Jump to content

Disney4me

Administrators
  • Posts

    89,259
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    15

Everything posted by Disney4me

  1. Planning for your 2024 Disney World trip is no small feat! Heading to Disney World in 2024? Listen, we get it. When you’ve got so many things to consider like your dining reservations or navigating Genie+, it can start to feel overwhelming really quickly. That’s what we’re here for. The last thing we want is for you to arrive and be disappointed with your plans. So, let’s talk about your hotel and some of the reasons you might regret staying in certain Disney hotels in 2024. 1. Disney’s BoardWalk Inn First up, let’s talk about Disney’s BoardWalk. Being that it’s conveniently located between EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, it’s a pretty popular Deluxe resort with some impressive amenities. But, it’s currently in the middle of a few construction projects. They are in the process of updating all the hotel rooms with new furniture and decor. These new rooms will feature artwork that contains images of Mickey, Minnie, and other Disney pals strolling through the BoardWalk. ©Disney On top of that, the lobby of the hotel is expected to get a refresh. We already saw some construction at the check-in desk, and the former Dundy’s Sundries shut down to make way for Carousel Coffee. Carousel Coffee Outside, on the BoardWalk itself, there’s a new restaurant in progress! The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers will be coming to Disney’s BoardWalk in early 2024 (a delay from its initially announced opening of 2023), and will serve more than just cakes. The table service restaurant is expected to also have savory items, and in the afternoons guests can enjoy a spot of tea. Check it out! In the meantime, expect lots of construction sounds! If your trip is late in the year, all of these projects might not affect your stay — but keep them in mind when you’re planning! 2. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is Disney World’s premier Deluxe Resort, but unfortunately, this hotel is also undergoing some major construction at the moment. Disney’s Grand Floridian Currently, many of the buildings at this resort are getting refurbishments. Lots of work is being done Some of the rooms are being updated with new furniture and color schemes. We’ve already seen many of these updated rooms open up to guests. Grand Floridian Resort DVC Studio Lots of the DVC rooms have been updated already with a Mary Poppins Returns theme. Enhanced 2-Bedroom Villa Also, the lobby of the hotel is undergoing a refurbishment. Construction walls inside the lobby of the Grand Floridian Furthermore, there are still parts of this resort that haven’t reopened since 2020. 1900 Park Fare previously offered buffet dining for breakfast and dinner — with characters — but it’s STILL closed. 1900 Park Fare The main point is that you will definitely be noticing all of the scaffolding, construction, and noises while you’re there. 3. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort In case you haven’t had enough construction news, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is also undergoing a major overhaul. Disney is currently in the process of expanding this resort to include more Disney Vacation Club villas, which will bring new recreation and dining options. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort We’ve been following progress on the construction since the project began. We’ve seen a large portion of the building going up in the past few months. This is what the construction site looked like in July 2023. At the time, we noticed a lot more equipment on the site. New building construction Well, we visited recently again and noticed that the building is being extended. It looks like it’s really coming together now! The new towers! A lot of the work being done now seems to be focused on individual parts of the building — in this case, it looks like they’re working on the rooms. Coming Soon! We’ve been seeing a lot of cranes on site, too, while the crews work on the DVC villas. Concept art we’ve seen previously suggest that the new structure will include a variety of villa sizes, including 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom villas. Crew at Work It does look like more pieces of the wall are going up, too. More work to be done However, it’s not scheduled to finish until late 2024, so that’s a long time to deal with the construction! 4. Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground Disney Vacation Club has announced its plan to redesign the cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. The proposal calls for more than 350 refreshed cabins to replace the existing cabins at the resort. Although the new cabins will be part of the Disney Vacation Club resort lineup, the proposed cabins will be open for reservations to all guests, including those who are not Disney Vacation Club Members. Fort Wilderness Cabin Concept Art ©Disney So far, the concept art shows modern cabins “inspired by the resort’s idyllic setting, while also paying homage to the resort’s unique culture and heritage through the magic of Disney storytelling,” per Disney. The cabins will sleep up to six adults and feature a bedroom, bathroom, living room, full kitchen, and private patio. A select number of cabins will be dog-friendly. As part of Disney’s Environmental Sustainability initiative, Disney stated that “the proposed cabins will be built with an eye toward the environment, utilizing the footprint of the existing cabins and taking advantage of more energy-efficient features.” Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground There will also be an updated pool and walking trail enhancements. And a new dining experience has already debuted at Trail’s End Restaurant, with Crockett’s Tavern being refurbished, as well. Currently, Disney expects the new Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort to open in 2024. 5. All-Star Resorts Lastly, the collection of All-Star Resorts are Disney’s “budget” hotels. They could be a great option for you if you’re on the lookout to stay on property at a budget price tag. Keep in mind that you will be sacrificing some conveniences to stay here. First, you’re not going to be having a gourmet dining experience here as the food court is your only option and it’s nothing fancy. All-Star Resorts You’ll also be looking at smaller rooms, fewer amenities, and a more crowded resort. These resorts are popular with big groups — so they can sometimes feel loud and very busy. Crowds Also, the only transportation options here are Disney buses, which can be inconvenient on their own. So across Disney World’s Resort Hotels, there are quite a few things to look out for when planning your vacation! A lot of construction is going on in 2024 that can have a big impact on your stay. Watch out for these inconveniences while you figure out what resort works best for you and your family. Everything NEW Coming to Disney World 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! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Will you be visiting Disney World when the renovations and construction are complete? Let us know in the comments! The post Why You’ll Regret Staying At These Disney World Hotels in 2024 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article
  2. EPCOT is in the homestretch of a years-long transformation, and we’ve seen some major progress over the past few months. EPCOT Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana will open officially this month, Figment is meeting guests at his home in the Imagination Pavilion — and that doesn’t even scratch the surface of updates we’ve gotten over the past few years. Now, Disney has rolled out new costumes for some of its Cast Members in part of the park — come take a look! On Sunday, October 1st, Cast Members in the World Celebration neighborhood of the park were sporting new outfits in a few shops. The new costumes are gray with a geometric pattern on the left side that resembles Spaceship Earth — the iconic emblem of World Celebration. New costumes! There are three color patterns that Cast Members could choose from — green, purple, and blue! We spotted these new outfits in Creations Shop, Connections Cafe, Pin Traders, and a few other locations across the neighborhood. Green, purple, and blue Not only is October 1st the 41st birthday of EPCOT, but it’s also the two-year anniversary of World Celebration’s debut. In 2021, along with World Nature and World Discovery, World Celebration arrived in EPCOT, forming what was formerly known as Future World. It is currently a work in progress, but Disney shared that the neighborhood with reach completion in December 2023! ©Disney We’ll keep an eye out for any more updates on EPCOT’s transformation, so stay tuned to DFB for more! I Was Today Years Old When I Realized EPCOT Is Color-Coded Want MORE Details About EPCOT’s MASSIVE Transformation? NEW Festival Areas, Gardens, a Meet-and-Greet Area, and More Are Coming to EPCOT Learn All About Journey of Water -- Inspired by Moana Has the Mary Poppins Project at Disney World Been Canceled? What’s Been CUT From the EPCOT Transformation? SNEAK PEEK at the NEW Fireworks Show Coming to EPCOT Click HERE for All the News and Details about EPCOT’s Transformation! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest EPCOT transformation news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What has been your favorite part of EPCOT’s transformation? Let us know in the comments below! The post FIRST LOOK at NEW Cast Member Costumes in EPCOT first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article
  3. Get ready for the answers for the 13 Chilling Things at Disneyland Resort to be uncovered before your very eyes! View the full article
  4. Halloween is in full swing in the Disney parks. Halloween in Magic Kingdom Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is happening over at Disney World and Oogie Boogie Bash over in Disneyland. If you’re at home though, you can join in on the Halloween fun by checking out some of the merchandise online. If you’ve been waiting for this one popular souvenir to come back in stock, we’ve got good news! Listen up — shopDisney has just announced that the Mickey Mouse Light-Up Pumpkins (which have consistently sold out online nearly immediately) will be back in stock on October 4th! These pumpkins come in two different sizes, and BOTH have consistently sold out multiple times. We don’t have a time for when these will drop, but like other Disney collections, they could drop as early as 12AM PST (3AM EST). If you’re really hoping to grab one of these, we suggest keeping a VERY close eye on shopDisney — we’ll be sure to let you know if we hear of a specific drop time! Large Mickey Mouse Light-Up Pumpkin Looking for more recent Halloween news? Look no further. More Halloween News! Get Ready! The Most Popular Disney Halloween Souvenir Will Drop Online Again SOON!Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Has Officially SOLD OUT in Disney WorldWhy You Need to Be Extra Careful if You’re Booking a Disney World Trip Right NowYou Can Score HALF OFF Disney Halloween Shirts at Old Navy!Trust Us — You’ll Want To See Disney’s NEW ‘Coco’ Souvenir! Stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news! These are ALL the 2023 Fall and Halloween snacks that will be 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! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Which pumpkin are you hoping to get? Tell us in the comments! The post Get Ready! The Most Popular Disney Halloween Souvenir Will Drop Online Again SOON! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article
  5. Inflation has been affecting many industries over the past few years, forcing consumers to pay more for the things they need. We’re seeing inflation all over the place! Not only does this affect things like the price of your Disney World trip or the food you’ll eat in the parks, but it also affects you very much outside of the Disney World bubble. If you’re a Costco member, beware that the price of your membership may be changing soon. Costco’s CFO, Richard Galanti, confirmed during the company’s Q4 earnings call that “an increase in membership prices was inevitable” after being asked if the company could go another year without a hike thanks to inflation-related concerns, according to Today. ©Costco The CFO went on to say, “We can’t really tell you if it’s in our plans or not. We’ll let you know when we know. We feel good, needless to say, about all the attributes of member loyalty and member growth.” The last time the company increased its prices was back in 2017. ©Shutterstock Currently, a Gold Membership costs $60 a year, while the Executive Membership (which includes 2% reward back on qualifying purchases) is $120 annually. Those prices are each $10 more than what the memberships cost in 2017. Costco also began cracking down on the sharing of cards earlier this summer — now shoppers have to show the back of their cards, which shows their photo, to an employee before checking out, per Today. ©Shutterstock At this time, there’s no update on when this price increase could take effect, so we’ll be sure to keep you updated on this change. Stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest updates! Here’s why Disney food unfortunately CAN’T be cheap 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! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW How do you feel about this eventual increase? Tell us in the comments! The post Costco Announces It Will Raise Its Membership Prices first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article
  6. Gideon’s Bakehouse in Disney Springs is in its ELEMENT during the entire month of October. For one thing, it’s Halloween season, and Halloween and Gideon’s Bakehouse go together like milk and cookies. But October is also the official birthday month of Gideon’s Bakehouse. Happy birthday, Gideon’s! Gideon’s Bakehouse So, what can we all do to celebrate October in Disney Springs this month? Well, the fall menu has ARRIVED at Gideon’s Bakehouse, and we’re SUPER excited to see some returning favorites back this year. Behold: the 2023 October Gideon’s lineup! Serious Gideon’s Bakehouse fans may recognize some of these menu items — see anything that looks familiar? The Frankenstein cookie is BACK! As a reminder, this amazing creation consists of various chocolates, Double Stuff Oreos, and M&M’s. This is a fan favorite for a reason, people. Do yourself a favor and give it a try. Frankenstein Cookie ⁣⁣⁣⁣That’s not all, though! The Bride of Frankenstein cookie is returning, too. This version is almost the same as the other Frankenstein cookie, but this one features white chocolate, Golden Oreos, and M&M’s! ⁣⁣Which one would you choose? YUM! ⁣Additionally, the French Toast Cold Brew is back for both October AND November! This one is described as the perfect mix of coffee and French toast breakfast wrapped in one! When we tried it in 2022, we thought it had a great flavor that wasn’t overly sweet. French Toast Cold Brew ⁣We’re SO happy to see these three menu items returning to Disney Springs. Now, the hardest part will be deciding which cookie we try first. Decisions, decisions! In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more. See our original review of the Frankenstein Cookie 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! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What’s your favorite Gideon’s cookie? Let us know in the comments! The post One of the Most POPULAR Limited Edition Cookies Is BACK at Gideon’s Bakehouse in Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article
  7. Planning your next vacation? If so, we’ve got a warning! Orlando International Airport We like to warn our readers about potential price increases when they’re traveling to Disney World. You probably know that hotels tend to get a little pricier each year, and that food prices increase frequently. But now, we’re here to issue a warning to those people leaving FROM Orlando! There’s an incoming price increase at the Orlando Airport. Over a year ago, the Orlando International Airport (MCO) announced price increases for its parking garages. Starting on October 1st, 2022, Garage C increased its rates to $19 per day. But at the time that announcement was made, MCO also warned travelers of price increases coming in 2023. Orlando International Airport Starting October 1st, 2023, parking rates for Garages A, B, and C will be $21 per day. Valet parking will increase to $27 per day, and lot parking will be $12 per day. Orlando International Airport If you’re planning on flying out of MCO soon, you may need to budget a little extra for your travels. The good news is that there are currently a few new ways to save on your flight, so make sure to check out the latest deals available! Orlando International Airport can get very busy We’ll keep you in the loop with any more news from the Orlando International Airport, so stay tuned to DFB. We’ve got the latest updates! One Airline is Offering Unlimited Flights for $299 — Click Here! Travel Updates, Tips, and Tricks Complete Guide to Booking the CHEAPEST Flight to Disney World What to Do if Your Flight to Disney World Is Canceled Our Best Tips For Flying Through the Orlando International Airport Step-by-Step Guide: How to Get to Disney World From the Orlando Airport You’re SLEEPING on These Packing Hacks Air Travel Tips That’ll Change Your Life 8 Catastrophic Travel Mistakes and How to Solve Them The Airline with the MOST Flight Delays and Cancellations This Small Change Will Save You From Lost Luggage The Best Disney Luggage for 2023 21 Things a Former Flight Attendant Needs You To Know 7 Highest-Rated Travel Items on Amazon Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click Here to Subscribe Are you flying out of Orlando soon? Tell us in the comments! The post REMINDER: Parking Prices Are Increasing at the Orlando International Airport first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article
  8. There are a LOT of ways to get to Disney Springs, but one of the most efficient involves driving yourself. Sure, you can take a Disney bus or boat, but you might end up waiting a while for that transportation to show up. Or, if you’re staying at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort, you can walk to Disney Springs. But for those of you who prefer to park at Disney Springs, we’ve got an important update to share on the parking situation in Disney Springs. Disney Springs Recently, we shared an announcement that Disney Springs had plans to change its parking rules. So, if you’re planning to visit Disney Springs, you may need to hear this important parking news. Starting now, the Orange and Lime parking garages and Watermelon and Mango parking lots at Disney Springs will open at 9AM. Disney Springs usually opens right at 10AM, so this change allows guests to park in the garages and at the two outdoor lots before most stores officially open. Disney Springs Lime Garage If you’re planning to visit the World of Disney store first thing in the morning, you might want to park inside the Lime Garage. Meanwhile, the Orange Garage is over on the other side of Disney Springs by the AMC movie theater. Avoid that long line if you can! Additionally, the secondary access from the Orange Garage is now open. This will give guests an extra way to navigate Disney Springs! The secondary access at the Orange Garage leads to the shopping area by Splitsville and Everglazed (known as the West Side walkway). Security checks will remain in place here. See the Orange Garage back there? These new parking hours may help you out if you plan to visit Disney Springs first thing in the morning. In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more. I Was a Disney World Cast Member, and I’m Letting You in on a Parking SECRET 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! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Where’s your favorite spot to park in Disney Springs? Let us know in the comments! The post REMINDER: A NEW Parking Rule Starts NOW in Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article
  9. Target Circle Week is happening now through October 7th! Do you have your wishlist set? Are you ready to take advantage of some SWEET deals? Happy Circle Week! We’ve put together a list of some of the BEST Disney deals available during Target Circle Week. OK, let’s see what the best Disney deals are during this special savings event. Away we go! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Target Circle Week has some great deals, including savings on Disney toys, books, and clothing: Save 20% on Books and Movies with Target Circle Save $25 when you spend $100 or more on Toys with Target Circle Save $10 when you spend $50 or more on Toys with Target Circle Save 30% on Kids, Toddler, Baby Sweatshirts & Sweatpants with Target Circle Save 30% on Halloween Costumes & Accessories And more! But let’s take a look at some of the BEST savings. Save 30% off Disney’s The Little Mermaid Ariel Light Up Halloween Costume! ©Target Target is offering some GREAT deals on Halloween costumes right now! This Ariel costume is extra special because it lights UP. View on Target Score 30% off this Kids’ Disney Frozen 2 Elsa Deluxe Light-Up Halloween Costume! ©Target Go into the unknown — or at least into your neighborhood — and trick-or-treat in style with this light-up Elsa Halloween costume! This would be perfect for a visit to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, too. View on Target Save $70 on a Pair of Beats Headphones! ©Target Need a new pair of headphones before your next flight to Disney World? Take advantage of a BIG deal during Target Circle Week! You can save $70 on the Beats Solo³ Bluetooth Wireless On-Ear Headphones now. View on Target Save BIG on the LEGO Disney Celebration Train Toy ©Target As part of Target Circle Week, you can get a $10 Target gift card when you spend $50 on select LEGO sets, like this Mickey train set! View on Target Check out this epic LEGO Marvel Iron Man Armory Avengers set! ©Target Don’t worry, LEGO fans! We found even MORE LEGO sets on sale! This Iron Man set is the ultimate deal for Marvel fanatics. View on Target Save $25 off this Huffy Disney Minnie Mouse 12″ Kids’ Bike ©Target Bikes can get pretty expensive these days, so now’s the perfect time to save some money on a new Disney-themed bike! View on Target Score a sweet deal on this Disney Princess Adventure Kit! ©Target Ready for an adventure? This set is perfect for a sleepover under the stars! (Or in your living room…) View on Target Get a DELUXE Disney Avatar Banshee on SALE! ©Target Say WHAT?! You can buy a remote-controlled BANSHEE at Target? This is a need. View on Target Save $10 on this Star Wars Young Jedi Adventures Tenoo Jedi Temple Playset! ©Target You can save $10 when you spend $50 or more on toys, like this Young Jedi Adventures set from Target! View on Target Save $25 when you spend $100 on this Melissa & Doug Disney Snacks & Popcorn Wooden Pretend Play Food Counter ©Target When you spend $100 on toys, you can save $25 during Circle Week! What better time to buy this ADORABLE Disney snack stand? View on Target In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney deals, so stay tuned for more. Shop MORE Disney Deals on Our Amazon Storefront!The post The 10 BEST Disney Deals from Target Circle Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article
  10. Another week, another round of changes at Disney World restaurants. Loaded Street Corn Dog While we were busy trying some corn dogs at Disney Springs (and one of them BLEW OUR MIND), eating a new fall treat at Karamel Kuche in EPCOT (like we even need an excuse to go there!), and making sure you have EVERYTHING you need to plan that Halloween snacking at Disney World, we were also keeping an eye on Disney World menus. Yep, there are menu updates this week you need to know about. Magic Kingdom Friar’s Nook You can no longer get a PB&J Uncrustable at Friar’s Nook. Friar’s Nook That’s the only change here, though. Breakfast Has CHANGED at Friar’s Nook in Magic Kingdom – We LOVE This Upgrade! EPCOT The Land Cart There are some small changes at the Land Cart: ADDED: Pickle-in-a-Pouch for $2.50 REMOVED: Frozen Coca Cola Slushy The Land Cart REMOVED: Frozen Fanta Blue Raspberry Slushy Ranking EVERY Fast Food Restaurant in EPCOT Disney’s Hollywood Studios Rosie’s All-American Cafe There have been some beverages changes at Rosie’s. The following beverages have been removed from the menu: smartwater, Simply Orange, Milk, Twinings Hot Tea, and Lowfat Milk. Rosie’s All-American Cafe Those are the only updates. PSA: This $5 Hollywood Studios Treat Is Still One of the Best Disney’s Animal Kingdom Tiffins The Specialty Cocktail Snow Leopard Salvation has increased in price from $15.50 to $16.50. Snow Leopard Salvation That’s the only change here. Tiffins in Disney’s Animal Kingdom — Way Too Pricey or Worth Every Penny? Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge The Mara There’s a new treat on The Mara menu: Chocolate Antelope Horn. Chocolate Antelope Horn It’s a chocolate torsade topped with cardamom pearl sugar for $5.79. One Disney World Hotel Stepped UP its Dessert Game with a NEW Cake Disney’s Contemporary Resort California Grill The prix fixe menu at California Grill has changed. Under Chef’s Journey, Alaskan Halibut is now just Halibut — romanesco, creamy red quinoa, squash-yogurt puree, charred onion butter, and citrus agrodolce. Alaskan Halibut That’s the only update we have here. The 2 BEST Things on the Menu at California Grill in Disney World Disney’s Old Key West Resort Good’s Food To Go Breakfast has changed at Good’s Food To Go, starting with Sides: Oatmeal changed from $3.49 to $3.99 Grits changed from $3.29 to $3.79 That Cold Brew will also now cost more: Joffrey’s French Roast Cold Brew changed from $4.29 to $4.49 Joffrey’s Shakin’ Jamaican Cold Brew changed from $4.29 to $4.99 Good’s Food To Go Beverages were also updated: Assorted Fountain Beverages changed from $4.29 to $4.49 Simply Orange changed from $4.99 to $5.29 Lowfat Milk changed from $1.99 to $2.29 Whole Milk changed from $1.99 to $2.29 Small Chocolate Milk changed from $1.99 to $2.29 Twinings Hot Tea changed from $3.49 to $3.79 Hot Cocoa changed from $3.49 to $3.79 Cappuccino changed from $4.29 to $4.49 Latte changed from $4.29 to $4.49 Good’s Food To Go The lunch and dinner menu also saw changes. Here’s how Hot Entrees was updated: 1/3 lb Angus Bacon Cheeseburger changed from $12.49 to $13.49 Chicken Strips changed from $10.69 to $10.99 All-Beef Hot Dog changed from $9.29 to $9.79 Sandwiches are now pricier: Flagler Chicken Wrap changed from $10.49 to $10.79 Sunset Vegetable Wrap changed from $10.49 to $10.79 The Power Salad changed from $12.79 to $13.29. The same beverages changes for breakfast also apply to lunch and dinner. Alcoholic beverages changed like this: Strawberry Daiquiri changed from $13.50 to $14 Piña Colada changed from $13.50 to $14 Mimosa changed from $14.50 to $15 Don’t Let This Disney World Cupcake Deceive You Gurgling Suitcase The Gurgling Suitcase also saw price increases, including Appetizers and Entrees: Deep-fried Pickle Chips changed from $8 to $10 Bacon Cheeseburger changed from $21 to $23 Miss Vickie’s Veggie Burger changed from $21 to $23 The Non-Alcoholic Specialty Cocktails menu changed: Pomegranate Lemonade changed from $5.49 to $5.99 Watermelon Lemonade changed from $5.49 to $5.99 Agave Garden changed from $11 to $12 Pink London Spritzer changed from $11 to $12 Gurgling Suitcase Specialty Drinks were updated: Turtle Krawl changed from $14.50 to $15 Olivia’s Strawberry Lemonade changed from $16.50 to $17 Key West Loaded Bloody Mary changed from $17.50 to $18 Key West Freeze changed from $14.50 to $15 Slappy Joe’s Bourbon Berry Lemonade changed from $15.50 to $16 Here’s how Cocktails changed: Blood Orange Margarita changed from $15.50 to $16 Spicy Poblano Margarita changed from $16.50 to $17 Paloma changed from $15.50 to $16 Rum Swizzle changed from $14.50 to $15 Raspberry Mojito changed from $14.50 to $15 Bacardi Mojito changed from $14.50 to $15 REMOVED: Antioxidant Lemonade Walk the Plank changed from $16.50 to $17 Smoked Turkey changed from $16.50 to $17 REMOVED: Negroni Guava and Mango changed from $15.50 to $16 REMOVED: Moscow Mule Kentucky Mule changed from $16.50 to $17 Bahama Mama changed from $14.50 to $15 Piña CoLava changed from $15.50 to $16 Ultimate Long Island Iced Tea changed from $16.50 to $17 Captain’s Mai Tai changed from $14.50 to $15 Gurgling Suitcase Turtle Krawl REMOVED: Magical Star Cocktail Chocolate Martini changed from $15.50 to $16 Red Sangria changed from $12 to $13 White Sangria changed from $12 to $13 Piña Colada changed from $16 to $17 REMOVED: Golden Haze Margarita ADDED: Indigo Hibiscus — Empress 1908 gin, Bois blue curacao liqueur, Minute Maid premium lemonade, orgeat (almond), lemon, and hibiscus grenadine for $16 ADDED: Pineapple Mule — Uncle Nearest 1884 small batch whiskey, Hella Cocktail Co. ginger bitters, pineapple juice, ginger beer, and mint for $17 ADDED: Cold Brew Martini — SelvaRey chocolate rum, Tia Maria liqueur, and Joffrey’s coffee cold brew for $16 Did This Disney World Hotel Snack Just Change for the BETTER? Turtle Shack Turtle Shack’s lunch menu has changed. Here’s what happened under Entrees: Cheese Pizza changed from $8.79 to $9.79 Pepperoni Pizza changed from $9.29 to $10.29 Power Salad changed from $12.79 to $13.29 Caesar Salad with Chicken changed from $11.49 to $11.99 Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich changed from $11.79 to $11.99 The Snacks menu also saw price changes: Assorted Cookies changed from $3.49 to $3.99 Nestlé Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Bar changed from $5.99 to $6.29 Nestlé Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Sandwich changed from $5.99 to $6.29 Turtle Shack We also saw the same beverages changes from above. In addition to that, the Beer menu saw changes: Bud Light Lager Draft changed from $8 to $8.75 Budweiser Lager changed from $8.50 to $9.25 Corona Extra Lager changed from $9.25 to $10.50 Miller Lite Lager changed from $8.50 to $9.25 Yuengling Traditional Lager changed from $9 to $9.75 Blue Moon Belgium Wheat Ale changed from $9 to $9.75 Key West Sunset Ale Draft changed from $9.75 to $10.50 Angry Orchard Crisp Apple Hard Cider changed from $9.75 to $10.50 The Complete Guide to Eating at Disney’s Old Key West Resort Olivia’s Cafe Olivia’s dinner menu saw the Bacon Cheeseburger increase in price from $21 to $23. Olivia’s Cafe That’s the only update here. SPAM Biscuits and Banana Bread Pudding — See What Brunch is Like at Olivia’s Cafe in Disney World Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter Mardi Grogs Non-alcoholic beverages have changed at Mardi Grogs: Minute Maid Premium Raspberry Lemonade changed from $5.49 to $5.99 Lava Smoothie changed from $5.99 to $6.29 Here’s how Featured Cocktails have changed: Front Porch Freeze changed from $19.50 to $20 Nola Cola changed from $19.50 to $20 All That Jazz changed from $20.50 to $21 Mardi Grogs Here’s how the Rocks menu has changed: Sunshine Margarita changed from $16.50 to $17 REMOVED: Bourbon Breeze ADDED: Pineapple Mule — Uncle Nearest 1884 small batch whiskey, Hella Cocktail Co. ginger bitters, pineapple juice, ginger beer, and mint for $17 We’ve Tried Every Frozen Drink at Disney World and These Are Our Favorites! Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — Riverside Muddy Rivers The Pretzel with Cheese Sauce changed from $7.49 to $7.79. Muddy Rivers Pool Bar Also, the Minute Maid Premium Lemonade changed from $4.99 to $5.49 and the Minute Maid Premium Strawberry Lemonade changed from $5.49 to $5.99. Disney Food Blog Review: Frosé at Muddy Rivers Pool Bar in Disney World’s Port Orleans Resort, Riverside River Roost Believe it or not, there’s a price decrease at River Roost: French 75 changed from $15.50 to $15. River Roost That’s the only change we’ve spotted here. You’d Have NO Idea This New Disney World Snack Is Plant-Based Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort Artist’s Palette Breakfast saw some changes at Artist’s Palette. Under Plant-Based, the Steel-cut Oatmeal changed from $4.99 to $5.49. Under Sides, the Potato Barrels changed from $4.49 to $4.99. Here’s what changed with Snacks: Nestlé Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Sandwich changed from $5.99 to $6.29 Mixed Green Side Salad changed from $5.29 to $5.79 Beverages saw a LOT of changes: Monster Energy Zero Ultra changed from $5.29 to $5.49 Simply Smoothie Pineapple Mango changed from $4.99 to $5.29 Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Bottle changed from $4.69 to $4.99 Sprite Bottle changed from $4.69 to $4.99 Gold Peak Sweet Iced Tea Bottle changed from $4.49 to $4.99 POWERADE Fruit Punch changed from $4.69 to $4.99 vitaminwater power-c dragonfruit changed from $4.69 to $4.99 Minute Maid Apple Juice changed from $3.59 to $4.29 The Artist’s Palette Twinings Hot Tea changed from $3.49 to $3.79 Chocolate-Almond Milk changed from $2.99 to $3.29 Soy Milk changed from $2.99 to $3.29 Small Minute Maid Apple Juice changed from $1.99 to $2.29 Espresso changed from $3.49 to $3.79 Beverages with alcohol also changed: Cutwater Gin & Tonic changed from $11 to $11.50 Truly Wild Berry Hard Seltzer changed from $9.50 to $10.75 Beer and Hard Cider changed like this: Stella Artois Lager changed from $10.75 to $12.25 Yuengling Lager changed from $9 to $9.75 Miller Lite Lager changed from $8.50 to $9.25 Here’s how Wine By the Glass was updated: Copa di Vino Pinot Grigio changed from $10 to $11 Stella Rosa Pink changed from $13 to $14 This Is Why We’re Telling You to LEAVE the Disney World Parks Backstretch Pool Bar The New York-style Hot Dog changed from $9.49 to $9.99. Backstretch Pool Bar Also, the Nestlé Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Bar changed from $5.99 to $6.29. Don’t Let This Ice Cream FOOL You in Disney World Disney Springs The BOATHOUSE The Launch Menu changed: Tortilla Chips changed from $9.75 to $11 REMOVED: Hummus ADDED: Whipped Edamame — Thai basil, chili crisp, sesame rice cracker, and vegetables for $14 The BOATHOUSE Here’s how Gibson’s Heritage Steaks changed: REMOVED: Porterhouse ADDED: T-Bone for $64 I Spent $80 on Lunch at The Boathouse in Disney Springs. Was It Worth It? Wine Bar George The lunch menu got a bit of a update at Wine Bar George for entrees available Monday-Friday from noon to 3PM: ADDED: Chicken Salad Sandwich — roasted tomatoes, brioche, house-made chips for $18 ADDED: BLT + C — bacon, lettuce, tomato, brioche, four-cheese sauce, house-made chips for $17 ADDED: Steak Frites — Skirt steak, caramelized onion aioli, fries for $22 Wine Bar George Here’s how Dinner Small Plates has changed: REMOVED: Snapper Crudo ADDED: Dicuru Burrata — village grown tomatoes, belle glade corn, Olde Hearth sourdough bread for $19 ADDED: Saganaki on Fire — vlahotiri, metaxa, crostini for $17 An Artisanal Cheese Board has also been added to Boards. It has four artisanal cheeses and condiments for $29. Can Confirm, This Disney World Restaurant STILL Lives Up to the Hype Don’t let Disney World menu updates surprise you. You can keep an eye on restaurant menus on the Disney World website or My Disney Experience app. We’ll also keep you updated on changes, so stay tuned to DFB for more. Disney dining changes are a lot to keep up with! We’ve done all the research for you in writing our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! We’ve got details on EVERY dining location at Walt Disney World inside our eBook – and it’s easy to download to your tablet or smartphone to take with you on your next trip. Use our discount code for DFB readers – WDW2023 – for 25% off! Magic Kingdom Has 43 Restaurants, But You Only Need To Know About 4 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! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What Disney World menu change surprised you the most recently? Let us know in the comments! The post 16 Disney World Restaurants CHANGED This Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article
  11. For some Disney World guests, a Disney resort is an ESSENTIAL part of the overall vacation experience. But for others? Staying DIRECTLY with Disney isn’t all that important. Actually, they might even find themselves BETTER OFF without a reservation on Disney World property. Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom Whaaa? REALLY? YES, really! And today, we’re gonna tell ya WHY that is. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Before we get started, I feel like it’s important for YOU to know all your Disney resort options, whether you go the Disney World hotel route or not. SO if you wanna study up on EVERY SINGLE Disney World resort to find out if one really IS a perfect fit for you and your family, go ahead and grab our hotel guide at the link right here! Now, let’s get to the reasons you might want to consider staying somewhere else! Lost Amenities Since the historic 2020 closures, many things around the Disney scene have gone back to normal. Character dining is a thing again, we’ve got our nighttime spectaculars back, there’s no more plexiglass on the ride vehicles… (I know — it’s WILD to think back on now.) But even with all those returning trip features, many things that disappeared post-COVID closures have YET to return to the Disney World scene — and some of the BIGGEST losses we’re still missing now were once part of the whole Disney World hotel package. Disney’s Pop Century Resort A big example of this? Package Delivery. Once upon a time, you could purchase items around the Disney World parks and get them sent back to your hotel room (so you didn’t have to worry about carrying around that giant Stitch plushie all day long). But package delivery STILL hasn’t returned, meaning you’ve gotta REALLY think about those big purchases you make during the day. For us, we like to hold off on those GIANT purchases until the end of the day (so we can tote them back to the hotel RIGHT after we leave the park). Or if we’re staying in a resort within walking distance to our hotel room (like how the monorail resorts are SUPER close to Magic Kingdom, and the Skyliner resorts can get you to EPCOT/Hollywood Studios lickity-split), then we’ll just travel back to our room and drop off bigger purchases before moving on with the rest of our park day. There are also lockers you can rent at each park, in front of the park gates, that’ll cost ya $12-$14 for the entire day (if you’d rather just stow away your bigger items and purchases THERE), but keep in mind that lockers are non-transferable. So if you plan on park hopping, you will have to gather your belongings and pay for a whole other locker when you get to the next park (OR you’ll have to backtrack to the park you purchased the locker at to collect your belongings before the end of the day. And THAT can be a nuisance and a half). Lockers in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Room service has also been MIA since the 2020 closures (except for over at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa — where room service is still going strong). But if you wanna enjoy a relaxing lunch or dinner INSIDE your hotel room, you’re gonna have to get a quick service meal to-go OR you’re gonna have to order yourself some grub from a food delivery service — like DoorDash — to get food to you from OUTSIDE the Disney bubble. (Just keep in mind that the fast food you get delivered will still need to be picked up at Bell Services at your resort, since it will NOT be dropped off directly at your hotel door.) McDonald’s Before the closures, those staying at a Disney World resort ALSO had the added benefit of Extra Magic Hours. And although this perk didn’t exactly go away, it looks DIFFERENT than what it USED to be. Once upon a time, any guest staying at a Disney-owned resort — whether it be value, moderate, or deluxe — could either enter into select parks on select mornings one hour earlier, OR stay in select parks on select nights one hour after the parks closed. But post-2020 closures, this perk SPLIT UP into TWO different Disney resort benefits. Now, you have Early Theme Park Entry AND Extended Evening Hours. What’s the difference? First: Early Theme Park Entry continues to be available for ALL resort guests, BUT it’s now limited to only 30 minutes before the parks open instead of a full hour. HOWEVER, this benefit IS available for every park on EVERY DAY (which is a nice switch-up from before). Early Entry And Second: Extended Evening Hours continue to be available on select nights at select parks, BUT you’ll only get this benefit IF you’re staying at a DELUXE resort. So if you’re planning on staying at a value or moderate hotel, you’ll ONLY have early theme park entry at your disposal. For deluxe resort guests, this perk really DOES help you experience the parks with little to no crowds (while also letting you hang out TWO HOURS after the parks close down for the day — a nice added bonus there). And THEN there’s the missing Disney’s Magical Express — which USED to take guests traveling in from the Orlando International Airport (MCO) straight-away to your Disney World resort… and then back again at the end of your trip. For FREE. Though the Magical Express’ retirement wasn’t COVID-related, it did lead to two NEW premium shuttle options — Mears Connect and The Sunshine Flyer — which did essentially the same thing that Disney’s Magical Express did… only at a price. HOWEVER, Mears Connect and the Sunshine Flyer merged their services into ONE combined service starting on August 1st. The new service has been renamed as Mears Connect Driven by Sunshine — and, yes, this modge-podge express will STILL cost money to use. Sunshine Flyer bus Previously, we’ve seen Mears Connect/Sunshine Flyer cost about $40 per standard adult round trip. And, though it wouldn’t SHOCK us to see prices for this shuttle service bump up by a few dollars — since it’ll be offering NEW features like 24/7 service and even private trip selections too — it seems like the sales that’d been going on for both Mears AND Sunshine Flyer will still be taking place (for the time being) AFTER the merger — meaning you could potentially get a round trip for around $30 instead IF you’re planning on traveling super soon. OR if you don’t wanna take a shuttle at all, you can always download a rideshare app — like Uber or Lyft — to come pick you up from the airport instead. Just keep in mind that during peak driving times (like during lunch and rush hour), the prices for your ride could TRIPLE in cost. But having BOTH apps downloaded gives YOU the opportunity to do some price comparisons and figure out which ride will give you the cheapest one-way trip at that given time. Rideshare is always an option. If you’d rather have a little more control over how you get to the parks, you could always pick up a car from one of the SEVERAL car rental services available at MCO. This’ll definitely be your PRICIEST option, but it WILL allow you to travel to and from the parks whenever you want to instead of having to rely on Disney’s free resort shuttle services ONLY (which tend to get SUPER packed out at the beginning of the day/end of the night). Just make sure you reserve a rental car ahead of your trip instead of waiting until the day of. Rental cars tend to book up quickly — especially during prime travel seasons — and you might be forced to rent a vehicle that’s even MORE expensive (OR you might not have any options period) IF you wait to book your car too late. And — just to REALLY hit you in the feels here — Disney Resorts ALSO got rid of their FREE MAGIC BANDS back in August of 2021. Once upon a time, if you booked a Disney World resort stay, you could pick out FREE standard magic bands for the whole family to have sent to your house before your trip. And, y’all, nothing was QUITE as magical as opening a magic band box and knowing your trip was RIGHT around the corner. ©Disney — Once upon a time, Disney hotel guests used to be able to choose a free MagicBand. But since Disney World added the Magic Mobile option to the My Disney Experience App back in March 2021 — which is basically a digital park ticket on your phone that makes scanning into the park easy and contactless — Disney went ahead and dissolved the free Magic Bands (since Magic Mobile basically did the same thing). That being said, you can still pick up a Magic Band (or a Magic Band+ — which has EXTRA tech features on it that you can use around the parks) from SEVERAL Disney World gift shops. You’re just gonna have to pay the $30+ extra for it. Prices Are TOO HIGH Even Disney’s value resorts have been milking travel funds dry as of late. And a lot of that has to do with just how much Disney resort prices have increased over the past 5 years. Let’s take a look at a couple of different Disney hotel options and compare their prices between 2018 and now. To keep things fair, we’ll compare them around the same time frame (a 5-day trip at the start of June) for a family of 2 adults, 2 kids (with NO discounts included). I’ll start with Disney’s CHEAPEST hotel option first — a standard room over at Disney’s All Star Sports. In 2018, a standard room here would cost ya around $160-$190 per night. Meanwhile, in 2023, a standard room cost around $195-$230 per night. All Star Sports Keep in mind that this is, indeed, Disney’s CHEAPEST hotel option! And while you CAN stay at All-Star Sports for as little as $130 during non-peak season times, that much-cheaper rack rate window is VERY slim. So THESE $200+ prices are the kind of prices you’re gonna come across way more often when booking your trip. Okay, now let’s look at what we’ve often called the CHEAPEST deluxe resort option close to the Magic Kingdom — a standard room over at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. In 2018, a stay here would cost ya around $400-$420 per night. However, in 2023, a stay here cost $540-$550 per night. Wilderness Lodge So what gives? Why are rooms in Disney World costing almost a hundred dollars MORE than they USED to? The easy answer to this can be summed up in one word: “Inflation.” As prices go up everywhere, prices have to go up in Disney, too. But Disney’s price increases have always been a little more complicated than that. Since the early 1980s, Disney’s price increases have always outpaced inflation — and the gap has been widening even MORE since the post 2020 closures. Y’see, the things Disney has to buy to make the parks run are getting more expensive, too — and since Disney is a park that’s always growing and changing, adding new attractions, new hotels, and potentially even new lands into the parks is also gonna cost THEM more (just like how it’s gonna cost YOU more to experience them). Disney’s Beach Club Resort So here’s where things get INTERESTING. For a while there, Disney could REALLY rack up those resort prices post-closures because demand was just SO HIGH. People were desperate to get back to the Disney scene, after all, and just experience SOME semblance of normality. (And THIS was Disney’s chance to make up some of that lost revenue from their four months of closures and VERY limited park capacity.) But that demand has been starting to slow down recently (which we’ve seen first-hand in the parks this summer). I’m not saying Disney’s done any backtracking with their prices now that revenge traveling is finally starting to simmer down, BUT Disney has been offering more and more discounts recently for ALL future guests. We’ve seen room discounts pop up for summer savings, holiday promotions, and even 2024 trips too! And that’s because MANY Disney World resort guests are starting to pick OTHER hotel stays over the Disney ones because they can stretch their $200 a LOT more somewhere else. (Which I’ll talk about in the NEXT point.) If you REALLY do wanna stay in a Disney World resort for your next trip, always, always, ALWAYS check out the special offers, deals, and discounts page on the Disney World website to see what kind of discounts YOU can apply to your upcoming stay. You can also rely on your friendly neighbor Disney travel agent — like our friends over at Small World Vacations — to keep an eye on these kinds of pop up discounts instead (without you having to overly-obsess about keeping up to date on the savings opportunities while also trying to work a 9-5 and keep the kids all healthy and fed. It’s a lot to juggle — I get it). AND what makes this partnership even SWEETER is that Small World Vacations does all this for you for FREE. Click that button below to get started with them! Bonus Benefits ELSEWHERE Alright — so ABOUT that dollar-stretching business I’d mentioned before… Where oh WHERE are Disney World guests staying on their Disney World vacations if they’re NOT staying in a Disney-owned hotel? You don’t have to play a game of Where’s Waldo to find ‘em — these guests are all booking rooms across the Good Neighbor Hotels instead! Good Neighbor Hotels are not Disney-owned, but they do partner with Disney so that they still provide many of the same benefits as you’d find in a Disney World Resort. So why stay at one of these hotels when you could just stay at an authentic Disney World resort instead? Several reasons: A handful of good neighbor hotels offer similar Disney World hotel benefits (like complimentary transportation and Early Theme Park Entry) for a much cheaper price. Some good neighbor hotels have EXTRA benefits that the Disney-owned hotels won’t give ya (like free breakfast and drink vouchers). Most importantly, many good neighbor hotels will give you WAY bigger rooms with more amenities for the cost of what you’d pay for a standard room at one of Disney’s resorts (or, potentially, even less than THAT). Swan and Dolphin Our personal favorite Good Neighbor Hotels are over at the Swan and Dolphin (which is weird to say that these are good neighbors and not straight-up Disney-owned because they’re literally STEPS away from the Epcot park). Even though the LAND that Swan and Dolphin reside on is owned by Disney World, the hotels themselves are part of the Marriott company (Marriott & Westin hotels, to be specific). The reason we love these hotels oh-so-much is because of their ability to give us a DELUXE resort experience at a much more moderate price point. Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin The Swan and Dolphin not only still have the early theme park entry perk, BUT they also have the extended evening hours benefit at their disposal, too! To get over to the parks from these hotels, you can either take a bus to Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, or you can hop on a Friendship Boat to visit EPCOT or Disney’s Hollywood Studios. (OR you can just WALK to EPCOT, if you don’t mind a 15-minute commute by foot.) And may we NEVER forget that Swan and Dolphin has the most hotel DINING options between the two of them. This includes: Bluezoo (an award-winning seafood restaurant by celebrity chef Todd English) The Fountain (with affordable diner-like options — such as cheeseburgers and shakes) Fuel (a grab-and-go station that has a self-serve froyo station… with DOLE WHIP as one of the options, too) Rosa Mexicano (the BRAND NEW elevated fiesta dining experience) Il Mulino New York Trattoria (inspired by the original New York City location which has been voted #1 Italian restaurant for two decades by Zagat). Todd English’s bluezoo Okay. I’ll stop there. But literally, that’s only HALF of the options you’ve got to choose from. My BIG word of warning about Good Neighbor Hotels is that you need to DO YOUR RESEARCH before you book one. The Good Neighbor Hotel website has over 40 different options for you to choose from, and not EVERY option is gonna give you what you’re looking for. Some may not have Early Theme Park Entry, some may have park transportation services that you have to pay for, some may be a little farther out from the parks than you’d like them to be. Whatever the case may be, check the Good Neighbor hotel website and read up on what these different hotel options can offer you BEFORE you dive all-in and pick one JUST because of that cheaper price tag alone. You’re CHEATING On Disney World I’m gonna let you in on something that Disney would rather me NOT tell ya about… There are OTHER theme parks in Orlando BESIDES Disney World. (GASP.) One of Disney’s BIGGEST theme park competitors in the Orlando area is Universal Studios — which is home to two theme parks, one EPIC water park, and a City Walk area (which is basically the smaller version of Disney Springs). There’s a third theme park – Epic Universe – on the way in 2025. Universal Orlando Universal also has a variety of resorts with a variety of different price points. So let’s take a look at ALL the different benefits that come from staying at a Universal Hotel rather than a Disney one: First and foremost, if you’re planning on spending MORE days in Universal rather than at Disney, then staying at one of their resorts will provide you with Early Park Admission and free resort transportation to and from their parks. On TOP of that, the Universal Hotels ALSO have pool hopping privileges. When you book a stay at one of the Disney World resorts, you’re ONLY allowed to use the pools at YOUR resort (unless you’re jumping between Port Orleans French Quarter and Riverside — which is a-okay). But when you book a room at a Universal Hotel — and I mean ANY Universal Hotel — then you can literally pool-hop around the resorts and try out whatever pools you want to instead of being limited to just your resort-specific pool. So, if you wanna set aside a full day to swim during your vacation, then Universal might win ya over. Disney’s Deluxe resort guests might have an extended evening hours benefit, but for guests staying at one of Universal’s PREMIER (aka: deluxe) hotels, you’ll receive COMPLIMENTARY Universal Express Unlimited Passes — which you can use to skip the lines for most of Universal’s popular attractions all day long (And get this — Universal’s premier/deluxe hotels are around the same price as one of Disney World’s moderate hotels. So, y’know, just… keep that in your back pocket, why dontcha.) And — just to sweeten the deal — Universal Studios Hotels STILL have FREE PACKAGE DELIVERY. So you can purchase a souvenir from the park and have it sent back to your hotel without you needing to backtrack aaaalllll the way over to do it yourself. LOTS of pros to consider, my friends! Our friends over at AllEars recently stayed at the Portofino Bay Hotel — Universal’s most luxurious resort — and you can watch a video tour right here. Of course, if you ARE planning on spending more time at Disney World and less at Universal, then some of these Universal hotel benefits won’t help ya out a whole lot. After all, staying with Disney will still give ya LOTS of Disney World benefits too, such as Early park admission, free hotel/theme park parking, free resort transportation, and a RETURNING dining plan option starting back up for those booking a vacation package in 2024, So talk things over with your group and decide WHICH type of resort will give you the MOST benefits for your specific trip — and then go from there! You’re Staying With A BIG Group Traveling to Disney for a family reunion? Or a packed-out bachelorette party? Or maybe you’ve just got a BIG family and you need MORE room so you’re not all on top of each other during the entire vacation? Unfortunately, if you have more than 5 or 6 people in your family, it might be difficult to find budget-friendly accommodations while also staying as a Disney resort guest. With a bigger group, you’ll have to get multiple hotel rooms or pay for a significantly more expensive villa at one of the DVC resorts — and those options will cost ya a pretty penny. SO where do you turn to IF you DON’T wanna drain your vacation funds on a hotel room alone? How about a vacation home? Third party rental services — like Airbnb and Vrbo — often have FULL HOUSES that you can rent for WAY less than you’d spend on a Disney World villa. CHECK OUT VACATION RENTALS HERE These houses also potentially come with Full kitchens, private pools, and multiple bedrooms — and MAYBE even some fun Disney-inspired theming (depending on where you stay). While VRBOs can be EXTREMELY useful for large travel groups, keep in mind that booking a vacation house OFF Disney property means you’ll be sacrificing those Disney resort benefits. (And THAT means no complimentary transportation, early theme park entry, Disney dining within walking distance, etc.) More importantly, READ THE REVIEWS FIRST. Because these airbnbs and vrbos are being rented out by independent parties and not through Disney, you need to know what to expect not only when it comes to quality, but also when it comes to extra renter regulations like cancellation policies, cleaning fees, and additional housekeeping rules. You Can STILL Experience The Resorts Regardless Psst — guess what? You can still EXPERIENCE the best of the Disney World resorts without spending HUNDREDS to stay at them. NO JOKE! Quick example for ya. Let’s say you’re staying at one of the value resorts to save a couple hundred bucks, but you still REALLY wanna see what those monorail resorts have to offer, too. The Monorail By all means, you can have your cake and eat it too! I’ve had some REALLY GREAT DAYS taking the monorail around to Disney’s Grand Floridian, Disney’s Contemporary, and Disney’s Polynesian Village to explore their shops, take part in some of their crafts and activities, make reservations for their restaurants, get a drink from their lounges, and even grab a spot on the Polynesian beach side to watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks… at NO extra cost. (Oh, and DON’T forget to treat yourself to an order of the Ohana Noodles from the Polynesian’s Ohana restaurant OR as a secret menu option from Tambu Lounge.) And if you REALLY wanna show your devotion to all-things Ohana Noodles, you can even grab one of our “Ohana means Noodles” shirts from the DFBstore website. (And when people come up to you and say, “Hey, nice shirt,” then you’ll know who the TRUE Disney World devotees out there are. Bam. Instant friendships unlocked.) Love this t-shirt! ORDER YOUR NOODLES SHIRT HERE Whoops. Got sidetracked with noodles. (Ain’t that just the way?) Aside from the gyms, pools, and getting ahold of those theme park perks, you’re more than welcome to explore the resorts ‘til your heart’s content. HOWEVER keep in mind that you CANNOT PARK at a resort you’re not paying for a room at. You MUST take Disney World transportation to hop around to the different hotels (which — unless you’re on the Skyliner Route or Monorail loop — usually means taking one of the theme park or Disney Springs shuttles to get to a new location.) Construction LOTS of changes have been going on at some of Disney World’s most popular resorts recently. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa is currently updating their rooms to take on a classy Mary Poppins theming. Disney’s Fort Wilderness will be having a lot of work done on it as the Disney Vacation Club starts to take over the area. More than 350 refreshed cabins will replace the existing cabins at the resort and, according to Disney, they’ll now be“inspired by the resort’s idyllic setting, while also paying homage to its unique culture and heritage through the magic of Disney storytelling.” Fort Wilderness Meanwhile, Disney’s BoardWalk Inn is getting ready to open their refreshed guest rooms to the public, while they also continue to work on their NEW table service restaurant — The Cake Bake Shop — set to open in 2024. And Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is in the process of building a WHOLE NEW DVC building — which means more villas, more dining options, and more recreational activities will be offered at this deluxe hotel once the waterfront tower opens later in 2024. Cake Bake Shop coming soon! While it’s understandable that Disney would wanna update their resorts just like they do their parks, these rather massive updates lead to a WHOLE lotta construction. And THAT can really pull you out of the Disney immersion. Not only does construction work mean cranes, mounds of dirt, and big bulky walls that SO don’t mesh with that resort theming you’re paying for, it ALSO means that you’re probably gonna hear a lot of construction work going on in the background too. I’m talking drilling. Hammering. Beeping vehicles as they back it up, back it up, and other various noises that AREN’T supposed to be part of the usual Disney soundtrack we hear playing in the lobby. While Disney doesn’t schedule construction to happen overnight or early in the morning (because they DON’T wanna interrupt your much-needed beauty sleep), construction work like this normally takes place in the middle of the day. So if you’ve got a child with a set nap schedule — OR you’re gonna want to head back to the resort midday to take a nap yourself — just keep in mind that staying at one of THESE four resorts right now MAY not provide you with the best cat nap ever. Construction at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort You can always check a resort’s construction updates on each hotel’s main page via the Disney World website. All construction notices will be listed toward the top of the page in bright, orange letters to let you know what you need to be aware of BEFORE you book a room. While staying at a Disney World Resort may be a KEY element to MANY guests’ overall Disney experience, it doesn’t HAVE to be for EVERYONE. There are other options available out there that could very well help you pull off that dream Orlando vacation you’re after — so make sure to do your research, compare those prices, check out those hotel perks, and keep coming back to the DFB channel for EVEN MORE Disney resort tips and tricks! 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 The post Why People AREN'T Staying at Disney World Hotels first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article
  12. It’s a VERY important time. Know why? Now is the time to stock up on early Christmas presents, Disney vacation essentials, and early birthday gifts. That’s right, it’s Target Circle Week! It’s Target Circle Week! We’ve rounded up some of the BEST Disney deals available during Target Circle Week just for you! But hurry — Circle Week only lasts from October 1st through October 7th. Now, let’s see what kind of Disney deals you can get for under $20! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. There are a few MAJOR Target Circle Week deals happening now, like: Save 20% on Books and Movies with Target Circle Save $25 when you spend $100 or more on Toys with Target Circle Save $10 when you spend $50 or more on Toys with Target Circle Save 30% on Kids, Toddler, Baby Sweatshirts & Sweatpants with Target Circle And more! Let’s see what kind of Disney items are part of the deals! Disney You Can Fly! Game ©Target Let’s kick off the Target Circle Week deals with a game! In this set, choose a Disney character flyer (Dumbo, Buzz Lightyear, Pegasus, or Tinker Bell), then soar through the sky with a foam flyer! The game comes with everything you need to build the ultimate course, too. View on Target Mickey Stow n Go Playset ©Target This Mickey-themed playset comes with its own carry case and includes two vehicles with Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. It’s perfect for little ones! View on Target Disney Princess 5 Minute Princess Stories(Hardcover) ©Target This hardcover book features TONS of your favorite Disney princesses, including Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana, Rapunzel, Merida, and Moana! There are twelve stories in this collection, making it the perfect item for the Disney princess fan in your life. View on Target Marvel Black Panther 3.5″ Flying Figure Helicopter ©Target This Marvel Flying Figure is ready for an adventure! The remote-controlled Black Panther character has a helicopter attachment to keep him soaring high up in the air — this is a must-have for Black Panther fans. View on Target Toddler Girls’ Disney Princess Encanto Nightgown ©Target This Encanto nightgown has a fun, flowy skirt with Encanto flowers, pretty ruffle details along the neck, and, of course, Mirabel! Whether you’ve got a Disney trip coming up or you’re just looking for a new nightgown, this is a great option! View on Target Disney Wooden Toys Character Puzzle ©Target How CUTE is this 25-piece puzzle? It’s got all our favorite Disney characters — from Mickey and Minnie Mouse to Winnie the Pooh! View on Target Toddler Girls’ 2pc Minnie Mouse Halloween Pajama Set ©Target Halloween is right around the corner, so now’s the perfect time to grab a pair of Disney-themed Halloween pajamas! View on Target Disney Encanto Necklace Activity Set ©Target Feeling crafty? With this set, you can create your own jewelry with colorful beads, necklaces, and Encanto character charms. Included are 5 character charms, 150 pony beads, & 5 necklaces. View on Target Toddler Boys’ 4pc Toy Story Pajama Set ©Target This adorable Toy Story pajama set includes 2 long-sleeve tees and 2 PJ pants! View on Target Disney Asha’s Adventure Outfit ©Target Disney’s NEW movie, Wish, is coming soon to theaters! Prepare for the new movie with Asha’s adventure outfit. View on Target Toddler Girls’ Disney Princess Fleece Pullover Sweatshirt ©Target Planning a trip to Disney World this fall/winter? Keep your little one cozy in this Princess sweatshirt — on sale during Circle Week! View on Target Girls’ Disney The Little Mermaid Nightgown ©Target How cute and comfy does this Little Mermaid-inspired nightgown look? It’s perfect for a cozy sleepover! View on Target Funko POP! Disney: Minnie Mouse ©Target Calling all collectors! Now is the time to grab this Minnie Mouse Funko POP! since it’s on sale for Circle Week. View on Target Marvel Spider-Man Electronic Me Reader and 8-Book Library Boxed Set ©Target This Spider-Man toy is both eduational AND entertaining! If you’re looking for a great Marvel-themed Christmas gift, look no further. View on Target Disney Haunted Mansion Call of the Spirits Game ©Target This is the PERFECT time to get ahold of this popular Haunted Mansion game! Not only are we getting ready for the Halloween season, but you can find this game on sale through Circle Week right now. View on Target Disney100 Years of Dynamic Duos Celebration Collection Figure Pack ©Target Did you know that even Disney’s 100th Anniversary items are on sale through Circle Week? This collection of Disney characters features Stitch, Daisy, Dumbo, and more! View on Target Disney Lilo & Stitch Action Figures ©Target Stitch fans — this is the set for YOU! We spy some adorable Stitch figures here, like hula Stitch, Elvis Stitch, and more! View on Target Disney Animators’ Collection Littles Rapunzel Tower Playset ©Target Even though we’re adults, we would still play with this ADORABLE Tanged-themed playset. It comes with a little Maximus horse, Flynn Ryder, Pascal, and Rapunzel! View on Target Disney Frozen 2 Elsa Travel Dress ©Target You can even get costumes on sale through Circle Week, like this Elsa dress from Frozen 2. View on Target Disney Munchlings Gourmet Goodies Mystery Stuffed Animal ©Target Finally, you can add to your Munchlings collection with a new mystery blind box! Now’s the perfect time to stock up since they’re on sale. View on Target In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney deals, so stay tuned for more. Shop MORE Disney Deals on Our Amazon Storefront!The post 20 Disney Items You Can Get for Under for Target Circle Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article
  13. Some Disney World restaurants are just iconic. California Grill Often, these are Disney Signature Dining restaurants, where you’ll be greeted with world class hospitality and a menu filled with gourmet options that will be prepared by award-winning chefs. The theming at these restaurants is often unmatched, too! To reflect this theming, Disney usually implements a dress code that reflects the upscale atmosphere of the restaurant. Sometimes, this can be confusing for visitors, as they’re wondering if they really have to go back to the hotel and change out of their theme park attire before visiting the restaurant. That’s where we come in, so that you can be prepared. Among the Disney Signature Dining locations, there are a few that don’t have a dress code. These are ones located within the theme parks, so they allow you to wear your theme park attire. However, the Signature Dining locations at the hotels are generally a lot more upscale, and DO require the fancy shmancy dress code we mentioned earlier. One of those locations is California Grill, located at the top of Disney’s Contemporary Resort. The restaurant provides stunning views of the surrounding landscape, including views of the lagoon, woodlands, and even Cinderella Castle. At night, the lights will dim, and visitors will be able to watch the fireworks show in Magic Kingdom, complete with music. The chefs here work on-stage, meaning you can watch them prepare the cuisine, which is inspired by local flavors near Walt’s original park in California. Yep, your meal will be spent California dreamin’! California Grill Dining Room Only dinner is served here, and you can expect to pay $89 per adult and $39 per child, plus tax and gratuity. This is a set price, as dinner is served as a three course selection. California Grill Since this is a Disney Signature Dining location, Disney’s website states, “This restaurant is a Disney Signature Dining experience offering fine dining with a distinctly magical flair. Guests are expected to dress accordingly in attire that respects the restaurant’s sophisticated and upscale aesthetic. Clothing should be clean, neat and in good condition. Please no swimwear.” California Grill So, for the ladies, this means wearing a dress or an appropriate skirt and blouse. You could wear jeans that do not have rips if paired smartly with a nicer blouse. The gents can wear slacks or khakis with a button-up or polo. If you’re hoping to dine here, you’ll want to either change before arriving or wear something a bit nicer to the parks that day. California Grill We’ll continue to keep you updated with more Disney news and advice, so make sure to follow along for more so that you’re always in the loop. Looking for more Disney World dress codes? Click here! Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide The Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants The Best EPCOT Restaurant Restaurants The Best Restaurants in Disney’s Hollywood Studios The Best Restaurants in Disney’s Animal Kingdom The Best Disney Springs Restaurants The Best (and Worst) Disney World Hotel Restaurants Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Are you headed to California Grill soon? Let us know in the comments! The post Does California Grill Have A Dress Code in Disney World? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article
  14. Are you as excited about Disney Cruise Line‘s new ship as we are? ©Disney We can’t wait to experience all the entertainment on board the Disney Treasure, but the dining is also something we’re really looking forward to. Specifically, we are so thrilled we’ll get to experience Plaza de Coco, themed after the popular film Coco. We took a closer look at the concept art and need to make sure you saw these little details! The Lighting and Colors Taking a look at all the concept art, it’s clear that this restaurant will be very colorful. From the Cast Member costumes to the detailing on the chairs and even the lighting in the area, this looks like it’s going to be a beautiful atmosphere. ©Disney In fact, it looks like the majority of the restaurant’s lighting will be from small colorful lamps and lightbulbs around the ceiling. This means that the rest of the restaurant may be darker-lit, so keep that in mind when you’re dining. Disney seems to be going for a dark, intimate feeling here. The Stage It also appears that the stage where performances will take place will be in the center of the restaurant. It looks to be located on a raised platform, so all of the tables around the restaurant will be able to see the entertainment. ©Disney This means that no matter where you’re seated, you should be able to have a good view of the show. Kids may want to stand by the table to see a bit better if they’re shorter, but you won’t need to worry about dodging people’s bodies or heads to see the stage. The Entertainment Speaking of entertainment, from the concept art, it’s clear there will be multiple different acts and performers throughout your meal. ©Disney Miguel will make an appearance during the show, but don’t panic if he’s not in the opening act. It appears he will perform with a mariachi band, as well as by himself (based on the concept art), but this doesn’t mean he’s going to be in every performance. How exciting! None of the concept art shows Miguel greeting guests, but we’re holding out hope that this will be part of the dining experience as well. Looking for more Disney Treasure news? We’ve got you covered. More Disney Treasure News! 3 CLUES About Disney’s NEW ‘Coco’ Restaurant Coming to the Disney TreasureDisney Announced 10 NEW Restaurants!ALERT! Disney Treasure Cruise Bookings Open TODAY!Everything We Know About Disney’s NEW ‘Coco’ Restaurant with Characters!REMINDER: Booking For Disney’s NEWEST Cruise Ship Opens SOON As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney Cruise Line news! Check out the new Coco restaurant over in Disneyland Paris! 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 What are you most looking forward to experiencing at Plaza de Coco? Tell us in the comments! The post 3 CLUES About Disney’s NEW ‘Coco’ Restaurant Coming to the Disney Treasure first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article
  15. Whether you’re just starting your Disney day or wrapping up for the evening, taking the Monorail is always a fun little trip to check out some of what Disney has to offer outside of the actual Disney World parks, including some must-have treats! The Monorail Even if you’re not feeling up for a park day, the Monorail can also be boarded at any of the three hotels on its path and thus you can begin your snack tour of the three Magic Kingdom resorts, including Disneys Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort! We’re taking you on a trip around the Monorail resorts to show you seven must-try snacks! Disney’s Contemporary Resort Heading from the Magic Kingdom, the first stop on this tour is the Contemporary Resort. This beautiful hotel actually lets you off right in the middle of the lobby as the monorail pulls through it, bringing you even closer to all the delicious treats waiting for you! Disney’s Contemporary Resort First up is the Monorail S’mores Brownie for $5.79, which is not only on theme but is also a tasty little snack to grab over at the Contempo Cafe. It features a Fudgy Brownie with a Graham Cracker Crust all topped with a Marshmallow Creme and Chocolate decor that is reminiscent of the Monorail itself. The perfect treat for a day of monorail rides! For those looking for something a little more filling and a bit more savory, the Steakhouse 71 Lounge has the perfect item for you — the Stack Burger for $21! This burger features a yummy combination of beef, pork belly, cheese, lemon Aiolii, red onion, and house-made pickles on a brioche bun. Is there anything more beautiful than melty cheese? It’s the perfect item to keep you happy and energized for the rest of your Disney day. (You can also get it at the Steakhouse 71 restaurant for lunch, but if you just want a quick meal and not a full sit-down experience, the lounge is the way to go.) Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Moving along to the Polynesian Resort, many Disney fans may know that for a long time, this was one of the only places to get Dole Whip outside of the parks. Though it can now be found at a few other locations, it’s still worth grabbing at the Pineapple Lanai while you’re here! The go-to place for Dole Whip at the Polynesian! The Pineapple Lanai sits right outside and has gorgeous views for you to sit and enjoy your cold dessert, and it even has a few tables under a small covering to keep your Dole Whip from melting as quickly under the Florida sun’s rays. The flavors featured here always include Vanilla and Pineapple, but there’s almost always a seasonal flavor to check out too! DOLE Whip costs $4.99 here. Check out this adorable Dole Whip design! If you’re looking for something a little less melty, but just as refreshing and sweet, check out the Lava Smoothie for $5.99 at the Barefoot Pool Bar. Smoothies are something we can never get enough of, in fact, we wish Disney offered even more of this ideal treat. They’re both cooling and tasty and the Lava Smoothie is no exception! Nothing like a picture-perfect smoothie on a hot day! It features a Raspberry Puree blend with flavors of Coconut and Pineapple to give you all the tropical vibes you could ask for while lounging around the hotel, especially after a hot day at Magic Kingdom. This is one item you won’t want to pass up when stopping by! Lastly, for those who aren’t feeling the sweets right now, the Polynesian is famous for one very specific savory snack you might have already heard of. The ‘Ohana noodles are highly sought after by Disney fans and luckily, they can be ordered easily over at the Tambu Lounge for those who don’t have time to sit and dine at the ‘Ohana. ‘Ohana means Noodles! They may not appear on the menu, but are typically still available by simply asking a Cast Member! Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Finally, the last stop on the monorail ride before returning back to Magic Kingdom is the Grand Floridian. It’s hard to not immediately feel the luxury and grace radiating off this property the moment you put a foot on it, so grabbing a snack and soaking up the ambiance is a no-brainer for us. The best snack spot at the Grand Floridian Resort! Luckily, we’ve tried plenty of what Grand Floridian has to offer and we’re here to let you know which must-haves you should grab before moving on to the next location. Even better is that they can both be found at the same location, the Gasparilla Island Grill! First up we have the Coconut Pot de Creme for $5.49! While coconut might not be everyone’s favorite flavor, this may be the one worth trying to change your mind. However, that being said, the Coconut flavor is strong with this one, so be prepared. It features toasted coconut and whipped cream atop a vanilla and coconut custard that is a perfectly refreshing little treat! Snack Time However, if you’re a little less of a sweet tooth and looking for something savory worth grabbing, then one thing you absolutely have to try is the House-Made Mac and Cheese for $9.29. Disney might be the only thing better than cheese and carbs, but it’s close! No joke, this is some of the best mac and cheese offered around Disney. It may not be Mickey-themed or a beautiful presentation, but it’s something you’ll be shocked to find you’re longing for long after you’ve returned home. No really, you have to try this! All of the stops along the monorail line have plenty of wonderful things to offer, so be sure to look around, enjoy the properties, and grab some tasty treats! Be sure to check back here at DFB for updates on all the new goodies being featured at these three hotels as they change quite often! Looking for more tasty recommendations for your Disney day? Look no further, we’ve got it all right 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! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Did your favorite Monorail ride treat make this list? Let us know in the comments! The post 7 Awesome Snacks Are Just a Monorail Ride Away from Magic Kingdom first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article
  16. A LOT has changed in Disney World over the past three or so years. So MUCH has changed in Disney World We’ve had to learn how to make park pass reservations (although many of us won’t have to after 2024). We had to learn the ins and outs of Genie+. Even the way we make dining reservations has changed. With that being said, though, it means that a lot of advice we would have once given for visiting Disney World just doesn’t work anymore. So here are all the pro tips we’ve had to throw out the window because they’re now pretty useless. Rope drop or stay until park close Previously, we used to see the shortest wait times at the parks at one of two times during the day: at rope drop (when the parks open) and at park close (just before the parks close). However, with the most popular rides, sometimes that’s just no longer the case. A lot of popular rides will still have long wait times at rope drop — so be flexible, don’t go in expecting to walk on. Everyone tends to head for the BIG rides at rope drop. That goes for staying until park close, too — sometime the ride lines don’t change that much to warrant you staying in the parks that late if you’re not a night owl. These are still some of the times with the shortest waits of the day, but now we tell you it’s not a given — be prepared to wait. The Shocking Things I Learned While Rope Dropping Disney’s Hollywood Studios Go during off-season Remember when Disney World actually had an off-season? Well, that’s just no longer the case. We’ve seen times in January, when things used to be quiet, totally surprise us. That’s because so MUCH is going on in Disney World ALL the time. There’s something happening every week, from runDisney events to cheerleader competitions to EPCOT festivals to other events. Disney has planned these events during times when it used to be less busy to bring the crowds, and it has worked! Marathon Weekend Crowds Now, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t cheaper times of the year to visit or an occasional surprisingly slow day. But more often than not, the crowds are surprising even during the cheaper times of year. How to Predict if Magic Kingdom Will Be Crowded When You’re There Eat at certain restaurants There was a time when we would have told you to make an advance dining reservation for Be Our Guest Restaurant in Magic Kingdom. But a lot has changed with the restaurant since then. Not only is the quick service lunch option gone, but the meal is now a prix fixe meal for both lunch and dinner. Be Our Guest Now? We don’t feel this meal is particularly worth its $70 per person price tag, especially now that the lunch option is gone. We’d much rather just hop on over to Adventureland and eat at Skipper Canteen instead. How Be Our Guest Restaurant Lunch Slowly Declined From Perfect to Pathetic Get the Disney Dining Plan Now we know this might be a controversial take because a lot of folks LOVE the Disney Dining Plan, but ahead of its return in 2024, we just have to say this: it just might not be a good value. We get it. The dining plan certainly makes budgeting more meals a little easier, but are you doing your budget a favor by paying MORE for food than you might otherwise? The Disney Dining Plan may not be worth it Also, it might take more planning to use the Dining Plan than just budgeting for your food separately. You’ll need to know what the dining plan includes with each meal (and remember, you’ll still have to pay for gratuity out of your own pocket). Do the math BEFORE you decide to get it. Also, when a FREE dining plan offer comes up, note that it means you’ll usually have to pay the full rack rate for the hotel room that comes with it, which may end up costing you more. Is the Disney Dining Plan Worth It in 2024? Make a table service reservation for every day of your trip There was a time we’d even tell you to make an advance dining reservation for a Disney World table service restaurant for EVERY day of your trip. However, that was back when the counter service spots in Disney World just weren’t very good. Now, though, there are some counter service restaurants we’d recommend OVER table service restaurants. “Totchos” So we no longer think you need to take time out of your day (especially if it’s a park day) to spend longer on a table service meal when you can grab delicious things like Totchos, Corn Dog Nuggets, Spring Rolls, Cheeseburger Pods, and other delicious fast food in the parks. Thousands of Disney Fans Voted on the BEST Fast Food Restaurant in Disney World. This Was Their Answer. Stay on property We once would have told you to stay on property because staying on property came with some pretty nice perks, including free transportation to and from the parks and extra time in the parks. Well, there are plenty of other hotels in the area NOT owned by Disney where you can get those same perks! Swan and Dolphin Hotels For example, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin (located in the EPCOT area) has easy access to Disney’s Skyliner, plus you get Early Theme Park Entry and Extended Evening Hours in the parks when available. There are also hotels in the Disney Springs area with similar perks. Sorry, But You’re Choosing the Wrong Hotel in Disney World So if you haven’t visited Disney World in some time, know that a lot has changed and the old tips for visiting are not always the best. We’ll be sure to keep you updated on our best Disney World strategies, though, so stay tuned to DFB for more. People Call Everything a Disney World “Hack,” But Here Are 7 Genius Tips You Actually Need 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! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What old Disney World tips don’t work for you anymore? Let us know in the comments! The post 6 Disney World Tips We (Almost) NEVER Give Anymore first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article
  17. We hope you had a fantastic time uncovering the 13 Eerie Things Disney Scavenger Hunt at Magic Kingdom Park. Now, it's time to reveal the answers to your quest View the full article
  18. Disney’s Beach Club Resort is a favorite of ours for sure. Disney’s Beach Club Resort This is a deluxe hotel located right near EPCOT — in fact, the International Gateway entrance is located literally steps away from the hotel. We love the atmosphere and food here at this hotel too, but did you know it’s also home to a secret lounge area? The Solarium is located right across from Beach Club Marketplace and is a fantastic place to sit down and rest for a little while. Solarium Lounge The room is bright and airy with many windows, has plenty of seating, a TV to entertain you or your kiddos, and an overall serene atmosphere. TV This spot was closed for refurbishment for a while, so it’s nice to see the space open again! It’s a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle of the parks, especially if you or your kids are in need of a little nap. In fact, when we walked in to take photos, we saw a few people taking a quick rest. We can picture taking a nap in these chairs So the next time you find yourself exhausted in EPCOT and want somewhere nice and cool to relax, head over to the International Gateway, walk a few steps, and sit down in the lounge. More seating Want to learn more about Disney’s Beach Club Resort? We can help with that! More About Beach Club Resort! Do You Know About This SECRET Lounge at Disney’s Beach Club Hotel?The Best Disney World Hotels for 2024PHOTOS: Construction on Disney’s Beach Club Resort Lobby Has BegunYacht Club vs. Animal Kingdom Lodge Disney World Resort Guide 2023Old Key West vs. Beach Club Disney World Resort Guide 2023 As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney World news! Here’s why Disney’s Beach Club Resort is worth it! 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! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What’s your favorite part of the Beach Club Resort? Tell us in the comments! The post Do You Know About This SECRET Lounge at Disney’s Beach Club Hotel?🤫 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article
  19. One of the BEST perks of staying at a Disney World hotel is the free transportation. The best way to get around! Between the monorail, Skyliner, boats, and buses, making your way around the parks and hotels is pretty easy. Recently, we’ve seen more and more transportation offerings come back, and with this newest change getting around the Disney World hotels is about to get even easier! A Disney World transportation change takes effect today! The boat service between Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campgrounds and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge had not been available for quite some time. But, as of October 1st, the “blue route” is back! Wilderness Lodge This route takes guests across Bay Lake between the two resorts, and we haven’t seen this service available to people staying at these hotels for a while now. Note that this service doesn’t begin until 3PM every day, so if you want to get from one resort to the other before then you’ll need to use a different route. Fort Wilderness There are a few different options if the blue route is unavailable: The easiest option to get between Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge is to take the bus instead. Yes, there is a bus that runs directly between these resorts (which is pretty unique for Disney World — other hotels aren’t connected to each other via bus). The Yellow Line bus runs between Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge. It’ll take you between the front entrance of Wilderness Lodge and the Settlement at Fort Wilderness. (Disney has said that they anticipate this route will continue, although they can’t be sure it won’t change in the future — we’ll keep an eye out for more updates.) You can also take a boat from one resort to Magic Kingdom, disembark, and then board another boat to your destination (e.g., sail from Wilderness Lodge to Magic Kingdom, disembark, and board the Contemporary Resort boat). This could definitely take a while — likely at least an hour — so keep that in mind if you’re on a time crunch and need to be somewhere quickly, such as if you have restaurant reservations. Friendship Boats Prior to this boat service going away, there was a route that serviced Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness, and Magic Kingdom, but Disney has shared that those routes will continue to remain separate for the time being. You’ll have to catch one boat between Wilderness Lodge and Magic Kingdom, and a separate boat between Fort Wilderness and Magic Kingdom. Disney World This will hopefully make it even easier for folks staying at these hotels to get from one to the other and to Magic Kingdom. We’ll continue to look for the latest Disney World transportation changes and more, so be sure to stay tuned to DFB for more! Click Here To Learn More About Getting Around 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! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What’s your favorite way to get around Disney World? Tell us in the comments. The post ALERT! A Disney World Hotel Transportation CHANGE Starts Today first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article
  20. If you’re traveling to EPCOT soon, be prepared for quite a few changes! EPCOT From the addition of Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana and the Figment meet and greet to the completion of the construction on World Celebration…the park is a completely different place than it was even just a year ago! And now, we’ve got news about another character meet and greet in EPCOT. Ever since the pandemic, Winnie the Pooh has been hanging out near the Imagination Pavilion in the big field area. Here, you can interact with him from a distance as he tries to catch butterflies, do yoga, or just generally goof off like the silly ol’ bear he is. Winnie the Pooh But now, if you want to spend some quality time with Pooh, you’ll need to head to the UK Pavilion! The Winnie the Pooh meet and greet has officially moved back to its original home — in Christopher Robin’s room. Pooh has moved back to his old spot! Here’s a look at all the times Pooh will be available to meet guests in EPCOT. Note that meet and greet times may change, so check the My Disney Experience app before you visit. ©Disney We’re so excited to have the chance to hug Pooh in EPCOT again! If you want to meet him elsewhere, don’t forget about his meet and greet in Magic Kingdom with Tigger in Fantasyland or the character meal at Crystal Palace. We’ll keep you updated with more character meet news from Disney World, so stay tuned to DFB for the latest! We’ve got you covered with all the tips you need to know before your vacation. Click Here to Check Out the New Figment Meet and Greet in EPCOT! 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! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Have you met Winnie the Pooh at Disney World? Tell us in the comments! The post NEWS: The Winnie the Pooh Character Sighting Has CHANGED in EPCOT first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article
  21. There are a lot of things that probably aren’t the best use of your money when you’re at Disney World. Main Street USA Take balloons, for example. You can’t take them on an airplane with you when you travel home, and they are a pain to transport in a car, so you may not want to waste your money on these. But we’re not talking about balloons today. We’re talking about a popular souvenir among many guests and we’re here to tell you, you actually do NOT need it. MagicBand+ launched at Walt Disney World on July 27, 2022. It does everything a Magicband did plus more. It serves as a Digital Key to enter your Disney World Resort hotel room, serves as your park “ticket” (when linked to pre-purchased valid admission), pay for purchases around the parks (for Disney World Resort hotel guests), enter attraction Lightning Lanes booked through Disney Genie, and connect Disney Photopass pictures to your My Disney Experience account. So many guests think they NEED a Magicband+, but that’s simply not true. MagicBand+ First, they are expensive at $34.99 and while they come in a variety of colors and themes, you don’t need the band to access those features. To scan into the park, enter your hotel room, and enter your Lightning Lane, you can actually use your phone. The MagicMobile feature allows you to download your park ticket to your device’s wallet and use it just like a MagicBand in these cases. Welcome to Disney World! The only features you would miss out on are interacting with the 50 golden statues around the Disney World parks and having the band light up during attractions and shows. As for those statue interactions, we find they just don’t always work. And while the cool lights during parts of attractions and shows, they’re neat — but are you really going to look down at your wrist while riding TRON or watching Fantasmic? Probably not. Pua and Heihei We recommend saving your money and buying snacks or unique souvenirs instead! For more Disney tips, be sure to follow DFB! ALL of the Disney World Rides That Interact With MagicBand+ Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Do you have a MagicBand+? Let us know below. The post Please Don’t Fall for This Waste of Money in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article
  22. And just like that, another iconic Disney World experience is just a memory. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser opened on March 1st, 2022 and provided fans with an immersive and unforgettable experience aboard the Halcyon. However, after 19 months, this experience has officially closed. September 30th, 2023 marked the final date of the last voyage on the Starcruiser. Disney announced in May of 2023 that the experience would be discontinued, but that didn’t make it any less sad for Star Wars fans who loved the experience. Galactic Starcruiser As to why the experience closed, Disney executives stated that it simply “didn’t perform.” The experience in question consisted of a 2-night voyage in which you stayed at the hotel at all times other than to embark on excursions to Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser You’d eat, sleep, play, and meet characters — all without leaving the ship! Except… it was like, $2,000 or more per person, per voyage, depending on your package. For many folks, the price just wasn’t worth it, especially since you couldn’t really even leave to visit the other parks while staying here. Galactic Starcruiser While it’s an undeniably cool experience, a lot of folks just couldn’t justify those dolla signs! Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Atrium If you’re lamenting the Halcyon’s final voyage, you can celebrate its legacy by shopping our Starcruiser Farewell Voyage shirt! Check it out! Starcruiser Farewell Voyage Shop the DFB Store We’ll continue to keep you updated with more Disney news and advice, so make sure to follow along for more so that you’re always in the loop and never miss a thing! Looking for more Star Wars stuff at Disney World? Click here! Star Wars Hotel -- Galactic Starcruiser News and Information The Star Wars Hotel Is CLOSING Check Out Our COMPLETE GUIDE to the Star Wars Hotel We’re Breaking the MYTHS from Inside the Star Wars Hotel Rooms What to Get (or AVOID) for Breakfast at the Star Wars Hotel We Ate EVERYTHING for Lunch at the Star Wars Hotel See Our FULL Review of the Entire Dinner on Night 1 of the Star Wars Hotel Yes, Dinner on Night 2 at the Star Wars Hotel is Different. See Our Full Review Is the Captain’s Table Worth the Extra Cost? See How the Fireworks at the Star Wars Hotel Will (and Won’t) Surprise You Get Our Full Thoughts on the BLUE SHRIMP See What Snacks Look Like in Space Some of the Best Food in the Star Wars Hotel is Hiding! Get a Look at the Exclusive Star Wars Hotel Merchandise Learn About What’s Included When You Leave the Star Wars Hotel for Hollywood Studios Take a Look at the Pricing for the Star Wars Hotel Watch Our DFB Video About Our Experience at the Star Wars Hotel Click HERE to See More About Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe Did you ever go on the Starcruiser? Let us know in the comments! The post A Disney World Hotel is Permanently CLOSED first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article
  23. If you’re looking for a cast member at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort who has been making magic since it opened, you’ll hear her before you see her. Undrill Munfus, or Drill for short, has a laugh that’s as bright as the colorful walls at Centertown Market, one of the resort’s dining locations. The Orlando native […]View the full article
  24. The leaves are falling, there is pumpkin spice in the air, and, of course, Disney parks are covered in PUMPKINS! To help celebrate the fall season, Disney has given us 3 new ways to get into the FALL SPIRIT! It’s Halloween Time in Disneyland! Ready to celebrate the cool fall weather? Ready to sip on some fresh apple cider? Maybe enjoy a little pumpkin pie? Well, it’s time to get into the festive fall mood — with a little help from Disney! Disney has released 3 NEW fall wallpaper designs to help get you into the fall spirit! These adorable wallpapers feature a few of your favorite characters, and we are here to bring you all the details on what you can expect to see before you download them to enjoy! @Disney In the first wallpaper design, we see our classic furry friend, Figaro! Figaro is seen peeking from the top of a Mickey pumpkin. Figaro made his on-screen debut in 1940 in the classic Disney animated film Pinocchio. He is absolutely adorable and oh-so mischievous, which makes him the perfect classic character for your wallpaper! This adorable wallpaper features the fall colors we love and is available for download on desktop/iPad. @Disney The next fall background up for download is an adorable Olaf Wallpaper! @Disney This Olaf wallpaper features Olaf enjoying one of our fall favorites, a pumpkin spice latte, and he is covered in colorful fall leaves! If you look closely, you will see “Samantha” written on the front of Olaf’s cup, too! What a fun detail! This absolutely adorable wallpaper can be downloaded for desktop/iPad. If you are headed to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party this fall season, you are in luck! The third and final wallpaper available for download is the perfect background to save to get you in the spooky spirit! @Disney This vibrant purple and green wallpaper is such a fun design and shows Goofy’s excitement about getting so much candy from the treat trails! Now it is time to get into the FALL SPIRIT and download your favorite wallpaper today! Don’t delay! HAPPY FALL!!! Keep scrolling for our SPOOK-TACULAR guides that will get you ready for the Halloween Season! IT'S SPOOK-TACULAR! Get ready for the spookiest season of the year at Disney World! We are beyond thrilled to announce the arrival of our brand-new guide -- Halloween at Disney World: DFB's Spook-tacular Guide! From the thrills of Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party to the enchanting resort decorations that'll send shivers down your spine, our guide is packed with tips and tricks to help you squeeze every ounce of ghoulish fun out of your visit. Plus, we've got the inside scoop on all the limited-time-only bone-chilling activities happening across the parks! Get the Halloween at Disney World: DFB's Spook-tacular Guide to make your frightfully delightful adventure even more magical! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Halloween at Walt Disney World See EVERYTHING Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Has to Offer Get the Latest Updates on Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 9 Disney Halloween Items You Can Get at Target Right Now Photos AND Reviews: ALL the 2023 Fall and Halloween Treats in Disney World! DFB Video: The ULTIMATE Guide To Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click Here to Subscribe Which fall-themed wallpaper is your favorite!? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney Just Released NEW Halloween Backgrounds -- For FREE! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article
  25. There are a LOT of attractions and rides in Disney World, but a few of those are unfortunately CLOSED right now. Walt Disney World entrance For some attractions, Disney hasn’t given any hints at all about when they might reopen. Let’s check out all the temporary closures — including those four attraction closures — in Disney World for the week of October 1st through the 7th. 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. Soooo much scaffolding The new ride will reopen sometime in late 2024. We’ll be watching for more updates on the reopening timeline. The tree at the top of this ride has been removed as Disney continues construction, and several new rock structures have been built at the bottom of the drop. There’s a new water tower as well, which says “Tiana’s Foods” on the front and “Never, ever lose sight of what’s really important” on the back. It’s topped with Tiana’s crown, which has two stars on it to represent Ray and Evangeline. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Concept Art ©Disney 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 Island in Magic Kingdom Over on Tom Sawyer Island, the Barrel Bridge is currently missing. Closed A Cast Member told us that it had been removed for maintenance, and they didn’t know when it might return. The rest of the island is still open to explore, though. How To Predict if Magic Kingdom Will Be Crowded When You Visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios Voyage of the Little Mermaid This Little Mermaid-themed stage show has been closed in Disney’s Hollywood Studios for a long time now. Voyage of the Little Mermaid (2022) Disney hasn’t announced when or if the Voyage of the Little Mermaid will reopen. Hollywood Studios Has 30 Restaurants, but You Only Need To Know About 5 EPCOT Restaurant Marrakesh Almost all of the restaurants that were closed in EPCOT during the 2020 park closure have reopened — all but one, that is! 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! You Might Want To Avoid EPCOT on December 5th Blizzard Beach Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park has officially reopened, but now the other water park, Blizzard Beach, has closed for refurbishment. Chairlift to Summit Plummet Be sure to check the My Disney Experience app for updates! The BEST Rides at Blizzard Beach, Ranked Disney World Hotels Narcoossee’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Narcoossee’s closed on September 17th. Disney expects the restaurant to reopen sometime in mid-October. Narcoossee’s The Disney webpage for Narcoossee’s states, “We recently introduced an enhanced interior and menu offerings at Narcoossee’s and will be making a few more equipment updates.” 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. Dining Room at 1900 Park Fare (2019) 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! 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 4 Attraction CLOSURES Will Affect Disney World Next Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article
×
×
  • Create New...