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Quick! What’s your favorite Star Wars planet? Is it the desert world of Tatooine? The beautiful planet Naboo? Maybe the chilly Hoth planet? Well, if you’re a fan of the iconic Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back film, you’ve come to the right place! Maybe you prefer Batuu? There’s a brand-new Star Wars collection available online now! New items include things like a Disney Loungefly backpack (which is gonna be POPULAR) and even some Minnie ears. Come with us to take a look! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Score a free trial of Amazon Prime by clicking the button below! Get the Hoth Loungefly Mini Backpack ©Disney Store We weren’t kidding when we said this is gonna be popular — it’s one of the COOLEST (get it?) new backpacks online! The front of the bag features embroidery of an AT-AT walker and snowspeeder, and the classic ice blue color palette is so fun. Add this to your cart before it’s gone! View on Disney Store This Hoth Ear Headband for Adults is EPIC! ©Disney Store Of COURSE you need the matching ears, too! These adorable Minnie ears feature that signature Snowspeeder embroidery on the front, along with an AT-AT walker. The ears are inspired by Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, making this the perfect souvenir for classic Star Wars fans. View on Disney Store We love the Hoth Echo Base Baseball Jersey ©Disney Store New theme park outfit alert! Imagine wearing this for a summer park day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios — it’s just what we need for a visit to Batuu. Here’s a fun little detail for you: the #80 on the back of this jersey commemorates The Empire Strikes Back‘s 45th Anniversary. The movie premiered in 1980! View on Disney Store 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! Shop for More Disney Essentials on Our Amazon StorefrontThe post Disney Just Released a NEW Loungefly Bag (and Matching Minnie Ears!) first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Change has long been a constant at Disney’s theme parks, with new attractions replacing old ones being a decades-long tradition at this point. ©D23 Most of the time, these original attractions are removed forever, only to live on in the memory of fans and hazy Kodak prints. However, on occasion, the Imagineers working on the replacement rides will sneak in an easter egg or two to reference and pay homage to the attraction that came before. These are some of our favorite “Secret Shoutouts” scattered throughout Walt Disney World. Let’s start with the Magic Kingdom’s Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. As you’re heading into Owl’s house on this Fantasyland attraction, look to your left and you’ll notice a photo of Mr. Toad handing the deed for the attraction over to Owl. This is a tribute to the old and beloved Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride that was located in the same spot Pooh now occupies. Portrait of Mr. Toad in The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Shifting over to EPCOT’s newest E-Ticket attraction, it makes sense that Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind has so many shoutouts to the former Ellen’s Energy Adventure/Universe of Energy ride, since this coaster is housed where this retired ride once resided. A column inside the ride features script written in the fictional Xandarian language. If you translate it to English, the top left says Ellen, the top right says Alex (as in Alex Trebek — who was also featured in the ride), the bottom left says E=MC squared, and the bottom right says dino. In addition, if you look closely at a set of ship schematics featured in the second pre-show room, at the bottom right, you can see the old Universe of Energy symbol. Can you see it? On the coaster itself, you can also hear a bit of what sounds like an electric guitar version of the old Universe of Energy theme song as the Guardians “fly” into space right at the start of the ride. Listen for when the Celestial says “What is that noise?“ just before the launch. Universe of Energy symbol The song isn’t the final reference, though. During the reverse launch, there’s another reference to some dialogue straight from Ellen’s Energy Adventure, which involved Ellen mishearing Bill Nye talking about the Big Bang. If you listen closely, you’ll hear Star-Lord say “Big Bang!” followed by Drax asking, “Ding dang?” ©Disney Moving into the World Showcase, in the final scene of Frozen Ever After at EPCOT, take a closer look at the puffins. These are the same puffins that were used in Frozen Ever After’s predecessor, Maelstrom! Maelstrom actually has another not-so-hidden reference at the nearby Royal Sommerhus as well. In the queue, you pass by a few woven tapestries. One features the famous “Disappear, disappear!” trolls seen on the old ride, too! Raise your hand if you miss Maelstrom Finally, we’re moving to Hollywood Studios. In the carnival scene of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, there’s a poster advertising an attraction called “The Great Moving Ride.” This is of course, a homage to the building’s former inhabitant, The Great Movie Ride! Runaway Railway These are only SOME of the Secret Shoutouts to classic and replaced attractions that Disney Imagineers have slipped into new rides and spaces at Walt Disney World. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney secrets! 17 Disney Rides That Will Be Closed in 2025 Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Which of these Secret Shoutouts is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below. The post 4 Secrets Imagineers Hid in Disney World Rides first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Are you looking for new shirts to wear on your upcoming trip to Disney World? Disney Shirts Well, if you hate compliments, this might not be the post for you, but if you want to be among the best-dressed at Disney World, you should keep reading! This is because we are about to share seven Disney shirts that will have everyone asking where you got it from. The best part? You can get them on Amazon right now! Let’s go shopping! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Score a free trial of Amazon Prime by clicking the button below! Get the Retro Mickey Mouse Shirt! ©Amazon This shirt features the main mouse, Mickey Mouse, along with some snacks and a park ticket! You can snag it in an array of different colors and sizes! View on Amazon This Mickey shirt is perfect for summer! ©Amazon Summer is right around the corner, and this shirt is great to wear to EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival. It features an outline of Mickey filled in with flowers, fruits, and butterflies! You can snag it in a variety of colors. View on Amazon We love this Sorcerer Mickey shirt! ©Amazon Are you a fan of Fantasia or Fantasmic in Hollywood Studios? This Sorcerer Mickey shirt features various sketches of Mickey as he transforms into this iconic role. View on Amazon Or, you can grab this Princess Jasmine shirt! ©Amazon Princess fans! You need this shirt! It features Princess Jasmine and is excellent for a day exploring Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom! Plus, this style of shirt is super trendy! View on Amazon Snag this Ink and Paint shirt! ©Amazon Can’t pick your favorite Disney movie or character? This shirt features so many Disney favorites like Tinker Bell, Mr. Toad, Dumbo, Bambi, and more! Plus, it comes in a bunch of different colors! View on Amazon Snag this Cinderella shirt here! ©Amazon This adorable shirt features four icons from the film Cinderella. There is her glass slipper, carriage, castle, and beautiful dress. This shirt is photo shoot-worthy, perfect for the next time you visit Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom! View on Amazon And finally, grab this Disney Villains shirt! ©Amazon If you’re headed to Hollywood Studios on May 27th, you’ll need this shirt to attend the debut of Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After on Sunset Boulevard. Plus, it is perfect to wear once Villains Land finally opens in Magic Kingdom. This shirt features Ursula, Hades, Cruella de Vil, Maleficent, Jafar, and Yzma. 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! Shop for More Disney Essentials on Our Amazon StorefrontThe post If You Hate Compliments, You Won't Want To Wear These 7 NEW Amazon Disney Tees first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Welcome aboard! Disney Cruise Line just gave us a sneak peek of one of its newest cruise ships. ©Disney The Disney Adventure is setting sail in Singapore at the end of 2025 with 3- and 4-night voyages, and it has just reached a huge step in the construction process. The Disney Adventure has officially transitioned to open water for the Float Out ceremony. ©Disney It’s out of the shipyard harbor and will now feature the iconic Disney Cruise Line funnels and upper deck attractions. That includes Marvel Landing’s Ironcycle Test Run, Groot Galaxy Spin, and Pym Quantum Racers! ©Disney || Marvel Landing The classic yellow lifeboats need to be added, too. So much is already finished, yet so much more to come! Mickey is looking for ADVENTURE Captain Mickey and Minnie were at the Float Out ceremony, and they looked excited to welcome this new ship to the fleet. The ship is currently in Wismar, Germany, where it was built. The ceremony featured fireworks as the tugboat pulled the ship out of the building. ©Disney The Disney Adventure will feature an incredible range of entertainment, including a Duffy and friends show called “Duffy and The Friend Ship” and a pirate show that involves a battle with an ink-squirting giant squid, titled “Captain Jack Sparrow & The Siren Queen.” ©Disney Cruise Line On board there will also be the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for kids ages 3 to 12 and a Marvel Style Studios to turn guests of all ages into their favorite superheroes. It will also transform into an adults-only lounge offering bookable beverages. ©Disney Cruise Line We’re going to be bringing you all the details on the Disney Adventure while it continues construction and eventually starts its first sailing. Keep following Disney Food Blog for all the details to come. Everything you need to know about the Disney Destiny, Disney’s other newest cruise ship, setting sail in November! 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 Are you excited for the Disney Adventure to set sail? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. The post NEW DETAILS Revealed About Disney’s Newest Cruise Ship, the Disney Adventure first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

In case you missed it, Star Wars Celebration Japan was held this weekend, and Disney dropped a TON of Star Wars news bombs. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run We learned that yes, Ryan Gosling is going to star in a Star Wars movie, Andor season two is going to be OFF the hook, Ahsoka season two is bringing back Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker, and SO much more. However, we also got some details on a ride in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney World and Disneyland. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is changing — and we just got even MORE details on those changes. Disney revealed some of the changes for the ride at last year’s SXSW conference. In honor of the release of The Mandalorian and Grogu movie on May 22nd, 2026, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will offer NEW experiences for those who ride it, beginning on that same date. ©Disney The ride will get a new storyline featuring both the Mandalorian and Grogu. The story goes like this: Hondo Ohnaka just found out about a deal on Tatooine between ex-Imperial officers and some pirates. There’s a bounty for their capture, so you’re going to “borrow” the Millennium Falcon and team up with Din Djarin and Grogu to track them down. But there’s more — you’ll also get to visit some NEW destinations on the ride, including Bespin… ©Disney …Tatooine… Tatooine on the new version of Smuggler’s Run ©Disney …and the ruins of the Death Star…WHOA. Death Star ruins on the new version of Smuggler’s Run ©Disney Here’s another scene from Tatooine. ©Disney Well, we’ve got NEW concept art with MORE destinations, including Coruscant. CORUSCANT, y’all. ©Disney You’ll even have a chance to fly through Beggar’s Canyon… ©Disney …and through the remains of a Krayt Dragon. ©Disney You’ll even be visiting a loading dock on Cloud City, where you might spot a VERY familiar ship from Star Tours also visiting. ©Disney There’s also a scene inside a Death Star launch bay near Endor. ©Disney But you’re probably wondering how you’re supposed to visit ALL those destinations in such a short time? Well, you won’t. BUT for the first time ever, you and your crew get to be in control of the destination. SAY WHAT? Yep! And forget the pilot position…folks are going to be SCRAMBLING to be an engineer on the new version of the ride because the engineer gets to communicate with Grogu through the new mission. Pilot shmilot! ©Disney So Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run is about to get a lot more exciting on May 22nd, 2026. AND WE ARE HERE FOR IT. Stay tuned to DFB for more. Is Disney’s ‘Star Wars’ Nite Worth the Cost? Here’s Everything We Did in One Night. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What do you think about these ride updates? Let us know in the comments! The post BREAKING: Disney Confirms 3 BIG Changes to Star Wars Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Ride! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

One fast food chain is starting to slack off, apparently. ©Foodbeast Taco Bell We all have our favorite fast food joints, but is it fair to say some are better than others? Well, one company recently did an in-depth study among several popular fast food chains and the results regarding the worst order accuracy were pretty shocking! Intouch Insight conducted its 24th Annual Drive-Thru Study, where it looked at several American fast food chains and compared them on things like order accuracy, service speed, food quality, portion sizes, and much more! McDonald’s The chains included in the study are as follows: Arby’s Burger King Carl’s Jr. / Hardees Chick-fil-A Dunkin’ KFC McDonald’s Raising Cane’s Taco Bell Wendy’s There is so much we could go over in this study, but the order accuracy results especially stood out, with a fan favorite falling bellow expectations. ©Taco Bell Unfortunately, Taco Bell finished LAST among the field in 2024 with 85% accuracy and a slight decrease from last year’s performance. That means for every 20 orders at Taco Bell, 3 were not accurate. Both Chick-fil-A and McDonald’s topped the list with 93% accuracy. ©Taco Bell The study takes into consideration drive-thru orders and notes that “when an inaccurate order is handed over to a customer, the chance of the error being addressed is low, as the customer is unlikely to return once leaving the drive-thru. While we have seen improvements year over year in order accuracy ratings, this year, we still see 11% of orders rated as inaccurate – in other words, 1 out of every 10 orders handed over in the drive-thru has something wrong.” ©Taco Bell According to the study, two of the top three inaccuracy areas showed improvement: “Requests for no ice in beverages were not fulfilled 27.7% of the time this year, down from 30% last year.” “Incorrect ingredients in the main entrée occurred 9% of the time, compared to 13.8% in 2023.” Who doesn’t love a Taco Bell freeze? Communication is key. Order accuracy was 15% higher when the speaker was clear and understandable, 12% higher when the speaker volume was loud enough to hear, and 7% higher when the shopper did not have to repeat their order, per the report. Clear communication and order displays are vital in the ordering process, and the study suggests that AI can improve order accuracy when integrated into the ordering process, highlighting its potential to enhance customer service quality. In fact, accuracy reached 95% when shoppers believed they were interacting with Voice-AI, compared to the overall study accuracy of 89%.” We’ve seen Taco Bell move toward this model in particular, but it still might be some time before it makes up the difference. ©Taco Bell The study notes that technological advances will ultimately create a more seamless experience, but brands will have the responsibility of ensuring accuracy while maintaining a “human touch” that leads to customer satisfaction. Does this study’s results surprise you? Share your thoughts in the comments below and continue to follow us right here at DFB for more food updates! All the Fast Food Restaurants Within 5 Miles of Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What is your favorite fast food chain? Let us know in the comments! The post The Fast Food Chain Most Likely To Screw Up Your Order in 2025 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

When it comes to dining in Epic Universe, there are a LOT of options, and they’re all NEW! Want something quick and easy? You’ve got it! Want a bigger meal? No problem! You can find quick service and full table service restaurants in the park that are themed to various lands and areas, so if you’re looking for something unique, you’ve got it. Stunning views from Celestial Park We recently stopped by Atlantic in Celestial Park to see what was cookin’, and now we’re bringing you our FULL review to help you decide if this is a spot you’ll want to grab a reservation for on your trip! Atmosphere This restaurant features all-glass paneling that looks out into the rest of the park, offering stunning views from any seat. The Atlantic Restaurant Inside, you’ll find LOTS of blue decor with gold accents, and there are even panels on the ceiling that almost look like waves. Stunning! The restaurant is relatively small — not tiny, but not large either. You’ll find a bar closest to the entrance, and then the restaurant seating continues on the backside. Inside Note that this is a table-service restaurant, so you will need to make a reservation for this spot. As a table-service meal, it can sometimes consume a significant amount of time on your park day. We’re about to find out if it’s worth it to spend an hour-plus dining here, instead of exploring other areas of the park. Menu You’ll find lots of seafood options on this menu, and it’s not a large menu to begin with, so if you’ve got pickier eaters who also don’t eat fish or shellfish, this might be a tough restaurant for them. Menu The prices here are also pretty high, especially for the entrees, so you’ll really want to take a look at the menu ahead of time and make sure everyone in your party will find something they’ll be interested in eating. And now, onto the main event — the food! Eats First up, we grabbed the Sweet & Spicy Shrimp for $16. It’s listed on the menu with Crispy Shrimp, Chili Sauce, Micro Cilantro, and Sesame Seeds. This was very good when it came to taste, but we were disappointed in the size of the dish. We’re used to shrimp dishes being just a little bit larger, especially for $16, but these were perfectly crispy. We loved the Thai sweet chili sauce used, which gave it a bit of a kick, but it wasn’t anything unbearable. We’d get it again, but would love to see the price drop a dollar or two, or get a few more pieces of shrimp. Sweet & Spicy Shrimp We also grabbed the Sea Bass for $44. The dish comes with Carrot Mochi, Sugar Snap Peas, Lemongrass Broth, and Star Fruit. This dish tasted very fresh, and the lemongrass broth was our favorite part of this dish. Sea Bass The star fruit served with it was good, but it wasn’t anything spectacular, and that’s really where we stand with this dish. It’s not bad, it’s not fantastic, it’s just meh, and for $44, we really don’t think that’s worth it. A bite For dessert, we got the Landlubber’s Snickerdoodle Loot for $11. This is Snickerdoodle Cake with a Cookie Butter Ganache and Biscoff Sand. Not only was this adorable, but it was delicious, too! This is cake with cookie butter ganache, biscoff, and snickerdoodle, and all those flavors blended together so well to create a sweet treat that fits perfectly with the restaurant’s theme. Landlubber’s Snickerdoodle Loot Truly, we think the presentation here really stood out, and we would totally come back to grab this! Drinks To drink, we picked up the Northern Lights Martini for $17, which was fantastic! It’s made with Beluga Noble Vodka, Pallini limoncello, Ferrand Dry Curaçao, lemon juice, simple syrup, butterfly pea blossom ice sphere, and gold luster dust. Northern Lights Martini We loved the celestial vibe of this one, from the purple coloring and the gold dust, and while this drink wasn’t sweet, it was very refreshing. It wasn’t bitter or dry, and that butterfly pea blossom ice sphere really packs a punch in the best way. We would absolutely get it again! Nosh or Not This Disney World restaurant is a must-visit if… You’re looking for gorgeous views of Celestial Park in an air-conditioned space You want a good cocktail inside the park in a place where you can sit back and chill You’re looking for a super cute dessert You should skip this Disney World spot if… You’re not a fan of seafood You’re looking for a quicker meal You prefer more specific theming, like those found in Dark Universe or Isle of Berk Overall Overall, we think this restaurant has nothing wrong with it in the slightest, but we do think the portion sizes could use a little work, and the pricing is higher than what we anticipated for the type of food you get. We’re looking forward to trying more on the menu here, and seeing how it continues to grow and change! Full Spread In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for more restaurant updates from Epic Universe and beyond. Make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest Universal news and more! REVIEW: We Tried the NEW Mead Hall at How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk in Epic Universe! Read more: DFB's complete guide to Universal’s Epic Universe >> Are you thinking of trying this restaurant out? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: Come With Us to the NEW Atlantic Restaurant in Celestial Park at Epic Universe first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Happy Easter weekend to those who celebrate! To everyone else, happy spring! S’mores Cake Now we’ve already made our way around Disney World, trying out some Easter and spring snacks, along the way PLUS we’ve seen the Easter egg displays at the hotel. This week, we also revisited a snack in Magic Kingdom that is MUCH better now. And, as always, we’ve been keeping an eye on Disney World restaurant menus, and we’ve got some changes to share with you. Disney’s Hollywood Studios 50s Prime Time Cafe Appetizers REMOVED: Roasted Tomato Soup and Griddled Salmon Cake ADDED: Shrimp Cocktail — Served with Kale Salad and Cocktail Sauce for $16 Desserts REMOVED: Grasshopper Bar ADDED: Key Lime Bar — Tart Key Lime Filling over a Buttery Sugar Crust served with Raspberries and Raspberry Sauce for $9 ADDED: Neapolitan Bar — Two layers of Mousse, Vanilla, and Strawberry, layered over a Chocolate Cake Brownie served with Raspberry Sauce and Whipped Cream for $8.50 Kids’ Appetizers (à la carte) ADDED: Corn Chowder for $3.25 REMOVED: Creamy Tomato Soup 50’s Prime Time Cafe Disney’s Animal Kingdom Isle of Java Snacks REMOVED: Pumpkin Muffin Isle of Java Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — Riverside Scat Cat’s Club — Lounge Appetizers REMOVED: Gumbo Poutine, Shrimp Beignet Po’ Boy, and Spinach and Artichoke Scat Cat’s Club River Roost Lounge REMOVED: Spinach and Artichoke Dip River Roost Disney Springs The BOATHOUSE Market Fresh Fish Coriander Seared Yellowfin Tuna changed from $36 to $41 Pan-Roasted Corvina changed from $33.50 to $38 La Dolce Vita REMOVED: Passion Fruit Cheesecake ADDED: S’mores Baked Alaska — Graham Cracker Crust, Rocky Road Ice Cream, Toasted Marshmallows & Meringue, Milk Chocolate (serves 4) for $55 ADDED: Old Fashioned Strawberry Shortcake — Fresh Baked Biscuit, Vanilla Bean Soft Whipped Cream for $10 ADDED: Blackberry Cheesecake — Blackberry Compote, Chantilly Cream, Graham Crumble for $10 Kid’s Desserts ADDED: Strawberry Shortcake for $5 The BOATHOUSE The Basket at Wine Bar George Bites To Go Cheese & Meat Box description changed from “Cheddar / Manchego / Calabrese / Mortadella / fig preserve / honeycomb / mustard” to “two artisanal cheeses and two craft cheeses” REMOVED: Caramel Apple Oat Bar ADDED: House-Made Meatballs — triple cheese polenta / tomato sauce for $16 ADDED: Seasonal Inspirations — chef’s seasonal creations for Market Price Cocktails REMOVED: Something, Something Scotch, Lingering Dreams, Authored in Autumn, and Forbidden Zombie ADDED: For A Few Apples More — calvados / brut sidre / lemon for $16 ADDED: Spiced Olive Martini — spiced olive infused gin / dry vermouth for $16 ADDED: Scripted in Summer — rum / strawberry / rhubarb / yuzu for $18 ADDED: Literally, Everything Orange — Zucca / Aperol / Nonino / China China / Lemon for $18 ADDED: Final Notice — Yellow Chartreuse / gin / lemon / apricot for $18 The Basket at Wine Bar George Wine Bar George Small Plates Seasonal Salad description changed from “arcadian greens / Honeycrisp apple / apple cider vinaigrette / brioche croutons” to “arcadian greens / spinach / kale / seasonal fruit / basil vinaigrette / brioche croutons” REMOVED: Sweet Potato & Brussel Sprouts, Lumina Lamb Loin, and K4 Ranch Short Rib ADDED: Pork Belly — baby kale / carrot purée / Iberico lardo for $20 ADDED: Lamb Chops — crispy chickpeas / mustard / nước chấm / cilantro for $29 ADDED: Poached Chilean Sea Bass — spinach & cannellini bean purée / lemon foam for $30 Entrees REMOVED: Seared Porchetta Sandwich, Branzino Sandwich, and Pan Seared Porchetta Steak Grilled Ribeye description changed from “fondant potatoes / grilled asparagus / stilton au poivre” to “collard greens / fried corn bread / corn butter” and price changed from $59 to $56 Bell & Evans Braised Chicken description changed from “gnocchi / mushrooms/ spinach / cream sauce” to “poached potatoes / cauliflower / cippolini onions / fennel / cream reduction” ADDED: Spicy Chicken Po Boy — remoulade / shredded lettuce / fries for $18 ADDED: Bahn Mi — grilled pork belly / pâté / pickled carrots & daikon / cilantro / house chips for $19 Family Style Plates (serves two – four) Skirt Steak description changed from “caramelized celeriac & fennel / mushroom / tomato / kale / roasted potatoes / chimichurri” to “broccolini / garlic oil / roasted potatoes / chimichurri” Whole Greek Sea Bass description changed from “white bean ragout / roasted brussels sprouts / tomatoes / spring onions” to “white bean ragout / miso cauliflower / cippolini” Cocktails REMOVED: Something, Something Scotch, Lingering Dreams, Authored in Autumn, and Forbidden Zombie ADDED: For A Few Apples More — calvados / brut sidre / lemon for $16 ADDED: Spiced Olive Martini — spiced olive infused gin / dry vermouth for $16 ADDED: Scripted in Summer — rum / strawberry / rhubarb / yuzu for $18 ADDED: Literally, Everything Orange — Zucca / Aperol / Nonino / China China / Lemon for $18 ADDED: Final Notice — Yellow Chartreuse / gin / lemon / apricot for $18 Wine Bar George Disney World restaurant menus change ALL the time, but you can check menus on the Disney World website or My Disney Experience app. We’ll also let you know when we spot changes, so stay tuned to DFB for more. 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. 11 Disney World Restaurants Where Big Groups Are No Problem Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Has your favorite Disney World restaurant changed its menu recently? Sound off in the comments! The post ALERT! 7 Disney World Restaurant Menus Just Quietly Changed This Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s no secret that Disney World has some pretty amazing restaurants. Victoria & Albert’s We would know because we’ve eaten at every single one of them! But that’s not all — many of Disney World’s restaurants have won MAJOR awards. Several restaurants have been awarded recognition by the Michelin Guide and have even received Michelin Stars. This year, two Disney World restaurants have earned Michelin Stars — and we want to brag about them! Capa at the Four Seasons Orlando has won a Michelin Star! This isn’t the first time the restaurant has received a Michelin Star, though, but being awarded the Star again shows that it continues to showcase the kind of excellence that the Michelin guide likes to recognize. Capa Capa is located on the rooftop of Four Seasons Orlando (the hotel itself is on Disney World property). It’s a Spanish-influenced steakhouse that also offers fresh Florida seafood and small plates. The restaurant features an open kitchen, allowing you to watch its chefs at work, and offers amazing views of the Magic Kingdom fireworks. Pan con Tomate is a classic! The second Disney World restaurant receiving a Michelin Star for 2025 won’t come as a surprise to Disney World fans. It’s Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, a restaurant that has received the Star before. The restaurant has offered signature dining for over 20 years in a lavish setting with a multi-course dining experience with carefully-thought-out menus. Victoria & Albert’s Victoria & Albert’s also holds the distinction as the first and ONLY restaurant owned and operated in a U.S. theme park EVER to hold a Michelin Star. Yep, that’s how special this restaurant is. We imagine that it will continue to receive the Michelin Star year after year for years to come. Stay tuned to DFB for more. With DOZENS of places to eat at Disney World, we know it can be tough to plan your meals. That’s why we wrote the DFB Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World. We have reviews, pictures, and details about every restaurant all in one digital download – along with ALL of our best tips and strategies from decades of Disney World trips. I’ve Eaten at Over 150 Disney World Restaurants — Here Are My Spiciest Takes Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Have you ever dined at either of these restaurants? Let us know in the comments! The post NEWS: TWO Disney World Restaurants Receive Michelin Star Awards first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Is Lightning Lane RUINING your Disney World vacation? Dumbo Lightning Lane Disney World’s skip-the-line system is certainly not the easiest version of the theme park offering, with a plethora of rules, special booking times, price variations, and specific return windows. But some parts of the system are more complicated than others. We’re breaking down the Lightning Lane rules that might be hurting your Disney World experience. How Lightning Lanes Work Lightning Lane is the term for the special queue at select attractions where you can typically enjoy a faster wait time. In order to use the Lightning Lanes around Disney World, you’ll need to purchase one of three options: Lightning Lane Multi Pass, Lightning Lane Single Pass, or Lightning Lane Premier Pass. Disney & Pixar Short Film Festival We’ve got a full guide on how Lightning Lanes work, but here’s the CliffsNotes. For Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you’ll pay up to $39 per person, per day to book return times for most rides/attractions in Disney World. You can make three selections before your visit, and then continue to book more Lightning Lane return times as you use them day-of. ©Disney For Lightning Lane Single Pass, you’ll pay a one-time fee per person to have Lightning Lane access to a single attraction. The list of Single Pass attractions are Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, TRON Lightcycle / Run, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Rise of the Resistance, and Flight of Passage. These are NOT included in Multi Pass, so you’ll need to pay for their Lightning Lane access individually to get a return time…unless you want to get the third option. TRON entrance The third Lightning Lane option is Premier Pass. This is the most expensive option, costing hundreds of dollars per person, with pricing varying depending on the park and the date. However, this is the simplest option to use — you just buy the pass for your chosen park and then use it to scan into any Lightning Lane at that park, any time of day. No reserving return times required. ©Disney These Lightning Lane offerings can save you a LOT of time in the parks, but they also come with some headache-inducing rules. Let’s break them down. Click Here to Get All the Details on Lightning Lane Premier Pass! Booking 7 Days in Advance for Hotel Guests Those staying at a Disney World Resort can purchase and book their Lightning Lane options 7 days before their stay. Booking becomes available at 7AM ET, which can be a pain if you live in a different time zone. And if you’re considering waiting until later in the day to book, you might want to think again, because some of those popular Lightning Lanes fill up FAST. Lightning Lane Multi Pass pamphlet Hotel guests can book for the entire length of their stay starting at 7 days, so that means that people getting to Disney World a few days ahead of you may have already claimed some of the Lightning Lane slots for Multi Pass or Single Pass that you desire (hotel stays can be up to 14 days). This means that you may need to use the same strategy you use for dining reservations — save the Lightning Lanes that are must-haves for the end of your trip. Lightning Lane If you were hoping to book Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and go to Magic Kingdom for your first park day, but you find that the Lightning Lane is unavailable already, then you might end up needing to rearrange your park days at the last minute. Thankfully, we’ve often been able to find availability for popular rides on the morning of our park visit, but for those who like to have plans set in advance, that last-minute searching is stressful. ©Disney Disney World used to offer the ability to book FastPasses 60 days in advance for hotel guests, so some people think that the 7-day rule is too late. Others dislike it because they don’t want to have to plan their day a week in advance — they’d rather decide what they’re doing the morning of. I’ve Tried Every Lightning Lane Hack in Disney World and These Are 2 That Work Every Time — Click Here! Booking 3 Days in Advance for Non-Hotel Guests If you’re not staying at a Disney World hotel, you’ll have to wait until 3 days before your visit to purchase and book your Lightning Lanes…and then you’ll have to do that daily for each day of your trip. So even if you’re already on vacation, you’ll be getting up at 7AM each time to make those selections. Lightning Lane With the 3-day booking window, you’re at a bit of a disadvantage. You’ll probably have slim pickings when it comes to the more popular Lightning Lane availability for Single Pass and Multi Pass, and some offerings may even be sold out if you’re visiting during a particularly busy time. These Are the Secrets to the Best Lightning Lane Game Plan! Some Rides Cost Extra We understand that Disney World offers Lightning Lane Multi Pass for people who don’t mind doing the work of booking rides, and then offers Lightning Lane Premier Pass for those who prefer the easy all-access pass. However, the offering that can sometimes be frustrating to people is the Lightning Lane Single Pass. Cosmic Rewind With Single Pass, you’re paying close to half the price you pay for Multi Pass (sometimes more), just to access the Lightning Lane for ONE ride. The Single Pass rides aren’t included in your Multi Pass purchase, and there’s not even a guarantee that you’ll get to use your Single Pass because sometimes those rides experience technical difficulties. 5 Ways to Avoid Paying for Lightning Lanes in Disney World — Click Here! Booking With Tiers And finally, we’ve got to talk about those pesky tiers for Lightning Lane Multi Pass. When you’re booking your Lightning Lane Multi Pass selections before your park viist, you’ll be able to choose 3 attractions for each park. But in Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios, there’s a stipulation for which attractions can be chosen. Remy’s In those parks, the Lightning Lane Multi Pass options are divided into two tiers: Tier 1 and Tier 2. When you book ahead, you’ll only be able to select ONE attraction from Tier 1, while choosing your other two attractions from Tier 2. (If you so desire, you could also make all three selections from Tier 2.) Once you get into the park and use your first Lightning Lane Multi Pass for the day, the tiers will disappear and you’ll be able to book whichever selections are available. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure This makes it a bit more challenging to ride EVERY popular ride in the parks, so you might have to craft a detailed game plan in order to tackle all the attractions on your list. Everything Included in Your Disney World Lightning Lane Multi Pass Purchase — Click Here! Disney World has changed its skip-the-line system many times now, and people have mixed feelings about each iteration. There will always be pros and cons. You just need to know the facts ahead of time so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not to use the current system. So if you want to know more, make sure to check out our Lightning Lane tips and hacks video below. Stay tuned to DFB for ALL the updates and tips on Lightning Lanes in Disney World. Click Here for Everything You Need to Know About Lightning Lanes in Disney World! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Do you use Lightning Lanes when you go to Disney World? Tell us in the comments! The post Are These Lightning Lane Rules Destroying the Disney World Experience? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Welcome Vikings! We’ve ventured into Epic Universe, where we’re enjoying the restaurants, snacks, and rides so you can have the best trip to Epic Universe ever, and we recently tried a new restaurant that we think you’re going to love. Isle of Berk We went to Mead Hall in How to Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk to see if this Viking food stop is worth visiting, and we’re bringing a full review straight to you. Do you want to have dinner with Vikings and dragons? Let’s find out! Atmosphere Mead Hall is Isle of Berk’s “main gathering place, a grand chamber where Vikings feast on meat, fish, sandwiches, and more.” Mead Hall When you enter through the massive double doors, you’ll see this dark room, and once you step inside, you realize that it’s a stone room that is so big that it will make you feel like a Viking. Inside Mead Hall Wood carvings on the sides of the dining room are covered in dragons, and there are tapestries hanging from the walls that tell more stories of the How to Train Your Dragon characters. The chandelier that hangs high above looks like it has real candles. Tapestries There’s even the Chief’s chair and tables you can sit at! The whole restaurant was dark and filled with air conditioning, making it a great place to hang out and rest before exploring the rest of the park. This restaurant continues to bring in the ancient vibes of the land, and you’ll feel like you entered How to Train Your Dragon and became a citizen of Berk. Where the Chief sits! Now that we’re sitting in this great hall, let’s check out the menu! Menu Mead Hall serves hearty meals like turkey wings, sausage links, and meatballs. There are a few other options like a harvest salad a vegan burker for other Vikings as well. Menu There’s a kids menu (or Little Dragon Riders as they call it in Berk) with mac and cheese, bugers, and chicken pops. Menu There are a few desserts which we’ll get into later, and a specialty beverage called Toothless Plasma Blast made with Powerade and stone fruit syrup. We loved seeing all of the draft beers on tap that you can order, too. Beyond the taps, there is canned beer, wine, hard seltzer, and of course, mead. Look how cool the taps are! There’s also a Coca-Cola Freestyle Machine for all of your soda choices. Freestyle Machines You can Mobile Order or head to the counter to place your order, but on the day we went, Mobile Ordering was the only option available. We sat at a table, placed our order on the Universal App, and then scanned the QR code on the table. QR Code on Table During our previews, the food came out quickly, but keep in mind that once the park opens, it might be different while they adjust to new crowd levels. We also noticed that the Wi-Fi was not very strong inside, so you might need to stand by the door or place your order before entering if you’re having issues. The counter We know where we’re sitting and what’s on the menu, let’s get into what you’ve been waiting for — the food! Eats We started with Berserkers Meatballs for $19.16. Berserkers Meatballs These are Swedish meatballs with onion gravy, lingonberry jam, and smashed root vegetables. If you love IKEA meatballs, you’ll love these. Actually, they’re even better than IKEA meatballs (we can’t believe we’re saying that either!). They’re salty but not in an overpowering way, and they pack a lot of flavor. Juicy on the inside The gravy was a great addition, and there was plenty of it on the plate to dip our meatballs in. The lingonberry jam added a sweet, fruity element that was also cold, which we loved on this otherwise warm plate. So much gravy A huge standout on this plate was the smashed root vegetables! We could tell they were real mashed potatoes that were super chunky and with a stunning herbaceous and savory taste. They were even better with the leftover gravy and jam! Root vegetables For dessert, we had Stormfly’s Catch of the Day for $7.99. Stormfly’s Catch of the Day Don’t worry — there’s no fish in this dish! It’s a chocolate mousse fish with cereal crumble. The presentation on this meal is so cute that you’ll want to grab your phone to snap a picture. Yum! It’s a very traditional chocolate mousse cake with a chocolate shell, and was sitting around a cereal similar to Fruity Pebbles. While the flavors aren’t insanely unique, we love it when there’s a reliable dessert with flavors we know we like. It’s also great for kids who know they like chocolate! Fluffy on the inside! With our meal, we ordered a classic drink we couldn’t resist! Drinks We ordered Gobber’s Mead for $14, of course! Gobber’s Mead This drink reminded us of sparkling grape juice in the best ways. It had great carbonation and a tart finish. We loved the sweetness that wasn’t overly strong. Mead at Mead Hall While this might not have been the best mead we’ve had, there is nothing more iconic than drinking mead at Mead Hall. Nosh or Not Eating at Mead Hall is a must if you… Are looking for hearty and filling meals Love How to Train Your Dragon and want to continue the themed experience Enjoy a cool, air-conditioned restaurant out of the chaos You might want to skip Mead Hall if you… Want lighter or smaller meals Don’t want to spend the time sitting in a restaurant when you can grab a snack and get to your next attraction Like sitting outside and watching the street atmosphere Overall Meal Hall did not disappoint at Isle of Berk! We loved our meatballs and dessert, and will definitely be heading back, ready to try the rest of the menu, or when we’re ready to cool down with some air conditioning. Our meal We’ve been spending as much time as we can inside Epic Universe to bring you all the insider details you need to know before you go. Keep following Disney Food Blog for everything Epic! REVIEW: We Tried the NEW Burning Blade Tavern at Universal’s Epic Universe Read more: DFB's complete guide to Universal’s Epic Universe >> Which land are you most excited about at Epic Universe? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: We Tried the NEW Mead Hall at How to Train Your Dragon -- Isle of Berk in Epic Universe! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

BIG things are happening in Magic Kingdom, and not just because it’s Easter weekend. Magic Kingdom Nope, Magic Kingdom is getting ready for a brand-new Villains-themed land and a Cars expansion in Frontierland. Meanwhile, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is getting QUITE the overhaul (more on that in a bit), and a new nighttime parade will be coming to the park this summer. We just visited Magic Kingdom, and in one day, we spotted three NEW things we need to tell you about. Astro Orbiter Over in Tomorrowland, Astro Orbiter has been closed since January, and it seems to be getting a major refurbishment. The ride has actually been dismantled, with pieces of it being taken to an undisclosed location for an update. When we visited most recently, the ride seemed to be getting a fresh paint job to refresh its look. New paint As far as we can tell, the new paint looks like it’s going to take the ride back to its 2014 glory. We previously saw a permit to “provide labor, material and/or electrical for construction” on April 10th, so the ride is getting closer to being put back together and reopening. Some Magic Kingdom Rides Will Look a Bit More SPARKLY This Year Big Thunder Mountain Railroad’s new track As we mentioned, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is also currently closed for a massive refurbishment. Disney is replacing the track, and we got to see more new continuous sections of the new track, which are now visible. Let’s hope this means the Wildest Ride in the Wilderness will be a lot smoother when it reopens. More new track! So, when WILL Big Thunder Mountain Railroad reopen? Well, Disney hasn’t said, but a new permit suggests the timeline is spring 2026. Character Surprise We stumbled on the MOST delightful character surprise EVER around the hub. We spotted the White Rabbit, along with some flowers and butterflies from Alice in Wonderland. They were all around the hub, and it was MAGIC. White Rabbit We spoke with a Cast Member and were told that Disney World is considering doing more of these surprise appearances. SO fun We loved the spontaneity of it, so we’re hoping we run into more character surprises in all the parks. The 7 Unspoken Rules Disney Adults NEED to Start Following When Meeting Characters 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, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more. What’s Changing at Big Thunder Mountain While It’s Closed for a Year in Disney World? Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What do you think of these changes? Let us know in the comments! The post 3 NEW Things We Just Spotted in Magic Kingdom first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Ready to be one of the first to see the BRAND NEW ship joining the Disney Cruise Line fleet? Spidey! We’ve got the inside scoop on the new dining, the staterooms, the VILLAINS, coming to the Disney Destiny later this year. Check out our video below: FIRST LOOK at Disney’s NEW Cruise Ship — Disney Destiny Are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes! And stay tuned for more theme park news! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What do you think of this video? Tell us in the comments. The post DFB Video: FIRST LOOK at Disney's NEW Cruise Ship -- Disney Destiny first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

You know the saying, “Rules are meant to be broken”? Yeah…that may be true but you really SHOULDN’T be breaking THESE Disney World rules. Cinderella Castle We talk all the time about unspoken rules and rules that are ok to be broken once in a while, but Disney World has some “written-in-stone” rules that are big no-nos to break — and not following them can lead to some serious consequences. Still, former Cast Members on the DFB team have seen it all, including guests consistently breaking several rules. Before we get into it, we have to remind you that these ARE NOT SUGGESTIONS. In fact, we’d like to deter anyone from breaking these rules, as doing so can be dangerous, harm the theme park-going experience, and/or create unpleasant results for guests around you. With that warning down, let’s get into the rules Cast Members constantly see guests break. No Running One of the most common rules guests break at Disney World is “no running”. Whether it’s kids playing around or grown adults running to make a reservation or take advantage of a low wait time, chances are you’ve seen guests running, as well. Main Street, U.S.A. Disney doesn’t allow running for safety reasons. As one of the most visited places on Earth, Disney World is often crowded and the potential for collisions is already high. If you’re running, it’s easy to get blindsided, trip, or run into someone or something. This rule is in effect to keep you and other guests safe, so please be sure to follow it. It gets crowded! If you are speed like Lightning McQueen and want to run at Disney World, there are designated jogging and running trails at the hotels or you could sign up for a runDisney event. No Flash Photography The next rule that’s constantly broken is “No Flash Photography”. Yehtta Instant Digital Camera Flash photography not generally allowed in Disneyland, especially in indoor settings like shows or dark rides. Disney implements this rule to not ruin the experience for other guests while maintaining the safety of any performers. The flash can also damage some light-sensitive materials in exhibits, such as artifacts. Additionally, photography of any kind may be prohibited due to copyright, meaning if you capture content and post it, you could be in some legal trouble. “No flash pictures…please.” There’s a time and a place for pictures, and if flash photography is banned, it’s just another excuse to live in the moment. Don’t Feed the Animals Look, we know the ducks, other birds, and animals at Disney World are super cute and you want to show them love by giving them something to snack on, but feeding wild animals is actually prohibited. Ducks! No, Disney doesn’t ban feeding the animals to be cruel to the animals. Instead, Disney’s looking out for their health and safety, as human food isn’t ideal for a wild animal’s diet and can end up seriously hurting them. On the flip side, If these animals get too reliant on humans feeding them, they could become too comfortable and too aggressive with guests. Disney World is doing its best to balance a natural ecosystem while creating a healthy guest experience. We love Disney ducks! It’s also worth mentioning that you shouldn’t grab or touch wild animals. While this may seem obvious, small children don’t know better and it’s up to adults to enforce animal-child safety should that ever be a concern. Disney Ducks having their own parade down Main Street, U.S.A. When you visit Disney World, do so with the understanding that you’re expected to follow ALL of Disney World’s rules. When it comes to safety and comfort, Disney is always trying to do right by its guests, so remember that these rules exist for a reason. As always, stay tuned right here at DFB for all kinds of Disney World tips, updates, reviews, and more! 7 Rules You Can ONLY Break in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW If you could create Disney World rules, what would you add? Let us know in the comments! The post Former Disney World Cast Members Reveal The BIGGEST Rules Guests Continue To Break first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Reviewing new Disney food items is literally our job — it’s a tough one, but someone has to do it! Classic Mickey Ice Cream Sandwich We go to try many new menu items that Disney World releases to be able to share with YOU, our readers, if this is worth your time and money. Spring is here, and Disney added 6 new items around the parks and hotels, so we are sharing which ones you should grab and which ones you can probably avoid. Totally Orange Cone At Disney’s Pop Century at Everything POP, we recently tried the Totally Orange Cone for $6.49. It was a great creamsicle flavor. It has a nice vanilla flavor mixed with a tart orange flavor. The freeze-dried Skittles added a really interesting textural experiment by exploding in our mouths! It was a fun snack, and we loved how different it was from your run-of-the-mill vanilla or chocolate ice cream. If you like creamsicle, we say grab this one! Totally Orange Cone Cake Bar While we were there, we tried the Cake Bar for $6.29. This Orange Cake Bar was buttercream and Skittles freeze-dried candy on top. The icing is the main flavor with a bit of citrusy flavor to it. The cake itself was supposed to be orange flavored as well, but it was really lacking in that area. This one was disappointing and isn’t something we would go out of our way for. Cake Bar Pretzel Nuggets I will let you in on a secret: our team was so excited to try these! You’ll want to head to Block & Hans in the American Pavilion at EPCOT for these Pretzel Nuggets with Beer Cheese for $8.50. The pretzels are made with garlic butter, barbecue rub, and beer-cheese sauce. Yum, yum, and YUM! We’re happy to report that these are AMAZING. The pretzels are soft and chewy, but the beer cheese steals the show. Pretzel Nuggets with Beer Cheese S’mores Cake The Plaza Restaurant added a new dessert, the S’mores Cake for $10. This is a chocolate cake with chocolate ganache, toasted graham cracker crumbs, and toasted marshmallow mousse. The dessert is rich and filling, but the is moist and dense enough to feel fudgy. This was delicious, and if you love very indulgent desserts, grab a friend and share this one! S’mores Cake Strawberry Shortcake If you’ve been a reader for a while, you know we LOVE Garden Grill at EPCOT. They just added a new Strawberry Shortcake dessert that is included in the family-style meal. The cake is very dense and almost a little dry. The strawberries are good, but we wish the syrup would help moisten the cake. It’s an ok dessert, but not enough to eat here for that reason alone — however, we love the food here, so there are more reasons to eat here! Strawberry Shortcake Apple Hand Pie Over at Fort Wilderness Resort at Trail’s End, we tried the Apple Hand Pie for $6.29. The dough is flaky, but a bit on the dry side. The filling has tender apples and a sweet cinnamon syrup. We were left wishing there was more filling to dough ratio. If you are staying at the resort, we say grab one if you love apple pies, however, it’s probably not worth a special trip over there for just this. Apple Hand Pie We love trying new items to tell you which items are worth it for your trip! For more Disney food reviews, follow DFB. Former Disney World Cast Members Reveal 4 Reasons Lightning Lanes Are NOT Worth It Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide The Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants The Best EPCOT Restaurant Restaurants The Best Hollywood Studios Restaurants The Best Animal Kingdom Restaurants The Best Disney Springs Restaurants Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What is your favorite Disney World snack? Tell us in the comments below. The post 6 New Menu Items Hit Disney World -- What to Try and What to Avoid first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Happy #Easter! Aren't these lil' park hoppers the cutest thing ever?View the full article

Bright Suns from Star Wars Celebration Japan! We just wrapped our Walt Disney Imagineering panel where I was joined by Imagineers Anisha Deshmane and Michael Serna as well as Matt Martin from Lucasfilm to talk about the creative development behind current and future Star Wars projects at Disney parks and resorts around the world. In the panel, we shared some exciting news that expands on some of the updates discussed at SXSW, and I can’t wait to share what we talked about! Take Control with New Powers for the Crew Starting May 22, 2026 at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will allow guests to control the iconic ship like never before. For the first time ever, the crew will be in control of their own destination, leading to potential adventures on Bespin, the wreckage of the second Death Star around Endor, or the just-announced bustling city-planet, Coruscant. Another new gameplay addition allows the engineer positions to communicate with Grogu during the mission. Mando and Grogu Join the Adventure We’re so excited that these updates debut on the same day as Lucasfilm’s upcoming title, The Mandalorian and Grogu, however, the attraction’s storyline will follow a different path. In this new thrilling storyline, Hondo Ohnaka has gotten wind of a deal going down on Tatooine between ex-Imperial officers and a band of pirates. There’s a generous bounty for their capture, so you’ll borrow the iconic ship and team up with Mando and Grogu to track them down and explore the galaxy. None of this would be possible without our partnership with Industrial Light and Magic (ILM). With their help, you are in control of your own destiny on the attraction. This technology is all built on Unreal Engine 5 by Epic Games which are the same tools ILM uses on the Disney+ show, The Mandalorian. To finish off our panel, the ever-popular BDX Droids made a pit stop! They’re now at Tokyo Disney Resort but will also make appearances at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Paris for a limited time very soon. Be sure to stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog and @DisneyParks socials for the latest news on all things Star Wars coming to Disney Experiences. May the Force Be With You, Always New Details for Mando and Grogu’s Millennium Falcon Mission READ MORE Star Wars May the 4th Be With You 2025 Collection Reveal READ MORE 2025 Guide to Season of the Force at Disneyland Park READ MORE The post The Mandalorian, Grogu, and New Crew Controls Coming to Smugglers Run appeared first on Disney Parks Blog. View the full article

Disney World is currently preparing for numerous new experiences in the coming years and refurbishing current attractions. Brand-new lands, including Pueblo Esperanza, Monsters, Inc. Land, and Villains Land will be coming. Plus, new lounges like the GEO-82 lounge in EPCOT will be opening, and new shows such as “Zootopia: Better Zoogether!” in Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be debuting. Construction Walls featuring Artwork for Tropical Americas As well, Test Track, Big Thunder Mountain, and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin will also be refreshed. While we are excited about new openings and refreshed attractions, these updates also mean there will be closures that could impact your trip. But we are here to make sure you don’t beeline it for a specific experience only to find out it is closed. We are rounding up everything that will be closed in Disney World next week, so you are prepared! Test Track Keep reading below to see what attractions and locations will be closed this week, April 19th through April 26th! Magic Kingdom Playground at Dumbo the Flying Elephant The indoor children’s playground inside the Dumbo the Flying Elephant queue closed for refurbishment on February 24th, 2025. While the playground is closed, the ride is still open and available for kids of all ages to soar through the sky! Dumbo the Flying Elephant The indoor playground is expected to reopen in Spring 2025. Hall of Presidents The Hall of Presidents closed at Magic Kingdom on January 20th. The Hall of Presidents The attraction will be closed until later in 2025, though Disney has not shared a specific date. We will keep an eye out for updates, though! The closure is likely to change the current president, as January 20th marked Inauguration Day. While it is closed, other maintenance and routine work may also be happening. Astro Orbiter If you want to blast off into space, you’ll have to head over to Space Mountain because Astro Orbiter is temporarily closed for refurbishment! Astro Orbiter closed as of January 13th and is planned to reopen in the summer of 2025. No specific date has been announced for the high-in-the-sky ride, but we’ll keep our eyes peeled for an update from Disney. Astro Orbiter is dismantled currently! The ride has currently been completely dismantled and is being refurbished elsewhere. It definitely looks a little barren as you are walking into Tomorrowland right now! However, Disney recently filed a permit that could mean the attraction will soon be back in its place in Tomorrowland. All of the Changes Confirmed for Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin in Magic Kingdom Big Thunder Mountain Railroad On January 6th, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad closed for an extended temporary closure. Big Thunder Mountain at Magic Kingdom The “Wildest Ride in the Wilderness” will be closed for at least a year and will reopen sometime in 2026. The ride will be undergoing maintenance while it is closed. When it reopens, it will have some “new magic,” according to Disney. We can’t wait to see what changes will be coming to this ever-popular roller coaster! Tomorrowland Terrace Tomorrowland Terrace is a quick-service restaurant that has been closed since the 2020 pandemic-related closures, but even before that, this spot was only occasionally open. Tomorrowland Terrace Once in a while, you’ll see the dining room open as a rest area (and it’s still being used for the Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Parties), but it’s usually all roped off and empty. Disney hasn’t announced when this spot could finally reopen, but we’ll be watching for updates. If you’re looking for a nice spot to hang out in Disney World and take a rest, this could be it! Tortuga Tavern Just like Tomorrowland Terrace, Tortuga Tavern is also a seasonal restaurant in Magic Kingdom. It has been a bit since we have seen it open. Most recently, it was used as a cookie location for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Tortuga Tavern We had previously spotted shrubs around the restaurant as they worked on the flooring. However, all the shrubs have been taken down now. We don’t know exactly when/if this restaurant will reopen, but we will keep you updated if we learn more! 4 Rules You’re Accidentally Breaking in Magic Kingdom EPCOT Test Track Test Track closed on June 17th, 2024 and Disney is giving this ride a BIG makeover! Disney has shared that the new version of Test Track will take inspiration from the old ride, World of Motion, that was originally there when the park opened in 1982. Test Track Disney shared more details at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Experience, and an updated opening timeline was announced! We’ll be able to ride Test Track once again in late summer 2025. We recently got a look at the new Test Track cars too. We are getting closer and closer to its reopening! Restaurant Marrakesh Restaurant Marrakesh is currently closed as a dining location in the Morocco pavilion of EPCOT’s World Showcase, and there’s no word yet on when the restaurant could fully reopen. Restaurant Marrakesh Occasionally, we’ll see it open as a lounge or Kidcot Fun Stop. So, if you’re in the Morocco Pavilion, check it out to see if it’s open. We’re watching for updates on when the full restaurant could reopen! “I Leave You Guys for FIVE MINUTES…” — A Mayor’s Lament of EPCOT’s Tiny Train Town Animal Kingdom It’s Tough to Be a Bug It’s Tough to Be a Bug is officially closed for good. This attraction in Disney’s Animal Kingdom invited you to join the bug kingdom on an adventure. While the show didn’t usually make it to the top of favorite attractions in Disney World, it has now officially closed to make way for a new show. It’s Tough to Be a Bug is closed! It’s Tough to Be a Bug closed on March 17th. The show is permanently closed to make way for a brand-new show, “Zootopia: Better Zoogether!” expected to debut in winter 2025. TriceraTop Spin, Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures, and Fossil Fun Games The first round of closures began in DinoLand U.S.A. on January 13th, 2025. TriceraTop Spin, Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures, and Fossil Fun Game were closed down, and construction has begun on the brand-new land themed to the Tropical Americas, Pueblo Esperanza. The walls have been up since the closure, and things have been disappearing from behind the walls. Almost everything has been taken down behind the walls, including the large green dinosaur. DinoLand Construction It is definitely a sad sight, but we are also excited to see Pueblo Esperanza! DINOSAUR, Restaurantosaurus, the snack stands, and The Boneyard remain open. Disney hasn’t announced an official closing date for the rest of DinoLand. However, they have announced that “2025 is your year to visit before it goes extinct!” This Is the CUTEST Thing We’ve Seen At Animal Kingdom this Week Disney’s Hollywood Studios Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy The Cars-themed show featuring Lighting McQueen permanently closed on October 8th, 2024, to make way for a brand-new Villains show. Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy The Cars show was previously housed in the Sunset Showcase building, but the last day for guests to enjoy it was October 7th. The new Villains show officially has an opening date! The show will debut on May 27th, 2025. We also recently saw that they have begun to dismantle the outdoor exhibits from Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy. Voyage of the Little Mermaid As well, Voyage of the Little Mermaid is currently closed in Disney World. A bit ago we saw that the iconic Voyage of the Little Mermaid marquee has been removed! So far, it is still missing, but we are curious what, if anything, will take its place. Voyage of the Little Mermaid Disney is going to introduce a new, updated show in this spot, though it will still be themed to the animated movie The Little Mermaid! The new show will be called “The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure,” and will be debuting on May 27th, 2025. It will be a “fully reimagined theatrical production inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios classic.” 4 Disney’s Hollywood Studios Restaurants the Experts Refuse to Book Disney Springs Starbucks on the West Side The Starbucks on the West Side of Disney Springs is temporarily closed for refurbishment. It closed on March 3rd, and it is expected to reopen in mid-summer. Starbucks is undergoing refurbishment Have no fear, though — you can still get your Starbucks fix in Disney Springs! Head over to the Disney Springs Marketplace location, which will be open during the refurbishment. Caffeine headaches are not allowed in Disney Springs! Permit Filed for NEW Addition Coming to Disney Springs Typhoon Lagoon Blizzard Beach officially welcomed guests back on November 4th, 2024! That same day, Typhoon Lagoon closed its gates for the season. Typhoon Lagoon Typhoon Lagoon will be reopening on May 1st, 2025. When it reopens, Blizzard Beach will be temporarily closing. Disney has been having one water park open at a time seasonally since 2020, but that is changing this year. BOTH Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach will be open at the same time from May 21st through September 7th, 2025. Click here to learn all about Blizzard Beach! Disney World Hotels Jellyrolls — Disney’s BoardWalk Jellyrolls at Disney’s BoardWalk is officially closing on April 19th, 2025. This entertainment venue has provided our team with countless memories, and we know many others are also sad to see it close. Jellyrolls is having its final farewell performance on April 19th, and after that it will be closing its doors forever on Disney’s BoardWalk. Jellyrolls However, this isn’t the end for Jellyrolls, as the bar has said they are “making a move.” We don’t know many details about that move yet, but we will keep you updated. Stormalong Bay and Hurricane Hanna’s– Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts Stormalong Bay is the shared pool between Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts. It features a beach, a lazy river, a large pool, and an exciting pirate ship slide! When we stopped by recently, we noticed that they were hard at work at Stormalong Bay. Stormalong Bay Construction This pool area will be closed for refurbishment until June. While it’s closed, hotel guests can use the Tidal (Beach Club), Admiral (Yacht Club), and Dunes Cove (Beach Club) leisure pools. During the refurbishment, Hurricane Hanna’s, the pool bar at Stormalong Bay will also be closed. Fantasia Pool — Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort From January 1st through April 30th, the Fantasia Pool at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort will be closed. Fantasia Pool While this pool is closed, you can swim at the Duck Pond Pool at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort if you’re staying here. Merchandise Locations — Disney’s BoardWalk The merchandise locations along Disney’s BoardWalk will be closing for refurbishment in phases. The closures will last until May 2025, but two merchandise locations will always be available during the refurbishment. Disney’s BoardWalk The Character Carnival is currently closed. While they are working on the Character Carnival, you can shop at Screen Door General Store and Thimbles & Threads. Packing for Disney World? We Built Your Dream Amazon Cart Don’t want to go through all of the stress of booking your Disney World trip alone? Reach out to our friends at Small World Vacations! Their experienced agents monitor your reservation for possible future savings, compare discounts, and determine which works best for your travel party, dates, resort, and touring plans. They also share expert tips and first-hand advice about your magical vacation. Small World Vacations Looking for more resources to help you get ready for your upcoming trip? Check out these posts to learn all about Disney World’s rides: 10 Rides to AVOID in Disney World if You Struggle with Motion Sickness What It Takes to CHANGE a Disney World Ride 9 of the SCARIEST Rides in Disney World, According to YOU! A FULL LIST of the Thrill Rides in Disney World! The Ultimate Guide to the BEST and WORST Seats On EVERY Magic Kingdom Ride We’ll keep you updated with all the latest news, so stay tuned to DFB. I’ve Tried Every Ride Hack in Disney World, And I’m Sharing the 3 That Work Every Time Planning a Trip to Disney World? We’ve Got Everything You Need to Know The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Disney World Vacation A Month-by-Month Guide to Planning Your Disney World Trip Tips, Hints, Lists, and Videos for Planning the BEST Disney World Trip Learn About the Disney Park Pass System The Ultimate Disney World Packing List Everything You Need to Know About Lightning Lanes Insider SECRETS for Your First Trip to Disney World A Complete Look at the Current Disney Discounts and Deals The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click Here to Subscribe When is your next Disney World vacation? Let us know in the comments! The post These 18 Disney World Closures Could Impact Your Trip first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Construction is ramping up on Disney’s newest hotel. ©Disney Back in 2018, Disney announced that a new Disney Vacation Club (DVC) property was coming to Walt Disney World. The new hotel, to be built on the long-abandoned remains of the resort’s first water park River Country – – was to be called Reflections: A Lakeside Lodge. However, with the onset of the worldwide pandemic, all work on the project stalled, and Disney dropped all mentions of it. After years of silence, work on the site resumed in late 2024, with Disney confirming that November that the project was back on, and that the resort had been renamed the Lakeshore Lodge. According to Disney, the new version of the resort will be “inspired by the majesty of nature and its enduring influence on Disney artists.” It’s scheduled to open in 2027. ©Disney During a recent trip to Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, we caught a glimpse of how far construction in the site has progressed in recent months. Lakeshore Lodge construction As you can see, vertical construction is proceeding a rapid pace. Lakeshore Lodge construction When pulling to a more panoramic view, you can appreciate just how large the site is, and how many cranes are on property. Lakeshore Lodge construction When approaching the site, we can noticed the highly-themed construction walls. Lakeshore Lodge construction Disney’s Lakeside Lodge is barreling ahead as the new DVC resort is scheduled to open in approximately two years. Stay tuned to DFB for further updates on the one resort. 4 Disney World Perks That Are Returning in 2025 Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Are you looking forward to Lakeside Lodge? Let us know in the comments below! The post 3 Major Construction Updates for Disney World's Newest Hotel first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Epic Universe opens on May 22nd, 2025, and we are getting so excited! Universal Helios Grand Hotel We’ve already taken a sneak peek inside the theme park, and the new Universal Helios Grand Hotel is open, with the theme park not far behind. As we continue to explore the new park and hotel, we’re bringing you our full reviews of everything! Today’s full review tasks us to Aurora Market inside the Helios Grand. Inside Universal’s Helios Grand Hotel, when it comes to food, you can find Bar Helios, Flora Taverna, Lotus Lagoon, and Aurora Market! Today, we’re checking out everything inside the hotel that takes you straight into Epic Universe to see if it’s truly worth your time and money, starting with the market. Universal Helios Grand Hotel Aurora Market is the coffee shop inside the resort where you can find freshly roasted coffees, beverages, and grab-and-go options. It also serves up snacks like croissants, paninis, wraps, and salads, plus desserts like cakes and gelato day and night. Atmosphere The atmosphere around the market is relaxed but lively with its contemporary vibe. Aurora Market This is basically a grab-and-go market combined with a coffee shop and a gelato shop. Grab and Go Market So let’s see what we can grab! Menu You’ll find a huge variety of beverages and pre-packaged salads, sandwiches, and snacks here. Beverages and pre-packaged fresh foods Got a sweet tooth, but don’t want sugar? You’ll find some pre-packaged sugar-free sweet treats. Sugar-free sweets You’ll even find a small selection of bakery goods like cookies, brownies, and donuts. Donuts, cookies, and brownies Check out the pastry case, though, because there are some nice pastries available, including macarons. Pastries Wine and other spirits can also be found here. Booze You can also have a variety of gelato flavors. The gelato comes from two Florida-based suppliers, and they have some unique flavors. Want to try a flavor out before you buy? You can get a sample! There are a dozen flavors that will rotate seasonally. There’s even a dark chocolate vegan gelato made with oat milk plus sorbetto, which is also vegan. The more fun flavors we saw were tiramisu, cookie butter, and birthday cake, but we also saw mint chocolate chip, vanilla, and chocolate. Gelato flavors Need a pick-me-up? There’s coffee! We’re talking espresso drinks made to order! Made-to-order coffee drinks You can also pick up a refillable cup here, which is $10.50 for one day, $12 for two days, or $16.50 for three days. You can also get one for your full length of stay for $19. Refillable cups You can fill them up at the Coca-Cola Freestyle machine throughout Universal, but there’s one inside the market, too. Coca-Cola Freestyle machine One thing we will note, though, is that there is NO seating here. You will find some seating right outside the market in the lobby, though. Eats and Drinks To start us off, we grabbed an Affogato for $7. An affogato is a scoop of gelato with a shot of espresso on top, so it melts over the ice cream and creates a creamy coffee drink with a caffeinated kick. We decided to try one with the cookie butter gelato. As you can see, you get it served in a plain white paper cup, sized for at least two or three scoops of gelato. So the affogato is looking a little…well..lonely in there. But this container is too big for the gelato, so you’re not getting the melting action. It could be that this is an opening week thing, and more containers/cups are on the way. Affogato We ended up eating the gelato and then drinking the espresso to get the flavors together. That being said, it was pretty good, and the gelato itself was rich with a caramelized sweet flavor. It also has a bit of a crunch, so we think there’s something like a Biscoff in there. This container isn’t working for us We also ordered a Small Gelato for $5.50. We got two flavors, meaning that the price point is actually pretty sweet. We tried the vegan dark chocolate gelato made with oat milk. We think the oat milk isn’t noticeable at all, and you just get a creamy, chocolately scoop that’s a little easier on your stomach. Small gelato Our other scoop was the Birthday Cake Gelato, which is going to please kids with its fun blue color with sprinkles. This one had that nice cake batter flavor, and it was SO tasty and SUPER creamy. YUM We will note that once we had both gelato flavors together, we found the non-vegan option to be a lot creamier. You do lose some of that creaminess with the oat milk version. Overall Overall, this space is pretty small, and we didn’t think that there were a lot of options as far as grab-and-go snacks and meals go. However, Aurora Market could be a great place to grab a coffee in the mornings or a gelato at the end of the day (although we noticed a LOT of people coming back from the parks heading straight for the market). There’s also no seating, but you can head into the Helios Grand lobby and find seating there. Aurora Market is a great option for an easy breakfast or dessert inside the Helios Grand Hotel with familiar bites and drinks. This will be a great option for you if you want to grab a quick bite before or after hitting Epic Universe. If you want something that’s more than basic, though, maybe consider skipping this spot unless you want coffee or gelato! We’re continuing to check out everything Epic here at Universal, so make sure to stay tuned to DFB for more Universal news and updates. See everything inside the Universal Helios Grand Hotel Read more: DFB's complete guide to Universal’s Epic Universe >> Tell us what you’re most excited about in Epic Universe in the comments! The post REVIEW: We Tried the NEW Aurora Market at Universal’s Helios Grand Hotel first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Did you know you don’t have to be staying at a Disney World Resort to head over and try dinner at their restaurants? While these different restaurants might be conveniently located where you’re staying, anyone is welcome to visit them. Caribbean Beach Resort We recently tried Centertown Market at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, which you can visit by taking the Skyliner right to Caribbean Beach. Is Centertown Market worth a trip? We’re going to find out. Atmosphere Centertown Market offers quick-service meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as grab-and-go options, which are great to grab before heading to the parks. They even have specialty coffee! Centertown Market The space is designed to be a street market with plenty of indoor seating and is inspired by a Caribbean festival. Lots of seating You can Mobile Order or order with the Cast Members at the counter. The counter We love heading here for breakfast before visiting our the parks, but we’ve recently tried lunch and dinner, which have added some of our favorite flavors to traditional Latin meals. Centertown Market Let’s check out what’s on the menu! Menu This restaurant serves American and Caribbean food in very approachable dishes. There are some classic Caribbean dishes, as well as plenty of familiar American meals. Additional items They have sandwiches and burgers, like the Hot Cuban Sandwich and a Cheeseburger, as well as other entrees like Arroz Mamposteao and Chicken Strips. The menu There are also kids’ meals, pizza, and a few plant-based options. We love the desserts too! Centertown Market usually has a seasonal dessert, as well as Mickey Ice Cream Bars, sandwiches, cupcakes, and cookies. Past seasonal dessert There’s also a Coca-Cola Freestyle Machine! Time to grab a resort mug and get your soda! Soda options Enough about the menu, let’s eat! Eats We started off with the Cuban Fries for $6.49. Cuban Fries They’re seasoned French fries with mustard and Swiss cheese sauce, ham, and pickles. We love it when Disney has specialty fries, and these are no exception. While we could have used more toppings, the mustard and cheese sauce was creamy with a great taste of mustard with a hint of Swiss cheese. Yum! Combining with the cubes of ham and pickles, it was a fun play on Cuban flavors. The toppings were all diced to a great size, making it easy to eat with a fork. Grab a bowl of fries Next up was the Swashbuckler Burger for $14.69. Swashbuckler Burger This is a grilled signature-blend burger topped with toasted coconut-curry aioli, lime-jalapeno jam, fried tostones, and arugula, served on a toasted brioche bun, and accompanied by French fries. Delicious Bam! This burger was packed with flavor. You can taste the jalapenos, but there’s no spice, and you can detect light notes of curry and lime. The coconut flavor gives the burger a more tropical taste, and the fried tostones add a really great crunch, too! While the burger was a bit dry when we got it, we love all the toppings and how unique it is compared to a traditional one. Great fries too! We also ordered the Mixed Grill Platter for $17.49. The platter This platter features roasted citrus-marinated chicken, barbecued pork ribs, and grilled andouille sausage, served with fried yucca, seasonal vegetables, creamy mango coleslaw, and a roll. Big enough to share The sausage was juicy and fatty, with a hint of spice and a light smoky flavor. We loved that it had a bit of kick! The sausage The ribs had a nice char on the outside, and while they were a little tougher, they were covered in a classic barbecue sauce. Ribs The chicken was citrus marinated, and you can taste some lime. We wish the chicken came with a sauce, but it was great to have chicken to balance out the platter from the sausage and ribs. Chicken The yucca fries were like thick potato fries but fluffier on the inside. They have a nice crunch on the outside and were tasty, even with minimal seasoning. Fluffy! The grilled vegetables included carrots, broccolini, and onions. All three were caramelized well and had really nice textures. The coleslaw was creamy and fresh! It wasn’t drenched in sauce, but covered everything. The mango flavor wasn’t very forward, but we loved tasting the mayo, vinegar, and veggies. Sides For dessert, we dived into the Tropical Paradise Cheesecake for $6.29. Cheesecake YUM! There was popping boba with a passion fruit flavor that matched the passion fruit flavored cheesecake really well. The middle It was soft and creamy and had a great, forward flavor of passionfruit. It’s very light but still has a great density to sit on our fork easily. There was a tart flavor that came through, and we loved this dessert. Small and flavorful After all those dishes, let’s grab a drink! Drinks We got the Bubble of the Sea for $7.29. Bubble of the sea It’s made with Gold Peak Sweet Green Tea, lemon juice, pineapple, and guava, topped with boba pearls and a splash of shimmer. This drink is very sweet with a lot of guava flavor. Boba on top The boba reminded us of a green apple flavor that went surprisingly well with the guava. It wasn’t too forward with the tea taste, and this was so fun and pretty. Nosh or Not You should try out Centertown Market if you… Want to try Caribbean flavors with an American twist Like quick service meals that fill you up Enjoy trying new types of foods that may be unfamiliar to you This might want to be a skip if you… Want a longer meal for a more relaxing time Don’t want to go through the hassle of heading to a different resort than your own Enjoy a wider variety of traditional and familiar meals Overall Centertown Market is a win for us! We love it when a quick service restaurant can provide us with strong flavors in filling meals. It’s great not to have to wait long for these fantastic dishes, with a menu that the whole family can enjoy. The spread! Would we go out of our way for this meal? Probably not. But we were really impressed with the mix of options and the quality for the price! We’re always trying the best Disney World restaurants, so you know where to try on your next vacation. Keep following Disney Food Blog to find your next favorite restaurant. Check out the best restaurants in Disney World Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide The Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants The Best EPCOT Restaurant Restaurants The Best Hollywood Studios Restaurants The Best Animal Kingdom Restaurants The Best Disney Springs Restaurants Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Have you tried Centertown Market? Tell us your thoughts in the comments. The post REVIEW: We Found Table Service Quality at Quick Service Prices at This Disney World Hotel Restaurant first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Time for some Disney merch shopping — we got more Disney Loungeflys for you! Loungefly bags Loungefly bags are a fan favorite item to rock at Disney World — they’re cute, Disney, and hold all your essentials! Take a look at these Loungeflys on Amazon that look like they’d be pricey, but they really aren’t! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Get this Winnie the Pooh Loungefly Bag ©Amazon How adorable is this Winnie the Pooh Loungfly Bag! This is the perfect Disney backpack for fans of the characters from the Hundred Acre Woods. The bag features Pooh Bear, Piglet, Tigger, and Eeyore. We love the mini backpacks springtime feel, with the flowers and butterfly. It’s available at a great price for a Loungefly! View on Amazon How about this Sleeping Beauty Loungefly Bag ©Amazon You can get this Sleeping Beauty Loungfly Mini Backpack for an absolute steal of a deal! We the love the attention to detail on this bag. The bag features Princess Aurora walking in the forest, with her forest friends. You’ll also find the three fairies from the movie, flying by the dazzling castle. The bag has so much color, and it works! Best of all, it’s currently 22% off! View on Amazon We love this Cinderella Loungefly Bag ©Amazon Continuing with the princess theme, check out this stunning Cinderella Loungefly Bag! It features the gorgeous castle, Gus Gus, the pumpkin coach, and the Fairy Godmother. We love the mini backpacks unique design style! This bag will really pop on your next Disney trip. It’s price will shock you! View on Amazon Or, you can grab this Nightmare Before Christmas Loungefly Bag ©Amazon Christmas, Halloween, honestly any time is the right time to be rocking this Nightmare Before Christmas Loungefly Bag! This mini backpack is just filled with characters — like Jack Skellington, Sally, The Mayor, Oogie Boogie, and more! If you’re a fan of this holiday classic, you’ll love this bag. Better yet, you’ll love that it is 50% off right now! View on Amazon And finally, look at this Mickey and Minnie Snowman Loungefly Bag ©Amazon Christmas is coming a little early, now that we can get this cute Mickey and Minnie Snowman Loungefly Bag! There is so much we love about this mini backpack. The dark blue color, the Mickey head snowflakes covering the bag, but what really stands out is the 3D snowglobe design. It has Mickey and Minnie as snowmen, and little 3D snowflakes. You can get this bag for 50% off! 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! Shop for More Disney Essentials on Our Amazon StorefrontThe post These Disney World Loungeflys Look Dang Expensive (They're Not) first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

A LOT is happening at Magic Kingdom in Disney World. A LOT. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad First, let’s just say we’re excited about the new nighttime parade, Disney Starlight, coming to the park. We are BEYOND hyped for the new Villains land coming to the park. We’re not so happy about all the construction that’s going to start soon to make way for a new Cars-themed area in Frontierland (well, we are excited about the new rides, but not the construction walls). In the process, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is closed and in the middle of a huge refurbishment, and a new permit might hint at when Disney World expects the ride to reopen. After Big Thunder Mountain Railroad closed in January, Disney announced the ride would reopen in 2026. At the time, we expected it to be closed at least until spring of that year because a construction permit for “general construction” was set to expire on March 13th, 2026. However, Disney just filed a new permit requesting an extension for that expiration date. Construction at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Disney filed a new permit for “general construction” at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad with a new expiration date of April 15th, 2026 — a month later than the expiration date for the previous permit. Now, this isn’t a hard and fast date of when construction might be completed on the project, but it is an indication that Disney thinks it might take a little longer than initially thought. ©Orange County, FL Note that Disney has not yet even given a reopening timeline for the project. All we know is that this is a HUGE project, and that it’s pretty involved. We know that the ride’s track is being replaced and that the ride “will reopen with a little bit of new magic.” This could be some added effects, lightning, or other enhancements. We’ll be keeping an eye out for more Big Thunder Mountain Railroad updates, so stay tuned to DFB for more. This Is Just the Beginning – a Closer Look at What’s Happening With the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Closure in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What do you think? Let us know in the comments! The post NEWS: Disney Files NEW Extended Permit for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Every week, we report the average Disney World wait times in every park so that you can be prepared for your next trip to Orlando! Magic Kingdom With Easter upon us, knowing what the weekly average wait times are for rides can make or break your upcoming trip. If you’re heading to the parks soon, we’ve got all the info you need to know! This week, wait times INCREASED at Disney World, with nearly every ride on property seeing an increase, including an 80-minute average wait for Rise of the Resistance, the resort’s busiest ride. Don’t believe us? Take a look at this week’s average wait times for proof! Magic Kingdom Wait Times Seven Dwarfs Mine Train TRON Lightcycle / Run — 79 minutes Seven Dwarfs Mine Train — 61 minutes Tiana’s Bayou Adventure — 53 minutes Peter Pan’s Flight — 51 minutes Space Mountain — 48 minutes Jungle Cruise — 41 minutes Haunted Mansion — 33 minutes Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh — 34 minutes Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin — 33 minutes Pirates of the Caribbean — 26 minutes Enchanted Tales with Belle — 26 minutes Barnstormer featuring the Great Goofini — 26 minutes The Barnstormer featuring Goofy the Great Goofini! Dumbo the Flying Elephant — 23 minutes “it’s a small world” — 22 minutes Magic Carpets of Aladdin — 21 minutes Tomorrowland Speedway — 18 minutes Mad Tea Party — 15 minutes Mad Tea Party Mickey’s PhilharMagic — 14 minutes Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover — 12 minutes Prince Charming Regal Carrousel –12 minutes Country Bear Jamboree – – 10 minutes Enchanted Tiki Room — 9 minutes Carousel of Progress Liberty Square Riverboat — 7 minutes Tom Sawyer Island — 5 minutes Carousel of Progress — 5 minutes This Is One of the BEST Things To Do in Magic Kingdom, and You Can’t Change My Mind EPCOT Wait Times Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind — 75 minutes Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure — 60 minutes Frozen Ever After — 57 minutes Soarin’ — 35 minutes The Seas with Nemo and Friends — 21 minutes EPCOT Mission: SPACE — 17 minutes Spaceship Earth — 17 minutes Living with the Land — 15 minutes Turtle Talk with Crush — 15 minutes Journey into Imagination — 12 minutes Gran Fiesta Tour — 11 minutes Test Track is closed for refurbishment. Awesome Planet, American Adventure, Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along, Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival, Impressions de France, and Reflections of China had no wait times this week. This Is One of the BEST Things To Do in EPCOT and You Can’t Change My Mind Animal Kingdom Wait Times Flight of Passage Avatar Flight of Passage — 78 minutes Na’vi River Journey — 58 minutes Animal Kingdom Kali River Rapids — 49 minutes Kilimanjaro Safaris — 48 minutes Expedition Everest — 36 minutes Dinosaur — 30 minutes It’s Tough To Be a Bug closed permanently, and The Boneyard had no wait times this week. These Disney Adult Animal Kingdom Hacks Are Getting Out of Control Hollywood Studios Wait Times Rise of the Resistance Rise of the Resistance — 80 minutes Slinky Dog Dash — 79 minutes Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster — 59 minutes Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway — 50 minutes Tower of Terror — 49 minutes Star Tours in Disney’s Hollywood Studios Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run — 49 minutes Toy Story Mania — 43 minutes Alien Swirling Saucers — 34 minutes Star Tours — 14 minutes Muppet*Vision 3D — 10 minutes Walt Disney Presents had no wait times this week. So Are We Just Going to Ignore the Hollywood Studios Ride Elephant in the Room?? Stay tuned to DFB for more updates from Disney World! 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. ‘Menu Sleuths’ Are Taking Over Disney World Restaurants Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW How long would you wait for your favorite ride? Let us know in the comments below! The post You’re an EXPERT if You Can You Guess the Ride With the Longest Wait Time in Each Disney World Park first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

OK, was anyone else up all night for the ongoing Star Wars Celebration? Disney dropped a TON of news about upcoming Star Wars movies, shows, games, and merchandise! ©Reedpop As part of the big celebration, Amazon is participating with some exclusive merchandise of its own! If you’ve been on the hunt for some new Star Wars souvenirs, you’ve come to the right place. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Score a free trial of Amazon Prime by clicking the button below! Get the STAR WARS Echo Dot Bundle online now! ©Amazon Say WHAT? Now this is the only way we want to see our Echo Dot devices from now on. This bundle includes the Echo Dot in Charcoal AND a limited edition Star Wars TIE Fighter Stand. This is the ultimate way to transform your Echo Dot into an iconic Star Wars spacecraft. View on Amazon Get this STAR WARS The Rising Force Short Sleeve T-Shirt now! ©Amazon Join in on the celebration with an exclusive t-shirt! This one is made with a nice, soft cotton. View on Amazon We love the Star Wars Celebration Darth Vader Stainless Steel Insulated Tumbler ©Amazon We can never have too many water bottles and tumblers, right? This one is dual insulated to keep beverages hot or cold for HOURS. Plus, it’s BPA-free and comes with a leak-proof lid. View on Amazon But wait! There’s WAY more merchandise online. Check out the full collection below. Shop the FULL Star Wars Celebration Store! 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! Shop for More Disney Essentials on Our Amazon StorefrontThe post HURRY! Amazon Has a SECRET ‘Star Wars’ Store Online for a Limited Time first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article