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For many Disney World visitors, Disney Vacation Club (DVC) has been a great option for those who make the Disney Parks (or cruises) their destination of choice year after year. DVC Kiosk in EPCOT DVC allows members to purchase an allotted number of points to use toward booking their vacations at their “Home Resort,” a resort of choice from the list of hotels with DVC-specific rooms and villas. You can use the points from each year to book your stay, and you can even put unused points from the previous year toward a vacation the next year. You can also exchange your points for stays at other Disney resorts, and even use them to book Disney Cruises. Basically, it’s Disney’s timeshare system. If your points and membership go unused, you’ll have the option to sell them. Recently, quite a few of our readers have sold their DVC points and/or membership, and we asked them to share with us why they made that decision. Let’s talk about it! A lot of the reasons behind selling membership were fairly common among our readers’ answers. This post will highlight the top three reasons why selling a membership might be the best decision — in case you’re debating purchasing a membership, or if you already have a membership and are debating selling it. Let’s go! Grand Floridian DVC Resort Studio I Couldn’t Book Where Or When I Wanted — Even At My Home Resort. Like we mentioned earlier, you can choose a Home Resort from a list of DVC hotels, where you would in theory be given priority over someone without a DVC membership. However, several of our readers found that they weren’t able to book where or when they wanted with their points — even at their home resort. BoardWalk Part of the appeal of DVC is to always have your “vacation home” to return to, so it can be frustrating when your membership doesn’t seem to give you any sort of advantage when it comes to booking your stay. This was the most popular answer as to why people sold their memberships. They were paying extra every year when they had the same likelihood of scoring the room they wanted without the costly membership. I loved it so much that I just moved to Disney World. Another super popular answer was that several of our readers loved being at Disney World so much that they simply bought property that was all their’s and can now visit Disney World whenever they want! Welcome to Old Key West! Of course, moving to Disney World permanently and buying property in the Orlando area kind of renders a DVC membership useless. We suppose that this is a more positive reason to sell a membership! I Wanted to Swap Home Resorts Sometimes, you just have a change of heart! A lot of our readers signed a contract for a certain home resort, and then found that they were better suited elsewhere. While you can totally have more than one active contract at a time, many folks find it more affordable to simply sell their current contract to purchase a contract at another Home Resort. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Some folks said they sold their previous contract and used the money toward a larger contract at a more desirable location based on their own vacation preferences. Disney’s Contemporary Resort Well, there you have it! If you’re thinking of purchasing a DVC contract, let it be relieving to know that for the most part, folks didn’t sell their contract for a negative reason — aside from the folks stating that they couldn’t book where and when they wanted. It’s true, though, that some Home Resorts are much more popular than others, especially ones like Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, Animal Kingdom Lodge, and Contemporary Resort. It seems that there are other resorts that folks have better luck at booking. Animal Kingdom Lodge We’ll continue to keep you updated with more Disney news, so make sure to follow along so that you don’t miss a thing! Looking for more information on Disney Vacation Club? 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 Are you a DVC member? Let us know in the comments! The post Why Some People are Quitting the Disney Vacation Club Now first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Why do we get so invested in Disney World snacks? The easiest answer is because they’re just SO good. But that’s not always the case, is it? Sometimes, these treats develop a backstory. Plastic cheese at Backlot Express They come, they go, they return, they leave again, which has us wondering why?? Plastic Cheese Let’s start with plastic cheese. Plastic cheese is our affectionate name for the little cups of cheese sauce you can find at some quick service spots around Disney World. It’s not the same as the cheese sauce that you get prepackaged when you buy a Mickey pretzel — it has a richer cheese flavor, and it’s usually served warm instead of cold and goopy. REAL plastic cheese It’s not actually plastic, either. That’s just a name that we came up with because it looks so smooth and fake once it’s poured into the cup. But it’s absolutely delicious for dipping your French fries or corn dog nugs. Hot Plastic-y Cheese There was once a time when you could get this cheese in a self-service option. There are all sorts of rumors as to why Disney pulled this from all locations. Rumors like lawsuits because a child was burned and other rumors that the cheese was just becoming too much of a hassle for Disney. Whatever the real reason, after a couple of years of being off the menu, they brought it back in 2017 — just no longer in self-service form. POG Juice Number two is POG juice — passion fruit, orange, guava. Put it all together, what do you get? POG juice. Now, there was a time, early in 2021, when POG juice began quietly disappearing from our lives due to a supply shortage. It was questionable when or if the fruity concoction would return to restaurants. This stuff is SO good Move forward to mid-August, when we stumbled on a POG-based cocktail, the Neo-Rita, at the Barefoot Pool Bar in the Polynesian Village Resort. This became the case for several restaurants that had once sold POG juice. POG juice was still available, but only as an additional ingredient in specialty cocktails. POG at the Barefoot Pool Bar And then, at the beginning of September, POG juice made its valiant return. Once upon a time, Disney used Minute Maid’s Coca-Cola as their POG supplier, but when the supply shortage happened, they switched over to Nestle to save the day. Now, POG is abundant enough that the Polynesian was able to give free POG samples on Disney’s 50th anniversary. So a happy ending all around. Condiments Now, this isn’t really a snack, but back in 2019, Casey’s Corner experienced a massive shortage of ketchup, mustard, and mayo that went on for three days before the packets were replenished. But, when the parks reopened after the 2020 closure, the condiments shortage returned. http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/DisneyWorld-CaseysCorner-CondimentShortage-700x525.jpgLow on Ketchup To help prevent the spread of germs, Disney World had opted to remove self-service condiment stations and ketchup bottles on the restaurant tables. Instead, restaurants handed out single-use ketchup packets, but the Heinz company was having a hard time keeping up with Disney’s high demand of these packets, hence the shortage. And there are A LOT of them Fast-forward to today, and the shortage has been curbed, meaning you can find these single-serve condiment packets at many quick-service locations that serve up burgers, hot dogs, and other sandwich-based items, such as Animal Kingdom’s Restaurantosaurus, Magic Kingdom’s Columbia Harbor House, and of course, Casey’s Corner. Pumpkin Pretzel Next up we have the infamous pumpkin pretzel. It had the right idea, just the wrong execution. So back in 2019, Animal Kingdom’s Thirsty River Bar and Trek Snacks released a seasonal pumpkin pretzel, which was dipped in orange icing and dusted with pumpkin spice. Now, the way this pretzel was advertised made it look super cute, like a pumpkin, which seemed very fitting. http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/thirsty-river-bar-and-trek-snacks-animal-kingdom-pumkin-pretzel-seasonal-snack-1-464x600.jpgPumpkin Pretzel However, when we ordered it, let’s just say that what we received looked quite a bit different. The icing was clumpy and looked more like curdling plastic cheese rather than pretty orange icing, and the little candy leaves just slapped on the side like an afterthought. http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/wdw-animal-kingdom-2019-holiday-thirsty-river-bar-and-trek-snacks-pumpkin-pretzel-4-585x600.jpgPumpkin Spice Pretzel Basically, what happened was that the pretzel was still too hot for the icing, and it just was melting off. Now, we decided to give the snack a second chance later on in the day, just to see if it was a fluke design flaw. Well, the second one we got was drowning in the cheese-looking icing. http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/thirsty-river-bar-and-trek-snacks-animal-kingdom-pumkin-pretzel-seasonal-snack-4-700x525.jpgPumpkin Pretzel We went back for a third time the following week to discover that it had vanished. The pumpkin pretzel was gone, which is a shame because the pretzel itself was actually really good and had a nice pumpkin spice filling. Now, if you’re looking to fill that unique pretzel offering itch, there are other pretzel delicacies around the parks, like the cheddar jalapeno pretzel and the warm cream cheese-stuffed pretzel. McDonald’s Fries Next, we have McDonald’s fries. Once upon a time, Disney World sold Mickey D’s fries in their parks and we mean every park. ©Flickr But what you need to know for now is that McDonald’s fries and Disney quick service locations were the best of friends for ten years, to be exact. Then, the Disney World McDonald’s contract expired, and the partnership fizzled out in 2008. ©Flickr You can still order McDonald’s fries in the Disney bubble. There’s an entire McDonald’s located at the intersection of Osceola Parkway and West Buena Vista Drive, which is fairly close to Disney’s All-Star Resorts and Animal Kingdom Lodge. McDonald’s Or you can nosh on some fries right in Disney World — they just won’t be McDonald’s. We’d recommend The Daily Poutine over at Disney Springs, which features a nice variety of classic and unique poutine concoctions. Mr. Kamal’s in Animal Kingdom has Mr. Kamal’s Seasoned Fries, and Flame Tree Barbecue at Animal Kingdom has pulled pork fries and that famous plastic cheese. Peanut Butter Next, let’s talk about peanut butter. Back in 2015, Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop in Disney Springs completely stopped using peanut butter-based ingredients in their desserts. In 2013, the ice cream company started working on peanut-free desserts to become more allergy-friendly for guests. At first, this didn’t impact already existing sundaes in the Ghirardelli shop. But after a couple of years, sundaes like the Gold Rush that had marvelous melted peanut butter swirled in with vanilla ice cream and hot fudge became obsolete. Gold Rush Peanut Butter Sundae So what are you going to get now? Well, Ghirardelli has a Strike It Rich Butterscotch Hot Fudge Sundae that’s made with vanilla ice cream, sea salt, diced almonds, caramel sauce, and whipped cream and they’ve also got their Ocean Beach Sea Salt Caramel Sundae and their world-famous Hot Fudge Sundae. No Way Jose But if you are a big peanut butter fan, over at Beaches & Cream at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, you can order the No Way Jose, or at the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor at Magic Kingdom, there’s the All-American Sundae. Poop Candy Now, let’s talk about the poop candy. The award for the most unsavory-looking snack has to go to this. Back in 2015, Zuri’s Sweet Shop in Animal Kingdom sold match-the-species poop candy. “Match the Species” Treats There were a handful of different poops you could choose from. The elephant poop was made with chocolate peanut butter fudge, sweet rolled oats, and yellow coconut flakes. The giraffe poop had chocolate fudge brownie and caramel. The cotton-top tamarin poop used peanut butter fudge, sweet rolled oat flakes, and chocolate pretzel pearls. And the hippo poop was made of chocolate fudge caramel brownie with peanut butter and rolled oats. http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Zuris-Name-the-Species-Elephant-1-600x579.jpgZuri’s Match the Species Treats — Elephant Poop Even though we were subjected to eating something that looked much worse than it tasted, the flavors were actually really good. Very sweet. Now, the candy came with mixed reviews. Some guests found the concept hysterical, and some found it a little too unsavory. In the end, poop candy had a very short lifespan at Zuri’s. Once it sold out, Disney retired the controversial treat. But Zuri’s Sweet Shop still continues to provide unique treats like animal-inspired caramel apples, marshmallow pops, cake pops, and seasonal treats that you can check out the next time you’re at Animal Kingdom. Docking Bay 7 Sporks The last one on our list is the Docking Bay 7 sporks. Again, this isn’t a snack, but let’s talk about it anyway because it’s definitely a story. Original Spork at Docking Bay 7 When Docking Bay 7 opened back in 2019, along with the rest of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, you could eat your quick-service meal with a spork and it was a metal space-looking spork. Fans and guests alike were a little too thrilled with these Batuu-based utensils, and it seems like some folks were heavily influenced by the smugglers’ part of Smugglers Run and took it to practice. Disney started noticing their metal spork supply was dwindling, so they stopped handing the utensils out for use. Docking Bay 7 Spork But that wasn’t the end of the space fork story. The sporks returned to Docking Bay 7, but this time at a price. Guests could purchase these sporks for $10.99 each. The spork came in its own Batuu travel bag. Double prize. All you had to do was access the Docking Bay 7 mobile order section of your My Disney Experience app and tap on the cargo option to add it to your purchase. ©Disney Currently, the sporks are no longer available for purchase. But that doesn’t mean Disney won’t bring them back again for future travelers. In the meantime, you can purchase other Batuu-themed merchandise at the Galaxy’s Edge gift shops like Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities and the Black Spire Outpost Market. Dok Ondar’s Den of Antiquities While we wish some of these were still around, there are still so many delicious snacks available at Disney World and we can’t wait to see what new snacks Disney will come up with in the future! For all the latest updates on snacks, stay tuned with us right here! NEWS: 20 NEW Snacks Are Coming to Disney World Soon! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What snacks do you wish were brought back to Disney World? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! The post 8 Snacks Disney World Had To Stop Selling first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The walls are coming down in EPCOT, and the newest attraction is ALMOST set to open. Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana We were lucky enough to attend a special preview event for Journey of Water Inspired by Moana, and we’re bringing you along with us right now on DFB Guide. Check out our video below: BRAND NEW in EPCOT — Journey of Water Inspired by Moana Are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes! And stay tuned for more Disney news! Want MORE Details About EPCOT’s MASSIVE Transformation? NEW Festival Areas, Gardens, a Meet-and-Greet Area, and More Are Coming to EPCOT Learn All About Journey of Water -- Inspired by Moana Has the Mary Poppins Project at Disney World Been Canceled? What’s Been CUT From the EPCOT Transformation? SNEAK PEEK at the NEW Fireworks Show Coming to EPCOT Click HERE for All the News and Details about EPCOT’s Transformation! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest EPCOT transformation news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What’s your favorite part of this new attraction? Let us know in the comments. The post DFB Video: BRAND NEW in EPCOT — Journey of Water Inspired by Moana first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The newest EPCOT attraction hasn’t even opened yet, but we’ve seen a LOT of opinions about it. It’s stunning! We’re talking about Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana, which we recently got to check out during Cast Member previews. We took you along with us to show you the full attraction (as well as its awesome bathrooms). A LOT of folks seem to think this should have been a ride rather than a walkthrough attraction, but we’re going to tell you why it’s actually a good thing. Yes, we get it, a Moana-themed ride would’ve been pretty cool in EPCOT. But the thing is, there was ALL that space just doing NOTHING in EPCOT. Disney could’ve just turned it into a space with a fountain and some benches, but that would’ve been a lot more boring than what we’re getting. It’s a huge space, and it would’ve been an eyesore to keep it so plain. Isn’t this way prettier than a simple fountain and benches? And think about it — could a Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind-sized attraction even fit in that small space? From a practical standpoint, there simply wasn’t enough room for a brand-new ride in the middle of EPCOT. There’s not enough space! But there’s another reason that you should re-think how you see this attraction. Remember the old EPCOT? Remember when it was educational? Well, this attraction reminds us of the old EPCOT because as you walk through and interact with the water, you’re learning about the cycle of water. It’s a throwback to what EPCOT used to represent and part of the original idea behind the park. Off to the River! If we had to argue, we’d say that this walkthrough attraction probably fits into the whole concept of EPCOT better than Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, at least when you consider the educational opportunities it presents. Now, we LOVE Cosmic Rewind, but sometimes, we wonder if the Marvel tie-in is a little out of place in EPCOT. But Journey of Water? It fits right in and ties into The Seas and The Land pavilions well. It’s such an EPCOT experience We also love how this attraction is built to give you a break from the chaos that can be happening in EPCOT, with people rushing to and from rides. It gives people some additional shade AND a new place to cool off. In the middle of a hot summer day, that mist feels pretty amazing. This experience is meant to appeal to everyone! When it opens, perhaps a lot of folks might change their mind after they experience Journey of Water for themselves. So, basically, we’re asking you all to check it out for yourselves and give it a chance. In the meantime, stay tuned to DFB for more. EPCOT’s NEW Moana Attraction Rocks, but There Was One Major Bummer 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 checking out Journey of Water in Disney World when it opens? Let us know in the comments! The post We Know What You’re Saying About the New Moana Attraction in EPCOT – But Hear Us Out first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Do you head straight for Gideon’s Bakehouse when you visit Disney Springs…because, well, we do! Gideon’s Bakehouse However, over the past few days, we haven’t been able to get our hands on our favorite cookies because Gideon’s Bakehouse has been temporarily closed — and that closure was recently extended. However, we’ve got some great news: Gideon’s Bakehouse has reopened! Gideon’s Bakehouse closed on August 31st due to an ongoing issue with the building’s air conditioning. The dessert spot remained closed through September 1st and 2nd, as it worked on getting those issues resolved. As of this morning, though, on September 3rd, Gideon’s Bakehouse is open again, as reported on the bakery’s Instagram account. ©Gideon’s Bakehouse via Instagram So, if you’re wanting to try out those September limited-time flavors that Gideon’s JUST announced, now is the time to head to Disney Springs and grab them. We figure there will probably be a line (because there is almost ALWAYS a line there — but trust it, these cookies are worth it), so you might have to sign up for a virtual queue by providing your phone number so you can be texted when they’re ready for you. YUM We’ll keep an eye out for more closings and reopenings in Disney World and keep you updated on ALL Disney news, 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. You can even download them to your smartphone – it’ll be like we’re right there with you in the parks! Here’s More About Gideon Bakehouse’s September Limited Edition Cookies Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What’s your favorite Gideon’s Bakehouse cookie flavor? Let us know in the comments! The post NEWS: Gideon’s Bakehouse Reopens in Disney World Following Multi-Day Closure first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! We DO love some ice cream in Disney World. Yum! Granted, we have some of our favorite ice cream treats. We’ll pop into Plaza Ice Cream Parlour in Magic Kingdom to put together one of our favorite hacks with a Mickey Ear cookie (or any cookie, actually). But one of our absolute FAVORITE ice cream joints is OUTSIDE the parks at Disney’s Beach Club Resort — but it is SO hard to get reservations for. But now we have a way to get that ice cream without a reservation. Okay, so the ice cream joint we love the most HAS to be Beaches & Cream Soda Shop, but like we said, this is a hard reservation to get in Disney World. Ugh! We just want some ice cream! BUT, there’s a place nearby where you can get the SAME ice cream served there! Beaches & Cream Soda Shop So let’s walk over to the nearby Disney’s BoardWalk and head to BoardWalk Ice Cream. Why? Because the ice cream served here is inspired by the ice cream you get at Beaches & Cream! Even better? You don’t need a reservation to eat here. BoardWalk Ice Cream The menu here includes a variety of ice cream flavors. We’ve seen vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, butter pecan, cookies ‘n’ cream, mint chocolate chip, rainbow sherbet, coffee, and the no-sugar added chocolate-vanilla swirl (which is way more than you might see when looking at the online menu). Menu You can also get a variety of sundaes, which is what we’re all about. Who doesn’t love a good sundae? That’s VERY Beaches & Cream, don’t you think? Menu So an example of those delicious sundaes includes the Bayside Brownie a la Mode, made with a brownie, hot fudge, and vanilla ice cream topped with whipped cream, chocolate sprinkles, and a cherry. Yes, if you love chocolate, this is the sundae for you. The brownie is nice and soft, the ice cream is nice and creamy, and that hot fudge sauce is EVERYTHING. This sundae is almost identical to the Fudge Mud Slide sundae at Beaches & Cream. Brownie a la mode We’re also big fans of the Thundering Surf Peanut Butter and Chocolate Sundae. This comes with chocolate and vanilla ice cream, peanut butter and chocolate morsels, whipped cream, and a cherry. Peanut butter and chocolate, need we say more? Anyway, yes, this is a No Way José dupe. Thundering Surf Peanut Butter and Chocolate Sundae But that’s not all. You can also get ice cream cones here, too. You can get a cake or sugar cone with one or two scoops of that delicious ice cream. Again, this is the same ice cream you’d be eating with a reservation at Beaches & Cream. It’s the good stuff, y’all. A classic DFB ice cream cone in a cup Maybe you’d rather have a shake. Well, you can get a variety of delicious shakes here, too. Some of the flavors we’ve seen are Vacation Vanilla, Strawberry Riptide, Coastal Chocolate, Cookies ‘n Cream and Currants, Plant-based Vanilla Cyclone, and Plant-Based Chocolate Cyclone. Each one we’ve tried is pretty delicious! The Strawberry Riptide is very similar to the Strawberry Minnie Shake at Beaches & Cream. Strawberry Riptide Shake Sure, you could go for those over-the-top shakes at the Beaches & Cream window, and you can even get some Beaches & Cream ice cream treats there, too, but in our experience, the window isn’t always open. Plus when it IS open, there tends to be a line. So Boardwalk Ice Cream seems to be one of Disney World’s best-kept secrets. Cookies ‘n Cream Milkshake So if you are craving some ice cream and can’t get a reservation at Beaches & Cream, be sure to stop by BoardWalk Ice Cream for that ice cream fix. It’s sure to satisfy your ice cream cravings. As always, stay tuned to DFB for more Disney food news, tips, tricks, and hacks. 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! DFB Guide and Snacks Bundle Check out our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining + Snacks Bundle for all the details you need to plan your snackin’ and spending. You can even download them to your smartphone – it’ll be like we’re right there with you in the parks! The Kitchen Sink & More of the BEST Ice Cream 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 ice cream in Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post The Secret Way To Get the Best Ice Cream in Disney World Without a Reservation first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There are several temporary CLOSURES in Disney World right now, including a popular ride in Magic Kingdom and a few restaurants across the resort. Cinderella Castle Let’s take a look at what will be CLOSED from September 3rd through the 9th so that you’re prepared for your next trip. Temporary Closures in Disney World Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Magic Kingdom Splash Mountain closed on January 23rd for a long refurbishment. The ride is being re-themed to become Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, with a Princess and the Frog theme. Construction at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure! The new ride will reopen sometime in late 2024. We’ll be watching for more updates on the reopening timeline. The tree at the top of this ride has been removed as Disney continues construction, and several new rock structures have been built at the bottom of the drop. There’s a new water tower as well, which says “Tiana’s Foods” on the front and “Never, ever lose sight of what’s really important” on the back. It’s topped with Tiana’s crown, which has two stars on it to represent Ray and Evangeline. More construction If you miss Splash Mountain or want to celebrate the new ride, you should check out our DFB t-shirts! We have a Splash Mountain Farwell Tour shirt… DFB Exclusive! …and a Tiana tee as well! Check out our new Tiana-inspired merch! You can shop both tees (and lots of other Disney merch) at our online store. Click here to shop our DFB merchandise store. Barrel Bridge on Tom Sawyer Island in Magic Kingdom Over on Tom Sawyer Island, the Barrel Bridge is currently missing. The Barrel Bridge is missing A Cast Member told us that it had been removed for maintenance, and they didn’t know when it might return. The rest of the island is still open to explore, though. Read our review of NEW menu items at Plaza Restaurant! Traveler’s Cafe in EPCOT Traveler’s Cafe is the old Starbucks location, which closed when Connections Cafe opened in World Celebration. Lately, we’ve spotted some changes to this spot (including a new paint job), so we’re wondering if that could mean it will reopen soon! Traveler’s Cafe According to the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival map, it looks like this spot will be the location for Swirled Showcase when it opens as a new festival marketplace booth on September 22nd. Go INSIDE the NEW Moana Attraction in EPCOT With Us! Restaurant Marrakesh in EPCOT Almost all of the restaurants that were closed in EPCOT during the 2020 park closure have reopened — all but one, that is! Restaurant Marrakesh in the Morocco Pavilion is still closed with no word on when it will reopen. Restaurant Marrakesh Since closing, the empty restaurant has been used as a relaxation station, a lounge…pretty much everything but dining! Recently, we saw that the hedges that were previously in front of the entrance have been removed — could that be a sign that it’ll reopen soon? We’re certainly hoping! Click here to check out the BEST restaurants in EPCOT. Voyage of the Little Mermaid in Disney’s Hollywood Studios This Little Mermaid-themed stage show has been closed in Disney’s Hollywood Studios for a long time now. Voyage of the Little Mermaid (2022) Disney hasn’t announced when or if the Voyage of the Little Mermaid will reopen. Wait. Is It OK That We’re Doing This in Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Blizzard Beach Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park has officially reopened, but now the other water park, Blizzard Beach, has closed for refurbishment. Blizzard Beach Water Park Be sure to check the My Disney Experience app for updates! The BEST Rides at Blizzard Beach, Ranked 1900 Park Fare at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort At Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, 1900 Park Fare is a table service restaurant where you could meet characters like Mary Poppins and Alice in Wonderland at their Supercalifragilistic Breakfast and Cinderella and her Prince Charming during the Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner. 1900 Park Fare They also had a special event for younger children called the Wonderland Tea Party. It’s sad to see a spot closed that had so much character interaction! Disney hasn’t announced a permanent closure, so there is hope for 1900 Park Fare. With 1900 Park Fare closed…you’ll need this SECRET spot to get afternoon tea in Disney World! Looking for more resources to help you get ready for your upcoming trip? Check out these posts to learn all about Disney World’s rides: 10 Rides to AVOID in Disney World if You Struggle with Motion Sickness What It Takes to CHANGE a Disney World Ride 9 of the SCARIEST Rides in Disney World, According to YOU! A FULL LIST of the Thrill Rides in Disney World! The Ultimate Guide to the BEST and WORST Seats On EVERY Magic Kingdom Ride We’ll keep you updated with all the latest news, so stay tuned to DFB. Click here to check out more upcoming closures and current construction projects at Disney World. Planning a Trip to Disney World? We’ve Got Everything You Need to Know The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Disney World Vacation A Month-by-Month Guide to Planning Your Disney World Trip Tips, Hints, Lists, and Videos for Planning the BEST Disney World Trip Learn About the Disney Park Pass System The Ultimate Disney World Packing List Everything You Need to Know About Genie+ Insider SECRETS for Your First Trip to Disney World A Complete Look at the Current Disney Discounts and Deals The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click Here to Subscribe Are you visiting Disney World this week? Let us know in the comments! The post Heads Up -- 3 Restaurants and 3 Attractions Will Be CLOSED in Disney World Next Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Each week, we take a look at the average wait times at each ride in Disney World, but this week there were some unusual challenges. Magic Kingdom during Hurricane Idalia Hurricane Idalia made its way to Florida bringing bad weather to most of the state, including Disney World. The theme parks did not close, however, Typhoon Lagoon and the mini golf courses closed for one day due to weather. During hurricane weather like this, Disney World has cancelation policies allowing guests to move their trips, and looking at the wait times, it is clear that many people did not come into the parks. Despite the lower wait times due to the hurricane, some rides like Slinky Dog Dash and Flight of Passage have lengthy waits. On the other hand, there were six rides with wait times that surprised us! Slinky Dog Dash The rides listed below all had average wait times under one hour: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Peter Pan’s Flight Frozen Ever After Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Test Track Na’vi River Journey Peter Pan’s Flight Since we are constantly tracking these wait times, we can confidently say it is RARE to see those attractions under a 60-minute wait. These were still some of the most popular rides in the parks, but the hurricane certainly impacted the average this week. Take a look at the rest of the average wait times below. Magic Kingdom Starting in Magic Kingdom, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train had the longest average wait time of 57 minutes. Last week the average wait time was 70 minutes so the average has decreased. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Next, Peter Pan’s Flight averaged 55 minutes, Space Mountain averaged 34 minutes, and Jungle Cruise averaged 34 minutes. Average wait times held Haunted Mansion at 29 minutes, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh at 24 minutes, Enchanted Tales with Belle at 23 minutes, and Astro Orbiter at 22 minutes followed by Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin at 21 minutes, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at 18 minutes, and Pirates of the Caribbean at 15 minutes. Space Mountain After that, Tomorrowland Speedway averaged 15 minutes, Mickey’s PhilharMagic at 13 minutes, closely followed by “it’s a small world” averaged 11 minutes, Barnstormer featuring the Great Goofini and Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid at 9 minutes. Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover averaged 8 minutes, Magic Carpets of Aladdin and Enchanted Tiki Room averaged 7 minutes, and Dumbo the Flying Elephant and Mad Tea Party averaged 6 minutes. Barnstormer Prince Charming Regal Carousel also averaged 6 minutes while Hall of Presidents, Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, Carousel of Progress, and Liberty Square Riverboat all tied at 5-minute average wait times. Hall of Presidents The Country Bear Jamboree and Tom Sawyer Island were walk-ons this week. A Beloved Magic Kingdom Ride Is OPEN Following 9-Day Closure EPCOT Heading over to EPCOT, Frozen Ever After has the spot for the longest wait time in the park with a 53-minute average. This is a decrease from last week’s 65-minute average. Test Track and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure were not far behind with a 48-minute average and 47-minute average respectively. Frozen Ever After Next up is Soarin’ at 20 minutes, Turtle Talk with Crush at 14 minutes, Mission: SPACE at 12 minutes, and Spaceship Earth at 8 minutes. Soarin Then, Journey into Imagination and Gran Fiesta Tour also averaged 8 minutes, followed by The Seas with Nemo and Friends and Living with the Land at 6 minutes. Gran Fiesta Tour Awesome Planet, Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along, Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival, Impressions de France, and Reflections of China had no wait times this week. GO INSIDE the NEW Moana Attraction in EPCOT With Us! Hollywood Studios This week, Slinky Dog Dash saw a major decrease this week from 85 minutes to 69 minutes on average. This is still the longest line in Disney World despite the decrease. Rise of the Resistance is next with 57 minutes which is a decrease from 79 minutes last week. Hollywood Studios Other wait times in the park include Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at 54 minutes, Tower of Terror at 49 minutes, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway at 47 minutes, Toy Story Mania at 46 minutes, and Millenium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run at 37 minutes. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster After that, Alien Swirling Saucers averaged 22 minutes, Walt Disney Presents averaged 16 minutes, Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy averaged 12 minutes, Star Tours — The Adventure Continues averaged 12 minutes, and Muppet*Vision 3D averaged only 10 minutes. Wait. Is It OK That We’re Doing This in Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Animal Kingdom Now, let’s head over to Animal Kingdom! Avatar Flight of Passage still had the longest average wait time for this park this week with 67 minutes. The wait time also decreased from last week’s 86 minutes. Animal Kingdom Following that, Na’vi River Journey at 45 minutes, Kali River Rapids at 22 minutes, Expedition Everest at 17 minutes, Kilimanjaro Safaris at 15 minutes, and DINOSAUR at 13 minutes. Na’vi River Journey It’s Tough to Be a Bug averaged 9 minutes and Triceratop Spin averaged 5 minutes. Both The Boneyard and Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail were walk-ons. 13 Upcoming Dates To AVOID Disney’s Animal Kingdom Stay tuned to DFB for more updates from Disney World! VIDEO: Watch Our FULL WALK-THROUGH of the NEW Moana Attraction 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 Were you in Disney World this week? What was your experience? Let us know in the comments below.. The post The Average Wait Times at EVERY Disney World Attraction -- And These 6 Might Surprise You first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s the unofficial last weekend of summer. Yes, Labor Day weekend is here, and you know what that means. Orlando International Airport It means people are going to spend some time traveling this weekend. That means we expect to see some crowds in Disney World, but before that, we also expect to see some crowds in Orlando International Airport. Well, we’ve already given you a look at what days you should avoid flying over this holiday weekend, but now we’ve got an even better idea of just how busy things are going to be during Labor Day weekend. According to the Orlando Business Journal, Orlando is one of the top five U.S. destinations for Labor Day weekend this year. The six-day period that comprises the Labor Day travel weekend (August 31st through September 5th) will see approximately 919,000 people going through Orlando International Airport. That’s 14% more than what the airport saw last year. Southwest at Orlando International Airport Here’s how that breaks down by day just to give you an idea of how busy the airport is going to be each day throughout the long weekend: August 31st: 154,300 travelers September 1st: 156,800 travelers September 2nd: 170,600 travelers September 3rd: 149,100 travelers September 4th: 153,900 travelers September 5th: 134,300 travelers Whew! That is a LOT of people. Orlando International Airport Although a lot of those travelers will be visiting Disney World, there’s a lot more going on in Orlando this weekend, too. According to ClickOrlando.com, this weekend also brings a huge college football game, Disney on Ice, and the beginning of Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Florida (which is also a huge draw for the city). Universal Orlando According to the Associated Press, the Federal Aviation Administration has predicted that this weekend is the third busiest holiday weekend of 2023 so far. So airports pretty much everywhere are going to be busy. So, if you ARE traveling this weekend, be sure to bring your patience. You’ll also want to make sure to get to the airport as early as you can so you: TSA security lines are also bound to be long (although if you have TSA Precheck, you can bypass the longest lines). Orlando International Airport is VERY busy Also, remember that if you’re flying out of Orlando International Airport, you can sign up for MCO Reserve, which lets you set a time to go through a much shorter security line — and it’s totally free! We’ll keep an eye on crowds this weekend at Disney World, too, so be sure to stay tuned to DFB for more! $45 Flights to Disney World?! You NEED to See This New Orlando Airport Deal! Travel Updates, Tips, and Tricks Complete Guide to Booking the CHEAPEST Flight to Disney World What to Do if Your Flight to Disney World Is Canceled Our Best Tips For Flying Through the Orlando International Airport Step-by-Step Guide: How to Get to Disney World From the Orlando Airport You’re SLEEPING on These Packing Hacks Air Travel Tips That’ll Change Your Life 8 Catastrophic Travel Mistakes and How to Solve Them The Airline with the MOST Flight Delays and Cancellations This Small Change Will Save You From Lost Luggage The Best Disney Luggage for 2023 21 Things a Former Flight Attendant Needs You To Know 7 Highest-Rated Travel Items on Amazon Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click Here to Subscribe Will you be in Disney World this weekend? Let us know what your flight experience was like in the comments! The post Why You Might Want to AVOID Orlando Airport This Weekend first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Dining at Disney World can be a little tricky, especially if you’re choosing to do some table service meals. Be Our Guest Restaurant Table service restaurants are dining spots that require Advance Dining Reservations that can be made up to 60 days in advance. However, sometimes plans change in the parks and you realize you won’t be able to make it to your reservation. Most restaurants will allow you to cancel within two hours of your dining window, but there are some exceptions that you NEED to know about so you don’t get charged! When you book a dining reservation, Disney will ask you to put a card on file. This means that if you cancel your dining reservation too late or don’t show up at all, that card will be charged a certain amount for the meal. Yes, even if you didn’t go! There are a couple of reasons for this: With reservations for most Disney World restaurants in high demand, Disney doesn’t want people to make a bunch of reservations “just in case” they want to use them, and if that table goes unsold, that’s less money that Disney could be making. Be Our Guest Table Most restaurants charge a $10 per-person fee if you are a no-show or cancel less than 2 hours before your reservation time, but there are some restaurants and experiences that have a different policy than the norm. We’re giving you those details today so you don’t get caught with a sneaky charge! Here is the list of restaurants and events that have reservations that CANNOT be modified (this means changing the time or adding/removing guests) AT ALL after the reservation has been made: Cinderella’s Royal Table Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Review Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Parties: Pre-Party Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Parties: Post-Party Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Parties: Seats & Sweets Ferrytale Fireworks: A Sparkling Dessert Cruise Rose & Crown Fireworks Dining Package Spice Road Table Fireworks Dining Package Celebration at the Top – Sip, Savor, Sparkle Top of the World Lounge – multiple products Now, you can CANCEL these reservations and try to re-book your change, but you can’t alter them. And re-booking with your desired change could be hard or impossible, so the best policy for these restaurants is to be really sure of your time and size of the party before you book. Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue Dinner Show At Cinderella’s Royal Table — arguably Disney World’s most popular restaurant — you can cancel your reservation at no charge as long as you do it at least 2 hours in advance. However, if you cancel after that time or just don’t show up for this one, you will be charged the full cost of the meal for each person in your party. Dining Room at Cinderella’s Royal Table Here are the restaurants that will not charge you if you cancel AT LEAST 1 day in advance, as well as what the cost will be if you do not cancel: Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue (if you don’t cancel in time, you’ll be charged the full cost of the experience per person) Sangria University (if you don’t cancel in time, you’ll be charged the full cost of the experience per person) La Cava Experience (if you don’t cancel in time, you’ll be charged $50 per person) Ferrytale Fireworks: A Sparkling Dessert Cruise (if you don’t cancel in time, you’ll be charged the full cost of the experience per person) La Cava Del Tequila Here are the restaurants that will not charge you if you cancel AT LEAST 2 days in advance, as well as what the cost will be if you do not cancel: Takumi-Tei (if you don’t cancel in time, you’ll be charged $100 per person) Rose & Crown Fireworks Dining Package (if you don’t cancel in time, you’ll be charged the full cost of the experience per person) Spice Road Table Fireworks Dining Package (if you don’t cancel in time, you’ll be charged the full cost of the experience per person) Takumi Tei Here are the restaurants that will not charge you if you cancel AT LEAST 3 days in advance, as well as what the cost will be if you do not cancel: Monsieur Paul (if you don’t cancel in time, you’ll be charged $100 per person) Monsieur Paul Here are the restaurants that will not charge you if you cancel AT LEAST 5 days in advance, as well as what the cost will be if you do not cancel: Victoria & Albert’s (if you don’t cancel in time, you’ll be charged $100 per person) Victoria & Albert’s Here are the restaurants that will not charge you if you cancel AT LEAST 7 days in advance, as well as what the cost will be if you do not cancel: Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Parties: Pre-Party (if you don’t cancel in time, you’ll be charged the full cost of the experience per person) Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Parties: Post-Party (if you don’t cancel in time, you’ll be charged the full cost of the experience per person) Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Parties: Seats & Sweets (if you don’t cancel in time, you’ll be charged the full cost of the experience per person) Fireworks Party at Tomorrowland Terrace in Magic Kingdom For all other table service restaurants throughout Disney World property, you must cancel at least 2 hours in advance to avoid being charged. Now you see why we say it’s so important to stay on top of these table service reservations — it can cost you some serious money if you forget to cancel in time! Check out our comprehensive DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining before you make your reservations! We’ve compiled all of our BEST tips and tricks from years of Disney World travel into one eBook that you can download to your tablet or smartphone and take with you! We’re offering our readers 25% off with code WDW2023. Get Our Best-Selling Guide Books! As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney World tips and news! These are the best table service meals to make the most of your 2024 Disney Dining Plan! Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide The Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants The Best EPCOT Restaurant Restaurants The Best Restaurants in Disney’s Hollywood Studios The Best Restaurants in Disney’s Animal Kingdom The Best Disney Springs Restaurants The Best (and Worst) Disney World Hotel Restaurants Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What is your favorite table service restaurant! Tell us in the comments! The post WATCH OUT for These Sneaky Restaurant Cancelation Costs in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’re inside the Disney World theme parks every single day, so we notice a ton of changes happening all the time. This week, every single park had some pretty big updates! Cinderella’s Castle To help you keep track of some of the most recent changes, here’s a look at the BIGGEST change in every Disney World park this past week. We’ll be going through the major changes here, but if you want to see ALL the happenings, check out our pages that contain daily updates! WHAT'S NEW AT DISNEY? Check out our daily updates on all the happenings around Disney World and Disneyland! Magic Kingdom EPCOT Hollywood Studios Animal Kingdom Disney Hotels Disney Springs Disneyland Magic Kingdom More materials have arrived in the queue for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure! From the queue This ride is currently COVERED in scaffolding. Construction at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure! Make sure you check out the new water tower in the front! Tiana’s Foods Water Tower Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will open in late 2024. Click here to see all the latest updates from Magic Kingdom. Disney’s Hollywood Studios Over in Toy Story Land by Toy Story Mania, one wall that’s been under construction for a while is being covered in a mural. Mural We checked on the progress recently, and it looks like it’s coming along well! Click here to see all the latest updates from Hollywood Studios. EPCOT Some construction walls have come down around the Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana attraction in EPCOT! Moana Disney is currently holding Cast Member previews, and we got to go inside and tour the new attraction. Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana Click here for our FULL walk-through! It’s a beautiful area. Click here to see all the latest updates from EPCOT. Disney’s Animal Kingdom The front part of Island Mercantile has reopened with new checkout counters installed. The new checkout counter According to Cast Members in this store, we may see even more changes when it comes to checkout counters — we’ll keep you updated on any other changes! Click here to see all the latest updates from Animal Kingdom. Disney World Hotels A majority of the lobby at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is still blocked off to guests, though you can get a good peek at what’s behind the wall on the second floor. Still construction in the lobby As we get closer to the holiday season, we’re getting a little worried that the construction might affect this hotel’s GIANT gingerbread house, which is usually located in the lobby. We’ll keep an eye out for more updates and will let you know if we find any! Click here to see all the latest updates from the Disney World hotels. Stay tuned to DFB for more updates from Disney World! Click here to check out the BIGGEST recent Disney World changes. 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 visiting Disney World this year? Let us know in the comments! The post 5 MAJOR Changes You MISSED In Disney World This Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you told us a few years ago that we would swear off certain Disney World restaurants, we might’ve laughed at what felt like a big joke. We’ve got some restaurants we just don’t want to go back to now Now, don’t get us wrong, we’re always finding our NEW favorite restaurants in Disney World, and sometimes those that we weren’t fond of in the past just all out surprise us in new ways (ABC Commissary, we’re looking at you), but sometimes the restaurants we might have recommended before aren’t ones we’d recommend now. There are THREE Disney World restaurants, in particular, that we no longer go to. This makes us sad, but sometimes restaurants change — and not for the better. Be Our Guest Be Our Guest in Magic Kingdom has gone through some changes, most of which we think have hurt the quality of the restaurant. In 2018, the dinner menu became a pricey prix-fixe menu, meaning that the quality of dinner went downhill because we were basically eating mass-produced food. However, Be Our Guest also had a great counter service breakfast and lunch option that was more affordable. Then 2020 arrived, and EVERYTHING changed. Inside Be Our Guest When Be Our Guest reopened in 2020, both lunch and dinner became exactly the same: a pricey prix-fixe meal. Seriously, who wants three courses for lunch? We don’t! We think it says a lot that this was once one of the hardest reservations to get in Disney World, but now, it’s one of the easiest to get. How Be Our Guest Restaurant Lunch Slowly Declined From Perfect to Pathetic Landscape of Flavors Landscape of Flavors, the food court at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, once lived up to its name. This food court set itself apart from other hotel food courts by serving unique menu items you couldn’t get anywhere else in Disney World. Landscape of Flavors We also loved that at the time, the food court offered a lot of options for customizing your dining experience, with loads of “pick your own” options like a make your own soup/salad option, a “World Flavors” area with things like Tandoori shrimp with naan bread, and more. Y’all, this food court had its own GELATO BAR. A gelato bar! Now, Landscape of Flavors is basically a copycat of EVERY OTHER VALUE RESTAURANT food court. there’s nothing truly unique about it, and most of the fare is your standard burgers, fries, and sandwiches. Tandoori chicken? Forget about it. That gelato bar? GONE. In fact, Disney has pretty much standardized the menus for all its value resort food courts, and now, they’re all just BORING. The Deterioration of Landscape of Flavors Food Court From Awesome To Awful Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe Pecos Bill in Magic Kingdom was once a counter service STAPLE. It was one of the best places to get a burger in Disney World. Now, the burgers were standard Disney burgers, but Pecos Bill had a toppings bar with just about anything you could think of, including peppers, pickles, salsa, sauteed mushrooms, shredded cheese, lettuce, sliced tomatoes, and more. You could even get plastic cheese (!!!) from that toppings bar. Peppers and Pickles at Pecos Bill’s Condiment Bar Even after the menu was updated in 2015 with more Mexican-inspired fare, the toppings bar was still LIT, with things like sour cream, diced onions, chipotle ranch, banana peppers, shredded cheese, verde sauce, guacamole, salsa, pico de gallo, roasted corn, and more. Pecos Bill REMAINED one of the best counter service spots in Magic Kingdom. All Of The Toppings From The Toppings Bar Then 2020 hit and when Pecos Bill reopened, the toppings bar had disappeared. All you could get was sugar, salt, mustard, and more boring condiments. You CAN request toppings when you place your order (or through Mobile Order), but it’s not the same as the level of customization we once had here. More importantly, though, the rest of the food didn’t improve to make up for the lack of toppings bar. Sometimes, we get some decent things here, but it’s been pretty inconsistent. How Pecos Bill in Disney World Slowly Declined from Perfect to Pathetic So although we might have once been huge fans of these three restaurants, we’re not likely to recommend them anymore. So which ones DO we recommend? Well, be sure to get our 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! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What Disney World restaurants have you given up on? Let us know in the comments! The post Why We Stopped Going to These 3 Disney World Restaurants first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Do you know what’s kinda awesome about Labor Day weekend? Time to save money on Disney merchandise! No, it’s not all the people who will be traveling over the course of the 3-day weekend. It’s certainly not the crowds we expect to see in Disney World. We’re talking about all the SALES happening right now — including one that is offering up to 70% off on Disney merchandise! Yep, it sounds almost too good to be true, but Hot Topic is having a huge sale, and we’re ready to buy a ton of new Disney stuff because why not? DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Buy the Constance Hatchaway Mini Portrait ©Hot Topic Is it us, or is this room really stretching? If you’ve ever wanted a mini portrait from the Haunted Mansion’s stretching room, here’s your chance! Even better? It’s on sale! View on Hot Topic Get the Disney: The Simple Family Cookbook ©Hot Topic Bring some Disney into your kitchen by sampling some recipes inspired by Disney movies and characters. Learn to make spaghetti with Lady and the Tramp, sweet snowballs with Olaf and Elsa, and Hawaiian pizza with Lilo and Stitch. View on Hot Topic Buy the Winnie The Pooh Loungefly Mini Backpack ©Hot Topic Yes, this sale even includes Loungefly bags, so if you want to get this adorable Pooh bag, NOW is the time. It’s got Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet on it! View on Hot Topic So be sure to head on over to Hot Topic and check out the sale now — it’s only for THIS weekend, so hurry! Looking For Even MORE Disney Merchandise? Check Out Our Store on AmazonThe post ALERT🚨 HUNDREDS of Disney Souvenirs Are on SALE Online Right Now! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

What’s your favorite Disney World ride? Tower of Terror Whether you prefer a thrilling drop on the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror or a leisurely ride through Living with the Land, there are tons of attractions to enjoy no matter your preference. But, how do you know which rides to skip? With so many things to do across the parks, it can be confusing trying to prioritize your day — but we’re here to help. There are the rides that are a total waste of time. Okay, so this list is pretty subjective, but we’ve learned a few things during our thousands of trips to Disney World when it comes to its rides. Here are the rides that we skip! Spaceship Earth So we actually love Spaceship Earth. Where else are you going to hear Dame Judy Dench reminding you to thank the Phoenicians? Spaceship Earth We’re not necessarily telling you to skip this ride entirely, but if you start your day at EPCOT — don’t do this ride first thing in the morning! Because this is the first attraction guests encounter after they enter the park, the wait time for this ride is often its longest early in the morning. Spaceship Earth If you hold off and swing back around to ride it later in the day, it will usually have a rather short wait time. Don’t get tricked into hopping on the first ride you see! Kilimanjaro Safaris Another ride that is more enjoyable when you time it out right is Kilimanjaro Safaris. Thinking about hopping on in the middle of the day? In the summer, that can mean peak temperatures, and typically the animals aren’t going to be as active — or even out — when this is the case. Hippo It might sound counterintuitive to get on this outdoor attraction when it’s raining, but this is actually a great time to ride. It’s cooler, so the animals will be more active, and if you’re lucky — you’ll get to see a rhinoceros rolling around in the mud. Muddy Buddy! Early in the morning and during the last few rides of the day are also good times to ride. The lions tend to also prefer cooler weather, and if you get there early enough — you can sometimes hear them roar! Lion during the rain Like a lot of rides in Disney World, when you ride makes a big difference! TriceraTop Spin Sure, there are a lot of rides in Disney World, but you may have noticed that some of them use the same technology. Living with the Land, “it’s a small world,” Na’vi River Journey, and more are all similar types of boat rides. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance all use a trackless ride system. Na’vi River Journey For one type of ride, you might think that if you’ve ridden one, you’ve ridden them all. Spinning rides — like The Magic Carpets of Aladdin — are easy-to-ride, kid-friendly attractions that you’ll find across Disney World. Magic Carpets of Aladdin So, if you’ve ridden Dumbo the Flying Elephant in Magic Kingdom, you might not think it’s worth it to hop on TriceraTop Spin in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. TriceraTop Spin That is — unless you have a kid who absolutely loves both dinosaurs and elephants. Living with the Land Okay, again, we actually really love this ride. But similar to Spaceship Earth, it matters when you ride! Living with the Land You will often see that this ride has a very short wait time — typically below 20 minutes! But, if you’re thinking of hopping on it for a quick ride before a reservation, you might be setting yourself up for a headache. Living With The Land One of the appealing parts about this ride is that it is so relaxing — sit back in the AC and learn about the greenhouses Disney uses to grow much of the food they serve. But, it’s a long journey! Living with the Land This roughly 15-minute boat ride can make you late for a reservation if you mistakenly think you can get in a speedy experience before you have to be somewhere important. Living with the Land With so many rides in Disney World, it’s important that you have a game plan if you want to make sure you hit your must-dos. Keep these things in mind when planning out your day! As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news. 8 Rides You Definitely DON’T Need Genie+ for 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 rides do you usually skip in Disney World? Let us know in the comments below! The post 4 Rides That Are a Total WASTE of TIME in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney Springs is known for its great food, stellar entertainment, and vibrant nightlife. Disney Springs We’ve tried a $140 entree at Jaleo and seen another store close recently in Disney Springs, but on a recent trip out we decided to stop in and review an experience you won’t get anywhere else in Disney World! We opted for a meal at Enzo’s Hideaway Tunnel Bar and Restaurant. You’ll find this lounge downstairs from two other Italian restaurants — Maria & Enzo’s Restaurante and Pizza Ponte. Enzo’s Hideaway Tunnel Bar and Restaurant When you step inside Enzo’s Hideaway Tunnel Bar, you’re entering a speakeasy made out of rumored rum-running tunnels, so a keen eye will spot plenty of nods to the Prohibition Era in everything from the menu to the decor. This epic tunnel bar is inspired by the aperitivo bars of Rome. Atmosphere As you approach the entrance of Enzo’s Hideaway Tunnel Bar and Restaurant, you’ll find that this place does offer outdoor seating… Outdoor seating … however, this particular evening, it was going to be getting dark soon and we really wanted to check out the interesting details inside so we requested a table indoors. Entrance There are lots of little details to search for throughout the entire speakeasy that make it feel like you’re in a secret hideaway. Take for instance this graffiti on the walls… Who put that there? … or the empty liquor bottles that line the top of the trim by the ceiling! Nice touch! After your eyes have had time to adjust from the dimly lit hallway, you’ll find the small host table to check in. Check-in table Once our table was ready, we walked past several hallways that included decorations like drawers… Interesting decor … and a prohibition-era style hideaway bar before being led to the main dining areas. Whatcha’ order? Inside the dining room, you’ll find booth seating, standard round and rectangular tables for smaller and larger parties, and an expansive bar. Bar Overall the atmosphere was already fairly lively with the sounds of laughter and conversation buzzing around. Busy tonight Our table was set with a cloth napkin, flatware, a bread plate, and a water glass. Our table Menu After we were seated, our server brought out a few menus for us to browse. The first is the full dinner menu which consists of Piccoli Piatti (appetizers), Secondi (seconds), and several options for alcoholic drinks in cocktails, martinis, signature drinks, and a few mocktail options… it is a speakeasy after all! Dinner menu front Appetizer choices include Calamari, Polpettine, Caesar Salad, Burrata Caprese, Marinated Olives, and more. Entrees include those you might expect to find in a “red sauce joint” — Spaghetti and Meatballs, Eggplant Parmagiana, and Cheese Ravioli, as well as roast chicken, salmon and steak choices. The back side of the dinner menu is filled with wine and beer selections. Dinner menu back We were also presented with the dessert menu. There are a handful of dessert (Dolci) options here to wind down your meal… Dessert menu front … and on the back side of the dessert menu, the restaurant also has a few Fortified Wines, Special Selections from the Barrel, Liqueurs, Grappa, and Digestivi — which Enzo recommends to ease your stomach after a big Italian meal. Dessert menu back Drinks We opted for the Paloma Italiana from the cocktail menu. Paloma Italiana This drink is made of Herradura Blanco Tequila, Grapefruit, Lime Juice, Agave, and Orange Bitters topped with a slice of lime for $18. We requested a salt rim. It’s got a very sophisticated presence when it’s brought out in a stemless glass. It’s bubbly! The rim coating is mostly concentrated to one side which we thought was an interesting take for such a drink, but the strong yet smooth tequila was what stole the show in this one. It had just enough to command a presence and was complimented by the flavors of the lime and agave. The orange bitters flavor was concentrated to the bottom after it sat for a bit waiting on the food but overall we thought it was a refreshing grapefruit drink that really packed in a noticeable tequila taste. Piccoli Piatti After a few minutes had gone by (and a few more sips of our Paloma Italiana), the food we ordered started to arrive. We’ll talk about our appetizer first, the Focaccia Della Casa. Focaccia Della Casa The bread service is housemade Focaccia (bread), whipped Ricotta, lemon extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, and cracked pepper for $14. So creamy The focaccia was soft and pillowy, and the whipped ricotta to dip the bread in had a strong taste of oregano and lemon zest. We thought this served as a great appetizer choice. The lemon extra virgin olive oil was mostly underneath the foccacia, but didn’t weigh it down or make it soggy. It also pulled apart quite easily, so it’s very conveniently shared. Pulls apart in sections We think you’d really like this one if you’re looking for a softer bread option with your meal, but if you’re not someone who needs a starter plate or appetizer, then you may want to skip this one and opt for a heftier entree. Charcuterie Board Once we were done with the focaccia, it was time to dig into our “Dolce Vita” course — a charcuterie board! Let’s talk about the Cured Meats and Artisan Cheeses. Cured Meats and Artisan Cheese The menu recommended that this board be shared between two people. It was made up of Prosciutto di Parma, Calabrese Salami, Mortadella with Pistachio, Moliterno cheese, Grana Padano cheese, Gorgonzola dolce, Cured Olives, Oil, and Peppers for $36 (this was a tad different than what’s on the online menu for this board). Another view of the full board from the backside The Prosciutto di Parma was sliced very thin (almost see-through, really), with just the right amount of salty flavor. Prosciutto di Parma The Calabrese Salami was super thinly sliced, but it’s got quite the kick! This is the one to grab first if you’re looking for heat because it will sneak up on you with a slow burn in the back of your mouth. Calabrese Salami The Moliterno cheese tastes and crumbles like Parmesan cheese and helped to cut down the spice of the Calabrese Salami. Moliterno Cheese The Mortadella with Pistachio tastes like super thinly sliced Bologna, with a subtle crunch of a pistachio every once in a while for an extra hint of flavor. Mortadella with Pistachio The Grana Padano cheese has a sharp taste to it which kept us wanting more of it and may very well have been the best cheese on the board. Grana Padano cheese The Gorgonzola Dolce cheese was creamy and spreadable. Gorgonzola Dolce This meal felt fairly consistent for Italian meats and cheeses on a charcuterie board. If you’re looking for something shareable with a friend or a fun date night we recommend trying it! It’s certainly too big for one person. It wasn’t a bad spread by any means, but it was a bit pricey for charcuterie meats and cheeses we’ve had around Disney World if you’re concerned about value. Secondi The entree we ordered was the Lemon-Oregano Pollo Arrosto. Lemon-Oregano Pollo Arrosto This dish is Roast Chicken with Creamy Polenta, Fontina, Roasted Carrots, and Cipollini Onions for $32. Let’s talk about the positives of this plate first. Roast chicken is a staple that will be comforting to less adventurous eaters. The predominant flavor here is a familiar one — oregano, and you won’t find anything surprising about this dish. The skin on the chicken was perfectly crispy without being too oily. A bite of chicken with everything Overall, though, we found this plate lacking in flavor, and nothing really stood out to us about it. Dolci If we weren’t already stuffed enough, it was time to wind down our meal for the night with a sweet treat. As we mentioned before, we ordered the Dark Chocolate Budino. Dark Chocolate Budino This dessert is chocolate pudding cake served with praline cream and candied hazelnuts and paired with vanilla gelato for $15. It’s a newer menu item that they’ve introduced over the past few months. This was delicious! We enjoyed the creamy texture of the cake. The gelato was standard vanilla bean and paired well with the crunchy candied hazelnuts. Moist cake The praline cream was creamy, but it’s flavor was lost to the powerful chocolate and vanilla combo. This dessert felt a bit pricey for the size, but we really enjoyed it and would get it again. If you’re a big chocolate fan or anyone looking for a smaller dessert to help curb your sweet tooth at the end of the meal, this is a great option to consider. Overall Overall we really enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of this restaurant and its fun back story. It was a nice, filling meal. Our WHOLE meal! When we arrived we were greeted with very friendly service, that was super speedy and our server seemed to take great pride in speaking knowledgeably about the menu items, breaking down the charcuterie board meats and cheeses, and making recommendations as we discussed options. If you find yourself stumped on what to order when you arrive, we suggest talking over a few options with your server. Nosh or Not Stop into Enzo’s Hideaway Tunnel Bar and Restaurant if… You’re someone who really enjoys Italian food. This spot serves Italian cuisine — and only Italian cuisine. You’re looking for a unique atmosphere you’re not going to get anywhere else in Disney World. This is certainly a one-of-a-kind place with its intriguing back story and creative theming. Disney’s all about storytelling, and they’ve done an excellent job here. You’re a less adventurous eater looking for a safe place. Italian food speaks to the soul and brings lots of folks together. Chances are you’ll find something here that will appeal to everyone. We think you should try another restaurant if… You’re looking for extravagant flavors. While the theming and service were excellent here, it wouldn’t be an outstanding first choice if you’re really looking for more flavor. You’re not into the secret speakeasy hideaway theme. We’ve talked a lot about the theming here, and if you’re not into walking through a tunnel to the dining area and enjoying the prohibition-era-themed drinks, this might not really be your cup of tea (or liquor). If you’re looking for a more vibrant dining environment, consider Maria and Enzo’s upstairs. Italian food isn’t high on your list. This restaurant is very heavily Italian and a bit more mature at that. Tables in the dining room Disney World menus change frequently, and that’s why we’re constantly reviewing the food, drink, and snacks to help you make the best decisions on your next Disney trip. So for the latest in Disney food news and reviews, keep following us at DFB! REVIEW: Mickey Waffles Just Got WAY BETTER in Disney World! Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide The Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants The Best EPCOT Restaurant Restaurants The Best Restaurants in Disney’s Hollywood Studios The Best Restaurants in Disney’s Animal Kingdom The Best Disney Springs Restaurants The Best (and Worst) Disney World Hotel Restaurants Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What are your favorite things to order from Enzo’s Hideaway Tunnel Bar and Restaurant? Tell us in the comments below! The post REVIEW: This "Secret" Restaurant in Disney World Serves Up Lots of Italian Food -- But Is It Good? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

A LOT goes into planning a Disney World trip. Want to save on flights? First, you need to decide when you want to visit. Then you’ll need to choose a place to stay (and there are SO many choices just on Disney property alone). You might also want to budget for the trip and hope that airfare to and from Orlando won’t be TOO expensive. Well, we’ve got you covered on that last part because you can score a flight to Orlando International Airport for less than $100 RIGHT NOW. Right now, Spirit Airlines is having a MAJOR sale that includes flights to and from Orlando for just $45 each way. That’s less than $100 for a round-trip flight. Say what? Y’all, that price even includes taxes and fees! ©Spirit Airlines You WILL have to plan that trip sometime between September 9th and November 8th — this deal is also not available for Friday or Sunday flights. And if you want to book this deal, you need to ACT FAST because the sale ends on September 5th. So you’ve only got a few days to book! ©Spirit Airlines We do have to mention that this price ONLY includes your flight. If you have bags you wish to check, that will cost you extra on Spirit, as you are only allowed one personal item without paying extra. You will also need to pay additional fees for checked bags and seat selection. ©Spirit Airlines However, with flight prices so low, you might still be saving a considerable amount of money on your overall travel, and that’s always a good thing. So go check out this sale, and book that fall trip to Disney World. Now is a great time to visit, with the Halloween season upon us — you’ll be able to try out all those great Halloween and fall snacks (yes, we have priorities here at Disney FOOD Blog). Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney and travel news! If you want to do some planning before your flight (or even on the plane!), check out our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining. We’ve compiled all of our BEST tips and tricks from years of Disney World travel into one eBook that you can download to your tablet or smartphone and take with you! We’re offering our readers 25% off with code WDW2023. 5 New Things Coming to Disney World in October Planning a Trip to Disney World? We’ve Got Everything You Need to Know The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Disney World Vacation A Month-by-Month Guide to Planning Your Disney World Trip Tips, Hints, Lists, and Videos for Planning the BEST Disney World Trip Learn About the Disney Park Pass System The Ultimate Disney World Packing List Everything You Need to Know About Genie+ Insider SECRETS for Your First Trip to Disney World A Complete Look at the Current Disney Discounts and Deals The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click Here to Subscribe Have you ever flown to Disney World with Spirit Airlines? Let us know in the comments! The post Flights to Disney World?! You NEED to See This New Orlando Airport Deal! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Some of the busiest weekends in Disney World are when there’s a runDisney race going on in the parks! runDisney During those weekends, you can expect to see big crowds, long wait times, and packed hotels throughout Disney World as runners come down to race and then celebrate their achievements in the theme parks. Whether you’re running or not, we recommend seriously planning ahead so that your trip isn’t made up entirely of waiting in long lines and fighting through crowds. If you’re going to be in Disney World during the EPCOT Wine & Dine runDisney weekend coming up soon, there’s one VERY important date you need to know about! TOMORROW — September 3rd — is when dining reservations open for the Wine & Dine Half Marathon weekend. You can book Disney World dining reservations 60 days in advance, and September 3rd marks 60 days before November 2nd — the first day of the Wine & Dine Half Marathon weekend. ©runDisney Since we’re expecting that weekend to be very crowded, it makes sense that dining reservations will get booked up quickly, so it’s important to be ready RIGHT when they open online at 6AM EST, 60 days before your trip. Click here for a complete guide on how to make Disney World dining reservations! Note that Disney World Resort hotel guests may make reservations up to 60 days in advance plus the length of their stay up to 10 days. (So, 60 days before the first day of your stay, you can make reservations for the entire trip, even for days that are more than 60 days out.) California Grill Dining Room If you’re not sure which restaurants you should book reservations for, we can help! 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! Grab the DFB Guide! Disney World hosts several runDisney races each year, including the classic Marathon weekend in January and a Springtime Surprise weekend in April. One of the most popular race weekends is the EPCOT Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend, which is part of the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival. The weekend is from November 2nd through the 5th. ©Disney This race weekend includes three different races and a course challenge: the 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, and Two Course Challenge (for runners who want to do both the 10K and Half Marathon). There are also some virtual race options. All of the races are sold out, but there is still availability open for the post-race party in EPCOT. Spaceship Earth The post-race party happens in EPCOT after the park closes to other guests. You get access to Food & Wine Festival booths, select EPCOT rides and attractions, and live entertainment. Anyone running the Half Marathon or Challenge has entry included in the cost of their race. Friends and family can buy the Post-Race Party tickets to celebrate with the runners. The event cost begins at $105 per ticket. Stay tuned to DFB for more updates on all the latest Disney news! For more information about the Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend, click here! Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide The Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants The Best EPCOT Restaurant Restaurants The Best Restaurants in Disney’s Hollywood Studios The Best Restaurants in Disney’s Animal Kingdom The Best Disney Springs Restaurants The Best (and Worst) Disney World Hotel Restaurants Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Are you running in this year’s Wine & Dine races? Let us know in the comments! The post ALERT! Tomorrow Is a VERY Important Day If You're Going to Disney World Soon! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s the weekend! DisneyFoodBlog Halloween Merchandise That means it’s time to celebrate, let your hair down, and wear comfy clothes, right? But you might also want to rep your happy place (a.k.a. Disney) or celebrate your favorite rides or maybe even your favorite snacks. But how can you do that? Well, we’ve got some tees that are ON SALE that you and your family are going to love. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. So here’s the deal: You can get 25% off all shirts in the DFB Store THIS WEEKEND ONLY. How? Just choose your shirt and use the code BYESUMMER when you checkout. Get the Another Glorious Morning Hocus Pocus Shirt Glorious Morning shirt So, if you’re looking for some fun shirts to wear for Halloween, we’ve got just the Hocus Pocus tops you’re looking for with our Sanderson Sisters shirts. This one celebrates Winnifred and her opinion of glorious mornings. Makes me sick! View on the DFB Store Buy the Amuck Amuck Amuck Sarah Sanderson Shirt 2023 DisneyFoodBlog Halloween Merchandise You can also get a Sarah Sanderson shirt for all your running amuck, amuck, amuck. It features half of Sarah’s face and her most famous phrase. View on the DFB Store Buy the It’s Just A Bunch of Hocus Pocus Shirt Hocus Pocus shirt Finally, celebrate the third Sanderson Sister, Mary, with this t-shirt. It really is just a bunch of Hocus Pocus, right? If you’ve got two other Hocus Pocus-loving besties, get all three shirts! View on the DFB Store Buy the Briar Patch Band Tee Briar Patch Band Tee If your favorite song is “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah,” and you want to commemorate Splash Mountain, you’ll need to get the Briar Patch Band Farewell Tour tee. View on the DFB Store Get the Tiana Princess Shirt Check out our new Tiana-inspired merch! You can also celebrate Princess Tiana with a new shirt, as well as the upcoming arrival of her FIRST EVER Disney attraction, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. View on the DFB Store Buy the Food and Wine Vibes Shirt DFB Exclusive Food & Wine Merch! Planning on hitting up the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival? There’s a tee for that! Celebrate all things Food and Wine with our DFB Food and Wine Vibes Tee! View on the DFB Store Get the This Is Halloween Tee Nightmare Before Christmas Pumpkins Shirt The season of Nightmare Before Christmas is here, and isn’t it SO much fun? If you want to let everyone know that “This is Halloween,” check out the Zero, Jack Skellington, and Sally pumpkins on this tee. View on the DFB Store Buy the Disney People Are My People Shirt T-Shirt Who are your favorite people in the world? Disney people, right? So let the world know that with this fun tee! View on the DFB Store We’ll continue to keep you updated with more Disney news, reviews, and even fun merchandise like this. Make sure to follow along for more! Looking for more fun merchandise you can grab online? Click here!The post 8 Awesome Disney Tees On Sale This Weekend first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s the weekend, and you deserve to treat yourself! Disney World’s Festival of Fantasy parade Right now, you can find some pretty great deals on Disney merchandise on Amazon, so we did some digging to find the BEST ones out there. We’ve collected six items we know you’re gonna love! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. If you’ve got Amazon Prime, you can save on shipping! Don’t have Prime? No worries — click the link below to sign up for a FREE trial! Now, let’s check out the deals! Get the Ursula Inflatable for 32% Off ©Amazon If you’re looking for ways to decorate for Halloween, we’ve got you covered. This Ursula inflatable stands six feet tall and lights up! Her tentacles even move up and down. View on Amazon Get the Pumpkin Minnie Loungefly Bag for 39% Off ©Amazon Loungefly bags are super popular, and this Pumpkin Minnie bag is very cute! The bag has adjustable shoulder straps and a top carry handle. It measures about 10″ wide and 10″ tall. View on Amazon Get the Villains Haunted Mansion Shirt ©Amazon We love the Haunted Mansion, and we love Disney villains, and this t-shirt features BOTH! It has the iconic stretching portraits from the spookiest Disney ride, but the people who are usually in the portraits have been replaced with classic villains like Captain Hook and Maleficent. This would be the perfect thing to wear to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party! View on Amazon Get the Jungle Cruise Tee for 19% Off ©Amazon While we’re on the subject of awesome Disney t-shirts, we have to bring up this Jungle Cruise tee, which has a map of the popular ride. It comes in Mens, Womens, and Youth sizes. View on Amazon Get the Funko Pop! Disney Advent Calendar for 42% Off ©Amazon The holidays will be here before you know it, so you’ll want to get your 2023 advent calendar ASAP, before they all sell out! This Disney Funko POP! calendar is a great option. ©Amazon The calendar comes with 24 miniature Disney figures, each dressed in their holiday finest. View on Amazon Get the Disney Claw Clips for Less Than $10! ©Amazon You can get this set of three Disney claw clips for $7.99 now! There’s a butterfly clip, a large Minnie clip, and a miniature Minnie clip. ©Amazon The fashionable accessories would be a great way to subtly add some Disney to your everyday look. View on Amazon Stay tuned to DFB for more updates on the newest Disney merchandise! Click here to check out more Disney merch on our Amazon storefront!The post 6 Disney Deals from Amazon That Are Begging To Be In Your Cart first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Hey, friends! We’re back with another DFB Video covering all the latest Disney news! Pinocchio in Festival of Fantasy We got a look inside EPCOT’s newest attraction, the Haunted Mansion is getting an expansion in Disneyland, San Fransokyo opens, and a brand new way to get the Disney Dining Plan has been announced. All the latest Disney Parks news is coming up right now, on DFB Guide. Check out all of the week’s big news in our video below! By the way, have you subscribed yet? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to the channel and never miss a single episode! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/subscribe.png So check out the video and then let us know: Which Disney news of the week are you the most excited about? The post DFB Video: Latest Disney News: INSIDE EPCOT's Journey of Water, Disneyland Expansion, Dining Plan Changes first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World is changing significantly in the coming months! Animal Kingdom Updates are coming to the hotels and to EPCOT later this year, and of course, we’ll be celebrating Halloween and then the holiday season in the next few months. So if you’re traveling in October…what new things can you expect to find in Disney World? We’ve got the list! Updated Rooms at the Beach Club Let’s start things out at the Beach Club, where the hotel rooms are currently being updated. The updates were originally supposed to be finished in April 2023, but now the completion date has been pushed back to late fall. Disney’s Beach Club Room — A refurbished Club Level Room in June 2023 That means that during the month of October, we’ll likely be seeing quite a few refurbished rooms pop up around the resort, and you might get lucky with a nice newly reconstructed room during your stay. We’ll be on the lookout for more details about these rooms, so stay tuned for updates! Special Entertainment in Disney Springs For the spooky season, you’ll be able to check out special entertainment in Disney Springs! If you head to the Waterside Stage, this will include performances by Squad Ghoul Friday through Sunday from September 29th to October 29th. Waterside Stage And then in Town Center, Zombie Drummers and Skeleton Stiltwalkers will roam every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in October. That sounds like a great chance for a photo op to us! Learn How to Draw Disney Villains If you’ve been to Animal Kingdom in recent years, then you probably know all about the Animation Experience at Conservation Station. There, you can typically learn to draw different animals from animated Disney films. But for Halloween season this year, there’s a special surprise! Bruce from the Animation Experience From October 1st through October 31st, some Disney villains will be featured characters in these drawing classes. You might learn how to draw Bruce from Finding Nemo, Kaa and Shere Khan from The Jungle Book, Tick-Tock from Peter Pan, or Scar from The Lion King. A Special Scavenger Hunt It doesn’t technically start in October, but it’ll last throughout the month. From September 29th through October 31st, the Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit scavenger hunt returns to EPCOT for a little bit of seasonal fun. Eve! For this scavenger hunt, you’ll purchase a map and then walk around World Discovery, World Celebration, and World Nature in search of Disney character-themed pumpkins. Disney’s Official 100th Anniversary And finally, one of the biggest and most important things about Disney World in October is that October 16th is The Walt Disney Company’s official 100th Anniversary! Disney has been celebrating in a variety of ways all year, but it’s possible that we could get some special day-of offerings. 100th Anniversary decor We’ll have to wait and see if anything special is announced for the big day, but until then, we’ll happily shop all the 100th Anniversary merchandise and check out the celebrations that are coming to EPCOT soon. That’s everything big coming to Disney World in October that we know about currently, but we’ll make sure to update you if any more additions are announced! Stay tuned to DFB for the latest news from Disney World! Coming to Disney World in October? Click Here to See All Our Fall and Halloween Treat Reviews! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Are you going to Disney World in October? Tell us in the comments! The post 5 New Things Coming to Disney World in October first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

A new land has opened in Disney’s California Adventure! It’s officially open! We popped in to check out San Fransokyo Square and try the new eats that popped up. We’re here to give you a review on a few menu items at one restaurant in the square! San Fransokyo is the town in the movie Big Hero 6 and Aunt Cass is Hiro’s, the main character’s, guardian. In the movie, Aunt Cass owns a bakery and coffee shop. Now in San Fransokyo Square in Disney’s California Adventure, Aunt Cass has a Café. We tried out a few items from Aunt Cass Café and wanted to let you know what we thought! Aunt Cass Cafe We tried out two main meals and a specialty drink. First was the Shrimp Katsu Sandwich. This sandwich is served with a panko-breaded shrimp patty with cabbage slaw, spicy mayo, and katsu sauce all on a potato bun. It is served with garlic chips. We liked that the slaw paired nicely with the spicy mayo because the spicy mayo did add a kick! Shrimp Katsu Sandwhich and Garlic Chips We noticed that the shimp patty was very similar to a crab cake texture and it wasn’t a super strong shrimp flavor. Overall, we thought the shrimp could have actually been a bit more flavorful and a bit less salty. But if you like shrimp, then you would probably really enjoy this sandwich! If you don’t like shrimp, you’ll probably want to pass. You can get this for $14.99. The next meal we tried was the Curry Beef. This was made up of beef, carrots, potatoes, and onions all cooking in a classic curry and topped with rice, pickled ginger, and green onions. It’s then served in a bread bowl. Curry Beef in a bread bowl There was a bit of a mild spice, but it didn’t overpower the curry flavor. And the curry was a good, classic curry broth with the pickled ginger shining through. If you’re not a fan of spice or curry, this might not be the dish for you. But if you enjoy curry, ginger, a bit of spice, and bread bowls you should give it a try! It’s $12.49. The last item we tried was the Specialty Caramel Cream Cold Brew. It’s made with Joffrey’s Coffee Caramel Mudslide Cold Brew and topped with house-made sea salt caramel whipped cream. And of course, it was served in an adorable Baymax cup! It’s Baymax! We really enjoyed the sea salt caramel the best! The sea salt wasn’t overpowering and it had a yummy, sweet caramel flavor. However, we weren’t the biggest fans of the cold brew itself. We didn’t notice a whole lot of caramel flavor. It seemed to be mostly just a typical cold brew coffee with a hint of caramel. If you prefer to have caramel with a hint of coffee, this probably isn’t the right drink for you. However, if you like the taste of coffee and just a tad sweet, you would probably like this cold brew drink. Grab one for $6.79. Overall, we really enjoyed Aunt Cass Café. If you like to try new foods and flavors we would recommend giving this a try! The menu has a fun combination of flavors that we think you would enjoy. Aunt Cass Café is a quick service restaurant, and you can use Mobile Order to skip the line! Mobile Order For more food reviews, check back to Disney Food Blog! Come check out Disneyland’s NEW land with us! 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 any of these new food items? Let us know in the comments! The post REVIEW: We Tried NEW Menu Items at Disney's Updated Restaurant -- Aunt Cass Café first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Every once in a while, it’s nice to refresh your wardrobe, right? Who doesn’t love a spooky Halloween shirt for fall or a cozy red sweater in the winter? And if you’re visiting one of the Disney parks, it’s especially fun to pick out some special Disney-inspired outfits for your trip! Disneyland Resort Well, even the Disney characters like to dress up for special occasions. Recently, Disney gave us a look at the NEW outfits Mickey and friends are wearing this year in Disneyland Resort, and it’s safe to say that they all look AMAZING! Over at Disneyland Park this season, Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, Clarabelle, Chip, and Dale are ALL dressed up in some spooky new Halloween outfits! Disney shared this fun little video online, but we HAD to get a closer look. Ta-da! Check out all the new Halloween outfits! Which is your favorite? We simply adore Minnie’s bat bow and Daisy’s bewitching dress. ©Disney Can we talk about this photo for a second? Look at Daisy — she knows how to WORK it! ©Disney Of course, we can’t forget about Miss Clarabelle — her outfit is fabulous! ©Disney Here’s a closer look at Minnie’s new outfit. She’s even got fingerless gloves — what a fashion STATEMENT! ©Disney Oh, and we can’t forget about Mickey. The top hat is a classic choice for a classic mouse. ©Disney Yeah, we’re OBSESSED with these new looks. It’s almost impossible to pick a favorite! Now that September is here, Halloween has officially kicked off in Disneyland! Look out for allll the festive celebrations happening around the park, like the Plaza de la Familia cultural experience and more. In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more. 6 Groundbreaking Changes Coming to Disneyland Resort! 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 Do you have any special Halloween plans this year? Let us know in the comments! The post Check Out Mickey and Minnie’s NEW Halloween Costumes! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’ve followed DFB for a while, you know that we have a serious obsession with cheese. Salt & Straw We will NEVER stop telling you how much we love plastic cheese (and if we do, call a doctor because there would be something wrong with us). We’re also big fans of that Donut Grilled Cheese sandwich from Everglazed Donuts and Cold Brew. So when we discovered that Salt & Straw had put CHEESE in ice cream, well, you know we were running to Disney Springs to try it out. Yes, one of the new flavors that Salt & Straw has available this month is Beechers Cheese with Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls. Now, here’s the thing: Beechers Cheese is a shop from Seattle that is a literal cheese heaven — this is the good stuff, y’all. And Beechers’ Flagship Cheese (a classic) has now been blended with a bright apple pie filling with crumbles of spiced pastry with cinnamon swirls. Are you drooling yet? Beecher’s Cheese with Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls Well, you should be, because believe it or not, cheese in ice cream is TASTY. It’s also the main flavor you get throughout this treat and it somehow just works. It also adds even more creaminess to the already creamy ice cream. You’ll also get bites of cinnamon roll chunks, as well as apple pieces. But for us, this is ALL about the cheese. These flavors, though, are great together. Cheese is commonly served with apple pie, which was likely the inspiration for this flavor! Cheesy ice cream? Yes, please! Is it a little different? Well, yes — it’s not every day someone puts cheese in ice cream. Will you regret not trying it if you’ve been given the chance? The answer is also “yes,” if you love cheese. However, we will say that if you’re looking for more cinnamon and apple flavors, they’re pretty subtle in this particular treat. SO good! This flavor is part of this month’s Harvest Festival Series, which also features Pumpkin Spiced Tiramisu (yes, Salt & Straw finally went basic and we’re here for it). This flavor starts with spiced coffee ice cream, sweetened with maple syrup, cinnamon, clove, and ginger with a tiramisu cake swirl, drizzled in coffee mascarpone, and topped with chocolate stracciatella. ©Salt & Straw You can also get Caramel Apple Sherbet, which is made with lightly burnt vanilla-infused caramel ribbons mixed into an apple juice sherbet. ©Salt & Straw The Pinot Poached Pear Sherbet is made with fresh pears bathed in Willamette Vallet Pinot Noir blended into double-fold vanilla ice cream. ©Salt & Straw This month’s vegan flavor is Chocolate, Plum, and Hazelnut Shortbread. This ice cream has plum marmalade, dark chocolate chips, and crumbles of shortbread swirled into coconut cream. ©Salt & Straw These flavors will be available throughout September, so be sure to head to Salt & Straw to try them out! They’re available in both the Disney World and Disneyland locations. Stay tuned to DFB for more reviews! We Ditched the PSL for Starbucks’ NEW Fall Drink, and We Have Zero Regrets 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 Would you try ice cream with cheese in it? Let us know in the comments! The post REVIEW: Disney World Has CHEESE ICE CREAM and We'll Never Be the Same first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Trying to watch ESPN or other Disney-owned channels on your TV? If you are a customer of one particular service, you might have noticed a less-than-great change recently. ©Disney Disney has been hinting at big changes potentially coming to its linear TV networks and ESPN in the future, but this latest update has had a more immediate effect on some subscribers. According to CNBC, Disney is currently in a contract battle with Charter Communications (the owner of the Spectrum TV service), and that has left MILLIONS of Spectrum TV subscribers without access to Disney-owned networks. Since Disney and Charter Communications have yet to come to an agreement over certain contract fees, Charter’s customers suddenly lost access to Disney-owned networks including ABC, and pay-TV channels like ESPN and FX. ©Disney Spectrum TV has around 14.7 million customers across 41 states. Charter CEO Chris Winfrey shared that “This is not a typical carriage dispute.” Charter executives have mentioned how they’ve pushed for an updated deal with Disney that could give Charter cable customers “access to Disney’s ad-supported streaming services like Disney+ and ESPN+ at no additional cost.” It seems that this may be part of the issues preventing a deal from being reached The Hollywood Reporter also discusses how Spectrum has been trying to rework some of its offerings to split live sports from general entertainment. That may be causing complications too. ESPN Wide World of Sports In a statement posted by Spectrum, they claim that Spectrum “offered Disney a fair deal, yet they are demanding an excessive increase.” They go on to claim that Disney wants to “limit our ability to provide greater customer choice in programming packages forcing you to take and pay for channels you may not want. Spectrum is on your side and fighting to keep costs down while protecting and maximizing customer choice.” Disney has also released a statement on the issue, shared by The Hollywood Reporter, where they indicated, “Disney Entertainment has successful deals in place with pay TV providers of all types and sizes across the country, and the rates and terms we are seeking in this renewal are driven by the marketplace. We’re committed to reaching a mutually agreed upon resolution with Charter and we urge them to work with us to minimize the disruption to their customers.” TV remote This is not the first time Disney has found itself in a dispute over TV and carrier fees. The Hollywood Reporter notes how in October of 2022 Disney’s channels went dark on Dish Network and Sling TV. Back in 2021, they also went dark on YouTube TV. But, this could be different because Spectrum has “as many TV subscribers as Dish and YouTube TV combined, and is expected to pass Comcast as the largest pay-TV provider in the U.S. later this year.” ©YouTube Just how long Disney’s channels will be “dark” on Spectrum remains to be seen. It’ll all depend on how quickly the companies can reach an agreement. If you are a Spectrum subscriber be on the lookout for updates. Click here to see Disney CEO Bob Iger’s comments on the new ESPN sports betting service Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Are you a Spectrum customer? Tell us in the comments. The post Disney Contract Battle Leaves MILLIONS Without Access to Popular TV Channels first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article