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The Walt Disney Company often faces lawsuits. Let’s just say its legal department is kept very busy. ©Disney Just recently, the company has had to face lawsuits related to an upcoming sports streaming service, lawsuits by employees, lawsuits from Disney Parks visitors, and more. Disney was also sued by Disneyland Magic Key holders and agreed to settle. A judge ordered a settlement in that lawsuit, and we now have an update on that. The $9.5 million class action lawsuit claimed that Disneyland misled and deceived those who purchased the Dream Key pass by limiting capacity and restricting reservations to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, although the key promised “no blockout dates.” Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Disneyland agreed to settle, and a settlement was ordered. According to The Orange County Register, a U.S. District Court Judge involved in the case has now finalized the settlement details. The final judgment was ordered on March 4th. As a result, 103, 431 Dream Key holders will get about $67 each. Those Magic Key holders will receive a notice from a settlement administrator who will pay out the cash awards via email or regular mail. Disneyland entrance If you are a Dream Key holder, you will automatically be contacted — there is no need to submit a claim to get paid. You’ll just need to be looking for an email from the settlement administrator with instructions on how to get your money. Note that you will get an email to the address you use with your Disneyland Magic Key account. Magic Key Terrace Those who don’t have an email on file or have an email address that bounces back will receive a check by mail. A website will be set up, though, if you need to update your email or mail address. Stay tuned to DFB for more. 5 UPDATES Hiding in the NEW MAP of Disneyland’s $1.9 Billion Expansion Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe What do you think of this news? Let us know in the comments! The post CONFIRMED: Judge Finalizes Settlement in .5 Million Disney Park Pass Lawsuit first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you happen to be in Magic Kingdom and notice that a certain ride queue is causing CHAOS, I know exactly which ride is the culprit. Loooong line Let me level with y’all: As a remote writer for DFB, I only actually go to Disney World a few times a year. However, I’m “there” every day with our fantastic reporters, as they send us updates and photos from the parks. And hardly a day goes by when I don’t see pictures of this loooong ride queue causing problems in Tomorrowland. But here’s the good news: I know how you can AVOID that super long line! Have you already guessed which ride is the problem? I’ll give you some hints: It’s a Tomorrowland roller coaster with a reputation for being simultaneously an icon and also horribly uncomfortable. If you guessed Space Mountain, you’re right! I have a love/hate relationship with this ride — it’s one of the classic Magic Kingdom “mountains,” and it’s also one of the few rides that’s original to Walt Disney World, opening in Florida in 1975 a couple of years before it made its Disneyland debut in 1977 (cool, right?!). The history? Classic. The ride vehicles? Unquestionably agonizingly cramped. Still, I’ll fold myself into one of those horrible seats (and risk not being able to get out again after it’s over) every time I visit. Space Mountain Vehicle Here’s the other problem with Space Mountain: This ride’s queue has been wreaking havoc on the walking paths of Tomorrowland recently. It seems like we see this queue causing problems just about every day! It’ll stretch far beyond the ride building, blocking paths and getting in the way of people who just want to walk past to get to TRON Lightcycle / Run or Fantasyland. It blocks the paths! Even though the wait times for Space Mountain don’t usually get up as high as those for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train or even Peter Pan’s Fight, apparently the indoor queue is just not big enough to accommodate all the visitors who want to ride. It just keeps going… So the people spill out the front door, and the line winds its way through Tomorrowland, with a Cast Member stationed at the end to let everyone else know what the ride is for and about how long it’s going to take. Space Mountain Queue Unless Disney is going to rebuild the Space Mountain building to construct a longer indoor queue, I don’t have a great solution for the problems it’s currently causing in Tomorrowland. However, I DO know how you can avoid waiting in that seemingly endless line! How To Avoid This Ride’s LONG Line We keep track of the Disney World ride wait times to look for patterns and anomalies so that we can give you tips on how to get on your favorite rides faster. For Space Mountain, the pattern is very simple: The wait time is LOW in the early morning and late evening and HIGH in the afternoon. Space Mountain We noticed that the wait time tends to be about 20 to 30 minutes from 9AM to 11AM, and then it gets higher, staying anywhere from 45 minutes to 80 minutes throughout the afternoon. Right around 8PM, the time drops dramatically, sometimes getting as low as 10 or 15 minutes. Space Mountain This makes sense, as people tend to rope-drop the most popular rides (like Seven Dwarfs and Peter Pan’s Flight), but a lot of them still want to ride Space Mountain (it’s just not their first priority). So they end up at the roller coaster sometime mid-afternoon, after they’ve gone on some of their other favorite rides. Space Mountain If Space Mountain is a top priority for you, we recommend going there FIRST thing in the morning, as soon as the park opens. It is open during Early Theme Park Entry, so if you’re staying at a Disney World hotel, you can get there even earlier! Early Entry However, if you want to prioritize a couple of other rides during that valuable morning time, you should wait and go on Space Mountain later in the evening rather than in the afternoon. Try to visit around or after 8PM, either during or right after the Happily Ever After fireworks show. Space Mountain You can also purchase Genie+ to reserve a Lightning Lane for Space Mountain (and lots of other Magic Kingdom rides) if you prefer, which means you’ll get to skip the standby line. Space Mountain is part of the regular Genie+, so you can’t buy its Lightning Lane a la carte, but you can just buy Magic Kingdom Genie+ to get access to that and several other rides’ Lightning Lanes. Space Mountain Lightning Lane We’ll keep watching for more updates from Disney World, and we’ll be sure to share our best tips and tricks with you, too! Stay tuned to DFB. Click here to find out how Space Mountain in Disneyland compares to the version 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 Are you a fan of Space Mountain? Let us know in the comments. The post This Ride Queue Is Constantly Causing CHAOS in Magic Kingdom first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

As longtime Disney fans, it’s easy to feel connected to those who have played a large role in The Walt Disney Company. Cinderella Castle That said, it’s easy to feel the great loss when one of those leaders passes away. A Disney legend who played a great role in the Company’s growth has died at the age of 86. Carl Bongirno passed away on March 5th, 2024, Disney recently shared. He was a financial leader throughout Disney Parks history, and played a large role in the opening of EPCOT, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris. ©Disney He joined the Company in 1963 as a chief accountant and controller for the Disney-owned Celebrity Sports Center in Denver, Colorado. He then became a treasurer for WED Enterprises (now Walt Disney Imagineering), where he spent four years working alongside the creative and technical minds behind the magic. He then became part of the secret “Project X,” which we all know became Disney World. ©Disney In 1972, a year after Disney World’s opening, he became Vice President of Finance and Treasurer of the Disney World resort. He was then in charge of all financial matters and service activities. In 1987, he returned to the Imagineering sector of the company, and started a new role as a special adviser to the Imagineers. ©Disney Before his retirement in 1989, Bongirno played a large role in the opening of Disney World — which includes the opening of Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and the planning of MGM Studios (now Disney’s Hollywood Studios) in 1989. ©Disney Disney shared a quote that Bongirno shared in 1987: “EPCOT and all of Disney’s attractions will always be in a ‘state of becoming’… Our Imagineers will always be discovering new frontiers. It’s a process that I believe makes Imagineering the most unique design organization in the world.” ©Disney©Disney We think this perfectly reflects Walt Disney’s dream, and as Disney fans, we’re so grateful for all the effort Bongirno put into making that dream come to life. We’ll be sure to keep you updated with more Disney news. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post NEWS: Disney Legend Carl Bongirno Has Passed Away at Age 86 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The smallest plant and largest elephant have a lot in common at Walt Disney World … they both receive world-class care from Disney cast members, many of whom are women. Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment team is made up of more than 1,000 cast members, and many of those cast are women. These women are […]View the full article

The Walt Disney Company is no stranger to lawsuits. Disneyland The company is currently being sued over its partnership with Fox and Warner Bros. to create a new sports streaming service, a woman is suing the company due to alleged injuries sustained on a waterslide on Disney property, and the company has even faced a lawsuit from women who work for the company accusing it of pay disparity. This is just one of dozens of lawsuits the company is facing. Well, Disney is now facing a NEW lawsuit from Disneyland maintenance workers. According to The Hollywood Reporter, a class action lawsuit has been filed against Disney by maintenance workers for allegedly violating labor laws, as well as underpaying maintenance staff at Disneyland hotels. The lawsuit claims that Disney forced maintenance workers to pay for their own tools while also failing to pay them a required double minimum wage and proper overtime. As a result, the workers are requesting at least $1 million in back pay. Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel Assistant maintenance engineer Charlie Torres filed the proposed class action lawsuit that would represent more than 115 current and former Disneyland employees. The complaint also accuses Disney of failing to provide workers with proper rest and meal periods, as well as failing to provide accurate wage statements. Disneyland Hotel Lobby “Mr. Torres and so many others are told to cover the expense of tools used on behalf of Disney who flouts the law and refuses to pay its workers what they’re due,” said Ron Zambrano, a lawyer for the proposed class action lawsuit, in a statement. “Disney is a massive company. They know the law.” Disney has not yet responded to the lawsuit or made any statements about it, but we’ll be keeping an eye out for updates. Stay tuned to DFB for more. Elon Musk Funds ‘Star Wars’ Celebrity Gina Carano’s Lawsuit Against Disney Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What do you think of this news? Let us know in the comments! The post NEWS: Disney Hit With Lawsuit Over Alleged Labor Violations first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

New food is coming SOON! Hollywood and Vine We LOVE seeing things we enjoy slowly returning to Disney World. With the return of 1900 Park Fare coming up, we didn’t think that things could get any better — but we were wrong. A dish that we really enjoy will be coming back to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and we can’t wait! We LOVE when Disney brings back some of our favorite dining options. We have spent a TON of time eating, and thinking about food — so this was just the icing on top of the cake and gave us something small and exciting to look forward to. Hollywood & Vine Recently, Disney took to Instagram and shared some BIG news with us — Chicken and Doughnuts will be making a reappearance in Disney World, but this time in a new spot! You’ll be able to find them at Hollywood & Vine on March 16th. Along with this — Minnie will be showcasing her NEW springtime look for guests to see at Minnie’s Springtime Dine! Are you excited for this dish to return? Let us know in the comments below! The post One of Our Favorite Disney World Meals Is Coming to a Hollywood Studios Restaurant! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World can be pretty overwhelming and confusing, and it may feel hard to figure out where to begin. Magic Kingdom If you find yourself in this situation, you may turn to family and friends who have visited before/visited recently and ask them for advice. It’s a great idea to turn to them, HOWEVER…how much do you trust these people? Like, REALLY trust them? No, your Disney World trip isn’t life or death, but you are spending tons of money to have the best vacation you can, and sometimes if people lead you astray, it’s game over. If you hear any of the following tips, we advise you to RUN. You Don’t Need To Plan! The collective scream of all of us here at DFB was SO LOUD we’re surprised you didn’t hear it through the screen. As much as we WISH you could just head into the Disney parks as an non-frequent park guest with little to no plan and just do whatever you want when you want, that’s not how it works. Rise of the Resistance Certain table service restaurants require Advance Dining Reservations, you may be waiting hours in line for one ride, meaning you miss the chance to ride 3 others, and some shows and characters are only available during certain parts of the day. Not to mention that if you’ve bought Genie+ and you don’t really know how to use it (don’t stress, we can totally teach you), you’ve spent even MORE money to be on your phone all day or attempting to book Lightning Lanes after they’re already gone. Slinky Dog Dash The truth is, you DO need to plan out your trip, even if it’s just a little bit. BUT, you need to make a plan that works best for your group — one size doesn’t fit all here! Have each of your group members make a list of the top 3-5 things they want to do in each park/each day. By focusing on those, and researching what you need to do ahead of time to make it happen, everyone will be happy and content they got to do what they wanted. Rope Drop Every Day While this one may sound like a great tip, since you’re trying to make the most of your park ticket, rope dropping every single day of your trip is simply not sustainable. Hollywood Studios entrance crowds at rope drop The Disney World parks open as early as 7AM-9AM most days, and if you’re there for rope drop, you need to be there at least half an hour before that, AND depending on where you’re staying, you may need to get up an HOUR BEFORE THAT to get ready and get to the parks. If you’re staying in Disney for more than a few days, following this schedule will rip you to shreds. Rope dropping lines at Magic Kingdom. Take it from our team, who has DONE it and can vouch that it will be exhausting, and you’ll end up being grumpy in the parks, which may not seem possible, but very much is. Instead, sleep in some days so you can stay in the parks later! Maybe you could even snag a late night reservation on the BoardWalk or in Disney Springs to keep the fun going, without feeling like you’ve run a marathon 4 days in a row. Remember, no matter how excited you are, your body needs rest. Only Eat in The Parks We’re Disney FOOD Blog, PLEASE believe us when we say that only eating in the parks means you’re missing out on fantastic dining all around the resort! Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant While eating in the parks may seem easier, since you don’t have to hop on Disney transportation to head out of the park, just to come back in an hour or so later, it’s totally worth it for some of the incredible restaurants you’ll find at Disney hotels. And yes, you can dine at a hotel restaurant even if you’re not staying there! Bread service at Sanaa In fact, if you’re driving into Disney World each day with your own car, it may even be a better idea to stop somewhere along the way and grab breakfast. One, it’s cheaper (MUCH cheaper most of the time), and two, it can save time if your family is able to (safely) eat in the car while you drive. That way, you can arrive and start hitting attractions right away! Staying On Property is The Only Way To Go It’s true that staying at a Disney World hotel truly is magical. You’re immersed in the magic completely, never having to leave the Disney bubble during your stay, but saying that staying at a Disney World hotel is the ONLY way to go when staying at the resort is simply not true. Wilderness Lodge Have ya’ll SEEN the prices of Disney World hotel rooms? ON TOP OF park tickets? Yeah, that’s just not feasible for many families. If you’re included in that group, don’t stress! You can still have a very magical Disney vacation by staying at one of Disney’s Good Neighbor hotels for a much cheaper price, and you still get some of the same perks as staying on property! Delta Hotels Or, you can check Airbnb or Vrbo in the surrounding area to see if there are any spots at low prices near the parks (there usually are). This is especially true for smaller groups or solo travelers. One of our writers (who may or not be writing this post, hi, hello) decided to stay in a room at a highly rated Airbnb about 20 minutes away from the park for only around $80 a night and had the BEST experience. I woke up one morning to find the Airbnb hosts making breakfast for themselves and all the house guests, got to talk with other guests about their park plans, and I have stayed there many times since. Bottom line — there are many options out there! You HAVE To Stay Park Open To Park Close We get it — you’ve been told you need to stay from park open to park close every night to make sure you soak up every moment of Disney magic, and get all your money’s worth. Heavy crowds trying to get in! There’s only one problem with that — Disney World is HOT, you walk THOUSANDS of steps per day, and you’ll be exhausted by the end of day 2 (once again, another personal experience many of our team members have faced). Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom The most important thing is having fun on your ENTIRE Disney World vacation, and to do that, you need to pace yourself. If you really want to be in the parks for rope drop and for park close, it’s of utmost importance to take multiple breaks throughout the day, even if that means heading back to your hotel room for a mid-day nap (the most ELITE type of nap). Maybe you plan to do a bunch of shows in the middle of the day to sit in the AC and give your feet a rest (or if you’re like me, you just watch One Man’s Dream 3 times in a row). You need to listen to your body and give it a rest so it can keep going for the rest of your trip! Luminous in EPCOT Now, all of these tips, just like the ones with your friends, are just an indication of what works for us. They may not work for you, and that’s OK! As we said at the beginning, what works for your group is going to be different from everyone else, because no trip is the same. Listen to all the tips you hear, take what works, and leave what doesn’t. This way, you’ve taken in the knowledge that’s been shared with you, but are ultimately planning the best trip for you. EPCOT We’re always here to bring you all the latest Disney World news and tips, so stay tuned to DFB! Here are 50 NEW Disney World tips 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’s the WORST Disney World tip you’ve ever heard? Tell us in the comments! The post 5 Disney World Tips We Would Only Give To Our WORST Enemy first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Are we dreaming? Did Christmas come super early? Is it our birthday? Loungefly bags Not one, not two, not even eight, but NINE new Disney Loungefly bags just dropped on Amazon! We’re about to blow our Disney souvenir budget right this second because lots of these new bags are SO FUN! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. All of these bags are on Amazon, and some are eligible for Amazon Prime! That means you could get faster, free shipping. Not a Prime member? No worries — just click the link below to sign up for your free trial! Now, let’s check out these new Loungefly bags! Get the Disney Princess Portraits Backpack ©Amazon This Lougefly bag will quickly become a staple in your collection. The classy black and white color scheme is complemented with beautiful floral designs and silhouette portraits of Disney princesses! The best part? This bag will match just about ANY outfit. View this bag on Amazon Get the Mickey Mouse Adventure Backpack ©Amazon Adventure is out there! OK, so maybe this bag isn’t themed to Up, but Mickey definitely looks ready for an adventure. This bag would be perfect for fans of Magic Kingdom’s Adventureland, and it’s also got major Fort Wilderness vibes. And look at that front pocket zipper pull — it’s a Mickey-shaped compass charm! View this bag on Amazon Get the Little Mermaid Backpack ©Amazon If your favorite Disney princess is Ariel from The Little Mermaid, this bag was MADE for you. Ariel is peeking out from behind a scale-patterned front pocket, and she has a beautiful flower in her hair. Our favorite part, though, has to be that fork *ahem* dinglehopper zipper pull! View this bag on Amazon Get the Stitch Springtime Daisy Backpack ©Amazon Disney has to stop with these adorable Stitch bags. Our hearts just can’t take it. Look at the little daisies! And the chubby lil frog! And the BUTTERFLY! This charming faux leather backpack is going in our online carts for sure. View this bag on Amazon Get the Mickey Mouse Marching Band Backpack ©Amazon This colorful backpack features Mickey and the entire gang playing instruments as they march down the street! It looks like they’re starring in their own personal parade, and we’re here for it. View this bag on Amazon Get the Red and Silver Minnie Mouse Backpack ©Amazon Is it just us, or is this bag giving Marvel vibes? The Minnie Mouse red and silver backpack has a debossed pattern of Minnie’s silhouette, a bright silver front pocket, and a sparkly bow and ears. The bag also has two side pockets. View this bag on Amazon Get the Holographic Purple Mickey Backpack ©Amazon The ’80s called, and they want this holographic purple Mickey Loungefly bag back. But we’re not giving it back because we’re in LOVE. The bag has a bright purple exterior that’s actually a holographic material, which means it reflects rainbows! View this bag on Amazon Get the Cinderella Mini Backpack ©Amazon This bag is a CLASSIC. It features the iconic scene from Cinderella when the Fairy Godmother transforms the princess’s pumpkin into a carriage! There are pretty floral and pumpkin patterns on the front, and the front pocket’s zipper pull is a little glass slipper charm. View this bag on Amazon Get the Winnie the Pooh Pencil Case ©Amazon This adorable Winnie the Pooh pencil case was too cute to leave out. It has Pooh bear on the front, enjoying some honey (even though he’s surrounded by Heffalump-bees), and that front zipper pocket looks like a jar of honey! View this bag on Amazon Stay tuned to DFB for more updates on the newest Disney merchandise! Check out our favorite Disney essentials on Amazon here!The post ALERT! 9 NEW Disney Loungefly Bags Are on Amazon Now! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’re anything like us, you love checking out the latest and greatest theme park merchandise — especially Loungefly bags. Loungefly Bag But, you know what’s even better than buying the latest Loungefly that caught your eye? Not having to buy it because you got it for FREE! And, right now, you can do just that because BoxLunch is having a HUGE giveaway! BoxLunch is having a giveaway to celebrate Universal Orlando’s new DreamWorks land with a bunch of products — including Loungefly! The giveaway includes a DreamWorks crewneck, a Shrek bomber jacket, a How To Train Your Dragon backpack, a Kung Fu Panda ringer tee, and a $50 BoxLunch gift card. ©BoxLunch To enter, head over to the post on BoxLunch’s Instagram page and follow these instructions: 1.) Follow @BoxLunchGifts 2.) Like, save, and share the post to your story 3.) Tag one (1) friend and comment the word “animation” in the comments below the post Or, you can reply to one of BoxLunch’s DreamWorks Sweepstakes Instagram stories with the keyword “animation” and follow the prompts they send in your DMs! ©Universal Good luck! Stay tuned to DFB as we bring you the latest news about theme park merchandise and more! NEW Loungefly Bags Were Just Released on Amazon — See Them 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 Are you a Loungefly fan? Tell us in the comments. The post You Can Score a FREE Loungefly Bag and More -- Here's How first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We usually recommend what you SHOULD bring to Disney World, but for this one, we’re going to mix it up a bit… Cinderella Castle When you’re packing for a big Disney World trip, there are a ton of things you should bring from home with you on your travels. With that said, that packing list should also include items that should be left either at home or in your hotel room before venturing into the Disney parks. We talked to the travel experts here at DFB and came up with SEVEN items you should keep out of your Disney Park bags — and what you could replace them with! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. We came up with seven items that will cause you problems at the Disney Parks, either due to lack of convenience, security hassles, or both. We then found some suitable replacements on Amazon. Let’s take a look! Glasses Cases Glasses cases often trip the security sensors in Disney World, so if you don’t want to deal with that hassle, we suggest leaving them in your luggage at your hotel. ©Amazon We recommend picking up something like this 8-Piece Eyeglass Chain Set to keep your glasses secure around on a lanyard instead of in a case! Buy on Amazon Plastic Straws Disney World prohibits plastic straws — even reusable ones — at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the water parks, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. In many Disney World restaurants you get paper straws, and well, we’re just not fans of them! ©Amazon This Sunseeke Silicone Straw Set comes with 12 straws, four carry pouches, and two cleaning brushes to make it a great substitute! View on Amazon Umbrellas While umbrellas are allowed at Disney World, they can result in a bag search at security and can be a pain to carry around. ©Amazon We recommend something like this 2-Pack Cosowe Reusable Adult Rain Ponchos instead, which are also great to wear when riding water rides any time of the year! Buy on Amazon Bulky Battery Packs While carrying a battery for your phone is a good idea, the bigger ones can be inconvenient or be rendered useless once they lose their charge. ©Amazon FuelRod Batteries get the job done and can be swapped at kiosks in Disney World when you need a battery with a full charge. View on Amazon Stainless Steel Utensils We get that you may want to use your own utensils, but certain types will set off security. ©Amazon This Reusable Travel Utensils Set comes with four sets of wheat straw knives, forks, and spoons, is eco-friendly, and is a solid choice to bring into the parks. Buy on Amazon Loose Pins Pin trading is a wonderful tradition, but carrying the pins in a tin container or something similar will set the security sensors off and identify the pins as one large object. ©Amazon Try something like this Ita Bag with a Pin Insert to not only get through security easier but to display your pins proudly, as well! This particular backpack also comes in many different colors! View on Amazon Floss This may be a weird one, but floss has set off security in our personal experience! ©Amazon Look, we eat a lot at the Disney Parks and if you do too you may want to have floss to keep your pearly whites nice and cozy after a meal. This AOCEAN Dental Floss Pick Set is great for travel and could save the day after a hearty steak dinner. Buy on Amazon Stay tuned here at DFB for all kinds of Disney World tips and tricks! Looking for some great Disney essentials before your next trip? Check out our Amazon storefront!The post 7 Things to Keep Out of Your Disney World Park Bag, According to Travel Experts first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney has started to dive deeper into the realm of gaming. ©Disney The company recently announced a new partnership with the creators of Fortnite to develop a new gaming universe. They also came out with their own strategy trading card game in August 2023. Lorcana, a game with similarities to Magic the Gathering and Pokémon, has become increasingly popular amongst Disney fans. It’s so popular that each of its first three sets sold out quickly, and some are now invitation-only on Amazon! So we thought it was about time to check this game out. I played Disney’s Lorcana — here are my thoughts. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. What is Lorcana? Since August 2023, Disney and Ravensburger have released three collections of this trading card game — The First Chapter, Rise of the Floodborn, and a Disney100 collection. Now, a new set has been released, Into the Inklands! The game combines the thrill of strategy with the whimsy of Disney storytelling. Into the Inklands ©Disney The story goes that you are “Illumineers” who have landed in a new realm, Lorcana. You must go on quests to search and find the “lore” that was spread out during Rise of the Floodborn when a flood of mixed ink was accidentally unleashed. Your goal of the game is to collect 20 lore (points) before the other players. You quest to gain lore and challenge your opponents to slow them down. ©Disney Put simply, the game is a race to get 20 points by using the actions that are on each card. You can challenge your opponent and eliminate (banish) their cards that are in play to limit their opportunities to gain points. It’s a game of strategy with a bit of luck of the draw (pun not intended). Into the Inklands Now, an all-new chapter of Lorcana begins — Into the Inklands! This new set brings new adventures and strategies to the mix. You can play with just these new cards or mix any of the cards of the past sets to enhance your collection. ©Disney Into the Inklands brings a new type of card to the game — locations. Locations add new strategies such as bonuses when characters visit or advantages just from being in play. We’ll discuss locations more later on in the review. Agrabah location You can get all-new cards with characters such as Scrooge McDuck, Moana, Pongo, Perdita, the 101 Dalmatians, Kit Cloudkicker from TaleSpin, and many more! Two new starter decks are now available. New Starter Decks The Ruby & Sapphire ink starter deck comes with foil Moana and Scrooge cards. ©Disney This deck is a great option if you like “using speedy characters and having plenty of resources.” There are no songs in this deck. Get the Ruby & Sapphire Deck Or you can purchase the Amber & Emerald ink starter deck which has Pongo and Peter Pan foil cards. If you like “drawing cards and using trickery to reach victory” then this deck is for you. ©Disney The starter decks above have everything you need to play the game: 60 cards, damage counters, a paper play mat (you don’t NEED it, but it’s useful), and a lore tracker. Get the Amber & Emerald Deck Deck Game Play To play the game, you need your own deck of 60 cards. You can use one of the starter decks or mix-and-match cards from any of the different chapters. If you’re going for strategy, you can design a stacked deck of masterful items, characters, locations, actions, and songs. You do not need The First Chapter or Rise of the Floodborn to play the game; the new Into the Inkland cards can work independently. You can also get booster packs that gives you an additional 12 cards to help you customize your deck! ©Disney Each booster pack comes with one foil card of random rarity, 2 rare (or higher rarity) cards, three uncommon cards, and six common cards. Get a Booster Pack 10 Steps for Playing Lorcana Setting Up Determine the first player by flipping a coin, rolling a die, or so on. Shuffle your deck. You can only have 60 cards in your deck. Set your lore tracker to 0. Draw 7 cards for your starting hand. You can look at the cards in your hand, but not anyone else’s hand! Alter your starting hand if you choose. Beginning Phase of a Turn Ready — Ready your exerted cards by turning them upright. (Exerted cards were used the previous turn which means they end up sideways.) Set — Check for effects that happen at the start of your turn and follow their instructions. Draw — Draw a card from the top of your deck. The first player skips this step on their first turn. Main Phase of a Turn Once per turn, you can put a card facedown into your inkwell at any time. (Your inkwell is basically like your bank and ink is the currency.) You can take any actions listed below, any number of times, in any order you want. This allows you to take full advantage of what your cards do in combination with other effects. Play a card. You must pay a certain amount of ink for your character to be played, but you have to wait for the “ink to dry” (your next turn) before you can use their abilities (unless the card specifies differently.) Use a character ability that doesn’t require them to exert. (Exert means turn sideways and be in position to be attacked by opponents.) Use an item ability. Use a location ability. Quest Challenge an opponent’s location or exerted character. Use an ability that requires them to exert. There are detailed instructions for these steps in the quick start rules book that you get with a starter deck. Game Play Review I got one of each new starter deck and played with my husband to see just what this game is about. My husband is an avid Magic the Gathering player, and he said this game has a lot in common with Magic. I love Disney (obviously), and I really enjoyed getting to use each of the different characters in an in-depth strategy game. It’s cool how the players have different abilities and some can “level up”, creating epic Disney characters. Plus, the cards feature beautiful Disney artwork! Moana foil card Lorcana can be played with two or more people. We’ve heard from other players that it’s more fun with a group. If you play with a group, be sure to pay close attention to your opponent’s cards! The game requires a fairly large space to be able to play since you end up laying down a lot of cards in your inkwell and those in play. A clear table is a good place to play Lorcana. Once you get going, the different strategies you can use become apparent. It took me about two games to get a strong understanding of how to use my cards for a good strategy. We noticed that there are A LOT of different ways you can play this game. The items, actions, and songs bring in additional curve balls to your strategy. They can help you quest for lore faster or be a better attacker against your opponent’s characters. However, not every deck has each of these types of cards. It is dependent on the strategy that the deck is intended for. Our game mid-play The length of the game varies, depending on how many people are playing and how good your strategies are. As mentioned above, Into the Inklands adds the all-new location cards. Disney shared that some of these location cards “give bonuses when characters visit them, while others provide benefits just by being in play.” Our perception of the location cards is that they aren’t really necessary, and they didn’t seem to add much of a benefit. They did seem to provide a distraction to the opponent, and they can certainly help you gain lore. Essentially, location cards are fine, but they’re definitely not needed, in my opinion. Motunui location card Overall, this is a really fun game! It’s a well-rounded and thought-out card game. I’m already thinking about how I can fill my deck with better cards so I can finally beat my husband. If you’re looking for a fun, new, family-friendly game, I would recommend giving this a try. It is for people 8 years old and up, so regardless of whether you want to play at home with your kids or with a group of adults, this game will give you lots of entertainment that is never the same twice. If you’re looking for a good gift, this game would be great! They also have a gift set available. ©Disney A gift set includes foil cards of Tinker Bell and Stitch, thirty-two damage counters, four booster packs of 12 game cards, and two tracker tokens with Stitch and Tinker Bell art. It would be a great gift for someone who already enjoys Lorcana! Get the Gift Set As Lorcana becomes more and more popular, we hope this helps you decide if it’s a game you want to start playing. When we’re not here creating helpful Disney content, you can probably catch us playing Lorcana! For more Disney news, keep following DFB! An Ultimate Disney Gaming Universe Is Coming! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Have you played Lorcana? Let us know in the comments! The post FULL REVIEW of Disney's NEW Lorcana: Into the Inklands Card Game, Online Now! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We sat down with Disney Lorcana Trading Card Game designer to get the scoop on what it takes to design some of the most popular trading card games!View the full article

Booking flights is one of the most dreaded aspects of traveling — aside from actually flying. If you’re traveling to Orlando soon, listen up! It’s expensive, it’s hard to know whether you booked the right time to fly and got the best possible seats, and that’s before you even have to step foot in the airport. A lot of folks rely on airlines like Spirit for budget-friendly fares and ease with booking. However, for those who rely on Spirit Airlines to get to Disney World, there will now be one less route. Spirit Airlines has recently been removing domestic routes after a failed merger with JetBlue. Now, a popular route to the Orlando International Airport (MCO) has been removed due to the blocked merger. Spirit Airlines at Orlando Airport According to the Orlando Business Journal, the route from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) to MCO has been suspended, following the removal of several domestic Spirit flights as well as the shrinking of Spirit’s presence at RDU in recent months. ©Spirit Airlines According to RDU, Spirit discontinued the Orlando service this past weekend, after having now flown since November. The route was scheduled to resume in April, likely ahead of the popular vacation season. Last April, the route ran 53 times, but had dwindled to 14 times by November. It’s likely that the airline simply didn’t have enough of a clientele in the area to support business, especially after the failed $3.8 billion merger with JetBlue. ©Spirit Airlines Spirit Airlines CEO Ted Christie said, “We have been making network adjustments and cost decisions to recover our margin production… refocusing our network on areas of obvious strength like Fort Lauderdale and directing more discretionary airplanes to markets with better supply/demand characteristics.” Spirit Airlines If you typically fly Spirit Airlines out of RDU to Orlando, you can consider another budget airline like Southwest. There are plenty of other routes still available. We’re always on the lookout for more Disney and travel news, so make sure to follow along so that you’re always in the loop. Looking for more flight tips and tricks? 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 Do you typically travel with Spirit Airlines? Let us know in the comments! The post NEWS: Budget Airline REMOVES Route to Orlando Airport first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Planning a trip to Disney World can be daunting. There’s so much to think about: where to stay, how many days you want to stay, what kind of park ticket to get, where to eat, and more. Super Target We do our best to help you out with all of that, but we also want to help you with your packing. More importantly, we want to help you pick out the perfect luggage. Well, that perfect piece of Disney luggage just arrived at Target. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Yep, we found what could be the best piece of Disney luggage we’ve seen on Target’s website. You’re welcome. Get the Mickey Ears 22” Brown Rolling Luggage ©Disney This luggage is in a natural brown color and covered in little Mickey ears with a big Mickey ears icon on the front. It also has roller wheels, so you can navigate through airports and other spaces with ease. The trolley handle also retracts for convenience. Inside, you’ll find valet straps and a zippered packing curtain. EVERYTHING you need, right? Buy at Target Be sure to check it out at Target ASAP. We’ll let you know if we find any other great Disney merchandise, so stay tuned to DFB for more. Shop Our Amazon Store!The post Your NEW Disney Luggage Just Arrived at Target first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Have you ever driven to Disney World? Magic Kingdom Entrance Sure, flying might be easier, depending on where you live, but sometimes driving is just more convenient (and cheaper). Plus, a Disney road trip can be fun! However, if you’ve ever spent time driving in the Orlando area, you know that it’s sometimes NOT so much fun and can be a hassle. A new massive road construction project could potentially change that. According to The Orlando Sentinel, a massive new road construction project was revealed by Florida’s transportation department. The project is meant to ease the congestion along Interstate 4. The project will cover a total of 14 miles, starting at State Road 536 near Disney Springs and ending at U.S. Highway 27 in Polk County. It’s a HUGE undertaking, though, so it will take about a decade to complete. Disney World That stretch of I-4 currently carries 200,000 vehicles daily, with that number expected to go up to 250,000 by 2050. This 14-mile project between Disney World and U.S. 27 will also act as an extension of a current road construction project on I-4 that extends from S.R. 536 at Disney World to Kirkman Road. Driving to Disney World So why is this needed? Well, if you’ve driven that span of roadway, it’s probably no surprise that 12 miles of that segment ranks as the most congested corridor in Florida, as well as the 10th most congested corridor in the entire U.S. It’s not pretty. The traffic here is often an annoying combination of stop-and-go. As expected, a lot of that traffic comes from tourism. Driving to Disney World Of course, this means that you might encounter significant road construction if you drive to Disney World soon. A spokesperson for the Florida Department of Transportation has said that the agency expects “significant challenges” with traffic along that stretch while construction is happening. However, bids will be looked at for maintaining smooth traffic during construction. Magic Kingdom Work on the road project will begin later this year with designing and clearing the site. So if you’re headed to Disney World in late 2024, expect to encounter some road construction on your way. We’ll be keeping an eye out for more news that could impact your next trip to Disney World, so stay tuned to DFB for more. Here’s What It’s Really Like To Stay at a Disney Hotel That’s Under Construction. (Spoiler: It Was Awful) Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What do you think of this road project? Let us know in the comments! The post The Roads Around Disney World Are About To CHANGE...for the Better (We Hope) first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Gen Z has taken this Disney character meet-and-greet trend to a WHOLE NEW LEVEL and honestly, why didn’t WE think of this?! Mickey and Minnie Asking Disney characters for their autographs is an iconic, longstanding tradition in Disney World. An autograph book filled with your favorite pals’ signatures makes a great keepsake! But how often will you actually pull out that book to look at those signatures? Probably never, if we’re honest. That’s why people sometimes ask characters to sign other stuff, like hats, t-shirts, or other souvenirs. Now, there’s a NEW souvenir autograph trend going around, and we LOVE IT! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. A few weeks ago, we were having dinner at Storybook Dining at Artist’s Point in Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (which is a seriously underrated and delicious character meal in Disney World), and that’s when we FIRST spotted this new character meet-and-greet trend. Snow White Snow White, Grumpy, and Dopey walk around the restaurant, but the Evil Queen stays stationary at her meet-and-greet spot (probably so she doesn’t accidentally scare any little kids by sneaking up on them), so you can go up and meet her if you want. Some girls went up to meet the Evil Queen, and they brought their Stanley water bottles with them for her to sign! We noticed that the bottles were covered in signatures of other Disney characters, too, and that might be the best idea we’ve seen in a while. Evil Queen at Artist Point’s Storybook Dining By having Disney characters sign your water bottle, you’re creating a keepsake that you’ll actually use every day back home! While you’re staying hydrated, you’ll be reminded of your fun Disney vacation and all the characters you met in the parks. One of our editors here at DFB tried it out with a Corkcicle bottle, and the results are gorgeous. Autographed water bottle Since that experience, we’ve spotted this trend just about EVERYWHERE in Disney World. It’s spreading fast, and we can totally see why. So cute! One thing you’ll want to be careful of with this trend: Make sure you get a water bottle that can be drawn on! You don’t want all those signatures to just wipe right off. So far, we’ve seen lots of people use Stanely cups — so we’re assuming those hold signatures pretty well — and we’ve tried it ourselves with a Corkcicle, so we know those are OK, too. Corkcicles in Disney Springs If you choose to buy a dark-colored water bottle, you’ll probably want to bring along a silver or white Sharpie for the characters to use so that their signatures show up. It might also be fun to get a white water bottle and bring several different colored Sharpies for all the autographs! If you want to try this out on your next trip, here are a couple of suggestions for bottles you can use: Get the Viral Stanley Quencher Bottle Here! ©Amazon Yep, this is that viral Stanley water bottle that you’ve seen all over your TikTok feed. It’s a great option for collecting character autographs because it’s durable (so it’ll last a long time) and big (so you can fit a lot of autographs on there). We’d recommend NOT picking one of the gloss designs — we’re not sure that Sharpie will stick as well to that material. There are a ton of different colors to choose from, just steer clear of the ones that say “Gloss” in the color name! Grab the Stanley Quencher here! Click here to grab a Corkcicle Canteen Water Bottle. ©Amazon These Corkcicle Canteen bottles are a great option, too! They’re not quite as big as the Stanley ones, but they’re also a bit cheaper, so if you’re not going to collect tons of autographs, this might be the way to go. Get the Corkcicle here! We love learning new tips and getting ideas from all the super creative Disney fans out there. Make sure to stay tuned to DFB so you always know about the new trends in the parks! Did you hear about this character meet-and-greet CHANGE in Disney World? Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What’s your favorite way to collect character autographs in Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post Is a NEW Character Meet-and-Greet Trend Taking Over the Disney World Parks? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

You know we get EXCITED for new food in Disney World! So, when we found out there was a new treat in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, we needed to give it a try! Animal Kingdom This treat is a beauty and spoiler alert: it tastes AMAZING! The Everest Cupcake arrived at Animal Kingdom recently and we were so excited to try it out! You can grab this treat at Pizzafari OR Restaurantosaurus! Both restaurants offer Mobile Order, so you can also order it through the app. The cupcake costs $6.29. Pizzafari The cupcake is a matcha cake with a milk chocolate mousse filling, chocolate buttercream, crispy pearls, and a white chocolate Yeti image! The combination of matcha and chocolate sounds intriguing! So many yummy things in one cupcake! First off, this cupcake is SO PRETTY! The swirled buttercream with matcha crumbles on the side, and the Yeti image and chocolate track make for a very picture-worthy treat! SO PRETTY!! The white chocolate Yeti image is such a great addition to the cupcake! It just adds that extra flair that we are so used to at Disney World. Plus, the use of so many textures for the cupcake decorations is super fun and creative. You get your very own little Yeti image! Of course, looks are only a small portion of the equation. The most important part? How does it taste? I am happy to report that I LOVED this cupcake! It has a wonderful matcha flavor that comes through well but is not overpowering. The combination of matcha and chocolate is fantastic. I highly recommend spreading the chocolate frosting out, so you get some matcha cake and frosting with every bite. Lots of frosting and a mousse filling! One thing that I really liked about this cupcake is that it wasn’t overly sweet. The matcha cake did a really good job of balancing out the sweetness of the chocolate frosting. The milk chocolate mousse was also tasty! It had a very custard-like consistency and added a great depth to the flavors. The crispy pearls added a great crunch. The cupcake was not overloaded with the crispy pearls, which I think was a good choice as the occasional crunch was a great surprise! If it is green it counts as a veggie, right? The Yeti image is made out of white chocolate and the track piece is made out of milk chocolate. They tasted like plain white chocolate and milk chocolate respectively. There is nothing special about them, but they are really just there for the decoration. Overall, this is a great treat to pick up at Animal Kingdom! It is a large cupcake and could easily be shared. The flavors are wonderful together and the treat is not overly sweet. Plus, it is so pretty looking! I definitely recommend picking it up on your next trip to Animal Kingdom. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney food reviews! Check out our FAVORITE restaurants in Animal Kingdom! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Have you tried the Everest Cupcake yet? Let us know in the comments! The post REVIEW: A NEW Ride-Themed Treat Just Arrived at Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

At this point, it’s hardly a secret that Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is getting some new Disney Vacation Club villas. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort These new DVC villas will be housed in a brand NEW building at the Polynesian Village Resort, and we’ve been carefully watching the construction to get an idea of what the final project will look like. However, there has been some concern that the Villas don’t look the way people expect…but we want you to hear us out. Right now, the villas are under construction, and they look pretty industrial and gray. We know that can be disappointing, especially when you consider the rest of the awesome theming at the Polynesian Village Resort. We’ve heard from lots of fans who are worried this building will be an eyesore! HOWEVER, last time we checked, we noticed that some paint was already going up on some of the buildings and it was a more light brown natural color, which fits the Polynesian Village Reosrt’s vibe. Painted! Well, when we checked recently, even MORE of the new building was painted that natural color. So if you were worried that Disney was going to just leave those grayish walls up, that’s not what’s happening. More painting! We also can’t get over the full SCOPE of the project. This construction site and the building are far larger than we even initially thought it would be. That is a LOT more rooms for Disney World hotel guests. It’s HUGE For comparison, we’re going to show you the concept art. This is what the final product will look like. The angled roofs, wood tones, and greenery surrounding the building make it fit in pretty well with the rest of the resort. We’ve just got to keep this final image in mind and ignore the big, gray block that’s currently in its place! ©Disney Y’all — it’s starting to look a lot closer to that original art. Keep in mind that none of the foliage in the concept art has been planted yet — that will come later. That will also help transform this new building into something worthy of the Polynesian. Starting to look like the concept art So although you might be a little worried that this new building will NOT fit in well, we’ll have to wait and make our final judgement when it’s finished! It’s expected to open by the end of this year. There’s still a lot to do Interestingly enough, a lot of the inspiration for this building, at least according to Imagineers, has come from early concepts of the Polynesian Village Resort. The idea is that they want to honor the past while continuing to work with the existing resort theme. We trust the Imagineers — they know what they’re doing! Don’t worry — it’s coming along! We’ll continue to keep an eye on the construction progress at the site and keep you updated, so stay tuned to DFB for more. Everything Coming to the NEW Hotel Building at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What do you think of the construction so far on the DVC villas? Let us know in the comments! The post Should We Be Worried About Disney's Polynesian Village Resort Expansion? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’re wondering what the heck a Jellycat is, it’s time to wake up and crawl out from under that cozy little rock you’ve been under! ©Jellycat Just kidding. I can’t start this post out super aggressively, because this post is about the most unaggressive thing ever. Jellycat is a London-based brand that makes high-quality plushes that look like animals, plants, foods, random objects, and more. They’re super adorable, and super soft, and now you’re probably wondering what Jellycats have to do with Disney World. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Well, it’s kind of like the Taylor Swift x Disney Adults Venn diagram. There are Swifties, and then there are Disney Adults, and then there is a smaller population of Disney-loving Swifties. It’s the same with Jellycats. I’ve made a Venn diagram to show you. I am right there in the middle. Ta Da! What’s even better is that you can often find Jellycats AT Disney World! Yep! Sugarboo and Co. is located in Disney Springs and has a pretty impressive variety of Jellycats to choose from. Plus, Sugarboo typically has a booth set up at the EPCOT festivals where you can find adorable seasonal Jellycats. Like, that’s one of the best souvenirs ever, in my opinion. Last year, I got a cute butterfly to commemorate the Flower and Garden Festival. There are plenty to choose from at this year’s Flower and Garden Festival, too! It’s a rooster! You’re also probably wondering what a grown-up does with silly little plushes like these. Well, I like to put them on my bookshelves the same way some folks display Funko Pop! figurines, Wishables, and other trinkets. Plus, they act as adorable throw pillows around the house. Okay, okay, I’ll get to the most exciting part. I’ve decided to assign YOU a Jellycat based on your favorite Disney World ride. Yes! This way, you can join me in the middle of that Venn diagram and start to associate these bad boys with Disney World, too. Let’s go! If your favorite ride is Journey of the Little Mermaid, you need Odell Octopus! Odell Octopus This one is pretty self explanatory. Odell is super soft and looks great on bookshelves! Plus, he’s way less scary than other tentacled creatures we know. (Ahem… Ursula.) Grab it from Amazon If your favorite ride is Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, you need the Amusable Croissant! Amusable Croissant This guy is the perfect way to commemorate your trip to the France Pavilion. I just know that Remy would 100% approve of him! Grab the BAG version from Amazon … You might also like the Amusable Baguette! Amusable Baguette The baguette is new to Jellycat’s website, so he isn’t yet on Amazon. However, I desperately needed to show him off. He’s also Remy-approved, I just know it! If you love Soarin’ Over California, you need the Amusable Clementine! Amusable Clementine Soarin’ Over California came back to Disney World for the 100th Anniversary Celebration, but JUST disappeared again with the start of this year’s Flower and Garden Festival. If you’re missing the sweet smell of the orange groves, then you NEED this clementine. (Clementines and oranges are basically the same thing, right?) He isn’t on Amazon right now, but I can find him occasionally at Sugarboo. If you’re just here for the snacks, you need the Amusable Pretzel. Amusable Pretzel Ummmm… can I just shoutout the Bavarian Pretzel at BaseLine Taphouse in Hollywood Studios? That is my favorite pretzel at Disney World, and this guy looks just like it. I’d totally get a souvenir that looks like my favorite snack. I’m not judging you at all for doing the same. Grab it from Amazon If you love Mission: SPACE, you need the Amusable Moon. Amusable Moon If you love Mission: SPACE, I have questions. Do you like feeling like your insides are being curdled? Anyway, maybe this Amusable Moon will help you think of things other than how nauseous you are after riding that ride. Grab it from Amazon If your favorite ride is Mad Tea Party, you need the Amusable Birthday Cake. Amusable Birthday Cake Merry UnBirthday! This cake is adorable and is the perfect way to commemorate your UnBirthday at Disney World OR your actual birthday. Isn’t it darling? Grab it from Amazon If you love Soarin’ Around the World, you need the Amusable Cloud! Amusable Cloud Although it isn’t my preferred Soarin’ overlay, Soarin’ Around the World is still pretty great. The Amusable Cloud could be perfect for all you aviators! Grab it from Amazon If your favorite ride is Haunted Mansion, you need Skeleton Bob! This is one of my favorites! I used to work at the Haunted Mansion, and actually snagged this guy as a fun way of commemorating my job there. Here’s the thing, though… He’s seasonal. He’s exclusive. I snagged him around Halloween. Be on the lookout for him, because he just might make a comeback this year! And there you have it! I sincerely hope you’ve enjoyed this deep dive into Disney World rides and Jellycats. I hope I’ve also been able to introduce you to your new favorite souvenir! I collect Jellycats and am always down to chat about them, so perhaps more fun posts like these will be on their way to you soon. In the meantime, you can check out the rest of our Amazon Storefront by clicking the link below. Catch y’all later! Looking for more souvenirs and Disney World essentials? Shop our Amazon Storefront here! The post Tell Me Your Favorite Disney World Ride, and I'll Tell You Which Jellycat You Are first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney has been criticized in recent years by some fans and parents for pushing what they claim is a “woke agenda,” by discussing content that touches on LGBTQIA+ and gender identity-related themes. ©Disney | Walt Disney Company Headquarters CEO Bob Iger has shared his thoughts on the matter which garnered criticism of their own, but has previously said that Disney is “committed to delivering age-appropriate content for family audiences while also telling stories that reflect the world around us and that foster greater understanding, greater perspective, greater acceptance of all people.” And, one Disney actor thinks the first queer princess could be in development soon. In a March 2024 interview with ComicBook.com, Disney actor Harvey Guillén said he was “optimistic” that we could soon see the first queer Disney princess. Guillén, known for roles in What We Do in the Shadows and Disney’s Wish, thinks “we are in the life span of that potentially happening.” ©Getty Images He continued, “I think they’re making strides in the right direction,” speaking of Disney’s representation of the LGBTQIA+ community. “I think it’s hard to rebuild a wheel that’s already been in motion for a while, and it’s hard to think of a new direction, especially in where we’re at with the world, but they’re putting their best foot forward, I think. And sometimes those things take time and I’m optimistic. And like you said, if a queer princess comes along, that’d be fantastic,” Guillén shared. Princesses in Disney World But, as of now, no official announcements from Disney have been made about plans for the first LGBTQIA+ princess. With Disney’s efforts to bolster its inclusion standards throughout the company, it’s possible that Guillén is correct and we could sometime soon, though. However, Disney would have to contend with the potential backlash from those who have criticized the company in the past. Even CEO Bob Iger found himself in some hot water after making comments on the future of Disney movies. ©Disney Despite Iger’s previous comments about wanting Disney films and shows to “foster greater understanding, greater perspective, greater acceptance of all people,” he later stated that the creators at Disney had “lost sight” of what their jobs should be — that it should be to “entertain first” and not be about “messages.” Iger continued that he’s ready to share more original Disney stories to entertain, instead of “pushing an agenda.” One thing is for sure, we’ll be on the lookout for any potential updates about new Disney movies or princesses! ©Disney In other Disney movie news, the full trailer for Pixar’s Inside Out 2 is out now and you can check it out at the link below. Stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney news! See the FULL TRAILER for Disney’s ‘Inside Out 2’ 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’s your favorite Disney movie? Tell us in the comments. The post Actor Believes First "Queer Disney Princess" Could Be in Development Soon first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Let’s go shopping! Here at Disney Food Blog, we hate paying full price. With a little patience (and some luck), you may end up being able to buy those Disney souvenirs you wanted at a DISCOUNT if you wait for a sale. 2024 Merchandise But really, who has the time to scour the Disney Store website 24/7? That’s where WE come in! We keep our eyes out for the best Disney deals so that YOU can pounce on those sales and score a discount! Today, we’re back with some fun Disney souvenirs on SALE right on the Disney Store website. Let’s take a look! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. You can get a Disney Loungefly bag on SALE for a limited time! Disney100 Loungefly Behold — the prettiest purple Disney Loungefly bag we’ve seen in a while! This one features all of our favorite Disney characters, like Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, and Donald! There’s even a shiny Disney100 logo on the zipper to honor Disney’s 100th Anniversary. How fun! Get it NOW while it’s on sale. View on the Disney Store We found a chic pair of Mickey Mouse ears on SALE! ©Disney GREAT news — those classic black Mickey ears that match EVERYTHING are on sale on the Disney Store website! These ears are SUPER popular, so you’re gonna want to hop on this deal FAST if you’re in the market for a new park accessory. The best part is that these ears are great for ANYONE — there’s no bow in the middle, so we’ve seen TONS of different people rock these ears. View on the Disney Store This cuddly Kermit plush is a must-have for Muppets fans! Kermit! Look how BIG this Kermit Cuddleez Plush is! It’s a whopping 27 1/2”, making it the perfect size to CUDDLE (as the name implies). We’ll take ten. Thanks! Now that it’s on SALE, we’re seriously tempted to pick one up for every Muppets fan we know. View on the Disney Store There’s a whole lot more where this came from! The Disney Store website has a BUNCH of fun souvenirs on sale now, including some Disney World park-exclusive items. The sale won’t last long, so head over to the website ASAP if you want to save a little money. In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney deals, so stay tuned for more. Shop the ENTIRE sale HERE! Did you know we have a Disney-themed Amazon Storefront? Check it out!The post We Just Found TONS of Disney Loungefly Bags on SALE — See Where To Shop! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Easter is just around the corner on March 31st! Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny You can celebrate the holiday right now at Disney World! From chocolate Easter egg displays, an Easter egg hunt in EPCOT, and special Easter-themed treats, there is so much to see and do this Easter season! We are hoping a special parade returns this year to celebrate the holiday! Magic Kingdom has a special parade for Halloween and Christmas, so what about Easter? Magic Kingdom’s Easter Parade 2023 Each Easter Disney World hosts an Easter Parade inside of Magic Kingdom. While Disney has not confirmed this tradition will continue this year, we can assume the Easter Parade will make its return this Easter. 2023 Easter Parade In previous years, the Easter Parade normally happens the day before and on Easter and runs before the Festival of Fantasy Parade. If this is to be the case this year, then the parade will run on March 30th and 31st. Flowers and butterflies This parade is filled with color and fun springtime characters! Last year we saw rare characters from Fantasia and the White Rabbit! Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny even make an appearance! Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny We hope to see this parade return this year. If we get any official word on it from Disney, we will make sure to update you! Click Here to Read Our Reviews of This Year’s Easter Treats at 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 Have you ever seen the Magic Kingdom Easter Parade? Let us know below! The post A SECRET PARADE Is Happening in Magic Kingdom Soon! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Ready for your mid-day caffeine break yet? Main Street Bakery We know that we are! Whether we are at Walt Disney World or at home, we LOVE a midday pick-me-up. It might be a coffee, fun drink, or sweet treat — we know we need a little boost to help get us through the rest of our day. Lucky for us, Starbucks just released two NEW drinks, and we knew we NEEDED to try them. Starbucks just released a couple new lavender-infused drinks, so we immediately ran to Magic Kingdom to try them out — because, let’s be real, everything is just BETTER at Disney World. So, we arrived at the Main Street Bakery and had one thing on our mind — rehearsing our order (oh, and also the drinks). ©Starbucks The two new drinks that were released were the Iced Lavender Cream Oatmilk Matcha and Iced Lavender Oatmilk Latte. We were so excited to get our hands on these to see how the lavender mixes with these two fan-favorite drinks. We enjoy them on their own, and we’re hoping that the addition of lavender will give them a nice little kick. We are SO ready for our boost of Spring! We decided to try the Iced Lavender Cream Oatmilk Matcha first! You can get this at any Starbucks location for $5.99 for a grande. If we didn’t go into this knowing that there was lavender in this drink, we feel like we may not have picked up on it while we were trying it. Honestly, we tasted a TON of oat milk…but not a lot of anything else (sigh). We wished that this tasted more lavender-forward, or even that they added something else to compliment the lavender flavor — like orange or vanilla. Main Street Bakery Overall, we’re glad we gave them a try! We feel like the lavender was more notable in the matcha than the oatmilk latte, so if you’re looking for something where you REALLY want those floral notes, the matcha will be the one for you. Honestly, we feel like the oatmilk latte would benefit from adding the cold foam onto the top — so maybe that is something worth trying . For us, the matcha was the clear winner — but everyone has different tastes, so get whatever you feel like you’d like the most! Starbucks at Main Street Bakery in Magic Kingdom These drinks are available now at all the Starbucks locations in Disney World, including the two in Disney Springs. We’re always on the lookout for new drinks around Disney World, so keep checking back in with us at DFB to see what we find next! FULL List of Disney Starbucks Cups You Can Buy Online RIGHT NOW! Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide The Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants The Best EPCOT Restaurant Restaurants The Best Restaurants in Disney’s Hollywood Studios The Best Restaurants in Disney’s Animal Kingdom The Best Disney Springs Restaurants The Best (and Worst) Disney World Hotel Restaurants Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What do you think about these drinks? Let us know in the comments below! The post REVIEW: NEW Starbucks Drinks Are in Disney World Now! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Easter time has arrived at Walt Disney World and with that comes the beautiful Easter egg displays! Easter has arrived in Disney World! We stopped by the hotels to give you a peek at this year’s displays! Let’s get started on this Easter egg display round-up! Several Disney World hotels have beautiful Easter egg displays during the spring season that showcase elaborate egg designs featuring iconic Disney characters, rides, and stories. Trust us when we say you’ve NEVER seen Easter eggs like THIS before! Disney’s Beach Club Resort We are starting off at Disney’s Beach Club Resort! Let’s check out the Easter display at Disney’s Beach Club! The display features SEVEN different Easter eggs! We are starting off strong with one of our favorite ones: GROOT! This egg (can you even call that an egg? ) looks like the new topiary at the EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival! We love his new topiary AND now we also have an Easter Groot! The eggs in Beach Club were GORGEOUS and we loved the flower details on this one that’s decorated like the EPCOT Japan pavilion: The flowers look so real! And you can’t forget about Mickey and Minnie! They have their very own egg with lots of floral details and an adorable moment between the two of them! Again, this one is giving major Flower & Garden Festival vibes. What a sweet one! We love you Mickey and Minnie! The Beach Club also features this cute Chip and Dale display! It looks like they are harvesting some carrots together and we are a fan! Chip and Dale are carrot hunting! Disney’s Beach Club is starting our Easter egg display round-up strong, but we have lots more eggs to go. Check out the SECRET lounge at Disney’s Beach Club! Disney’s Yacht Club Resort For the next display, we are headed right next door to Disney’s Yacht Club Resort! Let’s look inside Disney’s Yacht Club Resort! We were greeted with another seven beautiful eggs, and we couldn’t wait to check them out! We loved the Moana theme going on and we thought the gold embellishment was stunning. That Tamatoa one (the crab villain from Moana) is especially shiny, and we know it’d make Tamatoa proud. Our next Easter egg display! We thought Pua definitely stole the show! The adorable pig is looking so darling!! We loved the Pua display!! Now we are leaving the EPCOT resort area and headed over to the Magic Kingdom resorts! Let’s go! Everything you NEED to know about Disney’s Yacht Club! Disney’s Contemporary Resort We are continuing our journey with a stop by Disney’s Contemporary Resort! We have arrived at Disney’s Contemporary Resort! Disney’s Contemporary Resort has a large Easter egg display! There were SO many unique eggs here, and they are so much fun to explore! We absolutely adored this Walt and Mickey egg with one of our favorite quotes featured. What a great tribute! We also spotted Mr. Potato Head joining in on the festivities! Mr. Potato Head is embracing the Easter spirit! And Vanellope is cruising in for the Contemporary’s Easter celebrations! There are so many cute details on this one. Vanellope has a starring role at the Contemporary! It wouldn’t be Easter without some bunnies, and these eggs fit the bill! Minnie Mouse has her own precious egg with some paws sticking out. They all look fabulous! Rounding out our trip to the Contemporary with a Wall-E display featuring Eve AND Wall-E! They are looking great together! Eve and Wall-E are looking good! There are even more eggs at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, so be sure to stop by and get a look at all of them! Check out the BEST Disney Resorts in 2024! Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa There is so much to explore at Disney’s Grand Floridian for Easter! In fact, there is so much that we have an article completely dedicated to the Easter festivities! Last stop: Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort! However, this wouldn’t be a TRUE Easter egg display roundup without showing you at least a few of the eggs at the Grand Floridian! We HAVE to feature one of our favorites: the Alice in Wonderland Egg! What is even more impressive (beyond the incredible details and design) is that the clock WORKS! SO COOL! Alice and Wonderland WITH a working clock! Plus, this tribute to Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway is impressive! The lights, the sign and even some signatures on the tiles!! Such a fun tribute to a great ride! Finally, since we are Disney Food Blog, we can’t end this round-up without a Disney snack egg! From pretzels, to churros and Mickey bars to turkey legs, we are getting hungry just looking at it!! Disney snacks egg There are so many more eggs at the Grand Floridian, so check out our article to see them all PLUS EASTER SNACKS! We always love all the holiday displays that Disney puts out and this year was no exception. Stay tuned to DFB for even more Disney news! Check out our full look at The Grand Floridian festivities! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Which Disney egg is your favorite? Let us know in the comments! The post There's Something NEW at 4 Disney World Hotels (And You're Gonna Love It!) first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Who says advent calendars can only be used for Christmas?! We just found the cutest Spring advent calendar, and it’s even DISNEY-themed! It’s Pooh! If you’re counting down the days to Easter or even just want to add a little extra Disney magic to every day in March, make sure to check out this adorable Disney advent calendar on Amazon. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. This cute item is elegible for fast, free shipping with Amazon Prime. If you’re not a Prime member, don’t worry! You can sign up for a free trial and still get all the perks. Just click the link below! Get the Winnie the Pooh Easter Advent Calendar! ©Amazon This adorable calendar is filled with Winnie the Pooh-themed treasures that can help you count down the days to Easter. Each of the twelve windows holds an Easter ornament, which you can use to decorate the 3D pop-up spring tree! ©Amazon A 32-page hardcover picture book is also included, along with an Easter basket craft and a “Happy Easter” coloring sign. Several other activities can be found inside, too. ©Amazon This would make a great gift for your little ones or any Winnie the Pooh fan in your life! Shop the spring Easter advent calendar here! Stay tuned to DFB for more updates on the newest Disney merchandise. Check out some of our favorite Disney essentials on Amazon!The post A NEW Disney Easter Advent Calendar Just Dropped on Amazon! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article