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A group of Bahamian summer camp students embarked on an inspiring day on the Disney Wish this summer to learn first-hand about careers at sea from the best – our Disney Cruise Line crew members.View the full article

We’ve seen our share of EPIC Disney World souvenirs, including a lot of pricey items. We still haven’t seen the price tag for that Disney100 Vespa (and we probably don’t want to). Our minds are still blown by that Star Wars original art we recently spotted in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Crystal Arts Some of our favorite pricey souvenirs, though, are probably those found in Crystal Arts by Arribas Bros. — and if you’ve visited that shop in Magic Kingdom, you’ll know some of those souvenirs cost some serious moolah. Well, there’s a NEW expensive work of art being created at Crystal Arts, and this time, it’s a CASTLE. We recently visited Crystal Arts to see the crystal masters at work, and they were in the middle of creating a gorgeous crystal recreation of Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Paris. As you can see, they’re making it BY HAND, which is why these pieces are considered such incredible works of art. Working on the castle As we watched, we saw that several pieces of the new crystal piece were already constructed. We are so fascinated by how this kind of work is done. We could watch for hours. We also saw the little model they were using as a reference for what they were working on. Pieces of the castle So here’s the thing. This beauty will not stay at Disney World once it’s completed. Instead, it’s being designed for the lobbies of one of the hotels at Disneyland Paris. However, if you really wanted it for yourself, you could special order it for…okay…this price tag certainly needs a drum roll… It’s going to be beautiful …$100,000! Yep, if you want this castle, it will cost a LOT. However, we do appreciate the beautiful work these artists put into their projcts, but as our wallets just cried out loud at that price tag, we’ll just watch the creation of this work of art from a distance. However, we do highly recommend popping into Crystal Arts to see how these pieces are created — you’ll often find them working on something in the shop. It’s fascinating watching them construct things like this Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney news! WHO Is Buying These Wildly Expensive Disney Souvenirs? 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 castle so far? Let us know in the comments! The post Check Out the 0,000 Crystal CASTLE Being Built in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Simply cannot walk by without spinning them 🤪 #Disneyland #KugelBall #Physics #STEM #ShortsView the full article

If you’re a D23 Member, we may or may not be extremely jealous of you right now. Halloween in Magic Kingdom D23 is celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the beloved spooky film Hocus Pocus. As Disney’s official fan club, D23 is inviting its members to celebrate 30 years of spellbinding fun in Salem, Massachusetts, where the film is based. On Saturday, October 7th, D23 members can join Disney in “Spell-ebrating” 30 years of Hocus Pocus at the Black Flame Ball! This event will start at 9AM with a walking tour through Salem, seeing the historic landmarks and icons of both Salem and Hocus Pocus. ©Disney At nightfall, the Black Flame Ball will officially begin. This soiree will be themed after the iconic Halloween party scene in the film, so guests are encouraged to arrive in their best, most colorful Halloween costumes. However, Disney warns that a few “bewitching guests” may or may not be planning to crash the ball! We wonder who those guests might be… If you choose to go, the event ticket includes an Event Credential, a walking tour of Salem, a commemorative event gift, and entry to the D23 Black Flame Ball, which includes light snacks and provisions, a open-bar for those 21+, and evening entertainment including a live band that will play Halloween hits. ©Disney D23 Members can reserve a ticket for themselves and up to two guests, and all must have a ticket in their possession upon entry. There are limited tickets available, too, so you might want to act fast in snagging these! Tickets will go on sale on Friday, August 18th at 10AM PT on the D23 website. Gold Member tickets are $229 plus a $7 processing fee, and General Member tickets are $279 plus a $7 processing fee. ©Disney If anyone needs a date, you know where to find us. We’ll continue to keep you updated with more Disney news, so make sure to follow along so that you never miss a thing! Looking for more ways to celebrate Halloween with the Sanderson Sisters? 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 Would you LOVE to attend this ball? Let us know in the comments! The post NEWS: Tickets for Disney's 'Hocus Pocus'-Themed Ball Go On Sale SOON first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney has been in the middle of a number of lawsuits lately, and now they’ve been hit with another. ©Disney Disney recently filed a notice that they’re working on finalizing a settlement for one Park pass lawsuit, but a judge has ruled against them in a case related to the Reedy Creek Improvement District, and other updates on cases involving Disney have been shared. But now we’ve got to take a look at an entirely separate lawsuit that has been filed against Disney recently. According to Deadline, Disney (and 20th Century Fox Film Corporation — “Fox”) has been hit with a new lawsuit, this time in Los Angeles Superior Court by TSG — a film financier. TSG alleges that Disney used “nearly every trick in the Hollywood accounting book” to “deprive” TSG of “hundreds of millions of dollars.” Or, as Deadline puts it, Disney is being accused of using those tricks to “hoard” millions in profit. ©Disney | Walt Disney Company Headquarters TSG claims that they financed some of Fox’s most successful movies in recent years including Avatar: The Way of Water, Bohemian Rhapsody, Deadpool, Deadpool 2, Logan, and more. TSG says it had an agreement with Fox whereby Fox promised to give TSG a share of certain receipts from the films. But, TSG alleges that as the years went on, that return on investment “decreased dramatically.” TSG later hired an auditing firm to see what was going on and the auditors reportedly found that Fox failed to credit TSG certain amounts, there was “rampant ‘self-dealing'” aimed at minimizing profits for stakeholders like TSG, and Fox breached its agreement with TSG in other ways. ©Disney TSG also discussed how up until recently, nearly all movies stayed in theaters for 90-120 days, then went to pay-per-view options, home video, pay television, and finally subscription video-on-demand. They claim it was done this way to maximize profits and argue that Fox had agreed to license HBO its movies released through 2022. That has since changed, however, and now movies like The Way of Water often go directly to streaming services like Disney+ after being in theaters for a bit and then becoming available for digital purchase. TSG says this change came at a “great cost” to them. ©Disney They say this change in distribution strategy was all part of Disney’s strategy to ” prop up” its own streaming platforms and price of its stock using “content from other divisions of the company.” And they claim that this was done “recklessly and with little forethought.” The complaint goes on to accuse Fox and/or Disney of refusing to allow TSG to exercise certain rights to “generate liquidity” and says that Disney/Fox have tried to “bully TSG into submission and prevent the filing of this lawsuit.” AMC Theater The lawsuit brings certain counts against Disney and others against Fox. Ultimately, it seems TSG is asking for monetary damages, punitive damages (which are damages meant to basically “punish” bad actions), and other relief. Interestingly, Deadline notes that the lawyer representing TSG is the same as the one that represented Scarlett Johansson in her lawsuit against Disney, which was also related to distribution issues. That lawsuit was ultimately settled. ©Variety A number of changes have been made within the Walt Disney Company lately when it comes to the focus on streaming, how distribution is organized, and more, following Disney CEO Bob Iger’s return. Whether more changes could be made remains to be seen. We’ll keep an eye out for updates. Stay tuned for the latest Disney news. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post Disney Hit With Another Lawsuit, Accused of Hoarding Millions in Profit first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Changes happen seemingly every day at Disney World. Disney World While some of these changes are temporary (like new EPCOT festivals and seasonal decorations in the parks), some changes are permanent. Restaurants, shops, rides, and hotels permanently close from time to time, and in 2023, there were definitely quite a few closures. This post highlights 9 of the permanent closures that hit Disney World in 2023. Let’s go! Splash Mountain This beloved Magic Kingdom attraction closed for good on January 23rd, 2023. Splash Mountain This ride closure is to make way for Tiana’s Bayou Advenure, which is set to open in late 2024. Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser This immersive Star Wars hotel is where visitors can stay and go on a 2-night “voyage” on the Halcyon. However, back in May, Disney announced that the hotel would close permanently. Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser The final voyage will take place from September 28th to 30th, 2023. Sosa Family Cigars Shop On January 3rd, 2023, Sosa Family Cigars in Disney Springs permanently closed its doors. Sosa Family Cigars Currently, the spot remains empty. We’re curious to see what will take its place! UGG Store The UGG Store in Disney Springs closed permanently on March 16th, 2023. The Ugg shop is permanently closed Soon, the space will be taken over by Lululemon! Melissa Clube Melissa Clube, a shoe store in Disney Springs, quietly closed its doors in May of 2023. The Melissa Clube has closed The space has yet to be taken over by something new. Tokyo Dining in EPCOT Earlier this year, Tokyo Dining closed. At the time, we didn’t realize it would close permanently — just for refurbishment. Shiki-Sai Sushi Izakaya However, we later learned that the restaurant would soon be transformed into Shiki Sai: Sushi Izakaya, which just opened. You can read our full review of the new spot here! Harmonious For Disney World’s 50th Anniversary Celebration, guests could experience Harmonious as the featured nighttime spectacular in EPCOT. Harmonious Harmonious ended on April 2nd, 2023 to make way for the temporary return of EPCOT Forever. Enchantment Similar to Harmonious, Enchantment was the featured nighttime spectacular in Magic Kingdom. Enchantment Enchantment also ended on April 2nd, 2023. It’s been replaced by the return of Happily Ever After. Trail’s End Table Service Trail’s End Restaurant at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground closed for refurbishment in April of 2023. Trail’s End However, the restaurant re-opened in July 2023 and instead of being a table service restaurant like before, it’s now a quick service eatery! Well, there you have it! We’ll continue to keep you updated with more Disney news — closures included! Make sure to follow along for more. Looking for things OPENING soon at 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 Which of these closures are you the most sad about? Let us know in the comments! The post 9 Permanent CLOSURES That Hit Disney World This Year first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

What is a better way to spend the fall season than with your favorite magical characters? Check out some Fall Collections for all the breezy and bright offerings now available.View the full article

We do NOT need another pair of Disney-themed shoes. We just DON’T. But…maybe it wouldn’t hurt just to look? Disney’s 100th Anniversary Disney has teamed up with a few different brands to create new shoe collections to celebrate The Walt Disney Company’s 100th anniversary. Our wallets are begging us to stop online shopping…but some of these options are too fun to resist! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Let’s take a look (just a QUICK peek) at some of the best Disney100 shoes we’ve seen recently. Get the Disney100 Cup Sole Sneaker from Aldo ©Aldo Aldo has a great collection of Disney-themed footwear, and we especially love these Cup Sole Sneakers, which feature Mickey, Minnie, Daisy, and Donald. View on Aldo Get the Disney100 Loafer from Aldo ©Aldo The loafers have the same pattern, but the shoe itself is a bit more formal, and there’s a stylish gold buckle over the front. View on Aldo Get the Disney100 Stiletto Pump from Aldo ©Aldo We’re having a REALLY difficult time resisting these Disney stiletto pumps! They’re black with gold designs and classic Disney characters. View on Aldo Get the Samba Vegan x Disney Minnie Shoes from Adidas ©Adidas On the sportier side, you can check out these Disney x Adidas shoes! The Samba sneakers are made with vegan materials and are subtly themed to Minnie Mouse. View on Adidas Get the Ultraboost 1.0 x Disney100 Shoes from Adidas ©Adidas For a day walking around the Disney World theme parks, you might need the Ultraboost 1.0 shoes. These are also subtly Disney-themed. View on Adidas 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! Grab our DFB-exclusive merch! Stay tuned to DFB for more updates on all the latest Disney news. Quick! The 100th anniversary merch that keeps selling out is available online now! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Which of these shoes would you pick? Let us know in the comments. The post We're 5 Seconds Away from Caving and Buying ALL of these Disney100 Shoes Online! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Looking to SAVE on your Disney World vacation? We’ve got the tips you need! EPCOT There are plenty of ways to save a little dough on your upcoming trip, whether you use Annual Passholder discounts, special offers for hotel rooms, or rent DVC points instead of booking your hotel the regular way. But besides all those things, there’s currently a Disney World ticket deal available, and if you’re interested in taking advantage, we have a warning! Currently, Disney is running the 4-Park, 4-Day Magic Ticket deal for $99 per day, plus tax. The total price is $396 plus tax, and with this ticket, you get one admission to each of the four theme parks. Disney World Theme Park Ticket Cards The ticket is valid for admission from June 1st-September 29th, but we’re here to issue a warning — you only have until September 22nd to purchase the ticket! Disney hasn’t updated the website with this information yet, but shared the purchase deadline with travel agents. So if you’d like to get these tickets, you’ll need to make your purchase soon! Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge There are ticket blockout dates from September 1st-4th, and the ticket will expire within 7 days of use or September 29th, 2023, whichever comes first. Tree of Life We’ll keep you updated if Disney releases any more special offers or deals that you should know about, so stay tuned to DFB! We’ve got plenty of recommendations for ways to save on your next vacation. 5 Ways Disney World Will Cost You Thousands More in 2024 — Click Here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Are you planning on using this ticket deal? Tell us in the comments! The post WARNING: This Disney World Ticket Deal Is Ending Soon first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Welcome, Foolish Mortals… Haunted Mansion We sure are feeling spooky lately, with the release of the new Haunted Mansion film, Halloween decorations up in the parks, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party officially underway. Even if you won’t be in the parks this fall, Disney just shared a new way for you to experience some spooky Disney fun from home. The Haunted Mansion Run is an all-new TikTok filter that fans can use as they record videos within the app! This interactive filter challenges users to escape the Hatbox Ghost. Hatbox Ghost Disney Parks shared a video of a Cast Member using the filter recently, and it seems like a lot of fun! It brings you (mostly your face) into the action and allows you to run through the halls of the mansion! It almost reminds us of Temple Run. You can change the direction that the character is running by tilting your head up, down, left, and right. To use the filter, you simply search “Haunted Mansion Run” in the effects section when creating a video within the TikTok app. Ta daaaaa! ©Disney You’ll have to let us know if you use the filter! We’ll continue to keep you updated with more Disney news and updates as we have it, so make sure to follow along for more. Looking for more hauntingly good fun? Click here to see some Haunted Mansion merchandise we’ve seen online! 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 TikTok filter? Let us know in the comments! The post This New TikTok Filter Is Like If Temple Run and Haunted Mansion Had A Baby first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Remember when Disney took away the beloved Wendell’s Bear Claw treat from Frontierland? We went through a whole dramatic saga — including the five stages of grief — when it was taken off the menu. If you’re confused, imagine if McDonald’s took your favorite food off the menu. You’d be pretty sad, too! Wendell and the last bear claw we’ve ever eaten! Well, the time has come once again — Disney took one of our absolute FAVORITE treats off the menu at Contempo Cafe, and we’re not sure we’ll ever recover from this major foodie blow. Read on if you dare. Contempo Cafe has been home to some of our favorite sweets for a looooong time. In fact, the Peanut Butter Pie at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is one of those treats that never let us down, even when it got a 50th Anniversary update. We LOVE the Peanut Butter Pie This little pie has been through several iterations throughout its lifetime, but we’ve loved it all the same every time. Fourth of July Peanut Butter Pie At first, it was a tart shell filled with vanilla cream and a generous scoop of peanut butter cream cheese filling topped with chocolate ganache drizzle. Then later, the peanut butter filling was put inside the tart shell as a replacement for the vanilla cream. Like we said, though, we’ve been loyal fans since the beginning. Seriously, Disney Food Blog and the Peanut Butter Pie go WAY back — we’re talking the days of FREE FastPass+. Peanut Butter Pie Well, during a recent visit to Disney’s Contemporary Resort, we tried several new menu items. But in the midst of our excitement, a horrible thought crossed our minds: what about the old Peanut Butter Pie?! It was nowhere to be seen. Contempo Cafe We searched the bakery cases and scoured the area, finally consulting a Cast Member to get to the bottom of the disappearance. A Cast Member informed us that the Peanut Butter Pie is now gone from Contempo Cafe. It was apparently replaced by other desserts and is not expected to return. ©Disney Of course, Disney may still decide to bring it back one day (they brought back Happily Ever After, after all!), but for now, it seems our old favorite is gone. Yes, we are devastated. No, we are not being overdramatic. RIP to the Peanut Butter Pie For now, all we can do is keep our fingers crossed that this dessert returns someday. In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more. 5 Disney World Snack HACKS $5 Or Less! 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! Did you ever try the Peanut Butter Pie? Let us know in the comments! The post RED ALERT🚨 One of Our Favorite Treats Has Gone MISSING in Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney’s 100th Anniversary has brought new shows to the parks, tons of purple and platinum decor, and seemingly countless new merchandise items. Now, there are even MORE 100th anniversary souvenirs you can get online! 100th merchandise display Check out these four NEW Loungefly items that you can pre-order NOW! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. There are a couple of Loungefly bags, a wallet, and even Minnie ears to celebrate the occasion. You can pre-order all of the items now, and they’ll be available in September. Get the Disney100 Celebration CAKE Loungefly Bag ©Entertainment Earth We love Loungefly bags, and we love cake…so what’s not to love about this cake-shaped Loungefly crossbody bag? It’s made with “holographic faux leather” and has a top zipper closure plus an adjustable strap. There are Disney characters all around both tiers of the cake. View the bag here! Get the Disney100 Cake Loungefly Backpack ©Entertainment Earth If you don’t want to carry around an entire cake, you can opt for this cake-themed Loungefly mini-backpack instead. You can spot lots of Disney pals on top of the big platinum-colored cake on the front. It has the same holographic faux leather as the crossbody bag. View the bag here! Get the Disney100 Cake Loungefly Ears ©Entertainment Earth You’ll need some new Minnie ears to match those bags, right? Luckily, Entertainment Earth has these Disney100 Cake ears! They’re platinum with “icing” and “sprinkles” on top of the ears, plus there’s a shiny bow and a “100” logo in the middle. View the ears here! Get the Disney100 Cake Loungefly Wallet ©Entertainment Earth There’s one more Disney100 item you’ll want to see — the Loungefly wallet. This one also matches the bags, with icing and sprinkle decorations. Mickey, Minnie, Chip, and Dale can be seen peeking through the “100” candles. View the wallet here! There’s been a lot of new 100th anniversary merchandise, so we’ll be sure to keep you updated on every new item. Stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news! Looking for more Disney essentials? Click here to visit the DFB Amazon storefront!The post NEW Disney 100th Anniversary Loungefly Bags Are Online Now! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

While we all wish we could just stay inside Cinderella’s Castle during our Disney World vacation — that’s not likely. There are a lot of reasons guests like to stay in a Disney hotel when visiting. You can get early park entry, free parking and transportation to the parks, and the overall theming of the resorts. But sometimes, staying on property is not the best option. Sometimes you have a larger party that all want to share a space. You might want to be able to cook your own meals or have your own pool. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. We found 3 homes you can rent near Disney World and they will blow you away! First, from the outside, you can see the home is beautiful. This rental is located in Kissimmee, Florida just 7 miles from Disney World. There are 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. ©VRBO The home has an updated feel with a kitchen, dining room, and even a fireplace. It does have a private pool to cool down in. ©VRBO Check out this bedroom. It has bunk beds covered in ivy, a forest mural on the wall, and even turf carpet. This is perfect for younger kids. Bedroom But the real hit of the home is the 10-foot indoor theater. From the stars on the ceiling to the turf floor, you’ll think you’re having a movie night outside. It comes with two hammocks and a large bean bag chair. This would be the perfect place to come home from the parks to relax. ©VRBO See More Photos of the Home Here Up next, “Family Retreat” is just 5 minutes from Disney and has some great themed bedrooms. The home has 6 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. It also has an outdoor pool available for guests to enjoy. Look at this Toy Story room is adorable complete with Buzz, Woody, and the gang. ©VRBO Next, a room fit for a princess. This room even comes with a closet full of Disney princess dresses available for guests to try on. ©VRBO Finally, this Harry Potter room will have fans so excited over the large mural on the wall. We think we even spy Hedwig in there?! ©VRBO See More of The Home Here This “Extraordinary Disney Themed Home” is a 7 bedroom, 6 bathroom home just 15 minutes from Disney World. It includes an outdoor pool, game room, and movie theater. This would be great for large groups traveling together. First, this Star Wars game room is the perfect place to hang out in. It even comes with Darth Vader himself! Not to mention the slide, games, and gaming systems. ©VRBO This movie theater room is complete with 10 seats and even a popcorn machine. We think we would be camped out in here the whole time. ©VRBO For the kids, there’s a Trolls movie-themed play area. It even has a slide and tunnel for kids to play in. ©VRBO Finally, each bedroom is themed. You’ll see rooms inspired by Alice in Wonderland, Aladdin, and Nightmare Before Christmas. Between the 7 bedrooms, it can sleep 19 people. ©VRBO See More of the Bedroom Designs Here We think these rental homes outside of Disney will have you think twice about staying at a Disney hotel. For more Disney tips and tricks, be sure to follow DFB. 10 Ways Your Disney Hotel Stay Will Change in 2024 Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Which of these homes would you like to stay in? Let us know below. The post 3 Unbelievable Houses You Can Stay in Near Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World went through some big changes this year. Walt Disney World Following a battle with Governor Ron Desantis, the Reedy Creek District was transformed into the current Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, whose Board of Supervisors has been appointed by Desantis himself. But now, one member of the oversight district might have to resign, according to a statement made by an ethics lawyer today. According to the Orlando Sentinel, Glen Gilzean, who is currently serving as Florida’s ethics commission chairman and the administrator of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, might have to resign from one of his roles. ©Orlando Sentinel | Glen Gilzean, left, and board member Ron Peri, right Steven Zuilkowski, the ethics commission’s general counsel, has stated that according to state law, public employees are not permitted to serve on the government watchdog panel. “[I]t appears that your position as district administrator for the district is public employment,” Zuilkowski expressed in his statement. ©Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board Gilzean was appointed to the Disney World oversight district on May 10, 2023, where he earns a salary of $400,000 as the district’s administrator. He began his other role, chairman of Florida’s ethics commission, in August 2019, and his current term expires in June 2024. He and the other eight governor-appointed members of the ethics panel do not draw a salary and are appointed by the governor and leaders of the Florida Senate and House. ©Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board While nothing official has happened yet, we’ll keep an eye out for any updates. Stay tuned to DFB for more! NEWS: Gov. DeSantis Says He Has “Moved On” from the Disney Conflict 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 will happen with the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District? Let us know in the comments below! The post NEWS: Leadership CHANGE May Come to Disney's Reedy Creek District Board Soon first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Dining Packages are a popular option for when you want to attend a concert during an EPCOT festival. You can score reserved seat by buying an Eat to the Beat dining package! These concerts are free, and most of the seating is first-come, first-served. However, a dining package is a great way to be sure you can get a reserved seat — and a great meal. For example, let’s say you want to see Air Supply the night of October 15th during the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival. You could book a reservation now for an Eat to the Beat Dining Package at one of the following restaurants: Akershus Royal Banquet Hall Biergarten Coral Reef Garden Grill Le Cellier Steakhouse Rose & Crown Dining Room Spice Road Table With the exception of breakfast at Garden Grill or Akershus, these meals will be a fixed-price lunch or dinner with prices for adults ranging from $47 (at Spice Road Table) to $95 (for Le Cellier). After you eat, you’ll be given a seating badge that gets you access to a special queue for reserved seating at the show. Eat to the Beat OR, you could save money — and plan on the fly — by buying a same-day dining package. Same-day dining packages are available for a quick-service restaurant in EPCOT — Regal Eagle Smokehouse, which just so happens to be right there at the America Gardens Theatre where Air Supply will be playing. The “same-day” dining package is just like it sounds — you have to buy it on the same day you’re going to use it, so you can’t make an advance reservation. You also can’t book it through the app or website — you have to physically walk up to the Regal Eagle and book this package. But these packages are significantly cheaper than the others at $35 for adults, and you’ll get an entree, side and dessert, as well as a non-alcoholic drink. And don’t forget, you’ll get that coveted badge for seating (let’s keep our eyes on the prize here!). Eat to the Beat Same Day Dining Package sign So, since you can’t book that Regal Eagle Same-Day Dining Package in advance, do you need to rope drop it? In other words, do you need to be outside the gates of EPCOT before the gates open to be one of the first in line? We’ve been running some experiments, and what we’re finding is, well … no. The same-day dining packages don’t go on sale until Regal Eagle Smokehouse opens for the day — and most days that is 11:45, a couple hours after park open. However, we do recommend heading to Regal Eagle as soon as you can if you want one of these packages. We have seen them sell out early in the afternoon, and cast members have told us that the amount of packages they have to sell can vary by the day, so sometimes they can be quite limited. Also keep in mind that these packages are only offered Friday-Monday, when international acts play on the America Gardens Theatre stage. What should you eat at Regal Eagle Smokehouse? Well, let us introduce you to our sexy bestie, the Loaded Burnt Ends Fries. Loaded Burnt End Fries Yep. Those fries are loaded with burnt ends, macaroni and cheese, and onion rings. We love ’em. But if loaded fries aren’t your thing, you’ll also find pork ribs, brisket, and smoked chicken. Here’s our full review of Regal Eagle! If you’re headed to the Food and Wine Festival soon, consider an EPCOT Dining Package — especially on guaranteed-to-be-busy dates listed here. And keep following DFB for ALL the EPCOT festival coverage! 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! The post Do You Need To Rope Drop Same-Day Dining Packages in EPCOT? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney is making a MAJOR change to a classic ride that’s gonna impact Disneyland and Magic Kingdom FOREVER. But what, exactly, is going to change, what’s staying the same, and what are we HOPING changes in the future? Find out today… Splash Mountain We’re breaking down EVERYTHING we know about the Splash Mountain retheme. Splash Mountain has gone away for good and replaced with a brand-new storyline centered around the Disney animated film, Princess and the Frog. But today, we’re really gonna DIG A LITTLE DEEPER to find out what that actually involves. Quick roadmap for ya: First, we’re gonna start with a juicy history lesson and talk about WHY this retheme was necessary for Disney to make in the first place. Then, we’ll jump into the timeline for these changes, as well as the NEW storyline for the ride, what the retheme’s gonna look like, the fun extras you’re gonna find OUTSIDE the ride, AND — just for funsies — a little wish list of things we’d LIKE to see appear from the retheme. Think of it as our own way of “Blue Sky” brainstorming. Why the Retheme? Splash Mountain has been one of the most popular rides in both Disney World and Disneyland for over thirty years. So what inspired Disney to take an iconic ride and transform it into something completely different? When the retheme was announced, there was a mixed bag of responses — both from those who were excited to see Tiana and friends finally get their own ride, and from those who were sad to see a classic ride they’d grown up with closing down for good. Splash Mountain But Bob Weis, president of Walt Disney Imagineering, shared with D23 WHY this decision was so important for not just Magic Kingdom but all future guests. Weis stated: “Tiana is a modern, courageous, and empowered woman who pursues her dreams while never losing sight of what’s really important. So it’s a great story with a strong lead character, set against the backdrop of New Orleans and the Louisiana bayou.” The Disney company also shared that they were ready to elevate this log flume’s experience to “tell a fresh, relevant story.” Model of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at the 2022 D23 Expo “The new concept is inclusive – one that all [Disney] guests can connect with and be inspired by, and it speaks to the diversity of the millions of people who visit [the] parks each year.” Over the past few years, Disney has been working on several classic attractions to make them more culturally appropriate. We saw changes happen for the original Pirates of the Caribbean auction scene, which introduced us to the kick-butt pirate now known as “Redd”, as well as a few Jungle Cruise scenes, to help modernize the storyline, and remove ride scenes that hadn’t aged very well over the years. Pirates of the Caribbean Though Splash Mountain’s retheme will be much more intensive — since the controversial Song of the South storyline is interwoven throughout the entire ride and not just in a scene or two — the mindset behind the decision is very much the same as we’ve seen in the past. Disney wants to make sure the stories behind their rides stay as relevant and inspiring as possible. Official Timeline This Princess and the Frog retheme sure did TEASE its guests for a good long while! And it’s still teasing guests as we develop more and more questions about the ride’s future in the parks. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Concept Art ©Disney After we learned about the fate of Splash Mountain, we were all left in limbo about how soon this reimagining would start taking place. It wasn’t necessarily a feeling we’re unfamiliar with, since it seems Disney likes to announce new experiences with no attached release dates to get us all hyped up and ready for a rousing round of internet discord. They won’t announce specific release dates until much MUCH later when they feel more confident about the experience’s development. ©Disney Tiana’s Bayou Adventure concept art However, Josh D’Amaro — Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products — threw us a bone in November of 2020, stating that the Splash Mountain retheme would be expedited to ensure that “all who visit the [Disney] company’s parks…feel welcome.” We know that making a BRAND NEW RIDE — with new special effects, lighting, animatronics, and soundtracks — takes time. It takes a LOT of time. But after D’Amaro mentioned the ride would be expedited, we expected to learn more about the timeline of its release. But the next chunk of info we received about the Princess and the Frog ride didn’t happen until August 2021 — when a video released, showing Disney’s Imagineering team working on the project in a panel alongside Stella Chase Reese, owner of the New Orleans restaurant which inspired Tiana’s story. The panel discussion took place during a research trip to New Orleans to further the goal of “digging deep into the culture of New Orleans to tell a story that’s as authentic to the region as it is to the characters’ stories. From the food, music, art and architecture to the diversity of its people and their traditions, there is much from which to draw inspiration.” But then the 2022 ESSENCE Festival of Culture — which was held in New Orleans on July 1st-3rd — FINALLY revealed what the name of this new Princess and the Frog ride was gonna be, as well as its opening timeline. ©Disney The ride is called “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure,” and will be opening….. in 2024 for both Disney World AND Disneyland. Yeah. Sorry. We’ve still got a whole lotta waiting to do. BUT at least we had SOMETHING to go off of. (And still do!) Later on in 2022, at the beginning of December, we learned about Splash Mountain’s official closing date in Disney World — which was January 23rd, 2023. Line starts WAY back here BUT we’ll definitely let you know just as SOON as we get more info on this project, one way or another! And you can be one of the FIRST to know about any Disney news and updates by signing up for the DFB Newsletter. The Story Since you already know that Splash Mountain will be rethemed around Princess and the Frog, you can probably gather some intel from that information alone. You’ll see Princess Tiana. You’ll see Prince Naveen. And you’ll see our large scaly friend LOUIS as he plays away on his trusty saxophone. Love that guy. Think he’ll give me some lessons? Photo op on construction wall But what about the new plot? What’s the 411 there? Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will drop you back into The Princess and the Frog story where it last left off — “after the final kiss.” Y’see, Tiana wants to unite her community by hosting a Mardi Gras Party during New Orleans’ Carnival season. (And what BETTER way to do that than through FOOD?) “Celebration of Family and Friends” –Attraction Model Tiana feels like she owes a lot to her community, since she was able to open her DREAM restaurant — Tiana’s Palace — thanks to their continued support. But — EGAD — Tiana realized that the party is “missing a key ingredient,” and she needs help finding it! Disney Imagineers have shared that guests will be active participants coming along with Tiana on this adventure! And what about the queue? Any fun storytelling going on there? New lanterns Turns out that, along with her restaurant, Tiana has also started an employee-owned company called Tiana’s Foods, easy enough to remember, where she and her employees work together to make food products and help community members become business people. Which you’ll get to see and learn more about during your time in the queue. What’s Going to Change Like we mentioned earlier, this retheme is EXTENSIVE. There’ll be no more “Zip-a-dee-Doo-dah” soundtrack or villainous fox-and-bear duo trying to hunt down a poor, mischievous Br’er Rabbit. But not EVERYTHING about Splash Mountain is completely going away. Splash Mountain For starters, let’s remember that this is a ride RETHEME, and not a brand-new ride. That means Imagineers will be building Tiana’s Bayou Adventure around the existing water flume structure, similar to what we saw happen over in EPCOT when Maelstrom was rethemed to Frozen Ever After. So, you’ll still get to feel the thrill of that 5-story drop before the grand finale! And if you think you’re gonna be missing all the different critters that were featured in Splash Mountain, you’ll be happy to know new characters on this ride will still have an assortment of musically-talented animals. ©Disney Imagineer Laura West is the lead designer behind our new wildlife friends — which include a beaver on the drums, an opossum playing bass, a raccoon playing accordion, a turtle with a harmonica, a rabbit on the washboard, and an otter playing the fiddle. (Why does this give us Lester’s Possum Park vibes? Like from the Goofy Movie?) Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Concept Art ©Disney Okay. Now let’s talk about the NEW stuff. Additional ride elements will feature a combination of practical lighting, digital lighting, animatronics, and scenic paint. Disney announced that there’s gonna be a new mist element in Tiana’s Bayou Adventure — which sounds like we might be in for a few spookier scenes at some point. The video they showed had a lot of colorful lights shining into the mist (which kinda reminds us of the sort of lights and smoke effects you see while walking Villains Grove during Disney California Adventure’s Oogie Boogie Bash Party). You know who ELSE is in Villains Grove? Dr. Facillier. Coincidence? I think NOT! Okay, maybe it IS a coincidence — but we still wouldn’t be surprised if we saw this Princess and the Frog villain make his grand voodoo comeback with his friends on the other side. ©Disney But back to the good guys! Tiana will be leading you through this new journey in a fresh explorer-worthy wardrobe. Tiana’s pantsuit is actually a bigger deal than you may think — since it’s a pretty progressive statement for the timeframe that the ride/movie takes place during, which is in the 1920’s). Disney says that this outfit change connects “who Tiana was in the movie to who she will be in the future.” Tiana! And you know how Splash Mountain’s grand finale used to end at the giant riverboat, with all the animals gathering together to bring you one, big, show-stopping number? How do you feel about a grand finale, Mardi Gras-style? Artist Sharika Mahdi was hired to create 4 original paintings to inspire the Imagineers working on the attraction — and the painting we got to see during that 2021 panel interview video depicts the ride’s final scene. This scene is described as one big “Mardi Gras party!” The colors are vibrant, the style is whimsical, and SO MANY CHARACTERS are packed into that single painting. So, hate to spoil this for you or anything, but I think we can expect a happy (and celebratory-worthy) ending here. ©Disney Speaking of inspiring art, at the 2022 D23 Expo, we got to check out a small-scale model of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, which taught us a WHOLE lot more about what we can expect to see from this attraction when it opens up in 2024. Disclaimer: not everything we saw on the model of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is guaranteed to appear in the real thing. After all, we still have a while before the ride will officially open, and a lot could change in that time. But did we still scour the model for any possible hint or connection to the movie? Absolutely. Did we question what every single tiny detail could possibly mean? You bet we did. Are some of our predictions probably way off? …Maybe. But, nonetheless, we think that we’ve discovered some pretty cool details — like a garden of veggies towards the beginning of the ride and a fleur-de-lis symbol above the entrance to the finale, for example. Entrance to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure — Attraction Model One of the COOLEST parts of this model was the big wooden water tower with “Tiana’s Foods: Employee Owned, Est. 1922” printed across the front. And on top of that tower was a biiiiiiiig tiara that looked just like Tiana’s tiara from the movie! Tiana’s Bayou Adventure model at the D23 Expo Didja notice the two little stars to the right of the tiara? Those are likely a nod to Evangeline and Ray! Ray is Tiana’s firefly sidekick in the movie, and the love of Ray’s life is a star named Evangeline. (And if you catch us sobbing over this tiny detail, no you didn’t). You know what other adorable couples we tracked down on this model? We found a couple of frogs perched on a log towards the end of the ride. From what we can see, they look just like Naveen and Tiana in the movie when they were both in their frog form. That makes sense and all, but we just have one question: Why are they frogs again? At the end of the movie, they return to their OG human form after the final kiss. (Sorry — another spoiler alert.) Look who it is! Unless the story of the ride gets REALLY wild, those two frogs are probably just a nod to the movie (but again, anything could happen)! Oh! Oh! We also got a *teeny tiny* peek into the DROP portion of the ride! When we looked at the opening where the boat comes out before the big drop, you can see a lot of lights and colors inside — much like the glass bottles hanging from the ceiling that you’ll see in the movie during Mama Odie’s big musical number. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Concept Art ©Disney And since we’re ON the subject of music, you should know that music will continue to play an important role in setting each scene — which is why the attraction will feature original music “inspired by songs from the film.” Disney had previously shared that Jenifer Lewis, the voice behind Mama Odie, will be featured in the rethemed ride. But it’s not JUST Mama Odie who’s coming back for an encore performance! Even more of the original voice talents behind the beloved characters from Princess and the Frog will reprise their roles — including Bruno Campos as Prince Naveen, Michael Leon Wooley as Louis, and Anika Noni Rose as Princess Tiana. ©Disney Riders will also hear zydeco music in the attraction, specifically in the bayou portion of the ride. Imagineers expressed that, “Zydeco is a special blend of rhythm and blues that was born in Louisiana.” Disney wanted to include this style of music because it “brings together the sounds and styles of many cultures.” Since Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is replacing Splash Mountain and using much of the same track, we can expect the ride time to be as long as Splash Mountain was — about 11 or 12 minutes. Disney announced this at a recent media event in New Orleans.So just to wrap up this section with a nice neat bow — Disney has been HARD at reimagining this ride, and we think the details will all come together to make something really cool. But only time will tell — and now we’ve just gotta wait for even MORE details to come. EXTRAS Tiana’s not just making a statement IN her new ride — but around it too! The NEW store, Eudora’s Chic Boutique featuring Tiana’s Gourmet Secrets, already opened on New Orleans Square at Disneyland back in September of 2022. The store is named for Princess Tiana’s mother — and inside the shop, you’ll find decor and merchandise inspired by New Orleans and Princess and the Frog. Eudora’s Chic Boutique Signage And — FUN FACT — outside Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, you can find vegetables and spices growing on the side of the mountain. Those very spices are being sold at Eudora’s NOW. Tiana’s own line of sauces (which are also made from the spice growing on the mountain) are also sold here, too. Eudora’s Chic Boutique! In the future, expect to see the real-live Tiana’s Palace enter into the Disneyland scene, too! Disney recently announced that Tiana’s Palace will be replacing the French Market Restaurant in New Orleans Square. This new quick-service destination is meant to feel like you’re walking into Tiana’s dream restaurant, brought to life for ALL OF YOU to experience along with her! Keep your travel expenses as low as possible! The Disney website describes this rethemed restaurant as a setting that’ll feature elegant fixtures, wrought-iron balconies, and that classic, gen-u-iiiine New Orleans flair. As far as the menu is concerned, you can’t escape those Cajun/southern-style classics! Expect your current favorites from the French Market to still be around alongside some new (and seasonal) options, too. ©Disney Food and Beverage Imagineers have been spending plenty of time in New Orleans researching for inspiration on the decor and menu for Tiana’s Palace, but we don’t have very many details about it other than that… yet. Here’s what we CAN tell you: Remember those veggies we just mentioned, growing on the side of the mountain? Those veggies will also be used in the restaurant for a fresh selection of menu items upon its opening. Imagineers have also spent a lot of time at Dooky Chase’s Restaurant (which is Stella Chase Reese’s restaurant in New Orleans that we talked about earlier — that directly inspired Tiana’s story). Imagineers wanna get this place JUST right, and make sure that the culinary history of the New Orleans area is translated extremely well and tastefully for their park’s restaurant. Walt Disney Imagineering joins team at the historic Dooky Chase’s Restaurant during their research in New Orleans for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. The attraction is coming to Magic Kingdom Park, Lake Buena Vista, Fla. and Disneyland Park, Anaheim, Calif., in 2024. (Disney) The French Market Restaurant (and its attached Mint Julep Bar) will be closing on February 17, 2023, to get renovations underway. But DON’T PANIC. This is NOT the end of the Mint Juleps and famous Disneyland beignets! Disney has assured us that the Mint Julep Bar WILL return later this year and will reopen with Tiana’s Palace. New Orleans Square The Disney Imagineers that we’ve interviewed said that Tiana’s Palace will be a reimagined restaurant. Lots of reimagining going on around these parts! The Imagineers we’ve interviewed previously about this new restaurant mentioned to us that they’re trying to get Tiana’s Palace added to Disney World, but we don’t have any official announcements on the future of this restaurant being on the East Coast, too. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Magic Kingdom — August 2023 Imagineers are hard at work, creating a ride (and, eventually, restaurant) that’ll bring a familial feel of New Orleans into the parks. And though we’ve got a lotta waiting to do before we finally see these projects fulfilled to completion, there’s still a WHOLE bunch for us to look forward to in 2023 and 2024. Transformation of Splash Mountain into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! 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 Are you planning to ride the new Tiana’s Bayou Adventure when it opens? Let us know in the comments below! The post EVERYTHING We Know About The Splash Mountain Re-Theme first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Early morning wakeup calls, seven weeks of paddling, and teams of friends and colleagues seeking a one-of-a-kind #DisneyCastLife competition are the ingredients for success at the Disneyland Resort Cast Canoe Races. This beloved cast member summer tradition on the Rivers of America at Disneyland park dates back to 1963, and the 2023 edition brought together […]View the full article

The Halloween season has begun and it is starting off STRONG. He’s so cute! Oogie Boogie Bash has already sold out for Disneyland Resort, we got a peek at the nearly 70(!!) new Halloween-themed snacks coming to the Disneyland parks and hotels, and there’s Halloween merchandise available already too. But now we’ve got even MORE spooky news. Disney is releasing some NEW sippers, popcorn buckets, glow cubes, and more at Disneyland Resort to celebrate the season. These will be available at various spots throughout Disneyland Resort starting September 1st (unless otherwise noted). Here’s what you’ll be able to find. Glow in the Dark Donald Candy Corn Sipper Includes choice of fountain beverage at time of purchase (Limit two per person, per transaction; no discounts apply; available while supplies last) Available at the following locations: At Disneyland park: The Golden Horseshoe, Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe, and Stage Door Café At Disney California Adventure park: Award Wieners, Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta, Mortimers Market, Paradise Garden Grill, Smokejumpers Grill, and Studio Catering Co. Hi, Donald! Halloween Alien Straw Clip — NEW! Available with purchase of beverage (Limit two per person, per transaction; no discounts apply; available while supplies last) Available at the following locations: At Disneyland park: Alien Pizza Planet, Churros near Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Lemonade near Tomorrowland Expo Center, and Pretzels at near Star Tours – The Adventures Continue At Disney California Adventure park: Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta, Chiller at Paradise Gardens Park, Lamplight Lounge – Boardwalk Dining, Lamplight Lounge, Mortimers Market, Señor Buzz Churros, and Smokejumpers Grill ©Disney Halloween Popcorn Bucket — NEW! Limit 10 per person, per transaction; no discounts apply Available at various popcorn carts at Disneyland park and Disney California Adventure park. ©Disney Halloween Travel Tumbler — NEW! Includes beverage; specialty beverage for an additional charge at select locations (Limit 10 per person, per transaction; available while supplies last) Available at the following locations: At Disneyland park: Most quick-service restaurants and select outdoor vending carts At Disney California Adventure park: Most quick-service restaurants and select outdoor vending carts At Disneyland Hotel: The Coffee House At Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa: GCH Craftsman Grill ©Disney Iridescent Black Poison Apple Mug — NEW! Includes choice of Coca-Cola bottled beverage at time of purchase (Limit two per person, per transaction; no discounts apply; available while supplies last) Available at the following locations: At Disneyland park: Churros near Casey Jr. Circus Train, Hungry Bear Restaurant (Available with specialty beverage for an additional charge), Main Street Fruit Cart, Plaza Inn, Tropical Imports, and Tomorrowland Fruit Cart At Disney California Adventure park: Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream (Also available with ice cream float for an additional cost), Fairfax Market, Mortimers Market, and Schmoozies! (Includes coffee at time of purchase or specialty coffee for an additional charge) ©Disney Lock, Shock, and Barrel Straw Clip Available with purchase of beverage (Limit 10 per person, per transaction; available while supplies last) Available at the following locations: At Disneyland park: Cafe Orleans, Churros & Lemonade in Critter Country, Harbour Galley, and Royal Street Veranda At Disney California Adventure park: Hollywood Lounge, Mortimers Market, Smokejumpers Grill, and Studio Catering Co. ©Disney 2022 Maleficent Bottle Topper — NEW! Available with purchase of beverage (Limit two per person, per transaction; no discounts apply; available while supplies last) Available at the following locations: At Disneyland park: Churros near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Churros near Casey Jr. Circus Train, Churros at small world Promenade, Churros near Haunted Mansion, Churros near Sleeping Beauty Castle, Churros near Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Churros near Town Square, Pretzels near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Pretzels at small world Promenade, Pretzels near Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, Ship to Shore Marketplace, Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor, and Maurice’s Treats At Disney California Adventure park: Willie’s Churros, Churros near Goofy’s Sky School, Churros near Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, Fairfax Market, Churros at Hollywood Land, Mortimers Market, and Outdoor Vending ©Disney Mickey Mouse-shaped Pumpkin Glow Cube — NEW! Available with purchase of beverage (Limit two per person, per transaction; no discounts apply; available while supplies last) Available at the following locations: At Disneyland park: Café Daisy, The Golden Horseshoe, Galactic Grill, Harbour Galley, Hungry Bear Restaurant, Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe, Little Red Wagon, Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante, Red Rose Taverne, Refreshment Corner, and Stage Door Café At Disney California Adventure park: Award Wieners, Bayside Brews, Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta, Carthay Circle Restaurant, Corn Dog Castle, Outdoor Vending, Smokejumpers Grill, and Paradise Garden Grill At Disneyland Hotel: Goofy’s Kitchen ©Disney Mickey Mouse Skeleton Bucket — New! Limit two per person, per transaction; no discounts apply. Available at various popcorn carts throughout Disneyland Park. ©Disney Mike Wazowski Pumpkin Bottle Topper Available with purchase of beverage (Limit two per person, per transaction; no discounts apply; available while supplies last); Available at the following locations: At Disneyland park: Churros and Lemonade in Critter Country, Churros near Casey Jr. Circus Train, Churros near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Churros at small world Promenade, Churros near Haunted Mansion, Churros near Sleeping Beauty Castle, Churros near Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Churros near Town Square, Pretzels near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Pretzels at small world Promenade, Pretzels near Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor, and Ship to Shore Marketplace At Disney California Adventure park: Adorable Snowman Frosted Treats, Willie’s Churros, Churros near Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, Fairfax Market, Churros at Hollywood Land, Mortimers Market, and Outdoor Vending ©Disney Minnie Mouse: Hocus Pocus Halloween Dress-up Sipper — NEW! Limit two per person, per transaction; no discounts apply; available while supplies last starting September 5th Available at the following locations: At Disneyland park: Galactic Grill, The Golden Horseshoe, Harbour Galley, Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe, Little Red Wagon, Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante, Red Rose Taverne, Refreshment Corner, and Stage Door Café At Disney California Adventure park: Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta, Chiller at Paradise Gardens Park, Fairfax Market, Mortimers Market, Paradise Garden Grill, Smokejumpers Grill, and Studio Catering Co. ©Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Mayor’s Car Bucket — NEW! Limit two per person, per transaction; no discounts apply; available while supplies last Available at the following locations: At Disneyland park: Popcorn cart near Haunted Mansion and New Orleans Square Outdoor Vending Cart At Disney California Adventure park: Popcorn near Carthay Circle Restaurant, Popcorn at Grizzly Peak Airfield, Popcorn at Pixar Pier, and Outdoor Vending Note that this one has also been released in Disney World during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. The Nightmare Before Christmas Mayor’s Car Bucket Vampire Tow Mater Straw Clip Available with purchase of beverage (Limit 10 per person, per transaction; available while supplies last) Available at the following locations at Disney California Adventure park: Fillmore’s Taste-In, Flo’s V8 Cafe, and Cozy Cone Motel ©Disney 2022 Worm’s Wort Potion Bottle Glow Cube — NEW! Available with purchase of beverage (Limit two per person, per transaction; no discounts apply; available while supplies last) Available at the following locations: At Disney California Adventure park: Hollywood Lounge At Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa: Hearthstone Lounge ©Disney Zero 30th Anniversary Bucket — NEW! Limit two per person, per transaction; no discounts apply; available while supplies last. This looks pretty similar to a Zero popcorn bucket we’ve seen in the past but appears to be a slightly updated anniversary edition. Available at the following locations: At Disneyland park: Popcorn near Haunted Mansion At Disney California Adventure park: Popcorn near Carthay Circle Restaurant, Popcorn at Pixar Pier, Churros near Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, and Outdoor Vending ©Disney WHEW. That’s a lot of souvenirs! You might need to relook at those Halloween budgets for Disneyland now. We’ll keep an eye out for more updates on these items and let you know what we find. Click here to see more about the nearly 70(!!) new snacks coming to Disneyland Resort! Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe What do you think about these Halloween offerings? Tell us in the comments! The post 4 NEW Disney Popcorn Buckets Are Coming Soon! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Ghosts, goblins, and foodies alike, dust off the cobwebs because Halloween is upon us! Disneyland Resort is mere weeks away from kicking off their Halloween season and you’re in luck because I’ve got all the ghoulish goodies for you to try. View the full article

Which Hollywood Studios restaurants are misleading? Which roller coaster ride seats should you avoid at all costs? And how can you GUARANTEE VIP treatment (for a price)? Disney’s Hollywood Studios We’re telling ya all the best (and easiest) ways to improve your next visit to this red carpet park TODAY, here on DFB Guide. Check out our video below all about 50 Easy Tricks That Make Disney’s Hollywood Studios So Much Better  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’s your favorite thing to do in Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Let us know in the comments. The post DFB Video: 50 Easy Tricks That Make Disney's Hollywood Studios So Much Better first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Be warned — your Disneyland plans could be impacted by something a little unexpected. Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland While tropical storms and hurricanes are something that those traveling to Disney World in Florida know to be prepared for, it’s less of a concern (generally) for those on the west coast. But this week might be a little different. The National Hurricane Center and Central Pacific Hurricane Center are closely watching what is now Hurricane Hilary, currently located closer to Mexico. According to their updates from 3AM MDT on August 17th, 2023, the Hurricane Center has warned that Hilary “has the potential to bring significant impacts to the Baja California Peninsula and portions of the southwestern United States this weekend and early next week.” ©Hurricane Center/NOAA They note that it is “too soon” to determine the exact locations and the magnitude of any wind impacts, but people in these areas should monitor Hilary. A Tropical Storm watch is in effect for southern portions of Baja California Sur and more watches or warnings may be added today. They expect that rainfall impacts from Hilary in the southwestern U.S. will peak on Sunday and Monday. ©NOAA Here’s a timetable showing the arrival time of tropical storm-force winds. It looks like that could be closer to Sunday at 8PM MDT for areas of Southern California. ©NOAA For reference, here’s a look at Disneyland on a map. You can see where that is positioned (just above the line dividing California and Baja California), which does appear to fall within the current projected path of the potential tropical storm force winds. ©Google Maps The New York Times shows the expected intensification of the storm — from a category 1 to a category 4 and then back down. It appears that by the time it is projected to be closer to San Diego, however, it is anticipated that it’ll only be a tropical storm. They expect that “Rain will begin Friday in portions of the Southwest and will peak Sunday into Monday.” ©New York Times How exactly this could impact Disneyland’s operations is unclear. In the past, in Disney World, we’ve seen some of the parks close early or close for entire days due to hurricanes and some tropical storms. Thus far, Disneyland has not issued any official notice about any steps they intend to take, but we’re on the lookout for updates. If you are in Southern California or were planning to visit this weekend/next week, we recommend you monitor the weather updates carefully. You may also want to carefully consider where you were planning to stay for your trip. Is it close enough to Disneyland that you can quickly and easily head there should the parks shut down early? Do you have things to entertain yourself and your group in the hotel room — like board games, etc.? Do you have batteries, external phone chargers, and similar things should you need them? Be sure you’ve also got some other things packed that you might need even if there are no park shutdowns whatsoever but just rainfall and stronger winds: Raincoats/umbrellas Waterproof shoes A waterproof park bag Rain Jacket We’ll continue to monitor things with this storm and let you know what we find. Stay tuned for all the latest news.  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 Have you ever been to a Disney park during a big storm? Tell us in the comments. The post Hurricane Could Bring Severe Weather to Disneyland first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The newest restaurant in Disney World is now officially OPEN! Shiki-Sai Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya opened in EPCOT‘s Japan pavilion in World Showcase on August 15th. It’s open for walk-in guests only, but reservations are available now for dates starting on August 28th. We stopped in to try out the new eats here (including the $300 sushi boat! ) so we could discover which menu items are worth the cash and which you should skip. A lot of the things we tried were super tasty, but there are just two items that you simply CANNOT miss at this new spot. First, we’ll tell you a little bit about this restaurant in general. Shiki-Sai is a table-service restaurant presenting, according to Disney, a “festive dining experience in a sharable Izakaya-style.” Japanese Izakaya is a type of casual pub-style restaurant that puts an emphasis on drinks and friendly conversation. Seating Izakaya menus usually feature small dishes, which is the case at Shiki-Sai. Karaage Chicken, Salmon Misoyaki, and Tomato Salad with Avocado are among the sharable plates available here, and the menu also boasts sushi and teppan items (it even has an open sushi bar!). Sushi bar Every month will bring a NEW celebration of Japanese food to this spot, with changing menu items that represent a different Japanese seasonal festival “from hanging tanzaku to celebrate Tanabata in July to savoring moon-viewing dumplings in September.” Tanabata tree Shiki-Sai is on the second floor of the Japan pavilion (above the Mitsukoshi store), where Tokyo Dining used to be. That means that if you visit at just the right time, you should be able to see fireworks over EPCOT’s World Showcase Lagoon! Look at that view! Currently, you can walk up to dine here without a reservation from 12PM to 9PM daily (provided there’s availability). If you’re visiting on or after August 28th, we highly recommend making an Advance Dining Reservation. Mural at the entrance to the restaurant Now that you know a bit about this restaurant, let’s check out the two BEST things we ate there. Vegetable Nabeyaki Udon The Vegetable Nabeyaki Udon is a hot pot-style udon soup with mushrooms, yuba, and spinach for $24. We LOVED this! The broth was super savory and flavorful, and it elevated the rest of the ingredients. Vegetable Nabeyaki Udon There were a few different kinds of mushrooms, which we loved for the variety of textures and flavors, but just be aware that if you’re not a mushroom fan, this isn’t the soup for you. (Don’t worry, though — there are a couple of different Udon dishes on the menu, which we would bet are also tasty.) We loved the earthy flavor, and we thought that $24 was a very fair price for the quantity and quality of the food. Ishiyaki Sukiyaki Rice Our next favorite item was the Ishiyaki Sukiyaki Rice for $28. This dish is created tableside — the Cast Member grilled strips of beef in a hot stone bowl and mixed it with spinach, rice, and a sweet garlic sauce. We thought it was really cool that they brought it out to show us how the rice and beef are cooked. Ishiyaki-Sukiyaki Rice The beef was very tender, and although it could’ve used a little more seasoning, that really didn’t matter because of how flavorful the rice was. It was even a little bit sweet. Dining at Shiki-Sai The best part in our opinion was how the whole dish came together, with flavors and textures working very well together. Our reporter called this dish “absolutely wonderful!” Honorable Mention Grilled Waygu Gyoza We couldn’t talk about this restaurant without mentioning the very delicious Grilled Wagyu Gyoza. These are pan-fried dumplings filled with smoky A5 Japanese Wagyu beef. The dish comes with three pieces, which makes the $20 price tag a little expensive for what you get, and that’s why we didn’t include them in the top two items at the restaurant. Grilled Wagyu Gyoza However, if you’re going to splurge on a super tasty snack, THIS is the way to do it. The dumplings were soft and juicy, and the meat tasted buttery and fatty. There might be better ways to experience A5 Wagyu Beef (on its own, it’s incredible), but it definitely makes for a scrumptious dumpling. What About the Sushi Boat? We’ve got all the way to the end of this post without mentioning the huge sushi boat! How could that be?? Well, the main reason is that the boat costs $300. No matter how delicious the sushi is, that’s a pretty tough price tag to swallow. Fune Boat at Shiki-Sai The Fune, as it’s named on the menu, serves four to six people, so that $300 price tag isn’t quite as terrible as it sounds at first (but that’s still at least $50 per person). It’s a “boat presentation” showcasing a “premium assortment of sushi and sashimi.” Sushi It’s definitely pricey, but it’s also full of incredible sushi. It was easily some of the best sushi we’ve had in Disney World. The fish was fresh and buttery (some of it was even flown in straight from Japan), the quality was wonderful, and we loved the wide variety of options. Sushi As much as we loved it, we just can’t recommend it as a “must-get” item because of that price. But if you’re celebrating a big event, love sushi, and want a fun experience, this might be just what you need! The other side With DOZENS of places to eat at Disney World, we know it can be tough to plan your meals. That’s why we wrote the DFB Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World. We have reviews, pictures, and details about every restaurant all in one digital download – along with ALL of our best tips and strategies from decades of Disney World trips. We’ve got a special discount code for DFB readers, too! Use WDW2023 at checkout for 25% off! Grab the DFB Guide! Stay tuned to DFB for more updates on all the latest Disney news! Click here to check out the FULL MENU and PRICES at the new Shiki-Sai restaurant. Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide The Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants The Best EPCOT Restaurant Restaurants The Best Restaurants in Disney’s Hollywood Studios The Best Restaurants in Disney’s Animal Kingdom The Best Disney Springs Restaurants The Best (and Worst) Disney World Hotel Restaurants Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Are you planning to try this new restaurant on your next trip to EPCOT? Let us know in the comments. The post 2 Things You HAVE To Try at EPCOT's Brand New Restaurant first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’re a big fan of cocktails, you’ve likely visited The Edison in Disney Springs. And if you haven’t yet, you definitely should! The Edison This restaurant frequently has events as part of its Mixology Series, where guests can buy tickets to experience a special event filled with unique cocktails and small bites. And if you’re a big animal lover, here’s why you’ll want to head to the next one happening in September. The Edison’s Mixology event in September is in collaboration with the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando! The event will feature the usual selection of special edition craft cocktails and bites, plus a silent auction where a portion of the benefits will go to the charity. ©The Edison The event will be held at 6:30PM on September 14th, but the signature cocktails created for the event, such as the Salty Chihuahua and Meow-jito will be available from August 14th through September 15th. The Edison Tickets start at $85+ per person, and upgrades are available for $40+. Check out the full menu for the event below: Featured Cocktails: Meow-jito: Bacardi rum, rosemary, mint, lemon, and soda Salty Chihuahua: Patron Silver, blackberry-basil compound syrup, Florida orange liqueur, lime, half salt rim Best Buds (Zero Proof): Cream of coconut, coconut milk, cinnamon, blueberries, and lime Palmetto Brewing “Rescue Brew”: Lager Specialty Bites: Hamachi Ceviche Tacos: Yuzu guacamole, tomato and cilantro Chicken Caesar Salad Bites: Baby romaine lettuce cups, honey crisp apple, and parmesan garlic breadcrumbs Kusshi Oyster and Pearls: Salmon caviar and porthole-infused ginger scallion mignonette Vegan Chili-Cheese Potato Skins: Impossible chili and vegan cheese sauce Deviled 2X Egg: Candied bacon and caviar Specialty Platinum Upgrade: Choice of: 1 oz. pour of WhistlePig Old World rye whiskey 12-year OR 3 oz. pour of 2018 Silver Oak cabernet sauvignon. Paired With: A-5 Wagyu pastrami on house-baked focaccia and dijon-naise The Edison in Disney Springs Tickets can go fast for these events, so be sure to grab your tickets below. Grab your tickets for the event here! With DOZENS of places to eat at Disney World, we know it can be tough to plan your meals. That’s why we wrote the DFB Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World. We have reviews, pictures, and details about every restaurant all in one digital download – along with ALL of our best tips and strategies from decades of Disney World trips. We’ve got a special discount code for DFB readers, too! Use WDW2023 at checkout for 25% off! DFB Guide to Disney World Dining 2023 As always, be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney dining news! Here’s what you should NOT eat in Disney World on your next trip! Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide The Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants The Best EPCOT Restaurant Restaurants The Best Restaurants in Disney’s Hollywood Studios The Best Restaurants in Disney’s Animal Kingdom The Best Disney Springs Restaurants The Best (and Worst) Disney World Hotel Restaurants Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What’s your favorite spot in Disney Springs? Tell us in the comments! The post A “Meow-jito” Is Something We Never Knew We Needed, and It’s at the Edison in Disney Springs! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

EPCOT stands out above the rest when it comes to dining in Disney World — and for good reason. Japan pavilion So when Disney announced that a new restaurant would be coming to the Japan Pavilion this summer, we started counting down the days until it opened — and that day has finally come. Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya is open and we’re bringing you with us for a full (and EXPENSIVE) review! Now, the opening timeline here was a bit confusing. We first found out that Shiki-Sai would be coming to the Japan Pavilion several months ago, and then in early August, we learned that it would open on August 30th, 2023. Then the Disney World website changed the opening date to August 28th. But then, when we visited EPCOT on August 15th, we discovered that Shiki-Sai was open for walk-ins. Like we said, it was all a bit hectic, but now that the restaurant is open and accepting walk-ins, we HAD to go check it out. Atmosphere Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya is the newest table-service restaurant in EPCOT that features a “festive dining experience in a sharable Izakaya-style.” The menu includes items like sushi and teppan, as well as an open sushi bar and grill. Sushi lovers can enjoy Kobore Sushi, Tokyo Negi Roll, Funamori, and more in an atmosphere that has a casual pub-style feel with an emphasis on drinks and conversation with friends. Shiki-Sai Izakaya menus typically feature small dishes, and that’s also the case at Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya, too. The open sushi bar has highlights like the Kobore Sushi, the Tokyo Negi Roll, a Monster Roll, and the Funamori (sushi boat with a presentation of sashimi and sushi). Sushi bar Look out for brand new celebrations of Japanese food throughout the year, and changing menu items will represent different Japanese seasonal festivals! Periodically, there will be new celebrations that you can enjoy from your table, “from hanging tanzaku to celebrate Tanabata in July to savoring moon-viewing dumplings in September.” During the meal, a cultural representative will guide you through the experience. So, what’s our final word on Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya? Nosh or Not You should make a reservation at Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya if… You’re looking for a unique theme park dining experience. This restaurant has some seriously high-quality dishes and an excellent, well-informed staff that will walk you through your meal from start to finish. This isn’t your typical sit-down restaurant, but if you’re willing to branch out, we highly recommend giving this place a try. You LOVE sushi. This one seems pretty self-explanatory — it’s a sushi restaurant! Whether you take on the $300 sushi boat or opt for a smaller portion size, the sushi here is incredible. You want to learn more about Japanese culture. From the seasonal themes to the sweet cultural representatives, you can learn a LOT during your visit. Come here for the food, stay here for the experience — it’s well worth a visit! You should skip dining at Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya if… You have a picky eater in the group. Look, there’s a lot of raw fish, whole fish, and sushi on the menu here. The kids’ menu is quite small. If you have someone in the party that isn’t interested in seafood and doesn’t want to dive into the traditional Japanese cuisine, you might want to skip this place. You’re on a time crunch. Like many other sit-down restaurants, you need to dedicate a good chunk of time to your meal here. If you’re trying to pack in a full park day, you might want to look for a quick-service meal instead. You’re on a budget. We ordered a LOT of food (and one of the MOST expensive menu items), but even if you don’t spend as much as we did, this restaurant is still not the cheapest place to eat in EPCOT. Overall Consider adding Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya to your list if you’re looking for an adventurous new place to eat in EPCOT. We LOVED our meal — the food was fresh, the servers were fantastic, and the menu was extensive. We practically left with no complaints! For all you sushi fans, this is a must-do. That said, even if you aren’t a sushi lover, there’s plenty for you to explore here, too. From udon to wagyu, there’s plenty to eat. To be fair, we spent nearly $500 for all that food, so if your budget is limited, this might not be the place to go. We were among the first to eat here, and we were SO pleased with the new restaurant. 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! Stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney dining news and more. These Are the BEST Restaurants in EPCOT, Ranked 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! Will you be adding this restaurant to your list? Tell us in the comments. The post We Ate Nearly 0 Worth of Food at EPCOT’s New Shiki-Sai Restaurant — Here Are Our Honest Thoughts first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

SOUND THE ALARMS — a beloved EPCOT snack is BACK! EPCOT For those who might not remember the good old days, cronuts used to be a BIG thing in EPCOT. These special pastries are a mixture between croissants and donuts (often covered in cinnamon sugar) and they are a masterpiece in sweet goodness. They had disappeared from EPCOT, but now it looks like nature is HEALING. As we mentioned above, cronuts aren’t new to Disney World and they certainly aren’t new to EPCOT. They once lived on the menu at Refreshment Port, and we even got unique versions during some of EPCOT’s festivals. We later saw them pop up at the Taste Track booth, and then they made their way to the Electric Umbrella. We also saw a version of the cronut appear at Joffrey’s, Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew in Disney Springs, and most recently, we saw a cronut offered during Disney World’s 50th Anniversary. What a journey these things have had. Cronut from Joffrey’s Coffee in 2021 As you can tell from their complicated past, the more regular appearance of cronuts in EPCOT ended quite some time ago and we had been yearning for their return. And now, it seems the Disney gods have heard our requests! On August 16th, Disney made a surprising and fantastic announcement — CRONUTS ARE BACK IN EPCOT, this time over at Connections Cafe! REJOICE! They appear here in their more “formal” name — the Croissant Doughnut — and are priced at $5.79. Disney has said that this is the “new home” for the Croissant Doughnut so we’re really hoping it doesn’t disappear on us again! Hello Beautiful Now, let’s talk about the taste. The doughnut is covered in cinnamon sugar, is large (hello good portion size), and is delightfully flaky (as it should be!). Beautiful That’s all good news. So what about the bad news? Well, it was really (REALLY) tough to tear apart, and sadly not as sweet as our reporter would have liked, even though it had all of that cinnamon sugar on top. For some, that might be a plus, but our reporter could have used a stronger level of sweetness here — so it’ll really just depend on your own taste buds. Cronut Time Overall, we’d say that if you generally like cronuts (or the idea of them, if you’ve never had one before), are looking for a pastry to go with your coffee, or want something that is sweet but not overly so, this could be a great match. If, on the other hand, you’ve got a strong sweet tooth that needs buckets of sugar to be satisfied, hate cinnamon sugar, or want something that’s softer, then you might want to go for a different treat. A Peek Inside Something like a Liege Waffle (especially with the whipped cream at Connections Eatery), a caramel-covered snack from Karamell-Kuche (Germany pavilion), or one of the many snacks from Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie (France) might be more up your alley! LOTS to Pick From We’ll watch for more Disney snack news and share that all with you! WE KNOW – there are SO many great snacks at Disney World! How do you choose (we don’t want to choose but will blow our budget on Day 1 otherwise)? We’ve got you covered! We have reviewed nearly EVERY snack available at Disney World, and we’ve written a series of DFB Guides about them! Check out our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining + Snacks Bundle for all the details you need to plan your snackin’ and spending. DFB Guide and Snacks Bundle 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 a fan of the cronut? Tell us in the comments! The post Nature Is Healing — A Popular EPCOT Snack Is FINALLY BACK! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article