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What is going on in Disney World? Main Street, U.S.A. The parks are ever-changing, with a total of 4 brand-new lands in development right now. It’s also spooky season with Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in full swing. We love this time of year for many reasons, but lately, there’s been one more reason we are loving heading to Magic Kingdom park! Over the last few days, we have been rope-dropping Magic Kingdom park to check out crowds, wait times, and more. This time of year traditionally means pumpkin spice, costumes, and crowds, but lately, those Magic Kingdom mornings have been pretty quiet! A sparse Main Street If you don’t know, rope dropping is when you head to the parks before they open so you can be some of the first people in line for popular attractions. This tends to be the best way to save time (and money) on the popular theme park if you’re an early riser. Rope dropping tends to get us 2-3 good rides before times start going up, but this week, things have stayed low longer than normal! Space Mountain! This time of year is the best time for low crowds and low prices! During our tests this week, wait times have stayed low for roughly 2 hours in the morning before things really start to pick up. We even spotted a 13-minute Haunted Mansion wait time today! (If you don’t know, that means it’s a walk-on.) 13 Minutes! The crowds tend to appear later in the day during this time of year as the ghosts and ghoulies start appearing for those late-night Not-So-Scary parties! These extra ticketed parties take place after hours, plus you can wear costumes, spot rare characters, and try limited-time treats as you dance the night away. No wait for Space Mountain this week! If you want to be sure you’re heading to the parks during the best time of the year, check out Small World Vacations! Small World Vacations finds the best Disney deals, helps you organize your vacation, and takes the stress out of planning! They’ve been our tried and true partners for a reason. Plus, they’re free of charge! So enjoy your rope drop and think of us when you grab a Cinnamon Roll from Gaston’s Tavern afterwards. As always, be sure to keep following DFB for more Disney news and updates. 8 Rides to AVOID During Rope Drop at Magic Kingdom Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Are you a rope dropper, or do you sleep in? Tell us in the comments! The post These Disney World Crowds Have Been SHOCKING Us Lately first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Rope dropping is one of our most recommended strategies to make the most of your Disney World trip, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Magic Kingdom rope drop crowds Rope dropping involves waking up early and arriving at the park before opening to take advantage of lower wait times for some of the most popular rides and knock things off your to-do list before more people get into the park. While it’s worth it, it can be tiring, and it’s important to prep and organize beforehand. Luckily, Amazon offers the perfect product to do so. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. However, one of the biggest negatives of rope-dropping is that it requires you to get up EARLY. Park hours vary, but you can expect the Disney World parks to open somewhere around 8 AM- 10 AM, with Early Entry beginning 30 minutes before the park opens to all guests. Early Entry Early Entry is available for guests who are staying at Disney World hotels or other select hotels. Whether you are getting up for Early Entry or just rope-dropping the park, you will likely find yourself setting a pretty early alarm. Hollywood Studios at rope drop One of our favorite things that makes rope dropping SO much easier is having a pre-packed park bag. That way, you can roll out of bed, put your outfit on, brush your hair and teeth, and grab your park bag. HOYOFO Mini Backpack Organizer You won’t have to fumble around or hope you have everything you need. With a pre-packed bag, you are ready for the day! And one of our favorite items to organize our park bag is this HOYOFO Mini Backpack Organizer. The best part? You can get it on Amazon for just $15! Grab this organizer here! It fits perfectly inside Loungefly bags, and it makes organizing so easy. That way, you can know where everything is, and your life will be so much easier when you are rope-dropping! HOYOFO Loungefly Organizer Get the organizer here! Once you’ve arrived at the park to rope drop, fully organized off course, there are another MAJOR tip we’d recommend: Don’t Squander the Opportunity! Even though you’re sleepy, try to resist the urge to wait in a long line for coffee at Starbucks! Pack a piece of fruit or energy bar to snack on instead of stopping for breakfast. Leave less popular attractions until later in the day — only ride the essentials, people! Hollywood Studios at rope drop We love our Loungefly organizer, and it really makes rope dropping so much easier. We pre-pack our bags in the evening, and the organizer helps us know where everything is during the day. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World tips and our favorite items to bring to the parks! The post This Item Makes Rope Drop 10X Easier And Is Only On Amazon Today first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Believe it or not, dining on a budget is certainly doable at Walt Disney World… if you know where to look. Look at all that burger! The dining options at the resort are pretty eclectic. From several great table-service restaurants, to quick service meals, Disney World offers something for every budget — including at the hotels! In fact, one of the cheapest sit-down dinners in all of Disney World can be found at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort! If you’re looking for an affordable dinner where you can stretch your legs out and enjoy sit-down dining, head on over to Coronado Springs and pop into Rix Sports Bar & Grill! Rix Sports Bar & Grill Rix Sports Bar & Grill — formerly Rix Lounge — serves up plenty of sports action alongside a solid American fare menu. For lunch and dinner services, you’ll find plenty of burgers, wings, nachos, and pub grub in addition to hand-crafted cocktails and local draft beers. This upscale bar is even open for breakfast! Are you a big sports fan or just like a restaurant with a lot of action? Rix Sports Bar & Grill offers 31 televisions that surround you during your dining experience! And, yes, the Disney Dining Plan is accepted here. Rix Sports Bar & Grill We were blown away by the quality here in our last review, citing the portion size as ample and super flavorful. The atmosphere offers a normal and relaxing getaway from the business of a Disney vacation and we thought our service was excellent. Inside Rix Sports Bar and Grill As for pricing, we think you’re going to find it super tolerable. The pricing ranges at the time of this writing are as follows: “Warmups” (Appetizers): $16-$20 Signature Items: $17-$25 Main Events (Entres): $15-$32 Enhancements (Sides): $5-$9 Desserts: $9-$16 Kids’ Meals: $12-$13 Kids’ Sweets: $5 Kids’ Mocktails: $5 Beer, Hard Cider, and Sparkling Water: $8-$13 Wine: $10-$16 Mimosas: $17-$47 Cocktails: $13-$23 One of our FAVORITE items on the menu was the Rix take on fried Oreos. In concept, this might sound like your run-of-the-mill carnival fried Oreo dessert, but the execution is perfect. You get four Oreos fried in a funnel cake batter, topped with powdered sugar, and served with a warm chocolate sauce. Talk about chef’s kiss. mmm… All in all, it’s super tough to beat these prices ANYWHERE at Disney World, at least at sit-down restaurants. HOWEVER, one other Disney World hotel sit-down restaurant is fairly comparable. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa If you head over to Disney’s Swan & Dolphin Resort, you’ll come across a hidden gem — The Fountain at the Dolphin! The Fountain Serving up comfort food, this cozy diner is known for its decadent milkshakes, hand-dipped ice cream cones, and sundaes. You can also get some delicious burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs, chili, soup, and much more! Best of all, you can grab sweets and treats when you’re short on time at the to-go counter! The Fountain We recently reviewed The Fountain and really dug the Fountain Smash Burger, Burnt Ends & Pimento Melt, massive Pretzel and Cheese Dip, and Banana Pudding Milkshake! Banana Pudding Milkshake Overall, we’re big fans of this little American-themed diner. It serves up classic hits and is super laid back while allowing guests to easily get last-minute reservations. The dinner pricing is also really digestible, and is as follows (as of this writing): Appetizers: $12-$15 Salads: $14-$24 Mains: $18-$23 Sides: $5-$9 Kids’ Meals: $10-$14 Milkshakes: $13-$18 Beverages: $4-$6 Alcoholic Beverages: $9-$16 Of note, only lunch and dinner are served here and the restaurant does NOT accept the Disney Dining Plan. The Fountain Spread If you’d like to get a closer, in-depth look at The Fountain, check out our review below! REVIEW: Why is NO ONE Talking About This Hidden Diner in Disney World? As you can see there, one the options we tried at The Fountain was the was the Burnt Ends & Pimento Melt for $20. Instead of the traditional beef, this sandwich used turkey burnt ends, along with Southern Pimento cheese, pickled red onions, all on jalapeño & cheddar toast. While the sandwich was a bit tricky eat, it had a unique flavor to it that we enjoyed. We loved it! What are your favorite sit-down restaurants in Disney World — hotel-based or otherwise? Let us know in the comments and continue to follow us right here at DFB for all the latest Disney World updates, reviews, tips, and more! 9 Splurges at Disney World Restaurants That Experts Say Are 100% Worth It Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Have you dined at either of these restaurants? Share your reviews in the comments below! The post We Reviewed the Cheapest Sit Down Dinner You Can Get at a Disney World Hotel first appeared on the disney food blog. 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Something NEW is coming soon to Disneyland Resort, and we have a feeling it is going to be popular! ©Disney Disney just announced that a brand-new tiki mug will be making its debut at Disneyland Resort soon, and we are already marking our calendars. An Evil Queen & Old Hag Tiki Mug will be available beginning October 1st, and we think it looks fantastic. That’s right, a new tiki mug featuring The Evil Queen and the Old Hag is coming out in less than a month. Currently, Disney has only announced that the mug will be released in Disneyland. The mug features the Old Hag on one side and the Evil Queen on the other. Plus, the Old Hag is even holding the poison apple. It is spooky and gorgeous. You will have two different options to snag this new mug! ©Disney The first option will be mobile ordering the mug for pickup at the Disneyland Hotel Grand Ballroom. The mug will be available for mobile order as early as 6 AM PT on October 1st. Pickup windows are only available from 4 PM to 9 PM. As well, the mug designer, Artist Florian Bertmer, will be available to sign mugs for a limited time ONLY on October 1st, starting at 5 PM. Disneyland Hotel The second option will be to grab the mug at Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar at the Disneyland Hotel beginning October 2nd. Yes, that is October 2nd, not October 1st. On October 1st, the mug will ONLY be available for pickup through mobile order. But, beginning October 2nd, you can also grab it at Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar. There will be a limit of two per transaction, and they are only available while supplies last. Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar We have a feeling these might sell out fast, so mark your calendars for October 1st if you are hoping to snag one. Stay tuned to DFB for all your Disneyland news! 5 Disneyland Planning Traditions Canceled for 2026 Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Will you be grabbing this new mug when it comes out? Let us know in the comments! The post Why Disney Tiki Mug Fans Are Marking Their Calendars for October 1st first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

BoxLunch has a NEW Christmas collection that is SOOO good. Christmas decor at the Magic Kingdom 2024 I know, it’s wild to consider that we are already talking about holiday items, but it is just around the corner! Only about one more month until the Disney World parks are decked out in holiday decor. Now is the time to grab these new holiday items before they’re gone. Some are even still only on preorder, but they are already popular! Get the Winnie the Pooh Advent Calendar ©BoxLunch It is so sweet and adorable. Start counting down the days until Christmas with you family and the Hundred Acre Wood gang. Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Roo, and Piglet are getting you all ready for the holidays! This is still on preorder, so hurry to order it before it sells out. View on BoxLunch This Winnie the Pooh Light Up Tree Is Gorgeous ©BoxLunch Keep the Winnie the Pooh theme going in your home with this adorable light-up tree. It gives a soft glow perfect for cozy winter nights. The tree is also still on preorder! View on BoxLunch We Love the Mickey Mouse and Friends Holiday Sweater Vest ©BoxLunch We’ll be living in this sweater vest come December! Mickey and Pluto are all ready for the holidays, and you will be too once you get your new vest. View on BoxLunch You Can Also Grab the Lightning McQueen Holiday Youth Sweater ©BoxLunch The kiddos can be the talk of the class in their fancy new racing sweater! The two pals, Lightning and Mater, are getting your little ones ready for the holidays. View on BoxLunch Don’t Forget the Disney Princess Holiday Sweater ©BoxLunch This sweater is perfect for Disney Adults. The pattern is subtly Disney Princesses, and then they’re all featured right on front. It’s a great way to show off your love of these main characters. View on BoxLunch We’re always on the hunt for the latest and greatest Disney souvenirs and essentials, so don’t forget to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more! The post The New Christmas Collection That Will Sell Out Faster Than Lightning Lanes at Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We always love trying out seasonal items around Disney World! There is definitely no shortage of limited-time items available in Disney World right now. From exclusive treats at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party to special Halloween finds at Disney Springs, we have been indulging in a lot of new food recently. Something new has also arrived at Disney’s BoardWalk, so we headed over to give it a try! Caramel Popcorn Chocolate Cake A new seasonal cake slice has arrived at The Cake Bake Shop Bakery, and we recently stopped by to give it a taste test! Introducing the Caramel Popcorn Chocolate Cake. This slice features chocolate cake with caramel, caramel buttercream, caramel drizzle, and caramel popcorn. You can grab it for $22. There is also an Apple Crumb Cake available, and you can also get a Pumpkin Spice Latte, but we decided on the Caramel Popcorn Chocolate Cake. We think the cakes from Cake Bake are usually gorgeous, and this one is no different. Look at all that sparkle on the cake slice! The gold glitter really pops against the chocolate cake. Caramel Popcorn Chocolate Cake We want to give a fair warning that if you purchase this slice from the bakery, it does not come with the caramel popcorn on top of the slice. Instead, you get it in a little baggie in the box, and you can either put it on top yourself or just enjoy it as a little treat. We opted to put some pieces on top, and hopefully our decoration skills are on point! Baggie of Caramel Popcorn Alright, we have confirmed the slice looks good, but how does it taste? We are happy to report that the flavors are also wonderful! The cake itself has a lighter chocolate flavor. It isn’t super fudgy or overpowering, but rather a light chocolate flavor. The buttercream was light and creamy, with a great hint of salted caramel flavor. Caramel Popcorn Chocolate Cake Plus, between the layers was even more salted caramel. We enjoyed the caramel coming from both the buttercream and the caramel filling. The chocolate and caramel flavors complemented each other well, and we liked that they balanced each other, rather than one overpowering the other. Caramel Popcorn Chocolate Cake The caramel popcorn on top was a fun touch, but we didn’t think it was necessary for the overall flavor. It was a bit hard to eat in the same bite as the cake. The popcorn was a bit sticky, and the texture of the soft and fluffy cake did not pair as well with the chewy texture of the popcorn. It might be better if you crumbled it up a bit or just enjoyed the caramel popcorn by itself. Overall, we think this is a great addition to the Cake Bake lineup, especially if you are a chocolate and caramel fan. Caramel Popcorn Chocolate Cake Stay tuned to DFB for all your Disney World food news! REVIEW: NEW Halloween Treats Have Landed at Disney Springs (And You’re Gonna LOVE Them!) Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Have you tried the new Caramel Popcorn Chocolate Cake from The Cake Bake Bakery? Let us know your thoughts in the comments if you have! The post REVIEW: We Would Like To Request This Disney World Treat for Dessert Every Night first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The next set of Walt Disney World ambassadors has been selected, and both members of the duo can trace their journey to the Disney College Program. Phelicia Blake, who currently is a guest-experience manager at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, and Kylee Withers, who works in merchandise finance, will be the 2026-2027 ambassadors. They will represent the resort’s 80,000 employees in a range of settings from attraction openings to in-house celebrations. Withers, who is from Fort Worth, and Blake, a Connecticut native, both had stints with the Disney College Program before becoming full-time cast members at Disney World. Their appointments were announced at a ceremony at Epcot. Ambassador candidates wade through multiple rounds of interviews. “It was several rounds over a span of a couple weeks, but we had one final interview – and then, and then the ceremony happened,” Blake said. “I’ve gone through a number of job interviews before, but the ambassador interview process is hands down the most fun process,” Withers said. “All five final candidates were dynamic. They all had their own unique strengths, skills, abilities,” said Steven Miller, leader of the Walt Disney World Ambassador Program as well as an ambassador for 2001-2002. “We hire individually for ambassadors. It ends up being great that the pairs just work out really well.” The ambassador program was established by Walt Disney in 1965 to help him promote Disneyland in California. The first Walt Disney World ambassador was appointed in 1970, the year before Magic Kingdom opened. The number of annual ambassadors and lengths of terms have varied over the decades. Withers and Blake are the 83rd and 84th WDW ambassadors. Forty former ambassadors attended their Epcot ceremony. “It was pretty amazing to see the level of support for this beloved tradition and how much it means to the cast,” Miller said. “I think that’s something that just speaks volumes to why for 60 years it’s existed.” Blake and Withers step into the roles held by Serena Arvizu and Shannon Smith-Conrad for the past two years. Among the first big events will be the arrival of “Zootopia: Better Zoogether!” show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the theme park where Blake first worked. Its opening is Nov. 7. “That is where I began my Disney journey. So I get to go back to my first home and see just a new attraction open for all of our guests,” Blake said. “It feels so surreal that we’re going to represent our cast with all the growth ahead at Walt Disney World,” Withers said in a news release. “I’m so excited for the incredible moments that are ahead of us.” Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. BlueSky: @themeparksdb. Threads account: @dbevil. X account: @themeparks. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters. View the full article

If you didn’t know, our team recently went to Disneyland Paris! Disneyland Paris! We were checking out some of those iconic park snacks, the construction all around (thanks to the major expansion of the park), and more. While the DFB team has been to this park before, our reporters who stepped foot in the park this time had never been, so we’re here to share what they wish they had known before going to Disneyland Paris! There is so much to do and see in Disneyland Paris, from special rides like Phantom Manor to grabbing a glass of champagne on Main Street. That beautiful castle! This park is known for its beauty, which still holds up after more than 30 years! This park blew us away in many regards, but there’s still quite a bit we wish we knew beforehand. The first thing we wish we knew is that the food really is lackluster. This is something we’ve heard a lot online as we geared up for the trip, but we thought people were really making it worse than it actually was. Don’t get us wrong, there were some amazing snacks and desserts in this park, but almost every sit-down dinner we had left us wanting more. We loved the Mickey pizza! We tested out 3 different restaurants during our time at the resort, and each of them was more about the atmosphere and experience rather than the food. Bistro Chez Remy was a beautiful and fun atmosphere, but half of the food was good and half was just fine. Walt’s — an American Restaurant offered beautiful views with semi-forgettable entrees. Creamy Pea Soup from Walt’s Again, this was something people warned us about, but we wanted them to be wrong. The other Disney Parks, like Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Tokyo Disney, offer some of the best snacks, so we wanted Disneyland Paris to be in that conversation too! Sadly, there were more skips than must-haves, but don’t get us wrong, there were some amazing treats like the Tartiflette au Reblochon! The Tartiflette au Reblochon Next, we wish we had really known how much construction would impact our trip. It’s no secret that this park is undergoing some major changes, including a rebrand of Walt Disney Studios Park into Disney Adventure World. We’ve been covering these changes since they were announced in 2024, and the number of walls still caught us off guard. It was easily worse than EPCOT even during its WALLCOT era! There were walls every few feet blocking pathways, adding to confusion, and making the park feel congested, like we’ve never seen in any other Disney park. Walls everywhere! Again, we knew about how much construction was going on, but we still really underestimated our ability to walk around the parks easily. (Even as Disney theme park experts.) This is another great reason why we tell you to study up before heading to the park or on your vacation. This also just reaffirmed our suggestions to wait on your Disney trips until construction has concluded, unless you’re looking for lower crowds. They just keep going! We still have so much to break down and talk about when it comes to the European Disney parks, but these were the two things that really caught our attention during our time there. Be sure to stay tuned for more on Disneyland Paris and beyond here with DFB! Massive CHANGES Are Coming to a Popular Disney Hotel in 2026 Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Have you ever been to this park? Let us know in the comments! The post What I Wish I'd Known Before Going to Disneyland Paris first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We were beyond thrilled to see Disney release the official list of Candlelight Processional narrators we’ll get to see at the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays this year, but we have to admit that we had to look twice when we realized a certain name wasn’t on there. Neil Patrick Harris Narrating the Candlelight Processional Neil Patrick Harris has been a narrator for this special event for the past three years in a row, as well as multiple years prior, but this year, his name isn’t on the list. We’re looking forward to seeing the other narrators, don’t get us wrong, but we know we’re not alone in being a little bummed and wondering why he’s not in attendance this year. We did some digging, though, and it makes TOTAL sense why he won’t be there this year! As it turns out, Neil Patrick Harris is currently on Broadway, starring in the show ART by Yasmina Reza. This show is only available for a limited time, with the final show on the calendar currently showing to be December 21st. This show follows three longtime friends as they debate a pricey piece of art and argue over what truly constitutes “art.” Throughout the show, they uncover long-held grievances and tension points in their relationships, and it becomes a question of whether their friendship will survive. ©ART We’re a little bummed we’ll miss out on seeing Neil during this year’s event, but we know the Candlelight Processional isn’t the only thing that brings him to Disney World often. Back in 2019, he created the Black Magic Margarita at La Cava del Tequila, and then we spotted it at Choza de Margarita in the Mexico Pavilion in 2021. ©La Cava del Tequila || Neil Patrick Harris at La Cava Del Tequila He was just at La Cava del Tequila most recently (or, that’s when the restaurant posted about it) in December 2024, so it’s possible we could see him stop by the parks at a different time to grab a drink (we totally get it, we’d do the same thing). ©La Cava del Tequila If you are planning to attend the Candlelight Processional this year, here are all the narrators you can see! November 28th to 29th — Constance Wu (NEW) November 30th to December 2nd — Jordan Fisher December 3rd to 4th — Jennifer Garner (NEW) December 5th to 6th — Ashley Eckstein December 7th to 8th — Ralph Macchio December 9th to 10th — Leslie Uggams (NEW) December 11th to 13th — Marlee Matlin December 14th to 15th — Henry Winkler (NEW) December 16th to 17th — Lauren Daigle (NEW) December 18th to 19th — Gary Sinise December 20th to 22nd — Brendan Fraser December 23rd to 24th — Luis Fonsi December 25th to 26th — Joel Smallbone (NEW) December 27th to 28th — Brie Larson (NEW) December 29th to 30th — Sheryl Lee Ralph (NEW) Candlelight Processional Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney World news! Everything we know so far about this year’s International Festival of the Holidays! DON'T MISS A MOMENT OF HOLIDAY MAGIC Holidays at Disney World: DFB's Merriest Guide is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World. It includes all the must-have information for navigating the holiday season at Disney World, including: The COMPLETE schedule of events for the Holiday Season How to avoid the crowds on Disney World's busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!) ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM. And, of course, we'll tell you where to eat! Save 20% on the Holidays at Disney World: DFB's Merriest Guide with code PEPPERMINT. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW MORE Disney World Holiday INFO! Learn About Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Get the Latest Information About the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays Get All the Details About Disney Jollywood Nights Everything You Need to Know About Disney World Holiday Dining and Events Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest holiday news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What narrator are you most excited to see this year? Tell us in the comments! The post Something Is MISSING From the 2025 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays Announcements first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Each week, we scour Amazon to find the latest Disney merchandise and steepest Disney deals the massive e-tailer has to offer. ©Amazon As the Holiday Season moves closer, we’ve found some of the best Advent calendar options on Amazon, each of which could help you count down to the Christmas holiday (and even Halloween) in style. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Bluey Advent Calendar ©Amazon This set features 24 surprises, including Bluey, Bingo, and Bartlebee toy figures (with Bluey and Bingo dressed in their favorite Christmas jumpers) as well as 16 fun holiday accessories and 5 cheerful stickers. SHOP HERE Princess Pop-Up Advent Calendar ©Amazon This pop-up Christmas Tree features 25 compartments filled with removable and displayable ornaments, including Cinderella’s glass slipper, Tiana’s water lily, Rapunzel’s frying pan, as well as a 28-page softcover guidebook containing “fascinating facts” about the Disney Princesses and their ornaments. SHOP HERE Disney Villains 13 Frights of Halloween Disney Villains: 13 Frights of Halloween Countdown to Halloween with this set which includes mini books, mementos, decorations, and other tricks and treats themed to antagonists like Maleficent, Ursula, Scar, and more. SHOP HERE Bluey Advent Calendar Book Bundle ©Amazon Bluey is back, this time with an Advent calendar featuring 24 mini-books (including a special Christmas story for Christmas Eve) as well as other stories such as The Beach, Grannies, Butterflies, coloring books, and more fun surprises. SHOP HERE Disney LEGO Advent Calendar ©Amazon This box set features “Elsa, Tiana, Ariel, Moana and Mirabel LEGO Disney micro doll figures, plus LEGO Disney Pua, Snowgie and adorable baby reindeer Sven characters” as well as building materials behind each door to build tiny set pieces from each of their respective films. Plus, once all doors are open, the box “ turns into a game board for up to 5 players to expand the fun.” SHOP HERE Star Wars LEGO Advent Calendar ©Amazon This set features C-3PO and Holiday Jawa LEGO minifigures, a Babu Frik LEGO figure, 5 LEGO droid figures: R7-A7, BD-72, Scrap Battle Droid, BB-8 dressed as a snowman, and Super Battle Droid, materials to construct a Pit Droid, Gonk Droid, Buzz Droid, holiday versions of a Medical Droid and a Mouse Droid, B2EMO, Treadwell Droid, and a Probe Droid, as well as a workbench, chair, tool rack, shelves, box of extra parts, crane, bucket, a Jawa buildable vehicle and Christmas tree, all to create Babu Frik’s workshop and adds to the creative storytelling possibilities. SHOP HERE 5-in-1 Story and Activity Advent Calendar ©Amazon This 24-book advent calendar features: Storybooks: Dive into heartwarming tales featuring beloved Disney and Pixar friends. Quizzes: Test your knowledge and learn fun facts about your favorite characters. Mazes: Navigate through intricate mazes with the help of your animated pals. Odd One Out: Sharpen your observation skills by finding the odd one out in charming scenes. Spot the Difference: Enjoy classic spot-the-difference puzzles with a magical twist. SHOP HERE If you’re looking to countdown to the holidays this year, get over to Amazon NOW while all these are still available, and stay tuned to DFB for more rundowns each week! The post 7 Advent Calendars Marked Down Right Now on Amazon first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We love it when we come across a secret menu item at Disney World — and even more when it’s a Gideon’s Bakehouse in Disney Springs! Secret menu item from Gideon’s Bakehouse Gideon’s is home to some of the absolute best cookies and cakes in all of Disney World, but it’s also known for its innovative nitro cold brew coffees, including lemon and peanut butter. But did you know Gideon’s is also home to a secret nitro cold brew creation? Check out our full review here! Sure, you’ve probably heard of the Peanut Butter Nitro Cold Brew or the Lemon Nitro Cold Brew at Gideon’s Bakehouse, but did you know about the Nitro Cold Brew Float?! It’s a bit pricey at $13, but it combines Gideon’s deliciously creamy Nitro Cold Brew with Malted Vanilla Ice Cream made by Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream, another local business. Nitro Cold Brew Float This was shockingly good. At first, we thought, “How good could this really be?” but we’re happy to be proven wrong. They give you a pretty large scoop of ice cream, and the creaminess of the ice cream, combined with the bitterness of the coffee, was the perfect pairing. The ice cream took on a coffee flavor, but because it was malted ice cream, there was a hint of nuttiness to the float as well — it almost reminded us of caramel or butterscotch. A real treat In the past, we’ve found that cold brews like these can be a bit on the sweet side, but that wasn’t the case here. It was sweet, but not overly so, like you might expect. We appreciated that the ice cream stayed pretty solid for a bit, allowing us to eat some of this with a spoon like a real float, before it eventually melted into the cold brew and became drinkable. A delicious combination If you’ve ever had an affogato, this is basically that — only made with cold brew instead of hot espresso. Still, we really enjoyed this and will definitely be back to get it again — along with those delicious cookies and cake slices! Get this secret menu item on your next trip! We’ll be on the lookout for more secret menu items to try around Disney World and beyond. In the meantime, make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest Disney reviews, and check out our video below for exclusive Disney Springs snacks! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Will you be trying this secret menu item at Gideon’s Bakehouse? Let us know in the comments. The post REVIEW: This Gideon's Bakehouse Secret Menu Item Definitely Won't Be a Secret After This first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Looking to save some money on Disney souvenirs so you feel slightly less guilty about buying them? Yep, we’re in the same boat. Disney Merchandise We keep our eyes peeled for all the latest and greatest Disney merchandise deals so you can save money wherever you can, and we’re happy to say that if you’ve had your eye on these items, you can save almost 50% of them right now. Act fast before they’re gone! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. For The Sticker Fanatics! ©Amazon If you love decorating your life with stickers, or you know someone who does, what better gift than the Disney Princess Ultimate Sticker Collection! This book features 1,000 stickers that represent characters, locations, and special moments from all of the Disney Princess movies you know and love. Check it out here! Cook All The Best Recipes This Christmas! ©Amazon Looking to impress your family and friends this year with your cooking skills and remind you all of the Disney magic, grab yourself The Disney Christmas Cookbook: 50 Delicious Recipes! This book has 50 recipes that are easy for kids to make, such as Pooh Bear’s Mini Honey Buns, Rapunzel’s Pumpkin Hazelnut Soup, Woody’s Cowboy Chili, Never Land Hot Chocolate, and many more. Check it out here! Have the Most Niche Loungefly in The Park! ©Loungefly If you’re a big fan of Oliver and Company, the classic film from 1988, you’ll want to grab the Oliver and Jenny Ice Cream Loungefly Mini Backpack! While it may not look like it at first, there is a front pocket right above Jenny and Oliver, and the backdrop behind them on the top part of the bag is the fountain and skyline from the film. Check it out here! Keep Yourself (and Your Kids) Entertained Without Screens! Interactive Bitzee One of the coolest new toys to come out in the past few years is the Bitzee, which is an interactive toy with over 30 Disney characters inside! It reacts to tilts, taps, and swipes, and you’ll be able to see each character’s iconic moment from their film. Check it out here! Build Your Own Madrigal House! ©Amazon Bring on the magic with the 1500+ piece LEGO Disney Encanto The Magical Madrigal House! It’s intended for ages 7+, so while it’s a lot of pieces, it’s not too much for younger kids to handle. The set also comes with figurines of Abuela, Mirabel, Isabela, Dolores, Luisa and Camilo, and Antonio, as well as two animals. Check it out here! Get Ready to Cuddle! ©Amazon If you love cuddling on the couch with all your favorite stuffed animals, you can’t miss saving on the Mint Dipped Ice Cream Sandwich Disney Munchling! It’s cute as can be AND smells like mint for real! We can vouch — these things DO have a smell, and they’re usually pretty spot on. Check it out here! Celebrate the Halloween Season! Disney Silly Symphonies The Skeleton Dance Vintage Logo T-Shirt Want the best shirt to celebrate the Halloween season, but in a classic way? Look no further than the Silly Symphonies The Skeleton Dance Vintage Logo T-Shirt! It comes in eight different colors, so you can choose what works best for you and your style, plus you can match with your friends and family. Check it out here! Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney merchandise news! The post Get Disney Souvenirs Up to 48% OFF On Amazon Right Now! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

You know how Olaf feels about summer? Well, that’s how I feel about fall! And not to wish time away…but the crisp weather creeping into Florida, the Halloween vibes glowing, and the thought of Thanksgiving around the corner are really getting me in the Fall spirit. You bet your autumn dollar I’m READY! Fall Décor Around the Resort From the moment you arrive at Walt Disney World, festive touches are all around. Pumpkins, wreaths, garlands, and more bring cozy color to parks and resorts alike. Even a stroll through our resort hotels feels like stepping into a seasonal celebration! For me, it isn’t really Florida fall until I step onto Main Street, U.S.A. to see it dressed up in autumnal charm. This year, Magic Kingdom is flaunting some new russet adornments for all to enjoy. Red, yellow, and orange decor has sprouted around every corner in Fantasyland and Frontierland, and they are gourd-geous! Over in Storybook Circus, new décor has tumbled into place to spread autumn cheer across the big top, featuring the cutest pumpkins inspired by a flying elephant and his pint-sized ringleader. Jock Lindsey’s Halloween Hangar Bar at Disney Springs A new fang-tastic fright has flown into Disney Springs. Step into a nostalgic Halloween party from decades past at Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar, with new Halloween décor, sinister sips, and eerie eats you won’t want to miss now through November 4. The dish haunting me – in the best way – is the Alien Invader Sliders. They bring together the perfect combination of cheddar-chive biscuits and Nashville hot fried chicken. Need I say more? You can learn more about the spooktacular takeover here on the Disney Parks Blog. EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival What says fall more than an array of sweet and savory sips and bites? A trip to the International Food & Wine Festival at EPCOT is a must during the fall season! Running until November 22, 2025, this festival serves delectable dishes and specialty sips inspired by countries and cultures around the world. This year, there are more than 90 brand-new food and beverage items to try! The live music, global marketplaces, and specialty merch make it more than just a food festival – it’s become a fall tradition for many! Check out the Foodie Guide to see classical favorites along with new delights. In between discovering your next favorite tastes and treats, another fall-tastic way to spend your day at EPCOT is by embarking on Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit – a festive scavenger hunt to find hidden decorative pumpkins inspired by your favorite Disney characters. Once you’ve found them all, a spooky festival keepsake awaits you! (Available while supplies last.) For more information on Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit, your next fall must-do, visit DisneyWorld.com. Fall into Thrills at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Hollywood Studios is the prime place to pay homage to the fall-iday season! First, dare to enter the creaking service elevator on The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror… then, conquer your fear of being face to face with foes at “Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After.” With fall bringing cooler weather, Batuu in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is the perfect place for Star Wars fans to enjoy the atmospheric area at night! Hungry for a festive dining experience? You can snack on eerie-sistable food with Minnie Mouse at Minnie’s Halloween Dine at Hollywood and Vine as she’s dressed in her Halloween best for breakfast, lunch and dinner! However you choose to spend your day, there are plenty of ways to have the best fall day ever at Hollywood Studios. Explore the Wild at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Fall is the purr-fect time to explore Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park and Maharajah Jungle Trek is a must-visit on your autumn adventure! Be sure to stroll the scenic paved trails, where you might spot Basko, our nearly one-year-old Sumatran tiger, prowling through his habitat. While on the trails, keep your eyes peeled, as you may just see animals snacking on some of their favorite seasonal treats. Continue your journey and take a ride through the savanna on Kilimanjaro Safaris, which gives you an incredible opportunity to spot over 30 species of animals! Or join Nick and Judy at The Tree of Life Theater to catch the brand new “Zootopia: Better Zoogether” 4-D show once it opens on November 7! Whether you’re trekking through trails, spotting wildlife, or discovering the rest of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the fall is a season of wonder, nature and thrill! Save with Disney World Ticket Deal That’s not f-all folks! Are you ready to sit by the fire pit and roast some marshmallows? Well, the fall season is becoming even more cozy with special deals to tag onto to your vacation: Florida Resident 3-Day, 3-Park Ticket: You can purchase a 3-day ticket for $210, $70 per day, plus tax. This deal is now available for visits beginning October 5 through December 23, 2025. This ticket is for admission to EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom (one theme park per day, not valid for admission to Magic Kingdom).  To add to the fun, when you stay at a Disney Resort hotel, you will not only be close to the parks, have complimentary transportation and extra time in the parks, but you can also enjoy free admission to a Disney water park on your check-in day, included in your stay (subject to availability). Admission will be automatically added onto your My Disney Experience account on your check-in day, so get ready for some fun! For deals on your Disney Resort Hotel stay, visit DisneyWorld.com/Offers. For more information on your fall visit to Walt Disney World Resort, visit DisneyWorld.com. Jock Lindsey’s Halloween Hangar Bar: Frightful First Look READ MORE Where to Find Characters at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party READ MORE Disney Eats: Walt Disney World Halloween Foodie Guide 2025 READ MORE The post Experience Fall at Walt Disney World Resort appeared first on Disney Parks Blog. View the full article

Tucked away at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge — Kidani Village is one of our favorite hidden gem restaurants. Bread Service at Sanaa Sanaa is a table service spot that’s situated on the edge of the savanna, so the windows offer a stunning view of the animals during the daytime. It’s not usually hard to get a reservation here, but the food is usually pretty great. I recently stopped by for a little bit of quality control testing, so let’s do a full, updated restaurant review — come along with me! Atmosphere Sanaa is located on the ground floor at Kidani Village, so you’ll have to head down the stairs from the lobby. Sanaa Once you arrive, you’ll check in at the host’s stand. However, if you’d prefer to dine in your room, you can actually pick up Sanaa to-go orders here, as well! Inside the restaurant, the vibe is modern African with warm colors. There are lovely details on the ceiling, natural lampshades, and warm light. This is a chill, peaceful dining environment. Inside There are windows all along the wall that provide a lovely view of the savanna. We recommend dining here for lunch if possible, so you can have the daytime view. Not a bad view There is plenty of seating available, although the best seats are next to the windows so you can see the animals. Seating But enough about the restaurant — what’s on the menu here?! Menu Sanaa has an African and Indian inspired menu, with appetizers like their famous bread service, samosas, and lamb kefta. For your entree, you can order a variety of traditional African and Indian dishes, like curry, Peri Peri, or Tandoori Chicken. If you’d like a little sampling of a few different items, go for the Potjie Inspired. Menu There are four dessert options to choose from, and they’re inspired by various safari animals. And of course, there is a wide variety of beverage options available. And now, onto the main event — the food! Eats First up, I grabbed the Indian-style Bread Service for $22. This comes with (Are you ready? It’s a long list!): Five Breads and with all Nine Accompaniments – Traditional Naan, Garlic-Ginger Naan, Spiced Naan, Onion Kulcha, or Paneer Paratha. Accompaniments – Cucumber Raita, Roasted Red Pepper Hummus, Mango Chutney, Tomato-Date Jam, Tamarind Chutney, Coriander Chutney, Garlic Pickle, Red Chile Sambal, or Spicy Jalapeño-Lime Pickle. So here’s the thing, we’ll never not order this at Sanaa because it’s one of our favorite bread services in Disney World. We LIVE for this bread service Okay, let’s get into it. The Naan is always so light and fluffy, and being able to try different flavors is CHEF’S KISS. The Spiced Naan is buttery (like melted butter all over it, y’all) with a red pepper style space that sneaks up on you. We wish we could get a pizza with the Ginger Garlic Naan. It’s just like a soft and fluffy pizza crust. The Traditional Naan is simple, but PERFECT. Fluffy naan The Paneer Paratha is made in two layers with paneer and herbs sandwiched in between, making it cheesy and herby, although it’s flatter than the other breads. The Onion Kulch Naan is made in layers with onion stuffed in it, making it bright and tangy. We LOVE this bread Okay, on to the dips. The Cucumba Raita tastes like lightly cucumber-flavored yogurt: it’s light and bright with a watery texture. The Mango Chutney is beautifully fruity and has nice little chunks of sweet mango in it. The Tamarind Chutney is sweet and tangy and almost like a sauce — it also mixes and matches well with the different naan. The Tomato Date Jam is sweeter and earthier, similar to a tomato-forward pasta sauce with a hint of date. Sauces and Dips The Hummus is grainy and earthy with a strong chickpea flavor. The Pickled Garlic has a mild garlic flavor that’s surprisingly soft and easy to chew. The Coriander Chutney is a bit sweet with an oily base “green” flavor. The Jalepeno Lime has a tomato-like base with a strong jalepeno flavor — yep, it’s spicy. The Red Chile Sambal is a slow-burning chile spice that builds — this one might make you break out into a little sweat. They’re SO good The other appetizer I snagged was the Samosas for $11. These are potato and pea samosas with tamarind and mango chutney. We will warn you that these are spicy, or what we’d call medium level heat that stays on the tongue and warms up your whole mouth. Samosas There is a lot of potato in these, and the dough is a little tough on the bottom, but the top is soft and flaky. The garnish is good, too — it’s bright and citrusy and pairs really well with the Samosas. Now, we’re not sure it’s worth the price when you just get two. Lots of potato in there For entrees, I chose two, starting with the Samaki Upma Peri Peri for $36. It’s seasonal sustainable fish, savory Indian Upma, charred corn relish, Peri Peri, chickpea crisp, and spring greens. So this is my favorite thing we ate here, so you KNOW it’s good. The fish is very tender and juicy, and it just falls apart on the fork. It has a nice salty crust, too, that complements the mild fish. Samaki Upma Peri Peri The Indian Upma is sort of like grits, but with more of an oatmeal texture. It’s tender and kind of sticky with a basic buttery grain flavor. It offers a nice contrasting texture to the fish. The corn relish is nice and bright, and we thought it was nice to have a vegetable with this dish. You also get two sauces: a peri-peri sauce that’s spicy and a green sauce that’s smooth and creamy with a fresh, bright taste. This fish is AMAZING Finally, I snagged the Tandoori Chicken for $21, which is served with traditional naan, rocket, pickled onion, tomato, and Sambal Mayonnaise. It’s served sort of like an open-faced sandwich, but it’s also sort of like a pizza. You get thick pieces of chicken covered in tandoori sauce that makes it a little spicy, but the mayonnaise cools it down. The pickled onions have a nice brightness that’s a little briny and tangy. The arugula adds a bit of crunch that we appreciated. Tandoori Chicken The naan is a traditional naan that’s light, fluffy, and SO soft. We really appreciated that it didn’t get soggy with all the sauces on top of it. My one complaint, though, is that some of the pieces of chicken were a little bit grisly or fatty. However, this is a very filling meal. So good So how did everything stack up? Nosh or Not This Disney World restaurant is a must-visit if… You want a quiet meal. Many Disney World restaurants can be quite busy and loud, but this space is quiet, warm, and inviting. You love animals. If you’ve ever wanted to dine next to animals, this is the next best thing because you’ll see many up close through the restaurant’s windows. You want something unique. This is not standard theme park fare, but food you won’t really find elsewhere, not even in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. You should skip this Disney World spot if… You have picky eaters in your group. As the food here is a little more adventurous, picky eaters might have a hard time finding something they like. You want a quick meal. This is a table service restaurant, which means you’ll sit down for your meal, order it, and then eat it, which takes time. If you’re in a hurry, don’t book a reservation here. Granted, you can order Table Service To-Go here, so keep that in mind. You’re not staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Now, I will trek across Disney World to eat at Sanaa, but you may not want to make that journey if you’re not staying at the hotel or visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Overall I have no problem leaving the parks for a meal at Sanaa, especially if I’m visiting Animal Kingdom. The bread service alone is worth a visit, but if you’re looking for some unique African-inspired flavors, this is the restaurant for you. Plus, you can’t beat the views of the savannah. In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for more restaurant updates from Disney World and beyond. Make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest Disney news and more! The Best Restaurants in Disney World in 2025 Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide The Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants The Best EPCOT Restaurant Restaurants The Best Hollywood Studios Restaurants The Best Animal Kingdom Restaurants The Best Disney Springs Restaurants Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Have you eaten at this Disney World restaurant before? Tell us in the comments! The post Yes, We Left Disney World's Parks For Bread...Again. And It Was Worth It. first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Welcome, foolish mortals! The most frightfully fun time of year has arrived at the Walt Disney World Resort, and there’s no better way to celebrate than with Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party! Our panelists are here and ready to give you all the tips you need to know in the latest episode of the Ask planDisney video series presented by State Farm. With so many exciting dining and entertainment offerings, planning ahead is the key to making sure your Disney World Halloween party experience is as seamless and magical as possible! Be sure to watch the full episode. Check out the full video to hear panelists Ana Paula and Ashley share their best tips and tricks for making the most of your time at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Now onto your most asked questions! When Can I Arrive at Mickey’s Not-Scary Halloween Party? While the party officially kicks off at 7:00 p.m., you can enter Magic Kingdom as early as 4:00 p.m. — that’s a few extra hours to check out your favorite rides, grab a snack, or just soak in the Halloween vibes around you! To enter, simply pick up your party wristbands at the Magic Kingdom entrance. planDisney Pro Tip If you have tickets for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and are already in Magic Kingdom, you do not have to leave the park to get your wristband. You can pick up your party wristbands at select locations throughout Magic Kingdom Park. (Panelist Ana Paula) The wristband distribution locations include Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, Mickey’s PhilharMagic, or Tortuga Tavern. Can Adults Wear Costumes and Go Trick-or-Treating? planDisney Pro Tip Dressing up is optional, but this party is your chance to embrace it! And don’t forget to bring an extra bag to take all your treats home in. (Panelist Shantel H.) Absolutely! Guests of all ages can dress up in costume and go trick-or-treating across the lands in Magic Kingdom. Remember to check out the official costume guidelines before planning your outfit to ensure there are no surprises when showing up to the party. If you are looking for allergy-friendly treats, be sure to pick up a teal treat bag. At each trick-or-treat location, guests with teal bags will receive a token instead of candy. These tokens can then be redeemed for allergy-friendly treats at one of two designated locations: the Liberty Square Ticket Office or the Chamber of Commerce. Trick or Treat Locations in Magic Kingdom Main Street, U.S.A. Market Street Welcome (closes at 8 p.m.) Adventureland Tortuga Tavern Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room Sunshine Tree Terrace Frontierland Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Country Bear Musical Jamboree Liberty Square The Diamond Horseshoe Fantasyland Walt Disney World Railroad – Fantasyland Gaston’s Tavern Princess Fairytale Hall Mickey’s PhilharMagic Dumbo the Flying Elephant Presented by Scentsy Tomorrowland Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor Near TRON Lightcycle / Run Bypass (Locations are subject to change) planDisney Pro Tip When guests arrive to pick up their allergy-friendly treats, they’ll be able to choose from a variety of goodies, and they’ll even be able to see an ingredients list for added peace of mind. (Panelist Jennifer S.) What Are the Special Shows and Entertainment at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party? From a hauntingly impressive Cadaver Dans performance to a boo-tiful parade filled with so many favorite characters, there are plenty of entertainment offerings to keep you busy! These exclusive performances are only available during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, making them a must-see for guests looking to add a little extra magic to their night. Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade This fan-favorite parade marches through Magic Kingdom at 8:15 p.m. and 11:15 p.m., bringing over 50 beloved Disney characters to life in their Halloween best. From the Haunted Mansion’s Hitchhiking Ghosts and Gravediggers to your favorite Disney villains making their grand entrance, the “Boo-to-You” Parade is packed with wickedly great fun. And of course, you’ll want to keep your ears open for the unforgettable “Boo-to-You” song that fans hum long after the party ends! planDisney Pro Tip Frontierland is the perfect place to watch Mickey’s “Boo-To-You” Parade. As the parade starts from here, once it has passed, you should find shorter queues as many other guests will still be waiting for the parade to arrive. (Panelist Emma C.) Disney’s Not-So-Spooky Spectacular Hosted by Jack Skellington himself, this dazzling firework show lights up the skies above Cinderella Castle! You’ll follow Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy as they venture into a haunted house where surprises, and a few mischievous villains, are waiting around every corner. Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular And of course, no party night is complete without the “be-witching” Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular on the Cinderella Castle stage! The Sanderson Sisters summon some of Disney’s most infamous villains for a high-energy performance filled with spellbinding music, sinister style, and wickedly good fun. Whether you love the “sis-tahs” or just enjoy seeing Disney villains take center stage, this show is the ultimate Halloween treat. With there being so many fun entertainment offerings, be sure to check the event guide for showtimes so you can prioritize your must-see favorites and make the most of your night! Can You Ride Rides and Meet Characters at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party? You sure can! One of the best parts of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is that many favorite Magic Kingdom attractions are open during the event, giving you plenty of chances to enjoy the rides you love, sometimes with shorter wait times. Plus, a few attractions even get special Halloween touches just for the party, like the Halloween lighting and sounds at the Mad Tea Party or the pitch-black Space Mountain ride with a party exclusive villainous soundtrack. And if meeting characters tops your list, you’re in for a real treat! This ghoulishly fun event is famous for rare character sightings and delicious dining offerings you won’t find during regular park hours. Before the party begins, take a moment to check out which characters you can find during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party so you can prioritize your must-sees. planDisney Pro Tip Check out the frightfully fun overlays on select attractions like Space Mountain, the teacups, and Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor for some extra spooky thrills and laughs! (Panelist Alison S.) How Do I Start Planning My Visit to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party? With exclusive treats, entertainment, and rare character sightings, there’s no shortage of festive fun to enjoy at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Taking a few moments to map out your must-dos can help you soak up every magical moment, and that’s what we can help you with! If you have any additional questions while planning your next visit to Walt Disney World, be sure to visit planDisney.com for helpful tips and recommendations from our knowledgeable planDisney panelists, or learn more about this enchanting event on DisneyWorld.com. Happy hauntings! Villains and Mermaids: Which Will You See First? READ MORE Top Tips for Disneyland with Little Ones READ MORE Start Your Disney Day the Right Way: MagicBand+ and Early Entry READ MORE The post How to Make the Most of Your Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Visit appeared first on Disney Parks Blog. View the full article

I’m not trying to be dramatic, but when I first saw this snack was coming to Disneyland, I nearly booked a plane ticket to fly across the country. Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs at Downtown Disney While I remain in the Sunshine State — devoid of this snack — in a cruel twist of fate, I do get the pleasure of bringing our reporter’s findings to you in the form of this review. So, find out what’s cookin’ at Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs at Downtown Disney! We stopped by Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs in Disneyland’s Downtown Disney District to try the new Jalapeño Popper Mozzarella Stick, which is available for $15.50 and is served with a side of chips. Inside this fried snack masterpiece are jalapeños, bacon, and red & green onions, mixed with a blend of cream cheese, mozzarella, cheddar, and pepper jack cheeses, all fried in cornmeal batter and panko breadcrumbs. Oh yeah, and it’s served with a side of garlic mayo. Jalapeño Popper Mozzarella Stick We thought the jalapeño popper taste was on point, but it wasn’t spicy at all! In fact, we thought the spice was more in the garlic mayo sauce than anything. The flavors all work so well together, and while we wouldn’t say this is a meal, it’s definitely shareable! It doesn’t stay on the stick very well because it’s so gooey, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, if you ask us. Luckily, they serve it in a little dish with a fork and knife — which you will probably need. The panko breadcrumbs really give it that crunch it needs because of how gooey the inside is. Honestly, we had no complaints and thought it was an excellent addition to the Blue Ribbon lineup. Ooey, gooey, and CHEESY This is a limited-time snack, and we’re not sure how long it will stick around, so make sure you grab it as soon as possible before it’s gone! We’ll be on the lookout for more fun new snacks to try around Disneyland Resort and beyond. In the meantime, make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest Disney snack reviews, news, and more. 16 Disney Rides Where Cell Phones Are ILLEGAL DON'T DO IT ALONE! Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you -- they've literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They're DFB's recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!) So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you GET MORE INFO Will you be trying this new Disneyland treat? Let us know in the comments. The post REVIEW: I'm THIS CLOSE To Booking a Flight After Writing This Disney Snack Review first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There is a BIG change coming soon to Disney World! Disney’s Hollywood Studios is about to look a lot different, and you only have a few days before the changes take place. Disney’s Hollywood Studios There are quite a few construction projects going on at Disney World right now including Pueblo Esperanza in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Piston Peak National Park in Magic Kingdom, and the Monsters, Inc. Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Well, another construction project is about to begin in Disney’s Hollywood Studios! Animation Courtyard will be closing on September 25th, 2025, to make way for Walt Disney Studios. This new area is expected to open in 2026 and will be a special nod to the Walt Disney Studios lot. Star Wars Launch Bay will be turned into The Magic of Disney Animation. This attraction will have you interacting and exploring with this fun take on Disney Animation headquarters. Animation Courtyard This area will also feature a new Drawn to Wonderland indoor play area and the current Disney Jr. Play and Dance! show will be getting a makeover. During the transformation, you will still be able to visit “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure” and Walt Disney Presents. ©Disney Let’s take a look at the other attractions and locations that will be closed this week, from September 20th through September 27th, at Disney World. EPCOT Spaceship Earth Spaceship Earth has been closed for routine refurbishment since August 25th, 2025. While it will only be a temporary closure as the attraction is expected to reopen later this year, it will still be a few months or so without Spaceship Earth. A closed Spaceship Earth We aren’t expecting any major changes to the attraction, just general maintenance and routine work. During this time, the Project Tomorrow: Inventing the Wonders of the Future exhibit will be closed, as well. It is definitely going to be sad experiencing the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival without being able to ride Spaceship Earth, though. ALERT: The EPCOT Food & Wine Festival Is Changing Next Week! Magic Kingdom Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin A popular Tomorrowland attraction is closed! Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin has closed for refurbishment as of August 4th, 2025, and isn’t expected to reopen until 2026. While the ride is closed, it will be getting some upgrades! Closed for Refurbishment Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin will be getting a new ride scene, new ride vehicles, a new character, and enhanced gameplay elements. Some of those gameplay elements include handheld blasters (soon you can shoot whenever you want!) and reactive targets. We recently got the chance to take a look at the new ride vehicle and test out the new blasters, and we have to say we were impressed! Liberty Square Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island An iconic part of the Magic Kingdom is now permanently closed. As of July 7th, the Rivers of America, including the Liberty Square River Boat and Tom Sawyer Island, are closed for good to make way for the new Cars area, Piston Peak National Park. There are some construction walls up in the area now, and we have seen workers on Tom Sawyer Island. The river has also started to be drained! Rivers of America Piston Peak National Park will be replacing this area of Magic Kingdom, and construction is expected to begin in the area this year. Disney has not yet released an opening date for the new Cars area, but we do know that it will feature two brand-new attractions and will be themed to look like a National Park. A MAJOR Ride Change Happens in Magic Kingdom Today! Big Thunder Mountain Railroad On January 6th, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad closed for an extended temporary closure. The “Wildest Ride in the Wilderness” will be closed for at least a year and will reopen sometime in 2026. The ride will be undergoing maintenance while it is closed. When it reopens, it will have some “new magic,” according to Disney. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Recently, Disney announced some of the new magic! Riders will see “spectacular natural caverns full of phosphorescent pools, shimmering and illuminating iridescent stalagmites (the ones on the floor) and stalactites (the ones on the ceiling)” — the Rainbow Caverns! We can’t wait to see what other changes might be coming to this ever-popular roller coaster! We have spotted some ride testing happening, which was very exciting, and a train car has arrived! It was still covered in a tarp, but it was exciting to see. Tortuga Tavern Tortuga Tavern is a seasonal restaurant in Magic Kingdom. It has been a bit since we saw it open. Most recently, it was used as a cookie location for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Tortuga Tavern We had previously spotted shrubs around the restaurant as they worked on the flooring. However, all the shrubs have been taken down now. We don’t know exactly when/if this restaurant will reopen, but we will keep you updated if we learn more! REVIEW: We Just Updated Our Magic Kingdom Restaurant Ranking (Spoiler Alert: We Found a NEW Favorite) Disney’s Animal Kingdom TriceraTop Spin, Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures, Fossil Fun Games, and The Boneyard The first round of closures began in DinoLand U.S.A. on January 13th, 2025. TriceraTop Spin, Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures, and Fossil Fun Game were closed down, and construction has begun on the brand-new land themed to the Tropical Americas, Pueblo Esperanza. The Boneyard will be permanently closed on September 2nd. DinoLand U.S.A. Construction It is definitely a sad sight, but we are also excited to see Pueblo Esperanza! DINOSAUR, Restaurantosaurus, and the snack stands are still open, but Disney recently announced the rest of DinoLand, U.S.A. will be closing for good on February 2nd, 2026. It’s Tough to Be a Bug It’s Tough to Be a Bug is closed for good. This attraction in Disney’s Animal Kingdom once invited you to join the bug kingdom on an adventure. While the show didn’t usually make it to the top of favorite attractions in Disney World, it has now closed to make way for a new show. Zootopia: Better Zoogether! Construction Walls It’s Tough to Be a Bug closed on March 17th to make way for a brand-new show, “Zootopia: Better Zoogether!”, expected to debut on November 7th, 2025. The show begins when you arrive at the main stage just in time for Zoogether Day festivities, where you’ll spot some new and familiar faces, including Heidi Howler, a wolf who hosts the Zoogether Day LIVE! broadcast. These Disney Adult Animal Kingdom Hacks Are Getting Out of Control Disney’s Hollywood Studios Muppets Courtyard, including Muppet*Vision 3D, PizzeRizzo, and Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano Muppet*Vision 3D AND PizzeRizzo closed on June 8th, and Muppets Courtyard has been walled off so construction can begin on the new Monsters, Inc. land. Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano has been closed since May 11th. The Muppet*Vision sign has been covered! Don’t worry, the Muppets won’t be missing from Disney’s Hollywood Studios forever. The Muppets will eventually be taking over Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster in 2026. I Just Discovered a MAJOR Rope Drop Perk in Disney’s Hollywood Studios Blizzard Beach Blizzard Beach has been closed since September 8th, 2025! While it has been wonderful having BOTH Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon open at the same time this summer (which was the first time this has happened in YEARS), that has now come to an end. Blizzard Beach is now closed for refurbishment. Blizzard Beach Have no fear, though, if you are looking for somewhere to cool off and enjoy some fun in the water, Typhoon Lagoon will still be open! REVIEWS: What to Eat (And What to AVOID) at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park Fantasia Gardens & Fairways Miniature Golf If you are planning on playing some miniature golf during your Disney World trip, you have some options. You can head over to Fantasia Gardens & Fairways Miniature Gold or Winter Summerland Miniature. However, if you are headed over to Fantasia Gardens & Fairways Miniature Golf, one of the courses will be closed for refurbishment. Fantasia Mini Golf Course From September 9th to November 7th, 2025, the Fantasia Fairways Miniature Golf course will be undergoing refurbishment. While it is closed, the Fantasia Gardens course will remain open, but guests won’t be able to reserve tee times (guests will tee off on a first-come, first-served basis). That still leaves you three courses to explore between the one at Fantasia Gardens & Fairways and the two courses at Winter Summerland! Disney World Hotels Fantasia Kiddie Pool — Disney’s All-Star Movies The Fantasia kiddie pool at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort has been closed for maintenance since September 8th. The pool is expected to be closed through late October, but Disney hasn’t announced a specific reopening date yet. Disney’s All-Star Movies While the Fantasia kiddie pool is closed, the Fantasia Feature Pool and Duck Pond Pool will remain open, and guests staying at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort are welcome to use the kiddie pools at Disney’s All-Star Music and Disney’s All-Star Sports. The Samawati Springs Pool Slide — Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Starting on September 8th, the Samawati Springs Pool Slide will be closing at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge — Kidani Village for routine maintenance. Disney hasn’t announced a date for when the slide will reopen. Samawati Springs Pool If you’re staying at the resort, there will still be another water slide option for you to enjoy at the Uzima Springs Pool! ONLY the slide at The Samawati Springs Pool will be closed; you can still use the pool, just not the slide. You just may see or hear construction at work. Jellyrolls — Disney’s BoardWalk Jellyrolls at Disney’s BoardWalk officially closed on April 19th, 2025. This entertainment venue has provided our team with countless memories, and we know many others are also sad to see it close. Jellyrolls had its final farewell performance on April 19th and closed its doors forever on Disney’s BoardWalk. Jellyrolls However, this isn’t the end for Jellyrolls, as the bar has said they are “making a move.” We don’t know many details about that move yet, but we will keep you updated. 3 Disney World Hotels the Experts REFUSE To Book Don’t want to go through all of the stress of booking your Disney World trip alone? Reach out to our friends at Small World Vacations! Their experienced agents monitor your reservation for possible future savings, compare discounts, and determine which works best for your travel party, dates, resort, and touring plans. They also share expert tips and first-hand advice about your magical vacation. Small World Vacations Looking for more resources to help you get ready for your upcoming trip? Check out these posts to learn all about Disney World’s rides: 10 Rides to AVOID in Disney World if You Struggle with Motion Sickness What It Takes to CHANGE a Disney World Ride 9 of the SCARIEST Rides in Disney World, According to YOU! A FULL LIST of the Thrill Rides in Disney World! The Ultimate Guide to the BEST and WORST Seats On EVERY Magic Kingdom Ride We’ll keep you updated with all the latest news, so stay tuned to DFB. FULL LIST of What’s Opening in Disney World in 2026 Planning a Trip to Disney World? We’ve Got Everything You Need to Know The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Disney World Vacation A Month-by-Month Guide to Planning Your Disney World Trip Tips, Hints, Lists, and Videos for Planning the BEST Disney World Trip Learn About the Disney Park Pass System The Ultimate Disney World Packing List Everything You Need to Know About Lightning Lanes Insider SECRETS for Your First Trip to Disney World A Complete Look at the Current Disney Discounts and Deals The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click Here to Subscribe When is your next Disney World vacation? Let us know in the comments! The post HUGE Change Hits Disney's Hollywood Studios This Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We Tried EVERYTHING at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party! | Magic KingdomView the full article

The Super Mario Kart series was launched in 1992 on the Super Nintendo (SNES). Since then, it has only gained in popularity with gaming fans of all ages. Bowser’s Challenge! Mario Kart is a series of racing games based on the Mario franchise. Players use go-karts and one of the several Mario characters to challenge each other to a race. Now, Epic Universe has joined this franchise with its own Mario Kart game — Bowser’s Challenge. The new interactive ride is in Super Nintendo World, and we’re sharing six secrets to help you WIN! As you go through the line for the ride, you’ll see a few tutorial videos, but the feel of the ride is TOTALLY different once you board the ride and are actively playing it compared to the cartoon tutorial videos you watched. So here are 6 basic instructions that summarize what to do and help you ultimately get a high score. Win a trophy for your high score! Don’t Stress Over the Buttons On the ride, you’ll have a steering wheel with buttons on either side of it, but don’t stress about them doing different things. Both buttons shoot shells. The steering wheel You can literally push both buttons at the same time and all that will happen is your next shell will be shot. No stress, just focus. What To Do When You See and Arrow You wear these cute Mario hat augmented reality (AR) goggles on the ride. Ride hat/AR goggles As you’re going through the ride, you might notice an arrow light up in your AR goggles. When this happens, turn your steering when in the direction it’s pointing to earn points. DON’T SHOOT ALLIES If you’ve played Mario Kart at home, you have probably gone all “turtle shell happy” and shot them off at whatever character you see in front of you. But on this ride, DON’T DO THAT. Heading in! Instead, you really want to aim for Bowsers little cronies and avoid aiming at your fellow teammates. These are characters like Mario, Peach, Luigi, etc. Your Supply of Shells Is NOT Endless Just like in the video game, you only get so many shells. You can only shoot shells when you run over those question blocks to collect more (just like in the game at home). Blocks in the queue If you’re wondering why your steering wheel buttons aren’t shooting out more shells, that’s why. It’s because you don’t have any shells to shoot at the moment. There Are TWO Endings — Win or Lose. Here’s How To Win. On the ride, either Team Mario (that’s you) or Team Bowser (not you) will win. If Team Bowser wins, it means you lost. YOU DON’T WANNA LOSE, RIGHT?! So to make sure you don’t lose, your team needs to try to collect 100 coins before the end of the ride. How will you score? This still doesn’t guarantee your team will win, but it’ll sure help! Don’t Be Confused About Which Shell Color Is Yours Everyone in your ride vehicle will have a different colored shells. If you get confused about which is yours, just look down at your steering wheel while wearing your AR goggles. Behind the scenes of the visor The AR screen will show you your shell color and how many coins you’ve collected so far. This ride is lots of fun and very similar to the Mario Kart games you might be familiar with. If you know the rules of Mario Kart, you’re going to be just fine. If you don’t, just make sure you follow these 6 guidelines! For more Epic Universe info, keep following DFB! Epic Universe Is Lying to You About Its Harry Potter Ride Read more: DFB's complete guide to Universal’s Epic Universe >> Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What’s your favorite ride at Epic Universe? Let us know in the comments! The post We're Spilling 6 Secrets To WIN the Mario Kart Ride in Epic Universe first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Have you ever dreamt about working in Disney World? The Dapper Dans Well, so have we! Disney World often hosts auditions for characters, performers, and more throughout the year. We track job offerings to see what changes could be coming to the park, what hints there are for new projects, and now, so we can audition for a dream job. This latest job posting is one that has us singing in the shower for preparation! Start warming up those vocal pipes! Your chance to become a Dapper Dan has finally arrived. The Dapper Dans are an all-male barbershop quartet that originated in Disneyland. They are still located in both Disneyland and Disney World and sing daily for guests strolling along Main Street. The Dapper Dans are ICONIC This truly iconic group is famous for bringing the parks to life and is often looked to as an example of what makes the parks so special. According to the online posting, Disney is searching for a few things in the next Dapper Dan. ©Disney The role is seeking someone for a full-time contract who is male-presenting. For tenors, they request that you can sing up to a high Bb4 in full voice, mix, or falsetto with “access” to E5. They also noted that tap dancing experience is a big plus! The Dans! For the leads, they’re seeking a “great lead vocalist” and lead person who can range from Bb2 to C5. If you’re a baritone, you need to be versatile with a wide vocal range from F2 up to A4! Finally, the basses need to be a “true bass” with Eb2 or lower and can hit up to Eb4. The Dapper Dans in Magic Kingdom at Christmas time Disney stresses that all of the roles mentioned will require vocal stamina. This audition is a 2-step process. To be considered, you must submit and check in to the audition. Each role has a specific song request for your audition as well. Leads will do Muskrat Ramble. Tenors need to know Mickey Mouse March. Baritones start practicing your rendition of Cruella DeVil. Finally, Basses will sing Dear Hearts & Gentle People. The Dapper Dans in their Memorial Day outfits This is a truly iconic role at Walt Disney World, so good luck to anyone auditioning! You can click here to check out the application. Submissions close on September 29th, 2025, at 11:30 PM Eastern Time. As always, be sure to keep following DFB for more Disney news and updates. It’s My DREAM To Get This Ultra-Specific Job in EPCOT. Here’s My (In)Formal Audition Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What is your dream job at Disney? Tell us in the comments! The post Your Dream Job Is Now Hiring At Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Have you ever needed to talk to a Cast Member, only to be met with a long wait time? While we definitely find ourselves jamming out to the Disney music for at least a little bit and having our own personal concert while on hold, it can get boring and frustrating waiting on hold for a long time. This could be a game changer for calling Disney! Wouldn’t it be awesome if your phone could wait on hold for you, and you could just be notified when it was your turn? Well, we have some great news! A NEW feature was just added to iOS 26 that includes a feature called “Hold Assist.” Now your phone can do the waiting, and you can spend time doing other things — like researching which dining reservations you want to make! What exactly is Hold Assist, and how do you use it? Essentially, your phone will monitor the call and mute all the audio associated with the call. Once you are directed to a person, your phone will notify you, and you will pick up the call again. You will still need to keep your phone close by, so you can get the notification, but you won’t have to listen to the same loop of audio and recordings while you wait for a representative. ©Apple To use the feature: when you are on hold, click on the “More” button at the bottom of the screen, and then select “Hold Assist.” You will also be prompted with a pop-up notification without clicking on more after you have been on hold for a bit. You will receive an on-screen notification that your phone is holding the call. You will be able to see what is being said in the call (like “all Cast Members are currently assisting other guests”), and then you will be notified when your call is answered by a Cast Member. ©Apple We have a feeling this will make waiting a long time SO much easier! We truly appreciate all that the Cast Members do, and we are more than willing to wait to speak with one. But we think this new feature will be a game-changer! Stay tuned to DFB for all your Disney tips, tricks, and news! These 8 Apps Will Make Your 2025 Disney World Vacation 10x Better Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What is your favorite iPhone hack? Let us know in the comments! The post Calling Disney Just Got 10x BETTER Thanks to This iPhone Update first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Big changes are coming to Orlando International Airport! Orlando International Airport In a major expansion, new shops and restaurants are coming to the airport. Along with those additions, the airport is taking major steps toward launching an advanced air mobility service, and we’re breaking down those proposals right here! These air mobility services will include electric air taxis, and the airport hopes to have them operational by the end of the decade. According to the Orlando Business Journal, the airport’s air traffic controllers, working in partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration, recently ran two simulations to test how electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft could work at the airport. MCO Airport The simulations were focused on two potential vertiport locations. One would be in the East Airfield, and the other would be near the Brightline station at the airport. Bradley Friel, senior vice president of planning and environmental at the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, said those tests were to “validate those two locations” and show ” that operations from those two vertiports could be integrated safely into the national airspace system.” Brightline Train Station If you don’t know, air taxi operations are the use of on-demand aircraft that transport people and cargo over short distances for things like emergency services, rides, and deliveries. The FAA aims to have these operational by 2028. After these simulations, the next phase of development will see the FAA develop frameworks for integrating these aircraft into the “commercial airspace” at MCO. MCO Airport Security The airport is working with the Florida Department of Transportation and the City of Orlando to figure out what infrastructure is needed to make these additions. Infrastructure needs would include electrical capacity and vertiport designs. ©Greater Orlando Aviation Authority FAA certification of the aircraft could begin in the second half of 2026. Vertiport design and development could most likely begin in 2027, which would lead to the expected 2028 opening. The new service likely would be used by business travelers and urban commuters at MCO. These changes come in addition to 10 new restaurants and several new shops to expand the airport’s offerings for travelers. ©Orlando International Airport We spend quite a bit of time in this airport thanks to its proximity to Disney World and Universal, so we’re seriously excited to see the changes hitting this spot. As always, be sure to keep following DisneyFoodBlog for more travel news and updates. Orlando International Airport Shows First Look at New Restaurants and Shops Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Which airport do you prefer when flying to the theme parks? Tell us in the comments! The post BIG Changes (Including Flying Cars!) Could Hit Orlando International Airport in 2028 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Legoland Florida theme park has revealed the name of its under-construction, space-themed indoor roller coaster. The ride, set to open in early 2026, will be called Galacticoaster. “Galacticoaster marks the first indoor coaster built inside the main park since Legoland Florida opened in 2011. From the very beginning, we aimed to create an immersive experience for our guests from the moment they step inside,” Blake Boyter, senior project manager at Merlin Magic Making, said in a news release. “From the engineering precision to the Lego DNA woven throughout, guests will experience more Lego storytelling, more excitement, and more out-of-this-world fun than ever before,” he said. The Winter Haven park, owned by Merlin Entertainments Group, also said Galacticoaster will be the “most ambitious and technically advanced ride ever built at any Legoland Resort.” Legoland also released some stats for the family-friendly coaster. It will have almost 1,500 feet of track, reaching a height of 50 feet. (Sister attraction Dragon is similar length and stands at 42.7 feet, according to Roller Coaster Data Base.) Galacticoaster’s 48 track sections are supported by 120 columns. The building’s footprint is the size of 10 basketball courts. The station’s conveyor belt weighs 9 tons. The coaster’s construction has been underway for more than a year. It’s going up on the site of Flying School, a steel coaster that opened as Swamp Thing in 2004, the attraction’s Cypress Gardens era. Galacticoaster has been added to the official Legoland Florida website, although a precise opening date has not been announced. Its entrance is dubbed Spaceport 885, the number being a reference to Lego set No. 885, a space scooter. There will be a themed queue, a souvenir stop named Orbital Outpost and a “soft play zone” for the 1- to 4-year-old visitors called Duplo Tot Spot. Legoland California also is getting a Galacticoaster, although it will features Spaceport 886, corresponding with a Lego space buggy set. It will also open early next year, and it will be that theme park’s first new coaster in 20 years. The two coasters represent a $90 million dollar investment, Merlin has said. Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. BlueSky: @themeparksdb. Threads account: @dbevil. X account: @themeparks. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters. View the full article

The Orange County Register has released its Best of Orange County 2025 list, and it probably comes as no surprise that Disneyland took the top spots for Best Amusement Park Ride. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disneyland This is not the first time that the House of Mouse has been the leader of the top three spots — but which rides beat out the rest? Disneyland has taken all three top spots in the Best Amusement Park Ride category for the Best of Orange County 2025, and the rides probably aren’t all that shocking, either. Taking the crown as the Best Amusement Park Ride in Orange County is Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disneyland Park. The ride opened in Galaxy’s Edge in 2019 and has been one of the most popular rides at the park ever since. Rise of the Resistance Taking spot number two is the ever-iconic and classic Space Mountain. While it’s not an original park attraction, it has been around since 1977 and remains one of the most popular rides in the park with consistently longer lines than many other attractions. Space Mountain And finally, the number three amusement park ride in Orange County for 2025 is Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: Breakout! at Disney California Adventure. This is the first time this ride has been on this list since it first debuted in 2017. It replaced the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and is now the anchor of the Avengers Campus land at the park. Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: Breakout! Mission: Breakout! won out over past favorites like Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Indiana Jones Adventure, Soarin’ Around the World, Incredicoaster, and Radiator Springs Racers, which have all been featured in the Best of Orange County list over the past ten years. Radiator Springs Racers What do you think of this list? Do you feel like these three rides are the best in all of Orange County, or even Disneyland Resort? Tell us how you feel in the comments below! We’ll be on the lookout for even more updates from Disneyland and beyond. In the meantime, make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest Disney news and more! 16 Disney Rides Where Cell Phones Are ILLEGAL DON'T DO IT ALONE! Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you -- they've literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They're DFB's recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!) So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you GET MORE INFO What is your favorite Disneyland ride? Let us know in the comments. The post 3 Disney Rides Took Top Spots for the Best in Orange County -- Did Your Favorite Make the List? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There have been a lot of changes already this year at Disney World, and there are still SO many to come. Construction is already in progress for new expansions like Pueblo Esperanza in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Piston Peak National Park, and the Villains Land in Magic Kingdom, and the new Monsters, Inc. Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney’s BoardWalk There have also been a lot of changes at Disney World hotels, so we thought we would round up some of the biggest changes that have hit Disney World hotels in 2025! First up, let’s start with some general changes that will impact most, if not all, Disney World hotels. These are great things to keep an eye out for and keep on your mind for your Disney World vacation! Scheduled Character Appearances We love this change! While you are at your Disney World hotel, make sure to keep an eye out for signs like the one below that will let you know when to expect character appearances at your hotel! You never know who might show up, but it is always such a fun time. You get unique interactions that you won’t get standing in line for a traditional meet and greet. Wilderness Lodge Character Experience Sign Usually, the characters roam around the hotel, interact with guests, and just enjoy their surroundings. It’s incredibly fun, and it really adds a touch of Disney magic to your day. We started spotting these signs in February 2025 and have seen them popping up at various Disney World hotels. This is a great guide to help you plan your resort day! Water Park Perk If you stay at a Disney World hotel during your 2025 Disney World trip, you can take advantage of the new water park perk. You’ll get FREE tickets to a Disney World water park to use on your day of arrival at the resort! You can visit either Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach by going to whichever water park is open at the time. Currently, Typhoon Lagoon is open, but be sure to double-check during your trip. Typhoon Lagoon Note that this is ONLY good for your arrival day, but it might mean you’ll want to get to Disney World earlier in the day, so plan your travel accordingly. This perk is in addition to the Early Theme Park Entry perk and the Extended Evening Hours perk for deluxe hotel guests. This perk made its official debut on January 1st, 2025, and Disney has also announced it will continue in 2026. However, in 2026, the perk will only be available during the summer. Disney will be releasing more details about it in 2026. Hotel Cancellation Policy Disney has updated its cancellation rules in 2025. If you book a room-only Disney World hotel reservation, you now need to cancel at least EIGHT days before your arrival to get your deposit back. If you cancel seven days or fewer before check-in, your deposit (which is the cost of one night’s stay) is completely non-refundable. Prior to the change, guests could cancel up to five days in advance and still get their money back. Disney’s Old Key West Resort Vacation packages where you book a hotel with park tickets still have the same cancellation policy as before: cancel 30+ days in advance for a full refund, cancel 2-29 days in advance with a $200 fee, and if you cancel less than 48 hours before arrival, you won’t get any refund. Luggage Assistance A new perk has recently begun testing at the Disney World Value Resorts — luggage transfers with Southwest Airlines. For those flying home from Disney World with Southwest and staying at the All-Stars, Pop Century, or Art of Animation, you can visit luggage services at your hotel to drop off your bags…and then pick them up at baggage claim when you get home! Luggage Assistance There are signs in the lobbies of these resorts with details, or you can visit the luggage services desk to get more information. The time of your flight will determine when your luggage needs to be dropped off at the desk, but they’ll make sure it gets to the airport and on your flight! And did we mention? This is completely FREE. Now, let’s dive into some of the changes that happened at specific Disney World hotels. From refurbishments to new restaurants, let’s take a look at the changes that have happened in 2025. Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort Earlier this year, the Fantasia Pool at All-Star Movies Resort was closed for refurbishment, but it is now back open and ready for some pool fun! Currently, the Fantasia kiddie pool is closed for maintenance as of September 8th. Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort The pool is expected to be closed through late October, but Disney hasn’t announced a specific reopening date yet. While the Fantasia kiddie pool is closed, the Fantasia Feature Pool and Duck Pond Pool will remain open, and guests staying at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort are welcome to use the kiddie pools at Disney’s All-Star Music and Disney’s All-Star Sports. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge The Zebra Trail Terrace underwent some refurbishment in July that has now concluded. In addition to the maintenance of Zebra Trail Terrace, rooms at Kidani Village at Animal Kingdom Lodge will be undergoing refurbishment from October 2025 through May 2026, followed by refurbishment at Jambo House from May 2026 through January 2027. Kidani Village Lobby Disney’s BoardWalk Inn Disney’s BoardWalk has been undergoing quite a few changes. Earlier this year, the merchandise stores located on the BoardWalk underwent refurbishment. Thimbles & Threads, Disney’s Character Carnival, and the Screen Door General Store all got a refresh. Disney’s BoardWalk Jellyrolls had its final performance on April 19th, and it is now closed. Nothing has replaced the dueling piano bar yet, but we are hopeful something might take its place. Jellyrolls will be reopening somewhere not on Disney property, but they haven’t announced where yet. The Promenade Art Gallery will also be moving in October. The final day to visit the gallery at its current location will be October 19th. Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Early this year, the Fuentes del Morro pool and aquatic play area were closed for maintenance. It closed on January 13th and reopened at the end of January. So, it is currently open and able to be enjoyed! Fuentes del Morro Pool Sebastian’s Bistro also closed for a very brief refurbishment. The restaurant closed back on March 24th and reopened at the end of March. The good news is that you can enjoy your favorite dishes at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Room refurbishments are still ongoing at Bay Lake Tower, but a good chunk of the rooms have already been completed! However, construction is expected to last through July 2026, so you might still hear and see construction going on, but you also might be able to score a refurbished room for your stay! Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa There have been A LOT of changes happening at the Grand Floridian. Earlier this year, The Courtyard Pool, spa, and Courtyard Pool Bar at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa closed for refurbishment from January 27th through late February 2025. This area has now reopened, but there is still a lot of construction happening in the lobby. New mural at the Grand Floridian A brand-new lobby bar is being built, and workers are also refurbishing parts of the lobby, including the staircase and front desk. Recently, a brand-new mural was also unveiled on the staircase off of the lobby! However, there are still lots of construction walls, curtains, and noise happening in the lobby. Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin A brand-new restaurant opened at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin (on the Dolphin side) on July 26th. Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina replaced Shula’s Steak House and offers a reimagined modern take on the quintessential American steakhouse with premium cuts of beef and seafood infused with global flavors, along with decadent signature desserts, and world-class beverage offerings. Bourbon Steak You can dine at Bourbon Steak nightly from 5 PM until 11PM. The restaurant is owned by Chef Mina, who owns more than 40 restaurants worldwide and has been awarded multiple Michelin stars. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort The BouTiki store at the Polynesian underwent refurbishment earlier this year. The refurbishment happened back in June, and the whole store has since reopened. We have also spotted exterior maintenance and refurbishment happening at the Polynesian. BouTiki Disney’s Pop Century Resort We have seen quite a few changes at Disney’s Pop Century Resort. The Everything Pop Shopping and Dining received a huge makeover. The refurbishment took more than eight months, but this store and food court area is now reopened and looking bright and fresh! Pop Century’s new food court Additionally, Pop Century’s lobby has also been receiving a makeover — including the removal of the iconic shadowboxes! The shadowboxes have been replaced with bright murals, but we are so sad we can’t peruse the shadowboxes anymore. Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts The lobby of Disney’s Port Orleans – French Quarter has been undergoing refurbishment and is expected to fully reopen at the end of September. As well, Disney’s Port Orleans – Riverside has been renovating rooms throughout the resort. Rooms in the Magnolia Bend area of the resort are being worked on through February 2026. Magnolia Bend at Disney’s Port Orleans – Riverside Disney’s Riviera Resort Back in January, Topolino’s Terrace was closed briefly for refurbishment. It was closed from January 12th through January 25th, 2025. Tramonto Cocktail at Topolino’s Terrace Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Over at Wilderness Lodge, we have seen work being done on the exterior of the building. As well, Copper Creek Villas have been undergoing refurbishment. Currently, the refurbishment of the guest rooms at Copper Creek Villas is expected to conclude in September 2025. Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Whispering Canyon also closed for a brief refurbishment from May 12th through May 21st. Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts The Stormalong Bay pool underwent refurbishment earlier this year. The pool closed in January 2025 for maintenance and reopened in June 2025. This is one of our favorite pools in Disney World, and while we are glad it got a bit of TLC, we are also glad it is back open! Stormalong Bay As well, the port cochere is under construction at both resorts. The port cochere at Yacht Club is expected to reopen in October 2025, and the port cochere at Beach Club is expected to reopen in September 2025. These are some of the biggest changes that have happened at Disney World hotels in 2025. Stay tuned to DFB for all your Disney World news! A Definitive Ranking of EVERY Disney World Hotel! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What is your favorite Disney World hotel? Let us know in the comments! The post 13 Disney World Hotels Hit With CHANGES in 2025 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article