Disney4me

If you pay attention, you can learn the Disney lingo pretty quickly. You’ve got your basic acronyms, like AP for “Annual Passholder” or DAK for “Disney’s Animal Kingdom.” But then there are some made-up words you should probably know, too, like “MagicBand+,” “Lightning Lane,” and “PhotoPass.” Even Disney executives like to use special lingo, and yes, we keep a secret tally every time CEO Bob Iger uses words like “bullish” or “metaverse.” Disney World But now, a new word has entered Disney’s vocabulary. We first heard the word earlier in 2023, but now, it seems like that one, single word keeps popping up EVERYWHERE! Coincidence? You tell us! Alright, let’s go back in time to 2023. At Disney’s Q4 earnings call, Bob Iger laid out four big priorities for The Walt Disney Company. One of the main goals stated at the earnings call was “Turbocharging growth in the Experiences business.” ©Disney Specifically, Disney hinted it would soon announce a 10-year plan for parks and experiences. With a promised $60 billion set aside for the Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products segment of the company, it seems like Disney has big plans for the future. The details are still unclear, but many fans are speculating that part of that $60 billion budget will go towards a MEGA Magic Kingdom park expansion or a new land in Animal Kingdom. @Disney So, what’s the magic word? Well, on April 3rd, 2024, Disney held its Annual Shareholder Meeting, where we learned more about a new Avatar theme park project and got some confirmation on a few upcoming films. The word of the day? TURBOCHARGED! We heard Iger use the word during the question-and-answer portion of the meeting and later spotted the word pop up in more Disney content published that same day. In fact, Iger went so far as to call it a “tremendous turbocharge” when discussing Disney’s plans. ©Apple Here’s that fancy word again in a Disney news headline posted by Josh D’Amaro. ©Disney That’s not all! Disney shared a teaser trailer for a NEW series titled We Call It Imagineering. In the description, one word in particular caught our eye. Yep, they did it again. They mentioned the word “turbocharged” in the new series description. Disney said, “Inspired by how Walt took us along during the development of Disneyland, this new series brings you into the creative and design journey as we turbocharge our Disney Experiences. We can’t wait to bring you along as Disney Imagineers create these innovative new experiences for the next decade and beyond!” ©Disney So, Disney, is this a sign? Why the fixation on that word? Do you need a thesaurus? Ok, ok, we’re kidding. But with such a clear pattern, it seems like Disney is truly trying to put an emphasis on GROWTH and development. We know that Disney wants to expand its parks, but Iger later clarified that this plan will be taking place during the second half of Disney’s 10-year plan for parks and experiences. This means the “turbo” in “turbocharged” may be a slow launch rather than an explosive blastoff. Possible Land Expansion in Magic Kingdom ©Disney Now that you know about Disney’s new favorite word, you might start seeing it EVERYWHERE! In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more. Disney Wants to Expand Parks, but Not for at Least 5 Years 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 would YOU like to see happen in the next 10 years? Let us know in the comments! The post Why Does Disney CEO Bob Iger Keep Using the T-Word (And What Does It MEAN?!) first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Do you have a dream resort at Disney World where you’ve always wanted to stay? Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort So many of us have deluxe resort dreams on an All-Stars Resorts budgets, but sometimes, you can score a deal (or even rent DVC points) and grab a room at one of Disney’s more luxurious hotels. We had an opportunity to stay at what is probably THE most luxurious hotel on Disney World property, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and there are some things we wished we’d done differently. Live and learn, right? A longer stay Because this hotel IS so expensive, you might lean toward having a shorter stay here. That, however, is a mistake — we did that, and we regret it. One day is not enough to really enjoy this magnificent resort that offers tons of great dining, activities, great views, and more. One night is not enough here So if you’ve got the money to splurge for a long stay, DO IT. You won’t regret it. This is one of those cases where the hotel is as much a destination as the parks. The Pros and Cons of Staying at a Disney World Deluxe Resort Stay on a night with extended evening hours There’s one BIG perk that staying at a deluxe hotel can offer that you can’t get at any of Disney World’s other hotels. That’s Extended Evening Hours, which happen on specific nights at Disney World’s theme parks. So if you stay at the Grand Floridian and your stay doesn’t coincide with one of those specific Extended Evening Hours nights, you’ll end up missing out on the best perk deluxe hotels offer. Animal Kingdom During Extended Evening Hours! Before you book that stay, be sure to check the Disney World calendar on the Disney World website or My Disney Experience app. Make sure you have at least one night at the Grand Floridian when Extended Evening Hours are offered. There’s One Hotel Perk You Can ONLY Get at DELUXE Resorts — Is It Worth It? Only eating at one restaurant There are some AMAZING restaurants at the Grand Floridian and if you’re just dining at one, you’re missing out on a whole culinary experience. You’ve got Citricos, which is a fresh upscale restaurant themed around Mary Poppins Returns with a menu by Chef Andres Mendoza plus a 2022 mention in the Michelin Guide. Desserts at Citricos 1900 Park Fare offers character buffet dining for breakfast and dinner. We’ve got two words for you: Strawberry Soup (this dish is famous for a reason). Beauty and the Beast fans will love the Enchanted Rose Bar and Lounge, which offers gourmet bites and crafted cocktails in a setting that includes a glowing bar with a golden chandelier, a figure of the iconic rose from Beauty and the Beast, a Cogsworth-inspired clock, a Lumiere-inspired candelabra, and a Mrs. Potts-inspired teapot. Enchanted Rose Lounge Of course, who can forget about the AAA five-diamond rated Victoria & Albert’s, which is fine dining at its…well…finest. This is another restaurant that’s been recognized by the Michelin Guide. Is it pricey? Yes? Is it worth it? Also, yes! If you love seafood, you’ll want to visit Narcoossee’s, which also has amazing views of the Magic Kingdom fireworks. Appetizers from Narcoosee’s If you want casual, American fare, there’s Grand Floridian Cafe, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can also grab a quick meal at Gasparilla Island Grill, the Grand Floridian’s counter service restaurant. Plus, there are two pool bars where you can get some great cocktails and snacks. Full Guide to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Restaurants Having a resort day If you’re staying somewhere as nice as the Grand Floridian, we suggest you skip a day in the parks and have a day where you just spend some time at the hotel. Trust us on this one. There’s plenty to see AND do. We could spend a DAY alone just wandering around the grounds of this gorgeous resort, enjoying some pool time, and indulging in some fun activities (more on that later). There’s so much to see and do at the hotel! You’re paying a LOT of money to stay there, after all. Might as well take some time to enjoy everything the hotel offers. We LOVE This Hidden SECRET in Disney World’s Newest Grand Floridian Hotel Rooms Skipping the spa Speaking of a resort day, we wish we had visited the spa to relax, recharge, and get some much-needed pampering. Get a body treatment, massage, manicure, or one of the spa’s many other treatments, and spend some time hanging out in the relaxation room. Welcome to the Grand Floridian Spa You can book an appointment here. It’s a vacation, after all — you should enjoy some chill time when you’re not running all over the parks. 12 Disney Loungefly Bags You’ll LOVE if Your Favorite Hotel Is Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Get photos of the glass slipper Okay, so there are a TON of great photo opportunities at this hotel, but one you cannot miss is the glass slipper. This is a PhotoPass location where you can get a professional photo of you holding Cinderella’s iconic glass slipper. Fun photo op! You’ll find the PhotoPass location near the main staircase on the second floor of the lobby. It’s available most of the day, so don’t miss it! 20,000 Fans Rank EVERY Deluxe Resort in Disney World! Get an exclusive Grand Floridian scent Did you know that the Grand Floridian has its own Basin location? If you’re not familiar with Basin, it’s a shop that sells scented soaps, candles, bath bombs, and more! Well, Basin has an EXCLUSIVE sent at its location in the Grand Floridian — it’s the Isn’t it Grand. Isn’t it Grand soap You can get this as a soap, bath bomb, candle, and more — and we’re just going to tell you that it smells DIVINE. STOP Paying Full Price to Stay at Disney’s Grand Floridian Hotel Watch the Electrical Water Pageant If you’ve never stayed at any of the Magic Kingdom-area hotels, you may not even know about the Electrical Water Pageant. This is a parade that takes place on Seven Seas Lagoon, and you’ll have a great view of it if you’re staying at the Grand Floridian. It includes a lot of fun creatures, too. Electrical Water Pageant Creatures So what’s it like? It’s a sparkling pageant of light and lit-up floats that’s a lot like the Main Street Electrical Parade but on water. 49 Free Things To Do in Disney World in 2024 Enjoy resort-exclusive activities Remember us mentioning activities for that resort day you should take? Well, we regret not doing these things and there is SO much to do at the Grand Floridian. Not only does the hotel have some fun pools, but you can also participate in campfire activities, Movies under the Stars, fishing, boat and pontoon rentals, specialty cruises, and so much more. Always check the hotel’s schedule for activities We told you there’s so MUCH to do at the Grand Floridian, and we weren’t lying! Disney World Hotel Activities For The Whole Family! So there you have it. Don’t make the mistakes we did and not make time for everything this incredible hotel offers. It’s a vacation in and of itself! Stay tuned to DFB for more. I Was a Disney World Cast Member, and I’m Letting You In On a HOTEL SECRET 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’s your favorite thing about the Grand Floridian? Share with us in the comments! The post I Stayed at the Most Expensive Disney World Hotel. Here Are 9 Things I Wish I’d Done Differently. first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

A very merry Unbirthday to you! (Unless today is actually your birthday, in that case, a huge happy birthday to you!) Pick up some adorable Alice in Wonderland merchandise! There are 364 days to celebrate your Unbirthday, and we found the most adorable collection of Loungeflys to help celebrate! Let’s take a trip to see Alice in Wonderland and see what merchandise she has in store for us. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. You can grab all of these Alice in Wonderland Loungeflys on Amazon, and with Amazon Prime, you can also get free shipping! Don’t have Amazon Prime? No worries — click right here for a free trial: Now, let’s check out the Alice in Wonderland Unbirthday collection on Amazon! Grab this Alice in Wonderland Unbirthday Mini Loungefly Backpack! ©Disney This bag is inviting you to a tea party with Alice and friends! It has lots of color and whimsy, and even includes the Mad Hatter and Cheshire Cat. The inside fabric is pink with a pattern of lanterns, teapots, and teacups. This is such a fun bag! Get the mini-backpack here! Spruce up your outfit with this crossbody Loungefly Unbirthday Cake bag! ©Disney Next up, is a crossbody bag! The bag is shaped as a two-tiered cake, with lots of white icing decorations. There is even a candle on top, with Dormouse hanging off the bag. The inside has the same pink fabric as the backpack with a pattern of lanterns, teapots, and teacups. Grab the crossbody bag here! Store your belongings in style with this Loungefly Unbirthday Zip Around Wallet! ©Disney You can have even more tea party fun with a matching wallet for the mini backpack. This wallet features Dormouse coming out of a yellow teapot, surrounded by additional teapots and teacups. The inside has the same pink fabric as the mini backpack. Get the wallet here! Bring some Alice in Wonderland fun to your next shopping trip with this Loungefly Unbirthday Canvas Tote! ©Disney The tote bag has really been popular recently, and now you can get an Alice and Wonderland themed tote bag! This tote bag matches the design of the mini backpack and wallet. It once again features Dormouse at an unbirthday party. The tea party is complete with cake and teapots. The back of the tote bag is a light pink color. Pick up the tote bag here! We think this Alice in Wonderland collection is super whimsy and fun. Stay tuned to DFB for the latest news on Disney merchandise! Shop our Amazon store for even more Disney merchandise!The post A Brand New Disney Loungefly Collection Just Dropped on Amazon! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

A lot goes into planning a trip to Disney World. Frontier Plane at the Orlando Airport First, you need to decide on a budget. Then you need to figure out how many days you want to go to the parks. Then you have to figure out where to stay. You also need to decide on how to get there, and for many of us, that answer is by flying. Well, if you’re at that stage of your Disney World planning, we’ve got some airfare deals to share with you! The first deal comes courtesy of Frontier Airlines. Frontier is currently offering fares as low as $19 with bundles (which include checked bags, seat selection, and priority boarding) as low as $50. Say what? That sounds impossible, but it’s true. ©Frontier Airlines Now for the small print: you need to be a Discount Den member to get the lowest fares, which costs $99.99 per year for new members and then $59.99 per year after that. These rates, though, would make a membership TOTALLY worth it, right? You also need to buy your ticket by April 4th. Deals are valid for nonstop travel on Tuesdays and Wednesdays through June 30th and Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays from August 15th through September 30th. You’ll also have to avoid blockout dates. Frontier Plane wing That’s not all, though. United Airlines has also just revealed some new discount fares, starting at $91 for a roundtrip flight! Now, this is mostly for flights to and from Dallas, but if you live in the area, you might want to check it out for your next trip! Note that these fares are probably for Basic Economy, which means you would also need to pay extra for checked bags and seat selection. ©Getty Images We’ll continue to keep an eye out for more airfare deals, so stay tuned to DFB for more. If you want to do some planning before your flight (or even on the plane!), check out our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining. We’ve compiled all of our BEST tips and tricks from years of Disney World travel into one eBook that you can download to your tablet or smartphone and take with you! Our Best Tips For Flying Through the Orlando International Airport 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 airline do you prefer when you fly to Orlando? Let us know in the comments! The post 2 Popular Airlines Are Offering CHEAPER Flights To Disney World Right Now first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Nothing bad can really happen to you at Disney World…right? Tower of Terror Disney World is famously known as The Most Magical Place on Earth and is generally considered to be one of the most family-friendly places anywhere. Despite the adorable meet-and-greets, nostalgic rides, tasty food, and wonderful entertainment, there’s still ONE THING at the Disney Parks that scares me to death! Disney’s Hollywood Studios has A TON of popular E-ticket attractions but none more iconic than The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. No matter how fun this ride is (and it’s undoubtedly loads of fun!), I’m still paranoidly terrified of riding it for one major reason! Tower of Terror The cause of this irrational fear? Snapped cables. Disney Imagineers attached cables to the top and bottom of the elevator cars to help achieve that weightless feeling (you’re actually falling faster than a freefall because of this) and installed two giant motors at the top of the tower to regulate speed. Tower of Terror Queue Of course, thinking something bad will happen to you on this spooky ride is a touch paranoid. Let’s run through the safety features of this attraction, shall we? The elevator cars feature individualized seatbelts that allow for personalized restraint. Safety belts are monitored and Cast Members know if you aren’t buckled in properly at any point during your ride. There aren’t just a couple of cables. Traction elevators are suspended by many steel cables that can support a loaded elevator individually. There is an on-ride camera that allows operators to view and listen to passengers at all times. Someone is always watching and waiting to assist. There are lightning rods on the tower that redirect lightning away from the structure. Of course, the Tower of Terror has multiple emergency breaks as well! If hoisting cables fail, brakes are there to hold the elevator car in place. There are also safety measures in place that account for cable tension slack, shock absorption, and a compressed air cushion to account for an accidental freefall. Most importantly, Disney inspects the tower daily and wouldn’t let riders ride if it weren’t safe. That would be VERY illegal, after all. Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: BREAKOUT! I can also personally vouch for the safety of the ride, having survived a mishap. While I was on Disney California Adventure’s version of the tower, Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission BREAKOUT!, the ride broke down and the car stopped in its place. We safely exited the ride and even got a complimentary FastPass (this was a few years before Lightning Lanes existed). Tower of Terror Sign While the Tower of Terror’s safety measures are certainly innovative, many irrationally share the fear of the cables snapping and the elevator car plummeting to its doom like the one in Disney’s 1997 made-for-tv movie Tower of Terror, starring Steve Guttenberg and Kirsten Dunst. A new Tower of Terror adaptation with Marvel star Scarlett Johansson linked to the project has apparently been in the works for several years, albeit with no significant updates recently. Either way, Disney doesn’t shy away from making you think Tower of Terror is dangerous with its brilliant theming and the lore presented in media. Still from Tower of Terror (1997) ©Disney I prepare for the end every time I get in line to ride either tower at both California Adventure and Hollywood Studios…and I know I’m not the only one. If you’re also terrified of a catastrophe happening while riding Tower of Terror, commiserate with us in the comments below! And, as always, stay tuned here at DFB for all the latest Disney Parks updates, tips, and more! There’s ONE GOOD THING About Rock n Roller Coaster Being Closed for Months Let us know which other Disney rides scare you in the comments below! The post I’m Unreasonably Terrified of This Disney World Ride Catastrophe, and I Know I’m Not Alone first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

JUST REVEALED 👀 Tiana and friends Audio-#Animatronics coming to #TianasBayouAdventure 💚✨View the full article

Are you hopping on a plane and heading to Disney World or some other exciting destination soon? Southwest Plane As we all know, flying comes with some challenges like how many carry-on bags and personal items can you bring? Are snacks included? What is the cancellation policy? And if you’re flying Southwest soon, we thought we’d let you know about some things you’re going to need to bring with you! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. To be fair, flying with any airline is a challenge with all their particular rules and stipulations, but we’re talking about Southwest right now. In case you didn’t know, in order to keep prices low, there are some things that you have to do without, or in this case, there are some things you’re going to want to pack with you. Southwest Airlines at the Orlando Airport Let’s dive right in! A Portable Charger/Charging Cords Since Southwest doesn’t have outlets on most of their planes, it’ll be up to you to keep your devices charged while you fly, and you can do that with a portable charger like a FuelRod. ©Amazon Also, if you’re heading to Disney World, the FuelRod will really come in handy — you can swap your dead one for a free fully charged one at their FuelRod Stations around the resort. And on Amazon, you can get a pack of two for about what it will cost you to get one at the parks. On top of that, a lot of airports have spots where you can exchange your dead FuelRod for a fully charged one! Add them to your cart! Headphones Some airlines have TVs on the back of their seats or other screens that come down for people to enjoy. These airlines typically pass out headphones to those onboard. That likely won’t be the case on your standard Southwest airlines. So, we’d recommend checking out a pair of Soundcore Anker Life Q20 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones to keep you properly entertained the whole flight. ©Amazon These Bluetooth headphones will connect to any of your devices and provide you with up to 40 hours of playtime in wireless active noise cancellation mode, which is more than enough for any flight! Grab them here! Hand Sanitizing Travel Wipes You’re also going to want to make sure you fight all the germs on every surface while you’re traveling, and there’s no better way to do that than by bringing some Individually Packed Premium Hand Sanitizing Wipes for Travel with you. ©Amazon They’re individually sealed which is great for throwing a couple in your carry-on! Grab them here! A Travel Pillow/Blanket You know those airline seats aren’t exactly the most comfortable, so make sure you pack a Travel Blanket Pillow for the flight. ©Amazon It even comes with its own carrying bag, so you don’t have to worry about the pillow getting dirty around the airport before you rest your head on it. Grab it here! A Sleep Mask While we’re talking about resting on the plane, you might as well pack a Sleep Mask to help block out all the light. ©Amazon And we’re not talking about just any sleep mask. This weighted sleep mask will have you sleeping faster and deeper so you’re rested and ready to go when you land. Grab it here! Ear Plugs You’ve got your travel pillow behind your head and your weighted eye mask on. What’s missing? Well, if you’re not going to use your headphones, then a pair of Ear Plugs of course. ©Amazon They’re flexible and comfortable for wearing while sleeping and they cut out about 14 db of sound, so you’ll sleep well with them in. Grab them here! Travel Bottles for Toiletries Lastly, if you’re planning on packing any toiletries, go ahead and do yourself a favor. Grab some Travel Bottles for Toiletries. They’ll make your life so much easier on the flight. ©Amazon They come in a pack of four. They have their own clear case. Also, they are TSA-approved! Grab them here! We’re always here to help you prepare for your next travel adventure, so stay tuned to DFB! Check out our Amazon Storefront for more essentials! What’s your favorite thing to pack in your personal item? Tell us in the comments! The post Flying on Southwest Airlines? Here Are 7 Items You Need Onboard first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Y’all, we are ALMOST there! Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Magic Kingdom — April 2024 Even though we didn’t get any updates about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure during the recent shareholder meeting, that doesn’t mean that we aren’t getting closer to the ride opening! We’ve been watching this ride like a hawk for any changes or construction updates — and we just found something BIG. We’ve been getting more and more sneak peeks at concept art, the critters we’ll meet throughout this adventure, and even the ride poster. We are getting SO close we feel like we can almost taste it, and what we found gives us hope that the ride opening is closer than we think. We LOVE riding past Tiana’s Bayou Adventure on the Walt Disney World Railroad. It is one of the BEST ways to get a sneak peek into what the construction has been like and to see the latest updates. Sometimes, when we ride past, we’ll get lucky and spot something new in the queue, which is exactly what happened. The main entrance sign! While we were taking a leisurely ride, we saw a NEW sign posted saying “Main Entrance”! We know that doesn’t mean the ride is opening just yet, but that is one big step towards opening. Right now, it is kind of hidden behind some scaffolding — however, it is so large that it is easy enough to make out what it says. Another angle! It looks like that is where guests will enter when they begin the indoor part of the queue that was formerly used for Splash Mountain. We haven’t spotted a “Lightning Lane” sign quite yet, so we are hoping we’ll be able to catch that one soon. Ride testing! We know there is still some work to be done, but we feel like this has brought us one step closer to the announcement of the opening date for this ride. Recently, Disney has announced some details about what guests can expect when they get to experience this ride, and has even begun ride testing! All of these clues combined really make us feel like we’re almost there. Construction at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure We’re going to be keeping our eyes peeled for any changes and updates, so keep checking back in with us at DFB to see what we find next! 18 Disney World Secrets Even Locals Don’t Know What are you most excited to see when Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opens? Let us know in the comments below! The post NEWS: The Entrance Sign Is UP at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Have you noticed how busy Disney World has been lately? Crowds It feels like wait times have consistently been long for our favorite rides and there is hardly an empty space to be found in the parks lately. That’s got us craving those slower seasons at Disney World and putting on our sleuthing hats to figure out where they’ve gone. Well, we think we’ve come across one factor that might be affecting the crowd level, so let’s talk about it! As we were saying, those days of planning your Disney World trip around the “slow seasons” to avoid those crowds and long lines might be a thing of the past. We’ve seen wait times consistently high, regardless of the time of year. So, what’s changed? Big Thunder Mountain Wait Time Disney does a lot to try to attract crowds to the park during slower seasons. The best discounts on hotel rooms and perks like free dining are offered during off-peak times. You usually won’t see them in the summer or during holiday weeks. And events — like runDisney race weekends — are timed to be on the calendar during slower periods, as well. But even considering those factors, you used to be able to “count on” crowds being lower in certain parts of the year — like late January, early May in between spring breaks and the end of the school year, and the first couple of weeks of December. Now, even those weeks are a wild card for crowd predictions. One reason for this shift could be a consequence of the pandemic. Now, wait. Hear this out. (We’re not just blaming everything on the pandemic.) According to a recent article from the New York Times, schools are experiencing a huge rise in chronic school absences from their students across the board. ©New York Times There are a whole host of reasons and factors that go into why the students are more chronically absent this past year than before the pandemic, and one of those is that families are now more likely to take their children on vacation throughout the year, outside of the traditional summer break. The crowds are here This trend could be due to factors like parents experiencing more flexibility with their remote work schedules, a desire to make up for those lost vacation time during the pandemic, or that they’ve found more affordable travel deals during non-peak seasons. Disney’s Animal Kingdom crowds In addition, during the pandemic many students attended school remotely from their homes, and schools relaxed their policies on attendance. As Psychologist Katie Rosanbalm told the Times, “Our relationship with school became optional.” CROWD alert! Whatever the exact reasoning may be, it’s translating to shrinking “slow” seasons at Disney World. As we said, those typical on-and-off seasons may be just a thing of the past. We’re at Disney World every day watching the crowd levels, and we’ll be sure to keep you updated with all the latest Disney news, so keep it right here so you don’t miss a thing! Click here for more Disney World advice 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 What are your thoughts about what’s contributing to the lack of a slow season at Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post There’s No Such Thing as a Slow Season in Disney World Anymore, and THIS Might Be WHY first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World can be MAGICAL, but there are definitely mistakes that can turn your happily ever after into a TERRIBLE trip. Lots of Windows (Today, we’re gonna make sure YOUR upcoming Disney World vacation will KEEP a hold of the magic and avoid the tragic.) Check out our video below: People Are Having TERRIBLE Disney World Vacations Are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes! And stay tuned for more Disney news! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What’s your favorite thing to do in Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Let us know in the comments! The post DFB Video: People Are Having TERRIBLE Disney World Vacations first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney’s Animal Kingdom could soon look a whole lot different than it does right now. Animal Kingdom in Disney World Have you ever heard that there was once an idea to include DRAGONS in Animal Kingdom? Don’t believe us? Look at the signs in front of the park — you may see a dragon or two! But we’re not here to talk about dragons. No, we’re here to talk about some exciting new developments that Disney has planned for a potential new park expansion! Disney is FINALLY moving forward with some interesting plans for Animal Kingdom! They’ve been teasing their new Tropical Americas-themed land as a replacement for DinoLand…and we just got a few more hints about its progress during an invite-only media event at Walt Disney Imagineering this week! The project is still in the VERY early stages of development; in fact, Disney just revealed that Imagineers are currently on research trips to Mexico to gather inspiration for the new area. ©Disney We first learned about this ambitious new project at the 2023 D23 Expo. Disney executive Josh D’Amaro revealed Disney is “building on what makes Animal Kingdom so, so special.“As we said, there’s still a lot that’s up in the air right now, but based on early concept art, we may see experiences inspired by Encanto and Indiana Jones, both of which are “being considered” for the reimagined land. Mirabel Below, you can see the concept art for the updated DinoLand area that Disney has proposed. ©Disney Based on the concept art, we’re wondering if Casa Madrigal (one of the most iconic parts of the movie Encanto) will someday arrive at Animal Kingdom. The possibilities for a Casa Madrigal attraction are LIMITLESS when there is so much happening inside La Casita. Disney even hinted at some FUN Encanto-themed ideas in a special episode of 20/20 titled “Disney100: A Century of Dreams.” It’s the same concept art! ABC viewers may have even caught Disney’s nod to Casa Madrigal — could this be a clue of what’s to come? THE Lin Manuel-Miranda even previously commented, “I want to go inside Casita, don’t you? I don’t even know what that would look like, but some genius Imagineer does!” Casita Oh, and we’ve got even more news. Disney recently filed a permit with the South Florida Water Management District, and while that may not sound super exciting, it was the LOCATION that got our attention. Why? The permit is for the DinoLand, U.S.A. area of Animal Kingdom! ©SWFMD The permit that was filed was for a trailer compound. Typically, these types of setups come to big construction areas, which has many wondering what this could mean for the future of DinoLand. The permit outlines that the new compound will also have parking and utilities for those who will be working on-site. Click here to learn more! Whew! Now that Disney has confirmed that Imagineers are doing some field research, we can’t wait to see what kind of CREATIVE ideas they may come up with! Want more updates about this possible re-theme? Check out these posts! A New Invention Might Mean a Moana-themed Boat Ride Is Coming to Disney World! Could Dinoland U.S.A. Be Re-themed to Moana or Zootopia? Disney Just Dropped a MAJOR Hint about the Animal Kingdom Encanto Expansion! A Disney Executive Dropped a Hint About the Possible Animal Kingdom CHANGES! In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more. FIRST LOOK at a Possible ‘Avatar’ EXPANSION in Disneyland 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 would YOU like to see in a NEW Animal Kingdom expansion? Let us know in the comments! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited to attend a media preview of Disney’s new and upcoming projects by Walt Disney Imagineering. 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 CONFIRMED: Disney World's Animal Kingdom Park EXPANSION Is Moving Forward! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We're pulling back the curtain on Audio-Animatronics technology at Disney Imagineering — including exciting innovations to come.View the full article

Walt Disney Imagineering is launching a new YouTube series, “We Call It Imagineering.” Get all the details here.View the full article

Did you know that once upon a time Walt Disney World was criticized and often the butt of jokes for a lack of available coffee? And what coffee they did have was terrible! Those days are long behind us where hot magic bean water is more abundant than any other drink in the Disney Parks. […] The post Disney World’s EPCOT Coffee Guide appeared first on Military Disney Tips Blog. View the full article

Many Disney fans spend a lot of time watching for new titles coming to Disney+. Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour film just had a HUGE premiere on Disney+ last month. ©Disney And on April 3rd, Disney’s latest animated film, Wish, became available for streaming! But Disney just announced a NEW series that you might love — and you’ll need to find it on a different platform. Walt Disney Imagineering just announced a new series, “We Call It Imagineering”! This series will start on April 4th on YouTube! Here’s a preview: This new series is inspired by the inside look that Walt Disney gave fans on his TV show as he took them behind the scenes during the construction of Disneyland. Imagineers test wandering droids in 2023. ©Disney Imagineering says it will bring viewers “into the creative and design journey as we turbocharge our Disney Experiences.” With projects in development including expansions at Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, as well as at Disneyland Resort and Disney’s international parks, we’re eager for a glimpse of what may be to come in these videos! You can watch “We Call It Imagineering” on the Walt Disney Imagineering YouTube Channel. And keep following Disney Food Blog for the latest Disney news! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Will you be watching this new Imagineering series? What do you hope to see in it? Tell us in the comments! The post Why Every Disney Fan Will Be Glued To Their Computer on April 4th first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Who’s hungry? Who likes free food? WE DO! Mickey waffle The Disney Dining Plan is BACK at Disney World. This prepaid meal option was unavailable for YEARS but finally returned in early 2024. Since its return, select guests have been able to take advantage of SPECIAL Dining Plan deals, and now we’ve got a NEW one to tell you about! Starting on April 9th, Disney Visa Cardmembers can get a FREE Disney Dining Plan! The deal applies to select arrival dates in July, September, and December, and you must book a non-discounted 4-night, 4-day (or longer) Disney Travel Company Package with the Park Hopper option. Berry Shortcake Make sure to check back on April 9th for full details. If you have a Disney Visa card, this could be a MAJOR perk for those looking to take advantage of a free dining deal. Wondering if the dining plan is worth it? We have a TON of handy information on the Disney Dining Plan. To learn more, you can click HERE. YUM! Currently, Disney offers two Dining Plan options when it returns — the Standard Disney Dining Plan and the Quick Service Disney Dining Plan. Disney Dining Plans are an optional add-on to a Disney World Vacation Package (which also includes your Disney World hotel room and theme park tickets.) Chef Mickey’s This means the Disney Dining Plan is exclusive to guests staying in a Disney World Resort hotel. Disney Dining Plans are pre-purchased, so all you have to do when you get to Disney World is head to a restaurant that accepts the Disney Dining Plan and tell your server! With a FREE dining deal, though, you don’t even have to pre-purchase a plan! Space 220 Make sure to stay tuned for more information on this new deal. In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more. CONFIRMED: 16 Disney World Hotels Will Offer Extended Evening Hours in 2025 DON'T DO IT ALONE! Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you -- they've literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They're DFB's recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!) So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you GET MORE INFO Have you ever used a free dining deal at Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post BREAKING: FREE Dining Plan Deal Announced for Disney Visa Cardmembers first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is a new roller coaster in EPCOT (well, it opened in 2022, so it’s new-ish ) but it quickly became a fan-favorite ride as soon as it opened. In fact, lots of people I know claim it’s their FAVORITE ride in all of Disney World. And it’s not hard to see why! Cosmic Rewind The coaster has a thrilling backward launch, a super fun storyline with hilarious characters, and some of the best music of any Disney ride. If you’re also a big fan of this ride, we just found some Loungefly bags that we think you’ll LOVE! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. All of these Loungefly bags are available on Amazon, so Prime members can get faster, free shipping! Not a Prime member? No worries — just click the link below to start your free trial. Now, let’s check out the bags! Get the Guardians of the Galaxy Loungefly Bag ©Amazon Nothing says “Guardians of the Galaxy” like a galaxy print! This bag has an all-over galaxy design, and the front pocket has a picture of the Guardians all together. Shop this bag on Amazon Get the Kawaii Guardians Loungefly Bag ©Amazon “Kawaii” means “cute” in Japanese, and this bag is covered in ADORABLE little Guardians characters! Rocket, Groot, Drax, Gamora, and Starlord are all depicted in a unique style. Shop this bag on Amazon Get the Rocket and Groot Loungefly Bag ©Amazon Two of our favorite Marvel characters are Rocket and Groot, and this bag features BOTH! Rocket is the front pocket of the bag, and the zipper pull is a little raccoon’s tail. Shop this bag on Amazon Get the Groot Loungefly Bag ©Amazon This Groot bag was too cute to not share! The bag has an allover tree bark print with Groot’s face on the front. The front pocket’s zipper pull is a little leaf. Shop this bag on Amazon Get the Guardians of the Galaxy Ravager Badge Backpack ©Amazon This bag is all about the Ravagers from Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3. Their badge is on the front of the bag, and the rest of the material has it embossed all over. Shop this bag on Amazon Get the Gamora Cosplay Loungefly Bag ©Amazon If your favorite Guardian is Gamora, this is the backpack for you! It’s designed to look like her outfit in the movie. The bag measures about 10.5″ high and has a front zipper pocket and two side pockets. Shop this bag on Amazon Get the Groot with Headphones Loungefly Wallet ©Amazon This Groot with Headphones Wallet is the perfect accessory for your next trip to EPCOT! The wallet snaps closed and has several card slots inside along with a zipper pocket for coins. Shop this bag on Amazon Stay tuned to DFB for the latest news on the best Disney merchandise! Check out some of our favorite Disney essentials on our DFB Amazon storefront!The post 7 Disney Loungefly Bags You'll LOVE if Your Favorite Ride Is Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Driving to Disney World is a viable option for many people. Welcome to Disney World If you’re a Florida resident, you probably find yourself driving to the parks more often than others aside from folks driving there from the airport. If you do indeed drive there, and you happen to own an electric vehicle, you might want to pay attention to this super cool road news! (Seriously, this is really neat.) According to the Orlando Sentinel, Florida is about to be a one-of-a-kind in the WORLD for its new road being built in south Lake and west Orange counties. This new road will be taking the technology we already use and implementing it into roads so you can actually charge your car while you drive on it! Driving to Disney World State Road 516 is planned to be built between US 27 and FL 429. If you go to Disney World from Lake County, you may find yourself near or on this new road sometime in the future. A company in Norway, Enrx, has been hired by the expressway authority to work on this first-of-its-kind road. Sergio Perez on Enrx stated, “This is the first brand new highway having the system from the beginning. It is a world premiere.” Driving to Disney World There are currently roads in Detroit, Indiana, California, Europe, and Israel with this in-road charging system being added to them, but no road, up to this point, has been built from scratch with it implemented. The road will also have solar panels along it that can generate the almost 1 megawatt of electricity that will be needed to charge cars along it. Solar Panel field at Disney World State Route 516 will only be about 5 miles to connect to the two highways. The system will charge up to 200 kilowatts. 200 kilowatts will be used to charge heavy trucks, while cars will use about 50 kilowatts. Not only will this road be able to charge your vehicle, but it will also have several environmentally friendly aspects as well. There will be a 260-foot-long underpass that is 18 feet wide and 8 feet high for wildlife to migrate to and from Green Swamp. There will also be an adjoining recreational trail and landscaping along the road will have a majority of native Florida plans. Driving in Orlando This technology on the S.R. 516 will be “the most powerful in the world,” according to Perez. This may only be five miles now, but it may just be the beginning of technological advancement along roadways. We’re eager to see it built and running! For more travel news, keep following DFB! What to Do When Your Phone Dies in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Would you like to see more roads be able to charge cars? Let us know in the comments! The post A Road That Can Charge Your Car 🤯 Is Coming to Florida! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We absolutely LOVE seeing celebrities post about being at Disney World. Cinderella Castle It’s so much fun to see what they wear to the parks, where they choose to pose, and the things they choose to do to build their perfect park day. Recently, we’ve seen celebrities from Jason Kelce, to Olivia Rodrigo, to Queen Latifah visiting the parks. Another celebrity just posted on Instagram about their time at Disney World, and it truly reminded us that celebrities are just like us. But rich. And insanely gorgeous. Yep, it’s Sydney Sweeney! The Euphoria and Anyone But You star showed off several photos she took in the parks, and we’re convinced we’d be besties. First of all, she began her park day like all of us do. With a mirror pic in our ears and Disney ‘fits. ©Sydney Sweeney We, too, pose for several selfies throughout the parks. ©Sydney Sweeney Oh, and don’t we ALL purchase cute matching Disney merch to wear with our best friends? ©Sydney Sweeney A stop at Main Street Confectionery had us convinced that we’re even more similar to Sydney. ©Sydney Sweeney Except I wish I looked this chic when enjoying a Mickey ice cream sandwich… ©Sydney Sweeney …or this adorable after getting SOAKED on Kali River Rapids. ©Sydney Sweeney Ah…stars. They’re just like us! ©Sydney Sweeney We’re always on the lookout for Disney news, even if that news is one of our favorite celebs visiting the parks. Make sure to follow along here at DFB so that you never miss a thing. Looking for more celebrity news? Click here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What do you think of Sydney Sweeney’s pics? Let us know in the comments! The post SPOTTED: A MAJOR Celebrity Just Had the BEST Time at Disney World and Her Photos PROVE IT first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Did you know about this EXCLUSIVE Disney World hotel perk? Wilderness Lodge If you’re staying at any Disney World hotel, you get Early Theme Park Entry, which means you can go inside any of the four theme parks a half hour before other guests. But if you’re staying at one of the qualifying hotels on property, you ALSO get Extended Evening Hours, so you get to stay LATE in select parks on certain days. Sixteen hotels in Disney World will offer Extended Evening Hours in 2025 — Let’s take a look! Extended Evening Hours are offered to guests staying at Deluxe Disney World Resorts, Deluxe Disney Villa Resorts, and a few other hotels on property. Disney has confirmed that this perk will continue at least through 2025. With this perk, you get to stay in the park for about two hours after it closes. However, unlike Early Theme Park Entry, Extended Evening Hours are only offered at select parks on certain days. We’ll get more into that in just a minute. Grand Floridian Resort First, here’s a complete list of all the hotels that qualify for Extended Evening Hours: Disney Deluxe Resorts Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Disney’s Beach Club Resort Disney’s BoardWalk Inn Disney’s Contemporary Resort Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Disney’s Yacht Club Resort The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort – A Disney Vacation Club Resort Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village Disney’s Beach Club Villas Disney’s BoardWalk Villas Disney’s Old Key West Resort Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows Disney’s Riviera Resort Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Other Hotels Walt Disney World Swan Hotel Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel Walt Disney World Swan Reserve Shades of Green on Walt Disney World Resort During Extended Evening Hours, not everything stays open. Most restaurants are closed (although one or two spots will remain open), and some gift shops are closed as well. Is the Extended Evening Hours Benefit worth the cost of staying at a Deluxe Resort? We talk about it HERE. Note that Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom don’t currently offer Extended Evening Hours on a regular basis. However — especially during busy seasons — each park has been known to offer a few nights of this hotel perk. Stay tuned to the blog for updates! Animal Kingdom During Extended Evening Hours! Here’s a list of the attractions that are usually OPEN during Extended Evening Hours: Magic Kingdom “it’s a small world” Astro Orbiter Big Thunder Mountain Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin Country Bear Jamboree Dumbo the Flying Elephant Haunted Mansion Mad Tea Party Mickey’s PhilharMagic Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor Peter Pan’s Flight Pirates of the Caribbean Prince Charming Regal Carrousel Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Space Mountain Swiss Family Treehouse The Barnstormer The Magic Carpets of Aladdin The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Tomorrowland Speedway Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress TRON Lightcycle / Run — Anyone going to Extended Evening Hours can request to join the virtual queue for TRON Lightcycle / Run at 6PM. Find COMPLETE DETAILS here. The carrousel at night EPCOT Beauty and The Beast Sing-Along Frozen Ever After Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros Mission: SPACE Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Soarin’ Around the World Spaceship Earth Test Track The Seas with Nemo & Friends Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind — Anyone going to Extended Evening Hours can request to join the virtual queue for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at 6PM. Find COMPLETE DETAILS here. Test Track during Extended Evening Hours at EPCOT Disney’s Hollywood Studios Alien Swirling Saucers Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith Slinky Dog Dash Star Tours – The Adventures Continue Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Toy Story Mania! The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror Tower of Terror Disney’s Animal Kingdom Avatar Flight of Passage DINOSAUR Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain It’s Tough to be a Bug! Meet Favorite Disney Pals at Adventurers Outpost Na’vi River Journey TriceraTop Spin Tree of Life As mentioned in those lists, anyone going to Extended Evening Hours gets an extra chance to join the virtual queue for TRON Lightcycle / Run or Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. In addition to the normal 7AM and 1PM virtual queue openings, there’s an exclusive 6PM virtual queue opening for people who qualify for Extended Evening Hours. Learn more about Disney World virtual queues here. Make sure your My Disney Experience app is updated and linked to your hotel reservation in order to access this exclusive virtual queue. TRON Lightcycle / Run Here’s a look at the upcoming Extended Evening Hours dates for 2024 (stay tuned to the blog for 2025 dates!): Dates and Parks for Extended Evening Hours Extended Evening Hours for April 2024 are: Monday, April 1st — EPCOT, 9PM – 11PM Wednesday, April 3rd — Magic Kingdom, 9PM – 11PM Monday, April 8th — EPCOT, 9PM – 11PM Wednesday, April 10th — Magic Kingdom, 9PM – 11PM Monday, April 15th — EPCOT, 9PM – 11PM Wednesday, April 17th — Magic Kingdom, 9PM – 11PM Monday, April 22nd — EPCOT, 9PM – 11PM Wednesday, April 24th — Magic Kingdom, 9PM – 11PM Monday, April 29th — EPCOT, 9PM – 11PM Extended Evening Hours for May 2024 (as announced so far) are: Wednesday, May 1st — Magic Kingdom, 9PM – 11PM Monday, May 6th — EPCOT, 9PM – 11PM Wednesday, May 8th — Magic Kingdom, 9PM – 11PM Monday, May 13th — EPCOT, 9PM – 11PM Wednesday, May 15th — Magic Kingdom, 10PM – 12AM Monday, May 20th — EPCOT, 9PM – 11PM Wednesday, May 22nd — Magic Kingdom, 10PM – 12AM Monday, May 27th — EPCOT, 9PM – 11PM Wednesday, May 29th — Magic Kingdom, 10PM – 12AM HELPFUL HINT: You can also find out which parks are offering Extended Evening Hours when you are logged in to My Disney Experience on the Disney World website. Extended Evening Hours at EPCOT You will need a valid theme park ticket and a Resort ID (such as a MagicBand or Key to the World card) in order to enter. Stay tuned to DFB for more updates on all the latest Disney news! Check out Extended Evening Hours at Animal Kingdom HERE! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Have you been to Extended Evening Hours before? Let us know what you thought about it in the comments! The post CONFIRMED: 16 Disney World Hotels Will Offer Extended Evening Hours in 2025 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Okay, we’ll admit it. We love Up. Yes, the movie makes us cry RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING, but it’s such a charming movie, with such wonderful characters. Dug We’ve been lucky enough to meet some of those characters in Disney World recently, and we knew new Up merchandise was on the way, so we’re VERY happy to share with you that two new Up Loungefly souvenirs are now available online! So if you love Up as much as we do, you’ll want to check it out ASAP. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. We found these new Loungefly items at The Disney Store, so head on over there to grab them NOW! Get the Carl Fredricksen Loungefly Mini Backpack Carl Loungefly Okay, how adorable is this Carl backpack? Carl is ready for adventure while he’s steering the zeppelin with his goggles on. But check out the details on this bag, too. One side features Dug… ©Disney …while the other features Russell! So both of Carl’s adventure buddies are included, too. ©Disney If you love Up, we think this Loungefly is a must! Buy from The Disney Store Buy the Up Ears Up Ears Okay, we love these leather-look ears with the flying balloon house on it and “Adventure is out there” with the grape soda bottle cap. SO perfect. One ear even has a compass. The removable bow? It’s Carl’s bowtie! Buy from The Disney Store So if you love Up, you’ll want to grab these souvenirs NOW! And stay tuned to DFB for more. Shop Our Amazon StoreThe post Disney Just Released the Perfect Loungefly for a Trip to Animal Kingdom first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Although most of the record-breaking spring break crowds have come and gone through the Orlando Airport, that doesn’t mean travelers are safe from unexpected flight cancelations and delays. In fact, we’re seeing more delays now, April 3rd, than we did during the busy month of March. Orlando International Airport So, what’s with all the delays? Well, if you’re planning to fly through Orlando Airport, you may need to keep a close eye on your flight status. Severe weather is impacting several parts of the country, including Central Florida. The Orlando International Airport’s official Twitter/X account posted an important warning for travelers. The alert reads, “Due to weather conditions, airline operations may be impacted — flight/baggage delivery delays may occur. Please check with your airline directly for any updates regarding their operations.” According to FlightAware, as of around 4PM on April 3rd, there were 519 flight delays reported at Orlando Airport. 93 flights were canceled, and the majority of the impacted flights came from Southwest Airlines and Spirit Airlines. ©FlightAware The easiest way to stay on top of your flight status is to text your flight code to yourself. We have a full tutorial HERE! Once you have your flight information on your phone, the data should automatically update based on any gate changes or boarding delays. Orlando Airport In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more. This Viral Flight Attendant Hack Totally Changed the Way We Travel Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Have you ever dealt with a weather-related flight issue? Let us know in the comments! The post NEWS: Over 500 Flights DELAYED at Orlando Airport Due to Severe Weather Conditions first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’re BACK with another hot Disney debate, and this time, it’s all about HOTELS! Art of Animation Hotel My coworker Kayleigh and I recently found out that we do Disney World VERY differently. I live for rope drop, and she absolutely detests it. She usually drives to Disney World, but I would much rather fly and then use Disney transportation. The debate we’re tackling today is whether Disney World’s value or deluxe hotels are better! Should you really pay more for Disney’s deluxe hotels? And how MUCH more do they actually cost? What kinds of perks are offered there that you DON’T get at value hotels, and is it WORTH IT? We’re gonna get into it all! Personally, I’m team value hotel. Those deluxe hotel prices are terrifying, and I think I can get just as much out of my vacation without paying for the fancy rooms! Kayleigh, however, said she can convince me otherwise AND prove along the way that there really are ways to stay at Disney’s fanciest hotels at much lower prices. We’ll see who comes out on top…. Polynesian Village Resort First, though, you need some background info. Disney World is HUGE, and on the property there are not only four theme parks and two water parks — there are also more than 20 Disney-owned hotels, along with a few “good neighbor” hotels. These are divided into three different categories: value, moderate, and deluxe. Port Orleans — French Quarter As you might have guessed, value hotels are the cheapest (and offer the fewest perks and amenities) and deluxe hotels are the most expensive (and offer some extra perks). Here’s a breakdown of the different hotels: Value Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort Disney’s All-Star Music Resort Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Disney’s Pop Century Resort Moderate Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside Deluxe Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (and the Villas at Jambo House and Kidani Village) Disney’s Beach Club Resort (and Beach Club Villas) Disney’s BoardWalk Inn (and Boardwalk Villas) Disney’s Contemporary Resort (and Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort) Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (and the Villas) Disney’s Old Key West Resort Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (and Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows) Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (and Boulder Ridge Villas and Copper Creek Villas & Cabins) Disney’s Yacht Club Resort Disney’s Riviera Resort The Cabins and Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort If you saw our post about rope drop, then you know how this works! Kayleigh and I are battling it out to find out which of us is RIGHT about Disney’s hotels. So that you know who’s who in this post, I’ll (Sara) type in maroon, and Kayleigh will type in dark blue. Let’s get into it! Price Sara: So we have to start with the most obvious difference between value and deluxe hotels, and that’s the price! Value hotels are usually significantly cheaper than deluxe ones, and that’s the biggest benefit to staying there. To give you a bit of context, here are some ballpark prices for the value hotels: All Star Resorts: Usually $180-$200 per night, getting up to around or over $300 during busy times (like the holidays) Pop Century: Usually $220-$260 per night, getting up to about $380 during busy times Art of Animation: Standard rooms are close to $250 usually, closer to $350 during busy times; Family suites get up to around $600 a night and closer to $800 during the holidays. Pop Century Kayleigh: Here are some general price points for a few of mine and my family’s favorite deluxe hotels! These are all assuming you’re traveling with two people: Saratoga Springs — can find deluxe studios for as low as $300ish, but typically fall at $500 – $800 per night Animal Kingdom Lodge — $400-$600 per night Grand Floridian — $800 – $1000 per night Swan and Dolphin — $350 – $700 depending on the time of year and deals Animal Kingdom Lodge Sara: At a fraction of the price of the deluxe hotels, value hotels are a no-brainer in my opinion! If I stay at Pop Century, I can get 2-3 nights for the price of one night at Grand Floridian. And that’s definitely something to think about either way: Do you want a longer vacation at a value hotel or a shorter vacation at a deluxe one? If you’re willing to sacrifice a few days of your trip, you can balance out the budget pretty easily. Personally, I would pick a longer trip at a value hotel because I don’t spend much time at the hotel when I’m in Disney World. I’m out early (for rope drop, of course) and try to close down the parks in the evening. Of course I need a rest mid-day, but I’ll often just hang out in Nomad Lounge, take a snooze in the Hall of Presidents, or book a table service reservation for a long break in the A/C. Art of Animation lobby I have to say, though, that those prices at Saratoga Springs have me reconsidering…. Kayleigh: The argument that you’re hardly ever at your Disney World hotel and are only there to sleep is a popular one, and it’s totally fair. However, if you read our rope drop post, then you likely already know that sleep is something that I really prioritize. That said, I’m totally willing to pay extra for a space and beds that are more comfortable. Plus, deluxe resorts have a tendency to be a bit quieter. I’m able to feel much more relaxed and get better sleep. Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort It does take a bit of extra planning, but if you keep an eye out for lower rates, it really does help. For shorter weekend trips when it’s just my husband and me traveling, I’ll typically wait til nearly the last minute to book our hotel stay. I monitor the hotel rates every single day and then POUNCE when some lower rates become available. My husband and I are Annual Passholders, and Disney sometimes drops exclusive Annual Passholder hotel discounts, so when we can score one of those, that REALLY helps make these prices a bit more manageable. This combined with monitoring the rates constantly has worked in our favor. I was able to book a Deluxe Studio at Saratoga Springs for $320 per night by doing this. I’ve paid more at moderate resorts with a Cast Member discount! It’s true! Saratoga Springs Sara: That’s a great tip to watch out for those seasonal discounts! Disney frequently drops several discount options at a time, including exclusive ones for Annual Passholders or Florida residents and general discounts that everyone can take advantage of. But it’s true that sometimes the Passholder ones are extra helpful for the budget! Kayleigh: Yes! And if we travel as a group, my in-laws hunt for deals the same way I do (I learned from the best) or they rent Disney Vacation Club points. Yes, you can totally do this! David’s Vacation Club rentals is a great option to rent DVC points and make your deluxe hotel stay even CHEAPER. It’s super reliable and trustworthy. Grand Floridian Sara: I’m trying out that tip for the first time soon, and I can’t wait! My mom and I have a trip later this year, and we’ve seen some REALLY good deals on Deluxe hotels with David’s Vacation Club rentals. Kayleigh: We also love to stay at the Disney World Swan and Dolphin (but mostly the Swan) because it’s owned by Marriott Bonvoy and you can actually use your Marriott points there if you’re a member. These hotels are located in the EPCOT resort area and will get you all the same perks as a Disney-owned deluxe hotel. My husband and father-in-law both travel a LOT for work, so they’re able to rack up even more on points by staying here — or use their already existing points to make the Disney stay cheaper. Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Resorts Another trick is to consider visiting Disney World during off-peak times. It’s supply and demand, baby! We love going in early May and late August to early September for lower rates. You can also consider split-stays — staying at a deluxe resort for half your vacation and then staying at a value resort for the other half. Just don’t go from staying deluxe to staying value. Do it the other way around. Or else you might be a little bummed, HAHA. Location Kayleigh: Another reason I love staying at deluxe hotels is LOCATION. As I’ve mentioned, I love to sleep in. So, if I can get to the parks sooner after I sleep in that’s always a plus. If we’re staying at the Swan or Dolphin, we can literally WALK to EPCOT or Hollywood Studios. If we stay at Saratoga Springs (which is my favorite) it’s far away from the parks, which makes it super quiet, but there are longer bus or car rides. However, I love being able to walk to Disney Springs because I can’t resist a good shopping spree. Plus, Saratoga Springs typically has an older demographic, which makes it even more quiet and relaxing for us. Walking path from Saratoga Springs to Disney Springs Sara: Yeah, I’m going to have to concede this one. Real estate is all about location, location, location, and it doesn’t get better than being literally walking distance to Magic Kingdom or EPCOT! You can only get that at deluxe hotels. The best value hotels in terms of location are probably Pop Century and Art of Animation because they’re a bit closer to the parks than the All Star hotels, which means shorter bus rides. Transportation Sara: OK, so I know that deluxe hotels overall have the best transportation, and I won’t steal Kayleigh’s thunder there, but can we talk about the SKYLINER for a second?? It’s the newest form of transportation at Disney World, and I LOVE IT. Skyliner OK, so it had a rocky start (with gondola crashes and multi-hour stops ) but the kinks have been worked out and I have never run into a problem while riding it. The Skyliner is a “highway in the sky” that has stops at Pop Century/Art of Animation (they share the stop), Caribbean Beach, Riviera Resort, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios. That means that if you’re staying at any of those hotels, you get easier access to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, and you DON’T have to wait for a bus. The line for the Skyliner can get long in the mornings (around rope drop time), but if you’re there early, you’ll be on in no time. And those lines usually go pretty quickly because the Skyliner (almost) never stops moving — it just slows down enough for you to board. EPCOT Disney Skyliner Station Kayleigh: Riviera is also on the Skyliner (and super close to EPCOT), and you can easily access the Skyliner from Disney’s BoardWalk, the Swan and Dolphin, Beach Club, and Yacht Club. Sara: Alright, we might have to call it a tie when it comes to the Skyliner… Kayleigh: As far as the Monorail goes, it ONLY has stops at deluxe resorts: the Grand Floridan, Contemporary, and Polynesian. I’ve never stayed at any of these, but they’re on my bucket list for sure! Monorail Sara: I agree! I’d love to stay at the Polynesian, and staying at the Bora Bora Bungalows is my DREAM. It’s true that deluxe hotels probably take the W in the category of transportation, but I have one major pet peeve when it comes to some of those hotels: internal bus loops. I despise them! Disney Buses will be a big part of your stay at Caribbean Beach Resort. Some hotels have multiple bus stops, which means you’re not just hopping on the bus and going straight to Magic Kingdom. Nope, you’ll have to stop to pick up more people at several other stops along the way, which means a LONG ride to the park. Here’s a list of hotels with internal bus loops: Port Orleans — Riverside (moderate) — three stops Saratoga Springs (deluxe) — five stops Old Key West (deluxe) — five stops Coronado Springs (moderate) — four stops Caribbean Beach (moderate) — eight stops (!!) OK, so there are only a couple of deluxe hotels on that list, but do you know what there’s NONE of? Value hotels! Disney bus Kayleigh: I also despise the internal bus loops! If I’m being completely honest, we try to avoid the bus completely by taking a car to Disney World. We live in southern Georgia, so it’s easy for us, and we understand it isn’t an option for many. BUT. If you CAN drive to Disney World, DO IT. We get free parking at the theme parks for being Annual Passholders, but you also get free parking for staying at deluxe hotels. Plus, it’s so much faster and quieter. Sara: That’s a great strategy, to just avoid the buses altogether by bringing your own car! Magic Kingdom Entrance Kayleigh: And I forgot to mention that you also have the option to take BOATS at certain resorts. For example, you can take a boat from Wilderness Lodge to Magic Kingdom. I’ve never done it personally, but folks on the team have and they LOVE IT. Sara: I love a good Disney boat ride. My favorite is probably from Port Orleans to Disney Springs (those are moderate resorts, but still . On a Boat Sorry, one more value hotel transportation plug: I don’t know who’s in charge of bus transportation at Pop Century, but I’ve always had an AWESOME experience at that hotel with buses coming on time, drivers and coordinators being efficient and helpful, and problems being solved quickly. So props and thank you to that awesome team. Amenities & Food Sara: Ah, I knew this is where I’d run into trouble in this debate. Food at the value hotels is…not awesome. Well, let me re-phrase that: Compared to the food you’ll find at some of those deluxe hotels, the options at value hotels are pretty bad. In fact, the only food options at any of the value hotels are the food courts in the lobby buildings and the pool bars. To be fair, the food in those food courts is decent! I had some great salmon dish at the Art of Animation food court (Landscape of Flavors) and I think the tie-dye cheesecake at Everything POP! at Pop Century is a must-try, but would anyone honestly choose that over ‘Ohana noodles from the Polynesian? ‘Ohana noodles are a favorite! Kayleigh: It’s true that all of the BEST hotel restaurants and even some of the best restaurants at Disney World as a WHOLE can be found at the deluxe hotels. From Citricos at the Grand Floridian, to Sanaa at Animal Kingdom Lodge, to Topolino’s Terrace at the Riviera, you’ll find all that delicious food at deluxe hotels. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve visited value hotels and gotten some pretty solid meal options. However, it just cannot compare. Sara: Yeah, you’re totally right. But I do have to throw in one quick tip for value hotel food: Do NOT trust the online menus or the mobile order menu on the My Disney Experience app. Those only list SOME of the food at the food courts — if you actually go and order in person, there are a lot more options available. But yeah. Still not ‘Ohana noodles. Tandoori Chicken Kayleigh: Another thing I like about deluxe hotels is having access to gyms and spas. While I haven’t yet utilized either of those, I totally SHOULD. And I like knowing that I have the option. Sara: Haha if you stay at a Disney World hotel that has a gym, I think you should get to count it as working out every day. Proximity, baby. One thing that all of the hotels — value, moderate, and deluxe — have in common is themed pools! The Big Blue Pool at Art of Animation is a fan-favorite (themed to Finding Nemo of course). I mean, it’s no Stormalong Bay (at Yacht/Beach Club) — that’s basically a miniature water park — but it’s big and there are lots of nods to the movie, which is fun. The Big Blue Pool at Art of Animation Most of the hotels have multiple pools so that your room will be close to at least one of them. Perks Kayleigh: It’s time to talk perks! The biggest perks of staying at a deluxe hotel are free parking at the theme parks and Extended Evening Hours. On certain nights throughout the week, deluxe resort guests can spend a few extra hours in the parks after day guests leave to experience shorter wait times. You also get an extra shot at joining virtual queues for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and TRON Lightcycle / Run. It’s FANTASTIC. Sara: I have definitely experienced mad jealousy of all the deluxe guests getting to stay late when I have to leave. Cosmic Rewind Only the fancy hotels get that evening hours perk, but EVERYONE gets Early Theme Park Entry (well, everyone staying at a Disney-owned hotel). That means you can enter any of the four parks a half hour before other visitors, and unlike Extended Evening Hours, Early Entry isn’t limited to select parks or days. It applies to every park on every day. Early Entry sign Since it’s less exclusive, there are probably going to be more people at Early Entry than there will be at Extended Evening Hours, and you get less time (a half hour compared to two hours), but it’s still something, right? Happy Middle? Sara: Some people might say we should just split the difference and stay at Moderate hotels. It’s right in the middle! The price points are also generally in between value and deluxe (though sometimes you can get a great deal at those hotels that compete with the prices at Art of Animation). The Port Orleans hotels also have boat docks so you can take a boat ride to Disney Springs, which I love. And can we talk about the beignets at French Quarter? Those alone are worth a trip. Seasonal Hot Cocoa Beignets at Port Orleans You already know how much I hate internal bus loops, though, so I’m wary of Caribbean Beach with its EIGHT internal stops (though I do like the food at Centertown Market). But Port Orleans is definitely a great option and I’ve heard awesome things about Gran Destino Tower at Coronado. Kayleigh: I’m always hesitant to stay moderate. I can often find moderate resorts at a great price that FEEL like deluxe resorts (like Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs), but then I feel robbed because I don’t have those extended evening hours anymore. Plus, I can often find rooms at deluxe resorts cheaper than moderate resorts using seasonal discounts and keeping an eye on the rates. Coronado Spings I do stay moderate if there’s just no way in heckin’-bob I’m finding a deluxe room rate at the price I want. Port Orleans is usually our go-to when we’re balling on a budget. However, I usually feel like staying moderate is a lot of money without a whole lot of perks. I’d rather slightly upgrade and pay $100 more per night in order to have Extended Evening Hours and a more upscale atmosphere, you know? So what do you say? Are you value or team deluxe? You know where we stand! Once again, it all depends on what YOU prioritize — there is no wrong answer. If you’re so tired at the end of the day that you can fall asleep anywhere, and also don’t come back to your hotel room a lot, a value resort is probably the best way to go. However, if you’re planning on splitting your time between the parks and your hotel, or if you are like Kayleigh and just LOVE your sleep, it’s fair to consider a deluxe resort. We’re at Disney World every single day, and we’re always here to bring you our BEST advice and tips based on things we’ve learned along the way. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney vacation planning tips and updates on all the latest Disney news! Click here for the ULTIMATE guide to planning a Disney World vacation. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What do you think? Do you prefer value or deluxe hotels in Disney World? Make your argument in the comments! The post Disney Adults Are FIGHTING Over This Hotel DEBATE first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

At the end of March 2024, a major part of the ongoing battle between Disney and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis came to an end. Cinderella Castle Although we are still waiting for a ruling on an appeal that Disney filed at the federal level, the state-level case reached a settlement. As a refresher, this state court case (2023-CA-011818-O: CENTRAL FLORIDA TOURISM OVERSIGHT DISTRICT vs. WALT DISNEY PARKS AND RESORTS US INC) was brought by the district against Disney. It claimed that certain agreements Disney entered into with the old board were null and void. Disney later filed a countersuit against the CFTOD board, claiming that they willfully failed to search for and produce documents pertinent to the case. A settlement was reached in March that includes the dismissal of the documents case as well. Now, we’re hearing from Disney on the matter once again, but this time at the annual shareholders meeting. On April 3rd, Disney held its annual shareholder meeting. At the end, Disney CEO Bob Iger participated in a Q&A session, where the topic of the ongoing battle with the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District was brought up. ©Disney Iger said, “The agreement with Central Florida Tourism Oversight District reached last week was a win-win in terms of our ability to pursue future building opportunities” ©Disney The ongoing battle between Disney and DeSantis’ district was believed by Disney to be an orchestrated campaign to punish Disney for its political views and that this all now threatens Disney’s business. After Disney pushed back on DeSantis’s Parental Rights in Education law (known by many as the “Don’t Say Gay” Law), DeSantis pushed for control of Disney’s special tax district and insisted that his appointed board be in control of happenings in and around Disney World property. ©Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board Livestream Now that a settlement has been reached on the state level, it’s possible that Disney and DeSantis’ district could move toward rebuilding a relationship and reach new understandings as Disney continues to expand the parks and experiences. As previously mentioned, the federal case still remains. We’re always keeping an eye out for Disney news, so we’ll be sure to keep you updated. Make sure to follow along so that you never miss a thing. Looking for more comments from April 3rd’s shareholder meeting? Click here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post “It’s a Win-Win” — Disney CEO Bob Iger Comments on Recent Settlement With DeSantis first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

April 3rd, 2024, was a BIG day for the Walt Disney Company. The Annual Shareholder Meeting took place, where shareholders voted to elect Disney’s full slate of 12 board directors (against the Trian Group’s and Blackwell’s recommendations). But the election was only one part of this major meeting — we also got some pretty big updates from Disney executives like CEO Bob Iger! ©Disney We heard more about the new Moana 2 movie that’s coming out in November, got a sneak peek at the concept art for a possible Pandora land coming to Disneyland, and even learned that ESPN has secured NCAA football playoff rights through the 2031-2042 season (talk about planning ahead). But there were some HUGE announcements we were expecting that DIDN’T happen during the meeting, which means fans are still waiting on answers to these four major questions. Disney’s shareholder meetings are frequently platforms for the company to make big announcements, whether those be about the company’s employees and Cast Members, theme parks, movies, cruise ships, or any other part of Disney. So we always look forward to these meetings in the hope that we’ll get to learn more about what’s next. The Walt Disney Company headquarters in California This year, we were hoping for more information about Disney’s theme park expansion plans as well as an update on the opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (in both Disney World and Disneyland). We didn’t get either of those announcements, and we noticed that a couple of other updates were also conspicuously MISSING. Let’s dig in. Disney World Park Expansions/Re-Themes Disney has a few upcoming projects planned for Walt Disney World, and we’ve been waiting to learn when those might actually start to come to life. Bob Iger neglected to comment on any of these plans specifically. Instead, he just said, “There’s much more coming to our parks around the world, including Florida.” One of the plans we’re MOST excited about is the “Beyond Big Thunder Mountain” expansion that Disney has announced for Magic Kingdom. At the 2022 D23 Expo, we heard about possible Coco-, Encanto-, and Disney villains-themed lands that could come to this area, and we even got to see some concept art for the new lands. Possible Land Expansion in Magic Kingdom ©Disney During the 2023 Destination D23 event, Disney executives Josh D’Amaro and Bruce Vaughn reported that the expansion plans for Magic Kingdom are the “largest ever” for the park. They said that the expansion will be on a scale similar to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (in Hollywood Studios) and Pandora – The World of Avatar (in Animal Kingdom). Potential Coco Area in Magic Kingdom Then, earlier this year, we spotted this cryptic update hidden in an announcement about the new Country Bear Jamboree show that’s coming to Frontierland in Magic Kingdom: “But hold your horses, we’re not done yet. We have a lot of growth and investment planned for our theme parks in the coming years and look forward to sharing more announcements about Frontierland … so y’all come back now, ya hear?” (We were also expecting to hear an opening date for the new Country Bear Jamboree show, but sadly that didn’t happen today either.) Villains Land Could Come to Magic Kingdom In addition to the changes at Magic Kingdom, Disney has announced that the DinoLand U.S.A. part of Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be re-themed. Their announcement suggested that we might see lands or attractions themed to Moana, Indiana Jones, Zootopia, or even Encanto. DinoLand USA Expansion The concept art for this area was shared at a Destination D23 event in 2023. The land that they shared was called The Tropical Americas. We haven’t gotten much confirmation about these lands yet, but Disney executives did say that they are planning to go all in on this expansion. Concept art for DinoLand expansion ©Disney We’re wondering if the Indiana Jones ride from Disneyland could make its way to this new land! The ride DINOSAUR uses a very similar ride design as the popular Indiana Jones ride on the West Coast, so we wouldn’t be surprised if Disney brought that ride to Disney World if they choose to go with the Indiana Jones theme. We keep getting excited about these changes, but we’re still waiting for a big, concrete announcement about WHEN Disney might actually start working on the new lands. We were hoping that it might happen during the shareholder meeting, but we were disappointed today when no mention was made of these expansions or rethemes. Click here to see a major HINT that the DinoLand re-theme could begin SOON! Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Opening Date Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is a NEW ride opening in both Disneyland and Disney World. In both parks, it has taken over the old Splash Mountain attraction. ©Disney Tiana’s Bayou Adventure concept art The ride is themed to Disney’s The Princess and the Frog movie, with a storyline that takes place “after the final kiss” in that film. Visitors will join Tiana on an adventure through the bayou and encounter friends like Louis the alligator, Mama Odie, and a band of critters. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Concept Art ©Disney We’ve been carefully following the construction progress of this attraction in both Disneyland Park and Magic Kingdom. Disney previously announced that the ride will open in Magic Kingdom THIS SUMMER (2024) and in Disneyland sometime later this year (2024). Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Well…summer is almost here, Disney! We’re still waiting for an official opening date for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and we really thought that today would be the day it was announced. While we keep waiting, we’ll be dreaming about the queue. That might sound odd, but Disney has announced that the smell of freshly made beignets is going to be pumped through the queue, and that sounds like HEAVEN. We’re just hoping that they bring back the actual beignets so that we’re not left craving the treat with nowhere nearby to actually get one! Learn more about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure here! Update on the NEW Disney Cruise Ships Disney actually didn’t talk about the Disney Cruise Line…at all. It was very odd, especially considering they recently dropped an announcement about another NEW ship, the Disney Destiny. ©Disney The Destiny will be themed to Heroes and Villains of Disney stories, and it’s a Wish-class ship. Disney announced that the theming will draw “on the legacies of beloved Disney stories, characters, and theme park attractions.” It’s been confirmed that characters from The Lion King, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, and Hercules will be featured. ©Disney The Destiny will set sail in 2025, which is SOON! So we were surprised that Disney didn’t have more announcements to share about this ship. The Disney Destiny! Another brand-new ship that’s debuting soon is the Disney Treasure. This ship is also in the Wish class, and it’ll take its maiden voyage on December 21st, 2024. ©Disney We’ve already learned quite a bit about this ship, including that it will have a Coco-themed restaurant, a Haunted Mansion lounge, and a Jungle Cruise-themed bar. Learn all about the Disney Treasure here! With so much coming up soon for the Disney Cruise Line, we were surprised that there were no new announcements made during the recent shareholder meeting. Check out our full guide to the Disney Cruise Line here. Update on Bob Iger’s Successor One of the most important tasks that Bob Iger has to complete before his tenure as the CEO of Disney is over is to help choose a successor. That means he needs to help the board select a new CEO before December 31st, 2026 (provided he doesn’t extend his contract with the company again). ©Disney Fans and experts alike have been vocal about their opinions on who the next Disney CEO should be, but we’ve heard very little about it from Bob Iger himself. Bloomberg recently reported that the Walt Disney Company is focusing its efforts on four potential candidates: Dana Walden, co-chair of Disney Entertainment; Jimmy Pitaro, former ESPN president; Disney Parks chair Josh D’Amaro; and Alan Bergman, Walden’s other co-chair at Disney Entertainment. According to the same source, no decision on a successor is expected in 2024, though Iger has apparently been spending time with all of the candidates. Josh D’Amaro, Head of Disney Parks and Resorts About the succession issue, Iger previously said, “I want to ensure Disney is strongly positioned when my successor takes the helm. The importance of the succession process cannot be overstated, and as the Board continues to evaluate a highly qualified slate of internal and external candidates, I remain intensely focused on a successful transition.” ©Disney Though we weren’t expecting an announcement about the final decision (since that decision likely won’t be made for a while), we were surprised that Disney didn’t at least mention the process of choosing a successor. This seemed like a good opportunity for the company to update shareholders about how that decision is going. Learn more about Iger’s succession issue here. I guess we’ll just have to wait until the next big event to hear more about Disney’s future plans! Disney may be saving some of its BIGGEST theme park announcements for the upcoming D23 Expo (called “D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event”), which takes place this year on August 9th through the 11th in Anaheim, California. We’ll be bringing you full coverage of that whole event and any exciting news that’s announced! Stay tuned to DFB for more updates on the latest Disney news! Click here to get a FIRST LOOK at the possible Avatar expansion in Disneyland! 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 other announcements were you hoping Disney would make today? Let us know in the comments! The post 4 Important Announcements Were MISSING from Disney's BIG News Drop first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article