we’ve learned a thing or two — and we love sharing our secrets with you! Order the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2016 e-Book today, and start planning your Disney dining adventures right now! Here are just a few of the things you’ll find in our DFB to Walt Disney World Dining: A 5-Step Strategy for Disney Dining Planning, covering everything you need to know from budgeting and booking to kids’ meals, dining discounts, and fireworks. A comprehensive and in-depth look at EVERY Disney World restaurant, kiosk, bar, and lounge, including our personal tips to ensure a positive and stress-free dining experience. Four free, downloadable worksheets for planning your trip. These worksheets are designed to help you execute all the steps of planning the perfect Disney dining experience. And they’re reusable for all of your future trips! Seven sample one-day dining itineraries for a head-start on planning. A comprehensive index of bars and lounges. An often under-appreciated option for both dining and entertainment, the e-Book devotes a whole index to the topic. You asked for it, and we wrote it! The ability to be read on your mobile device or computer! It’s fully portable — always just a pocket away! and MORE! Order the 2016 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining today and use promo code 20SALE for 20% off! The DFB Everything Bundle But for those of you who want to be prepared for EVERYTHING at Disney World, we’re also offering our most popular Bundle, the DFB Everything Bundle, for a special savings as well! This bundle packs in all of our e-Books, including the Guide that started it all — the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, 2015 edition. And during this special sale, you can get 20% off the already low price when you enter code 20SALE. This is a crazy good price for this incredible bundle! This Bundle is priced at a huge discount already — over 40% off the guide prices – representing great savings. But with our extra 20% off, this is an amazing deal. Learn more about the DFB Everything Bundle here. The bundle includes the pre-order of the DFB Guide to the 2016 Epcot Food & Wine Festival as well as the 2015 guide as an immediate download — FREE! 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 Grilled Pizza Cone set! Perfect for grilling season! WDW For Grownups shared the Fab 5 of Epcot Snacks! Did your favorite make the list? Disney Family showed us how to make Winne the Pooh cake pops. They’re almost too cute to eat. Buzzfeed shared a video recipe for Currywurst Sliders – reminds of us Sommerfest in Epcot! OhMyDisney shared 15 Disney food truths all fans agree on! Mickey Mouse shared a recipe for DIY Mickey-themed cupcakes. 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: January 3, 2016 Disney Food Post Round-Up: March 27, 2016 Disney Food Post Round-Up: April 10, 2016 View the full article

DIY: How-To Make a Minnie Mouse Apple at Candy Cauldron | Walt Disney World View the full article

This week, the classic Disneyland park attraction Autopia reopened and it’s now powered by Honda. We took Disney Parks Blog readers behind-the-scenes to see what’s new for this longtime guest favorite. Erin also shared that the updates to Autopia will continue throughout the year, so be sure to visit again and again to see what’s developing along the journey. And at the Walt Disney World Resort, we looked into the future and shared new details on how Pandora – The World of AVATAR will come to life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in 2017. Recently, Imagineer Joe Rohde and Lightstorm Entertainment film producer Jon Landau showed how the land will take on new life at night with bioluminescent flora and special nighttime immersive programming that’ll add a magical touch. Visit our original story to learn more and see more images. Here are some of the other stories we worked on this week. Support Star Wars: Force for Change at Disney Parks Starting May 4, 2016 – I’m happy to announce Star Wars: Force for Change returns to Disney Parks starting May 4, 2016. DIY Apples With Character: Minnie Mouse – Last week we shared a DIY tutorial on how to make the perfect Mickey Mouse character apples from Candy Cauldron at Disney Springs. Tokyo Disney Resort Plans ‘Beauty & The Beast,’ ‘Big Hero 6’ Attractions – Earlier today, the Oriental Land Co, Ltd., announced plans for major new attractions and theme park areas that are set to open through the year 2020. Come Celebrate All Things Star Wars at Disneyland Park on May the 4th – Are you a rebel looking for a place to commemorate May the 4th? Disneyland park is the place to be on this special day as we celebrate Star Wars! A Glimpse of Disney Cruise Destinations in Summer 2017 – Earlier this month, we announced where you can sail with us in the summer of 2017. From Alaska and Europe to the Caribbean and the Bahamas, we’re taking Disney cruisers around the world. Disney Parks Best Bites – April 2016 – It’s hard to believe another month has flown by. In April, we welcomed the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival, continued eating our way around the world at Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival and are getting ready to Awaken Summer at Disney Parks. View the full article

We are back to bring you news of another delicious Disneyland Snack Hack! A while ago, we shared how you can make a dreamy Dole Whip even more wonderful — just add Tajin Spice from Tropical Imports! But today, we’re going another direction entirely and bringing two of our favorite Disney treats together in the process. Churro in Disneyland Churros are a must on every Disneyland trip. But there’s nothing better than adding those warm, sweet fried treats to something cold and creamy. And that’s why we love making our very own Churro Sundae. Thanks to our Dining in Disneyland authority Heather for dreaming up this amazing treat! Timing is everything with this one, my friends. You want the warm to be warm, and the cold not to melt. So head to Willie’s in Disney California Adventure first to grab your churro (it’s the closest churro to ice cream distance in the park). Churro Menu at Willie’s Mission Accomplished! Churro Procured! THEN — proceed very, very quickly to Clarabelle’s, where you’ll pick up an Ice Cream Sundae. We love Vanilla Ice Cream with Hot Fudge for this little treat — but use your imagination! And with these two things, you can do THIS! Churro Sundae is Bae If there is a better way to eat a Hot Fudge Sundae than by scooping up bites of it with a warm, cinnamon sugar-crisp Churro, then please tell me immediately. Because this is pretty epic. So what’re you waiting for? Head to DCA right now and make this happen! We’ll be back over the next few weeks to share some other Disneyland Snack Hacks that we’ve perfected. In the mean time, let us know — will you be visiting Disneyland for a DIY Churro Sundae? Leave a comment and share your thoughts with us! 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: Dining in Disneyland Review: CHURRO ICE CREAM SANDWICH with Bonus Oreo Churro! Dining in Disneyland: Churro Funnel Cake from Hungry Bear Restaurant Eight New Churro Flavors in Disneyland’s Downtown Disney! View the full article

Best Views From Walt Disney World Resorts: Disney’s Beach Club Resort View the full article

It’s no wonder that the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival draws guests with green thumbs, an affinity for beautiful blooms and fun photos. Even our own shutterbugs here at Walt Disney World keep coming back to for more. This Week In Disney Parks Photos, we have a treat from Disney photographer Chloe Rice. She’s more than just a “shutterbug” – she’s an artist who shared this collection of GIFs from the Festival. Click on each image to see the GIFs in action. The action in some are subtle, but the beauty and whimsy jump right out of the frame. Check out how the innovation of our horticulture team keeps the topiaries hydrated throughout the Festival’s 90 days here. This is Florida Fresh Weekend at the Festival, celebrating the bounty of the Sunshine State with workshops in the Festival Center, and don’t forget the Florida Fresh Outdoor Kitchen, serving Shrimp and Stone-Ground Grits and refreshing watermelon in salad and beverage forms. The Festival runs until May 30. View the full article

It’s almost time to join the Disney fairies, Peter Pan and the Lost Boys for Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend presented by PANDORA Jewelry. This year, we’re celebrating the fifth anniversary of Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend. I recently shared these pixie-dusted medals inspired by our friends from Pixie Hollow. With the event a week away, it’s time to pack your bags! Our runDisney Kids Races style is inspired by the star of the weekend, Tinker Bell herself! All you need is to add the perfect pair of fairy wings for your little one to take flight on the course. Wendy Darling is the inspiration for this blue ensemble from Champion and New Balance. Wendy wore all blue upon visiting the island of Never Land for the first time, and this outfit works perfectly for the Never Land 5K, Tinker Bell 10K or even our Half Marathon! Celebrate your victory with beautiful jewelry from PANDORA Jewelry! Peter Pan can fly without wings, and with this look you will soar right to the finish line. What is on your packing list to bring for the weekend? Let us know at @runDisney on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using the hashtag #TinkHalf. Check out runDisney.com for more information regarding this and upcoming races! View the full article

We’ve got more Disney Springs dining news, my friends! Learn About: Fulton’s Crab House Downtown Disney Disney World Restaurants While much of the recent talk surrounds several eateries still on the way to Disney Springs — AristoCrepes, D-Luxe Burger, Amorette’s Patisserie, Sprinkles, and The Daily Poutine to name just a few — we’ve known for some time that big changes are also in store for Fulton’s Crab House. Whether or not you’ve ever dined at Fulton’s Crab House, it’s quite likely that you would still recognize this restaurant if you’ve ever paid a visit to Disney Springs (formerly Downtown Disney), thanks to its eye-catching design — a replica of a riverboat that Walt Disney purchased for his wife, Lillian. Fulton’s Crab House However, this longtime landmark will be a little less familiar when it reopens this fall with a new name, look, and added features. Under the name Paddlefish, the cuisine will still focus on fresh seafood (as well as chops and steaks and a new oyster shucking bar). But some plans for the “bow to stern update” resulting in a more modern feel can be seen in the concept art recently posted by Fulton’s Crab House on their Twitter account and Facebook page. Paddlefish Concept Art @fultonscrab Twitter You can also catch a glimpse in the artwork of the new rooftop lounge on the way (while the new waterfront bar will feature a “build your own” fish boil). The artwork does not reveal, of course, the anticipated updates to the interiors which Disney states will reflect the “crisp luxury of modern yachting.” So, there is your first glimpse of Paddlefish! What do you think so far? Will you be paying a visit to Paddlefish when it reopens later this year? 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: Fulton’s Crab House in Disney Springs Now Offering Brunch Selections on Sundays Guest Review: Fulton’s Crab House News! Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar Opening in Disney Springs this Fall View the full article

Bienvenida, Princesa Elena! Disney's first Latina princess is about to make her parks debut. Fans can meet Princesa Elena of Avalor, the future Disney Channel character, at Magic Kingdom park in Florida in August, and she will be at Disney's California Adventure in Anaheim this fall. The animated... View the full article

You can take in a lot of interesting sights at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. Now, you'll be able to see weddings too. Walt Disney World said "I do" to Magic Kingdom weddings during park hours, announcing Friday it will begin hosting 9:30 a.m. ceremonies at the East Plaza Garden near Cinderella's... View the full article

It’s been 11 years since I first sailed with Disney Cruise Line. It was in fact the very first re-positioning sailing through the Panama Canal aboard the Disney Magic. It felt like the cruise of a lifetime with memories that will last forever. Those who have sailed on the Disney Cruise Line fleet know exactly what I’m talking about. There’s nothing like it! Having the opportunity to share these exciting adventures with you— along with special merchandise headed your way—is a dream come true. Setting sail beginning May 1 for a 14-night Panama Canal cruise from Miami is the Disney Wonder, as it voyages west to the port of San Diego, before starting the Alaskan season. Let’s take a quick look at what some of our passengers, or perhaps it might even be you, can find aboard the Disney Wonder as part of this special repositioning. Some of the souvenirs I remember picking up on my trip included a t-shirt, magnet, postcard and pin. I would definitely recommend the same if this is your first sailing too, but keep in mind that you will also find a Nike polo shirt, Nike baseball hat, wood ornament (shown above), and photo-real inspired items including tees, a mug and postcard. All of these special itinerary items can be found at Treasure Ketch on Deck 4, while the pin will release at Preludes on Deck 4, Forward. Reminder: The merchandise tends to sell very quickly. So don’t wait too long to pick out your special commemorative souvenir. So what else can you look forward to? Sometimes we have the fortunate opportunity to bring aboard some of our talented Disney-inspired artists. Over the next several months, I’ll be sharing some of those details with you and giving you a sneak peek at some of their new artwork created for our special itinerary sailings. Those who will join us for the re-positioning cruise should keep an eye out for several new pieces at Vista Gallery, Deck 4, Midship, from artist Daniel Killen, including “A Ball in the Surf,” “The Beauties of El Arco,” “Lock Logic Lightbulb Moment” and “ Panama Pollera Panorama.” Tip: If you are sailing out of San Diego on May 18, you will be accompanied by artist Miss Mindy whose new collection and live painting demonstration is filled with pixie power. I have a sneak peek for you below. A couple of other fun facts you may or may not know is that our merchandise locations often host special artist showcases and trunk shows by notable brands as Sophia Fiori, Atlantis Gems, Bellarri, and Onofrio D’Oro, to name a few. But did you know that each ship also offers a variety of duty and tax free brands including Michael Kors, TAG Heuer, Tissot, Effy, as well as Dooney & Bourke? So on your next sailing be sure to check the Personal Navigator for special offerings. I feel fortunate enough to say I will be able to see the Disney Wonder when she docks in San Diego, which means, I plan to get the scoop on special merchandise offerings associated with the Alaska sailings. Keep watching the Disney Parks Blog as we unveil what lies ahead for special itinerary merchandise, artist sailings and more. View the full article

Golden Oak at Walt Disney World has announced plans for its newest neighborhood, Kingswell. The new neighborhood, with 53 homes, will feature the last estate-sized homesites available for purchase. Prices of finished custom homes will start at $3 million. The homes will range from approximately... View the full article

Disney Cruise Line finally admitted changes are coming to Disney Wonder, its second oldest ship. Line president Karl Holz said that changes were coming in 2016 to the 2,713-passenger, 83,000-ton ship, but would not divulge details about its redesign. "There's even more up our sleeves," Holz said... View the full article

The map you grab on the way into Disney's Hollywood Studios holds the first clue that something's up. It has become narrower as more of the theme park has disappeared. Several attractions have closed as work begins on a massive makeover that will shed the theme park's movie studio-themed identity.... View the full article

I’m happy to announce Star Wars: Force for Change returns to Disney Parks starting May 4, 2016. This year, we will offer t-shirts for adults and youth that feature the logo for the upcoming film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. These shirts are the first products for the new film created especially for Disney Parks. Twenty-five percent of the retail sale price of this product will be donated to U.S. Fund for UNICEF in support of UNICEF Kid Power. UNICEF Kid Power gives kids the power to save lives. By getting active with the UNICEF Kid Power Band, kids can go on missions, earn points and unlock therapeutic food packets for severely malnourished children around the world. The shirts will be released at the following locations: Disneyland Resort Disneyland park – The Star Trader and Star Wars Launch Bay Downtown Disney District – D-Street and World of Disney Walt Disney World Resort Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Tatooine Traders and Star Wars Launch Bay Disney Springs – Star Wars Galactic Outpost and Once Upon A Toy Magic Kingdom Park – Merchants of Venus These items will not be available on the Disney Parks online store or via the Shop Disney Parks mobile app. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story will revolve around a rogue band of resistance fighters who unite for a daring mission to steal the Death Star plans and bring new hope to the galaxy. The film arrives in theaters on December 16, 2016. To learn more about Star Wars: Force for Change, please visit ForceForChange.com. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF does not endorse any brand or product. No portion of the purchase price is tax-deductible. View the full article

Caramel … Chocolate … Peanut Butter! Did that grab your attention? These are just some of the ingredients making up the gourmet treats for May at the Disneyland Resort! You may remember this particular treat from last year. Once again, you’ll find the tart green apples smothered in creamy caramel, dipped in milk chocolate and then topped with pieces of peanut butter cup filled chocolate. Doesn’t it sound amazing? Drizzled on top of this tasty treat is the perfect amount of peanut butter and sweet milk chocolate. I have no doubt you will savor each bite. Look for the gourmet bark to follow suit this month, it’s a chocolate and peanut butter lover’s dream. Tempt your taste buds with these treats starting May 1 at Candy Palace on Main Street, U.S.A., and Pooh Corner in Critter Country at Disneyland park; Trolley Treats in Disney California Adventure park; and Marceline’s Confectionery in the Downtown Disney District. As I mentioned in my recent post, each month I will share one of our new fudge flavors. Can you guess what this month’s pick is? Peanut Butter Chocolate, of course! Share your favorite gourmet treats with us here on the Disney Parks Blog or @DisneyParks, @Disneyland and @DisneylandToday! View the full article

Discover the World With Disney Vacations View the full article

Disney Springs is going to be THE place to be on May 15th! That’s the day the Town Center — the final neighborhood of Disney World’s still-transitioning dining and entertainment district — will officially open to guests, along with Amorette’s Patisserie, B.B. Wolf’s Sausage Co., and The Daily Poutine. And if that weren’t enough, we’ve got one more to add to the list… Sprinkles Cupcakes is set to open on May 15th, too! ©Sprinkles That’s right! The bakery made famous as the “world’s first cupcake bakery” (according to the Food Network), will be serving up hand-crafted cupcake goodies to Town Center guests, along with slow-churned ice cream and homemade cookies. ©Sprinkles No time to stop inside Sprinkles, what with over 30 new retailers and eateries joining Disney Springs once Town Center is complete (though we HIGHLY suggest you do)? No worries! You can always grab a cupcake from the Sprinkles Cupcake ATM, which they say will be available 24/7. Sprinkles Cupcakes will offer a Cupcake ATM! Though the store itself will operate along with regular Disney Springs shop hours, the ATM will be available from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 am, according to the Orlando Sentinel. You can find out how it works by watching this video created by Sprinkles: So, mark those calendars, folks! May 15th is the day to see — and TASTE — a whole new side of Disney Springs! Source: Sprinkles Cupcakes Nashville Are you excited to enjoy Sprinkles cupcakes in Disney Springs? 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! Amorette’s Patisserie Opening in Disney Springs on May 15th News! The Edison, Sprinkles Cupcakes, and More Coming to Disney Springs News: D-Luxe Burger to Open May 2016 in Disney Springs View the full article

The Earffel Tower, one of the original and iconic structures of Disney's Hollywood Studios, has been removed, a Walt Disney World official confirmed Friday morning. The company announced in January that the 130-foot-tall faux water tower, topped with a gigantic set of mouse ears, would be coming... View the full article

The Earfell Tower, one of the original and iconic structures of Disney's Hollywood Studios, has been removed, a Walt Disney World official confirmed Friday morning. The company announced in January that the 130-foot-tall faux water tower, topped with a gigantic set of mouse ears, would be coming... View the full article