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Disney’s newest cruise ship is almost ready to set sail! ©Disney The Disney Cruise Line has spent the last several years working on expanding its fleet, and the newest addition is coming this November! The Disney Destiny is setting sail on November 20th, and along with it, we’re getting new bars, new room designs, and so much more. One thing we’ve been eagerly awaiting is the new Pirates of the Caribbean-themed bar, and we finally have a new look at what to expect. In case you missed it, Disney is going Pirates crazy right now! The new Pirates of the Caribbean lounge in Magic Kingdom, the Beak and Barrel, just opened, and we have fallen in love. The new lounge has seriously raised our expectations for the upcoming bar onboard the Disney Cruise ship, aptly named the Cask and Cannon. During the recent Destination D23 event, we got a sneak peek at what the bar will look like. ©Disney The bar is “Inspired by the iconic characters and scenes from the beloved Disney Parks attractions around the world, the new pub will be an eclectic yet cozy watering hole furnished with treasures ‘acquired’ (read: pillaged and pilfered) during the pirates’ many voyages around the globe.” Inside, you can find several Easter Eggs inspired by the attractions. Disney has teased that the pub will be covered in wooden planks like a pirate ship, and it will be “outfitted with an eclectic mix of mismatched furniture and antiques.” Plus, there will be nautical nods and pirate iconography. ©Disney Disney shared that “Eagle-eyed fans will have much to discover in the intricate carvings framing the venue’s portholes,” along with nods to the burning village scene, and lanterns inspired by Disneyland Paris’s version of the ride. They also noted that there will be nods to the film, like the “stacked treasure chests that make up the bar front.” ©Disney There will also be “a set of thirteen drawers filled with treasure maps, each labeled with different scenes representing the global parks and attractions, including The Ghostly Grotto, Port Royale, Talking Skull Bay, Blue Bayou (California), and Treasure Cove (Shanghai).” How cool is that? They’ve also warned us to look up and down to uncover every design element because even the ceiling will feature a treasure map of the Caribbean Sea inspired by Marc Davis, a legendary Disney artist and animator. Concept art by Marc Davis ©Disney Disney shared that his drawing has been modified for the bar, along with new additions, including 7 ships to represent the current number of ships in the Disney Cruise Line fleet (including the Destiny). The carpet will also feature a design that has each of the pirate lords’ Pieces of Eight and Captain Jack Sparrow’s compass from the films. ©Disney Along with the new concept art, Disney also shared pictures of the new merchandise you can buy inspired by the bar! They teased a new pirate skull mug… ©Disney … a bar tool set held by a skull hand… ©Disney …complete with coasters (of course). ©Disney They also showed off new cups… ©Disney … new picture frames… ©Disney …what looks to be a hand towel… ©Disney …a tote bag for your treasures… ©Disney …and a bar mat! ©Disney Disney did share that “pillaging is highly discouraged.” They shared that these will all be available while supplies last! Previously, Disney shared that you can catch your favorite game on the television in this spot, plus enjoy rare and specialty rums — and a “selection of ‘bootlegged’ brews developed specially for the venue and served straight from the barrel in true pirate style.” Cask and Cannon ©Disney Worried about planning? Don’t be! Small World Vacations plans Disney vacations, finds the best deals, and makes every vacation more magical without all of the stress. We can’t wait to see this spot come to life once the ship launches later this year. As always, be sure to keep following DisneyFoodBlog for more Disney news, updates, and tips! Disney Cruise Line — The Disney Destiny Cruise Ship What You Need to Know About Disney Cruise Line Learn All About Disney Cruise Line and Its Various Ships Explore Disney’s Mega Cruise Ship – The Wish A Full List of What You CAN’T Bring on a Disney Cruise These Are the BEST Times to Book Your Disney Cruise The Best Ways to SAVE SPACE in Your Tiny Cruise Cabin 10 Things You NEED on Your Next Cruise (That You Won’t Think to Pack!) What It’s Like to Live on a Cruise Ship for 6 Months Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe What do you think of this new ship? Tell us your thoughts in the comments! The post Disney Presents All-New Pirates of the Caribbean Bar (And an Exclusive Merchandise Collection) Coming To The Disney Cruise Line first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Stroller Escapes: Where Toddlers Let Loose at DisneylandView the full article

Disney’s Hollywood Studios had a brand new attraction open recently, and we’re telling you where the best seats are! Captain Hook in Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After Disney villains crashed into Hollywood Studios in the new Villains: Unfairly Ever After. During this show, a few Disney villains tell their side of the story to get the Magic Mirror to decide if they were treated unfairly. We love this show for its character interactions, storytelling, and catchy music. So, where should you sit to see the best of this show? We love that in this theater, there are a bunch of seats and the “mirrors” can be visible from most any seat. If you are looking to really feel immersed in this show, you will want to sit in the middle section about the 6th or 7th row. Here you’ll be able to see the mirror without hurting yourself by looking up. Disney Villains If you are looking for fun opportunities for character interactions, then you’ll want to sit in the first three rows of each section. There are even special seats for some spotlight. If you are looking at the stage, the left section, there is an aisle seat at the end of the row, heading towards the middle. Here, you will get an interaction with Maleficent. We won’t spoil the fun, but if you are a big fan of hers, this is where you want to sit. Maleficent in Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After Hook fans, there is an opportunity for you as well. If you are looking at the stage, the right section, with the aisle seat heading towards the middle of the stage, you’ll be able to have a fun moment with Hook. Cruella Even the back rows of this theater have a great view of everything from the mirrors to the stage itself. Although you might feel disconnected from the immersion if you sit here. This could be a good option, though, for kids who might be more scared of the villains, but still want to see the show. ©Disney We hope this helps you find the perfect seat for the villain’s show. For more Disney World tips, be sure to follow DFB! 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 Have you seen this new show at Hollywood Studios? Tell us in the comments below! The post This Is the Best Seat in the House at the NEW Disney’s Hollywood Studios Attraction first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Flying comes with a lot of challenges, especially when flights get disrupted, which happens, well…a lot. Southwest Planes at Orlando International Airport Now, flight delays for weather are pretty normal, and those can’t be controlled, but we’ve recently seen flight delays due to other issues, many of which could be the fault of the airlines. In 2024, President Joe Biden backed a plan that would see passengers compensated for controllable cancellations or delays of three hours or more. Well, that plan has officially been scrapped by the current administration, according to Reuters. Biden’s plan would put U.S. airlines in line with what many other countries were already doing. The European Union, Canada, Brazil, and the U.K. all have similar airline delay compensation laws. So it might make sense that the U.S. would require flights within the states to do something similar. The Biden plan would have required airlines to pay passengers from $200 to $775 for such disruptions. Flight delays happen often However, the plan was criticized by the airlines themselves, and now it’s been dropped. The White House posted a document recently that the Transportation Department plans to withdraw the notice “consistent with department and administration priorities.” Orlando International Airport However, in 2022, major U.S. airlines did agree to pay for meals, hotel stays, and other expenses when there’s a significant flight disruption, so if your flight is delayed for a controllable reason, you may still get something. Orlando Airport Stay tuned to DFB for more. Don’t want to go through all of the stress of booking your 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. 4 NEW Unspoken Rules for Using TSA PreCheck 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? Share your thoughts in the comments! The post NEWS: U.S. Government Cancels Proposal To Compensate Airline Passengers for Disrupted Flights first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Many factors go into planning a Disney World trip, including planning hotel stays, dining reservations, and Lightning Lanes, but it all begins with choosing what time of year to go! Happy Holidays from Magic Kingdom! Over my 30+ years of visiting Disney theme parks, I’ve been at all different times of year, and some are definitely better than others. And, despite what the perception may be, it’s not simply a case of “the summer is busy” and the “winter is an offseason” anymore. Like many elements of the Disney experience, the question of when to visit has become more complicated. *A caveat before we begin: Obviously, in some cases, professional, personal, or scholastic responsibilities may make visiting at certain times of year impossible for some guests.* With that out of the way, let’s look at the times to visit Disney World from “Worst” to “Best”… July & August July and August are the traditional summer vacation months in the U.S., meaning that the crowds are HUGE many days. On top of that, this time of year features blistering heat, with the Orlando sun beating down on guests for the majority of the day… except during the near-daily mid-afternoon monsoon rainstorms. A busy summer day at Magic Kingdom November & December While the final two months of the year do offer cooler weather than the summer, they offer equal if not larger crowds thanks to the Holiday season! Unless seeing Walt Disney World decorated for Christmas is a MUST, it’s probably best to skip. EPCOT Christmas Tree March & April Visiting Disney World in March and April can be an issue thanks to two words: SPRING BREAK. This annual school break — the timing of which varies around the country, but is pretty much guaranteed to be somewhere in these two months — draws HUGE crowds to the resort, and can lead to crushing waits. Spring Break crowds September & October While the weather has cooled down somewhat during these early fall months, the Atlantic Hurricane Season makes the weather in the Central Florida area completely unpredictable and threatens potential travel. Plus, the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party schedule can lead to weird crowd patterns at EPCOT and the Magic Kingdom. Halloween January & February Coming out of the Holiday season, there are pros and cons to visiting during the early months of the year. The weather is still (comparatively) cold, and crowds are much smaller than in December right up until President’s Day weekend towards the end of February. However, this time of year often sees rides closed for seasonal refurbishment. Furthermore, February 2026 will see the permanent closure of Dinosaur, which will limit the number of rides at Animal Kingdom even further. Dinosaur in Animal Kingdom May & June That leaves us with May and June. These two months tend to capture the best elements of summer (the weather is heating up, the resort is in peak condition with reopening refurbishments and even new attractions debuting, and outside of the Memorial Day Holiday, crowds are usually manageable) while missing the worst (the weather is not blisteringly hot, the crowds are overall lower). The Dapper Dans in their Memorial Day outfits The time of year you choose to visit Disney World could have just as much of an effect on your trip as where you stay or what parks you visit. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney travel tips. Every Disney World Change I’m Not Prepared For 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 When is your preferred time to visit Disney? Let us know in the comments below. The post The Worst Time to Go to Disney World in 2026 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

In case you missed it, Disney World is building a new hotel! ©Disney Disney’s Lakeshore Lodge is set to open sometime in 2027. This will be the newest Magic Kingdom resort area hotel, and we have been tracking its progress since it was originally announced in 2018 (under a different name). Recently, we hopped on a boat to check out the resort’s latest updates, and we’re bringing you with us! This new resort is located at the former River Country water park near Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground! It’s “inspired by the majesty of nature and its enduring influence on Disney artists.” The hotel is really starting to take shape! It’s coming along nicely! There are still tons of equipment and cranes in the area along with Cast Members, which we’ve been seeing for a few months now. Lots of cranes! We’re seeing two distinct structures along the shoreline that make up the hotel, along with some new red scaffolding. New scaffolding! You can see the rooms really coming together when you take a stroll at the nearby resorts! You can see the 5 stories that will make up the building pretty clearly. So close! Disney has confirmed this will be a Disney Vacation Club Resort joining the likes of Riviera Resort, Bay Lake Tower, and more. The hotel is expected to be labeled as a Deluxe Resort, but that hasn’t been confirmed yet. Take a peek! We’re excited to see construction on Lakeshore Lodge through 2027, and we’ll keep you updated on everything we see along the way! Be sure to stay up to date on the Disney Food Blog so you can be the first to know about new Disney news, tips, tricks, and updates. HUGE Change Hits Disney’s Pop Century Hotel (and You’re NOT Gonna Like It) Want More Details About Disney World’s Hotels? Ranking of ALL of Disney World’s Hotels The “I’m So Tired; Just Tell Me What To Do” Guide To Choosing the Perfect Disney World Hotel 13 Critical Things You’re FORGETTING About When Booking a Disney World Hotel 8 Gadgets You Need for Your Disney World Hotel Room The Surprising Things You Won’t Find in Your Disney World Hotel Room The Secret Way to Stay in Disney World’s Hotels for LESS! What's New at the Disney World Hotels All About Disney World's Resort Hotel Refillable Mugs Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney World hotel news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What is your favorite Disney resort? Tell us in the comments! The post NEW Look at Construction on Disney World’s Newest Hotel Opening In 2027 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Believe it or not, the holiday season is almost here…and with it comes Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party! ©Disney As always, this year’s installment of the annual extravaganza will include festive decorations, desserts, and — OF COURSE — merchandise! Over my 6+ years covering Disney parks, the Christmas merchandise collection has been a favorite of many fans each year, and 2025 looks to be no exception. Recently, Disney released a sneak peek at the 2025 Very Merry Christmas Party merchandise as part of a larger look at the event. There will be a new, super-festive new Spirt Jersey… ©Disney … as well as a corresponding pair of Minnie ears, the perfect accessory for a stroll down a “snowy” Main Street U.S.A. ©Disney The 2025 edition of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is scheduled to take place on November 7th, 10th, 11th, 13th, 14th, 16th, 18th, 20th, 21st, 25th, 26th, 28th, and 30th, and December 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 9th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 16th, 18th, 19th, and 21st. Tickets for the party cost between $169 and $229, depending on the date. Santa!! Christmas will be here before you know it, and Disney is ready with new merchandise for this year’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Stay tuned to DFB for more coverage of the Holidays at the “Most Magical Place on Earth.” People Are Absolutely Losing It Over the NEW ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ Popcorn Bucket in Magic Kingdom 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. 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 heading to Disney for Christmas this year? Let us know in the comments below. The post Take a New SNEAK PEEK at This Year's Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party Merchandise first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Last month at the 2025 Destination D23 event, Disney announced that the Magic Kingdom’s Carousel of Progress is about to undergo a massive refresh and refurbishment that will see the addition of a Walt Disney animatronic intro, as well as upgrades throughout, and likely a new finale. ©Disney Longtime Disney fans (including myself, as I’ve been visiting the resort for over 30 years) rejoiced at the news, as it has long been desired. That got us thinking, what other Disney World attractions are at the top of the list for potential refurbishment? We asked our readers which Disney World ride is most in need of refurbishment now, and as you’d expect, we received a litany of answers. By far, the most common was Space Mountain. Many readers said the classic Tomorrowland coaster desperately needs a refurbishment due to its jerky nature. As reader Judi so eloquently put it, the ride “requires a chiropractic adjustment after every ride so we avoid it now.” Reader Skip added that the ride “needs a whole new track like Big Thunder is getting.” Space Mountain 50th Anniversary While none quite had the same amount of votes as Space Mountain, there were several other rides that were mentioned. For example, a cadre of readers called for Journey Into Imagination to return to its former glory, including the return of the Dreamfinder and a more traditional take on Figment. As reader Yvon put it, “…we need to get back to include the Dream finder again and actually make it a ride that is imaginative, rather than this heartless boring ride with creepy moon face.” Imagination Pavilion Tell us how you really feel, Yvon. Other rides that received votes in our unofficial poll included Gran Fiesta Tour at EPCOT… Gran Fiesta Tour … the Tomorrowland Speedway… Tomorrowland Speedway … The Seas with Nemo & Friends… The Seas with Nemo and Friends in Disney World … and someone even said Haunted Mansion! Haunted Mansion As Walt Disney World enters a new era of new mega-attractions, many fans are hoping that some classic attractions see some TLC as well. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World takes. I’m a Raging Introvert, and These Are the Quietest Times To Visit 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 What Disney World ride would you like to see refurbished? Let us know in the comments below. The post Disney Adults Agree This Ride Is In Need of MAJOR Refurbishment first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s almost time to celebrate in Disney World! Mickey during the Festival of Fantasy Parade Starting in September, Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month kicks off from September 15th, 2025, until October 15th, 2025. This annual celebration brings rare characters, new foods, and even more to the Disney parks. Now, this year, the festivities are featuring a change to a popular Magic Kingdom parade for a limited time! In 2025, Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month in Disney World is going to be back with tons of family fun. To kick off the month, the Festival of Fantasy Parade will feature Grammy Award-winning Latin Pop Duo Bacilos! ©Disney The duo will kick off the parade on September 15th, 2025, as the grand marshals! Jorge Villamizar and Andre Lopez are the duo behind Bacilos, and they will spend the parade waving to park guests, meeting characters, and enjoying a ride through the Magic Kingdom. The fun doesn’t end there, though; they will also perform in EPCOT later that night during the Eat to the Beat Concert series! Eat to the Beat Their show in EPCOT is the first of several Latin events taking place during the festival! This will be the most Latin events they’ve ever had at Food and Wine, with 4 Latin acts stopping by Eat to the Beat. First is Bacilos, followed by La Calle Band from September 16th until September 18th. Sheila E is returning on September 19th and September 20th. Jesse & Joy will return to the stage on September 28th and September 29th, and Latin Ambition will wrap up the event on October 14th through October 16th. Eat to the Beat! There are tons of ways to celebrate the month throughout the Disney World resort, like trying out Latin-inspired dishes at the parks, like over in EPCOT at the Food & Wine Festival, you can try the new Peruvian Ceviche at Coastal Eats, which opens on September 28th. You can also find special Disney PhotoPass Magic Shots featuring Mirabel, Bruno, and Isabela throughout the park. Magic Shots! In the past, Disney has also brought out tons of new dishes for the month-long celebration, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed for new foods to try in 2025! As always, be sure to keep following DisneyFoodBlog for more Disney news and updates! 2025 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Booths, Menus, and FOOD PHOTOS 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 Tell us your favorite way to celebrate Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month in the comments! The post NEWS: New CHANGE Revealed for Disney’s Magic Kingdom Parade first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World is going through a lot of change, which means Lightning Lane will be changing with it! Animal Kingdom If you’ve been keeping up with all the Disney World news lately, then you’ve noticed how much change Disney World is going through — and it’s not slowing down! In case you missed some of the recent news, we’re going to lay it out for you and tell you why there will be Lightning Lane changes coming soon. 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. Disney World’s Lightning Lane passes provide access to the park’s “Lightning Lanes” for rides and shows that are included. The service allows guests to bypass Standby lines for select attractions through an extra purchase made on the My Disney Experience app. There are three types of Lightning Lane passes available to buy for all four parks, including Lightning Lane Multi Pass, Lightning Lane Single Pass, and Lightning Lane Premier Pass. Rise of the Resistance Lightning Lane So, how will this change? Well, Lightning Lane won’t change directly, but how you use it will change. Let’s take a look at what’s going on and what we should be aware of when it comes to buying the “skip the line” passes. Lightning Lane Kali River Rapids We’re starting in Disney’s Animal Kingdom (spoiler alert: we’re staying there for all these changes). The park’s popular water thrill ride, Kali River Rapids, will be closing for refurbishment on October 6th, 2025. The ride has no official reopening date, but it is expected to be back up and running at some point in December. Kali River Rapids With this closure, the remaining rides will become more popular, leaving fewer Lightning Lane passes available at Animal Kingdom! Just something to pay attention to when making plans for the park, especially during the busy season we’re entering. We recommend staying on top of the Lightning Lanes as soon as you can during your vacation. We don’t usually recommend buying Lightning Lane Multi Pass for Animal Kingdom anyway, so here’s another reason to save money! Kali River Rapids Lightning Lane sign in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Animal Kingdom’s NEW Zootopia Show Disney has a brand-new show coming to Animal Kingdom called Zootopia: Better Zoogether, which will be replacing the It’s Tough to Be a Bug show in the Tree of Life. This new attraction will open on November 7th, 2025. The show is going to offer all sorts of 4D fun as you step into the world of Zootopia. You can expect to see all types of performances that are sure to make you want to “try everything”. “Zootopia: Better Zoogether!” ©Disney While Disney has not confirmed a Lightning Lane for the show, It’s Tough to Be a Bug offered one through Lightning Lane Mutli Pass. It will be good for the park to add another attraction to its Lightning Lane lineup, especially while Kali River Rapids is down and there’s DinoLand construction. We’re anticipating that Lightning Lane for this will be pretty popular at the beginning, so you’ll want to make sure you’re ready to book them as soon as you can. Zoogether Day ©Disney DINOSAUR Closing Ah, the tough pill to swallow for many Disney fans. Disney recently announced that DINOSAUR, along with The Dino Institute Shop, Restaurantosaurus, and Restaurantosaurus Lounge, will all be closing on February 2nd, 2026. That means the last day to experience the prehistoric land will be February 1st, 2026. Dinosaur With the popular attraction leaving Animal Kingdom, that will be another ride taken off the list. There are two things you’ll want to focus on when it comes to Lightning Lane with this ride. Firstly, if you have a trip planned for 2026, just be aware that this will NOT be available essentially after January. If you have a trip planned for any point in the remainder of 2025, you may want to prioritize this ride. Dinosaur queue This will be the last stint for everyone to ride DINOSAUR, so we’re expecting it to get slightly busier for the rest of the year (especially around Halloween and Christmas). Recently, it’s been fairly easy to book a last-minute Lightning Lane for the ride, and the wait times haven’t been too high, but always keep an eye on the My Disney Experience app for the latest. Tree of Life in Disney’s Animal Kingdom A lot is happening at Animal Kingdom! We’re excited to see what’s to come eventually, but it just means experiencing some hiccups for the short term. For more Disney news and updates, be sure to follow us at the Disney Food Blog. This NEW Animal Kingdom Change Made Our Day 10X Better 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 are your thoughts on the changes coming to Animal Kingdom? Let us know in the comments! The post 3 Major Lightning Lane Changes Set to Hit Disney World Soon first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

You know when you go shopping and you find something SO good that you have to call your best friend and your mom to tell them about it?! Main Street, U.S.A. Well, I have an item like that and knew that I just had to share it with all of you because it’s TOO GOOD to keep to myself. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Mickey Ear Hat Stand I am a mom, and when I took my son to Disney World for the first time, I knew I had to get him his first pair of Mickey ears. I mean, it’s like a rite of passage. But oftentimes when you head back home, sentimental items like that still end up in a closet or a dresser. But I found the cutest way to display a Mickey ear hat, and it’s so classic and elegant, while still having that Disney charm. Mickey Ear Hat Holder This is a little hat stand that just fits the ears so perfectly. I put it on the wall right next to my son’s Disney silhouette (which is another thing you HAVE to do in the parks with your little). They pair so well together and look so amazing and classic on the wall. Mickey Ear Hat Holder These come with 2 hat stands, so I gave one to my best friend. But this is even better if you have multiple kiddos or pairs of ears that you want to display. Mickey Ear Hat Holder Here is a closer look at the ear holder without the ears on. Ear Holder Get Yours HERE! SO cute right?! See why I had to share!! The post This Might Be My Best Disney Home Find...EVER first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Okay, where are our Bath & Body Works people at? We know you love those amazing scents and products, especially when the company releases a Disney line (we all went nuts over the Disney Princesses collection). Well, you know we were already excited when we got a sneak peek at the new Bath & Body Works Disney Villains collection ahead of its release. The new collection stars the Evil Queen and Maleficent, and you can now get it at your local Bath & Body Works, as well as IN STORES RIGHT NOW. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. If you’re wanting to grab this collection online, be sure to get it while it’s still around! Get the Evil Queen Pierced Heart Pedestal Candle Holder Evil Queen Pierced Heart Pedestal This could be the coolest candle holder we’ve ever seen. This is perfect for getting in touch with your inner Evil Queen and burning your favorite Bath & Body Works candle, especially during the fall and Halloween season. View on Amazon Buy the Evil Queen Poison Apple Hand Soap Dispenser Poison Apple Hand Soap Dispenser The only hand soap dispenser an Evil Queen needs is this poison apple dispenser that holds your favorite foaming hand soap (may we suggest the accompanying Evil Queen hand soap)? This is another one of our favorite pieces from this collection. View on Amazon Get the Maleficent Raven Hand Soap Dispenser Maleficent Raven Hand Soap Dispenser Of course, this Maleficent Raven is also a great way to hold your favorite foaming hand soap (his name is Diablo, by the way). So let Diablo put a smile on your wicked face when you wash your hands. View on Amazon Buy the Maleficent Foaming Hand Soap Maleficent Foaming Hand Soap If you’re getting the Raven Hand Soap Dispenser, you need the accompanying hand soap, right? This hand soap has scents of “sinister plum, midnight berries and mystical woods,” just like Maleficent herself. View on Amazon Get the Evil Queen 3-Wick Candle Evil Queen 3-Wick Candle This candle with fragrance notes of “dark red apple, vanilla suede and wicked pear,” is perfect for the fall and will pair well with the candle holder above. The candle burns for approximately 25-45 hours, too! 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 Bath & Body Works Just Released a New Disney VILLAINS Collection first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

For many guests, there’s only one question that matters at Disney World: “How can I skip this line?” Tiana’s Bayou Adventure queue For decades, Disney has been coming up with ways to satisfy guests who don’t want to wait in line. From the original version of FastPass to interactive game queues to virtual waiting areas and everything in between, the company has seemingly tried it all. And yet, in my 6+ years of writing about Disney theme parks, the #1 topic many potential guests want to know about is how they can avoid waiting. Currently, there are a few ways to do so at Walt Disney World. So, let’s begin with the resort’s primary paid skip-the-line system, Lightning Lane. Currently, there are three tiers of Lightning Lanes available. Lightning Lane Multi Pass Lightning Lane Multi Pass gives you the ability to make 3 Lightning Lane selections (either one Tier One attraction and two Tier Two attractions or 3 Tier Two attractions) in a given theme park each day in advance of your visit (7 days for Disney Hotel guests, 3 days for others). From there, as you use each selection on the day of your visit, you can use the My Disney Experience app for availability to make additional selections. ©Disney Lightning Lane Single Pass Lightning Lane Single Pass allows you to “secure a time to ride one of (Disney’s) most highly demanded attractions” for an additional charge. You can purchase 2 Lightning Lane Single Passes a day. ©Disney Lightning Lane Premier Pass Lightning Lane Premier Pass allows a one-time entry to each available Lightning Lane experience that they can use AT YOUR LEISURE, meaning if you have it, you WON’T need to choose a specific arrival time to ride the attraction. Like other Lightning Lanes, the Premier Pass is available to purchase 7 days beforehand for Disney Hotel guests, 3 days beforehand for others. ©Disney Beyond Lightning Lanes, there are a few other ways guests can “skip” the line, in a manner of speaking. Rider Switch With Rider Switch, members of the same party can take turns experiencing an attraction. One member waits outside the queue while the remainder of their party waits in the queue. Once the first party returns from riding, the waiting member of the party may board the attraction without having to wait in the standard queue. Rider Switch at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure According to Disney, the Rider Switch is “appropriate” in the following situations: A Guest in the party either does not meet the boarding requirements or does not plan to ride but cannot wait outside the queue alone. A Guest has a service animal that cannot board the attraction, or they do not wish to use a provided kennel. A Guest is unable to experience the queue based on the nature or condition of the queue at a particular attraction in light of the circumstances and the Guest’s specific needs. Rider Switch is available at most attractions throughout Walt Disney World Resort. To use Rider Switch, let a Cast Member know you are interested in the Rider Switch option at an attraction’s entrance. Single Rider Finally, there’s the classic Single Rider Line. These are specialty-designated queues that see individual riders used to fill remaining seats in a ride vehicle that aren’t occupied by Guests utilizing standby lines or Lightning Lane entrances. Single Rider Currently, there are 5 Walt Disney World attractions that utilize Single Rider Lines: Expedition Everest Rise of the Resistance Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run Test Track Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure A quick reminder about Single Rider Lines: If multiple members of a party join the line, they WILL be split up. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that a single rider’s wait will be any shorter than a standard queue. Single Rider Sign If you’re looking to “skip the line” on your next trip to Walt Disney World, there are several options. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney tips. Why Disney Adults Keep Booking “Junk” Lightning Lanes 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 best (legal) skip-the-line tips for Disney World? Let us know in the comments below. The post UPDATE: Here's Every Way to Skip the Lines in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It is officially fall time at ALDI! ALDI recently released its ALDI Finds for September 10th through September 16th, and we spotted LOTS of Halloween and fall-related items. Plus, there are also some fun Disney-themed items for your kiddos! ALDI We are already scheduling a day to stop by ALDI next week, because there are some great deals and awesome finds. Let’s take a look at some of the items available next week at ALDI! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. These deals are available from September 10th until September 16th, so plan your next ALDI trip if any of these deals catch your eye! We are starting off with some boo-tiful Halloween decorations. These are perfect for decorating your home, or many of these would be great to bring along for your trip to Disney World. Decorating your hotel room can be a blast, and it adds even more Halloween excitement to your trip! First up, you can grab some spooky Halloween garland! ©ALDI Or you can snag some Halloween gel clings. These are perfect for sticking to your hotel room windows to make them ready for the season. Of course, you can also add them to your windows at home, too! ©ALDI We also spotted some adorable Halloween Hanging Ghosts! You can hang these up in your hotel room or home for some spooky decor. ©ALDI If you are looking for some spooky lights, you can also snag these LED Ghosts! Aren’t they just adorable? ©ALDI Finally, you can also grab some inflatable decorations. Each of these are 4 feet tall, so while they might not be ideal for your hotel room, they are perfect for adding some fun to your home! ©ALDI If you are heading to Disney World soon, we also spotted some great deals on packing essentials you might want to pick up. Starting with rain jackets for women and men. They are available in a variety of colors and perfect for combating the afternoon thunderstorm you will likely encounter at Disney World. ©ALDI If you want to snag a great deal on a rain jacket without leaving your home, check out this TCOT Rain Jacket! ©Amazon You can grab this rain jacket on Amazon in a wide variety of colors. It is lightweight, waterproof, and wind resistant. Perfect for an easy jacket to pack in your park bag so you are always prepared for some rain! Get this rain jacket here! You can also grab some stylish Ladies Rain Boots this week at ALDI! You will be protected from the rain and feelin’ great in these boots. ©ALDI We also spotted some loungewear sets that would be perfect to pack for your Disney World trip! You will be warm and cozy, and ready to rest up for your next day of fun. ©ALDI There are also some items that might come in handy for your trip. You can pick up a handheld sewing machine, a handheld mini iron (although you can also find irons in Disney World hotel rooms), a charging station, and a USB wall plate. ©ALDI If you are looking for a great park bag, you can also find a Foldable Backpack and a Foldable Tote at ALDI next week! ©ALDI You can also grab a great park bag without even leaving your home, like this Daypack from Amazon! ©Amazon It is lightweight and easy to pack. Plus, it is available in a wide variety of colors, so you can select your favorite! The daypack offers lots of space to organize your belongings while being easy to store so it can be packed easily. Get this backpack here! There are also some fun finds for your kiddos at ALDI! You can choose from a variety of LEGO sets. ©ALDI You can also snag an inexpensive LEGO set on Amazon right now! ©Amazon This LEGO City set will have your kiddo building a police car out of 94 pieces. It will keep them entertained, and they will have a toy to play with at the end! Get this LEGO set here! You can also snag a fun Character Lunch Box from ALDI! Character options include the Disney Princesses, Mickey and Friends, Stitch, Star Wars, and more. ©ALDI There are also some fun Character Lunch Boxes available on Amazon! ©Amazon You can snag this Bluey and Bingo Tin Lunchbox so your kid will be eating lunch in style and alongside some of their favorite characters. We think this lunchbox is so adorable! Get this lunchbox here! Your kiddos can also stay hydrated with these fun Stainless Steel Bottles featuring some of their favorite characters like Bluey or the Disney Princesses at ALDI. ©ALDI You can also keep your kid entertained with these color and activity sets featuring Disney characters like the Disney Princesses, Stitch, and Gabby’s Dollhouse. ©ALDI If you are craving some fall food, ALDI also has you covered! There is LOTS of pumpkin spice, maple, and apple crisp flavored foods available in the ALDI Finds next week. You can snag sandwich cremes and biscotti. ©ALDI Or Apple Crisp Ground Coffee and Barissimo Coffees of Fall. That is just the tip of the iceberg, though. ALDI has lots of fall foods, so give yourself some time to browse while you are picking up your other items! ©ALDI Stay tuned to DFB for more ALDI finds! Are you going to grab any of these items at ALDI? Let us know in the comments! The post This NEW Park Bag at ALDI Just Changed the Game for Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

You know what we love to do? We love to eat! It makes sense, being that “Food” is our middle name. We also love checking out new Disney World dining spots, as well as revisiting old favorites (and y’all, the list of our favorites is long). Mickey waffle with fried chicken? Yes, please! Speaking of revisiting old faves, the Grand Floridian Cafe at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is often underrated, but we just popped in to have some brunch there because it’s been a hot minute since we had our beloved Buttermilk-fried Chicken and Waffle. Atmosphere The Grand Floridian Cafe is located in the Grand Floridian (fancy that?), just off the first floor by the lobby next to 1900 Park Fare. It’s open for brunch and dinner, but the one thing we really love is that grabbing a reservation is usually pretty easy because it’s so unknown. Grand Floridian Cafe entrance The vibe is upscale cafe, but not to the point that it feels hoity-toity, you know? Atmosphere Plenty of seating is available with tables and chairs, as well as booth seating. Seating The table settings have cloth napkins and silverware. Table But enough about the restaurant — what’s on the menu here?! Menu For breakfast, the menu features appetizers like Caramelized Onion Soup Gratin and Avocado Toast, as well as salads, and main entrees like steak and eggs, eggs Benedict, Mickey waffles, and more. You can also order dessert to go with your breakfast, such as a seasonal fruit cobbler and the Cookies and Cream Chocolate Layer Cake. Menu Drinks include non-alcoholic drinks, as well as cocktails, beer, and wine. Eats You get started with some Biscuits with Citrus Butter and Regular Butter. Now, these biscuits aren’t anything super special, but they are nice and fluffy with a bit of crispness on the outside. The citrus butter, though, is wonderful with a light citrus flavor and sweetness that we could easily get addicted to. Both butters were also fluffy and airy. But then again, we LOOOOVVEEE butter. Biscuits Now, it’s time for a proper breakfast! We ordered the Floridian-style Eggs Benedict for $19. You get two Poached Eggs, Corn Cakes, Pulled Pork, and Poblano Hollandaise served with Marinated Tomato Salad. Y’all…seriously, the eggs were cooked perfectly with the yolk just oozing out of it once you cut through it. The corn cake had so much great corn flavor with a hint of sweetness and held up pretty well to all the toppings. Floridian-style Eggs Benedict Speaking of toppings, there was a good ratio here. The pork was tender with a hint of sweetness. The red onions were pickled, so you got a nice acidity that balanced out the other flavors. The sauce reminded us of a hollandaise, but it was more herby. It was light and creamy and really brought all the other flavors together. 10/10…would order again! DELISH! We’ve loved the Buttermilk-fried Chicken and Waffle for some time, which is made with Hand-breaded Chicken Breast and Malted Waffle with Sriracha-Honey Drizzle for $27. It’s hard to make a Mickey waffle even better, but once you add a juicy and tender piece of breaded crispy chicken, it’s HEAVEN. And that chicken is really done so well. It’s so crispy on the outside, almost like a cornflake-coated chicken. Buttermilk-fried Chicken and Waffle The waffle was crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, but again, it’s the combo of the waffle and the chicken that just takes this above and beyond a standard Mickey waffle breakfast. Mickey waffle upgrade! Yes, we have dessert with brunch, so we got the Key Lime Bar for $9, made with Graham Cracker Sable, Toasted Meringue, and Strawberry Sauce. The key lime part of the bar was silky, smooth, and creamy with a gorgeous key lime flavor. We loved that it wasn’t super sweet with a nice amount of tart that was just tart enough and didn’t make your lips pucker. The torched meringue on top is light and airy. Key Lime Bar The bottom was full of graham cracker flavor with some crispiness that complemented the creaminess of the rest of the bar. The strawberry sauce was smooth and full of strawberry flavor. It even came with a macaron that tasted like pistachio — we loved this touch! So creamy and full of key lime flavor The macaron was also perfectly crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, Nosh or Not This Disney World restaurant is a must-visit if… You want something a little MORE than Mickey waffles. If you want a breakfast that’s more than the basic Mickey Waffle breakfast, you can get it here. You’re staying at the Grand Floridian. If you’re staying at the Grand Floridian…or even at another Monorail resort, this is a great spot to have a nice breakfast/brunch. You want a table service meal. What’s great about the Grand Floridian cafe is that it’s a table service experience that still feels casual, although a little elevated. You should skip this Disney World spot if… You want a quick breakfast. If you’re looking for something to fuel you quickly before you hit the parks, this might not be for you. You’re not visiting Magic Kingdom or staying at the Grand Floridian. It might be a little out of your way to have breakfast here if you’re not at the hotel or headed (or coming from) Magic Kingdom. You’re on a tight budget. Although we find prices here reasonable, it still might be a bit more than what you want to pay for breakfast, especially if you’re not a big breakfast or brunch eater. Overall We think the Grand Floridian Cafe is one of the most underrated restaurants in Disney World. The atmosphere is relaxing and charming, the food is consistently great, and the service is outstanding. It’s also convenient to Magic Kingdom and a must if you’re staying at a Monorail resort. It’s also super easy to get a reservation for, even at the last minute. 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 REVIEW: We Just Had the MOST AMAZING Meal at a Disney World Hotel first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’re just recovering from Destination D23, which was recently held at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Disney World. These events are the biggest Disney fan events of the year, and we always get a lot of announcements about Disney movies, parks, and more. ©D23 At Destination D23, Disney announced that the next big fan event, D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Experience, would be held August 14th-16th in Anaheim, CA. However, there’s going to be one BIG change at next year’s event: vendors and collectors will not be offered spaces at the event. According to Scott Gustin, Disney has sent out a letter to this year’s exhibitors stating that the Emporium or vendor booths would be available to third party exhibitors in 2026. Note that this does not include official Disney partners like Loungefly or Lug, but third party vendors selling pins, collectibles, etc. Here’s the full letter that Disney sent out: ©Scott Gustin Responses from fans to the news has been all over the place. While some are disappointed, others understand Disney’s position on this. But it will change part of the show floor (albeit a small part of it). It’s likely Disney will use the space for something else. Disney has not yet announced ticket details for next year’s D23, nor do we have any further details about what to expect at the event. We’ll be keeping an eye out for more information, though, so stay tuned to DFB for more. 10 HUGE Disney Movie Announcements You Don’t Want To Miss 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 about this decision? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney Announces HUGE Change for Next Year's D23 Expo first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Are you a fan of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (who isn’t?!)? We found just the thing for you! Stormtroopers in Rise of the Resistance Here at DFB, we’re definitely Star Wars crazy and can’t get enough — especially when it comes to great Star Wars merch! If you’re looking for that perfect shirt to show off while riding Rise of the Resistance or simply when you’re out and about, Amazon has some options that will make even the grumpiest Sith Lords super happy! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Embrace the Dark Side with this Darth Vader shirt ©Amazon This Darth Vader Build The Empire Graphic T-Shirt is available in multiple colors and features a unique design of one of the most iconic figures in cinematic history. The Vader helmet design is made up of the Death Star, X-wings, TIE fighters, TIE interceptors, and more easter eggs. You’ll even see Stormtroopers at the bottom! BUY ON AMAZON Show off your love of lightsabers with this Shirt ©Amazon The Classic Epic Lightsabers Jedi Force Logo T-Shirt is available on Amazon in black, navy blue, or purple and features red, blue, and green lightsabers on the front. The shirt doesn’t play favorites, so if you’re into resorting peace to the galaxy or want to indulge in Dark Side mischief, this is the shirt for you! BUY ON AMAZON Pick up this hilarious Star Wars shirt ©Amazon The job of a Stormtrooper is a difficult one — just ask Matt, the radar technician (SNL fans know what’s up). Show a little love to these underrated villains with the Stormtrooper Employee of the Month Shirt! Available in a bunch of different colors and sizes, this officially licensed shirt is sure to garner a few chuckles during your next visit to Batuu. You can even brag to Stormtroopers wandering the land! BUY ON AMAZON Give Dad the perfect Star Wars shirt ©Amazon The words, “Luke, I am your father,” are forever etched in cinema history, and a dad near you can rep this sentiment with the Customizable I Am Their Father Star Wars Shirt! You can customize this shirt on Amazon to include names and lightsabers of your choosing, making this a truly unique souvenir. BUY ON AMAZON And there you have it! Which shirt is your favorite? Let us know and continue to follow us here at DFB for more Disney merch updates! The post 4 Disney World Shirts You'll LOVE If Your Favorite Ride Is Rise of the Resistance first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Any frequent visitor to Disneyland Resort is bound to have passed through a K9 unit security checkpoint. At first glance, one may simply notice how adorable the dog is while hard at work. However, behind that cuteness is an entire team of security cast members, both human and furry, who work tirelessly to keep Disneyland Resort safe. The K9 unit (lovingly dubbed the Pluto unit) is comprised of various roles, each vital to their overall success. Kennel Technicians This dedicated team of detail-oriented cast is integral to fostering the relationship between K9 handlers and their dogs. They do this by ensuring the dogs are taken care of while they are off-duty and preparing them for every shift. Doing daily health checks on the dogs, feeding them, and keeping their environment clean and calm are amongst the kennel technicians’ responsibilities. The kennel technicians get to know every dog’s unique personality from spending a lot of time with them at the kennel. This is an important part of the role, as it helps the technicians identify if a dog needs adjustments to their regular routine. Nicholas in the front hallway of the kennel. Meet Nicholas Hernandez, a kennel technician of four years now. Nicholas started his journey with the company as a security guest screener, and right away he knew he wanted to expand his knowledge of security at the resort. Through guidance from leadership, Nicholas learned that the best way to become a K9 handler was to gain experience working with security dogs as a kennel technician. Since transferring in 2021, Nicholas has learned so much about working with security dogs as a kennel technician. “Being a kennel tech is so rewarding because you get to work alongside our amazing K9 handlers, as well as a human’s best friend – what more can you ask for?” said Nicholas. Left: Nicholas with security dog Loki in the front entrance to the kennel. Right: Nicholas with security dog Tika. K9 Handlers K9 handlers have the closest relationship with the security dogs at the resort. Each K9 handler is assigned a security dog to work with, making the pair a certified team. In most cases, K9 handlers remain with the same dog until the dog, or handler’s, retirement. K9 handlers are responsible for working the security checkpoints with their dogs and consistently practicing with their dogs so their skills remain sharp. Left: One of Joey and Thor’s first photos together. Right: A recent photo of Joey and Thor at one of many security checkpoints they work together. Meet Joey Santos, a K9 handler who works as a team with security dog Thor. Joey started his journey as a security host cast member. He first learned of the K9 unit in a training course at the resort, where they were introduced to various roles across the security department. Joey was first accepted to join the kennel technician team as part of the opening team in 2019! Through guidance from the K9 handlers he supported and through opportunities he was given to practice working with the security dogs, he was able to achieve his dream of becoming a K9 handler in 2020. After six months of rigorous training, Joey was assigned his first canine partner, Thor. Joey continues to be grateful to be in his dream role, and says, “I would like to thank all the handlers that guided me into this exciting role. What I learned from this experience is that if you give it your all…in the end it will pay off.” Security Dogs Now, onto the furriest members of the unit! Disneyland Resort is currently home to 28 trained security dogs of various breeds. Before beginning their roles here, they are trained at an offsite facility and must pass multiple tests to achieve certification. They meet their assigned K9 handler while still at the facility, so their transition to the resort is comfortable and their bond is already established. Once at the resort, these accomplished canines are inducted as official Disneyland Resort cast members! They receive their own ID card and nametag and even get their own personalized retirement parties. A relative of a K9 unit cast member makes personalized hooks for many of the security dogs’ harnesses! A relative of a K9 unit cast member makes personalized hooks for many of the security dogs’ harnesses! A relative of a K9 unit cast member makes personalized hooks for many of the security dogs’ harnesses! These adorable pups have even “submitted” their own photos to be featured on our cast member communication channels, like Benny who made it on the cover of one of our bi-weekly cast guides! These adorable pups have even “submitted” their own photos to be featured on our cast member communication channels, like Benny who made it on the cover of one of our bi-weekly cast guides! These adorable pups have even “submitted” their own photos to be featured on our cast member communication channels, like Benny who made it on the cover of one of our bi-weekly cast guides! Part of what makes security dogs great at their job is their energy, endless curiosity and excitement to perform their assigned tasks. Working becomes a game for the K9s – a game that they take seriously and work to perform to the best of their ability. These dedicated dogs are truly safety stars at our resort! Tributes to retired security dogs previously employed at Disneyland Resort. Their personalized nametags show their start and end dates. The K9 unit provides cast members with a unique career journey where they can learn and grow through their various roles. Next time you pass through a security checkpoint at Disneyland Resort, take a moment to appreciate the amazing team behind those lovable K9s and the passion they bring to keeping cast members and guests safe every day. Explore Walt Disney’s Legacy at Disneyland Resort READ MORE Disneyland Gives Back to Anaheim with 70 Happiest Hours READ MORE Disneyland Resort Honors Purple Heart Recipients READ MORE The post Meet the Paw-fect Cast Members of Disneyland Resort appeared first on Disney Parks Blog. View the full article

Change is the name of the game in Disney World because EVERYTHING seems to be changing all at once. Magic Kingdom recently closed Rivers of America to make way for a new Cars Expansion, while a new Villains Land is being built behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which is also being updated. Oh, and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is getting updated, too. Pop Century Resort Then there are new lands coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom (which is also getting a new show in the Tree of Life). Y’all…it is a LOT. Even Test Track in EPCOT recently changed. Well, some big changes are also coming to Disney World hotels, including Disney’s Pop Century Resort. We got a firsthand look at the changes at Pop Century…and well…you’ll see. We recently got word that Pop Century’s lobby would be getting a huge renovation, and well, that renovation is now underway. We noticed that pretty much everything in the lobby is under construction, with a completion date set for about a month from now. So if you’re visiting the hotel soon, expect to see construction walls. These are in front of the vacation planning and concierge desk. Construction walls The kids’ area in the lobby is now behind black curtains. Kids’ area behind curtains This area is going to look more like the new wall mural you can already see as part of the “retro-inspired refresh” Disney is giving the hotel lobby. New mural! This part is looking pretty nice! The front desk area will also be getting some new murals. Looking good! But we’ve got some bad news. The shadow boxes with all the vintage items that we loved to look through are now gone. We confirmed with a Cast Member that these have been removed indefinitely. NOOO! Diner Shadow Box This refresh comes after Pop Century updated its Everything Pop! Shopping and Dining area, which contains the hotel’s food court. The hotel’s guest rooms are also being refurbished, with work expected to end in mid-February 2026. Stay tuned to DFB for more. 5 Things No One Tells You Before Staying at Disney’s Pop Century 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 do you think of the changes so far? Let us know in the comments! The post HUGE Change Hits Disney's Pop Century Hotel (and You're NOT Gonna Like It) first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We have some breaking Disney World Skyliner news! A portion of this popular transportation method is currently down, and guests are being rerouted to Disney buses to get to their destinations. The Skyliner line between EPCOT and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is currently closed, and guests are being directed to buses to get to EPCOT. Disney Skyliner When we arrived at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort on our way to EPCOT, we noticed a backup on the EPCOT line. After about 15 minutes, the line was cleared out, and we were routed to buses in order to get to EPCOT. While a rerouting can be unexpected, the Disney Skyliner does occasionally go down for technical difficulties or severe weather. The good news is that Disney is usually on top of it, and buses quickly arrive to get you to your destination. We always recommend giving yourself some extra time if you are trying to make a dining reservation, Lightning Lane time, or something similar that requires arrival at a certain time. Crowds at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Station Disney Transportation can take a bit of time, so it’s also a good idea to prepare for potential slowdowns or technical difficulties. If you do end up trying to take Disney Transportation that is closed for technical difficulties or severe weather, make sure to follow Cast Member instructions and if you have any questions, you can usually find a Cast Member nearby to ask. Disney Skyliner Stay tuned to DFB for all your Disney World news! We Wish We Had Known These 5 Things Before Using the Disney World Skyliner 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 transportation method? Let us know in the comments! The post BREAKING: EPCOT Skyliner Line Suddenly CLOSES at Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World is full of lots of sounds — screams from happy children (and sometimes not-so-happy), conversations, laughter, and overall, memories being made. 626 Day Stitch Headphone Cases All those sounds together form what we know as Disney World, as overstimulating as it can be sometimes. But additionally, in the past two decades, with the rise of cell phones and their capabilities, you may find that there are additional sounds to your Disney World day you weren’t expecting — a ping as someone receives a text, a phone conversation happening behind you in line, or maybe the sounds of a social media video or game being played. In pretty much all other public settings, this is where the use of headphones comes in, but how does that really work in Disney World? What is the etiquette for headphones? DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Headphone etiquette can most easily be described as when it’s appropriate in public settings to use headphones instead of playing a game/phone call/etc. out loud. In most scenarios, this is the polite thing to do, especially if you’re in a store, on public transportation, or in another enclosed setting with others, but things get a little blurry when you’re in some outdoor public spaces, such as a park. Magic Kingdom So, in this case, where does a theme park fit into this? If you’re inside an attraction building, headphones should be encouraged, but when you’re in the line stretching outside, they’re not needed?! Everyone’s opinion on this will be different, but if you’re ever questioning, we find it’s best to err on the side of caution, which in this case would be to use headphones. It’s important to realize that even if you’re waiting outside in a long line and there’s open air around you, everyone is confined to one space (the line) and can’t move unless they want to lose their place. It’s not fair to force everyone around you to listen to your loud phone call on speakerphone, or to play TikTok videos at full volume. Playing a game of Heads Up or watching videos with the volume turned down low often won’t be an issue with the chatter from the rest of the line, but be considerate to those around you and remember that you’re all in the same boat — waiting, waiting, and waiting. Animal Kingdom How do you go about bringing those into the park, though? Is it allowed? Thankfully, the answer is a resounding yes. Bringing headphones or earbuds is absolutely allowed in Disney World, though you may want to take them out of your bag to walk through the security line, as sometimes larger headphones may be flagged and cause your bag to be searched for safety reasons. In fact, if you know that you’ll be waiting in some long lines throughout the day and you use your phone/tablet/electronic device to help pass the time, bring those headphones! This way, you’re keeping yourself/your kids entertained, which makes the line feel faster, and you’re not disturbing those around you. Welcome to Hollywood! If you know that you’re likely to get overstimulated in line, or you really need something to distract you and make the lines feel faster, we can’t recommend bringing some earbuds or headphones enough. However, if you’re someone who prefers to block noise out and not add anything else to it, check out this recommendation we have below. Loop Earplugs ©Amazon Loop Earplugs are a SAVIOR for people who are sensitive to noise, or just need to turn things down a notch when they’re in the parks. We have multiple members of our team who use these on many different occasions, and we’ve found them to really help us out. The best part? There are SO many places you can use them outside of the parks too — the grocery store, the mall, the movie theater, you name it. They pack up nice and small in their case, and you can take them on the go wherever you need. Grab them right here! Our Favorite Over-The-Ear Headphones! ©Amazon If you’ve been meaning to invest in a pair of wireless headphones that you want to last many, many, MANY trips to Disney World, and in your day-to-day life, we highly recommend the Sony WH-1000XM6 Noise Canceling Headphones. Are they expensive? You BET they are, but the quality is top-notch. We see them all the time when we travel, so not only can you use them on the plane, but you can also use them to jam out to your favorite tunes while you wait in that 80-minute Slinky Dog Dash line. Grab them right here! Adorable Mickey Earbuds! ©Amazon More of an earbud fan and don’t want to break the bank, especially if you’re worried about losing them in the parks? That’s where the Mickey Mouse Bluetooth Earbuds with Charging Case come in. Not only are these things cute as can be, but they’re on the cheaper side, still good quality, and, again, can be used many places beyond the parks. Grab them right here! We’re always here to help you plan the absolute best Disney World trip possible, so stay tuned to DFB! The post 3 Unspoken Headphone Rules in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Three months after the debut of Universal Epic Universe theme park, Mark Woodbury, the CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences is talking about the future – not just in Orlando, but also in other U.S. cities plus the U.K. and Asia. In an interview with Jessica Reif Ehrlich, BofA Securities Inc. analyst, this week, Woodbury addressed bringing the Universal brand to new markets, including the year-round haunt in Las Vegas and the under-construction kids park in Texas. And Orlando’s newest park is off to a “pretty great start,” Woodbury said, and he covered ticket prices, financial priorities and the looming possibility of expansion at Epic Universe. Here are highlights of Woodbury’s thoughts from the session. Woodbury on Epic’s performance so far “It’s doing exactly what we wanted it to do, in terms of driving incremental attendance to the resort as a whole and the performance line for caps, very strong since we opened the doors. And you can see it in merchandise. You see it in the food offerings. A lot of great creative work went into both of those. Not without challenges when you open an entire theme park at once. … It’s always a little complicated to get it to ramp up to full speed, and we’re in the process of doing that now. Nothing that we didn’t expect.” On Epic expansion “If you fly over Epic or you look at Google Earth, you’ll see how we planned the park, and you’ll see greenfield space between the existing worlds, and that is strategically positioned to give us flexibility to expand the world or create a new world, and so that’s how we look at it. I don’t really have anything to announce specifically as attractions, but I can tell you that there are multiple attractions in the works, not just at Epic, but when you have the three parks, the cadence of product delivery across the resort to continue to drive the resort is really a key part of our strategy going forward. … We have a clear line of sight into how far we can take this. It’s considerable, and we have a pretty sophisticated and well thought-through long-range plan that takes us out another decade in terms of product offerings, not just not just in Orlando, but around the world.” On a ‘Wicked’ world? “I think I might have stirred that pot when I saw the ‘Wicked’ sets and said it was theme park waiting to happen.” Epic Universe opened with five themed 'worlds' including Celestial Park, How to Train Your Dragon -- Isle of Berk, Dark Universal, Super Nintendo World and Wizarding World of Harry Potter -- Ministry of Magic. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel) On Epic ticket prices “We’re looking at top line revenue generation at the front gate. I mentioned that a place like Epic right now is premium over the other two parks. We think it garners that because it’s first park built in 25 years, most technologically advanced park and all those things that make it what it is, so it’s at a premium. “But we’re also looking closely at consumer sentiment. We’re looking closely at the marketplace in each of our businesses to manage price, and then we’ve got the ability to dynamically price much better than we had historically.” On the Epic-adjacent hotels We’re seeing great performance in that [Helios Grand] hotel in terms of occupancy and ADR [average daily rate]. And then the two other hotels, Terra [Nova] and Stella [Luna], 1,500 rooms that are part of our value proposition. The great thing about that is we introduced those 2,000 rooms. Now have 11,000 total, and we saw no cannibalization. In fact, we see ADR growth across the resort on the back of this and strong occupancy sustained.” On Orlando market share I think that we have a we’re in a really strong position to continue to drive incremental growth to the overall marketplace, to take share in the process of that. You know, our chief competitor, Disney, is a strong competitor. They’re going to be investing pretty heavily in the market, too. I think it’s a case of, you know, all ships rise with the tide. We’ll both drive audience to the marketplace, and we’ll be able to take our share.” On post-Epic capital expenditures “When you look at the cycle, the development cycle of a major theme park like Epic, a multibillion-dollar investment, the big part of that CapEx lands in the last two years of that development cycle. So that, in the case of Epic, would be ‘23, ‘24, and then when you look forward to UK, it’ll be ‘29, ‘30 to open in ‘31. So that in-between period, we’ll see less investment on individual [sites] at that scale. The individual things that we’re looking at range from big attractions to new lands, but even at that, and even when you look at the Kids [resort] and Horror [Unleashed] , those are in the hundreds to several hundreds of millions of dollars versus billions for the theme park.” On Universal Kids Resort “We have a terrific pipeline of intellectual property in the form of DreamWorks and ‘Trolls’ and ‘Gabby’s Dollhouse’ to build around. And so Frisco [Texas] is our first Universal Kids Resort that allows us to both segment the audience and segment our portfolio of properties and in the process build a regional product that is sort of a rite of passage for families and much more accessible for young families in a regional form. They get to that park from all over Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and 300-room hotel as part of it, great product and a feeder as they age up to become aligned with our brand and then grow into our bigger parks.” Scarecrow: The Reaping is one of four haunted houses at Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas. (Universal Destinations & Experiences) On Universal Horror Unleashed “We’ve had great success with our Halloween Horror Nights over the last 32 years. Fantastic business for us. But it’s really a local place with a local regional play for Orlando, and it’s a local regional play for Los Angeles. So there’s a lot of space in the rest of the U.S. and internationally to bring to life the horror franchises that we’re known for in our film business, as well as our parks, and Universal Horror Unleashed is exactly that. It’s 120,000 square foot a year round horror experience. … We’ve been open for a few weeks in the soft-opening period in Vegas, we go grand open on the 18th, and reaction to the product has been really great, and performance to the product has been really great from a per-cap standpoint. And then we plan to roll that out. Chicago is our next place. And we pick those destinations because they have a great base population and they have big inbound tourists.” On odds of success in Vegas “We’re going to hit the ground running. … I know people comment often recently that Vegas business is down. They still have close to 40 million tourists that come to Vegas, and we only need a very small margin for that to make this very profitable.” On developing a park in England “Our hope is that that process will go very smoothly. But parks are complicated organisms, and this takes some infrastructure in the form of rail expansion and highway off-ramps and things like that — not things that we haven’t done before, but they’re complicated. … We think we have a pretty good handle on it at this point.” On its UK strategy “The best way to look at it is look at it like one of our standalone parks. It’s a full-blown Universal theme park with a 500-room hotel that is part of it, very much like Epic in terms of big park with a hotel. It’s designed in a way that we don’t see as cannibalistic to our strong UK visitation to Orlando. So we’ve created a different mix of attractions that we think will work great in the UK, but basically it’ll perform very much like one of our standalone parks in terms of attendance, in terms of per caps and overall EBITDA performance.” On the weather in the UK “You design it in a way that allows you to really take advantage of the great weather and protect against the inclement weather as best you can. But Japan, it gets very cold in the winter, very hot in the summer. China has its cold climate as well. The issue in UK is precipitation, but you’d be surprised to find that it’s a lot less than Orlando, and it just rains. It rains less and more frequently, which is not a bad problem. The torrential downpours are the bigger realm.” On developing an international park vs a domestic one “When you get into the detail of design … the main product is Universal, and it’s Universal-branded IPs, but then you get really focused. Menu – it’s very unique culturally. You have to pay close attention to that. And the other place where international development is unique is around humor. Humor varies very differently in different cultures.” On artificial intelligence “We look at how AI can help us enhance growth and revenue generation, and we see several areas for that dynamic pricing, making dynamic variable pricing much more efficient and much more real-time. We see new product offerings. We see AI assistance at our call centers, and that enables our agents, to move much quicker, to better customize offerings for the consumer. Same goes for our AI-assisted, conversational AI on our website. … “Then on the savings front … probably one of the bigger areas for us that’s unique to our business is how AI can assist in predictive maintenance on the rides to reduce maintenance costs, which is a considerable piece of business for us. So being able to employ that employee a different way to look at that machine learning in terms of how guests use the park, to be able to direct them to revenue-generating opportunities in the form of food and merchandise, to manage crowds and all those things are in deep work right now.” 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

Okay, so we know we have a lot of Bluey fans among our readers, or at least our readers’ kids (who are we kidding, we’re adults and we LOVE Bluey!). ©Disney We try to share all the big Bluey news with you when we find it, including details about new episodes on Disney+, new experiences, or when we find brand new Bluey merchandise online. Well, we’re about to share the biggest Bluey news EVER! Bluey is finally getting a movie, and it has a release date! BBC Studios and Walt Disney Studios, in partnership with Ludo Studio, have officially announced that a new feature-length Bluey movie will be coming to theaters on August 6th, 2027. We told you this was the biggest Bluey news EVER! Bluey is officially headed to the big screen! ©Disney First revealed in 2024, the movie is being written and directed by Joe Brumm, Bluey’s creator, and produced by Ludo Studio in collaboration with BBC Studios. It’s being produced by Amber Naismith and co-directed by Richard Jeffery (Bluey, Seasons 1-3). Brumm will also act as executive producer with Justine Flynn for BBC Studios, with Charlie Aspinwall and Daley Pearson from Ludo Studio. On the Disney side of things, the movie will be overseen by David Greenbaum, president of Disney Live Action and 20th Century Studios, and his team. Sounds like it’s in really good hands, y’all! Bluey even appeared in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Bluey’s original voice actors will also return for the movie, including Melanie Zanetti and David McCormack as Mum (Chilli) and Dad (Bandit). This will be Bluey‘s big screen debut, so maybe Bluey can add to its award collection that already includes an Emmy and BAFTA. Academy Awards, here we come! Stay tuned to DFB for more. Costco Just Released the PERFECT Bluey Halloween Decoration 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 news? Are you excited about a Bluey movie? Share with us in the comments! The post NEWS: 'Bluey: The Movie' Is Coming To Theaters in 2027! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

A Disney World hotel pool will be closing down for refurbishment soon! Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort The Fantasia kiddie pool at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort will be closing for maintenance beginning September 8th. 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. All-Star Movies Fantasia Feature Pool As well, while the Fantasia kiddie pool is closed for maintenance, you may see or hear maintenance activity. However, Disney does a great job of trying to keep disturbances to a minimum, so construction noise is almost always limited to the daytime at hotels. Toy Story Section at Disney’s All-Star Movies It is definitely a good idea to keep this closure in mind if you are heading to Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort soon with kiddos! There are other options for kiddie pools during the closure, but they will likely be a bit farther away than the Fantasia kiddie pool if you are staying at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort. Disney’s All-Star Movies If you want help planning your Disney World vacation, make sure to reach out to our friends at Small World Vacations. They have YEARS of experience planning Disney World vacations, and their services are completely free. They will help you get the best deals and take the stress away from planning your vacation. We are always keeping track of closures at Disney World, so make sure to stay tuned to DFB for all your Disney World closure news! Disney World Announces Hotel Pool Closure 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 What is your favorite Disney World hotel pool? Let us know in the comments! The post This Disney World Hotel Pool Is About to CLOSE first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Many travel trends can often lead to some really great tips that make the whole experience easier. With that said, there are some that we could easily do without. Airport gates Air travel is stressful enough with security lines, overpriced eats, strict timelines, and managing fatigue. But there’s one travel trend that makes the whole experience worse — and honestly, it’s time for it to go. One trend we’ve noticed continually getting worse is gate crowding. MCO Airport Let me explain: You’re sitting at the gate, boarding hasn’t even started yet, and already there’s a sea of people huddled around the boarding lanes like it’s rope drop at Magic Kingdom. They may not even be boarding for several minutes due to being in a lower boarding group — it doesn’t matter. There they are, clogging up the walkways and making it difficult for people who are actually boarding at that time. Airport Talk about unnecessary chaos. It’s silly because everyone has a seat on the plane. You’re going to get on board, and if you’re already there while boarding is beginning or in progress, you don’t run the risk of missing your flight. What exactly is the importance of being impatient and jockeying for line position (especially if you have a designated seat number)? Traveling soon? I get it. Sometimes people want to secure overhead bin space for their luggage. But unless you’re in the final boarding group, the plane should be able to easily accommodate you. The irony remains that people are so quick to get off the plane that fighting to get on is just ridiculous. Welcome to the Orlando International Airport This leads to a complaint about impatience when traveling in general. Airlines account for people running late, and they also use math and common sense when designing overhead space. There isn’t much incentive to be rude or to claim airport carpet space. But — just like at theme parks — people can’t resist inching closer and closer, convinced it will somehow get them on the plane and to their destination faster. Take it from a frequent traveler: life is so much easier when we work together as a collective and practice patience and kindness. It really is the easiest way to travel. Orlando International Airport Which travel trend do you want to see end? Let us know and continue to follow us here at DFB for more travel tips! The Weird Rule You Must Plan For on Long Travel Days Travel Updates, Tips, and Tricks Complete Guide to Booking the CHEAPEST Flight to Disney World What to Do if Your Flight to Disney World Is Canceled Our Best Tips For Flying Through the Orlando International Airport Step-by-Step Guide: How to Get to Disney World From the Orlando Airport You’re SLEEPING on These Packing Hacks Air Travel Tips That’ll Change Your Life 8 Catastrophic Travel Mistakes and How to Solve Them The Airline with the MOST Flight Delays and Cancellations This Small Change Will Save You From Lost Luggage The Best Disney Luggage for 2023 21 Things a Former Flight Attendant Needs You To Know 7 Highest-Rated Travel Items on Amazon Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click Here to Subscribe Which travel trends could you live without? Share your thoughts in the comments below! The post The Number One Travel Trend We’re Ready To See Die first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article