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Who’s ready to SAVE on Disney merch?! Loungefly Wall at the Emporium in Magic Kingdom We love scoring a good deal on souvenirs online, and we know our readers do as well! That’s why we’ve rounded up some of the best deals from the Disney Store online this week. Let’s check them out! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Winnie the Pooh Backpack Winnie the Pooh and Friends Loungefly mini backpack First up, there’s a deal for 40% toys, clothing, and more, which includes this adorable Winnie the Pooh and Friends Loungefly Backpack. With the embroidered flowers and buzzing bees, it’s the perfect bag for spring and summer trips to the parks! SNAG THE WINNIE THE POOH BAG HERE! Cinderella Castle Playset ©Disney Missing Cinderella Castle after your Disney World trip? Then order this Cinderella Castle Playset online for your little ones. It’s discounted right now and comes with figurines of Mickey and Friends, plus a tiny model of Dumbo the Flying Elephant. CLICK HERE TO SHOP THE PLAYSET! Star Wars Hoth Starbucks Mug Hoth Starbucks Mug If you absolutely NEED that morning boost of caffeine and you’re a Star Wars fan, then this Starbucks Hoth Mug is a must-add to your collection. It’s on sale right now with a limited-time offer. SHOP HERE TO SNAG THE HOTH MUG! Cars Backpack ©Disney It’s back-to-school season, and Disney’s offering a 20% discount when you spend $60+ on back-to-school essentials. That means it’s time to snag backpacks, like this Cars Backpack! It has multiple zipper pockets and clips on the front, so you can attach the matching lunchbox (sold separately). CLICK HERE TO GRAB THE CARS BACKPACK! Disney Princess Backpack ©Disney If you’ve got a princess fan in the family, you can use the same deal to get this Disney Princess Backpack before school starts. It has plenty of storage and features several fan-favorite princesses on the front, including Belle, Moana, Tiana, and more. WANT THE DISNEY PRINCESS BAG? GET IT HERE! Mickey Mouse Ear Headband for Adults ©Disney There’s nothing quite like a classic pair of Mickey Ears to complete a Disney parks outfit. These black faux leather ones will match almost anything and add that perfect touch of Disney-ness to your style. You can even get them customized at select locations or add your own flair, like hand-tied ribbons! CLICK HERE TO SNAG THE OG MICKEY EARS! Cinderella Ear Headband Cinderella Minnie ears If you’ve been searching for ages for the perfect pair of princess-themed ears, we’ve got them right here! The Cinderella Minnie Ear Headband has beautiful gold accents (including one of Cinderella’s pumpkin coach!) and a shiny, iridescent bow to top it off. Make sure to snap your pic in front of the castle when you wear these in Disney World! GET THE CINDERELLA EARS ONLINE HERE! Mickey Mouse Halloween Plush ©Disney Spooky season is sneaking up on us, and you can start stocking up on your decor by snagging this Mickey Mouse Halloween Plush for $20 with any purchase. He has a festive green and purple suit with a matching pumpkin hat — how cute! SHOP THE MICKEY MOUSE HALLOWEEN PLUSH HERE! Minnie Mouse Halloween Plush ©Disney If you’re more of a Minnie Mouse fan, the same deal applies to the Minnie Mouse Halloween Plush. She has a coordinating outfit in shades of green, purple, and orange, with a pumpkin-topped bow. SHOP THE MINNIE MOUSE HALLOWEEN PLUSH HERE! Avengers Loungefly Backpack ©Disney Gearing up for a visit to Avengers Campus? If so, you can snag this Marvel Avengers Loungefly Backpack for $50 with any purchase through the Disney Store. It has cartoon faces of some of the original Avengers and multiple zip pockets for your belongings. CLICK HERE TO GET THE AVENGERS LOUNGEFLY BACKPACK! The Lion King 30th Anniversary Key ©Disney Collectible keys used to be all the rage, and if you’re still into that hobby, you can snag the Lion King 30th Anniversary Collectible Key. It has an African-inspired design with tribal prints and shadow outlines of the movie’s characters. Right now it’s $5.99 with any purchase. CLICK HERE TO GET THE LION KING COLLECTIBLE KEY! Monsters University Backpack ©Disney And last but not least, we’ve got to talk about the deal on this Monsters University Backpack. It’s $20 with any purchase from the Disney Store, and this would be a great school bag for Disney and Pixar fans out there. SNAG THE MONSTERS UNIVERSITY BACKPACK ONLINE HERE! That’s a wrap on this week’s Disney Store deals — stay tuned to DFB for more updates on the hottest merchandise! Click Here to Shop Disney Merchandise on Amazon!The post ALERT! Over 600 (!!!) Disney Souvenirs Are 40% Off NOW first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The recent mid-year announcements surrounding this year’s EPCOT Festival of the Holidays, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and Disney Jollywood Nights can only mean ONE THING: Disney World is GEARING UP for the 2024 Holiday Season! HAPPY HOLIDAYS from Disney World! And how about YOU? Does all this news make you excited to plan your own yuletide festivities in The Most Magical Place on Earth? If so, one of the most important things you can tackle at the beginning of any kind of vacation planning is your budget… and that’s especially true of traveling during the Most Wonderful (and, alas, Most Expensive) time of the year. To that end, we’re breaking down a budget to find out exactly how much it costs to visit Disney World over the Christmas holiday. But Ho-Ho-HOLD ON! Before we begin, let’s note some logistics… To plan out this budget, we’re taking a hypothetical family of 4 to Disney World from December 23rd through December 26th, 2024. (This year, December 25th — Christmas Day — falls on a Wednesday.) Santa at Hollywood Studios DFB PRO TIP: Fret not, my friends. Santa Claus absolutely knows how to find folks who travel to Disney World during his midnight ride! Our Festive Family: The Traveling Party Our traveling family is comprised of two adults, one 12-year-old child, and one 6-year-old child. In regards to Disney pricing, please be aware that any guest age 10 and older is considered an Adult, and Children are ages 3 to 9. (When it comes to a Disney World vacation package, guests under 3 years old do not require theme park tickets, and are not eligible to participate in the Disney Dining Plan). So, just keep in mind that our family’s 12-year-old is priced as an Adult for vacation components such as park tickets and the Disney Dining Plan, while our 6-year-old is priced as a Child. We’re going to Disney World! Our crew will arrive at Disney World early on the 23rd and depart late on the 26th, which means all four family members will need Disney World theme park tickets for all 4 days, a hotel for 3 nights, and food for all 4 days. We’ll look at those components, of course, and we’ll also consider a few optional extras as well. Depending on where you live, transportation to and from Orlando can be one of the biggest expenses to factor into your budget. Granted, some folks live within a doable driving distance from Disney World. But our hypothetical family will be flying, so we’re pricing out plane tickets and will include that expense as part of the budget. Time to start filling this puppy with some spare change! WHO’S READY FOR SOME MATH?! Yeah, okay, me neither… but doesn’t knowing that it’s Disney math make it just a wee bit more fun? Flights “I’M GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!” And “I’M GETTING THERE BY PLANE!” (That’s the lesser known slogan ! ) Let’s check out airplane ticket prices. Of course, if you’re driving, you’ll want to factor in the cost of gas for your journey. Orlando International Airport We scoped out a variety of airports and airlines (and looked at a few different major cities) to price out our family’s plane tickets using the airlines’ websites to research the cost. Each price below represents a round-trip ticket to the Orlando International Airport (MCO) for one person, with flights departing on the morning of December 23rd (as available) and returning on the evening of December 26th (as available). Here are the pricing examples we researched: Chicago Midway to Orlando International Airport: Delta Air Lines – $684; Frontier Airlines – $398; Southwest Airlines – $688 Los Angeles to Orlando International Airport: American Airlines – $717; Delta Air Lines – $693; Spirit Airlines (*Red Eye both ways) – $744; Southwest Airlines – $846 Atlanta to Orlando International Airport: Delta Air Lines – $408; American Airlines – $388; Frontier Airlines – $268; Southwest Airlines – $310 Obviously, the cost to fly varies greatly depending on the family’s home airport. For the purpose of this post, let’s say the family is flying out of Chicago and has chosen Frontier Airlines, which will cost them $398 per person, resulting in a total cost to fly round-trip to Disney World of $1592. We also need to factor in an additional item: the cost of transportation to and from Orlando International Airport and Disney World. Mears Connect Driven by Sunshine Options include — but aren’t limited to — taxis, rideshares such as Uber and Lyft, and a $2 bus each way through Lynx. Our example family is opting to book the Mears Connect (Driven by Sunshine) Standard Service for the cost of $121.00 roundtrip. (The breakdown is $16 per adult each way, and $13 per child ages 3 to 9 each way.) Click HERE for more information about Orlando International Airport! Total Cost So Far (Plane Tickets and Airport Transportation): $1,713 Disney World Park Tickets It’s time to gear up for celebrating the holiday in the parks, and for that, the family will need Disney World theme park tickets! Disney World Theme Park Ticket Cards Disney World tickets operate with variable (or surge) pricing based on both the park of choice and the date, so while 1-day tickets start at $109 per day for adults (ages 10+), you can expect to see higher prices around the holidays based on higher demand for the season. The good news is that multi-day tickets (as opposed to single-day) bring the price per day down a bit. Multi-Day Ticket Pricing in December ©Disney There are a few options for Disney World park tickets. You can choose a single-park ticket, which allows you to visit 1 park each day. Or you may opt for a Park Hopper ticket, which means you can visit multiple parks in a single day (up to all 4 theme parks, if you like). Now, there are also options such as Park Hopper Plus which grant access to Disney World’s water parks and more, but since the focus here is experiencing the holidays, we’re not exploring those (though you can check out all of the various ticket options here). The best option will depend on your personal preference and how much time you have in Disney World. The price for a ticket is a bit lower for children ages 3 to 9. However, we need to factor tax into the price. For the family of 4, we priced a 4-day ticket with admission to 1 park per day (without Park Hopping included), with the total coming to $2,704.78 (including tax). When we add Park Hopper, the total increases to $3109.49. Animal Kingdom The family will be in Disney World for 4 days with plans to spend a day in each of Disney World’s four theme parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, so we’re going with the 1-park-per-day ticket option. Keep in mind that if you’re going to be in Disney World for just a couple of days but still want to visit every park, you’ll need to purchase a ticket with the Park Hopper benefit. Here’s Your Guide to TICKETS at Disney World Total Cost So Far (With Flights): $4,417.78 Total Cost So Far (Without Flights): $2,704.78 Disney World Resort Hotel Reservations Okay, now we’re figuring out exactly where Santa will be able to locate our family to fill those stockings on Christmas Eve. That’s right… we’re choosing a HOTEL! Christmas at the Grand Floridian Four people can easily be accommodated in a single Disney World hotel room. Of course, we should note that, for the purposes of this post, we are ONLY looking into Disney World Resort hotels (which come with some guest-exclusive perks like Early Theme Park Entry). Early Entry That said, there is certainly no shortage of hotels including the Disney Springs hotel options on Disney World property plus others close by. Booking a non-Disney-owned hotel could certainly save some money; you may just need to factor in transportation to and from the parks if your particular hotel doesn’t offer a free shuttle service, or parking for the theme parks if you intend to drive your own car. For our example, however, we’re looking at one hotel in each of Disney World’s three Resort categories: Value, Moderate, and Deluxe. The Deluxe hotels are almost always the most expensive, but guests at these hotels do get some extra perks, including access to Extended Evening Hours. Deluxe hotels also often (though not always) boast the best transportation and closest proximity to the parks. For example, all three hotels on the Magic Kingdom Monorail loop (including Disney’s Contemporary Resort, which you’ll see in our list below) are Deluxe Resorts. Christmastime at the Contemporary Here’s a breakdown of the prices at various Disney World hotels for a visit with the family checking in on December 23rd and checking out on December 26th, 2024. (Don’t forget: you can still visit a Disney World park on your check out day: simply ask the front desk to hold your luggage through Bell Services until you come back to pick it up!) Value Hotel — Disney’s Pop Century Resort (Standard Room): $346/night; after taxes and fees, the total comes to $1,168.88 Moderate Hotel — Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — Riverside (Standard Room): $431/night; after taxes and fees, the total comes to $1,454.64 Deluxe Hotel — Disney’s Contemporary Resort (Garden Wing Room — Resort View): $946/night; after taxes and fees, ​​the total comes to $3,192.75 For this trip, the family is booking Pop Century Resort for $1,168.88. Holiday decorations at Disney’s Pop Century Resort In addition to this being the most affordable option, guests at this hotel can take advantage of the Disney Skyliner, which provides transportation to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. (This unique transportation option is also available from Disney’s Art of Animation, Disney’s Riviera, and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, which serves as the hub for the entire Skyliner system.) SOMETHING TO NOTE*: For the purposes of this post, we have priced out individual room rates for the Disney World hotels mentioned above (unconnected to any sort of Vacation Package). So this does NOT account for any Specials Offers or discounts for which you might be eligible. Wilderness Lodge Christmas tree For example, you can currently book discounted hotel rooms and free Park Hopper benefits on select dates beginning October 6th through December 25th. With this deal, you can save up to 30% on hotel rooms most nights from November 24th to December 25th, 2024. Additionally, you can save up to 20% on most Sunday to Thursday nights from October 6th to November 21st, 2024. You can also get free Park Hopper benefits when you take advantage of this offer and upgrade to a Walt Disney Travel Company room-and-ticket package. The Walt Disney Travel Company room-and-ticket package must include non-discounted 4-day (or longer) date-based theme park tickets to qualify. FIND COMPLETE DETAILS for this deal HERE. BTW, you might consider talking to our friends over at Small World Vacations. Their travel agents can keep you posted on any discounts you may be eligible for at no extra cost to you! Additionally, certain guests (such as Disney World Annual Passholders or Florida Residents) may be eligible for other room-only discounts. You can check out our Disney Deals and Discounts page to find all the latest options for your trip during the holidays or anytime! We keep track of ALL the Disney World Resort hotel discounts HERE! For now, here is the running total of individually priced trip components so far… Total Cost So Far (With Flights): $5,586.66 Total Cost So Far (Without Flights): $3,873.66 Dining It’s time to factor in prices for one of our FAVORITE parts of any Disney World vacation, no matter the time of year: FOOD! Paying Out-of-Pocket There is no shortage of great places to eat all over the theme parks, hotels, and Disney Springs (especially during the HOLIDAYS!). A full Thanksgiving spread at Liberty Tree Tavern Let’s say that the family brought their own breakfast or perhaps had groceries delivered to their hotel. So, for the purposes of this budget, we’re going to look at the cost to feed a family of 4 at 1 Quick Service restaurant and 1 Table Service restaurant every day for four days. (Again, one member of our family is 6 years old, and is therefore eligible to select options from Kids’ Menus at restaurants all around the Resort.) There are so many ways to plan dining in Disney World. Maybe you’d rather have 2 quick-service meals and a few snacks; or maybe you’d opt for a less expensive hotel and splurge on several table-service meals, including a Character Meal or perhaps a Signature restaurant. The Grand Ballroom in Magic Kingdom’s Be Our Guest Restaurant – A Signature Restaurant Basically, though, having a single quick-service meal and a single table-service meal is a fairly standard game plan when it comes to keeping costs reasonable while enjoying great food. Check out the BEST Disney World restaurants HERE! Generally, you can budget about $16 per person for a meal at a Quick Service restaurant (averaging out the cost of 3 adult meals and one Kids meal) and about $35 per adult for a meal at a Table Service restaurant, and $16 per child ages 3 to 9. For Quick Service examples, the family could each get something like Corn Dog Nuggets, fries, and a soda at Casey’s Corner in Magic Kingdom for $20.57. On another day, they may each grab the famous Totchos and a drink from Woody’s Lunch Box in Disney’s Hollywood Studios for a total of $14.98. Many Quick Service locations offer Kids’ Meals (such as Woody’s Lunch Box), which include a side item and drink and are typically under $10. EATS at Casey’s Corner! For a Table Service meal, our family might visit the Jungle Skipper Canteen in Magic Kingdom, where adults may choose entrées like “Tastes Like Chicken” Because It Is for $28 or “Hardy Har Char” Siu Pork for $29. And they might dine at La Hacienda de San Angel in EPCOT and order Tacos de Camarones for $32 or perhaps Alambre de Res (Seared Tenderloin) for $35.00. Kids’ Meals at table-service restaurants tend to be $16 per child or less. “Tastes Like Chicken” Because It Is With our general plan of $16 per person for each Quick Service meal, $35 per adult for each Table Service meal (to include wiggle room for non-alcoholic beverages), and $16 per child for each Table Service meal, that brings our dining total to $740. We’re going to add in a bit more for snacks (because who doesn’t want snacks?) and round up to $820 total. But there is — as of January of 2024 — another way to go about this… Total Cost So Far (With Flights): $6406.66 Total Cost So Far (Without Flights): $4,693.66 Disney Dining Plan The Disney Dining Plan made its return following a lengthy hiatus on January 9th, 2024. Disney currently offers two versions of the Disney Dining Plan for different budgets and dining tastes. Plans are an optional add-on to your Disney World trip (including a stay at a Disney owned-and-operated hotel). Steakhouse 71 Stack Burger Inclusions and pricing for each plan are as follows: Disney Quick Service Dining Plan Each person on the meal plan will receive credits for the following, per night: Two Quick Service meals (entrée or combo meal at lunch and dinner and a beverage); Guests under 21 years of age can choose one non-alcoholic beverage (including specialty beverages for guests 10 years old and over — i.e. Artisanal Milk Shakes, Fresh Smoothies, Premium Hot Chocolates, or Soda, Coffee or Tea — where offered). Guests 21 and older can can choose either one non-alcoholic beverage (including specialty beverages where offered) or one single serving mixed cocktail, beer, or wine (where offered) within their meal entitlement. One snack/nonalcoholic drink One Resort Refillable Resort drink mug per person, per package 2024 Cost: $57.01 per adult per night ages 10 and up $23.83 per child per night age 3 to 9 Disney Dining Plan (also called Standard Disney Dining Plan) Each person on the meal plan will receive credits for the following, per night: One table service entrée, dessert (lunch and dinner only), OR full buffet; Guests under 21 years of age can choose one non-alcoholic beverage with their Quick Service and Table Service meal (including specialty beverages for guests 10 years old and over — i.e. Artisanal Milk Shakes, Fresh Smoothies, Premium Hot Chocolates, or Soda, Coffee or Tea — where offered). Guests 21 and older can can choose either one non-alcoholic beverage (including specialty beverages where offered) or one single serving mixed cocktail, beer, or wine (where offered) within their meal entitlement. One quick service meal, including entrée OR combo meal; Guests under 21 years of age can choose one non-alcoholic beverage with their Quick Service and Table Service meal (including specialty beverages for guests 10 years old and over — i.e. Artisanal Milk Shakes, Fresh Smoothies, Premium Hot Chocolates, or Soda, Coffee or Tea — where offered). Guests 21 and older can can choose either one non-alcoholic beverage (including specialty beverages where offered) or one single serving mixed cocktail, beer, or wine (where offered) within their meal entitlement. One snack/nonalcoholic drink One Resort refillable drink mug per person, per package 2024 Cost: $94.28 per adult per night ages 10 and up $29.69 per child per night age 3 to 9 The prices for each Plan as seen above above are shown per guest, per night. If our family opts for the Standard Disney Dining Plan, it will add $1250.12 to their vacation cost. Click HERE to find a full list of 2024 Disney Dining Plan Restaurants and Meal Credit Requirements Yes, the Standard Dining Plan is obviously more expensive, in this instance, than the out of pocket costs as seen in the example above. However, there are meal inclusions to consider such as alcoholic beverages for of-age guests (and specialty beverages like milkshakes). And the Standard Dining Plan also opens up options such as using a Table Service meal credit to dine at select Character Meals such as Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood and Vine Restaurant in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Minnie’s Holiday Dine What is known year-’round as Minnie’s Seasonal Dine presents the chance to meet and greet Minnie, Mickey, Goofy, and Pluto in seasonal outfits during a buffet meal that likewise presents food options that fit the season, too! As with other specialty dining options, this meal comes at a higher cost of $63 per adult, and $40 per child ages 3 to 9… but on the Standard Disney Dining Plan, it “costs” no more Table Service meal credits than a traditional Table Service meal, such as La Hacienda de San Angel as mentioned above. THIS is where your willingness to sit down and do some number-crunching comes into play, so you can determine whether or not your group can maximize the value of the Disney Dining Plan. We’ve also assembled some additional resources to help you think it through: Why You Definitely Should Buy the Disney Dining Plan in 2024 Why You Definitely Shouldn’t Buy the Disney Dining Plan in 2024 Is the Disney Dining Plan Worth It in 2024? Total Cost with Out-of-Pocket Food (and Flights): $6406.66 Total Cost with Out-of-Pocket Food (without Flights): $4,693.66 Total Cost with Standard Disney Dining Plan (and Flights): $6836.78 Total Cost with Standard Disney Dining Plan (without Flights): $5123.78 And that’s it! We’ve covered all the bases and then some, and it’s looking like a very merry holiday in Disney World indeed, complete with flights, a hotel reservation, park tickets, and a food budget. Now let’s say you’re considering your own Disney yuletide shindig… there are a few extra options and items to consider that may increase the cost if you’d like to factor these into to your budget. However, as you’ll see with our first items, some seasonal offerings are only available on select dates a bit earlier in the season. And guests who visit earlier in the season (before Christmas through New Year’s), will likely find lower costs for budget factors including flights, hotels, and theme park tickets. Let’s check out a few additions you may want to factor into the budget beyond those basics… Extra-Ticket Holiday Events Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party This year, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party takes place in Magic Kingdom on select nights from November 8th through December 20th. Sad news: this means that our hypothetical family of 4 will miss the event, since they will fly in on the 23rd… but you may very well be planning to party with Mickey and the gang during your trip! Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party The required tickets for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party range in price from $169 to $219 for adults (ages 10 and up) and $159 to $209 for children (ages 9 and under). Prices vary by date, and are generally more expensive on the weekends or the closer you get to December 20th. Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Guests with tickets to the event can enter Magic Kingdom starting at 4PM (even if they don’t have a park ticket), and the party lasts from 7PM to midnight. Once inside, guests enjoy plenty of festive fun only available at the Party. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party features special shows like Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration! Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade is another merry highlight of the Party (complete with Santa Claus and the famous Marching Band of Toy Soldiers), as is the Holiday Fireworks spectacular: Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks! Click HERE for ALL the info you need for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party! Even though our example family cannot attend, we still want to present the total for a family of four (still with 3 guests at adult pricing and one at child pricing) for your reference. Including tax, the total to attend the Party on December 20th (which is one of the dates at maximum price) is $922.31 with tax included. Of course, if you visit earlier in the season (on November 11th, for instance, which is one of the minimum priced evenings) the cost including tax is less, coming in at $709.31. If you are hoping to attend Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, you can buy your tickets now! Disney Jollywood Nights Disney Jollywood Nights is another separately ticketed event that will take place on thirteen select nights from November 9th through December 21st, 2024 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. As part of the event, guests can view the Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! nighttime fireworks and projections spectacular, enjoy exclusive treats, meet OVER 20 rare characters, and more! Jollywood Nights The required tickets for Jollywood Nights range in price from $159 to $179. Prices vary by date, and are generally reach the highest price on Saturday evenings, as well as most dates in December. Also, be aware that ticket prices are the same for both adults and children ages 3-9. Get the WHOLE SCOOP on Jollywood Nights HERE! Again, even though our example family cannot attend due to their chosen travel dates, we still want to present the total for a family of four for your reference. Including tax, the total to attend Jollywood Nights for most dates in December is $179, so the total is $762.56. P.S. Tickets are also available for Disney Jollywood Nights now!  Lightning Lanes An additional, but optional, way to maximize your time in the parks is by purchasing Lightning Lane access for attractions. Lightning Lane Multi-Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass allow guests to bypass standby lines at select rides in the parks and instead enter the Lightning Lines. Kali River Rapids Lightning Lane sign in Disney’s Animal Kingdom You can read all about Lightning Lanes here, and you can get an idea for pricing for the service here (which, like tickets, varies by date) to consider if this is an expense you would like to add into your vacation budget. Other Items to Consider A few other things you may want to consider include the cost of merchandise in the parks and stroller rentals for a younger one (or perhaps mobility assistance rentals) if needed for your party. Disney World rental strollers Single Stroller rentals cost $15 per day for a single day or $13 per day for multiple days. (If you have two little ones, Double Strollers are available for $31 per day for a single day or $27 per day for multiple days.) Wheelchair rentals cost $12 per day for a single day or $10 per day for multiple days. ECVs (Electric Conveyance Vehicles) are also an option, coming in at $65 per day. Learn more about Stroller Rentals in Disney World here. Souvenirs in the parks can cost as little as under $5 for small trinkets and as high as thousands of dollars for designer collections! Green Holly and Flower Mickey Christmas Bulb Of course, you can’t go wrong with a classic Disney World souvenir like Minnie Mouse Ears (averaging around $35) or perhaps a lovely Christmas tree ornament (around $25) to commemorate your holiday visit. It’s best to set a souvenir budget before your trip so that you don’t accidentally spend more than you intend. Ways to Save WHEW! We’ve discussed a LOT, haven’t we? And our trip costs are… also A LOT. But stick with me… there are ways to save money to bring those costs down. You could: Travel earlier in the season, if possible for your family, to avoid higher pricing for park tickets, hotels, and Lightning Lane access on those most in-demand dates. (Remember, the holiday festivities begin in most of the parks on November 8th, save for EPCOT, which will begin to celebrate on November 29th); Choose the Quick Service Dining Plan over the Standard Dining Plan; or, if paying out of pocket for food, opt for more Quick Service meals over Table Service meals; Consider hotels off of Disney property, or consider Disney Springs Area hotels. And, above all, remember that there are promotions and discounts for which your group may be eligible… even during the holiday season. Again, we have provided costs of the various aspects of the trip above individually — your group may be eligible for Vacation Package discounts, room-only discounts, or other promotions. Our friends at Small World Vacations can assist you in creating a magical and affordable vacation, no matter the time of year you travel. But if you are heading to Disney World for the Holiday Season, we absolutely wish you a VERY MERRY one, indeed! 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 DON'T MISS A MOMENT OF HOLIDAY MAGIC Holidays at Disney World: DFB's Merriest Guide is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World. It includes all the must-have information for navigating the holiday season at Disney World, including: The COMPLETE schedule of events for the Holiday Season How to avoid the crowds on Disney World's busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!) ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM. And, of course, we'll tell you where to eat! Save 20% on the Holidays at Disney World: DFB's Merriest Guide with code PEPPERMINT. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW MORE Disney World Holiday INFO! Learn About Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Get the Latest Information About the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays Get All the Details About Disney Jollywood Nights Everything You Need to Know About Disney World Holiday Dining and Events Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest holiday news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post How Much It Costs to Do Christmas in Disney World in 2024 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Halloween Horror Nights starts in Universal Orlando SOON, people! @Universal Studios Can you believe it’s almost time for this frightening event again? Halloween Horror Nights certainly isn’t for the faint of heart, but it’s perfect for those who love to be scared. If part of the reason you love the event is because of the exciting merchandise that gets released, we have a SNEAK PEEK you need to see! TWO new merchandise items inspired by the Chucky franchise are coming SOON! First up is the Halloween Horror Nights 2024 Chucky Tumbler for $27. The cup features Chucky himself (of course) along with the words “Good Guys” and “He wants you for a best friend.” At the bottom are “playing cards” that are significant to Chucky and the franchise, AND it has a blood dripping effect, making it perfect for horror fans! ©Universal You’ll also be able to grab the Halloween Horror Nights 2024 Animated Chucky Popcorn Bucket for $43.99! Why is it so expensive, you ask? This isn’t just any popcorn bucket — it has glowing and blinking eyes AND when you speak to Chucky, he’ll even speak back to you! SUPER spooky if you ask us, making him perfect for Halloween Horror Nights. ©Universal The tumbler will be available at both Universal Orlando and Universal Hollywood, while the popcorn bucket will be available at Universal Orlando, Universal Hollywood, AND Universal Singapore! Both items will be making their debut at the Universal Products & Experiences booth at Midsummer Scream later this week, so be on the lookout! More Recent Halloween Horror Nights News! EEK! Universal Is Debuting NEW Halloween Horror Nights Souvenirs, and They Might Give Me NightmaresBREAKING: A NEW Haunted House Has Been Revealed for Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights in 202410 Signs You Should SKIP Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Disney WorldUniversal Orlando Announced TWO Halloween Horror Nights Houses, Trick-Or-Treating, and MoreALL the Disney NEWS and REVIEWS This Week (PLUS A Super Popular VIDEO)! Halloween Horror Nights runs select nights August 30th through November 3rd. This specially ticketed events offers guests an opportunity to enter the park after it closes to be spooked beyond belief at the 5 Scare Zones around Universal Studios, as well as in the 10 differently themed Haunted Houses. Tickets are available right now, and we recommend grabbing them sooner rather than later if you’re interested! ©Universal Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney parks and Universal Orlando news! Check out this NEW Universal Orlando ticket deal before it’s gone! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What are you most looking forward to seeing this year at Halloween Horror Nights? Tell us in the comments! The post EEK! Universal Is Debuting NEW Halloween Horror Nights Souvenirs, and They Might Give Me Nightmares first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World just keeps changing, and it’s hard to keep up! Pop Century Resort Recently, a new ride opened in Magic Kingdom, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and a classic ride, Country Bear Jamboree, reopened with a new show. That park is also getting a huge expansion. Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be getting an update, too, while two new restaurants are being built over at Disney’s BoardWalk Hotel. We’ve also seen some recent pool closures at Disney World hotels, but an entire food court at one hotel is going to be affected by construction soon. We were recently informed by some of our readers that Disney sent emails to hotel guests letting them know about work to be done at the food court at Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Everything Pop. The food court, which is located in the Classic Hall building (where you’ll find the lobby) is the hotel’s main dining spot. An email from Disney regarding Pop Century The email states that the Everything Pop Food Court will be getting refreshed, but that it will remain open while work is being done. Note that all hotel guests will need to use Mobile Order in the My Disney Experience app to place their food and drink orders there. Seating will also still be available in the dining room. Everything Pop This information is also on the Disney World website on the Pop Century page. Note that the work is set to begin on July 29th and run through September 29th. Since the food court remains open, we don’t think it should impact the menu too much. ©Disney Because Pop Century is part of the Skyliner line, you also can take a quick ride on that mode of transportation to grab food at any of the EPCOT Resorts (Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, and the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin), Disney’s Caribbean Resort, and Disney’s Riviera Resort. So you’ll have plenty of convenient food options if you feel like leaving your hotel! Skyliner Station at Disney’s Pop Century and Art of Animation Resorts Stay tuned to DFB for more. Hold up for a sec! Before you plan your next trip to Disney World, check out our DFB Guide Everything Bundle here. You will get ALL of our best-selling eBooks with details on Disney World Dining, EPCOT Festivals, the BEST snacks in each park, and soooooo many tips and tricks we’ve learned over decades of visiting our happy place. The Best Disney World Restaurants for Dinner for 2024 Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Will this impact your next Disney World trip? Let us know in the comments! The post A Word of WARNING if You’re Staying at Disney’s Pop Century Resort Soon first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

A NEW Marvel movie just hit theaters and fans are pumped! ©Marvel Studios Deadpool & Wolverine is in theaters now, and Disney’s celebrating in a few different ways. There’s special merchandise and even character meets in one Disney park. But now we’ve got a BONUS surprise! It was previously announced that for the movie’s release, Deadpool would be meeting for a limited time in Disney California Adventure. Wade Wilson himself will be roaming Avengers Campus throughout the day and you can stop to talk with him or pose for a photo! ©Disney But now, Disney has added an extra surprise to the news — Wolverine with be WITH Deadpool, roaming Avengers Campus as well! Starting July 26th, both superheroes will be available in the park. Disney says, “From his favorite cozy reading chair, guests can join Deadpool as he reads from his big book of super special stories. These family-friendly tales delight, charm, and inspire in the way only Deadpool can. And keep an eye out for Wolverine who may be dropping by ‘Story Time with Deadpool.'” ©Disney Also, for a limited time, you’ll want to look out for Deadpool and Wolverine appearing in select entertainment offerings around Avengers Campus, including “Avengers Assemble!” and “Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Dance Off!” Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Dance-Off Nearby at the Collector’s Warehouse, you’ll find select merchandise themed to the new film, and at Pym Test Kitchen, you can try the Deadpool & Wolverine-inspired chimichangas for a limited time. There’s so much to see in Avengers Campus if you’re a fan of the new film! Pym Test Kitchen We’ll make sure to keep you in the loop if any other announcements are made relating to this new movie, so stay tuned to DFB for the latest updates. We’ve got you covered with all of it! Click Here to Learn All About Avengers Campus! Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe What do you think of this new character offering? Tell us in the comments! The post It’s Rare That Disney News Shocks Me, but This Huge Character Announcement Is AMAZING! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s no secret that Disney World is hot in the…well, most of the year, honestly! Magic Kingdom It feels like summer in Central Florida drags on and on with the intense heat and the suffocating humidity, plus those near-daily rainstorms. But over the years, we’ve definitely learned some ways to manage that weather when we’re in the theme parks (we have to go every day, after all!). And recently, I tested out two popular methods of cooling down to see which one came out on top. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Cooling Towels First up, I tried the Sukeen Cooling Towels from Amazon. These come in a multi-pack with individual bags and carabiner clips. The microfiber cloths use a combination of evaporation and absorption to keep your body cool while you’re wearing them. The 4-pack of cooling towels To use the towel, I first had to wet it in a bathroom sink, then ring it out and “snap” it to activate the cooling. When it was freshly wet, it actually did a great job of keeping me cool. To continue that, I had to wet it about every hour to an hour and a half. Cooling towel in EPCOT If I was walking in the direct sun, it would lose its cooling power after a few minutes. The other big downside is that it kept my shirt and backpack straps pretty damp throughout the day. Stopping at the bathroom frequently to re-wet it was somewhat inconvenient, and honestly, it made me feel just a little bit dorky to wear, even though it worked fairly well. They get a little darker when wet. Ultimately, I think that this is an OK way to keep cool if you are willing to stop and to look a bit dorky throughout the day. GET THE COOLING TOWELS HERE! Neck Fans The other item I tried in the park was a neck fan! I actually tried two different versions of this one — the JISULIFE Portable Neck Fan and the ASNUG Portable Neck Fan. Of the two, the JISULIFE ended up being my favorite because of its features and battery life. Neck fan For the neck fans, you’ll need to charge them ahead of use. I recommend doing this overnight because they take several hours to charge. The JISULIFE fan ended up lasting me a little over halfway through my park day running on high. It has three speeds and the highest of those three is the best for keeping cool, plus it’s not much louder than the lower speeds. Neck fans The neck fans mostly blow air towards your chin and neck, without cooling the rest of your face or the middle of your body. And when I wore my hair down with them on, I had problems with them sucking in strands of hair (not really a problem if you wear your hair up or have short hair, though.) JISULIFE neck fan Ultimately, the neck fans helped to keep cool a little bit, but I wish the battery life were a bit longer and the stationary position made it difficult to cool other parts of my body. Not a bad option, but maybe not my favorite SNAG THE JISULIFE NECK FAN HERE! Conclusion In the end, I don’t know that either of these options is my perfect solution for keeping cool in the parks. If I had to choose between the two, the neck fan was certainly more convenient and less cumbersome throughout the day. Personal Neck Fan I personally prefer handheld fans (with or without misters) because they offer a bit more flexibility than the neck fans and still do a good job at keeping cool. But we do know that many parents and those traveling to the parks prefer to be hands free, and both of these are solid options for that! However, if you choose either the neck fans or the cooling towels, I think you’ll likely end up being a bit cooler in the parks than the people who have nothing. Cooling towels We’ll keep you in the loop with more tips and tricks for the parks, so stay tuned to DFB! Click Here to Shop Disney Merch on Amazon!The post Cooling Towel Vs Neck Fan -- Which One Is Better for Disney World? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There’s MORE amazing stuff hiding in Disney World that goes beyond just Cinderella Castle and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. But in order to FIND these marvelous things, we’re going to Disney Springs! Disney Springs Today, we’re looking at ALL sorts of Disney Springs activities for ALL vacation types. Whether you’re looking for high end food or good food on the dime, the newest experiences or the classic must-sees, something to entertain the kiddos or something for a hot date night — you NAME it — there’s a little something for EVERYONE inside Disney Springs. So let’s see if we can build a FULL Disney day for YOU inside this shopping district alone. A NEW Drone Show! Look up in the sky! Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s…. A LOT of colorful drones, hovering above Lake Buena Vista! A new drone show “Disney Dreams That Soar” debuted on May 24th. But here’s the catch — it’s only gonna be here for a limited time. So you’ll need to visit Disney’s shopping district by September 2nd if you don’t want to miss out on this exclusive experience! Disney Dreams That Soar The drone show is a late-night perk for those still hanging out at Disney Springs once the sun goes down, so if you’re gonna stick around Disney Springs LATE to catch “Disney Dreams That Soar,” plan your next park day accordingly (and consider hitting the snooze button the next morning to catch up on those zzzs). A GIANT Paella If you’re looking for the ULTIMATE sharable entree to split with your WHOLE family (and maybe even the family sitting next to you, too), Jaleo has JUST the ticket. Jaleo’s Paella y Arroces (Paella and Rice) is a MASSIVE portion of paella for the entire table. You’ve got a few different options to choose from — like the chicken, or veggie, or shrimp, or ribeye… But here’s the REAL kicker. Because this dish is so LARGE and can serve 4-5+ guests easily, it takes a while to cook. So expect to wait 45+ minutes before you finally get to dig in (which is why we highly recommend putting in your order for this option shortly after you’re seated). When your paella is ready, a whole spectacle takes place. A bell is rung and ALL the servers (not just your server, but ALL of them) shout, “PAELLA”. This is a fun, unique, and super tasty option to try if you’re wanting a nice dinner to share with your group in Disney Springs, but the prices are a little… less fun. Paellas like this range between $130-$250. (But if you’re splitting the bill between multiple folks in your group, then it may be a little less of a sticker shock for ya.) NEW Patios With AMAZING Views We LOVE finding new places to dine in the Disney scene. But what makes a new dining experience even BETTER is when the restaurant has picture-perfect VIEWS to go along with the food. Which is why Summer House on the Lake has quickly become a new favorite stop for us. Summer House on the Lake is a sit down restaurant that serves California-inspired bites, house-made rosés, Cali-Mexi Brunch on the weekends, and fresh-baked desserts (which you can ALSO pick up to-go over at their Cookie Bar). If you decide you wanna dine at this restaurant, you’ll be able to enjoy your meal inside one of Summer House’s three expansive rooms. In the front of the restaurant, you’ll find an outdoor patio, sunroom with a few high-top tables, and one of the two bars. The main dining room is situated toward the back of the restaurant, and is not only laden with booths and tables, but is also decorated with lots of greenery and natural light. And finally, there’s the back porch — which definitely has the best views across the water! Summer House on the Lake More than likely, you’ll be able to request your seating preference, but keep in mind that there’s always the possibility that you’ll just have to take what you can get IF the restaurant winds up being uber busy on the day of your visit. Secret Phrases That Unlock Limited Time Treats Just how BADLY do you want a Gideon’s Bakehouse secret baked good that only LIMITED people will have access to ordering? Because they’re gonna make you WORK for it. Gideon’s Bakehouse sells an ASSORTMENT of cookies and cakes throughout the entire year. But, every now and then, they make a super limited batch of a specific flavor — and only those who know the secret password will actually be able to order that flavor (while supplies last). More than likely, you’ll see this secret password featured somewhere on Gideon’s social media page — either as a specific post or hidden in their stories. So Gideon’s DOES reward their followers with the rare stuff for following their accounts! This year, Gideon’s had a SECRET Fluffernutter cake released in mid-April that you could only order IF you said the secret phrase: “Fluffernutter, Fluffernutter, Fluffernutter.” (It’s like “Beetlejuice,” but instead of summoning a dead guy, you get to buy cake.) AND on Valentine’s Day, you could order one of Gideon’s red velvet snack cakes by saying the phrase “I love you.” (Awww — I probably could’ve GUESSED that!) So if you’re gonna be in Disney Springs in the future, it may be worth peeking at Gideon’s social pages — just in case a super-special treat releases while you’re there that YOU need the code for! Make Advance Dining Reservations BEFORE 60 Days! Ready to CHEAT your way to Disney Dining victory? Here’s how to make it happen in Disney Springs: Since most restaurants inside Disney Springs are not directly owned by Disney but, instead, are owned by a third-party company, the Disney World website isn’t the ONLY place you can book dining reservations for these experiences. You can ALSO book dining ressies for Disney Springs restaurants on opentable.com. So…how early CAN you book? Well, it depends on the restaurant! For example, you might be able to reserve your table for Wine Bar George in Disney Springs up to a year in advance. (I don’t think you’ll NEED to worry about booking it THAT far in advance but, hey, it COULD be an option!) A TON of other Disney Springs restaurants let you book between 60 days and 6 months out — such as Paddlefish, The Boathouse, The Edison, and Morimoto Asia. And the BEST part about opentable? Even IF you’re not finding reservation availability on the My Disney Experience website, that doesn’t mean you won’t still find it on opentable. (So always check BOTH website, just to increase your chances of getting those reservations secured) On-Site Repairs If you purchase a shirt or pants or some other fashionable item from the Uniqlo store in Disney Springs — but said item experiences a wardrobe malfunction while you’re out and about — Uniqlo can actually give your poor threads a bit of a fixer-upper to make ‘em good as new again! For $5, you can take your damaged Uniqlo-branded clothes to the shop for on-site repairs. According to the website, this includes “button replacement and other fixes for jeans, down jackets, shirts, and sweaters.” A Taste Of Ireland What you see inside the Raglan Road table service is basically a little slice of Ireland smack-dab in the sunshine-y state of Florida. And I mean that. This place is as legit as they come — not just because of the food, river dancing, and Guinness Beer, but because of the FURNITURE decorating the place, too. Even if you don’t sit at one of the bars in this establishment, you’ll still wanna take a moment to appreciate the bars themselves. The bars lining the inside of Raglan Road are 130 years old and were brought to the U.S. straight from Ireland! (Doesn’t get much more authentic than THAT!) Naan Bread Service Bread is amazing, period. (No further questions, please.) And that’s why I’m ALWAYS down to split a bread service with someone — especially if it’s a NEW bread service, like the one you can order over at EET! EET is a new Quick Service located in The Marketplace section, right next to the 12 Days of Christmas store and the back entrance to Disney Springs. Here, you’ll be able to try Indian cuisine with a modern twist. And while this restaurant has quite a few options for you to choose from, you’ll wanna turn towards the shareables part of the menu if you wanna find the bread service option. This bread service comes with buttered naan, garlic naan, pimento whipped paneer cheese, masala vegetable sticks, Indian pickle, coriander honey, and various chutneys. A piece of the naan The full bread service is $20 — which (in my personal opinion), is a bit on the pricey side…especially since you only get two pieces of naan with that. BUT it IS really delicious, easy to split with someone else, and a great option for bread service fanatics! If you’re looking for a cheaper way to try at least one serving of naan (minus all the accompaniments) you can order single slices of the bread in a la carte fashion, instead, for around $5-$7. So Many LOADED Fries My love of bread AND loaded fries is immeasurable — so thank goodness Disney Springs provides them BOTH. So where can you find the BEST loaded fries inside this shopping district? I was literally MADE to answer this question! Back at the new quick service, EET, you can order the Tandoori Poutine for $16 — which is made with chaat masala fries, tandoori chicken, white cheddar curds, and rich tomato butter sauce. At The Daily Poutine kiosk (near Amorette’s Patisserie), you can grab a VARIETY of different loaded fry options all year round (including the classic beef and cheddar cheese curds poutine, as well as a few seasonal varieties, too) for just over $10. BTW, many of y’all in the comments have declared Disney’s poutine as “FAUX”tine — since it’s not TRULY like the Canadain classic stuff at ALL… so I’ll respect your wishes and refer to it that way from here on out. JUST for you. AND then there’s the Splitsville Luxury Lanes loaded fries that MANY of y’all are missing out on by SKIPPING the whole “dining and bowling experience.” The loaded fries here are $14 and come smothered with queso blanco, bacon, ranch, scallions, and “love.” (Hey — the Splitsville menu said it, not me. But… I wouldn’t necessarily disagree.) The Splitsville menu also says this loaded fry option does serve two or more people, so you’ll DEFINITELY have plenty of fries for EVERYONE in your group to try. ALSO — keep in mind that you DON’T have to bowl in order to dine at Splitsville, and vice-versa. While many folks do come here to experience both, you can always make reservations for ONE experience instead if you’d rather just get the fries but skip out on knocking some pins down in the afternoon. A PhotoPass Studio If you’ve purchased the Memory Maker add-on to your trip — and you’re trying to squeeze in as many PhotoPass Opportunities to get your money’s worth out of the service — then I need to tell you about the photopass spot you can find hiding over at Disney Springs, too! The Disney PhotoPass Studio is located in the Marketplace area (sandwiched between Marketplace Co-Op and Ghirardelli Soda Fountain Chocolate Shop). It’s pretty easy to walk on past if you’re not looking for it — but when you DO find it, this is a little photo studio where you can choose your virtual backdrop, maybe a prop or two, and take a few family photos that you can access through your Memory Maker. Just like a regular photopass stop in the parks, you don’t need a reservation for this studio (and, oftentimes, you won’t really have to worry about much of a wait, either). After you’re done with your session, you can see your pictures IMMEDIATELY at the viewing stations off to the side. AND if you DIDN’T get the Memory Maker add-on, no worries! You can still purchase these photos at an individual price point once you get back home, OR you can buy and print them RIGHT there in the studio to take with ya! An Allergy-Friendly Bakery Just because your diet looks different from the diets of other folks in your group doesn’t mean you have to give up munching a delectable dessert during your Disney Springs shopping spree. Erin McKenna’s bakery won’t stand for that. Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC is a fairly small quick-service that specializes in sweets and treats made to serve, “…the underserved people with gluten, dairy, egg, and soy sensitivities…” Their goal? To make “eating vegan and gluten-free fun and delicious.” But the very best part about these desserts is that the recipes have been created to feel and taste like regular treats instead of treats modified to be “allergy friendly.” So go ahead! Choose a cupcake, whoopie pie, tea cake, cinnamon roll, cookie — whatever your heart desires (and do so worry-free)! Jock Lindsey’s Knick-Knacks If you’re someone who REALLY appreciates a dining establishment LACED with Imagineering, storytelling, AND lots of fun Easter Eggs, then you’ve GOTTA prioritize at least ONE visit to Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar. Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar, according to Imagineering Lore, is the waterfront property that belongs to Indiana Jones’ trusted pilot, Jock Lindsey. Apparently, Jock discovered this waterfront property in 1938 as he flew with Indiana over Florida on the hunt for the Fountain of Youth. He returned to the area in the 1940s to set up a small business — Jock Lindsey’s “Air Tours” — which offered scenic plane tours across the state. Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar Diving Bell booth — all decked out for Christmas And now? Well, NOW we’re left with the Hangar where Jock also used to host his Society of Explorers and Adventurers friends. This Hangar Bar doesn’t take reservations, so seating is first-come, first served. But while you’re here, be sure to really appreciate all the DETAILS that highlight Jock’s aviation career over the years. Because there’s a WHOLE lot of ‘em! You’ll see his life’s story told through pictures, banners, trophies, newspaper clippings, hanging mechanical tools, and collected artifacts. AND — if you’re lucky — you might even be able to grab a seat inside the lounge’s DIVING BELL booth (IF it’s free and available during your visit). Use Your Rewards Points Inside the Disney Parks, all your built-up Starbucks rewards points aren’t gonna do you a lick of good (since these locations SELL Starbucks items but aren’t LEGIT Starbucks storefronts). BUT here’s the good news, all you Disney Springs shoppers! Both Starbucks locations inside Disney Springs ARE legit storefronts — meaning you can use your Starbucks stars, refillable mugs, or any other Starbucks-app perks at either Disney Springs location! (And you can MOBILE ORDER from these locations, too via the Starbucks App — unlike you can inside the Disney Parks.) Finding Bathrooms (Outside Of The Restaurants) If you’re on the hunt for a quick potty break WITHOUT having to go into a restaurant and pay for food to use one of theirs, HERE are a few places where you can find reliable facilities around the shopping district: In the Marketplace section, there’s restrooms (and companion restrooms) to the left of Disney’s Wonderful World of Memories shop (that’s the one attached to The Art of Disney Store) The BIG World of Disney has restrooms outside on the right-hand side of the shop (right across from Amorette’s Patisserie) If you walk to the backside of the Starbucks storefront over on the West Side of the shopping district, you’ll find bathrooms hiding out (which can be a good potty stop for anyone planning to eat at one of the food trucks in Exposition Park) And over in Town Center, inside the little alleyway leading up to the Disney bus stop, you’ll find some private restrooms tucked away, outta sight outta mind. Again — these aren’t the ONLY restrooms inside the Disney Springs shopping district that aren’t directly linked to one of the restaurants here, so if you’re looking for more, check out the “Restrooms” page on the Disney World website. An Ornament JUST For YOU! It’s Christmas 365 days a year if you happen to visit the Disney Days of Christmas store at Disney Springs. But no matter what time of the year you visit during, you may wanna make a pilgrimage out this direction for one of my favorite souvenir options of all time — a personalized ornament! For painted ornaments, you can get a name, year, OR number printed for an extra $5 — with $5 more for every word or art piece you choose to add on top of that. OR you can get the month, date, AND year of your trip visit, all for an additional $15. (You’ve also got a LOT of different shiny ink colors to choose from, too! So choose wisely!) And it’s not just ornaments that the Disney Days of Christmas Store can personalize. They can also add some extra “bling” to select Mickey Ears styles AND celebration buttons, too! Celebration buttons — for honeymoons, anniversaries, birthdays, graduations, or just ANY sort of event you’re wanting to celebrate, really — can be picked up at the lobby of your resort OR at any of the guest relations buildings at the front of the parks. For absolutely 0 dollars and 0 cents. But if you swing by the Disney Days of Christmas shop, they can style your button JUST like they would your ornament — for an extra $5. Flavors Of Florida This is seriously SUCH an underrated event is Disney Springs — BUT if you come here for it in the summer, it ALMOST makes enduring the Floridian heat worth it. (…Almost.) Flavors of Florida kicks off in Disney Springs every summer, bringing with it some fresh and citrusy seasonal eats to several restaurants around the shopping district. This event usually starts up on July 1st and lasts until the end of August, and features HUNDREDS of limited time cuisine and sips, plus cooking demonstrations, and more. And NEW in 2024 are Flavors of Florida Pairing Events at beloved spots like Wine Bar George, The Edison, Paddlefish, and MORE! Photo Ops With An Unexpected Character It’s not Mickey Mouse. It’s not Minnie. It’s not Pluto or Daisy or Donald or really ANY Disney character, for that matter. No, at Disney Springs, you can meet and take pictures with… The Coca-Cola Polar Bear! Over at the Coca Cola Store, you’ll find THREE floors completely dedicated to the carbonated beverage company. This means lots of souvenirs, a Rooftop Coca-Cola bar, AND a photo op with the 7-foot mascot himself. You can find the Polar Bear mascot photo op on the store’s second floor — BUT, just a heads up, he’s not ALWAYS out and available to take pictures with. The Disney website encourages all guests who wanna know our arctic friend’s specific meet-and-greet hours of the day to call the store directly and ask about them at (407) 560-0107. And SPEAKING of interesting meet and greets, did you know that you can typically meet an M&M over at the M&M’s Store, too? You can say “hello” to Yellow for me! Usually, the M&M characters greet guests every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 12-8PM. Club Cool: Disney Springs Edition If you’re a fan of the International drinks samples at Club Cool over in EPCOT, then I’ve got a FUN surprise for yooo-ooou… You can order FULL SIZES of your favorite Club Cool drinks, over at the Coca-Cola Rooftop Bar! Unfortunately, you’re not gonna find free soda samples here like you will in EPCOT… HOWEVER, you can order several popular Club Cool soda flavors (for a price) in 16oz, 20oz, or 24oz cups! Not EVERY Club Cool flavor may be available at the time of your visit, but most commonly you’ll find options like the VegitaBeta, the Sprite Cucumber, the Inca Cola, or — everyone’s FAAAAAVORITE — the BEVERLY. (Yeah, can you BELIEVE it? There are actually people out there who ENJOY Beverly enough to BUY it. If you’re one of those people, let me know in the comments. Because I KNOW y’all are hiding out there SOMEWHERE.) Happy Hours! What time is it? It’s HAPPY HOUR! (At least, it’s happy hour SOMEWHERE in Disney Springs. You just gotta know where to look!) Happy Hour offerings update pretty regularly, but here are just a couple of the happy hours you can find in the shopping district DAILY: Paradiso 37 has $8 house margaritas and $7 domestic draft beers from 11AM-4PM (AND 9PM-11PM); available at the bar or To Go only STK Orlando has happy hour at the bar, lounge, and patio every day from 2:30PM to 5:30 PM and Sunday through Thursday 10PM to Close. Offers vary. We’ve got all the updated Happy Hours across the Springs featured in our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining ebook, too — sooooo… that’s just another reason why you might wanna check it out while you’re over at dfbstore.com! Custom Latte Art Grabbing a Joffrey’s Coffee is already special to the Disney World scene. But if you wanna amp up your Joffrey’s coffee experience from “special” to “AMAZINGLY special,” then you might wanna consider splurging an extra 50 cents on some custom latte art! Orange Bird Art At the flagship Joffrey’s Coffee and Tea Company store in The Landing Area of Disney Springs, you can get specialty foam art to jazz up any ol’ cappuccino or latte of your choice. There are TWO ways to go about this: 1) You can download the Ripples App and follow the step-by step instructions, or 2) You can use the Ripples App that’s already downloaded on the Joffrey’s store tablet and follow the prompts from there. Seasonal Snacks Disney Springs features NEW flavors inside their restaurants ALL THE TIME. Sometimes seasonally, sometimes monthly, sometimes even for one weekend only. So no matter WHEN you visit, you’re bound to run into a different offering than you experienced LAST time. Just to give you a FEW (VERY few) examples… Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar transforms into Jock Lindsey’s HOLIDAY bar toward the end of the year — bringing with it new festive drinks and eats. Each month, we see NEW dessert flavors pop up for locations like Gideon’s Bakehouse, Salt and Straw, Swirls on the Water, and Sprinkles Cupcakes. AND on Thanksgiving, certain restaurants — like Maria and Enzo’s, Homecomin’, Raglan Road, City Works Eatery and Pour House, Planet Hollywood, and Wine Bar George — will have ONE DAY ONLY Thanksgiving cuisine featured on the menu for any families looking to keep things semi-traditional during their Thanksgiving holiday in Disney World. Follow The Parking Lights! Okay, this is just a silly little thing — but a NIFTY silly little thing, at that! When you’re parking in one of the Disney Springs parking garages, you won’t have to second guess whether a row inside the parking garage is completely filled or not. Each individual parking spot will have a light hanging up above it. If you see any of those lights are bright green instead of red, that means the space is free and yours for the taking! Again — this ain’t just a Disney-specific invention, or anything; SEVERAL parking garages across the states have lights in their parking garages, too. BUT it’s nice to know that when you are trying to park at Disney Springs, you don’t have to worry about it being a guessing game. Just be like a moth and FOLLOW THE LIGHTS! A “Secret” Tunnel Okay, so maybe Enzo’s Hideaway isn’t as “secret” as the name suggests. But the concept of getting a drink inside a “secret tunnel” over at Disney Springs may STILL have flown under your radar. According to Imagineering Lore, Enzo’s Hideaway Tunnel Bar is located in “what were said to be rum-running tunnels,” just below the Italian restaurant, Maria and Enzo’s. This so-called speakeasy is inspired by the aperitivo bars in Rome (and, better yet, also inspired by the true Florida history of rum-running). Along with Enzo’s immersive theming (including graffiti on the walls and empty liquor bottles lining the shelves), the restaurant serves Prohibition-era style cocktails (ie: “Giggle Water”) along with a full menu of Roman dishes featuring pastas, paninis, and cured meat-and-cheese platters to share. A Cupcake ATM Now THIS is the sweetest transaction you’re ever gonna make! Disney Springs’ specialty cupcake shop, Sprinkles, has a Pepto Bismol-colored Cupcake ATM located right outside its building. If you wanna make a cupcake purchase (without going in the shop and purchasing one the ol’ fashioned way), just choose your confections of choice on the ATM screen, choose your quantities, and then proceed to check out! It’s easy as pie! (Or, rather, easy as “cake,” in this case!) Turkey Legs MINUS The Park Ticket SO MANY FOLKS forget about the fact that you can, indeed, get a GIANT TURKEY LEG outside of the Disney parks…. Including US. We forget about that, too. But you most certainly CAN get one over at The Smokehouse quick service window, just outside of the House of Blues restaurant. Full spread The Turkey Legs here are pretty much that same Ren-Faire style hunk of meat on the bone that most folks either love or hate. They’re GIANT, smoky, a little bit crispy, and a whole lotta salty. Weekend Brunches! I am in my BRUNCH ERA, y’all — so let’s talk about Disney Springs’ various brunch options! Several of Disney Springs’ table service restaurants host weekend brunches all year long. Here are a few of the shopping district’s ”best of” options that you might wanna add to your weekend vacation schedule: A Bayou Brunch is served on Saturdays and Sundays over at The House of Blues (with options like chicken and waffles and a made-to-order omelet station) A Rise ‘n Shine Brunch is served inside the Homecomin’ restaurant on Saturdays and Sunday (including items like the hushpuppy Benedict and southern poutine, topped with a fried egg) The Wine Country Brunch happens at Wine Bar George on Saturdays and Sundays — giving you the chance to pair your morning Dole Whip Frozcato with a fried chicken biscuit or steak and eggs STK Orlando is one of the FEW Disney brunch locations left that still has a bottomless mimosa/Bloody Mary option. But there are TWO rules you have to follow if you wanna parktake in that endless option. Rule #1: You MUST order an entree along with your mimosa/Mary. And Rule #2: You only have 90 minutes to enjoy those bottomless drinks before you’re gonna be cut off by your server. The Boathouse has a Captain’s Sing a Long Brunch on Sundays where dueling piano players will be tickling the ivories and taking requests while you chow down on a Biscoff Cookie Waffle or Avocado Toast! And — if you wanna check out my personal favorite brunch stop — Raglan Road has their Rollicking Raglan Brunch served on Saturdays and Sundays, featuring live music and specialty options such as (but not limited to) the ever-so-sweet pancakes diaspora (with creme fraiche, maple syrup, and mixed berry compote) as well as the ever-so-savory All This… And Eggs On Top (made with pulled slow-braised beef, potato hash with sautéed mushrooms, green onions, and mushroom ketchup, topped with two sunny-side up eggs) Click here to see the ultimate guide to the best breakfast in Disney Springs. Eat Signature Dining CHEAPER Look, I love Morimoto Asia. I love its fancy vibes and expansive menu and wagyu beef. (I ESPECIALLY love its wagyu beef.) But realistically, I ain’t gonna be paying top dollar to sit down and eat a nice meal at Morimoto Asia each time I’m shopping around Disney Springs. Which is why I’m SO GLAD Morimoto Asia Street Food exists. Morimoto Asia Street Food is on the patio of the main restaurant and features quick street food options such as Pork Egg Rolls, Ginger Chicken Ramen, Morimoto Baby Ribs, and other Morimoto selections that provide you with a similar tasting experience that you’d get if you were dining at the signature restaurant itself. And the best part about this place? You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to munch here. Most of the street food on the menu ranges in price between $6-$14, depending on whatcha get. Moonshine Cocktails I’m not always the biggest Moonshine fan, but Homecomin’ has found a way to convince me otherwise. Homecomin’ has five unique “Shines on Tap” (with an occasional extra shine cocktail thrown on the list every now and then for a limited time — depending on the season. ) But the MAIN shine players here typically include: The RumShine Punch, the Strawberry Lemonade, the Sweet Tea Shine, the Moonshine Margarita, and the Blue Hooch (aka: the strongest shine on the list — made with Blue Flame moonshine, lemon-infused moonshine, blue curacao, house-made simple syrup, fresh lemon juice, and a splash of Sprite). Shine Flight Each Shine on Tap is gonna cost ya $15, but if you’re having a hard time narrowing down WHICH shine you wanna try, you can always order the Shine Flight instead for $36 to try a small pour of all five! Exclusive Irish Parties Raglan Road likes to keep the celebrations going ALL YEAR LONG. So if you’re planning on dining at this Irish pub during your next visit, be aware of THESE Raglan Road annual events: During Labor Day weekend, Raglan Road holds their Great Irish Hooley Musical Festival — which is a filled with lots of singing, dancing, entertainment, and limited time food and drink offerings. Every St. Patrick’s Day, Raglan Road gets in touch with their green side by offering even MORE limited time food, drink, and performances — exclusive to the holiday. AND on World Whiskey Day (towards the end of May), Raglan Road likes to join in on the fun with their limited time whiskey deals (where you can typically try a flight of four select whiskeys from around the world for $30!) A Shop Full Of Cards If you’re still a fan of snail mail and greeting cards (which you SHOULD be — those things are HEARTFELT, yo), then you’re REALLY gonna get a kick outta the Love Pop store front. The little store is in the Town Center area — located next to Ron Jon Surf Shop — and is a store completely dedicated to cutesy/crafty 3D pop up cards for any and every occasion. But Lovepop doesn’t JUST sell cards. They also have these fun paper flower bouquets, too — which are the PERFECT gift for your partner who just can’t keep a houseplant alive no matter WHAT they do. Karaoke! Forget about those private karaoke room experiences — It’s time to really SHOW OFF your VOICE to ALL the other Disney Springs guests who are gathered at Stargazers Bar! Every Wednesday night, from 7-11PM, you can join in on an evening of karaoke sing-a-longs at Planet Hollywood’s attached outdoor bar. Stargazers is first come, first perform — so if you REALLY wanna do this and make your big Disney World debut, plan to get to the bar a little early so you can make sure you can sign up for a good karaoke time slot. And if you stop by Stargazers on a Friday/Saturday evening instead, you can enjoy live PROFESSIONAL music. Customizable Cases And MagicBands Marketplace Co-Op is like a little shopping district all on its own, housing different shops and brands that rotate out on occasion to make room for something else. But what’s stood the test of time inside the Marketplace is the D-Tech on Demand area, located towards the front of the store (and to your left). D-Tech on Demand gives YOU the chance to either purchase one of their pre-made tech accessories (like a phone case or magicband), OR customize your very own. Just station yourself at one of the many touchscreens, create a gadget or gizmo you can be proud of, then send it on its merry-little-way to be printed right there in the shop! Usually, it takes these custom pieces around 30 minutes to finish printing, so make sure to keep hold of your receipt and hand it back to the D-Tech cast member once it’s time for you to return and pick your creation up! Customizable Treats Caramel Apples. Rice Krispy Treats. Marshmallows. Cake pops. What do each of these sweet treats have in common? You can make them into your very OWN creation over at Goofy’s Candy Company! To do this, you’ll grab a customizable card, put your name at the top, then select your treat, your dipping flavor, and your topping. (You can also add extra toppings for a dollar each, if you’re having trouble deciding on just one.) Soar Above The Springs HELLO, DOWN THERE! The Disney Springs’ Aerophile is a tethered hot air balloon that lifts you up, up, UP above the shopping district for a unique point of view! Disney Springs The entire ride is 8 minutes long and costs $30 for adults, and $25 for kiddos. (So for a family of four — with two adults, two kids — you’re talking about a $110 balloon ride… for eight minutes.) Face Painting Kiosk Lookie there! Just like how you can find face painting inside the Disney World parks for a more affordable makeover opportunity than what you’d find at, say, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Magic Kingdom, you can also find a face-painting kiosk inside Disney Springs, too! If you don’t want something painted on your face — but you still wanna partake in some artistic fun — the cast members at this face paint kiosk can also hook you up with a temporary tattoo or henna design. Just let ‘em know what you’re looking for! This Disney Springs face painting kiosk is located right outside the Marketplace Co-Op area (to the left of the store). Build-A-Dino If you’ve ever wanted to be a proud parent of a stuffed prehistoric creature with beady black eyes, well…… Now’s your chance! Inside the T-Rex cafe and to your right, you’ll find a small Dino-centric gift shop where you can Build-A-Dino (So basically it’s like build-a-bear back at your hometown mall, but all the animals you get to choose from are extinct IRL). You pick a Dino, stuff it up with fluff, get it a little outfit, and choose its name. It’s adorable. You can also add fun little extras too — like give it a sound or add a SMELL. (Don’t worry. All good smells. Nothing like the infamous Figment skunk smell, or anything — though wouldn’t THAT be something?) Nightly Fiestas Paradiso 37 isn’t exactly our #1 spot to dine in Disney Springs. (It might not even rank in our top 50, if I’m being honest with ya.) BUT that doesn’t mean Paradiso doesn’t know how to have a good time! If you’re coming to Disney Springs to PARTY-HARTY, hit up the Paradiso 37 bar after the sun sets so you can listen to its live, high-energy Latin music! Once you order a spirit from the bar’s Wall of Tequila — featuring over 75 different tequila-types — you can start dancing the night away with your partner on the Paradiso dance floor! Just keep in mind that if you’re NOT all about that nightlife entertainment, this party scene might start feeling a bit TOO lively for you. (Not, like, in an out-of-control type of way — because this is STILL Disney we’re talking about here — but more in a “loud-and-crowded” kind of way.) High Roller Cocktails There’s a SECRET rewards program that you can join over at The Edison. But you can’t join it officially until you’ve ordered your first High Roller Cocktail. High Roller Cocktails are these pricey specialty drinks (that’ll run you $32-$38 PER DRINK… because they’re BOUJEE, I guess). But whenever you order one of these drinks, you’ll be given a high roller gold coin. And you can KEEP that li’l gold coin forever and ever, if you want to — BUT once you collect 4 gold coins, you can turn those in and get a fifth drink FREE! Yeah… it’s a pretty pricey investment for a single drink payoff. (BUT if you and your group are planning on ordering multiple high roller drinks anyways, you might be able to rack up enough gold coins for a FINAL high roller cocktail to share!) Biggest. Drinks. EVER. And since we’re already AT The Edison, let’s talk about ANOTHER unique cocktail option you may wanna try (though you’re DEFINITELY gonna need some friends to help ya out with this one.) Samantha Sterling Punch Bowl The Edison brings the party straight to your table with their PUNCH BOWL option, where you can order select specialty cocktails as a WHOLE punch bowl — ladle and all — for $100 to share amongst your friends and family Kiddie Rides Wait… RIDES?? In DISNEY SPRINGS?? Aren’t those just reserved for the PARKS?? Well, to be fair, the rides here aren’t gonna be on par with Dumbo the Flying Elephant or Peter Pan’s Flight, or anything — BUT there are technically two rides over in The Marketplace section that your kiddos can try… for an extra fee. The first is the Marketplace Carousel — which is just your classic, ornate carousel-style ride that plays Disney tunes while you spin. One ride will put ya back $5, but one adult may ride for free IF they’re accompanying a kid who’s under 42 inches tall. And the second is the Marketplace Train Express — which is this little green-and-red locomotive that takes kids around a short railroad track loop right outside of the Pin Traders gift shop. Again, one ride = $5, but this time one adult may ride for free IF they’re accompanying a kid who’s under 36 inches tall. Christmas Offerings! Disney Springs is a GREAT spot to get a taste of Disney’s holiday season without paying a whole lotta money to do so. The shopping district has a lot in store for us throughout the merry months of November/December! The Christmas Tree Stroll is a free activity where you can “stroll” around custom-decorated holiday, Disney-themed trees placed all throughout Disney Springs! The Bride! You can find Santa inside the Once Upon a Toy gift shop in the Disney Springs Marketplace! (A Virtual Queue is often used for this location — so just be aware that you might have to join it yourself to meet the jolly ol’ elf.) There might also be opportunities where you can DINE with Santa at select Disney Springs restaurants — like Maria and Enzo’s and T-Rex. As you continue to shop your way around Disney Springs, be on the lookout for various streetmosphere — like Toy Soldier stilt walkers, snowflake skaters, and tunes spun by DJs! And as the cherry on top of all this merriment and fun, from time to time in the evenings, magical Floridan “snow” falls upon the Town Center. Quick note: While these holiday activities were available last year, they’re not guaranteed to happen THIS year too — so make sure to check back in with us when it gets closer to the season! Douglas Fir Douglas Fir is a little Christmas tree who likes to come out around the holiday season too. But he’s no ORDINARY Christmas tree. He’s a COOL Christmas tree. This li’l guy actually ROLLS around Disney Springs and TALKS to window shoppers. So if you’re coming around the holidays, be on the lookout for Douglas Fir (or at least WATCH OUT for him — because he’s a speedy li’l guy who’s got places to BE. We love him! Note: We also spotted the little guy dressed up with citrus ornaments during Flavors of Florida! Discounted Amphicar Tours It’s 50% boat, 50% car, and 100% a good time. You can take a 20 minute captain-guided amphicar ride out on Lake Buena Vista before or after your Boathouse meal. Okay, so you TECHNICALLY don’t have to eat at the Boathouse if you wanna ride in an amphicar — you can make reservations for this experience over at the Boathouse Boatique (which is the restaurant’s attached gift shop). However, eating at the Boathouse may actually SAVE you money on your amphicar tour. Y’see, this retro-styled, aquatic cars are NOT cheap. A 20 minute ride will cost $125 per car (which can accommodate up to 3-4 people). If you’re planning on eating at The Boathouse BEFORE your ride, you can save $25 on your amphicar tour when you spend $50 or more at the restaurant (OR the Boutique gift shop, for that matter)! Just make sure to present your valid receipt to the Boatique to get those savings applied. Art Walks! As you make your way around all the different shops and restaurants lining Disney Springs, be sure to stop and appreciate the art you might find in the nooks and crannies along the way! Disney Springs is always showcasing local art, as well as artists from across the globe, through the various Disney Springs’ Art Walks. These stories and vibrant pieces will be strewn all throughout the Town Square area — so be on the lookout for them (and keep those cameras at-the-ready)! Boat Transportation You know what Disney Springs is seriously lacking? A good beignet spot! Luckily, the shopping district can help lead us to one that’s not too terribly far away. You just gotta take a boat to get there! When you’re ready to head out of Disney Springs for a bit to track down some powdered-sugar and fried goodness, head to the Marketplace Dock and hop aboard one of the Riverboats for a complimentary ride over to Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter. Sassagoula Riverboats The boat ride is an attraction in and of itself. Not only will you get a lovely view across Lake Buena Vista (without having to pay $125 for an amphicar — no offense, amphicars), but you’ll also get to listen to piped in jazzy tunes. For those fab beignets, jump out at the French Quarter dock and head into Scat Cat’s Club for a mix of beignet options — ranging from sweet to savory, and even BOOZY. OR if you’re on the hunt for maybe a table service restaurant that specializes in Southern Louisiana favorites (like jambalaya and shrimp and grits), just keep taking that boat on down to the Riverside section of the Port Orleans resort area to dine at Boatwright’s Dining Hall for dinner! There’s also boat transportation from Disney Springs and to the Old Key West/Saratoga Springs DVC resorts, too — so make sure you’re in the correct line for the correct resort boat when you’re planning on traveling over to one of these specific hotels. Free Live Music When you visit Disney Springs, you’ll more than likely hear live music or see a live performance happening SOMEWHERE around the shopping district. Oftentimes, you can catch live entertainment at the Disney Spring AdventHealth Waterside Stage (in front of the LARGE World of Disney store) as well as the Waterview Park Stage (near The BOATHOUSE) — but, really, musical acts pop up nearly ANYWHERE around the Springs. We’ve seen rap battles, violinists, acoustic guitar players, even strolling piano performances. You’ve just gotta keep your ears open and let the music guide ya! Disney Springs Kids Club SPEAKING of free entertainment over at the Waterview Park Stage, here’s an offering SPECIFICALLY for all you kiddos out there! Every Saturday (at 10:30 AM, 11:15 AM, and noon) families can take part in the Disney Springs Kids Club. During this time, kids can directly interact with the entertainment taking place on the outdoor stage by participating in dance parties, creating music with bongos or maracas, playing games (like hula hoop or limbo), or just simply standing back and watching the excitement unfold around them — whatever they prefer! An Animated Evening Drawn to Life is a separate-ticket stage show inside Disney Springs that combines Disney animation with the truly unique acrobatic performances of the Cirque du Soleil team. This show REALLY tugs at your emotions. The story is heart-wrenching, the stunts are nail-biting, and the sets are mind-blowing. BUT unlike many shows that you’ll find scattered about the shopping district, this one will cost ya a pretty penny to see. Adult tickets range from $75 – $209 each, depending on your seats. Meet and greet! Now, if you REALLY wanna go all-out with your Drawn to Life show experience, you can invest in one of the animated evening prix-fixe dining packages, available at select Disney Springs restaurants. So here’s how this dining package works: First, you’ll choose one out of the 13 participating Disney Springs restaurants to dine at 2 hours before or after the show. Then, you’ll pay either an extra $45 per ticket OR $65 per ticket (on top of that regular ticket price) to dine on a specialty Animated Evening prix-fixe menu. Most of the restaurants on the list hit that $45 mark — including sit-down locations such as Jaleo, Raglan Road, and Terralina Crafted Italian. But the three restaurants that’ll set ya back $65 instead are Paddlefish, The Edison, and Wolfgang Puck. Even MORE Plant-Based Snacks And Treats Erin McKenna’s Bakery may specialize in vegan treats, but all you plant-based eaters out there won’t be stuck just eating desserts and desserts alone during your Disney Springs day. There are LOTS of fast food and sit down restaurants in Disney Springs that are ready to cater to your specific dietary needs. And because these menus switch up often, you might find something new each time you visit! So what are a few solid Disney Springs dining choices that you plant-based eaters out there might wanna try? Ironically enough, D-Luxe Burger could be a solid choice for you, thanks to their Plant-Based Burger with Plant-based Gouda, Pickles, Lettuce, and Tomato served on a Parker House Roll. ALSO ironically, The Polite Pig (which is usually most known for its smoked meats) has some AWESOME plant-based market sides that you could honestly make a whole meal out of — like the bbq cauliflower, the grilled street corn, and the crispy brussels sprouts. Raglan Road has a fun option (called The Shepherd Went Vegan) — which is basically a plant-based version of a shepherd’s pie. Even Blaze Fast Fire’d Pizza has plant based pizza (thanks to their vegan cheese option)! If you’re unsure whether or not a Disney Springs restaurant will have plant based options that you’re gonna enjoy, don’t be afraid to call the restaurant and ask ahead of time! The host at the front of the restaurant should also be able to help ya out, too (or at least be able to grab a server/manager inside the restaurant that can answer any dietary questions you need cleared up before you dine)! Big-Name Concerts House of Blues keeps the party pumpin’ at night LONG! There are TWO parts of this rustic-wooden restaurant. The first part is the main dining room area — where you’ll get to enjoy a nice sit down meal for lunch or dinner. And the SECOND part is right NEXT to the main restaurant building, which is simply known as the “club.” This is where House of Blues puts on frequent ticketed music events for a rotating lineup of artists. You DON’T have to eat at House of Blues in order to see one of the shows — and vice-versa — but, man, they sure do pair well together! You can find the restaurant’s full show schedule on the House of Blues website to see WHO will be playing here NEXT. Can you believe there are even MORE things hiding out in the Disney Springs area that you’ve never even heard of? No joke — we’re only scratching the surface here, friends! So stay tuned for even MORE fun surprises, hidden secrets, and recommendations to come! Before you click off to start planning a Disney Springs itinerary for yourself, don’t forget to grab our FREE Disney Springs quick guide over at disneyfoodblog.com/DISNEYSPRINGS! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What are your favorite activities at Disney Springs? The post 50 Amazing Things You Never Knew Were In Disney Springs first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We might be Disney Food Blog, but we’re pretty darn excited about everything going on at Universal Orlando. Universal Studios Epic Universe — Universal’s newest theme park — is slated to open in 2025, bringing a ton of new rides, restaurants, and more to this vacation destination. At Universal Studios, DreamWorks Land recently opened and has been a hit with fans. But, if you’ve got an upcoming trip to Universal planned, we have a word of warning for you! Heads up if you’re heading to Universal Orlando later this year! There’s another closure on the horizon and this one impacts both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. The Hogwarts Express will be temporarily closed from November 4th to 7th, 2024. Hogwarts Express This means you won’t be able to use the Hogwarts Express to travel back and forth from park to park during these dates. The Hogwarts Express joins Fast & Furious — Supercharged and MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack as other attractions that will be temporarily closed at Universal Orlando soon. Luckily, the Hogwarts Express won’t be down for too long! ©Universal And, right now, Universal has a pretty sweet deal on tickets for Florida Residents! The “Florida Unlimited Days Ticket” gets you into Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure for an unlimited number of days now through December 18th, 2024. Universal Orlando Epic Universe will have five new lands, including Celestial Park, Super Nintendo World, Dark Universe, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic, and How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk. We can’t wait to check them all out, along with the “more than 50 awe-inspiring attractions, entertainment, dining, and shopping experiences.” ©Universal | Epic Universe Concept Art And, Universal just opened the Epic Universe preview center at CityWalk, which you can check out right here! Plus, at Universal Studios, the new DreamWorks Land is officially open. We got to experience the brand new land and you can see that by clicking here. DreamWorks Land houses areas dedicated to Shrek, Trolls, and Kung Fu Panda. Shrek and Donkey meet and greet In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for the latest news from Universal Orlando and more, so stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for all your theme park needs! EVERYTHING You Need To Know About Epic Universe at Universal Orlando Read more: DFB's complete guide to Universal’s Epic Universe >> Are you heading to Universal Studios anytime soon? Tell us in the comments. The post NEWS: Hogwarts Express Is Temporarily CLOSING at Universal Orlando first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Prepare for an “Under the Sea” party… in Orlando? Mermaid! While the greater Orlando area is best known for the Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando resorts, the area is chock-full of other tourist attractions and hotels that are definitely worth checking out, whether you’re a local or a visiting tourist. These include the world’s largest Marriott resort. Located close to Disney World, the Orlando World Center Marriott is a massive complex that boasts amenities including, “7 thrilling water slides, a 575-foot lazy river, poolside cabanas and more! Play 18 holes on our championship golf course and rejuvenate in our Orlando resort spa. Treat your palate in the 10 dining outlets of our hotel in Central Florida, including world-class Italian cuisine and Mikado Japanese Steakhouse.” In addition, a stay at the hotel includes “shuttle service to nearby Walt Disney World and Disney Springs” in its resort fees. The hotel also offers another perk: Mermaids. Yup, you read that right, mermaids. The hotel offers a seasonal Mermaid & Glow party where, according to the hotel, guests can join “Mermaid Elle & friends and dance the night away with our vivid glow party” in the hotel’s pool area. Mermaids While the party is included in the price of your room, you can also upgrade to a Mermaids & Glow Cabana package, which includes a heavily decorated cabana complete with “glow drinks” and a 10-minute private meet & greet with one of the hotel’s mermaids. From our recent experience, the mermaids swam across the whole pool, before meeting and greeting with guests. The neon light-filled atmosphere, music, and mermaids contributed to a vibe we really, really enjoyed. Mermaids The Mermaid & Glow Party is offered during select seasonal Saturday evenings from 8:00-9:30PM stretching through December. Glow party The Orlando World Center Marriott is one of the largest hotels in the Orlando area, and events like the Mermaid & Glow party offering definitely make it worth checking out for tourists and locals alike. Stay tuned to DFB for further coverage of Central Florida attractions. Tour the WORLD’S LARGEST MARRIOTT HOTEL with Us! 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 Does the Mermaid & Glow party sound appealing to you? Let us know in the comments below. Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Marriott to attend their media preview of the Orlando World Center Marriott Hotel. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ The post Hold Up, This Hotel Near Disney World Has a MERMAID POOL PARTY?! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Believe it or not, spooky season is right around the corner — at least as far as Disney is concerned! Halloween in Magic Kingdom The Halloween festivities will be kicking off in the parks soon, and we’ve already started to see ghoulish merchandise show up in stores and online. Some of these Halloween items can be pretty hard to come by, and we think we’ve spotted a new one that’s going to sell out FAST! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Get The Stitch Halloween Light-Up Figure ©Disney Forget Mickey pumpkins, this one is for you Stitch fans. Stitch is popping up from a jack-o-lantern on this figure, ready to add a little scary to your Halloween decor. Turn on a switch and the figure fully lights up and emits a flickering white light. THIS should be the centerpiece of your Halloween decorations this year. View at The 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 If You Love Stitch and Halloween, Just Get Your Wallet Out Now first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Are you making a MAJOR mistake when you visit Disney World? Magic Kingdom The Lightning Lane system at Disney World is fresh off a brand-new overhaul with the creation of the Lightning Lane Single Pass and Lightning Lane Multi Pass. The change has caused some confusion, and Disney World newbies are especially susceptible to making Lightning Lane mistakes. We’re here to help and make sure those mistakes don’t happen! While Disney has put into detail how to use the new Lightning Lane options, mistakes can still easily be made. We’re going to go over some of the biggest issues you might run into when using Lightning Lanes and how you can avoid these mistakes. Not Booking at 7AM Seven Days Out According to Disney, “Guests can purchase Lightning Lane passes for days they have valid theme park admission starting at 7:00 AM Eastern Time on their first day of eligibility.” This applies to both Lightning Lane Single and Multi Passes for guests staying at Disney World resorts. Goodbye Genie+ With that said, guests without a hotel reservation have a three-day window to book. Either way, rookies might not take advantage of their hotel reservations by not booking seven days out, or they might ignore the 7AM time slot for when their window opens. ©Disney Here’s what every pro KNOWS about Disney World — it’s a competitive jungle. People are always vying for dining reservations, the best seats at shows, ride queue positioning, personal space, time with characters…you name it. While the majority of guests are able to coexist, that doesn’t negate the fact that everything you do at Disney World presents competition in some form. That can definitely be said about Lightning Lanes. When those time slots open up, people WILL take advantage of them. So be one of those people or risk missing out. Know when you’re eligible to book, set an alarm in your calendar, and come out ahead. Not Connecting Your Family to My Disney Experience We live in the digital age, and the Disney Parks have fully embraced that reality. At Disney World, the My Disney Experience app is heavily used, and you’d be hard-pressed to do much without it. ©Disney The app is your go-to wallet for dining reservations, PhotoPass, park tickets, and Lightning Lane reservations among other things. In short, it’s very, very difficult to do Disney World these days without the app. Fortunately, you can and SHOULD link your entire party to each other to manage everyone simultaneously. ©Disney Linking a party together also ensures that every single member of the group is accounted for with Virtual Queues and Lightning Lanes. If you DON’T connect your family on My Disney Experience before you book your Lightning Lanes, you run the risk of missing someone or wasting time figuring out how to make sure everyone is accounted for. The best piece of advice we can offer is once you have your tickets set, immediately connect your family on the app and bypass the unnecessary stress. Forgetting About Dining Reservations Look, we get it. Planning a Disney World trip is super overwhelming, and it’s incredibly easy to overlook things and make simple mistakes. With that said, try to remember when and where you’re booking those big dining reservations. Mickey! Rookies might forget about their existing dining reservations and book over one (or more) of them. It’s an easy mistake to make, but, fortunately, Disney might’ve already come up with a solution. Don’t miss your dining reservations! With the change, the new Lightning Lane system will show you when you’re about to book over a dining reservation… making this an easily avoidable mistake. Now it will still let you do it — but we definitely recommend you don’t. Look, if you’re set on the time being allocated toward something, we won’t try to sway you on which you should prioritize. We do, however, want to note that if you follow the previous two pieces of advice, it’s very likely you can have your cake and eat it too — literally! Make a note of your itinerary well before you go and get familiar with it so that you’re ready to tackle Disney World and have the best vacation ever! Everyone IGNORES This Disney World App Feature, but It’s a Lightning Lane GAME CHANGER How are you faring with the new Lightning Lane changes? Do you think they’re a step in the right direction? Let us know and continue to follow us here at DFB for all the latest Disney World tips, news, reviews, and more! Lightning Lane Rules Have CHANGED…But There’s Already a Problem in Disney World 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 What are some Lightning Lane tips you have for Disney World rookies? Share your thoughts in the comments below! The post The Biggest Lightning Lane Mistake Rookies Will Definitely Make In Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Two of our favorite restaurants are running an exclusive offer on merchandise and food, and it’s all starting soon at Disney Springs! The Slow Lamb We’ve had some exceptional meals at Raglan Road and Cookes of Dublin, and we loved getting to preview the summer menu items they’re offering at a hefty discount. But, for a limited time, these restaurants are looking to share their appreciation for Cast Members and offering some NEW discounts and deals you just can’t beat! That’s right! Raglan Road, Cookes of Dublin, and even the boutique (Shop For Ireland) are running some amazing deals for a limited time. These offers will only be extended to Cast Members in honor of Cast Member Days, and they’ve already shared all the details with us! ©Raglan Road Starting now, July 26th, and running through July 28th, Cast Members who present a green or blue Cast Member ID are eligible for the following discounts: 30% off of merchandise at Shop For Ireland boutique shop $8 signature beer flights and 20% off of food inside Raglan Road Irish Pub $15 combo meal with a fountain soda drink at Cookes Of Dublin ©Raglan Road WOW! Those are some pretty sweet savings on almost everything that Raglan Road, Cookes of Dublin, and their boutique store have to offer. The details posted about the offer didn’t outline any exceptions to the menu items available at the discount or offer any limits to party sizes, so be sure to check with your server when you arrive for further details. Sale items were noted as excluded from the merchandise discount. ©Raglan Road While you’re dining, this is a perfect opportunity to check out the recently refurbished Raglan Room and take a closer look at the ornate decor and artwork lining its walls. Remodeled Raglan Room We’re also here to remind you that Disney Springs is still running the Flavors of Florida celebration at Disney Springs so it is definitely worth strolling the Landing, Marketplace, and Westside to scope out all of the exclusive offerings to try later in the day or on a return visit! We’re always on the hunt for special deals and savings across all of Disney World! Be sure to check out a few of our reviews below and stay tuned with us at Disney Food Blog for even more savings! REVIEW: When We’ve Got Extra Money For Snacks In Disney World, This Is Where We’re Going 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 do you typically order from Raglan Road? Tell us in the comments below! The post 3 EXCLUSIVE Disney World Discounts Announced -- But Only for a Limited Time! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’ve ever had pizza at Disney World, you know that it’s not all created equally. Sausage & Pepperoni Pizza There’s the infamous “puffy pizza” served at places like PizzeRizzo, Pizzafari, and Catalina Eddie’s, and some of the best slices can be found at Via Napoli in EPCOT’s Italy Pavilion. But, if you ask us, one of the BEST pizzas in all of Disney World is hiding at a restaurant you’ve probably never even heard of! Plus, even though they’re not technically Disney World hotels, the Swan and Dolphin and Swan Reserve still let you enjoy some of the perks of staying at a Disney World hotel. We’re talking things like free transportation to the parks and Disney Springs, Early Entry, and, as of July 24th, being able to book Lightning Lane selections up to seven days before your arrival date. In the meantime, you can bet we’ll be hunting down every single new pizza that comes to Disney World — so make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more! Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide The Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants The Best EPCOT Restaurant Restaurants The Best Hollywood Studios Restaurants The Best Animal Kingdom Restaurants The Best Disney Springs Restaurants Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What’s your favorite pizza in Disney World? Tell us in the comments. The post One of Our FAVORITE Pizzas in Disney World Is at a Restaurant You've Probably NEVER Heard Of first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We would consider ourselves pretty big Disney World fans. We are in the park every single day, and we just so happen to write about Disney World as our job. We even dream about Disney World sometimes. Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom There is A LOT we love about Disney World, but there is also one thing that we find a bit annoying. There is one rule we really wish Disney World would finally start enforcing. While we know they frown upon it and occasionally enforce it, line jumping can sometimes feel like it has gotten out of hand. We understand that there are multiple scenarios where we would be perfectly fine with people cutting the line. Maybe your kiddo really needs to use the bathroom, or one member of your party runs out quickly to grab a water bottle to keep your group hydrated. Or maybe someone in your party has a hard time waiting in line. Big Thunder Mountain Wait Time However, whenever we see a huge group of people moving through the line to catch up with their one member who is all the way at the front of the line, we do get a bit annoyed. Haunted Mansion line Having one person wait in line and then having the whole rest of your party meet them when they are almost to the front is just not the proper theme park etiquette. We understand that the lines are long and it can be boring to have to wait in line. However, almost everyone else is managing, and there are lots of ways to entertain yourself while in line. An unfortunate fact about visiting a theme park is that there are going to be crowds, and you are going to have to wait in line at some point. Tiana’s Bayou Queue We really wish Disney World did a better job enforcing the policy of no line cutting, however we could also see how it would likely be difficult to enforce. It would take having many more Cast Members throughout the queue to be able to stop line cutting and even then, it may not put a complete stop to it. We just wish we would get passed by fewer huge parties while waiting in long lines. Dumbo Line Before we get too too far on our soapbox about line cutting, we do want to add in that there are people who are unable to wait in a conventional line, have issues while in line, or need to be able to step out and rejoin their party later on. We want everyone to be able to experience Disney World attractions, but we don’t like when people simply don’t want to have to wait in line, so instead they opt to cut the line to get to the front. Pirates of the Caribbean There are options for guests who are unable to wait in line for various reasons. One of these options is the Disability Access Service (DAS). While the system has undergone a huge change as of May 20th, 2024, it could still be an option if a member of your party is unable to wait in line. The new system has received lots of criticism and may not be able to be utilized by everyone who seeks to use it. If you are not able to qualify for DAS, Disney World also offers a return to line service if something happens while you are in the queue or you need to be able to exit. With this service, you will speak to a Cast Member at the entrance of an attraction if you need to leave the queue line for a bit. We want to stress that there are folks who are re-joining their party online in a manner that is fully endorsed in Disney World, and is not cutting in the line. This is very different than those groups that send one person to wait in the line and then bring a whole group in to join that person without authorization from Cast Members — that’s what’s against the rules, and that’s what we would like to see Disney enforce more frequently. Slinky Dog Dash While we would love for Disney World to better enforce line cutting, we are still grateful that we get to experience the parks as much as we do, even though we might get a bit annoyed when a group of 10 cuts past us in line. We will just shake our head and continue enjoying our wonderful day at Disney World. It is pretty hard to be mad when you are getting to spend the day in the park! Stay tuned to DFB for all your Disney World news and food reviews! It Just Got Harder To Get On These Disney World Rides! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What is one of your biggest pet peeves while in Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post The One Rule We Wish Disney World Would Finally Enforce first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We don’t talk about Bruno…except that we do! Encanto is still making waves, especially in Disney parks. Mirabel! We’ve recently seen Mirabel come to a meet-and-greet fans in Magic Kingdom (you’ve been able to meet her for a while on the West Coast in Disneyland). There’s a limited-time Encanto sing-along happening in EPCOT right now! Bruno previously made an appearance during Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney California Adventure. Well, it looks like Encanto might be coming to California Adventure in a NEW way. A new audition notice has been posted on the Disney Auditions website, and it seems Disney is looking for a Mirabel for Disney California Adventure. Now, there’s already a Mirabel meet-and-greet in Disneyland, as we previously mentioned, but this audition notice is looking for a singer, so that suggests a new Encanto show or at least a singing version of Mirabel in SOME kind of entertainment at California Adventure. ©Disney The notice says this is for a “limited-run entertainment offering,” but it doesn’t say exactly what kind of entertainment offering it will be. It COULD be a show, or it could be something else. Maybe it’s even something for the holiday season? We’ll certainly be keeping an eye out for more announcements regarding this new entertainment thing, whatever it is. Perhaps an Encanto singalong is coming to the West Coast like the one in EPCOT? Who knows? ¡Celebración Encanto! Whatever the case, it looks like we’ll be getting even more Encanto in Disney Parks soon, even if it is for a limited time. Stay tuned to DFB for more. When are you headed to Disney next? Have you checked out our line of fun graphic tees to wear on your trip? We’ve designed some for the whole family – from infants to adults! Click here to check them out! Disney Just Dropped a MAJOR Hint About the Animal Kingdom’Encanto’ Expansion Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe What do you think? What kind of Encanto show would you like to see in California Adventure? Let us know in the comments! The post We Found a Clue That a NEW ‘Encanto’ Show Is Coming to a Disney Park! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure has been a pretty big hit at Magic Kingdom, and for good reason! Tiana’s Bayou Adventure This party on the bayou is a jazz lover’s dream with all the sights, sounds, and smells of New Orleans, and we can’t wait for the Disneyland version to open — which begs the question: when is the Disneyland version of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure going to open? We don’t have an official date just yet, but this latest announcement makes us think it could be pretty soon! While we still don’t know when Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will open at Disneyland, we have a feeling an announcement could be coming pretty soon! ©Disney Disney shared that the Princess Tiana Sipper will be available at Disneyland Resort starting August 1st at various locations throughout the parks. ©Disney So, what does this have to do with an opening date announcement? Well, we’ve actually already seen this sipper — at Magic Kingdom, for the opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure over there! Of course, this doesn’t necessarily mean the Disneyland version of the ride will open anytime soon, but we’re crossing our fingers that this means an announcement is on the way. It could also mean Disney had an extra stock of these sippers and decided to send them over to Disneyland, but we’re choosing to believe this is a sign instead. New souvenir alert! Still, the official Disneyland website (and actual signs around Disneyland) indicate that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is still slated to open in 2024 at Disneyland. As to the exact date, we still don’t know. Disney has been pretty tight-lipped so far about the Disneyland version, but as soon as we know something — you’ll know something! Construction progress in Disneyland — July 2024 In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for the latest updates about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opening at Disneyland. Make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for all your Disney news needs and more! When Will the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Ride Open in Disneyland? Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe When are you heading to Disneyland next? Tell us in the comments. The post Did Disney Drop a HINT About the Tiana's Bayou Adventure Opening Date for Disneyland? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney Cruise Line is BUSY cranking out new offerings these days! Helmsman Mickey on the Disney Magic The new island destination Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point just opened this summer, and now we’re anticipating the first sailing of the next new cruise ship, the Disney Treasure. It sets sail this December, and now Disney Cruise Line has revealed a key detail about the boat! Each Disney Cruise Line boat has characters on the stern, and we’ve seen everyone from Goofy to Donald Duck to Dumbo in the past! On the bow of the Disney Treasure, Captain Minnie Mouse will be featured, and inside the atrium, there will be a statue of Jasmine, Aladdin, and the magic carpet. ©Disney The Disney Treasure will take its Maiden Voyage with passengers on December 21, 2024, and will be the sixth ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet. This new boat will celebrate “Walt Disney’s lifelong love of adventure,” as announced in September 2022 by Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro. ©DisneyCruiseLine For the inaugural season, the Disney Treasure will offer seven-night sailings to the Eastern and Western Caribbean from Port Canaveral including stops at Disney’s Castaway Cay. This itinerary will continue through at least May of 2026. ©Disney The design of the Disney Treasure is “inspired by the grandeur and mystery of a gilded palace,” and draws influences from Asia, Africa, and even Aladdin’s Agrabah. The ship will feature 1,256 staterooms and they’ll have nods to Disney and Pixar films, including Aladdin, Pocahontas, Up, and Encanto! Verandah Stateroom ©Disney The majority of the ship’s staterooms will have an ocean view, with 877 of the 1,256 staterooms featuring a verandah. These staterooms are supposed to “strike an inviting balance between modern design and nostalgic charm with a fresh, natural color scheme and custom artwork that will entice guests to peer beyond their staterooms into fantastical worlds from heartwarming Disney adventures.” Tomorrow Tower Suite ©Disney We can’t wait to get more details and sneak peeks into this new ship as we get closer to the sailing date! We’ll make sure to share any updates with all of you, so stay tuned to DFB. Click Here to Learn More About the Disney Treasure! What You Need to Know About Disney Cruise Line Learn All About Disney Cruise Line and Its Various Ships Explore Disney’s Mega Cruise Ship – The Wish A Full List of What You CAN’T Bring on a Disney Cruise These Are the BEST Times to Book Your Disney Cruise The Best Ways to SAVE SPACE in Your Tiny Cruise Cabin 10 Things You NEED on Your Next Cruise (That You Won’t Think to Pack!) What It’s Like to Live on a Cruise Ship for 6 Months Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe Have you ever been on a Disney cruise? Tell us in the comments! The post NEWS: Disney Treasure Shares NEW LOOK at 2 BIG Additions first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

One of the best parts about staying on property at Disney World is that once you park your car at the hotel, you don’t have to move it again until the end of your stay. Disney Bus That’s because Disney World has complimentary transportation everywhere you need to go on property! You can take a bus, the Disney Skyliner, a boat, or the Monorail to other Disney World parks, hotels, water parks, and Disney Springs for no charge (or you can choose to park at the Disney World parks for no charge since you’re a Disney hotel guest). However, there’s a new hotel perk coming to the resort in 2025 that sounds all fine and dandy…until you realize what a transportation problem it’ll cause. Starting in 2025, Disney World is introducing a new perk to staying on property — on their arrival day, guests will gain free admission to whichever of Disney World’s water parks is open at that time — Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon. Surf Pool at Typhoon Lagoon This is a great way for families to go have some fun in the sun at no additional cost, as it could save them buying a park ticket for a half day at the parks, OR for families who usually visit the water park anyway, it saves them money on a ticket. Blizzard Beach Water Park This perk is a little divisive right now, with some fans frustrated that if they arrive around 5-6PM on their arrival day, they won’t get to enjoy this perk at all since the water parks close early. However, regardless of how you feel about this new perk, it does mean one big thing needs to happen at ALL Disney World hotel — a LOT more buses are going to need to be running between the hotels and water parks. Disney Bus This may not seem like an issue at first glance, because Disney World has tons of buses! That’s true, but the majority of those buses are already being used to take guests to and from other locations around the resort, so will this mean Disney will have to pull those buses AWAY from other destinations to provide more transportation to the water parks? If that is the case, it could mean seeing longer wait times between hotels and Disney World theme parks, which could back up said transportation and mean longer lines. Inside a Disney Bus For some Disney World hotels, it’s easy for us to just recommend taking another form of transportation, such as the Skyliner, Monorail, or boats, but for many Disney World hotels, such as the All-Star Resorts, buses are the ONLY form of transportation to get anywhere you’d like to go. So at these resorts specifically, longer lines/waits between buses for other locations may put a strain on the time it takes to get from one place to another. Crowded bus Now, we have faith that Disney World is planning ahead and maybe has some extra buses ready to go to accommodate this new perk, rather than taking them away from the current schedule, but we’ll have to wait and see! It’s best to prepare for the worst and expect longer bus wait times if you’re traveling in early 2025. We’ll be sure to keep an eye out, so stay tuned to DFB! We got stuck on the Disney World monorail with NO POWER — here’s what happened Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW How do you feel about this new hotel perk? Tell us in the comments! The post The 2025 Disney World Transportation Problem You Need To Be WORRIED About first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Attention, ghostly gals, ghouls, and Halloween lovers: we have some important NEWS! Here at DFB, we love tricks and treats, and we especially love all the FUN Halloween events that happen in Disney World and Disneyland. There’s the iconic Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in Magic Kingdom, plus you’ve got the SUPER popular Oogie Boogie Bash at Disneyland. But there’s one more beloved Halloween addition fans look forward to all year long. Any guesses? What’s this? What’s this? Disneyland Did our clues give it away? Each year, Disney transforms a classic attraction just for the spooky fall and winter season. The ride overlay takes WEEKS to come together and is filled with special details, and we’ve been waiting for new details about the 2024 transformation! Well, the time has come, people! Now, we have a few important things to note here, so pay attention. When this ride reopens, it will be slightly different. The Haunted Mansion Holiday will be available to ride EXCLUSIVELY via a virtual queue when it first opens. That’s because Imagineers are working on a reimagined queue experience, so a big section of the standby line is behind walls. It’s happening! To join the virtual queue, make sure you have the Disneyland app open, logged in, and ready to go. Disney noted that the virtual queue will only be used while the queue is under construction, but we still don’t have an exact date for the construction to end. We’ll share more information when we learn more about the updated queue experience. This ride is SO fun! We expect the virtual queue process to work the same way it does for other attractions in Disney World and Disneyland. We recommend jumping on the app as soon as possible — the faster you can join the virtual queue, the more likely you are to get on the ride early in the day. Jack in Haunted Mansion Holiday This year, Disney’s Halloween season will take place from August 23rd through October 31st at Disneyland Resort. In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more. NEWS FLASH: It’s Already Time for Halloween at This Disney Park! Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe What’s your favorite part of the Haunted Mansion Holiday ride overlay? Let us know in the comments! The post BREAKING: Disney Confirms Haunted Mansion OPENING DATE Following Extended Closure first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

When you’re feeling festive in EPCOT, sometimes you just want to indulge in a few sweet treats that transport your mind into another country and out of Disney World for just a few minutes. EPCOT We’ve tasted some phenomenal treats around Disney World lately including a chocolate choux and flavored ice cream cones, but neither of those options was quite as fancy as what we had a craving for today! While walking along the World Showcase in EPCOT, we decided we were well overdue for a treat or two! Italy Pavilion in EPCOT It had been a while since we really went deep into the Italy Pavilion to explore all the best eats and treats we decided today was the day. While most people come to Italy to taste their thick pizza slices at the pizza window restaurant Pizza al Taglio and visit the Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar to spend some time out of the sun, we decided we wanted to stop by the Via Napoli Donkey Cart to grab a quick treat. Atmosphere This cozy snack stop can be hard to miss if you’re not looking in the right spot. To find it, you’ll need to walk into the Italy Pavilion and stay on the right-hand side. Just about the spot that you come to the tiered roundabout that’s centered in the middle of the pavilion, if you look over to the side towards the wall you should spot a prominent donkey pulling a cart. That’s it! DONKEY! We’re serious, it’s a cute little stop, isn’t it? While it’s hard to call it a “restaurant” of sorts it’s more like a mostly beverage-style kiosk to pick up something special while browsing the rest of the pavilion. There’s space for a line to order… In line to order …along with a few self-service utensils… Donkey Cart in Italy …but that’s basically it. For seating, you’re pretty much on your own to find a nearby patio-style table and chair set up or take your drink and snack with you as you continue your stroll around the World Showcase. Menu This tiny but mighty menu serves up an assortment of beer, wine, specialty cocktails… Menu …a few non-alcoholic beverages and a small array of desserts. Granted, there wasn’t a ton to choose from here, but that helped make our decision on what we wanted to try out this visit even easier. Drinks We were excited to try out the Orangecello Cocktail which we picked up for $14. It’s made of Orangecello, pineapple juice, orange juice, and strawberry purée and served in a fancy-looking plastic flute. Orangecello Cocktail This drink is a boozy fruit juice at its core. You can definitely taste the blend of the orange juice against the pineapple purée with an alcoholic taste to it — which totally works for the drink overall. While it’s a solid combination to create an enjoyable drink it wasn’t anything we’re completely obsessing over and talking about for weeks to come, but it was a nice change of pace for an alcoholic drink at Disney World. A boozy fruit cocktail Admittedly though, the price for the portion is a big reason why we weren’t considering buying it again so soon even with as much as we liked it. Eats We figured we could use a snack to go along with our drink so we also picked up the Tiramisu popsicle for $9. It’s a simple push-up dessert made out of layers of Tiramisu cake. Tiramisu popsicle You don’t even have to be a big Tiramisu enthusiast to appreciate this treat and we certainly enjoyed it. It definitely gives a sweet coffee scent when you first open it and from the first bite, it will have your taste buds bathing in sugary goodness! Yummy layers Full disclosure though for this one, our reporter who picked up this treat is a self-proclaimed sweet coffee drinker so they found it totally a treat that fit right into their sweet treats palette. The layers even come out in a spoonful! However, for a smaller treat that really only consists of the section of the pop you are able to push up as you eat through the layers, it’s pretty expensive (but again, we can’t say we wouldn’t opt to pick it up again). Overall As a snack spot, this place is fairly decent. While the menu isn’t extensive it’s effective for a special treat. Sure, the menu here is mainly a few alcoholic beverages and a few non-alcoholic options, but as a refreshing stop it serves its purpose. Feelin’ fancy! However, the prices here are going to cost you a pretty penny so if you’re planning to stop by, just know these might be classified more towards a special treat rather than something you’ll probably pick up multiple times throughout your visit. Nosh or Not? Swing on by the Donkey Cart in Italy if… You’re looking for a unique treat that’s not too weird. These treats will cost you more than most but sometimes that higher price is reflected in the taste. You’re a Disney adult with some snack money to burn. Were our treats expensive? Yes. Would we do it again on occasion? Also yes. Mosey on by the Donkey Cart in Italy if… Specialty “smecialty.” If “designer” snacks aren’t beckoning your sweet tooth, this probably isn’t worth the stop for you. You’re ideal dessert is unforgettable! You’re making every moment of your Disney World trip count right down to the memories you close your eyes and think back on. If you’re looking for a treat or beverage that will have you talking about it for weeks to come, it probably won’t be here. We’re always trying out the treats, snacks, eats, and drinks around Disney World’s parks and hotels! While you’re here, be sure to check out a few more of our most recent reviews below, and stay tuned with us at Disney Food Blog for more. After 15 Years of Reviewing Disney World Food, I’m Revealing the Most BIZARRE Trends Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide The Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants The Best EPCOT Restaurant Restaurants The Best Hollywood Studios Restaurants The Best Animal Kingdom Restaurants The Best Disney Springs Restaurants Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What’s your favorite thing to eat in the Italy Pavilion? Tell us in the comments below! The post REVIEW: When We've Got Extra Money For Snacks In Disney World, This Is Where We're Going first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Okay, Disney’s All-Star Resorts are somewhat polarizing. Some people LOVE these hotels, while others are not a fan. Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort Not only are these resorts economical, but they also have some super fun theming. Take Disney’s All-Star Movies, for example. This resort has some of the most fun theming of all the All-Star resorts, featuring some of your favorite movies, including Fantasia, Toy Story, The Mighty Ducks, 101 Dalmations, and The Love Bug. If you love this resort and have a stay planned there, we just found your next Loungefly bag! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Don’t have Amazon Prime? No biggie! You can sign up for a free trial by clicking on the banner below: These are some Loungeflys we think are PERFECT for a stay at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort. Get the 101 Dalmations Loungefly ©Amazon It’s all about the puppies! Yes, there is a whole section of All-Star Movies devoted to 101 Dalmations, so this spotted backpack is ON BRAND. This cute bag has the puppies on the outside AND the inside, too. This could be Cruella de Vil’s favorite Loungefly, y’all. View on Amazon Buy the Buzz Lightyear and Jessie Moments Loungefly ©Amazon This backpack features some fun scenes from Toy Story with Jessie and Buzz Lightyear. Look at them — they’re dancing! You’ll also find some other Toy Story characters, like the aliens, Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head, Bullseye, and more. Just like the Toy Story characters you’ll find at All-Star Movies! View on Amazon Buy the Jungle Book Loungefly ©Amazon This hotel is all about the movies, and is any Disney classic movie more fun than The Jungle Book? Forget the “Bare Necessities” because you need this Loungefly featuring Baloo. You’ll even find Baloo and Mowgli on the back. View on Amazon Buy the Fab 5 Loungefly Mini Backpack ©Amazon You can’t name more classic movie characters than Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Pluto, can you? That’s why this bag featuring the whole gang is PERFECT for a stay at Disney World’s movies-themed hotel. View on Amazon Looking for even more Disney souvenirs and necessities? Be sure to check out our Amazon Shop! Visit our Amazon ShopThe post 4 Disney Loungefly Bags You’ll LOVE if Your Favorite Hotel Is Disney’s All-Star Movies first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If there’s one thing we look forward to around the Disney parks every year, it’s spooky season! ©Disney There’s just something extra magical about all the pumpkins, wreaths, ghouls, ghosts, eats, special entertainment, and more. We’ve already had a sneak peek at what’s coming to Disneyland Resort for this year’s Halloween season, but it looks like Disney has started decorating for the occasion, too! We spotted the wreaths and pumpkins (barely!) from over the construction walls, but this just means we’re that much closer to spooky season at Disneyland — and to the reopening of the Haunted Mansion! It’s happening! When this ride does open for the season, it will be a little different. Disney shared that the Haunted Mansion Holiday will be available to ride EXCLUSIVELY via a virtual queue when it first opens. Imagineers are working on a reimagined queue experience right now, so a big portion of the standby line is behind walls. We still don’t have an exact reopening date, and the ride has been closed since January! Everyone remain calm! You’ll need to use the Disneyland app to join the virtual queue. But, it seems like Disney has hinted that the virtual queue will only be used while the queue is under construction. Of course, we’ll be sure to share more details as we learn more about the updated queue experience. Jack in Haunted Mansion Holiday The Halloween season will take place from August 23rd through October 31st at Disneyland Resort. In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for the latest news from Disneyland, Disney World, and more — so don’t forget to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog! Learn More About Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort Here Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe Will you be checking out Haunted Mansion Holiday this year? Tell us in the comments. The post NEWS FLASH: It's Already Time for Halloween at This Disney Park! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Heading to Walt Disney World anytime soon? ©Amazon If you’re planning a trip to the “Most Magical Place on Earth”, one of the MOST essential things you’ll need is a bag. We scoured Amazon for the best options and found 3 FIVE STAR bags for you to check out. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Looking to sign up for Amazon Prime? We’ve got you: First up, this LuluLemon Belt Bag ©Amazon Yes, belt bag is just a fancy way of saying funny pack. With that out of the way, this pack is a perfect small option for the parks. Made of a “water-resistant and easy to wipe clean” fabric, this pack can comfortably hold phones, wallets, keys, and other small essential items. VIEW ON AMAZON For a More Ornate Option, there’s this Beauty and the Beast Loungefly ©Amazon This may be our favorite Loungefly of all time. Along with 3D-layered appliqué, there’s a gorgeous Beauty and the Best stained glass design that wraps around to the back… ©Amazon … and both sides… ©Amazon … of the bag. ©Amazon VIEW ON AMAZON Shopping for Kids? There’s this Modern Kids Backpack ©Amazon This pack – – available with a floral Mickey design, as well as other Disney options including Moana, Frozen, Encanto, Toy Story, Cars, Minnie Mouse, The Little Mermaid, Disney Princesses, Spider-Man, The Avengers, and others – – Measures 16.5″x13″x6.25″ with 18L Capacity. The pack features “a padded tablet sleeve, a large zip-closure front pocket, a zip-closure stash pocket, and two expandable bottle sleeves on the sides” and is made out of “easy-to-clean, water-resistant polyester, reinforced stitching, and padded, adjustable shoulder straps with buckle.” VIEW ON AMAZON Any of these 5-star rated bags would be PERFECT for a Walt Disney World trip. Looking for More Disney Essentials, Check Out our Amazon Storefront.The post 3 Bags With 5 Stars on Amazon That Would Be Perfect for Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Another major streaming company has teamed up with Disney to bring consumers a massive streaming bundle offer (and it’s pretty enticing)! ©Disney We already knew several companies like Warner Brothers Discovery were in talks with key streaming platforms to join forces and offer consumers a competitive bundle of streaming platforms. And it wasn’t too long ago since we saw Disney+ and Hulu merge allowing subscribers for both services to access each other’s content across both platforms. Now, it seems that an attractively priced bundle is the latest to grab our attention of the streaming giants and we have to admit this is one we didn’t think we’d see come to an agreement so soon! An announcement was made today that another streaming service has been bundled with Disney+. You could already get Disney+ and Hulu bundled together in one set price for both services however, that has now expanded to include Max (formerly HBO Max). ©Disney As of July 25th, the new Disney+, Hulu, Max bundle is available in the U.S. with an introductory price of $16.99 per month with ads and $29.99 per month without ads. Although you’ll still be able to see Hulu and Disney+ streamable content shared across each other’s platforms, streaming content through Max will be mostly accessed through its same app with select content from Max accessible through Hulu when opting for no ads with your bundle. Taking a closer look at the no-ads bundle comparison also revealed an advantage of access to downloadable content, too. ©Disney This means that if you’re a fan of Max’s House Of The Dragon, Game of Thrones, Friends, The Last Of Us, the DC Universe, new releases from Warner Bros. and A24 along with much more, your billing could have just become much more streamlined. With this new bundle pricing, it’s estimated that subscribers could save up to 38% on the bundle of Hulu, Max, and Disney+ compared to paying individually for the same three streaming services. ©Max According to Deadline, this is the first time we’ve seen separate companies join together to release a single bundled subscription service. However, other streaming giants like Netflix and Prime Video are choosing to keep their own companies streaming services for now, and have decided not to team up with other companies for the foreseeable future. But, as we’ve come to learn, you can’t ever say never so we’re not ones to rule out the possibility of talks down the line for all parties involved once there’s been time to see how this new bundle partnership unfolds for both the companies involved and on the consumer front. ©HBO Max For now, we’re just excited that more of what we like to watch has been streamlined into a bundled service that doesn’t seem too farfetched in pricing for 3 big streaming content libraries. We’re staying current on all of the Disney updates big or small! Be sure you’re following us at Disney Food Blog for all the latest! 2 Suspicious Things Disney Has Done Ahead of the HUGE August 10th News Drop Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Will this bundle option save you money on streaming services you already pay for? Or, does it make you more willing to try out a new one? Leave us all of your thoughts in the comments below! The post NEWS: Pricing Announced for NEW Disney+, Max, and Hulu Streaming Bundle first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

BIG news, people. For YEARS, Southwest Airlines has taken a different approach to flying. Unlike many major airlines in the US, Southwest passengers boarded under an “open seating policy” where seats were not preassigned. The policy was pretty controversial, and many travelers have hoped the rules would change. Orlando International Airport Well, it seems like that long-awaited update might finally arrive. Southwest Airlines shared a BIG announcement about the future of open seating. Southwest Airlines has some big plans. The company shared several announcements “designed to elevate the Customer experience, improve financial performance, and drive shareholder value.” Most notably, Southwest plans to assign seats, offer premium seating options, redesign its boarding model, and introduce redeye flying. Southwest plane We previously reported that Southwest CEO Bob Jordan stated, “We’re looking into new initiatives, things like the way we seat and board our aircraft,” following a weak first quarter, but reassured travelers that Southwest was not considering charging for checked bags. At the time, Southwest did not share when — or if — these changes would go into effect, but now Southwest has officially made its decision. Southwest Plane In a new statement, Southwest stated that the company will provide more details on its comprehensive plan to deliver “transformational commercial initiatives, improved operational efficiency and capital allocation discipline” in September. That said, we do know that Southwest decided to assign seats and offer premium seating options on ALL flights. We love a window seat! Southwest explained that the airline conducted a research investigation and found that “80% of Southwest Customers, and 86% of potential customers, prefer an assigned seat.” Further, Southwest will offer a “premium, extended legroom portion of the cabin” due to customer feedback. At this time, cabin layout details are still being designed, but Southwest expects roughly one-third of the seats on its planes will offer extended legroom. Southwest Airplane So, what do you think of this news? Are you among the 80% of Southwest customers who prefer assigned seating? We’ll be sure to share more information about this historic change, so stay tuned for updates. In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest travel news, so stay tuned for more. NEWS: Thousands of Delta Flight Delays and Cancelations Prompt Federal Investigation 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 among the 80% of Southwest customers who prefer assigned seating? Let us know in the comments! The post NEWS: Southwest Airlines Will END Open Seating Policy Following Customer Feedback first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article