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Every day at Disney World is our favorite day. It’s true. Magic Kingdom However, some days do get a little extra sprinkle of pixie dust! This week was a really great week at Disney World, because of small details that just made our days in the parks and hotels just a little bit better. In case you’re craving just a little extra magic in your life as the week comes to an end, this post is filled with some of our favorite things that happened in the parks this week. Let’s go! Our top three favorite things that happened this week took place in Magic Kingdom, at Disney’s Old Key West Resort, and in EPCOT. Two of these things were yummy, and one of these things was just MAGICAL. Are you ready? Yes? Alright, well let’s start in Magic Kingdom. Fall Drinks Are Back At Starbucks Okay, yeah, Starbucks locations are available in every Disney World park. HOWEVER. Something about the Main Street Bakery Starbucks just feels so much more magical. Well, Starbucks’ fall menu officially arrived this week, and you bet your top dollar we loaded up on those sugary sweet pumpkin drinks. Yessiree, it’s Pumpkin Spice Latte and Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew Season. Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte We actually tried the NEW fall drink, the Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte, and we fell in love. It’s a delicious drink that we think is going to be a hit this fall for sure. Click here to see what else is new in Magic Kingdom! Magical Music Mishap at Old Key West Resort On August 22nd, we were casually strolling around Disney’s Old Key West Resort when we heard… CHRISTMAS MUSIC! Yep, it was blistering hot outside, the merchandise shops were all decked out with Halloween merch, and holiday music was blasting through the speakers. Welcome to Old Key West! None of the Cast Members knew what was happening and we heard that they ended up calling maintenance. Apparently, it randomly started at some point during the day. We can’t say we minded. We can’t wait for the holidays, but for right now, we’ll live in the moment and enjoy Halloween at Disney World. Click here to see more of what’s new at the Disney World Hotels. Pizza al Taglio Is OPEN at EPCOT Pizza al Taglio is a window where you can get fresh slices of pizza in the Italy Pavilion. Usually, this spot is only open seasonally. On August 23rd, the Pizza Window was OPEN when we visited! Menu Here, you can get square pizza slices with a thick crust — Sicilian-style! It tastes great for quick-service pizza, and it’s one of our favorite counter-service spots for ‘za. Click here to see what else is new at EPCOT! And there you have it! You can keep up with EVERYTHING new happening at all the Disney World parks by clicking the links below. 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 Make sure to follow along for more so that you never miss a thing! Hoping to be even more in the know? Click here to see more things that happened in August at 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 Are you headed to Disney World soon? Let us know in the comments! The post Our 3 Favorite Things That Just Happened At Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Among Disney World’s Deluxe Resorts are a few that are just more iconic than the others. Animal Kingdom Lodge Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of those resort icons! Here, it’s like you’re truly staying in a lodge located in the African Savanna, and the experience is only heightened by the fact that you can catch a glimpse of some REAL animals roaming around outside. Not only this, but resort guests will also have quick and easy access to some fan-favorite restaurants located at the hotel. However, there’s one problem that many guests encounter when staying at this resort. The issue starts with the fact that Animal Kingdom Lodge is kind of off the beaten path at Disney World. It makes sense, though, because those animals have to have a peaceful place to roam! However, this typically means long bus rides to the other parks, and no Monorail or Skyliner access. It takes a while to get to and from the parks! On top of these lengthy bus rides, there’s also an internal loop with multiple stops once you arrive at the resort. So, even once you get back to the hotel, you might have to wait even longer to allow people to get off the bus, if your stop isn’t the first one. While this isn’t necessarily a deal breaker, it IS something to consider if you have tired little ones, get motion sick while on the buses, or just really want to be closer to the parks. However, if you’re seeking a quieter resort that’s a bit further away from everything, this could be the place for you! Savanna View at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Don’t get us wrong, here, though. We LOVE staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge! But sometimes, you just have to choose if it’s worth it for you and your Disney group! We’ll continue to keep you updated with more Disney news and advice, so make sure to follow along for more so that you never miss a thing. Looking for more Disney World hotel advice? Click here! Want More Details About Disney World’s Hotels? Ranking of ALL of Disney World’s Hotels A Full List of Changes Announced for Disney World’s Hotels The BEST Disney World Hotels for 2023 The WORST Disney World Hotels for 2023 13 Critical Things You’re FORGETTING About When Booking a Disney World Hotel 8 Gadgets You Need for Your Disney World Hotel Room The Surprising Things You Won’t Find in Your Disney World Hotel Room The Secret Way to Stay in Disney World’s Hotels for LESS! What Items from Amazon Can You Have Delivered to Your Resort Hotel? We’ve Got the Details Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney World hotel news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Have you ever stayed at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge? Let us know in the comments! The post The Harsh Reality of Staying at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

No, we’re not joking — the time to get your Disney advent calendar is NOW. Mickey’s Very merry Christmas Party There are some great designs out there that’ll come with all kinds of Disney fun — from storybooks to figurines. And if you get them now, you’ll be able to score them with plenty of time to spare (no last-minute stress!) and you might even get them at a DISCOUNT (saving you some hard-earned cash!). So let’s take a look at just which ones you should add to your cart ASAP. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. All of these Advent Calendars are from Amazon, making them easy to grab and get home ASAP. Not an Amazon Prime Member yet? Did you know that you can get a FREE trial to see if it’s worth it for you?! Click the link below and claim your free trial now! Alright, now let’s look at those advent calendars! Check Out the Disney100 Advent Calendar ©Amazon First up, we have the Disney 100 Advent Calendar, which is full of storybooks! ©Amazon This advent calendar comes with 24 small paperback books each of which is individually wrapped. ©Amazon You can read these stories each night — some of which are holiday-themed — to get ready for the big celebration. Get the Storybook Advent Calendar on Amazon! Grab the Disney Junior Advent Calendar for Over 20% Off ©Amazon Love figurines, decorations, and stickers? Then pick up the Disney Junior advent calendar! ©Amazon This comes with 11 mini-figures, 5 card decorations, 5 sticker sheets, 5 stickers, and 3 stickers that are in gift boxes. ©Amazon There are items from shows like Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Adventures and Puppy Dog Pals, so your little ones will stay entertained each day. Check Out the Disney Junior Advent Calendar on Amazon! Don’t Miss Out on the Disney Princess Advent Calendar ©Amazon If you have a Disney Princess fan or just love decorating, grab this pop-up advent calendar NOW! After opening the cover of this collectible, you’ll find a pop-up Christmas Tree! ©Amazon There are 25 compartments that come with this set too, and each compartment is filled with displayable ornaments to put on your pop-up tree. Those ornaments include things like Cinderella’s glass slipper, Rapunzel’s frying pan, and more! ©Amazon Plus, you’ll get a guidebook that has facts about the princesses and their ornaments. Decorating the tree and learning about these princesses could be a great tradition to start up with your family. View the Pop-Up Advent Calendar on Amazon! Get the Funko Pop! Advent Calendar for Over 40% OFF ©Amazon Want to get an advent calendar AND save big? Well, then act fast because this one from Funko Pop! is over 40% OFF right now. ©Amazon The advent calendar comes with mini doors, behind which you’ll find 24 Funko Pocket Pops! which feature Mickey and friends in their very best holiday looks. Check out the Advent Calendar on Amazon Get the Star Wars Advent Calendar for Over 40% OFF ©Amazon And finally, you can pick up a Star Wars Funko Pop! advent calendar on sale right now too! ©Amazon This one has 24 little doors as well, behind which you’ll find Star Wars characters (heroes and villains!) in festive looks — how unique! Check out this Advent Calendar on Amazon That’s a peek at some of the advent calendars you’ll want to pick up right now while you can. To see more, check out our Amazon storefront section full of Advent Calendars you can get online right now. And stay tuned for more Disney and holiday news. For more great Disney merch check out our Amazon storefront HERE! Are advent calendars part of your annual traditions? Let us know in the comments below! The post Disney Advent Calendars You'll Regret Not Buying NOW first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Soon travelers will have even more options when flying into Orlando! Orlando Airport Recently, several airlines have announced new direct flights to Orlando International Airport, including Porter Airlines, and Silver Airways, to name a few. And now, another carrier plans to add new nonstop flights to Orlando soon! Calling all Canadian travelers, this one’s for you! Canada Jetlines, a new Canada-based leisure airline, has announced plans to add flights to Orlando in the coming months. Orlando International Airport According to a news release from the company, Canada Jetlines will begin flights between Toronto Pearson International Airport and Orlando International Airport four times a week starting October 30th. Orlando Airport In the release, the airline also announced plans to add flights from Toronto to Montego Bay, Cancun, and Las Vegas. Terminal C at Orlando International Airport We’ll continue to be on the lookout for more Orlando travel news, so stay tuned to DFB to stay in the know about all of the latest updates! How To Handle Record-Breaking Crowds at Orlando’s Airport Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Which airline is your go-to for traveling to Orlando? Share with us in the comments! The post NEW Nonstop Flights Coming Soon to Orlando International Airport first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’re interested in all the latest breaking Disney news, Destination D23 should definitely be on your radar! Destination D23 in 2021 Considered the “biggest Disney fan event of the year,” Destination D23 is a huge event where members of Disney’s Official Fan Club, D23, can check out Disney exhibits, shop for exclusive merchandise, and attend panels and presentations that cover exciting updates about the Disney parks, movies, and more. This year’s event will take place in Disney World from September 8th through September 10th. And while tickets are sold out, you can still livestream the event online…but there’s a catch! In the past, the Destination D23 panels have included some MAJOR news drops, including info about new rides, huge technology updates, and more. Robot Groot For those who can’t make it to the event, Disney has also previously offered the ability to livestream the panels. And you can livesteam this year’s event too…with one important caveat. ©D23 The D23 website states that anyone unable to attend this year’s Destination D23 event can watch a livestream of the announcements ONLY on Saturday, September 9th. According to this info, it appears the presentations on Sunday, September 10th will not be available to livestream. 2023 Destination D23 Schedule ©D23 If you are interested in livestreaming the presentations on Saturday, September 9th, you can visit the D23 YouTube or Facebook pages, or go directly to the Destination D23 page of the D23 website. Saturday Schedule ©D23 We’ll be keeping a close eye on all of the major announcements that happen at this year’s Destination D23 event, so stay tuned to DFB to make sure you don’t miss out on any of the latest news! 13 Disney NEWS BOMBS Announced at Destination D23 in 2021! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Have you attended a Destination D23 event before? Share your experience with us in the comments! The post You Can Stream the BIGGEST Disney Event of the Year From Home — But There’s a Catch! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Did you know that there are TWO ways to get into EPCOT? Mickey Head art in EPCOT There’s the main entrance where the buses, monorails, and parking your cars will bring you, but over at the back of the park, near World Showcase, there’s a second entrance. And if you can enter through this International Gateway, you’ll get into EPCOT a LOT faster. The International Gateway is known to some as EPCOT’s “back door” and it’s located right near the France Pavilion. This is where the Skyliner and Friendship Boats will drop you off, and you can also walk to this entrance from Disney’s BoardWalk (and subsequently the Boardwalk Inn, Swan & Dolphin, Beach Club Resort, and Yacht Club Resort). International Gateway This means that you’ll walk right into World Showcase, which is perfect if you’re looking to hop right on Frozen Ever After or Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at the park opening. Seriously, not having to walk all the way back to this part of the park saves A LOT of time. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure However, most of World Showcase doesn’t open with the rest of the park (the rides do, but most restaurants do not), so keep that in mind when you’re walking around trying to find somewhere for breakfast — you may have to walk closer to the front of the park. Another great thing about these resorts? They’re super close to the Skyliner route! It’s also important to remember that rideshare vehicles, buses, and your own car will NOT be able to travel to this entrance, so it is a little harder to get to. It’s easiest to access if you’re staying at a Skyliner or Friendship Boat resort, or if you’re within walking distance. Skyliners arriving But if you’re looking to get on some of those most popular rides with low waits at park opening, this is the way to go! We’re always sharing all the latest Disney tips and tricks, so stay tuned to DFB for all the latest news! Here are all our tips and tricks to help YOU get on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmix Rewind! Which entrance do you prefer? Tell us in the comments! The post The Hidden Entrance to Get You Into EPCOT Faster first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Don’t let Saturday slip by you without diving into these sales! Amazon package Now that the week has passed, it’s time to take advantage of all the best deals in merch and other must-haves you’ve been eyeing. So, we’re back with the latest from Amazon that you have to see right now. Let’s go! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. First, if you’re not an Amazon Prime member, you can start your free trial by clicking the link below and save some coin in the process! Now, let’s take a look at the deals, shall we? Grab this 3 Pack of Large Metal Mouse Ears Claw Clips for 5% Off ©Amazon Look no further for that perfect accent piece for your updo! View on Amazon Shop this Loungefly Disney Mickey and Minnie Mouse Sweets Flap Wallet for 14% Off ©Amazon Need a new wallet or perhaps you’re looking for one that will match your outfit for your next park trip? How about this one? It looks so fun and tasty! View on Amazon Or Try These Cooling Towels for 40% Off ©Amazon Pro tip: Make sure to grab some cooling towels as they will help you stay cool through these hot and humid summer days! View on Amazon Shop this Tervis Traveler Disney100 Tumbler for 23% Off ©Amazon You did say that you were looking for a new tumbler, right? And this throwback one looks like it’ll fit the bill. View on Amazon Grab this Funko Pop! Disney Advent Calendar for 33% Off ©Amazon Remember, it’s never too early to start planning for Christmas, so why not add this advent calendar to your decorations? View on Amazon We’ll continue to keep you updated with any and all Disney news and updates, so make sure to follow along for more. Click here to view our Amazon Storefront Will you be checking out any of these deals? Let us know in the comments! The post 5 Disney Deals You Can Get On Amazon THIS WEEKEND! 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! New souvenir at Tiana’s Palace! The ONE thing we’ve all been missing for years is soon returning to Disney World, NEW attractions have been announced, a meet-and-greet just disappeared without warning and we might be ditching pumpkin spice this year? All this and more 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: FIRST LOOK at Tiana's Palace, A Meet-and-Greet is GONE & MORE! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

With the gigantic EPCOT transformation winding down, TRON Lightcycle / Run open in Magic Kingdom, and several hotel renovations wrapping up…what’s next for Disney World?! Disney World If it seems like Disney World’s list of ongoing theme park projects is kind of short right now, that’s probably because it is! Most of the construction projects that were originally slated to be completed for Disney World’s 50th Anniversary (but were delayed due to the pandemic) are now complete, and many fans are wondering what happens now. So when Disney World teased a GIANT expansion for Magic Kingdom, it’s no wonder that the fans were intrigued! In 2022 at the D23 Expo, Disney teased the possibility of an expansion for Magic Kingdom, in the area of the park behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. During the “Blue Sky” presentation, Disney shared some ideas for things that MIGHT (key word being might) come to the parks in the future. Big Thunder Mountain During the panel, Imagineering Portfolio Creative Executive Chris Beatty shared, “Magic Kingdom holds a special place in my heart. I think there are so many amazing stories yet to be told – lands to be explored.” Beatty and Jennifer Lee (Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios) discussed some ideas that have been in the works for Magic Kingdom. Disney has called these “potential expansion opportunities” for Magic Kingdom and “what if” ideas. Magic Kingdom The team threw out a few different possible ideas for the space in the back of Magic Kingdom, including expansions themed to Coco, Encanto, or the Disney villains. With those lands, you could celebrate Dia de los Muertos in the little town of Santa Cecilia, walk inside the Madrigal family’s Casita, or live like a Disney villain! Possible Land Expansion in Magic Kingdom At the time of the 2022 D23 Expo, these ideas were in the very early stages of development, and it is possible that they could even change and fluctuate going forward. Disney hasn’t said much about the possibilities since, but we might be getting more information soon! A Villains-themed land?! Disney’s Destination D23 event is coming up the weekend of September 8th-10th, and we’re expecting some BIG news during that time. This event usually takes place every other year (the years that the D23 Expo doesn’t happen) and brings important announcements from The Walt Disney Company about future plans. In the past, we’ve seen concept art for new projects, received opening dates for attractions/restaurants, and heard details about special celebrations in the parks during Destination D23. ©Disney Destination D23 is a great time for Disney to officially announce new construction projects, including possible park expansions. So if changes are coming to Magic Kingdom, we’re hoping we hear about them very soon! We’ll be on the lookout for any major news during Destination D23, so stay tuned to DFB for the latest announcements and updates. We’ll keep you in the loop! Want All the Details on the Possible Magic Kingdom Expansion? 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 going to Destination D23 this year? Tell us in the comments! The post Disney Teased a Giant Magic Kingdom Expansion -- Here's When We Could Hear More first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There are a lot of restaurants in Disney World, but some are WAY more popular than others. Welcome to Disney World! One of the busiest restaurants you’ll find in Magic Kingdom is the iconic Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe in Tomorrowland. With a crowd-pleasing menu, lots of seating, and a prime location, it’s almost always packed. But should you brave the crowds to dine here? I recently stopped by to review some of the eats! Atmosphere As I said, the restaurant is located in Tomorrowland (and it takes up a significant portion of the land!). You’ll find entrances near Cheshire Cafe, as well as over by Star Traders. Cosmic Ray’s entrance When you dine at Cosmic Ray’s, you can either Mobile Order or you can order your meal at the cash registers inside. There are multiple bays where you can pick up your food. One of the ordering Bays Cosmic Ray’s has a TON of seating spread throughout various rooms in the restaurant, as well as a number of tables outside. Seating in Cosmic Ray’s However, despite the large number of tables, you may have a hard time finding a spot for your family during the lunch or dinner rush. It’s almost always pretty full in here, and I had to walk a few laps before I could find a place to sit down. There are SO many people in here! Of course, the PRIME place to sit is downstairs in the main room, where you can get a great view of Sonny Eclipse! Sit downstairs with Sonny Eclipse! If you don’t know who Sonny Eclipse is, he’s an animatronic alien who resides on the stage at Cosmic Ray’s. He sings a setlist full of punny space-themed songs, and he’s a Disney World TREASURE. You have to say hey to Sonny Eclipse! Also, we have to mention the Cosmic Ray’s toppings bar! A toppings bar! Sadly, this toppings bar is not what it once was. You can no longer pick up things like cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes here. Instead, you’ll be able to get prepackaged condiments on this buffet line. Mostly just condiments You can also pick up salt and pepper packets, as well as various sweeteners for your beverages. Salt and pepper packets There are multiple utensil stations throughout the restaurant, and you’ll find napkin dispensers alongside them. Utensils Okay, now it’s time to talk about the menu! Menu There are several entree options at Cosmic Ray’s, including various burgers, salads, chicken sandwiches, and chicken strips. ©Disney If you’re a plant-based eater, there’s a Patty Melt made with an Impossible Burger. For sides, your options are pretty limited — they’ve got french fries and Cuties mandarins. ©Disney There are three meal options for kiddos — a Grilled Chicken Sandwich, chicken strips, and macaroni and cheese. At the time of our review, the dessert on the menu was the Stitch Blueberry-Lemonade Mousse Cake, although the dessert options change from time to time. And of course, if you’re interested in getting something to drink, you can try the Lunar Lemonade or the Sulley Slush. ©Disney There are also a number of soft drinks and other beverages to choose from, as well as several allergy-friendly meals. Eats I visited with a coworker, so we got six different menu items to try, with a focus on items we haven’t reviewed here on the blog before. First up, we’ve got a classic Disney World entree — the Chicken Strips meal for $10.49. It comes with french fries on the side! Chicken Strips The meal comes with four strips, which is a decent size for adults. The breading was nice and crispy and there was a good amount of chicken inside. It’s a pretty basic meal, but it’s better than some other chicken tenders I’ve had in the past. This would be a great option for picky eaters! Inside the strips Next up is the Chopped Vegetable and Crispy Noodle Salad with Shrimp for $12.59. This is made with mixed greens salad topped with shrimp, grilled pineapple, peppers, crispy noodles, and sesame-ginger dressing. Sounds delicious, right? Well, it was! The salad! This was surprisingly good for a quick service salad. It was very bright and refreshing and had some great fruitiness to it. The shrimp had a nice chew and the ginger flavor was strong in the dressing. There are several textures throughout the salad, but the lettuce was a little on the wilted side. However, the fruity pineapple and fresh-tasting dressing really helped balance that out, and we thought this would be a great option for a light summer meal. A forkful of salad After that, I had the Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich for $12.59. Crispy chicken breast, pickle slaw, and spicy aioli all atop a brioche bun, and you get french fries on the side. This was a pretty substantial portion! Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich The chicken breast on this is really thick and it’s not juicy, but it’s not really dry either — somewhere in between. The slaw adds a nice crunch and brightness, and the spice in the sandwich is adjacent to a buffalo flavor. It wasn’t actually very crispy, but I suppose it was crispy enough to be called “crispy chicken breast.” We weren’t really blown away by this sandwich, but it wasn’t bad! Inside the sandwich The final adult entree we got was the Plant-based Patty Melt for $12.79. And boy, did we have some THOUGHTS about this one! It’s an Impossible Burger topped with plant-based Swiss cheese, pickle slaw, and asteroid sauce on toast. The “cheese” RUINED this sandwich. Plant-based Patty Melt The burger was chewy and tender and the slaw and asteroid sauce made a nice combo of crunchy and smooth textures. There’s a hint of peppery flavor in the meat, and the flavors weren’t bad. But the CHEESE. The plant-based Swiss cheese was slimy and felt slippery on my tongue — that texture just completely threw off the whole sandwich. If it didn’t have the cheese, it would be significantly better! Sadly, this was NOT a winner We also opted to try one of the kid-friendly entrees. This is the Kids Macaroni and Cheese, and you can get it for $6.99. It comes with mac and cheese, two sides, and a beverage. That’s a STEAL! Kids’ Meal As far as Disney World mac and cheeses go, we consider ourselves experts here at DFB. This one actually isn’t bad — the cheese was super creamy and the pasta was soft, but it held up to the cheese well. Mac and cheese I think this would be a bit better with a bolder cheese flavor, but for a kids’ option, it’s fairly good. Not really anything to write home about (and we’ll still be picking our beloved Gasparilla Island Grill mac and cheese over this one!), but your little ones probably wouldn’t complain. MMMM pasta And finally, let’s talk about our drink! We ordered the Lunar Lemonade for $5.99. It’s Minute Maid lemonade with desert pear syrup over ice, and it reminded me a lot of the violet lemonade you get during the EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival, but in liquid form instead of slush form. Lunar Lemonade It has a strong tartness and a really heavy syrup flavor. Overall, I like the Flower & Garden version better. Even with the ice melting into this and watering it down, it was a little too strong and artificial. It has a strong syrup flavor Now that we’ve talked about all the eats, what are my final thoughts? Overall Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe serves its purpose REALLY well. It’s meant to be a crowd-pleaser restaurant with lots of seating that can serve thousands of guests per day. And it does exactly that! Inside Cosmic Ray’s If you want a simple burger or chicken meal, this. is a great place to go. It may be hectic while you’re there and it may be a challenge to find a table, but everyone will probably be able to find something they like on the menu. The food probably won’t knock your socks off, but let’s be honest — we’re all really here for Sonny Eclipse. Nosh or Not? Sing along with Sonny Eclipse if… You need a cheaper, fast meal in Magic Kingdom. If you Mobile Order, you can get in and out of here pretty quickly, and if you’re okay with sitting outside, you’ll probably be able to find a seat without much trouble. You have picky eaters in your party. You can’t go wrong with burgers, chicken sandwiches, and chicken tenders. This is a great place to get a little something for everyone! You are a major Sonny Eclipse fan! There’s nothing quite like Sonny Eclipse at the other quick service spots, and listening to his jokes and songs is a great way to pass a meal. Avoid the Cosmic chaos if… You don’t like heavy crowds or loud environments. As I mentioned above, it’s pretty much always busy here. If you don’t like weaving through a bunch of people and sitting near strangers, this probably isn’t for you. You’re hard set on indoor seating. It can be hard to find a table inside during the lunch or dinner rush, and you might have an easier time if you go to Columbia Harbour House or Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe instead. You want some unique or really amazing food. This isn’t really a restaurant for the foodies out there, so if that’s you, head somewhere else where you can get more special eats. The full spread That’s a wrap on my visit to Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe! Stay tuned to DFB for more food reviews and updates from the parks! We’ll keep you in the loop with everything going on at Disney World. Click Here to See the List of the BEST Magic Kingdom Restaurants! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Have you ever been to Cosmic Ray’s? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: 3 Reasons You Should Go To Disney World's Busiest Restaurant (And 3 Reasons You Shouldn't) first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There’s been a lot of talk about Disney and ESPN lately, especially since Disney recently launched BET — a “branded sportsbook for fans in the United States.” Now, it looks like even more changes could be on the way for ESPN. ©ESPN Disney is reportedly in talks with Amazon about a new ESPN streaming partnership! The Information reported that Amazon and Disney are in early talks about a streaming service for ESPN. Amazon would likely take a minority stake in the sports network. ©Amazon Although Disney and ESPN are still discussing the appropriate price for the new service, The Information reports that ESPN is considering charging between $20 and $35 per month. Disney CEO Bob Iger recently commented on the profitability of ESPN, especially when it comes to advertisers. In an interview earlier this year, Iger said that “sport stands tall in a sea of tremendous choice… It’s an advertiser’s dream” (Squawk Box). ©Reuters | Disney CEO Bob Iger In the same interview, Iger also revealed that Disney was looking for strategic partners that could help ESPN with content production and longevity as the streaming industry continues to expand and grow. He noted that he would be open to sharing stakes in the ownership of ESPN. Although it’s clear that Disney is very interested in the potential of ESPN, they aren’t as confident in other aspects of the company’s entertainment portfolio. Iger has alluded to the fact that Disney may sell off linear networks, potentially including ABC, FX, and National Geographic. National Geographic area in Disneyland During a recent Earnings Call, Bob Iger said that he’s very interested in “increasing the content that ESPN offers.” We’ll be watching for more updates from Disney, so stay tuned to DFB for the latest news. Click here to learn more about the new ESPN BET service. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What do you think of this new development? Let us know in the comments. The post NEWS: Disney In Talks with Amazon About NEW ESPN Streaming Service first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There are all kinds of Disney transportation options available, ranging from the classic buses to the iconic Monorail. But we just saw what might be officially the fanciest Disney transportation EVER. EPCOT Are you ready to see this? Maybe not, but we HAVE to show you anyway! Earlier this year, we got a first look at a brand NEW carriage that Disney is creating for Disney Fairytale Weddings. Now, Disney has shared more details about it! ©Disney It will be called the Cinderella Platinum Coach in honor of Disney’s 100th anniversary. The coach is coming to Disneyland Park and will transport couples to and from their wedding location. ©Disney The design for the Cinderella Platinum Coach is of course inspired by the iconic Disney film Cinderella, with a pumpkin shape, gold accents, scrollwork, and lantern details. ©Disney Artists also studied 18th-century European Rococo surface design as they worked on the project, and they looked at real-life royal carriages for structural details and proportions. ©Disney Disney also highlighted some other elements of Disney Fairytale Weddings, like the beautiful princess-inspired dresses… ©Disney …the Disney-inspired decor… ©Disney …and of course the incredible venues. ©Disney Don’t forget about the cakes! ©Disney You can also have your wedding pictures taken in a private portrait session inside the Disney Parks. We thought this photo in Disney World was hilarious because those are actually the Tangled-themed bathrooms in Fantasyland. But hey — the area is gorgeous, the lighting is sublime, and who would even know your wedding pictures are in front of the restrooms? ©Disney We’ll be on the lookout for more updates from Disney, so stay tuned for all the latest news! Click here to see Disney’s new princess-inspired wedding dresses! 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 ever get married inside a Disney park? Let us know in the comments! The post It's Official. This Is the FANCIEST Disney Transportation EVER. first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Someday, I’ll be part of your world. During my battle with leukemia, this was the uplifting thought that kept me going. Ariel has always been my favorite character, for a very special reason. In August 2017, I was diagnosed with leukemia, separated from the fun my high school peers were experiencing. While everyone around me—including […]View the full article

You’ve got the theme park tickets. You’ve got the park pass reservations. You’ve even got your flight details all figured out. But what you NEED to secure now is a Disney World hotel room. Out of all the different options you have to choose from, which resort is actually the BEST of the BEST? Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort We’ve stayed at every single hotel in Disney World, and we’ve figured out which one is right for YOU! Want all of this information in a PDF that you can save to your phone or computer? Just click the link below, enter your email, and we’ll send the info straight to your inbox! The best Disney World hotel for you will depend on your priorities for your vacation — are you trying to stick to a budget? Looking to splurge for a special occasion? Traveling with a big group? Pretty much only here for the food? No matter what you’re after, we know the right hotel for you. Best “Bang-For-Your Buck” Hotel: Disney’s Port Orleans Resort If you’re looking for the best bang for your buck, check out Disney’s Port Orleans — Riverside Resort or Disney’s Port Orleans — French Quarter. Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter These twin resorts are pretty affordable (rooms start around $280 per night) since they’re moderate resorts, but they have some great benefits. Port Orleans — Riverside One of our favorite things about these hotels is that you have boat access to Disney Springs! After a day in the parks, you can hop on a boat to visit the shopping and dining district, grab a bite to eat, and pick up a souvenir. And at the end of the evening, you don’t have to wait for a bus to take you home! Port Orleans — Riverside Room The food options at Port Orleans are pretty good, with the Riverside Mill Food Court, Scat Cat’s Club — Café and Lounge, and Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory. The food courts feature dishes inspired by New Orleans cuisine, and Scat Cat’s is where you’ll delicious beignets! Perfection We love the atmosphere of both hotels as well. Click here for a room tour of Port Orleans — Riverside. Best Hotel For a Family on a Budget: Disney’s Pop Century Resort Disney’s Pop Century Resort is our favorite value resort for budget-friendly vacations because it’s one of the cheapest options in Disney World and it still has some great perks. Pop Century Resort Rooms start at just $174 per night! The hotel has fun decorations, with each area themed to a different decade. You can walk across Hourglass Lake to Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, which gives you access to even more amenities. Pop Century Pop Century is also on the Skyliner route, so you’re able to get to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios faster (plus the Skyliner is practically a ride in itself). Click here to learn more about the Disney Skyliner. Best Hotel for “Bougie on a Budget”: Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort If you’re gonna be spending the money on a Disney World resort, you might as well be getting the best bang for your buck, right? So let’s talk about a Disney hotel with DELUXE offerings at a moderate price. Rooms here start at around $250. Coronado Springs Resort Gran Destino Tower The Gran Destino Tower opened at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in 2019 but it has a very different vibe than the rest of the hotel. It feels more luxurious and fancy than the rest of Coronado, with great views from the guest rooms (including some with water or fireworks views!), incredible dining options, and the option to book a club-level room. Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Toledo: Tapas, Steak, and Seafood is located at the top floor of this tower, with very tasty Spanish food like the The Toledo Tapas [Candy] Bar Dessert, the Filet of Beef (with a date jam and sherry vinaigrette), and the artisanal Charcuterie and Cheeses board (meant to share between two people). The spread If you stay at the tower, you’re still within walking distance of the main Coronado Springs resort, giving you access to even MORE dining, like El Mercado de Coronado Quick Service, Rix Sports Bar and Grill (with TONS of TVs for sports-ball watchin’), and, my personal favorite, Three Bridges Bar and Grill at Villa de Lago. Sangria Flight at Three Bridges If it’s storming out, use Gran Destino’s hidden passageway that connects the tower to Coronado’s El Centro lobby (via a short, covered walkway). Although it feels deluxe, remember that the Gran Destino Tower is still considered a moderate resort, so you won’t really get access to the extra deluxe-level perks like Extended Evening Hours. Click here for five HIDDEN tips about the Gran Destino Tower. Best Hotel Worth Splurging On a Room Upgrade: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge We’re BIG fans of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. This deluxe hotel has beautiful theming, incredible dining options, and the BEST views of any other resort on property. That’s because the resort surrounds a Savanna area, where giraffes, zebras, and other animals hang out all day! In fact, there are over 200 African wildlife species here. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Paying the extra cost for a Savanna View room is totally worth it at this resort. The Savanna View rooms will give you the ability to look out your balcony each day to watch the animals grazing about. Go on a mini safari from the comfort of your room! Savanna View at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge There are lots of great activities to do at this resort, too. You can grab a Wildlife Field Guide from the front desk and head outside to one of the many Savanna viewing areas, book a Starlight Safari tour for after the sun sets, take part in face painting and musical demonstrations, and more. Just ask the front desk for a copy of the resort’s schedule. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Some of our favorite restaurants are located at Animal Kingdom Lodge, like Sanaa, Jiko — The Cooking Place, and Boma. Dining at Jiko — The Cooking Place The rooms here are definitely on the pricey side, though, starting at $469 per night. Note that you’ll also sacrifice in the transportation department if you choose to stay here — because it’s located close to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, it’s pretty far away from the other three parks. The only transportation option is buses (no Monorail or Skyliner). Click here for the complete guide to eating at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Best Hotel For Pool Fans: Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts The BEST pool in Disney World is definitely Stormalong Bay, which is really more of a water park than a pool. It’s so good that it can’t even be contained in one resort — guests at both Disney’s Yacht Club and Beach Club Resorts can use it. Stormalong Bay Stormalong Bay has three acres of activities for families to enjoy, including one of the highest hotel pool slides in Disney World, a sand-bottomed pool, a lazy river, and three whirlpool spas. If your priority is pool time, there’s no better place to be. Stormalong Bay Both the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts are in the deluxe category, so rooms are pretty expensive, starting at $543 a night. Make sure you keep in mind the long closure planned for Stormalong Bay from January 2025 to May 2025. Although other pools at the resorts will still be open, you really don’t want to plan your visit for that time and miss out on the awesome water park/pool experience. Click here to learn more about the Stormalong Bay CLOSURE. Best Hotel For Easy Access to Magic Kingdom: Disney’s Contemporary Resort Although any of the Magic Kingdom-area resorts give you pretty good access to the most popular Disney World theme park, there’s one that stands out above the rest: Disney’s Contemporary Resort is about a 10-minute walk away from Magic Kingdom’s front entrance (if that)! Disney’s Contemporary Resort Guests walking from the Contemporary to Magic Kingdom even have their own security station, so they don’t have to go through the main security at the front gate. How Fun! Don’t want to walk? You can hop on the Monorail (which has a station INSIDE the Contemporary) and ride it straight to the park without any stops in between. Monorail at the Contemporary Resort The location of this hotel makes early mornings, afternoon naps, and late nights much easier to manage. While everyone else waits in long lines for buses back to their hotels after the Happily Ever After fireworks show, you can stroll straight to your hotel room. A location like that isn’t cheap — rooms at the Contemporary start at around $550 per night. Lobby The other Magic Kingdom Monorail Resorts also have walking paths to the park, but none are as close as the Contemporary. Click here to tour the new Incredibles-themed rooms at this hotel. Best Hotel for Easy Access to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and EPCOT: Skyliner Hotels and EPCOT-area Hotels But what if your favorite Disney World park ISN’T Magic Kingdom? If you’re a big fan of Disney’s Hollywood Studios or EPCOT, make sure you stay in one of the Skyliner hotels. (For those Animal Kingdom fans out there, the best option will of course be Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge!) Disney Skyliner EPCOT Station The Skyliner has stations at Disney’s Riviera Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, and Disney’s Pop Century and Art of Animation Resorts. (There’s one station located between Pop Century and Art of Animation, within easy walking distance of both.) That means you have your choice of value resorts (Pop Century and Art of Animation), a moderate resort (Caribbean Beach), or a deluxe resort (Riviera). Skyliner Station From any of these hotels, you can hop on a Skyliner gondola and ride it to Hollywood Studios or EPCOT. The main hub station is at Caribbean Beach, so if you’re not staying at that hotel then you’ll need to ride the Skyliner there and switch gondolas to get to your destination. Caribbean Beach Skyliner Station We’ve found that the Skyliner is generally quicker and has a shorter wait time than the Disney buses, plus it’s unique and fun to ride. Keep in mind that it will close if there’s bad weather in the area (you do NOT want to be up in the air in one of those gondolas during a storm), and in that case, Disney will offer buses instead. Skyliner over Caribbean Beach The EPCOT-area resorts — Disney’s BoardWalk Inn and Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club — provide an added level of convenience with their location (since they’re only STEPS away from EPCOT’s International Gateway, which is the back entrance to the park). You can also walk to Disney’s Hollywood Studios from these hotels, but you’ll want to factor in an extra 20-ish minutes of travel time, which could end up feeling even LONGER at the end of the day when your feet are aching and all you want to do is teleport home. Disney’s Beach Club Resort The Swan and Dolphin AND Swan Reserve Hotels also have the convenience of being within walking distance to both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios (as well as a water taxi service that comes by to pick up guests every 20 to 25 minutes) — but their big downfall lies in their transportation to the other two parks. Looking great! Swan and Dolphin, and the Swan Reserve, use buses to take you to Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, and their buses can be slower than Disney’s bus system (not to mention that if you take a bus over to Magic Kingdom from the Swan and Dolphin or Swan Reserve, you’ll be dropped off at the Ticket and Transportation Center instead of the front gate of the park, meaning you’re still going to have to take a ferry boat or Monorail the remainder of the way to Magic Kingdom). Wait. Is It OK That We’re Doing This on the Disney Skyliner? Best Hotel For Kids: Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Disney’s Art of Animation Resort has hands-down the best Disney theming of all the hotels. Some other hotels have great subtle Disney decor, but Art of Animation has huge, larger-than-life statues of Disney characters, a giant mural of sketches done by Disney animators in the lobby, and bright, colorful decor in all the rooms. Art of Animation There’s a big Finding Nemo-themed pool in the center of the resort as well! Big Blue Pool at Art of Animation There are four sections of the resort, themed to different Disney movies: Cars, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, and Finding Nemo. Lion King area This is the most expensive value resort, but standard rooms still start at around $200 per night. Family suites at the Cars and Finding Nemo sections are more expensive but much roomier (plus they have little kitchenettes). All that space under the bed! Art of Animation is even dog-friendly, so your WHOLE family can join in on the fun! Click here to tour a Lion King-themed family suite at Art of Animation! Best Hotel For Non-Theme Park Activities: Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campgrounds If you’re looking for a hotel with TONS of fun activities, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campgrounds is it. There’s so much to do here that doesn’t require a park ticket, like horseback riding, archery, trail walking, bike rentals, golf cart rentals, fishing, campfires, and more. Fort Wilderness Here’s a list of the outdoor activities: Chip ‘N’ Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Long The Archery Experience Pony and Wagon Rides (Tri-Circle-D Ranch) Fishing Canoe and Kayak Rentals Basketball and volleyball courts Pools Segway tours Bike and Golf Cart Rentals Jogging Trails Playgrounds Movies Under the Stars This spot also has some solid dining options, including the recently revamped Trail’s End Restaurant, Crockett’s Tavern, and the popular Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue dinner show. Fort Wilderness Cabin rentals start at about $450 per night. The cabins at Fort Wilderness are getting major MAKEOVERS! Best Hotel Worth the Splurge: Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa If you’re looking to splurge — and we mean really SPLURGE, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa can’t be beat when it comes to luxury. Disney’s Grand Floridian This hotel is within walking distance to Magic Kingdom, and it has Monorail and boat access to that park as well. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort There are some truly fantastic restaurants here, such as Narcoossee’s, Citricos, and the extraordinarily fancy (and expensive) Victoria & Albert’s. (If you want the truth, though, our favorite thing to eat might be at the quick service Gasparilla Island Grill — their mac and cheese is to DIE for.) You wouldn’t want to be late for your fancy meal at Victoria & Albert’s The rooms feel luxurious and boast great views, especially if you get a beach-view room. The lobby is stunning, and in the wintertime, it’s home to a life-sized gingerbread house! Gingerbread house 2022 Rooms start at $794 per night, so it’s not budget-friendly at all. But even if you don’t stay here, we highly recommend visiting just to dine at one of the restaurants or visit the beautiful lobby. Click here to tour the new resort studios at Grand Floridian! Best Hotel For Foodies: Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort We all know that the best thing about Disney World is the food, right? So why mess around with all these other hotels when there’s one resort that’s CLEARLY the best when it comes to food? Polynesian Village Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is GREAT for food fans because of the variety of spots where you can get a treat or full meal as well as their unique island-themed eats. You’ll find Kona Cafe, ‘Ohana, Pineapple Lanai, Tambu Lounge, and (of course) Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto. Tonga Toast ‘Ohana is a must-try at least once, and make sure you taste the famous ‘Ohana noodles and bread pudding while you’re there. Here’s a hot tip: You can get both of those dishes at Tambu Lounge if you’re not able to secure a reservation for ‘Ohana! ‘Ohana Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto is a super fun bar that serves light bites and themed drinks in a lively, exciting atmosphere. Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto Rooms at this hotel start at $662 per night. Other hotels with excellent dining options include Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (with Jiko — The Cooking Place, Sanaa, Boma, and The Mara), Disney’s Contemporary Resort (with Contemporary Grill and Steakhouse 71), and Disney’s Port Orleans Resort, French Quarter and Riverside. The Complete Guide to Eating at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Best Hotel For Character Dining: Disney’s Riviera Resort The Polynesian Village Resort is the best for dining in general, but if you want the best CHARACTER dining, we’d stay at Disney’s Riviera Resort! Disney’s Riviera Resort Topolino’s Terrace — Flavors of the Riviera is an upscale Italian restaurant by night, but by day it’s a character breakfast meal! Topolino’s Terrace Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy are dressed as artists of the Riviera: Mickey is a painter, Minnie is a poet, Daisy is a dancer, and Donald is a sculptor. Mickey! Our favorite breakfast eats are the Quiche Gruyère and Smoked Salmon, but the pastries that come in a little paint can are usually a big hit with the kids. Bread This is the cheapest deluxe resort, with rooms starting at around $440 a night, but the rooms in the tower are very small, so keep that in mind if you’re traveling with a larger group! Go inside a tiny and expensive Riviera Resort tower room! Best Hotel For Easy Walking Access to the Parks: Disney’s BoardWalk Inn There are Monorail resorts and Skyliner resorts, but how about those WALKING resorts? The king of all walking resorts has to be Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. From this hotel, you can be in EPCOT in about five minutes (via the park’s International Gateway), or take the longer 15- to 20-minute stroll over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The BoardWalk Not only is it super close to two parks, but the BoardWalk is undergoing some MAJOR renovations to the rooms and lobby area, bringing a more light and airy feel. There are lots of new and upcoming restaurants too, like Carousel Coffee, the BoardWalk Deli, The Cake Bake Shop, and Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs. BoardWalk The BoardWalk is home to some super fun nightlife, too, at the AbracadaBar and JellyRolls Dueling Piano Bar. AbracadaBar Rooms at this hotel start at around $600. Look inside the NEW rooms at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. Best Hotel For Gorgeous Views (Inside and Out!): Disney’s Wilderness Lodge The lobby at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge never ceases to take our breath away. There’s SO much to explore in this hotel! Wilderness Lodge There are fun details all around — check out the fireplace, upper walkways, totem poles, and even the REAL stream running through the lobby! (As an added bonus, you can sometimes find Disney characters greeting guests in the lobby!) Fireplace When you step outside, the fantastic views continue with gorgeous outdoor areas, including a working geyser. Geyser at Wilderness Lodge Rooms here start at around $450 a night, and don’t forget that it has boat access to Magic Kingdom. Click here to tour a room at Wilderness Lodge! Best Hotel For Golfers: Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa This is a very specific category, but we know there are some golfers out there who want a relaxing time on the course while everyone else rushes to the parks! Disney Golf Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course is located at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, making this resort a great one if you’re looking to spend some of your mornings or afternoons out on the course and want easy access. Click here to tour a room at Saratoga Springs! Hotels to AVOID We’ve talked about the BEST hotels…but what about the ones you should AVOID? Avoid If You Want Easy Access to the Lobby and Other Hotel Amenities: Disney’s Old Key West Resort Disney’s Old Key West Resort is an incredibly large hotel that is very spread out, so much so that you’ll likely need to use a car or theme park buses just to get from your room to the main lobby or to other neighborhoods within the resort. Old Key West The sprawling nature of the resort makes it very quiet and quite beautiful across the grounds, so if you don’t mind waiting for a bus (or taking a long walk!) this could be perfect for you. Old Key West Resort — Deluxe Studio Room. However, it can be a pain if you want to get somewhere quickly or need to be at a restaurant at a certain time for reservations. Click here to learn more about Old Key West. Avoid if You Want a Strong “Disney” Feel to Your Hotel: Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort While Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is beautiful in its own way, the theming is less in-your-face “Disney!”. So, if you’re looking for Disney characters to be everywhere and have that strong sense of whimsy, this isn’t the spot. Coronado Springs The resort is popular for conventions and other more “adult” events, making it a good pick for guests seeking a more “adult” vibe. Click here for the complete guide to eating a Disney’s Coronado Springs. Avoid If You Want Peace and Quiet: Disney’s All-Star Resorts All three of the All-Star Resorts — Movies, Music, and Sports — tend to get incredibly busy with lots of families due largely to their relatively low prices (these are definitely the cheapest hotels in Disney World, with rooms starting at $128 per night). All-Star Resorts These hotels are also top picks for school cheer and sports competitions when they take place, making it extra noisy at times. Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort While the theming is fun and many rooms have been nicely remodeled, if you’re looking for a relaxing resort stay, the noise may be worth avoiding here. Click here to learn more about the All-Star Resorts. There are so many different hotel options at Disney World, and truly the best option will depend on your group’s priorities. We hope this helps you narrow down your top picks! Stay tuned to DFB for more planning tips and updates on all the latest Disney news. Click here for even MORE information about all the Disney World hotels! Want More Details About Disney World’s Hotels? Ranking of ALL of Disney World’s Hotels A Full List of Changes Announced for Disney World’s Hotels The BEST Disney World Hotels for 2023 The WORST Disney World Hotels for 2023 13 Critical Things You’re FORGETTING About When Booking a Disney World Hotel 8 Gadgets You Need for Your Disney World Hotel Room The Surprising Things You Won’t Find in Your Disney World Hotel Room The Secret Way to Stay in Disney World’s Hotels for LESS! What Items from Amazon Can You Have Delivered to Your Resort Hotel? We’ve Got the Details Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney World hotel news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Which Disney World hotel is YOUR favorite? Let us know in the comments! The post We’ve Stayed at Every Disney World Hotel. These Are the BEST. first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Any excuse to add a little extra Disney magic into our home decor and you know we’ll take it. New Disney dishes? Yep. Disney artwork? Absolutely. Disney mugs? Our collection is overflowing but we could always use just one more. Disney home decor These amazing personalized Disney signs that we found online are exactly what we’re talking about! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. The personalized signs look just like the iconic Disneyland sign, or you can get them in pastel colors reminiscent of “it’s a small world.” They’d be a great addition to a kids’ room! Get the Personalized Disney Name Signs! ©Jane You can get the personalized Disney name signs on Jane.com. The personalization can be up to nine letters long. ©Jane There are three design options to choose from: the classic blue, the pastels, or the bold colors. ©Jane You can mount the sign to the wall or have it stand alone on a shelf or desk! Right now it’s on SALE, so be sure to grab yours soon! View on Jane.com Which of the three designs is your favorite? Stay tuned to DFB for more updates on all the newest Disney merchandise! Check out more Disney merchandise online at our DFB Amazon storefront!The post It's Embarrassing How Fast We Hit "Add To Cart" When We Saw This Disney-themed Item first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

An incredibly popular Halloween event is coming back to Disneyland Resort this year and Disney is dropping some BIG HINTS about new additions to it. Oogie Boogie Bash 2022 Oogie Boogie Bash is a spooky, separately ticketed event that takes place on select nights during the Halloween season at Disney California Adventure Park. Those who buy tickets for the event can experience unique treat trails featuring iconic Disney villains, special meet-and-greets, an exclusive parade, and more. And Disney has just teased 2 new things — or, should we say, PEOPLE — coming to this year’s event! Breaking down the images, it looks like the first part shows a tank with a sign on it that says “A1 Solvents” and a sign below that that possibly spells out “Turpentine.” Then we see some clothing strings hanging out of it and bubbling green goop inside. Look familiar to anyone? ©Disney That tank certainly looks like the one from the Who Framed Roger Rabbit? film, which has us thinking that there’s some dangerous cartoon-melting dip inside! Roger Rabbit That could mean that the sinister villain of that film — Judge Doom himself — could be on the way to Disneyland for Oogie Boogie Bash this year! How epic would that be?! ©D23 The next part of the teaser seems to show a variety of canisters, one of which clearly has a sign indicating it is part of the San Fransokyo Square Public Works Department. ©Disney Disney is in the process of transforming one part of Disney California Adventure Park into San Fransokyo Square, an area themed to Big Hero 6. That whole space is set to open on August 31st. Considering that Oogie Boogie Bash takes place in the same park, it makes sense that we’d see a San Fransokyo Square connection here. The villain in Big Hero 6 is Yokai — a professor who lost his daughter and then began his descent into villain status. So it’s possible that we could see him appear at the event this year. ©Disney obtained via Comic Book Resources Last year, Disney introduced some new villains and unique meet-and-greets at Oogie Boogie Bash so we’re curious to see just who will join the festivities this year. We’ll keep an eye out for more news and let you know what we find. Just keep in mind that tickets for Oogie Boogie Bash have already sold out. We’ll be covering the entire event for you though, so you won’t miss a thing! Stay tuned for all the latest updates. Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe What villains would you want to see at the event? Tell us in the comments. The post Disney Drops Big Hint About 2 NEW Additions for Oogie Boogie Bash first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Halloween just seems to make EVERYTHING better. The Boo Buckets! From themed snacks and decorations to merchandise that you can grab, everything just seems so much more exciting when it’s spooky. In the past, we’ve loved grabbing the Halloween-themed Happy Meals from McDonald’s. If you also love the adorable meals that come in the themed pails, then this post is for you! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Hot Topic is home to a lot of great merchandise — specifically Loungefly products! We found a few Loungefly Halloween items online, and they’re themed to the spooky McDonald’s Happy Meals! Check it out. McDonald’s Pail Crossbody Bag ©Hot Topic This bag looks just like the spooky Halloween pail! It comes with a long crossbody strap and could make for a great park accessory. View on Hot Topic McDonald’s Halloween Pail Pins ©Hot Topic If you’re not much of a bag person but love pins, then this could be a great option! These pins come in mystery boxes where you have a chance at getting one of these six pins. View on Hot Topic What do you think? Will you be snagging these Loungefly x McDonald’s pins? We’ll continue to keep you updated with more news and merchandise, so make sure to follow along for more! Looking for more great merch deals we’ve found online? Click here!The post ALERT! A McDonald’s Happy Meal Loungefly Bag Is Online NOW first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Sometimes, you just need some good, cheesy carbs in the form of Mexican food. Queso for the Win At Disney World, there are quite a few options if you’re hoping to indulge in the deliciousness that is a table loaded with tortillas, guacamole, queso, and of course — margaritas. It can be hard to choose between each of the Mexican restaurants available on Disney World property, so we’ve done the hard part. (Trying all sorts of Mexican restaurants was just SO exhausting. ) We’re here to share our rankings and a brief review of each of the BEST Mexican restaurants in Disney World! Each of the featured restaurants in this post can be found at EPCOT, Disney Springs, or Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. Let’s eat! 1. La Cantina de San Angel Located on EPCOT’s World Showcase Lagoon, this quick service restaurant offers a variety of grab-and-go Mexican dishes, like nachos, an Arroz con Pollo bowl, and even a churro sundae. Churro Sundae at EPCOT If you’re looking for a quick meal that you can enjoy while walking around the park, then La Cantina de San Angel is for you! 2. La Hacienda de San Angel This is the table service counterpart to La Cantina de San Angel! Here, you can sit down and enjoy a menu full of Mexican dishes, like skillets, tacos, and a variety of margaritas. La Hacienda de San Angel This is your go-to if you want a LOT of food to enjoy in a stunning atmosphere. We love the Alambre de Res here. 3. San Angel Inn Restaurante This restaurant is located inside the pyramid in the Mexico Pavilion of EPCOT! YUMMM This restaurant is home to some STRONG margaritas and some delicious queso fundido. 4. Frontera Cocina in Disney Springs This restaurant offers both table service and a walk-up window so that you can take your food to go. Frontera Cocina Here, there are seasonal guacamole options that are quite good, as well as carnitas and soft tacos. 5. Maya Grill at Coronado Springs Resort Located within Coronado Springs, you can usually snag a table for a la carte dinner at Maya Grill without reservations. Fried Baby Churros We love the Roasted Poblano Potatoes Gratin here as well as the Fried Baby Churros. 6. Choza de Margarita in EPCOT Located in EPCOT’s Mexico Pavilion, this quick-service margarita bar serves up (who guessed it) margaritas and various small plates. Choza de Margarita Last time we were here, we loved the Tostada de Pollo and the Cucumber Margarita. 7. El Mercado de Coronado Also located in Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is El Mercado de Coronado, which is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. El Mercado de Coronado The food here has been okay in the past, but there are some American options for those of you who have picky eaters! BONUS! Lounge Edition! La Cava del Tequila Located at EPCOT’s Mexico pavilion, you’ll find this lounge that offers lots of margaritas and even some small plates. La Cava Del Tequila We love the Oaxacan Mule here! BONUS! Mexican-Featured! Paradiso 37 Located in Disney Springs, this Latin-inspired restaurant offers flavors from the Americas. P37 Dip Trio There are a few Mexican-inspired dishes here, and we love the melted cheese, of course. We also like the Honolulu Pulled Pork Sandwich! Not Mexican, but still good. Bonus! Mexican-Fusion Edition! Three Bridges Bar and Grill Located at Disney’s Coronado Springs, you’ll be able to find this restaurant serving up Mexican-fusion cuisine. Three Bridges This restaurant has some great upscale Mexican bar food and some yummy margs. And there you have it! If you love Mexican food, we’re sure that none of these restaurants will disappoint. Keep in mind that restaurants like Jaleo, Toledo, Barcelona Lounge, and Dahlia Lounge are all Spanish influenced, so though we recommend you try them all, they don’t quite fit into our Mexican restaurant rankings. And as much as we love the walking taco from Pecos Bill Tall Tale Cafe in Magic Kingdom, that’s really more like Tex-Mex. We’ll continue to keep you updated with more Disney news and reviews as we have them, so make sure to follow along for more. Until next time! Have you tried any of these restaurants? Let us know in the comments! The post Ranking the Best Mexican Restaurants at Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney is hosting a huge event this September and you’ll want to pay attention. Destination D23 2021 From September 8th through the 10th, Destination D23 will take place in Walt Disney World at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. During the event, there will be panels hosted by Disney executives that’ll give us a peek into the future of the parks and movies. In the past, we’ve seen some really important announcements made at this event, and the schedule for the 2023 event has given us some big clues about what could be coming. So let’s break it all down now and see what news we could get from Destination D23 this year! Before we begin, we do want to note that we’ll be sharing updates ALL weekend long from Destination D23 when it’s taking place. Be sure to follow us on social media (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, and TikTok) and subscribe to our newsletter so you don’t miss a thing! In terms of updates we’re expecting, we’re drawing our analysis (and hopes!) from the panels that have been revealed for this year as well as things we’ve seen in the past. To see the full Destination D23 schedule revealed for 2023, click here. Destination D23 2021 In terms of announcements we’ve seen before, in 2021 Disney announced all kinds of things like changes being made to the Fantastmic! show, a new cavalcade for Magic Kingdom, an opening timeline for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, the announcement of new restaurants for EPCOT — Connections Cafe and Eatery, news about the return of nighttime shows to Disneyland, technology updates, and MUCH more. Basically, almost ANYTHING is fair game — opening timelines, new restaurant announcements, updates for existing or upcoming attractions, sneak peeks at new technology that could be implemented in the parks, and MORE. Destination D23 in 2021 Now, let’s get to what big announcements could be on the way this year! 1 — Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana Opening Date Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana — a NEW walk-through attraction — is set to open this fall in EPCOT. Cast Member previews are scheduled to be held soon and we’ve seen quite a few updates about the attraction recently but NO official opening date yet. It seems like Destination D23 could be the perfect time to make such an announcement and there are 2 panels where it could happen. Moana Attraction One is scheduled for 9:15AM on Saturday, September 9th, and is called “A Celebration of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.” During that panel, Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro and “special guests” will be looking to the future of the Disney parks and they’ve indicated that there could even be some “fun surprises along the way.” On top of that, at 4:20PM on Saturday, another panel will take place which is called “EPCOT: Always in a State of Becoming.” This is meant to be a “look into the design and ideas behind the transformation of EPCOT and its new neighborhoods, attractions, and experiences.” Journey of Water — July 2023 Either or both of these panels could present Disney with the opportunity to share some BIG updates about the Moana attraction including its opening date and perhaps a new look inside, information about how the attraction will work, any details about its potential use of Genie+ or a virtual queue, and more. So we’ll DEFINITELY be on the lookout for updates. Click here to see EVERYTHING we know about the Moana attraction so far 2 — MASSIVE EPCOT Updates As that one panel we mentioned above emphasizes, EPCOT is in a huge transitional phase right now. Aside from the new Moana attraction, the park is set to get: a new fireworks show (late 2023) the new CommuniCore Hall space (by the end of 2023) the new CommuniCore Plaza area (by the end of 2023) new gardens in World Celebration (by the end of 2023) a new Mickey meet-and-greet in CommuniCore Hall (by the end of 2023) a few Figment meet-and-greet (summer 2023) the appearance of Mickey and Minnie in their 100th Anniversary outfits as part of the celebration (September 22nd, 2023) more 100th Anniversary touches (like a platinum Mickey statue, a new Spaceship Earth lights show, and a Disney100 popcorn bucket) (September 22nd, 2023) a Walt Disney statue as part of Dreamers Point We’ve seen some updates about these additions here and there but exact opening dates and details for many of them are still pending. ©Disney Other things had previously been discussed for the park, like an update to Spaceship Earth itself (postponed), a Mary Poppins attraction in the United Kingdom pavilion (postponed), and a new movie in the China pavilion. We haven’t heard about those proposals in a LONG time. Communicore Hall ©Disney Considering the fact that there is an entire panel dedicated to EPCOT’s transformation and how it is in a “state of becoming,” some important EPCOT updates could be on the way! We could get opening dates for some of these things, more news or sneak peeks at them, or reveals of more details surrounding them. Considering the fact that several of them are set to be completed by 2023 and the end of the year is rapidly approaching, we’ve got our fingers crossed for some big news! Learn ALL about the EPCOT transformation here 3 — Tiana News We already know that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is coming to Disney World and Disneyland in late 2024, but Destination D23 could provide us with more updates about this attraction re-theme. Perhaps we’ll get a more exact opening date for one or both of these ride transformations, or just more details about what to expect when these rethemes are done. Construction at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Disney World We also already know that Tiana is getting her own restaurant in Disneyland (Tiana’s Palace), but could Destination D23 bring us news about a Tiana restaurant addition in Disney World? Or news about other Tiana-themed spaces — like a Tiana-themed gift shop — that may be added to Frontierland in Disney World? Considering that there is an entire panel dedicated to the Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products division, part of that will be looking at the future of the parks, we’ve seen Disney announce new restaurants at Destination D23 in the past, and this particular ride re-theme is a MAJOR change, it seems like this could be a great time to get some Tiana announcements in! Learn about Tiana’s Bayou Adventure here 4 — Disney World Restaurant News On top of all the other things coming this year, Disney World is set to get some NEW restaurants in 2023 (yes, THIS YEAR) including: The Cake Bake Shop (Disney’s BoardWalk) Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs (Disney’s BoardWalk) Summer House on the Lake (Disney Springs) EET by Maneet Chauhan (Disney Springs) Cake Bake Shop Construction Considering the fact that all 4 of these spots are supposed to open by the end of 2023 and there are only a few months left in the year, Destination D23 might be just the time for D’Amaro and others from the Disney team to provide some updates on these spaces — whether that’s in the form of opening dates or simply more restaurant details. Did you know there’s a CHAMPAGNE BAR coming to Disney World? Learn about it here! 5 — Updates on 2024 Disney World Changes Speaking of times that are rapidly approaching, 2024 will be here before you know it and it’ll bring some huge updates to Disney World including: the removal of the Park Pass requirement for date-based tickets (goes into effect January 9th, 2024) Genie+ changes (that may allow guests to do a bit of pre-planning with the system), and the return of the Disney Dining Plan (returns January 9th, 2024) Genie+ Again, considering there is a panel that’ll apparently touch on the future of the parks and these changes are coming soon, it could be a good opportunity for Disney to provide any kind of update on them. Will the change in Park Pass requirements alter Park Hopping rules? Disney hasn’t shared any news on that yet… What Genie+ changes will be implemented exactly and WHEN? Are there any other updates on the Disney Dining Plan guests need to know about? We’ll be watching closely for news on ALL of that. Click here to see more about those Genie+ changes planned for 2024 6 — International Theme Park News Disney specifically notes that their “Celebration of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products” panel will include “updates from around the world” and that’s NO surprise because Disney is working on tons of projects at the international theme parks. We recently got a whole bunch of updates about Fantasy Springs — the new land coming to Tokyo DisneySea in 2024 — that’ll have new rides, restaurants, and more. And we’ve seen updates announced for Disneyland Paris in particular recently and its upcoming Frozen land. ©Disney Disney may be itching to share more news about these spots or other projects planned for the international parks, so be sure to have those passports renewed, you might have a big Disney trip to plan for your future. See more about the Rapunzel, Peter Pan, and Frozen areas coming to Tokyo DisneySea 7 — Cruise Line Updates Another panel that could bring us some big news is one dedicated to Disney Cruise Line. It’s scheduled for Saturday, September 9th, and is titled “Disney Cruise Line: 25 Years of Innovative Design at Sea.” During the panel, guests are supposed to get an “inside look into designing and building Disney Cruise Ships from the Disney Imagineers currently working on its newest fleet.” Disney is in the process of working on 3 NEW ships — the Disney Treasure (set to debut in fiscal year 2025) and 2 others (one set to debut in fiscal year 2025 and another set to debut in fiscal year 2026). Plus, they’ve already shared some news about the new private island — Lighthouse Point. ©Disney This panel (or the one that includes news about everything to do with the Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products division — which includes Disney Cruise Line) could bring us some exciting cruising news about the Treasure or the 2 other ships being worked on — perhaps we’ll get new ship names or other details. This panel will also be held just days after Disney’s “grand reveal” of the Disney Treasure Cruise Ship (scheduled for August 30th) so this could be an opportunity to follow up on that grand reveal with more spectacular announcements. Check out what we know about the Disney Treasure so far right here! 8 — Movie News Destination D23 could also bring us some big Disney movie news. Why? Well, because there is an entire panel dedicated to Disney’s movie studios scheduled for Destination D23. On Sunday, September 10th, there will be a Walt Disney Studios Showcase starting at 9AM that’ll have a “sneak peek at exciting upcoming projects from The Walt Disney Studios.” The panel is scheduled to last until around 10:30AM from what the schedule looks like, so there could be a whole bunch of updates packed in here. ©Disney Disney is working on a number of films — from animated features to live-action movies — and we could hear about a variety of them during this panel. Some of the particularly big films coming up include The Marvels (Marvel), Wish (Disney Animation), Elio (Pixar), Snow White (Disney Live Action), and Inside Out 2 (Pixar). ©Disney Plus, Disney previously announced a Frozen sequel, Toy Story sequel, and Zootopia sequel. It’s possible that we’ll hear about those films, maybe some of the new Star Wars films that have been announced, the future of Marvel, or other movies! Click here to see what celebrities have had to say about some of the new Disney sequels announced 9 — Other Updates In terms of other updates, some of the panels at Destination D23 could provide us with clues. One panel is all about celebrating Marvel’s Avengers and it notes that guests will be able to “join Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski to trace the comics history of the Avengers across six decades—and BEYOND!” So perhaps some Avengers news will be snuck in there. Avengers Campus Another panel appears to be dedicated to the 100th Anniversary of Disney World. It is called “100 Years of Innovation: Magic in Every Medium” and notes that “Imagineers Daniel Joseph and Karin Hanson reconcile a century of innovations in which Disney stories have been brought to life through magic, connecting how they have been inspired by the innovations of yesterday, to the exciting ways they innovate through storytelling today.” Could this give us a glimpse into innovations coming in the future or a peek at some of the things Imagineering is working on now? Perhaps — we’ll have to wait and see. ©Disney We could also get some Disneyland updates since a number of projects are in the works over there too including a new Avengers store, the transformation of Paradise Pier hotel into Pixar Place hotel, and the new Disney Vacation Club villas coming to the Disneyland Hotel. News We’re Hoping For Finally, let’s talk about some news we’re hoping for: A Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser update — considering the hotel will be closing this year Updates on the proposed expansions at Magic Kingdom and retheme of DinoLand USA at Animal Kingdom that were teased at the D23 Expo in 2022 Any updates on the Disney Vacation Club addition coming to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (scheduled to open in 2024) Any news about the expansion to the Avengers Campus space at Disneyland Resort that has been previously announced A room on Halcyon We’ve got our fingers crossed for some exciting news. What announcements are you hoping for at Destination D23? Tell us in the comments! And stay tuned for all the news 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 news are you hoping for? Tell us in the comments! The post 9 HUGE Reveals We're Expecting from Disney's Biggest Fan Event of the Year first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

McDonald’s changes up its menu pretty frequently with new items and treats. Remember the Grimace milkshake that took over the internet not too long ago? McDonald’s Well, now there’s another update you need to know about! The chicken sandwich wars have struck again. Ever since Popeyes’ spicy chicken sandwich went viral, tons of other fast food restaurants have been trying to up their chicken sandwich game (and we’re definitely not mad about it!). Even Disney World is getting caught up in the chicken sandwich wars! McDonald’s already added some new chicken sandwich options to its menu not too long ago, so now there are several different varieties including the McCrispy, the Deluxe McCrispy, the Spicy McCrispy, the Deluxe Spicy McCrispy, and the McChicken. Spicy McCrispy Chicken Sandwich But apparently, five chicken sandwiches aren’t enough — yet ANOTHER one is coming to the menu at select locations. According to Fox News, McDonald’s is trying out the new Grand McChicken Sandwich at certain restaurants in California, including locations in Fresno, Sacrament, Bakersfield, and Chico. ©McDonald’s It’s going to be around “for a limited time only.” The new sandwich has a larger chicken patty than the other options on the menu. McDonald’s said that the company “is always looking for ways to give fans more of what they’re craving, and the Grand McChicken will offer customers a new way to enjoy the McChicken they already know and love” (Fox News). McDonald’s The sandwich also has a toasted bun, mayo, and shredded lettuce. We’ll watch for more updates, so stay tuned to DFB for the latest foodie news! Have you seen the NEW Happy Meal toys at McDonald’s? Click here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What do you think of this new menu item? Let us know in the comments. The post McDonald's Announces NEW Menu Item in Select Locations first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Some Disney World rules are ones that we truly believe make sense. Disney World! Like, yes, we totally get all the rules put in place to keep us safe, the rules that protect Disney’s brand and character integrity, and even the rules that prevent people from disrupting others’ vacations. On the other hand, there are some rules that are just absolutely heartbreaking. Well, there’s really only one rule at Disney World that we find heartbreaking, and we’re here to talk about it. Gideon’s Bakehouse in Disney Springs is one of THE most popular dessert spots at Disney World. Here, you can choose from a wide variety of giant, ooey-gooey, delicious cookies, decadent (and just as giant) slices of cake, fudge, gourmet coffee, and even little cups of frosting that I swear we could make a meal of. Gideon’s Bakehouse Visiting Gideon’s Bakehouse is heavenly for us — and for many other visitors. However, there is ONE unfortunate downside: the rule that we mentioned earlier. Gideon’s Bakehouse There’s a limit to how much dessert you can buy. See, at most bakeries you have the option to order the goods in dozens. At Gideon’s, this isn’t the case. For each cookie on the everyday menu, there is a limit of six per person. This is pretty reasonable. Inside Gideon’s Bakehouse However, for special cookies (because Gideon’s will occasionally put cookies on the menu for a limited time), you can typically only purchase two cookies per person. This hurts just a little bit, but we totally understand that these cookies are hot commodities. Gideon’s Bakehouse Cookie Cake slices are generally the same way. You can usually only grab two slices of cake per person. However, this is another thing we find totally fair, since these slices of cake are HUGE and can be shared by 2-4 people. Gideon’s Cake Slice So, if you’re visiting Gideon’s soon and are hoping to stock up on cookies for the week, keep this in mind. You won’t be able to get a full dozen of your favorite cookie — you’ll have to mix and match! Unfortunately, you also won’t be able to take a whole cake home. We know, your heart is probably breaking over not being able to take a ginormous cake onto the airplane. LET THEM EAT CAKE! We’ll continue to keep you updated with any and all Disney news, reviews, and even rules like this! Make sure to stay tuned and follow along for more so that you’re always in the know. Hoping to check out our review of some Gideon’s treats? Sure thing! Click here. 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 Do you typically visit Gideon’s Bakehouse when you’re at Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post The One Rule You Need To Know Before You Visit Gideon’s Bakehouse in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Of course, many Disney World visitors flock to the theme parks for all the fun, but there are so many great ways to stay entertained at your Disney World hotel. Pool at Polynesian From resort activities and events to eateries and merchandise shops, there are plenty of things to do if you’re hoping to take a break and rest up from the hustle and bustle of the busy parks. What we recommend doing above all else is enjoying the Florida sunshine and taking advantage of the uniquely-themed (and often massive) hotel pools! It’s true — Disney World hotel pools have definitely swayed our decision on where to stay a few times in the past. While you don’t have to be staying at a Disney World hotel in order to walk around and experience many of its amenities, you DO have to be staying at a Disney World hotel in order to visit the pool. So, the pool can really impact your decision on where to stay! We ranked the Top 10 Walt Disney World hotel pools, and you can watch that video right here! It’s also true that some Disney pools are a bit more iconic than others, whether based on theming or amenities. Uzima Pool at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge One fan-favorite pool for many guests is Stormalong Bay, the pool area that Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club share, which features a sand-bottom pool as well as a waterslide that looks like a shipwreck. It’s widely regarded as the best pool on Disney World property, but there are a couple more that we love just as much. Stormalong Bay Riviera Pool We love Disney’s Riviera Resort for all sorts of reasons, but one of the biggest reasons is access to the Riviera Pool. This family-friendly pool is themed to the French Riviera (like the rest of the hotel) and features elements of the Mediterranean. One of our favorite things here is the water slide that wraps around a tower. Oh, and little ones can enjoy S’il Vous Play, the interactive splash area! Disney’s Riviera Resort Pool While there is plenty for kids to do, this pool offers a calming atmosphere for the grownups to relax and unwind — almost like you’re really on a Mediterranean getaway. Riviera also has the Beau Soleil Pool, which is just as nice and even more relaxing — more ideal if you’re hoping for a quiet afternoon. Beau Soleil Pool Now that we’ve taken a look at a Deluxe Resort option, let’s check out one of our favorite pools at a Value Resort. The Big Blue Pool Disney’s Art of Animation Resort is home to some of Disney World’s most elaborately-themed hotel rooms and spaces. Included in that elaborate theming are the pools! Here, there are three swimming pools: Flippin’ Fins Pool, the Cozy Cone Pool, and The Big Blue Pool. The Big Blue Pool is our favorite one here, and is actually the largest pool on Disney World property as it contains over 308,527 gallons of water. The Big Blue Pool It’s a zero-entry pool, which makes it accessible to even MORE Disney World visitors. Oh, and did we mention that it’s themed to Finding Nemo? Yep! Here, you can chill out alongside giant versions of beloved characters from the film, like Nemo and Crush. Little ones can enjoy Schoolyard Sprayground to interact with pop-up jets and spraying water, while little ones who prefer to stay dry can visit Squirt’s Rightgeous Reef. Schoolyard Sprayground And there you have it! If pool time is a non-negotiable for your Disney World vacation, then these two hotel pools are sure to make a splash (sorry, we had to) on your vacation. We’ll continue to keep you updated with more Disney news and advice, so make sure to follow along so that you don’t miss out! Looking for more Disney World pools we love? Slide on over and click here! Want More Details About Disney World’s Hotels? Ranking of ALL of Disney World’s Hotels A Full List of Changes Announced for Disney World’s Hotels The BEST Disney World Hotels for 2023 The WORST Disney World Hotels for 2023 13 Critical Things You’re FORGETTING About When Booking a Disney World Hotel 8 Gadgets You Need for Your Disney World Hotel Room The Surprising Things You Won’t Find in Your Disney World Hotel Room The Secret Way to Stay in Disney World’s Hotels for LESS! What Items from Amazon Can You Have Delivered to Your Resort Hotel? We’ve Got the Details Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney World hotel news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Have you ever been to either of these Disney World pools? Let us know in the comments! The post 2 Disney World Pools That Will CHANGE Your Hotel Plans first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

WATCH OUT for a schedule change happening at Disney’s Hollywood Studios soon! Hollywood Studios Hollywood Studios is a great park for entertainment, with shows like Beauty and the Beast — Live on Stage and the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. One of the most popular shows in this park is Fantasmic!, which takes place every evening. Showtimes for Fantasmic! are CHANGING soon — make sure you know about this update so that you don’t miss the show during your next trip. Unlike the daytime shows in Hollywood Studios, Fantasmic! only takes place ONCE each day. Currently, the show begins at 9:30PM. Starting on August 27th, that will change. Fantasmic! will begin at 8:30PM each night from August 27th through September 18th. Fantasmic! From now through August 26th, the show will begin at 9:30PM. Note that this show’s schedule has changed a few times already — previously, it began at 9PM. Fantasmic! To make extra sure that you’re on time for Fantasmic!, check the My Disney Experience app on the day of your visit to confirm the start time. ©Disney Starting on September 19th, Fantasmic! will go back to a 9:30PM start time and will remain that way for the foreseeable future (as far as Disney’s calendar currently shows). ‘Frozen’ segment in Fantasmic! Although the show is starting earlier, note that Hollywood Studios’ park hours are remaining about the same, with a closing time at 9PM. Hollywood Studios We’ll keep watching for more updates and changes at Disney World, so stay tuned to DFB for all the latest news! Click here to see our definitive ranking of EVERY fast food restaurant in Hollywood Studios. 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 fan of Fantasmic! in Hollywood Studios? Let us know in the comments. The post Fantasmic! Showtimes Are CHANGING Soon! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s no secret that EPCOT is full of a LOT of drink choices. EPCOT There might be a festival happening that offers a bunch of limited-time drink options, like The Food and Wine Festival. There are special lounges like Space 220, which offers unique cocktails, or you can grab a pint from the Rose and Crown Pub. Before we get into the NEW drink that’s coming to EPCOT, be sure to download our FREE EPCOT checklist for your next Disney World visit. It is a downloadable checklist to help you not miss anything there is to see and do at EPCOT — trust us, there’s a lot. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen smoke used in a drink at this bar. In 2022, they introduced The Lily in honor of Lily Aldridge. It was a margarita made exclusively for the 2022 EPCOT Festival of the Arts, but it ended up being so popular that it stuck around for a while. The Lily There’s no word yet on when this drink will make its debut in EPCOT, but we’ll keep our eyes out for it. For more, be sure to follow DFB. See The New Joffrey’s Drink You Can Find at EPCOT 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 wanting to try this new drink? Let us know below. The post A NEW Cocktail Is Coming to La Cava del Tequila in EPCOT! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Let’s face it, your cup collection has been feeling a bit neglected lately. Corkcicle in Disney Springs While we’re all starting to prepare for cooler temps as the fall season approaches, you might be looking to switch out your summer water bottles in favor of something that’s capable of keeping your favorite beverages hot or cold. We’ve just found some NEW Disney Corkcicle cups, and those super popular bags are back in stock as well! Hurry and grab these before they sell out! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. While browsing some tumblers, cups, and canteens to spruce up our mugs and cup collections at home we found a few new Corkcicle items that we think you should also consider adding to your own home collection. Let’s take a look at a few that caught our attention! The Mickey Mouse D100 Sling Bag by Corkcicle is BACK! The Disney100 Mickey Sling! We’ve spotted this sling bag before in Disney Springs at the Corkcicle kiosk but in case you’re not able to get out there fast enough, you can now order one to your home! This creative sling bag can be your best accessory. It’s designed to keep your pockets light, it’s hands-free, and the Disney style is on point. The prismatic color was chosen to celebrate Disney’s 100th anniversary in this sleek iridescent crossbody. It even sports a pair of Mickey Mouse ears! Click here to see the Mickey Mouse D100 Sling Bag If you’re looking for a more subtle color, try the Mickey Mouse Sling Bag by Corkcicle in black! ©Corkcicle This sling bag is designed to carry it all! It’s also sporting a set of 3D Mickey ears, features an adjustable logo strap, and has an exterior cinch pocket that fits a 16 – 40 oz. canteen or tumbler. There’s also a padded interior pocket to hold all of your belongings in one spot so you can pack as lightly as possible. Click here to see the Mickey Mouse Sling Bag in black You’ve just got to see this Minnie Mouse Polka Dot Stainless Steel Kids Cup by Corkcicle! ©Corkcicle Corkcicle is showing off Minnie Mouse’s signature polka dot style in this stainless steel cup made for kids. It’s specially designed for even the tiniest tots with its easy-sip spout lid and convenient carrying handle and the triple-insulated design will keep beverages cold for up to 18 hours. Click here to see the Minnie Mouse Kid’s Cup Show off your latest treasure find in The Little Mermaid Stainless Steel Canteen by Corkcicle! ©Corkcicle This stainless steel canteen features an allover pattern of some of the most familiar The Little Mermaid characters like Ariel, King Triton, Sebastian, Flounder, and Ursula. As a bonus to how adorable this canteen is, the triple-insulated design keeps its contents cold for 25 hours or hot for 12 hours so you’ll stay refreshed no matter the season. Click here to see The Little Mermaid Corkcicle Canteen Reel in the chaos with the Stitch Stainless Steel Stemless Tumbler by Corkcicle! ©Corkcicle What could be more fitting than this adorable Stitch Corkcicle stainless steel tumbler? This adorable design features Stitch’s curious grin and removable silicone ears making it quite a conversation piece too! This stemless tumbler can keep your beverages cold for 9+ hours or hot for 3 hours. Click here to see the Stitch Stemless Tumbler We’re always excited to see what Corkcicle and Disney can dream up next and we’re thrilled to see the sling bags available once again. Be sure to check back in with us at Disney Food Blog for the latest in Disney news. Check out more Disney merch online at our Amazon storefront!The post HURRY! These Disney Souvenirs Sell Out FAST -- and They're ONLINE NOW! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article