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No one likes to admit when they’re wrong, but we’re here to call you out on rules you’ve been breaking every day at Disney World. It’s Stitch! You’ve planned everything from where you’re going to call home during your Disney World vacation to what you’re going to eat but you’ve probably not taken into consideration the actions you choose to take at Disney World that actually break their rules! You’re probably looking around going, “Who, me?,” but we’re fairly confident that we’ve rounded up several Disney rules that you’ve probably broken at least once in a visit … and maybe a few you broke as a child and don’t remember. Let’s take a look at the most common ones we see! We see you, rule-breakers! Don’t Sit Or Swing On Railings, Chains, and Ropes We get it, standing in a tight space with very little to do (or keep your hands busy) can be quite a challenge, and curiosity can get the best of us at times. But we see this very thing happen every day — inevitably, someone, usually a child turns their lean against the railings, ropes, or chains into a sit.. or sometimes a full-on swing. Railings These railings, ropes, and chains aren’t sturdy enough to hold your body weight so the possibility of them collapsing on you is likely. That’s not the only risk though, when you’ve balanced yourself on these the slightest tilt backward or slip of the hand could result in a fall and injury and then your whole vacation could be over in one fail swoop. Balloons (Even Disney Ones) Aren’t Allowed In Animal Kingdom Not everyone realizes this is a rule (or that it’s actually true and not a myth) but it is! Disney’s Animal Kingdom is the one Disney World park where even the balloons THEY sell are not allowed. Balloons Please don’t be offended if you try to enter the park with them wrapped around your wrist or stroller, Disney has more than just your safety in mind with this rule — it’s to protect the animals. With so many creatures, and several of these being winged creatures, lost balloons can very dangrous to their helath. To avoid this from happening, Cast Members will offer to hold your balloon for you at the front of the park for you to reclaim when you’re done visiting for the day. Don’t Wear Crocs On Escalators We bet you’ve probably never noticed the symbols but they’re there … and for good reason. No Crocs allowed! Yes, Crocs shoes are actually not allowed on escalators as they’re a common culprit when the escalators are shut down. Most of the time this isn’t a quick fix and requires extensive work to pry the shredded shoe from the teeth of the escalator stairs as they collapse within each other. STUCK To avoid a catastrophe, and having to purchase another set of shoes immediately, we recommend you take the stairs when wearing your favorite comfy shoes. Don’t Feed The Wildlife It seems like such an innocent act, right? You’re just wanting to help. That duck or bird that’s been hanging around nearby would just look so cute if you threw them a french fry or two to nibble on … but we’re warning you, you’ll be breaking a Disney rule if you do this! Please do not feed the animals Several signs are posted all around Disney World asking you not to feed the wildlife, and while there are extensive reasons for this the main takeaways are: it’s not their natural food and what their bodies are meant to eat; the more it happens the more the animals become dependent on people to feed them and when that intensifies, they could start to take food straight from you when they’re no longer cautious around people. This could look really aggressive if it escalates to this point, so if you enjoy eating your food in peace and not shooing birds away from you constantly like flies, stick to the rules! Don’t Put Your Kid On Your Shoulders This one also seems harmless but not only can it be a real big nuisance to everyone around you it’s completely unsafe. Crowds after fireworks Imagine having to make a quick exit and missing a step up onto the sidewalk or tripping over someone in front of you … what happens to your child then? You guessed it; down they go and gravity is going to gravity. If we’re already telling you injuries can happen from just sitting on the railings, imagine falling from several feet up and trying to avoid an injury. Standing Outside Of The Zones In Pre-Shows This one may seem trivial but it could be very key to the success of attraction. Several of the most recent rides at Disney World have set a high bar in the complicated use of their systems and technology to pull off a flawless experience for you as a rider as is the case for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Inside the Phase Chamber SPOILER ALERT: When stepping into the pre-show scene that will beam you up to the Xandarian spacecraft, the cosmic generator that portals you from Terra (Earth) to their ship won’t work if you’re standing outside of the ring of light in this room. Take a quick moment to glance down and make sure you’re within this circle to keep from delaying the show. Don’t Try To Watch Parades & Fireworks Outside Designated Areas There are probably going to be a lot of people trying to watch the parade and fireworks when they perform, and it’s best to try to grab a spot early. However, if that’s not possible, and you find yourself trying to squeeze into a spot to watch from, remember to stay in the designated areas. Roped off areas While the walkways and side paths may look inviting and super spacious compared to the crowds of people already gathered, they’re empty for a reason. Disney requires walkways and paths to remain open for passers-by or for use in emergencies as quick exit ways. If you notice you’re posted in an area that might feel a little too open, double-check that you’re within the taped-off area in bounds to keep the walkways clear for traffic. Don’t Put Your Kids On Trash Cans It’s bound to be tempting, and you may think you’re actually creating space by doing this but you’d actually be creating a safety hazard. We spot lost items on the trash cans all the time! Whether you’ve placed your child on top of a trash can or they’ve climbed on top of it themselves, this is against Disney rules. You can bet a Cast Member will be by shortly to ask that they come back down quickly and safely. Don’t Run In The Parks Running isn’t allowed in any of the Disney parks, and walking briskly is really pushing it. Crowds Even if you’re not in a full sprint ahead and just speedwalking it could be dangerous to you AND someone else if you were to collide. We’ve even bumped into people just walking before, so we know that having even a bit more force behind it could have serious consequences. Cast Members will politely ask you to refrain from running if you are moving faster than a regular walking stride. Don’t Use Flash Photography Ok, this one we’re giving you a pass on because of technology, right? We’ve done this, too. You’ve upgraded or traded out your phone before taking your big Disney World trip only to discover your flash turns on as soon as you hit the record button. Powerline Max But, this is a big DON’T! Take a few moments to ensure that your flash is disabled before you start taking pictures and videos to keep from distracting or annoying those around you. Don’t Make Noises At The Animals This is a rule we see broken in Disney’s Animal Kingdom all too often, and it can be so easily fixed. We promise though getting that perfect picture or video of an animal looking at you or doing something specific on camera isn’t worth making noises at them to get their attention. Gorilla In fact, what you’re doing is actually creating the opposite effect of the outcome you’re trying to achieve. By making noises and faces at them, some of the animals interpret that as a sign of aggression towards them, and because they’re wild animals that could lead to them attempting to stand their ground and defend their territories and families. Let’s remember they’re just trying to go about their normal day, and when we’re in their home we need to be respectful of it. Don’t Save Spaces You’ve heard it a million times and it was probably one of your favorite things you didn’t see return immediately after the reopening of the Disney parks in 2020, but filling in all of the available space really is a rule. Fill in all available space Truly, Cast Members working the rides and attractions are doing everything they can to keep your wait time down as short as possible and they can only do that by ensuring they’re packing in the rides for a full capacity each time. By leaving space between you and the next party, you’re causing gaps that can increase wait times for everyone, and the ride capacities aren’t as effective anymore. So next time, just move up a step or two. Don’t Record Your Ride Evacuation Showing Backstage Areas This may be the hardest to do in this day and age but we promise it’s one rule that could have grave consequences for your return visit. Evac! If you’ve ever been walked off of a ride (evacuated) and into backstage areas where guests are typically not allowed, it may be fun and thrilling to see what all is behind what’s usually shown to you, but Disney prohibits photos and filming if you happen to wind up in those areas. By showing them, you’re potentially taking away the mystery and image that so many people (especially young kids) subscribe to, and that’s what keeps them coming back for the “magic” of Disney. If you’re caught showing off these areas and breaking these rules it could be grounds for being asked to leave Disney World immediately, so we’re begging you not to take any chances with this. There you have them! These are pretty common rules we’ve seen broken daily but if we’re more cautious about what we’re doing around the parks, we can make different choices the next time around! Be sure to stay tuned with us at Disney Food Blog for the latest in news and updates! 12 Disney Attractions That Had To Close Forever and What Replaced Them 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 broken any of these Disney World rules? Leave us your thoughts in the comments! The post 13 Rules You're Accidentally Breaking in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Flying during the holidays can be stressful. Orlando International Airport From lost luggage to missed flights, there are a lot of things that can go wrong. Unfortunately, these inconveniences aren’t the only thing you have to be careful of. Last week, one family had a much bigger nightmare happen when their unaccompanied child ended up on the wrong plane. According to CBS News, Spirit Airlines is launching an internal investigation after an unaccompanied child was put on the wrong plane last week. The 6-year-old boy was traveling from Philadelphia to Fort Myers to visit his grandmother, Maria Ramos, when he was “incorrectly boarded” on a plane going to Orlando, per a Spirit Airlines spokesman. Spirit Airlines at Orlando Airport Ramos, who said that this was the child’s first time on a plane, was at the airport in Fort Myers waiting for her grandson to arrive. “They told me, ‘No, he’s not on this flight. He missed his flight.’ I said, ‘No, he could not miss his flight because I have the check-in tag,'” Ramos said. “I ran inside the plane to the flight attendant and, I asked her, ‘Where’s my grandson? He was handed over to you at Philadelphia?’ She said, ‘No, I had no kids with me.'” Orlando Airport Later, she got a phone call from the boy in Orlando, wondering where she was. After finding out that he was in Orlando, 160 miles from Fort Myers, she immediately made the 4-hour drive up to get him. Orlando International Airport Terminal C While Ramos is still looking for answers, Spirit Airlines has apologized to the family and has offered to reimburse her for the drive. “The child was always under the care and supervision of a Spirit Team Member, and as soon as we discovered the error, we took immediate steps to communicate with the family and reconnect them,” the airline spokesperson said. Spirit Airlines As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest. NEW Rideshare Policy Creates Chaos at the Orlando International Airport Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Are you traveling over the holidays? Let us know in the comments. The post Airline Launches Internal Investigation After Boy Was Mistakenly Flown to Orlando first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We might be in the throes of all things red, green, and holly jolly, but we know that there are a few of you out there that are already thinking about the next SPOOKY SEASON. Magic Kingdom Yes, we’re sure that some of y’all are counting down the days until you can put your pumpkins back on the porch and start watching all the re-runs of your favorite Halloween specials. And, you might even be planning your trip to Disney World for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. If you’re trying to plan ahead, we’re here to tell you all you need to know as far as TICKET SALES. So, if you’re trying to prepare to snag some tickets, it’s important to know when they go on sale. In 2023, these tickets went on sale on April 27th for those who already had a resort reservation, and May 2nd for every other guest. It’s really not so scary! In 2022, the tickets went on sale on May 12th for those with resort reservations, and May 18th for every other guest. According to PlanDisney (and our experience), these pretty much always got on sale in the spring. Be on the lookout in the spring! So, in late-March or early-April, start watching closely for announcements as to when you can snag your tickets. Balloons from the party Another important thing to note is that some dates sell out faster than others, and some dates are more expensive. The dates that sell out the fastest typically include the very first party date, Halloween night, and even the very last party date even though it’s sometimes the day AFTER Halloween. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party The most expensive nights will usually be weekend tickets and those October dates as Halloween draws near. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Crowds We’ll be sure to keep you updated with more Disney news, so make sure to follow along for more so that you’re always in the loop! Looking for more things to look forward to in 2024? Click here! IT'S SPOOK-TACULAR! Get ready for the spookiest season of the year at Disney World! We are beyond thrilled to announce the arrival of our brand-new guide -- Halloween at Disney World: DFB's Spook-tacular Guide! From the thrills of Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party to the enchanting resort decorations that'll send shivers down your spine, our guide is packed with tips and tricks to help you squeeze every ounce of ghoulish fun out of your visit. Plus, we've got the inside scoop on all the limited-time-only bone-chilling activities happening across the parks! Get the Halloween at Disney World: DFB's Spook-tacular Guide to make your frightfully delightful adventure even more magical! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Halloween at Walt Disney World See EVERYTHING Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Has to Offer Get the Latest Updates on Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 9 Disney Halloween Items You Can Get at Target Right Now Photos AND Reviews: ALL the 2023 Fall and Halloween Treats in Disney World! DFB Video: The ULTIMATE Guide To Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click Here to Subscribe Will you be trying to snag tickets for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party? Let us know in the comments! The post When Will Tickets Go on Sale for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in 2024? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Did someone say that they found a new Loungerfly? For DOGS?! Look at all those bags! Say no more, we’re buying them all. We hold a special place in our hearts for Loungefly bags— they’re cute, comfortable, and can fit more than someone could think! We’ve seen Loungeflys for dogs before, but the cuteness factor never wears off. These bags even come with a special feature that we don’t think we’ve seen on a Loungefly before–keep reading to find out! This new collection features dog-themed bags that are wonderfully adorable. This collection releases on January 2nd, so mark your calendars– you’re going to want these. This collection comes with 3 mini backpacks for you, a wallet, and a mini backpack for your favorite pup! One of them features Lady from Lady and the Tramp, looking precious– as per usual. Keeping on the theme of the Lady and the Tramp, They are also releasing another mini backpack and a matching wallet that features Lady hanging out in the dog house looking as calm and relaxed as ever. The mini backpack for your pup matches the Lady bag, so make sure you get your hands on both so you can twin on your next walk! ©Loungefly A dog wearing a Loungefly! We have one more mini backpack to talk about– and it comes with a special twist. You are able to insert a photo of your dog into this bag so you can bring them wherever you go— HOW COOL IS THAT? We LOVE the idea of being able to show off our furry friends in such a big way. The bag is even shaped like a dog house which is super unique! Pet themed Loungefly bags! We are obsessing over this collection and can’t wait for it to be released next month. Keep checking in with us to see what we find next! How Your Disney Vacation Would CHANGE If You Won the Mega Millions 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 theme do you want to see in the next Loungefly release? Let us know in the comments below! The post Loungefly is Releasing a NEW Collection Next Week -- With a Matching Backpack For Your Dog! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney California Adventure might be Disneyland’s younger sibling, but that doesn’t mean its rides, restaurants, and experiences pale in comparison. In fact, there are parts about DCA you may like even BETTER than what you’ll find next door. Disney California Adventure So… are you ready to learn EVERYTHING you can about this Cali-centric park? Because that’s EXACTLY what we’re doing TODAY, here on DFB Guide. Check out our video below: The ULTIMATE Guide to Disney California Adventure in 2024 Are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes! And stay tuned for more Disney news! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What’s your favorite thing to do in Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Let us know in the comments. The post DFB Video: The ULTIMATE Guide to Disney California Adventure in 2024 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Are you gearing up for a 2024 Disney World trip? Watch out for some huge CHANGES that will affect the parks and hotels next year! Magic Kingdom The Disney Dining Plan is coming back, Park Hopping rules are changing, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Let’s dig into all the BIG CHANGES at Disney World in 2024. Resort-Wide Disney Dining Plan One of the BIGGEST changes in 2024 is that the Disney Dining Plan will be returning on January 9th. If you’re not familiar with Disney Dining Plans, they’re essentially a way to pre-pay for your meals and snacks in Disney World. You can purchase them as part of a vacation package. Full spread from The Plaza Even though we’ve seen up to four different plans available in Disney World, only two plans are returning in 2024: the Standard Dining Plan and the Quick Service Dining Plan. Click here to see a list of ALL the Disney World restaurants participating in the Disney Dining Plan. Click here to learn all about the Disney Dining Plan! New Park Pass Reservation Rules Right now, if you want to go inside a Disney World theme park, you must have a Park Pass Reservation in addition to your ticket. However, that will change on January 9th! Starting on that day, Park Pass Reservations will NOT be required for those who have date-based tickets. This means that guests who buy theme park tickets tied to specific dates will not need to make a reservation. Scanning in! Guests with tickets that are not based on specific dates will still need to make Park Pass Reservations. This includes Annual Passholders (unless you’re visiting the parks after 2PM), Cast Members, and other non-date-based ticket types. Learn all about Park Pass Reservations here! “Good to Go” Days for Annual Passholders Even though Annual Passholders will usually still need to make Park Pass Reservations, there’s another way they can get around this rule (besides just visiting after 2PM): “Good to Go” days! Disney will introduce “Good to Go” days for Annual Passholders and Cast Members in 2024. On these days, Passholders and Cast Members will be able to enter the parks without a Park Pass Reservation. Disney World Annual Pass These “Good to Go” days will start in January. Keep an eye on the Annual Pass and Cast Member calendars to find out when they’ll take place. Click here for more details about “Good to Go” days. Park Hopping Rule Change Beginning January 9th, 2024, all-day Park Hopping is finally coming back! Anyone who has a park ticket with Park Hopper or an Annual Pass can visit another theme park at any time of day during park hours. Hollywood Studios Ever since Park Hopper returned in 2021, it’s been limited to after 2PM each day. That restriction will end on January 9th. Learn more about Park Hopper here! Genie+ Changes There are some big Genie+ changes in the works for 2024! Disney has heard guests saying they wish they could “plan with Disney Genie+ service and Individual Lightning Lane selections before the day of their park visit.” Disney shared that they’re “working on ways guests may do this for visits in 2024.” Disney Genie Pamphlet Currently, you cannot buy Genie+ or make Lightning Lane reservations before the day of your visit. Genie+ becomes available at midnight each day, and Lightning Lane reservations can be made starting at 7AM each day. Using Genie+ Disney’s goal is apparently to “give you the opportunity to spend less time planning in the park and more time enjoying your visit with friends and family.” Could we see some options for planning ahead with Genie+ soon? We’ll have to wait and see! Click here for our ultimate guide to Genie, Genie+, and Individual Lightning Lanes. Magic Kingdom Tiana’s Bayou Adventure A new ride is coming to Magic Kingdom! Splash Mountain closed in early 2023 to make way for a NEW ride themed to Disney’s animated film The Princess and the Frog. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure The new attraction is called Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and is set to take visitors through the bayous of Louisiana to help Tiana with her new business endeavor, Tiana’s Foods. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Concept Art ©Disney The ride will bring in existing characters from The Princess and the Frog, as well as introduce some new characters. It’s set to open in late 2024. Learn more about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure here! EPCOT CommuniCore Hall and Plaza Originally, Disney said that the entire EPCOT transformation would be finished in December 2023. However, a couple of projects seem to be running behind schedule. EPCOT CommuniCore Hall and Plaza in World Celebration will open in 2024. These new areas will serve as a “home base” for the rotating EPCOT festivals throughout the year! ©Disney CommuniCore Plaza will provide an outdoor space where guests can come to relax and experience all that the Festivals have to offer. CommuniCore Plaza ©Disney CommuniCore Hall will be housed within the plaza and will be the first fully-purpose-built structure in Festival programming! The hall will boast a demonstration kitchen, a mixology bar, and exhibition and gallery space. Communicore Hall ©Disney In addition to providing dedicated spaces for EPCOT’s seasonal Festivals, CommuniCore Hall will also be the location of a new Mickey & Friends meet-and-greet. The World Celebration Gardens and Walt the Dreamer statue have already opened in EPCOT. Click here to learn more about the CommuniCore areas. Disney’s Hollywood Studios New Scenes in Star Tours Star Tours is going to get a major update in Disney’s Hollywood Studios! AT-AT at Star Tours in Disney’s Hollywood Studios The new version of the ride will feature scenes from Ahsoka, an original series on Disney+. These new scenes are set to debut in the Spring of 2024. Learn more about the Star Tours changes here! Disney World Hotels Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort New Disney Vacation Club villas are currently under construction at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. The new villas are set to open sometime in 2024. ©Disney The new rooms will feature waterfront views with most, if not all, also offering balconies. DVC construction is ongoing The new structure will also include new dining and recreation options, as well as new pools. Click here to check out construction progress at the new villas. Disney’s BoardWalk A new bakery and restaurant is coming to Disney’s BoardWalk. It’s The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers, and it will be made up of two different sections: a bakery with lots of treats and other baked goods and a table service restaurant. Construction on Cake Bake Shop This spot will even serve an afternoon tea. Cake Bake Shop is set to open in early 2024. Concept art for The Cake Bake Shop Speaking of Disney’s BoardWalk, a Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs stand is also in the works! Boardwalk to Go Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs is already a beloved snack spot in Disneyland, but soon visitors will be able to try these hand-dipped corn dogs on the East Coast. Like Cake Bake Shop, this stand was originally slated to open in 2023, but it was delayed until next year. Here’s hoping we’ll see it early in the new year! We ate at an existing Cake Bake Shop location — Read our full review here! Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground Disney Vacation Club has announced its plan to redesign the cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. The proposal calls for more than 350 refreshed cabins to replace the existing cabins at the resort. ©Disney Although the new cabins will be part of the Disney Vacation Club resort lineup, the proposed cabins will be open for reservations to all guests, including those who are not DVC Members. ©Disney So far, the concept art shows modern cabins “inspired by the resort’s idyllic setting.” Disney is hoping that the new spaces will pay “homage to the resort’s unique culture and heritage through the magic of Disney storytelling.” ©Disney Cabins will sleep up to six adults and feature a bedroom, bathroom, living room, full kitchen, and private patio. Disney noted that a select number of cabins will be dog-friendly. Currently, Disney expects the new Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort to open in 2024. Click here to learn more about the Disney Vacation Club! We’ll likely see even MORE changes in Disney World next year, so stay tuned to DFB for all the latest updates! Click here to see the 5 big decisions you need to make FIRST when planning a 2024 Disney World vacation. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by how many changes there are to keep track of, consider talking to our friends over at Small World Vacations. Their travel agents can help take the headache out of planning your upcoming trip! DON'T DO IT ALONE! Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you -- they've literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They're DFB's recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!) So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you GET MORE INFO Are you visiting Disney World in 2024? Let us know in the comments. The post Big Changes in Disney World in 2024 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Let the countdown begin with these cheerful wallpapers featuring Disneyland Resort Icons, Walt Disney World’s Cinderella Castle and Magic Kingdom’s PeopleMoverView the full article

Ok, we think we’ve found a solid choice for a lounge or pool bar when choosing your next Disney hotel stay WITHOUT costing you a fortune! The whole band is back together! We’ve visited several lounge and pool bars around Disney World lately with some being clear winners with returning fan-favorite menu items but most of the time these have been at some of the most expensive Disney World hotels. So where do you choose to stay (and eat) if you’re looking to stick to a budget and are traveling with kids that really would prefer more pool time over spending hours in the Disney World parks? We think we’ve found a great compromise for you! This restaurant is a pool bar and lounge at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort. It’s located just outside of the main feature pool called, Doubloon Lagoon. Mardi Grogs It’s inspired by the vibrance of the Big Easy with swinging jazzy tunes filling the air and some bright purples, greens, and golds to help you feel like you’re part of a big celebration while visiting. Atmosphere The lounge features a long, full bar area with bar stool seating… Mardi Grogs bar … and a few outdoor patio lounger seats and cushions to help you feel like you’re meeting in someone’s backyard. Outdoor seating Nearby, there’s additional seating for umbrella-covered tables that are just beyond the restaurant’s walls and connect to the pool deck beyond the iron gates bordering the pool. Menu This restaurant is mainly a pool bar with extensive drink menus for cocktails, frozen concoctions, liquid libations, and a few beers and wines… Menu board … but there’s also a limited selection of light bites like sandwiches to enjoy keeping you from having to get out and walk through the lobby to order food! Eats After browsing the menu we made our final selections on what we’d like to try out for this visit. We opted to order the All That Jazz and Bull Frog Brew drinks, and snack on the Chicken Salad Sandwich for our meal. Our whole meal! We thought it all looked pretty filling when you put it all together, but it was time to start digging in! We started with the All That Jazz drink first. This beauty is made of layered blends of the Gata-Melon Juice, Front Porch Freeze, and the Nola Cola and costs $16 if served in a regular cup or would cost you $21 if served in a souvenir Hurricane Glass. For this visit, we decided to stick with the regular cup version. All That Jazz Let us preface this by saying we took our first sip of this drink through a straw so we were hit with all three layers of frozen goodness at once and it was delicious. All three of the layers have a very heavy helping of pineapple juice to them so you’ll taste that most prominently, but it’s a natural juice taste and not overly sweet. The Front Porch Freeze layer has a more citrusy orange flavor mixed with the pineapple juice and it’s rounded out by the smoothness of the bayou silver rum. The purple layer is the Nola Cola with Captain Morgan spiced rum pineapple and desert pear that Disney has been releasing quite a few drinks with lately. LOTS of pineapple juice in this one It works on its own as a sweet frozen drink but we really enjoyed it mixed with the other flavors here and made us think of the night blossom at Disney’s Animal Kingdom when we tasted it (just with more pineapple flavor). The Gata-Melon Juice layer is (once again) MORE pineapple but this one is blended with a softer coconut and monin banana flavor which helped cut down on the pineapple becoming too much for this drink. Then it was time to move on to the Bull Frog Brew! This delectable drink is made of Minute Maid® Premium Lemonade, Green Apple, and Kiwi and costs $5.49! Bull Frog Brew The most prominent flavor of this drink is sour. It packs quite a pucker punch! Between the lemonade, green apple, and kiwi flavors there’s very little sweetness to this drink but it works for the combination. Has a sour kick! If you’re careful and really looking for each individual flavor you can taste them each but if you’re just sipping to enjoy it they blend together harmoniously to create a powerful fruity beverage. We likened this to a grown-up sour capri-sun and was our favorite of the two drinks, even without the alcohol! We think your kids would LOVE this one but we caution you on trying theirs because they may not get it back once YOU’VE tried it! Since we’d already had a chance to wet our whistle a bit it was time to take a dive into the Chicken Salad Sandwich. This sandwich is made of chicken salad filling between multi-grain slices of bread accompanied by a slice of tomato and lettuce and served with a bag of chips (with your choice of the available flavors) for $12.29. Chicken Salad Sandwich The sandwich itself is served in a container that has been refrigerated so it’s served cold with all of the accompaniments and comes precut in half. Looks delicious… but was it? Our server allowed us to choose our flavor of chips from what was available for the day so we opted for regular Lay’s Potato Chips. These are fairly standard run-of-the-mill potato chips which we enjoyed but… Side of chips … the sandwich was the star of the show! The multigrain bread was a nice change from a standard white sliced bread sandwich which added an interesting texture against the creamy chicken salad. For the filling itself, it was very much a recipe you could expect from your favorite aunt who brings chicken salad to your family get-together. Not only did it have the shredded chicken drenched in the creamy mayo, but it also had all the cut fruits like grapes and apples along with the slivers of almonds mixed in with the chopped veggies to give it an extra juicy flavor and crunch. Half of the sandwich If you’re not someone who enjoys a runny chicken salad sandwich or just really needs more of a mayo and mustard ratio for chicken salad to be enjoyable then you probably wouldn’t like this version but we would encourage you to give it a try because we really loved it! Overall Overall this pool bar has a relaxing but jazzy vibe and the outdoor seating helps lend a hand to a more laid-back atmosphere. A quick meal! Although the menu options are limited, they’re effective for this restaurant. We would choose to eat here again when visiting based on this experience. Nosh or Not? We would recommend you stop by for a quick bite if… You’re looking for a super quick meal. Most of the meal options will come prepackaged for you making the time between ordering to actually chowing down on your food minimal. You’re not super picky. The options here are limited, but effective for someone who’s not super picky about what comes on their plate. You don’t need a lot to fill up. The sandwich we bought was just the sandwich and the fixings with a prepackaged side so if a smaller meal can fill you up, this is worth taking a look into. You might want to mosey on by if… You’re really hungry! This is made for a quick light meal stop and not a lot of accompanying sides. If you’re looking for a heavier meal, you’ll probably want to head inside the hotel’s full quick service for that. You’re not a sandwich fan. Since most of the menu offerings are prepackaged sandwiches are super quick and easy to pull out and serve. If a sandwich doesn’t quite hit the spot for you, you’ll probably do better lining up another place to grub. You’re looking for a hot meal. Fast and easy is the name of the game with this restaurant so if you’re looking for a heated-up cooked meal, this is definitely not your spot. We’ve reviewed HUNDREDS of meals, snacks, and drinks around Disney World so be sure to check out the links below to browse more of our reviews from other Disney World restaurants! REVIEW: Disney Just Took One of Our Absolute FAVORITE Meals and Made It BETTER! 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’s your favorite thing to order at Mardi Grogs? Have you ever dined here before? Leave us your reviews in the comments below! The post REVIEW: Calling All 90’s Kids! This Disney World Hotel’s Drink Tastes Like A Grown Up Capri Sun first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World fans know that special events in the parks often mean special appearances by rare characters! Phineas and Ferb at Jollywood Nights We met Phineas and Ferb and Powerline Max at Jollywood Nights this year, and got a rare chance to see Ariel with Prince Eric and Aurora with Prince Phillip at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. But today, Disney shocked us by bringing out a rare character for the holiday — no special event ticket required! Over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Duffy the Disney Bear was meeting guests on Grand Avenue on Christmas Day! As you can see, he was even dressed in his Santa outfit! Thanks to our Instagram followers Maria Camp and @yensidsworld for tipping us off to this very special opportunity! Duffy the Disney Bear was greeting guests on Christmas Day! The Christmas Week crowds have descended on Disney World, and along with them we have seen record-high Disney Genie+ prices. You can check out the new HIGH price here. And 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 You Won't Believe Who We Spotted in Disney's Hollywood Studios! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

When I think of fancy shmancy experiences at Disney World, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa comes to mind before anything else. Grand Floridian Resort Not only is this widely considered to be THE deluxe of the deluxe resorts at Disney World, but it boasts the highly-acclaimed Victoria and Albert’s Restaurant, the Mary Poppins-themed Citrico’s, and enough Victorian theming throughout the hotel to truly transport you back to a magical time. One fan-favorite restaurant here that recently returned after a lengthy refurbishment is Narcoossee’s! Located right on Seven Seas Lagoon at the Grand Floridian is Narcoossee’s Restaurant — a Disney Signature Dining experience that boasts an upscale yet casual atmosphere. Here, you can enjoy a variety of coastal cuisine while enjoying panoramic views of the Lagoon and the resort. Welcome to Narcoossee’s! The Signature Dining restaurants at the hotels take on a different atmosphere than the Signature dining restaurants in the theme parks. You see, Signature Dining in the parks does have a “dress code,” but it’s much more relaxed and allows you to wear theme park attire into the restaurant. So, you’ll see track shorts, tees, and Minnie ears. However, this isn’t the case for Signature Dining at the hotels, which request that guests dress in a more sophisticated manner. Narcoossee’s Disney’s website states, “This restaurant is a Disney Signature Dining experience offering fine dining with a distinctly magical flair. Guests are expected to dress accordingly in attire that respects the restaurant’s sophisticated and upscale aesthetic. Clothing should be clean, neat and in good condition. Please no swimwear.” Narcoossee’s So, while you don’t have to dress to the nines in glitter and ballgowns, you should probably dress in attire similar to what you’d wear to a casual banquet. Sundresses, slacks, button-downs, jumpsuits, and rompers are great choices. You could also totally wear denim if you pair it with a nicer blouse or button-down. At Narcoossee’s, you probably wouldn’t get turned away if you wore theme park attire, but it’s best to avoid this and respect the atmosphere of the restaurant and the chefs that work hard to provide guests with upscale cuisine. The bar If you’re hoping to dine here, note that it is open daily at dinnertime and advanced dining reservations are required. Guests of all ages are invited to dine here, and plates range from $35 to $59.99 per adult. Narcoossee’s And there you have it! That’s all you need to know when it comes to dining at Narcoossee’s and what to wear when you do so. We’ll continue to keep you updated with more Disney news, restaurant advice included, so make sure to follow along for more! Looking for more Disney World dress codes? Click here! 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! Will you be visiting Narcoossee’s during your next Disney World trip? Let us know in the comments! The post Does Narcoossee's Have a Dress Code in Disney World? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Have you ever dreamed of living in a Disney park? Magic Kingdom If we could, we would live in Magic Kingdom in the castle suite with birds that drift in and out of our room singing us their beautiful songs. It would be a magical life right out of a storybook. And all the amazing food would be available to us 24/7 (catch us eating a Mickey pretzel at 4AM). Life would be good. Well, if you’re willing to move to North Carolina in the next few years, your dream of living in a Disney story could become a reality. Storyliving by Disney is coming to North Carolina. But what is Storyliving? Well, Disney Imagineers have designed, and are creating communities, that bring the magic of Disney into your everyday life. With homes and experiences that are reminiscent of being in a Disney theme park, these communities are anything but ordinary. ©Disney Disney Imagineers bring the culture, heritage, and natural beauty of the surrounding area to the community. There will be storytelling throughout the community and they will “weave the essence of a region into the very fiber of the community.” ©Disney Of course, these will be entertainment and programs as part of the communities (this is Disney after all)! If you opt to join a club within the community, you can have access to a clubhouse, a mix of Disney experiences and everyday activities, special excursions, and even enrichment programs. Plus, Disney Cast Members will be there to provide services. (Cotino residents will have a choice of becoming club members, while it sounds like all homeowners in Asteria will be required to join.) Don’t these sound magical? We would TOTALLY live here. ©Disney Currently, Disney has announced two of these Storyliving communities — Cotino in Rancho Mirage, California, and the newest one, Asteria in Pittsboro, North Carolina. ©Disney As of now, we haven’t heard what the prices of these homes in Asteria will be. But we do have a rough guess based on the prices that were announced for Cotino. We did the math to find out that Cotino houses are roughly 98% more expensive than the average market price in the area. By using that percentage, we determined that the homes in Asteria could start at $1.05 million. ©Disney They are planning Asteria to be a community for homeowners of all ages with certain residences being for people 55 and older. 4,000 homes are planned, offering single-family and multi-family residences. Asteria residents will become part of the club (with dues and fees) that offers a clubhouse, wellness center, community garden, and extensive trail system. ©Disney This new community will bring new jobs, new residents, and new economic resources to the surrounding area and state of North Carolina. People may move to the new community from all over the country, bringing income and taxes into the nearby city of Raleigh. It will also give residents the opportunity for a more active lifestyle and life-long learning opportunities. ©Disney We’re pretty sure Disney fans everywhere, have once dreamed about living in a Disney fairytale, and now you can have the chance (if you have a casual million dollars lying around to spend on a house). These communities sound amazing and we can’t wait to visit them! Until then, keep following DFB for more Disney news! PHOTOS: FIRST Look at Disney’s NEW Residential Community Home Designs Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Would you like to live in one of these Storyliving by Disney communities? Let us know in the comments! The post Storyliving by Disney Is Coming to North Carolina. What Should We Expect? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There are lots of things that make our jaws drop to the floor when sailing one of the ships on Disney Cruise Line like the fact you can get DOLE whip and packing so much themed entertainment on board… There she is! The Disney Dream …but believe us when we say the kids have ALL the fun with this one thing that we went WILD over! There’s so much to see and do for people of all ages aboard Disney Cruise Line’s ships but if you’ve ever ventured down to the Oceaneer Club, chances are you’ve seen this in action and found yourself saying, “Whoa!” Your kids will LOVE this slide down into the Oceaneer Club! Disney Cruise Line’s kid’s club, called the Oceaneer Club, is designed to keep even the most active of kids busy with lots of games, activities, movies, and more all throughout your sailing but the fun starts even BEFORE they step in. ©Disney As you’re checking your kids into your ship’s Oceaneer Club the youth counselors will direct them over to the automated hand washing station to give them a good scrubbing before heading inside to start touching everything. Ah, you caught that right — automated. But this isn’t like a sensor turning on a running faucet as you’re holding your hand underneath it, it’s soooo much more than that! Hand washing stations at the Oceaneer Club This automated hand washing station has your kids stick their hands into the cubby space while the water jets spray a combination of water and soap in a circular motion for 20 seconds while your child keeps their hands inserted. Once it’s done washing, the sensor will turn off and the water will stop allowing your kids to pull their hands back and wipe them dry. It washes for you! Pretty neat, huh? We told you, you’d want to try it too! Sorry adults, but this is ONLY available to kids visiting the Oceaneer Club unless you visit during the Open House hours where you can come tour sections of the ship that are normally restricted to certain age groups — and yes, you’ll be asked to wash your hands before entering, too! Have you ever had a chance to try out these handwashing stations? Do your kids think they’re the best part of visiting the onboard kids club? Check back in with us at Disney Food Blog for even more updates and tips about Disney Cruise Line! Construction on Disney Cruise Line’s NEW Treasure Ship Reaches MAJOR Milestone 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 This Is the BEST Thing On Disney Cruise Ships, and We Won’t Be Taking Questions at this Time first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Happy holidays! This festive season, we’re celebrating with gifts, decorations, and parties. Hello gorgeous! If you’re throwing a holiday party, you might need some refreshments for all of your guests. We’ve got a new recipe to help you prepare for the big event! This recipe comes from Jaleo by Chef José Andrés, a restaurant in Disney Springs. In honor of National Sangria Day (which is December 20th), the restaurant released its recipe for Sangria de Lujo Tinto. Jaleo The drink is “a simple, yet delicious recipe that’s perfect for dinner parties or for days of leisure.” At Jaleo, it’s prepared tableside for guests! Jaleo Here’s how to make it at home. What You’ll Need Glassware: 2+ Rocks Glasses 1 50 oz pitcher Garnishes: 8 lemon wheels 8 mint sprigs 8 orange peels 4 raspberries for summer or Granny Smith apple slices for the winter Ingredients: 1 of your favorite bottles of Red wine 16 oz Sangría base 10 oz soda water ©Jaleo Directions Combine the Sangria Base and the soda water in an empty pitcher Fill the individual glasses with cubed ice In the Pitcher: Make sure to express the orange peels and gently smack the mint sprigs before adding them in Add 4 lemon wheels, 4 orange peels, 4 mint sprigs, and 4 raspberries into the pitcher Last, open the bottle of wine and pour it into the pitcher In Each Individual Glass: Put a lemon wheel, by the side, half of it over the surface Smack a mint sprig and put it on top, as flourishing from the drink, next to the lemon wheel Express an orange peel over the drink and place it on top, along with a raspberry (summer) or a Granny Smith apple slice Jaleo Menu Now you’re ready for your guests to arrive! Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney-inspired recipes. Click here to find a TON of Disney recipes! 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 planning to make this sangria at home? Let us know in the comments. The post DISNEY RECIPE: Learn How To Make Sangria Using a Celebrity Chef's Recipe! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We go to Disney World every single day. Cinderella Castle Yes, really! Every day we spend in the parks, we learn something new. You see, Disney is a mastermind (cue the T. Swift song) when it comes to innovation and keeping things feeling brand new. So, the rules change, the parks themselves change, and even WE change — whether that be our situations OR our bodies that can’t handle staying out from rope drop to park close anymore. We learned a few hard lessons at Disney World in 2023, and we’re here to share those with you for your own planning purposes. Here are five of the toughest lessons we learned at Disney World in 2023. There’s no longer an “off season.” Back in the day, there would be several times throughout the year where you could see a drastic decrease in crowds. You’d be able to visit in early spring and early fall without a lot of crowds. You can always find some crowds at Disney World Now, though, you’ll be met with crowds no matter what time of year you visit. There are busy times, and then there are even busier times. If you’re visiting Disney World in 2024, just be prepared for crowds and higher waits! Saying goodbye often means something better is coming! We said many goodbyes in 2023 and in the years prior. (We’re looking at you, Splash Mountain.) Tiana’s Bayou Adventure What we’ve learned is that saying goodbye to favorite rides and attractions often means something SUPER cool is coming! (We’re looking at you, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.) You can’t trust Disney’s opening timelines. Like, ever. Disney is all about that delayed gratification, y’all. They’ll hype up an opening timeline only to provide us with details regarding last-minute delays. Tron Lightcycle/Run Construction Think about how long it took for TRON: Lightcycle/Run to open! Think about how CommuniCore Hall and Plaza were supposed to be open at the end of 2023! You can’t trust anyone these days. SMH. (We’re joking. Mostly.) MagicBand+ is still an iffy investment. In 2022, Disney released the MagicBand+ which had all the same scanning features of the original MagicBand, but had special interactive features like haptics and vibrations. Plus, they’re chargeable! MagicBand+ Well, it’s been over a year since the initial release, and they’re still falling off people’s wrists willy nilly, still losing their charge halfway through the day, and for a band that ranges from $30 to upwards of $60, that just ain’t worth it for a lot of folks. Genie+ isn’t an accessible option for many. In 2022, Disney introduced surge pricing for the Genie+ skip-the-line service. This means that pricing depends on demand, which is based on projected crowd and number of guests for the day, which means it can be as expensive as Disney wants it to be. Genie+ So far, we’ve seen it all the way up to $39 PER PERSON for the multi-park option. If you’re a family of four visiting for a week, that’s more than $1,000 for Genie+ alone. This isn’t accessible for a lot of folks — point, blank period. However, with the intense crowds that stick around year-round now, it’s hard to NOT utilize the service. The good news is that now, there are also single-park options, but those aren’t a whole lot cheaper most of the time. And there you have it! Those are the HARDEST lessons we learned this year, and we hope that they can make your 2024 Disney World vacation a bit easier. We’ll be sure to keep you updated with more Disney news, so make sure to follow along for more. Looking for some things we’re looking forward to in 2024? Click here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What was a hard lesson YOU learned at Disney World this year? Let us know in the comments! The post 5 Hard Disney World Lessons We Learned in 2023 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Hold on — you’re telling ME that I can fly the Millennium Falcon, walk the same streets Walt Disney walked, and eat my fill of beignets… ALL in the same park? Sleeping Beauty Castle Yeah. There’s a REASON why Disneyland continues to be so popular amongst locals and tourists alike. And if you wanna SUCCEED inside this park next year, then you’re gonna need a gameplan — STAT. (Good thing you’ve got the DFB team here to lend a helping hand!) Check out our video below: The ULTIMATE Guide to Disneyland in 2024 Are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes! And stay tuned for more Disney news! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What’s your favorite thing to do in Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Let us know in the comments. The post DFB Video: The ULTIMATE Guide to Disneyland in 2024 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

One of the most expensive parts of any vacation is usually the airfare! ©Southwest That’s why here at Disney Food Blog we’re always on the lookout for airline ticket deals and sales to share with you. Costco is giving us a good one on this Christmas Day! Right now, Costco members can buy a $500 Southwest Airlines gift card for $429.99! It’s available on the Costco website or in your Costco app. This Costco sale runs through Dec. 25th! Now this sale ends TODAY, December 25th, but it would be a great way to save on any vacations you are planning for next year! The sale represents a 14% savings, and you can buy up to 5 of these gift cards at this price. Costco has put Southwest Airlines gift cards on sale. We LOVE this deal, because most airline sales are on specific routes and specific dates. This is a way to save on ANY Southwest Airlines flight you need to book! We’re always on the lookout for travel deals to share here on Disney Food Blog. Keep following us for more! Travel Updates, Tips, and Tricks Complete Guide to Booking the CHEAPEST Flight to Disney World What to Do if Your Flight to Disney World Is Canceled Our Best Tips For Flying Through the Orlando International Airport Step-by-Step Guide: How to Get to Disney World From the Orlando Airport You’re SLEEPING on These Packing Hacks Air Travel Tips That’ll Change Your Life 8 Catastrophic Travel Mistakes and How to Solve Them The Airline with the MOST Flight Delays and Cancellations This Small Change Will Save You From Lost Luggage The Best Disney Luggage for 2023 21 Things a Former Flight Attendant Needs You To Know 7 Highest-Rated Travel Items on Amazon Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click Here to Subscribe Where are you planning to travel in 2024? Let us know in the comments! The post Costco Members! Save BIG on Southwest Flights TODAY ONLY! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’re a fan of red and yellow boxes filled with fast food and adorable toys, then this post is for you. Happy Meal, anyone? Yes, we’re talking about Happy Meals! We love to keep up with new Happy Meal toys, and even collect some of them ourselves. If you’re in the same boat, we wanted to remind you of an all-new Happy Meal toy coming soon! Starting tomorrow, December 26th, you’ll be able to get Squishmallow plushes in your Happy Meals! ©McDonald’s This is a highly anticipated toy collection, as the Squishmallow Happy Meals first debuted in Canada with no word on when (or if) we could expect them in the states. ©McDonald’s Finally, about a week ago, we got word that they’d arrive to U.S. locations on the 26th. They’re so adorable, and we can’t wait to try to snag one for ourselves. We’ll continue to keep you updated with more Disney, travel, and food news, so make sure to follow along for more so that you never miss a thing. Looking for more McDonald’s news? Click here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What do you think of the new Squishmallow toys? Let us know in the comments! The post ALERT! 🚨 McDonald's Releases NEW Happy Meal Toys Tomorrow! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We always warn our readers about the intense crowds that flock to Disney World throughout the holiday season. Magic Kingdom during the holidays With all the beautiful decor, tasty treats, and celebrations — it’s hard not to join in! The holiday season is the most magical time of the year for many, and so a lot of folks find it worth it to brave those crowds for some magical holiday cheer with the Mouse. Yes, including us. Well, it’s Christmas Day, which is like, THE busiest of busy days at Disney World. And where are we headed? Magic Kingdom. Come with us to check out the CROWDS. We knew it was going to be a busy day before our heads hit the pillow the night before, alright? However, we STILL weren’t fully prepared for these crowds. The lines security at the TTC were already pretty backed up by 9AM. Security line The line moved fairly quickly, and then the lines for the Monorail and Ferryboats weren’t too bad! Line for Monorail We were very surprised too that lines to get into the park didn’t take us long at all! Before we knew it, we were in the park and checking out the crowds on Main Street, U.S.A. Main Street U.S.A. Crowds While crowds were definitely intense, it wasn’t too terrible. Not TOO bad! However, the Starbucks line was pretty intense! It is cloudy and rainy today, so it looks like lots of folks were seeking a warm drink to start the day. Starbucks Line The good news is that they somewhat dispersed after folks headed into the different lands. Tomorrowland Crowds Keep in mind that crowds will get more intense between Christmas and New Year’s Day, so if you’re visiting between now and then, you may higher crowd levels than we’re seeing today. We’ll continue to keep you all updated with more Disney news, and we hope that you’ll stick around for more. Have a very happy holidays! Looking for holiday activities in Disney World? Click here! DON'T MISS A MOMENT OF HOLIDAY MAGIC Holidays at Disney World: DFB's Merriest Guide is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World. It includes all the must-have information for navigating the holiday season at Disney World, including: The COMPLETE schedule of events for the Holiday Season How to avoid the crowds on Disney World's busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!) ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM. And, of course, we'll tell you where to eat! Save 20% on the Holidays at Disney World: DFB's Merriest Guide with code PEPPERMINT. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW MORE Disney World Holiday INFO! Learn About Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Get the Latest Information About the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays We’ll Take This Little Golden Disney Book in Our Stocking, Santa! Everything You Need to Know About Disney World Holiday Dining and Events What We Wish We’d Known Before Going to Disney World During the Holidays Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest holiday news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Are you at Disney World for Christmas? Let us know in the comments! The post See The CROWDS On Christmas Day at Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

You’ve been saving and planning for MONTHS! From where to stay and choosing your resort to figuring out airline and airport transportation, your vacation is HERE! Hooray! You did! Now, it’s time to sit back and enjoy your vacation, right? Well, hold on a hot-dang minute…. Genie+ Your planning doesn’t end with a hotel selection, plane tickets, or even advanced dining reservations. Oh, no! Disney wants you to plan out your day in the parks, too. Thus enters Disney Genie! Today, we’re taking a look at Genie+, Individual Attraction Selection, and what Lightning Lanes you should try to get first! Here are some things to keep in mind when planning with Genie+. Disney Genie is a planning service, which you can find on the Disney World app, features a paid FastPass+ replacement option (now known as Lightning Lanes), and more! Genie+ vs. Individual Attraction Selection Need a little Genie overview and recap? Don’t worry, we gotchu! Disney Genie is a FREE planning service that helps you figure out your day at the Disney parks! When you’re visiting Magic Kingdom, keep an eye out for popular attractions like Jungle Cruise, Peter Pan’s Flight, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Big Thunder Mountain, and Space Mountain. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (IAS) is another one to keep a close eye on if it’s a must-do for you, as it can fill up fast! Jungle Cruise When you’re visiting EPCOT, make sure to prioritize rides like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (IAS), Test Track, Frozen Ever After, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, and Soarin’ Around the World when planning out your day. You’ll also want to keep a close eye on Mission: SPACE Orange. Test Track When you’re visiting Hollywood Studios, there are a LOT of rides that are popular: Slinky Dog Dash, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (IAS), Toy Story Mania, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and Tower of Terror can all be very popular so you’ll want to prioritize these. The Millennium Falcon When you’re visiting Animal Kingdom, look out for Avatar Flight of Passage (IAS), Kilimanjaro Safaris, Expedition Everest, and Navi River Journey. A Celebration of the Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo: The Big Blue…and Beyond are others to look at if you’re determined to reserve good seating for a show. (Keep in mind that there is lower availability of Lightning Lanes for shows and entertainment options since there are a limited number of performances each day.) Giraffes at Kilimanjaro Safaris A good rule of thumb for popular attractions is to check out what the wait times are like the day before your visit so you can kind of gauge what rides are especially popular right now. You can also go into the app the day before your trip (or a few days before) and take a look at the Tip Board to see what rides have already “sold out” or otherwise filled up during the early morning hours. You can also see what the next return times look like. That can help you gauge which ones might need to be at the very top of your list during your trip. Click Here to Read Everything About Disney Genie! Personal Favorites Finally, make sure to get your personal favorites! This might seem like a no-brainer, but it can be hard to remember to grab the rides you love when you’re trying to hunt down all the popular stuff. There’s no sense in prioritizing some of the rides we mentioned above if they don’t interest you or aren’t at the top of your own personal list. Big Thunder Mountain Be sure to feed all your interests into the FREE Disney Genie’s planning service, because it can end up being helpful and could give you good recommendations throughout the day. Generally, make sure you’re having fun at the parks, that’s what it’s all about! Cinderella Castle We’re always keeping up with the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more! Read all about Disney Genie, Genie+, and Individual Attraction Selections here. All About Disney Genie, Genie+, and Individual Attraction Selection BIG Genie+ Changes Being Planned For Disney World FULL List of Rides Included With Genie+ in Disney World 3 Tips to OUTSMART Genie+ in Disney World Right Now Please Stop Skipping These Genie+ Hacks in Disney World (They Really Work!) Genie+ Tips for the Most Crowded Days in Disney World and Disneyland Click HERE to See More About Disney Genie Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe What do you think about Disney Genie? Let us know in the comments! The post The Rides to Book First with Disney Genie+ and Pay-Per-Ride in 2024 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

January is right around the corner, and that means lots of changes are about to happen in Disney World. EPCOT Park hopping is going back to normal, the Disney Dining Plan is returning, and there’s so much in store for 2024 as a whole. If you’re visiting the parks in January, you need to know that one ride will be closed for a whole day during the month! Frozen Ever After is one of the most popular rides in EPCOT, which is why it’ll be a big deal when it’s closed on January 24th. ©Disney How do we know it will very likely be closed? The ride isn’t showing any times for January 24th, but times return to normal on January 25th. ©Disney Could this mean they’re doing a little maintenance on the ride? Possibly. Or maybe it means Disney needs to do something inside the attraction that guests can’t see. Regardless, we encourage you to keep this in mind when you’re planning your January 2024 trip. Anna and Kristoff Looking for more EPCOT news? We’ve got you covered! More EPCOT News! NEWS: Ride Closure Announced for January in Disney World10 Disney World Restaurants CHANGED Their Menus This Week!49 Free Things To Do in Disney World in 2024EPCOT’s Tiny Train Town Is Riddled With NEFARIOUS MISDEEDS8 Attraction and Restaurant CLOSURES Will Affect Disney World Next Week Stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news! Here are 49 FREE things to do in Disney World in 2024! What’s your favorite ride in EPCOT? Tell us in the comments! The post NEWS: Ride Closure Announced for January in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Merry Christmas from all of us at Disney Food Blog! It’s SANTA! We’re in Disney World, today, for Christmas Day and it appears so are MANY of you! It’s the most magical time of the year in the Most Magical Place on Earth. We wish you all good tidings on your festive trip. But, unfortunately, we came with some not so great news. Christmas Day is one of the BUSIEST days in Disney World. And as much as we wish Disney would just give us all the gift of a free park day, that is not the case. Instead, we’re seeing Genie+ prices at some of the highest of the year. Genie+ Today in Disney World you can purchase the Multiple Parks or Magic Kingdom experiences for $39, EPCOT for $32, Hollywood Studios for $35, and Animal Kingdom for $29. Genie+ prices hit a record high on Dec. 23 and have stayed there. This is a continuation of the record high prices for this service we have seen starting on Dec. 23rd, and we expect the high prices to continue through much of this week. It’s a significant jump from the prices we saw during Thanksgiving week. Prices during Thanksgiving week ©Disney For those unfamiliar with Genie+, it is the digital, in app, virtual park assistant. The main thing Genie+ does for you, is enable you to purchase Lightning Lane selections, so you can skip the lines at rides! However, you can purchase Individual Lightning Lanes without having to purchase Genie+. Lightning Lane at Spaceship Earth Hopefully, we’ll see these prices coming down soon. But New Year’s Eve (another very popular day in the parks) is fast approaching, which could mean more high prices. We’ll be on the lookout for what happens over the next few days (and every day)! For more Disney news, keep following DFB! STEP-BY-STEP Guide: How to Purchase Genie+ for Disney World All About Disney Genie, Genie+, and Individual Attraction Selection BIG Genie+ Changes Being Planned For Disney World FULL List of Rides Included With Genie+ in Disney World 3 Tips to OUTSMART Genie+ in Disney World Right Now Please Stop Skipping These Genie+ Hacks in Disney World (They Really Work!) Genie+ Tips for the Most Crowded Days in Disney World and Disneyland Click HERE to See More About Disney Genie Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe Are you in the parks today? Let us know what it’s like in the comments! The post NEWS: RECORD HIGH Disney Genie+ Prices Continue on Christmas Day first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s hard to believe the holiday season will be over soon, but here we are at the end of December! Sparkling Volcano at Rainforest Cafe We’ll soon be saying goodbye to 2023 and those delicious snacks at the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays. We’re going to certainly miss all those other holiday snacks, too. As the seasons change, though, so, too does Disney food, and each week we have new menu changes to share with you. So let’s take a look at Disney World restaurant menu changes for this past week! EPCOT Joy of Tea The Pork Egg Rolls increased from $4.95 to $5.75. The following Tea and Bottled Drinks also had changes: Bubble Milk Tea changed from $6.95 to $7.75 Honey Hibiscus Iced Tea changed from $6.95 to $7.75 Jasmine or Oolong Tea changed from $3.50 to $3.95 DASANI Bottled Water changed from $3.50 to $3.75 ADDED: Lychee Bubble Tea — (Iced and Sweetened) Oolong Tea, Lychee Syrup, with Tapioca Boba for $7.50 ADDED: Jasmine or Oolong Iced Tea — (Unsweetened) for $3.95 The Beer menu also had some changes: Dragon Blossom, Draft (16oz) changed from $9.25 to $10 REMOVED: Tsing Tao Beer, Bottled Honey Hibiscus Tea We also saw quite a few changes with Cocktails: Tipsy Ducks in Love changed from $13 to $14.50 Honey Hibiscus Hard Iced Tea changed from $12 to $12.75 Kung Fu Punch changed from $11 to $13.75 REMOVED: Mango Gingerita and Canto Loopy ADDED: Dragon Butterfly — Butterfly Pea Flower Gin, Vodka, Green Tea, Lemonade, Soda Water, Hibiscus and Dragon Fruit Syrups, with Blueberry Popping Boba for $15 ADDED: Lychee Cha Cha — Vodka, Oolong Tea, and Lychee Syrup for $12.75 Review: The $5 EPCOT Meal We Can’t Stop Thinking About Lotus Blossom Cafe Under Appetizers, these items changed: Pork Egg Rolls changed from $5.25 to $5.75 Chicken Pot Stickers changed from $6.50 to $7.25 Kids Meals also had changes: Sweet-and-Sour Chicken changed from $9.75 to $9.95 Pot Stickers and Egg Roll changed from $9.75 to $9.95 Lotus Blossom Cafe food Under Beverages, Chinese Oolong Hot Tea changed from $3.75 to $3.95. Here’s what happened with Alcoholic Beverages: Lucky Foo Pale Ale changed from $9.75 to $9.95 Plum Wine changed from $7 to $9.75 ADDED: Honey Jasmine Lager for $9.95 I Went to the Worst-Reviewed Disney World Restaurant on Yelp Le Cellier Le Cellier has removed Bison Strip Loin from the Entrees menu. However, Slow-roasted Beef Prime Rib has been added. It’s served with Roasted Garlic-Herb Mashed Potatoes, Au Jus, and Horseradish Cream for $59. Bison Strip Loin Under Enhancements, Charred Broccolini changed from $12 to $10.50. Le Cellier Has a NEW Menu in Disney World — Come Try it With Us! Disney’s Hollywood Studios Hollywood Brown Derby Under Desserts, the Chocolate Rose changed from $12 to $13. Hollywood Brown Derby This also applies to Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge. If You Think You’ve Seen All That This Disney World Restaurant Has to Offer, Think Again Disney’s Animal Kingdom Tiffins The Appetizers menu has changed at Tiffins: Tiffins Signature Bread Service changed from $16 to $18 REMOVED: Charcuterie Tiffin’s Bread Service REMOVED: Artisan Cheeses ADDED: Charcuterie and Cheese Board — Chef’s Selection of Assorted Meats, Cheeses, and Accompaniments for $21 Tiffins in Disney’s Animal Kingdom — Way Too Pricey or Worth Every Penny? Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort Artist’s Palette Pasta Salad has been removed from the menu. Cutwater Gin & Tonic has also been removed from beverages. Artist’s Palette at Saratoga Springs The following wines were also removed from the menu: Banfi Rosa Regale Sparkling Wine, Rainstorm Pinot Noir, Sogno d’Italia Pinot Grigio, Sokol Blosser Evolution Lucky No. 9 White Blend, Coppo Moncalvino Moscato, Banfi Chianti Superiore, and Hogue Cabernet Sauvignon. This Is Why We’re Telling You to LEAVE the Disney World Parks Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Boardwalk Deli Remember when we told you about the Reuben being taken off the menu at Boardwalk Deli? Well, we’ve got some good news, it’s back! Yay or Nay? The Warm Corned Beef Reuben is made with Sauerkraut, Pickles, Swiss, and Thousand Island Dressing on Marble Rye served with choice of Side for $14.49. REVIEW: We’re Pretty Sure This NEW Hot Chocolate Croissant Roll in Disney World Is What Dreams Are Made Of Big River Grille and Brewing Works We saw a change under Kid’s Appetizers. Big River Grille The Iceberg Salad has been removed and replaced with Small Caesar Salad. Review: Beer-Grilled Burgers and Sneaky Lettuce? If Only These Disney Tricks Paid off at Big River Grille. Disney’s Old Key West Resort Olivia’s Cafe The Caesar Salad with Shrimp is no longer on the menu at Olivia’s Cafe. Olivia’s Cafe That’s the only change we spotted here, though. REVIEW: SPAM Biscuits and Banana Bread Pudding — See What Brunch is Like at Olivia’s Cafe in Disney World Disney Springs Vivoli il Gelato The gelato flavors have some changes: REMOVED: Dulce de Leche ADDED: Salted Caramel Under Gelato Lite, Mixed Berry was removed and Hazelnut was added. Here’s how House Specials changed: REMOVED: Gran Crema Cafe and Spaghetti Sundae Cookie Sandwich changed from $10.50 to $11 ADDED: Affogato – Ceramic Cup Picture — Crema gelato with a shot of espresso for $11 ADDED: Cannoli Nachos — Signature cannoli filling, chocolate chips, pistachios, and cannoli chips for $11 Ube Tiramisu Pop The Milkshakes and Floats menu changed like this: Build Your Own Shake changed from $11.25 to $11.50 Barq’s Root Beer Float changed from $11.25 to $11.50 Sorbetto Smoothie changed from $11.25 to $11.50 REMOVED: Mint Cookies and Cream, Vinogato, and Cake Batter Chef’s Specials also changed: REMOVED: Zeppole Chocolate Chip Cookie changed from $4 to $5 ADDED: Cornetto (Croissant) for $5 The Cafe menu changed like this: Double Espresso changed from $4.75 to $5 REMOVED: Mocha Latte and Caramel Latte If You See Me Walking Around With HALF a Pineapple in Disney World, Don’t Ask. Remember that Disney World restaurant menu changes happen all the time, so if you want to avoid any surprises during your next trip, be sure to check menus on the Disney World website or My Disney Experience app. We’ll also keep you updated on any menu changes we spot. Disney dining changes are a lot to keep up with! We’ve done all the research for you in writing our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! We’ve got details on EVERY dining location at Walt Disney World inside our eBook – and it’s easy to download to your tablet or smartphone to take with you on your next trip. Use our discount code for DFB readers – WDW2023 – for 25% off! The BEST Disney World Restaurants for First-Timers 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 What Disney World restaurant menu change has surprised you the most over the past year? Let us know in the comments! The post 10 Disney World Restaurants CHANGED Their Menus This Week! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The Orlando Airport Brightline train is a game-changer when it comes to traveling to Disney World. It’s fast, convenient, and comfortable! However, there’s one BIG issue that we have to warn you about. Brightline train If you’re planning to use the Brightline train to get to Disney World, you’ll need to plan a few things in advance, and one of the most important things to figure out ahead of your trip is PARKING. Here’s our WARNING about parking for the Orlando Airport Brightline train: It can be a huge pain if you don’t plan ahead. You could arrive at the Orlando Airport on the day of your trip just to find out that all of the parking garages are full. In fact, it happens pretty regularly that those garages fill up completely. To avoid the headache and panic, you can plan ahead by knowing all the options for parking and even (in some cases) reserving your spot! Parking Garage Here’s a complete guide to parking at the Orlando Airport Brightline Train station, with several different options laid out. Where Is the Brightline Orlando Train Station? The Brightline train station at the Orlando International Airport is connected to the new Terminal C. ©Orlando International Airport On the map above, you can see that it’s not part of the main Terminal C building but is instead connected to the parking garage. You can easily walk from Terminal C to the train station (it just takes about 15 minutes). Where Should You Park? WallyPark — Brightline Recommends! Brightline recommends that guests use WallyPark to park their car and then take the provided shuttle service to the station. In fact, anyone with a Brightline train ticket gets guaranteed parking at the WallyPark lot! According to the Brightline website, “Brightline Guests can enjoy 30% off standard daily rates and park for less than $10 a day” with WallyPark. ©WallyPark To use WallyPark, you can go online and reserve your spot ahead of time. This is the only way to reserve a parking spot at the Orlando Airport, so it’s the least stressful option when it comes to being fully prepared for your trip. It’s especially important to reserve your spot during busy seasons, like summer break and the holidays. There is currently a notice on the Brightline website that reads: “Due to heavy holiday traffic, we recommend parking at WallyPark. If WallyPark online reservations are not available, show your Brightline ticket at the WallyPark gate to redeem your guaranteed parking spot.” ©WallyPark With your spot reserved, all you have to do is show up on the day of your trip, show your reservation, park, and then hop on the shuttle to the Brightline Orlando Train Station. The WallyPark shuttle takes you right to the station, so you don’t have to walk through Terminal C to get there (you’ll get to skip that 15-minute walk). Terminal C WallyPark recommends allowing about 45 minutes for parking and shuttle service, so make sure you arrive pretty early before your train’s departure time. During particularly busy travel times, it’s recommended that you allow for even more time, up to an hour and a half. WallyPark has 24/7 business hours, so it’s a good option no matter what time your train is departing. Here’s the WallyPark address: 5601 Butler National Dr. Orlando, Fl 32812. Garage Parking If you prefer garage parking, you can park your car in Parking Garage C. During busy times, this is likely to fill up quickly each day. ©Orlando International Airport Parking Garage C is located very close to the Brightline Orlando Station. Once you arrive at the airport, you can follow blue signs that should point you to Parking Garage C. You can park in any available spot and then go to Level 5 of the garage to find the skyway bridge, which connects you to the train station. It’s about a five-minute walk from the garage to the station. Here’s the cost to park in Parking Garage C: Grace period for the first 20 minutes $2 for 21 to 30 minutes, then $1 for each additional 15 minutes up to a maximum of $24, then $24 per 24-hour period Here are some more details: ©Orlando International Airport If the garage is full, you can check out some other parking options. Other Lots There are a few different open-air surface parking lots that are located close to the Brightline station at the airport. Each costs $20 per day: Lot A 10734 Jeff Fuqua Blvd South Lot B 10412 Jeff Fuqua Blvd South Lot C 10168 Jeff Fuqua Blvd South Another option is the South Park Place Economy Lot, which has roundtrip airport shuttles running between Terminal C and the lot. Once you get to Terminal C, the Brightline station is about a 15-minute walk. Brightline Train Security in Orlando This lot is cheaper than the garage. Here are the rates: Grace period for the first 10 minutes $5 for 11 minutes to 3 hours, then $14 per 24-hour period Here are some more details: ©Orlando International Airport But what if you don’t want to park at all? You could park somewhere else in Orlando and then use a rideshare to get to the station! Another Option: Rideshare If you choose to take a rideshare like Uber or Lyft to the Brightline station, put in this address as your destination: 10705 Jeff Fuqua Blvd Orlando, FL 32827. Your driver will drop you off right at the entrance to the Brightline station. You’ll then just need to take the escalator or elevator up to Level 5. Brightline Orlando Train Station Hopefully, that helps you prepare for your upcoming trip! We had a great experience riding the Brightline train from Orlando to Miami, and you can read more about our trip here. Stay tuned to DFB for the latest updates as you plan your next vacation! Learn more about the Orlando Airport Brightline train 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 tried the Brightline train at the Orlando Airport yet? Let us know in the comments! The post A Word of WARNING About Parking for the Orlando Airport Train first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Trips to Disney are EXPENSIVE! There’s no doubt about it. Magic Kingdom Add up all the costs for airfare, hotel rooms, and park tickets and we’d be surprised if you even had any money left over for food and souvenirs or add-ons like Genie+ or PhotoPass. Thinking about all that, we thought we’d bring you our list of the BEST free things in Disney World right now. (Bet you didn’t know there were any free things to do at Disney World!) Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Campfire Sing-a-Long Campfires around the Disney World resorts are already free — but the BEST campfires happen at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. Campfire Sing-A-Long The campfires HERE have a BONUS cowboy sing-a-long and big ol’ chipmunk hugs from your pals, Chip n Dale. Then, as you roast a marshmallow over the open fire, you can start settling in for the evening to watch an outdoor movie. (There’s truly NOTHIN’ like the great outdoors to ease your soul…) And since this NEXT point goes hand-in-hand with what I was just talking about… Marshmallows The one downside to the Chip ‘n’ Dale campfire sing-a-long is the fact that you’ve gotta bring your OWN marshmallows and sticks — or pay for a whole s’mores kit for around $6. BUT the other resorts that offer campfires around the property (which is a GREAT deal of ‘em) DO offer free marshmallows to their hotel guests. So roast away! Roasting our marshmallow And NOW for a classic freebie (that’s fun AND tasty… mostly). International sodas at Club Cool If you’re at EPCOT you have to check out Club Cool — where you can try EIGHT different international sodas for FREE. Just grab yourself a little Coca-Cola sample cup and sip away on whichever flavors you wanna try. (Just, uh, be careful when it comes to the Beverly soda. Don’t say we didn’t warn you…) Club Cool Do you think Club Cool is the MAIN free attraction inside EPCOT? Not even close, friends. We’re just getting started. Kidcot Fun Stops How oh HOW are you going to keep your kiddos endlessly entertained as you explore ALL of the countries around the World Showcase? Guess it’s Kidcot to the rescue! Each pavilion has a Kidcot Fun Stop where kiddos can collect activity cards — specific to each pavilion’s country — that feature stickers, mini-activities, and fun facts. Kidcot Fun Stops are free! But the scavenger hunts don’t stop there! Finding Dory’s Friends World Showcase can’t have ALL the fun! When you enter the SeaBase building (which is the same place you’ll exit to after you ride aboard The Seas with Nemo and Friends), track down the kiosk on the first floor of the building to grab a Finding Dory’s Friends interactive booklet. It’s FREE! This booklet contains a self-guided scavenger hunt, along with riddles, puzzles, and — best of all — STICKERS! Complimentary Refresher Samples When you’re strolling around The Tea Caddy shop in the UK pavilion, you MIGHT see a table off to the corner holding small plastic cups. On occasion, UK cast members will be handing out samples of some of the Twinings Tea and refreshers they sell in the store. (Which can be tricky-tricky-TRICKY because we ALWAYS wanna buy a few boxes after gulping down the sample.) Also, they offer a tour during the Flower and Garden Festival, where you’ll be led through the English gardens while learning about the history of teas and how to brew and make teas. The tour is free, but you will need to sign up 30 minutes in advance. Self-Guided Tea Tour The UK pavilion is MORE than just its tea and biscuits, though. You could also learn about your family history there. Learn About Your Family Crest Across from The Tea Caddy is The Crown and Crest — a shop that celebrates generations of family names with their Coat of Arms merchandise. In fact, you can learn about YOUR Coat of Arms, too! Just ask the cast member behind the register for help tracking down your family’s name (or locate it in the GIANT book of names in front of the counter). Crown and Crest The cast member can look up your family’s name in their database to find your coat of arms. You’re more than welcome to purchase it as a plaque, a picture, or a mug — BUT even if you DON’T purchase anything, you can still see what your family crest looks like for FREE. And, no, you do NOT have to have a name from the British Isles for this to work. There are last names featured from ALL over the world kept in The Crown and Crest database. What about the EPCOT festivals? Is there anything FREE you can pick up during those? YES. Festival Passport At both EPCOT park entrances — as well as the main gift shops — you’ll be able to grab a festival passport. Why is this little booklet so important? It’ll not only tell you about all of the offerings the festivals have, but it’ll also include detailed checklists of the different foods that you try at each of the outdoor kitchens. You’ll ALSO be able to check out the food walk challenges on the backside of the booklets (though to participate in these, you WILL need to spend money on each of the snack items listed) 2023 Festival of the Holidays Passport BONUS: Though you can always keep track of where you are around the parks via the virtual maps featured on the My Disney Experience App, you can still grab physical copies of the maps at the entrance of each park, too. These maps can be a fun backdrop for your framed park photos OR can be used to make your own Disney-themed jewelry once you return home. LOTS of love (and freebies) over in EPCOT — but it’s time for another park’s turn! How about Hollywood Studios? A Self-Guided Tour Through Walt Disney’s History There are extravagant VIP tours that take you behind the scenes of the Disney parks, as well as tell you about how Walt Disney himself got his start from humble beginnings. But if you don’t wanna drop the major cash on a VIP Tour experience, you can always check out the Walt Disney Presents self-guided tour. Walt Disney Presents tells the story of Walt’s childhood, as well as his growing passion for animation AND theme park development during the course of his life through many sketches, models, and little TV clips from his Wonderful World of Disney days… you name it. Walt Disney Presents At the end of the tour, you can also sometimes see glass-case exhibits featuring costumes that appeared in upcoming (or recently released) live-action Disney films. There’s also a theatre where you can watch a short film, Walt Disney’s One Man’s Dream, which goes into even MORE depth about Walt Disney’s budding career. (HOWEVER, if there’s a new Disney film about to be released to a theatre near you, One Man’s Dream MIGHT be replaced to show an EXCLUSIVE 10-15 minute preview of the movie BEFORE it reaches the big screens. And that’s ALSO super neat.) Ready to visit a new imaginary theme park? Let’s just jump right into the next point, then. Potatoland! It’s the place you’ll see EVERY night. (Every night in your dreams.) (You probably only understood that reference if you’ve seen the newly-animated Mickey Mouse shorts before — specifically, the one where Mickey, Donald, and Goofy visit “Potatoland.”) And now you can visit Potatoland TOO! At the exit of the Mickey Shorts Theater in Hollywood Studios, you’ll walk through a room with a few different photo ops stations. And one of the photo setups happens to be the one, the only, POTATOLAND (with a prop potato on a stool, and all). Dreams really DO come true. Don’t forget to visit Potatoland Can Potatoland beat out Magic Kingdom as the most Magical Place on Earth? Uh, no. So let’s jump over to the Magic Kingdom for a bit and check out what free offerings they’ve got in store for us. Pulling the Sword from the Stone You can’t pay to be one of the Chosen Ones to pull Excalibur from the Stone in Fantasyland — you just have to be WORTHY of it. Check out the Sword in the Stone close to Prince Charming’s Regal Carrousel. Many people have tried to extract the weapon from its rocky domain, but only a FEW have proven themselves worthy enough to succeed. (Will YOU be next?) Sword in the Stone If the stars don’t align and you DON’T end up getting Excalibur THIS time around, don’t fret. Maybe a little extra “magic” will help cheer ya up! And we know JUST where to find it — for FREE! Pixie Dust Pixie dust isn’t just for children — it’s for children at heart, too! Over at Sir Mickey’s gift shop, you’ll find fairy godmother cast members holding special magic wands. If you ask these cast members for a little dose of pixie dust, you’ll get JUST what you asked for! (Don’t forget to make a wish!) Sir Mickey’s Wanna be part of the shows here at Disney? You very well CAN be — with no prior training necessary! Become Part of the ACT There are TWO shows in Disney World that require audience participation to help make them work— and those are Turtle Talk over at EPCOT and Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor over at Magic Kingdom. At Turtle Talk, you may be chosen to ask Crush the Turtle any question (within reason, of course) — and he’ll respond in real-time. The same goes for Monsters Inc Laugh Floor. The monsters don’t just need your laughter to power their city — they need your JOKES and ALL-AROUND participation, too. Turtle Talk with Crush So be ready to be part of the show at any given time! Keep in mind that not EVERYONE will be chosen to participate in these performances (since there’ll be a LOT of guests and only a limited amount of time for each act). So don’t be disappointed if you’re not chosen every single time you pop in for a show! Some free souvenirs aren’t simply handouts. Some you have to rightfully EARN. The Galactic Hero Sticker Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin isn’t your average rooty-tooty-point-and-shooty dark ride. It’s a SERIOUS business. (You’re defending the galaxy from the evil emperor ZURG, after all.) So if you’re SKILLED enough to achieve a HIGH SCORE that puts you in the Galactic Hero category of this ride, then you JUST might earn a Galactic Hero sticker that you can show off PROUDLY for the rest of your day in Magic Kingdom. We are Galactic Heroes! But why stop at JUST being a Galactic Hero? Why not be a pirate marauder, too? A Pirate’s Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas If ride lines are getting a little TOO long midday, you can head on over to Adventureland and sign up for A Pirate’s Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas. This is a 5–part interactive scavenger hunt where you’ll track down treasures, evade antagonistic scallywags, and learn about secrets you never knew were lurking around this particular region of Magic Kingdom. And after you’ve completed all 5 missions, you’ll earn the GRAND PRIZE — a card signed by Captain Jack Sparrow himself. (No waiting in a meet-and-greet line necessary!) A Pirate’s Adventure Galactic Hero AND professional marauder?! What ELSE can we add to your resume? How about… Honorary Jungle Cruise Skipper Look out, kiddos! You might be fortunate enough to become an honorary skipper on your next Jungle Cruise adventure! Every now and then, your skipper will choose a lucky guest skipper to give a Jungle Cruise license to. (But, uh, don’t be stealing the steering wheel or anything — it’s all for show. However, the little card that you’ll receive DOES make for a nice free keepsake!) Honorary Jungle Cruise Skipper Can’t leave out Disney’s Animal Kingdom! Let’s head there next! (Because they really do have some of the BEST free offerings around!) Become a Wilderness Explorer When your kiddo watched Pixar’s UP for the first time, they were probably inspired by Russel to join the Wilderness Explorers (while you, on the other hand, openly sobbed into your popcorn bowl). Turns out, that becoming a Wilderness Explorer is pretty easy! Just head over to the Wilderness Explorers’ headquarters OR one of the Troop Leader locations in Animal Kingdom to get started on collecting badges. There are over 25 badges for kiddos to collect — but each has to be EARNED after completing a Wilderness Challenge. (Needless to say, this activity could lead to HOURS of entertainment) Calling all Wilderness Explorers! If this is your first time going to Disney World ever, then we’ve GOTTA fill you in on this free activity. (And if you AREN’T new, stick with us anyways — because this next point will go hand-in-hand with a free SECRET you probably haven’t heard of before.) You have to go to Disney Springs The Disney Springs shopping district costs you NOTHING to go and check out, just for the heck of it. You can park in the parking garages for FREE— or grab one of the Disney buses and hitch a ride over— and just window shop the afternoon away. Sure, there are plenty of TEMPTATIONS surrounding you— like food and shops and extra activities— but even just walking around the area and taking in all the sights without spending any cash can still be well worth your time. Disney Springs We could find a seat next to the water and just listen to the Disney Springs techno soundtrack for the rest of the afternoon and be perfectly content. Catch a Free Concert When you visit Disney Springs, you’ll more than likely hear live music or see a live performance happening SOMEWHERE around the shopping district. You can catch live entertainment at the Disney Springs AdventHealth Waterside Stage (in front of the LARGE World of Disney store) and the Waterview Park Stage (near The BOATHOUSE) — but, really, musical acts pop up nearly ANYWHERE around the Springs. We’ve seen a rap battle happen outside the AMC theatre, and REALLY AWESOME violinists serenading shoppers across the way from Amorette’s. Waterside Stage If live entertainment IS happening while you’re busy window shopping, it shouldn’t take long for you to track it down! Birthday Freebies There are quite a few Disney Springs restaurants that have their own Rewards Membership Programs. And when you sign UP for those memberships, you might just get some birthday goodies thrown your way! In the past, we’ve seen City Works Eatery and Pour House gives out $10 birthday gifts, Earl of Sandwich gives out birthday brownies, Sprinkles Cupcakes gives out — well — a free cupcake (duh!), and Wetzel’s Pretzels gives out — you guessed it — a birthday pretzel. So it’s always worth checking to see if your favorite Disney Springs restaurants have an app or loyalty programs to sign up for, juuuust to see if they’ve got any special discounts, promotions, or freebies to gift you. Happy Birthday Walt! And now for a freebie secret where you can enjoy the beeeeeest of both worlds! Luggage Transfer Let’s say you really wanna spend the night in a room at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. BUT you also DON’T wanna spend money to stay there for an ENTIRE week. (Because, oh my gosh, it’s SO EXPENSIVE.) You can always choose to do a “split stay,” and spend the FIRST half of your vacation at one of the Disney value resorts, then wrap up with a BANG over at a deluxe resort. If you decide to go the split stay route, let the cast members in the lobby of your first resort know what’s up. That way, they can transfer your luggage over to your SECOND Disney World hotel, free of charge. ©TouringPlans.com Hm? What’s that, I see? Another FREE resort offer I can take advantage of? Don’t mind if I DO! Overnight Parking Speaking of Disney World hotels, if you are a resort guest you can take advantage of FREE overnight parking! This used to be free years ago at all of the Disney resorts, but until early 2023, overnight parking had a set fee per vehicle per night. It’s a small change but can make a big impact on your vacation, especially if you’re staying at a Disney World hotel for a week! Hotel Parking Lot This might also make you want to drive to Disney World instead of taking a rideshare or a bus from the airport. Take that into account when planning your next trip! Meet Roaming Characters You don’t always have to pay for a park ticket to meet some of Disney’s HOTTEST characters. If you’re lucky, you just might catch Mickey or his pals hanging out around the resorts— just for funsies. These pop-up character appearances started after the 2020 closures— when Disney World wanted to make sure guests still saw characters, even if they couldn’t meet them face-to-face. And that’s when the Caravannin’ Around the World character caravans were born! If you saw one of these colorful caravans parked outside your resort, then you KNEW Mickey and the gang were poppin’ in to say “hi” for the day. Daisy And although we don’t really SEE the colorful caravans out and about like we used to, it seems characters are continuing to show up and hang out with resort guests! Because why not?? So keep your eyes and ears open to figure out WHEN your bestest buddies are gonna be roaming the grounds of the resorts. Did you CATCH that? There was ANOTHER free activity featured in that point we just mentioned. Have you figured it out yet? Then let’s TALK about it! Games on the Resort Lawns Many resorts don’t just have POOLS. They have several OTHER complimentary activities you can participate in, too. Let’s backtrack to the Riviera (since we were already using it as an example before). The courtyard has that Giant Connect Four game, corn hole toss, oversized chess, bocce ball — you name it! You can easily spend an hour or so competing with your group during these outdoor activities. Relax and play a game at Coronado Springs! Some resorts have SPECIFIC complimentary offerings that you can keep forever and ever, amen. Such as… Polynesian Village Leis Aloha! When you step through the front doors of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, you JUST might be presented with a fun, floral lei you can wear for the rest of the day. Thanks, Cast Members! Just keeping up with those tropical vibes! Halfway there! Joffrey’s Coffee If you go up to a Joffrey’s kiosk and ask them for free coffee… the cast members are probably gonna give you a weird look. But you CAN make yourself a cup of complimentary Joffrey’s coffee when you stay in a Disney World hotel room. Each room will have its own little coffee maker — complete with sugar, cream, and stirrers (and, of course, Joffrey’s coffee packets). Making yourself a cup of joe before you head out to the parks can help save you money on a morning java. Essential to any Disney trip Wanna catch a Disney parade without having to pay for a park ticket? The resorts have a rather UNIQUE free alternative for you to keep in mind. Electrical Water Pageant The Electrical Water Pageant is a 15-minute performance on the Seven Seas Lagoon — with glowing neon sea creatures and patriotism, all rolled into one nighttime parade. You’ll be able to catch the show from the shores of any of the Magic Kingdom-area resorts. New 50th Anniversary scene added to the Electrical Water Pageant Drawing Lessons You can learn how to draw a popular animated character from an experienced Disney artist in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, over at Rafiki’s Planet Watch, during the Animation Experience. Check the park schedules ahead of time so you know when classes happen! Animation Experience You, of course, don’t HAVE to know how to draw a Disney character in order to APPRECIATE them. In fact, you can appreciate them FULLY from the comfort of your hotel! Movie Under the Stars Every single Disney World resort — whether it be a value, moderate, or deluxe stay — has a complimentary Movie Under the Stars that families can attend each night. The film featured changes evening by evening, so you never know what you’ll be watching next! ©Disney Night or day, Disney can help you find SOME way, shape, or form to just relax a little. Beachside Lounging Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Coronado Springs, Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club, and Disney’s Polynesian Village… These are just a FEW of the resorts that have warm-and-sandy beachside lounging. Though you won’t be able to get into the water (seriously — don’t even try. It’s illegal and dangerous), you CAN always grab one of the beachside’s lounge chairs, hammocks, or bench swings and just… well… chill out for a little bit. (Or a LOT a bit. It’s YOUR vacation, after all.) Riviera Resort Little do you know, these beachsides provide MORE than just a midday cat nap. Watch Fireworks Disney World is KNOWN for its over-the-top nighttime spectaculars… so how on EARTH will you be able to get away with watching them without a park ticket purchase? Luminous at EPCOT If you’re currently lounging on a beachside featured at one of the monorail resorts, just STAY PUT. Because once the sun sets and the Magic Kingdom show begins, you’ll be able to see the fireworks shoot off from the comfort of your lounge chair. Mm. This is nice. Let’s keep the relaxing vibes going. Morning Yoga Let’s become ONE with your Disney World hotel. Several Disney World resorts offer free Sunrise Yoga classes on select days throughout the week. When you’re looking into the specific offerings for YOUR resort on the Disney World website, check the recreation section of the page and see if yoga is listed as one of the many activities. In some cases, there may be Zumba and Pilates classes offered, too! (Oh, and did we mention mats and towels are also provided?) Classes are first come, first served, and VERY limited — so make sure you get to your yoga session with plenty of time to spare! (Which, unfortunately, means a pretty early wake-up call…) Yoga Ooh — now we’re CHEATING a bit with this next one (but we won’t tell if YOU don’t tell, k? K.) Animal Spotting Guides Whether you’re staying at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge or just swinging on by for a visit (and a nice meal), you can pick up an Animal Spotting Guide at the front desk to help you identify the different animals hanging out on the resort’s personal savanna. If you’re staying in a room at Animal Kingdom Lodge, there should be a spotting guide on the table, ready and waiting for you. (But, again, if you don’t see one, you can always pick one up in the lobby). And even if you DON’T pick one of these spotting guides up, you can STILL watch the African animals out those GIANT windows of the resort. Wildlife Spotting Guide Next up on the list is a free activity that your kiddo will talk about for AGES to come. Pool Parties Pause that Marco Polo game! Disney’s got some OTHER poolside activities for you — like trivia games, Bingo, water balloon tosses… you name it! Once again, pool activities will vary between resorts AND change up daily — so check your resort’s featured schedule of activities listed inside the lobby (OR ask a cast member at the front desk about the resort’s updated itinerary). Beach Club Resort Pool Here’s one of the BIGGEST freebies Walt Disney World has of them ALL. Free Entry for Kiddos If your kiddo is under the age of three, then you do NOT have to pay for their park ticket. That’s right — toddlers and babies get to enjoy the parks for free! The same goes for all-you-care-to-enjoy restaurants around the property. You don’t have to worry about paying for your tiny tyke — they can just share from anyone’s plate at the table for a whopping total of $0. Scanning in! Whether you’re a kid, a teen, or an adult — EVERYONE can experience the overwhelming BOREDOM that might strike when you’re waiting in a forever-long line for a Disney ride. Which is why this NEXT point is so important. Play Disney App Disney World has two main apps that are totally free to download. The first is the My Disney Experience app — which helps you plan out your park day — and the second is the Play Disney app. Now, the Play Disney App has select games specific for the queue you’re waiting in. So you can answer trivia questions in line for Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, help Hondo Ohnaka with missions before you ride Smuggler’s Run, and play multiplayer mini-games as you pass the time before Toy Story Mania. ©Disney But WAIT. There’s MORE. Play Disney App (Part Two) With the hype surrounding the latest MagicBand+ technology, you might want to purchase a new band yourself, just so you can go on immersive missions around Galaxy’s Edge. But the Star Wars Data Pad — which can ALSO be found on the Play Disney App — gives you a similar opportunity to interact with different things around Galaxy’s Edge. With the data pad, you can also go on (different) missions, as well as collect cargo, translate Aurebesh, hack into droid technology, and just cause controlled chaos — in general — around the planet of Bantu. Star Wars Datapad ©Disney But if you’re REALLY trying to avoid those super-duper long ride lines, then THIS free strategy might become your trusty steed. Disney Genie The free version of Disney Genie can be a SUPER underrated feature (Since Disney Genie+ tends to capture the spotlight). But there’s more to the complimentary planning tool than you may realize. Much like the AccuWeather app can tell you about the hourly weather forecast, the free version of Disney Genie has a forecast, too. But THIS hourly forecast is for ride and attraction wait times throughout the day. Now, much like a REGULAR weather forecast, Disney Genie isn’t always 100% accurate — BUT it does give you a better idea about when rides will be at their lowest and highest wait times throughout the day. And if this is your first ever Disney trip — or even if you just want to add a little more VARIETY to your upcoming vacation — Disney Genie can ALSO create an itinerary for you and your group, featuring your dining, ride, and experience preferences. You need the My Disney Experience app to use Genie+! Now, even though this service CAN be super useful, it’s important to still do your research ahead of time and not rely solely on Disney Genie to guide you through each and every park. Because SOMETIMES those choices it adds to the mix are rather… interesting. (No, Disney Genie, we do NOT want to dine at Coral Reef in EPCOT. Stop adding that to our PLANS.) Ooh — okay — here’s kinda a controversial point! (Let’s see if YOU find it worth the $0 price tag.) Use Single Rider Paying for Lightning Lanes through Disney Genie + can add up QUICKLY. If ONLY there were other options out there we could rely on instead! Admittedly, I’m hyping up those Single Rider lines a little too much. After all, they’re limited to only a handful of rides, AND sometimes they can still get rather lengthy. However, if you’re at a ride that has that single rider option available, and the queue is looking rather intense, there’s a good chance that you can significantly lower your wait time by choosing the single rider line over the standard line. And it won’t cost you a cent extra. Single rider entrance BONUS: Rider Swap is also a FREE service that you can use to help everybody in your group ride ALL the thrill rides in ALL the parks — even if you’ve got a tiny tyke in your party that someone’s gonna have to look after while everyone else rides the first time ‘round. Just ask a cast member at the front of the attraction about Rider Swap BEFORE you jump in line, and they’ll get you all set up! Making memories doesn’t always have to be EXPENSIVE. Sometimes, a captured moment can be truly… priceless. (Bleh. That sounded cheesy. Lemme explain that in more human terms.) Cast Member Photos If you want a professional photo from your Disney World trip, your best bet is to purchase the PhotoPass Memory Maker add-on (OR to purchase single copies of your favorite PhotoPass photos). HOWEVER, if you just want a PhotoPass photographer to take your picture for FREE, you can ask them to take a picture of your group on your phone. And it’ll cost ya nothing! There may be some cases where PhotoPass photographers won’t be able to do this for you, so be aware that these guidelines could vary depending on the PhotoPass location. PhotoPass Cast members really DO make a park day 1000 times better. And, if you’re lucky, they may even put on a free show for you when you LEAST expect it. Catch an Art Show There are SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS you can watch talented artists design things around Disney World. You can see glassblowing demonstrations at the Crystal Arts by Arribas Brothers shop (in both Disney Springs AND Magic Kingdom), live sketch artists at the Art of Disney store in Disney Springs, painting performances during EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts… and that’s only a FEW of the MANY ways you can be “wow”ed by the endless creativity from cast members. (Seriously, it’s like MAGIC.) And while SOME cast members are hired to keep the parks look spick-and-span, they ALSO like to “WOW” us with art, too. Water art, to be exact! We’ve seen characters like Mickey, Minnie, Chip and Dale, and Goofy pop up on the Disney World grounds — just out of the blue! But they don’t last long! (This IS water art, after all.) So keep your eyes peeled for the impromptu masterpieces, compliments of Disney’s talented cast members! Cast Member doing water art Time for a freebie CLASSIC! (Truly — have you even BEEN to Disney World if you haven’t gotten one of THESE before?) Celebration Buttons Birthdays. Anniversaries. Honeymoons. Graduations. ANY special event that you might be traveling for can be emphasized with a good ol’ Disney celebration button for you to display proudly on your clothes all day long. Buttons can be picked up from the front lobby of your resort, or at various Disney theme park locations (like guest relations OR select merchandise shops). Now make sure to keep that button fastened to ya ALL DAY LONG. Because you NEVER know when a little extra “pixie dust” will be thrown your way. (And by “pixie dust” we mean “potentially free desserts at table service restaurants.”) Grab a celebration button! WHEW. All that walking around sure makes you break a sweat. If ONLY there was a way to cool down that didn’t cost anything extra… Oh WAIT. There IS. Splash Pads Let’s say you wanna cool down, but you don’t really wanna commit to a full-on pool day. Disney World has SO MANY splash pads scattered around the property! You can find splash pads outside Earl of Sandwich at Disney Springs, or at the Casey Jr. Splash N Soak Station at Magic Kingdom, or even out on the grounds of SEVERAL Disney World resorts. Splash pads are abundant here — so jump on in, the water’s fine! Storybook Circus Splash Pad This might shock you, but Disney World isn’t always SCORCHING hot. So what free experiences can you expect when the temperatures start to cool? Select Holiday Activities There are SO many FREE Christmas activities to explore around the holidays— like admiring the GIANT gingerbread house inside Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort lobby and taking a walk around the Disney Springs Christmas Tree Stroll. Grand Floridian Gingerbread House And if you’re planning on being in EPCOT around the holiday season, you can also experience the Festival of the Holidays — which won’t cost you a full extra park ticket on top of what you’re already paying! You’ll be able to listen to different holiday storytellers describe festive traditions from around the globe, as well as see the Candlelight Processional over at the American Adventure Pavilion — which features a celebrity narrator AND a full-on choir and orchestra to pull the whole thing off. (And BOY do they pull it off.) Sometimes, the free things at Disney World might actually help you MAKE money. Wi-Fi If you’re someone who works remotely (or if you don’t wanna keep using your data on vacation), there are several places around Disney World with access to free Wi-Fi — and that includes ALL of the resorts, each of the parks, the Disney Springs shopping district, and EVEN the Disney buses. So you don’t have to worry about staying disconnected or not being able to send out an important work email while you’re on vacation (though, it must be said, some WiFi signals around property are WAY stronger than others. We always seem to find better Disney Springs WiFi near Amorette’s Patisserie area, for example.) Catalonia Boardroom Alright. That’s enough work for ONE vacation. Let’s get back to the FUN. Disney Transportation Wait, we said FUN! Is Disney transportation REALLY all that fun?! It CAN be! The Disney Skyliner, Boats, and Monorail aren’t just a nifty way to get around the parks — BUT they can be a nice, easy-going ride with GREAT scenic views. And as far as the Disney buses are concerned? Listen. we know they can be a pain, but we’re still glad that they’re an option to get us from Point A to Point B. (And a FREE option, at that.) Disney World Skyliner And THAT’S the perfect segue into our NEXT point… Transportation Cards Cast members around Disney’s complimentary transportation services — such as the Monorail, Skyliner, buses, and boats — might have collectible transportation trading cards for you to pick up. All you’ve gotta do is ask about them! (Let’s see if YOU can collect them all!) Monorail Transportation Cards There are SOME Disney World collections that are downright IMPOSSIBLE to collect all of. Including… Tracking Down Hidden Mickeys! Of COURSE you’ve gotta try out THIS resort-wide activity at least ONCE! It’s, like, the Disney LAW! Disney Imagineers have created the biggest scavenger hunt by adding secret Mickey shapes to the decor, architecture, and greenery around the entire Disney World property. Some are more obvious, and some require you to have a pretty keen eye for detail. Disney’s Wilderness Lodge even has a whole scavenger hunt dedicated to tracking down some of their most POPULAR (and sneaky) Hidden Mickeys around the resort. Some hidden Mickeys on the tree Ask a cast member in the lobby for a Hidden Mickey guide — then get to searching! Be sure to keep track of how many YOU find on your trip — and let us know which hidden Mickey turns out to be your all-time favorite! Don’t roll your eyes at this next point. It just might be the most important freebie YET. Water Do NOT take Disney’s free water for granted. Trust me, you’re gonna NEED it. If you purchase a bottle of water for each of your meals, you’re looking at spending an extra $4-$5 for EACH drink. Every. Single. Day. HOWEVER, many quick services and sit-down restaurants offer free water cups upon request. And if you bring a refillable water bottle with you, there are also designated water refill stations located in several areas around the parks. A station at Cosmic Ray’s Those are a couple of the ways you can have free fun at Disney World on your next trip. As always, we’ll continue to share new ideas for ways to save on your future Disney World trips! Click here to check out the latest Disney Deals and Discounts! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW How are you planning to save money on your 2024 Disney trips? Let us know in the comments! The post 49 Free Things To Do in Disney World in 2024 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’re constantly talking about the Disney World hotels — why you should stay on property, which hotel you should choose, and what perks they have. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort There are SO many options in Disney World, but there are even more options outside of the resort! From other hotel brands to Airbnbs, you could just as easily stay off-property. And if you’re on the fence with that decision, today we’re telling you why we’ve regretted staying in Disney World hotels in the past! I Wanted to Cook Meals Our first reason for regretting a Disney World Resort stay? We would’ve rather had a kitchen! Only select Disney hotel rooms come with kitchens, and most of the are found at the Disney Vacation Club properties, which are more expensive than the regular hotels. Coffee Bar If you’re staying in a regular room, you’ll be left with nothing more than a coffee bar and a mini-fridge, most of the time. So if you want the kitchen, the price will be significantly higher! That’s a bummer for those who like to do some of their meals at the hotel to save money. Kitchenette If you go off-site, you’ll be able to rent vacation homes that have ample kitchen space, usually for much cheaper than you’ll find in Disney World. I Didn’t Have Enough Space Another problem we’ve had with Disney World hotels is the lack of space. Similar to the kitchen dilemma, you have to pay a LOT more to get a substantial amount of space in your hotel room. And space might be a necessity if you’re a larger family or need some alone time. The bed There are some places you can stay in Disney World that offer 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and 3-bedroom accommodations, but they cost hundreds (if not thousands) more per night than your basic 4-person hotel room. Rental homes off-property are probably a better choice if everyone wants their own room and bathroom space! I Wish I’d Saved More Money Let’s be honest — Disney World Resorts are NOT cheap! Even the cheapest hotel accommodations are well over $100 per night in the slow season. (And those all the All-Star Resorts, the least impressive of the bunch!) If you want to stay in a Deluxe Resort, you’re often looking at $500/night or more. Polynesian Resort Probably the biggest reason people choose to stay off-site is to save the dough. If all you’re doing at your hotel is sleeping, then it might not be worth it to get the “Disney experience.” Instead, you can save that cash for souvenirs, a nice meal, a fun experience, or extra days of park tickets. I Spent Too Much Time Waiting On/Riding Buses There are several ways to get from the hotels to the parks in Disney World. Some resorts have walking paths, while others have Monorail or boat transportation to select parks. But all of the Disney World Resorts have some form of bus transportation. And with a few of the hotels, bus transportation can be a PAIN. Disney Bus Resorts like Coronado Springs, Caribbean Beach, Saratoga Springs, and Old Key West all have internal bus loops, since the resorts are so large. Because of this, you may spend a lot of time on the bus going around to different stops before you arrive at your destination. Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort On top of that, there are some resorts (like the All-Stars and Coronado Springs) where bus transportation is the only option to get places. If you’re anti-bus or want to get to your destination faster, you might consider either bringing a car or staying somewhere off-site where you can park right at your door. It’s easier that way! It Was a LONG Walk to My Room Some of the Disney World resorts are BIG, and not all the rooms are close to the main parts of the hotel or the transportation drop-off spots. Even at some of the Deluxe Resorts (like Grand Floridian and the Polynesian Village Resort), the rooms are spread out away from the lobby, the boats, and the Monorail. Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort We’ve definitely been those people who were SO exhausted at the end of the night that a long hike back to the room was almost too much to bear. And if you want to cut back on those steps, it might be easier to stay at an off-site hotel where there’s one entry point or at a vacation rental where you can get dropped off at the door. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort So there you have it — the reasons why you might not want to stay in a Disney World hotel! Don’t forget that staying onsite comes with certain perks, like Early Theme Park Entry, discounted MagicBands, and the ability to book your dining reservations all at once. You’ll just want to weigh the pros and cons. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World tips and advice! The Best Disney World Hotels for 2024 — 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 Are you staying at a Disney World hotel soon? Let us know in the comments! The post Why I Regret Staying at a Disney World Hotel first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article