Disney4me

Disney’s BoardWalk has seen some changes recently, with even more to come. Disney’s BoardWalk When we heard The Cake Bake Shop was coming to Disney World, we were beyond excited! Sweet and savory menus, afternoon tea service, a whimsical atmosphere…who wouldn’t be excited?! So, in preparation for the opening of this new restaurant, we interviewed the owner, Gwendolyn Rogers, and took a look at what the menu and pricing could be. The restaurant was supposed to open in 2023, but now we just got word that is not happening. The Cake Bake Shop will be opening at Disney World’s BoardWalk in early 2024 (the previous timeline was late 2023). The Cake Bake Shop shared this update on Instagram, “All of us at The Cake Bake Shop are eager to unveil the beautiful details and charm that are coming to Disney’s BoardWalk! As the excitement is building and our hearts are brimming with anticipation, we expect to open our doors early next year to welcome you to an unforgettable dining experience. ” Bakery Case at the Cake Bake Shop in Indianapolis We have been tracking the progress of the construction of the new building and when we stopped by recently, this was the current state of construction. We are eager for this location to open and for us to taste some delicious treats. Until then, we’ll be dreaming about the items that we could be seeing here. Cake Bake Shop in September 2023 There are two other locations (which both reside in Indiana), and they offer items like Hor D’Oeuvres, Charcuterie Boards, Quiches, Cakes, Cookies, Pies, Champagnes, and Cocktails! ©The Cake Bake Shop We’re looking forward to hearing more information about The Cake Bake Shop, and what we can expect from this new spot! Be sure to check out our interview with the owner, Gwendolyn Rogers. Or, if you want to look at the menu from the other locations, check out our post here! ©The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers And we’ll continue to bring you the latest updates about this location, so stay tuned to DFB! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Are you looking forward to the opening of this new restaurant? Let us know in the comments! The post NEWS: Opening Date for a NEW Disney World Restaurant Has Been DELAYED first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

One of the most important parts of your Disney World trip (in our opinion) is what you choose to eat! There are lots of great options for snacks and meals in the parks, but there are also some less-than-stellar eats to watch out for. Full Spread at Yak & Yeti Local Foods Cafe We’re in Disney World every single day, and we’ve tried just about everything there is to eat there. We’re here to help you find the best possible food, drinks, and snacks! Come along with us to see the best places to eat in Disney World. In this post, we ranked a few of the best table service (sit-down) restaurants, some of the best counter service (fast food-style) restaurants, and the best places to get a snack or treat at every single Disney World park, at Disney Springs, and at the hotels. Of course, there are a lot more options than what’s listed here, but we focused on only the BEST eats for this list. Steakhouse 71 — Disney’s Contemporary Resort Opened in 2021 at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, this restaurant has a traditional American steakhouse vibe, with varying menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Steakhouse 71 Stack Burger and Wedge Salad We’re not always the biggest fans of sit-down meals in Magic Kingdom, and if you aren’t either, then this restaurant is just a short walk away, a little reprieve from a busy park day. We have to recommend the burger (it’s a classic!) and the French Onion Soup has been a favorite for many as well. Read Our Steakhouse 71 Dinner Review Here! Victoria & Albert’s — Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa And finally, we have to mention the king of all Disney World restaurants, Victoria & Albert’s. This AAA five-diamond restaurant is a culinary experience for those truly dedicated to finding the BEST food on property. During your meal you’ll be served by two dedicated servers and treated to personalized menus. Chardonnay Time The Chef’s Tasting Menu in the main dining room includes between eight and twelve courses. It’s a multi-hour experience, and it’s certainly a meal you won’t soon forget! Click Here to See Our Review of Victoria & Albert’s! Yachtsman Steakhouse — Disney’s Yacht Club Resort There are several dining rooms with an upscale vibe. You’ll spot lots of wood incorporated into the design of the space, with those nautical details, and plenty of natural light (if you happen to dine here before sunset). The streamlined curves, natural woods, and soft linens all lend themselves to that classic nautical feeling. 8-oz Filet Mignon And while the upholstery isn’t going to captivate you, the showpiece of the restaurant is the open kitchen and the butcher block where you watch as chefs expertly carve out each unique steak — because the real star here is the meat. No fireworks or characters at this restaurant, because you’ll want to focus all of your attention on the prime choice cut of steak you’re about to enjoy. You Won’t Be Mad at Yachtsman Steakhouse in Disney World… Probably Quick Service Capt. Cook’s — Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is home to SO MANY great dining options, but one of our favorite spots for a quick bite is Capt. Cook’s! Consistently, this location is a fan favorite. We told you it’s massive! This counter-service location usually serves up Tonga Toast at breakfast and pulled pork nachos that are worth leaving Magic Kingdom for! The One Disney World Restaurant Where You Can’t Avoid Disney Adults Primo Piatto — Disney’s Riviera Resort Primo Piatto is a quick-service location at Disney’s Riviera Resort, the newest hotel in Disney World. The decor features black and white photos of Walt Disney and vintage lighting fixtures. Take the Disney Skyliner as a fun way to get here. Croque Monsieur at Primo Piatto Offering several Italian and French-inspired dishes and salads, burgers, and quick snacks, The Croque Monsieur gets rave reviews! Disney Food Blog Review: No Lie…We May Have Found the Perfect Disney World Lunch Lounge/Bar California Grill Lounge — Disney’s Contemporary Resort You’ve heard about that amazing fireworks view at the California Grill, well, at the Lounge you can see the fireworks without having to first secure a reservation. California Grill Lounge – watch the Magic Kingdom’s fireworks from here! The lounge is first come, first served, and as you can imagine, people tend to try to get a table around fireworks time. A great tip is to go earlier in the evening to avoid the fireworks rush, because as long as you return with your receipt, you can still access the observation area to watch the fireworks. Click here to see the latest menu changes at California Grill! Crew’s Cup Lounge — Disney’s Yacht Club Resort This favorite, located at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, is just a cozy little lounge, but the menu features some of the most amazing food from the adjacent Yachtsman Steak House. If it’s a full-on prime rib dinner you’re looking for, you’ve found it here. Crew’s Cup Signature Old Fashioned You can also enjoy bar snacks like truffle fries, and the menu features all of your classic lounge favorites like scotch and cognac, plus an extensive wine list and some local draft beer. Have you overlooked THIS Walt Disney World steakhouse? Enchanted Rose Lounge — Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa A lounge based on a love story? Awwww, yes, please! Set in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, The Enchanted Rose Lounge serves up sips and snacks in a space reminiscent of that tale as old as time, Beauty and the Beast. New eats at Enchanted Rose Lounge And because this is the Grand Floridian, you won’t find pub grub here. The menu takes your average bar food and makes it both elegant and enticing. With options like Crab Macaroni and Cheese, Artisanal Cheese Selection, and the famous Truffle Fries, you won’t even miss the Grey Stuff — the whole menu is delicious. See the complete list of restaurants at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa Geyser Point Bar and Grill — Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Not quite a pool bar, Geyser Point Bar and Grill is just near the main pool at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Nestled in the Pacific Northwest setting of the resort, the open-air bar has both a table service lounge and a walk-up quick service counter. The menu has excellent options for the foodie in the family. Charcuterie Board Drinks here take on the Pacific Northwest theme of the resort and some native beers. But one of the real draws of this bar is the location. The Wilderness Lodge is already beautiful, but with the waterfront views offered at this location, and the fireplace to warm up to on a cool evening, it’s easy to see why this ranks among our favorite spots. There are Mickey-shaped WHAT at this Wilderness Lodge restaurant? Tambu Lounge — Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort What could be better than listening to Polynesian music while sipping a fruity tropical drink out of a pineapple? Doing it at the Tambu Lounge at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. The Lapu Lapu, served in a whole pineapple, is a treat right off the beach in Hawaii, with dark rum and tropical fruit. You can almost feel the beach breeze. Lapu Lapu Even more tastes of the tropics can be found in the Hawaiian Mule or the Polynesian Mai Tai. A NEW $32 POG Juice and Souvenir Cup Combo Is Available in Disney World! Territory Lounge — Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Warm wood, cozy seating, and soft lighting aren’t the only highlights of the Territory Lounge. And while a lot of the top bars and lounges on our list get there based on elaborate theming or unique drinks, this hang-out is a standout when it comes to lounge eats. The menu varies seasonally, so you are likely to find a seasonal soup, plus there’s usually a charcuterie and a mouth-watering dessert. Territory Popcorn Sampler You’ll find this lounge tucked behind the great fireplace at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Is Disney’s Wilderness Lodge the right resort for you? Find out HERE. Three Bridges Bar and Grill — Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Create your own Sangria. Need I go any further? Three Bridges Bar and Grill at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is the home of Sangria University where an actual sangria sommelier will educate you on sangria. Guys, you can get a SANGRIA DIPLOMA. Okay, we may be a little too excited, but what an incredibly unique experience, and one of the big reasons Three Bridges makes our favorites list. A Pretty Drink with a Pretty View The bar has a bright, tropical feel with some comfy seating options, and the eats here are pretty darned delicious. The shareables, like the house-made guacamole and the roasted corn dip, are crowd pleasers; and the entrees like the poke bowls and the steak frites pack a flavorful punch (just ask for the fries on the side if you go for the steak frites to avoid losing some of the crispness of the fries). Check out the Sangria Flight at Three Bridges Bar and Grill Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto — Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Jungle Cruise fans will remember Trader Sam from his days as the “head salesman” in the jungle, but you gotta love his side hustle. Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto brings to light Sam’s devotion to drinks, and his mad love for mixology. We love hanging out in here! Tucked into a back corner of Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, this lounge is a little crazy and a lot of fun. And if you’re looking for some kid-free time, you’ll find it here after 8PM. Top 16 Bars and Lounges at Walt Disney World There you have it! All the best restaurants in Disney World, whether you’re looking for a sit-down meal, a quick bite, or just some dessert. 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. Take the DFB Guide Wherever You Go 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! And keep following the DFB Blog for more updates on all the newest eats 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 What’s your favorite thing to eat in Disney World? Let us know in the comments. The post We’ve Eaten at Every Disney World Restaurant. These Are the Best. first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It might seem like it just became socially acceptable to start celebrating the fall season and Halloween, and already, folks are preparing for the next big holiday. Magic Kingdom during the holidays Yes, we’re talking about Christmas! Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Disney World is a fan-favorite ticketed event in Magic Kingdom where you’ll join Mickey and his friends in celebrating the jolliest time of the year. Tickets for this holiday party went on sale back in July, but if you’re hoping to snag tickets of your own soon, we have a bit of a warning. The first date for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party has officially SOLD OUT. If you were hoping to attend the first holiday party of the year on November 9th and haven’t yet purchased tickets, we’re sad to say that this date is now unavailable. ©Disney There is good news, though! So far, this is the ONLY party date that has sold out. You still have lots of dates to choose from. Christmas in Disney World! However, we have a feeling that dates closer to Thanksgiving and Christmas will be the next to sell out — based on how things have gone in the past. The holidays So, let this post be your sign. If you’re hoping to get holly and jolly with Mickey and the gang this year, you might wanna go ahead and snag some tickets. We’ll continue to keep you updated with more Disney news, so make sure to follow along for more so that you never miss a thing. Hoping to check out Disney’s NEWEST holiday party? Click here to see details on the upcoming Jollywood Nights. DON'T MISS A MOMENT OF HOLIDAY MAGIC The DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays 2023 is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World. It includes over 400 pages of must-have information, including: A full What's New!! chapter for the 2023 Holiday Season The COMPLETE schedule of events for the Holiday Season How to avoid the crowds on Disney World's busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!) ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM. And, of course, we'll tell you where to eat! Save 20% on the 2023 DFB Guide to the Walt Disney World® Holidays with code PEPPERMINT. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW MORE Disney World Holiday INFO! Learn About Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Get the Latest Information About the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays We’ll Take This Little Golden Disney Book in Our Stocking, Santa! Everything You Need to Know About Disney World Holiday Dining and Events What We Wish We’d Known Before Going to Disney World During the Holidays Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest holiday news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Have you already purchased tickets for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party? Let us know in the comments! The post WARNING: Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party Is Starting to SELL OUT in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Fun Spot America with Parks in Kissimmee, Orlando, and Atlanta is offering a fantastic Military Discount! Fun Spot America Theme Parks is a family-owned business with a long history in the Orlando area. Starting with go-carts back in the 70s they now have big thrill rides as well as family friendly and kid rides. Fun Spot has […] The post Fun Spot America Military Discount appeared first on Military Disney Tips Blog. View the full article

Changes in Disney World menus get us excited! Cookies and Cream Milkshake Why? Because that means we sometimes find a new favorite treat (like a new POG drink in Disney Springs) or a favorite new dessert at one of Disney World’s many restaurants. Yes, those changes also sometimes leave us sad (like when a favorite treat goes away), but change is a healthy part of what makes Disney World so fun to visit often! So let’s take a look at how some menus at Disney World’s restaurants have changed this past week. Magic Kingdom Main Street Bakery The Slow-Roasted Ham, Swiss & Egg Croissant is now gone from the menu. Main Street Bakery Everything else, though, is still available. We Ditched the PSL for Starbucks’ NEW Fall Drink, and We Have Zero Regrets Disney’s Beach Club Resort Martha’s Vineyard The Beer and Cider menu has one change: the Boulevard Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale has been removed from the menu. Martha’s Vineyard That’s the only update here. Has Disney World Gone TOO Far With Their Creative Drinks?! You Tell Us! Cape May Cafe Some beers have been removed from the menu at Cape May Cafe: Boulevard Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale and New Belgium Fat Tire. Cape May Cafe There haven’t been any other changes, though. Why You Shouldn’t Sleep on Cape May Cafe Character Dining in Disney World Hurricane Hanna’s Disney World pool bars are having a bit of a shake-up this week. Here’s what’s been removed from the menu at Hurricane Hanna’s: Cutwater Canned Cocktails, Bud Light Lime, Concrete Beach Havana Lager, Kona Longboard Island Lager, Blue Point Imperial Sunshine Blonde Ale, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, SweetWater 420 Extra Pale Ale, and Sierra Nevada Tropical Torpedo IPA. Hurricane Hanna’s Whew — that’s a lot! Does The Latest Fishbowl Cocktail In Disney World Stack Up To The Reigning Champion?? Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Banana Cabana Pool Bar We’re seeing similar changes at Caribbean Beach’s pool bar. The following drinks have been removed: Bud Light Lime, Heineken, Concrete Beach Havana Lager, and Blue Point Imperial Sunshine Blonde Ale. Banana Cabana Again, those are the only changes, though. Cheers! We’ve Got Updates on A Few NEW and Old Drinks of Disney World! Disney’s Contemporary Resort Chef Mickey’s Even Chef Mickey’s had a booze shake-up this week. This was what was removed from the menu: Boulevard Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale, 3 Daughters St. Pete Beach Blonde Ale, Florida Beer Co. Sunshine State Amber Lager, Florida Beer Co. Key West Sunset Ale, and Tampa Bay Brewing Reef Donkey Pale Ale. Chef Mickey’s! There were no changes to the food menu. A WARNING About Going to Chef Mickey’s for Lunch Outer Rim The Outer Rim removed Boulevard Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale and New Belgium Citradelic Tangerine IPA from the menu. Outer Rim It’s a bad week for some beers in Disney World this week! Disney Food Blog Review: Outer Rim Lounge at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Oasis Bar & Grill The ‘Ōlelo Chardonnay and ‘Ōlelo Cabernet Sauvignon are now off the menu. Oasis Bar and Grill Nothing else has changed. We Slowed Down for Lunch at Disney World’s Oasis Bar and Grill Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort Silver Screen Spirits Pool Bar Well, we’ve got some bad news. One of our favorite drinks, the Pineapple Dole Whip Smoothie, is no longer available at the Silver Screen Spirits Pool Bar. The Dole Whip Smoothie! We’re going to miss you, Dole Whip Smoothie. Read our review of this smoothie Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort Artist’s Palette Yogurt Dipper Kid’s Pack has been added to the Kid’s menu at Artist’s Palate. The Artist’s Palette It’s vanilla-flavored Greek yogurt with blueberries and whole-grain graham crackers for $6.49. This Is Why We’re Telling You to LEAVE the Disney World Parks Disney’s All-Star Music Resort Singing Spirits Pool Bar Some beers have been removed from the menu at Singing Spirits: Bud Light Lime, Heineken, Concrete Beach Havana Lager, Blue Point Imperial Sunshine Blonde Ale, Sierra Nevada Tropical Torpedo IPA, and Leinenkugel’s Seasonal. Singing Spirits Pool Bar Those are the only updates here. Boba and Wine?! We’re All About This Drink in Disney World! Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort End Zone Food Court Three salads have been removed from the menu at this food court: Caesar Salad with Shrimp, Greek Salad with Shrimp, and Greek Salad with Chicken. End Zone Food Court No other changes are happening here. SKIP the Churro Sundae at EPCOT — We Found a BETTER One at a Disney Hotel! Disney Springs Terralina Crafted Italian The House-made Lasagna changed from $25 to $26. Housemade Lasagna No other changes were spotted here. Is Disney Springs Newest Brunch Spot a Total FLOP? So what happens if you have your heart set on a certain menu item and you’re not sure if it will stick around? Well, you can always keep an eye on the Disney World website or the My Disney Experience app and check menus there. We’ll also do our best to keep you updated on restaurant menu changes, too. 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! 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 have Disney World menu changes affected your restaurant plans in Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post Menus Change at 13 Disney World Restaurants first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There is SO much to do in EPCOT. EPCOT Not only can you walk around the world (World Showcase, that is) and visit all the Kidcot stations, but you can also play a virtual game as you walk around the park, eat and drink your way around the World Showcase pavilions, and even dine in SPACE. But did you know about the secret trivia game you can play for FREE to win a prize? We’re going to tell you where this secret game is. You’ll need to head towards the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Greece Booth. Greece Booth Look for the festival market next to the booth — there, you might find a trivia game! (Note that it may not always be out — we spotted it during our recent trip to this park.) You get to choose what category of trivia you want to play: EPCOT, Encanto, or Figment. Pick your category and answer four questions correctly, and you get a prize! Trivia! Sounds fun, right? The prize is a Mickey sticker, so not incredibly exciting but still fun. It’s a cool activity that could involve the whole family if you work as a team to answer the questions. Mickey Sticker It just goes to show that you never know what you’re going to find in the parks. There are so many things to do that you might be walking past all the fun without ever even realizing it. So be sure to take time to look around in Disney World! If you want to enjoy more fun activities the whole family can get into at the Food and Wine Festival, be sure to check out Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak scavenger hunt. You can pick up a map with stickers to play for $9.99 at many of EPCOT’s shops and festival merchandise kiosks. 2023 Remy’s Hide & Squeak Scavenger Hunt Map Find all the hidden Remys in EPCOT and you win a Disney-themed insulated lunch box (which is arguably a much better prize than a Mickey sticker)! 2023 Remy Scavenger Hunt Prizes Stay tuned to DFB for more fun things to do in Disney World! When are you headed to Disney World next? Have you checked out our line of fun graphic tees to wear on your trip? We’ve designed some for the whole family – from infants to adults! Click here to check them out! The EPCOT Secret You NEVER Noticed 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 fun activities do you like to do in EPCOT? Let us know in the comments! The post Did You Know About EPCOT's SECRET Trivia Game? You Can Win a Prize! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’ve eaten in a LOT of Disney World restaurants…and by “a lot,” we mean EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. Crystal Palace Yep, that’s right! We’re Disney food experts and we’ve tried hundreds, probably even thousands, of dishes around the parks, resorts, and Disney Springs over the years. After all that eating, we’ve learned a thing or two, and that’s why we’re here to share with you the fatal flaw of Disney World restaurants! What’s the fatal flaw with Disney World restaurants? We could talk about how it’s difficult to get reservations at some of the most popular spots or that the food in Disney World can be inconsistent. Both of those things are true and very good points to keep in mind, but that’s not what we’re going over today. In our minds, the fatal flaw is the way that Disney recipes are DEVELOPED. Chef Mickey’s If you’ve ever been to a sit-down restaurant that’s not part of a chain, then you probably have certain expectations about the menu. It’s likely that the owner or head chef of that restaurant developed the recipes for the menu and taught the chefs in the kitchen how to make them. The person who developed the recipes might even be the one cooking your meal. But at Disney World, this is usually not the case! The Full Spread at Roundup Rodeo BBQ For most of the Disney-owned table service restaurants, recipes are developed off-site in a lab somewhere. Those recipes are tested and put together by a small team, and then sent to the restaurant to be made by the chefs. Because of this, the chefs in Disney World often don’t have a personal connection with their menus. La Creperie de Paris On top of that, these recipes are made en masse, and usually, the ingredients are chosen so that the items are appealing to a large variety of people. This means that you end up with fewer unique and original menu items at Disney-owned spots than you would perhaps get at a local place. California Grill Dining Room But this isn’t the case for all Disney World restaurants! Many restaurants in Disney Springs, as well as some of the spots in the parks (like in the Italy Pavilion), are owned by outside companies or individuals. At these restaurants, you can often find some truly original and fascinating eats that have a bit more of that personal touch. Hollywood Brown Derby Some of the best places to go for those special menu items are the restaurants in Disney Springs owned by James Beard Award-winning chefs. Wine Bar George, Homecomin’, Wolfgang Puck, Morimoto Asia, Frontera Cocina, and Jaleo all fall into this category. Homecomin’ Now, just because Disney World makes recipes off-site doesn’t mean that the table service food is bad! We’ve been big fans of many Disney-owned restaurants and loved plenty of their menu items. As we said, the food is made to appeal to people, and many times, it succeeds in that goal! We’ve had excellent food at Le Cellier, California Grill, Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen, The Hollywood Brown Derby, Tiffins, and many other spots. Skipper Canteen And occasionally, Disney does let their chefs flex a little bit! We’ve often seen chef-created dishes for special occasions like Women’s History Month, Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month, Black History Month, and more. Often, those items are pretty good because you can tell that an individual worked to make the recipe perfect! Women’s History Month in Disney Springs So if you’re interested in a true culinary masterpiece, there are a few ways to achieve that in Disney World. Look out for the special menu items made specifically by chefs, head to one of the outside-owned restaurants, or just pay extra to dine at one of Disney’s fanciest spots. The signature restaurants typically have more adventurous menus than their cheaper counterparts. Stay tuned to DFB for more news and updates, as well as dining reviews from the Disney World restaurants. We’ll share all our food expertise with you so you can have an amazing trip! The 17 Best Restaurants in Disney World in 2023 — 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 What was the best dining experience you’ve had in Disney World? Tell us in the comments! The post The Fatal Flaw of Disney World's Restaurants first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We know you took one look at the picture of this pretzel and are dying to know whether it’s actually as good as it looks. Well, we’ve got good news for you, my friend: it’s BETTER. Atomic Pretzel Come with us to try the UPDATED version of the Atomic Pretzel in Disneyland! Yep, we said “updated” — we’ve had different kinds of Atomic Pretzels in the past, like the sweet apple-bacon one from last November and the Carne Asada one from earlier this summer. We LOVED both of those, so how does this new version stack up? Pym Test Kitchen This Atomic Pretzel is topped with Hoisin BBQ Pulled Pork, Slaw, Honey Mustard, Green Onions, Black Sesame Seeds, Pickles, and Cornichons. You’ll find it at the Pym Test Kitchen in Avenger’s Campus at Disney California Adventure, and it costs $15.49, which is a pretty steep price for a single pretzel. But this isn’t just any old theme park snack — look at it!! It looks AMAZING There are SO many toppings on this bad boy, including plenty of sauce. Between the BBQ sauce and the honey mustard, our pretzel was slipping and sliding all over the plate. Slippin’ and Slidin’ It’s definitely a messy snack — make sure to grab some napkins! Let’s dig in The pulled pork is very rich and flavorful, and the BBQ sauce is pretty sweet. The slaw was tangy and fresh, which balanced the smoky, sweet flavor of the meat. Atomic Pretzel We also liked the addition of the pickle! It added an acidic, almost sour flavor to some bites. Such a good snack To be perfectly honest, the pretzel probably wouldn’t have been great on its own. It didn’t really have an incredible flavor, but it was a great vehicle for all of the toppings, which is exactly what it’s supposed to do. It’s a good vehicle All things considered, we’d absolutely get this snack again, even with the $16 price tag. Head to the Pym Test Kitchen if you want to try one, too! Don’t forget that you can use Mobile Order to skip the line at this counter service restaurant. Skip the line! We can’t wait to see what Disney dreams up next! Stay tuned to DFB for more updates on all the newest Disney snacks. Click here to see our full review of Disneyland’s NEW restaurant! Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe Would you try this pretzel in Disneyland? Let us know in the comments. The post REVIEW: We Know You’re Wondering if This Disney Pretzel Is as Good as It looks...It’s BETTER. first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Magic Kingdom is the MOST popular theme park in Disney World property — and for good reason! Not only is it the OG of the four, but it’s got TONS of different rides, shows, restaurants, and shows for you to fall head over heels for. Cinderella Castle (Or you can develop an unhealthy obsession with the PeopleMover. Y’know. NORMAL Disney guest things like that.) But with a park so jam-packed (with attractions AND guests), you’re gonna need a solid game plan to get everything done that you WANNA get done — which is why we’re coming at you with ALL our best Magic Kingdom tips that’ll make your visit WAY easier (and WAY better than you could’ve hoped for). DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Test A TRON Coaster Seat BEFORE You Ride TRON is most known for being the ONLY Disney World coaster where you ride it like you would a bike. And while that makes this coaster feel even MORE like you’re ACTUALLY riding a lightcycle, it can be more of a pain than it actually is FUN, depending on the guest. TRON Lightcycle / Run Test Seats That’s why Magic Kingdom offers a tester seat outside of the attraction so you can gauge your comfort level BEFORE your ride. If you decide it’s not a great fit, you can then request the adaptive seating option by speaking to a Cast Member so you can still ride and, ultimately… ENTER THE GRID! Know and Use Walk-Up Waitlists EARLY There may come a time during your trip where you didn’t make a table service reservation… but you really wish you had and now you’re kicking yourself for it. That’s when the walk-up waitlists come in handy! Walk up waitlists are available through the My Disney Experience app and allows guests to view and snag reservations at Table Service restaurants that still have available seating for those who are currently in the park! Walk-Up Waitlist is sometimes available at Cinderella’s Royal Table. BUT here’s where our tip comes in…. We know that the phrase “walk-up” implies “RIGHT NOW.” But it’s quite possible that a restaurant may not ACTUALLY have that “walk-up” availability until a few hours out (or any at all). So if you haven’t lined up an Advance Dining Reservation, but suddenly a relaxing sit-down meal seems like a good idea during a busy park day, we recommend checking out that Walk-up Waitlist availability EARLY (like when you get in line for your first ride) to aim for the most convenient time possible. The earlier you look for last-minute tables, the better your chance at getting one on the day of your visit. Mobile Order While You’re In Line And since we’re on the subject of pre-planning your Magic Kingdom meals early on in the day, you can do the same thing for quick services too! During some of Magic Kingdom’s BUSIEST seasons, we see quick services get BOGGED down with MAJOR lines during those peak dining times. So even IF you’re wanting to mobile order off your my Disney experience app to skip the physical lines entirely, you might still find yourself having to wait awhile for your order to start being prepared IF all the immediate arrival time slots have already been taken up. Mobile Order Pick Up at Casey’s Corner HERE’S my handy-dandy tip for ya: Open up Mobile Order a couple of hours before you actually want to eat to plan ahead and schedule your pick up time before everyone else does — that way, you’ll be sitting down with your favorite meal exactly when ya want to be.It’s also not a bad idea to plan your mobile orders around non-peak dining times for a late lunch or early dinner. In the meantime, you can always order some park snacks to munch on to tide ya over — or you can pack some munchies from home in your park bag too! Book Breakfast EARLY-EARLY If dining inside THE Cinderella Castle — or the Crystal Palace, for that matter — wasn’t enough of a royal treatment for ya, you can feel even MORE special, depending on what time you book a reservation for at either one of these locations. If you snag a breakfast reservation for the FIRST time slot of the day, then you’ll get the chance to enter the park before EVERYONE else. Crystal Palace This’ll give you the opportunity to see that BIG castle review down Main Street USA when the streets are practically empty. It can also give you the ability to snap some fantastic pics without any other guests photo-bombing your view. Escape Since Magic Kingdom is the most popular park amongst guests, it also tends to be the most CROWDED. And those massive crowds can get REAL overwhelming, even for people who usually don’t mind sharing their vacation with other trip-goers. Magic Kingdom crowds tend to be at their WORST during the mid-to-late afternoon. So if you need to escape from all the people, here are a few places you can turn to nearby: Carousel Of Progress: Not only is this rotating show one of a kind, but the wait times are short, the building is air conditioned, and the whole experience takes around 20 minutes. So that means you’ll get a good chunk of time out of the sun, off your feet, and away from the swarm of other guests. Similar things could be said about Hall of Presidents and Country Bear Jamboree too! Just look for the indoor shows and rest for a spell (while still getting a good bit of that Magic Kingdom Experience). Carousel of Progress Overlooked Areas There are a couple spots in Magic Kingdom that are more off the beaten path, but they’re not entirely hidden. These are spots that COULD have some people in them, but when they don’t, they’re great for you to take a breather. But one of our FAVORITE overlooked areas is over on Center Street! This street is just off of Main Street, U.S.A. and it’s basically like a little side street that doesn’t lead to anywhere. There are some tables and chairs over here that you can relax at if they’re available. If Main Street is feeling super crowded, this is a nice spot to hang out and people watch or just to relax for a while until you’re ready to brave the crowds again. You can find it right between Crystal Arts and Uptown Jewelers, on the right side of the street if you’re walking into the park! Shaded seating on Center Street The Liberty Square Gazebo: Another place that’s kind of tucked away — out of sight, out of mind — is the Gazebo in Liberty Square. You’ll find it right before you get to Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe if you’re entering the land from The Hub (ie: the main area where the castle is!). During events like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, however, this is usually where characters like Santa Claus will meet and greet — so this tip only applies during normal park hours if a character meet and greet isn’t happening there. The Tent Near Pete’s Silly Sideshow: Over in Storybook Circus, tucked away by Pete’s Silly Side Show, there is a spacious yellow tent specifically designed for you to sit in the shade, escape the crowds, and even charge your phone for a bit (thanks to the wall outlets). It’s nothing fancy, but it could be the perfect hideaway when the parks start to get too hectic. The Tent near Pete’s Silly Sideshow Watch The Second Parade Wanna see the Festival of Fantasy Parade with a BETTER chance at a GREAT view? Consider going during the SECOND showing. Normally, Festival of Fantasy performs twice each day — once at 12PM and once at 3PM. Again, this isn’t a FOOLPROOF trick, BUT — more often than not — we find that MANY guests will opt for the noon show instead of the 3PM one. Festival of Fantasy Parade So if you decide to go against the crowd, plan to hit up Festival of Fantasy LATER for a less people-y situation, and use that 12pm showtime to hit up more rides while the parade observers aren’t populating the lines. (WARNING: You’ll wanna check on your weather app BEFORE attempting this trick. Oftentimes, Orlando experiences afternoon thunderstorms and — if severe enough — the parade will have to be canceled, making 12pm still your best bet for seeing this performance.) ALSO Watch The Parade In Frontierland Here’s another solid parade tip for ya: Whether you decide to go to the first OR second Festival of Fantasy showing, the crowds are usually WAY more hectic down Main Street USA than they will be over in Frontierland. Festival of Fantasy Parade So try to stake out a spot near Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe, just outside the Country Bears Jamboree, or somewhere near the Westward Ho kiosk. (Just make sure you’re not blocking any entrances or foot traffic with wherever you decide to nest!) Start A Walking Regimen The DFB team is in Magic Kingdom. Like… a LOT. So when I say that Magic Kingdom is EXHAUSTING, I mean it. You can get enough sleep, get enough food, have enough mini-breaks throughout the day, and your feet might still hate you by the end of the night. Lemme hit ya with some numbers real quick, just so you know WHY your feet might cry: Let’s say you stay in Magic Kingdom from rope drop to park closure. If that’s the case, then you’re probably going to be taking around 20,000 to 25,000 steps per day. Sometimes our park reporters even clock in with 30,000 steps. (And I APPLAUD them for that.) Be prepared to walk a bunch! If you’re not used to that kind of physical activity, Magic Kingdom (or any of the parks, really) could be difficult. So start practicing ahead of time. Start small and make sure to get in those recommended 10,000 steps daily. Take walks on your lunch break, stroll on your gym’s treadmill, use the stairs when you can, make the rounds at your local mall. However you can get in those daily steps, GET THEM IN. That way, your body will be more prepared for the physical exertion that’s going to happen when that Disney trip commences. Consider Breaking Up Your Visit Think of this as a PART TWO of the point I just talked about. Because I’m NOT KIDDING here, friends — Magic Kingdom WILL wipe you out! Since this park is filled with SO many rides and attractions, as well as things to see and munch on, it may not be a bad idea to plan for TWO days at this park instead of just one. Magic Kingdom That way you’ll be able to take as many breaks as you need to and not worry about rushing to get everything done in one day. Not to mention, if you’re traveling with younger kiddos, a half park day will be easier for them to take on rather than a full 20,000+ steps day. Then, instead of wearing yourselves out silly, you can head back to the hotel for naps and a quick dip in the resort pool! Try Rider Switch! The GOOD thing about going to Magic Kingdom with younger kiddos is that MOST of the rides here are for ALL AGES. But a select few rides — like Tron, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, etc. — still have a height requirement. If you’re going to Disney World with a kid who’s not tall enough to ride yet (or a kid who IS tall enough but would just rather SKIP the thrills altogether), then someone’s always going to have to be that designated person who skips out on the big kid rides and stays behind to watch the younger party members. However, Disney has a Rider Switch service that’ll make sure EVERYONE in your travel party is still able to ride, even if one person has to stay behind initially. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad To use Rider Swap, find a Cast Member at the entrance of the ride. Let them know you’re using Rider Swap so that they can scan your Magic Band or park ticket. Then, the riding will commence per usual — the first group of your party will wait in the normal queue while the others wait behind with the kiddos. After the first part of your travel party rides and returns, they’ll play a game of tag-team — now, it’s THEIR turn to watch the kiddos while the second part of the group goes and rides. Only this time, the second members will get their band (or card) scanned by the Cast Member and get to use the Lightning Lane to shorten their wait time. Bam. Time = saved. And EVERYONE who can and wants to ride now GETS to ride. A win-win! Don’t Forget The Park Passes! We don’t talk about park pass reservations AS often as we used to because A) they’re not AS difficult to snag as they used to be, and B) they’re going away at the beginning starting on January 9th, 2024! THAT BEING SAID… they’re STILL required for NOW. And if you don’t MAKE a park pass reservation for your 2023 trip, then you won’t be able to enter into Magic Kingdom, even IF you have a valid theme park ticket. Scanning into the theme park The only time you WON’T need to make a park pass reservation is if you’re just planning on spending one day ONLY in Magic Kingdom (and skipping out on the other parks for now). One day tickets will automatically make those reservations for you to secure your spot in the park. Try A Secret Snack Hack One of the most frightening moments in Disney World occurs right after the Magic Kingdom fireworks end, when you find yourself carried along in a veritable sea of humans all trying to exit the park at the same time. But what if I told you we could make that experience much less terrifying? Instead of rushing into the mass park exodus, consider just… grabbing some grub instead! Caramel Apples from Main Street Confectionery Some Magic Kingdom restaurants have Mobile Order available past the park’s closing time — like Casey’s Corner and Main Street Confectionery. With this hack, you can merrily snack on a Confectionery caramel apple or Casey’s corn dog nuggets while taking a break in the Hub Grass as the rest of the crowds disperse behind you. Figure Out The TRON Locker System TRON Lightcycle / Run is the first Disney World attraction to require the use of lockers — but don’t worry! It’s not hard to figure out (and they won’t cost you a cent extra to use). You can unlock a locker with a MagicBand or physical park ticket. (Or, if need be, a cast member can give you a temporary TRON locker card, which you’ll return AFTER you retrieve your stuff post-ride). There is a small compartment on the ride vehicle that you can use to store items like phones, glasses, and wallets, but anything larger than that must be stored in the lockers. Lockers at TRON: Lightcycle / Run If you accidentally lock your card IN your locker (which, yes, has happened to US), just track down a nearby cast member in the queue and they can reopen your locker for you with their tablets. And what happens IF you forget your locker number? No worries there, either! Just scan your ticket or MagicBand on one of the nearby TRON locker screens, and it’ll tell you which locker is yours! Find A Reliable Weather App Since we’re on the subject of weather, this is my big-bad reminder to DOWNLOAD reliable weather apps BEFORE your Magic Kingdom visit so you’ll always be in-the-know when it comes to Orlando’s storms. Usually, you’ll catch me checking out Accuweather — which I find to be pretty accurate when it comes to predicting even minute-by-minute weather conditions. Thunderstorms are common at Magic Kingdom But apps like Windy and My Radar are also pretty good at showing the current radar and predicting when a storm will come and go. Don’t Forget About The Main Street Entertainment So often, guests are quick to make their way outta Main Street USA and on into OTHER parts of the park where rides actually exist. But just because Main Street USA doesn’t have any coasters or dark rides doesn’t mean you’re not gonna have a good time here, too! For example…The Casey’s Corner Pianist is a Main Street, U.S.A. icon, and you can catch their show several times throughout the day. And since we’re talking about park icons here, let’s NOT overlook that colorful quartet, The Dapper Dans, who perform acapella musical numbers from the mornings until the afternoon. Dapper Dans And — around 5pm daily — you can see the Flag Retreat Ceremony, where an active-duty military member or veteran is selected from among that park’s daily guests to lower the flag and carry it in a procession down Main Street, U.S.A. Get Pixie-Dusted for FREE You can make the whole place SHIMMER… just by asking for a FREE pixie dusting in Magic Kingdom! Pixie dusting is where a Cast Member asks you to close your eyes, make a wish, and then they use a magic wand to sprinkle you with pixie dust while wishing that all your dreams come true. (Very Disney of them, truly.) Get pixie dusted at Sir Mickey’s! You can get a complimentary pixie dusting at two different locations in Fantasyland: The first is at Sir Mickey’s Gift Shop, and the second is at Bonjour Village Gifts! And no, this ain’t JUST for the kids. Grown ups can ask for their biggest, bestest dreams to come true too! Mail A Postcard! All aboard the snail-mail express! If you’re wanting to send someone back home a postcard (or maybe even send yourself a letter to remind future-you of how much fun your past-self is having while you’re stuck back at work), then you can use Magic Kingdom’s very own mailbox to do so! Sending Mail from Magic Kingdom? You’ll find this mailbox over on Main Street USA, right outside the Fire Station and toward the entrance of the park Of course, your envelopes will need to have stamps and addresses — but you can bring your own stamps from home. You can also purchase stamps in Magic Kingdom over at the Main Street Chamber of Commerce OR at the Newsstand (both, of which, reside along Main Street USA, not too terribly far away!). Pack The GOODS What you add to your park bag is more vital to your Magic Kingdom day than you might think. So here are some of the MUST-PACK park essentials that you’ll NEED to have in your backpack, fanny pack, purse, etc BEFORE you step foot inside the park: A Mobile Charger – To make sure your phone doesn’t die in the middle of your park day (leaving you My Disney Experience-less), a portable charger will come in handy. Sunscreen – No burnt noses and shoulders here! Applying sunscreen is not a one-and-done ordeal. You’ll need to reapply this stuff SEVERAL times throughout the day to make sure you’re keeping you skin safe (and not crispy). A refillable water bottle – Magic Kingdom has a few water stations where you’ll be able to fill up on nice cool H2O and keep yourself hydrated Extra socks – If the rain rain rain comes down down down, wearing soggy socks can be miserable. So pack an extra pair to change into. (Your feet will thank you later) Ziploc Baggies – And WHERE are you gonna store your OTHER socks while they’re all gross and damp? Put em in a ziploc baggie so they don’t get the rest of your stuff all wet! Ziploc baggies are also great for storing melty sweets (like lollipops and chocolate covered rice krispy treats) that you wanna save and munch on again later. Pack your park bag! You’ll Regret Not Packing These Things for Magic Kingdom — Click Here! Know How to Find the Nearest Bathrooms You can’t put a tinkle break on pause! Finding WHERE the bathrooms are in Magic Kingdom ahead of time can prevent you from backtracking and completely missing out on one that WAS way closer to where you already were. Tangled bathrooms in Fantasyland Fun fact: You can use a filter in the My Disney Experience app to find the closest restrooms! Just go to the map, tap on the down arrow at the top of the screen, and choose the restroom icon for a full list of porcelain throne pit stops Ask For Free Water You don’t HAVE to pay for pricey water bottles in Magic Kingdom even if you DON’T bring a refillable one from home! Free water cups are available at SEVERAL quick services and kiosks around the park! Stay hydrated! Just keep in mind that the popcorn carts (aside from the one in the hub area) do not have free ice water available and only sell it bottled. However, locations like Joffrey’s, the Main Street Bakery, Sleepy Hollow Refreshments, Westward Ho, Sunshine Tree Terrace, and several OTHER quick service locations will make sure to keep ya nice and hydrated at NO extra cost. Consider Staying At A Monorail Resort If you’re planning on spending most of your vacation time in Magic Kingdom, then it might benefit you to stay super-duper close to the park! The deluxe resorts along the monorail loop — ie: Disney’s Contemporary, Disney’s Polynesian Village, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa — are all within walking distance to Magic Kingdom’s front gates. Disney’s Wilderness Lodge might not be on the monorail loop, but it’s still just a boat ride away from the park. The major downside to all of these resorts is their BIG price tags (which may be worth it to you for the proximity alone, depending on your vacation budget). Monorail Your CHEAPEST option, that’ll still keep you close to Magic Kingdom, is actually Disney’s Fort Wilderness Cabins and Campgrounds. While the cabins are about to undergo some major DVC renovations, you CAN choose to camp with your own tents or campers on the Campsites for only around $70 a night! Not only will this save you a WHOLE lotta money (if you’re up for becoming one with the great outdoors), BUT you’ll ALSO be able to take a boat up to Magic Kingdom from these resort grounds, too! Leave Magic Kingdom For More Dining Options Even if you decide that you don’t wanna invest a whole lotta moolah into a stay at one of the monorail resorts, that doesn’t mean you can’t still take advantage of their proximity from Magic Kingdom. If the parks are just getting WAY too busy for your liking around lunch/dinner time, you can always hop on the monorail and hit up one of the restaurants inside these nearby resorts instead! For table services (which you WILL still need ADRs for), some of our favorite monorail options include: ‘Ohana at Polynesian Village Steakhouse 71 at Contemporary And Grand Floridian Cafe at the Grand Floridian Steakhouse 71 OR for a cheaper, faster meal, you can order a quick service bite from: Capt Cook’s at Polynesian Village Contempo Cafe at Contemporary Resort And Gasparilla Island Grill at the Grand Floridian Transform Your Kiddo Into ROYALTY Looking to get a Disney makeover? Well if you’re between the ages of 3 and 12, then Magic Kingdom can hook you UP! Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is a special salon where kiddos can transform into a princess, a prince, or even one of the characters from ENCANTO (with Disney’s NEW Encanto-Inspired makeover package). Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Magic Kingdom The Fairy Godmother’s Apprentices (AKA: Cast Members) will pamper kids with a variety of beauty services, including hair, make-up, costumes, and PLENTY of maaaaagiiiiiiic! The NON magical part about this whole experience is… the price. These packages typically range between $100-$200. So make sure to talk this over with your kiddo FIRST before surprising them with a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique makeover — just so that you’re ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN they’re gonna love this. Brace Yourself For A Torn Up Frontierland Frontierland hasn’t been looking like itself lately… but it’s got a good reason. At the beginning of the year, Splash Mountain closed after its 30 year run and is currently being reimagined into a NEW Princess and the Frog-inspired ride called Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Construction at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure While the log flume track will remain the same, the ride itself will be completely transformed into a Mardi Gras jubilee, with new and familiar faces alike! But BECAUSE this overhaul is so extensive, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure won’t be ready to greet guests until late 2024. In the meantime, you’ll still be able to experience OTHER parts of Frontierland — like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Country Bear Jamboree, and Tom Sawyer Island. Best Bathrooms With so much going on in Frontierland near the upcoming Tiana’s Bayou Adventure attraction, it can be hard to navigate all of the construction to see exactly what is still open and what’s closed. But — I tell you what — there is a set of restrooms in Frontierland that seems to have been forgotten about since all the new construction came to the area. And that can DEFINITELY play into your favor. Frontierland bathrooms Since the closure of Splash Mountain, the whole back queue area has been a mess — but those bathrooms are STILL open and have remained very clean, freshly scented, and well-kept for the past few months. And best of all — they’re OFTEN TIMES deserted, meaning you can potty in peace. Learn About Disability Access Services If you or someone you’re traveling with has a disability, the Disability Service Access Program is in place to help make your waits for rides easier. Instead of having to wait in the regular queue, you can go up to a Cast Member stationed at the ride — just like you would for Rider Switch — and request a return time. Tomorrowland in Magic Kingdom This service was updated back in 2021, after Disney Genie was released. Instead of having to wait until you arrive at the parks to set up your Disability Services, you’ll NOW be able to video chat with a Cast Member 30 days in advance and select 2 attractions per day that you want to prioritize But you must make those selections at least two days in advance — so don’t forget about them! You’ll also be able to self-select rides the day of and get 1-hour return times right in the app, rather than having to stop by each ride or a kiosk. Check shopDisney Online FIRST You’re gonna want to make sure that Magic Kingdom souvenir you’re ogling over at the parks isn’t already being sold online where you could go home and get it anytime you want. If you buy an item from shopDisney, you may even run across an online deal that Disney tends to drop on its virtual customers every now and then — so you could save money buying that must-grab item online rather than in person. Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in Disney World For some more UNIQUE Magic Kingdom souvenirs (that you won’t find online), check out the following gift locations: Tomorrowland Launch Depot (for the build-your-own Tron action figure experience) Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe (for personalized ornaments) The Portrait and Character Cart in Liberty Square (for an affordable silhouette of the family) And the parasol cart ALSO in Liberty Square (for hand-painted parasols) Use The Baby Care Center! Parents — this might be my most IMPORTANT Magic Kingdom advice for you. Magic Kingdom’s Baby Care Center offers a quiet, peaceful, private, and FREE spot for parents to get in a quick diaper change, nurse, or pick up any baby necessities they might’ve run out of! Magic Kingdom Baby Care Center You can find Magic Kingdom’s Baby Care Center right off of Main Street USA, between Crystal Palace and Casey’s Corner. Request A Specific Ride Seat Not all seats are created equal when it comes to some Disney World rides. For instance, riding in the very back seat of Big Thunder Mountain gives you THE Wildest Ride of all on The Wildest Ride in the Wiiiiiildernessssssss! If you’re wanting a SPECIFIC ride seat for a specific ride, make sure to ask the cast member about it when you’re up toward the front of the attraction and about to board. Space Mountain DISCLAIMER: Sometimes, accommodations may not be able to be made (especially if Magic Kingdom is PACKED OUT that day and cast members are just trying to fill in any and all available gaps that they can). So, if a cast member says they’re not taking requests at that time, don’t take it personally! I promise they’re not trying to be mean, they’re just doing their job! Either way, it never hurts to ask — just in case! Find Out Ride Wait Times In ADVANCE You may already know that you can find Wait Times for park attractions posted at the entrance to the ride itself OR on the My Disney Experience app. But did you know that you can also use the app to PREDICT Wait Times for the rest of the day?? Just use the Ride and Attractions Tip Board within My Disney Experience. You can also search for a specific ride and tap on it to learn about its Forecasted Waits. While forecasted waits aren’t always 100% correct (just like forecasted weather patterns), these graphs can still let you know when, on average, a ride’s wait times typically dip during the day. Avoid Stroller Stress It’s pretty easy to find a designated spot to park your stroller so your whole family can enjoy riding “it’s a small world” — or whatever ride you choose — together. Wanna know what’s not as easy? Finding your stroller AFTER the ride! Watch those strollers! Not only do lots of strollers look alike, but occasionally, Cast Members may need to move strollers to a nearby location in order to accommodate operational needs in the park. Our advice? DECORATE your stroller with an easy-to-identify object. It doesn’t need to be fancy — a brightly colored cloth tied on the handle can do the trick, or some bit of shiny flair or a sign. Just something you can be on the lookout for that will catch your eye during the occasional stroller search. Grab a DFB Guide Need a super-thorough guide that will provide you with all the latest dining tips, tricks, and recommendations in Magic Kingdom? We know a pretty awesome team that can hook ya up. Just head on over to our DFB Store and order The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2023. The 2023 DFB Guide to Dining in Disney World In this three-part guide, we provide you with full reviews of every single restaurant in Disney World, as well as provide you with updated dining info galore to make your Magic Kingdom day (and Disney World vacation, in general) that much easier. And don’t forget to type in the code WDW2023 to save money on your guidebook purchases! Celebrate The Holidays EARLY Magic Kingdom throws TWO holiday after hours parties each year: Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. The Halloween Party costs between $109-$199 per adult, while the Christmas Party will set you back $159-$199 per adult. (Note: These prices are separate from a regular day Magic Kingdom ticket). So HOW can you make sure you’re paying for the CHEAPER end of that range instead of the most EXPENSIVE one? By planning your holiday celebrations EARLY. The cheapest tickets for Not So Scary are listed for: August 15th, 18th, 22nd, 25th, and 29th. Meanwhile, the cheapest dates you’re gonna find for Very Merry are: November 13th, 14th, and 16th. This is Halloween BUT if you book your party tickets closer to the actual holidays, then you’ll be paying TOP DOLLAR for them. (And, in the case of Not So Scary, that’s literally a $90 difference!) So if you wanna save money — and still experience these ghoulish/wintry events —then you’re gonna need to get into the spirit of the season ASAP. Hold Your Umbrella Through Security Here’s a weirdly specific one for ya. If you take an umbrella with you to Disney World, make sure to take it out of your backpack ahead of time before walking through the park’s security check. This isn’t major or anything, but it is kind of a nuisance if someone — or multiple people — in your party has to get pulled aside for a more thorough bag inspection since the umbrellas will trigger the security check. Security lines at Magic Kingdom The same goes for large phone chargers — take those out of your backpack and carry those big boys through security, too. That way, when the security check is triggered, the security Cast Members will see what specifically caused it to be set off. Just another time-saver tip! You’re welcome! Study Maps If you’re about to go to Magic Kingdom for the first time — or if you’re just in need of a major refresher before your visit —then this point’s for you! Magic Kingdom has a LOT packed into that park. We’re talking over 40 attractions across 6 different lands. So studying the digital map on the My Disney Experience app ahead of your trip is gonna save you a WHOLE lotta time when it comes to navigating your way around. ©Disney After all — you’ve got SO much to do and SO little time to do it all! And you don’t want to waste a second of that time trying to find bus stops, restrooms, or must-do attractions. Even if you don’t memorize EVERY SQUARE FOOT of the park ahead of time, you don’t have to — as long as you’ve got the gist of it all! Magic Kingdom also provides guests with FREE physical park maps near the entrance, if you’d prefer looking at one of those instead. And if you’re still having trouble finding a certain location while you’re at the parks, don’t hesitate to ask a Cast Member for help. They’d be more than happy to! Handle Photopass With Care Look at the birdie! You’ll find PhotoPass Cast Members all over Magic Kingdom with cameras out and ready to commemorate your trip. There are a few ways you can receive these pictures, but the main option Disney tries to sell you on is the Memory Maker — which will give you ALL of the digital copies of your photos for your entire trip You can either pay for Memory Maker ahead of time with that advance price of $169 for the entire trip, or you can pay to purchase the entire trip’s worth of pictures during or AFTER your vacation for $199. Otherwise, you can purchase photos individually for WAY cheaper. (Like… $30 per photo.) PhotoPass Cast Members OR you can also ask a Cast Member to snap a photo with your camera or phone too — for FREE. These just won’t give you those cool magic shots with the ZOOM lenses or photoshopped Disney characters. But if you’re just looking to get a quick pic of your family in front of Cinderella Castle, then the FREE route is always an option you can turn to. Rent A Locker IF you don’t wanna carry your backpack with you ALL day long — OR if you bought something from the gift shop that you’d rather NOT lug all the way back to your hotel room just yet — then you may wanna consider renting one of Magic Kingdom’s lockers, located at the front of the park. Storage lockers at Magic Kingdom come in three sizes — small, large, and jumbo — and they range in price between $10-$15. Locker Rentals at Magic Kingdom Just keep in mind that lockers don’t transfer between parks. So if you plan on park hopping, you will have to pay for a whole other locker at the NEXT park if you wanna store your stuff again. Ask for Allergy Binders Dining around Magic Kingdom’s fast food restaurants shouldn’t make you nervous. So if you have a specific food allergy, don’t hesitate to ask a cast member at the quick service counter if you can look over their Allergy Binder. Allergy binders provide an organized list of all the specific ingredients you can find in each of the restaurant’s meals. HOWEVER, that’s not ALL you need to do to prepare to dine around Magic Kingdom! Before your trip, check out the online menus for the quick service and table service restaurants. Many of the allergy-conscious menu items are provided there so you can plan what you’re going to order ahead of time. Skipper Canteen Although Disney does its best to accommodate for these different needs, just know that these meals are NOT prepared in allergy-friendly kitchens, just in a separate part of the same kitchen. So if you’re hyper-sensitive to a certain type of food, you may want to avoid restaurants that specialize in it. For example, you may want to avoid Columbia Harbour House if you have a major shellfish allergy. To keep the Magic Kingdom advice comin’, keep checking back with us —by subscribing to our newsletter for all of our latest Disney World content! 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 The post 50 Tricks to Make Magic Kingdom SO MUCH EASIER first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney’s Haunted Mansion ride looks DIFFERENT right now — in fact, we’d dare say it’s a little SPOOKIER than usual! Haunted Mansion Holiday Haunted Mansion Holiday is a popular ride overlay that’s been taking over the Disneyland attraction for several years during the Halloween and holiday seasons. This year, the overlay opened on September 1st, so come with us to check it out! Out in the mansion’s garden, we spotted Jack ready to deliver some holiday gifts. Jack Sally was there as well! Sally It’s not a party without Oogie Boogie! Oogie Boogie There are lots of cool details to spot on this Haunted Mansion overlay, so be sure to head to New Orleans Square soon to check it out. Stay tuned to DFB for more updates on all the latest Disney news. Click here to learn about the NEW nighttime show coming to Disneyland! Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe Are you a fan of Haunted Mansion Holiday? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney's Haunted Mansion Looks DIFFERENT Right Now -- Come Inside With Us! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Whew! Is your head still spinning from all the Disney Parks announcements made at Destination D23? EPCOT We’re STILL trying to digest a lot of it, from how big the concept is for a potential Magic Kingdom expansion to what will replace DinoLand U.S.A. in Animal Kingdom to the return of Soarin’ Over California in EPCOT. There was just SO MUCH! However, there was one announcement in particular that we really weren’t expecting! So Disney announced a ton of changes coming for Disney World rides, including the possibility that It’s Tough To Be a Bug would be getting replaced with a Zootopia show and a brand new Country Bears Jamboree Show in Magic Kingdom. But there was one announcement about a ride change that we did NOT see coming. Country Bear Jamboree is getting an upgrade! We were surprised when Disney announced that EPCOT’s Test Track will be getting a reimagining. Say what? We were expecting some big announcements, but this one wasn’t on our bingo card! Then we saw concept art of the potential new ride vehicles, which reminded us of World of Motion (the ride that was in that space before Test Track) and, well… ©Disney Just before the announcement, Disney mentioned its ongoing relationship with Chevrolet (the sponsor for Test Track), and then, the company was like “Oh, hey, we’re changing it.” As far as we know, this is the first mention of anything involving Test Track since 2012, the last time it was reimagined. Test Track However, Disney did not say what the new version of the ride would be about, nor did we get any kind of timeframe on when Test Track will close and construction will begin on the new version of the ride. But we have to say, we are CURIOUS. What will it be? The updated version of the ride will take inspiration from EPCOT’s old World of Motion attraction. In fact, Disney explained, “Imagineers along with teams from Chevrolet are reaching back into history for inspiration – from the original World of Motion – and bringing that spirit of optimism to the next iteration of the Test Track attraction!” Test track vehicle We’ll be keeping an eye out for more details on this Test Track reimagining, though, so stay tuned to DFB for more. When are you headed to Disney World next? Have you checked out our line of fun graphic tees to wear on your trip? We’ve designed some for the whole family – from infants to adults! Click here to check them out! Check Out EVERY News Bomb Disney Just Dropped 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 Were you surprised by this news? Let us know in the comments! The post The Most SHOCKING Announcement from Disney's HUGE News Drop first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

You know us — we are ALL about the snacks. And we don’t just love sweet snacks, but savory ones, too. Sunshine Tree Terrace We DO have a few favorites in Magic Kingdom, like Mickey pretzels with plastic cheese, Corn Dog Nuggets (also with plastic cheese), and Cheeseburger Spring Rolls. Well, one of our NEW favorite snacks in this park just CHANGED, so we had to check out the updates! So Sunshine Tree Terrace in Adventureland has been offering some NEW savory snacks, including dumplings. We previously tried the Crispy Chicken Dumplings, which we LOVED. Well, now there are NEW dumplings on the menu: Crispy Beef Dumplings. New dumplings These are crispy beef dumplings in orange-ginger glaze with black sesame seeds for $8.49. Crispy Beef Dumplings Like the chicken dumplings, they have a nice crispy crunch on the outside. The beef reminded us of sausage, especially with its texture. Tasty! We didn’t get a lot of flavor from the black sesame seeds, but we liked the additional crunch. The real flavor here comes from the orange-ginger glaze, though. Inside The portion size is really good, so if you’re looking for a quick lunch or a shareable snack, this could be a very good option. Plus the line here is usually shorter than the one for the Spring Roll Cart, AND you can use Mobile Order at this location! Sunshine Tree Terrace We’ll keep looking out for more new food in Disney World, so stay tuned to DFB for more. WE KNOW – there are SO many great snacks at Disney World! How do you choose (we don’t want to choose but will blow our budget on Day 1 otherwise)? We’ve got you covered! We have reviewed nearly EVERY snack available at Disney World, and we’ve written a series of DFB Guides about them! Check out our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining + Snacks Bundle for all the details you need to plan your snackin’ and spending. Grab the DFB Guide! You can even download them to your smartphone – it’ll be like we’re right there with you in the parks! 3 Snacks We’ll Never NOT Recommend in Magic Kingdom 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 trying the Crispy Beef Dumplings? Let us know in the comments! The post REVIEW: One of Our FAVORITE Magic Kingdom Snacks Just CHANGED! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

In case you didn’t know, we’re big Disney World fans around here! Hey there, Cinderella Castle! And when we can’t be at Disney World, we like to read about it. Whether we’re reading to plan our next trip, or to learn interesting Disney World trivia or history, we’ve amassed quite a collection of books about Disney World! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. We’re sharing all of our favorite Disney World books with you, so let’s get into it! Disney World Planning Books Call us biased, but we think the best Disney World planning books are the Disney Food Blog Guides. Why? Because we wrote them, and we KNOW the hundreds of hours our team spends on writing new guides and updating them with all the most current information! They’re packed with our 5-step Disney World vacation planning process, extensive information on dining, budgeting, intineraries and more, and tips we’ve gathered from our team’s decades of Disney World travel! Grab the DFB Guide! The DFB Guides are ebooks that you can instantly download after purchase, to get started on your trip planning right away! Our guidebooks have all our best tips! For the best deal, grab our Everything Bundle! It includes the original DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, as well as our individual guidebooks to EVERY EPCOT Festival, guides to EVERY snack in the Disney World parks, and our NEW guide to maximizing the Disney Dining Plan, which is returning in 2024! The 2023 DFB Guide to Dining in Disney World ORDER THE DFB GUIDE HERE Disney100 Books The Walt Disney Company is celebrating its 100th Anniversary, and that has prompted a number of retrospectives. These books make great gifts fo Disney lovers (including yourself!), and you’re going to want to collect them all. The Story of Disney: 100 Years of Wonder This 300-page “coffee table book” is so fun to flip through! It’s a companion piece to the touring exhibit from the Walt Disney Archives. Disney100 Book VIEW ON AMAZON Art of Coloring: Disney 100 Years of Wonder: 100 Images to Inspire Creativity Love to Color? You’ll love this book! ©Disney VIEW ON AMAZON Disney 100 Years of Wonder Storybook Collection Here’s one for the kids — classic Disney stories bound in a beautiful keepsake book! ©Amazon VIEW ON AMAZON 100 Disney Adventures of a Lifetime: Magical Experiences From Around the World Want a window into some of the most exclusive experiences Disney has to offer? Check out this book from National Geographic! ©Amazon VIEW ON AMAZON The Art of Walt Disney: From Mickey Mouse to the Magic Kingdoms and Beyond The new edition of this book is perfect for anyone who loves animation — it’s chockful of sketches, concept art and animation stills celebrating the work of Walt Disney! ©Amazon VIEW ON AMAZON Disney Imagineer Books The Haunted Mansion: Imagineering a Disney Classic If you LOVE the Haunted Mansion, we promise you’ll enjoy this book! It takes you from the earliest concepts for this classic Disney World ride through its evolution at different Disney Parks around the globe. ©Amazon VIEW ON AMAZON Tony Baxter: First of the Second Generation of Walt Disney Imagineers Tony Baxter started working at Disneyland as an ice cream scooper and went on to become a Disney Imagineer who helped create Star Tours, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and the Indiana Jones Adventure. This book tells his story ©Amazon VIEW ON AMAZON Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making More Magic Real This book, written by multiple Disney Imagineers, takes you behind the scenes into Disney’s research and development. This is the perfect book for anyone who dreams of being an imagineer! ©Amazon VIEW ON AMAZON Women of Walt Disney Imagineering: 12 Women Reflect on their Trailblazing Theme Park Careers In this Disney book, 12 women Imagineers discuss their careers at the Walt Disney Company, in their own words. It’s inspiring! ©Amazon VIEW ON AMAZON The Imagineering Story: The Official Biography of Walt Disney Imagineering This book is a must-have for anyone interested in Disney Imagineering! It’s an expansion of the stories presented in the Disney+ series! ©Amazon VIEW ON AMAZON Behind the Ride: How Disney Imagineers Deliver the Magic This book takes you behind the scenes of classic Disney attractions like Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride and Space Mountain, as well as newer attractions like Flight of Passage and Slinky Dog Dash. ©Amazon VIEW ON AMAZON Disney History Books Walt Disney: An American Original: Commemorative Edition This special edition of Walt Disney’s biography includes a 32-page insert with historic photos! ©Amazon VIEW ON AMAZON Walt’s Disneyland: A Walk in the Park with Walt Disney This interesting book takes you through Disneyland, land-by-land, to discuss the elements of the theme park that Walt himself touched. ©Amazon VIEW ON AMAZON Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse. The Ultimate History. Mickey Mouse fans! This is the book for you! It takes you through this beloved characters entire history — from the earliest sketches to his evolution though 9 decades of entertainment. ©Amazon VIEW ON AMAZON Disney Parks Books Buying Disney’s World: The Story of How Florida Swampland Became Walt Disney World Sure, you know that Disney bought up a bunch of swampland in Central Florida to build Disney World, but did you know it was a top-secret mission led by a CIA operative? This book is a fun read! ©Amazon VIEW ON AMAZON The Official Disney Parks Cookbook: 101 Magical Recipes from the Delicious Disney Vault Love Disney Food and love to cook? This is the book for you! ©Amazon VIEW ON AMAZON Disney Parks Little Golden Book Library This boxed set includes five favorite Little Golden Books: It’s a Small World, The Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, The Orange Bird, and Space Mountain. ©Amazon VIEW ON AMAZON Poster Art of the Disney Parks This book is so fun to flip through! It has 85 posters from Disney attractions around the world! ©Amazon VIEW ON AMAZON Maps of the Disney Parks: Charting 60 Years from California to Shanghai There’s something about looking at a Disney Park Map! If you love them like we do, this book collects historic maps of every Disney Park. It’s like walking back through time! ©Amazon VIEW ON AMAZON Disney Movies Books The Walt Disney Film Archives. The Animated Movies 1921–1968 This book covers the Golden Age of Animation at the Walt Disney Company. It’s full of wonderful stories and images! ©Amazon VIEW ON AMAZON The Walt Disney Studios: A Lot to Remember Love Disney movies? This book tells the behind the scenes stories of the studio and the people who have worked there. ©Amazon VIEW ON AMAZON Disney CEO Books The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company This book by Disney CEO Bob Iger discusses leadership lessons he has learned. ©Amazon VIEW ON AMAZON And that’s a look at our favorite books about Disney World and beyond! Follow us here at Disney Food Blog for all the latest Disney news! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post The Best Disney World Books first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We got SO MUCH news from Destination D23! Chairman, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Josh D’Amaro Some of the biggest announcements from yesterday’s panels were that many different rides in Disney World are going to change in the near future. Here’s a list of which rides and attractions will be changing and what we can expect when they’re finished! EPCOT Test Track It was announced that Test Track is getting a makeover in World Discovery! Test Track We don’t yet know WHEN this is taking place or how soon it may occur, especially since the park is still in the midst of its major transformation. ©Disney Many fans are looking forward to this change, as Disney has announced they’re planning to “take inspiration from EPCOT’s old World of Motion attraction” which was loved by many guests. Soarin’ Around the World We got the news that Soarin’ Around the World will be changing later this month! Soarin On September 22nd, Soarin’ Over California will be returning to the park for a limited time. Soarin’ Over California in Disney California Adventure This version of Soarin’ used to be in EPCOT many years ago. Since we don’t know how long it’ll stick around, head over to The Land Pavilion ASAP! Journey of Water: Inspired by Moana We’ve known for months that Journey of Water: Inspired by Moana is on its way, but Disney announced that the attraction will officially open on October 16th. Journey of Water Not only that, a Moana meet and greet will also open at this attraction on the same date. ©Disney We can’t wait to meet Moana here! Magic Kingdom Country Bear Jamboree Country Bear Jamboree is getting a revamp in Disney World! While some of the songs in the beloved show are staying the same, they’re being given a new sound, sung in the styles of country, rockabilly, and bluegrass. ©Disney The show will be a take on the classic variety shows found in Nashville, Tennessee, and Nashville musicians are involved in the new arrangements. We do know we’ll be seeing a new version of “Bare Necessities” in a rockabilly style! Haunted Mansion We previously heard that the Hatbox Ghost was coming to Magic Kingdom’s version of Haunted Mansion, but now we know about WHEN he’ll arrive! Haunted Mansion We’ll be meeting the HatBox Ghost in Disney World’s Haunted Mansion in late November of this year! ©Disney This ghost has been popular over in Disneyland for many years, so we’re excited to finally know when he’ll be joining the happy haunts in Disney World. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure We’ve known about the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ride for a while, but we got an UPDATE on this ride transformation. ©Disney Disney shared a first look at one of the animatronics coming to the ride — it’s the alligator, Louis! Disney’s Hollywood Studios Star Tours Over in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, it was announced that Star Tours will be getting new adventures with Ahsoka! ©Disney These new adventures will be available in Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney’s Animal Kingdom POSSIBLY: It’s Tough To Be A Bug Disney also announced that a new Zootopia show is in the works for the Tree of Life in Animal Kingdom. While they haven’t specified exactly where this will be yet, it sounds like it will replace the “It’s Tough To Be A Bug” attraction inside the tree. ©Disney We don’t know much else, other than that it will be filled with humor and action. POSSIBLY: DINOSAUR Disney also revealed that DinoLand U.S.A. will be rethemed to the Tropical Americas, which could feature stories like Encanto and Indiana Jones. This also leads us to believe that DINOSAUR may be rethemed to Indiana Jones. Dinosaur The Indiana Jones ride in Disneyland is the same ride system as Dinosaur, so we wouldn’t be surprised if this ends up being the case. Regardless, as DinoLand will be going away, it’s unlikely Dinosaur would remain untouched. Magic Kingdom There are a LOT of changes headed for the Disney World parks in the next few months, so be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news! Here are the 20 MASSIVE news bombs Disney dropped on us yesterday! 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 of these are you most excited for? Tell us in the comments! The post CHANGES Announced for 6 Disney World Rides first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney’s NEWEST restaurant is Tiana’s Palace, which officially opened on September 7th in Disneyland. Tiana’s Palace We’ve already been inside this restaurant to see how it’s different from the French Market Restaurant (which was previously in this space), try ALL the food, and check out the cool Easter eggs that nod to Disney’s The Princess and the Frog. But there’s one important thing we have to WARN you about! When we stopped by Tiana’s Palace on its opening day, there was a LONG line of people waiting to try the new eats (and we can’t blame them — we loved just about everything we ate here!). Waiting to go inside We stopped by again today and saw that there were still tons of people queueing up to go inside! The line stretched out the entrance of the restaurant… Line for Tiana’s Palace …down the adjacent wall… Lots of people! …and all the way around the patio seating area. Queue Usually, this would be no problem, because we know a “secret” way to skip the line at most Disney counter service restaurants — just use Mobile Order! Use Mobile Order! You’ll order your food on the Disneyland app, select a return time, and then come back at that time, skipping the line to grab your food at the Mobile Order window. Mobile order pick-up However, this wasn’t an option when we visited on September 10th — ALL the Mobile Order windows were full! SOLD OUT! It seems that Tiana’s Palace is quite the hit, and lots of people want to try this new spot. If you’re hoping to visit soon, make sure you get here early or place your Mobile Order ASAP. It’s possible that the excitement will die down soon once the restaurant has been open for a while, but with delicious comfort food that’s not your typical theme park fare, we could see this spot being very popular for a long time. House Gumbo Want to learn more about Tiana’s Palace Restaurant? Check out these posts: Wait, Are We Still in Disneyland? 5 Ways Tiana’s Palace Restaurant INSTANTLY Transported Us To New Orleans! Everybody Keeps Asking Us This Question About Tiana’s Palace Restaurant, and It’s Important FULL TOUR of Disney’s NEW Tiana’s Palace Restaurant Everybody’s Freaking Out About This Tiana’s Palace “Problem”…But It’s All Gonna Be OK PRICING ANNOUNCED for Disney’s NEW Restaurant — Tiana’s Palace NEW Disney Cast Member Costumes Revealed for Tiana’s Palace Restaurant FULL REVIEW of Disney’s NEW Tiana’s Palace Restaurant Stay tuned to DFB for more updates on all the latest Disney news! Click here for more details on Tiana’s Palace Restaurant. Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe Are you going to Disneyland soon? Let us know in the comments. The post We Have To WARN You About Disney's Newest Restaurant first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’ve been to Disney’s Hollywood Studios countless times and have eaten at, quite literally, every single dining spot available. Hollywood Studios entrance There are some truly great places to eat, but also some terrible ones if you’re not looking in the right place. Here are the WORST restaurants you can eat at in Hollywood Studios. Now, before we begin, the worst restaurant for YOUR group may be completely different than another’s, so we’re going to run through a few different scenarios where a restaurant may be the worst pick for your vacation. If You’re On A Budget: Hollywood Brown Derby While the Hollywood Brown Derby may have some of the best food in the park, it also comes at a much higher price point. Hollywood Brown Derby We’ve loved some of the food we’ve gotten here in the past, and you can even get the restaurant as part of a Fantasmic! dining package, which can help make the price feel a little bit more worth it. Hollywood Brown Derby Spread However, if you’re on a budget at the park, this is NOT the restaurant to head to. Not only will it take up a lot of time being a table service meal, but it’ll take more money out of your wallet than other restaurants in the park. Here’s a review of Hollywood Brown Derby! If You’re an Adventurous Eater: PizzeRizzo If you want something adventurous, we do NOT recommend going to PizzeRizzo. PizzeRizzo Yes, we’ve talked bad about this restaurant for ages due to their puffy pizzas and bland menus, BUT it’s great for picky eaters or families with small children who will only eat puffy pizza. Food from PizzeRizzo But if you’re someone who really wants to find that meal that’s different than plain theme park food, PizzeRizzo is 100% not the way to go, and we actually recommend staying far away. Here’s a recent review of PizzeRizzo! If You’re a Picky Eater or Traveling with Kids: Anywhere in Galaxy’s Edge Listen y’all, we LOVE Galaxy’s Edge and the unique food offered there, but if you’ve got picky kids with you? That strange space food won’t fly with them. Docking Bay 7 Spread There are two main restaurants in this section of the park — Docking Bay 7 and Ronto Roasters, along with smaller spots like Kat Saka’s Kettle and the ever-popular Oga’s Cantina. All of these places have adventurous food options that most picky eaters won’t even look at. Ronto Roasters Spread So if you’re headed into this area of the park with kiddos, we suggest eating beforehand so you’re not tempted to stop anywhere and then have to go through that whole fiasco, or travel in the morning right after eating breakfast. Here’s a review of Ronto Wraps in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge! If You’re Looking for Something Light: Roundup Rodeo BBQ If you’re looking for a light meal that won’t potentially slow you down during the rest of your day, we don’t recommend sitting down at Roundup Rodeo BBQ. Roundup Rodeo BBQ While we’ve really enjoyed the food at this location, it’s like a backyard barbeque, and that food isn’t light. FOOD!!! A heavy meal like this can really get you a little drowsy, not to mention that if you go on a ride right after…well, that’s not something we suggest. If you’re at the end of your day and it’s your last meal, or you don’t plan on riding anything soon, then we say go for it! We ate EVERYTHING at Roundup Rodeo BBQ! If You Want a Quiet Meal: 50’s Prime Time Cafe If you’re looking for a nice, quiet meal with the family, 50’s Prime Time Cafe is not where we recommend going. 50’s Prime Time Cafe This is a fun meal where your server basically acts as your cousin or even your parent. So if you didn’t eat your vegetables or your elbows are on the table, yeah, good luck. Inside 50’s Prime Time Cafe Now, you can tell your server ahead of time that you want to opt out of the antics, but the tables around you may not, so it’ll be a loud meal. Plus, the servers sometimes announce to the other tables when a punishment is happening, or even have them join in, so you’re in for a loud meal! Check out our recent trip to 50’s Prime Time Cafe! If You Hate Typical “Theme Park” Food: Hollywood & Vine Technically, PizzeRizzo really fits here too, but we also wanna mention Hollywood & Vine. While it’s a great character meal for kids, it is just a classic American buffet. Witch Minnie at Minnie’s Seasonal Dine at Hollywood & Vine in Disney’s Hollywood Studios Don’t get us wrong — it’s a solid buffet, but it’s stuff that you’ll find at any buffet on property, or even in your hometown. If you’re looking for a great way to start the morning with your kids meeting characters, getting your money’s worth of food, and feeling fueled up for a great day, then this is a great choice. But not if you want something out of the ordinary. Salad and fruit bar at Hollywood & Vine Here’s our review of Hollywood & Vine! 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! DFB Guide to Disney World Dining 2023 Now, these restaurants may be the PERFECT fit for you and your family, but now you know when you want to avoid them as well. As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney food news, tips, and tricks! We’ve eaten at every Magic Kingdom restaurant — here are the ones to avoid! 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! Do you agree with this list? What would you add or change? Tell us in the comments! The post We’ve Eaten at Every Restaurant in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. These Are the Worst. first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Calling all Disney fans! The Disney100 Exhibit (yes, the one that has a Walt Disney HOLOGRAM) is moving locations this November. ©Disney The exhibit started out in Philadelphia and has plans to travel to various cities throughout the U.S. (there’s another one in Munich, Germany, that will travel to various international locations). Soon, the exhibit will be making its way to Chicago! Disney announced that the Disney100: The Exhibition is arriving in Chicago on November 18th, 2023. Tickets aren’t available yet — they’ll go on sale on September 14th at 10AM CST, but you can join the waitlist now. Tickets start at $29.90 per person. Click here to join the waitlist. The exhibit features “historical and special treasures, works of art, artifacts, costumes, and memorabilia.” There are over 250 artifacts on display, but possibly the coolest thing is a hologram of Walt Disney himself. ©Disney If you visit, you can see ten themed galleries that showcase various Disney stories, from classic movies like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel. ©Disney The exhibit is located at the Exhibition Hub Art Center Chicago (2367 W Logan Blvd, Chicago, 60647). Disney’s site states that a visit to the exhibit will take about 90 minutes. Free parking is available at this venue. ©Disney The exhibit opens in Chicago on November 18th and will be open from 10AM to 6PM on Monday-Thursday and 9AM to 7PM on Friday-Sunday. ©Disney We’ll be watching for more news from Disney, so stay tuned to DFB for all the latest updates. Click here to learn more about the Disney100 Exhibit. 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 Are you going to visit this exhibit? Let us know in the comments. The post NEWS: Disney's 100th Anniversary Exhibit Is MOVING Locations first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Have you ever thought about what your favorite Disney World ride is? I mean, really thought about it? Haunted Mansion As you know, there are a ton of rides you can choose from. So, we wanted to find out what your thoughts were about having to live on one ride and one ride only at Disney World. We asked and boy, did you deliver! We reached out to our followers on YouTube to ask: “If you had to LIVE in one Disney World ride and you could never leave, which ride would it be, and why?” The results were pretty varied. We had quite a few people leave their opinions in the comments. We recently made a video full of Disney World ride tips, and you can watch it right here! Now back to that burning question! What do you think? 1. Haunted Mansion So many of you mentioned the Haunted Mansion — which made it first place by far! Welcome, foolish mortals! You talked about appreciating the eerie atmosphere and said that it’s your favorite ride. I think this comment sums it up best: “Haunted Mansion, I hear there’s room for one more…” 2. Living with the Land Next up on the list, you chose Living with the Land as your ride of choice! Living with the Land I know that a lot of us appreciate the connection to nature, food, and sustainability. One of you mentioned, “Thinking about it strategically: Living with the land, has water and food, and plenty of space.” 3. Pirates of the Caribbean Next up, we’ve got this classic ride: The Pirates of the Caribbean! Pirates of the Caribbean It’s got the adventure and the relaxed atmosphere that so many of you want in a ride! You also mentioned, “Pirates comes to mind due to its mild nature and boat big enough to nap in.” 4. PeopleMover Next, we’ve got the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover! PeopleMover It looks like many of you enjoy people-watching and traveling indoors and outdoors. In other words, this is your ride. And we could see that when you said, “The people mover for sure. Views of the whole park, calm, some outside some a/c, my favorite ride in the whole park.” 5. Rise of the Resistance You went off-world for this next one. We’re talking about Rise of the Resistance. Rise of the Resistance It’s got to be because of the incredibly immersive experience and engaging storyline. You said it best in, “I would say Rise of the Resistance because that is the best Disney dark ride of all time and a perfect storyline…” 6. Carousel of Progress Sit right back and enjoy this next one. Yes, we’re talking about the Carousel of Progress! Carousel of Progress You definitely appreciate this ride and its historical significance to the park. You mentioned, “Carousel of Progress. It’s my favorite ride. It’s Walt Disney’s creation, and it makes me feel happy. Plus the air conditioning helps!” 7. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Let’s take a spin in the cosmos for this one. We’ve got Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind on deck! Cosmic Rewind Your excitement for this ride came through loud and clear in your comments like, “Would have to be Guardians! Hands down best ride! Would have to have more music though!” 8. Tower of Terror Are you sure you’re ready for this thriller? We’re talking about the Tower of Terror! Tower of Terror It looks like many of you are ready for it as we can see in this comment: “Tower of Terror; since it’s in another dimension beyond space and time.” 9. Soarin’ How can you not enjoy this next one? We’re talking about Soarin’ Around the World! Soarin You definitely enjoy the sensation of flying and the overall experience of it as you can see when you said, “Soarin, because I love flying…” 10. Spaceship Earth In our tenth spot, we’ve got an OG here. Welcome to Spaceship Earth! Spaceship Earth The top comments that sum it up best are, “Spaceship Earth since I would have so many environments to explore” and “…because of the dark atmosphere, ac, and ability to put you to sleep while be entertained in equal measure.” 11. Honorable mentions While Spaceship Earth was the last on the list, there were a couple of others you mentioned in passing. You brought up rides like the Jungle Cruise, Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Horizons, and Ratatouille. Jungle Cruise That’s a lot of rides to choose from and we’d love to find out more from you! Until then, keep it right here for all the latest Disney news! Click here to find out about The One Thing Disney World Experts Say You NEED To Pack 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 one Disney World ride you would live in if you could? Let us know below! The post The One Disney World Ride We Would LIVE IN If We Could! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’re at Destination D23 and there has been a LOT going on. ©Disney We’ve had sneak peeks of upcoming Disney merchandise. We had a TON of announcements yesterday about Disney Parks (and we’re still trying to wrap our heads around all of it). Now, we’ve had an opportunity to learn even MORE about Disney’s upcoming animated movie Wish, PLUS we got to see Asha in person for the first time! We were at the 100 Years of Walt Disney Animation Studios panel at Destination D23, and we got a chance to learn more about Wish. The movie follows a 17-year-old girl, Asha, and her goat Valentino. They live in Rosas, the kingdom of wishes, where wishes can REALLY come true. However, after Asha’s wishing star comes down from the sky, she gets more than she bargained for. But wait, there’s more — this movie is actually about Disney’s wishing star, the one that you see over the castle before every Disney movie. HOW COOL, right? Wish Wish writer Jennifer Lee and Director Chris Buck took the stage to tell us more about the movie. Wish writer and director We learned more about the characters, as well as the voice actors who are portraying them — there’s some SERIOUS talent here, folks. Asha is voiced by Academy Award-winning actress Ariana DeBose. Asha Asha’s goat, Valentino, is voiced by Alan Tudyk (yes, the voice of Hei Hei in Moana). Valentino Then you have Star. Star King Magnifico is voiced by Chris Pine. King Magnifico We also got to see ASHA in real life! This is probably what she’ll look like when she starts meeting guests in several Disney Parks, including EPCOT. Asha! We were in for a special surprise, though: we got to see the 10 minutes of the actual movie, including TWO songs! So we’re going to let you know what we saw, but we’ll warn you ahead of time if you don’t want to know what happens in the film until you see it. Warning: The following may contain spoilers for Wish. Asha at D23 Expo So the first thing we see is Asha, and she’s crying. Then she sings, “Isn’t truth supposed to set you free? Why do I feel so weighted down by it? When I speak, they tell me to sit down? How can I when I’ve already started running? I may be young, but I know I’m not wrong.” Then there’s a chorus and she continues to sing. ©Disney “Let me be the first to stand in line,” she sings. “So I make this wish. To have something more for us than this.” There are birds flying around and visually, we feel like what we saw seems very much like “Let It Go” from Frozen. Asha runs up a hill to a tree (at this point, we were getting more “Into The Unknown” vibes from Frozen 2). The background is floral and above is a starry night. Star at D23 Expo Then we see the star and it’s shining brightly. Then all the wish bubbles react. The light goes away, and we see the King say, “I believe I have just been threatened.” Asha, though, is being energized by the star, which is both playful and a little chaotic — it’s moving around Asha and getting caught in a laundry line. Asha is moving after it and trying to catch it. Its magic is bringing things to life. Then the magic gives Asha’s goat a voice. This is getting good! ©Disney Now all the other animals are given voices and they start singing, “Have you ever wondered why you look up at the sky for answers.” And they sing “You’re a star.” We’re just going to tell you now, this is THE song, the one that we are ALL going to be singing once this movie comes out. This is the Wish version of “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.” We can’t show you what we saw, but we can share the movie’s trailer with you:  So that’s 10 minutes of the movie, and we’re so excited about what we saw. It seems SO magical and we can’t wait to see the whole film when it arrives in theaters on November 22nd, 2023. We’ll be covering EVERYTHING from Destination D23, so stay tuned to DFB for more. Disney Just Hit Us With 20 (!!!) MASSIVE News Bombs! 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 Wish so far? Let us know in the comments! The post SNEAK PEEK at a NEW Character Coming to Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We have HUGE news from EPCOT today! Imagination Pavilion It was announced yesterday at Destination D23 that the highly anticipated Figment meet and greet would be arriving in EPCOT today, and we’re here to check it out! You can find the Figment meet and greet inside the Imagination Pavilion where the Vanellope meet and greet used to be. This is where the Figment meet and greet is located One of our reporters rushed straight to the pavilion when the park opened and found herself second in line outside of the pavilion. Another reporter headed inside (NOT in line) and found that resort guests who had Early Entry had already lined up inside (since they were able to enter the park 30 minutes early). This was around 9AM, right after the park opened. Resort guests waiting inside We got to see Figment enter through the Dreamport for the very first time and officially kick off the meet and greet! This was around 10AM. Hi Figment! It was so great to welcome him into the park officially for his very first day. Our second reporter, who got there a little later, was outside in the MAJORLY long line that had formed. This was over an hour after the park had opened, and right after Figment officially stepped out. Look at that line! If you’re looking to meet Figment during your vacation, check your My Disney Experience App for the times he’s greeting, and be sure to factor in a decent amount of time for the line. Today, our app shows he’s greeting guests from 10AM to 1:30PM, and then again from 2:30PM to 5PM. Figment Meet and Greet Times As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news! See what other new meet and greet was announced for 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 How do you feel about this new meet and greet? Tell us in the comments! The post Come With Us To Meet FIGMENT in EPCOT! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’re still in the midst of celebrating The Walt Disney Company’s 100th anniversary, and the party isn’t slowing down anytime soon. 100th anniversary sign in Disney Springs From exclusive eats and drinks in the parks to merchandise, movies, and more — Disney has pulled out all the stops for this epic event. As part of the celebration, Disney will be releasing a new short film, and we got the chance to preview it at Destination D23! Disney showed a preview of the new Once Upon a Studio short that will play before the new Wish movie at Destination D23. We were asked not to take any photos or film the preview, but we can tell you about it! The short celebrates the last 100 years of The Walt Disney Company, and of course, it all kicks off with Mickey and Minnie. In the short, Mickey brings a group of Disney character legends together for a group photo — by actually jumping out of the photo! Mickey! You’ll see both old and new characters represented — from Bambi to Zootopia. Iconic Disney composer, Richard Sherman, plays “Feed the Birds” on the piano in the short, which was one of Walt Disney’s favorite songs. After the short ended, the crowd rose for a standing ovation. Forty Disney voice actors came together to take part in this incredible testament to Walt Disney Animation, and we think you’re really going to love it. Destination D23 We’ll be bringing you even more news from Destination D23 as it unfolds — from parks news to movies and more — so be sure to stay tuned to DFB for the latest! Check Out the BIGGEST News You Missed at Destination D23 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 into this new short? Tell us in the comments! The post We Saw a SNEAK PEEK of Disney's NEW 100th Anniversary Short! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Do you feel it? That chill in the air? Some Happy Haunts may be making their way into your home soon… Haunted Mansion …because we finally know when the new Haunted Mansion movie will be premiering on Disney+! Disney is sharing a plethora of announcements at the Destination D23 event, and the latest news has us saying, “Welcome, foolish mortals.” Get ready to welcome 999 Happy Haunts into your home — because the NEW Haunted Mansion movie premieres on Disney+ on October 4th! If you didn’t get the chance to check this new movie out in theaters, you’ll be able to cozy up on your couch with your favorite snacks and watch it at home. We’ll be keeping up with more news from Destination D23 — so be sure to stay tuned to DFB for the latest. You can click the link below for the biggest news drops you might have already missed from the biggest Disney fan event of the year! Check Out ALL the News You Missed from Destination D23 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 you see Haunted Mansion in theaters? Tell us in the comments! The post NEWS: Date Announced for 'Haunted Mansion' Premiere on Disney+ first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

A BRAND new Disney restaurant has opened up and it’ll have you feeling like you’ve left the Happiest Place on Earth and entered…New Orleans! Tiana’s Palace Tiana’s Palace restaurant has officially opened in Disneyland Park! The Quick Service restaurant is themed to The Princess and the Frog (of course) and features all kinds of eats, drinks, and decor inspired by the film and the city it is based in (New Orleans). This spot is no joke. It TRULY tries to pluck you from your day in Disneyland and transport you all the way to New Orleans, and it’s really successful in doing that for a few different reasons! Details, Details, and More Details First up are the details in terms of the decor! You’ll really want to look up, down, and alllllll around when eating at Tiana’s Palace to see how the New Orleans vibe has been incorporated into this place. Decor First, it’s an interesting full-circle moment for this restaurant. Way back in the day, Walt Disney and his art directors traveled to New Orleans to get photos of the details there in order to make Disneyland’s New Orleans Square feel authentic. Ultimately, the French Market Restaurant was opened in New Orleans Square. Tiana’s Palace in the Princess and the Frog film was actually inspired by the French Market Restaurant. And now the real-life Tiana’s Palace has replaced the French Market Restaurant — so it is actually replacing the very New Orleans-inspired spot that inspired it. Tiana’s Palace When you’re inside the restaurant, be sure to look for jazz instruments (with jazz being a big focus in New Orleans)… Firefly Five Plus Lou …along with pans that are used to steam oysters, mixing tools Tiana would have used to make beignets, and more taken from observations of the Disney team’s visits back to New Orleans (including influences from black and white tiled checkered floors). Pots and Pans! You might also find some King Cakes in a display — a Mardi Gras tradition in New Orleans. King Cake! There’s even a cookbook in the space about “La Cuisine Creole.” As Visit New Orleans points out, “Creole food is cosmopolitan food, created in New Orleans with European, African and Native American roots.” ©Disney All of these little touches help to really make you feel like you’ve been transported OUT of Anaheim and onto the streets of New Orleans. Live Entertainment If you’ve ever been to New Orleans, you’ve probably heard DOZENS of musicians playing tunes all throughout the city. That feeling gets captured with Tiana’s Palace as well because live entertainment is sometimes available in this space with musicians and more. Space for Live Music So listen closely to the music around you, close your eyes, and just picture yourself in Louisiana. BEIGNETS Alright folks, now we’re getting to the TASTY stuff. One of the signature items that folks know to get when visiting New Orleans is a beignet and Tiana’s Palace serves them up in a unique fashion! Beignet The beignets here are house-filled ones. The one currently available was modeled after a lemon icebox pie and has a lemon icebox pie filling and is topped with a lemon glaze. These are GREAT — the glaze makes them taste like a classic glazed donut and they have a delicious combination of tartness and sweetness. Lindell Skinner (a senior manager at Disneyland) shared, “Beignets are a staple in New Orleans, but another [traditional dessert] in New Orleans is the lemon ice box pie; you really have to go into the neighborhoods to find them. We’re paying homage to them by creating a filling that is a part of this beignet.” Beignet at Tiana’s Palace But before you even dive into the treat, visit the “action station” inside the restaurant where you can watch the chefs fill the beignets. YUUUM. And there could be more beignet variations on the way. The Disney team previously indicated that this is just one version and there may be “other opportunities to showcase other flavors” in the future. Cast Member preparing beignets! We have a feeling that Tiana would be proud! Don’t worry though, Mickey beignets aren’t disappearing from Disneyland! Ingredients One of the things Disney really did to bring a sense of New Orleans to this restaurant is carefully select the ingredients that go into the food here. Chef John State (culinary director of food and beverage at Disneyland Resort) and Lindell Skinner (a senior manager at Disneyland) worked on developing the menu here; Skinner was actually born and raised in New Orleans. Chef State shared, “We made every effort, through research and our team’s collective years of global culinary experience, to represent the flavors of New Orleans through dishes that we imagined Tiana would serve, sourcing local ingredients from the area where possible.” Beef Po-Boy Disney worked diligently to add authenticity to the food. Specifically, they’ve shared, “the andouille sausage, Carolina gold rice, and bread are supplied from New Orleans, while the Joffrey’s Coffee Chicory Cold Brew uses cane syrup from Louisiana. Plus, two New Orleans-area hot sauces, Tabasco® and Crystal®, are used at Tiana’s Palace.” Menu on the wall Though that might sound like something small, sourcing some ingredients from the very place that inspires this restaurant (rather than trying to recreate them) really helps to transport you out of the theme park and into the real city. Click here to get a FIRST LOOK inside Tiana’s Palace The FOOD And now we get to the best part — and probably the part that will really make you feel like you’re in New Orleans — the actual FOOD served here. Again, the Disney team worked diligently to try and bring some authentic New Orleans flavors to Disneyland. They traveled to New Orleans to learn more about the culture and cuisine and came back with a menu that reflected the unique blend of flavors found in that city. In fact, during one visit Disney’s culinary team made to New Orleans, they visited 18 restaurants in two and a half days. One restaurant they visited was the Dooky Chase restaurant, Michele Gendreau (Director of Food & Beverage Experience Integration Disneyland Resort) said, “We met with the Chases, and we also met with the film’s production team to talk about: ‘What is this going to be—and how does that come to life in food?‘” Tiana and her father We’ve already talked about the beignets and how that’s reflective of New Orleans, but what about the more savory options? Beignet on a souvenir dish Well, you’ll find 2 versions of gumbo on the menu here. According to Eater, “The Creole or seafood gumbo of New Orleans is one of the best-known, and best-documented, types of gumbo. However, the earliest references to gumbo in general date to the early 1800s.” One version you’ll find at Tiana’s Palace is the 7 Greens Gumbo. Chef Leah Chase of New Orleans has a famous greens-filled gumbo recipe that inspired this one. Chef Chase’s version is typically served the Thursday before Easter, making it extra special. The version served at Tiana’s Palace can be plant-based (with White Beans, Okra, Yams, Sweet Potatoes, and Heirloom Rice) or can feature those same ingredients along with Chicken and Andouille Sausage. 7 Greens Gumbo with Chicken and Sausage When we tried the 7 Greens Gumbo, we thought it was really good — a total comfort food with fresh and crunchy vegetables, and lots of seasoning without being too spicy. 7 Greens Gumbo Other menu items available include a Cajun Spice Half Chicken, a Muffuletta Sandwich (a famous sandwich invited in New Orleans per Visit New Orleans — plus New Orleans culture and cuisine are made up of a diverse blend of different cultural influences, and this sandwich represents the influence of Italian flavors), and a Beef Po-Boy (po-boys are another staple New Orleans meal). One more entrée is the Gulf Shrimp and Grits (the shrimp are grilled and tossed in a creole sauce). For sides, you can choose between buttermilk cornbread, baked macaroni and cheese, red beans & rice (a staple of New Orleans!), coleslaw, cheesy grits, and plant-based heirloom rice. Muffuletta Sandwich The attention to the ingredients and dishes goes all the way down to the drinks. One drink option here is the Chicory Coffee Cold Brew, developed in partnership with Joffrey’s Coffee. Chicory coffee is one of the things you’ll find sold in New Orleans. Chicory was designed to extend coffee when coffee was scarce and it was reportedly made popular by the famous Cafe du Monde, so this serves as an homage to that. But this version is a bit unique as it has a sweet topping made with cane syrup (which is sourced from Louisana!). Joffrey’s Coffee Chicory Cold Brew It goes beyond the flavors though. Disney has also tried to capture the essence of New Orleans when it comes to food presentation. When it comes to the Baked Macaroni and Cheese (available as a side or kids meal option), Skinner shared “If you grew up in New Orleans, your baked macaroni and cheese was cut into squares. So, it was important to us that the Baked Macaroni and Cheese for Tiana’s Palace is cut into squares.” Mac & Cheese Kids Meal Disney also worked with PULSE — People United to Lead, Serve, and Excel (an organization dedicated to enhancing the experience of Cast Members and guests of African and Caribbean descent) — when working on the restaurant. According to Skinner, “PULSE actually came in to work with the chefs, and with the team, to give their feedback.” Buttermilk Cornbread Is every dish here a perfect recreation of what you’d find in the real New Orleans? Of course not. Truthfully, the only way to really experience the full flavor of New Orleans is to go there yourself. And we have a feeling that there are some dishes (either shared above or otherwise available at the restaurant) that New Orleans natives might not quite consider to be 100% authentic. Maybe there’s an ingredient or two or a method of preparation used that isn’t quite what you’d get in the city. But despite that, many of the dishes do capture some authentic New Orleans flavors. The chefs have really worked diligently to source ingredients from Louisiana to make them as true to the real thing as possible, and you can tell that there really was a high level of care and attention put into this menu and this restaurant as a whole. Gulf Shrimp & Grits We hope these touches make YOU feel like you’ve really been transported into Tiana’s world. When you visit Tiana’s Palace, be sure to drop us a comment and let us know your thoughts. In the meantime, click here to see our FULL REVIEW of the restaurant! Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe What do you think about Tiana’s Palace? Tell us in the comments! The post Wait, Are We Still in Disneyland? 5 Ways Tiana's Palace Restaurant INSTANTLY Transported Us To New Orleans! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’re a Disney fan, chances are you have a favorite character — whether they’re from your favorite classic film or maybe even your favorite ride in the parks! Monorail in EPCOT Some people take their love of Disney characters very seriously (Hi, it’s us, we’re “people.”) and we’ve seen some pretty chaotic moments in Disney World because of it. Remember the Figment popcorn bucket fiasco from the 2022 EPCOT Festival of the Arts? Folks queued up in hours-long lines to snag the little guy — and now Figment is BACK causing chaos again. The Figment meet and greet is officially open in EPCOT! Disney had announced it would be coming quite a while ago, and then, at Destination D23, we learned that Figgy would make his debut on September 10th. But, Figment fans are some of the most die-hard out there, and when we arrived at the Imagination Pavilion to see him — we certainly weren’t the only ones! Imagination Pavilion EPCOT’s hottest new meet and greet is finally here and it’s got the line to prove it. Check out all the people waiting to meet Figment! Folks were gathered around the fountains outside the Imagination Pavilion, patiently hoping to get a chance to see Figgy after it had been first announced by Disney. Look at that line! We found our place in the queue and also started patiently waiting. Once we made it inside, it was clear that people were prepared to hang out for a while, as most of the Figgy fans we saw had decided to take a seat. But then, the line started moving and it was on to the next waiting area. Continued inside We weren’t kidding when we said that Figment was a pretty popular character with some die-hard fans. When the popcorn bucket debuted, it was in such high demand that at one point the line was an estimated 6.5 hours long. Disney eventually started using a virtual queue for the Figgy bucket, but it’s old-fashioned waiting in line for this meet and greet instead. That could change in the future, but for now, pack your patient pants. But wait, there’s more! Be sure to keep an eye out for this feisty Figment of your imagination the next time you’re in EPCOT — he’ll be hanging out in the Imagination Pavilion if you want to stop by and say hi! And, we’ll be keeping an eye out for more news from Disney World, so stay tuned to DFB for the latest! See ALL the News You Missed from Destination D23 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 waiting in line to meet Figment? Tell us in the comments. The post Your Jaw Will Drop at the MASSIVE Line for EPCOT's NEW Figment Meet-and-Greet first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Top 8 Updates From Destination D23!View the full article