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If you’re planning a 2024 Disney World vacation, this HUGE Disney news might affect you! EPCOT Some of our all-time favorite events in Disney World are the EPCOT festivals. There are four different festivals throughout the year, and now Disney has announced the opening DATE for the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival! The 2024 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival will begin on February 28th, 2024!! Flower and Garden Festival This is the second festival to happen each year (Festival of the Arts takes place in January and February), and it’s a wonderful way to celebrate the spring season, as well as the beginning of summer. You’ll be able to find exclusive food and drinks at the outdoor festival kitchens (food booths), special festival merchandise, themed entertainment, and so much more. Flower and Garden Festival (2023) There were more than 15 festival food booths in 2023, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2024! We’ll be watching for more announcements about the booths and menus. Click here to see our favorite eats from the 2023 Flower and Garden Festival! The Garden Rocks Concert Series is a fan-favorite part of the festival each year. The concerts are free with EPCOT admission and take place at the America Gardens Theater, with both famous and local artists performing. Garden Rocks Concert Of course, it wouldn’t be the Flower and Garden Festival without tons of beautiful plants, gardens, and topiaries throughout the park. Each World Showcase pavilion usually has a special garden that reflects the plants of that region of the world, and you’ll find topiaries of Disney characters all over the place. Last year, a new Princess Tiana topiary appeared, as well as new Encanto topiaries! ‘Encanto’ topiaries We’re hoping that the Spike the Bee festival scavenger hunt returns next year as well. Spike’s Pollen Nation Exploration We’ll be sure to keep you updated with all the latest Disney news, so stay tuned to DFB. Here’s our guide to EVERY festival that takes place in EPCOT! Ready to Plan for Your 2024 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival Trip? Pre-Order the DFB Guide to the 2024 EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival e-Book today! This 220+ page guide to the Festival offers insider tips and advice as well as all of the details you need to know to plan your best Festival visit ever. Your purchase includes several bonus items as well -- including a full schedule of events at the Festival and a printable Outdoor Kitchens Booth Menu Checklist to carry with you as you Eat around the World! Pre-Order your 2024 edition today! Don't miss a moment of the fun! Use code SPRING at check-out to get $2 off the cover price! MORE Flower & Garden Festival INFO! See the FULL LIST of Food Booths, Menus, and Photos from the Festival Learn About the Garden Rocks Concert Series and Dining Packages Secret Tips for the Flower & Garden Festival Everything Returning to the Flower & Garden Festival in 2023 2 Things We ALWAYS Bring to the Festival Click HERE for All of the Latest News and Details About the Festival! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Flower & Garden Festival news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What’s your favorite part of the Flower and Garden Festival? Tell us in the comments! The post BREAKING: OPENING DATE ANNOUNCED for the 2024 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Tons of people are super excited that the Disney Dining Plans are RETURNING in January 2024! And…that’s why we feel a little bit like Sadness from Inside Out when we have to rain on everyone’s parade and remind you of a few not-so-awesome changes that are impacting the Dining Plans when they come back. ©Disney But we’d much rather warn you about these issues NOW so that you don’t run into them later on after you’ve already purchased a Dining Plan. So let’s get into all the reasons why you might be disappointed with the “new” (updated) Dining Plans in 2024 (but don’t worry — we’ll be sure to point out all kinds of good things along the way, too!). First, a quick recap on what is going on and what these Dining Plans even are. Disney Dining Plans are essentially a way for you to pre-pay for all of your food for your Disney World trip. You can purchase the plans as part of a vacation package, and you’ll receive a certain number of credits, with the number and type of credits depending on which Dining Plan you buy. Yak and Yeti There are snack credits, quick service credits, and table service credits. Most restaurants inside the Disney World parks accept Disney Dining Plan credits. Some restaurants require more than one credit; for example, signature dining and some character dining spots require two table service credits per meal. Click here for our full guide on Disney Dining Plans! Here’s an overview of the Disney Dining Plans: The Quick Service Dining Plan Inclusions Per Person in the travel party (ages 3 and up), Per Night. Two Quick Service meals (entrée or combo meal at lunch and dinner and a beverage); Guests under 21 years of age can choose one non-alcoholic beverage (including specialty beverages — e.g., Artisanal Milk Shakes, Fresh Smoothies, Premium Hot Chocolates, or Soda, Coffee or Tea — where offered). Guests 21 and older can choose either one non-alcoholic beverage (including specialty beverages where offered) or one single-serving mixed cocktail, beer, or wine (where offered) within their meal entitlement. One snack/nonalcoholic drink One Resort refillable resort drink mug per person, per package Casey’s Corner full spread The Standard Dining Plan Inclusions Per Person in the travel party (ages 3 and up), Per Night. One table service entrée and dessert (dessert offered for lunch and dinner only), OR full buffet; Guests under 21 years of age can choose one non-alcoholic beverage (including specialty beverages — e.g., Artisanal Milk Shakes, Fresh Smoothies, Premium Hot Chocolates, or Soda, Coffee, or Tea — where offered). Guests 21 and older can choose either one non-alcoholic beverage (including specialty beverages where offered) or one single-serving mixed cocktail, beer, or wine (where offered) within their meal entitlement. Note that gratuity is NOT included with table service credits. One quick service meal, including entrée, OR combo meal; Guests under 21 years of age can choose one non-alcoholic beverage with their Quick Service and Table Service meal (including specialty beverages — e.g., Artisanal Milk Shakes, Fresh Smoothies, Premium Hot Chocolates, or Soda, Coffee, or Tea — where offered). Guests 21 and older can choose either one non-alcoholic beverage (including specialty beverages where offered) or one single-serving mixed cocktail, beer, or wine (where offered) within their meal entitlement. One snack/nonalcoholic drink One Resort refillable drink mug per person, per package Full spread from The Plaza Sounds great, right? Pre-pay for all your meals, and then you don’t have to worry about prices during your trip! However, there are a few changes that you might want to consider when looking into Disney Dining Plans for 2024. Price Increases In 2024, the per-night price for the Standard Disney Dining Plan will be $94.28 per adult and $26.69 per child. For the Quick Service Dining Plan, the per-night price will be $57.01 per adult and $23.83 per child. Eight Spoon Café The adult prices for both Dining Plans have INCREASED from what they were back in 2020. Although the price only increased about $2 for the Quick Service plan, the Standard Dining Plan adult price went up $16.28. That’s a pretty big price increase! The good news? Prices actually went DOWN for kids’ Dining Plans. For the Standard plan, they went down $3.81, and for the Quick Service plan, they went down $2.17. Riverside Mill Food Court So you might want to think twice about buying the Standard Dining Plan if your party consists mainly of adults (which in Disney terms means ages 10 or older), but if you’ve got a lot of little kiddos traveling with you, these plans might be a great deal! Less Freedom With Your Credits In the past, Disney has allowed for a little swapsies situation, where you could swap one quick service credit for three snack credits. This was a good option if you wanted to change your plans and snack more rather than stopping for a full meal. We especially loved to use it during the EPCOT festivals to get more credits for snacking around the world. Mickey Ice Cream Bar! In 2024, you won’t be allowed to swap credits like that. Whatever credits you have must be used for their intended purpose. (We’re starting to sound like the fine print on a warranty, here.) But seriously, it’s kind of a bummer that this little trick won’t be possible next year! Fewer Dining Plan Options In 2024, there are two different Dining Plan options: Quick Service and Standard. Previously, there were actually FOUR options! The Disney Dining Plan Plus (not returning in 2024) got you two meals of any combination at counter service or table service restaurants each day. This was previously a pretty good in-between option compared to the Standard and Deluxe plans. Seating area at Woody’s Lunch Box The Disney Deluxe Dining Plan (not returning in 2024) got you THREE table service or quick service meals per day, and it was the most expensive option by far. Dining Room at Cinderella’s Royal Table The four options have now been reduced to two, with only the Quick Service and Standard plans available. If you wanted more than one table service meal per day on each day of your trip, there is not going to be a Disney Dining Plan to accommodate that. That could always change in the future, but for now, we’ve just got those two plans to choose from. Character Dining Credit Changes Most table service restaurants charge one credit per meal, but some spots — including signature restaurants and certain character dining locations — will charge two credits per meal. Previously, only a couple of character dining locations charged two credits, including Be Our Guest Restaurant and Cinderella’s Royal Table. But for 2024, two more restaurants have been added to that list. Be Our Guest Restaurant In 2024, Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (for lunch and dinner only), and Story Book Dining at Artist Point with Snow White will also charge two credits per meal. So if you’re hoping to dine with the Disney princesses at one of those restaurants, you can expect to shell out an extra credit per person. That means you might be left paying for dinner out of pocket on another day of your trip. Snow White If you want to avoid the extra charge, you can go to Akershus for breakfast instead of lunch or dinner, and you’ll still get to see the princesses but you won’t have to spend the extra credit. Breakfast at Akershus Hopefully these details help you decide whether the Disney Dining Plan is a good choice for your group next year. If you want some more help with planning your 2024 vacation, our friends over at Small World Vacations can help you book a trip and the dining plan too! Stay tuned to DFB for more updates on all the latest Disney news. Click here for our complete guide to the Disney Dining Plan. 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 going to use the Dining Plan in 2024? Let us know in the comments! The post Why You'll Be Disappointed by Disney's New Dining Plan first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

DON’T SETTLE! Why stay in just any ol’ hotel room when you could be staying in the BEST hotel room during your next Disney World vacation? Art of Animation You’re spending a ton of money on this – let’s do it right! We’re comin’ atcha today with the GREATEST places to stay while you’re inside the Disney bubble, here on DFB Guide. Check out our video below: The BEST Hotel Rooms in Disney World and How To Get Them Are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes! And stay tuned for more Disney news! Want More Details About Disney World’s Hotels? Ranking of ALL of Disney World’s Hotels A Full List of Changes Announced for Disney World’s Hotels The BEST Disney World Hotels for 2023 The WORST Disney World Hotels for 2023 13 Critical Things You’re FORGETTING About When Booking a Disney World Hotel 8 Gadgets You Need for Your Disney World Hotel Room The Surprising Things You Won’t Find in Your Disney World Hotel Room The Secret Way to Stay in Disney World’s Hotels for LESS! What Items from Amazon Can You Have Delivered to Your Resort Hotel? We’ve Got the Details Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney World hotel news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What’s your favorite Disney World hotel? Let us know in the comments. The post DFB Video: The BEST Hotel Rooms in Disney World and How To Get Them first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Who doesn’t love a trip to the movies? Who doesn’t love a trip to the movie theater? We find ourselves heading to the movie theater an awful lot in the winter, because it’s the perfect place to cozy up and enjoy some new films with friends and family. A new movie is debuting in theaters on December 15th, and we can’t WAIT to check it out — not only because we’re stoked to see the movie, but also because there’s a special POPCORN BUCKET!!! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Did you guess what it is? Yep, we’re talking about Wonka! This origin story of the original Willy Wonka will debut in theaters just in time for the holiday season, so you can cozy up and watch it with your fam. ©IMDB And YES, there will be special Wonka popcorn buckets at select Cinemark Theatres! Check it out! Yep, they’re stunning. We want one BAD. If you’re also hoping to check out the new film as well as snag one of the buckets, you can go ahead and purchase your Wonka tickets below. Grab your Wonka Tickets ©IMDB The film stars Timothée Chalamet, and explores the days that led up to Willy Wonka becoming the ICONIC chocolatier. Based on the previews, it looks absolutely magical — perfect for the Christmas season. Grab your golden ticket to the theater here! And there you have it! We’ll be sure to keep you updated with more Disney and entertainment news, so make sure to follow along for more so that you’re always in the loop. Speaking of the holidays… Check out our Amazon Storefront to grab those last-minute gifts. (And stick a Wonka ticket with it!)The post A NEW Popcorn Bucket Will Be Available at Movie Theaters Near You Starting THIS Weekend! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Our first visit to CosMc’s was definitely interesting! We’re at CosMc’s! We paid a visit to one of the 10 McDonald’s spin-off restaurants that recently opened with some weird new menu offerings and we’re ready to tell you about the BEST thing we ate from there! When we decided to make this trip out to CosMc’s we were determined to make it count, so we tried quite a few of the menu offerings. Some were good, others made us question our taste in fast food entirely, but there was one clear winner. CosMc’s We’re still raving about the Spicy Queso Sandwich and how great it was! Wrapper The bread was soft and the eggs were nice and fluffy which we found different from McDonald’s sandwich eggs we’ve tasted in other traditional offerings. These eggs reminded us of eggs you’ll get at Starbucks, and dare we say even fluffier? The sausage on this sandwich tastes like McDonald’s sausage so we had some familiarity with this new offering. Spicy Queso Sandwich The jalapeno chips gave it a good crunch, and we were happy to see them return to another life of McDonald’s since they were retired in the traditional McD’s menu items. The texture of the queso sauce was much better when it was melty on the warm sandwich but even after cooling down this still ended up being our favorite item of the entire spread we tried. Our favorite There you have it — if you’re planning on making a trip out to your nearest CosMc’s we highly recommend trying the Spicy Queso Sandwich above anything else we tried along with it for our first visit. Let’s go to CosMcs! Make sure you’re following us at Disney Food Blog for all the latest food updates and reviews! Everyone Remain Calm! New McDonald’s Happy Meals and TOYS Are 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 to visit the CosMc’s near you soon? Tell us what you plan to order in the comments below! The post The Single BEST Thing We Ate at the McDonald's Spin-Off Restaurant, CosMc's first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

You may have tried the four-park challenge, but have you ever attempted the six-park challenge? Four parks, one day With Park Pass Reservations going away for most visitors in Disney World soon, trying to visit all four theme parks in one day will be a lot easier in 2024. But, did you know it’s possible to visit all six of Disney’s major U.S. theme parks in one day? It’s definitely not for the weak of heart, but if you do have the urge to win this title, one airline is making it a little bit easier to get it done. According to the Hartford Courant, Breeze Airways, a Utah-based airline, will begin offering a seasonal route to Hartford, Connecticut in 2024. Starting May 29th, 2024, the airline will offer nonstop flights to the Orlando International Airport from Hartford’s Bradley International Airport on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. A new route! At the same time, the airline will offer nonstop flights between Hartford and Orange County-Santa Ana in California five times a week. With these new routes, travelers can enjoy a “BreezeThru service” with a stopover but will not have to change planes. Orlando International Airport Breeze Airways President Tom Doxey shared “These two new routes to Orlando and Orange County will connect our guests with two great family friendly destinations – and access to both Disney parks!” Cinderella Castle in Terminal C If you’re hoping to take advantage of these new routes, the airline is celebrating this addition with a sale! Fares between Hartford and Orlando start at $59 one way for its “Nice” classification of seats, but you have to book by December 18th to take advantage. This deal is good for travel on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from May 29th to September 3rd, 2024. Take advantage of these low prices! Additionally, you can save on nearly all round-trip base fares from Hartford for travel from December 18th, 2023, to September 1st, 2024. To access this deal, enter promo code “FAROUT” at checkout before December 14th, 2023! Keep in mind that some blackout days apply. Orlando International Airport As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news! 5 Laws You Need to Know Before You Travel to Florida in 2024 Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Have you ever attempted to visit all six parks in one day? Let us know in the comments below! The post NEW Nonstop Flights to the Orlando Airport Are on Sale for for a Limited Time! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

ALERT! There’s a NEW drink available at Starbucks right now! Starbucks Starbucks currently has several holiday drinks on its menu, including the Gingerbread Latte, Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte, Peppermint Mocha, and Chestnut Praline Latte. But now, there’s another NEW festive drink available! Come with us to find out whether you should give this new drink a try! From now through December 22nd, you can grab the Merry Mint White Mocha! This is made with espresso, white chocolate sauce, Peppermint Chocolate Cream Cold Foam, and chocolate curls. We really enjoyed this drink! The mint wasn’t too overpowering and mixed well with the rest of the creamy drink; however, we didn’t get too much of a white chocolate flavor. Merry Mint White Mocha If you’re someone who’s just looking for a touch of mint, this drink is the way to go vs. the peppermint white chocolate mocha frappuccino, which in our opinion is VERY strong on the mint flavor. Merry Mint White Mocha Now here’s the catch — you can only order this drink through the Starbucks app, so you won’t be able to order it in person at any store. Yes, this includes the Disney World locations too! Main Street Bakery As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news. Here’s how to get Starbucks for 50% off every week 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’s your go-to order at Starbucks? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: There's a NEW Menu Item at Starbucks Right Now! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Cast members sleighed their way to a 5K finish line for the Be Well…Cast Member, Friends & Family Holiday 5K.View the full article

If you thought we already had it all, you were so wrong, my friend. ©Doritos We just got the crunch canceling software for our headsets, but if we thought there was nothing left for Doritos to give us, we were wildly mistaken. The triangle, cheesy chips brand is a top competitor for our snack cravings. We may eat them gaming, watching football, or making taco salad. But the one thing Doritos knew we all needed was cheese-flavored alcohol. (WHAAATT?) Ok, so when we introduced you to the Doritos silencer, we gave you a little Disney x Doritos history and we thought you should get some background here, too. (Not that we need an excuse to write about the wild things Doritos is coming out with recently, in our strictly “Disney” blog.) Did you know Doritos were INVENTED in Disneyland?! Yep!! So we have a special place in our Disney-loving hearts for Doritos. OK, now back to the cheese-flavored alcohol (since that’s what you actually came here for)! Disneyland Railroad Station Doritos (aka PepsiCo) has partnered with Empirical Liquors to bring us a Nacho Cheese Vacuum Distilled Spirit! Now you can enjoy your football game with Doritos in one hand and Doritos booze in the other. Talk about living the American dream. According to the Entrepreneur on Instagram, the liquor will be available online and in select stores in New York and California in January. You can buy a 750ml bottle for just $65! Preorders start Wednesday. Some may say GROSS, while others will soon be living their best cheesy life. (It’s us, we’ll be livin’ that cheesy life!) via Entrepreneur on Instagram You know, we were pretty excited about the crunch silencer, but honestly, we’re not sure how to feel about a nacho cheese-flavored drink. This may have to be something we all try and determine for ourselves. Apparently, it “tastes just like the real thing,” but we have a hard time imagining that. If you try it, let us know what you think! In the meantime, keep following DFB for more Disney (and Doritos) news! The WORST Disney World Restaurants According To Yelp Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Would you try this nacho cheese-flavored liquor? Let us know in the comments! The post Doritos Just Invented Nacho Cheese Booze and We Are Absolutely Terrified first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

So you’ve booked your Disney Cruise and you’re all ready to set sail on one of Disney’s ships. Disney Wish at Castaway Cay Maybe you’ve even worked out travel details to get to your port, booked some additional dining, and more. But then something unpredictable happens just as you’re about to set sail: bad weather. What happens when bad weather could impact a cruise? Well, we’ve got an answer for you! Right now, we’ve got a perfect example to illustrate how Disney handles cruises scheduled to go through areas where bad weather has been forecasted. The Disney Dream is supposed to set sail on December 14th to the Eastern Caribbean/Bahamas. However, the weather could bring high winds and rain that will impact the area. There she is! The Disney Dream Based on the storm’s forecast and estimated track, Disney has decided to change the itinerary for this particular cruise. So, instead of sailing to Nassau and Castaway Cay, the Disney Dream will now head to the Western Caribbean and visit Cozumel, Mexico. Here’s the new itinerary for that cruise: Thursday – Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Friday – Day at Sea (previously Nassau, The Bahamas) Saturday – Cozumel, Mexico (previously Castaway Cay) Sunday – Day at Sea Monday – Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Fort Lauderdale port Disney shared a message with passengers via email, too. ©Disney So when weather could impact a cruise, the cruise will get a new itinerary. Disney will also be sending emails with more information to travel agents and cruisers booked on that ship. So keep that in mind if you’re booked for this specific cruise. But now you know how Disney handles things when bad weather could impact a cruise. Need help packing for a cruise? We’ve got that covered here. You can also visit our Amazon Disney Cruise Must-Haves Shop. Stay tuned to DFB for more! 17 Reasons to Take a Disney Christmas 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 Have you ever been affected by bad weather on a Disney Cruise? Tell us about it in the comments! The post Here’s What Happens When BAD Weather Is Heading for Your Disney Cruise Ship first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Have we mentioned how much we love spending time at Disney’s Polynesian Resort? Because we do! Aloha, Polynesian Village Resort! The tropical atmosphere really transports you to another land. We love grabbing a Dole Whip from Pineapple Lanai, walking on the beaches, or eating the pork nachos from Capt. Cook’s. Also, the bars at this Disney hotel are amazing — Tambu Lounge, Barefoot Pool Bar, and, of course, Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto. We always seem to have a good time here, but on our recent visit, we had a very magical moment happen. We were able to get into the Grog Grotto recently, which alone is a minor miracle. If you know about this place, you know it is popular. This is a 51-seat bar that also features interactive elements from special effects throughout the room and zany antics from the bartenders in response to the ordering of certain libations. While the bar opens at 3 PM, you will want to arrive as early as 2 PM to put your name down on the waitlist. Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto in Disney World On a recent trip to the bar, we ordered the Polynesian Pearl. This drink is made with RumChata Cream Liqueur, Grand Marnier, and Cinnamon with Tropical Juices. For $22, you get the drink, and you get to keep the pearl. When you order this drink, the giant oyster shell on the bar opens to reveal your pearl. Most of them are a traditional pearl color. Order up the Polynesian Pearl and see what happens! However, on very special occasions, the oyster reveals a black pearl. We were one of the lucky ones to receive this, and honestly, we feel like it’s such an honor. We got the Black Pearl! It’s completely random, and the oyster ultimately decides, but honestly, it was a very magical moment for us. This could happen to you, and if you are a tiki fan, you have to check this bar out. How cool! We love still experiencing new things at Disney World, even when we go every day. For more Disney stories, make sure to follow us at DFB. 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 Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto? Let us know below. The post We Got a RARE Souvenir at Disney World’s Trader Sam’s Bar and We Feel SPECIAL 🫅 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

One of our favorite parts about visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom is getting to see all the animals and watching them interact with the things in their area. Tree of Life Whether we’re on the safari, walking through one of the two walking trails, or just exploring the parks– there is so much animal activity to be seen. We could talk all day about the unique animal experiences that the park has to offer, but we’ll save that for another day. We just saw some of the cutest — and most festive — animal enrichment activities happening in DAK, and it is sure to brighten your day. We LOVE seeing everything that Disney World does to celebrate the holidays. We’ve seen a lot of decorations, parties, and merchandise come out so far, but we know something we haven’t seen until now. That thing is holiday-themed enrichment for the animals at Animal Kingdom. ©Disney The Cast Members at Disney’s Animal Kingdom decided to give their family of gorillas presents to open as a form of enrichment, and let’s be real, we KNOW they love opening presents just as much as the rest of us do. ©Disney Their presents are full of some of their favorite food items — oats, popcorn, alfalfa, hay, currents, carrots, and more. The goal is to get the gorillas to engage in their natural behaviors to open these presents, and since they’re natural foragers, they have the perfect skill set to do so. ©Disney We’ve also seen quite a few other enrichment activities around Animal Kingdom recently. This Cotton-top tamarin is showing off their most recent enrichment activity — we wonder how well he did with trying to get the food off of the leaf (we mean, getting the ornaments off the tree…duh). ©Disney No animal is too big or too small for enrichment activities. The animal care teams at Animal Kingdom use these enrichment activities for all species as an indicator of their mental and physical well-being, which we think is pretty amazing. ©Disney They even made motorized balls for cheetahs so that they could utilize their instincts to hunt and chase things. They showed off this creation on an episode of Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom on Disney+. The cheetahs weren’t the only big cats to get a fun new enrichment activity! ©Disney The lions have their very own ice sculpture that is shaped like a warthog. This helps encourage their behaviors like stalking, biting, pawning, and scratching and also gives them a safe way to do it! Time to head into Harambe to see the safari! We love seeing the animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom engage in their natural behaviors– especially when they’re making it festive. We’ll be sure to report on any other fun enrichment activities we see the animals engaging in, so keep checking in with us at DFB to read about what we find next! 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 What is your favorite animal that they have at Animal Kingdom? Let us know in the comments! The post We Have Some Disney Animal Photos GUARANTEED to Brighten Your Day or Your Money Back (OK, We Lied About the Money Part) first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’re planning a trip to Disneyland Resort in early 2024, you’ll want to pay close attention! Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind Disney parkgoers have had a tough go of it recently — between an earthquake that shut down dozens of rides temporarily and the fiasco of someone jumping out of a boat inside “it’s a small world,” there really isn’t much left that could surprise us. But Disney’s latest announcements might be the one thing that could really throw a wrench in your plans, so come with us to see what attractions will be temporarily CLOSED in 2024. Disneyland recently released a few temporary closure updates that could impact your early 2024 vacation. Starting in early January, we’ll see refurbishments at Blue Bayou Restaurant and several of the park’s rides & attractions. Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Knowing when each of these refurbishments is happening could save you later. Let’s take a look at what’s coming up: Sailing Ship Columbia will be closed from January 8th through the 11th, but we also want to make you aware that we’ve seen this open and close a lot lately. ©Disney Grizzly River Run is also temporarily closing for a refurbishment starting January 8th; however, Disneyland hasn’t shared an end date for this closure just yet. Grizzly River Run Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind is set to close on January 22nd for refurbishment, with no official reopening date yet. Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind If you were planning to visit Disneyland during these dates and wanted to include these rides in your plans, now’s a great time to rework and make some adjustments so you can spend your time accordingly. We’re always watching for the latest updates and changes around Disney, so be sure to check back in with us for updates on the ending dates of these refurbishments. DATE ANNOUNCED for Space Mountain Closure in Tokyo Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Will any of these ride refubs affect your Disneyland trip? Tell us which ride at Disneyland is your favorite in the comments below! The post Disneyland Confirms 3 Rides Are CLOSING for Refurbishment In Early 2024 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Ready to see something that you’ve never EVER seen before? Good — sit down and buckle up because I’m taking you to McDonald’s new spin-off restaurant! We’re at CosMc’s! I left my Chicago city bubble to head to the suburb of Bolingbrook, Illinois where you’ll find this guy — CosMc’s! Located in a shopping center and next to a regular McDonald’s, the new spot officially opened to the public on December 7th. “What is the deal with CosMc’s?” you may ask. Well, my team had the exact same question and after seeing the menu I knew I had to visit. So come along for a tour and review of the newest creation from McDonald’s! Atmosphere The new concept of CosMc’s is named after a 1980s-era McDonaldland character, and for now, it’s a limited test run that will only result in 10 pilot locations. Let’s go to CosMc’s! If you’ve been paying attention to CosMc’s in the news, you probably saw the hours-long lines. I am pleased to announce that if you go at 7:30AM on a Tuesday morning, your wait should be much shorter! Pretty empty I used to be impressed when drive-thru restaurants had two lanes — CosMc’s has FOUR. All four lanes merge into one so it doesn’t seem to cut time in line that way, but it seemed organized! Line The lane I was directed to had four cars ahead of me and it took about 20 minutes until I was able to order. Patience is key if you’re planning to visit this close to the grand opening. CosMc’s Drive-thru Then it was my turn! I pulled up to the window to see the menu board (which we’ll get into more later on). Something about this is so aesthetically pleasing compared to other basic fast-food chain menus. CosMc’s menu I was helped by a friendly employee (they were much more bubbly than I am before coffee in the morning), and the order was confirmed. It pops up on your screen so you can see the list grow as you order. Then I paid with the card reader next to the screen and got this message: “Hang tight as we prepare your order.” Wait sign Within just a few minutes, the screen changed letting me know that the order was ready! There are numbered pickup windows when you drive around the building, and the screen will indicate which one to stop at. It shows you which window to go to! I was again greeted by a smiling staff member and they sent me off with my order saying “Have a nice sip.” It seems to be the slogan of this spot because I turned the corner to see this painted on a wall! “Have a nice sip!” And voila! It was that easy. The ordering process does take more time, but the friendly staff and fun graphics on the screen made it an entertaining experience. Menu The menu is filled with drinks we’ve never seen from McDonald’s before, including plenty of coffee drinks and other caffeinated beverages, along with lots of different breakfast items. Specifically, there is a selection of “teas, lemonades, slushies, frappes, coffees, and a section called ‘signature galactic boosts.’” There are many ways to customize your drink as well with espresso shots, drizzles, flavored syrups, or boba. ©CosMc’s When it comes to drinks, the menu includes a Sour Cherry Energy Burst, Iced and Sweet Tea, Lemonade, a Churro Frappe, Berry Hibiscus Sour-Ade, and a Popping Pear Slush. Some of the savory items on the menu include a Spicy Queso Sandwich and a Creamy Avocado Tomatillo Sandwich, as well as the Egg McMuffin and a Sausage McMuffin with Egg from the regular McDonald’s menu. ©CosMc’s So while there are some McDonald’s staples like the McMuffin and McFlurry, most of the menu is new! I grabbed quite a few things and I’m just drooling thinking about it again so it’s time to talk about it. Eats Let’s start with the drinks! Although I originally had my sights set on the Churro Frappe, CosMc’s was unfortunately sold out when I stopped by. So I opted for the next best option — the Chai Frappe Burst! This is a blended chai frappe with sweet popping boba finished with whipped cream and cinnamon sprinkles. The drink surprised me! It was sweet but not in an overpowering way. It tasted just like horchata to me and it seemed like a lot of the chai/cinnamon flavor was coming from the boba. I would totally order this again. A medium costs $5.89. Chai Frappe Burst Next up is this colorful concoction — the Popping Pear Drink! It’s a prickly pear slush with whipped cream and popping candy and a medium costs $5.39 and the boba costs $1 to add. I chose to add the fruit boba to this for $1. Although I loved the Chai Frappe, this was actually my favorite drink of the three I tasted! It was super refreshing and just like the previous drink, it wasn’t overpoweringly sweet. The prickly pear flavor is there, but it doesn’t punch you in the face. However, the boba’s flavor kinda does…but in a good way! If I add boba to this in the future, I would probably ask to leave the popping candy off the top because those two textures were weird together, but overall I really enjoyed this! CosMc’s drink Rounding out the drinks, it’s the S’mores Cold Brew ($4.99 for a medium) which is a cold brew “paired with the sweet taste of s’mores” and finished with cold foam and toffee sprinkles on top. Unfortunately, the drink came out without the cold foam or toffee sprinkles, but I’m not sure that could have saved it. The coffee was super syrupy and it did not mix well with the bitterness of the cold brew. It tasted too sugary and too bitter at the same time somehow? This was a miss for me on this trip, but it may have been better with the cold foam on top. Cold Brew Now it’s time to EAT. I grabbed four of the CosMc’s-exclusive items and started with the Pretzel Bites for $3.99. I also ordered a side of the Spicy Queso Sauce for dipping. I had to compare it to our beloved Disney plastic cheese…for science. Right?! Pretzel Bites with Spicy Queso Sauce Anyway, the pretzel bites were pretty standard. I thought they would be dry by the looks of them, but they were decently moist and fluffy. These are salted, but not covered in butter like you’ll find at Auntie Anne’s. Pretzel Bite I can’t lie, I was a little scared to try the cheese after looking at it. It puts the plastic in plastic cheese! But, I actually thought it paired well with the pretzel bites and it definitely had some heat. I enjoy spice and I was satisfied with it, so if spice isn’t your thing, you’ll want to stay away. It would be cool to see the pretzels filled with this cheese (wink wink, nudge nudge, CosMc’s). Spicy Queso Sauce My team and I were excited about this one…it’s the McPops! CosMc’s has three types of McPops on the menu including Hazelnut, Cookie Butter, and Apple Cinnamon. Each order costs $3.79 and comes with three. You can get the same kind or a mixed bag, which is exactly what I ordered to try them all. SO excited to try these! McPops have actually been around before — they were first available internationally including at McDonald’s in Spain, but I’m very happy to see them here in the U.S. These are essentially donut holes with filling, and let me tell you that these pops are fluffy! McPop First, I tried the Hazelnut flavor and if you are a fan of Nutella, you will absolutely adore this! Nutella donut? Yes, please! Hazelnut McPop This is the Cookie Butter flavor and it did not disappoint! The filling in the middle tasted just like the creamy cookie butter you can find at Trader Joe’s and it was SO good with the donut. Cookie Butter McPop Last but certainly not least is the Apple Cinnamon flavor. This is the only flavor that was dusted in cinnamon sugar instead of powdered sugar, and it just added to the apple cinnamon taste inside. Apple Cinnamon McPop The moment you’ve all been waiting for — it’s time to talk sandwiches! First, I tried the Creamy Avocado Tomatillo Sandwich for $4.99 which is made with a fluffy omelet-style egg, applewood bacon, creamy avocado tomatillo sauce, and white cheddar cheese served on a brioche bun. First of all, I have to applaud McDonald’s for making a fluffier egg for these sandwiches. The typical egg in McMuffins is fine, but this is next level. If you’ve ever had the Sausage, Cheddar, and Egg sandwich at Starbucks, the eggs reminded me of that. Wrapper The bacon is thin and floppy — nothing to write home about. The cheese slice didn’t stand out too much but it did add some more flavor to the sandwich. The avocado tomatillo sauce was the star of the show here. It was cilantro and lime forward which might not be for everyone, but I enjoyed it with the eggs. Creamy Avocado Tomatillo Sandwich Spoiler alert: I saved the best for last. The Spicy Queso Sandwich was my favorite thing that I grabbed here! This snack also has a fluffy omelet-style egg but also has a sausage patty, spicy queso sauce (yes, the same sauce that I dipped the pretzels in), white cheddar cheese, and crispy jalapeno chips on a brioche bun. It also costs $4.99. Spicy Queso Sandwich I’ve already raved about the eggs so I’ll stop myself here since they are the same, and the sausage tasted the same as a typical McDonald’s sausage patty. I love that the jalapeno chips made a reappearance here after being available at McDonald’s for a limited time! Those with the spicy queso sauce brought some serious heat to the sandwich, but the eggs and bun cooled it down. Speaking of the sauce, I thought the texture was much better when it was melty on this warm sandwich. Our favorite Whew! There you have it — that’s all I tried at CosMc’s this time around! I’m sure I’ll be back for more soon. Nosh or Not You should make the trip to CosMc’s if: You want to try something new! Most of the menu items here are brand new and it was refreshing to see McDonald’s plus up some of their staples like McMuffins. You love McDonald’s and want to try food or drinks that have never been available to you before. For example, the McPops are originally from Spain and have not been available in the U.S. with the exception of the International McDonald’s in Chicago. CosMc’s also takes a typical McDonald’s breakfast sandwich and elevates it with sauces and toppings like jalapeno chips. You should avoid CosMc’s if: You live far away. If you have FOMO, just know that CosMc’s plans to expand over the next year with 10 locations in Texas. After that, if CosMc’s proves successful, even more locations may start popping up around the country. You’re expecting Starbucks-level coffee. Okay, I did only try one cold brew, but it was a big miss this time around. There are many different customizations you can make to the drinks you order, but it’s probably not what you’re used to if you get Starbucks or Dunkin often. Overall Although CosMc’s comes from the fast food giant McDonald’s, it didn’t feel like fast food. Yes, the food was ready pretty quickly after I ordered, but I waited 20 minutes before I could order. Expect to spend a decent chunk of time here, at least until the excitement of the opening calms down. The biggest bummer is that there is no seating…like anywhere! CosMc’s is operating as a drive-thru-only spot, but there are not even tables outside either. There is a small parking lot where you could probably pull over and eat in your car like at Sonic, but that parking area was blocked off when I visited. Parking blocked off The staff were super nice and made the experience great. I’ll even admit that they rival Chick-fil-A employees on the niceness scale. But in all seriousness, that pushed the time here to a new level. Stay tuned to DFB for more about CosMc’s and McDonald’s! 6 Super WEIRD Menu Items at McDonald’s NEW Spin-Off Restaurant Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What do you think of the new CosMc’s restaurant? Tell us in the comments! The post FULL REVIEW of the NEW McDonald's Spin-Off Restaurant -- CosMc's first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Christmas is almost here, and if you’re still struggling to get some last-minute gifts, we’re right there with you. Wilderness Lodge Tree However, if you’ve got someone in your life who loves Disney and you’re still looking for a few more things to fill their stocking with, here are 10 Disney stocking stuffers you can get on Amazon right now! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Grab The Adorable Bicycle Disney Princess-Inspired Playing Cards ©Amazon The Bicycle Disney Princess Inspired Playing Cards are perfect for those who love to play cards with friends but are also looking for a deck that reflects their love of Disney Princesses. Add it to your cart! The Disney100 Years of Wonder Mickey Mouse Small Plush Stuffed Animal is the Perfect Cuddly Gift ©Amazon The Disney100 Years of Wonder Mickey Mouse Small Plush Stuffed Animal is a perfect addition to the top of the stocking — his little head will peek out, and it’ll be the cutest thing ever! Check it out right here! Don’t Miss These Minnie Mouse Large Metal Claw Clips ©Amazon These Minnie Mouse Large Metal Claw Clips are perfect for someone in your life who constantly has their hair up but isn’t a fan of elastic hair ties. Plus, you can wear these in the park, and they’ll match any outfit! Buy it now! The Mouse Ear Scrunchies are Another Great Option! ©Amazon If claw clips aren’t your thing, you can grab the Mouse Ear Scrunchies instead! Check it out! UNO Disney Wish Card Game Is Fun For the Whole Family ©Amazon If you’ve been loving Disney’s new animated film Wish, then the UNO Disney Wish Card Game is a great gift the whole family can play on Christmas Day! Grab it right here! The Disney Cosmetic Bag is Perfect For Any Trip ©Amazon If you’ve got someone in your family who loves Disney and will be going on trips in 2024 (whether to Disney or elsewhere), the Disney Cosmetic Bag is a fantastic gift. Add it to your cart! The 2-Piece Leather Travel Makeup Handbag Is Perfect for Adults ©Amazon For Disney adults, the style of the AHOLICSHOP 2-Piece Leather Travel Makeup Handbag may be a little more desirable, and it comes with TWO pieces! Buy it right here! A Classic Mickey Mouse Distressed Look T-Shirt Is Always a Solid Option ©Amazon For those who can always use another Disney shirt, the Mickey Mouse Distressed Look T-Shirt is a great stocking stuffer. Check it out! So Is The A Dream is A Wish Your Heart Makes T-Shirt! ©Amazon If you’re looking for a little something more on your new park shirt, grab the A Dream is A Wish Your Heart Makes T-Shirt — it’s sure to be a hit. Grab it right here! The Elsa Hair Accessory Set is Perfect For Young Hairdressers ©Amazon If you’ve got a young one who loves doing their own hair and also loves Frozen, the Princess Elsa Hair Accessory 5 Pcs Set may just be their favorite stocking gift. Buy it here! As always, stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney news and gift ideas! Check out our Amazon Storefront for more gift ideas!The post 10 Disney Stocking Stuffers for Under From Amazon first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney Legend Nunis has passed away at age 91. ©Disney The former chairman of Walt Disney Attractions died surrounded by his family on December 13th, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. A family friend confirmed the news. Nunis began his career at Disneyland in 1955 and was responsible for helping to guide the growth of Walt Disney’s outdoor entertainment from just one park in Anaheim to what it is today. His legacy includes the development of “Project X,” which later became Walt Disney World Resort. ©Disney Disney CEO Bob Iger shared a statement on Nunis’ passing: “Today, we mourn the passing of Nunis, a true Disney Legend whose contributions to The Walt Disney Company have touched the lives of millions of people all over the world. What started as a summer job training future Disneyland employees would ultimately become a storied 44-year career at Disney. took the values and philosophies he learned directly from Walt and incorporated them into everything he did at Disney. We are grateful for his many achievements and we extend our deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones.” “On behalf of every Cast Member, Crew Member, Imagineer, and employee of Disney Experiences, I want to express my gratitude to Disney Legend Nunis… and my condolences to his family following the sad news of his passing,” shared Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences. “’s impact on our theme parks business is everlasting. Along with our founder, Walt Disney, helped shape our business, create happiness for millions of families around the world… and set a standard that an entire industry must now live up to.” ©Disney Nunis was born on May 30th, 1932 in Cedartown, Georgia. He received a football scholarship to the University of Southern California, but his football dreams were cut short after suffering a broken neck while playing. He graduated from USC in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science in Education. Nunis was told about Disneyland by classmate Ron Miller — Walt Disney’s son-in-law — and got a summer job as an orientation training instructor. He later worked his way up to attractions supervisor, and in 1961 he became director of park operations, helping develop Disney World. From 1967 to 1974, Nunis served as chairman of the Park Operations Committee, and was promoted to VP of operations in 1968. In 1971, he was named executive vice president of Walt Disney World and Disneyland. He also oversaw the development of EPCOT Center, Disney-MGM Sudios Theme Park, along with Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris. ©Disney He once said, “Walt believed strongly that what would make Disneyland different was the people—he wanted them to feel that they were part of the organization. That’s why he established the first-name policy—he was Walt, I was , and so on. From an overall operations point of view, the most important thing is to work together to make sure that when guests come, they have a wonderful experience.” Nunis is survived by his wife Mary, his children, Rich, Lisa and Corey, and his grandchildren, Richie, Dean, Madison, Landon, Annabelle, and Greyton. Our thoughts are with Nunis’ friends and family during this difficult time. The post Disney Legend Nunis Has Passed Away at 91 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Okay, so you’ve probably heard us say it before, but when it comes to good food, Disneyland might just outrank Disney World. New Orleans Square Now, don’t get us wrong — we LOVE the food in Disney World, but Disneyland has some unique offerings you can only find on the West Coast. The corn dogs are CLASSIC and The churros are . There’s also Blue Bayou, which lets you eat INSIDE the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. Well, if you were planning on dining there soon, you might want to re-think your plans. Blue Bayou is closing its doors on January 7th — you’ll notice that if you check the dates on Disneyland’s website, it says “no times available.” ©Disney However, this is only a temporary closure. The restaurant is showing hours again as of January 20th, meaning January 19th will be the last day of its closure. Although Disney hasn’t officially stated a reason for the restaurant closing, these usually happen for things like maintenance and refurbishment. ©Disney So, if you had plans to dine there or were thinking about making a reservation during that time, here’s your heads up that the restaurant will be closed. However, the nearby Cafe Orleans, which has a similar menu, including the Monte Cristo) will still be open, so you might want to try to eat there instead. Cafe Orleans We’ll keep an eye out for more closures in Disney World and Disneyland, so stay tuned to DFB for more. A Disney Attraction Has Officially Closed FOREVER Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe Have you ever been to Blue Bayou? What’s your favorite item on the menu? Let us know in the comments! The post One of Disney’s Most Popular Restaurants Will Temporarily CLOSE Soon first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

EPCOT is celebrating the holidays in big and little ways. EPCOT There is EPCOT’s International Festival of the Holidays happening now, which celebrates different holiday traditions around the world. Of course, we’ve seen the incredible holiday overlay of Living with the Land. But there is one adorable part of EPCOT that is celebrating the holidays, and you are probably walking right past the decorations. The Seas pavilion in EPCOT can be found in the World Nature section of the park. We love coming here not only to ride The Seas with Nemo & Friends but also to see the impressive aquarium full of fish, dolphins, turtles, and even Mickey Mouse scuba diving from time to time. The Seas But our reporters love to visit the small tanks to see the adorable sea urchins and cuttlefish. You can sometimes find them with teenie, tiny Mickey hats on, and seriously — how can you not smile at that? Mickey hat! These tanks have gotten a fun holiday overlay. We stopped by to check out the decorations, and we just had to share these photos with you. While most of these are not new, they still deserve some recognition. We found this Menorah in one of the tanks, and it’s even “lit” for the holiday. Next, we saw some of our sea urchin friends who were feeling festive! Check out this one in the Santa hat… Santa hat and this one with its antler hat on! We’re not sure what CMs are responsible for this cuteness, but we want to say THANK YOU. Reindeer That’s not all, though. There is even a fireplace, so the little critters can stay warm on those chilly winter days. Our biggest question is, is Santa coming down this fireplace to fill those tiny stockings? Are all of the fish on the nice list? Keeping warm by the fire In the Cuttlefish hatchlings tank, there is a whole Christmas village. This is new for this year, and we are so happy about this addition. Look at all of those tiny houses and their decorations. Christmas Village We hope this brings a little Christmas spirit to you. For more Disney stories and news, be sure to follow us at DFB. Why We’re Worried About Going to EPCOT on January 12th DON'T MISS A MOMENT OF HOLIDAY MAGIC Holidays at Disney World: DFB's Merriest Guide is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World. It includes all the must-have information for navigating the holiday season at Disney World, including: The COMPLETE schedule of events for the Holiday Season How to avoid the crowds on Disney World's busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!) ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM. And, of course, we'll tell you where to eat! Save 20% on the Holidays at Disney World: DFB's Merriest Guide with code PEPPERMINT. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW MORE Disney World Holiday INFO! Learn About Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Get the Latest Information About the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays We’ll Take This Little Golden Disney Book in Our Stocking, Santa! Everything You Need to Know About Disney World Holiday Dining and Events What We Wish We’d Known Before Going to Disney World During the Holidays Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest holiday news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What is your favorite part of the holidays at Disney World? Tell us in the comments. The post This Is the BEST Thing at EPCOT Right Now, and You Can’t Tell Us Otherwise. first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

When it comes to sweepstakes and giveaways, we always try to keep our lovely readers informed on when and how they can enter to win some pretty cool stuff. Disney World From stays in Cinderella’s Castle to Disney vacation giveaways, there are all sorts of sweepstakes that you can enter. However, there’s a new giveaway that we came across and we think that it’s way better than a Cinderella Castle Suite stay or a fully-paid Disney vacation. It’s a giant meatball. Yessiree, you can enter to win a giant, turkey-sized meatball from Ikea. They’re giving away 30 (!!!) gigantic meat balls and even 30 (!!!) Veggieball Christmas Trees. ©Ikea In the words of Ikea, “It’s big. It’s tasty. It could be yours!” That sure is one way to put it! ©Ikea To enter, you have to live in the UK. UGHHH. I know. Bah humbug. Why can’t the Christmassy gigantic meatball be available in the states? Seriously, if you rolled up to the office Christmas party with one of these bad boys, we’re pretty sure they’d love you forever. Who doesn’t love a good meatball? Anyway, if you’re lucky enough to live in the UK and be eligible to win one of these big ol’ meatballs, then all you need to do is like Ikea’s post, follow them on Instagram, tag a friend, and comment whether or not you want the big meatball or the Christmas tree made of tiny veggie meatballs. Tough choice. Another meatball we had in the past Wowee. It’ll be the gift that keeps on givin’ until you get the meat sweats. We’ll continue to keep you all updated with more amazing and creative giveaways like this, so make sure to follow along for more! Speaking of meatballs… Click here to check out a Disney World restaurant where you can find some **NORMAL-SIZED** ones. 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? Are you entering the contest? The post Who Needs A Stay In Cinderella Castle When You Could Win THIS?! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Who’s ready to try out a new restaurant in Disney Springs?! Disney Springs Summer House on the Lake is a new table service restaurant that will soon join the impressive dining lineup at Disney Springs. And if you’re as excited as we are to try out some new food, we have great news — an opening date for the new restaurant has now been announced! Summer House on the Lake will be a similar concept to the two existing locations which are currently open in Chicago and North Bethesda. Summer House is known for dishing out pizzas, pasta, sandwiches, weekend brunch, and more! Summer House on the Lake Ready to start planning your trip to the new Disney Springs spot? Well, grab your calendars — Summer House on the Lake is set to open on Thursday, December 14th! When we checked for reservations on Open Table, reservations popped up for then. On Open Table, the restaurant notes say to plan to arrive at least an hour before your reservation time, especially if you want patio seating, which is first come, first serve. ©Open Table We also got to check out the restaurant’s hours of service, which are as follows: Mon–Thu 11AM–11PM Fri — 11AM–11:30PM Sat 9AM–11:30PM Sun 9AM–11PM Brunch: Sat, Sun 9AM–3PM Disney still hasn’t shared any information on the restaurant’s opening, but we’ll be on the lookout. We’ll continue to keep you updated with any other important details about Summer House on the Lake as the opening date gets close, so stay tuned to DFB for all things dining! We’ve Eaten at Every Disney Springs Restaurant. These Are the Best. 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 plan to visit Summer House on the Lake on your next trip to Disney Springs? Let us know in the comments! The post CONFIRMED: Opening Date Revealed for Disney World’s NEW Summer House on the Lake Restaurant first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Okay, where are our Marvel fans at? ©Marvel So, if you’re like us, you cannot get enough of those Marvel series, and you’re kinda desperate for a new one now that season 2 of Loki is over (which BLEW our minds). Sure, we’ve got the new Echo series to look forward to, as well as season 2 of What If…? But there will be ANOTHER new Marvel series coming up soon — and we are READY! If you love all things Black Panther and are obsessed with Wakanda, you’re going to want to pay attention. That’s because Disney just announced a brand new Wakanda-based series called Eyes of Wakanda. Yes, we’re getting more Wakanda! Wakanda Forever Eyes of Wakanda will be a new animated series with this synopsis: “Throughout Wakandan history, brave warriors have been tasked to travel the world retrieving dangerous vibranium artifacts. This is their story.” So it seems like we’ll get to learn more about Wakanda’s history, as well as perhaps even get more Dora Milaje — YES! We need more stories about the Dora Milaje! Dora Milaje at Avengers Campus in Disneyland So this is pretty exciting news. Now, we don’t know WHEN the series will debut, but it’s one of many animated offerings Disney has recently announced. We also have the X-Men ’97 and Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man animated series to look forward to, as well as season 2 of What If…?, which will premiere on Disney+ on December 22nd, with a new episode being released every day for nine days. ©Disney We’ll keep you updated on any other Marvel news, so stay tuned to DFB for more. Bob Iger Pinpoints What Went Wrong With Marvels Movie (Spoiler: Lots of Things) 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 a Wakanda-based animated series? Let us know in the comments! The post Marvel Announced a NEW Series Is Coming to Disney+! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

What better place to eat the most important meal of the day than The Happiest Place on Earth? Disney California Adventure Disneyland just introduced a NEW breakfast option, and we’re headed into Disney California Adventure to check it out! Smokejumpers Grill is now serving breakfast in Disney California Adventure! The quick service restaurant — which is best known for classic lunch and dinner options, like burgers and mac & cheese — added some breakfast items to its menu on December 6th, so of course we had to head in to try some of them. Smokejumpers Grill Don’t forget that you can use Mobile Order at this restaurant to order your food ahead of time and skip the wait when you pick it up. Mobile Order Breakfast is served at Smokejumpers Grill from 7:30AM to 10AM, so you’ve only got a pretty short window to enjoy these new offerings. Seating Some of the items on the breakfast menu include the Breakfast Sandwich, a Classic Breakfast Burrito, a plant-based “Chorizo” Burrito, Breakfast Seasoned Fries, Bacon, Sausage, Fried Eggs, Hash Browns, and a Kids’ Breakfast Slider. You can also choose from a few different breakfast drinks, like coffee and fruit juices. Breakfast Menu First, we tried the Breakfast Cold Brew, which is Chocolate Cold Brew, Toasted Marshmallow Foam, and Cocoa Crisped Rice Cereal for $6.79. Breakfast Cold Brew This reminded us a lot of the Cold Brew Black Caf you can get over at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge! The drink has a bit of a chocolate flavor, but the main flavor is definitely cold brew. The marshmallow flavor wasn’t very strong at first, but if you mix the topping in, you get much more of it throughout the drink. Breakfast Cold Brew The Breakfast Cold Brew is a good option if you want a sweet pick-me-up as you start your day in the park! Breakfast Cold Brew For our first eat of the day, we grabbed the Classic Breakfast Burrito, which is filled with Sausage, Bacon, Eggs, Cheddar, Hash Browns, and Molcajete Salsa. It costs $13.99. It’s served with a Cuties Mandarin Orange or Breakfast Seasoned Fries. Breakfast Burrito We loved this burrito! The bacon and sausage were both savory, and the sausage had a bit of a peppery kick that contributed to the flavor but wasn’t too strong. The cheddar cheese complemented the rest of the burrito well. The hash browns were crunchy, so they provided some interesting texture, and they also made this a more filling meal. Breakfast Burrito Our only real problem with this was the eggs — They were kind of bland and cold, so they were our least favorite part. However, the breakfast meats and salsa were all delicious and were the most prominent flavors in the burrito. Breakfast Burrito We loved that the burrito was lightly toasted on each side, too! Breakfast Burrito The fries on the side were just OK. They were good, but not incredible. The breakfast seasoning didn’t add much, so really they mostly tasted like whatever sauce you’d choose to dip them in. Breakfast Fries Finally, we grabbed the Breakfast Sandwich, which is made with Sausage, Egg, Cheddar, Hash Browns, SJG Sauce, and Green Chile on a Toasted Bun. It costs $13.49 and is served with a Cuties Mandarin Orange or Breakfast Seasoned Fries. Breakfast Sandwich The main flavor — and biggest surprise for us — was the green chile. It added a great spice throughout the sandwich and blended well with the ingredients. Breakfast Sandwich The sausage in the sandwich was the same as in the burrito, so it brought a nice peppery flavor to this meal as well. The amount of cheese in the sandwich was perfect in our opinion — you got some in every bite, but it didn’t overwhelm the other flavors. Breakfast Sandwich Like the burrito, the sandwich had some less-than-stellar eggs on it (they were just a little too bland for our taste), but the hashbrowns were great! They were crispy on the outside and soft in the middle. Breakfast Sandwich Overall, we really enjoyed our breakfast at Smokejumpers Grill! The eggs weren’t great, but that was really the only downside in either of the meals we had. We’d absolutely come back for more morning eats in the future. Full Spread Stay tuned to DFB for more updates on all the latest Disney news! We’ve Eaten at Every Restaurant in Disney California Adventure. These Are the BEST. Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe Are you going to try breakfast at Smokejumpers Grill? Let us know in the comments! The post REVIEW: Disney Just Introduced a NEW Breakfast Option! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Okay, so it’s no secret at this point that we go to McDonald’s A LOT. We love McDonald’s Yes, we spent a lot of time, money, and stomach space to trying to collect all the Disney100 Happy Meal toys at one point (and we did it for the Disney World 50th anniversary toys, too). We’ve even been to CosMC’s. We’ve also been getting those adult Happy Meals in hopes of landing all the character figures, and today, we got the rarest one! So there are a total of six character figures you can get in all — they’re these cute little McNugget Buddy characters with outfits inspired by Kerwin Frost. But there’s one McBuddy we thought was just a myth — a rare Golden Nugget — that is, until we got one. There it is! So, what’s the big deal about the Golden Nugget? Well, it’s super rare, but it’s also gold and comes with a card that says, “Golden like the arches, golden like the fries, golden like the edges on McDonald’s apple pie.” What’s even wilder is that McDonald’s hasn’t even admitted that it’s real (but it is!). The card that comes with it These toys are already going for as high as $100 on eBay, so it’s hard to get your hands on one. Imagine our surprise when it turned up in our Happy Meal! Does that mean we should go play the lottery now or something? Our Happy Meal Whatever it means, we were so excited that we had to share it with you plus let you know that, yes, the Golden Nugget DOES exist. Stay tuned to DFB for more. We Went to the NEW McDonald’s Spin-Off Restaurant, CosMc’s & We’re Sharing a FIRST LOOK and Some Hot Takes! 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 found a Golden Nugget in your Happy Meal? Let us know in the comments! The post STOP EVERYTHING! We Just Got a SUPER RARE McDonald’s Happy Meal Toy! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Sometimes that buyer’s remorse hits really hard. Disney Merchandise Sure that new Disney merch looked incredible and you just had to get it in four different colors, but now you’re wondering what on Earth you did and why you bought it in the first place! You are not alone! We have been right there too. So, let’s talk about some of the things we’d NEVER buy again in Disney World! A Bottle of Water Before you get any ideas that we’re anti-hydration, let us explain. It will make so much more sense for you to bring your own water bottle from home than to purchase a $4 bottle of water every time you need to rehydrate! Water Bottle Refill Station By TRON There are bottle refill stations all over Disney World, especially in the newer areas of the parks. Also, if you bring your own bottle, you can say you’re being eco-friendly too! This Is the Water Bottle That Literally Everyone Takes to Disney World Bulky Souvenirs Alright, let’s talk about those souvenirs. We’ve all been there when that one piece just catches your eye. Well, back in the days of package delivery, you could go ham and get that super bulky merch because it would be delivered right back to your hotel room for you. But that’s not the case anymore. You get to be the pack mule these days. ©Disney We’ve got exactly 0% desire to be schlepping around an oversized Mickey plush in the 90+ degree and 100% humidity weather of Florida. Oh, and throw in crowds and an afternoon rainshower too. Awkwardly Shaped Popcorn Buckets We know you love collecting popcorn buckets — we do, too! But if we think about it, really think about it, do we REALLY need some of these awkwardly shaped ones?! The Nightmare Before Christmas Mayor’s Car Bucket It’s “nice and all” that with the popcorn bucket you can get a discounted rate for refills, but they’re also really bulky and hard to carry around. And some of them really don’t hold that much popcorn! Plus, be honest, how much popcorn are you really going to eat in the parks?? The Most Completely Impractical Disney Popcorn Buckets Fuel Rods There have been so many times in the past where we’ve burned straight through the battery on our phones at the parks and that’s where chargers have come in clutch. Chargers are truly essential in Disney World. I’m sure you’ve seen Fuel Rod Stations all over the Disney parks. They are portable chargers that go for $30 each. Fuel Rod Station in PizzeRizzo That isn’t an especially terrible price, but you could do so much better!! Did you know you can get a pack of TWO Fuel Rods on Amazon for almost the same price?! Also, these are the exact same brand, so they can be swapped out at the Fuel Rod locations within Disney World, and now you will have TWO. Again, save yourself some money and get them online instead of the parks! The One Thing You Need to Have in Disney World in 2024 The Essentials This one is going to be a combo point. Florida is going to be Florida and be unpredictable at most random of times, so you have to be prepared. Sure Disney World is happy to provide those essentials like sunscreen, sunglasses, ponchos, and umbrellas to you, but at a steep mark-up. Sunscreen for sale in EPCOT When it comes to the sunscreen at the resorts, you’ll find that the selection tends to be lacking in brand and strength and there are times when they’re sold out. With the other things, bring, or buy, a light raincoat or poncho and umbrella that fit in your park bag. You can find plenty of great options that are cost-effective too. Rainy days in Disney World Ultimately, your best bet is to bring your own essentials from home. You will save more than a few dollars by bringing these from home instead of buying the Disney options in the parks and resorts. The Ultimate Disney World Packing List for 2024 Magic Kingdom At the end of the day, only you can really determine whether or not you think a particular piece of Disney merchandise is worth it. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney news, tips, tricks, and the latest updates you need to know! 45% of Fans Will NEVER Buy This in Disney World Again! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What would you never buy again in Disney World? Tell us in the comments! The post There’s No Way I’d Buy This Again in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The Disney company has been making headlines a lot lately. ©Apple Bob Iger, Disney’s CEO, has been in the news for comments on Disney’s “Woke” agenda and his exit as CEO in 2026. There are also the public comments that Elon Musk, CEO of X/Twitter, has made about Bob Iger, like, “He should be fired immediately.” Now, Disney is losing $105 Million from an investor. According to Fox Business, South Carolina’s State Treasurer, Curtis Loftis, says the state’s $105 million in Disney debt securities will not be renewed upon maturity. In an interview with Fox Business, Loftis says, “I think it’s clear to anybody paying attention that there’s a structural rot inside of Disney. It’s deep, it’s pervasive, and I suspect Bob Iger, since his return as the CEO, now realizes it can’t be fixed.” ©Yahoo The largest issue, according to Loftis, however, lies not in the policies themselves but in the individuals at the helm of the company. “The sane, sober, talented, mature people are gone, and now you have the gender studies crowd running Disney,” he explained. “That’s why their movies are flops, and their market cap, I think, is about half what it used to be. It’s a tremendous loss to America; we all grew up on Disney.“ ©Reuters | Disney CEO Bob Iger So, how is the company financially doing right now? On November 8th, 2023, Disney held its fourth-quarter earnings call, which also included a look at the full fiscal year. At this earnings call, Disney shared some insight into all the financial happenings within the company. Overall, the Disney company reported the following results for Q4 of FY23 and for the fiscal year in general. Revenues for the quarter grew 5% and 7% compared to the prior year quarter and prior year, respectively. Bob Iger even went as far as to say that the future for shareholders is bright. ©Disney Disney shares trade at $92.56 apiece, reflecting a nearly 4% rise year to date. However, the stock is still down over 50% from its all-time high of $201.91 recorded in March 2021. While Loftis acknowledges the pull of investment won’t hurt the company, he states that it is about principle. “We’re not going to cause Disney any real harm,” he said, “I just want other people to see that you can stand up to these people and you live to invest another day. There are plenty of good investments out there that aren’t as risky as Disney.” ©Disney For more Disney news, be sure to follow us at Disney Food Blog. 10 Controversial Things Bob Iger Has Said About Disney’s Alleged ‘Woke Agenda’ Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post “There’s a Structural Rot Inside of Disney” – South Carolina State Treasurer Pulls 5M in Disney Investments first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article