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This is one of the most difficult things to admit about my Disney World vacations: Usually the worst things that happen…are my own fault! Cinderella Castle Let’s make sure that NOT gonna be the case for you by exposing our own regrets. Check out our video below: DFB Video: Things I’ll NEVER Do Again in Walt Disney World  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 are your biggest Disney World REGRETS? Let us know in the comments. The post DFB Video: Things I'll NEVER Do Again in Walt Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

This week has been BUSY at Disney World, and it looks like it’s just going to get worse as we approach the weekend. Crowds in Disney World We’ve noticed bigger-than-normal crowds in the parks, and Genie+ prices skyrocketed early in the week (those prices are based on demand, so when prices are high, we expect busier parks). When we checked on the Park Pass Reservation availability calendar this morning, we saw something that made us cringe! Right now, Park Pass Reservations are SOLD OUT for both Magic Kingdom and EPCOT on February 22nd, 23rd, 24th, and 25th. This is true for guests with non-date-based tickets who either just have the tickets or are staying at a Disney World hotel. ©Disney Park Passes are NOT sold out for Annual Passholders, however. If you have a Disney World Annual Pass, you can still make reservations for any of the theme parks this week/weekend. (And don’t forget that February 27th, 28th, and 29th are Good-to-Go days, which means you don’t need any reservations at all to visit the parks!) Annual Pass Guests who have date-based tickets don’t need to make Park Pass Reservations at all anymore, so this update will not affect their trips. Scanning in! Genie+ prices today have actually gone DOWN compared to recent days. Today (February 22nd) is the cheapest they’ve been all week. On Sunday and Monday, the Multi-park option was $35 per person, and on Monday that option sold out as well. On Tuesday, both Multi-Park and Magic Kingdom Genie+ sold out pretty early in the morning. On Wednesday, they cost $29, but today it’s down to $27. Here’s a look at what Genie+ costs today for each of the theme parks: ©Disney We can also tell it’s crowded by which Individual Lightning Lanes are sold out today. Guests who purchase Genie+ can book Lightning Lanes throughout the day, but some of the most popular rides have Individual Lightning Lanes instead, which you have to purchase a la carte. Today, three of those rides have already SOLD OUT of Lightning Lane availability: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Magic Kingdom, and Avatar Flight of Passage in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (Disney World) Rise of the Resistance has sold out by 10AM EST every single day this week, and both Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and TRON Lightcycle / Run have sold out on a couple of days as well. Like we said, it’s busy in the parks, and a LOT of people are trying to get on these popular rides! TRON Lightcycle / Run If you want to make sure you’re able to get on the best rides, be ready to book those Individual Lightning Lanes as soon as they’re available. For guests staying at Disney World hotels, that’s 7AM EST. For other guests, it’s as soon as the park opens. If you’ll be in Disney World this weekend (or any time when it’s particularly busy), take advantage of skip-the-line services like Genie+, Mobile Order, and Mobile Merchandise Checkout to save time throughout your day. Mobile Order You can use the rope drop strategy to get on more rides, too. Rope drop means you get to the theme parks well before they open (at least a half hour early) so you’re ready to head straight for your top-priority rides once the gates open. The crowds will look big, but the wait times early in the morning are generally much shorter than you’ll see later in the day. Everyone tends to head for the BIG rides at rope drop. Don’t forget that guests at Disney World hotels can go inside the theme parks a half hour early every day! Early Entry sign Stay tuned to DFB for more updates on the latest Disney news. Click here to see two travel essentials that save us tons of time at security! Planning a Trip to Disney World? We’ve Got Everything You Need to Know The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Disney World Vacation A Month-by-Month Guide to Planning Your Disney World Trip Tips, Hints, Lists, and Videos for Planning the BEST Disney World Trip Learn About the Disney Park Pass System The Ultimate Disney World Packing List Everything You Need to Know About Genie+ Insider SECRETS for Your First Trip to Disney World A Complete Look at the Current Disney Discounts and Deals The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click Here to Subscribe Are you visiting Disney World this weekend? What’s your strategy to beat the crowds? Let us know in the comments! The post Expect BIG CROWDS in Disney World: Park Passes SOLD OUT Through the Weekend for 2 Parks first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s always so exciting when one EPCOT festival is wrapping up and another one is set to begin. EPCOT As much as we love celebrating each of the festivals individually, it’s still exciting to see all the new things start to pop up! Who doesn’t love new foods and decor? Anyway, EPCOT’s 2024 Flower and Garden Festival will kick off on February 28th and run through May 27th. This is one of our FAVORITE festivals, as it brings in gorgeous blooms and topiaries along with some fresh springtime eats. Lately, we’ve been giddy as we’ve watched the first topiaries of the year be placed around the parks. A NEW one just arrived, and we need to give it a spotlight. The iconic Flower and Garden Festival topiaries are designed, grown, and assembled by EPCOT’s horticulture team. These can be found around the parks in each of the lands and countries in World Showcase. The new topiary we’re here to show you can be found in the all-new World Celebration Gardens. World Celebration Gardens Yes, it’s FIGMENT! We think he looks adorable surrounded by the big, pink flowers. It totally brightens up the area. Hi, Figgy! PhotoPass photographers are stationed in front of the topiary, so you can snag a photo with Figment and his flowers in front of Spaceship Earth. Don’t forget that you can have a PhotoPass photographer take the photo with your cell phone or personal camera. You don’t even have to pay for it! So cute We’ve seen other topiaries pop up in the parks already this year, from Tinker Bell, to Woody and Bo Peep, to Snow White and Dopey. Snow White and Dopey We’re at Disney World every day, so we’ll be sure to keep an eye out for more topiaries as they pop up. We’re a little under a week away from the start of the festival, so make sure to follow along for all of our takes and reviews this year! Looking for MORE on this year’s Flower and Garden Festival? Click here! MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR FESTIVAL DAYS DFB's Guide to the EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival details everything you need to know to maximize your time, budget and stomach space! Know what's worth it and what to skip with our full-photo menus of each booth, complete with DFB's Best of the Fest. It includes all the must-have information for navigating this one of the most BEAUTIFUL festivals at Disney World, including: Booth & food photos, maps, and crawls with DFB's exclusive recommendations! The COMPLETE schedule of events (so you don't have to go hunting for all the dates!) All the details on special events, topiaries, festival exclusive merchandise, and more! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW MORE Flower & Garden Festival INFO! See the FULL LIST of Food Booths, Menus, and Photos from the Festival Learn About the Garden Rocks Concert Series and Dining Packages Secret Tips for the Flower & Garden Festival CONFIRMED: These 6 Things Will RETURN to the 2024 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival 2 Things We ALWAYS Bring to the Festival Click HERE for All of the Latest News and Details About the Festival! Will you be visiting EPCOT for the Flower and Garden Festival this year? Let us know in the comments! The post Figment Fans NEED To See This Amazing NEW Addition at EPCOT! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s an age-old topic. Disney adults love to politely debate whether certain aspects of Disney World or Disneyland are superior. There’s one thing, though, that everyone seems to agree on. Let’s talk CHURROS. Disneyland churros are better. It’s just a known fact among Disney fans. We’ve tried many churros in BOTH parks, and we must say that we agree. Disney World churros totally aren’t bad, and they’re a great option while you visit. However, they just tend to be a little lackluster if you’ve ever had one from Disneyland. (This could also be your sign to not try Disneyland churros because it will forever ruin every other churro. It’s a risk that many are willing to take.) This whole ordeal really had us thinking… What IS IT about Disney World churros that has them paling in comparison? Let’s find out! So, before we begin, we need to make one thing clear. Both Disneyland and Disney World churros pop up with all sorts of different toppings and flavors. That is NOT what the debate is about. Take all the toppings and flavors away, and focus on the essence of the churro itself. Peach Cobbler Churro A churro is meant to be a light, airy, stick of fried dough. These bad boys originated from Spanish and Portuguese cultures, and they’re traditionally served with some crunchy cinnamon sugar that really adds to the airy texture. This is something that Disneyland does well. Disneyland churros are perfectly crispy on the outside with a light, fluffy interior that always has us wanting more, more, MORE. Lemon Blueberry Churro Disney World churros, on the other hand, just don’t give us that CRISPY CRUNCH that we so desperately crave. The outside is only moderately crispy, and the inside has more of a cake-like texture. They’re dense and chewy, and they just aren’t what churros are meant to be. Why is this? Dulce de Leche Churro sprinkled with cinnamon-sugar Well, let’s consider the location of the two parks — the geography — in itself. California is in a drier climate, while Florida is like, rainforest-level humid. (Just kidding, but it really feels that way sometimes.) Humidity impacts a LOT of things. It impacts your skin and hair, your allergies, how quickly things rust outdoors, and you know what else? BAKING. Not-So-Poison Apple Churros According to the Farmers’ Almanac, “dry baking ingredients like flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda actually soak up moisture from the surrounding air. If you’ve ever seen your flour clumped or “caked” together, this is the reason why. And this tiny amount of extra moisture is enough to alter the quality of your cookies, cakes, candies, and breads in not-so-good ways.” Orange Creamsicle Churro Equally as important is the fact that humidity can drastically impact how well and how LONG baked goods keep. Just imagine all those poor, chewy churros just getting chewier and chewier with each passing hour it sits in humid ol’ Florida. Bit of a churro! Boom. Mystery solved. Moral of the story: it’s not the churro’s fault. It’s just Florida. (That’s a recurring theme: “It’s just Florida.”) Magic Kingdom’s Cinderella Castle We’re in the Disney Parks every day, and we’re always here to solve your Disney food mysteries. We’ll be sure to keep you updated with more Disney news, so follow along for more right here at DFB. Looking for more snacks that are just BETTER at Disneyland? 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 Have you had churros from both Disney World and Disneyland? Which is your favorite? Let us know in the comments! The post Why Are Churros SO MUCH WORSE in Disney World? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

A nationwide outage is affecting AT&T cellular users, and some Verizon and T-Mobile users seem to be affected, as well. ©Shutterstock If you’re in Disney World or traveling there today, here’s how this outage could affect your vacation. According to CNN, the AT&T outage is resulting in no service for many customers, who have reported having trouble even contacting emergency services through 911. Problems reported with other cell services seem to stem from those customers trying to call AT&T, and the calls not going through. Near Disney World, rideshare rates have skyrocketed this morning. A Lyft ride to Orlando International Airport from near Disney World is running nearly $100 this morning, when on a typical morning it would be around $35. This is presumably because many drivers who would be out working this morning do not have cell service at this time and cannot use the apps to find and accept rides. Rideshare rates have skyrocketed in Orlando this morning because of the AT&T cell service outage. If you are in Disney World today, expect some hiccups and pack your patience. Disney World has many time-saving features that are dependent on mobile phones, such as Disney Genie+, which allows you to make reservations to skip the lines on certain rides and attractions, and mobile order, which allows you to place food and drink orders at many quick-service locations in advance. ©Disney If your cell service is out, you will want to connect to the free wifi in Disney World Parks, at Disney Springs, and in the resorts. The wifi network you want is “Walt Disney World Resort.” If you have trouble connecting, you can call (407) 827-2732 for assistance. Disney also offers wifi service on bus transportation throughout Walt Disney World Resort. Keep in mind that the wifi network in Disney World is not always the fastest, and there will likely be more people trying to connect today. If you have joined the Virtual Queue for TRON: Lightcycle / Run or Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, you may want to check digital signs in the parks that show which boarding groups are loading, as you may not receive the notification on your phone. TRON Virtual Queue board If you are checking in at Disney World today, you may have trouble using the resort’s mobile check-in service. If that’s the case, try to connect to the wifi, or check in at the front desk of your resort. Coronado Springs Front Desk If you need to make or alter a dining reservation today, and you are unable to do that through the My Disney Experience app, call (407) 939-3463 to reach the Disney World Dining Reservations Hotline. Hey, Mickey! If you are traveling today, remember that with no or limited cell service, you may not receive push notifications on flight changes or other important information. It will be best to check your airline app as you can. AT&T has not released any official statement regarding the outage or possible repair time at the time this article was published, but we will continue to look for updates. Keep following DFB for more. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post BREAKING: Cell Phone Outage Impacting Disney World Visitors, Orlando Airport Rideshare Rates Skyrocket first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’re about to get to combine two of our favorite things — Disney and pizza. We love Pizza Believe it or not, we didn’t have to do any work — Disney created a pizza collection FOR US, and those of the DFB team who don’t get to travel to the parks often have been waiting for it to drop online. And now, that day has finally come! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. We Are STILL in Love With This Pizza Loungefly Bag! Mickey Mouse Pizza Loungefly Mini Backpack This Mickey Mouse Pizza Loungefly Mini Backpack is exactly what it sounds like — it’s a Loungefly backpack with pizza slices all over it (with Mickey pepperoni pieces!) that has a giant slice of pizza as the front pocket! How much better does it get? Grab it while you can! If You LOVE Yellow, This is The Spirit Jersey For You Mickey Mouse Pizza Spirit Jersey for Adults This adorable (and VERY bright) Disneyland Mickey Mouse Pizza Spirit Jersey for Adults is now available online too, and we couldn’t be happier. While it doesn’t look exactly like a piece of pizza, the whole jersey is a cheese shade of yellow, there are both Mickey-shaped and regular shaped pepperoni pieces all over, and the back has the Disneyland Resort logo (with a piece of pizza behind it!). Buy it here! There’s a Disney World Version Available Too! ©Disney If you’re more of a Disney World goer, you can grab yourself the Disney World Mickey Mouse Pizza Spirit Jersey for Adults instead! It has the same design as the Disneyland spirit jersey, just with the Walt Disney World logo on the back instead. Add it to your cart! Grab The Matching Ears While You’re At It! Minnie Mouse Pizza Ear Headband for Adults The Minnie Mouse Pizza Ear Headband perfectly matches with the rest of the collection — so much so that the ears have those same slices of pepperoni, and the bow in the middle looks like a slice of cheese! Grab them here! We’re always here to bring you the latest Disney merchandise news, so be sure to stay tuned to DFB! Check out our Amazon Storefront for more of our favorite Disney merchandise! What’s your favorite item in this collection? Tell us in the comments! The post 4 NEW Disney Pizza (!!!) Souvenirs Are Online NOW! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Planning your trip to Disney World can be expensive but so can how you plan to get there as well! Southwest Airlines at the Orlando Airport With travel costs rising, it’s understandable to try to snag every deal possible! Well, we spotted a RETURNING deal that we think you guys might love! Costco is known for some incredible savings on things that typically aren’t ever discounted. We’ve seen super saving deals with Costco in the past that were super helpful with cutting down travel costs. Now, it seems like a favorite travel deal is BACK for a limited time! ©Costco If you’re looking to fly with Southwest Airlines soon, you may want to consider the deal that Costco is running on their gift cards RIGHT NOW! Currently, you can purchase a $500 Southwest Airlines gift card through the wholesale giant for just $449.99! That’s a 10% savings just for making this purchase. ©Costco Of course, to take advantage of these savings, you’ll need to be a Costco member or sign up for a membership before checking out to get in on the deal! We’re always scoping out the latest deals to help you save money for your next Disney World vacation! Stay tuned with us for the latest deals and tips! 6 Backpacks With 5 Stars on Amazon That Would Be Perfect for Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Do you use gift cards to pay for your Disney World vacation? Tell us about your tricks in the comments below! The post This COSTCO Gift Card Deal Could Help You Save BIG on Southwest Flights first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Flying can be stressful. Flying Not only can it be a pain just to find a flight that leaves at a good time at the right price (the struggle with budgeting for that Disney World trip IS real, folks), but you also have to learn to expect flight delays and even cancellations. However, one thing that has occasionally delayed flights of Orlando has become less common, and we’re going to tell you why. Cape Canaveral is only about 55 miles from Disney World. Now, a LOT of rocket launches take place at Cape Canaveral, which is why you can often see rocket launches while visiting Disney World if you just look up at the right time. However, in the past, those rocket launches would also delay flights, because, well, it’s probably important to keep planes out of the area when a rocket is hurtling from Earth into space. ©Disney | Shared by Fox 35 Orlando Until last year, the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) required the entire cone of airspace around the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to be closed to other air traffic for every launch. That means flights would have to be rerouted around that area. According to ClickOrlando.com, this could reroute over 30 flights, which could cause delays for thousands of travelers of up to five hours. Yikes! Frontier Plane at the Orlando Airport Now, though, the FAA only closes airspace to the East and South of the launchpads, which follows the usual flight path of rockets. This means that flights from the northeast U.S. don’t get rerouted, which means you don’t have delays due to rocket launches. The FAA said, “These flights can now remain on their most optimal and efficient routes more frequently.” However, the FAA also uses something called the Space Data Integrator, which is a tool that tracks the rocket in near real-time and offers data on everything from its position, speed, altitude, etc. That means the FAA can reopen airspace faster after a launch, as quickly as three minutes after a launch. Orlando International Airport The FAA has also encouraged rocket companies to launch their rockets at night when fewer flights have a chance to be affected. That’s why you’ll see many rocket launches scheduled during the overnight hours. So if your flight gets delayed at Orlando International Airport, you now know of one thing that probably DID NOT cause that delay. Weather, though…well, that’s a whole different animal, especially when things get stormy or a hurricane rolls in. Stay tuned to DFB for more! 12 Dates You Need To Know To Book the CHEAPEST Flights in 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 Have you ever had a flight delay in the past due to a rocket launch? Let us know in the comments! The post Are Orlando Airport Flight Delays Caused by Rocket Launches? We've Got New Details first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’re planning a trip to Disney World, you’ve probably already done your research on hotels, figured out how you’re getting to Orlando, and figured out your park tickets situation. Backpacks are very handy to have in the parks! Next up is your packing list, though, but have you thought about your day bag? A day bag in Disney World is very important, especially if you want to bring necessities with you into the parks like ponchos, a phone charger, a water bottle, and other miscellaneous things you might need. So we’ve found the best backpacks for your next Disney World trip on Amazon. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. If you don’t have Amazon Prime, no worries! You can sign up for a free trial below: We’ve looked for backpacks that have been reviewed well on Amazon so you’ll know you’re getting something that’s big enough for your needs, as well as sturdy enough to handle time in the theme parks. Get the Disney Princesses Backpack ©Amazon Okay, so this might say it’s for toddlers, but if you’re more of a mini backpack fan, adults could probably use this Princesses backpack, too. This one has a lot of great organization inside, including a padded tablet sleeve, a large zip-closure front pocket, a zip-closure stash pocket, and two expandable bottle sleeves on the sides. View on Amazon Buy the Mickey Mouse Loungefly Mini Backpack ©Amazon If you love Loungefly bags and want to represent your love for Mickey, this is the bag for you. It’s quilted on top with a red front pocket that represents Mickey’s red pants. There’s also a zipper pull with Mickey’s hand on it. The back of the backpack says “Oh, boy!” View on Amazon Get the Laptop Backpack ©Amazon Do you need to carry your laptop or tablet with you around Disney World? We’re not saying you should WORK while you’re on vacation, but you might need it for something else (like keeping the kids entertained in ride lines). This backpack comes in a variety of colors and has lots of organization for keeping all your stuff easy to find. View on Amazon Buy the Quilted Casual Daypack ©Amazon This daypack will go with just about EVERYTHING and is big enough to carry all your park essentials. You can also get it in a variety of colors if you don’t want just basic black. It has a total of 16 pockets, including an iPad pocket. View on Amazon Get the Falanko Backpack ©Amazon This is another great backpack if you need to carry a lot of stuff. Choose from a variety of colors, and get a bag with a roomy compartment and tons of pockets. You can even carry it as a tote. View on Amazon Buy the Duffle Bag Backpack ©Amazon Rainy day in Disney World? You’ll want to pack an extra pair of socks and maybe even shoes. This backpack actually has a compartment just for shoes! Also, it’s waterproof and if you’ve been to Disney World and experienced one of those random storms, you’ll know how important that is. View on Amazon We usually bring a few different backpacks on our trips to match our outfits, but you can always go with a single solid color that will match everything, too. Shop our Amazon StorefrontThe post 6 Backpacks With 5 Stars on Amazon That Would Be Perfect for Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Have you been to an After Hours Event in Disney World? These late-night parties are popular with Disney World visitors for one BIG reason: low crowds. After Hours at EPCOT They require a separate ticket, but a very limited amount are sold meaning most rides — even the popular ones — have little to no wait! But tonight, we’re sorry to say you can’t go to the After Hours at Hollywood Studios, unless you already planned ahead. For the first time this year, an After Hours Event in Disney World is completely sold out! After Hours in Hollywood Studios The event on February 21st in Hollywood Studios is sold out, with no more tickets available. It has been an exceptionally busy week in Disney World, with President’s Day on Monday, and now the Princess Half-Marathon Weekend coming up. Lots of people are planning to stay up late, eat some free treats, and party in Hollywood Studios! Popcorn is free at After Hours Events! And let’s not forget that DUFFY the DISNEY BEAR has been spotted at the events this year! Duffy!! There are still some After Hours Events left this spring, so if you’re interested, it’s probably best to grab tickets before any more sell-outs happen. Here’s a look at the remaining dates: Magic Kingdom dates and prices are as follows. Thursday, February 29th – $175 (Annual Passholders/DVC: $145) Monday, March 4th – $175 (Annual Passholders/DVC: $145) Monday, March 18th – $175 (Annual Passholders/DVC: $145) Monday, April 8th – $175 (Annual Passholders/DVC: $145) Magic Kingdom After Hours Dates and ticket prices at Hollywood Studios in 2024 are as follows. Monday, February 26th – $175 (Annual Passholders/DVC: $145) Wednesday, March 13th – $175 (Annual Passholders/DVC: $145) Wednesday, March 20th – $175 (Annual Passholders/DVC: $145) Wednesday, March 27th – $175 (Annual Passholders/DVC: $145) Wednesday, April 3rd – $175 (Annual Passholders/DVC: $145) Wednesday, April 10th – $175 (Annual Passholders/DVC: $145) Slinky Dog Dash Dates and ticket prices for EPCOT After Hours events are below! Thursday, March 7th – $159 (Annual Passholders/DVC: $129) Thursday, March 28th – $159 (Annual Passholders/DVC: $129) Thursday, April 4th – $159 (Annual Passholders/DVC: $129) EPCOT After Hours are BACK for 2024! If you LOVE rides, then these events may be for you! We do want to caution you though that if you’re into food, there aren’t a whole of places to eat open. That’s why Disney keeps the free snacks flowing! Keep following DFB 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 The post NEWS: An After Hours Event is SOLD OUT in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

With spring on the horizon, it’s time to get EXCITED for fresh, new treats at Disney World. Grand Cottage One of our favorite places to get some sweet treats (and all the vibes) in the spring is Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. Each spring, they build an adorable little cottage that sits in the lobby: the Grand Cottage. Inside, you can purchase all sorts of springtime sweets! Oh, and there are also some super impressive Easter egg displays that are themed to Disney stories and movies. It’s truly the perfect afternoon activity, if you ask us. Well, get excited, because the Grand Cottage is making its third annual comeback SOON! Disney JUST shared that the Grand Cottage would make its return from March 3rd to April 1st, 2023. Easter falls on March 31st this year — so the timing is perfect! Now… about those treats… Confetti Cake Lamb Pop from the Grand Cottage in 2023 Here are the snacks that we can expect to snag from the Cottage this year: Bunny Pop Flower Pot: Chocolate flower pot filled with jelly beans and three chocolate bunny pops (New) Fruity Cereal Mickey Pop: Mickey-shaped fruity cereal crisped treat The Easter Treat Box: Dark chocolate filled bunny, carrot blondie pop, marshmallow pop, carrot cake chocolate bark, confetti pop, and meringue nests Easter Marshmallow Pop: Three large marshmallows dipped in a yellow chocolate coating topped with Easter quins Bunny Burrow Dirt Cup: Layers of chocolate cake, chocolate buttercream, and cookies ‘n cream pieces with springtime décor (Plant-based) The Grand Egg: White chocolate egg filled with jelly beans sprayed in spring colors ©Disney Oh, and the Bunny Pop Flower Pot and the Fruity Cereal Mickey Pop will also be available at Gasparilla Island Grill from March 3rd through April 1st as well. Grand Cottage in 2023 Disney confirmed that the Easter egg displays would return for 2025, and will include themes from Elemental, Hercules, and more! Kevin Easter Egg Display 2023 We’re at Disney World EVERY single day, so we’ll be sure to swing by to try these treats when they’re available. Make sure to follow along and stay tuned for our take on those! Looking for snacks to try at Disney World in the meantime? 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 Will you be trying any of these springtime treats? Let us know in the comments! The post FIRST LOOK at NEW Treats Coming to Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We love Disney World, there is no doubt about it at all! But Disney World has implemented a bunch of rules recently that have us scratching our heads and trying to figure out how to plan our days around them! We have curated this list of rules to watch out for while at Disney World because if you’re not planning around them, they may ruin your Disney trip! Annual Passholder Reservations This one is for those annual passholders! If you’re not careful, you may run into an issue with the current reservation system, and we can agree that it may be confusing for those that aren’t up-to-date on it! The Annual Passholder Reservation system has seen a change since reservations went away for date-based tickets. Now passholders have “good-to-go” days which are days they will NOT need a reservation to go to the parks. They are marked by green rings around the day on the calendar. ©Disney If you aren’t aware of the good-to-go dates versus days you’ll still need a reservation, this could ruin your trip! Reference our guide for all questions about the new change. Genie+ Genie+, for those who have very limited knowledge on it, is very confusing. Sometimes we still get tripped up by it. If you don’t know when to book your Lightning Lanes, what your booking windows are, and the individual rides available for purchase, it could mean bad news for your vacation. Hey Genie! Don’t fret though, we have multiple guides that detail the Genie+ service, Individual Lighting Lanes, and even how to use the base Disney Genie service. You can find one of our most comprehensive ones here! Virtual Queues Virtual queues are new ways Disney has implemented in order to experience the newest, highest in demand attractions! Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Currently, two attractions are utilizing a virtual queue system: Tron: Lightcycle / Run and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind! If you are looking to experience these attractions, knowing that the virtual queue system is in use is important! TRON Lightcycle / Run The 7am reservation window can easily be missed if you forget about it and your virtual queue reservation is not fast access and has a window of return! We’ve got a virtual queue guide here! Journey of Water What could stress your vacation out more is the 1pm window! You HAVE to be in the park that has the attraction you’re trying to reserve a virtual queue for. So if you want to ride Tron but have an EPCOT dining reservation at 12:50p, you won’t be able to reserve the virtual queue unless you’re in Magic Kingdom! That’s it! This is a list of some of the rules that could cause a headache for you on your next trip if you’re not aware of them! We want to keep you as informed as possible for your trips so stay tuned to Disney Food Blog for more tips! News on THIS Disney Festival! 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 rules do you think could cause trouble on your Disney vacation? Let us know below! The post These 3 Disney World Rules May Ruin Your Day! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts might be over for 2024, but that doesn’t mean we had to say goodbye to EVERYTHING from it! Swirled Showcase While we were sad to see EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts come to an end, we were even more sad to say goodbye to some of our favorite eats and treats that came out of the festival. Luckily though, we spotted a festival favorite that seems to be sticking around a tad longer — and we were so excited to spot it! While venturing around EPCOT we decided to stop and take a look at what was on the menu at Swirled Showcase. Originally, this booth debuted in 2023 and featured a wide variety of frozen treats that celebrated Disney’s 100th anniversary. Let’s check it out! Since then, it’s switched up menu items a few times with changing festivals but one of the BEST offerings we’ve tried from this booth debuted during EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts this year. We thought for sure the Fanta Strawberry Float with Cupcake Soft Serve was gone as well, but when we took a closer look we were shocked! Fanta Strawberry Float with Cupcake Soft Serve It seems this sweet delight has survived the festival closing and lived to tell the tale! It was an absolute hit with us during the Festival of the Arts. It’s a simple ice cream float made just like it sounds — cupcake-flavored soft serve ice cream paired with strawberry-flavored Fanta soda and it was delicious! This treat appears to be around for at least few more days (however, we’re not certain what the future holds for it once EPCOT’s Flower & Garden Festival starts on February 28th). We’re always keeping up with the latest Disney menu changes and updates so be sure to stay tuned with us for the latest! REVIEW: Somebody Call Gwen Stefani. This NEW Disney Treat Is B-A-N-A-N-A-S! 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! The post SURPRISE! You Can Still Get One of Our Favorite Festival of the Arts Treats in EPCOT! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

BIG change is on the horizon for McDonald’s! ©McDonald’s WcDonald’s Logo McDonald’s just made history with its first spin-off restaurant and menu that offered quite an array of weird menu items. We’ve also learned of new cartoon character-inspired Happy Meal toys that are coming soon for the popular fast-food restaurant. But, Disney doesn’t seem to be the only fandom that McDonald’s is interested in tapping into and now we’re getting our first peek at it brought to life! McDonald’s is ready to embrace its (once) fan-fiction alter ego and make it a reality. Fans have long been making artistic renderings of what an Anime-stylized McDonald’s would look like, and it seems to have caught McDonald’s attention. YUM McDonald’s has set its sights on embracing the long-documented play on its brand, “WcDonald’s”, prominently featured in Japanese Anime and Manga movies, shows, and graphic novels. The now recognizable “WcDonald’s” was inspired by the popular fast food chain as a way to work it cleverly into their storylines. ©McDonald’s Starting on February 26th, 2024, more than 30 markets around the world, will debut this new vision for the brand and unleash the WcDonald’s universe into the McDonald’s menu offerings featuring a new sauce, manga-inspired packaging, episodic shorts, and so much more. In a statement released by McDonald’s, the restaurant hopes the addition of the WcDonald’s universe would be “a reflection of what fans have created. It honors their vision and celebrates their creativity, while authentically bringing it to life in our restaurants for the first time ever.” One of the most anticipated offerings to debut will be the Savory Chili WcDonald’s Sauce. This sauce will only be offered for a limited time and will combine ginger, garlic, and soy with a low heat from chili flakes (and based on that description alone we’re excited to try it!). ©McDonald’s One of the biggest surprises to come out of this collaboration is that McDonald’s teamed up with well-known Japanese Manga Artist Acky Bright when designing the WcDonald’s packaging for the release. During the WcDonald’s limited-time run, customers will be served with manga-inspired packaging complete with WcDonald’s employees created from Acky’s own sketches. ©McDonald’s But that’s not all! Anime fans will also be able to scan the code on the new packaging that will access weekly digital manga drops. These digital surprises will feature a full casting of WcDonald’s customers and employees like Hashirune, Mr. Bev, and WcDizer 3000. ©McDonald’s When Bright was asked about the experience of creating this universe with McDonald’s it seemed he really enjoyed the creative process of working alongside the beloved brand. He said, “I loved being able to use my artwork to bring to life the dynamic, vibrant world of WcDonald’s for people around the world.” Here are the details on the anime shorts that will be released: The Race to WcDonald’s (drops Feb. 26): A rivalry strong enough to withstand the test of time as our two heroes embark on an epic race to WcDonald’s. Love from Across the Booth (drops March 4): Our two protagonists discover the WcDonald’s Sauce and WcNuggets aren’t the only perfect pairing. WcNuggets Space Frontier 3000 (drops March 11): A team of WcDonald’s pilots must protect the last WcNugget against an ominous force. The Wisdom of the Sauce (drops March 18): Three women are transported to a distant land to unravel the mystery surrounding the elusive sauce before it’s gone forever. We’ll be keeping a close eye on this release and how well this new sauce is received with the WcDonald’s limited-time run, so be sure to stay tuned with us for the latest updates! McDonald’s Just Announced Its SPICIEST Menu Item Yet, But There’s a Catch! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What are your thoughts on the new packet designs? Leave us your thoughts below! The post NEWS: McDonald's Releases Anime-Inspired Menu and "WcDonald's" Shorts first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Our new planDisney Podcast episode is covering top experiences for older kids at Walt Disney World Resort!View the full article

Some of the most popular rides in Disney World don’t have a standby line AT ALL. So HOW can you ride them? TRON Lightcycle / Run The answer is virtual queues! For TRON Lightcycle / Run and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, you cannot physically stand in line — you must either use the virtual queue or purchase an Individual Lightning Lane. If you’re going to go with the FREE option (the virtual queue), there are four important rules that you need to know! First, let’s go over the basics of virtual queues, and then we’ll get to the rules. What Is a Virtual Queue and Where Do I Use Them? Disney World uses virtual queues to manage high demand for super popular rides and experiences. Basically, you’ll join a queue on the My Disney Experience app instead of actually standing in line in person. TRON When you join a virtual queue, you’re virtually reserving your space in line, and that reserved space is referred to as a boarding pass, which is used within an assigned boarding group. So you might be assigned boarding group 72, and you’ll be called back to go to the ride as part of boarding group 70-79. If a ride has a virtual queue, that means there is NOT a traditional standby line. Getting that boarding group is super important! TRON Lighting Lane You can only get in a certain ride’s virtual queue ONCE. You can get in the virtual queue for multiple rides, but not twice for the same ride. You can also only be in one virtual queue at a time; for example, you couldn’t be in both the TRON virtual queue and the Cosmic Rewind virtual queue at the same time. You have to wait until you’ve ridden one to book the other. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Currently, only Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT and TRON Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom use virtual queues, but we have also seen virtual queues used for seasonal offerings, such as runDisney Race Weekend merchandise at the Fitness Expo and other select merchandise events, and even Meet-and-Greets with Santa Claus during the Holiday Season! How To Use Virtual Queues First, make sure you’ve got your account set up on the My Disney Experience app. You must have your admission tickets linked on the app (along with park pass reservations if you don’t have a date-based ticket), and make sure you’re linked to any family and friends who are visiting at the same time and want to join the virtual queue together with you. My Disney Experience app There’s a very important step you should take BEFORE it’s time to join the virtual queue. Up to an hour before the virtual queue opens, you can confirm your party in the app. This will make things go faster when it’s time to join! Starting at 6AM, you can go to the virtual queue section in the My Disney Experience app and confirm your party so that you don’t have to worry about that when the virtual queues open at 7AM and 1PM. You’ll pick the ride you want, click “join virtual queue,” and then click “confirm your party.” TRON Lightcycle / Run Virtual Queue At this point, you can choose from the list of family and friends who are linked to your account. Make your selections and then click “confirm party.” The first virtual queues open at exactly 7AM EST. You do NOT have to be inside the park to join the 7AM queues. Click the “join virtual queue” button on the home screen of the app. (Or, if you’ve already confirmed your party, you can just refresh that screen.) Virtual Queue Prompt on My Disney Experience Home Screen You’ll be directed to answer a few questions, and then you can join the queue and secure your boarding pass. Boarding passes often run out in under a minute, so make sure you’re ready to join at EXACTLY 7AM. The app will let you know right away if you’ve successfully joined the virtual queue, and it will tell you your assigned boarding pass number. TRON Lightcycle / Run Virtual Queue Throughout the day, you can check to see which groups are currently boarding so you get a better idea of when your group might be called back to go on the ride. You will get a push notification from the app once your group is called, as long as you’ve enabled notifications for the My Disney Experience app. You might also see an estimated return time on the app. Once your boarding group is called, you will have one hour to return to the attraction. Disney is sometimes very strict about those return times, so make sure you have a plan to be on time. Keep in mind that you will still have to wait in line once you return with your boarding pass — that line will be made up of everyone in your boarding group and can still take about an hour or even more on particularly busy days. ©Disney If the 7AM virtual queue fills up too quickly for you to grab a spot, try again at 1PM. Additional virtual queue spots open at that time, but you must be INSIDE the park to join this virtual queue. For Cosmic Rewind, you must be inside EPCOT, and for TRON, you must be inside Magic Kingdom. Here’s a bonus tip! Virtual queues open at 7AM and 1PM for all guests, but there’s a THIRD opportunity for any guests who are eligible to attend Extended Evening Hours on select dates in EPCOT and Magic Kingdom. This third virtual queue opens at 6PM, and you do NOT have to be inside the right park in order to join. Cosmic Rewind So, to sum up, you DO have to be inside the correct park to join the 1PM virtual queues, but you DON’T have to be inside the park for the 7AM or 6PM virtual queues. If the virtual queues don’t work out for you or if it just sounds too stressful, you can purchase an Individual Lightning Lane through Disney Genie+. This is a pay-per-ride service that allows you to bypass the virtual queue line and enter the Lightning Lane instead. This system secures your spot and gets you on the ride faster than the virtual queue does, but unlike the virtual queue, it is not free. Click here to learn more about Individual Lightning Lanes and how to use them. 4 Important Rules for Virtual Queues Now that you’ve got the basics down, here are some of the most important RULES about virtual queues: You Must Have Your Tickets Linked in the App to Join the Queue To join a virtual queue, your information must be up to date in the My Disney Experience app. You can link your own tickets by logging into your My Disney Experience account on the app and then opening the menu by clicking the three stacked horizontal lines in the bottom right-hand corner. From there, click “Tickets and Passes,” and then click “Link Tickets and Passes” (in the upper right-hand corner). Enter the ticket ID code from the confirmation email (which you should’ve received at the time of your purchase), click submit, and you’re good to go. Disney World Theme Park Ticket Cards You must also be linked to any other people in your group who want to join the virtual queue with you. To do this, go to the main menu (those three stacked horizontal lines), scroll past the tiles, and click “My Profile.” Click “Family and Friends List” at the top, and this will pull up a list of people who are on your list already. You can click “Add a Guest” at the bottom of that list and then either find their name, enter their name or age, or scan their linking code. Linking codes are found under “My Profile” at the bottom of that main menu. You Must Be INSIDE the Park for the 1PM Virtual Queues Of the three possible virtual queues at 7AM, 1PM, and 6PM (that 6PM one is only open to guests who qualify to attend Extended Evening Hours), the only one that requires you to be INSIDE the park in order to join is the 1PM queue. Magic Kingdom For the 7AM queue, you can join from your hotel room or anywhere else, and the same goes for the 6PM one. For the 1PM queue, you must be physically inside the correct park, meaning you’ve scanned in at the entrance. EPCOT For the Cosmic Rewind queue, you must be in EPCOT, and for the TRON Lightcycle / Run queue, you must be in Magic Kingdom. You Can Only Be in ONE Ride Virtual Queue at a Time Although two popular rides have virtual queues in Disney World, you can only be in one queue at a time. You’ll have to choose either TRON or Cosmic Rewind to prioritize in the morning. You can get in more than one virtual queue in a day, but you can’t join the second one if you’re still in the first one. TRON Lightcycle / Run So, if you get in the TRON virtual queue in the morning and get called back and ride the attraction before 1PM, you could hop over to EPCOT and join the 1PM virtual queue for Cosmic Rewind (don’t forget you have to physically be inside EPCOT to join at 1PM!). Cosmic Rewind queue However, if you join the TRON virtual queue at 7AM but don’t get called back by 1PM (so you’re still waiting in the virtual queue), you won’t be able to join the Cosmic Rewind virtual queue until after you’ve ridden TRON. TRON You CAN hold multiple boarding groups if one of them is for a non-ride experience. Disney sometimes has virtual queues for merchandise events, so when something like that is available, you could be in one ride virtual queue and one merchandise virtual queue at the same time. You Must Be ON TIME When Returning Once Your Group Is Called This is probably the most important rule when it comes to virtual queues. When your boarding group is called, you’ll have one hour to get back to the attraction to ride it. Seriously, make sure you’re on time! Cosmic Rewind If you’re a little bit late, you should still ask if it’s possible for you to get on the ride, and they might let you in, but there’s no guarantee that you’ll be let in if your return window has expired. The only way to make sure you get on is to be there on time. So if you’re in a virtual queue, keep an eye on the updates in the app and plan to be close by when your group is called. An hour is enough time to get just about anywhere inside one individual park, but you won’t want to be all the way over in Animal Kingdom when your TRON group is called in Magic Kingdom — You likely just won’t have enough time to get back when you factor in the time it takes to wait for a bus, ride over, get through the entrance, and walk to the ride. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind This can be kind of tricky because, when you join the virtual queue, you don’t get to know exactly when your boarding group will be called. Disney doesn’t give you a specific time because they don’t know exactly how long it’ll take either, but you can estimate based on which groups are being called at any given moment. I have canceled dining reservations before when I thought it would be cutting it too close to my virtual queue call time because I wanted to prioritize the ride over the meal and didn’t want to miss my chance to ride. For that reason, I usually don’t make dining reservations in the middle of the day when I know I want to be in a virtual queue that same day. So when I want to ride TRON, I’ll make a dining reservation for later in the evening instead of lunchtime so that my availability is open for most of the day, just in case the virtual queue callback time is right around when my lunch dining reservation would’ve been. TRON The only way to schedule a specific time for Cosmic Rewind or TRON is to purchase an Individual Lightning Lane instead of getting in the free virtual queue. For those Lightning Lanes, you get to pick your return time. Stay tuned to DFB for more updates on the latest news and tips for planning your next vacation! Click here to learn about Lightning Lanes in Disney World. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Do you use virtual queues in Disney World? Let us know what you think of them in the comments! The post 4 Rules You Need To Know Before You Use Virtual Queues in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We always try to give ample warnings before holiday weekends at Disney World. Main Street, U.S.A. As much as we expect the bustling crowds and high wait times to hit hard during holiday weekends and the following days, sometimes it packs just as hard of a punch although we expect it. Sometimes, it happens when we LEAST expect it. This happened to us on Wednesday, February 21st. President’s Day was two days ago, and the parks were relatively empty. However, crowds slowly started entering the park throughout the week, probably due to the upcoming Princess Half Marathon Weekend. We were visiting Magic Kingdom on Wednesday, and we suspected that it would be a busy day long before we even entered the park. Let’s talk about it! To start, we realized that Genie+ was sold out for Magic Kingdom and for the Multi-Park option. ©Disney That’s not all, though. Every single ride that offers Individual Lightning Lanes (TRON Lightcycle Run, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Avatar: Flight of Passage, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance) were also totally sold out. So, it’s safe to say that we were bracing ourselves for the impact of some serious CROWDS. Sure enough, we were met with those crowds the moment we hopped aboard the tram at the Magic Kingdom parking lot. Tram crowds The security lines at the Transportation and Ticket Center were also busy. Security When we arrived to Magic Kingdom, we could hardly see the ground it was so packed. Like, look at this sea of people! Arriving to Magic Kingdom Now, get ready, because what we’re about to show you might be triggering. Okay. Here goes: Main Street, U.S.A. YEP. That’s what Main Street, U.S.A. looked like on February 21st. It didn’t get much better as we walked around Magic Kingdom, though. Usually, the crowds disperse once we head into each of the lands, but that was not the case. Here’s a look at Tomorrowland: Tomorrowland Check out this line for the PeopleMover! https://twitter.com/DisneyFoodBlog/status/1760346429216739777/video/1 Over in Fantasyland, we saw some of the highest wait times in the park! Seven Dwarfs Mine Train was at 130 minutes. ©Disney The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is often a walk-on, but was at 55 minutes. Yikes. Fantasyland In Liberty Square, we almost lost our breakfast. HELP. WE’RE LOST IN A SEA OF PEOPLE. WHAT IS THIS PLACE In Frontierland, things weren’t much better. There were definitely a lot of folks ready to ride Big Thunder Mountain. Big Thunder Mountain Moving through Adventureland and back to the front of the park, we were pretty shellshocked by these crowds. If you’ll find yourself in Magic Kingdom today, GOOD LUCK. The Hub area We’re at Disney World every single day, bringing you the latest updates and Disney news. Make sure to follow along so that you’re always in the loop! Click here for more Disney World 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 Are you at Disney World right now? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney World Is PACKED on a Random Wednesday in February, and We Think We Know WHY first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

What do you think of when we say “Disney adults?” Magic Kingdom Granted, if you’re reading this, you probably ARE a Disney adult, and you get it. You aren’t going to judge someone for how many times they go to Disney World or Disneyland, you understand Disneybounding (even when you’re not in the parks), and you probably have your own collection of things like Disney pins, Loungeflys, Funko Pops!, and more. But so many folks think that Disney Adults are cringe. Well, we’ve done some research and we’ll just let you know now: Disney adults are ELITE. So we’re not saying that without bringing in the receipts, so we’re offering proof that being a Disney adult is where it’s at (yes, that’s a partial Aristocats quote…). Disney Adults can easily suspend disbelief The beauty of being a Disney Adult is that when we walk through the park gates and we find ourselves on Main Street, U.S.A., we suddenly believe in magic because we’re surrounded by it. Yes, we know that’s a person in a Mickey costume, but we’re able to forget that for a little while and tap into our inner child and just believe that Mickey is real (because he is). We can believe that Mickey Mouse is real You know what? Being able to believe in magic makes us happy, and everyone should strive to be happy, right? That’s what makes us so special. We believe that glitter sprinkled on us is actual pixie dust and we believe that life can end with a Happily Ever After, just like the end of a day at Magic Kingdom. We’ve Ridden EVERY Magic Kingdom Ride. These Are the BEST. It’s kind of like a religion So that ties into our next point: being a Disney Adult is sort of like a religion. No, really! Religion scholars have been studying Disney fans since the 1980s. According to NBC News, the idea is that religion isn’t just about a belief system, but also about a “network of relationships between heaven and earth involving people of all ages as well as the different sacred figures they hold dear,” at least according to religious studies scholar Robert Orsi. Hmmm…that sounds like what we’re doing, right? Goofy But there’s also this, religions indulge in practices that “intensify joy and confront suffering.” Well, that happens in Disney Parks all over the world, on our TV screens, on the movie screens, and even in games for Disney Fans EVERY day. 7 Secrets Only Disney Adults Know — Do You? Disney Adults are healing their inner child Not ALL Disney Adults had rough childhoods, but many did. Some just didn’t have the opportunity to visit Disney World when they were kids and are making up for lost time. Others are living out a childhood that they never got to experience. We’re not joking when many of us say that Disney is therapy for us. According to Bustle, Disney offers safety and innocence, and for many of us, we need more of that in our lives. “When in childhood we don’t get our needs met, it’s not uncommon for us to try and meet those needs in adulthood,” Amber Sargeant, a registered psychologist, said. Mad Tea Party helps us get in touch with our inner child Sometimes it’s about capturing the pure bliss of youth, without worrying about the world, bills, and all the other hassles that come with adulting. Disney is a coping mechanism that helps many of us stay sane in a world that often is not. 6 Oddball Souvenirs Disney Adults Love Disney Parks are a nostalgic refuge The world is constantly changing, sometimes way too fast for us to ever keep up. But Disney Parks are built with things that (more or less) stay the same, according to the L.A. Times. Erica Hepper, a lecturer of psychology at the University of Surrey in England, says that “Visiting Disney parks allows people to indulge their nostalgia by immersing themselves in this reliable world filled with familiar colors, characters, smells and music.” Cinderella Castle This creates a “nostalgic refuge” that we can revisit over and over when we need some stability in our lives. Of course, Disney knows this and uses this in its marketing to keep us coming back. According to Melanie English, a licensed clinical psychologist in Seattle, “Disney is absolutely special in creating smells, foods, experiences and merchandise that pair very well together. Collectively, this brings people back to their parks — and with joy.” Yep, we’re totally okay with this. Think about it: we can just say “Pirates of the Caribbean” and we BET you can smell that bromine in your imagination. 5 Disney Smells Our Readers Will NEVER Forget It makes us more human To quote Sarah Gilliland, who wrote about being a Disney Adult for Business Insider, “Being passionate about something is part of the human experience.” If we didn’t feel passionate about things, how boring would life be? We are wired to crave something to be passionate about and to share that passion with others. Moana That passion can also bring us closer to our families and friends because we can engage in that passion with them. What’s better than being in Disney World with people you love? Most Disney Adults Won’t Admit This Trade Secret, But It’s True So the next time someone calls you a Disney Adult with ridicule, just smile and say “thank you,” because it’s a compliment. You are part of an elite group of people who know how to find joy in a world that’s often devoid of it. Keep dreaming, Disney Adults. Why Disney Adults Are More Powerful Than You Think 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 being a Disney Adult? Let us know in the comments! The post Is This PROOF that Disney Adults Are Elite? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Easter egg displays and the Grand Cottage returning March 3 to Walt Disney World Resort!View the full article

Cast Members are known for making magic for guests each day. Cast Members truly add that extra touch of pixie dust! Cast Members in EPCOT The Disney Food Blog team just happens to be full of past Disney Cast Members. We recently have asked our team about their regrets while working as a Cast Member. We reached out to our resident Cast Member alumni to tell us about their confessions from when they used to work at Disney World! From confessions about which snacks got Cast Members through their shifts to working late hours, we compiled a list of eight confessions of former Disney Cast Members! Cast Members create magic Disney is known for having iconic snacks and food offerings. Like we always say Food IS a Theme Park! Past Cast Members can agree with this statement. A former Cast Member told us that when they worked at the French Quarter, they would get beignets after their shift. When they had to clock in in the early hours of the morning, they knew they would have a treat waiting for them once their shift was over! The perfect treat after a shift Another former Cast Member confessed that after their shifts were done, they would order a cinnamon roll from Gaston’s Tavern to go, that way they would have breakfast for the next morning! Delicious breakfast You might be wondering how Cast Members can snag these treats before or during their shift. Multiple Cast Members have confessed to bringing street clothes to put over their costumes. Some Cast Members are allowed to get food on stage during their breaks as long as they are not in full costume. Cast Members We would totally do the same thing if it meant getting to have fun Disney treats on a break! Working early and late hours are all part of the job when you work at Disney World. Cast Members who work night hours might get home late, but it is not all that bad! One Cast Member told us that they actually liked working night shifts because it meant that they could walk in an empty park! EPCOT at night Working at the parks at night might mean that you get to see a nighttime spectacular! One Cast Member confessed that while working in Hollywood Studios they would stay on stage after they had clocked out to hear the music from Fantasmic! Fantasmic! Continuing on with nighttime entertainment, another Cast Member told us that they would watch the Magic Kingdom’s fireworks from the tables at Gaston’s Tavern. What a magical addition to a shift! Gaston’s Tavern While Cast Members love to help guests, they also like to be guests! One former Cast Member told us that they would go play in the parks before their shift. To make it to work on time, they would carry their costume with them! EPCOT Cast Members As we know from the last confession, Cast Members like to visit and work in the parks but, sometimes they are ready to go home. After shifts, one Cast Member confessed that they would run through the Utilidors to catch the bus. ©Disney | Obtained via News 6 Orlando We are grateful to the Cast Members who shared their confessions and let us in on what life was like as a Cast Member. How to Become a Cast Member’s Favorite Guest! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Are you a previous Cast Member? Drop one of your Cast Member confessions below!The post 8 Confessions of a Former Disney Cast Member first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney foodies, we may have just bought extra time for one of our newest favorite treats in Disney World! Beignets in Magic Kingdom From time to time, Disney releases full foodie lineups that will make your mouth water… with a catch! Most of these delectable bites only run for a limited time at Disney World until they’re (usually) gone for a while. However, it seems that one of these recent releases has been such a hit that Disney has decided to EXTEND its stay in Magic Kingdom for a few more weeks! Not too long ago, we caught our first taste of beignets in Magic Kingdom for the Celebrate Soulfully release of eats and treats. These powdered puffs were exclusive to the Magic Kingdom’s Golden Oak Outpost snack stand and were initially teased as only being offered through the celebration during February however, Disney has just confirmed that timeline is CHANGING! Croissant Beignets at Golden Oak Outpost Disney just released the full lineup of food and treats that they’re releasing for Women’s Month which will run throughout March and interestingly enough, we spotted the same beignets listed once again! Flaky beignets These flaky, bite-size, pillowy treats are served with strawberry dipping sauce and are more consistent with croissant bread than a traditional New Orleans-style beignet. They’ll be available during the operating hours for this restaurant (which typically closes before the park does) so if you’re looking to try them out on your next visit, you’ll want to double-check the hours before you arrive. We’re always talking about the latest food to hit the scene and menu changes happening around Disney so be sure to stay tuned with us for the latest! REVIEW: Savory Churros and Soda-Infused Cinnamon Rolls?! A NEW Snack Stand Is OPEN 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 Will you be trying out these treats now that they’ll be extended for their limited-time run? Tell us why or why not in the comments below! The post CONFIRMED: You Can Still Buy BEIGNETS in Magic Kingdom for a Few More Weeks! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

I still can’t believe all of THESE snacks exist inside Disney World — and are available for YOU to buy and try on your next trip! Patisserie a L’abricot You never know what you’re gonna find, and we’re pulling back the curtain on some seriously ridiculous snacks today. Check out our video below: DFB Video: Ridiculous Disney World Snacks  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 restaurant in Disney’s Animal Kingdom? Let us know in the comments. The post DFB Video: Ridiculous Disney World Snacks first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Must Do Experiences For Tweens & Teens | planDisney Podcast – Season 3 Episode 2View the full article

Alright Disney fans, we’ve got some divisive news to report so LISTEN UP! Soarin’ We’re no strangers to Disney rides and attractions going out of service, being taken out completely, and teasing us with testing rides to be open soon like we’ve recently seen with Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. When news initially broke that Disney would be bringing Soarin’ Over California BACK to Disney World for a limited-time run to celebrate Disney’s 100th anniversary, we never guessed it would have lasted this long. But for the fans of this version of the popular attraction, we’ve got major news to share! Super fans of the former Soarin’ attraction’s original form, Soarin’ Over California, have been living in the nostalgic Disney days since it was brought back for Disney’s 100th anniversary celebration. While we’ve seen other anniversary celebration offerings come and go (especially in EPCOT), this was one change that seemed to stick around a tad longer than we anticipated. However, if you’re a fan of this version of the attraction, it seems our luck may have run out! Golden Gate Bridge We’ve recently noticed that some of the iconic smells from this version of the ride (mainly the orange grove scent) seemed to be spotty over the last several weeks. This sparked an internal question among our team of whether this could spell the beginning of the end for the limited-time run. Now it seems that Disney has confirmed that Soarin’ Over California will end date February 27th, 2024, and will return to Soarin’ Around The World on February 28th, 2024. Soarin’ Around the World We thought this was interesting that the changeover will happen the day that EPCOT’s newest seasonal festival will begin for EPCOT’s Flower & Garden Festival. So, it appears there’s only a few days left to enjoy this attraction in its beloved version without traveling out to Disneyland. It’s unclear how smooth this departure for Soarin’ Over California will look in its final days at Disney World but if you’re a fan of the former version of the ride, you’ll want to get out to ride it soon! It’s Tough to Be… Hopper? There’s a MISSING Animatronic at a Popular Disney World Spot 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 miss Soarin’ Over California at Disney World? Tell us which version of Soarin’ you like best in the comments below! The post BREAKING: Soarin' Over California ENDING in Disney World Next Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Several huge changes are coming to Disney World! EPCOT We’re watching construction progress on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Magic Kingdom and seeing things move along at the new Disney Vacation Club tower coming to the Polynesian Village Resort. But on top of that, there are several changes coming soon that nobody seems to be talking about! Test Track Revamp Back in September 2023, Disney World announced that Test Track will be getting some changes at EPCOT. The updated version of the ride with take inspiration from EPCOT’s old World of Motion attraction! ©Disney In fact, Disney explained, “Imagineers along with teams from Chevrolet are reaching back into history for inspiration – from the original World of Motion – and bringing that spirit of optimism to the next iteration of the Test Track attraction!” The company hasn’t given a timeline on when this makeover will take place, but we’re on the lookout for more details. Click Here to Learn More About the Update! Character Changes at 1900 Park Fare Many fans were excited to learn that 1900 Park Fare is finally reopening at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort after a four-year closure. And along with the reopening, we’ll be getting some NEW characters in the restaurant — Aladdin, Mirabel, Tiana, and Cinderella (she’s the only one that was there previously). ©Disney But one thing that people haven’t been talking about as much is the characters we’ll be MISSING with this update. Back before 1900 Park Fare closed for the pandemic, diners could enjoy the Supercalifragilistic Breakfast — this allowed folks to dine and eat with characters like Mary Poppins, Cinderella, Prince Charming, and Winnie the Pooh. With the updates, there aren’t any character meals in Disney World where you can meet Prince Charming or Mary Poppins! Click Here to Learn More About the Changes Coming to 1900 Park Fare! NBA Experience Changes Back in 2019, Disney Springs opened the NBA Experience in the former home of DisneyQuest. The new offering didn’t last very long, however, as it closed permanently with the pandemic, and the building has remained vacant ever since. Empty Space Recently, Disney filed a permit for demolition at the old NBA Experience location. Does this mean that something new could be coming to this spot in the near future? We’re excited to find out! Click Here to Learn More About the Permit! It’s Tough to Be a Bug Closing Finally, let’s talk about a big change coming to Animal Kingdom that hasn’t gotten a lot of attention — It’s Tough to Be a Bug is closing in the Tree of Life Theater and will be replaced with a Zootopia show! Disney said this show will be filled with humor and action. ©Disney Disney’s current concept for the new Zootopia experience will take guests through the different biomes you only glimpse in the movie, traveling along with Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde, and other characters. Click Here to Learn More About the Zootopia Show! So we’ve got a lot of updates to look forward to in the coming months and years! We’ll keep our eyes peeled for more information on these projects, so stay tuned to DFB for the latest. Why Your 2025 Disney World Trip Will Be Dramatically Different! 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 upcoming change are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments! The post 4 HUGE Disney World Announcements That Are Flying Under the Radar (But Shouldn't Be) first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article