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A very special holiday is coming soon that we love to celebrate in Disney World! Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Nope, it’s not Halloween (though those celebrations are underway in Disney World), and it’s not Christmas (though that season is coming up soon). It’s something far more specific…September 21st! And if you’re visiting EPCOT that day, you’ll be able to hear the song “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire ALL day at Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is a popular roller coaster in EPCOT that opened in 2022. Since it’s themed to the Guardians of the Galaxy films, you know that it has to have an awesome soundtrack…and it does! Typically, when riding the coaster, you’ll get a randomized song from a list of six different choices. Cosmic Rewind entrance One of the songs on that list is “September,” and it’s often thought of as the “best” of the group, so fans tend to get pretty excited when they get that one in particular. The song tells the story of the 21st night of September, so to honor that date in a fun way, Disney will be playing “September” all day long for the ride. That’s right, it’ll be the ONLY song you can get that day. Cosmic Rewind So if you’re not a fan of this song, you’ll need to visit on literally any other day of the year. If you do, the other songs that rotate through, in addition to “September,” are as follows: “Disco Inferno” by The Trammps “Conga” by Gloria Estefan “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears “I Ran” by A Flock of Seagulls “One Way or Another” by Blondie Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Disney World did this same September 21st offering last year, so we’ll be interested to see if it becomes an annual thing. The only other time they’ve altered the song list was during the holiday season in 2022, when there was a seasonal Christmas song remix that played for every ride. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Pre-Show For those hoping to do this ride on their next trip, we’ve got the perfect shirt! This Cosmic Rewind Mixtapes Tee is available in the DFB Store right now. ©DFB Store We’ll keep you updated — are you going to ride on September 21st? Stay tuned to DFB for all the Disney World news and updates. Click Here to See Our Ranking of the Rides in EPCOT! 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 ridden Cosmic Rewind before? Tell us in the comments! The post Disney CONFIRMS a BIG Ride Change Coming to EPCOT on September 21st first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If it’s your first visit to Disney World, there are some mistakes you’ll want to avoid when booking your hotel stay! Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort There are quite literally dozens of hotels in Disney World, and while it may be easy to choose one based on its pricepoint or a fun theme, there’s SO much more to booking than just those surface-level things. We’ve stayed in Disney World Resorts hundreds of times, and we’re here to help you out — this is WHY first-timers keep booking the wrong Disney World hotel (and how you can avoid doing just that!). I’ll start this list with the caveat that some of these problems may apply to you, and some may not. You may find that a certain hotel is worth the long bus ride or the hefty walk to the lobby and pool, and that’s totally okay. We’re just here to warn you about some of the problems that people encounter when they haven’t stayed at a Disney World Resort before. They Choose Resorts That Are Too Spread Out If you’re planning some long days in the theme parks, you’re probably going to need a resort that doesn’t make your step count even more difficult with a long slog back to the hotel room at the end of the night. And unfortunately, there are several Disney World Resorts with this problem. Coronado Springs map Some of the hotels on the property are fairly compact, while others are spread out over many acres and dozens of buildings. Those larger resorts often have internal bus loops, so even if you don’t have to trek back to your room from the lobby, you may be sitting on a bus waiting through several different stops before you can get off. The Resorts that are the biggest offenders of this are Caribbean Beach Resort, Coronado Springs Resort, Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, and Port Orleans Resort — Riverside. Old Key West Now, if you have a vehicle that you’re planning on driving to and from the parks, these resorts might not be a bad option (you could just park near your hotel room). But for those hoofing it on foot and relying on Disney transportation, it’s an entirely different ball game. They Choose a Room View OVER a Room Location When booking your hotel room at your chosen resort, you may find that there are multiple room type options for you to choose from. Several resorts offer rooms with specialty views, like “water view” or “theme park view.” And while some of these views can be really great, others probably aren’t worth it. Savanna view A theme park view room is spectacular if you want to watch fireworks from your balcony at night, and a savanna view room is a real treat at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, but other than that, we don’t often push people to get specialty views since they can add a lot to your overall cost. However, we DO encourage you to upgrade to a better room LOCATION if it’s possible. Disney’s Pop Century Resort Some of the hotels offer preferred location rooms, and these will be closer to the lobby, the pool, the transportation, and/or the dining. Sometimes these can cut out a half-mile’s worth of walking at the end of the night when you get off the bus, especially if you’re staying at one of the Value Resorts. If you’re going to splurge, this is worth it for many folks. Not Truly Enjoying Your Fancy Hotel When booking your Disney World hotel, you’ll quickly learn that there’s a wide price range between the cheapest option and the most expensive. If you decide to go with a Deluxe Resort, you’ll be paying more, but your hotel will also have more to offer you. Deluxe Resorts often come with nicer pools, fitness centers, higher-end dining options, and a more luxurious experience in general. Grand Floridian Resort One mistake first-timers often make is that they book the fancy hotel with the great amenities and then pack their schedule so full of theme park visits that they never get to actually enjoy their resort. It’s totally fine to go to the parks every day of your trip, but if you’re only using your resort as a place to sleep at night, then you could save a TON of money by doing a Value Resort or Moderate Resort instead. Copper Creek Villas Now, don’t get us wrong, even if you’re just sleeping at your hotel, the Deluxe hotel rooms are typically a lot nicer, and those resorts tend to come with better locations and transportation options. It’s up to you to price it out and decide what your priorities are. Going in Blind with Transportation Options For those who are first-timers to Disney World Resorts, transportation can be super overwhelming. Only a select number of hotels have access to the Monorail, the Disney Skyliner, or boat transportation. In fact, the vast majority of the time, you’ll be using a Disney bus to get where you want to go. Disney bus The Monorail is available at the Grand Floridian, Polynesian Village, and Contemporary Resorts, while the Disney Skyliner only goes to the Caribbean Beach, Pop Century, Art of Animation, and Riviera Resorts (although you can access it by walking to the EPCOT station from some other nearby hotels). Several other hotels have boat access to Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and EPCOT, or Disney Springs. You’ll want to check your resort’s transportation availability before you travel so you know how to get around. Lack of Elevators Finally, something that’s important to know when choosing a hotel is the availability of elevators. Caribbean Beach Resort doesn’t have elevators in any of its buildings, and Port Orleans Resort — Riverside and Old Key West Resort are lacking elevators in some of their buildings. Caribbean Beach Resort If you’re using a wheelchair, scooter, ECV, or stroller in the parks, this could present a problem when going to and from your hotel room. This can also be an issue if you plan to bring a hefty amount of luggage with you — carrying suitcases up and down stairs is not a lot of fun. Port Orleans So there you go — some things to double-check and research before booking your first-ever Disney World hotel stay. And if you’re planning a trip, we recommend booking through our friends at Small World Vacations. Their planning services are complimentary, and they’re experts with years of experience planning vacations! Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World updates. Going to Disney World for the First Time? Start Here. 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 When is your next trip to Disney World? Tell us in the comments! The post Why Disney First Timers Keep Booking the Wrong Hotel first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s time we had a little chat y’all — and I’m afraid I’ve contributed to this widespread problem taking over EPCOT. Look at that line! One of the most popular EPCOT festivals is finally here and while we’ve already had a chance to eat and experience EVERYTHING there is to do at this year’s festival, it’s just getting started! But, there’s one particular phenomenon that we’ve spotted taking over EPCOT’s Food & Wine Festival that isn’t really all that necessary and we need you to hear us out. There’s a widespread problem I’ve noticed taking EPCOT by storm lately, and I fear I’m partially to blame for it. One of my favorite times to visit EPCOT is during the festivals, and right now, my absolute favorite, EPCOT’s Food & Wine Festival, is happening throughout the park and the World Showcase. During this festival, you’re treated to a multitude of rich cultures and flavors through food and drink options, and it may take you several visits to fully accomplish your list of eating everything you plan to savor around the park. 2025 Food and Wine Signs! But it doesn’t seem like I’m Food & Wine’s only fan. I’m lucky enough to work with DOZENS of folks here in our office that are just as passionate about this festival as I am and work hard to ensure that we give you our honest opinions of each year’s food and drink offerings so you know how best to spend your money and time to experience it during your vacation, too! Germany offerings Here’s where this gets a little tricky, though. It’s no secret by now that we’re “those” Disney fans who are willing to stake out our first booths of the day well in advance of their opening on the first day of the festival, and I fear that has translated beyond just those first-day eager vibes. I’ve been reporting on Disney World news and festivals for several years now, and it still blows my mind how even after the first day of the festival, so many of EPCOT’s visitors are STILL willing to do the same! Milled and Mulled Food and Wine booth It’s wild to me how many people I’ve spotted waiting around a food booth for around an hour before it opens, while the Cast Members and chefs are preparing their inventory for the opening rush. This just speaks volumes about how well Disney World has continued to build on such a popular festival over the last several decades and still can draw such a crowd in anticipation of its offerings well after the festival’s opening day. However, since we’re a few weeks into the festival’s operation now, it’s not entirely necessary to stake out so far in advance of the booth’s opening to order what you’re after. However, I can recognize that getting a jump start on your festival plans might be the only way to accomplish your entire list for the day, and to that I bid you all the best on your quest! Get a Tray! So if I happen to see you staking out your first EPCOT Food & Wine Festival booth of the day well before its opening, just know I’m inclined to throw a nod of approval your way from one Disney World foodie to another. It’s not every day that you get to enjoy one of EPCOT’s best festivals (unless you work alongside us here at DFB), so I’m wishing you all the best from afar on your festival journey throughout your day and hope you’ve packed your tray for carrying it around, too! Be sure to stay tuned with us right here at DFB for all the latest Disney news, updates, reviews, and more. JUST ANNOUNCED: Details Revealed for Seminars at Disney World’s OTHER Food & Wine Festival  IT'S WINE & DINE TIME! Food & Wine Festival can be a bummer. You stand in line waiting for what looks like the perfect treat, and it's a bust. But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE EPCOT Food & Wine Festival experience. If you're planning a day or a week at the festival, we've got every performance, activity, and tasty nosh detailed out so you can make the most of your time and money. Listen, it's a tough job eating and documenting the nearly 200 bites and sips, but we do it all for YOU! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Learn More About the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival! Food and Wine Festival 101 Eat to the Beat Concert Updates EPCOT Food and Wine Festival - Fans Facebook Page Wine and Dine Half Marathon Details Get More Updates, Tips, and Tricks to Help You Conquer the Food & Wine Festival Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Which of this year’s EPCOT Food & Wine booths are you planning to visit? Tell us what’s on your pick up list in the comments below! The post We Need To Chat About This Unneccessary EPCOT Food & Wine Festival Problem 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. ©Disney This week, we’ve got a treat for millennials: T-shirts representing many of the most memorable films of the 1990s Disney Renaissance!! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. The Little Mermaid Tee ©Amazon Be part of Ariel’s world with this Little Mermaid tee, featuring the titular redhead as well as Eric, Sebastian, Flounder, Ursula, and King Triton! SHOP HERE Beauty and the Beast Belle Tee ©Amazon Who needs a beast when you have books? This tee features the ever iconic “beauty but a funny girl” wearing her iconic yellow dress and reading a good book with Mrs. Potts and Chip! SHOP HERE Hercules Tee ©Amazon You can go the distance with this Hercules tee, as the titular hero of the 1997 film is presented in all his Greek half-godly glory! SHOP HERE Aladdin Genie Tee ©Amazon Anyone who wears this tee celebrating Robin Williams’ iconic Genie performance will have a friend in us. SHOP HERE The Lion King Tee ©Amazon Represent the “Hakuna Matata” lifestyle with this tee, emblazoned with “No Worries” along with Simba, Timon, Pumbaa, and Zazu. SHOP HERE Pocahontas Tee ©Amazon Dream of the colors of the wind with this tee, featuring the titular heroine of the 1995 film as well as her good buddy Meeko. SHOP HERE Mulan Mushu’s Bed & Breakfast Tee ©Amazon Mulan’s fast-talking sidekick’s iconic sense of humor is emblazoned all over this tee in a way fans of the 1998 film are sure to love! SHOP HERE If any of these shirts warm your 90s heart, head over to Amazon ASAP! Stay tuned to DFB each week for more of the best Amazon has to offer! The post These Disney Renaissance Era T-shirts Are On Sale On Amazon Today first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s almost time for a NEW Disney Cruise Line ship to set sail! ©Disney The Disney Destiny is taking its maiden voyage later this year, and it’s going to be different than any cruise ship we’ve seen before. What’s new? Well, we’re breaking down all the changes you can expect when you set foot on board. Heroes & Villains Theme One of the first big differences between the Disney Destiny and other Disney Cruise Line ships is that the Destiny will have a “Heroes & Villains” theme. This theme is echoed throughout all the ship’s offerings — the character meets, the entertainment, the dining options, and even the staterooms. ©Disney To fit this theme, the Grand Hall will feature a sculpture of T’Challa, the Black Panther, and the stern of the ship will have artwork of Spider-Man. Even Captain Minnie is getting a new outfit to fit the theme — doesn’t she look like a hero?! Get a Closer Glimpse at the Disney Destiny Here! A Restaurant for The Lion King When it comes to dining, there are some big changes as compared to other Disney Cruise Line ships. The biggest difference is the new Pride Lands: Feast of The Lion King restaurant! This dinner show will be part of the ship’s rotational dining offerings. ©Disney The animals and nature that make up the African savanna will be “brought to life” in unique ways through lighting and special effects, like the sunrise and sunset in the windows. The focal piece of the space will be tiered risers made to resemble African drums. A cast of live musicians and storytellers will “present a musical journey through the award-winning soundtrack as you dine.” Sounds like a great meal! Get a Sneak Peek at the New Restaurant Here! Worlds of Marvel Update Another dining change you can expect is at Worlds of Marvel. This rotational dining spot is already available onboard the Disney Wish, but it will feature a new storyline on the Disney Destiny, starring Groot! ©Disney Groot is trying to throw a surprise party for Rocket, so you know it’s going to be a blast. During dinner, you’ll be listening to an “awesome mix” of songs, while answering trivia questions to test your Marvel knowledge! Learn More About Worlds of Marvel Here! New Cafes & Lounges When it comes to dining spaces outside of the traditional rotational dining, there are some new options as well! Cask & Cannon is a Pirates of the Caribbean-themed lounge that originates with this ship, inspired by versions of the attraction at Disney Parks around the world. The space is filled with “acquired” treasures from mischievous pirates. ©Disney DeVil’s Piano Lounge will be another new lounge inspired by 101 Dalmatians and Cruella, where you can enjoy trendy martinis, chic cocktails, and glamorous wines and bubbles. ©Disney The Sanctum is Disney Cruise Line’s first lounge inspired by Doctor Strange and his “mystical arts.” It will be home to activities for all ages, and it will have a “mesmerizing array of spellbinding cocktails, spirits, and coffee drinks available at the bar.” The Sanctum ©Disney And for those with a sweet tooth, you can stop by Edna Á La Mode Sweets, where you’ll find specialty desserts and baked goods. It’s themed to the legendary designer Edna Mode from The Incredibles. ©Disney And we can’t forget about Café Megara and Café Merida, the two new heroine-themed coffee shops coming to the ship. Sneak Peek at the New Doctor Strange Lounge Here! Hercules Musical For entertainment while you’re onboard, one of the new offerings is a Hercules musical stage show! The show will feature beloved songs including “Go the Distance,” “Zero to Hero,” and “I Won’t Say I’m in Love” in live renditions with new musical arrangements. ©Disney One big highlight of this show will be the MASSIVE Hydra puppet designed by Award-winning puppet designer Michael Curry. It’s going to be a spectacle of epic proportions! Go Behind-the-Scenes of the New Show Here! New Version of AquaMouse If you’ve ridden AquaMouse on the Disney Wish or the Disney Treasure, then you’ll be excited to know that the attraction is getting a new version for the Disney Destiny. The AquaMouse is a 760-foot-long water ride that has a different signature short film on each Wish Class ship. ©Disney On the Destiny, the short is titled “Sing a Silly Song.” In it, Mickey and Minnie will lead guests to the top of Villain Mountain, where you’ll “employ a silly song — and a bit of pixie dust — to transform each chilling encounter into a wacky surprise.” See What the AquaMouse Is Like on the Disney Treasure Here! Different Character Meets Since the ship is themed to heroes AND villains, there are going to be some special character meet-and-greets that you don’t typically see at sea. Passengers can expect to see LOTS of famous Disney Villains, including Maleficent, Hades, Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook, Mr. Smee, and Oogie Boogie. Disney has also confirmed that Dr. Facilier will make appearances. ©Disney Captain Jack Sparrow, Bruno from Encanto, and Loki will all be making appearances, as well as characters from The Lion King, 101 Dalmatians, and Hercules. Bring those autograph books, folks! New Stateroom Themes Finally, we have to mention the new stateroom designs onboard. There are 1,256 staterooms, each with custom artwork themed to “depicting the epic journeys of famous Disney legends.” Movies featured in the rooms include Brave, Hercules, and Mulan. Oceanview Staterooms ©Disney For a higher price, you can book one of the Incredisuites themed to The Incredibles, or even the Destiny Tower Suite themed to Tony Stark. Sounds fancy! That’s a wrap on the changes coming to the Disney Destiny. We can’t wait to set sail soon! Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney Cruise Line news! Click Here for All the Disney Destiny Details! Are you planning to sail on the Disney Destiny? Tell us in the comments! The post 8 Major Changes Announced for Disney's Newest Cruise Ship, and They Matter More Than You Think first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There is one thing we can guarantee will happen on your next trip to Disneyland… Disneyland …you’re going to be faced with the tough choice of what to eat. So, that’s what we’re here to help you with — tell you what we ate, and if it’s worth it. If you’ve been to the Grand Californian Hotel at the Disneyland Resort, you may have heard of the Craftsman Bar and Grill. We often find ourselves going there a lot for their hot dogs of the month, and now the new hot dog is out! Spoiler alert, it’s a cheesburger in hot dog form…a cheeseburger, and a hot dog?! What will science think of next? Disney’s Grand Californian Take a look at the hot dog of the month, the Cheeseburger Dog, for $17. It’s an all-beef hot dog, with angus beef, American cheese, shredded iceberg lettuce, tomato, caramelized onions, bread and butter pickles, 1000 island, on a ciabatta roll. It also comes with fries! Cheeseburger Dog The hot dog tasted exactly like it said it would — a cheeseburger. It was literally a cheesburger but with a hot dog instead of a patty! We had no complaints about this meal other than that it was a little hard to eat while keeping everything in place. You pick it up and spend time worrying about it falling apart. This tasted exactly like a cheeseburger! All of the flavors paired very well, which honestly makes sense since it’s built like a burger. There really wasn’t anything crazy or unique about this other than it being a hot dog. The flavors mixed well together All of the produce had fresh and vibrant flavors, while the ground beef had a peppery flavor. The caramelized onions brought a sweet and savory flavor that we noticed throughout. The fries were always warm, crispy, and salty, making them a favorite on property! You should try this! We think this is worth a try, especially since it’s only here for a limited time. For more food reviews, be sure to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog. REVIEW: S’Mores + Waffles = A Match Made in Disney Heaven Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe Have you been to Craftsman Bar and Grill before? Let us know in the comments! The post REVIEW: Um, We're Pretty Sure This New Disney Snack Is ILLEGAL first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The new installment of the “We Call It Imagineering” web series takes a worldwide tour of Disney theme park castles. The “Building Castles” episode features the kind of details that only Imagineers can drop, including tidbits regarding upcoming changes to Magic Kingdom’s Cinderella Castle. The 28-minute show, available on YouTube, delves into historical matters with former Imagineer Tom Morris and into the future with Zach Riddley, an Imagineering strategist, who has duties regarding planned theme park Disneyland Abu Dhabi. Our house Walt Disney World’s Cinderella Castle gets a lot of love in the episode, including its coloring, the not-so-secret suite, projection-show challenges and the oft-discussed forced perspective, design tricks that make the structure look taller than its 189 feet. “The shingles even are forced perspective. So the shingles get smaller as we go up. We enhance that illusion with lighter colors as the castle gets higher,” said Colleen Meyers, executive color design and paint with Walt Disney Imagineering. Meyers turns the conversation backward and forward-looking. “As we look at our next version of the castle, we’re trying to go back to evoke the classic castle – so, the castle of opening day of Walt Disney World,” she said. “We look at all the old photos, the films, light hitting the castle. We put all that together trying to evoke an emotion,” Meyers said. “The castle started out quite a cool gray. As the years went by we started putting warmer tones on the castle to get that last ray of sunlight.” The 2020 paint job for Cinderella Castle – the look that continues today – included a rose-gold hue and reflective gold pieces that changed some projection techniques. “You cannot make a dark blue roof bright yellow without doing some color magic,” said J.P. Perez, senior visual effects designer for Disney Live Entertainment. It doesn’t sound easy, putting flat, moving characters on a curved surface. “There are going to be bends and corners that we can’t avoid. It is a castle, after all,” Perez said. “So we design it in a way that doesn’t interrupt the overall look of the characters and the castle scenery.” Finally, fun facts from Sophia Coscia, video systems designer with Disney Live Entertainment. “We have 500,000 lumens of projector light hitting the castle, which is the equivalent of 750 60-watt light bulbs,” she said. Snow White out Of course, Disney’s first castle was in Disneyland, and Walt Disney called on movie studio set designers to create his Sleeping Beauty Castle there. The earliest plans had no castle, Morris said. “The park was just going to be Americana,” he said. The icon was added as a way to tie in Disney characters. Host Ali Rubinstein, WDI senior vice president global creative and show design, asked why the Disneyland castle wasn’t named for Snow White, the company’s first big-screen princess. “They actually did consider Snow White initially,” Morris said. “But Walt found that it would be a great way to promote the film ‘Sleeping Beauty’ that was actually in production at that time, even though four years away from Disneyland’s opening.” The first castle was a quick turnaround project, he noted. “They didn’t start the construction drawings for this castle until January 1955. That gave them seven months to finish it,” he said. Francois Mori/APMickey Mouse waves in front of Disneyland Paris' Sleeping Beauty Castle in a 2018 photo. (Francois Mori/Associated Press) Castle country The Disneyland Paris castle is pinkish “to give it a more fantastical flavor” and to make it stand out among the many castles of Europe, said Michel Den Dulk, portfolio executive creative director, WDI Paris. But it benefits from location and its artisans, he said. “The same artisans that work on the Notre Dame and bringing that back to life are also the people who work on our castle on restoring the finials or restoring the beautiful stained glass inside,” he said. “We treat it as a monument the French people have embraced, and we benefit from the great talent that’s in this country.” In the dungeon: a 79-foot dragon, that was once the largest animatronic in the world. (Fun fact: It snores). Around Asia The castle at Hong Kong Disneyland was built as a tribute to the original in California. Planners used 1955 drawings. It was later renovated and augmented to play off the natural, green, mountainous backdrop. The castle at Tokyo Disneyland is modeled after Magic Kingdom’s centerpiece, although it’s 22 feet shorter. It also has a walk-through attraction / photo op called Fairy Tale Hall inside. Shanghai Disneyland’s Storybook Castle is considered the company’s largest and most complex castle. It has restaurants, retail and a boat ride that floats through it. Other details include murals tying seasons with princesses, jade backdrops for meet and greets, four swans that represent the women in Walt Disney’s life and, high on the tallest finial, a single peony, the national flower of China. Walt Disney Co. and Miral are planning Disneyland Abu Dhabi, which will be a castle-style park on a waterfront. (Walt Disney Co.) Water works Up next: Disneyland Abu Dhabi, which was announced in May. “One of the first decisions we made as a company was to think we’re going to create a castle park here, a park that’s based on our Magic Kingdom-style of storytelling,” said Zach Riddley, senior vice president global creative strategy for WDI. “Abu Dhabi is a city on the water and so we’re really excited about being able to incorporate water for the first time in the design of one of our castles,” Riddley said. Details will be shared down the road, he said. Birthday take Not dwelled upon in the series: Alternative looks for the castles, although we get a glimpse of the notoriously pink birthday cake castle cooked up for Disney World’s 25th anniversary. Still, I felt a nod near the beginning of the episode. “While our castles have had a few different looks over the years – I mean, who hasn’t? – they’ve always been synonymous with Disney magic,” said Bruce Vaughn, WDI’s president and chief creative officer. 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

Attention Gen X, you NEED to see these Loungeflys! ©Disney These bags, available on Amazon, are dream backpacks for anyone who came of age in the late 1980s/early 1990s! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Little Mermaid 35th Anniversary Loungefly ©Amazon You’ll feel like you’re under the sea with Ariel and friends when you use this backpack that celebrates the iconic film’s 35th anniversary. SHOP HERE Beauty and the Beast Belle Loungefly ©Amazon Next up, we have this beautiful faux stained glass design, featuring Belle reading her book with the Beast’s castle looking in the background. SHOP HERE Lion King Loungefly ©Amazon Live your best “Hukana Matata” lifestyle with this bag celebrating the iconic trio of Simba, Timon, and Pumbaa. SHOP HERE Mulan Loungefly ©Amazon Finally, this stained glass design features Mulan Li Shang and measures in at 8.25″x11.5″x4″, faux leather, with debossed, printed detail, and a zipper charm. SHOP HERE If you like any of these Loungeflys, get over to Amazon now, and stay tuned to DFB for more Disney deals! The post The Loungefly EVERY Gen X’er is Wearing to Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Cheese fans out there, we’ve got some pretty wild news that could impact your future cheese-buying decisions. ©KraftHeinz A decade ago, Kraft and Heinz merged to become one of the largest megafood mergers ever completed. However, now the companies have announced that they’re splitting and becoming their own companies once again. Here’s what that could mean for you! According to ABC News, the companies are getting ready to split a decade after merging. One of the companies, now called Global Taste Elevation Co., will include “shelf stable meals and include brands such as Heinz, Philadelphia Cream Cheese, and Kraft Mac & Cheese, Kraft Heinz.” The other company, currently called North American Grocery Co., will include brands like Oscar Mayer, Kraft Singles, and Lunchables. These are not the final names of the companies, though — those will be released at a future time. Heinz ketchup in Disney World Back in 2015, just two years after the $23 billion merger, the company said it wanted to capitalize on its massive scale, but then tastes changed, and people began seeking healthier options, so the company followed that trend. In May of this year, the company said it was conducting “a strategic review of the company,” which signaled to some that the split was on its way. Heinz In a statement, Executive Chair Miguel Patricio said, “Kraft Heinz’s brands are iconic and beloved, but the complexity of our current structure makes it challenging to allocate capital effectively, prioritize initiatives and drive scale in our most promising areas.” Leading up to this split, Kraft Heinz slashed the value of its Oscar Meyer and Kraft brands by $15.4 billion in 2019, then sold both its Planters nut business and its natural cheese business in 2021, but it wasn’t enough. The company’s net revenue has fallen every year since 2020. The transaction is currently set to be complete in the second half of 2026. ©KraftHeinz Looking for more recent news? Check out our posts below! More Recent News You May Have Missed! CHAOTIC CHEESE NEWS: Your Grocery Trips Might Be About To CHANGEIn One Month, Flying to Europe Will Look Very DifferentDisney’s NEW ‘Moana’ Themed Restaurant Is Opening THIS MONTHExperts Predict 5 Huge Changes for Disney in 2026How to Get a Reservation for Disney’s NEW Pirate Lounge at Magic Kingdom — Beak and Barrel Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest news — from Disney and beyond! Well, We Didn’t Win the Powerball Lottery. Can We At Least Have This? 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 How do you feel about this split? Tell us in the comments! The post CHAOTIC CHEESE NEWS: Your Grocery Trips Might Be About To CHANGE first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’re at Disney World every day of the year, and you may or may not be surprised by what we see visitors doing while we’re there. Hollywood Studios There are a few trends that we notice people doing while they’re exploring the parks, and it’s about time that someone’s grandma called them out. Is your phone ringing? It’s your grandma, and she wants you to STOP doing these things around Disney World. It’s for your own good, trust her (us). DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Stop NOT Drinking Water On Your Binge Around the World It is HOT in Florida, and no matter the time of year, the park your in, or the amount of time in the sun, it is very important to drink water throughout the day. But if you’re grandma were to call you while on your vacation and tell you anything, it would probably be to make sure you’re drinking your water, ESPECIALLY on the day you’re drinking around the world at World Showcase in EPCOT. Cheers! Trust us (and your grandma), you WANT to drink water while having a drink in every World Showcase pavilion. It will help prevent dehydration AND a hangover. An easy way to remember your water is to have a water bottle with you! We Love the Owala Water Bottles ©Amazon The FreeSip water bottles are easy for on the go and will fit great in your park bag! View on Amazon Stop Getting Sunburned and Wear Your Darn Sunscreen Please, stop being stubborn and wear some sunscreen. Sunscreen helps prevent burns and ultimately skin cancer. Your grandma is begging you take care of your skin. Get the CeraVe Face and Body SPF 30 Sunscreen ©Amazon CeraVe is a highly recommended brand by dermatologists. It’s great for sensitive skin, and it’s water resistant up to 80 minutes, which is a BIG benefit in Florida. View on Amazon This Roll-On Sunscreen Is Easy to Use ©Amazon A roll-on sunscreen is great for on the go and for kids. It makes it easy to apply to your kiddos as they’re squirming around eager to see Mickey. Plus, it has an SPF of 60+ making it one of your grandma’s favorites. View on Amazon Don’t Forget the Detection Stickers ©Amazon The detection stickers will help you with the least remembered step of applying sunscreen — reapplication. After a time, you need to reapply sunscreen, otherwise, you’re no longer protected from the sun. Put these on yourself and the kids to know when you put more on as the images fade. View on Amazon Stop Eating Like Campground Raccoons and Eat Something Healthy You know we LOVE Disney food. The snacks are some of the our favorites. Plastic cheese — YUM. But do yourself, and your gut, a favor and some protein and fiber. Hot Honey Buffalo Chicken Chef Salad at Rosie’s All American Cafe Grandmas everywhere are begging you to eat at least one nutritious meal a day. There are lots of places that you can grab quick service or table service lunches and dinners. Stop at these places for some fruits, vegetables, and protein. Cap May Cafe buffet at Disney’s Beach Club Resort Following these three tips will help you have a better day at the parks and, ultimately, enjoy your vacation even more. Your grandma knows what she’s talking about, so remember your sunscreen, water, and protein! Be sure to keep following DFB for more tips! I Had Major Problems with the Germany Pavilion During the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival 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 go-to tip for Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post Your Grandma Called. She Wants You To STOP Doing This in Disney World. first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Who wants a FREE trip to Disney World? Welcome to Disney World! This is not a drill — you have a chance to win a free trip to Disney World! Let’s not waste any time and take a look at the details. 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 figure out which one works best for your travel party, dates, resort, and touring plans. And, they share expert tips and first-hand advice with you about your magical vacation. Whether you’re a Disney Vacation Club Member or not, you’re going to want to see this “Magic of Membership Sweepstakes.” It’s a sweepstakes that Disney just dropped with the chance to win the ultimate Disney World vacation. Cinderella Castle One lucky winner of the sweepstakes, and up to seven of their guests, will get the following: A six-night stay at Disney’s Riviera Resort in a spacious 2-Bedroom Villa Seven-day Theme Park Tickets, with the park-hopper option included Special access to Member Lounges in Magic Kingdom and EPCOT Pending winner travel dates, entry to an after-hours Member Event Round-trip coach airfare and ground transportation Disney World Don’t hesitate to get on top of this, as the sweepstakes end on September 24, 2025, at 11:59 PM. When you visit the website, you get one entry upon registration. There is an option to select whether you are a Disney Vacation Club Member or not before entering the sweepstakes. Both members and nonmembers can enter the sweepstakes! The best part — there is no purchase necessary! Enter the sweepstakes here! Beautiful! We’re always dropping the latest Disney news and updates, so make sure to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog to stay up to date with it all! You May Want to AVOID Driving to Disney World on These 8 Dates in 2026 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 entering the sweepstakes? Let us know in the comments! The post It Takes Just 20 Seconds To Enter To Win This FREE Trip to Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Is Disney World’s BEST slushy hiding in EPCOT? Look at the color in this one! EPCOT is already a wealth of options for snacks and drinks to enjoy as you stroll around the park throughout your day, but there’s something extra special here YOU need to know about. We recently tried an underrated drink in the Mexico Pavilion, and we think you’re going to love it. EPCOT holds a special place in our hearts for some of the best food and drink you’ll find in all of Disney World. But strolling around the countries that make up the World Showcase could prove even more fruitful than you initially thought. Mexico Pavilion While we’re constantly raving about the margaritas and drinks around EPCOT’s Mexico Pavilion, there’s also one other drink we need to call your attention to — and it can be enjoyed by ALL ages! Over at La Cantina de San Angel, you’ll not only get your nachos, queso, and taco fix, but you’ll also find this unique La Cantina Slushy you won’t be able to pick up anywhere else! Menu While this slushy’s menu listing doesn’t have its ingredients listed, we learned from asking the Cast Members there that it’s a mix of tropical fruit punch flavors. And you can grab the La Cantina Slushy to try yourself for $6! La Cantina Slushy This drink is straight-up delicious, with flavors you won’t find in a slush anywhere else on property at the moment. The dominant flavor we tasted is mango, with strong notes of guava and maybe even passionfruit. It tastes just like you might expect a tropical fruit punch to taste, and it is so good! A slushy for all in Mexico While it genuinely tastes like real fruit, the texture and color made us wonder how much actual fruit juice is in there. The only downside we could make of this drink was the small portion size. Unlike the usual slushes in clear plastic cups with character rims, this one is served in the small fountain-soda style “free water” cup — the kind you get at quick-service places. We’d do it all over again! But, $6 felt pretty steep for a serving this size, especially with nothing extra to it (no boba, no foam, etc) — it’s just the slush in that little cup. By comparison, LeFou’s Brew costs $6.99, so just a little more, but you get a larger size, the slush, a flavored syrup, and a specialty fruit-flavored foam on top. There’s way more going on there in the other slush option, but man, this flavor is something unique, and we’d totally get this again as a splurge. So there you have it — if you’re looking for one of the best-kept slushy secrets that Disney World has to offer, you won’t have to look very far from the usual suspects around the Mexico Pavilion to find it in EPCOT. We’re always reviewing the new and older sips and eats around Disney World, so be sure to check out a few of our latest reviews below, and stay tuned with us for even more soon! REVIEW: This Hot Dog Is a Top 10 Disney World Snack. Sorry, Not Sorry.  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! What’s your typical order when visiting La Cantina de San Angel? Tell us in the comments below! The post REVIEW: Is This Hidden Disney World Treat EPCOT's Best Kept Secret? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There is nothing like a festival in Disney World! Food and Wine Classic While EPCOT’s festivals might be the most famous, there is a lesser-known Food and Wine festival over at Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Resort that has our hearts! Not only is the food incredible, but the wine is delicious, and it even features elements that elevate this festival. One of those elements is the Tasting Experiences, which are available for booking and tickets now! It’s almost time for the annual Food and Wine Classic at the Swan and Dolphin Resort! This might be one of our favorite festivals at Disney World, and this year it takes place on Friday, November 14th, and Saturday, November 15th, 2025, from 5:00-9:00PM on both days. Food and Wine Classic This festival is broken down into different areas, including The Beer Garden, For the Love of Florida, Carnival Corner, The Bubbles Lounge, and Chinatown. You can dine on different items from restaurants like Bourbon Steak, Smokin’ D’s BBQ, Todd English’s bluezoo, and more. This special ticketed event also includes separately ticketed Tasting Experiences, previously called the Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Seminars. A Wine Blending Seminar Preview These experiences are designed to “expand your knowledge of wine, beer & spirits with our passionate Instructors.” You’ll learn how to choose the right drink and how to pair it with your meal, plus you’ll be able to impress your friends at dinner, which is a big win. This year, there are several returning favorites like “Salud! A Journey Through Spain”, “Beer, Here”, and “Base to Bubbles.” It’s Better to “Wine” in Italian This year, these seminars are $97.93 per person, which is a bit of a rise from last year’s $85; however, that was pre-tax. In 2025, there are 2 brand-new experiences that we are seriously excited about! First is the Chef Michael Mina Experience, which will be an exclusive evening with Chef Mina himself. This one isn’t a class—it’s a culinary journey filled with laughter, storytelling, education, and a touch of humor, all centered around a stunning five-course menu crafted by the chef and paired with exquisite wines. ©The Mina Group The second is the Chef Todd English Experience! Celebrity chef Todd English will take you “on a sensory journey that transcends the ordinary. This is more than a meal— it’s a curated voyage through Japan’s rich culinary heritage, interpreted through the lens of global gastronomy and Todd English’s signature style.” Todd’s English bluezoo Both of these experiences have quite a price jump and will cost you $190.18 per ticket. These experiences are a separate ticket from the Food and Wine Classic, which costs $403.30 to attend both nights of the festival. While it is pricey, all of the food and drinks at the celebration are included. Shaved Asparagus Salad from the Food and Wine Classic You can click here to book your tickets now! This is one of our favorite events each year, and we’re seriously excited to see these Tasting Experiences return to the festival. As always, be sure to keep following DFB for more Disney news, updates, and more. Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic Menus 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 festival? Tell us in the comments! The post JUST ANNOUNCED: Details Revealed for Seminars at Disney World's OTHER Food & Wine Festival first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

I’ve packed a bag for Disney World over 30 times, and these are the items I will not pack again! Magic Kingdom Packing for your Disney World trip can feel like a lot of pressure to some guests! You may want to ensure you have everything you need, and hopefully, you won’t forget something very important. Here are 5 items I would skip on packing and what to put in your suitcase instead. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. 1. Don’t Pack Ziploc Bags, Grab These Instead Plastic bags can help organize items in your park bag or pack snacks for you to munch on. However, in true Florida fashion, it will probably rain 4 out of 7 days of my vacation, and I’ve had them get wet. Now, I opt for reusable snack bags! ©Amazon These Simple Modern Disney Reusable Snack Bags are perfect! They are food safe and come in the sweetest Disney pattern. Whether I’m using them to bring my toddler’s snacks to the park or organizing essentials, these are sturdy and will last for many trips to come. View on Amazon 2. Don’t Pack Regular Band-Aids, Pack Hydro Seal Ones Accidents happen even on vacation, and you’ll want to be prepared. You might think you’re making a good choice by packing your typical adhesive bandages; however, rain could cause issues with these! Instead, opt for Hydro Seal bandages. ©Amazon The Hydro Seal Band-Aids will protect your skin even when wet. These are water proof so if you’re heading to the pool or the water park, no worries! The hydrocolloid gel bandages establish a moist, optimal healing environment to accelerate healing and reduce scabbing. View on Amazon 3. Umbrellas Won’t Last. Choose a Poncho Instead! It can rain a lot at Disney World, and you want to be prepared for some storms. I used to bring an umbrella with me on vacations until a strong gust of wind came, and suddenly my umbrella was useless. Now, I opt for a reusable poncho! Frogg Toggs Poncho We love the Frogg Toggs Poncho because it is reusable, and it is large enough to fit our park bag under it as well. These are sturdy and will last for many trips. No longer will you have to worry about the strong winds when it rains. With this poncho, you just throw it on and you’ll be back to enjoying the park in no time! View on Amazon 4. Don’t Bring Uncomfortable Shoes! Get These Instead. The shoes you choose to pack for Disney World can actually make or break your trip. Sure, when I was younger, I could pack some flip flops and not worry about supporting my feet. Now, I will only wear comfortable shoes that won’t leave my feet aching after walking 10 miles around Magic Kingdom. We love our HOKA Cliftons We love our HOKA Clifton 10s for this reason. They are supportive and provide the structure our feet need to last from rope drop to fireworks 5 days in a row! They come in a variety of colors, so you can find a pair that matches your Disney outfits. View on Amazon 5. Don’t Bring 24 Plastic Water Bottles. Order This Bottle Instead. Buying water at Disney World adds up fast, and bringing your own plastic water bottles isn’t very helpful. Sure, you can have them in your hotel room, but if you really want them to stay cold, you’ll want to have a reusable water bottle instead. The Rapunzel Owala The Owala Bottle is insulated and helps keep us hydrated all day long! We love the Disney princess collection of bottles. The lock on the bottle keeps it from spilling in your park bag. The FreeSip spout is designed for either sipping upright through the built-in straw or tilting back to swig from the spout opening. View on Amazon 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 5 Things I Should Never Have Packed for Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s time to STOP STALLING and START PLANNING that 2-day Disney World trip you’ve been daydreaming about. Your ultimate 2-day trip awaits! We’ve got a whole 2-day Disney World itinerary planned and ready for YOU to use for your upcoming weekend getaway. Check out our video below: The ULTIMATE 2 Day Disney World Trip Itinerary Are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes! And stay tuned for more theme park news! 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 do you think of this video? Tell us in the comments. The post DFB Video: The ULTIMATE 2 Day Disney World Trip Itinerary first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’re planning a trip to Disney World, it’s important to choose your hotel carefully. Coronado Springs Several of the Disney World Resorts are home to convention centers, which means they can see heavy crowds whenever a conference, competition, or event is being held there. This seems to be a particularly strong problem with the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and Coronado Springs Resort. And now, there’s another BIG event slated for Coronado Springs in 2026. From May 17th to 20th, 2026, Coronado Springs will be hosting the EntreLeadership Summit. This event is hosted by Ramsey Solutions, the company owned by Dave Ramsey (you probably know him for his financial course and corresponding podcast). The leadership summit will feature more than 2700 business leaders and 11 guest speakers over its 4 days, so it’s going to make this resort absolutely PACKED. Coronado Springs So, what will this conference affect? Currently based on the schedule online, the events seem to be contained to Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. However, the conference attendees get discounts on Disney World tickets, so you may find slightly heavier crowds in the parks. The convention center during Destination D23 If you’re staying at Coronado Springs during that time, you’ll probably find heavy crowds in the main areas of the resort, including the lobby, gift shop, pools, and restaurants. If those kinds of crowds will affect your personal needs during your trip, it’s probably best to book a different hotel for this time frame. El Mercado de Coronado! Coronado Springs often plays host to large events like this. In the first few months of the year, we typically see the resort host multiple dance and cheerleading competitions, so it’s a good idea to dig around online before your trip and make sure you’re not staying at the same time as one of those events. However, it’s still possible to have a good time if you are — the resort is large and has several dining options to eat up the crowds. Disney’s Coronado Springs We’ll make sure to keep you in the loop with any other upcoming events you should know about, so keep following DFB! Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World updates. The Worst Time to Go to Disney World in 2026 — Click Here! 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 stayed at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort? Tell us in the comments! The post The Disney World Hotel You’ll Want to AVOID One Week in May first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Traffic at Disney World can turn a magical vacation into a pretty stressful start. Do you drive to Disney World? Between runDisney events, cheerleading competitions, and holiday weekends, there are some days when driving to the resort is going to feel way less convenient than usual. That does not mean you have to stay home, but it does mean you’ll want to plan ahead if you’re bringing your car to the Most Magical Place on Earth. Let’s go through the 8 dates in 2026 when you may want to avoid driving to Disney World. Which of these dates would be the biggest headache for you if you were driving to Disney World? Tell us in the comments below! The post You May Want to AVOID Driving to Disney World on These 8 Dates in 2026 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Do you remember…what’s on cosmic repeat September 21st? 🚀🎶 #EPCOT #WaltDisneyWorld #DisneyParksView the full article

We’re headed fast into the holidays! A Disney Visa Card! Halloween has kicked off in the Disney parks, Christmas collections are dropping online, and we are ready for it all. As we head into the holidays, we’re shopping for decor, gifts, and more to bring the Disney parks home to us. The best way to get that extra magic is when it’s on sale, and right now, Disney Visa Card Members can save when shopping online! Before you start shopping for your Halloween decor or Christmas presents, be sure to grab your Chase Disney Visa Card! Right now, if you shop on the Disney Store using your Disney Visa, you can save 20% on select purchases of $50 or more every time you shop. Our Disney Visa! Not only can you save on your shopping carts, you can even get free shipping on purchases of $85 or more! To get these deals while using your card, you can use the promo code DVCCTREAT. ©DisneyStore These savings run until September 22, 2025, so be sure to not waste any time! This discount isn’t valid on purchases made at an in-person Disney Store or Disney Outlet Store location, Disney Parks and Resorts locations, or on Disney Store merchandise purchased from other retailers or using third-party websites. ©Disney Store Not only can you save with this promotion, but purchases made with your Disney Visa let you earn Disney Rewards Dollars. These Disney Rewards Dollars can then be redeemed for a Disney Rewards Card which can be used to buy Disney theme park tickets, resort stays, merchandise (online at shopDisney and in the parks), dining at the Disney parks, movie tickets to see Disney films, and more! ©Disney It also comes with tons of rotating discounts, perks, and more! We’ve had our Disney Visa for years and can easily say it’s paid for itself when it comes to savings and how we use our Disney Rewards. As always, be sure to keep following DFB for more Disney discounts, news, and more! Disney Visa Dining Discounts and MORE Cardholder Perks 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 Do you have a Disney Visa? Tell us in the comments! The post Disney Visa Cardmembers Can Save BIG on Souvenirs Online for a Limited Time first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is probably one of the most nostalgic areas in all of Disney World for us Millennials. The land is based on the 1995 film Toy Story and its sequels (who’s excited for Toy Story 5?!?). You step into the land and feel like a toy in Andy’s backyard. You’re shrunk down and everything around you feels HUGE. It’s literally a ’90s kids’ dream come true. Toy Story Mania There are three rides in Toy Story Land, and if you’re the competitive type (like me), then you’ve probably challenged your entire family for the high score on the ride Toy Story Mania. Well, next time you’re headed that way, remember these five secrets to WIN Toy Story Mania and destroy everyone else in your group! There are multiple mini-games that make up the ride, and there’s a different strategy needed for each one. We’ll go through them one by one, in the order that they show up, so you can be prepared and get the high score! Game 1: Hamm & Eggs This game comes after the practice round (which, aim a few times during this to know where your shooter is aiming, but don’t go crazy — save your energy!) and you’ll notice it looks like a farm. Ready to Play! The barn in the background is where you need to focus your attention — the secret to this game is hitting all of the animals (a horse, chicken, and mouse) in the barn and “flipping” it as many times as possible. Each time you flip the barn, the points on all the other animals in the game go up! Game 2: Rex and Trixie’s Dino Darts There are tons of balloons to pop in this game, but you really need to focus on the three long 500 point lava balloons that fill up in front of the volcano. Pop all three! Time to ride! A comet will appear on BOTH sides, and this is where you need to work with your partner to hit the comet three times to erupt the volcano and unlock TONS of clusters of 500-point balloons to pop. Game 3: Green Army Men Shoot Camp Smashing plates here isn’t as easy as it sounds — it’s actually one of the harder games of the ride. Throughout the game you’ll see a 2,000 point plate pop up on each side of the dirt mountain. Toy Story Mania Each partner needs to break that plate on their side. Once you do, the mountain in the middle will go away and a tank will appear with even more high-scoring plates — shoot as many of those as you can! Game 4: Buzz Lightyear’s Flying Tossers This next one is difficult too, but we have faith in you! In order to unlock a higher score in this game, you and your partner need to work together to cover ALL of the aliens in the rocket ship at the SAME TIME. Toy Story Mania Queue They move fast, so it’s tricky, but once they’re all gone, the rocket ship will launch away and reveal a giant robot. Shoot as many rings into the mouth of the robot as possible and when you need to reactivate it (open the mouth again), each player must toss a ring over the rockets found on each side of the screen. Game 5: Woody’s Rootin’ Tootin’ Shootin’ Gallery There are two parts to this game before the finale! In the first game, you’ll see bullseyes all over the screen as you move across it. Work with your partner to open up the bullseyes and then CLOSE the same ones. Each time you open and close one, the points will go up across the board. Toy Story Mania The second half of this game involves four lanes of falling mine carts. This is where you DON’T need your partner anymore, so it’s your chance to rack up all the points and win it all! Be sure to hit every mine car that you can before it goes over the mountain, but also keep an eye out for the bats that fall down from the top of the screen over the cars, as they’ll make the mine carts worth more points. Toy Story Mania And that’s it! The final game is where you hit the bullseye as many times as you can and as FAST as you can, so as long as you go as fast as you can, you’re in good shape. See ya next time! Follow all of these tips and you’ll be well on your way to making sure you have the BEST chance at getting the high score of your car! Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney World tips and tricks. 3 Cringey Things That Make Me Rethink Walking into Disney’s Hollywood Studios Restaurants Ever Again 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 Who do you think you’d need as your partner to make sure you got the highest score you could? Tell us in the comments! The post A Former Disney Cast Member Reveals the SECRET Way to WIN at Toy Story Mania first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Legoland Florida is now selling annual passes for 2026 that are also valid for the rest of 2025 for the Winter Haven theme park. The extended offer works on the silver, gold and elite levels of passes. On Legoland’s calendar for this year are its Brick-or-Treat Halloween festivities and its end-of-year holidays celebrations. Early next year, the park will introduce a space-themed indoor roller coaster that’s currently under construction in its Lego City area. All three levels include free parking, discounts on food, beverage and merchandise, annual pass “exclusives” and early access to show. The silver pass has several black-out dates sprinkled across the calendar. Gold and elite passholders also get admission to the neighboring Peppa Pig Theme Park and the new Sea Life Florida Aquarium attractions as well as 12 months admission to Sea Life Orlando Aquarium, Madame Tussauds Orlando and the Orlando Eye on I-Drive plus Lego Discovery Center in Atlanta. The elite level allows admission to 30 Merlin-operated attractions in the United States, including the Legolands in California and New York. Pricing is $199 per person for the silver pass, $259 for a gold pass and $349 for an elite pass. For more information and purchases, go to legoland.com/florida. 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

2025 has seen seveal permanent closures come to Walt Disney World. Rivers of America Some of most upsetting to some Disney fans came in July, when an iconic, day one portion of the Magic Kingdom closed to make way for the upcoming Cars-themed Piston Peak sub-land coming to Frontierland. In August of 2024, at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, it was revealed that a new Cars area would be coming to Magic Kingdom. Many assumed that this new area would lie “Beyond Big Thunder Mountain,” along with the newly announced Villains Land. Well, one day later, Disney revealed that Cars would actually be taking over part of Frontierland, and the concept art left people shocked. ©Disney In order to accommodate this new expansion, which will include two rides, massive parts of Frontierland permanently closed on July 7th, offering their final rids on July 6th. Frontierland The Rivers of America The Rivers of America is in the process of being drained and paved over, adding more land for the expansion. While taking away the opening day waterway has drastically changed the makeup of Frontierland as a whole, it does make the most sense. It would be a logistical and crowd nightmare trying to transport people to a new area of the park that is going to be popular when it first opens. Rivers of America The Liberty Square Riverboat Along with the Rivers, the Liberty Square Riverboat has also closed. A 50-year staple of both Liberty Square and Frontierland, the rivers were a favorite of longtime fans, owing to their status as one of Walt’s original Disneyland concepts. Liberty Square Riverboat Tom Sawyer Island Rafts It wasn’t only the riverboat that sailed in the rivers of America, but the Tom Sawyer Island rafts did, too. These rafts are used to transport people back and forth from the mainland of Frontierland all the way to Tom Sawyer Island. Tom Sawyer Island raft Filling in the Rivers of America and closing the raft transportation opens up more walking paths between Liberty Square and Frontierland, as the concept art shows a potential walkway near Haunted Mansion over to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Tom Sawyer Island Tom Sawyer Island was a hidden gem of the Magic Kingdom. There were hidden caves, fun bridges, a fort, and scenic views. The entire island also closed to make way for the new expansion. Tom Sawyer Island Aunt Polly’s Tom Sawyer’s Islnd’s Aunt Polly’s restaurant, which had only been open intermittently in recent years, officially closed for good when Tom Sawyer Island closed. When it was in operation full-time or seasonally, it was a great place to grab a bite to eat and escape the crowds in the Magic Kingdom. Aunt Polly’s Aunt Polly’s seating areaWhile these looming permanent closures can be sad, there is so much to look forward to in the future! To stay up to date on all the latest Disney news, stay tuned with us here at the Disney Food Blog! All the NEW Rides and Attractions at Disney World in 2025 and Beyond 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 are your thoughts about these closures? Let us know in the comments!The post Everything That Had to Permanently Close to Make Way for the 'Cars' Expansion in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

When it comes to snacks in Disney World, there are so many to choose from! The Confectionery! From the classics to the new kids in town, we have made it our entire job to try every Disney snack out there! We’ve spent the last 15 years putting Disney snacks to the test, and there’s one trend we noticed that we need to warn you about so you can avoid it. Let’s talk about the new snacks in Magic Kingdom so you can avoid (or test) them. Over on Main Street, U.S.A., you can find The Main Street Confectionery! This is one of the first things you’ll hit as you walk into Magic Kingdom, and you might even find us here. This is where you can find things like those classic caramel apples, our favorite peanut butter cookie pies, and more. Inside the confectionery During one of our recent walks through the candy spot, we noticed several new items. There was the M&Ms Minis Caramel Popcorn… New treats! …the M&M’s Minis Cereal Treat… The cereal treat! …the Skittles Pop’d Candy Popcorn… Skittles! …and the Skittles Littles Cereal Treat! The popcorn mixes were $9.99, and the crisped rice cereal treats were $8.99. Cereal Treat! While these snacks were cute, the trend we’re noticing is Disney’s continued obsession with the Skittles Pop’d candies! We can help but giggle a little because Disney seems to love these little guys. They’re on top of drinks, they’re on fudge, and now, they’re even in prepackaged snack mixes. The Skittles Pop’d on a drink in Animal Kingdom! While this isn’t the trend we’re necessarily avoiding, we do think it’s so funny that Disney is currently obsessed with the pop’d version of this classic candy. The thing we think you should avoid, though, is prepackaged snacks in Disney World. While they’re fine, we won’t pretend they’re going to be the best things you can eat in Disney. There are so many amazing fresh snacks! We are seriously big fans of the Confectionery, but this spot is a great example of how you can be tricked in the parks. Mickey does look super cute on these new prepackaged popcorn mixes, but just steps away in the same shop, you can find the Kernel Kitchen, where they make you your very own custom popcorn blend. Kernel Kitchen You can choose from your own popcorn, syrup, and a combination of candies, even including Skittles. It’s a bit pricier than the prepackaged options, but it’s higher quality, customized to your tastes, and travels just as well. We know that it’s nice to grab something easy on your way out of the parks, but the freshly-made items only take a minute or two more! Kernel Kitchen There are so many snacks in Disney World, and not all are created equally! We’re passionate about finding the best quality and bang for your buck snacks. As always, be sure to keep following DFB for more Disney snack finds, reviews, and more. Disney Teases SNEAK PEEK at 15 Exclusive Holiday Treats 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 Magic Kingdom snack? Tell us in the comments! The post New Snacks Have Arrived In Magic Kingdom, And You Should Walk Right Past Them first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There are so many amazing things to snack on in Disneyland! Let’s dig in! From the iconic staples to the new snacks that have arrived for the 70th Anniversary, there are so many things for you to try when you’re at the original Disney theme park. Now, we’re checking out a limited-time treat that you won’t even need a park ticket for! Over at Disney’s Grand Californian Resort, you can find GCH Craftsman Bar and Grill! This is the poolside bar at the resort, but don’t let that phase you. We have been seriously impressed with this pool bar in the past, and one of our favorite things to put to the test is the Waffle of the Month! The monthly waffle! For September, the waffle of the month is the Savory Sunrise Waffle! It has a sunny-side-up egg, chorizo gravy, sour cream, queso fresco, pickled jalapeno, avocado, and green onions all served on top of a warm brown sugar waffle for $17. After initially ordering, it did take roughly 40 minutes to get our dish out, but that can happen sometimes when dining in Disney. After waiting, we did notice it looked pretty different from Disney’s photo of the dish. The Savory Sunrise Waffle! Luckily, those were our only major issues with the dish! The first thing we noticed was that we didn’t get any of the flavor or creaminess from the avocado. The brown sugar from the waffles was prominent in every bite, and it paired well with the spice. In fact, it helped tone down some of the spicier aspects of the dish. A look at the back of the dish! The spiciness came from the chorizo and jalapeños, and it was more than your traditional Disney spice. The sour cream wasn’t noticeable, and there were only hints of the queso fresco in some bites. The egg on top didn’t add a ton of flavor, and it seemed to mute the other aspects of the dish. Have a bite! If you aren’t a fan of eggs or those mild, savory flavors, we would recommend ordering it without. We loved the combination of the spicy and sweet from this dish, and we would happily get it again (maybe without the egg). This was a hearty dish, although maybe a bit pricey at $17. It wasn’t super runny! This waffle will be around for the month of September before it’s switched out for a new flavor. As always, be sure to keep following DFB for more Disney snack reviews and more. The Best Snacks in Disneyland for 2025 Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe Would you try this one? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: We Tried a Waffle During Our Disney Day, and We Have No Regrets first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

A special event benefiting the Florida Breast Cancer Foundation is happening in October in Disney Springs! ©Enzo’s Hideaway Enzo’s Hideaway Tunnel Bar and Restaurant is hosting a Pinktober Pairing Lunch that includes an afternoon of mouthwatering tastes with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Florida Breast Cancer Foundation. The menu will feature pink dishes and drinks to match the theme, and we have all the details. Enzo’s Hideaway is located at Disney Springs, and you can join the restaurant for a special afternoon on October 4th, 2025. This special event will begin at 1 PM and will feature three courses paired with unique craft cocktails. The Pinktober Pairing Lunch costs $94.88 per person ($75 for the event, $15 gratuity, and $4.88 in tax). Enzo’s Hideaway With your event ticket, you will be able to enjoy a delicious three-course meal that features pink dishes and drinks. Here is a look at the menu for the event: Antipasto Strawberry-infused St. Augustine vodka, strawberry syrup, lemon, rose Fragole e Formaggio: burrata mozzarella, strawberries, basil, aged balsamic, extra virgin olive oil Primo St. Augustine gin, hibiscus-infused gin, lemon, Italicus, yuzu Fusilli alla Vodka Piccante: house-made pasta, spicy vodka sauce, grilled shrimp, tangerine extra virgin olive oil, toasted breadcrumbs Dolce Cocoa-infused St. Augustine rum, crème de cacao, cardamom bitters, cherry foam Meringata: dried meringue, macerated strawberries, sweet vanilla cream Focaccia Della Casa from Enoz’s Hideaway There are a limited number of tickets available for this event, so grab your seat soon! It will be an afternoon full of delicious food for a great cause. You can grab tickets for the event right here. Enzo’s Hideaway Stay tuned to DFB for more news about special events at Disney World! REVIEW: This “Secret” Restaurant in Disney World Serves Up Lots of Italian Food — But Is It Good? 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 planning on attending the Pinktober Pairing Lunch? Let us know in the comments! The post A Limited-Time Dining Experience is Coming to Disney Springs Next Month! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article