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Genie+ has gone through a few different transformations since the skip-the-line service first rolled out in Disney World. You can find Lightning Lanes at many attractions within the parks! And, just when we thought we had the hang of things — Disney goes and changes it all over again. As of June 27th, Genie+ is now a per-park, per-day service, meaning that the price depends on which park you’re visiting and which date you visit. This “dynamic pricing” has ebbed and flowed since it was first introduced, but we’ve noticed something kind of peculiar lately. The price for Genie+ has not changed since August 8th — as of this writing, that makes ten days of unchanged pricing. Although we’ve seen the cost stay the same for a few days in a row, this is the longest streak since dynamic, park-specific pricing was first introduced. Tower of Terror Lightning Lane sign It’s not just the regular, standard Genie+ pricing that has gone unchanged either — each of the Individual Lightning Lane rides has kept the same price as well. Here’s a look at what Genie+ cost in each park between August 8th and now: Multi-Park: $25 Magic Kingdom: $25 EPCOT: $18 Hollywood Studios: $22 Animal Kingdom: $16 Disney Genie+ allows you to book the Lightning Lane for rides. And here’s the price of each Individual Lightning Lane ride between those same dates: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train: $11 Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind: $15 Rise of the Resistance: $22 Flight of Passage: $14 TRON Lightcycle / Run: $20 Expedition Everest Lightning Lane Disney has previously shared that Genie+ pricing is set based on demand, so it’s possible that is the reason for the stall — the demand in the parks hasn’t wavered in 10 days either. We have seen pretty steady crowds and wait times in the parks lately too, especially with Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party having officially kicked off, and we could see that trend continue. Ultimately, there’s no guarantee that these prices are here to stay. Depending on how busy the upcoming holiday season is this year, it’s possible we could see prices skyrocket across the board. The good news is that Disney has announced even more changes will be coming to Genie+ in 2024, where you’ll be able to plan your Lightning Lanes ahead of time (a la the old FastPass+ system.) We’ll have to wait and see what happens, but we’ll keep an eye out! Lightning Lane at EPCOT’s Frozen Ever After We know that planning a Disney World trip is A LOT. And this Genie+ thing can be so confusing – which is why we bring you posts like this so often But we’ve also put together a complete guide in ebook format that gives you all of the info you need, all in one place! Use code WDW2023 for 25% off our DFB Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World. We have a whole guide with answers to questions you might have about Genie+, and you can check it out at the link below. Stay tuned to DFB for more! See Our FULL FAQ With All the Recent Genie+ Changes Here All About Disney Genie, Genie+, and Individual Attraction Selection BIG Genie+ Changes Being Planned For Disney World FULL List of Rides Included With Genie+ in Disney World 3 Tips to OUTSMART Genie+ in Disney World Right Now Please Stop Skipping These Genie+ Hacks in Disney World (They Really Work!) Genie+ Tips for the Most Crowded Days in Disney World and Disneyland Click HERE to See More About Disney Genie Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe Have you used Genie+ in the parks lately? Tell us in the comments. The post Something STRANGE Is Happening With Genie+ in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you can survive a week in Disney World without caffeine, you deserve a trophy, a medal, and a street named after you. Starbucks But seriously, making it through multiple days at The Most Magical Place on Earth without a little pick-me-up would be incredibly challenging, and that’s why there are PLENTY of coffee options around the parks. Each Disney World park has multiple restaurants serving coffee, and it feels like you can’t sneeze without hitting a Joffrey’s coffee kiosk. But today, we’re here to talk about the Starbucks spots…and the problem with them! Each Disney World park is home to a Starbucks location, where you can order all your favorite drinks from home, as well as some classic bakery and pastry items. The four Starbucks locations in the parks are Main Street Bakery (Magic Kingdom), Connections Cafe (EPCOT), Trolley Car Cafe (Hollywood Studios), and Creature Comforts (Animal Kingdom). They’re all located pretty centrally in the park, usually not too far from the entrance. It gets REAL busy in here in the mornings. And in the mornings, as you might expect, you’ll find these Starbucks spots get quite crowded! We’ve noticed some of the heaviest crowds after rope drop, usually around 10AM when people need a mid-morning boost after an early wake-up call. This also coincides with the time when the latecomers start to arrive at the parks. However, that’s not the only time they get crowded — there’s also usually an afternoon rush when visitors hit the midday slump. And if you need some coffee during that time, we might have some bad news. Trolley Car Cafe A problem that we’ve come across multiple times in the past at Starbucks locations is that they sometimes CLOSE part of the restaurant after the initial morning rush. What do we mean? Well, each Starbucks in the Disney World parks is designed with two separate queues — so you can either wait in line to order on the left side of the counter or the right side of the counter. There isn’t a difference in the offerings or the experience, really, but it’s just a way to get a higher volume of guests through the restaurant at once. Connections Cafe crowds We’ve often come into Starbucks in the afternoon to find that they have closed one side of the line as demand decreases later in the day. This isn’t usually a problem if the restaurant isn’t crowded, but more than once we’ve seen the lines get REALLY long later in the day because Starbucks is operating at “half capacity.” Note that this doesn’t happen ALL the time. We’ve also seen plenty of afternoons when both sides of the Starbucks locations remain open. It really depends on the day, so you might be taking a gamble by visiting Starbucks. Creature Comforts in Animal Kingdom So just be warned — if you want to grab coffee for an afternoon boost, you may run into this problem and actually end up waiting LONGER than if you’d grabbed your coffee in the morning. It doesn’t happen in every Starbucks every day, but it’s a fairly common occurrence. Entering Connections Cafe If you run into this problem, you can always choose to visit a Joffrey’s kiosk instead (which usually have shorter lines)! We’ll keep you in the loop with any more coffee tips and tricks from Disney World, as well as all the advice you need to navigate the parks successfully! Stay tuned to DFB for the latest updates. The One Coffee Mistake Everyone Keeps Making in Disney World — 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 Do you get Starbucks or Joffrey’s in Disney World? Tell us in the comments! The post The Potential Problem With Starbucks in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival is full of great eats, amazing drinks, awesome merchandise, fun activities, and awesome entertainment. But wait…there’s one more ingredient you need to add to the mix — STRESS. EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival That’s right — despite all of the fun you can have at the Festival, a trip to this popular experience can also include a huge (read: overwhelming) amount of stress. What dishes are worth your money? How much do you need to budget? What is the best of the best to try? Where do you even start?! There’s a lot to consider — but take a deep breath. We can help! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Today we’re going through our top 15 tips to reduce the stress of your Food & Wine Festival experience. And we’ll start with a bonus — click the image below to download our EXCLUSIVE Festival map and checklist so you don’t have to guess where the food booths are located or what items are at each. Okay, now let’s get to the rest of the tips! 1 — Wear the Right Clothes! You might be so focused on the food and drinks that you totally forget about what you’ll be wearing as you eat your way through the park. But this is an incredibly important thing to consider. Especially if you plan to grab a whole bunch of dishes, your outfit can make a HUGE difference on your level of comfort. Our advice is to pack something light and stretchy (yes, THIS is the time to bring out those stretchy pants or a loose-fitting dress that won’t make you feel like you just ate 500 snacks even though you definitely did). Food and Wine Festival is here! Here are a few other Festival packing tips: Check the weather — Remember the Festival runs all the way through November 19th and the weather can vary a LOT between now and then. If you’ll be going during a really hot season, pack light. Going when things might cool down a bit? Remember that light sweater! And don’t forget to plan ahead for rain!! Wear comfy shoes — You’ll be doing a LOT of walking! Grab a DFB-exclusive Food & Wine Festival Shirt from our merch store to really take your outfit to the next level (and make your outfit planning easier) DFB Exclusive Food & Wine Merch! 2 — Get a Tray We cannot over-emphasize how incredibly helpful it is to have a tray with you when at an EPCOT Festival! Trust us when we say getting a tray will CHANGE your Festival experience. The next time you order all the food and drinks from a booth, you won’t have to try to balance things, almost spill half of your items, and stressfully walk to the closest trash can (or require the help of 5 of your friends). Get a Tray! There are a variety of trays available, but one option is this plastic food tray from Amazon. ©Amazon It’s relatively cheap, simple, and can help get the job done! Click here to grab the tray from Amazon! 3 — Review the Menus BEFORE You Go Planning is your friend when it comes to the Food & Wine Festival. One thing that can remove a ton of stress is to review ALL of the menus for the food booths before you go. Click here to see our page with ALL of the menus for the Food & Wine Festival! By reviewing the menus, you’ll be able to identify the dishes that you’re most interested in trying and create a list of what to buy BEFORE you get there. That can help you feel less overwhelmed by all the options. Plus, if you review all of the menus, then you’ll know what’s available at each of the booths. If you don’t review them ahead of time, you might buy 10 items within the first 5 booths and fill up quickly, only to then realize that 2-3 items you’d REALLY want to try are at later booths and now you’re too stuffed to try them! Brew-Wing Full Spread Pro tip: Don’t just look at the menus. Be sure to also read our FULL reviews of every single booth so you can see our pros and cons about the menu items you’re thinking of buying. By reading our reviews, you might discover that an item you were interested it was actually TERRIBLE or find out that an item you didn’t have on your radar is totally worth trying. See ALL of our booth reviews here! And here’s another pro tip — we’ve tried essentially EVERYTHING at the Festival for you and developed a list of our favorites. These are the items we think you absolutely should eat or drink while there. So be sure to check out our list and watch our video below to learn all about that. That can also help you develop your list of items to try!  4 — Get the DFB Food & Wine Festival Guide Ever wish you could have the ultimate guide to the Festival in one place? Well, you CAN! We have developed the DFB Guide to the 2023 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival and it can help you tackle the Festival like a PRO. DFB Guide to the 2023 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Inside of the digital guide we’ve got the BEST tips, tricks, info, and advice for you to help you enjoy every minute of your time there. There are over 250 pages of info. We’ve broken down each booth to help you devise your plan of attack. Sample Page We offer a 100% money-back guarantee if you aren’t satisfied, and it’s a digital guide which means you’ll get it INSTANTLY and can easily carry it around the park on your mobile device! Get the Food & Wine Festival Guide HERE! 5 — Set up a Budget You’ve already got your list of must-get items, now it’s time to figure out how much that’ll all cost you. We’ve got the pricing for every single item listed on our full menus page so you don’t have to do too much work. Simply note the prices next to your must-get items list and add it all up together. That’ll help you see how much you’d ideally spend if you got every item on that list. Then, it’s time to decide whether that number is too high for your level of comfort. Full Spread 2023 Hawaii Booth If it is, then it’s time to lower your budget and see what items from your list you should remove to make that budget work. Establishing this budget ahead of time will help you be WAY less stressed about that credit card bill that’ll hit you after you spend a full day eating around the World. (Just remember to include some extra space in your budget for tax in your calculations!) Click here for a realistic budget for the 2023 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival 6 — Get a Gift Card One of the most useful souvenirs you can get at the Food & Wine Festival is a collectible gift card with a bracelet. The gift card is small and attached to a bracelet you can easily wear on your wrist so you can have it accessible when it’s time to buy your items from the booths (no need to dig through your bag for cash or a credit card). 2023 Gift Card The other great thing about the gift card (aside from it making your purchasing so much easier) is that it can help you stick to your budget. Only load the gift card with the amount you’ve established as your budget. Then, once it’s all used up, you may be less tempted to keep buying items that’ll put you over that budget. 7 — Stay Hydrated! This sounds simple enough but truly, staying hydrated is KEY to making your Food & Wine Festival experience a good one and not one that lands you in the first aid center. Florida can be extremely hot. If you don’t stay hydrated, you could run the risk of becoming cranky, dehydrated, and potentially even placing your health in danger. Water Bottle You can typically find your standard plastic water bottles available to purchase at a variety of spots throughout EPCOT and the Festival, but those won’t come cheap. Our advice is to bring your own refillable water bottle that you can replenish at the water bottle refill stations or water fountains throughout the park. And don’t forget that you can pop into most Quick Service restaurants to get a FREE cup of ice and water that you can also refill your water bottle with. ‘Elemental’ water bottle If you’ll be drinking alcoholic beverages as you enjoy the Festival, be mindful of how many you have had and try to balance that with water to ensure the right level of hydration. And consider purchasing something like the Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier, which are packets of powder with electrolytes that you add to your water to give you that much more hydration. Click here to check out the water bottle that LITERALLY everyone takes to Disney World! 8 — Know the Rules There are a number of rules you’ll want to know before you visit Disney World, but one particular one becomes especially important during EPCOT festivals. Cast Members are generally trained to limit guests to no more than 2 alcoholic beverages per transaction at Quick Service locations and this often includes EPCOT festival booths. Sake Passion Cocktail So if you really want to try a variety of drinks while at the Festival, just know that this limit is in place and will generally restrict how many alcoholic options you can get at a single booth. That’s something to keep in mind when making your must-get list. Click here to see the one spot mimosa fans HAVE to visit at the Food & Wine Festival 9 — Map Your Route! You have your list of eats, you have your budget, and you’re ready to go — no more planning needed right? WRONG! You might have your list of eats and drinks ready, but where are the booths that contain those eats/drinks located in the park? If you don’t take a look at a map ahead of time you might not realize that some of the booths are quite separated from each other. Festival Map! And if you over-estimate how much you’ll be able to eat in one day, you might end up filling up on certain things at the booths closest to your unplanned path through the park and then becoming too full before reaching a few items you reeeeeeeaaaaalllllly wanted to try. We have a DFB-EXCLUSIVE Food & Wine Festival map that can help! Click here and you’ll be able to check it out and plan your trip! Don’t Miss Out! You might also want to think about a little bit of an eating strategy when planning your route. One of our team members shared that they like to do a lap from Canada to Mexico for savory items, and then walk back the other way for dessert, ending up at the bridge by the time the fireworks start. Don’t forget that there are some booths a little further away from the “main” World Showcase countries that you may want to visit (like The Fry Basket, which is close to Test Track). And remember that you can utilize the Friendship Boats to help you get around EPCOT without having to do all the walking. Click here for a look at the best items under $5 at the Festival 10 — Can You Share Some Items? If you’re traveling in a group, we highly recommend talking about your Food & Wine Festival eating plans with your group BEFORE you arrive. Compare must-eat/drink lists with each other to see if there are some overlapping items. If there are, discuss whether or not you might be able to share those items. Full Spread 2023 Flavors from Fire Sharing dishes can help you save money and stomach space! That could enable you to have a little bit more cash to use on other items you want to try. On the flip side, if you’re envisioning sharing everything but one member of your group wants their own portion of a specific item, clearing that up in advance can help you avoid any complications during your time in the park. Click here to take a look at Spaceship Earth’s limited-time look for the Festival 11 — Eat to the Beat Concert Dining Packages During the Food & Wine Festival, the signature entertainment offered is the Eat to the Beat Concert Series. This series brings in local talent from Tuesday to Thursday, and more internationally recognized talent from Friday to Monday. Some of the more popular performers include Boyz II Men, Sugar Ray, 98°, and Hanson. The concerts are offered nightly at 5:30PM, 6:45PM, and 8PM. Eat to the Beat 2023 You can watch these concerts for FREE (with your EPCOT admission), but the seating can fill up fast for certain popular performers. That means you might need to get in the standby line pretty early if you want to secure a good spot for those. Standby Entrance If you’d rather not have to wait in the standby entrance and want to make sure you get a great seat for a popular performer you’re hoping to see, an Eat to the Beat Dining Package might be the way to go! With these dining packages, you pay a certain amount (depending on the restaurant you choose) to dine at a participating EPCOT restaurant and also get reserved seating for one Eat to the Beat concert showing that night. If you have your heart set on seeing a particular performer and are worried their shows could get really busy, this could be something to opt for. Eat to the Beat Same Day Dining Package sign Our advice is to figure out whether you want/need an Eat to the Beat Dining Package WELL ahead of your trip. Reservations are available now and can be made 60 days in advance. Take a look at who is performing during the days you’ll be there, and then think about whether you really want to see them, whether you’re willing to wait in the standby line for them, and whether a dining package will be “worth it” for you. Then, discuss the situation with your group to make sure everyone is on board. And keep in mind that if you’re looking for a cheap option, you may be able to score a day-of dining package at Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue, but only a limited number of dining packages are available there. Click here to learn more about the dining packages and what they include. Click here to see the concerts you’ll DEFINITELY want a dining package for 12 — Get a Festival Passport One of the best souvenirs at EPCOT’s Food & Wine Festival is actually FREE! It’s the Festival Passport! You’ll typically find these at the front of the park as well as at various spots throughout the park. 2023 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Passport What’s great about these passports (aside from the fact that they’re totally free) is that they contain pages detailing the food items available at each booth, some of the merchandise you can find, and other helpful details about the Festival. It’s a nice, tangible, and helpful item you can keep in your hand as you stroll through the park. You can cross out items you try on there or otherwise make notes if you need to. Inside the Passport Plus, the Passport is where you’ll get stamps if you’re working on the Festival’s Cheese Challenge — Emile’s Fromage Montage. Emile’s Frontage Montage Once you get at least 5 stamps, you can take your Passport to the appropriate booth to collect your prize! Get a look at the Festival passport here! 13 — Download the My Disney Experience App Another tool you’ll want to bring with you to the Festival is the My Disney Experience app. It’s an app you can download on your mobile device. While the app is incredibly helpful for all kinds of things in Disney World (use of Genie+, making mobile orders, etc.) it can also be good for Festivals! Within the app, you can find a section about the Food & Wine Festival. ©Disney Once you select that, you’ll be able to see more about the music, food, and other offerings available. ©Disney If you like to keep things mobile, this is a good way to take a look at the food booth menus digitally. ©Disney Plus, you’ll be able to see allergy-friendly menus which might be particularly helpful for those with specific dietary restrictions. ©Disney Overall, it’s a helpful tool you’ll want for your Disney World trip as a whole, but don’t forget to use it during the Festival too! 14 — Scope Out the Festival Merchandise in Advance As we talked about with the Festival food and making a list of must-buy items in advance, it can be helpful to do the same for Festival merchandise. 2023 Food and Wine Festival Merchandise If you take a look at the merchandise in advance, you can pick out which items you might really want to buy, develop a budget for your merch haul, and then not be as surprised when you arrive and end up spending a decent sum of money on that Loungefly bag you just had to buy. Click here for a full view of ALL the merchandise at the Food & Wine Festival 15 — Avoid Certain Days And finally, if you really want to take some stress out of your Festival visit, try (if you can) to avoid visiting the Festival on Fridays and the weekends. These are the times/days when Orlando locals are more likely to make their way over to the park to enjoy the Festival, making EPCOT even MORE crowded than it might already be. EPCOT Food and Wine Crowds (2023) If you can visit during the weekdays, that can help you potentially get some shorter lines at the food booths. Arriving early can also help you knock out some booths before bigger crowds arrive. Just keep in mind that the Festival booths generally do not open until around 11AM each day. Check out the opening weekend crowds from the Festival here And those are our tips to suck the stress OUT of your Food & Wine Festival trip! We’ll continue to provide you with tips and tricks that can help your Festival trips and Disney World trips in general so stay tuned for more on that! IT'S WINE & DINE TIME! Food & Wine Festival can be a bummer. You stand in line waiting for what looks like the perfect treat, and it's a bust. But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE EPCOT Food & Wine Festival experience. If you're planning a day or a week at the festival, we've got every performance, activity, and tasty nosh detailed out so you can make the most of your time and money. Listen, it's a tough job eating and documenting the nearly 200 bites and sips, but we do it all for YOU! Save 20% on the 2023 DFB Guide to EPCOT's International Food & Wine Festival with code CHEFS. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Learn More About the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival! Insider Tips for the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival What to Pack in Your Park Bag for the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Eat to the Beat Concert Updates EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Fans Facebook Page EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Wine and Dine Half Marathon Food and Wine Festival 101 Get More Updates, Tips, and Tricks to Help You Conquer the Food & Wine Festival Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What is your best tip for the Food & Wine Festival? Tell us in the comments. The post 15 Ways to Make Your EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Visit Less Stressful first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Though hurricanes and tropical storms are often things we think about as impacting Disney World in Florida, this week has brought some storm concerns to the west coast. Disneyland Resort Hurricane Hilary is a storm in the Pacific that the National Hurricane Center has been tracking. We previously shared how the storm could bring severe weather to Disneyland, and gave a peek into how Disneyland was preparing for unprecedented weather because of the storm, but now we have an important update. In a message posted on their website, Disneyland has announced that they will be closing EARLY tomorrow — August 20th, 2023 — due to the storm. Their message notes that “Disneyland Resort theme parks will close early tomorrow, Sunday Aug. 20, with Disney California Adventure Park closing at 9 p.m. and Disneyland Park closing at 10 p.m.” Disneyland Additionally, Downtown Disney will close at 11PM. The Disneyland resort hotels will remain open for those staying on property. You can see the full message below. ©Disney As of the 3PM MDT update from the National Hurricane Center, there is a potential for a historic amount of rainfall in the southwestern U.S. and that is expected to “cause flash, urban, and arroyo flooding.” They note that tropical storm conditions are expected to start Sunday in portions of the southwestern U.S. within the tropical storm warning area. ©NOAA Zooming in on one of NOAA’s maps, you can see where Anaheim falls in terms of where the storm might go. The potential track area is marked in light blue, while the darker blue line along the coast indicates a tropical storm warning. ©NOAA Here’s a more zoomed-out view of its forecast cone. ©NOAA According to The Weather Channel, a tropical storm warning remains in effect for Anaheim (as well as other areas). Anaheim is where Disneyland is located. ©The Weather Channel California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency for much of Southern California, including Orange County (the county within which Disneyland is located). If you are planning to visit Disneyland tomorrow or in the upcoming days, stay safe and be cautious. Also, be sure to check the schedule for updates as hours and other offerings are subject to change. Rain Jacket We’ll continue to watch for updates about the situation and let you know what we find. 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 The post BREAKING: Early CLOSURE Announced for Disneyland Due to Hurricane Hilary first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Several attractions and restaurants are closed in Disney World, but for most of them, we know approximately when they’ll reopen. For example, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (formerly Splash Mountain) will be open in late 2024. However, there are three attractions that are closed right now with NO opening date or even approximate timeframe announced! Magic Kingdom Train Station Aside from those closures, there are a few more that do have opening dates, but not in the near future. Let’s take a look at what will be closed from August 20th through the 26th so that you’re prepared for your next trip. Disney World Closures with NO Reopening Dates Barrel Bridge on Tom Sawyer Island in Magic Kingdom Over on Tom Sawyer Island, the Barrel Bridge is currently missing. Closed A Cast Member told us that it has been removed for maintenance, and they didn’t know when it might return. The rest of the island is still open to explore, though. Disney announced the opening DATE for Mirabel’s meet-and-greet! Voyage of the Little Mermaid in Disney’s Hollywood Studios This Little Mermaid-themed stage show has been closed in Disney’s Hollywood Studios for a long time now. Voyage of the Little Mermaid Disney hasn’t announced when or if the Voyage of the Little Mermaid will reopen. Discover the harsh reality of eating at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Blizzard Beach Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park has officially reopened, but now the other water park, Blizzard Beach, has closed for refurbishment. Blizzard Beach Be sure to check the My Disney Experience app for updates! The BEST Rides at Blizzard Beach, Ranked 1900 Park Fare at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort At Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, 1900 Park Fare is a table service restaurant where you could meet characters like Mary Poppins and Alice in Wonderland at their Supercalifragilistic Breakfast and Cinderella and her Prince Charming during the Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner. 1900 Park Fare They also had a special event for younger children called the Wonderland Tea Party. It’s sad to see a spot closed that had so much character interaction! Disney hasn’t announced a permanent closure, so there is hope for 1900 Park Fare. With 1900 Park Fare closed…you’ll need this SECRET spot to get afternoon tea in Disney World! Restaurant Marrakesh in EPCOT Almost all of the restaurants that were closed in EPCOT during the 2020 park closure have reopened — all but one, that is! Restaurant Marrakesh in the Morocco Pavilion is still closed with no word on when it will reopen. Restaurant Marrakesh Since closing, the empty restaurant has been used as a relaxation station, a lounge…pretty much everything but dining! Click here to check out the BEST restaurants in EPCOT. We didn’t count permanent closures on this list — just closures that are likely temporary. Other Current Closures in Disney World Liberty Square Riverboat in Magic Kingdom The Liberty Square Riverboat is going to be temporarily closed on August 21st through August 29th. Liberty Square Riverboat It’s showing opening hours again on the 30th, so we expect it to reopen on that day. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Magic Kingdom Splash Mountain closed on January 23rd for a long refurbishment. The ride is being re-themed to become Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, with a Princess and the Frog theme. Model of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at the 2022 D23 Expo The new ride will reopen sometime in late 2024. We’ll be watching for more updates on the reopening timeline. The tree at the top of this ride has been removed as Disney continues construction, and several new rock structures have been built at the bottom of the drop. There’s a new water tower as well, which says “Tiana’s Foods” on the front and “Never, ever lose sight of what’s really important” on the back. It’s topped with Tiana’s crown, which has two stars on it to represent Ray and Evangeline. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure — June 2023 If you miss Splash Mountain or want to celebrate the new ride, you should check out our DFB t-shirts! We have a Splash Mountain Farwell Tour shirt… DFB Exclusive! …and a Tiana tee as well! Check out our new Tiana-inspired merch! You can shop both tees (and lots of other Disney merch) at our online store. Click here to shop our DFB merchandise store. Traveler’s Cafe in EPCOT Traveler’s Cafe is the old Starbucks location, which closed when Connections Cafe opened in World Celebration. Lately, we’ve spotted some changes to this spot (including a new paint job), so we’re wondering if that could mean it will reopen soon! Traveler’s Cafe According to the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival map, it looks like this spot will be the location for Swirled Showcase when it opens as a new festival marketplace booth on September 22nd. Check out our FULL REVIEW of the NEW restaurant in EPCOT. Looking for more resources to help you get ready for your upcoming trip? Check out these posts to learn all about Disney World’s rides: 10 Rides to AVOID in Disney World if You Struggle with Motion Sickness What It Takes to CHANGE a Disney World Ride 9 of the SCARIEST Rides in Disney World, According to YOU! A FULL LIST of the Thrill Rides in Disney World! The Ultimate Guide to the BEST and WORST Seats On EVERY Magic Kingdom Ride We’ll keep you updated with all the latest news, so stay tuned to DFB. Click here to check out more upcoming closures and current construction projects at Disney World. Planning a Trip to Disney World? We’ve Got Everything You Need to Know The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Disney World Vacation A Month-by-Month Guide to Planning Your Disney World Trip Tips, Hints, Lists, and Videos for Planning the BEST Disney World Trip Learn About the Disney Park Pass System The Ultimate Disney World Packing List Everything You Need to Know About Genie+ Insider SECRETS for Your First Trip to Disney World A Complete Look at the Current Disney Discounts and Deals The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click Here to Subscribe Are you visiting Disney World this week? Let us know in the comments! The post 3 Closed Disney World Attractions with No Reopening Date in Sight first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

When it comes to food (and everything else), something is ALWAYS changing in Disney World. Japan Pavilion in EPCOT We’re always seeing favorite foods go away. But we’re also seeing new foods turning up on menus. We also get some great seasonal snacks. What we’re trying to say is that menu changes are going to happen. Sometimes those changes mean price increases, though, and one EPCOT restaurant saw plenty of that this week. So we’re headed BACK to the Japan Pavilion to tell you all about it. So, we were previously visiting Japan’s NEWEST restaurant Shiki-Sai Izakaya and Sushi, but this time, we’re headed to Teppan Edo, where we’ve seen some menu changes, including price increases. Teppan Edo Here are all the price increases we found at Teppan Edo for appetizers. Edamame changed from $6 to $8 Miso Soup changed from $4 to $6 Volcano Roll changed from $20 to $22 Spicy Roll changed from $14 to $15 California Roll changed from $14 to $15 Sushi Sampler changed from $15 to $16 Also, Assorted Tempura is no longer available, but some new menu items have been added: ADDED: Soy Butter Calamari — grilled ika steak tossed with butter shoyu sauce for $16 ADDED: Takoyaki — 6 pc. octopus fritters topped with tonkatsu sauce, bonito flakes, and nori for $10 Volcano Roll We also saw some price increases for entrees and combinations: Filet Mignon changed from $46 to $49 NY Cut Steak changed from $40 to $42 Julienne Steak changed from $42 to $44 Ebi changed from $33 to $35 Tori changed from $32 to $34 Asakusa changed from $44 to $46 Nihonbashi changed from $43 to $45 Some of the add-ons also changed: Japanese Wagyu Strip changed from $100 to $120 Lobster Tail changed from $14 to $15 Ebi, aka shrimp Even the kid’s menu saw one price increase: Salmon changed from $20 to $22. However, some new kid’s menu items were added: Julienned Steak — 4 oz. sliced beef strips served with garden salad, seasonal vegetables, udon noodles, and steamed white rice for $26 Yasai — seasonal vegetables, mushrooms, and tofu served with garden salad, seasonal vegetables, udon noodles, and steamed white rice for $16 Julienne Steak Want a non-alcoholic drink? Two will now cost more: Yuzu Lemonade changed from $6.50 to $8 Ramune changed from $6 to $8 Even beer is more expensive now: Kirin Draft 20oz changed from $12 to $14 Sapporo Premium 20oz changed from $12 to $14 Kirin Light 12-oz changed from $8 to $12 Beer Shandy 12oz changed from $12 to $14 A beers was also removed: Asahi Draft 20oz. Also, the Premium Beer Tasting is no longer available. Teppan Edo The following cocktails also now cost more: Tokyo Sunset changed from $15 to $16 Momo Whiskey Sour changed from $14 to $15 Violet Sake changed from $14 to $16 Iced Blood Orange changed from $14 to $15 Nigori Mimosa changed from $14 to $15 Japanese Breeze changed from $14 to $15 Mojito changed from $14 to $15 Piña Colada changed from $14 to $15 Shochu Squeeze changed from $14 to $16 Violet Sake Martini from Teppan Edo However, we did see some prices actually go down. Two Japanese whiskeys are now actually a little cheaper: Kaiyo – Single changed from $25 to $18 Toki – Single changed from $16 to $15 However, the price of a Toki – Double went up from $24 to $28. We’ll continue to keep track of Disney World restaurant menu updates and changes, so stay tuned to DFB for more. Disney dining changes are a lot to keep up with! We’ve done all the research for you in writing our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! We’ve got details on EVERY dining location at Walt Disney World inside our eBook – and it’s easy to download to your tablet or smartphone to take with you on your next trip. Use our discount code for DFB readers – WDW2023 – for 25% off! Read a recent review of Teppan Edo 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 Teppan Edo? What did you think about it? Let us know in the comments! The post ALERT! An EPCOT Restaurant Just Got More Expensive first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

One of the biggest travel decisions you’ll have to make when planning your next vacation is how you’re going to get to your destination. Will you drive? Fly? Take a Doom Buggy? (We wish that last option were more practical.) Let’s fly to Disney World If you do choose to fly, that opens up an entirely new question — which airline will you choose? To help with that dilemma, we’ve found a ranking of the BEST and WORST airlines in the United States, ranked by the number of customer complaints each one receives. The Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (part of the DOT) recently released an updated Air Travel Consumer Report with details about how the industry as a whole is doing. This report contains data for many different aspects of airlines’ relationships with consumers, including how often luggage is mishandled, how many flights arrive on time, and how many incidents were reported by each company. American Airlines Plane This report looked at statistics from February 2023. Although more reports have come out since then, this one gave more detailed statistics, including one report that we were looking for in particular: customer complaints. One of the most interesting stats displayed was the number of customer complaints that U.S. airlines received as a whole. In February 2022, the total number of complaints was 1,889. In February 2023, however, the total was much higher: 4,405. That means that that the number of customer complaints more than DOUBLED over the last year. ©The Office of Aviation Consumer Protection Most of these complaints had to do with flight cancelations and delays, and some were about luggage problems and refunds. ©The Office of Aviation Consumer Protection Let’s break down that statistic by which airlines received the MOST complaints and which received the LEAST. This might help you decide which airline to choose for your next vacation. Traveling soon? Southwest Airlines had the most complaints, with 843 total. Coming in second was Frontier Airlines, and American Airlines was third. Filling out the fourth, fifth, and sixth spots were United Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and Delta Air Lines, respectively. Here’s the complete list: SOUTHWEST AIRLINES — 843 FRONTIER AIRLINES — 724 AMERICAN AIRLINES — 672 UNITED AIRLINES — 604 SPIRIT AIRLINES — 426 DELTA AIR LINES — 314 JETBLUE AIRWAYS — 279 ALASKA AIRLINES — 98 ALLEGIANT AIR — 84 SKYWEST AIRLINES — 57 HAWAIIAN AIRLINES — 45 ENVOY AIR — 43 ENDEAVOR AIR — 32 PSA AIRLINES — 25 BREEZE AIRWAYS — 23 REPUBLIC AIRWAYS — 23 SUN COUNTRY AIRLINES — 21 SILVER AIRWAYS — 20 PIEDMONT AIRLINES — 17 AVELO AIRLINES — 16 OTHER U.S. AIRLINES — 15 MESA AIRLINES — 10 CONTOUR AIRLINES — 9 MOKULELE AIRLINES — 5 Most airlines saw an increase in customer complaints between February 2022 and February 2023, but Southwest Airlines experienced one of the most significant increase, from 94 in 2022 to 843 in 2023. Southwest Airplane Frontier Airlines also had a significant uptick in complaints, from 170 in 2022 to 724 in 2023. ©The Office of Aviation Consumer Protection However, you may have noticed that some of these airlines are a LOT more popular than others. Southwest Airlines is one of the most popular airlines in the country — with more flights and customers, it makes sense that it also gets more complaints. Inside a plane So let’s now take a look at the rankings for Complaints Per 100,000 Enplanements. An “enplanement” means a passenger that boarded a plane (1 enplanement = 1 passenger). This statistic accounts for the differences in customer numbers so that the data is not skewed by how many flights an airline has. ©The Office of Aviation Consumer Protection From this data, it looks like some of the worst airlines for complaints include Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and JetBlue Airways. Southwest is still in the top five, with 7.31 complaints per 100,000 enplanements. Spirit Airlines Safety Documents The airlines with the fewest number of complaints were Skywest Airlines, Republic Airways, and Delta Air Lines, all of which had fewer than 3 complaints per 100,000 enplanements. Keep in mind that there may be other factors that impact your decision on which airline to choose. For example, Southwest Airlines may have more complaints per 100,000 enplanements, but they also allow every passenger to bring 2 checked bags for free, and they have a more flexible cancelation policy. Southwest Airlines Frontier and Spirit were some of the worst for complaints, but they also generally have very cheap tickets. Depending on what your priorities are, your choice may be more complex than just going with the least-complained-about airline. ©Frontier Airlines If you’re planning to fly to Disney World soon, check out these posts: CONFIRMED: The Safest Seats To Choose on an Airplane How To Handle the Record-Breaking Crowds a the Orlando Airport These Are the Most Annoying Airplane Passengers — Are You One of Them? The Random Thing You Can’t Bring on an Airplane Stay tuned to DFB for more news that may impact your upcoming Disney vacation! Southwest Airlines recently announced two BIG changes. See them here! Travel Updates, Tips, and Tricks Complete Guide to Booking the CHEAPEST Flight to Disney World What to Do if Your Flight to Disney World Is Canceled Our Best Tips For Flying Through the Orlando International Airport Step-by-Step Guide: How to Get to Disney World From the Orlando Airport You’re SLEEPING on These Packing Hacks Air Travel Tips That’ll Change Your Life 8 Catastrophic Travel Mistakes and How to Solve Them The Airline with the MOST Flight Delays and Cancellations This Small Change Will Save You From Lost Luggage The Best Disney Luggage for 2023 21 Things a Former Flight Attendant Needs You To Know 7 Highest-Rated Travel Items on Amazon Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click Here to Subscribe Which airline do you usually choose to fly with? Let us know in the comments. The post The BEST and WORST U.S. Airlines, Ranked by Customer Complaints first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

What is it about Loungefly bags that makes them so special? We want ALL the Loungeflys Okay, so we are OBSESSED with Loungefly bags, so we think we’re a little qualified to answer that question. First, Loungefly bags come in all kinds of styles and let us represent our favorite rides, characters, and movies. But they also just look SO GOOD, and a new one we just found in Disney World literally tapped into our imaginations to come to life. Get it? Our imagination? As in Journey Into Imagination with…Figment? Yes, a NEW Figment Loungefly just dropped in Disney World, and yep, we’re ready to throw our money at it. So the front of the bag is all about Figment himself, front and center. There’s a zipper compartment right under his adorable little chin, and his horns stick out from the top of the bag. There he is! The color of the bag is purple, but it’s got an iridescent sheen to it, which makes Figment look even more like the magical creature he is. Love this iridescent shine But check out the back, y’all. LOOK AT THIS. It has Figment’s wings attached to it! This is exactly why we love Loungefly bags — the little details are what make these bags stand out. Figment’s little wings! There’s also artwork of Figment on the bottom as that spark of inspiration starts to hit him. “One little spark…of inspiration…” C’mon — you know you want to sing along. One little spark.. We found this bag at Creations Shop in EPCOT for $88. Knowing how popular Figment is, we don’t expect it to last long, so if you want to get your hands on it, we suggest you go to Disney World as soon as you can. We’ll also keep an eye out in case this bag turns up online, so stay tuned to DFB for more. Planning to pick this up in Disney World soon? We’ve got the perfect t-shirt for you to wear to the parks! Figment’s Favorite Tee Click here to check out our whole merch line! The TWO Amazon Products We’ve Put Into a Million Posts, Because You REALLY Need Them in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What do you think of this new Loungefly? Let us know in the comments! The post PLEASE Stop Me Before I Spend Almost on Disney's New Figment Loungefly first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

With the world we live in, it can be easy to get stuck in the negativity. BUT, there are things worth celebrating! EPCOT When it comes to the realm of Disney, we’ve gotten some good news recently including the opening of Shiki Sai in EPCOT and a new look at the Moana attraction logo. Now, we’re back with more good news from Disney World and it will impact just about everyone that is visiting the parks soon! Take a look below at all of the average wait times from each attraction in Disney World. At many rides around Disney World, the wait times have seen a HUGE drop meaning you will wait less in line if you’re visiting soon. Although some wait times are high, many are significantly lower than before — check out the averages below and tell us what you think! Magic Kingdom Starting in Magic Kingdom, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train had the longest average wait time of 66 minutes. Last week the average wait time was 82 minutes so the average saw a dramatic drop. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Next, Peter Pan’s Flight averaged 59 minutes, Space Mountain averaged 46 minutes, and Jungle Cruise averaged 39 minutes. Average wait times held Haunted Mansion at 39 minutes, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at 31 minutes, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin at 30 minutes followed by The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh at 29 minutes, Pirates of the Caribbean at 26 minutes, Astro Orbiter at 25 minutes, and Enchanted Tales with Belle at 24 minutes. Peter Pan’s Flight After that, “it’s a small world” and Tomorrowland Speedway averaged 18 minutes, closely followed by Hall of Presidents at 15 minutes and Mickey’s PhilharMagic at 14 minutes. Barnstormer featuring the Great Goofini and Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid averaged 13 minutes, Enchanted Tiki Room averaged 12 minutes, Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover averaged 10 minutes, Magic Carpets of Aladdin averaged 9 minutes, Dumbo the Flying Elephant averaged 8 minutes, and Mad Tea Party faired at 7 minutes. Dumbo Prince Charming Regal Carousel also averaged 7 minutes while Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, Carousel of Progress, and Liberty Square Riverboat all tied at 5-minute average wait times. Carousel of Progress The Country Bear Jamboree and Tom Sawyer Island were walk-ons this week. WARNING: A Magic Kingdom Attraction Will Be CLOSED Next Week EPCOT Heading over to EPCOT, Test Track continues to have the highest average wait time in the park with 67 minutes. This is a slight decrease from the 69-minute average last week. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure had an average wait time of 61 minutes — this is a slight decrease compared to last week’s average of 63 minutes. Frozen Ever After’s wait time also decreased slightly to 61 minutes. Test Track Next up is Soarin’ at 29 minutes, Mission: SPACE at 16 minutes, Turtle Talk with Crush at 15 minutes, and Spaceship Earth at 12 minutes. Mission: SPACE Then, Journey into Imagination averaged 11 minutes, followed by Gran Fiesta Tour and Living with the Land at 8 minutes and The Seas with Nemo and Friends at 7 minutes. Figment Awesome Planet, Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along, Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival, Impressions de France, and Reflections of China had no wait times this week. Do You Need To Rope Drop Same-Day Dining Packages in EPCOT? Hollywood Studios This week, Slinky Dog Dash increased and held its spot as the most popular ride clocking an average wait time of 102 minutes making it the highest in all of Disney World. This is the only major ride to see an increase in average wait times this week — YIKES. Rise of the Resistance averaged 68 minutes which is a huge drop from 85 minutes last week. Slinky Dog Dash Other wait times in the park include Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at 56 minutes, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway at 55 minutes, Millenium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run at 52 minutes, Toy Story Mania at 50 minutes, and Tower of Terror at 44 minutes. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge After that, Alien Swirling Saucers averaged 26 minutes, Walt Disney Presents averaged 17 minutes, Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy averaged 12 minutes, Star Tours — The Adventure Continues averaged 11 minutes, and Muppet*Vision 3D averaged only 10 minutes. A Character Meet-And-Greet Has CHANGED in Disney’s Hollywood Studios Animal Kingdom Now, let’s head over to Animal Kingdom! Avatar Flight of Passage still had the longest average wait time for this park this week with 77 minutes. The wait time dropped 10 minutes on average this week from 87 minutes last week. Flight of Passage (Yep, it’s in there) Following that, Na’vi River Journey at 60 minutes, Kali River Rapids at 32 minutes, Expedition Everest at 25 minutes, Kilimanjaro Safaris at 19 minutes, and DINOSAUR at 17 minutes. Dinosaur It’s Tough to Be a Bug averaged 10 minutes and Triceratop Spin averaged 5 minutes. Both The Boneyard and Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail were walk-ons. Everyone Can Go Home. This NEW Animal Kingdom Addition Just Won the Whole Week. Stay tuned to DFB for more updates from Disney World! 2 NEW Hotel Rooms We Can’t Wait To Stay in 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 What do you think of the wait times? Are you heading to Disney World soon? Let us know in the comments below! The post We Bring You❗GOOD NEWS ❗About the Wait Times in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

A super rare weather event is headed towards the Southern California area, including Disneyland. Disneyland Resort Hurricane Hilary is currently a category 3 hurricane and is headed straight for Mexico and the California Baja Peninsula, meaning its path will take it to Southern California, where Disneyland is located. Now, Disney World is no stranger to hurricanes (we’ve seen a few over the past few years), but this is the first time Disneyland has been in the path of such a storm. So what is Disneyland Resort doing to prepare for Hurricane Hilary? UPDATE: As of Saturday afternoon, Hurricane Hilary has weakened to a Category 2 storm according to CNN. According to CNN’s Natasha Chen, Disneyland is already taking precautions to prepare for a lot of wind and rain before the storm arrives in the area. This means that Cast Members are gathering up necessary supplies and making sure that storm drains are clean and clear. We’ll also keep an eye on the situation and post updates as we have them. How Hurricane Hilary Could Bring Severe Weather to Disneyland Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe Are you in Disneyland or traveling to Disneyland this weekend? Has this potential weather affected your plans? Let us know in the comments. The post How Disneyland Is Preparing for Unprecedented Weather Due to Hurricane Hilary first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There are a LOT of places to eat in Disney World. Magic Kingdom The issue is, not all Disney World restaurants are created equal, so it’s possible you may not have a great meal when there could have been a new meal a few minutes away. That’s why we’re here — to help you decide where to eat (among many other things). However, there’s one restaurant in each of the Disney parks that can usually please everyone. Magic Kingdom Over in the first Disney World park, Columbia Harbour House is a great choice to please your whole family. Columbia Harbour House in Liberty Square Many people may think of this spot as just a seafood restaurant, but they’ve got other options as well — plant-based options, chicken, sandwiches, and more. Not to mention that there’s plenty of seating, so you’re usually able to sit down with little to no issues. Upstairs at Columbia Harbour House The prices at this quick-service spot are pretty reasonable as well, and the food is pretty great quality! So it makes it easier to justify spending her money here for your Magic Kingdom day. EPCOT Over in EPCOT, Connections Cafe and Eatery is a good bet to feed the whole family without breaking the bank, and find something everyone will enjoy. Connections Cafe & Eatery in EPCOT We will say though that this restaurant has some pretty mundane choices, compared to the rest of EPCOT, but sometimes that’s exactly what you need to feed your family — especially if you’ve got some picky eaters. Connections Cafe crowds This area also has plenty of indoor seating, so finding a seat in the AC should be fairly easy. Not to mention that this is also the Starbucks location of the park, so you can eat, and get your coffee fix! Disney’s Animal Kingdom Over at Animal Kingdom, where lots of the dining is also very adventurous, we suggest Satu’li Canteen over in Pandora. Satu’li Canteen While this restaurant is a little bit more expensive, it’s thanks to the high-quality items, such as build-your-own bowls (kinda like a Pandora-style Chipotle). However, if you’ve got picky eaters, they’ll love the cheeseburger pods. Satu’li Canteen options The pods may look strange, but they’re just like a McDonald’s cheeseburger in bao bun form, which many kids may actually like better than regular bread. While this restaurant does have a decent amount of indoor seating, it’s more likely you may have to find a seat outside if you’re dining at a peak time, so keep that in mind during your trip. Disney’s Hollywood Studios Now…here’s the thing with Hollywood Studios. There are lots of good options for quick-service dining, but none that are great and really cover all the bases. Here’s why: Woody’s Lunch Box — great food, terrible seating options (it’s all outside) Ronto Roasters — once again, great food, but limited options for picky eaters or those who don’t eat meat ABC Commissary — only a few great options Backlot Express — best for picky eaters, because the options are pretty basic. Plenty of indoor seating though! Backlot Express So as you can see, there are some pretty good reasons why you may choose to eat, or not to eat at these locations. We recommend taking their pros and cons into account and deciding where is best for you and your group to eat. Do you have picky eaters? Head to Backlot Express. Willing to choose between just a few options? Head over to ABC Commissary. And so on and so forth. Woody’s Lunch Box With DOZENS of places to eat at Disney World, we know it can be tough to plan your meals. That’s why we wrote the DFB Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World. We have reviews, pictures, and details about every restaurant all in one digital download – along with ALL of our best tips and strategies from decades of Disney World trips. We’ve got a special discount code for DFB readers, too! Use WDW2023 at checkout for 25% off! Get the DFB Guide! As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney dining news and tips! Here’s our official ranking of the best restaurants in Disney’s Hollywood Studios! 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! Where is your favorite spot to eat in each park? Tell us in the comments! The post The One Disney World Quick Service Restaurant That’s Practically Perfect to Just About Everyone first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

A LOT goes into planning a Disney World trip. Cinderella Castle Not only do you have to figure out all the travel arrangements and where you’re going to stay, but you also need to figure out where to eat and what you’re going to do when you get there. So let’s say you’re headed to Magic Kingdom in the morning and you want to check out a shop in Fantasyland while you’re there waiting for your Lightning Lane time for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, but that store isn’t open yet. Well, that could happen! In fact, that’s happening right now. Bonjour Village Gifts is a shop in Fantasyland that focuses on Disney-themed arts and collectibles, including beautiful prints and figurines. It’s also a shop where we’ve found LOADS of Beauty and the Beast merchandise before (hence the name). However, if you’re wandering around Fantasyland in the morning, you may discover something surprising: Bonjour Village Gifts is not open. A closed Bonjour Village Gifts So what gives? Well, that happened to us this morning and we asked a Cast Member who thought it might have something to do with a staff shortage (and we have seen issues like that in the past in Disney World). However, we also noticed that when we checked the official times for the store, it shows as opening at noon. ©Disney We spoke with another Cast Member who confirmed that the shop previously opened at 10AM, but that the noon opening time will remain for the foreseeable future. So if you were hoping to pop in to shop for some of the unique collectibles this shop carries, you’ll want to make sure you do so after noon. You can always double-check those store times on the My Disney Experience app just to be sure. Bonjour Village Gifts We’ll be sure to keep an eye on the shop and its times and keep you updated, so stay tuned to DFB for more. When are you headed to Disney World next? Have you checked out our line of fun graphic tees to wear on your trip? We’ve designed some for the whole family – from infants to adults! Click here to check them out! WARNING: A Magic Kingdom Attraction Will Be CLOSED Next Week 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 shopped in Bonjour Village Gifts? Let us know in the comments! The post Don't Let This Magic Kingdom Store CHANGE Catch You Off Guard first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

EPCOT is home to a WIDE variety of snacks, shops, and attractions. EPCOT With 11 countries represented in World Showcase, rotating festivals every few months, and seemingly endless restaurants and booths, it can be hard to keep up with the changes. Well, thhat’s what we’re here for! Three BIG changes happened at EPCOT this week, and it would be a disgrace if we let them fly under your radar. If you’re heading to EPCOT soon, be sure to check out these new additions. Oh, and they’re all delicious changes, BTW. 1. Noodle Exchange and the Hawai’i Booth Opened The 2023 Food and Wine Festival is currently underway! This week, two booths joined the lineup: The Noodle Exchange and the Hawai’i Booth. Both of these booths are ones we’ve loved in the past, and we love them still! Noodles Exchange If you’ll be at EPCOT soon, make sure to give these booths a try if you love Asian and Hawaiian-inspired dishes. 2. The Cronut RETURNS! It’s a croissant. It’s a donut. It’s a cronut. IT’S DELICIOUS. And it’s back at EPCOT! These bad boys used to be a pretty big deal until their mysterious disappearance. Cronut! Now, though, you can find them once again at Connections Cafe under the name “Croissant Donut.” That’s not nearly as fun, but it’s just as tasty, and you can get it for $5.79. 3. Shiki Sai: Sushi Izakaya Opened Shiki Sai, EPCOT’s newest restaurant, opened this week for walk-ins! The restaurant officially opens on August 28th. We tried so much food here, including a $300 Sushi Boat. Food at Shiki-Sai in EPCOT We really loved what we tried here, and really recommend giving it a try if you love Japanese food and sushi! While there was LOT that went down in EPCOT this week, tons of things happened across the other three parks as well! You can check out all the updates at 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 We’ll continue to keep you updated with more news as we have it, so make sure to follow along for more! Looking for more fun things happening at Disney World? Click here! Which of these EPCOT updates are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments! The post 3 HUGE Changes Hit EPCOT This Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We are always looking out for the best deals for DFB readers. Southwest Airlines You need to know about Disney World deals? We keep track of them right here. You want to know about sales on merchandise? We’ll tell you about that, too. You want to know about flight deals? Well, we’re on it. Speaking of which…we now have another flight deal you need to be aware of. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Southwest Airlines (and we know a lot of y’all love that airline) are having a HUGE sale with flights starting as low as $49 each way, depending on where you fly from. If you pick the right flight, that means you could fly to Disney World for less than $100! Say what? Southwest Airplane However, if you want to book these cheap flights, you have to do so before August 24th and you’ll need to book that flight at least 30 days before it leaves. The sale covers travel from September 19th, 2023 through February 14th, 2024. You know what that means? You can book a holiday trip to Disney World, right (although note that travel is blacked out for the U.S. from November 21st-22nd, 2023). Southwest Airlines If you’re interested, just head on over to the Southwest Airlines website and start searching for fares. We’ll also keep an eye out for even more flight deals, so stay tuned to DFB for more. Sign up for Southwest Rapid Rewards here! If you want to do some planning before your flight (or even on the plane!), check out our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining. We’ve compiled all of our BEST tips and tricks from years of Disney World travel into one eBook that you can download to your tablet or smartphone and take with you! We’re offering our readers 25% off with code WDW2023. How Flying to Disney World is About To Get EASIER Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you -- they've literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They're DFB's recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!) So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/customemailexample.jpg If you manage to nab a good deal on a flight with Southwest, let us know in the comments! The post HURRY! Southwest Airlines Is Having a Huge Sale RIGHT NOW first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Y’all, it’s time to get excited about new food coming to Disney World. Something NEW is coming to Disney Springs No, we’re not talking about all the new princess treats or even the new Halloween treats. We’re excited about new restaurants, especially one in particular that’s coming to Disney Springs. Not only will this restaurant bring a new table service spot to Disney Springs, but it will also bring something we CANNOT WAIT FOR: a dessert bar! The restaurant we’re talking about is Summer House on the Lake, which is currently under construction at Disney Springs. This restaurant currently has locations in Chicago and North Bethesda, Maryland. We don’t have the Disney Springs menu yet, but we got a sneak peek at some of the food coming to it. We also know that its other locations offer pizzas, sandwiches, salads, pastas, and more. And there will be a weekend brunch available at the Disney Springs location! Summer House on the Lake construction — July 2023 Now, don’t get us wrong. Brunch IS something to be excited about. But more importantly, Summer House on the Lake will be bringing The Cookie Jar, “a dessert-focused market” that serves “freshly baked cookies and house-made pastries.” We are HERE for it! ©Disney Summer House on the Lake and The Cookie Jar are expected to open in late 2023, so it won’t be long before we’ll have a SECOND cookie spot to visit in Disney Springs. Do we think this spot will be able to compete with Gideon’s Bakehouse? Well, we don’t care because we’re of the opinion that you can NEVER have too many cookies in Disney World. ©Summer House Concept Art So we’re keeping an eye out for an official opening date for Summer House on the Lake and The Cookie Jar. We’ll be sure to let you know more details when we have them, so stay tuned to DFB for more. WE KNOW – there are SO many great snacks at Disney World! How do you choose (we don’t want to choose but will blow our budget on Day 1 otherwise)? We’ve got you covered! We have reviewed nearly EVERY snack available at Disney World, and we’ve written a series of DFB Guides about them! DFB Guide and Snacks Bundle Check out our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining + Snacks Bundle for all the details you need to plan your snackin’ and spending. You can even download them to your smartphone – it’ll be like we’re right there with you in the parks! 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 excited about The Cookie Jar? Let us know in the comments! The post Have You Heard About the NEW Dessert Bar Coming to Disney World?! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

This is Halloween! Okay, just kidding, because this post is actually about the holidays (#sorrynotsorry). The holidays really are right around the corner, right? So here’s the thing: although we’re still months away from the holiday season, NOW is the best time to start buying all your holiday stuff, while everything is still available. We’ve seen holiday Loungeflys already on sale online PLUS we’ve seen other holiday merchandise that’s ready to be bought now, like Advent Calendars. Speaking of Advent Calendars, though, we’ve got one that is a MUST for Marvel fans. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Buy The LEGO Marvel Avengers 2023 Advent Calendar ©Target We told you this was a MUST for Marvel fans. This Advent Calendar has 24 gifts for Marvel fans, including figures of some of their favorite Marvel characters. Gifts include seven minifigures of Okoye, Doctor Strange, Captain America, Spider-Man, Wong, Iron Man, and Black Widow minifigures, plus mini builds and accessories. ©Target The mini-build models include a Quinjet, jetpack, ice hockey kit, the Hydra Train, and more from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This model is also compatible with other LEGO sets. ©Target So if you have a Marvel and LEGO fan in your house, you’ll want to grab this Advent Calendar NOW. View on Target We’ll be sure to keep an eye out for more Disney holiday merchandise, so be sure to stay tuned to DFB for more. While you’re in the shopping mood…have you checked our DFB exclusive graphic tees and merch? It’s super fun stuff to wear to the parks, or to rep your happy place at the grocery store! Click here to visit the DFB Merch Store! Check out more Disney merchandise on our Amazon Storefront!The post The Newest Disney Advent Calendar at Target Is a MUST Buy first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

So let’s talk about this HUGE EPCOT transformation that has been underway for several years now. EPCOT That transformation has involved a LOT — the front of EPCOT even looks different now, with a new fountain and lighting on Spaceship Earth. EPCOT even got a new attraction (Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind), with another (Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana) on the way. Well, the Disney Imagineer who oversaw a lot of that work just got a promotion with the company. Disney Imagineer Zach Riddley has been promoted to Global Creative Strategy Executive at Walt Disney Imagineering, according to his Instagram bio and LinkedIn profile. ©Zach Riddley via LinkedIn In case his name seems familiar, we’ve mentioned him a LOT here on DFB, mostly in connection with updates on the EPCOT transformation. He has shared a LOT of updates about the construction projects at EPCOT and has kept us informed of new projects on the way. We don’t know if we’ll continue to get those updates from him, or if his new position will have him working with other things, but we would like to extend our congratulations all the same! ©Zach Riddley via Instagram We’ll be keeping an eye out for more Disney news, so stay tuned to DFB for more! In the meantime, Have you checked out the latest Disney-themed t-shirts in our store? Click here – you’ll want to pick some up before your next Disney trip! Disney Shares FIRST LOOK at a NEW Addition Coming to EPCOT Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What do you think of this news? Let us know in the comments! The post The Imagineer Behind EPCOT's Transformation Just Got Promoted first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney’s 100th Anniversary Celebration is still going strong! 100th anniversary carpet at Disneyland Hotel We’re still seeing new souvenirs being released, and we know that more changes connected to the 1ooth Anniversary are coming to the Disney parks starting in September. If you’ll be over in Disneyland soon and are looking for the ultimate 100th Anniversary treat, look no further than this new milkshake! We headed to the Black Tap Shake Window to grab the new Disney100 CrazyShake. It costs a whopping $25, but that’s because this thing is MASSIVE! Disney100 CrazyShake This isn’t just a blueberry milkshake. It also has a vanilla frosted rim with purple & silver sprinkles topped with a Disney 100 Mickey Mouse-shaped crispy treat, a purple & silver cake pop, purple & silver rock candy, whipped cream, purple & silver sprinkles, and a cherry. It’s so many treats in one! The blueberry flavor here was natural and refreshing with hints of vanilla from the whipped cream and frosted rim. The toppings didn’t add much to the flavor of the shake itself, but the cake pop had a sweet vanilla flavor and was very moist and the crispy treat was just like the other crispy treats you can grab in the parks. It fell apart rather quickly Overall, if you like sweets and are looking for a shareable treat, this is a great choice! But if you’re more of a fan of simpler treats, this may not be the best option. These can also get really messy in moments if it’s hot, so grab those napkins. There’s plenty to go around! Looking for more recent 100th Anniversary news? We’ve got you covered! More 100th Anniversary News REVIEW: Disney’s Extravagant 100th Anniversary Snack Will Cost You a Pretty Penny — Is It Worth It?!5 Major Changes Coming to Disney World in SeptemberThis 100th Anniversary Souvenir Takes Things to a WHOLE. NEW. LEVEL.10 Huge Ways EPCOT Will Change on September 22ndIt’s HERE! The NEW Disney100 Popcorn Bucket Has Arrived, and It’s Going Fast! As always, be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news! Here’s when Tiana’s Palace will OPEN in Disneyland! Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe What’s been your favorite part of the 100th Anniversary? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: Disney's Extravagant 100th Anniversary Snack Will Cost You a Pretty Penny -- Is It Worth It?! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The weekend is here and that means you have to dive right into these sales! Amazon Package The week has come and gone and with it some of the best deals in merch and other must-haves. Now, 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 Funko Pop! Disney Advent Calendar for 52% Off ©Amazon It’s never too early to start planning for Christmas and why not add this advent calendar to your decorations? View on Amazon Shop this Neck Fan for 20% Off ©Amazon While we’re still experiencing these hot summer days, this portable neck fan can keep you cool while you’re out and about. View on Amazon Grab this Mickey Ear Organizer for 6% Off ©Amazon If you’re like us, you love Minnie ears and probably have a collection of them. How about picking up this organizer so you can display your ears properly. View on Amazon Grab this Disney Classics 2000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle for 26% Off ©Disney This 2,000-piece puzzle is a great option for those summer game nights and it contains images from all your favorite Disney stories. View on Amazon Shop this Zak Designs Disney Princess Water Bottle for 21% Off ©Amazon You’ve got to stay hydrated, so why not do that with a bottle that has your favorite Disney princesses on it?! 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 RIGHT NOW! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

To celebrate World Photography Day, National Geographic Photographers who work with travelers on Nat Geo Expeditions are sharing 10 tips for all skill levels, experiences and equipment types.View the full article

Change is happening all around us at Disney World! Hole in the ground We’re nearing the end of construction for Journey of Water inspired by Moana, and the Communicore Hall in EPCOT, and recently had the chance to see the updated rooms at one of the hotels which makes us even more excited to stay in a few NEW Disney World hotel rooms once they open! Disney World hotels are no strangers to construction! In fact, we feel like construction has grown synonymous with Disney World hotels over the past few years. With so many exciting projects announced like The Cake Bake Shop at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Resort… Cake Bake Shop Construction … the recent room renovations going on at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort theming them to The Little Mermaid… Caribbean Beach … and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort’s recent multi-building room renovations to add more Disney Vacation Club villa rooms, it seems like the construction may be here to stay for quite a while longer. Even with all the extra noise and seemingly never-ending construction, there are two NEW hotel projects we’re especially excited about! New Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campgrounds This exciting project was announced back in April 2023, as part of another expansion to Disney Vacation Club. The 350 refurbished cabins will be brought in to replace the existing onsite cabins already at the resort and campground. Current Wilderness Cabin The concept art that Disney has shared depicts a modern cabin “inspired by the resort’s idyllic setting, while also paying homage to the resort’s unique culture and heritage through the magic of Disney storytelling,” according to Disney statements. The cabins will be capable of sleeping up to six adults and feature a bedroom, bathroom, living room, full kitchen, and private patio. Disney also noted further that a select number of cabins will be dog-friendly. ©Disney Since we mentioned these will be part of a Disney Vacation Club expansion, it’s worth noting that these will be available to reservations for all guests and you will not have to be a DVC member in order to book and stay in these cabins. They’re set to open in 2024, so we’re hoping we won’t have to wait much longer! New DVC Building at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Back in March 2023, news broke that Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort would be getting MORE DVC rooms in the form of a tower building. This was HUGE news because up to this point, DVC rooms were regular resort rooms that were taken over and refurbished into villas at only three stories high… and then of course there was the first expansion with the over-the-water Bora Bora Bungalos which are all one story tall. In our last update, we noticed more focus being put into the squares of the whole building that will one day be hotel rooms for people but what are these even supposed to look like? Crew at Work Well, Disney has envisioned a throwback to the early concepts of the main resort’s Polynesian theme with rooms that will overlook the Seven Seas Lagoon and offer more options for dining and recreational opportunities. These rooms are set to be completed by late 2024, and from the looks of the pace they’ve been keeping on this tower, we’re hopeful they’ll be able to stay on track! ©Disney We’ll be sure to keep you updated on the latest happenings, so be sure to check back in with us at Disney Food Blog for more! You’re Going to Want to Rethink Staying at a Disney World Hotel When You See This! 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 new Disney World hotel is your favorite to stay in? Tell us in the comments! The post 2 NEW Hotel Rooms We Can't Wait To Stay in at Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’ve got lots of fun character meet-and-greet updates this week, including a NEW Star Wars character coming to the parks, a BRAND NEW restaurant opened in EPCOT super early, soon we will get a FIRST LOOK at Disney’s newest cruise ship and lots more. EPCOT All the Disney Parks news from this week is coming up right now on DFB Guide. Check out our video below: Latest Disney News: Character Meet & Greets, New Restaurants & MORE!  Are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes! And stay tuned for more Disney news! 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 piece of news are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments. The post DFB Video: Latest Disney News: Character Meet & Greets, New Restaurants & MORE! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival is in full swing! Food and Wine Festival is here! We ate everything at this year’s festival so we could give you a full review, but the food isn’t the only exciting part of this event. You can also experience the Eat to The Beat Concert Series, which provides live music from many different bands every night of the festival. You can grab dining packages for these concerts, but here’s why we don’t necessarily recommend them. You’ll Miss Out on The Booths One of the biggest reasons is that if you decide to eat at one of the participating restaurants for your dining package, you won’t be able to save room for more festival booths! 2023 Belgium Booth The EPCOT restaurants are going to be around on any given park day, but the festival booths and their offerings won’t be. So save that stomach space and grab some items from the booths instead to create your own dinner. We ate everything at the booths to bring you our recommendations for the very best of this fest! You can watch our video right here. The Normal Seats Aren’t Necessarily The Best There’s a lot of seating in the America Gardens Theater, and a dining package means you’re guaranteed a seat inside the theatre. However, those are the best seats in the house. America Gardens Theater Many of those on our team have said that they love sitting at the picnic tables outside Regal Eagle Smokehouse or standing around the America Pavilion and watching the show from there! It still gives you a great view of the stage, it’s not as loud, and to some, the picnic tables may be a little more comfortable than the wooden benches of the theater. The Shows Rarely Sell Out It’s also pretty rare for shows to sell out, even for more popular artists, so finding a seat in or around the theater without a dining reservation (and therefore guaranteed ticket) is easy most nights. Eat to the Beat Standby If you’re concerned about finding a seat, you can line up for the show around half an hour in advance to make sure you grab one, but it’s largely unnecessary most of the time. Or you can sit down with a meal at one of those picnic tables we mentioned before the show to eat, and then stay to watch the performance. Eat to the Beat Sign Dining packages CAN be a great way to go if you’re dining with a larger group, especially if that group has some kids or picky eaters, or you’d rather have a solid plan for dinner and the show instead of being more go-with-the-flow. You make the decision that’s right for you and your group! Eat to the Beat Same Day Dining Package sign As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news! Get our insider tips for the Food and Wine Festival here! IT'S WINE & DINE TIME! Food & Wine Festival can be a bummer. You stand in line waiting for what looks like the perfect treat, and it's a bust. But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE EPCOT Food & Wine Festival experience. If you're planning a day or a week at the festival, we've got every performance, activity, and tasty nosh detailed out so you can make the most of your time and money. Listen, it's a tough job eating and documenting the nearly 200 bites and sips, but we do it all for YOU! Save 20% on the 2023 DFB Guide to EPCOT's International Food & Wine Festival with code CHEFS. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Learn More About the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival! Insider Tips for the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival What to Pack in Your Park Bag for the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Eat to the Beat Concert Updates EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Fans Facebook Page EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Wine and Dine Half Marathon Food and Wine Festival 101 Get More Updates, Tips, and Tricks to Help You Conquer the Food & Wine Festival Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What’s your favorite band you’ve seen perform at the Eat to the Beat Concert Series? Tell us below! The post Why You Should Skip EPCOT's Eat to the Beat Dining Packages first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney CONSTANTLY likes to change things up with menus at restaurants. Disney’s Contemporary Resort If you’re trying to keep up with all the menu updates, good luck! We see new snacks, new drinks, and even complete menu overhauls at the parks and resorts pretty frequently, and that means we’re eating a LOT of new food in Disney World. Recently, I stopped by Contempo Cafe at Disney’s Contemporary Resort because the popular quick service spot got several new menu additions…and I have some STRONG opinions to share. Atmosphere Contempo Cafe is located on the 4th floor of the Contemporary Resort, right next to Chef Mickey’s. It’s a quick service spot where you can either Mobile Order, pick up foods from the grab-and-go section, or place a hot food order at the cash registers. Contempo Cafe entrance There is ample indoor seating in the form of tables and booths. While you dine, you can have a great view of the monorail coming through the resort! Seating in Contempo Cafe So what’s new on the menu? Menu I stopped by Contempo Cafe for dinner, in order to get some of the more exclusive eats that were available. When you first walk in, you’ll encounter some menu boards with information about the hot foods you can order. There are a number of sandwiches available for lunch and dinner, as well as a selection of soups. Menu You can also try out a selection of flatbreads. If you’re visiting after 4PM, you can check out the new Signature Rice Bowl as well, which comes with your choice of meat, as well as an assortment of southwestern-style ingredients. And of course, there are multiple meals available for the little ones! The other menu Not listed on the menu are the bakery case and refrigerated options. You can pick those up yourself and take them to the register to check out. Eats Are you hungry? I hope so because I got a smorgasbord of new eats! To start, let’s talk about the entrees. First up I ordered the Spicy Chicken Sandwich, which is $11.79, and topped with pepper jack cheese, chipotle remoulade, arugula, seasoned tomato, and dill pickle chips, all on a brioche bun. Oh, and it comes with a side of delicious Disney fries! Spicy Chicken Sandwich Before taking a bite of the whole sandwich, I nibbled off some of the chicken by itself, and it was legitimately SPICY. Like, my tongue was burning up! Once I ate the chicken with a bite of all the other ingredients, it was a bit more mild because the remoulade, tomato, and arugula help cool it down and balance the flavor. Look at that thiccc boi. This sandwich was overall really fresh and delicious, and the chicken was crispy, although I wish the patty were a little bit thicker. It surprised me a lot and I would order it again! Inside the sandwich The other entree on the list was the Signature Rice Bowl with Grilled Chicken (now listed as the Grilled Chicken Bowl online!) for $12.99. Mine came with cilantro-lime rice, black beans, street corn, avocado, pico de Gallo, carrot, and pickled red onion. Signature Rice Bowl And y’all, I am NOT exaggerating when I say that this was one of the BEST quick service entrees I’ve had in a while. The ingredients were all very fresh and well-seasoned, and the chicken was plentiful and grilled thoroughly while still remaining juicy. The street corn was a particular favorite of mine because it was creamy and had a hint of cotija cheese flavor. The avocado added a really nice brightness to each bite of this bowl. This might be my new go-to at Contempo Cafe…although now I really want to try the other meats (braised beef or grilled shrimp!). SO GOOD Now, it’s time for dessert, and we have a BUNCH to talk about. Let’s start out with the Kitchen Sink Cookie for $4.29. It has chocolate chunks, toffee, peanut butter chips, salted caramel, and flaky salt. And the chocolate chunks are shaped like tiny Mickey heads! Kitchen Sink Cookie I really enjoyed the mix of flavors I got in this cookie. When you first bite into it, you get a wave of saltiness from the caramel and flaky salt, but then the smooth richness of the chocolate comes through. After that, it ends with the flavor of those peanut butter chips. The only thing I wish that this cookie had was a varying textural element — maybe something with a crunch like pecans? It was pretty soft despite all the ingredients, and it was hard to hold because the caramel made it really sticky. Crack open that cookie! After that, I tried the Jack-Jack Cookie Num Nums Cupcake for $6.49. It’s a chocolate cupcake topped with chocolate chip cookie dough mousse and a dome that seemed to be made of gelatin. It’s a cutie! The cupcake here is a pretty basic chocolate cupcake, not too sweet, but the mousse is what really stands out. It seriously tasted like cookie dough and had a couple of chocolate chip chunks inside! The dome is really sweet, but since the cupcake is only lightly sweetened, the sugar level balances out here. I think this would be a popular treat with kids and it’s a good alternative to those cupcakes that are piled high with frosting. It completely fell over when I cut it in half Sadly, our beloved peanut butter pie is gone from Contempo Cafe, and it has now been replaced with the Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar for $5.99. It has a chocolate crust, peanut butter cream filling, and plant-based strawberry cream. The whole treat is plant-based. The choco-peanut butter treat in town! The chocolate part of this treat is really thick and rich, and the peanut butter filling is nice and creamy. The one complaint I have is that the strawberry cream is TOO strong. It’s such a sharp, overwhelming flavor that it completely masks the chocolate and peanut butter when you bite through all three layers. I think it would be good to have a treat with 2/3 of these flavors, but put all three together, and the chocolate and peanut butter take a backseat. Look at that cross-section! Finally, let’s talk about the Monorail S’mores Brownie for $5.79. For me, this one is the loser of the pack. It’s a fudge brownie with a graham cracker crust, topped with marshmallow cream and a white chocolate monorail. She’s a cutie! It sounds delicious, but the brownie was fairly dry, yet somehow also sticky. The brownie isn’t very sweet, but that’s counterbalanced by the overly sweet marshmallow topping and white chocolate. It’s pretty hard to eat because the monorail is difficult to bite through and the marshmallow pulls right off the top. It’s super cute for photographs, but it definitely needs a little moisture and maybe some more sophisticated flavors. Oh, and P.S. — all the graham cracker crust fell off when I tried to take it out of its container so that made a HUGE mess! The disassembled brownie WOW! That was a lot to eat. So how do I feel about Contempo Cafe as a dining option? Overall In the end, the entrees were what really won over this meal for me. I’ve had entrees in the past that were NOT impressive at Contempo Cafe, but the ones I had on this visit were superb by quick service standards. If I wanted a sweet treat during a follow-up visit, I would probably get that Kitchen Sink Cookie or the Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar (and just scrape off the strawberry topping to eat it separately). New eats at Contempo Cafe! Contempo Cafe could be a great option if you’re looking for a break from Magic Kingdom or you’re staying at the hotel, but I wouldn’t go too out of my way to visit. It’s a solid quick and easy spot, though. Nosh or Not? Enjoy a laid-back meal at Contempo Cafe if… You want to eat with a view. I can’t deny that there’s something magical about sitting on the fourth floor of the Contemporary and watching the monorail go by while you eat! You can also hear the music and sounds of Chef Mickey’s next to you, which is added fun. You’re staying at this hotel. It’s a great quick service spot if you’re staying here, or maybe even at one of the other monorail resorts. I really enjoyed the entree options that were available. You want to pay a visit to the Contemporary. Sometimes it’s just fun to check out the monorail resorts, especially an OG hotel like the Contemporary. You could have a relatively cheap meal here, check out the gift shops, walk around the grounds, and ride on the monorail. Keep in mind though that you won’t be able to park here if you’re not staying here or don’t have a dining reservation, so you’ll need to park at Magic Kingdom’s parking lot or take transportation from another park. Pass up on the rice bowls and sweet treats if… You want a truly unique dining experience. Even though the atmosphere is fun because of where it’s located, there isn’t much that’s super special about this restaurant. It’s still a pretty standard quick service dining location with pretty standard food. You like quiet places to eat. Since the monorail is rolling through constantly and Chef Mickey’s is next door, this restaurant is NOT quiet. It’s very loud and echoey in here, so beware when you’re planning your meal. You have extra money in your food budget. If you have some wiggle room with your dining budget, this wouldn’t be my first, second, or even THIRD choice at the Contemporary. California Grill, Steakhouse 71, and Chef Mickey’s are all a bit more exciting and have better food, in my opinion. Welcome to Contempo Cafe! That’s a wrap on my visit to this classic Disney World hotel spot! Stay tuned to DFB for more food reviews and updates from around Disney World, as well as recommendations for the best snacks and restaurants! The Best (And Worst) Disney World Hotel Restaurants — Click Here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Have you ever eaten here? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: Are NEW Menu Items at Disney's Contemporary Resort Worth Leaving Magic Kingdom For? We Found Out! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Sometimes, unexpected ride closures can throw a wrench into your Disney World plans. Magic Kingdom It’s fairly often when we see rides close due to weather. Sometimes rides just have technical issues. Other times, rides get closed for refurbishment, and although we usually have plenty of advance notice when a ride is getting a refurbishment, sometimes we just learn about the week before — which is exactly what is happening now. One Magic Kingdom attraction is closing next week. That attraction is the Liberty Square Riverboat, which is showing as closed on August 21st through August 29th. So if you were planning on heading to the dock near Haunted Mansion to catch a ride next week, you won’t be able to. ©Disney Just in case you forget, we’re sure you’ll see signs near its docking area reminding you about the closure. But if riding the riverboat is a priority for you, you’ll need to make other plans. Magic Kingdom is FULL of other attractions, though, and if you want a fun boat ride, there’s always “it’s a small world” (okay, we say it’s fun, but we know some other folks might disagree) and Pirates of the Caribbean (just a note that it’s been down a lot recently, though). Pirates of the Carribean Of course, there’s always the Jungle Cruise, too, which comes with a lot of punny humor (if you love Dad jokes, you MUST ride this attraction). Whatever you decide, though, we’re sure you’ll still have a fun day in Magic Kingdom. And, hey, if you REALLY love those jokes, be sure to stop in at Skipper Canteen for more. We’ll keep an eye out to see if any other rides close in Disney World, so stay tuned to DFB for more. When are you headed to Disney World next? Have you checked out our line of fun graphic tees to wear on your trip? We’ve designed some for the whole family – from infants to adults! Click here to check them out! Best Rides for Adults at Magic Kingdom Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Will this closure affect your Disney World plans next week? Let us know in the comments! The post WARNING: A Magic Kingdom Attraction Will Be CLOSED Next Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article