Disney4me

Sure, you may have already penciled a few potential dates in your calendar for a trip to Orlando, Florida. But you know you’ll also be going somewhere else during your Disney World vacation, right? Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge We’re talking about taking a trip-within-your-trip to “a galaxy far, far away…” All the way, in fact, to Black Spire Outpost on the planet Batuu by way of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios! And today we’re chatting about all of the Star Wars characters you can meet while you’re paying a visit to Batuu (as well as other areas in Hollywood Studios)! In fact, why don’t we start outside of Batuu? Let’s head first to the Star Wars Launch Bay to see some Star Wars friends (and perhaps a foe, depending on your point of view)… Traditional Star Wars Character Meet-and-Greets You’ll find Star Wars Launch Bay in the park’s Animation Courtyard. Here, you can meet a few Star Wars characters in traditional meet-and-greet fashion, meaning that you can chat with them and have your photo taken together. Star Wars Launch Bay in Disney’s Hollywood Studios You might even grab a hug, if you like (from select characters, at any rate. When it comes to certain Sith Lords… hugging is, oh, shall we say, ill-advised). Chewbacca at Star Wars Launch Bay Chewbacca has his own meet-and-greet space in the Launch Bay! It’s Chewbacca! Everyone’s favorite Wookiee is ready to say “RRAWRGWAWWGGRR” to you and hang out for a few. BB-8 at Star Wars Launch Bay The lovable droid BB-8 also has a meet-and-greet space in the Launch Bay. BB-8! And good news! If you’re not fluent in beeps and boops, a Disney Cast Member will be nearby to help with some translation. Darth Vader at Star Wars Launch Bay Your day at Hollywood Studios will be “a day long remembered,” and you can commemorate it with a photo opp with Darth Vader himself! Darth Vader at Star Wars Launch Bay in Hollywood Studios Darth Vader also has a greeting spot in the Launch Bay. And guess what? If you’re a Disney Visa cardholder, you can bypass the potentially long wait times by meeting Darth Vader in an EXCLUSIVE spot instead! Disney Visa Cardholder EXCLUSIVE Meet and Greet Remember, to make sure you don’t miss any of the character greetings in the Launch Bay, you can find character appearance times in the My Disney Experience app. Check out ALL of the Character Meet-and-Greets in Disney World HERE! Character Sightings Around Galaxy’s Edge Now, once you step into Black Spire Outpost in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, things work differently. Characters spotted around Galaxy’s Edge do not offer traditional meet-and-greets like the ones you’ll experience in the Star Wars Launch Bay. Rey and Chewbacca in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge In Galaxy’s Edge, you’ll spot roaming characters — also referred to as Character Sightings. Essentially, you will very likely see several characters and perhaps even interact with them in the land; however, they do not have a designated greeting location, nor do they often stand still for individual photo opportunities. You see, here in Black Spire Outpost, the Resistance has secretly set up a temporary base. However, the First Order has learned of their presence. Stormtroopers in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge So, as you might imagine, things are a little busy in these parts, and so you may spot members of the Resistance including Rey and Chewbacca roaming around Black Spire Outpost around the Millennium Falcon (as pictured above), or keeping an eye on things just across from the Black Spire Outpost Marketplace, as pictured here: Rey and Chewbacca Or perhaps you’ll find Vi Moradi on a mission. (Want to get to know Vi? There are a couple of books you can check out, including Galaxy’s Edge: Black Spire by Delilah S. Dawson which is set on Batuu so you can get to know her character AND the area even before you go, if you like!) Vi Moradi Of course, as we mentioned above, where the Resistance is, members of the First Order may not be far behind. Kylo Ren in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Kylo Ren and a few Stormtroopers can be seen around Galaxy’s Edge as they try to track down Resistance members. Stormtrooper in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge You may also be one of the lucky ones who gets to see The Mandalorian and Grogu! Mando and Grogu in Disney World In fact, luck has a hand these days, because — unlike the other roaming characters in Galaxy’s Edge — you can now find the times when Mando and Grogu can be seen in the land by checking the My Disney Experience app! MORE Star Wars Characters in Galaxy’s Edge and Beyond And with that, the regularly scheduled Character Appearances portion of our post has now ended. But remember… there are more characters to see in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in their usual habitats including — but not limited to — Ithorian Dok-Ondar who has amassed an enormous collection of rare antiquities and keeps them at Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities! Dok Ondar And who should be spinning the tunes at Oga’s Cantina other than DJ R-3X? DJ Rex Weequay space pirate Hondo Ohnaka is ready to send you on your mission at Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (as long as there’s something in it for him, of course…). Hondo Ohnaka And you can see the ever-faithful C-3PO and R2-D2 back over in Echo Lake at Star Tours — The Adventures Continue! Star Tours And with that, what else can we possibly say, except… May the Force be with you! Heading to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland instead? Find out who you might spot HERE!  Want MORE Details About Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge? Click HERE for All the News About Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge — Including Our REVIEWS! See How to Build Your Own Droid at Droid Depot Dream of Building Your Own Custom Lightsaber? See How to Do It! Everything You Need to Know About Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance! Get Full Details About Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run See More About Oga’s Cantina and Check Out Our Reviews! Check Out Galaxy’s Edge Tips and SECRETS Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge news right in your inbox! Click Here to Subscribe! Who would YOU most like to see in a galaxy far, far away? Let us know with a comment! The post EVERY Star Wars Character You Can Meet in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’re trying out the BRAND NEW festival booths that just opened in EPCOT for this year’s Food & Wine Festival! These booths are pretty late to the party — they waited until the start of Disney’s 100th anniversary celebrations in EPCOT to show up. 2023 Wine & Wedge Marketplace Booth The 2023 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival officially began in July, and it has a LOT to offer. There are plenty of food booths with tasty items, merchandise items to grab, and concerts to watch. But we’ve got you covered with everything you need to know. So, now we’re heading to one spot in particular — the Wine & Wedge booth — to give you the FULL scoop! Is it worth a try? Let’s find out! Menu Over at the Wine & Wedge booth, you’ll find a variety of available items, mostly involving CHEESE! There’s also some wine, of course. 2023 Wine & Wedge Menu Now that we’ve taken a look at the menu, let’s dive into the food itself! The Southern Pimento Cheese that we already tried was part of this trio, so we moved on to the parmesan-style cheese in the center. It was crumbly and buttery, and certainly reminded us of parmesan. It’s a bit on the thicker side, though, once you actually bite into it — more like a mozzarella. Nutty and delicious! The bleu cheese on the right was pretty mild at first, but as we kept chewing we got more of that distinct, funky flavor. Cheese plate And now, onto those drinks! Drinks In terms of drinks on this menu, we got the ones that were included with the Artist Palette of Wine and Cheese. First up was the Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese for $10.50. This was sweet and smooth — just like you’d expect a Riesling to be. It was light and would be easy to drink while walking around a hot World Showcase. There’s definitely a strong alcohol flavor on the back end, but overall this is a sweet and sippable wine. Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese Next, we tried the Hartley Apple Brandy for $6.50. If Crown Apple and Fireball had a baby, this would be it. It was definitely less cinnamon-y than Fireball but is still sweet. We loved the apple flavor — it reminded us of a fall day. There’s a subtle cinnamon aftertaste but overall, this is incredibly smooth and enjoyable, maybe dangerously so. Hartley Apple Brandy Finally, we had the Florida Orange Groves Winery Black and Blue Port for $8. Unfortunately, we didn’t love this one as much as the other two drinks we tried. It was thick and syrupy, almost like cough medicine. It was overly sweet in the type of way that totally coats your tongue and leaves a taste in your mouth that you might not like. But, for folks who like sweeter port wines, this might be a hit! Florida Orange Groves Winery Black and Blue Port You can also get all of these drinks as a flight, which costs $12. OVERALL This booth was a hit for us overall, but we wouldn’t necessarily say any of the dishes we tried were best of the fest. We thoroughly enjoyed the Pimento Cheese, but we didn’t think the Fig Soufflé was anything to write home about. The artisanal cheese platter was quite good, but it’s nothing you can’t get from your grocery store or Trader Joe’s either. We’d recommend checking this one out if you love Riesling and cheese plates, or are looking to try a lot of different things at once. Wine & Wedge Full Spread That’s it for this booth, but there are three more booths opening today (September 22nd) in EPCOT, so we’ll be back with more reviews! Click here to see FULL reviews of EVERY. SINGLE. BOOTH. at the Food & Wine Festival! Trying to plan the PERFECT trip to the 2023 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival? We’ll be keeping you updated on all of the latest. Click our links below for the information you need to know: Learn about the Eat to the Beat Concert Series and Dining Packages Check out ALL of the 2023 Food & Wine Booth Menus See what eats you’ll need to try to get a PRIZE at the Festival! And don’t forget to pick up our 2023 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival e-book! See more details about the book below. IT'S WINE & DINE TIME! Food & Wine Festival can be a bummer. You stand in line waiting for what looks like the perfect treat, and it's a bust. But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE EPCOT Food & Wine Festival experience. If you're planning a day or a week at the festival, we've got every performance, activity, and tasty nosh detailed out so you can make the most of your time and money. Listen, it's a tough job eating and documenting the nearly 200 bites and sips, but we do it all for YOU! Save 20% on the 2023 DFB Guide to EPCOT's International Food & Wine Festival with code CHEFS. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Learn More About the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival! Insider Tips for the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival What to Pack in Your Park Bag for the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Eat to the Beat Concert Updates EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Fans Facebook Page EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Wine and Dine Half Marathon Food and Wine Festival 101 Get More Updates, Tips, and Tricks to Help You Conquer the Food & Wine Festival Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What items from this booth would you most want to try? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: This Is Probably Your Mom's Favorite EPCOT Food & Wine Festival Booth first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Well, EPCOT is changing a LOT today!!! Disney100 Sign in EPCOT That’s because Disney’s 100th Anniversary Celebration has made its way to the park. That means we’ll be seeing some NEW Spaceship Earth lighting, Mickey and Minnie will show up in their special anniversary outfits, the Disney100 Mickey Balloon Popcorn bucket will arrive, and more! But we’re especially excited about another new addition to EPCOT. A brand new Mickey statue has made its way to EPCOT. You’ll find this Platinum Mickey statue celebrating Disney’s 100 Years of Wonder in World Celebration in front of Spaceship Earth. The statue aptly states, “It was all started by a mouse.” Isn’t it great?! This new statue actually has a twin! You can find a similar platinum Mickey Mouse figure over in Disneyland Resort. But there’s something about that classic Spaceship Earth in the background that works really well with this statue, don’t you think? Maybe it’s all the round shapes. This will be GREAT for photos, right? So, if you’re headed to EPCOT, be sure to take a moment to admire the new Mickey statue and get a photo (or even a selfie) with it! We’ll be checking out all the 100th Anniversary offerings at EPCOT, so stay tuned to DFB for more. Learn More about Disney’s 100th Anniversary Celebration! Learn More About Disney 100 Years of Wonder – The 100th Anniversary Celebration! More Details Revealed About the 100th Anniversary Celebration at Disney World ALL of the Disney 100th Anniversary Merchandise You Can Get Online Right NOW! The New 100th Anniversary Disney Credit Card Design Is HERE 4 Unexpected Announcements for Disney’s 100th Anniversary Refillable Mugs Have CHANGED in Disney World Hotels! Get ALL of the Latest Updates on the 100th Anniversary Celebration Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox -- Click Here to Subscribe Will you be visiting EPCOT soon? Let us know in the comments! The post PHOTOS: Something NEW Just Arrived in EPCOT for Disney's 100th Anniversary first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

2023 is the year of Disney! Disney100 decor is up in EPCOT! All year long, Disney has celebrated its 100th Anniversary around the globe. Disneyland has been celebrating for a while, and Disney World is just beginning to ramp up its celebration in EPCOT. There has been special merchandise, decor, and entertainment to commemorate this big milestone. But soon, Disney will also be celebrating with you at home! Disney will be hosting “The Wonderful World of Disney: Disney’s 100th Anniversary Celebration” on ABC on Sunday, October 15th, from 8-10:30PM EDT. Kelly Ripa will host the evening, which will begin with an episode of America’s Funniest Home Videos. ©ABC Disney has also teased that we’ll get some sneak peeks of upcoming projects that evening! Oh, and we’ll even get to see Encanto aired on ABC. But viewers will also be treated to the premiere of the NEW original animated short film Once Upon a Studio. Disney just released the trailer for this new short, and we dare you not to chuckle! The trailer features beloved characters Mickey, Minnie, and Tinker Bell getting the ‘gang’ together for picture time. You then see many Disney characters make their appearance! Moana and Flounder are brought in by Water. Christopher Robbin is seen pulling Pooh out of a picture frame. Villains begin joining (but don’t worry, not Hans!). There are old and new characters coming out of the woodwork (literally). Make it Pink, Make it Blue! It looks like a heart-warming celebration of all the Disney movies that we have come to love. If that trailer puts a smile on your face, then you’re going to want to tune in to see the whole short. Make sure you check out ABC’s Disney100 celebration on your TV or app to catch this tribute to past, present, and future Disney! It airs Sunday, October 15th! In the meantime, keep up with all the Disney news on the Disney Food Blog! Find out more about Disney’s 100th Anniversary Celebration 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 Will you be tuning in to catch the new short? Let us know in the comments! The post See the NEW Trailer for Disney's 100th Anniversary Film -- 'Once Upon a Studio' first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Introducing Serena Arvizu and Shannon Smith-Conrad, your new Walt Disney World Ambassadors! It was an incredibly special and exciting morning at EPCOT as we announced this new team surrounded by hundreds of cast members, family, friends and Ambassador Alumni – including our very first Disney World Ambassador, Debby Dane Browne. As a former Ambassador myself who now gets to […]View the full article

Good food, festive drinks, live music…yeah, EPCOT knows how to show its guests a good time. EPCOT With all those seasonal holiday parties, anniversaries, festivals, and more, there’s pretty much always some kind of exciting event happening in the parks. Currently, we’re in the middle of The Walt Disney Company’s 100th Anniversary, and we’ve already tried plenty of new treats, shopped the new merch, and checked out the new entertainment — but it looks like MORE just arrived in Disney World! September 22nd is a BIG day for EPCOT. Disney previously announced that a ton of new 100th Anniversary experiences arrive at the park on September 22nd, and we’re here to check them allllll out. Even Soarin’ is celebrating! Ta-da! A new Disney100 mural made its grand EPCOT debut! Here’s what makes this mural so special: while it’s nice to look at and all, it doubles as a seek-and-find game! There are 100 (!!!) Disney characters featured in this new artwork. How long do you think it takes to spot them all? Ta-da! Here’s a closer look at the mural. Recognize any familiar faces? This is so fun! As you can see, Disney did a pretty good job recreating EPCOT! We even spy the Skyliner. We can’t stop staring at it! If you’re interested in playing along, you can find this new mural by the bathrooms near the Swirled Showcase festival booth. In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more. Find Out More About Disney’s 100th Anniversary Celebrations Here Learn More About Disney 100 Years of Wonder – The 100th Anniversary Celebration! More Details Revealed About the 100th Anniversary Celebration at Disney World ALL of the Disney 100th Anniversary Merchandise You Can Get Online Right NOW! The New 100th Anniversary Disney Credit Card Design Is HERE 4 Unexpected Announcements for Disney’s 100th Anniversary Refillable Mugs Have CHANGED in Disney World Hotels! Get ALL of the Latest Updates on the 100th Anniversary Celebration Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox -- Click Here to Subscribe What do you think of this new mural? Tell us in the comments. The post Good Luck Completing EPCOT’s NEW 100th Anniversary Challenge! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The Walt Disney Company turns 100 this year! Disney100 Sign in EPCOT For this monumental occasion, Disney World is going all out. We’ve been seeing all kinds of merch, treats, and costumes pop up around the parks all year — but today (September 22nd), things are really kicking off in EPCOT. New Outdoor Kitchens debut for the International Food and Wine Festival, Soarin’ Over California is temporarily replacing Soarin’ Around the World, a shiny new Mickey statue has arrived, and more! But one of the most anticipated releases of the day is a new popcorn bucket! We stopped by to pick one up — come check it out! Starting today, the Disney100 Purple Mickey Mouse Balloon Bucket is available at popcorn carts throughout EPCOT. We’ve seen this shiny bucket in Disneyland previously, but now it’s made its way to the East Coast! It’s here! We found this one at the popcorn cart near the Imagination Pavilion, but we expect they’ll be available at other popcorn carts throughout EPCOT, too. If this one is on your list, head to EPCOT ASAP — y’all know how fast these special popcorn buckets can sell out! We’ll continue to bring you all the latest Disney news, so stay tuned to DFB for more! NEWS: 4 EPCOT Food & Wine Booths Will STAY After the Festival Ends Learn More About Disney 100 Years of Wonder – The 100th Anniversary Celebration! More Details Revealed About the 100th Anniversary Celebration at Disney World ALL of the Disney 100th Anniversary Merchandise You Can Get Online Right NOW! The New 100th Anniversary Disney Credit Card Design Is HERE 4 Unexpected Announcements for Disney’s 100th Anniversary Refillable Mugs Have CHANGED in Disney World Hotels! Get ALL of the Latest Updates on the 100th Anniversary Celebration Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox -- Click Here to Subscribe Will you be picking up this popcorn bucket to celebrate Disney’s 100th anniversary? Let us know in the comments below! The post Disney's NEW 100th Anniversary Popcorn Bucket Just Arrived in EPCOT! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Four NEW booths have opened at the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival, and we’re bringing you a full review of each and every one. Bubbles & Brine Booth 2023 The 2023 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival started a while ago, but these four booths only just opened on September 22nd. Let’s head to one of the new spots — the Bubbles & Brine booth — to give you the FULL scoop! Is it worth a try? Let’s find out! Menu Over at the Bubbles & Brine booth, you’ll find a variety of new eats and drinks. This menu features seafood! 2023 Bubbles & Brine Menu Now that we’ve taken a look at the menu, let’s dive into the food itself! The Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail is served with prosecco cocktail sauce and grilled lemon and costs $14. This may be the most beautiful presentation of shrimp cocktail we’ve ever seen. Our mouths started watering as soon as we saw that cocktail sauce and charred lemon! Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail We weren’t disappointed, either — this shrimp was bouncy and briny, which makes sense given the name of this booth. We think you’ll probably want to eat this straight off the tail instead of cutting it, as it was a bit tough to cut with a plastic knife. The cocktail sauce is plenty tangy with a chunkier texture than the bottled stuff. We loved the zip of the horseradish flavor combined with the briny flavor of the shrimp. SHRIMPY We also tried the Jonah Crab Claw Cocktail with stone-ground mustard sauce, which you can get for $12. Just when we thought that shrimp cocktail was a thing of beauty, we feasted our eyes upon this masterpiece. Look at those big, meaty, CLAWS. Just don’t tell our pal Sebastian. Jonah Crab Claw Cocktail We weren’t kidding when we said these were meaty, y’all. This stuff essentially falls out of the claw with a fork. It’s incredibly juicy, tender, and buttery, and we didn’t even find ourselves reaching for the sauce. There’s a distinct mustard flavor to the sauce while being sweet at the same time. Our only complaint is that forks are too big to get all the way down into those tiny crevices of the claw, so you’ve gotta be willing to dig or suck all that buttery goodness out to get it all. Jonah Crab Claw Cocktail As if this luxury food tour wasn’t already wonderful, it’s time to move on to the bubbly! Drinks The drinks at this booth aren’t new to the festival, but we grabbed the Moët & Chandon Impérial, which is available for $21. This champagne is so smooth but zesty at the same time thanks to those teeny, tiny bubbles. We tasted a lot of apple flavor and it almost reminded us of a grown-up apple juice. It’s on the drier side so not sickeningly sweet if that’s not quite your drinking style. Moet & Chandon Imperial Next on the list is the Veuve Clicquot Rosé for $38… Veuve Clicquot Rosé …and if you’re feelin’ fancy you can also get the Dom Pérignon, which costs $69. Dom Pérignon We weren’t feeling quite that fancy today. OVERALL We have one word to describe this booth: RICH. And we don’t just mean because of those drink prices. The shrimp was flavorful and rich, while the crab meat was so buttery we didn’t even feel the need to dunk it in the sauce it came with. Our only complaint is that the portion sizes are a bit small for what you get, so you probably won’t feel full just off this booth. Overall, we enjoyed everything we had here and will definitely be back for those BIG. MEATY. CLAWS. Bubbles & Brine — Full Spread That’s it for this booth, but there’s a LOT more where that came from! Click here to see FULL reviews of EVERY. SINGLE. BOOTH. at the Food & Wine Festival! Trying to plan the PERFECT trip to the 2023 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival? We’ll be keeping you updated on all of the latest. Click our links below for the information you need to know: Learn about the Eat to the Beat Concert Series and Dining Packages Check out ALL of the 2023 Food & Wine Booth Menus See what eats you’ll need to try to get a PRIZE at the Festival! And don’t forget to pick up our 2023 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival e-book! See more details about the book below. IT'S WINE & DINE TIME! Food & Wine Festival can be a bummer. You stand in line waiting for what looks like the perfect treat, and it's a bust. But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE EPCOT Food & Wine Festival experience. If you're planning a day or a week at the festival, we've got every performance, activity, and tasty nosh detailed out so you can make the most of your time and money. Listen, it's a tough job eating and documenting the nearly 200 bites and sips, but we do it all for YOU! Save 20% on the 2023 DFB Guide to EPCOT's International Food & Wine Festival with code CHEFS. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Learn More About the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival! Insider Tips for the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival What to Pack in Your Park Bag for the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Eat to the Beat Concert Updates EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Fans Facebook Page EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Wine and Dine Half Marathon Food and Wine Festival 101 Get More Updates, Tips, and Tricks to Help You Conquer the Food & Wine Festival Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What items from this booth would you most want to try? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: This Might Be the FANCIEST Food & Wine Festival Booth in All of EPCOT first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

A super popular ride has CHANGED in EPCOT! EPCOT During the Destination D23 event at Disney World this year, it was announced that Soarin’ Over California would return to EPCOT. It’s been a WHILE since we’ve smelled those fantastic orange groves on this attraction, so we can’t wait to check it out! Soarin’ Over California has officially returned to EPCOT for a limited time! Come with us to The Land Pavilion to check it out. EPCOT Entrance When we got to EPCOT this morning, we noticed that a LOT of people were visiting the park. Everyone’s excited about all the 100th Anniversary changes! Disney 100 Decor is up! When we arrived at Soarin’, the wait was already at 65 minutes. We’re expecting it to just get longer throughout the day, so if you’re hoping to ride this old-new attraction, make sure to head here first thing. Soarin’ Over California Entrance Time to ride! You start off by soaring through the clouds, then soon find yourself flying high over the iconic Golden Gate Bridge! Golden Gate Bridge You travel all over California, getting to see the coast, the mountains, ski areas, and even waterfalls. Of course, you soar over the orange groves and smell all the delicious fruit, too! Can you smell them through your screen? The Orange Groves! The ride ends at Main Street, U.S.A., in Disneyland, with Tinker Bell leading you to the castle. There’s Tinker Bell! Of course, it’s not over without fireworks; this is Disney, after all! Fireworks over Sleeping Beauty Castle When we got off the ride, everyone around us was talking about the amazing smells and how great it is to have the original ride back! Disney hasn’t announced how long Soarin’ Over California will stick around in EPCOT, so make sure to take advantage while it’s here. Stay tuned to DFB for more updates on all the latest Disney news! Check out 10 ways EPCOT changed on September 22nd! 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! Are you a fan of Soarin’ Over California? Let us know in the comments. The post It’s Official. Soarin’ Around the World Has CHANGED in EPCOT first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’re planning a Disney World trip, you’ve probably read all the tips and tricks on how you can avoid long lines in the parks. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Heck, we probably even shared them. We know when you should plan your trip, whether or not you need Genie+, and how you can save the most money. One of our favorite tips is for the best time to ride every ride in Magic Kingdom… we just don’t really think you’re gonna like it. Okay, hear us out. The BEST time to ride every ride in Magic Kingdom might also be the WORST. This is entirely dependent on who you are and what your priorities are on your trip, but if you just stick with us, you might end up reading the tip that will totally change your Disney World game. So, when is the best time to ride EVERY ride in Magic Kingdom? Brace yourself — it’s during the fireworks show. That’s right, we frequently SKIP fireworks in Magic Kingdom in favor of fitting in as many rides as possible during that timeframe instead. We know, we know — how could we?! Happily Ever After But, y’all, when you see how low these wait times can get — even for the most popular rides — during fireworks, you might change your tune. Everyone else is crowded around Cinderella Castle watching the show, meanwhile, you’re bopping from Space Mountain to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train to Jungle Cruise and more. Space Mountain Of course, this isn’t the best time for everyone. Families with younger kids who have to pack it in early may not find this plan totally practical, as the end of the night can be dicey for little ones. Not only that, but if it’s your first time in Disney World or you just really, really love the pomp and circumstance of a fireworks show, this may be a non-starter. If no Disney World trip is complete for you without watching the Magic Kingdom fireworks show, then you might not consider this to actually be the best time. Happily Ever After If you’ve never seen a Magic Kingdom fireworks show, we recommend checking it out at least once. But when you take a look at the average wait times in Disney World, especially during the period when fireworks are happening, you can see that wait times decrease drastically. For seasoned veterans or people who just don’t really care about fireworks and are looking for thrills, avoid the crowds and have the time of your life instead! Just make sure you’re on the right side of the park once the fireworks start — you don’t want to have to deal with cutting through a crowd of thousands waiting for the show. On a similar note, lots of people think that Magic Kingdom closes when the fireworks are over — but that simply isn’t true! Depending on the date you’re visiting, it might not close until 10 or 11PM, meaning you have even more time to experience late-night rides. Crowds after fireworks Whew. We know that planning a Disney World trip is A LOT – which is why we bring you posts like this so often. But we’ve also put together a complete guide in ebook format that gives you all of the info you need, all in one place! Use code WDW2023 for 25% off our DFB Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World. We’ll be bringing you even more tips and tricks that can make your Disney World trip the best it can be, so stay tuned to DFB for more! The Ultimate Guide To Planning a Disney World Vacation 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 What’s your favorite Magic Kingdom hack? Tell us in the comments. The post This Is the BEST TIME to Ride Every Ride in Magic Kingdom -- But You're Not Gonna Like It first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Magic Kingdom is FULL of excellent live entertainment. Cinderella Castle In that park alone, you can catch the Dapper Dans singing on Main Street, U.S.A., Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire on the castle stage, and the Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade rolling down the streets in the evening. However, perhaps the most popular offering is the Festival of Fantasy Parade which runs through the park. The parade features a variety of characters from Fantasyland, including several popular princesses, Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, the Seven Dwarfs, and Mickey and friends. It runs from Frontierland through Liberty Square and down Main Street, U.S.A. Donald Duck! Typically, the parade takes place twice per day, with showtimes at noon and 3PM. However, that may be changing soon! According to the Disney World website, the Festival of Fantasy parade will drop to just the 3PM showtime starting on October 1st. Anna and Elsa in the Festival of Fantasy parade The schedule only lists 3PM showtimes through November 4th, which is as far as the calendar currently goes. We’ve seen the parade shift showtimes like this in the past, so it’s possible that it’s just a seasonal change. We’ll keep our eyes peeled for any other updates. Festival of Fantasy Stay tuned to DFB for more showtime and calendar news you need to know before your Disney World vacation! We’ll keep you in the loop with everything going on so that you’re prepared. Click Here to Get All the Details About Entertainment 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 Have you seen the Festival of Fantasy Parade? Tell us in the comments! The post WARNING: Festival of Fantasy Parade Times Are CHANGING in Magic Kingdom first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We are about to see some HUGE changes coming to Disney Parks. Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom We recently learned about some plans that Disney has for both Disney World and Disneyland, as well as learned a little more about some new offerings coming to Disney Cruise Line. Then, Disney decided to blow everyone’s minds by announcing it was going to spend $60 billion in the Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products segment of the company over the next 10 years. So what could Disney do with all that money? Let’s take a look. The past 10 years Let’s look at what Disney has done in the Parks, Experiences, and Products segment over the past decade on about HALF the budget it’s talking about here. Both Disney World and Disneyland both got HUGE expansions with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, featuring two new attractions. Hollywood Studios also got two new attractions with Toy Story Land. Pandora — with its two attractions — was added to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Pandora Both Disneyland and Disneyland Paris also got Marvel-themed expansions with Avengers Campus (and a new attraction is headed to Avengers Campus in Disneyland in Anaheim). A reimagined area, San Fransokyo Square, just opened in Disneyland. A Frozen-themed land will be opening soon for Hong Kong Disneyland, with a similar land coming to Disneyland Paris and Tokyo DisneySea. Tokyo DisneySea is also getting a huge expansion. ©Disney EPCOT has undergone a massive transformation. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is coming to Disneyland and Magic Kingdom. Several Disney hotels AROUND the world are getting reimagined. Disney Cruise Line has added one new ship, the Wish, with plans to add more. ©Disney Whew — that is a lot — and we didn’t even mention EVERYTHING. But like we said, the budget this time around has more than doubled. Look INSIDE Disney Cruise Line’s Newest Ship — The Treasure What’s next? Disney has made a statement about its big investment: “The Company is developing plans to accelerate and expand investment in its DPEP segment, to nearly double, as compared to the previous approximately 10-year period, consolidated capital expenditures for the segment over the course of an approximately 10-year period to approximately $60 billion in aggregate, including by investing in expanding and enhancing domestic and international parks and cruise line capacity, prioritizing projects anticipated to generate strong returns, consistent with the Company’s continuing approach to allocate capital in a disciplined and balanced manner.” Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Disney also shared in a report that there are more than 1,000 acres of land available for future expansions at its theme parks, spread out across the world. The land available could equal a total of seven new Disneylands. ©Disney Disney has made some announcements as to what’s coming next in Disney Parks and for Disney Cruise Line, and some of the things we’ve already mentioned as coming soon could be part of the $60 billion expansion. So let’s look at what’s already been confirmed for Disney Parks in the future. We’ll start with the Magic Kingdom expansion that Disney says will be the largest expansion EVER for Magic Kingdom. Magic Kingdom is about to get bigger The new expansion will be on a scale similar to Pandora and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, with new shows, attractions, and restaurants. Disney has previously floated around “Blue Sky” ideas for the expansion, including Encanto, Coco, or a Disney villains-inspired expansion. However, the Encanto idea might be reserved for the reimagining of DinoLand, U.S.A. in Animal Kingdom, a project that was also confirmed by the company. The theme will be the Tropical Americas. ©Disney Disneyland will also be getting a new Marvel-themed attraction, as we previously mentioned, but now that the DisneylandForward project is moving forward, Disney is teasing a potential Frozen land for that resort. A Wakanda/Black Panther-themed project has also been mentioned as a possibility for the West Coast. Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland This could be an opportunity for Disney to bring in some attractions and updates that were previously announced, but either postponed or potentially canceled. That includes a Mary Poppins attraction in EPCOT, Wondrous China, and an update to Spaceship Earth, all of which which were initially planned as part of EPCOT’s transformation. ©Disney That could also include Reflections — A Disney Lakeside Lodge that seems to have been canceled (although recent permits filed could suggest otherwise). Disney may also already have plans on what to do with the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Hotel that’s closing soon. Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Disney also has HUGE plans for Disney Cruise Line. Three new ships are on the way, plus a new private beach club. One of those new ships will be the first Disney ship to sail from Singapore and throughout Southeast Asia. Each new ship will bring a variety of new restaurants, entertainment, and more to Disney Cruise Line. ©Disney Finally, we know how everyone would love for Disney to announce a fifth park at Disney World. With the Magic Kingdom expansion already being planned, will we get another park? Well, if we want to speculate, it COULD happen, and this budget would certainly help Disney see through a project as big as that. However, we’ll say the focus seems to be on adding to existing parks, so we won’t be holding our breath. Disney Teases NEW Details on HUGE Magic Kingdom Expansion So where will all that money go? Well, beyond what Disney has already announced and confirmed, we can’t be sure. However, Disney’s theme parks and Disney Cruise Line are about to see a lot of new things over the next ten years, and that has us really excited. All The News Bombs Disney Hit Us With at Destination D23 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 do you think Disney will spend all that money on? Let us know in the comments! The post What Could Disney REALLY Do to Its Theme Parks With Billion? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Magic Kingdom is the flagship park of Disney World for many guests. Cinderella Castle It was the first park to open — in 1971, it’s known for its iconic attractions, and we can’t forget those unforgettable photos with Cinderella Castle in the background. However, it’s not known for great food, like some of the other Disney World parks. But there are some spots you won’t want to miss — here are the 4 restaurants you NEED to know about in Magic Kingdom. Jungle Navigation Co., Ltd. Skipper Canteen Starting off with a DFB favorite for many years, we love Skipper Canteen for a multitude of different reasons. Not only do we love the food here (and we’ll get into that in a second), but the theming here is immaculate, too. It’s themed after Jungle Cruise, a fan-favorite attraction in the park, and expands on the lore of the ride. The hilarious Jungle Cruise skippers are your waiters here — does it get any better than that? Skipper Canteen The food here is also more unique and unusual than what you’ll find around the park and most of the resort as a whole. The menu is inspired by cuisines around the world, so it’s a perfect fit for adventurous eaters. Skipper Canteen in Magic Kingdom Pricing here also isn’t too much of a hit to your wallet — adult entrées range from $21 to $38, and kids’ meals are $11 to $14. If you’re looking for a fun meal and to try something new, we highly recommend Skipper Canteen. Liberty Tree Tavern Liberty Tree Tavern is not talked about lots when you’re discussing Magic Kingdom, because it doesn’t have any meet and greets, its theming isn’t specifically tied to Disney (theming is instead tied to different United States historical figures), and it’s often forgotten about. Liberty Tree Tavern This meal is family-style with unlimited Thanksgiving-style food served all year round! We also love the cozy vibes that the restaurant gives off when you’re dining. What’s better than being comfortable while you eat comfort food? Liberty Tree Tavern Atmosphere Pricing here is also cheaper than many other table service meals. Dining here will cost you $39 per adult and $21 per child. Casey’s Corner We know, we know, Casey’s Corner is controversial! To some, this restaurant isn’t anything special — it’s got normal theme park offerings like corn dogs, fries, and more, but to others, that’s the whole reason they love it! Not because it has typical theme park food, but because it does it RIGHT. Casey’s Corner Despite the typical theme park food, many guests love the quality of food here, and picky eaters will be happy to find those corn dog nuggets on the menu. YUM Plus, you CANNOT beat the location. This quick-service restaurant sits right on Main Street U.S.A. in front of Cinderella Castle! However, be sure to dine here at off-peak times, because things can get really busy at meal times. Columbia Harbour House If you love seafood, Columbia Harbour House is the place for you! We know, you may be thinking “Seafood in a theme park?” But we promise, this is theme park seafood done right! Not to mention that this restaurant is overlooked by so many Disney-goers, so it’s often much less crowded than other spots. Columbia Harbour House However, along with the lobster roll, shrimp boil, and grilled salmon, you’ll also find chicken tenders and other non-seafood options for those who don’t eat it. Upstairs at Columbia Harbour House While this restaurant, once again, isn’t super “Disney-themed,” it fits in well with Liberty Square’s theming, and you’ll find plenty of indoor seating to beat the heat. Magic Kingdom With DOZENS of places to eat at Disney World, we know it can be tough to plan your meals. That’s why we wrote the DFB Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World. We have reviews, pictures, and details about every restaurant all in one digital download – along with ALL of our best tips and strategies from decades of Disney World trips. We’ve got a special discount code for DFB readers, too! Use WDW2023 at checkout for 25% off! As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news! These are the best restaurants in Disney World for 2024! Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide The Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants The Best EPCOT Restaurant Restaurants The Best Restaurants in Disney’s Hollywood Studios The Best Restaurants in Disney’s Animal Kingdom The Best Disney Springs Restaurants The Best (and Worst) Disney World Hotel Restaurants Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What else would you add to this list? Tell us in the comments! The post Magic Kingdom Has 43 Restaurants, But You Only Need To Know About 4 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We all want traveling to be as smooth and as efficient as possible. EPCOT We want to quickest and most direct flights, and we don’t like sitting in traffic. Well, there’s a new transportation method in town that might be the most efficient mode yet — and it opens today, September 22nd. The Brightline train is a high-speed train that services South Florida. For the first time ever, Orlando will be connected in an efficient and eco-friendly way. It all starts today, Friday, September 22nd. ©Brightline From the new Orlando station, you can travel to any of the other Brightline station destinations, which include West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Aventura, and Miami. Brightline’s “SMART” one-way tickets from Orlando start at $79 for adults and $39 for kids. Brightline’s goal was to develop a way to transport people who want to travel to destinations that are too long to drive but too short to fly. ©Brightline The new Orlando station is right at the Orlando International Airport in Terminal C, so if you’re flying into Orlando, it’s easy to hop on the train to your final destination. And if you’re traveling from your home in Orlando, they offer parking at the airport’s Garage C. And similar to air travel, they offer checked or carry-on bags. SMART fares for checked bags are $25 per bag. ©Brightline via The Orlando Sentinel With a train that can go up to 125 miles per hour, be prepared for a quick trip. You can book your tickets on their website now. For all your Disney news, check back to the Disney Food Blog! The CHEAPEST Way to Get To Disney World From the Orlando Airport 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 Do you plan to ride the high-speed Brightline train from Orlando? Let us know in the comments! The post NEWS: Brightline Begins High-Speed Rail Service to Orlando Airport first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

EPCOT has seen some major changes in the past few years, and even more are on the way! EPCOT The park is undergoing a massive transformation that’s set to be complete later this year, but already in 2023 there have been some new additions. The Figment meet and greet opened up, along with a few updated snack stands. But one big thing that came to EPCOT this year? A brand-new restaurant! Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya opened in the Japan Pavilion in August, and we stopped by right away to try out a BUNCH of eats. But during our visit, we learned one very cool thing about this restaurant and it’s menu! Shiki-Sai Throughout the year, the menu at Shiki-Sai will change repeatedly as the restaurant celebrates different seasonal Japanese festivals. Periodically, there will be a new celebration that you can enjoy from your table, “from hanging tanzaku to celebrate Tanabata in July to savoring moon-viewing dumplings in September.” During the meal, a cultural representative will guide you through the experience. Atmosphere from the summer festival And if you’re hoping to stop by soon, then you’ll be happy to know that they just made their first change! Shiki-Sai’s “Autumn Delight” includes maple trees at the entrances and inspiration from the moon. If you want to check it out, snag a reservation and head to the second floor of the Japan Pavilion! We’ll make sure to let you know if there are any other major changes at this restaurant, so stay tuned to DFB for the latest. We’ve got all the food recommendations and tips you need before your trip to Disney World! These Are the BEST Restaurants in EPCOT — Click Here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Have you been to Shiki-Sai yet? Tell us in the comments! The post The NEW Shiki-Sai Restaurant Has CHANGED in EPCOT first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Have you booked your 2024 Disney World vacation yet? Disney’s Contemporary Resort If not, what are you waiting for? It’s going to be a great year for visiting Disney World, and a lot of new stuff will be available then, too. You’ll be able to check out the transformed EPCOT, some new restaurants, and even a new attraction. Plus the Disney Dining Plan is coming back and many guests won’t need to make park pass reservations. Well, if you’re looking for a place to stay in 2024, look no further. THESE are the best Disney World hotels for 2024. Deluxe Resorts Disney’s Contemporary Resort So of all the deluxe hotels, Disney’s Contemporary Resort is the only Monorail resort that doesn’t have any construction going on at the moment. Both the Polynesian Village and Grand Floridian Resorts have construction projects going on right now (and many are expected to continue into 2024). Contemporary Resort The Contemporary Resort also has some fantastic dining PLUS a character dining experience, Chef Mickey’s. However, it’s also on the Monorail, which means you’re just a short ride away from Magic Kingdom. The rooms were recently re-done, too, and now have an Incredibles theme. Full Room Tour: Go Inside the ‘Incredibles’ Rooms at Disney’s Contemporary Resort! Disney’s Beach Club Resort Disney’s Beach Club will have a few bragging points come 2024. First, it’s within walking distance of EPCOT via International Gateway. EPCOT is going to be THE park to visit in 2024, thanks to everything new that’s part of its big transformation. Plus if you’re checking out one of EPCOT’s festivals, being close is always a good thing. That also gives you access to the Skyliner, too, if you want to visit Hollywood Studios, and other Skyliner resorts. Disney’s Beach Club Resort However, Beach Club also recently got new rooms, so you’ll be able to stay in rooms that have been thoroughly reimagined and refreshed. We also would be remiss if we didn’t mention that you’ll be close to Beaches and Cream, too, which is one of our favorite spots to grab food AND ice cream in the area. Get a peek at the new Beach Club rooms Moderate Resorts Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort When it comes to moderate resorts, you might want to consider Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. Why? Well, it’s a beautiful resort (although it is HUGE, which means a lot of walking). It’s also on the Skyliner for easy access to EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and other Skyliner resorts. Caribbean Beach Resort However, the biggest reason you might want to stay here in 2024 is that the rooms are getting a NEW Little Mermaid makeover. We’ve seen these rooms in person, and these will be a must for Ariel fans. Here’s a look at the new rooms at Caribbean Beach Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts If you’ve never stayed at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter or Disney’s Port Orleans — Riverside, you might just want to book a stay there now. Why? Well, first, these are two of the most underrated resorts on Disney World property. But mostly, we’re just going to say it — go for the food. You’ll have access to some amazing restaurants with foods inspired by New Orleans — did someone say beignets? Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Speaking of beignets, did you know they were previously included with the Disney Dining Plan as a snack? We’re not 100% sure they’ll still qualify in 2024, but if they do, you can get THREE beignets for one snack credit. How’s that for a deal? FULL TOUR: Come Check Out a Port Orleans Riverside Standard Hotel Room With Us in Disney World! Value Resorts Disney’s Pop Century Resort Disney’s Pop Century Resort might have some of THE best theming on Disney World property. It offers a nod to pop culture throughout the decades, and y’all, this resort is just fun. We also like how it’s a little smaller than the other value resorts, which means less walking at the end of the day when you’re going back to your room. Pop Century However, Pop Century has something else going for it, too: it shares a Skyliner station with Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. Fun hotel? Check. Skyliner access? Check. Sure, it can be a little pricier than the All-Star Resorts, but we think it’s worth it. While you’re there, don’t forget to try the infamous Tie-Dye Cheesecake. Tour A Room at Disney World’s Pop Century Resort So if you’re booking a trip to Disney World in 2024, we recommend you consider these hotels. Remember, though, that your needs for accommodations might be different from someone else’s, so wherever you choose, you’re still sure to have a great trip. Stay tuned to DFB for more. 6 Lies Everyone Believes About Disney World Hotels 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 Are you going to Disney World in 2024? Where are you staying? Let us know in the comments! The post The Best Disney World Hotels for 2024 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

As fall returns to Disney Parks and Resorts, the Global Disney Ambassador Program is currently selecting cast members for two-year terms representing Disney destinations around the world. I served as a 2001-2002 Disney Ambassador at Walt Disney World and now lead the program in Florida. During my experience, I learned what makes Disney special – […]View the full article

Avengers Vault Now Open in Disney California Adventure ParkView the full article

A Disney World vacation is overwhelming to most people, and some folks might need a little extra assistance with their arsenal of patience and ways to navigate the complicated and crowded parks. EPCOT And that’s where the Disability Access Service (DAS) comes in. Disney has long earned a reputation for being an accommodating vacation destination for families that have a wide range of health or nutritional needs to work around, and the DAS system is just one of those tools to help families have the Disney vacation that fits with their family needs. Let’s review a little about the DAS system and then walk you through how to get signed up for it, if it’s right for you and your family. DAS Overview Disability Access Service (DAS) is designed to accommodate guests and their families who have difficulty tolerating extended waits in a conventional queue environment due to a disability. The service allows you to schedule a return time that is comparable to the current queue wait for the given attraction. It does not provide immediate attraction access. Pirates of the Caribbean Once a return time is issued, you can enjoy other theme park offerings while you wait virtually for the return time to arrive, as opposed to waiting in the queue. When you redeem a return time, you can book another return time for the same or a different attraction. So think of it like having access to a Virtual Queue for all of the attractions. DAS Advance In addition to the traditional DAS system, Disney has recently introduced DAS Advance. It is a new, enhanced feature of the popular DAS program. During the DAS Advance video conference, you can select and book up to 2 DAS Advance selections for each day of your visit (subject to availability). China If a selection is available, you will be given a one-hour time period during the day of the visit to redeem the selection. Selections are valid for use only on the date and during the one-hour time period chosen and cannot be transferred. If you don’t pre-register for DAS, you will not be eligible to receive the DAS Advance selections. Once you pre-register for DAS, you’ll be able to proceed to the booked attraction to confirm your identity before being able to use your DAS selections. Test Track To maximize the benefits of DAS, you should plan ahead using available information to develop a tentative plan for your visit. Current and forecasted future wait times can be found in the Disney Genie service app tool, in addition to ride locations and attraction access options. DAS can also be used in addition to Disney’s Genie+ service and individual paid attraction selections. Step-By-Step Registration Process There are 2 ways you can register for DAS. The recommended option is to register in advance via live video chat between 2 and 30 days prior to a park visit. If deemed eligible for DAS, you (or a parent/guardian if the guest is under 18 years of age) will participate in a virtual registration process. The individual utilizing DAS must be introduced on the video call, and a photo will be taken of them. At the end of that process, you will then be able to select up to 2 DAS Advance selections for select attractions (subject to availability). If you can’t pre-register for DAS, you can register in person with a Cast Member at Guest Relations on the day of your visit. There are 2 ways to register for DAS: (1) pre-arrival via live video chat or (2) on-site at Guest Relations. A new option is to pre-register virtually with a Cast Member via live video chat between 2 to 30 days in advance of a park visit. Please note: At this time, live chat is offered in English only. Hi, Minnie! If you haven’t pre-registered, you should go to Guest Relations to request assistance. We went to the experts Locations at Walt Disney World Resort include: City Hall at Magic Kingdom The Guest Relations lobby (near the Main Entrance) at Animal Kingdom The Guest Relations lobby (near the Main Entrance) at Hollywood Studios The Guest Relations lobby (near Spaceship Earth) at EPCOT Guest Experience Team kiosks If DAS is provided, you (or a parent/guardian) will participate in a registration process, which requires having a photo taken. Miracle workers Your DAS is valid for up to 60 days. If you visit Disney World multiple times throughout the year or are a local visiting the parks, you’ll need to repeat the process to keep your DAS up to date. If Disney determines that any of the statements an individual requesting DAS access has made in the process of obtaining DAS are not true, that individual will be permanently barred from entering Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort, and any previously purchased annual passes, Magic Key passes, tickets and other park products and services will be forfeited and not refunded. Disney World Secrets No One Will Tell You (But We Will) 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 Have you used DAS in the Disney Parks before? Let us know about your experience in the comments below! The post Step By Step Guide to Getting a DAS Pass in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Being a Disney World Annual Passholder has its perks! Oswald the Lucky Rabbit magnet! Free parking, dining and merchandise discounts, and ride previews are just some of the benefits of getting an Annual Pass. Recently, we picked up an Oswald the Lucky Rabbit magnet and tried some new Oswald treats to go along with it — all exclusive to Passholders! But did you know there is an exclusive shopping event going on just for Passholders? We stopped by to check it out — come see how it went! The Annual Passholder shopping event takes place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex from September 20th to 23rd, 2023 from 10AM to 7PM. ESPN Wide World of Sports During the event, Passholders have early access to purchase new trading pins and Pandora charms (including access to a special Pandora charm just for Disney World Resort Annual Passholders), 60% off select merchandise, photo opportunities, and even special food and beverage offerings! Photo opportunities When we stopped by, there were a few fun photo ops, like this retro Mickey Mouse scene… So cute! …and this Mickey house scene with a toon convertible! Photo op As for the shopping, there were tons of options, many of them heavily discounted! Look at all of that merch! We even spotted Mr. Toad’s Popcorn Bucket for $5! Mr. Toad Popcorn Bucket And don’t worry, Mobile Checkout is available, so you won’t have to worry about long lines when making your purchases. Mobile Checkout If you want to check it out, make sure to sign up for the Virtual Queue, which opens at 8AM! Once your group is called, you’ll have a 2-hour window to arrive. Welcome, Passholders! As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news! NEW Annual Passholder DISCOUNT Announced for 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 is your favorite Annual Passholder perk? Let us know in the comments below! The post How To Get a HUGE Discount on Souvenirs in Disney World This Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There are some Disney souvenirs that we just can’t seem to have too much of. Disney Merchandise From Minnie Ears to the adorable enamel pins you can find throughout the parks, there’s always something that we’re whipping our credit cards out for. If you’re in the same boat and find it hard to resist adorable Disney merchandise, go ahead and stop reading now. You don’t want to stop reading? Well, don’t say we didn’t warn you. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. There’s a NEW Disney Loungefly at Hot Topic, and it might just be one of our favorites we’ve seen in a while. Check it out! Grab the Winnie the Pooh Sweets Mini Backpack ©HotTopic This mini backpack features the perfect mix of sweet treats and Winnie the Pooh and friends. On the front of the bag, you’ll see a donut that looks like Pooh, which is also a zippered pocket. The bag has red straps and silver hardware, and an all-over print of the beloved Hundred Acre Woods friends AS DESSERTS. View on Hot Topic Here’s a look at the back of the bag. ©Hot Topic And the inside of the bag features a lining that has bumblebee candies. How cute is that?! ©Hot Topic So, what do YOU think of this bag? Will you be adding it to your collection? We’ll continue to keep you updated with more Disney news — new merchandise included. Make sure to follow along so that you never miss a thing. Looking for more Disney essentials that you can shop online? Click here! The post ALERT! There's a NEW Disney Loungefly Backpack Online Now! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Have you ever traveled internationally and had to wait for HOURS to get through customs clearance once you arrive at your destination? Orlando International Airport The long lines, the hassle, having to dig your passport out and present it — it can be a lot, especially if you’ve been on a red-eye flight and you’re jet lagged and exhausted from traveling all day. Well, one airport is about to make the entire process easier — right down to you being able to leave your passport at home. According to CNN, Singapore’s Changi Airport is changing its immigration clearance process by making it all automated. The new system, which will start in 2024, will use biometric data, which will allow passengers to leave the airport without ever having to flash a passport. You might not need this if you travel to Singapore Changi Airport is already using biometric technology, including facial recognition software, in some capacity, so expanding it seemed like a no-brainer. “Singapore will be one of the first few countries in the world to introduce automated, passport-free immigration clearance,” Communications Minister Josephine Teo announced recently. This change will “reduce the need for passengers to repeatedly present their travel documents at touch points and allow for more seamless and convenient processing.” ©Changi Airport Biometrics will be used to create a “single token of authentication.” This will be used at touch points in the immigration screening area, which will take the place of travelers needing to dig out their boarding passes and passports. However, if you’re traveling to another country that requires passports, you’ll still need that passport to enter. It certainly seems like a way to speed up the immigration clearance process and make it a lot less stressful. Will other airports eventually adopt this? Well, we don’t know, although some airports and airlines have already started using biometric data like facial recognition. Only time will tell if it catches on! Airplane Stay tuned to DFB for more updates on all the latest travel news. Getting a Passport Is About to Get Easier 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 do you think of this change? Let us know in the comments! The post One Airport Will Go PASSPORT FREE in 2024! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There are a lot of souvenirs in Disney World. And we mean a LOT. Mickey’s of Hollywood 100th Anniversary merchandise Spread across dozens of stores in the parks, resorts, and Disney Springs, there are probably thousands of items that you can peruse and purchase. With so many options it’s hard to choose! But besides the plethora of souvenirs available now, there are some things that Disney no longer sells. Before we start our list of defunct Disney souvenirs, let’s just issue a caveat that sometimes you can find these things in the park, especially if they’re part of a retro collection. But for the most part, these six items are things you probably shouldn’t have on your shopping list…lest you be disappointed. Splash Mountain Souvenirs First up, there’s the obvious one — Splash Mountain souvenirs. When Disney announced the ride’s closure during the pandemic, it caused the price of Br’er Rabbit and Splash Mountain merchandise to skyrocket on resell websites like eBay. The gift shop is now closed! When the parks reopened, the line for the Splash Mountain gift shop was HOURS long, and the merchandise sold out quickly, only coming back into stock occasionally before the ride closed in January 2023. Now, you won’t typically find anything related to the ride in Magic Kingdom or elsewhere. Splash Mountain Soon, we’ll probably be getting Tiana’s Bayou Adventure merchandise to replace it! Merch With Old EPCOT Names Ever since EPCOT first opened, it has seen a few name changes. With the announcement of the park’s transformation, it was rebranded to EPCOT (in all caps), but it was previously called both Epcot and EPCOT Center. ©D23 Nowadays, you’ll be hard-pressed to find any EPCOT-specific merchandise without the new branding on it. We did see some old EPCOT Center items released for the park’s 40th Anniversary, but that was a special occasion. And with the completion of the park transformation later in 2023, the new branding is here to stay! MGM Studios Merchandise Speaking of name changes, there’s another park we have to mention! Classic Disney fans will remember that Hollywood Studios was originally called MGM Studios when it opened, but the name was changed in early 2008. MGM Studios dedication plaque Ever since, the park has seen quite a few changes, with the removal of some of the Hollywood-esque theming to make way for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land. Now that the name has been around for 15 years, you’d probably find it difficult to get your hands on any MGM Studios merch, unless Disney does a throwback collection. Souvenirs From Closed Attractions Going along the same lines, it will probably also be difficult to find souvenirs for other attractions (besides Splash Mountain) that have closed. If you’re a fan of bygone offerings like Universe of Energy, Wishes, ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter, Horizons, Maelstrom, The Great Movie Ride, or countless others, you may just have to live through memories. ©Disney However, there IS an exception to this! We’ve sometimes been able to find souvenirs for closed Disney World attractions if they still exist on the West Coast. For example, we’ve seen plenty of merchandise for Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride because it’s still in Disneyland Park and we often get many of the same items in our gift shops that they do. The Original MagicBands Ever since MagicBands were introduced in 2013, they’ve been through a couple of iterations. The original MagicBands were straight-sided and didn’t have the removable center puck that later models did. Black Cauldron MagicBand+ Now, the only MagicBand types available in the parks are the MagicBand 2 and the MagicBand+. If you have an old MagicBand from a previous vacation, you can still use it as long as the battery isn’t dead. But that original design isn’t available for purchase in Disney World anymore. Click Here to Learn More About MagicBand+! Antenna Toppers And finally, we have to mention antenna toppers! These were a popular Disney World souvenir ages ago, but these days, not as many cars have antennas that need to be topped! Cars heading into the Magic Kingdom parking lot You can still occasionally find antenna toppers in Disney World, but they’re not just hanging out by the checkout counter at all the big stores like they used to be. A true relic of the past! So those are some of the souvenirs that you likely won’t find in Disney World anymore. The good news is that there are still thousands of items for you to choose from in a variety of price ranges — we usually have a hard time choosing what to buy! 5 Essential Disney World Souvenirs — Click Here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Which extinct souvenirs would you want to bring back? Tell us in the comments! The post 6 Souvenirs Disney World Had to Stop Selling first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

A CRIME has been committed in Disney World. Disney’s Hollywood Studios Okay, maybe it’s not technically a crime, but it should be illegal based on our feelings and the general consensus of the entire Internet. Well, okay, again, it’s not technically the entire Internet and more like a niche sect of our followers, but still. Disney World is changing all the time, but we were shocked when we came across what can only be described as a pig-napping. Miss Piggy has vanished from Disney’s Hollywood Studios! She’s normally prominently displayed as the central pig-ure of Grand Avenue and Muppets Courtyard, dressed in her best Statue of Liberty outfit, guiding us all to Rat Pizza and hilarious jokes. Check her out below, in all her glory, looking magnificent as ever — a beacon to lost souls looking for passive aggression (just kidding, Miss Piggy, we love you!) Grand Avenue So imagine our surprise when we were on our way to this porcine princess’ place of residence only to find that she was GONE. A pig-napping has been committed in Hollywood Studios and we’re not quite sure who to blame. Instead of being greeted by Her Royal Hogness, we were faced with those infamous Disney World construction bushes surrounding her fountain. Where has she gone? Was she taken or has she decided to leave us? We haven’t seen Kermit lately, perhaps the two have decided to abscond into the night on a romantic getaway. But, what if foul play is afoot and Miss Piggy is being held for ransom until Kermit pays up?! WHERE IS SHE?! It’s not just us who are deeply disturbed by this disappearance, either. Our social media followers have lamented that Miss Piggy is missing too, saying that they’re heartbroken and that she was just here. We also can’t help but agree with our reader who said that they hope whoever (cough, cough, DISNEY) took her brings her back soon. Where has she gone? BRB, gotta go call our pal Kermit so we can get to the bottom of this. Of course, it’s quite possible that Disney has decided to send Miss Piggy out to the finest Swine Spa around for a bit of maintenance and is just doing some refurbishment to this area, but we think the pig-napping situation is far more likely. We’ll be on the lookout for clues to Miss Piggy’s potential whereabouts, so stay tuned to DFB for more! EPCOT’s Tiny Train Town Is Under Attack 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 do you think happened to Miss Piggy? Tell us in the comments. The post People Are LOSING IT Over This Missing Part of Disney's Hollywood Studios first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Yes, we are Disney Food Blog, but we can’t resist a McDonald’s trip every now and then to check out their latest additions. McDonald’s has already served up Pumpkin Spice Lattes, 50-cent cheeseburgers, and Pokémon Happy Meals in the last month, and now we’ve got another item to get excited about. For a limited time, a fan-favorite is back at select stores around the country! According to McDonalds, the Spicy Chicken McNuggets are BACK! These McNuggets are “breaded in a crispy coating, flavorfully spiced with a blend of aged cayenne and chili pepper.” ©McDonald’s You’ll be able to find a 4-piece, 6-piece, 10-piece, 20-piece, and 40-piece option at participating stores — but they won’t be around for long! McDonald’s hasn’t shared an end date, so make sure to look for them at a store near you soon. McDonald’s As always, stay tuned DFB for all the latest Disney news! Chicken-Stuffed Mickey Waffles on a Stick Exist in Disney World. You’re Welcome. 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 is your favorite McDonald’s order? Let us know in the comments below! The post HURRY! A Fan-Favorite McDonald’s Item Is BACK for a Limited Time! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article