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We’ve reviewed lots of good lounges around Disney World lately, but we’re not sure that any of them will be able to compare to THIS meal! Full meal Disney’s really thrown us curveballs lately with their new fast food bread service and snacks better than grandma made them, but when we heard that a beloved menu item was returning to Crew’s Cup Lounge, we HAD to go out and see if it was just as good as it once was! While we were out visiting a few of the Disney hotels we decided to stop by Disney’s Yacht Club Resort and pop into Crew’s Cup Lounge for a quick bite to eat. Crew’s Cup lounge This lounge is located right next door to Yachtsman’s Steakhouse and around dinnertime, the hallway between the two may be busier with folks waiting to be called for reservations at that restaurant and waiting to be seated at the next available table inside the lounge. Luckily, we arrived earlier in the afternoon so we were able to walk right in! Atmosphere The atmosphere here as you walk in can be quite lively given that it’s a smaller space for a lounge, but because we were early and people were starting to arrive shortly after opening we found several tables still available. This place really sets a scene where you feel like you’re walking into a sportsman’s lounge! There’s table seating… Walking into the lounge … a bar area if you prefer to sit there… Bar .. and a few more cozier chairs set up around shorter tables that foster more of a den-type vibe. Smaller tables Because this is a lounge, there are several TVs hung throughout with various sports and news stations, and the lighting is dimly lit to give you a more intimate experience. Sportsmanlike touches But those chandeliers and light fixtures look pretty cool against all of the rowing memorability. Menu When we took our seats at an open table, our server brought around a full menu that detailed the various drinks like wines, cocktails, and beers… Beverage menu … and another menu contained the full food menu to order from. Food menu After browsing the options a bit we knew EXACTLY what we wanted to order, so we placed our order with our server and waited for everything to arrive. Eats We decided very quickly on what we wanted to order for the evening after spotting the Prime Rib Sliders back on the menu once again! Since we were here, we also decided to order the Charcuterie & Cheese Board to round out our meal. Prime Rib Slider and Charcuterie & Cheese Board You can’t go wrong with prime rib, charcuterie, and cheese, right? At least, we hoped! Let’s talk about those Prime Rib Sliders first. These are served as 2 slider sandwiches stuffed with sliced prime rib meat, accompanied by a side of house-made chips, and cups of horseradish cream and au jus. These cost us $20. Prime Rib Sliders with house-made chips The menu also had an entree of house-made chips with a side of aioli, but since we were going to get chips with the sliders anyway, we just ordered a side of aioli to go with our chips… Side of aioli …we’ll come back around to that later. The prime rib slider was jam-packed with meat… Prime Rib Slider …and it was tender, thinly sliced but not too thin, served warm, and had just the right ratio of fat to flavor the meat. So meaty! We also dipped it in au jus which gave it a salty and savory taste… side of Au Jus … and spread the horseradish cream on one side of our slider… Side of horseradish cream … and we found you couldn’t go wrong with either of these accompaniments. In fact, we actually combined them (in the name of research, right?) and the taste was explosive in a good way. All the sauces and dip SO MUCH FLAVOR packed into each bite. The salty au jus hit just right on the prime rib while the horseradish cream added almost a cream cheese accompaniment, and we found it all to be just divine. Then we turned our attention to the house-made chips. House-made chips On their own these chips were great — you could tell they were crispier than some we’ve had in the past and had a nice audible crunch when you bit into them. They’re also lightly seasoned with a dusting that reminded us of an almost barbecue flavor, which we felt was the right choice to pair with the meaty sliders. But when we dipped these chips into the creamy aioli… House-made chip dipped in aioli … nothing could hold us back. It was creamy and mimicked a cut-down version of sour cream and onion dip that wasn’t so sharp. Our only complaint was that the side of aioli was so small in comparison to the chip ratio (but in fairness, we didn’t ask for a second). Once we’d started filling up on the prime rib slider we decided to take a break and look over the Charcuterie & Cheese Board. Charcuterie & Cheese Board This board was made of Mt Tam cheese, calabrese salami, point reyes blue cheese, prosciutto ham, Comte cheese, dried apricot, honeycomb, apricot mostarda, stone ground mustard, and lavash and sourdough crostini. It was priced at $22. This board is one of the best we’ve had! We’ll take you through each flavor one by one. The calabrese salami has a low-heat spice to it (kind of like a pepperoni) but it’s very soft, so you’ll taste it but your mouth won’t be on fire. Calabrese Salami The honeycomb was interesting. It tastes just like you would imagine with its sticky honey sweetness AND you’ll have pieces of the comb that will taste just like those convenience store candies that had the liquid inside that you had to bite and chew to get to (and yes it will stick to your teeth so be prepared). Honeycomb The Comte cheese was fine and we’ve had this one before in several Disney World cheese boards. It crumbles like parmesan cheese when bitten into. Comte cheese The Mt Tam cheese was creamy and bland, but had a rubbery outside texture to it when you got the side of the cheese in with your bite — which kept things interesting. Mt Tam cheese The Point Reyes blue cheese has a commanding taste quite like you would expect blue cheese to have… Mount Reyes blue cheese …and the dried apricot was rubbery on the inside but once you bit into it it was unmistakably apricot flavored and a bit juicy, but mostly chewy. Dried apricot The prosciutto ham had a great salty flavor to the super thin slices but this one we found to be a bit chewier than some of the other boards we’ve had around Disney World… Prosciutto ham … while the pieces of the sourdough crostini bread and lavash chips had nice audible crunches to them both when you bit into them and cut down some of the stronger flavors when they were paired on the bread. Sourdough crostini bread and lavish chips The lavash is thinner than the sourdough crostini pieces, so it broke into pieces when you bit into it rather than stayed together. So we didn’t pack those down with lots of meats and cheeses. The apricot mostarda was interesting and had the flavor of an apricot with the consistency of marmalade… Apricot mostarda … and the stone ground mustard was sharp and truly packed in that mustard flavor. Stone ground mustard This was a great board that we’d totally go back for and easily could be shared between two people as either a main entree or app (like we did in our case). Overall Overall this visit to Crew’s Cup Lounge blew us away. We really enjoyed the food, and the service was excellent despite being very busy as it started getting later in the afternoon. Dipped in au jus Or food was well cooked, everything was brought out as we ordered it, and we had a really hard time finding fault with anything we ordered here. We would highly recommend you stop by this lounge on your next Disney World trip solely to try out the Prime Rib Sliders! Nosh or Not? Stop by this winning lounge if you’re… Looking for a great atmosphere with excellent food! Nothing we had this visit was anything less than stellar and we’re already ready for a repeat visit. Need an intimate spot for date night that’s not going to break the bank. This is an excellent choice for a Disney lounge that’s got great food quality while keeping your budget on par. Looking for the “old Disney” vibe. This lounge has it all — returning food, a relaxed environment, and more of a mature feel to the inside without looking back too much. While there are fewer “in your face Disney touches,” it makes nods to adults who can remember the former days of Disney World. We think you’d prefer dining somewhere else if you’re… Looking for a hearty meal. The menu selection here is limited because it is a lounge so while the food is good, there’s not going to be a lot of sides to accompany it and if you’re looking for lots of food to dig into, this might not be your first pick. Dimly lit atmospheres aren’t really your vibe. This has more of a sports bar-type feel and can get kinda loud when there are lots of people in here. The lighting isn’t very bright in here so if you struggle to see you might ask for the food to go after you’ve placed your order. You prefer not to leave the Disney World park you’re visiting. We get it — sometimes coming out of the Disney parks to dine can be a hike and time-consuming, so if that’s something you factor into your dining decisions, then you may enjoy somewhere closer to you rather than leaving the park just to return afterward. Full meal So after reading this review will you be making a stop by Disney’s Yacht Club Resort to visit Crew’s Cup Lounge for these delicious sliders? We sure hope so! We’ve reviewed EVERYTHING there is to eat at Disney World and check out a few more of our reviews down below and stay tuned for more Disney food news! REVIEW: Don’t Tell Grandma, But This Disney Snack Might Be Even BETTER Than Her Recipe 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! Have you ever tried the Prime Rib Sliders from Crew’s Cup Lounge? Give us your reviews of them below! The post REVIEW: Our FAVORITE Disney World Meal is BACK, but Is It as Good as We Remember? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’re SO excited about what 2024 is going to bring to Disney World. New year, new STUFF! Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom We’re getting new food at The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers and Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs over at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort. We’re even getting a brand new attraction, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, which we’re getting even MORE excited about. Why? Well, we check out construction on the new ride every day, and most recently, it’s looking A LOT different. So Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will take place after the events of The Princess and the Frog. Tiana has opened her restaurant, Tiana’s Palace, and she’s throwing a Mardi Gras Party for the people of New Orleans. But she needs a “key ingredient,” and that’s where YOU come in. You’ll join Tiana and Louis on a musical adventure through the bayou. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Concept Art ©Disney Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will be taking over the old Splash Mountain attraction, and it’s starting to look a lot less like Splash Mountain and a lot more like Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. For example, Splash Mountain’s exterior was all red rock/dirt. Splash Mountain Well, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is set in a Louisiana bayou, which means it needs to be more green, and that’s exactly what we’re starting to notice with the construction. Recently, even MORE greenery has been added to the exterior of the ride. SO green There’s a lot of scaffolding around the front now, too, where they’re touching up the outside of the attraction. You’ll notice some flowers dotting some of that greenery, too. It’s starting to look SO different from Splash Mountain. A closer look It’s been really exciting watching the ride take shape, and we can’t wait to see MORE, although we’ve still got about another year before it opens in late 2024. We’ll be keeping an eye on construction and sharing any other big changes we spot. So stay tuned to DFB for more. When are you headed to Disney World next? Have you checked out our line of fun graphic tees to wear on your trip? We even have some fun Tiana-themed shirts! Princess Tiana merch! We’ve designed some for the whole family – from infants to adults! Click here to check them out! Get a Sneak Peek of a NEW Animatronic for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Disney World! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Are you excited about this new ride coming to Magic Kingdom? Let us know in the comments! The post Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Looks WAY Different in Disney World Right Now! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

As the holiday season begins to wind down in Disney World, we’re starting to look forward to 2024. EPCOT Festival of the Arts That means we’re getting ready for the EPCOT Festival of the Arts, which runs from January 12th through February 19th, 2024. We’re ready to eat at ALL the food booths, watch the Disney on Broadway shows, see alllll the art, and more. Well, we now know about something ELSE confirmed for the festival, and it includes brand-new photo ops. The EPCOT Festival of the Arts usually brings in some fun backdrops and photo ops that allow visitors to step INTO paintings and become part of the art. Although some photo ops will be returning this year, there will also be three NEW photo ops, including one dedicated to Disney’s newest animated film Wish, as well as one devoted to Sleeping Beauty. Photo op at 2022 Festival of the Arts Here is the full list of photo ops you’ll find at the 2024 EPCOT Festival of the Arts: International Gateway: Luncheon of the Boating Party – Pierre-Auguste Renoir The American Adventure: Washington Crossing the Delaware – Emanuel Leutze Between Italy Pavilion and Germany Pavilion: Mona Lisa – Leonardo da Vinci Between Italy Pavilion and Germany Pavilion: The Scream – Edvard Munch Mexico Pavilion: An Homage to Frida Kahlo NEW — Bridge to World Showcase: Wish Storybook NEW — Italy Pavilion Courtyard: Teatime with Penguins NEW — Bridge to World Showcase: Forest Scene from Sleeping Beauty Washington Crossing the Delaware photo opp Disney PhotoPass photographers will be available to take those photos for you, so you’ll want to keep an eye out for giant frames and big works of art! Where else can you say you got to pose with THE George Washington?! Other things confirmed for the Festival of the Arts include The Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine, art exhibits, art performers, chalk art, Animation Academy, and the Expression Section paint-by-numbers mural that visitors can participate in. There’s plenty to keep you busy! We’ll be at the festival LIVE on day one, so stay tuned to DFB for a full rundown of festival offerings, plus food booth reviews. The DFB-Exclusive 2024 EPCOT Festival of the Arts Map Is HERE! Get the Ultimate GUIDE to the Festival of the Arts! The DFB Guide to the 2024 EPCOT Festival of the Arts is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your Festival trip to EPCOT. Order The DFB Guide to the 2024 EPCOT Festival of the Arts now! It includes over 150 pages of must-have information, including the very best tips to make sure you enjoy every minute of your time at the 2024 Festival! Click HERE to preorder your 2024 Guide now! As always, our e-Books are 100% guaranteed! If you don't love it, you get your money back! MORE Festival of the Arts INFO! See the FULL LIST of Food Booths, Menus, and Photos from the 2023 Festival of the Arts Read ALL of Our Food Booth Reviews for the 2023 Festival See Our Review of the 2023 Food Challenge at the Festival Get a Full Look at the FIGMENT Merchandise That Was Available at the 2023 Festival Learn More About the Disney on Broadway Concert Series and Dining Packages Click HERE for All of the Latest News and Details About the Festival of the Arts! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Festival of the Arts news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Will you be attending this year’s EPCOT Festival of the Arts? Let us know in the comments! The post NEW Photo Ops Revealed for 2024 EPCOT Festival of the Arts first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’re headed to Disney World in 2024, it wouldn’t hurt to arm yourself with as many tips and tricks as you can. Cinderella Castle Disney World has plenty to offer as well as some hindrances next year. Each year, Disney World provides new opportunities, new challenges, and new ways trips need to be planned. If you don’t know where to start, we can help you! We have a tip that you should definitely know for your next 2024 Disney World trip! If you’re looking for some great deals or other ways to save, have you considered the Disney Visa Card? While definitely not necessary to have a wonderful Disney World vacation, it could go a long way in making your next trip easier and more affordable. Disney Visa The credit card is offered through Chase Bank with two tiers — the Disney Premier Visa Card and the regular Disney Visa Card. Both cards let you earn Disney Rewards Dollars for purchases made with the card that can then be redeemed into a Disney Rewards Card. This is where your 2024 vacation comes into play. ©Disney Both cards offer new cardmember bonuses as well as perks you can use in your daily life (all of which you can read about by CLICKING HERE), however, we want to focus on all the perks these cards get you at Disney World. ©Disney Let’s start with our favorite thing — the food! Disney Visa cardholders 10% off at select dining locations at Disney World. These locations include: Magic Kingdom Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen EPCOT Biergarten Coral Reef Restaurant (Lunch only) Le Cellier Steakhouse (Lunch only) Rose & Crown Dining Room (Lunch only) Disney’s Hollywood Studios The Hollywood Brown Derby* Disney’s Animal Kingdom Tiffins Disney Resort Hotels Boma at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Jiko* at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Sanaa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge ESPN Club at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn Flying Fish* at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn Sebastian’s Bistro at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Toledo — Tapas, Steak & Seafood at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Trail’s End Restaurant at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground Citricos at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Grand Floridian Cafe at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Olivia’s Cafe at Disney’s Old Key West Resort Kona Cafe at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Boatwright’s Dining Hall at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside The Turf Club Bar & Grill at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort Whispering Canyon Cafe at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Ale & Compass Restaurant at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Disney Springs Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop Paddlefish Planet Hollywood Terralina Crafted Italian The Polite Pig ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill Cardholders also receive a 20% discount at Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea locations all around Disney World. If part of your Disney trip is experiencing all the food, this card is a great way to save some money! Horseback riding at Fort Wilderness Another perk cardmembers get is 15% off select guided tours at Disney World. If you were looking to experience something a little extra on your next Disney World trip, check out these experiences: Disney’s Keys to the Kingdom Tour at Magic Kingdom Behind the Seeds at EPCOT EPCOT Seas Adventures – Dolphins in Depth EPCOT Seas Adventures – DiveQuest Caring for Giants (featuring African Elephants) at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Savor the Savana: Evening Safari Experiences at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Up Close with Rhinos at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Wild Africa Trek (Mid-Day Tours only on select days) at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Starlight Safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Wilderness Back Trail Adventure at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Horse-drawn carriage rides at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort and Disney’s Fort Wilderness and Horseback Trail Rides at Disney’s Fort Wilderness are limited to a 10% discount. All of these discounts require that reservations be made over the phone by calling (407) 939-7529. Mickey Mouse at the Disney Visa Photo Spot in EPCOT Disney Visa cardholders also get access to complimentary photos of exclusive character meet-and-greet experiences! One them is located within EPCOT from 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., cardmembers can find the Disney Visa Photo Spot near the Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival in World Celebration where they will find varying members of the Fab Five: Donald, Goofy, Mickey, Minnie, or Pluto. Another photo spot can be found in Disney’s Hollywood Studios at the Star Wars Launch Bay in Animation Courtyard. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., cardmembers can get exclusive photos with Star Wars characters. Shopping at the Emporium If you usually come back from Disney World with a suitcase full of merchandise, the Disney Visa card can save you quite a bit of money. Cardholders receive 10% off select merchandise purchases of $50 or more. Keep in mind, however, that this is limited to select merchandise locations throughout Disney World. Art of Animation As for lodging, the card helps with that too! Disney announced a new deal for Disney Visa cardholders for 2024 vacations where you can save up to 35% on stays most nights from January 9th, 2024-March 24th, 2024. Additionally, you can save up to 20% on stays on most Friday and Saturday nights from January 12th through February 24th, 2024. Going to Disney World after February? Don’t sweat it! Here are cardmember-exclusive savings you can get at select hotels: Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – Family Suites (save up to 30%) Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort (save up to 35%) Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (save up to 35%) If you want to learn more about these deals, CLICK HERE! EPCOT Along with these discounts, the Disney Visa card can help you save on theme park tickets, shopDisney, and movie tickets to Disney films. Whether or not this card is for you is totally subjective, but we’ll continue to give you all the tips and tricks you can use to save money at Disney World. Be sure to stay tuned right here at DFB for all the latest! We’re Answering ALL of Your Disney Credit Card Questions Planning a Trip to Disney World? We’ve Got Everything You Need to Know The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Disney World Vacation A Month-by-Month Guide to Planning Your Disney World Trip Tips, Hints, Lists, and Videos for Planning the BEST Disney World Trip Learn About the Disney Park Pass System The Ultimate Disney World Packing List Everything You Need to Know About Genie+ Insider SECRETS for Your First Trip to Disney World A Complete Look at the Current Disney Discounts and Deals The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click Here to Subscribe If you are/were a cardmember, let us know about your experiences with this program in the comments below! The post Why You Should Get a Disney Visa Card Before Your 2024 Disney World Trip first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Have you ever wanted to go on a cruise? Dole Whip on a Disney Cruise Disney or other cruises are great ways to get away from real life for a little while. You can explore tropical islands or Alaskan ports. Usually, you can visit a port for a few days then hop back onto the ship to cruise back to the mainland. But a new cruise is FAR more than just a momentary break from everyday life. This cruise COULD be your everyday life (274 nights out of the year)! Royal Caribbean Cruises has created the perfect cruise for travel gurus. If you want an adventure, just hop aboard The Ultimate World Cruise. Trust us, they aren’t kidding when they call it “Ultimate” or say the “world.” ©Royal Caribbean You will be enjoying a 274-night, 11-world wonders, and 60+ country cruise. How’s that for living your best life? You can travel to all 7 continents and be the ultimate explorer for most of your year (Adventure is out there!) or just pick a small corner of the world and explore every inch of it. ©Royal Caribbean They are offering three versions of this ultimate cruise. You can choose one of their 17 sailings to one part of the world for 9-28 nights. Or pick a 60+ night cruise to one of the four segments of the larger 274-night world tour cruise. The 274-night cruise will explore all realms of the globe. You’ll go to each hemisphere, over 60 countries, and see 11 Wonders of the World (We thought there were only 7!!). This may sound familiar but don’t worry, this isn’t the Jungle Cruise! Jungle Cruise This is the cruise of a lifetime! If you want to sail around the world with other adventurers (maybe Dug will be there) for 274 nights, then hop over to their website to view the full itinerary and get more details! To book a cruise, call Royal Caribbean or contact a travel agent. We suggest using Small World Vacations for Disney cruises! 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 In the meantime, keep following DFB for more Disney news! What It Costs to Take a Disney Cruise What You Need to Know About Disney Cruise Line Learn All About Disney Cruise Line and Its Various Ships Explore Disney’s Mega Cruise Ship – The Wish A Full List of What You CAN’T Bring on a Disney Cruise These Are the BEST Times to Book Your Disney Cruise The Best Ways to SAVE SPACE in Your Tiny Cruise Cabin 10 Things You NEED on Your Next Cruise (That You Won’t Think to Pack!) What It’s Like to Live on a Cruise Ship for 6 Months Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe Would you take a 274-night cruise around the world? Let us know in the comments! The post This 274-Night (!!!) Ultimate World Cruise Is Absolutely INSANE. Where Do We Sign Up? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We all probably have lots of ideas for what we think should be Disney’s next big project. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge With news that Disney plans to spend $60 billion on expansions and park additions, we’ve most likely all begun dreaming up what we think are good ideas. Now that Disney has given us entire immersive lands like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, World of Frozen, and Pandora, we have high hopes for what’s to come. It appears we aren’t the only ones dreaming of what’s to come. The three main cast members from Percy Jackson and the Olympians seem to have some thoughts of their own for Disney. While the new show isn’t even out on Disney+ yet (it premiers December 20th), the young cast has some thoughts on a new park attraction or, in their opinion, a whole new land. Leah Jeffries, Aryan Simhadri, and Walker Scobell shared, in an interview with Complex, that they think a new ride revolving around the Percy Jackson story is a great idea, and we don’t necessarily disagree! ©Disney They believe there is potential for a development like Avengers Campus in Disneyland or like the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal. They have their sights set pretty big for this new, upcoming show. Leah started by saying, “They should definitely put out a ride though. They should have one whole park, where there’s a part with Camp Half-Blood and then the Tunnel of Love ride. It would just be so amazing because then that way fans could experience it. That would be so cool. “ ©Disney Aryan added, “Like Avengers Campus in Disneyland.” And Walker chimed in, “Or like Hogsmeade in Harry Potter at Universal.” They were very excited as the thoughts and ideas poured from them. They might be on to something with these ideas, though! Disney is no stranger to creating immersive experiences and with the story already having easy things to incorporate like Camp Half-Blood and a Tunnel of Love ride, it may not be a stretch. ©Disney Disney is the top theme park designer when it comes to bringing a story to life. Perhaps, they need to bring these three teens into their Imagineers to share their inspiration and ideas for a new expansion. With $60 billion and a whole new show to use for ideas, we can see the possibility. However, since the show hasn’t premiered yet, we may have to wait and see how well it is received before any cross-promoting happens for Disney. Until then, keep following DFB for more Disney news! FULL LIST of Everything Coming to Disney+ in December 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 big idea would YOU share with Disney? Let us know in the comments! The post The Cast of a NEW Disney+ Show Shared Their Thoughts on an EPIC Disney Park Expansion 👀 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World has teased some seriously huge expansion plans over the past few years — and we happen to be pretty excited about it! Cinderella Castle But, in typical Disney fashion — they’ve been keeping the details a secret. Animal Kingdom’s DinoLand U.S.A. is set to be rethemed, and a Magic Kingdom expansion has been mentioned — and later confirmed. We’ve broken down the concept art and dug into some of the clues, but now, we’re uncovering all the secrets of Disney World’s new expansion plans. Disney has announced expansions for Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom! And, while we only have a handful of details, we can speculate as to just what might be in store with these new lands. Animal Kingdom At the 2023 D23 Expo, Disney excecutive Josh D’Amaro shared that Disney is “building on what makes Animal Kingdom so, so special” with The Tropical Americas! New experiences inspired by the beloved film Encanto and the fan-favorite character Indiana Jones are “being considered” for the reimagined land (currently DinoLand, U.S.A.) at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. So, keep in mind that even though we have concept art — these lands are only proposed. Tree of Life Below is the concept art for the Encanto and Indiana Jones land that Disney has proposed and that which we have gathered our clues. ©Disney Casa Madrigal We’re starting with the most obvious clue here, Casa Madrigal. Casa Madrigal is probably the most iconic part of the movie Encanto. It’s the premise behind the whole plot of the movie and it’s magical! If you’ve seen the movie, you know that the house changes shape, often making the stairs into a slide. We wouldn’t be surprised if Disney were to make this into a Haunted Mansion-style ride with a bit more pizzazz. Casa Madrigal The possibilities for a ride at Casa Madrigal seem endless with all the magic that is happening inside La Casita. A New Carrousel If you look closely at the concept art, you might notice, slightly hidden by some trees, that there seems to be a Carrousel. With Disney wanting to incorporate so many different animals from around the world into this land, we can only imagine the many different options for animals seats on a Carrousel in this new land! It could be like an exotic Prince Charming Regal Carrousel! Prince Charming Carrousel This would be a fun addition to the new area! Is That the Mexican Pavilion We See? Ok, so obviously the building from the Mexico Pavilion in EPCOT did not find its way into the concept art for Animal Kingdom. But if you look closely, there is a building that looks VERY similar to it! Mexico Pavilion We wouldn’t be surprised if we could find some good eats inside this new building (maybe some of Julieta’s healing arepas?). If this new building does turn out anything like the Mexican Pavilion, we could see there is a delicious restaurant inside or maybe a new boat ride! Walking Paths We also noticed several walking paths added to the concept art that wander in and out of the forests around the land. This would be on par for Animal Kingdom, where you can find many of these scattered around the park. Gorilla Falls Exploration Trails Typically on the trails throughout Animal Kingdom, you can find a plethora of animals. Disney is hoping to create a land that is inspired by the Tropical Americas because of the abundance of biodiversity in that region. So adding walking paths around this area could be a great way to showcase all those new animals! Indiana Jones Ride If you are saddened to hear that Dinoland U.S.A. is going away, you’re not alone. And along with that, the DINOSAUR ride will also be leaving the park. But fear not! The DINOSAUR ride uses the same ride system as the Indiana Jones ride in Disneyland. So we would not be surprised to learn that the ride on the West Coast will be finding its way to the East Coast. Indiana Jones Adventure ride vehicles Perhaps we would see some different theming in Disney World, possibly calling on one of the other many Indiana Jones movies, but with the same ride concept. The bones of the ride are already in place and the concept art seems to hint at a fairly big ride in the bottom right corner, so maybe we’ll be seeing this ride in Florida soon! Reptile Building On the concept art, we noticed several buildings that we just never know what they could be used for. There will probably be shops and restaurants, of course. But when we think of animals from South and Central America we think about a lot of reptiles and creepy crawlies. It could be very possible that we will see a reptile building of sorts. Conservation Station There are a few places we can find reptiles and amphibians in Animal Kingdom already. It would be no surprise at all if we got some Tropical American species coming to this new land. Magic Kingdom At the 2022 D23 Expo, Disney teased a GIANT expansion for Magic Kingdom. And at the 2023 Destination D23 event, they shared new details on the huge expansion. The team threw out a few different possible ideas for the space in the back of Magic Kingdom, including expansions themed to Coco, Encanto, or the Disney villains. With those lands, you could celebrate Dia de los Muertos in the little town of Santa Cecilia, walk inside the Madrigal family’s Casita, or live like a Disney villain! Possible Land Expansion in Magic Kingdom At the Destination D23 event, Chief Creative Officer at Walt Disney Imagineering, Bruce Vaughn, said that the future expansion plans for Magic Kingdom are the “largest ever” for the park. He also shared that Imagineers are looking to tell stories “Beyond Big Thunder Mountain.” A Villains-themed land?! There were no specifics announced regarding what types of attractions, restaurants, or shows might be added, but it was said that more details are to come in the future. But whatever is coming, it sounds like it will be big — according to the presentation, the stories in the expanded area will be told on a scale similar to things like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Pandora – The World of Avatar, including the addition of new attractions, restaurants, shows, and more! Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Speaking about the potential expansion during an investor call, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro stated that Disney has “a wealth of untapped stories to bring to life across our business,” including Frozen (which he said “could have a presence at Disneyland Resort), The Black Panther, and Coco. Specifically, D’Amaro said, “The world of Coco is just waiting to be explored. There’s a lot of storytelling opportunity.” Cinderella Castle So, while this is all mostly speculation for now, we do have a lot of clues thanks to what Disney has shared with us already. And, as we continue to learn more, we’ll be sure to share it with you! Stay tuned to DFB as we continue to bring you more updates on what might be on the horizon in the Disney World parks! 7 Disney World Projects That Are Shrouded in Secrecy Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Which Disney World expansion project are you most excited about? Tell us in the comments. The post Uncovering the SECRETS of Disney World’s NEW Expansion Plans first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Watch out! Several closures will affect the Disney World parks and hotels next week. Cinderella Castle Disney has to close restaurants, attractions, snack stands, and other locations occasionally in order to complete refurbishments and update the spaces. Let’s check out everything that’ll be closed next week, from December 17th through the 23rd! Magic Kingdom Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Splash Mountain closed on January 23rd for a long refurbishment. The ride is being re-themed to become Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, with a Princess and the Frog theme. More flowers at Tiana’s The new ride will reopen sometime in late 2024. We’ll be watching for more updates on the opening timeline. If you miss Splash Mountain or want to celebrate the new ride, you should check out our DFB t-shirts! We have a Splash Mountain Farwell Tour shirt… DFB Exclusive! …and a Tiana tee as well! Check out our new Tiana-inspired merch! You can shop both tees (and lots of other Disney merch) at our online store. Click here to shop our DFB merchandise store. Barrel Bridge on Tom Sawyer’s Island The Barrel Bridge on Tom Sawyer’s Island is not only closed — it’s missing completely! Barrel Bridge is Missing A Cast Member told us a few months ago that it was removed for repairs, and we haven’t seen it back since. We’ll be keeping an eye out for its return. Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant Tomorrowland Terrace is a quick service restaurant that’s remained closed since the 2020 pandemic-related closures, but even before that, this spot was only occasionally open. Tomorrowland Terrace Once in a while, you’ll see the dining area open as a rest area, but usually it’s all roped off and empty. Disney hasn’t announced when this spot could finally reopen, but we’ll be watching for updates! Everything You Need To Eat in Magic Kingdom in 2024 Disney’s Hollywood Studios Voyage of the Little Mermaid Voyage of the Little Mermaid is a stage show located in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It closed with the rest of the parks in 2020 for the pandemic-related shut-down, but even after the parks reopened and the rest of the entertainment slowly returned as well, this attraction remained closed. Voyage of the Little Mermaid Disney hasn’t announced when or if the Voyage of the Little Mermaid will reopen. We’ll be sure to let you know about any updates No One’s Talking About This Super Weird Thing That Happens in Hollywood Studios EPCOT Restaurant Marrakesh Almost all of the restaurants that were closed in EPCOT during the 2020 park closure have reopened, but Restaurant Marrakesh in the Morocco Pavilion is still closed with no word on when it will reopen. Restaurant Marrakesh building Since closing, the empty restaurant has been used as a relaxation station, a lounge…pretty much everything but dining. Recently, we saw that the hedges that were previously in front of the entrance have been removed and the space is once again open as a lounge. We’re hoping the restaurant returns soon! The Land Cart The Land Cart is a snack cart in the Land pavilion of EPCOT, and it’s currently closed. This snack spot usually sells soft pretzels, drinks, and fruit or veggies, but it’s been closed for a few weeks now. The Land Cart Disney’s website shows that this cart will be closed through early February at least, but that’s just as far as the calendar extends — the closure could last longer, or Disney could announce a reopening soon. We’ll be on the lookout for news! Disney Announced the Opening Date for the 2024 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival! Disney World Hotels 1900 Park Fare at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort At Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, 1900 Park Fare is a table service restaurant where you could meet characters like Mary Poppins and Alice in Wonderland at their Supercalifragilistic Breakfast and Cinderella and her Prince Charming during the Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner. 1900 Park Fare They also had a special event for younger children called the Wonderland Tea Party. It’s sad to see a spot closed that had so much character interaction! Disney hasn’t announced a permanent closure, so there is hope for 1900 Park Fare. With 1900 Park Fare closed…you’ll need this SECRET spot to get afternoon tea in Disney World! Disney World Water Parks Typhoon Lagoon Typhoon Lagoon is currently closed in Disney World, and the website does not yet list a reopening date. Typhoon Lagoon Entrance Disney World’s Blizzard Beach Water Park, however, is open! Click here to see the best rides at Blizzard Beach. Looking for more resources to help you get ready for your upcoming trip? Check out these posts to learn all about Disney World’s rides: 10 Rides to AVOID in Disney World if You Struggle with Motion Sickness What It Takes to CHANGE a Disney World Ride 9 of the SCARIEST Rides in Disney World, According to YOU! A FULL LIST of the Thrill Rides in Disney World! The Ultimate Guide to the BEST and WORST Seats On EVERY Magic Kingdom Ride We’ll keep you updated with all the latest news, so stay tuned to DFB. Click here to check out more upcoming closures and current construction projects at Disney World. Planning a Trip to Disney World? We’ve Got Everything You Need to Know The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Disney World Vacation A Month-by-Month Guide to Planning Your Disney World Trip Tips, Hints, Lists, and Videos for Planning the BEST Disney World Trip Learn About the Disney Park Pass System The Ultimate Disney World Packing List Everything You Need to Know About Genie+ Insider SECRETS for Your First Trip to Disney World A Complete Look at the Current Disney Discounts and Deals The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click Here to Subscribe Are you visiting Disney World this week? Let us know in the comments! The post 8 Closures That Could Derail Your Next Disney World Vacation first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’ve been to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, then you know its downfall. Disney’s Hollywood Studios HIGH wait times! Hollywood Studios is jam-packed with exciting and popular attractions with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and thrill rides at the end of Sunset Boulevard. We see some of the longest wait times in ALL of Disney World at this park frequently. Slinky Dog Dash, the adorable coaster in Toy Story Land, has held the top spot when it comes to average wait times for a while…but now there’s a new winner! Well, let’s just say it’s a previous winner coming back to the surface. Rise of the Resistance is now posting a wait time WAY above Slinky Dog Dash. Surprisingly, wait times stayed pretty consistent to last week or went down at many other popular rides around Disney World. So if you want to get on Rise of the Resistance, you may be waiting some extra time! Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Don’t want to wait? We don’t blame you! There are a few things you can do to try and avoid the wait. Buy an Individual Lightning Lane. It does cost extra money, but you’ll have access to the ride’s Lightning Lane which will give you an expedited wait time. Rope drop! Yes, you will probably be one of hundreds trying to rope drop Rise of the Resistance. However, this is when you’re likely to have a shorter wait time than in the middle of the day! This is a good use of time especially if you have Early Theme Park Entry by staying at a Disney World hotel. Kylo Ren in Rise of the Resistance Take a look at all of the average wait times in Disney World below. Magic Kingdom Starting in Magic Kingdom, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train had the longest average wait time of 62 minutes. Last week, the average wait time was 64 minutes so the average has decreased since then. Getting his POINT across in the JINGLE CRUISE! Next, Jingle Cruise averaged 57 minutes, Peter Pan’s Flight averaged 55 minutes, Haunted Mansion averaged 39 minutes, and Space Mountain averaged 38 minutes. Average wait times held Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at 30 minutes, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin at 32 minutes, Enchanted Tales with Belle at 25 minutes, Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh at 28 minutes, Pirates of the Caribbean at 27 minutes, followed by Astro Orbiter at 22 minutes. Winnie the Pooh After that, “it’s a small world” averaged 18 minutes, Magic Carpets of Aladdin averaged 15 minutes, Dumbo the Flying Elephant and Mickey’s PhilharMagic at 14 minutes, Barnstormer featuring the Great Goofini and Tomorrowland Speedway averaged 13 minutes, Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover averaged 12 minutes, and Enchanted Tiki Room and Mad Tea Party averaged 11 minutes. Mad Tea Party Prince Charming Regal Carrousel also averaged 9 minutes and other attractions like Hall of Presidents, Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, Carousel of Progress, and Liberty Square Riverboat all tied at 5-minute average wait times. Haunted Mansion The Country Bear Jamboree and Tom Sawyer Island were walk-ons this week. NEW Disney World Permits Hint at CHANGES Coming To an Iconic Magic Kingdom Ride EPCOT Heading over to EPCOT, Frozen Ever After held the top spot for the highest average wait time with 64 minutes. This is a decrease from last week’s 68-minute average. Then, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure had an average wait time of 66 minutes, which has also decreased just a little bit. EPCOT Next up is Test Track at 50 minutes, Soarin’ at 32 minutes, Living with the Land at 22 minutes, Mission: SPACE and Turtle Talk with Crush at 15 minutes, Spaceship Earth at 12 minutes, The Seas with Nemo and Friends at 10 minutes, and Journey into Imagination and Gran Fiesta Tour at 8 minutes. Living With The Land Awesome Planet, Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along, Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival, Impressions de France, and Reflections of China had no wait times this week. CONFIRMED: These 4 Things Will RETURN to the 2024 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Hollywood Studios Slinky Dog Dash decreased this week from a 78-minute average to a 73-minute average. Rise of the Resistance is next in this park with 92 minutes which is up quite a bit from 77 minutes last week. Slinky Dog Dash Other wait times in the park increased this week including Toy Story Mania at 50 minutes, Tower of Terror at 54 minutes, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at 51 minutes, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway at 48 minutes, and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at 41 minutes. Star Tours After that, Alien Swirling Saucers averaged 25 minutes, Walt Disney Presents averaged 13 minutes, Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy averaged 15 minutes, Muppet*Vision 3D averaged 10 minutes, and Star Tours — The Adventure Continues averaged 9 minutes. This NEW Disney World Permit Hints at CHANGES Coming to a Popular Hollywood Studios Ride Animal Kingdom Now, let’s head over to Animal Kingdom! After increasing to a 71-minute average last week, Avatar Flight of Passage is down to a 65-minute average this week. Pandora Following that, Na’vi River Journey at 53 minutes, Kilimanjaro Safaris at 37 minutes, Expedition Everest at 19 minutes, DINOSAUR at 14 minutes, and Kali River Rapids at 6 minutes. Kilamanjaro Safaris It’s Tough to Be a Bug averaged 10 minutes and TriceraTop Spin averaged 7 minutes. Both The Boneyard and Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail were walk-ons. Watch Out for This Disney World Ride CLOSURE on January 8th! Stay tuned to DFB for more updates from Disney World! We Bet You Didn’t Know Why These Disney World Ride Rules Exist 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 visited Disney World during the holiday season? Let us know in the comments below! The post There's a NEW Winner for the Highest Wait Times at Disney's Hollywood Studios! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Loungefly, why do you keep doing this to us?!?!?! Need a NEW Loungefly? Every time we tell ourselves we cannot possibly get another Loungefly bag, you release new designs that we have trouble saying “no” to. A Rescue Rangers bag? Oh, yeah, we’re grabbing that. A glow-in-the-dark Baymax bag? TAKE OUR MONEY. And we absolutely loved the EPCOT Festival of Holidays bag. Well, now, Loungefly, you’ve gone and done it again!!! This Loungefly hasn’t even come out yet, but the minute we saw it, our jaws dropped. The Alice In Wonderland Singing Flower Basket Crossbody Bag is a MUST for Alice in Wonderland fans. Just LOOK AT IT. It’s shaped like a flower basket with the singing flowers. This is just…the word for it…is CHARMING. ©Loungefly It also has an adjustable strap that’s part chain and part vegan leather, so we can easily carry it around the way we want to. ©Loungefly We also can’t EVEN with the cute charm of a “bread and butterfly” on it. AMAZING. ©Loungefly Of course, you can’t get your hands on this bag JUST yet…but it will be available soon. You’ll want to keep an eye out for it on the Loungefly website because we think this one will disappear FAST. Be sure to click on the “Notify Me” button on the Loungefly website to stay updated. Alice We’ll keep an eye out for more unique Loungefly bags and share them with you when we see them, so stay tuned to DFB for more. In the meantime, you can shop our Amazon store for more Loungeflys. 6 Loungeflys You Need To Bring to the Pop Century Hotel in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Will you be keeping an eye out for this bag? Let us know in the comments! The post Be Ready -- This Disney Loungefly Bag Will Sell Out in SECONDS! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

When most of us visit Disney World, we fly into and out of Orlando International Airport. Orlando International Airport This airport is normally super busy, and we do our best to give you tips and tricks on how best to navigate it. We also tell you to get there SUPER early (the general rule of thumb is three hours) because although there are ways to wait for less time in security lines, other things can derail you there. Well, today, something has come up that could slow you down as you get to and from your gate. Today, December 16th, the Terminal Link Tram at Orlando International Airport that takes you from Terminal A/B to the Train Station/Garage C/Terminal C is currently down. The Tram is receiving “corrective maintenance.” However, if you need to travel to the train station, you can do so on shuttle buses located at Delta’s curbside, Terminal B on Level 3. But note that this could slow you down a bit when traveling (the tram is a lot faster than the bus). Orlando International Airport Also, note that shuttle buses are available at the Train Station on Level 1 for those who need to get to the A/B Terminals. There will be employees available at both locations to direct you to the buses, so if you have questions, please ask. Terminal C at the Orlando Airport We don’t yet have word on how long the trams will be down, but keep an eye on MCO’s social media accounts for updates. UPDATE: As of 4 PM ET, on December 16th, the Terminal Link Tram has resumed full services to the terminals. Stay tuned to DFB for more. We Rode the NEW Brightline Train at the Orlando Airport, and It’s a Gamechanger 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 been affected by the trams at the airport being down? Let us know how it affected your travel plans in the comments. The post The Transportation PROBLEM You May Need To Prepare for at the Orlando Airport Right Now first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Planning a trip to Disney World certainly isn’t always easy. Cinderella Castle You have to decide where to stay, which parks to go to, when you want to visit, and more. If you’re struggling when it comes to that last decision — don’t worry! We’ve done the research, which means we can totally help! Disney World uses surge pricing for select theme park tickets, which is usually a pretty good gauge of when you want to AVOID going to the parks. Not only will you be paying more, but it’s also an indicator of just how busy Disney expects things to be. Weekends, holidays, and other special event dates are the most common, but these are the worst weeks to go to Disney World in 2024! Early January You might think you’ve avoided the holiday crowds by going in early January — but you’d be wrong! Sometimes, anyway. It’s not always the case, but it’s a safe bet that Disney World can get pretty crowded around New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, and early January in general. A lot of folks take an extended holiday break, which can mean more crowds than you might expect. 2023 EPCOT Festival of the Arts Plus, the EPCOT Festival of the Arts kicks off in early January, and that can bring a whole slew of people to the park. Oh, and the 2024 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend will be from January 3rd to 7th — so expect crowds for that as well. Late March to Early April Trust us — unless you absolutely have to, you’re going to want to avoid going to Disney World during Spring Break weeks. A lot of folks think it’s a great idea, and sure — there are still ways to have the best time if that’s the only option you’ve got. But, if you can plan your trip for a different time altogether — you should. Animal Kingdom Spring Break Crowds Not to mention that tickets are going to be pretty darn expensive during this time — prices for March 29th-31st are also $164+, which is higher than those dates for 2023 (price ranges for a year ago were from $144+ to $15+). The EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival is in full swing by this time. Late May to Early August Late May is typically when we see schools letting out for kiddos — and that means we usually see an uptick of visitors looking to kick off their summer vacation on a strong note! Crowds usually remain pretty steady over the summer. July is around the time when the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival begins as well. EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival But, we have to mention one of the major reasons why you might want to avoid the parks during these weeks — the weather. July and August are the hottest months of the year, and the Central Florida heat is no joke — especially if you’re not used to it. You also need to be prepared for rain! Early September We usually see crowds (and prices!) start to drop off in September — but not until after Labor Day! Even though it’s a short holiday weekend, people still use it as an opportunity to get away before school is fully back in session for the year. Hollywood Studios After Labor Day, though, the later September weeks can be some of the best times to visit. Your mileage may vary, of course, but we’ve found this to be the case in recent years. Late October, November, & December Once the Halloween season kicks off in Disney World — it’s pretty much all out until the end of the year. Halloween basically starts in August with Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, and as soon as it’s over — BAM! The holiday season begins in early November. Halloween in Magic Kingdom But, it’s the last weeks in October, November, and December that you really want to worry about. The weeks of Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s are typically the absolute busiest times of year to visit Disney World. Plus, you’ve got the EPCOT Festival of the Holidays, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and Jollywood Nights — plenty of reasons people are planning a visit! Holidays in Disney World While it’s always a good time to visit Disney World according to us, this list might just help you plan a little bit better! Stay tuned to DFB for the latest news from around Disney World and more! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Do you have a 2024 Disney World trip planned? Tell us in the comments. The post The WORST Weeks To Go to Disney World in 2024 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It doesn’t seem that long ago that Disney World permanently closed the Spirit of Aloha show and tore the building down to make way for new Disney Vacation Club villas at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort However, we’ve been following the construction of those villas, and have watched the construction site go from nothing but flat land to actual buildings. Well, we recently visited the construction site again — and we have a MASSIVE update to share with you. The first thing we noticed was a new structure taking shape on the construction site. What could that be? A new design detail! The gazebo-shaped building being constructed next to the main building could be something pretty exciting. While Disney hasn’t officially confirmed anything yet, a Polynesian Resort Cast Member told us that it is going to be a restaurant. As we said, Disney hasn’t publicly stated this news yet, so take that information with a grain of salt. But if it’s true, we will be SUPER excited! Oh, and there’s more. A Cast Member also said the space between the buildings would be a new pool! (Again, Disney has not officially confirmed anything yet; this is just what a Cast Member told us during our recent visit.) Is it a new restaurant? We also checked the project from a few different angles. A lot of the construction just looks like more of what we’ve already seen. Building something like this takes time, y’all. There’s still a lot to do. There’s a lot of work still being done on the main building. Work on the building We did notice that something large seems to be getting delivered to one of the rooms on the top floor. As Disney tends to build its rooms in a modular fashion, we’re SUPER curious — what could be in that big box? Are the rooms going in? One thing is for certain: the rooms here are going to have an AMAZING view of the water. Great view We’ll be keeping an eye out for more changes at the Polynesian, so stay tuned to DFB for more. When are you headed to Disney World next? Have you checked out our line of fun graphic tees to wear on your trip? We’ve designed some for the whole family – from infants to adults! Click here to check them out! Why You Should Be Careful Staying at These Disney World Hotels 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 do you think of the construction so far at the Polynesian? Let us know in the comments! The post HUGE Update on Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Expansion first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Planning a Disney World vacation can be a lot. Magic Kingdom From getting all of your dining reservations booked to figuring out how to use Genie+, there are tons of steps involved in preparing for your trip. One thing that can be a tad overwhelming, especially if you’re not used to Florida weather, is making sure you have packed everything you need. While it’s normal to plan on buying certain things when you get there, like groceries for instance, occasionally we forget something crucial in a pinch. Don’t worry, there’s one place we can always rely on for last-minute essentials. Have you left for the parks but completely forgotten to pack sunscreen in your park bag? Trust us, it’s important, and if you’re like us, you’re not going to want to buy it in the park with a significant markup. Fortunately, the Target in Flamingo Crossings is so conveniently located. Target at Flamingo Crossings Flamingo Crossings Town Center is a growing shopping area located within walking distance of Disney World’s housing for Cast Members in the Disney College Program. It’s just outside the west gate to Walt Disney World! Only minutes from the parks, it’s a simple stop for any last-minute needs. While it’s not huge (in fact, it may be the smallest Target we’ve ever seen), it does have the essentials. Don’t forget, you can also pick up Disney gift cards here, at a discount if you have a Target Red Card to use at the parks! Disney gift cards There’s also a Starbucks that shares a parking lot, so you can mobile order your morning breakfast while you’re there and avoid those long lines at Main Street Bakery. We’ll keep bringing you all the latest Disney news, so stay tuned to DFB for more! The Versatile Item That Might Become Your New Disney Park Essential Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What is your must-have park essential in Disney World? Let us know in the comments below! The post This Target Store Is MINUTES Away From Disney World, and It’s Cast Member-Approved for Last-Minute Shopping first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

So we all have streaming devices now, right? ©Roku Whether it’s a smart TV or something like Google Chromecast or a Roku device, we probably all have a thing that allows us to watch all our favorite shows on Hulu, Disney+, and other streaming services. Well, for a while, you couldn’t GET Disney+ on Roku, which is why it’s interesting that Roku just teased something that might be a collaboration with Disney. Say what?! Okay, those with a Roku have probably seen the fun screensaver, a.k.a. Roku City, that scrolls by when you’re not watching anything. The graphic also often teases things available to stream (we’ve even seen a TARDIS on there, as in Doctor Who). Well, something NEW might be coming soon. Roku posted a screenshot of what might be a new version of the screensaver with the caption, “Something magical is coming to Roku City…”. ©Roku This screenshot also included a “Parden Our Pixie Dust” sign, which Disney fans have seen ALL over Disney Parks when areas are under construction. Even more interesting is that Roku tagged the official Walt Disney World account on that little sign. THEN, the official Walt Disney World account commented, “Pardon our pixie dust. ” So what is going on here? ©Roku via Instagram This seems to be a tease that there will be a collaboration between Roku and Disney World soon, although that’s all Roku is willing to reveal for now. For all we know, it means that we’ll see something cute in Roku City representing Disney World. Disney has previously offered themes for Roku devices, so it could be something like that, but until the two companies share more, we just don’t know! Any guesses? We’ll be keeping an eye out for more details, so stay tuned to DFB for more. When are you headed to Disney World next? Have you checked out our line of fun graphic tees to wear on your trip? We’ve designed some for the whole family – from infants to adults! Click here to check them out! 2 NEW Features Could Hit Disney+ SOON 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 it means? Leave us your best theories in the comments! The post Roku Teases MYSTERIOUS New Disney Collaboration first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney brings billions of dollars to the economy of Florida through its several theme parks and tourist experiences. Cinderella Castle According to Adam Sacks, President of Tourism Economics, “Disney is also vital to the funding of public services, as it generated taxes of $6.6 billion in 2022, including state and local taxes of $3.1 billion.” Through direct or indirect means, such as employee spending, the local economy is strengthened by Disney World. However, Disney believes they have been overcharged on their property taxes for 2023 and they’re fighting back. According to FloridaPoltics.com, Disney is suing the Property Appraiser in a dozen or so lawsuits to challenge the assessments on its theme parks, several hotels, and other properties in Florida. Disney is calling the appraised amounts and local property taxes “excessive.” Hollywood Studios Disney claims, “The assessments do not represent the just value of the Subject Property as of the lien date because they exceed the market value. … Appraiser has included the value of certain intangible property in the assessments.” The company is looking for the taxes to be removed and reevaluated, to get lower, more accurate taxes, and to be reimbursed legal fees. EPCOT This is not the first time Disney has sued over high taxes. They have been regularly suing over taxes since 2015. The Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board had comments about these latest Disney lawsuits stating, “This is just the latest in Disney’s decades-long campaign to avoid being a good neighbor and paying its fair share.” “We’re going to look at aligning the district’s interest to join Osceola and Orange (counties) to fight the many lawsuits that Disney has filed to avoid paying their own ad valorem taxes,” said CFTOD Board Chairman, Martin Garcia. ©Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board Livestream The board continued by adding, “We’re also going to join the counties and yes, the School Boards, in efforts to create more funding for public schools in Central Florida. … We’re going to regulate Disney like every other business in Central Florida.” ©Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board Livestream According to the court documents, Magic Kingdom was assessed at a value of $513.8 million, EPCOT was assessed at $646.2 million, Hollywood Studios at $526.4 million and Animal Kingdom was $426.2 million. Disney had recently released an economic study that said they created a $40 billion impact in the state in 2022. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Disney has been part of a string of lawsuits recently. The most notorious of these is the Disney v. Ron DeSantis feud, which headed to federal court this past week. Disney is also in a local state fight with the CFTOD board over control of the governing committee. We’ll continue to be on the lookout for more Disney lawsuit updates. In the meantime, keep following DFB for more Disney news! 18 Disney World Secrets Even Locals Don’t Know 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 Let us know your thoughts on these latest lawsuits in the comments! The post NEWS: Disney Files a DOZEN Lawsuits in Battle Against Florida Property Taxes first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Did you know that Disney World does a LOT for animals? Disney’s Animal Kingdom Disney’s Animal Kingdom is home to around 300 different species of animals, and Cast Members constantly educate us about those animals. But did you know that Disney is also at the forefront of conservation efforts, as well as animal breeding efforts? Well, we’ve got some BIG — and happy — news about the latter. A new baby elephant has been born at the park! So this is a big deal because this is the first African elephant calf born in Disney World in seven years! Her name is Corra, and she is SO ADORABLE. Her mom is Nadirah, and this is Nadirah’s first baby. And if you want to talk Circle of Life, Nadirah was also born in Animal Kingdom. ©Disney Corra’s aunt Luna was around to help Nadirah through the process of birth (sisters supporting each other, y’all). Corra, who weighs 218 pounds, will soon meet the rest of her family, including her other aunt, Stella, and her grandma, Donna. Believe it or not, it’s very common for adult female elephants to help raise the young ‘uns until they’re around eight years old. Family is EVERYTHING. ©Disney The animal care team at Animal Kingdom, which includes the keepers, veterinarians, and scientists, are going to be doing post-natal exams and making sure Nadirah is healthy while also making sure that Corra is healthy and properly bonded to her family before she gets to join the rest of the herd. That means it might be a little while before Corra makes her first appearance on the savanna, so don’t expect to see her out there for a while. Welcome to the world, little Corra. For you, there’s a great big beautiful tomorrow for you out there with the rest of the Disney elephant herd. We can’t wait to meet you in person on Kilimanjaro Safaris someday! Stay tuned to DFB for more. Disney Cast Members Share Animal Kingdom Facts 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 animal to see in Animal Kingdom? Let us know in the comments! The post The ADORABLE Disney World Announcement We’ve Been Waiting SEVEN YEARS To Hear 😍 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World is filled with all things magical, majestic, and at this time of the year — MERRY! Holidays in Magic Kingdom However, Disney World also has a way of managing to be the exact, polar opposite of each of those things. Seriously. We LOVE Disney World, and yet there are still things encounter that make us say, “yikes.” We encountered three different scenarios this week that were BIG red flags, and we’re here to share those as a way of shedding light on some of the things that happen pretty regularly at Disney World that aren’t so fun. Now, before we hop into this, don’t think we’re out here just to gripe and whine. Nope, we’re here to manage folks’ expectations so that scenarios like this don’t ruin or drastically impact a first timers’ vacation. As I always say — pack your patience, and manage those expectations. Let’s get into the red flags. Severe weather warnings. Disney World is located in Central Florida, otherwise known as Random Thunderstorm City, U.S.A. Just kidding. No one calls it that. However, if you visit Disney World for at least four days at any point throughout the year, there’s a chance you’re going to be hit with random thunderstorms or at least some pretty heavy rain. Seriously, these can pop out of nowhere, and we consider ourselves lucky when we get plenty of warning, like this week! Rain on Main Street This week, we got the news that severe weather would likely impact Disney World over the weekend — on December 16th and 17th. Blizzard Beach, Disney World’s water park, is already closed ahead of the impending storms. These storms would be a great time to rest up at the resort, do some shopping, or heck — even brave those long lines for indoor rides at the parks. Click here to see what’s new at Disney World’s hotels to see if you’d like to spend your rainy weekend there! Ride closures… while you’re stuck on the ride. On December 15th, we were just minding our own beeswax, strolling along through Disney’s Animal Kingdom, when we noticed that things were particularly quiet over at Expedition Everest. Things were quiet, but oh, there were still people on the ride. Doesn’t look good! Yessiree, these folks were STUCK. We spoke with Cast Members who shared with us that the ride had been stuck for 30 (!!!) minutes (!!!) with folks on the ride. One of the trains was stuck going up the first hill, and another train was stuck at the part where you start to go backward. The good news that’s also sort of bad news? But maybe it will comfort you? This happens ALL the time. And everyone has worked and is continuing to work so hard to make sure that you are safe and snug — even as you’re trapped on a roller coaster. Just remain calm and know that everyone is doing what they can. Pinky promise. Click here to see what else is new in Animal Kingdom New restaurants pop up that you’ll love, love, LOVE but everyone else love, love, LOVES them, too. Okay, this isn’t really a red flag. But. We had to end on a genuinely positive note. This week, we tried Summer House on the Lake in Disney Springs for the first time, and we LOVED it. It’s a gorgeous space, the food was great, and the Cookie Bar didn’t compete with Gideon’s Bakehouse, or anything, but they were pretty tasty. Summer House on the Lake The only problem? It’s SO BUSY. And reservations will continue to be hard to get! So, you’ll have to be on your A-Game constantly to try to get into certain restaurants, and we have a feeling that will include Summer House on the Lake in 2024. Click here to see what else is new in Disney Springs Of course, there are plenty of GREEN flags and other exciting things happening in the parks each and every day. Check out ALL the new things below! WHAT'S NEW AT DISNEY? Check out our daily updates on all the happenings around Disney World and Disneyland! Magic Kingdom EPCOT Hollywood Studios Animal Kingdom Disney Hotels Disney Springs Disneyland We’ll continue 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 big Disney 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’s the biggest red flag YOU’VE ever encountered at Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post The 3 Biggest RED FLAGS We Encountered at Disney World This Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

One thing that will pretty much always be unpredictable in Florida is the weather. Cloudy skies over Magic Kingdom Sure, sometimes rides surprise us by going down, but at least we can kinda deal with that. But weather? Well, it’s notoriously finicky, but this weekend, we actually had a little bit of a warning. Recently, we heard that some bad weather was headed our way this weekend. Well, we’ve got an update on that weather. On December 15th, meteorologists were already warning Floridians about a storm that was set to come in over the weekend. The storm is expected to bring a LOT of rain and gusty winds, but it could also bring more severe weather, including tornados. At the time, the Storm Prediction Center had upgraded the Orlando area to a level 2 out of 5 risk for scattered strong to severe storms. So, what should you do if you’re in Disney World this weekend? Well, stay weather alert. Download a weather app and make sure your phone is set up to get severe weather alerts. Also, know that outdoor rides will close in the event of bad weather (or if bad weather is on the way). The Skyliner will also close, but buses should be running to Skyliner hotels to and from the parks. The Skyliner closes in bad weather Also, if you haven’t hit the parks yet, pack that rain gear. If anything, you can probably count on getting wet at some point during the weekend. In the event of severe weather at Disney World, listen to Cast Members who will make sure you know where to go if you need to seek shelter from a severe storm. They’re there to help you, so pay attention. Look out for bad weather! Disney officially canceled the December 16th Jollywood Nights holiday party due to the impending weather, and guests have been issued refunds. For more information on what happens when Disney cancels a special event, click HERE! Jollywood Nights Finally, if you have a flight scheduled through Orlando International Airport, make sure you stay updated on flight delays and cancelations. You can do that by downloading the MCO app, as well as your airline’s app. Bad weather can and will affect flights, so again, being weather-aware will come in handy. We’ll keep an eye on the situation and keep you updated, so stay tuned to DFB for more. A Complete List of the Attractions that Close When There’s Bad Weather in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Have you ever been to Disney World during severe weather? What did you do? Let us know in the comments! The post NEWS: Tropical Storm-Like Weather Is Affecting Disney World This Weekend first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney Cruise Line announced that a policy change for their onboard youth clubs is coming this week! The Disney Pals Pirate Crew One of the perks of traveling with Disney Cruise Line for guests with children is access to the youth clubs onboard. There are several different clubs available, which are organized by age range to help ensure that the kiddos get to enjoy age-appropriate activities. If your kids are looking forward to checking out one of the youth clubs on an upcoming sailing, we’ve got an important update to share! Disney recently announced that they are updating the age range for Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Disney’s Oceaneer Lab beginning with sailings that depart on or after December 21st, 2023. Oceaneer Club For sailings that depart on or after December 21st, the age range in Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Disney’s Oceaneer Lab will change from 3 to 12 years of age to 3 to 10 years of age, with specially guided activities for children ages 3-4 years old. Slide down into the Oceaneer Club! But don’t worry, children from 11 to 12 won’t be left out! They can visit the kids club Edge, which is open to tweens from 11 to 14 years old. Edge And for the older kids, the club Vibe is still available for those from ages 14 to 17. Vibe If you plan to take your children to one of the youth clubs on an upcoming sailing, be sure to keep the upcoming age range changes in mind! We’ll continue to be on the lookout for more Disney news, so stay tuned to DFB for all the latest updates. Here’s What Happens When BAD Weather Is Heading for Your Disney Cruise Ship 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 experienced one of the youth clubs on a Disney Cruise? Tell us about it in the comments! The post Important UPDATE for Guests with Kids on Disney Cruise Line! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Bad weather is a thing that happens pretty often in Florida. Jollywood Nights It’s often unpredictable, which is why we always tell you to prepare for rain, even when the forecast calls for sunny days. Well, this time, at least we were prepared for some bad weather because of a storm forecast for the weekend, and that weather event is already closing things down at Disney World, including Blizzard Beach. Now, a Disney World party has been canceled ahead of the storm. Thanks to DFB reader @graciegrace500 on Instagram, we’ve learned that tonight’s Jollywood Nights party in Disney’s Hollywood Studios has been canceled due to the weather. Those Disney World visitors with tickets for tonight’s event have received the following message: “While we were looking forward to seeing you this evening, forecasted thunderstorms have caused us to cancel this event.” Note the majority of this party is outside, so this totally makes sense. ©Disney The message indicates that those who held tickets for Jollywood Nights for tonight will have the cost of their tickets refunded to the payment type they used to purchase them. So, if you do have tickets for the event, you will get your money back. Phineas and Ferb at Jollywood Nights We spoke with a Guest Relations Cast Member at Disney World, who confirmed the party was canceled and that refunds would be issued automatically at noon Florida time. If you purchased your tickets through a third party, go to Guest Relations anywhere in Disney World, and they’ll make sure you get the refund issued there. Nightmare Before Christmas Singalong at Jollywood Nights We were also told that if you had a ticket for tonight, you could get priority booking for either upcoming party on Monday, December 18th, or Wednesday, December 20th. Of course, this does mean that your plans for tonight have changed, but considering the weather forecast, it might be a good night to go back to your Disney World hotel early, mobile order some food, and watch some Disney+ in the comfort of your hotel room. If the weather gets REALLY bad, Cast Members will direct you on what to do. We’ll keep an eye on the weather situation and keep you updated as more information comes in, so stay tuned to DFB for more. Here’s What Happens When BAD Weather Is Heading for Your Disney Cruise Ship 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 Has bad weather ever impacted your Disney World trip? Let us know in the comments! The post NEWS: Jollywood Nights Canceled in Disney World Due to Severe Weather first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

From time to time, you’ll see construction and refurbishments going on at different hotels around Disney World. Saratoga Springs Resort Disney works hard at keeping their hotels updated and looking nice. They want you to feel like you’re at home away from home. We’ve seen a lot of work going on at hotels like Disney’s Polynesian Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, Disney’s Coronado Springs, and Disney’s Beach Club. These hotels have been getting some re-theming and upgrading to their rooms. But there’s one hotel that comes to mind when we think about which hotels have not gotten much love recently. Today, we’re going to be talking about Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort. If you’re not familiar with this hotel or just want to learn more general info about it, check out our video below! Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort is tucked away near Disney Springs. Its theme is “inspired by historic Saratoga Springs– a late-1800s New York retreat famous for its spas and horse racing.” You can find a variety of room options at the hotel including studios that sleep up to 4 adults or villas that can sleep anywhere between 5 and 9 adults. Saratoga Springs Resort The resort is quite large and spread out, similar to Disney’s Coronado Springs and Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts. So depending on where you stay at the hotel, you may have a long walk or bus ride to and from your room. And speaking of rooms, there is a set of rooms (villas, actually) that we think could use some updating. If Disney is taking so much time to hand out room updates, it might be worth it for them, to spend some quality time on the Treehouse Villas at Saratoga Springs. These Treehouses can be rented through Disney or by using Disney Vacation Club points. They are definitely on the pricey side, though, and require larger amounts of points than what you may see at other DVC hotels. A Saratoga Springs Treehouse Villa If you look at a map, you’ll find the 60 Treehouse Villas on the far left side of the resort area. It almost looks like a campground, but instead of campsites, you’ll find large, stilted, 10 feet off-the-ground treehouses. ©Disney Looking on the outside, you may notice that the treehouses seem a little outdated and like they’ve truly become one with the forest. They are a cool concept and can sleep up to 9 adults. These villas may be worth getting if you’re planning to go to Disney World with a large group and you’ll be splitting the cost. Or you could consider renting DVC points to get the room a little cheaper (we recommend using David’s DVC Rentals!) I spy a treehouse in the woods! The treehouses are a good walk from the main resort and lobby, so you’ll definitely want to be prepared for that! On the inside, you’ll find what may be considered typical cabin decor. There’s lots of wood and outdoorsy patterns. ©Disney || Treehouse Villa It can kind of give 1990s/early 2000s vibes. The typical amenities for a villa/suite can be found in the treehouses, which is very useful. You even get a full kitchen! If you choose to cook your own meals, this could save you some money on your trip. They also feature three bedrooms, full living room areas, and an outdoor patio. Saratoga Springs Treehouse kitchen with coffee maker But as great and spacious as these treehouses are, they could use a little love. An update here would be great! We could see a Disney theme getting added instead of the basic “cabin” atmosphere they currently have. There are lots of great characters and movies that could add some fun charm to the villas. ©Disney We actually spoke to a Cast Member recently about the treehouses and their lack of current updates. She was very friendly and confirmed that they have not been renovated. However, she also said she wouldn’t be surprised if they did see some changes within the next couple of years. (Disney has NOT confirmed or mentioned this as of now.) She also agreed with us that they definitely need the attention. Another Treehouse in the woods The Treehouse Villas come with their own pool area and boat dock for easy access to transportation. The boats here can take you to other area resorts or Disney Springs, which is super convenient. As much as these villas need a renovation, they are still very neat places to stay! If you want to feel a little more secluded in a quiet environment after a full day in a Disney park, these might be for you. Or, if you just want to feel more like Tarzan, check these out! For more Disney updates, keep following DFB! The BEST Rooms in Disney World Hotels, And How To Get 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 stayed in the Saratoga Springs Treehouses? Let us know in the comments! The post When Will Disney Finally Update These Outdated Disney World Hotel Rooms? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’re heading to Disney World for the holidays, we have an important heads-up about an under-the-radar date! Disney’s Hollywood Studios The holiday season is a notoriously busy time in the Disney parks. And the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s Day tend to be especially crowded. But even though you might expect the holiday dates themselves to be super busy, there’s another sneakier date that we also expect the parks to be PACKED! In addition to date-based tickets Disney World also offers Annual Passes for guests that plan to visit more often throughout the year. Disney World Annual Pass There are four different tiers of Annual Passes available — the Disney Incredi-Pass, the Disney Sorcerer Pass (available to DVC Members and Florida residents only), the Disney Pirate Pass (Florida residents only), and the Disney Pixie Dust Pass (Florida residents only). Annual Pass card All of the Annual Pass tiers except for the Disney Incredi-Pass are subject to blockout dates on select days during peak and holiday seasons. And this year, December 19th is the last day that Sorcerer Pass, Pirate Pass, and Pixie Dust Pass holders can visit the parks before a blockout period of two weeks starts. Passholder Lounge in EPCOT Since December 19th is the last day that three of the four Annual Pass tiers can visit the parks for a few weeks, we expect them to be extra crowded with Passholders getting in a final visit for the holiday season! Annual Passholder Card The blockout lasts from December 20th-January 3rd for Sorcerer Passes and December 20th-January 4th for Pirate Passes and Pixie Dust Passes. Passholder tree! If you’re heading to Disney World in the next few days, be sure to plan for a potential crowd spike on December 19th with some Annual Passholders heading out for their final trip of 2023! 6 Things You DON’T Want To MISS at the 2023 EPCOT Festival of the Holidays 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 visiting Disney World this holiday season? Let us know in the comments! The post WARNING! This Unexpected Date May Be One of the Busiest of Disney World's Holiday Season! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

A cookie bar, a stellar view, and no park ticket required?! Disney World’s newest restaurant sounds like a dream come true! Summer House on the Lake cookies We’ve been not-so-patiently waiting for Summer House on the Lake to open in Disney Springs ever since it was first announced, and with each update and sneak peek, we got more and more excited. But now, the restaurant is FINALLY open, and I stopped by on the first day to check it out for lunch! Should you visit Summer House on the Lake during your next vacation? I’m here to give you a full review. Atmosphere Summer House on the Lake is located in the West Side section of Disney Springs, across from Salt & Straw. It has a prime location right on the Sassagoula River. Summer House on the Lake When you arrive at the restaurant, those with a reservation can check in at the podium outside. From there, you’ll be directed indoors to be seated. The indoor podium There are multiple dining areas throughout the restaurant. In the front, you’ll find an outdoor patio, a sunroom with a few high-top tables, and one of the two bars. The front room This section is open to the outside, as you can walk directly out onto the patio. The first bar The main dining room is situated toward the back of the restaurant, and it’s MASSIVE. It’s laden with booths and tables, and decorated with lots of greenery and natural light. Main dining room Seriously, this room is BEAUTIFUL. It’s so pretty in here! There’s a second bar in this section of the restaurant. Bar seating is first-come, first-serve — you can inquire at the podium outside. The second bar And finally, there’s the back porch. This spot definitely has the best view! The back porch I imagine sitting out here would be absolutely lovely on a day with nice weather. But seeing as it was windy, I opted to sit inside. View from one of the porch tables The other main part of the restaurant is the highly-anticipated Cookie Bar! Here, you don’t need a reservation — you can simply walk up and wait in line at the counter. (And even on opening day, there wasn’t a line!) The Cookie Bar There were more than 15 different treats to choose from, many of them various flavors of large cookies. SO MANY TREATS This section of the restaurant is also home to the merchandise display. You can buy Summer House items like sunglasses, shirts, bottles, and more! Merchandise Now that you’ve got the full tour, let’s get on with the review! Menu So what can you order at Summer House? Well, the restaurant is a chain that’s California-based, and you’ll see those tastes evident in many of the menu items. The lunch/dinner menu begins with a selection of starters, including Signature Guacamole, Potato Salad Deviled Eggs, Truffle Fries, and Cheesy Dream Puffs. The Veggies and Raw & Chilled sections can also be counted as “starters” because they’re smaller portions than the entrees on the menu. Menu Once you’re ready to dig into the main part of your meal, they have a menu of salads, as well as sandwiches, tacos, pasta, pizza, and Summer Comfort. Prices for the entrees range from $16.95-$52.95, so they cover a wide variety of budgets. Entrees The Kids Menu has several options for your little ones, from grilled cheese to pasta to breakfast to quesadillas. And of course, there are desserts available! There are a few options on the main menu including Gooey Lemon Cake and 7 Layer Chocolate Cake. ©Summer House on the Lake However, the big draw is The Cookie Bar, and their flavors will change from day to day. When I was waiting outside the restaurant, an employee handed me a QR code with the flavor options for opening day. Here’s what was available. The flavors of the day There were more than a dozen types of cookies, as well as some dessert bars and crispy treats. More cookies You’ve certainly got options for a sweet tooth! So. Many. Choices. Last but not least, there are plenty of beverages to choose from at Summer House. They’ve got a number of spritzes and specialty cocktails, as well as some zero-proof choices. Drinks Now that we’ve covered the extensive menu, let’s actually start eating! Eats I began my meal by ordering one of the zero proof mocktails — the Strawberry Fields. It’s made with strawberry, sage, and lavender and costs $9. It was bubbly like soda water, and had a strong strawberry flavor. It wasn’t very sweet until I got to the bottom of the glass, but it was nice and refreshing. Strawberry Fields For appetizers, I picked up two choices — the Potato Salad Deviled Eggs and the Signature Guacamole. Starters The Potato Salad Deviled Eggs are $9.95 and come from the Slagel Family Farm. You get three eggs with your order, and instead of being filled with the traditional deviled egg filling, they’re filled with potato salad! If you’ve made both items, you know that the base ingredients are actually quite similar. Potato Salad Deviled Eggs These were absolutely AMAZING. As an avid deviled egg fan and lover of all things potato, it was the perfect combination for me. They were fresh and bright with a little crunch from the relish — the perfect size to pop in your mouth and eat in one bite. You could definitely taste the potato, but it was blended into the mix really well. My one complaint is that you only get three half-eggs with your order. The serving size is pretty small for the price. They’re delicious but small! The Signature Guacamole is a larger appetizer, but it comes with a larger price tag of $16.95. It’s served with house-made tortilla chips, pico de gallo, charred tomato salsa, and habanero verde. Signature Guacamole The guacamole itself was fresh and bright with a strong avocado flavor, but also a hint of lime and cilantro. There was a decent portion of it. The chips were nice and crunchy with ample salt — some of the better restaurant tortilla chips I’ve had, actually! It was very creamy! For the accompaniments, the pico de gallo was very light and bright from the tomatoes. There are some great textures in here, and it worked well when mixed with the guac. Pico de Gallo The charred tomato salsa was earthier with a deep, rich flavor. It has a small amount of heat on the back end. Ranchero! And finally, the habanero verde was the spiciest of the three, with a medium-level heat. It was still pretty bright, but packs a little bit of punch. Tomatillo! Now it’s time for the entrees! My second round included Ahi Tuna Tostadas and Our Famous Herbed Chicken Breast Paillard. Entrees The Ahi Tuna Tostadas more accurately fit in the “starters” category because they’re served in small, bite-sized portions. They’re a bit pricier than the starters though at $18.95. They’re topped with hass avocado and Thai chili on a crispy corn tortilla. Ahi Tuna Watermelon Tostadas I wasn’t too eager to try tuna with watermelon, but these blew me away! I was shocked at how well the two flavors worked together to create a watery (but not in a bad way) and light flavor. The avocado added some creaminess, while the chili gave everything the smallest hint of spice. These would be great for people with an adventurous palette! They’re tiny things, but lots of flavor! For my true entree, I got Our Famous Herbed Chicken Breast Paillard, which turned out to be shaped kind of like the United States. (You see that, right? It’s not just me?!) It’s available for $21.95 and comes with arugula salad on the side — which was really just a lot of arugula. Herbed Chicken Paillard The chicken was absolutely delicious and I totally understand why they’re famous for it! It was moist and herbaceous with a little bit of char on the outside that I loved. It comes with a lemon on the side, and I squeezed some on top to add a tart, fruity flavor. The lemon, arugula, and chicken in one bite was the way to go. Bite of the chicken My main problem with this dish is the portion size. For more than $20, I would expect a side other than just arugula. There was a decent amount of chicken (it looks huge once it’s pounded flat), but someone with a large appetite or a person who was ONLY ordering an entree might be a bit disappointed. That’s just a pile of arugula. Finally, we make it to dessert! I was jumping at the chance to try that cookie bar, and I found out that you can order treats from The Cookie Bar straight to your table. Simply tell your server your order! I’m READY I got a stack of six treats to try, starting with the Krispy Chocolate Chip Cookie for $5.45. It’s a chocolate chip cookie topped with pieces of their brown butter Rice Krispy treats. It’s chunky! This one was incredibly soft and had decent-sized chunks of chocolate throughout. The crispy treat on top was VERY sweet and added a fun textural element. It ended up being one of my favorite cookies! Very soft inside The other cookie that I really loved was the Lemon Cookie for $4.95. It’s a lemon-flavored cookie covered in icing. Lemonnnn Of all the cookies, this was the softest, so soft that I had a hard time holding it without it breaking in half. It has a very tart, yet sweet, lemon flavor that was refreshing. Quite lemony But from there, things went a little bit downhill with the cookies. My next favorite was the Pinky Cookie for $5.45, but it doesn’t quite compare to the other two. It’s a sugar cookie base with pink strawberry frosting and rainbow sprinkles. Pinky This one was a mess to eat! The strawberry frosting gets everywhere and stained my hands a bit. It has more of an artificial strawberry flavor to it that’s not bad, but not the best either. The sugar cookie base wasn’t very exciting — just a pretty typical sugar cookie, even though it was fairly soft. Rather messy, indeed. The Fudge Bomb Cookie was $5.45. It’s essentially a sugar cookie topped with fudge icing. It was one of the treats I was most excited about (being a chocolate lover), but it let me down a bit! Fudge Bomb Once again, that sugar cookie base isn’t really anything to write home about. Very similar to something you could make yourself. The fudge icing was really fudgy and had a good chocolate flavor, but it’s very rich! I was hoping for something like a fudge center in the middle of this cookie. Nothing inside The last cookie I had was the Birthday Cake Cookie for $4.95. It’s just a simple sugar cookie with rainbow sprinkles. Birthday Cake I chose this one mostly for the colorful look of it, and the hope that it would actually taste like cake. There’s a bit of vanilla flavoring in the sugar cookie on this one, but not enough to save it. Of the cookies I tried, I think this one ranks at the bottom. It was just like one of those sprinkled cookies you could buy at your local grocery store, except bigger. Not quite what I was expecting from a self-proclaimed “birthday cake cookie.” My least favorite of the bunch However, there was one thing that SAVED the reputation of The Cookie Bar for me! They have a Blondie available for $4.95 and it was STELLAR. Three cheers for the blondie! This was by FAR the best dessert I had. It was sweet and had a toffee-like flavor. Gooey and soft, it broke apart easily and had the slightest bit of chew. I would stop by to get this again and again! YUM x 10 That’s a wrap on everything I ate — so how does Summer House on the Lake fare? Overall There are quite a few important points to discuss here. Let’s start with the savory food! The appetizers and entree that I had were all quite good. I was particularly impressed by the tostadas and the deviled eggs, flavor-wise. You can tell that they put care into developing recipes for the items on the main menu. The tiny tostadas The main complaint you may have with the food at the restaurant is the portion size versus the price point. It’s not exactly cheap to eat here, and you don’t get the larger servings that you might get at other places in Disney Springs (*cough cough* Homecomin‘). If you’ve got a big appetite, you might want to consider ordering a starter or getting dessert afterward. The table The service here was really great, and I had a very attentive server! However, I could tell that they were still working out some opening-day kinks. Food was being delivered to the wrong tables and it took a while to receive my check because they were having issues adding the Annual Passholder discount. Even with that delay, this was a LONG meal. The people sitting next to me (who weren’t taking photos of everything they ate) were still there for over two hours. It’s not really a problem, it’s just something you’ll want to prepare for! Main dining room As for The Cookie Bar, I was sadly a little let down. I only really enjoyed 2 of the 5 cookies I got. The blondie was ultimately the saving grace. But with delicious dessert options like Everglazed and Salt & Straw right across the sidewalk, this might not be the hit we hoped it would be. And they likely won’t be overtaking Gideon’s Bakehouse anytime soon. The Cookie Bar The restaurant atmosphere is absolutely stunning, and I would definitely recommend it for a relaxed meal with friends! The food during the main part of my meal was all spectacular and we’re definitely excited to have a new dining option in Disney Springs. Nosh or Not? Plan a “lakeside” meal if… You like inventive menu items. Some of the items on the menu that I liked the most were the ones that were a little “outside the box.” If you’ve got a creative palette, you’ll enjoy it here! You want to dine in a stunning atmosphere. The vibes of this restaurant are simply immaculate! All the natural sunlight and greenery makes for a great place to enjoy a meal in the middle of the day. You want a leisurely meal. The service was great and I didn’t feel rushed. Many people were there for 1.5+ hours. Skip to another spot in Springs if… You want a fast or cheap meal. This restaurant is neither fast nor cheap, so if you’re in a rush or on a budget, it might not be for you. You have a huge appetite. The menu here seems to emphasize lighter fare, so if you want piles of heavy food or to leave feeling absolutely stuffed, this isn’t your place. Summer House on the Lake That’s a wrap on our first-ever visit to Summer House on the Lake! We’ll keep you in the loop with any more restaurant news from Disney World. Stay tuned to DFB for the latest! The 14 Best Restaurants in Disney World 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 Are you planning a visit to Summer House? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: The REAL Reason to Go to Summer House on the Lake in Disney World (and It's Not the Cookie Bar!) first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Right on the heels of World of Frozen opening, Hong Kong Disneyland Park recently welcomed its 100 millionth guest! View the full article