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Disney’s Hollywood Studios has a lot of construction projects going on right now, and even more walls are preparing to go up in a few weeks! Animation Courtyard Muppets Courtyard is in the process of becoming the new Monsters, Inc. Land, but Disney announced back in late July that Animation Courtyard would also be getting a massive overhaul and retheme. This is your reminder that the current version of the land will only be around until the end of September — after that, the major changes begin! On September 25th, Animation Courtyard as a whole will close to make way for the new version of the land, coming in 2026! This includes the Disney Jr. Play and Dance! building, currently taken over by the show Get Animated for Cool Kid Summer. The show will be getting a makeover as a whole, but it’s unclear at this time if it’ll still be Disney Jr. Play and Dance! or have a new name. Disney Junior Play and Dance This also means that the final day to experience Star Wars: Launch Bay will be September 24th. When it closes on the 25th, it’ll begin its transformation into The Magic of Disney Animation! The building concept art has a Sorcerer Mickey hat on the top (just like the park used to have!), and will be “a place where kids and kids at heart can laugh, draw, dream, and explore animated new experiences.” ©Disney Inside, you’ll explore the new building, which will be a take on the Disney Animation building in Anaheim, California! Disney told us that we’ll see portraits come alive before our eyes and “pencil in some time to learn to draw your very own character sketch.” ©Disney The entire area will be heavily inspired by The Walt Disney Studios Lot in California. There will be lots of characters to meet, and families will be able to take a break to “play, relax, or snack on tasty treats under lush trees.” You’ll also want to look closely at your surroundings, because “you never know who you might see playing in the branches, soaking up the sun, or digging in the grass.” ©Disney There’s also going to be a new Drawn to Wonderland playground. This will feature an “oversized flower garden with musical instruments, a Mad Tea party playset, and a Tugley Wood exploration area,” and will be based on the original Mary Blair “Alice in Wonderland” concept art! ©Disney We’ve got good news, though — The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure and Walt Disney Presents will still be available during this retheme, so you’ll still have some experiences to check out over in the area. However, this means that when September 25th hits, that means TWO entire lands will be closed off in Hollywood Studios, which may affect crowd flow. More Recent Hollywood Studios News! REMINDER: 2 Hollywood Studios Attractions Are Permanently Closing This MonthA Popular Disney Attraction Is CLOSING in 3 Days in Animal Kingdom3 Cringey Things That Make Me Rethink Walking into Disney’s Hollywood Studios Restaurants Ever Again2 Ways Disney’s Hollywood Studios Will Be Totally Different in 2026REVIEW: Chocolate and Spice Take Over This Iconic Hollywood Studios Snack Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney World news and beyond! The Weird Reason I HATE Going to Disney World in a Group of 3 Are you looking forward to this new retheme? Tell us in the comments! The post REMINDER: 2 Hollywood Studios Attractions Are Permanently Closing This Month first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

A NEW lounge is open in Magic Kingdom! The Beak and Barrel For the first time, Magic Kingdom has its own bar! The Beak & Barrel is a new pirate-themed dining location where you can order drinks and eats, and it’s already SO popular. But some people are actually avoiding going to this restaurant right now! We posted a poll to our subscribers on YouTube recently, asking them where they stand with reservations for The Beak & Barrel. When reservations dropped officially, they booked up in MINUTES, so we were curious to see how our followers fared. Cooks Corn Griddle Cakes with Chipotle-braised Chicken We posed three options in the poll: I got a reservation! Nope, I tried, but I didn’t get what I wanted! I’ll wait for the reviews to roll in before I visit… And of those three options, would you believe that 73% of responders answered the third choice?! That means that nearly 3/4 of the people who answered the poll are putting the brakes on visiting The Beak & Barrel. Kraken’s Catch And honestly? We don’t blame them. It’s a great idea to research the places you choose for your dining reservations before you commit. After all, you only have limited time and money to spend on vacation, and so you’ll want to use those resources wisely. You wouldn’t want to book a dining reservation only to find out that the restaurant you chose isn’t what you’re looking for. Treasures But of course, WE were there on August 29th — opening day! — to get you that review! You can find out what we think right here! Our full review of The Beak and Barrel — Click here! And if you’re thinking about snagging a reservation for The Beak & Barrel? You should know that this isn’t really a full restaurant in the traditional sense. It’s more of a drinks-and-small plates kind of place. Also, you have a strict 45-minute time limit when you visit since this spot is so popular. Rummy! The antics here are a lot of fun, though, with really intricate theming, great Cast Member interactions, and unique entertainment throughout. Pirate fans will really adore the atmosphere, and adults will probably find this a wonderful stop for the middle of a Magic Kingdom day. So many details! So if you want to stop by, make sure to set those alarms for 6AM ET 60 days before your trip — that’s when dining reservations become available. Currently, there’s no Walk-up Waitlist for The Beak & Barrel. On opening day, Cast Members told us they don’t expect there to be a Walk-Up Waitlist until at least the end of the year! We’ll keep you updated with more dining news from Disney World! Stay tuned to DFB for the latest! Click Here to See Our Full Review of The Beak & Barrel! Are you planning a visit to this lounge? Tell us in the comments! The post 73% of Disney Fans Admitted They're Waiting for One BIG Thing Before Visiting the NEW Magic Kingdom Restaurant first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’ll admit it…we are obsessed with Disney Loungefly bags. There’s literally one for every character, movie, moment, scene, etc. ©Amazon The bag designs are also always so unique and so representative of the Disney thing they’re celebrating that they’re hard to resist, too. We get a lot of our Loungeflys on Amazon, and now six NEW Loungeflys have arrived, including one dedicated to a seriously underrated movie, Atlantis! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Yep, you can order these new Loungefly bags RIGHT NOW from Amazon. Grab them before they’re gone! Get the Atlantis Kida Mini Backpack ©Amazon FINALLY! Loungefly is giving Atlantis some love with this beautiful Kida backpack that features Princess Kida on the front. The bag also features some symbols from the lost city of Atlantis on the side pockets, as well as an Atlantis zipper pull. The straps even have Atlantean writing and symbols on them. View on Amazon Buy the Loungefly Cinderella Crossbody Bag ©Amazon This purse is fit for a Disney Princess and is designed and themed to Cinderella. It has a beautiful embroidered design of flowers and birds with a glass slipper on the front. At the bottom of the bag, you can see the silhouettes of Jaq and Gus. The handle is a tiara! View on Amazon Get the Moana Crossbody Bag ©Amazon There’s no telling how far you’ll go (see what we did there?) with this gorgeous crossbody bag that is channeling Moana. This bag features pretty embroidered flowers, Hei Hei, and Moana’s boat, with a silhouette of Pua at the bottom. The Heart of Tefiti is in the center of the bag. View on Amazon Buy the Pluto 95th Anniversary Bag ©Amazon Pluto might not look it, but he’s turning 95 this year. Celebrate all things Pluto with this fun bag that features Mickey’s best friend front and center and a fun bone-shaped zipper pull shaped like the ID tag on Pluto’s collar. The plaid design is fun plus there’s a graphic of Pluto in his doghouse on the back. View on Amazon Get the Lightning McQueen Mini Backpack ©Amazon Ka-chow! Lightning McQueen fans will need to grab this bag which features their favorite Cars character front and center. This bag even comes with a bonus coin purse shaped like a tire. The back features Lightning McQueen’s number, 95. It also has checkered straps. View on Amazon Buy the Grogu Mini Backpack ©Amazon The Mandalorian‘s Grogu took the world by storm and is still dominating pop culture. We’re big fans! If you love Grogu as much as we do, you’ll love this charming mini backpack that features The Child peeking out from inside a bag. You’ll find images of Grogu on the sides, 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 The 6 Best Disney Loungefly Bags From Amazon Right Now first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

I have beef with the Germany booth at the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. There, I said it. 2025 Germany Booth You’ve probably perused the menu and thought, “How could anyone hate this? This sounds incredible!“ I was in full agreement with you until I was there on opening day with a tray full of food and drinks and realized what was sitting in front of me. The EPCOT Food & Wine Festival runs till November 22nd and is where EPCOT completely transforms into a food wonderland. There are food booths on every corner and literally a passport book listing all the different foods you’ll want to try (and there will be a lot!). It’s a fan-favorite festival known for bringing crowds. Welcome to Food & Wine! Most pavilions feature a special festival booth, along with other booths scattered throughout the pavilions and in front of the park. In the Germany Pavilion, there’s a Germany booth as well as the Alps right next to it. 2025 Germany Menu On the menu, you’ll see three different food options with a ton of beer: Schinkenmudeln: Pasta gratin with ham, onions, and cheese Roast Bratwurst in a pretzel roll Apple Strudel with vanilla sauce Weihenstephaner Festbier, Freising Schöfferhofer Berry-Lime Hefeweizen, Mainz von Trapp Brweing Oktoberfest Marzan-style Lager, Stowe, VT Beer Flight Selbach-Oster Riesling QbA, Mosel Germany Booth — Full Spread Sounds great, right? Well, it might not be your favorite after all. I had all three food items plus the beer flight. To start, I had the Schinkenmudeln. Don’t be afraid of the huge name. It’s a pretty good pasta casserole featuring diced ham and an abundance of cheese. It has so much cheese that it’s part of the Emile’s Fromage, a cheese crawl where, if you try five different cheese-themed dishes that are part of the list, you get an additional sixth treat for free. When you order, don’t forget to grab a stamp in your passport. Schinkennudeln REVIEW: EPCOT IS SERVING A CHEESY NOODLE DISH TO MAKE YOUR FLAVOR DREAMS COME TRUE As mentioned earlier, the Alps booth is right next to Germany, which also offers a dish for Emile’s Fromage Montage — Warm Raclette Swiss Cheese. This is Swiss cheese melted from a wheel in front of you and drizzled over potatoes, accompanied by a side of bread. Between this and pasta casarouel, which one are you picking? Come on, you’re picking the fondue! Warm Raclette Swiss Cheese and Alpine Ham EATING A BUNCH OF CHEESE CAN GET YOU A PRIZE AT EPCOT The Schinkenmudeln have a crispy top and are totally, totally cheesy, but you have to remember that it is the start of the August festival in Orlando, Florida. It’s HOT. I don’t know about you, but I don’t really want to be eating huge amounts of pasta covered in cheese or fondue in the summer. It was delicious though What about the Roast Bratwurst? Honestly, it was pretty awesome! The sausage had a great snap and wasn’t too spicy or strong. Even the mustard that came with it wasn’t super spicy. I was really looking forward to the pretzel roll because of the pretzel, but it was not the soft and buttery roll I was expecting. If you’ve had the big pretzel in the Germany Pavilion and thought it was super dry (well, they did just add a new cheese for it, so you might be loving it right now), the pretzel is similar to the bun. Bratwurst REVIEW: THIS NEW SNACK IN EPCOT’S GERMANY PAVILION IS WORTH PLANNING A WHOLE TRIP Maybe I just prefer an Auntie Ann’s pretzel that is buttery and soft on the inside, with just a hint of bite on top, but this is not what I found in the Roast Bratwurst. Inside The Apple Strudel was my favorite from the booth. The vanilla cream reminded me of melted ice cream, and the cooked apples had a great cinnamon flavor, perfectly cooked. It’s a great choice, and while all three of the food items are good, they’re really not anything to write home about. These are certainly not bad options, and you are unlikely to be disappointed. I promise there are better booths out there. Apple Strudel with Vanilla Sauce Let’s not forget about the beer! Now, even as someone new to drinking beer, I enjoyed all three beers on the flight. My only problem was that they were filled to the brim. Normally, this might not be a problem if you’re only getting beer from here, but if you’re needing to carry food and a drink, be careful! I personally spilled all three of my beers right into all three of my food dishes. The crazy part was, I didn’t really mind the taste! The pretzel roll was a little softer, and the only problem was that I had less beer to drink! These were full when I got them! I appreciate them giving me my money’s worth of beer, but maybe consider bringing a friend along if you’d like to grab food and drinks. EPCOT food booths don’t offer food trays, and everything comes in small cups and multiple plates, making it difficult to grab it all, especially if you need to walk a little to find a table. von Trapp Brewing Dunkel Lager My final note on the Germany booth is the very strong smell coming from its neighbor, the Alps. Since the Swiss cheese is constantly being melted, it will smell like Swiss cheese. The type of Swiss they use is a very strong cheese, even when eating, and you’ll probably get a whiff of it when you walk by. Melting the cheese in front of you All in all, I’m not saying completely skip the Germany booth, but maybe grab one item before heading to a more unique booth where it’s going to be a powerhouse of flavors. If you’re a pickier eater, this might provide you with familiar tastes, and it might be a great stop for kids, too, but if you’re looking for the full Food & Wine experience, continue to head down the World Showcase for some more. This changed my life so make sure you grab it from The Alps 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. In the meantime, make sure you keep following Disney Food Blog for more, and happy eating. EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO EAT AND DRINK AT THE 2025 EPCOT FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL 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’s your favorite Food & Wine booth? Tell us in the comments. The post I Had Major Problems with the Germany Pavilion During the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’ve unlocked the secret to scoring unbelievable prices on everyday Disney essentials you’ll need for your trip AND at home! We love our Owala water bottle! We’ve never seen prices this low on several of these items for sale on Amazon right now and we’re begging you to snag them while they’re so cheap. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Get the Unofficial Disney Parks Cookbook boxed set! ©Amazon This boxed set offers you the ultimate collection of Disney-themed recipes for every meal and occasion. The boxed set, authored by Ashley Craft, features hundreds of delicious recipes to recreate your favorite meals from Walt Disney World and Disneyland right at home. View on Amazon This Disney Princess Owala water bottle is sure to make the top of your favorites list! The Rapunzel Owala I’ve personally carried around the Rapunzel inspired design and I get so many compliments on how beautiful it is by Disney fans and non-alike. We’re big fans around here of their durability, long lifespan, and their top closure. Browse them all and decide which Disney princess-inspired design fits you most! View on Amazon We love these JoyJolt Disney cups! We love these glasses! Mickey and his friends are ready to be your best pal through any meal thanks to this adorable glass cup set by JoyJolt! Not only are they super cute, but they’re versatile capable of holding frozen to hot beverages in almost any capacity. They make a great gift set to give to someone you know or keep for yourself to enjoy around the house or when you’re entertaining guests. View on Amazon Or, you can grab this Winnie the Pooh hat! ©Amazon You’re ready for the (not so) spooky season sporting this Winnie the Pooh hat. Pooh’s dressed in his Halloween costume and ready to go out trick or treating — or just in search of something good to eat! View on Amazon Don’t forget this Disney Ducktails Halloween shirt! ©Amazon When you’re not out solving a mystery (or re-writing history), Scrooge’s nephews from Ducktails have got your front — quite literally! We’re still yapping about how retro this shirt’s design is and for the price, it’s an easy repeatable wear even before Halloween night. View on Amazon And finally, who couldn’t use a Mickey Mouse backpack cooler? ©Amazon This soft cooler backpack is built like an insulated lunch bag complete with red and gray accents. It’s a great option to carry around if you’re toting around things that need to stay cool and if you’ll look closer, you’ll even see a few distinct Mickey Mouse features in the lid and front pocket when they’re zipped up! 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 We Know What Every Disney Adult Will Be Buying From Amazon This Weekend Thanks to This 54% off Sale first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival is here, and there’s so much to explore. What’s going on in the Morocco Pavilion? There are over 35 food booths to visit, hundreds of special food and drink offerings only available through the end of the festival (November 22nd), not to mention the Eat to the Beat concert series you can jam to throughout the festival. However, there’s a SECRET lounge that’s returning this year that will be ESSENTIAL for keeping yourself cool and hydrated throughout your park day. The Florida Blue Medicare Lounge is located in the Morocco Pavilion in what used to be Restaurant Marrakesh, and we’re so thrilled it’s back this year! This lounge is an air-conditioned paradise that gives you a great break from the heat and crowds at Food and Wine. Florida Blue Lounge! Inside you’ll find lots of free drinks like Moroccan mint tea, cold brew, water, and more… Inside the lounge! …not to mention there are also some art activities for you to enjoy as well. It’s great for people of all ages! Art activities! The best part? The Florida Blue Medicare Lounge is open to everyone! However, you do have to register if you want to enter, which can be done in a few ways. You can search for Florida Blue Lounge in the My Disney Experience app, which will direct you to their site, and you’ll put in the information they ask for, or you can visit the Florida Blue website and fill out this form on the lounge page. Registration requires you to provide your name, email address (giving consent to Florida Blue to send you marketing), and zip code. You must also be 18 or older to register. A great way to relax! The lounge is open from 12–6 PM each day; however, there’s another important perk to note if you’re interested in seeing the Eat to the Beat concert series artist on that particular day. The lounge gives out a total of 75 wristbands each day on a first-come, first-served basis for the three shows (25 per show), which will guarantee you a seat at that night’s show! Only one wristband per person is allowed per day, and on days where more popular artists are performing, we have a feeling a lot of people will be rope dropping this spot. Look at that line! Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Food and Wine Festival news — there’s so much to explore, and it can sometimes feel overwhelming, but that’s why we’re here to help! 2025 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Booths, Menus, and FOOD PHOTOS 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! Are you planning to use this lounge? Tell us in the comments! The post EPCOT’s Secret World Showcase Lounge Is BACK for the Food and Wine Festival! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’re LIVE at this year’s Destination D23 in Disney World, and a major Disney castle question was just answered! (FINALLY!) Cinderella Castle Destination D23 is the ultimate Disney fan weekend in 2025, and is being held at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort from August 29th through the 31st. During the expo, we’ve gotten to learn about upcoming projects, hear from special guest speakers, and even get some insight into Disney history. In fact, a secret was revealed about a previous (and controversial) castle change! During the Beyond the Spires: An Insider Look at Disney Castles panel, a fun piece of history was revealed regarding the time Stitch TP’d Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom! When Stitch’s Great Escape debuted in 2004, Disney World “honored” the opening with a large inflatable Stitch, Stitch “mugshot” posters throughout the parks, and even a graffiti-ed and TP’d Cinderella Castle with the words “Stitch Is King” spray-painted on the turret. Yikes! Up for only a day, its legacy still lives on. But during the D23 presentation today, Stitch even came out and TP’d the stage and Imagineers! We got Magic Kingdom flashbacks. *shiver* Folks STILL have a lot of questions regarding this brief overlay, and it was asked during the panel what the toilet paper was made of (did Stitch run to the supermarket and buy TONS of toilet paper?). The answer was simple: FABRIC! Sorry to all the purists out there, real toilet paper was not used (although that totally makes sense unless the toilet paper was like 20-ply). Stitch Resting After Vandalizing Cinderella Castle The vandalized castle was a mess, but still not as bad as when Cinderella Castle was turned into a giant birthday cake for Disney World’s 25th Anniversary! During the presentation, panelists talked about how they strawberry shortcaked the Disneyland Paris castle and it dyed the moat pink. It was definitely a sight to behold! There was even concept art of a caki-fied Carousel of Progress that would celebrate Mickey’s 60th birthday! ©Disney The talk of castles and theming is especially relevant now that it was announced during the panel that the classic color scheme is coming back to Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom. The colors changed to a rose gold-y color scheme during the 50th anniversary celebration. We literally got chills Per Disney, “Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom is getting a new color palette, inspired by the classic and original look of the castle. The updated paint will feature grays, creams, blues, and touches of gold, aiming to enhance the castle’s architecture.” ©Disney Cinderella Castle has gone through a lot over the years and, clearly, it’s not done changing yet! We’ll be sure to bring you all the latest castle and Disney World updates, so stick with us right here at DFB to stay in the know! BREAKING: Cinderella Castle Is About to Look WAY Different in Magic Kingdom Which version of Cinderella Castle is your favorite? Let us know in the comments! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disney World to attend Destination D23. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ The post Disney Just Answered a Burning Question About a Controversial Cinderella Castle Makeover first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’ve ever been to Disney World during a busy season, you know the feeling — shoulder-to-shoulder walkways, long lines for snacks, and unbearable waits for rides. Unfortunately, we could see a lot more of that next year. Main Street, U.S.A. It may not seem apparent, but if you’re planning a trip in 2026, brace yourself for a potentially rough reality. Crowds might be heavier than usual, and we’ve thought of three big reasons why. A Year of Construction Thanks to plenty of expansion and refurbishment projects, 2026 is considered a construction year at Disney World. While that seems like it could be a good thing to keep crowds away, there’s a decent chance the inverse happens and all the construction just makes matters worse. Construction Disney’s Animal Kingdom is set for a land retheme as DinoLand U.S.A transforms into Pueblo Esperanza — a Tropical Americas-themed land. A large section of the park will be closed for construction, and several rides (such as DINOSAUR) will be closed for the majority of the year. DINOSAUR Animal Kingdom already has a limited selection of rides, and cutting off more means people might actually skip the park or treat it like a half-day experience. While this likely means lower crowds at Animal Kingdom in 2026, guests will likely spill over into the other parks. @bioreconstruct on X But it’s not just Animal Kingdom. Even Magic Kingdom will see some sections cordoned off while the park works on its Piston Peak and Villains Land expansions. Piston Peak ©Disney Here’s the Rub: Magic Kingdom is the most-visited theme park in the world, and that’s not changing anytime soon. Additionally, while you keep up to date on all the latest Disney World happenings, most people don’t…so they’re not taking into account construction. Cast Members in hard hats and high-vis vests Translation: fewer pathways, bottlenecked crowds, and a park map that feels more like a puzzle than a guide. If you thought the walkways were tight before, just wait until you experience the same amount of guest traffic in a much smaller space. Last Chances and First Chances Change is inevitable in 2026, as it’s shaping up to be a big “out with the old, in with the new” year. Several rides are either closing, changing styles, or reopening with brand-new effects. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is reopening with new ride vehicles, new blasters, enhanced effects, real-time point tracking, and more in 2026. New ride vehicle! After over a year, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will also return with a refurbished track and enhanced effects. ©Disney Over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is getting a total retheme based on The Muppets and Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run will feature new storylines and updated experiences featuring Grogu and the Mandalorian. ©Disney We’re also saying goodbye to favorites like DINOSAUR and the Aerosmith version of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster in 2026. That means Disney fans will be flocking for last chances to ride old favorites and first chances to try the new versions. It’s the ultimate recipe for long wait times and packed parks, unfortunately. Universal’s Hype May Cool Down Right now, all eyes are on Universal’s shiny new park: Epic Universe. While it’s unlikely, it’s still possible that the hype dies down in 2026. Celestial Park The “we have to be there opening year” mindest will be nonexistent, and families who usually make Disney their vacation destination but got tempted away by Universal might be ready to return to “The Most Magical Place on Earth.” Maybe 2025 was their Universal year, and then it’s back to Disney. How To Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk That bounce-back, combined with everything new happening inside Disney World, could make 2026 a perfect storm when it comes to crowd size. We’re speculating at this point, but one thing IS for certain: the days of a crowdless Disney World are over. Crowds or no crowds, we look forward to our daily Disney World visits. Follow along with our coverage and discoveries right here at DFB and get all the latest updates! These Maps Show You Secret Paths to Avoid the Worst Disney World Crowds Are you planning on visiting Disney World in 2026? Let us know in the comments! The post 3 Big Reasons Disney World Will Be More Crowded in 2026 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

STOP THE PRESSES! ©Disney Disney just dropped a major castle-related update, and we’re FREAKING OUT. If you were a fan of the old castle, look at the Magic Kingdom; you’re going to want to book a visit soon. The classic color scheme is coming back to Cinderella Castle at Disney World. We literally got chills The colors changed during the 50th anniversary, but it’s officially being painted to go back to the original colors. Cinderella Castle “Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom is getting a new color palette, inspired by the classic and original look of the castle. The updated paint will feature grays, creams, blues, and touches of gold, aiming to enhance the castle’s architecture.” The old color scheme Here’s a look at it now! While the 50th symbol in the middle was removed, the pinks and blues have remained, even years later. Magic Kingdom Are you Team Classic Colors or Team Pink Castle? Tell us your thoughts in the comments. Cinderella Castle We are SO excited for this update, especially if it makes our gorgeous castle look even more spectacular in photos. In the meantime, make sure you’re following Disney Food Blog for more. EVERY DISNEY WORLD CHANGE I’M NOT PREPARED FOR 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 What do you think about this new change? Tell us in the comments! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disney World to attend Destination D23. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ The post BREAKING: Cinderella Castle Is About to Look WAY Different in Magic Kingdom first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s been a WILD weekend, y’all. First, we marathoned the first day of the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival. Then we hurried on over to Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort to attend Destination D23, which is the biggest Disney fan event of the year. Now, we’ve had some news already coming out of Destination D23, like the announcement of a new movie, not to mention more details about upcoming movies. We also learned a little more about Disney World’s upcoming Villains land, and got some news about a new Disneyland documentary. Well, now we’ve got some more Disney Parks news for you because Disney dropped the opening timeline for its new World of Frozen land coming to Disneyland Paris. We previously knew that World of Frozen would open in Disneyland Paris in 2026, but now Disney has confirmed that the Kingdom of Arendelle will be opening to visitors in spring 2026. This will also be a milestone to mark the official transformation of Walt Disney Studios Park into Disney Adventure World. Opening timeline! Walt Disney Imagineering also released a video showing the impressive construction of Elsa’s ice palace for the land in the reimagined park, where “immersive worlds inspired by the most popular Disney stories are brought to life.” We’ve been to the World of Frozen in Hong Kong Disneyland, and this one looks pretty close to that land. The park will also include Frozen Ever After, a ride that’s currently already running in EPCOT, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Tokyo DisneySea. Frozen Ever After at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort We’ll be keeping an eye out for more updates about World of Frozen and other Disney Parks news, so stay tuned to DFB for more. Disney Reveals CHANGES Coming to Original Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Attraction What do you think? Will you be visiting World of Frozen at Disneyland Paris when it opens? Share with us in the comments! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disney World to attend their Destination D23 media event. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ The post BREAKING: Opening Timeline Announced for Disney's NEW World of Frozen Land first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Think you know Disney castles? Think again because during “Beyond the Spires: An Insider Look at Disney Castles,” Imagineers shared some knowledge that other Imagineers didn’t even know. Hosted by Michelle Khare, creator of “Challenge Accepted,” Imagineers Wyatt Winter, Jason Grandt, and Katie Gibbs were joined by Former Imagineering Creative Executive Tom Morris and James Silson, Show Director with Disney Live Entertainment, to share their most in-spire-ing moments in the history of building Disney Castles. Here’s the highlights: World of Frozen, Opening Spring 2026 What’s a panel about castles without a look at one of the newest castles, and a palace, coming to Disneyland Paris? Michel Den Dulk, Portfolio Executive Creative Director, joined Destination D23 from the World of Frozen project site to share a look at Arendelle Castle and Elsa’s Ice Palace along the North Mountain. Palette Fit for a Princess Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom is getting a new color palette, inspired by the classic and original look of the castle. The updated paint will feature grays, creams, blues, and touches of gold aiming to enhance the castle’s architecture. Crafting Castles Michelle kicked off the panel with a question that really gets to the heart of the discussion: How do Imagineers even build castles? The short answer is meticulous research, design, and construction. Imagineers researched the craft behind building castles, studied the design and architecture of iconic castles around the world. They then modernized the process to recreate authentic structures that also function as an icon for the park, while standing the test of time. Every part of the castle—from the foundation to the paint on the tallest spire—needs to be durable. That’s why, unlike traditional castles, Disney Castles are constructed using concrete, steel, cement, plaster, and fiberglass to build the structure. Once completed, each castle serves as a uniquely designed experience for guests—with one commonality: the Disney Family crest. Walt Disney’s ancestors lived in France, and their last name was derived from their French hometown, Isigny-sur-Mer, shortened to “d’Isigny” and later anglicized to “Disney.” The Disney Family crest, originating in France, was added to Sleeping Beauty Castle above the entrance in the 1960s after the family discovered the design. Since then, it’s been included on every Disney Castle. Imagineers love including design nods like this to the incredible people who have contributed to the legacy of this company. At Walt Disney World, Disney Legends John Hench and Herb Ryman are included in the mosaic mural within Cinderella Castle. Herb is presenting the slipper to Cinderella, while John looks down at him. For Enchanted Storybook Castle in Shanghai, Imagineers designed a poignant nod to the Disney family with four swans adorning the archways leading into the castle. The four swans are named after the women in Walt Disney’s life — Flora, his mother; Lillian, his wife; and Diane and Sharon, his daughters. When Imagineers worked on Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant at Disneyland Paris, the architect had an idea to include a nod to French cuisine… snails! On two of the gold-decorated towers, snails are climbing up the ribs, seemingly trying to get away from French cooks. Icing on Top of the Castles If there’s one thing Imagineers like doing, it’s putting cakes on castles! The most well-known being the Cinderella Castle Cake, the iconic overlay for the 25th Anniversary of Walt Disney World in 1996, but it wasn’t the first cake castle! That honor belongs to Disneyland Paris with its Strawberry Shortcake Castle in 1993 for the park’s first anniversary. By the time both of these cakes came to be, cake overlays had been a long time coming. Imagineers originally ideated a cake overlay for Carousel of Progress in 1988 for Mickey Mouse’s 60th birthday. Next Up: We Call It Imagineering Imagineers closed out the panel announcing the next episode of “We Call It Imagineering: Building Castles” will debut on the Walt Disney Imagineering YouTube channel on Sept. 8! Hearing from the Imagineers behind Disney castles is a reminder that these icons are so much more than stunning landmarks — they’re living symbols of storytelling, innovation, and artistry. All brought to life by the passion of Imagineers who dream, design, and build with generations of guests in mind. As this panel reminded us, castles aren’t simply built — they’re crafted with care to embody the magic at the heart of every Disney park. Want to hear more about what’s being dreamed up, designed, and created? Follow the Imagineers every step of the way on YouTube and Instagram and stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes stories on the Disney Parks Blog. New Tron: Ares Ride Overlay Announced for TRON Attractions READ MORE Disneyland Handcrafted: Trailer Revealed for New Film READ MORE Walt Disney Audio-Animatronics Figure Coming Soon READ MORE The post Details, Lore, and More Hidden Gems Revealed For Disney Castles appeared first on Disney Parks Blog. View the full article

For more than 50 years, Cinderella Castle has welcomed guests down Main Street, U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom. During the “Beyond the Spires: An Insider Look at Disney Castles” panel at Destination D23, Imagineers looked back at the various overlays and color schemes for Cinderella Castle over the years. Imagineers also shared a rendering for the new Cinderella Castle color palette, which is inspired by the classic and original look of the castle. The updated paint will feature grays, creams, blues, and touches of gold aiming to enhance the castle’s architecture. While the project team is still putting the finishing touches on the paint design process, we wanted to share the incredible amount of research and care that goes into this project. A Royal Palette Around the globe, there are six Disney “Castle parks,” where the castles serve as the heart of the parks —the landmarks that draw guests in, the backdrop of cherished family photos, and the icons that represent the magic of Disney around the world. At Walt Disney World, the castle’s iconic look is built on a timeless color combination: deep, handsome blues paired with radiant golds. These colors were chosen to reflect the Florida sunshine in a way that makes the castle shimmer from every angle. No matter the season or the perspective, Cinderella Castle is designed to be picture-perfect, much of which can be attributed to the paint and themed finishes. Because of that, the paint we use has to undergo accelerated UV and weather testing, simulating years of sun exposure. This rigorous process ensures that the castle’s colors stay vivid for years to come. For hard-to-reach locations, such as the roofs, we use a high-performance paint that is actually used for cars! The paint is durable and long-lasting, reducing the need for touch-ups. Sheen also plays an important role. Subtle variations help the castle feel more lifelike: stones are finished with a lower sheen to appear natural, while rooftops and gold accents shine with higher gloss, giving them a decorative sparkle. Gold is used strategically around the spires, to catch the last reflections of sunlight. More About Castles In addition to a new color palette for Cinderella Castle, Imagineers shared a wealth of knowledge during the “Beyond the Spires: An Insider Look at Disney Castles” panel at Destination D23. Want to hear more about what’s being dreamed up, designed, and created? Follow the Imagineers every step of the way on YouTube and Instagram and stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes stories on the Disney Parks Blog. New Tron: Ares Ride Overlay Announced for TRON Attractions READ MORE Walt Disney Audio-Animatronics Figure Coming Soon READ MORE New Novelty Items Coming to Disney Parks and Disney Cruise Line READ MORE The post New Color Palette Announced for Cinderella Castle appeared first on Disney Parks Blog. View the full article

We’ve done nothing but think about food and drinks all week. That’s because the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival has officially kicked off, AND The Beak and Barrel in Magic Kingdom has officially opened. Frozen Rose at the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival So yeah, we’ve got food and drinks on the brain (but, really, when do we NOT have food and drinks in mind?). Well, while we’re thinking about it, we’re going through all the Disney World restaurant menu changes we spotted this week. Now, we’ll warn you, we’re a little sad that this round of updates saw one of our favorite snacks disappearing: the Peanut Butter Whoopie Pie in EPCOT. Magic Kingdom Main Street Bakery Seasonal Offerings ADDED: Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew – Grande for $5.75 ADDED: Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte – Grande for $6.75 ADDED: Chocolate Protein Cold Brew – Grande for $6.45 Main Street Bakery Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies Featured Offerings Brownie Sundae description changed from “Vanilla Soft-serve Ice Cream served over a Brownie with Hot Fudge or Strawberry Topping” to “Vanilla Soft-serve over a Brownie with Hot Fudge” Desserts ADDED: Strawberry Smoothie (Plant-based) for $6.49 Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies EPCOT Katsura Grill Sushi REMOVED: Japanese Curry Katsura Grill Sunshine Seasons Snacks REMOVED: Assorted Cereal and Side Salad Kids’ Meals ADDED: Salmon — Served with Jasmine Rice, Applesauce, and choice of Small Lowfat Milk or Small DASANI Bottled Water for $8.49 Desserts REMOVED: Peanut Butter Whoopie Pie Allergy-Friendly Snacks REMOVED: Brownie and Allergy-Friendly Cookie Sunshine Seasons Disney’s Hollywood Studios Trolley Car Cafe Seasonal Offerings ADDED: Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew – Grande for $5.75 ADDED: Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte – Grande for $6.75 ADDED: Chocolate Protein Cold Brew – Grande for $6.45 Trolley Car Cafe Hollywood Scoops Desserts Mickey Brownie Sundae description changed from “House-made Mickey-shaped Brownie and Old-fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream with Hot Fudge and Whipped Cream” to “House-made Mickey-shaped Brownie and Old-fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream with Hot Fudge, Whipped Cream, Sprinkles, and a Cherry” ADDED: Chocolate Milk Shake for $5.99 ADDED: Chocolate Bourbon Milk Shake — Chocolate Milk Shake with Red Stag Black Cherry Bourbon by Jim Bean, Chocolate Syrup, Whipped Cream, and Candied Bacon for $16.50 Chocolate Bourbon Milkshake Disney’s Animal Kingdom Creature Comforts Seasonal Offerings ADDED: Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew – Grande for $5.75 ADDED: Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte – Grande for $6.75 ADDED: Chocolate Protein Cold Brew – Grande for $6.45 Starbucks at Creature Comforts The Smiling Crocodile Entrees REMOVED: Baked Macaroni & Cheese with Buffalo Chicken, Baked Macaroni & Cheese with Garlic Smoked Sausage, and Baked Macaroni & Cheese ADDED: Smoked Chicken Wings — Three Smoked Wings coated in Tangy Barbecue Sauce and served with House-made Chips and Pickles for $7.99 ADDED: Pulled Pork Sliders — Pulled Pork with Tangy Barbecue Sauce on Hawaiian Rolls with House-made Chips and Pickles for $7.99 The Smiling Crocodile Eight Spoon Cafe Snacks ADDED: Baked Macaroni & Cheese with Pulled Pork — Topped with Crispy Onions for $12.99 ADDED: Baked Macaroni & Cheese with Buffalo Chicken — Topped with Tangy Italian Relish and Blue Cheese for $12.99 Eight Spoon Cafe Tiffins Enhancements Gobi Manchurian changed from $11 to $8 Tiffins Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Geyser Point Bar & Grill Specialty Cocktails Blueberry Lemonade changed from $17.50 to $16 Frozen Piña Colava changed from $16.50 to $16 Geyser Point Bar & Grill Disney’s Riviera Resort Primo Piatto Desserts REMOVED: Fruits Rouge Cheesecake Snacks REMOVED: Sea Salt Rice Chips and Pico de Gallo Rice Chips Primo Piatto Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Cabana Bar and Beach Club Shareables REMOVED: Rock Shrimp Ceviche and Roasted Corn Salsa ADDED: Elote “Hummus” — Zellwood Corn, White Bean, Lime, Cilantro, Queso for $15 ADDED: Shrimp Cocktail — Old Bay, Cocktail Sauce for $20 ADDED: Handcrafted Crab Cakes — Snow Crab, Fennel, Citrus, Remoulade for $23 From The Garden REMOVED: Korean Noodle Salad ADDED: Panzanella — Ciabatta Bread, Arugula, Heirloom Tomato, Marinated Pepper, Kalamata Olive, Basil, Roasted Tomato Vinaigrette for $19 ADDED: Garden Enhancements — Chicken $10 | Gulf Shrimp $16 | Lobster Salad $21 Frozen Libations REMOVED: Cabana’s Daq Pack and Frozen Espresso Martini ADDED: Hawaiian Coffee — Siesta Key Coconut Rum, Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur, Banana Liqueur for $17 | Add a Siesta Key Spiced Rum or Toasted Coconut Rum Floater $5 Mobile Order at Cabana Bar and Beach Club Disney’s All-Star Music Resort Intermission Food Court Dessert REMOVED: Strawberry Lemonade Cupcake Intermission Food Court Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort End Zone Food Court Dessert REMOVED: Strawberry Lemonade Cupcake End Zone Food Court Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort World Premiere Food Court Dessert REMOVED: Strawberry Lemonade Cupcake World Premiere Food Court Disney Springs Vivoli il Gelato Pastries Cannoli (changed from $7.75 to $8 Très Leches Tiramisu changed from $10.50 to $10.75 Tres Leches Tiramisu Morimoto Asia Street Food Bites REMOVED: Karaage Taiwanese style “Gee Pie”, Korean Corn Dog, and Chicken Dumplings Morimoto Asia Street Food The BOATHOUSE La Dolce Vita ADDED: Pumpkin Cheesecake — Starting October 14th: Pumpkin Cheesecake with Five Spice Chantilly Cream and Cranberry Coulis The BOATHOUSE Coca-Cola Rooftop Beverage Bar Energy & Sport ADDED: Monster Craze — Monster Mango Loco, Fanta Orange, Whipped Cream, Cherry Juice in a souvenir cup Coca-Cola Rooftop Bar at Disney Springs The Edison Edison’s Elixers ADDED: Blood Donor — Starting October 1st: Espolòn Silver Tequila, Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, Aperol Liqueur, and Lime The Edison Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC Specialty Sweets ADDED: Halloween Treats — Starting October 1st: Ghost Sugar Cookie, Vanilla Coffin Cakes, Chocolate Spider Donut, Bloody Guts Donut (jam-filled donut), and Mummy Cake Pops Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante Classic Cocktails with an Italian Flare ADDED: Midnight Pumpkin — Starting October 1st: Absolut Vanilia, Monin Pumpkin, Caffè Borghetti Espresso Liqueur, Fresh Espresso ADDED: Ghost in the Glass — Starting October 1st: Diplomático Planas Rum, Crème de Cacao, Cream, Purple Ube Foam Maria & Enzo’s Moriomoto Asia Small Plates & Dim Sum ADDED: Ghost Dumpling — Ground Pork Blended with Pumpkin, Onion, and Ginger Cocktails ADDED: Spirit of the Yokai — Starting October 12th: Patrón Reposado Tequila and Sūpāsawā Sour Mixer, with Hellfire Bitters and Chili Oil Morimoto Asia Paddlefish Libations & Rocks ADDED: Witch’s Heart Cocktail — Gilbey’s Gin, Creme Mure, Simple Syrup, Apple Juice, Lime Juice, Fresh Blueberries, Finished with a Smoke Bubble Paddlefish The Polite Pig Small Batch Cocktails ADDED: Berry Scary Bourbon Smash — Starting October 1st: Jack Daniel’s Bonded Whiskey, Berries, Lemon, Syrup and Red Bull Tropical Edition The Polite Pig Wetzel’s Pretzels Pretzels ADDED: Apple Cinna-Bitz — Cinna-Bitz Loaded with Apple Pie Filling Wetzel’s Pretzels eet by Maneet Chauhan Market Fresh ADDED: Enchanted Noodles — Starting October 1st: Lo-mein Noodles, Green Peas, Carrots, Finished with a Rich and Savory Enchanted Umami Glaze (Hoisin, Soy Sauce, Oyster Sauce, Mustard Oil) ADDED: Monster Mein — Starting October 1st: Lo-mein Noodles, Green Peas, Carrots, coated Lava Garlic Umami Sauce (Garlic Chili Sauce, Soy Sauce, Oyster Sauce, Mustard Oil ADDED: Monster Mash-Tini — Starting October 1st: Frozen Green Appletini with Green Apple Vodka and a Caramel Drizzle eet by Maneet Chauhan Here’s the thing…Disney World restaurant menus change ALL the time, so if you’re not paying attention, you might miss out on some new food (or be disappointed when a menu item disappears). You can keep an eye on menus on the Disney World website or My Disney Experience app. We’ll also keep you updated when restaurant menus change. Disney dining changes are a lot to keep up with! We’ve done all the research for you in writing our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! We’ve got details on EVERY dining location at Walt Disney World inside our eBook – and it’s easy to download to your tablet or smartphone to take with you on your next trip. EVERYTHING You Need To Eat and Drink at the 2025 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Did your favorite Disney World restaurant change its menu this week? Let’s chat about it in the comments! The post A DFB Favorite Snack Is GONE From Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

A new snack is coming to Disneyland, and we CAN’T WAIT to try it! Brace yourselves — we have a fun announcement to share. Love savory snacks? Love any kind of food on a stick? Love Disney food? You’re in the right place. Glad to have you! Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs can be found at BOTH the Disney World and Disneyland Resorts, and we couldn’t be happier because these treats almost ALWAYS deliver. While the Disney World location is still fairly new, the spot in Downtown Disney at the Disneyland Resort has been a staple for many years. Blue Ribbon offers many variations of the classic corn dog, including a special limited-time corn dog that you can grab VERY SOON! While it was noted that this corn dog will be a limited-time release, Blue Ribbon clarified that no end date has been set as of now, so you might have ample time to grab one for yourself! With that said, this special corn dog will ONLY be available at the California location…sorry, Disney World! @blueribboncorndogs on Instagram The Buffalo Chicken Mozzarella Dog has “alternating chicken and mozzarella on a skewer, dipped in cornmeal batter, and fried to perfection.” @blueribboncorndogs on Instagram It’s also “drizzled with a zesty buffalo sauce and topped off with red and green onions.” @blueribboncorndogs on Instagram As we previously mentioned, this dog is ONLY available at the California location, so Disney and corn dog enthusiasts will need to head west and hit up the Downtown Disney kiosk to try it. Corn Dog selections WE KNOW – there are SO many great snacks at Disney World! How do you choose (we don’t want to choose, but will blow our budget on Day 1 otherwise)? We’ve got you covered! We have reviewed nearly EVERY snack available at Disney World, and we’ve written a series of DFB Guides about them! Check out our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining + Snacks Bundle for all the details you need to plan your snackin’ and spending. You can even download them to your smartphone – it’ll be like we’re right there with you in the parks! Do you plan on picking up one of these beauties during your next visit to Disneyland? Let us know and continue to follow us here at DFB for all the latest Disney news! REVIEW: A MASSIVE Cheese Stick Has Landed at Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs, and We’re Obsessed 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 What variation of corn dogs is your favorite? Let us know in the comments! The post One of Our FAVORITE Disney Snack Spots Is Releasing a NEW Corn Dog…but There’s a Catch first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

A brand-new Ursula Doll will be debuting this September! ©Mattel We are currently at the Destination D23 Expo, the biggest Disney fan event of the year. We have gotten a sneak peek at 15 exclusive holiday treats, got a first look at Disney’s Napa Rose Restaurant transformation, learned about changes coming to Carousel of Progress, and more. As part of the “Disney Villains: Icons of Evil” panel, we got a first look at a NEW Ursula Doll that will be available soon! This new Ursula Doll will be the newest addition to the Darkness Descends Series, which started with Maleficent in 2023 and continued with Cruella de Vil in 2024. This intricately designed doll is made with premium materials and comes nestled in a gorgeous box. ©Mattel The doll shows Ursula after she has transformed into the “supreme ruler she’s always dreamed of becoming, complete with her signature tentacles, an over-the-top organza collar, and a sinister smirk as she embraces her epic powers in style.” ©Mattel Mattel has designed the Ursula doll with UV accents that can be activated by LED lights inside the packaging. When the lights are activated, the Ursula doll turns into a “neon nightmare” with lots of bright, colorful accents. This doll is full of “attitude, power, and theatrics, with a touch of fashion-forward flair.” You can grab this new doll beginning September 8th at MattelCreations.com. ©Mattel That is not all the Disney Villains news we got from Destination D23, though. Disney Imagineers revealed some more details about the Villains Land coming to Magic Kingdom. We also got a sneak peek at some of the villains coming to the Disney Destiny, including Dr. Facilier and Loki. Plus, we learned more details about the Cruella de Vil Show. There is also a NEW Disney Villains party coming to Hong Kong Disneyland! ©Disney Stay tuned to DFB for all your Disney news! LIVE UPDATES: We’re at Disney’s HUGE Fan Event — Destination D23 Will you be grabbing this new Ursula doll? Let us know in the comments! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disney to attend Destination D23. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ The post FIRST LOOK: Disney Is Releasing a NEW Villains Collectible first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Are you as obsessed with Stanley cups as half the population seems to be? ©Amazon Seriously, you guys, it seems like these things are EVERYWHERE! Some people have massive collections in dozens of different colors, and some people have one loyal, trusty Stanley cup that they take everywhere they go. But if you’re looking to add to your collection or join the fan club, we’ve found a great Stanley deal on Amazon! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Get the Stanley Water bottle for $19 ©Amazon Starting out this list, we’ve got the Stanley Quick Flip GO Water Bottle 24 oz with a push button lid on sale for just $19! It’s leakproof and designed to be packable for travel and sports, so this would be a great vacation water bottle. View on Amazon This Yeti tumbler is on sale too! Yeti If you’re fine with getting a different brand, the YETI Rambler 26 oz Bottle is on sale for 20% off right now! It comes in 28 different colors and is vacuum-insulated and made of stainless steel. This thing is DURABLE, y’all. View on Amazon We love the slim bottle! ©Amazon For something easier to fit in the side pocket of your backpack or your car’s cupholders, try the Stanley All Day Slim Bottle 20 oz. It’s leak-proof and insulated stainless steel, as well as BPA free. This would be a great option for a theme park day or a trip to the gym. And right now, it’s 25% off! View on Amazon Or, you can grab the classic style Stanley tumbler ©Amazon When you think of Stanley cups, you probably think of something like the STANLEY Quencher ProTour Flip Straw Tumbler with Leakproof Lid. This one is on Amazon in 27 different colors and 5 sizes. It’s 25% off right now, so you’ll want to grab it while the sale lasts! View on Amazon There’s also a travel mug! ©Amazon Last but not least, there’s the STANLEY Cafe To Go Travel Mug 16 oz. This one comes in five colors and it’s also 25% off for a limited time. That means it’s only $21 right now! 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 You Can Get a Stanley Cup on Amazon Right Now first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

You never know who you might bump into during a Disney vacation! Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway in Disneyland Celebrities love to visit the Disney Parks just like us, and with Disneyland being located not too far from Hollywood, spotting celebs at the California theme park resort is a common occurrence. In fact, one of the biggest movie stars today was recently spotted having a blast with a classic character at “The Happiest Place on Earth!” Damon — like Donald and the rest of Mickey’s pals — is one of Hollywood’s biggest stars and is an acclaimed actor, producer, and screenwriter. Over his long career, he has earned several nominations and awards, including an Academy Award and two Golden Globes. Some notable credits include writing and starring in Good Will Hunting and roles in the Jason Bourne franchise, the Ocean’s trilogy, The Martian (2015), Saving Private Ryan (1998), The Departed (2006), The Informant! (2009), Invictus (2009), True Grit (2010), Ford v Ferrari (2019), Oppenheimer (2023), and even Marvel Studios’ Thor: Ragnarok (2017)! ©Marvel Studios Have you spotted any celebrities at the Disney Parks? Let us know and continue to follow us here at DFB for all the latest Disneyland coverage! Don’t want to go through all of the stress of booking your Disneyland 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. CELEB SPOTTED: See Who We Just Found at Magic Kingdom! 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 Which celebrities have you seen at the Disney Parks? Let us know in the comments! The post Celebrity SPOTTED! A MAJOR Movie Star Just Hung Out With Donald in a Disney Park! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Changes are coming for Disney World soon, and I AM NOT READY. Cinderella Castle New attractions, new lands, and construction everywhere? That’s Disney World for you in 2026, and if you’re coming for a visit, you need to be warned. We go to the parks every day, and we’re not prepared mentally yet for some of these changes! The Loss of DinoLand, U.S.A. The first thing on our list? We’re not mentally OR emotionally prepared for the loss of DinoLand, U.S.A. This Animal Kingdom land is closing completely in early 2026, and once it’s gone, the park is going to feel fairly dead. Sure, we’ll still have a few attractions and offerings around the park, but the loss of two rides, a restaurant, a play area, and multiple snack spots makes a BIG difference. DinoLand, U.S.A. Not only that, but we’ll definitely be mourning the end of the wild ride that is DINOSAUR, a classic quick service spot like Restaurantosaurus, and the quirky theming of the land in general. RIP to DinoLand, we’ll miss you dearly. Annoying Construction at Magic Kingdom Right now, Magic Kingdom is absolutely riddled with construction walls. There are bathrooms closed, rides blocked off, and don’t even get us started on all the walls in Liberty Square and Frontierland after the closure of Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat. Construction for Tom Sawyer Island Navigating the park is a little tricky, and you’ll want to check the refurbishment calendar on the website before your trip so you’re not disappointed by closures when you arrive. We know that really exciting things are coming with the revamp of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, plus the addition of Cars attractions and Villains Land, but we’ll have to deal with some awkwardness in the meantime. SO Many Things Closed in Hollywood Studios Over in Hollywood Studios, there are going to be SO many things closed in 2026. Muppets Courtyard is down to be revamped into a Monsters, Inc.-themed land, and Animation Courtyard will be closed as well to get a full overhaul. Between those two lands, that’s quite a few attractions closed! Muppets Courtyard behind walls On top of that Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster will be getting a new Muppets theme, and is closing in 2026 for the changes. So if you’re visiting Hollywood Studios next year, you might want to prepare for heavier crowds and higher wait times in the parts of the park that remain open. The Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Retheme Speaking of the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster retheme, we’re not yet prepared to say goodbye to Aerosmith’s version of the ride. While we’re intrigued to see what a Muppets-themed coaster is like, we’ll be feeling pretty nostalgic the last time we hear “love in a roller coaster” playing. ©Disney So far, people tend to have pretty mixed opinions about the idea of a Muppets coaster, so there’s a little bit of hesitance in general from the Disney community. I guess we’ll have to wait and see! Re-Learning How to Be a Galactic Hero Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is another one of the rides that’ll be closed for part of 2026, and when it does reopen, we’ll have to re-learn the ride. If you’ve been honing your Galactic Hero skills on the old version of the ride, things might be a little different when it reopens with interactive targets and handheld blasters. It’s closed! We know that the ride is also getting new vehicles and a new ride scene. Will they be changing the point values of the targets as well? We’re interested to find out…and you KNOW we will (we’ll be there the day it reopens!). Price Increases Last but not least, we’ve got to mention something we’re not prepared for that seems to happen whether we want it to or not…price increases! Disney World tends to get a little more expensive every year with ticket increases, rising hotel room costs, and food price updates. Disney World Theme Park Ticket Cards So sadly, we’ll likely need to budget more to visit Disney World in 2026. We hate that, but it’s true! Disney World is in a big transition period, and there may be some growing pains, but we’re excited for what’s to come! Here’s to visiting in 2026. If you need help planning your Disney World vacation, check out our friends over at Small World Vacations — they’re experts who’ll help you have a magical trip! Stay tuned to DFB for more. Check Out Some Confirmed Ride Changes Coming to Disney World 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 Which change are you the most nervous about? Tell us in the comments! The post Every Disney World Change I'm Not Prepared For in 2026 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Okay, we know, we’re all getting a little tired of hearing about how much Southwest Airlines is changing. The days of open seating and bags fly free are over (and yes, many of us are still salty about that). Southwest at Orlando International Airport But Southwest continues to make changes, tweaking things here and there, and more. The airline just made another big change to its planes…but this change is meant to keep Southwest’s passengers safer. According to USA Today, Southwest Airlines has just flown its first flight with a secondary cockpit barrier. Here’s what that means. In 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a new regulation that requires planes to have secondary barriers to the flight deck. The rule went into effect earlier this week and mandates that planes have a second physical barrier installed to be used when the cockpit door is opened during a flight. Southwest Planes Previously, pilot unions have argued that secondary barriers are crucial to aviation safety, especially after the events of September 11th, 2001. The updated Southwest Airlines plane marks the beginning of the rollout of this regulation across all U.S. commercial airlines over the next few years. Both Boeing and Airbus have started delivering planes with secondary barriers. Southwest plane at Long Beach Airport The FAA has agreed to extend the deadline for new planes to add the secondary barriers until late July 2026. Some airlines have opted to take advantage of the extension so they don’t have to immediately put the barriers in. However, Southwest has agreed to comply immediately as it brings new planes into its fleet. Note that the new FAA rule only applies to new planes used in commercial passenger service in the U.S., but not existing planes. Stay tuned to DFB for more. “We Have Enough Problems with Unruly Passengers Already.” The NEW Southwest Airlines RULE You Have To Follow 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 do you think about this news? Let us know in the comments! The post Southwest Airlines Just Announced ANOTHER Big Airplane Change (but This Is a Good One) first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We go to the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival every single year, and we keep encountering the same problem. EPCOT Food & Wine Festival display No, it’s not that we want to spend all our money on delicious eats (though we do!) and it’s not that half the festival season has ridiculously hot weather (even though it does) — we’re talking about a problem we desperately want Disney to fix. The tables! The main problem we encounter each year at the Food & Wine Festival is that there seems to be a lack of tables, at least when compared to the heavy crowds that the festival draws in. While it may not be a problem during the middle of the day, it’s definitely an issue during mealtimes, weekends, and the opening day of the festival. Yep, it’s crowded Throughout World Showcase and near festival booths, you’ll often find black high-top tables for people to use after they order their festival eats. Since most of the festival items are small bites that are easy to eat, these tables are designed for festival goers to eat quickly and then keep walking. Belgium booth spread However, during crowded times, we often find that there aren’t enough tables available. In many areas, there are 4-7 tables per booth, but some booths end up with only 2 or 3 available nearby. With hundreds or thousands of people in EPCOT rushing to eat dinner, it often means that there are some meals being eaten on top of trash cans or haphazardly while walking. Line at the Mexico booth And if a high-top table isn’t convenient for you? The festival can be a bit of a struggle. Those with mobility difficulties or users of wheelchairs and ECVs might have an even harder time finding a table to use. Young children might not be tall enough to reach the table, as well. France Booth Spread Now, we do want to say here that we noticed MORE tables this year, and we appreciate it. We heard that about 70 NEW tables were added. But we STILL had problems finding an open one during the busy afternoon. And don’t even get us started on the table locations! They’re not always in the shadiest spots, because Disney has to make sure to keep them out of the walkway. You might be standing directly in the sun next to World Showcase lagoon — hot AND humid. 2025 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival But don’t worry — as festival experts (we go every year, multiple times a week throughout the festival), we know where the best tables are located. In the Germany Pavilion, there’s a nice seating area with picnic tables and benches that usually has plenty of spots open. Germany picnic table The Morocco Pavilion often has better seating options, since Tangierine Cafe is indoors and has air conditioning. Japan also has a plethora of outdoor seating near Katsura Grill, and the American Adventure has quite a few picnic tables in the shade. Tangierine Cafe If you’re up near the front of the park, World Celebration is the name of the game! This section of the park has a TON of seating and a plethora of tables behind Spaceship Earth and in CommuniCore Plaza. EPCOT So if you’re heading to the festival this year, make sure you’re prepared with your best walking shoes…and probably bring your own tray! Tables may be a challenge, but you can CONQUER THE FESTIVAL. Stay tuned to DFB for more Food & Wine Festival updates! Click Here to See All the Food & Wine Festival Details! 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! Are you going to the Food & Wine Festival this year? Tell us in the comments! The post The Annoying EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Problem That Keeps Happening in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

EVERYONE knows the parks at Disney World are some of the Most Magical Places on Earth, but there’s so much more to Disney World than just the parks. Disney Springs Okay, don’t get us wrong, we LOVE the Disney World parks, obviously. But if you’re looking to spend a day at Disney World without buying a ticket, you’ll find plenty of things to do. One of the most popular non-ticketed attractions is Disney Springs. This shopping and dining district is chalk full of fun entertainment. Since we’ve been here a few times, we’ve compiled a list of six things we’ll never do again at Disney Springs, and hopefully this will help you avoid a few things, too, on your next trip! Attempt Disney Springs On a Weekend Night (Without a Game Plan) Disney Springs might seem like a quaint, quite village (*insert Belle singing here*) on a weekday morning, but hit the “town” on a weekend night, and you might be in for quite a rude (and loud) awakening. The Edison Disney Springs gets PACKED on those weekend nights, and for good reason. You’ll find lots of live entertainment, including street performers showing off their musical chops outside of restaurants, the AMC theater, or on the outdoor stage across from World of Disney. You can also find live music at several bars, lounges, and restaurants. The Edison and Paradiso 37 are good examples of places to find some lively music! Paradiso 37 So what kind of game plan do you need for one of these weekend nights? We recommend booking any table service restaurants you want to dine at around dinner time FAR in advance. You can try both the My Disney Experience app and the OpenTable website (sometimes reservations are even available earlier than 60 days on the OpenTable website). We also recommend giving yourself an hour for travel time to Disney Springs from wherever you are on those weekend nights. Skip Happy Hours/Promotions Unlike at other dining locations around Disney World, many of the restaurants are owned by third-party vendors. This means that, also unlike other Disney-owned restaurants, they can offer discounts that you won’t find elsewhere. Yep, this means HALF-PRICED apps, secret menu items, and discounts on your favorite drink of choice! Paddlefish! You don’t want to miss out on these deals as they come and go. You can check out the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining (specifically the Disney Springs section) to find out where you can get some of these many deals. And when you’re there, be sure to ask the restaurants if they’re running any specials. Rely On the Disney Springs Boats During the Dry Season The Disney Springs River Cruises are located at the dock near the Marketplace section of Disney Springs. These ferry boats will take you to and from the Disney Springs-area hotels, including, Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, and Port Orleans — Riverside and French Quarter. It can be a nice relaxing ride, and a great way to resort hop. Disney Springs Boats However, there are times when these boats (and others around Disney Springs) won’t be running. You may noticed them shut down during severe weather, for technical issues, nearby construction, OR low water levels. It might be hard to believe, but Florida does go through a dry season (usually towards the end of spring and early summer). When the water levels are too low, the boats can’t sail. So if you’re hoping to catch a boat ride to or from Disney Springs, beware that you could run into this issue. Boats down in June 2024 Ignore the Brunch Powerhouses Disney Springs is a GREAT place to grab brunch. Several of the restaurants in the district offer brunch menus, and you might be surprised to know that many of these menus are even better than their regular menus! But here’s a list of some of our FAVORITE brunch spots (a.k.a. Brunch Powerhouses) in Disney Springs: Summer House on the Lake — Saturdays & Sundays from 9 AM to 3 PM Wine Bar George — Wine Country Brunch on Saturdays & Sundays from 10:30 AM to 2 PM The Boathouse — The Captain’s Sing-a-Long Brunch on Sundays from 10 AM to 3 PM BONUS tip: Dueling piana performances play from 11 AM to 2 PM Homecomin’ — Rise ‘n Shine Brunch on Saturdays & Sundays from 9 AM to 1 PM Raglan Road Irish Pub — Rollicking Raglan Brunch on Saturdays & Sundays from 10 AM to 3 PM New Homecomin’ Hash! Fear Your Kiddo Is Gonna Be Bored Disney Springs is the dining and shopping district of Disney World. That probably doesn’t scream FUN for kids at first thought. However, there are lots of fun and exciting things for the kiddos to do here, too! Remember, this is still Disney. Let’s take a look at some things your kids might enjoy. LEGO Store at DIsney Springs First, there is the LEGO store, which can be a fun place for kids and adults, alike. There are lots of colorful sets to buy of varying difficulty, SWEET prebuilt cities and figures to see, a MiniFigure Factory where you can make your own MiniFigure, and a race care set outside the shop where kids can build and race their cars! Our DFB Lego MiniFigure There’s also a Goofy’s Candy Co., where kids don’t have to just dream about yummy candies. If you’re looking for a run place to take the kids to eat, you can dine at Rainforest Café or T-Rex Café (a less common, but similar experience as Rainforest Café just with more animatronics). T-Rex There’s a fun Marketplace Train Express where kids can enjoy a 2 minute loop around the track, then hop on the Marketplace Carousel. You can also get your face painted at the Marketplace, because why not, right?! And of course, there’s World of Disney, the giant Disney gift store that’s definitely not just for the adults. World of Disney Underestimate It No, it’s not a theme park, but DO NOT underestimate the fun to be had at Disney Springs. There’s so much to do, and you certainly don’t want to assume it will be the same every time. If you’re filling a day on the front or back end of your trip, or you simply need a break from the parks mid-vacation (we all know it’s not REALLY a relaxing vacation), Disney Springs is a great place to visit. Disney Springs For even more details about these tips and more, be sure to check out our video below! And remember to keep checking back to DFB for all your Disney news! REVIEW: Five NEW Desserts Dropped at This Underrated Spot at Disney Springs Do you enjoy a day at Disney Springs? Let us know in the comments! The post 6 Things I'll Never Do Again in Disney Springs first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World likes to shake up its restaurants and menus from time to time, even if it occasionally means getting rid of some fan favorite snacks (fortunately, those sometimes come back later). Baked Macaroni & Cheese with Pulled Pork Well, a few months ago, Disney decided to basically take two of its eateries in Disney’s Animal Kingdom and switch their menus up, which meant the Mac and Cheese disappeared from Eight Spoon Cafe, while Mac and Cheese was added to The Smiling Crocodile (and a menu similar to The Smiling Crocodile’s previous menu appeared at Eight Spoon Cafe). It was all very confusing, but we got used to it. Now, OF COURSE, though, Disney has swapped these two menus AGAIN, and now the Mac and Cheese we love has returned to Eight Spoon Cafe. Are you dizzy yet? We are! So here’s what’s happening. The Smiling Crocodile just made the following menu changes: REMOVED: Baked Macaroni & Cheese with Buffalo Chicken, Baked Macaroni & Cheese with Garlic Smoked Sausage, and Baked Macaroni & Cheese ADDED: Smoked Chicken Wings — Three Smoked Wings coated in Tangy Barbecue Sauce and served with House-made Chips and Pickles for $7.99 ADDED: Pulled Pork Sliders — Pulled Pork with Tangy Barbecue Sauce on Hawaiian Rolls with House-made Chips and Pickles for $7.99 So, that wonderful Baked Macaroni & Cheese that we love is now gone from The Smiling Crocodile, while Smoked Chicken Wings and Pulled Pork Sliders are now available. Personally, I would prefer this location bring back the tacos, because they were AMAZING. The Smiling Crocodile At Eight Spoon Cafe, the following changes happened: ADDED: Baked Macaroni & Cheese with Pulled Pork — Topped with Crispy Onions for $12.99 ADDED: Baked Macaroni & Cheese with Buffalo Chicken — Topped with Tangy Italian Relish and Blue Cheese for $12.99 Yep, the Baked Macaroni & Cheese is back here, but the version with the Garlic Smoked Sausage didn’t make the cut. Eight Spoon Cafe We decided to stop by Eight Spoon Cafe to make sure the two Mac & Cheeses that are still available are up to snuff. The Baked Macaroni & Cheese with Pulled Pork has beautifully tender pork with some onion straws on top that add texture and crunch. The slaw is also tasty and adds even more texture to the creamy macaroni and cheese. The barbecue sauce is really good, too, so much so that you’ll want to make sure to scoop some up with each bite. There’s also not too much of it, which we liked. It’s BACK We had to dig to find it, but there’s a layer of baked cheese near the bottom that proved to be just the extra cheesiness we needed. This may have something to do with the way the Mac & Cheese is scooped out and served, but it’s worth the extra digging…trust us. SO good Yes, this dish is simple, but it delivers on what it promises. And we’re just happy that it hasn’t disappeared for good. Maybe Disney will eventually make up its mind where it wants to serve its Mac & Cheese in Animal Kingdom. P.S.: We have a secret little tip for you. If you want plain Baked Macaroni & Cheese, you can get it here for $7.99. This is NOT an official menu item, so you have to make sure a Cast Member is able to accommodate you during your visit. Stay tuned to DFB for more. REVIEW: There’s A SECRET DOLE Whip Swirl Hiding in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Do you get this snack when you visit Animal Kingdom? Let us know in the comments! The post ALERT: Disney Is Playing Mac and Cheese Musical Chairs, and This Is Where Our FAVORITE Snack Just Ended Up first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Are you heading to Disney World in 2026? If you’re planning to stay at one of Disney World’s many hotel resorts, then you gotta know about these perks you don’t wanna miss out on! Hippy Dippy Pool at Disney’s Pop Century Resort There are lots of benefits to staying in the “Disney bubble” at one of the Disney hotels. From Early Entry to Extended Evening Hours, you may find that spending the extra cash is totally worth it. Plus, Disney is bringing back two popular hotel perks in 2026, and these are two game-changing perks you won’t want to miss out on! The Water Park Perk Is Back in 2026 Disney brought us the water park perk this year, 2025. This perk gives you and anyone on your hotel reservation a free ticket to one of the water parks on the day of your check-in, and now it’s coming back in 2026! This can be a great perk if you fly in early and don’t have plans on going to one of the parks that same day. Blizzard Beach If you get to your hotel early and can’t check in, drop your luggage off with the front desk and skip over to a water park while you wait! Or if you choose to have a split stay (stay at more than one hotel during your trip), you can get more than one water park day for a little relaxing break half way through your vacation. This is a great way to enjoy a day at the water parks on those days you don’t have a regular ticket. Humunga Cowabunga at Typhoon Lagoon Kids Eat FREE in 2026 If you purchase a Disney Dining Plan with your vacation package, you can receive a free dining package for kids aged 3 to 9. If you want to book online, your package must also include theme park tickets. Or you can book by phone if you already have tickets to the theme parks. Kids Breakfast When dining, kids must choose from the children’s menu, if available. The number of packages available for this offer is limited, so if you’re planning your 2026 vacation now, be sure to check out this deal! These two perks can change the game for your trip — but there are even more! Keep reading for a full list of perks! Early Entry Those staying at Disney World hotels, and select others, get access to the parks –Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom — 30 minutes before they officially open. This perk is available for all guests at all Disney World hotels and select others, including Shades of Green and the Swan and Dolphin hotels. Fantasyland in Magic Kingdom Only select attractions are available during these 30 minutes, but it’s still a great way to get ahead before the crowds arrive! Extended Evening Hours Deluxe Resort, Deluxe Villa, Shades of Green, and Swan and Dolphin resort guests can take advantage of Extended Evening Hours again in 2026. On select days, at one of the four parks, guests can get extra time in the park! All other guests not staying at these select resorts will be asked to leave, making the park less crowded for those with access to this perk. EPCOT Check out the My Disney Experience App to find out which days and which parks will be available during your stay. Free Transportation and Parking Disney Resort hotel guests get access to free Disney transportation from their hotel to the theme parks, water parks, Disney Springs, and other hotels. These transportation options include, buses, ferry boats, the Disney Skyliner, and the Disney Monorail. Monorail at EPCOT Also, Disney hotel guests who bring cars will get FREE parking at their hotel and parks again in 2026! If you drive to a park, just show the attendant your room reservation (on your app or by scanning your MagicBand) and you’re good to go. Early Access to Dining Reservations and Lightning Lanes One of our favorite perks of staying at a Disney Resort hotel is the early access to dining reservations. When you stay at a Disney hotel (and select others), you can make dining reservations starting 60 days before the first day of your trip for the entirety of your trip (up to 10 days)! But you’ll still want to prompt on that day, because some dining locations can fill up quickly. Cinderella’s Royal Table Disney hotel guests can also make Lightning Lane selections seven days in advance for the entirety of their trip, up to 14 days. This can be a huge advantage compared to others who may only have three days in advance! Rise of the Resistance Lightning Lane Staying at a Disney World hotel has lots of benefits, but it’s up to your family if the cost is worth the perks you’ll get. If you do decide to stay at one of the Disney hotels in 2026, be sure to take advantage of all these perks! For more Disney news, keep following DFB! 2 Ways Disney’s Hollywood Studios Will Be Totally Different in 2026 Are you heading to Disney World in 2026? Let us know in the comments! The post CONFIRMED: These 2 Disney World Hotel Perks Are a GAME-CHANGER first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Are you happy to be in Paris? Well, it might not be the real Paris, but stepping through the portal to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic at Epic Universe sure does make us feel like we are. Le Gobelet Noir We headed to Le Gobelet Noir to try some dishes and see if it’s worth the visit. This quick service spot is filled with European cuisine, including French, German, and Hungarian, and we’re ready to dive in and live our Harry Potter dreams. We started with the Herb Crusted Cod, which features cod accompanied by potatoes and caramelized leeks in a creamy broth, priced at $19.99. The cod was served in a deep bowl filled with a creamy broth, and we loved it. It’s topped with herbed bread crumbs and is lighter than many of the other dishes served here. We were truly surprised by how much we liked it! Herb Crusted Cod Then we had the Jägerschnitzel, a crispy pork cutlet served with brown mushroom gravy and tavern fries, for $17.99. We loved how thin and crispy this was and how it wasn’t greasy in the slightest. The mushroom gravy on top is your standard gravy with not too many mushrooms on it. The steak-cut fries are fluffy on the inside and well-salted on the outside. We think Epic Universe really crushed it with the fries because we like them almost everywhere we go! Jagerschnitzel We followed that with Coq au Vin for $17.99. This is a red wine-marinated chicken dish featuring mushrooms, pancetta, pearl onions, and pommes puree. The chicken was only slightly on the dry side, but we liked how the toppings were enhanced with bacon to add some extra salt and texture. The mashed potatoes were creamy and well-seasoned, but we were missing the classic flavor of red wine throughout the dish. Coq au Vin Then we tried the Knödel Soup and Salad Combo for $13.99. It’s a rich chicken broth with Knödel, roasted chicken, and herb brioche croutons, served with a house greens salad drizzled with champagne vinaigrette. The soup was like a chicken and dumpling soup with two large knödel inside. It was tasty, but felt a bit out there for being at a theme park, especially a quick service restaurant. Knobel Soup and Salad Combo We also tried the Ancient Forest Salad for $12.99, which features kale, arugula, frisée, cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, and beets, all drizzled in an herb vinaigrette. While we enjoyed the size of the salad, there wasn’t any protein, and we were concerned about it not filling us up to conquer our whole day at Epic Universe. The dressing was slightly sweet, and berries were on top, which is great for those who prefer a sweeter, rather than savory, take on salad. Ancient Forest Salad For dessert, we had the Baklava, featuring pistachios, walnuts, vegan anglaise, and coconut nectar, for $6.99. If you’re used to the traditional version of baklava, be aware that this is probably different from what you would normally expect. The phyllo pastry is not crispy like it usually is, but there are tons of pistachios on it, along with vanilla icing and glaze. The whole treat was fine, but you’ll probably find better desserts somewhere else in the parks. Baklava Overall, this restaurant consistently surprises us. While the food is decent, it always feels a bit odd getting it from a quick service restaurant, and we think we would enjoy it more at a sit-down, table service restaurant. That being said, the dishes taste good and are very pretty, and we also love that the air conditioning is blasting in this spot. It’s a great place to cool down. In the meantime, make sure you keep following Disney Food Blog for more food reviews for your next theme park visit. REVIEW: THIS MIGHT BE THE BEST KEPT FOOD SECRET AT UNIVERSAL’S EPIC UNIVERSE Read more: DFB's complete guide to Universal’s Epic Universe >> 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 Have you been to Epic Universe yet? Tell us your favorite part in the comments. The post REVIEW: We Ate Like We Were in ‘Harry Potter’ at Epic Universe, and We Never Want to Leave first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Haunted Mansion Holiday is a popular overlay that takes place at the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland Park. Each year, the attraction is transformed with a Nightmare Before Christmas overlay for the Halloween and Christmas seasons. Haunted Mansion Holiday We always love seeing this overlay! In addition to themed decorations, pastry chefs also construct a themed gingerbread house to be displayed in the attraction. This year’s gingerbread house looks amazing, and we just got a behind-the-scenes look at the construction process. We also got the chance to meet Chef Jasmine, who is the Head Baker Lead at Central Bakery. She introduced us to this year’s display, which is called The Murder Most Fowl. The display required 200 pounds of gingerbread dough to make it come to life. ©Disney Chef Jasmine went over some of the details of the house, including the shingles that are shaped like coffins and feathers. Fun fact, there are OVER 400 shingles on the gingerbread house! The house also features filigree work on the sides that is reminiscent of the Haunted Mansion building. You can also find 13 hidden Mickeys on this display! ©Disney The gingerbread house stands 13 feet tall and took nine days and a team of eight pastry chefs to assemble. A LOT of work went into making this house look as good as it does, and we loved getting a behind the scenes look at the construction process! ©Disney You can check out Haunted Mansion Holiday through January 7th, 2026! The ride follows the story of Jack Skellington and The Nightmare Before Christmas instead of the traditional Haunted Mansion story. You will even get the chance to see this gingerbread house in person! There’s the gingerbread house! Stay tuned to DFB for full coverage from Destination D23, and all your Disney news! Haunted Mansion Is BACK Open With CHANGES in Disneyland 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 on Haunted Mansion Holiday yet this year? Let us know in the comments! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disney to attend Destination D23. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ The post CLOSE-UP LOOK: Disney Just Debuted a NEW Haunted Mansion Holiday Gingerbread House first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article