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Disney has a LOT going on right now. There are some BIG upcoming movie releases this year — both Wish and The Marvels are coming out later this year. ©Disney There are also some big things coming to Disney Cruise Line over the next couple of years, including a new ship, the Disney Treasure. There are also several new things coming to the parks worldwide, including a new attraction at EPCOT. So what do the opening timelines look like for all these projects? Well, we’ve seen a few timelines previously confirmed, but now we’ve got even MORE of an idea of what other timelines look like. The Walt Disney Company just released its earnings report and had its earnings call for the third quarter of fiscal year 2023. In this report, the company confirmed timelines for projects with its movies, streaming services, and parks and resorts. Many of these timelines had been previously confirmed, but we’ve got charts to lay them all out in a way that’s easy to understand. First up, we’ve got a look at Disney’s theatrical movie releases. This list includes some movies we had not yet seen timelines for, including the live-action Snow White, as well as Elio and Inside Out 2. It’s interesting to note that Deadpool 3 is not on the list, indicating it has been pushed back from its May 2024 opening timeline. ©Disney Looking at this, we see that Pixar’s Elio will premiere in theaters on March 1st, 2024. ©Pixar Snow White premieres on March 22nd, 2024. ©Disney Inside Out 2 premieres on June 14th, 2024. ©Disney We also have timelines confirmed for some important Disney+ and Hulu releases. ©Disney This list confirms the arrival of The Little Mermaid live-action film on Disney+ on September 6th. ©Disney Interestingly enough, season 2 of Loki is still listed under “release date not yet announced,” although Disney DID announce that Loki season 2 would arrive on Disney+ on October 6th. ©Disney Okay, let’s skip over to Disney Parks and Experiences. SO much new stuff is coming! ©Disney Lots of big stuff is coming, like the official opening of San Fransokyo Square at Disney California Adventure on August 31st. We’ve already seen some of that land coming to life. Port of San Fransokyo Cerveceria We can also see that The Villas at the Disneyland Hotel will be opening on September 28th, 2023. So soon! The Villas at Disneyland Resort construction The new EPCOT attraction, Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana, is still only listed as Fall 2023 — we’re still awaiting a more specific release date. Peek at the construction of Journey of Water The newest ship coming to Disney Cruise Line is the Treasure, but it’s only listed as coming in Fiscal 2025. This opening timeline was previously listed for 2024. We also see that the ship Disney recently acquired is also listed for the same timeline, along with a third Wish-class ship in Fiscal Year 2026. ©Disney The latest list also confirms that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is still on track for a 2024 opening, and we’ll certainly be keeping an eye on that. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure We knew about many of these opening dates and timelines, but seeing them set out like this gives us more perspective. We’ll be keeping an eye out for more updates, so stay tuned to DFB for more. Disney Only Has 4 More Months To Open ALL of These Restaurants and Attractions 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 these opening timelines and release dates? Let us know in the comments! The post NEWS: Disney Confirms Opening Timelines for Several HUGE Projects first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We hate to say it, but Disney doesn’t always keep their promises. Cinderella Castle Frequently — and especially over the last few years — they’ll announce an opening timeline for a new attraction, restaurant, or hotel refurbishment, but that date keeps getting pushed back further and further. We understand that some things are largely out of their control; for example, many projects were paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and lots of construction work was likely delayed due to widespread global supply chain issues. So here’s the big question: Will Disney actually finish all the projects it has promised for 2023? Let’s take a look at everything that’s SUPPOSED to open in Disney World and other Disney theme parks before the end of this year! Disney World Projects EPCOT Figment Character Meet-and-Greet Back in 2022, Disney announced that a Figment meet-and-greet would be coming to EPCOT by the end of 2023 (and the crowd went wild!!!). This meet-and-greet will be located in the Imagination! pavilion. Figment It’s supposed to arrive later this summer, which means it should open sometime this month! Click here to learn more! 100th Anniversary Fireworks Show The nighttime fireworks show Harmonious ended its run on April 2nd, 2023, and EPCOT Forever returned on April 3rd. But soon there will be an all-NEW fireworks show in this park! We learned at the D23 Expo last year that a new fireworks show is coming to EPCOT in late 2023. EPCOT This new show will celebrate The Walt Disney Company’s 100th anniversary. Disney stated that EPCOT is the center of that celebration at Walt Disney World. Disney showed a first look at some concept art for the show during a media event. They announced that the show is meant to “reflect the commonality in all of us.” New EPCOT show ©Disney From the picture, it looks like the new show will make use of pyrotechnics, laser lights, and water features (like we’ve seen with EPCOT Forever and Harmonious). The fireworks in the middle are making the shape of a heart, and there’s water and more fireworks shooting out from the center. Learn more about the new show here! CommuniCore Hall and Plaza CommuniCore Hall is a NEW area that’ll essentially be the “home base” for EPCOT’s festivals and live events and will serve as sort of a “hub” for Festival activity toward the front of the park. It will be located in World Celebration (a.k.a. toward the front of EPCOT). CommuniCore Plaza ©Disney This area is set to have some seriously exciting stuff. As many of you likely already know, EPCOT hosts 4 festivals throughout the year: the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival, the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival, and the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. CommuniCore Hall will play an integral part in these events, holding a demonstration kitchen, a mixology bar, and exhibition and gallery space. ©Disney CommuniCore Hall will technically be housed within something called CommuniCore Plaza. The areas in the Plaza beyond CommuniCore Hall are meant to provide an outdoor space where guests can come to relax and experience all that the Festivals have to offer. ©Disney One of the main spaces appears to be attached to the end of one side of CommuniCore Hall. There, you’ll find a space that can host large-scale concerts or an intimate performance that extends out into the gardens nearby. All of this is supposed to be finished in EPCOT by late 2023. Learn more about CommuniCore Hall and Plaza here! NEW Mickey Meet-and-Greet CommuniCore Hall will also be the location of a new Mickey & Friends meet-and-greet! We got a first look at what the outside of that meet-and-greet location will look like as well, and you can check it out below. It looks like the classic geodesic Spaceship Earth pattern will be repeated on the outside of this building — we can’t wait to see what it will look like in person. ©Disney So far, Disney hasn’t shared too many details about the new meet-and-greet, other than its location and that we can expect the experience to open “later this year.” Want to know more? Click here! Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana Journey of Water — Inspired by Moana is a new attraction — the first-ever inspired by Moana — coming to EPCOT’s World Nature in the fall of 2023. Journey of Water Concept Art © Disney In this attraction, visitors will be able to explore what Disney has described as a “lush exploration trail” that allows explorers to “play with magical, living water” through an immersive walk-through attraction. Learn all about this new attraction here! Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya A brand-new restaurant is opening in EPCOT’s Japan pavilion in the summer of 2023! Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya will be a table-service restaurant presenting, according to Disney, a “festive dining experience in a sharable Izakaya-style.” Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya Sign The menu will feature “Japanese delights like sushi and teppan items,” plus an open sushi bar and grill. Sushi fans can enjoy the Kobore Sushi, Tokyo Negi Roll, and Funamori. Not only that, but you’ll be able to enjoy Japanese Izakaya, a type of casual pub-style restaurant that puts an emphasis on drinks and conversations with friends. ©Disney Every month will bring a brand new celebration of Japanese food, and each month, changing menu items will represent a different Japanese seasonal festival! The restaurant will be located in the Japan Pavilion, on the second floor — above the Mitsukoshi Department Store (in the location of the former Tokyo Dining). Learn all about Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya here! Magic Kingdom Mirabel Character Meet-and-Greet Disney has announced that Mirabel from Encanto will soon get her own meet-and-greet in Magic Kingdom. She will meet guests in Fairytale Garden, which is currently home to Merida’s meet-and-greet. Mirabel at Disney World This new offering is set to open sometime in the fall of 2023. The existing space that is currently home to Merida’s meet-and-greet will be “transformed with whimsical decor inspired by La Familia Madrigal,” so you’ll get an extra special experience if you stop by to say hello to Mirabel. Find out where Merida has moved in Magic Kingdom! Hatbox Ghost Arrival at Haunted Mansion Back in September of 2022, Disney announced that the ICONIC Hatbox Ghost would be making his way over to Disney World’s version of the Haunted Mansion ride. Disney has shared that, later this year, the Hatbox Ghost will pop up in the Haunted Mansion, specifically as guests pass the Endless Hallway. Haunted Mansion Disney notes, “The Hatbox Ghost will appear to guests as they pass the Endless Hallway, welcoming himself inside from the swinging wake in the cemetery and grinning at the Doom Buggies as they set off deeper in.” Learn more about the Haunted Mansion change here! Disney’s BoardWalk The Cake Bake Shop The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers is coming to Disney World’s BoardWalk in 2023! This new Table Service restaurant will serve items for brunch, lunch, and dinner featuring both sweet and savory menus. Afternoon tea service will be offered as well. We’re also excited about the spot’s Champagne Bar! Concept art for The Cake Bake Shop Guest will also be able to pop in for a quick treat by grabbing something to-go from the bakery case if they don’t have time for a full meal. Click here to learn all about The Cake Bake Shop! Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs is coming to Disney’s BoardWalk! If you’re unfamiliar, Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs currently serves hand-dipped Corn Dogs and other unique Corn Dog creations over in Disneyland at the Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs kiosk in Downtown Disney. ©Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs This new spot will replace the BoardWalk To Go stand. We’re still waiting on a menu and official opening date for this location, so stay tuned for additional updates. (We’re keeping our fingers crossed that the famous — or infamous, depending on who you ask — PICKLE Corn Dog will be available at the Disney World location.) Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs should open on the BoardWalk sometime “later this year.” Learn more about this new spot here! Disney Springs EET by Maneet Chauhan EET is a new restaurant by James Beard Award-winning chef and Food Network star Maneet Chauhan together with hospitality entrepreneur (and Chauhan’s husband) Vivek Deora, and it’s coming to Disney Springs later this year! ©Disney via Instagram Disney shares that EET will present a “modern, fun Indian-inspired concept.” Though full details have not yet been shared for this new Disney Springs restaurant, we’ve gathered some information on what EET might have to offer based on another restaurant by Maneet Chaunan located in Nashville, Tennessee: Chauhan Ale & Masala House. You can check it out here. Learn more about EET by Maneet Chauhan here! Summer House on the Lake Summer House on the Lake is a new restaurant coming to Disney Springs in late 2023. Summer House currently has locations in Chicago and North Bethesda, Maryland. Though an official menu has not yet been revealed for the new Disney Springs restaurant, pizzas, sandwiches, salads, pasta, wood-grilled dishes, and more are featured at the existing locations. The Disney Springs restaurant will also serve a Weekend Brunch. ©Summer House Concept Art You can enjoy seating inside or on one of the spot’s outdoor patios. Additionally, tucked inside Summer House on the Lake will be The Cookie Jar, which is “a dessert-focused market” that serves “freshly baked cookies and house-made pastries.” Learn all about Summer House on the Lake here! Disneyland Projects Disneyland Park Tiana’s Palace Restaurant Make way for Tiana’s Palace — a NEW restaurant coming to New Orleans Square in Disneyland Park later this year! It will be replacing the former French Market Restaurant. The Mint Julep Bar, which was located in the French Market, is also closed; however, it will reopen to serve its famous beignets and Mint Juleps along with Tiana’s Palace! © Disney Tiana’s Palace was announced in September 2022, and Disney provided the following information about its backstory: “With its mouthwatering menu, exceptional entertainment, and warmhearted hospitality, Tiana’s Palace quickly became a treasured meeting place in New Orleans. Princess Tiana used her newfound success to support surrounding neighborhoods, which led to her role as a community leader.” Decorative Pieces Disney also shared that “the new Tiana’s Palace will have much of the same pinch of pizzazz and flair as the restaurant from the film, offering authentic New Orleans flavors inspired by Tiana’s friends and adventures in this quick-service style restaurant.” The menu will feature an expansion on the current favorites served at this location, in addition to exploring seasonal flavors and offering New Orleans classics. Learn more about Tiana’s Palace here! Disneyland Hotels Pixar Retheme of Paradise Pier, including Great Maple Restaurant At the 2022 D23 Expo, we learned that Disneyland’s Paradise Pier Hotel is being re-themed to be allllll about Pixar! Not only that, but Disney shared that the re-themed hotel will be named Pixar Place Hotel, and it will “weave the artistry of Pixar into its comfortable, contemporary setting.” Pixar Place Construction Progress Chairman of the Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products division, Josh D’Amaro, announced that Pixar Place Hotel will be a spot where you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a Pixar art gallery. You’ll also find new interpretations of your favorite Pixar pals and what looks like a very special Finding Nemo-themed splash pad. ©Disney Disney also shared that the team from Great Maple will open a restaurant on the first floor and operate the other food and drink locations at the hotel. ©Disney Great Maple will be a “Southern California-based modern American eatery.” It will serve upscale dishes of fan-favorite comfort foods like fried chicken, burgers, and even salads. Sounds like guests are in for an exciting new hotel experience AND delicious eats. Learn more about Great Maple Restaurant here! We also got to see a glimpse of the new stripes that have been painted on the side of the hotel — looking colorful like a Pixar movie already. Stripes This re-theme is expected to be completed this winter. Learn more about the re-theme here! The Villas at Disneyland Hotel Another change coming to Disneyland is the NEW DVC Villas building at the Disneyland Hotel! We already got a first look at some of the rooms, which are expected to open on September 28th, 2023. There will be completely new duo studios, deluxe studios, one- and two-bedroom villas, and grand villas. ©Disney The rooms are themed after a variety of Disney films, from classics like The Jungle Book to modern favorites like The Princess and the Frog. The lobby has a unique feature of its own; inside will be a mural created exclusively for the resort by Disney Animation artist Lorelay Bové, who has worked on Disney films like Tangled as well as Disney books. Learn more about the Villas at Disneyland Hotel here! Hong Kong Disneyland World of Frozen Hong Kong Disneyland’s World of Frozen will be the first of THREE Frozen-themed lands in Disney Parks around the world. It will include a restaurant, stores, character meet-and-greets, and several attractions, including a version of Frozen Ever After (similar to the ride in EPCOT) and the first Frozen-themed roller coaster, Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs. ©Disney World of Frozen is set to open in November 2023 — that’s not that far away at all! We’ll keep an eye out for an official opening date and more sneak peeks, so stay tuned to DFB for more. Get a sneak peek at this upcoming land here! So what do you think — will Disney be able to get it all done? It’s definitely a LOT of work, and they’ve only got about four and a half months left until 2024 arrives (can you BELIEVE that??). But hey — if we’ve learned anything from The Princess Diaries, it’s that miracles happen once in a while! We’ll keep you updated with all the latest Disney news, so stay tuned to DFB. Click here to see 17 CRITICAL dates for Disney World fans in 2024. 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 Disney get it all done? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney Only Has 4 More Months To Open ALL of These Restaurants and Attractions first appeared on the disney food blog. 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We think the 999 Haunted Mansion ghosts are at it again… Haunted Mansion It’s officially spooky season in Disney World, and things are already looking festive! Which is a perfectly good time for Disney to…close the Haunted Mansion for refurbishment? The ride was scheduled to reopen on August 10th after a brief closure, but it doesn’t look as though things are going according to plan… Bad news, friends — the Haunted Mansion is still closed in Disney World! The ride was supposed to reopen on August 10th after a brief closure from August 7th to 9th. But, as we headed over to the attraction to check out what had potentially changed, we realized that it failed to reopen as planned. Oh no! There were plenty of people waiting around just in case it might suddenly open, but for now, you’ll have to find your happy haunts elsewhere. People waiting! Cast Members shared that this closure is due to technical difficulties and is not related to the recent refurbishment. They said to keep checking the My Disney Experience app for the latest info as they weren’t sure when it may reopen. Not only that, but when we asked if the Hatbox Ghost had been added, Cast Members told us that “no new show effects” would be present after the refurbishment — but we’re still not totally convinced. Hatbox Ghost in Disneyland The Hatbox Ghost has been at Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion for a while now, but Disney recently announced that he would be coming to Disney World as well. The only timeline for the ghost’s arrival is sometime in 2023, so while it’s possible this is what Disney has been working on, we will have to wait and see. ©Disney We’ll continue to keep an eye on this closure and let you know of any updates. In the meantime, stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney news and more! Click here to learn more about the Hatbox Ghost, coming to Disney World! IT'S SPOOK-TACULAR! Get ready for the spookiest season of the year at Disney World! We are beyond thrilled to announce the arrival of our brand-new guide -- Halloween at Disney World: DFB's Spook-tacular Guide! From the thrills of Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party to the enchanting resort decorations that'll send shivers down your spine, our guide is packed with tips and tricks to help you squeeze every ounce of ghoulish fun out of your visit. Plus, we've got the inside scoop on all the limited-time-only bone-chilling activities happening across the parks! Get the Halloween at Disney World: DFB's Spook-tacular Guide to make your frightfully delightful adventure even more magical! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Halloween at Walt Disney World EVERYTHING CONFIRMED for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in Disney World FULL LIST of Rides That Will Be Open at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in Disney World Get All of the Latest Updates on Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Target Has NEW Halloween Inflatables Online Now! How To Get the CHEAPEST Tickets for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in Disney World CHANGES Revealed for Disney World’s Halloween Parade in 2023 Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click Here to Subscribe Are you heading to Disney World this fall season? Tell us in the comments. The post NEWS: Haunted Mansion Fails To Reopen in Magic Kingdom first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney rules thrown out the window, TONS of new restaurants on the horizon, and a sudden change for the company’s future? Partners Statue in Disney World 2024 is gonna be a WILD one for Disney, y’all — so let’s talk more about those big changes today, on DFB Guide. Check out our video below: 20 BIG Changes Disney Has Already Announced for 2024  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 Are you going to Disney World in 2024? Tell us in the comments below. The post DFB Video: 20 BIG Changes Disney Has Already Announced for 2024 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We all have that one ride we just HAVE to rope drop in Disney World, right? Pirates of the Caribbean in Magic Kingdom Maybe you always run straight to Spaceship Earth as soon as EPCOT opens because you need to hear Dame Judi Dench tell you about the history of communication. Maybe it’s making a beeline for Pandora to ride Flight of Passage in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Perhaps you want your first ride in Magic Kingdom to be Pirates of the Caribbean, but if that’s the case, you may not want to do that. We get it. Pirates of the Caribbean is awesome — those animatronics, that song (we bet you’re at least humming it RIGHT NOW), and THAT SMELL. We might be tempted to make a run for that attraction at rope drop, too. But we’re telling you that you should reconsider. Here’s why. It’s often closed Imagine this: rope drop has just happened and you’re walking (not running!) very very fast to get to Pirates of the Caribbean in Adventureland. Except that when you reach the ride, Cast Members are standing outside of it telling you that it’s closed. Think this is a fluke? Think again. This ride has been having a lot of issues recently and has been closed a lot. Sometimes, it’s even been closed for almost entire days. A recent Pirates of the Caribbean closure That includes first thing in the morning, shortly after rope drop. So save yourself the disappointment and don’t make Pirates of the Caribbean your rope drop ride. Recently, we saw the ride closed most of the day on August 4th, and all day on August 5th. Before that, it was closed for an extended time on July 31st. Why You Can’t Count on Pirates of the Caribbean in Disney World These Days More popular rides should be your priority Here’s the thing: Pirates of the Caribbean isn’t going ANYWHERE, and making it your rope drop priority may not be a good use of your time. There are far more popular rides you’ll probably want to head to first, like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Even rides like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Haunted Mansion would be better ways to use your rope drop time as those rides tend to have longer lines as the day progresses. Make other rides your rope dropping priority So don’t make Pirates of the Caribbean the first ride you head to for rope drop — you’ll be wasting valuable time you could’ve spent on knocking out more popular rides. Best Rides for Adults at Magic Kingdom There are better times to ride Pirates of the Caribbean Instead of wasting that rope drop time on Pirates of the Caribbean, you’ll find shorter lines for this attraction later in the day. For example, during fireworks, you might likely be able to walk right onto the attraction. This is also true during meal times, and later at night. Wait until later to watch this scene In fact, you can hop in line for Pirates of the Caribbean just before park close and avoid much of the crowds leaving Magic Kingdom. By the time you’re off the ride, those crowds will have dissipated some and you’ll have a quieter Magic Kingdom to yourself as you leave. The Pirates of the Caribbean Detail You’ve Probably Walked Past 100 Times in Disney World Again, if you MUST rope drop Pirates of the Caribbean, we understand. This classic Disney attraction is timeless, fun, and utterly charming (and even a little scary sometimes). So we’re not going to tell you what to do, but you could enjoy the ride with a shorter line later if you just have a little patience. To quote Captain Jack Sparrow: “The only rules that really matter are these: what a man can do, and what a man can’t do.” Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney tips, tricks, news, and more! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW How much of a priority is Pirates of the Caribbean for you when you’re in Magic Kingdom? Let us know in the comments. The post 3 Compelling Reasons NOT to Rope Drop Pirates of the Caribbean in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you love sushi and EPCOT, you’re about to have a field day. EPCOT We learned recently that a new restaurant addition would be added to the Japan pavilion at EPCOT — an all-new sushi bar and grill called Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya. We knew that the restaurant would open at some point this summer, but Disney didn’t say exactly when… until now! Shiki-Sai will open on August 30th for EPCOT guests! Y’all, that is SO SOON, and we couldn’t be more excited. Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya Sign There still isn’t reservation availability on Disney’s website, but we’ll be on a close lookout to let you know when you can go ahead and snag a spot. We’re also curious to see if they’ll do a soft opening closer to August 30th. ©Disney Similarly, there’s also no menu on the website yet. However, we can expect things like Karaage Chicken, Salmon Misoyaki, and Tomato Salad with Avocado for the Izakaya (sharable) plates when the restaurant opens. The spot will also feature an open sushi bar. Here, you’ll find highlights like the Kobore Sushi, the Tokyo Negi Roll, a Monster Roll and the Funamori (sushi boat with a presentation of sashimi and sushi). The price range listed says “$$”, which typically indicates that the prices will range from $15 to $34.99. ©Disney Wow! We can’t wait to try out this new eatery. We’ll continue to keep you updated on more news regarding Shiki-Sai as we have it. Make sure to follow along for more! Hoping for more details on this new EPCOT eatery? Click here! Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide The Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants The Best EPCOT Restaurant Restaurants The Best Restaurants in Disney’s Hollywood Studios The Best Restaurants in Disney’s Animal Kingdom The Best Disney Springs Restaurants The Best (and Worst) Disney World Hotel Restaurants Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Would you try this new restaurant? Let us know in the comments! The post OPENING DATE Announced for the NEW Shiki-Sai Restaurant in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again. Cinderella Castle You can find some of the BEST Disney merchandise and travel necessities online on Amazon. You can find Loungefly bags, T-shirts, and a few super unique things that might not even be in the parks. We actually found some unique souvenirs on Amazon recently, and we thought they were so cute that we just had to share them. Alright, so this post goes out to all of you who love all things vintage Disney. These Disney100 plushes are all inspired by vintage Disney cartoons, and they even come in a box that looks like a vintage TV set. Check them out! Disney100 Silly Symphonies Skeleton Dance Plushes ©Amazon These beloved skeletons can become a permanent part of your home decor! The skeletons come in a “TV” with the screen set up to look like the graveyard in “The Skeleton Dance.” This could be a great Halloween decor piece! View on Amazon Disney100 “Hawaiian Holiday” Goofy Plush ©Disney If you wish life could be an endless summer, then this plush is for you! This “TV” shows goofy chilling out on a surfboard in Hawaii. Isn’t he adorable? He looks just like he does in “Hawaiian Holiday.” View on Amazon Disney100 “Crazy Over Daisy” Donald Duck Plush ©Amazon Isn’t Donald so cute on his penny-farthing? This plush looks just like Donald as he appears in the “Crazy Over Daisy” cartoon. View on Amazon Disney100 “Wonderful World of Color” Tinker Bell Plush ©Amazon If you love Tinker Bell, this could be a great option! She’s shown from a scene of “Wonderful World of Color” in front of the castle and fireworks. View on Amazon And there you have it! We’ll continue to keep you updated with more merchandise we find. Make sure to follow along for more! Looking for even more Disney merchandise we’ve seen recently? Check out the Halloween merchandise we’ve seen 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 Which of these TV plushes is your favorite? The post Get EXCLUSIVE New Disney 100th Anniversary Souvenirs on Amazon Now! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

After Hours events in Disney World are super popular because they allow access to the parks without the crowds, the sun, or the ride lines. Figment after hours! Disney has holiday-themed after-hours parties like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. However, there are also park-specific events that happen throughout the year. If you’ve been hoping to attend EPCOT’s after-hours events, you need to book these tickets ASAP! EPCOT’s After Hours events are happening on select nights through August 24th, and two of these dates are already sold out. ©Disney While the 17th and 24th still have availability, we learned from our friend Sue at Small World Vacations that these last two dates are 80% sold out right now, meaning these last few tickets will go FAST. After Hours “Crowds” If you’re looking to experience lots of what EPCOT has to offer with as little stress and crowds as possible, grabbing an after-hours ticket instead of a regular park ticket for one of these two dates may be a great plan. Not only do you get to ride your favorite attractions with little to no waits, you can also get free snacks and soft drinks, visit with characters, and so much more. Mickey Ice Cream Sandwich Hold up for a sec! Before you plan your next trip to Disney World, check out our DFB Guide Everything Bundle here. You will get ALL of our best-selling eBooks with details on Disney World Dining, EPCOT Festivals, the BEST snacks in each park, and soooooo many tips and tricks we’ve learned over decades of visiting our happy place. DFB Everything Bundle We’ll keep you updated on all the latest Disney news, so stay tuned to DFB! THIS is the difference between after-hours events and extended evening hours in Disney World Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you -- they've literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They're DFB's recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!) So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/customemailexample.jpg What’s your favorite part of after-hours events? Tell us in the comments! The post Heads Up! Tickets Are 80% SOLD OUT for These EPCOT After Hours Events first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Wouldn’t it be nice if Disney had one clear, specific opening date for every new project and upcoming attraction? Wouldn’t it be simpler if there was just one official ribbon-cutting ceremony per attraction, then that attraction would open to the public? Well, for better or worse, that’s not always the way it goes in Disney World. Monorail in EPCOT So why are we lamenting the Disney World opening timeline process on a random August afternoon? Well, we noticed something weird was going on in EPCOT, and our investigation took us on a wild journey. Buckle up, we’re going for a ride. As you may have heard, a brand new restaurant is opening in EPCOT’s Japan pavilion this summer called Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya. The restaurant will be a table-service restaurant presenting, per Disney, a “festive dining experience in a sharable Izakaya-style.” We’re expecting a variety of “Japanese delights like sushi and teppan items,” plus an open sushi bar and grill. Disney explains this new spot will be a type of casual pub-style restaurant that puts an emphasis on drinks and conversations with friends (known as Japanese Izakaya). It’s coming soon! We’ve been on the lookout for any new details we could find — the full menu, an opening date, and operating hours are all still big topics we’re waiting for Disney to address. Recently, though, we did notice some new artwork appeared in the lobby area. Could this mean the opening date is coming soon? New art! On August 9th, we noticed that the Disney World website had newly listed operating hours for Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya. Check out the calendar — Disney listed operating hours from 12PM to 9PM, but the restaurant still says “Opening Soon!” right above the calendar. How mysterious! ©Disney In the past, guests have used the Disney World calendar to look ahead and determine when an attraction or restaurant would open, but this time, we noticed operating hours available the same day we checked: August 9th! Did this mean Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya had a secret OPENING?! This is what the location looked like for a while Well, naturally, we went straight to the source: Disney World Cast Members. First, we checked with Guest Relations and were told that the restaurant is currently set to open “soon.” Then, we consulted some other Cast Members, who seemed surprised that the Disney World website had operating hours listed. Clearly, this was not a highly-publicized change. We went to the experts From there, we decided to investigate in EPCOT. We headed straight to the Japan Pavilion and marched right over to Shiki-Sai. Interestingly, the restaurant WAS open, but not for everyone. It looks open, right? Instead, there was a sign noting a “Private Event” was taking place. That explains a lot! Boooo!!! When we asked a Cast Member at the check-in desk, we were told that the restaurant would not officially open until later this month, though they did not have an official opening date. That said, the Disney World website has those same 12PM-9PM hours listed every day for the rest of the month. Could this mean that Disney is planning a soft opening? We’ll have to wait and see! ©Disney We will continue to look out for more updates. In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more. How the NEW EPCOT Restaurant Will Be Unlike Any You’ve Seen Before 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 to dine here? Let us know in the comments! The post What’s Going On With the NEW Japan Pavilion Restaurant in EPCOT? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The Walt Disney Company Q3 earnings call revealed a lot about the status of Disney+, the Disney parks, and more. ©Apple We learned that Disney may soon take a closer look at password sharing and has plans to increase the price of its ad-free Disney+ tier. Now, we have an update on a new Disney+ option that may appeal to new customers. After taking a closer look at the data, Disney+’s subscriber count increased by 800,000 (excluding Disney+ Hotstar, with saw a 24% loss in subscribers). That said, the company saw an overall loss in subscribers. Although Disney+ lost subscribers, the average monthly revenue increased from $7.14 to $7.31 “due to higher per-subscriber advertising revenue.” Importantly, Bob Iger noted that about 40% of new Disney+ subscribers are choosing the ad-supported option. ‘Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers’ Disney+ Ad in Hollywood Studios In light of these updates, Disney plans to release a new Duo Bundle, which will include Disney+ and Hulu. The Duo Premium tier will come with access to Disney+ (ad-free) and Hulu (ad-free) and will cost $19.99 per month. Note that the Duo Basic bundle includes the ad-supported versions of Disney+ and Hulu for $9.99. Hulu sign in Disney’s Hollywood Studios The new $19.99 Duo Bundle will be available starting September 6th, 2023. This deal offers a 37% discount compared to the current standalone plans. ©Hulu This new offer may help new customers save some serious money — especially in light of the steep price increases that will soon hit the ad-free Disney+ tier. In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more. NEWS on Disney CEO Bob Iger’s “Number One Priority” Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Do you use Disney+? Let us know in the comments! The post A NEW Disney+ and Hulu Duo Bundle is Coming SOON first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Is Apple going to buy Disney? ©Apple Rumors have been flying for some time now, and Bob Iger addressed this question once again in a recent earnings call. During the third quarter earnings call of The Walt Disney Company, Bob Iger was asked whether Disney could be sold to a larger tech company. Although Apple wasn’t specifically mentioned, the question clearly refers to the recent rumors about Apple’s acquisition of Disney. ©Disney In response, Iger said, “I just am not going to speculate about the potential for Disney to be acquired by any company.” It’s not a hard “no,” but Iger is definitely staying quiet about the potential for future mergers. He went on to point out that the “global regulatory environment” needs to be considered and stated that the potential acquisition is “not something we obsess about.” Iger concluded, “I’ll say no more than that.” ©Reuters | Disney CEO Bob Iger According to The Hollywood Reporter, one veteran Hollywood executive said, “I don’t think [Apple] would buy the company as it presently exists, but if you see Bob start to divest things…that feels like he’s prepping for a sale. And there’s clearly no buyer like Apple.” Iger has already announced that the company may be getting rid of linear networks, which seems to align with that image of divesting parts of the company. ©Disney | Walt Disney Company Headquarters Does Apple really want Disney, though? The Reporter acknowledged the problem stating that “while it may be very true that Apple doesn’t want to buy a studio, maybe it would want to buy this studio — the one that, despite the challenges of the moment, has a vault full of priceless IP and remains the most valuable brand in entertainment.” Don’t forget that Apple and Disney have a long history. Iger acquired Pixar from Apple in 2006. Steve Jobs was part of Disney’s Board of Directors for several years, and Bob Iger served on the Apple Board of Directors. In his memoir The Ride of a Lifetime, Iger communicates mutual respect between himself and Jobs, and states that they not only worked together but were also close friends. ©Bloomberg (Obtained via Vanity Fair) In the same book, Iger wrote, “I believe that if Steve were still alive, we would have combined our companies, or at least discussed the possibility very seriously.” ©PAUL SAKUMA/A.P. PHOTO (Obtained via Vanity Fair) Needham & Co. analyst Laura Martin predicted that Disney could be purchased as soon as within the next three years (Hollywood Reporter). Martin suggests that “Disney could give Apple the catalyst it needs to drive adoption of its forthcoming Vision Pro augmented reality headset.” One problem that Disney and Apple would face in any significant merger would be the “global regulatory environment” that Iger mentioned during the earnings call. Analysts have predicted that the acquisition might not be approved at all, and some Disney fans and shareholders might be wary of the merger. We’ll continue watching for more updates, so stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney news. Click here to learn about a recent collaboration between Apple and Disney. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What do you think — should Disney sell to Apple? let us know in the comments. The post Bob Iger Was Asked If He’d Sell Disney To Apple. Here’s What He Said. first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s about to get pricier to watch your favorite Disney movies! ©Disney Disney released its earnings report for the third quarter of the 2023 fiscal year and held an earnings call to discuss the report. We heard some updates about Disney’s theme parks, how the company is doing financially as a whole, and some news on its entertainment division. Improving streaming and Disney+ is a “number on priority,” according to Bob Iger, CEO of the company, and unfortunately, prices will be increasing. In the earnings call, Disney shared that it would be increasing prices on almost all of its streaming services in an attempt to aid profitability. The ad-free tier of Disney+ will raise to $13.99 per month starting on October 12th, 2023. Fortunately, the commercial-based tier will remain the same. ©Disney Similarly, they will be raising the cost of Hulu without commercials to $17.99 per month — but the ad-supported version will remain at its current price. ©Hulu Disney will also be adding an ad-free bundled plan for those who want a subscription to Hulu and Disney+ together, which will debut on September 6th, 2023. This new “premium duo” plan will be $19.99 per month, a $12 per month discount compared to having those subscriptions separately. ©Apple Disney shared that they are expecting growth financially for Disney+ in Q4, so we will have to wait and see what this new subscription pricing does. As always, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news! NEWS: Disney+ To Squelch Password Sharing 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 Disney+ subscriber? Let us know in the comments below! The post DATE ANNOUNCED for Disney+ Price Increase first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The Walt Disney Company‘s third-quarter earnings call answered a LOT of questions and addressed several important topics regarding the future of the company. One of the topics on many people’s minds lately has been the announcement that Disney may be diving deeper into the world of sports betting with the launch of ESPN BET. ESPN Wide World of Sports Now, we’ve learned more about ESPN BET and what Disney CEO Bob Iger has planned. Let’s dive in. First, let’s go over a little history. During the era when Bob Chapek was CEO of The Walt Disney Company, sports betting was one of Chapek’s money-making priorities. Then when current CEO Bob Iger took over, it appeared that Iger wasn’t as interested in sports betting as his predecessor. In fact, when asked if Disney had any plans to invest in the business of gambling, Iger said, “I rather doubt it.” ©Apple Over time, Iger began to make more references to suggest sports betting may be an option for Disney. He stated that the idea of getting into sports betting was “inevitable that they’ll be a…basically, a seamlessness between sports programming and sports betting.” ©ESPN More recently, ESPN announced a new agreement with PENN Entertainment to launch ESPN BET, which is a “branded sportsbook for fans in the United States.” Now, it seems Disney is prepared to dive deeper into sports betting. ©Disney During The Walt Disney Company’s third-quarter earnings call for fiscal year 2023 on August 9th, Disney CEO Bob Iger shared more comments on ESPN BET. Iger was asked why Disney chose NOW to launch ESPN BET and the vision behind the platform, and he responded that entering the world of sports betting has been in discussion among the company for quite some time. ©Reuters | Disney CEO Bob Iger He continued that a large appeal for getting into sports betting was the potential for growing engagement with young customers. Apparently, PENN made an “aggressive offer” that was better than the other offers Disney had received. Iger said, “We believe and trust in their ability to grow this partnership.” We’ll be looking out for more news on the new sports betting service. In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more. Disney Announces MAJOR Change for ESPN Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What do you think about this sports betting update? Tell us in the comments! The post Disney CEO Bob Iger Comments on New ESPN Sports Betting Service first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Buckle up, y’all — we’ve got BIG NEWS! Partners Statue in Disney World On August 9th, stakeholders and Disney fans — the team here at DFB included — tuned in to the company’s Q3 earnings call to check out the details on the Walt Disney Company’s successes and shortcomings during the third quarter of fiscal year 2023. The quarter was filled with a few gains and losses, some of which took place within Disney+ — the company’s streaming platform. And now, cracking down on password sharing could be Disney’s answer. In Q3, Disney+ saw an overall increase in subscribers compared to the same quarter last year, as well as an increase in revenue per subscriber. Now, Disney CEO Bob Iger says that the company is trying to determine strategies for pricing, marketing, and content, to “reset the whole business around economics.” ©Disney Further, Iger said that the company is attempting to rationalize the volume of content they produce while also improving user experience and economics — which is no easy task. The company is trying to unify streaming platforms (Disney+, ESPN, and Hulu) to a one-app experience, beginning domestically. ©Disney That said, Iger announced that a new ad-free bundled subscription plan would be available in the United States on September 6th. He also said that the company is actively looking into ways to address account sharing — as in password sharing. Iger confirmed that the company was actively updating subscription agreements. ©Disney So, it’s possible that Disney might soon crack down on password sharing and make it impossible to be logged in on too many devices at once. When we find out more about this, we’ll be the first to let you know! Make sure to stay tuned to DFB for any and all Disney news and updates, and make sure to follow along for more. Looking for more Disney streaming news? Click here on Disney’s newest streaming platform — ESPN BET. 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 about this Disney+ news? Let us know in the comments! The post NEWS: Disney+ To Attack Password Sharing first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

One of the best ways to stay up to date on Disney news is to tune into the quarterly earnings calls. Magic Kingdom These earnings reports not only share with stakeholders and Disney fans the company’s financial successes and shortcomings throughout the fiscal year, but they’re also a great way to gain some insight into what Disney’s plans are for the near future. From these calls, we’ve learned about upcoming films, Disney’s plans for ticketing and park passes, and we’ve even learned about Disney’s plans to sell assets. August 9th marked the Q3 earnings call for fiscal 2023, and we learned a LOT about Disney’s performance as far as crowds and ticketing go. Let’s talk about it! So far this summer, we’ve seen low crowds at Disney World and have even seen some ticket discounts being announced, as well as some hotel discounts looking forward to the holidays. In 2024, most guests will no longer have to make park pass reservations. Magic Kingdom Summer Crowds in August 2022 Disney’s Third Quarter 2023 Earnings Report has revealed that Disney Parks, Experiences and Products revenues for the quarter increased 13% to $8.3 billion, while segment operating income increased 11% to $2.4 billion. The international parks had higher operating costs for the quarter, but those were partially offset by lower results at U.S. parks and by Disney’s merchandise licensing. ©Disney The decrease in operating income at U.S. parks was due to lower results at those parks and Disney Vacation Club, which had lower unit sales this quarter, partially offset by an increase at Disney Cruise Line. Basically, this means that domestic theme parks had lower results this quarter, although Disney Cruise Line had an increase. Cinderella Castle in Disney World Yep, there was a decrease at Walt Disney World, which is primarily due to higher costs and lower volumes (i.e., lower attendance). The increase in costs there was attributed to inflation but also the accelerated depreciation of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, which will be permanently closing soon. Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser The report also pointed out that lower volumes at Disney World were due to decreases in occupied room nights and attendance. So it seems that far fewer people are going to Disney World in this quarter, which is something we’ve observed in the parks over the summer. Disney’s Pop Century Resort However, on the West Coast, Disneyland saw higher attendance and increased guest spending, although that was largely offset by higher costs driven by inflation. Guest spending increased mostly due to an increase in average ticket prices. Disneyland We’ll continue to keep you updated with more Disney news. In the meantime, make sure to follow along for more! Want to know how Disney+ is doing this quarter? Click here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Do you typically tune in to Disney’s quarterly earnings calls? Let us know in the comments! The post NEWS: Disney World Attendance and Hotel Stays Are DOWN According to the Data first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Actors and writers are currently on strike in Hollywood, with the writers’ strike starting in May and the actors’ strike starting on June 13th. As a result, several film projects have been put on hold. ©The Rolling Stone Disney CEO Bob Iger previously commented about the possibility of an actors’ strike (before the strike was officially called), and he received backlash for his comments, which some deemed to be “out of touch” and “tone-deaf.” As the criticism began to spread, many Disney fans wondered if Iger would change his tune about the strikes. In Disney’s third-quarter earning call, the CEO once again commented on this situation. During an interview with CNBC earlier this year, Bob Iger was asked about the actor and writer strikes. He commented on how the industry was still trying to recover after the COVID-19 pandemic shut down many productions and said that the idea that strikes would follow and further disrupt those projects was “very disturbing.” Bob Iger ©New York Post Iger said, “This is the worst time in the world to add to that disruption.” He did mention he respects the unions’ rights to get more compensation for their people, “but you also have to be realistic about the business environment,” which has been a great business for all these people. Iger’s words have been turned against him by many people, including actors on the strike lines, Disney fans, and even the SAG-AFTRA President, Fran Drescher. About Bob Iger, Drescher said, “If I were that company, I would lock him behind doors.” She said his comments were “repugnant,” “out of touch,” and “tone-deaf.” ©SAG-AFTRA Actor Anthony Rapp said, “I don’t think it’s realistic for Bob Iger and other CEOs to make 27, 35, 200 million dollars a year and expect that the labor that allows them to make that kind of money demands fair wages.” Now, during the company’s third-quarter earnings call, Iger has commented on the situation once again, and he took a very different approach this time. Iger started by saying, “Nothing is more important to this company than its relationships with the creative community,” including actors and writers. He went on to say, “I have deep respect for all those who are vital to the creative engine.” He ended his short remarks by saying, “It is my fervent hope that we quickly find solutions. I am personally committed to working to achieve this result.” ©Disney One of the main issues that both the writers and actors are concerned about is the use of AI in entertainment. In fact, Disney has a specific AI task force designed to evaluate how the company plans to use the technology going forward. Disney has been criticized for their use of AI in the opening credits of Secret Invasion, although the company claimed that “no artists’ jobs were replaced by incorporating these new tools.” ©Disney | Walt Disney Company Headquarters We’ll have to wait and see what happens with strike negotiations and the use of AI in Disney’s upcoming movies. Stay tuned to DFB for more breaking news from Disney. Click here to learn more about Disney’s AI task force. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post BREAKING: Disney CEO Bob Iger Comments on Actor's Strike first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Things are CHANGING at the Walt Disney Company and we now have an inside look at what’s going on. Disney World On August 9th, 2023, Disney released its earnings report for the third quarter of fiscal year 2023 (Q3 of FY 2023) and held an earnings call related to the report. Why is this a big deal? Well, these earnings reports/calls give us a peek behind the curtain (so to speak) — a look at just how things are going financially for the Company, from the parks to Disney+. And this earnings report/call revealed some especially important things — let’s take a look! A few key things to keep in mind. This is the first Disney earnings call following the announcement that CEO Bob Iger’s contract at Disney has been extended through 2026. It is also the first Disney earnings call following the start of the actors’ strike, and the first following Christine McCarthy’s announcement that she would be stepping down as Disney’s CFO — a temporary CFO had been announced to take her place. Overall Financial Results In terms of overall financial results, here’s what Disney has reported for Q3 of FY 2023: Iger called Disney’s first quarter of 2023 “solid” and previously said Disney was “pleased” with their accomplishments in the second quarter. So how has this third quarter gone? Well, in the earnings report, he noted that revenues for the quarter and nine months grew 4% and 8%, respectively. Partners Statue in Disney World However, diluted earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations for the quarter was a loss of $0.25 compared to income of $0.77 in the prior-year quarter. Not only this, but diluted EPS for the quarter was $1.03, down from $1.09 in the prior year quarter. EPS from continuing operations for the nine months ended July 1, 2023, and decreased to $1.14 from $1.66 in the prior-year period. Lastly, diluted EPS for the nine months, which also ended July 1, 2023, decreased to $2.94 from $3.22 in the prior-year period. So, the company has seen quite a few decreases in revenue. Below is a chart showing some of the key financial results from Q3 of FY 2023, just so that you can see it visually! ©Disney Now, let’s look at Disney+ numbers. Disney+ Subscribers The number of Disney+ subscribers has been a big topic over the past few years. In Q1 of FY 2023, Disney+ LOST some subscribers. It also lost some subscribers in Q2 of FY 2023. As of the Q2 report, the total number of subscribers was 157.8 million. So how has that changed? ©Disney In Q3 of FY 2023, domestic subscriptions saw a drop in Disney+ subscribers compared to the prior-year quarter, but overall, Disney+ Core saw a slight increase in total subscribers. The total number of Disney+ subscribers (as of the latest updates) is now 146.1 million. This statistic represents the number of Domestic, International, and Hotstar subscribers combined. Despite this, Disney reported that “Direct-to-Consumer revenues for the quarter increased 9% to $5.5 billion.” They noted that this improvement was “due to higher subscription revenue and a decrease in marketing costs, partially offset by higher programming and production costs and lower advertising revenue.” Click here to learn about the price increase previously announced for Disney+ Disney+ Financial Status Now, let’s take a look beyond the subscriber numbers. While subscribers are important, Disney has also been focused on the profitability of Disney+. In fact, Iger has previously shared that improving streaming is his #1 goal at Disney. So…how are things looking? ©Disney Well, in Q2 of FY 2023, Disney’s direct-to-consumer department as a whole reported an increase in revenue ($5.5 billion was the total) and the operating loss decreased a bit (down to $0.2 billion). For Q3 of FY 2023, domestic Disney+ average monthly revenue per paid subscriber increased from $7.14 to $7.31 due to higher per-subscriber advertising revenue. International Disney+ (excluding Disney+ Hotstar) average monthly revenue per paid subscriber increased from $5.93 to $6.01 due to an increase in average retail pricing and a favorable foreign exchange impact, partially offset by a higher mix of wholesale subscribers. So, the company did see an overall increase in revenue from individual subscribers, which is good. Disney said that The improvement at Disney+ was due to higher subscription revenue and a decrease in marketing costs, partially offset by higher programming and production costs and lower advertising revenue. Higher subscription revenue was attributable to Disney+ Core subscriber growth and increases in Disney+ Core retail pricing. Theme Park Updates Now, let’s talk about the theme parks. This has typically been a highlight of the financial reports, with the parks bringing in some big numbers. But, Q2 of FY 2023 brought some interesting wrinkles to the situation. Though the division reported an increase in revenue, results at the domestic parks were “slightly unfavorable” compared to the previous year (with a decrease at Disney World offset by growth at Disneyland). Crowds During the Q2 earnings call, McCarthy also warned that during the back half of the fiscal year, there would be an unfavorable comparison compared to the prior year because the 50th Anniversary celebration has ended at Disney World so there is an expected moderation in demand. We’ve seen a number of signs pointing to an emptier Disney World this summer, though that hasn’t seemed to worry Iger. So what has actually happened with the financial standing of the parks? Keep in mind that Q3 of FY 2023 only runs through part of July 2023. Crowds Well, in Q3 of FY 2023, the Parks, Experiences, and Products division reported that revenues for the quarter increased 13% to $8.3 billion and segment operating income increased 11% to $2.4 billion. Higher operating results for the quarter reflected increases at our international parks and resorts, however, there were lower results for domestic operations. Disney World crowd numbers are down again and at lower volumes, and the company has even seen some decreases in occupied room nights and attendance. Disney said that the decrease at Disney World was primarily due to higher costs and lower volumes. The price increases in the parks were due to inflation and accelerated depreciation related to the planned closure of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. Galactic Starcruiser At Disneyland, higher attendance and increased guest spending were largely offset by higher costs, driven by inflation. Guest spending growth was primarily due to an increase in average ticket prices. Overall, though, parks revenue is up compared to the prior-year quarter. Those are some of the key takeaways from the earnings call so far. We will continue to update this post with more details. Check back for updates! For more Disney news, see our posts below: The New Disney Task Force That Could CHANGE the Company 17 Critical Dates For Disney World Fans in 2024 Executive CHANGES Announced for The Walt Disney Company And check back with us for all the latest 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 do you think about Disney’s latest updates? Tell us in the comments. The post Inside Look at the Big CHANGES Hitting Disney Right Now first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s been a whirlwind year for changes at The Walt Disney Company. ©Disney Bob Iger is back as CEO, park passes got an update, Genie+ changes are on the way, and a few executive shakeups have hit the House of Mouse. And now, with Disney+ being a “number one priority” for Iger, we have an update on just how that division of the Company is doing. On August 9th, The Walt Disney Company released its earnings report for the third quarter of fiscal year 2023 (Q3 of FY 2023) and we gained some insight as to how various aspects of the Company are performing — including Iger’s top priority: improving streaming and Disney+. In the report, we learned that the total number of Disney+ subscribers is now 146.1 million. This statistic represents the number of Domestic, International, and Hotstar subscribers combined. ©Disney In comparison, the last earnings report (from May 2023) showed 157.8 million subscribers, which was a decrease from the prior report as well. That means that, between last quarter and this one, Disney+ lost 11.7 million subscribers. From that statistic, it looks like Iger’s “number one priority” isn’t going great. However, subscriber numbers are only one measure of success when it comes to Disney+. There’s even a Disney+ Day in Disney World! Despite this, Disney reported that “Direct-to-Consumer revenues for the quarter increased 9% to $5.5 billion.” They noted that this improvement was “due to higher subscription revenue and a decrease in marketing costs, partially offset by higher programming and production costs and lower advertising revenue.” Although Disney+ lost subscribers, the average monthly revenue per paid subscriber “increased from $7.14 to $7.31 due to higher per-subscriber advertising revenue.” Bob Iger noted that around 40% of Disney+ subscribers are choosing the ad-supported option. ©Disney So subscriber numbers went down, but an increase in ad revenue and price increases for the services helped to offset that loss. Disney stated that the average monthly revenue per paid subscriber is up for domestic, international, and Disney+ Core as a whole. We’ll be keeping up with more news from The Walt Disney Company, so be sure to stay tuned to DFB for more. Click here to learn more about recent changes made at the Walt Disney Company Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW The post NEWS on Disney CEO Bob Iger's "Number One Priority" first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Spooky season is here, people! Main Street, U.S.A. Stores across the parks have gotten their Halloween merchandise makeover, Mickey pumpkins have returned to the Main Street lamp posts, and Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party starts this week. Have you gotten your tickets? If not, you might want to get them soon — they are starting to sell out! Currently, six of the event nights this year have already been booked up. The following nights in August, September, and October are already sold out, including Halloween night. 8/11/23 — Sold Out 8/15/23 — Sold Out 8/18/23 — Sold Out 8/22/23 — Sold Out 8/25/23 — Sold Out 9/15/23 — Sold Out 10/31/23 — Sold Out MNSSHP But if there was another day that you had your eye on, be careful! Some of them are close to filling up as well. According to a travel agent source, the following dates are 80% sold out. 9/12/23 — 80% Sold Out 9/17/23 — 80% Sold Out Halloween in Magic Kingdom So, if you were hoping to head to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party on September 12th or 17th, 2023 — get your tickets soon! We’ll be at the party on opening night bringing you all the reviews, so stay tuned! In the meantime, follow along with DFB for all the latest Disney news. This Simple List Will Make Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party 10X Easier in Disney World! IT'S SPOOK-TACULAR! Get ready for the spookiest season of the year at Disney World! We are beyond thrilled to announce the arrival of our brand-new guide -- Halloween at Disney World: DFB's Spook-tacular Guide! From the thrills of Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party to the enchanting resort decorations that'll send shivers down your spine, our guide is packed with tips and tricks to help you squeeze every ounce of ghoulish fun out of your visit. Plus, we've got the inside scoop on all the limited-time-only bone-chilling activities happening across the parks! Get the Halloween at Disney World: DFB's Spook-tacular Guide to make your frightfully delightful adventure even more magical! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Halloween at Walt Disney World EVERYTHING CONFIRMED for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in Disney World FULL LIST of Rides That Will Be Open at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in Disney World Get All of the Latest Updates on Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Target Has NEW Halloween Inflatables Online Now! How To Get the CHEAPEST Tickets for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in Disney World CHANGES Revealed for Disney World’s Halloween Parade in 2023 Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click Here to Subscribe Have you got your tickets to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party? Let us know in the comments below! The post HURRY! Tickets Are 80% Sold Out For These Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Dates in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disneyland may be the “happiest place on the earth,” but long lines can sure suck the happy right outta folks! Disneyland Park If you want to maximize your “happiness” meter while you’re in Disneyland, you probably need to plan to get Disney Genie+ for your Disneyland days to limit your wait time and maximize the number of attractions you get to experience. As useful and helpful as Disney Genie+ is for park guests, you have to make sure you understand how to use it in order for it to really work for you. Like any tool from a can opener to a reciprocating saw, if you don’t know how to use it or what it can (and should) be used on, you might end up super frustrated and out some serious coin. But not to worry — that’s what you have us for! Your friendly DFB team is gonna break down all of the nuances of using Genie+ in Disneyland! What is Disney Genie+? First things first, right? What is Genie+? Disney Genie+ is an optional paid service in addition to the standard Disney Genie. Disney Genie+ allows you to bypass standby lines and enter the Lightning Lane (previously known as the FastPass line) at select attractions by paying a base price (Tax not included): Disney Genie+ starts at $25* per day, per ticket at Disneyland Resort. The price for purchase will be available in the Disneyland app. *Prices vary by date, and the Disney Genie+ service is subject to availability. As of October 2022, surge pricing (you may see the term “variable pricing” on the Disney World and Disneyland websites) has been introduced to the standard Genie+ service. Lightning Lane at Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway So, if you’re familiar with Disneyland’s FastPass or MAXPass system of yesteryear, then you get the general idea of Genie+. It’s a paid way to skip the standby line for a shorter, expedited queue to ride select attractions. How Do I Get Disney Genie+ Service? There are two ways to add Genie+ to your park visit: Before Your Visit — You can purchase Disney Genie+ as an add-on to a ticket at Disneyland for $25 per ticket, per day. If you want to purchase in advance, buy a ticket with Disney Genie+. ©Disney Same Day of Your Visit — Existing ticket holders and Magic Key holders may purchase through the Disneyland app after entering a theme park. This is also the route you would take if you only want to use Disney Genie+ service for certain days but not your entire trip, or as a last-minute decision. Look under the “My Day” tab for the purple bar with a “Get Disney Genie+ Services” link. You can also purchase at the top of the Tip Board in the blue type. ©Disney Now that Genie+ is offered at a variable price same-day, the only way to lock in that Genie discount is to purchase in advance. How to Use Disney Genie+ Service at Disneyland This program allows guests to make Lightning Lane selections at participating attractions, one ride selection at a time. Generally speaking, once you’re done with your first attraction, you can select another available Genie+ Lightning Lane time, and so on, throughout the day. What secrets will you unlock in the line for Indiana Jones Adventure? More specifically, once you’ve made a selection, you can make your next Lightning Lane selection when: You have used the first one you booked; Your first return time window has ended (if you miss it); or 120 minutes have passed since you booked your last one (or 120 minutes after park opening, depending on the situation). Essentially, you can book another Lightning Lane 2 hours (120 minutes) after reserving a previous one if the return time for the first Lightning Lane is more than 2 hours away. Matterhorn Disney Genie+ selections can only be made once you’ve entered the park that day. Lightning Lane windows are offered as the next available times only. Each experience can only be used with Disney Genie+ once per day, so once you ride an attraction with Disney Genie+ service, you won’t be able to book another Lightning Lane selection for that ride (but standby is always an option if you want to go again!). This differs from MaxPass and FastPass when we could book the same ride more than once after riding. Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: BREAKOUT! The exception is Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT during Halloween Time. You can book a Lightning Lane for the morning regular version as well as for the Halloween version, Monsters After Dark in the same day! Lightning Lane reservations for Monsters After Dark open late morning to early afternoon for after 3 p.m. The Monsters After Dark version starts at 3 p.m. Making Selections In the app, once you’ve chosen your attraction, you will select your party, automatically selecting anyone with a valid ticket and park pass reservation. You can edit your party members at this time. (If you do not see all party names listed, tap the “edit” button to pull up the full list of names and select the ones who want to ride.) Then, you can choose which attraction you would like to use for your first Disney Genie+ experience. The arrival windows will be for a one-hour period, so you can arrive at the Lightning Lane within that time. ©Disney Once your arrival window has started and you scan your Lightning Lane barcode (or park ticket or MagicBand+) into the reader at the attraction’s Lightning Lane entrance, and the light turns green, you can book your next Disney Genie+ selection. At the top of the Tip Board, it should tell you when you are eligible to book your next ride. Cancel or Modify If you cannot make your Lightning Lane one-hour window, you can cancel or modify it. You can modify for a later available time for the same ride or a different ride in the same park. You can modify your party at that time if you need to add or drop someone. You can cancel just an individual if the entire party does not wish to cancel. If you let it expire, you no longer lose that ride. You can tap “Cancel Plan” and rebook it. Secret tip! If you modify, you do not change your eligibility window. This is super helpful and helps you manage your day without losing time. Incredicoaster Like MaxPass, there is a little wiggle room if you arrive five minutes early or 10-15 minutes late. If you’re worried that you’ll miss the window, we recommend trying to modify it to a different time. If you do miss the window, you can either ask nicely at the Lightning Lane if they can still accommodate you, or tap “Cancel Plan” in the app to rebook the ride. Disney California Adventure If you’re in a long line to scan in at the Lightning Lane entrance (it happens) and your window is closing in on you, we recommend taking screenshots of your selections because the cast members know if the line is long and may work with you. That being said, don’t push it. Try to arrive with enough time to scan in. Selecting Rides in the Second Park When Park Hopping. There has been a change in how you select rides when park hopping. You can still book rides in the other park before you hop, but now you now have to wait for a ride’s Lightning Lane distribution to be after 11AM before you can select it. If you start your day at Disney California Adventure and Indiana Jones Adventure is a must-ride attraction for you, keep an eye on that ride in the Tip Board about mid-morning. Disneyland Once that ride says 11AM or later, you can tap “Book Experience” to reserve it, even if it’s several hours away. You do not have to wait until it’s 11 a.m. or until you hop to reserve rides in the second park. They just have to be distributing for 11AM Plan for an hour or two before you hop for a ride in the other park. Summary Pricing starts at $25 per person, per day. You can purchase access to Disney Genie+ (for a flat rate of $25 per day) or purchase it in the app after entering a theme park that day (price varies by date). Grants faster access to 20 attractions using the Lightning Lane entrance. Guests can make one reservation at a time throughout the day, once they have entered the theme park for the day. Once the initial selection is redeemed or the arrival window has ended, guests can make another selection up to park closing. Guests can redeem a Lightning Lane by scanning a phone, park ticket or a MagicBand+. Guests who make a selection that is more than two hours away from the time the selection was made can make another selection two hours after making the selection. Unlimited PhotoPass is included. All guests may book return times for the Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lane services when they enter the park for the day. Selections can be made across theme parks for park hoppers (but only after a ride’s distribution window reaches at least 11 a.m. when hopping) Standby (and Single Rider) lines remain free. Audio experiences tailored to specific locations throughout the lands. Added in fall 2022, Disney PhotoPass lenses are now in the Disneyland app. Some of these augmented reality lenses are unique to Disneyland. Disneyland Park Disney Genie+ Attractions: it’s a small world Autopia Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters Haunted Mansion and Haunted Mansion Holiday Indiana Jones Adventure “it’s a small world” and its holiday version Matterhorn Bobsleds Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin Space Mountain and Hyperspace Mountain overlay Star Tours – The Adventures Continue Disney California Adventure Disney Genie+ Attractions: Pixar Pier Goofy’s Sky School Grizzly River Run Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! (Make this Lightning Lane a priority.) Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Dark (During Halloween time, you can book for both versions on the same day when available.) Incredicoaster Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! Soarin’ Around the World Toy Story Midway Mania WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure DFB Video: The ULTIMATE Guide to Genie+ in Disney World 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 used Genie+ in Disneyland? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! The post The Ultimate Guide To Genie Plus in Disneyland first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’re not even going to lie. We feel a little bit left out! Elsa and Anna Hong Kong Disneyland is getting World of Frozen, and now Disneyland Paris is getting a Frozen-themed area of their own. We found out that this themed area would soon arrive to the Paris-based park in April of 2023, and we’ve been green with envy since! However, a recent video has made that envy even worse. We want a Frozen-land at Disney World! Josh D’amaro, Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products Chairman, shared a video on Instagram that showed him standing alongside Natacha Rafalski, the president of Disneyland Paris. In the video, you’ll see that they’re standing in a few inches of water! ©Disney Well, the Natacha tells us that the water is the beginning phase of what will be a huge lake that will contribute to the expansion of Disneyland Paris, allowing Arendelle to be added to the list of experiences in the park! We already knew how expansive this Frozen-themed area would be, but imagining the area with a lake surrounding it has us even more excited. ©Walt Disney Imagineering via Instagram Natacha also tells us that we can expect a new attraction, food and beverage locations, a merchandise shop, and even a meet and greet with Elsa and Anna! ©Disney To get to the area, Natacha tells us there will be a promenade that features gardens inspired by beloved Disney stories as well as a table-service restaurant that will offer views of the lake and the Kingdom of Arendelle. Frozen Land ©Disney Wow! We might just have to book a trip to Paris when all this is complete so that we can see it for ourselves. We’ll be sure to keep you in the loop with more news and updates as it comes our way, so make sure to follow along for more! Looking for more Frozen news? 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 like to visit Disneyland Paris’s Frozen-themed land? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney Executives Share NEW Details About the Upcoming 'Frozen' Land! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Going to Disney World on holidays and holiday weekends can be a lot of fun. Cinderella Castle Sure, it’s great to be in Magic Kingdom on Halloween, especially if you have tickets to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. The holiday season is also extra magical. But even long weekends like Labor Day weekend could be fun, too, although it could also be busy. However, if you ARE going to Disney World over Labor Day weekend, here’s what you should NOT do. You should not fly to Orlando on certain days around Labor Day weekend. According to The Orlando Sentinel and NerdWallet, some days at Orlando International Airport are going to be extremely busy. More people are flying now than ever, and recent crowds at the airport have broken records. Orlando International Airport can get very busy Most people who use Labor Day as a long weekend fly out on Friday, spend two days on vacation, and come home on Monday. Those are expected to be the busiest days for Labor Day travel. So the most crowded day at the airport is generally the Friday before Labor Day, followed by the Thursday before, and Labor Day Monday). Note that these days also typically have more expensive flights, too. Here’s how it breaks down from most crowded to least crowded. Friday before Labor Day Thursday before Labor Day Monday Sunday after Friday after Monday after Monday before Thursday after Tuesday after Wednesday before Sunday before Saturday before Wednesday after Tuesday before Saturday after (least crowded) You want to avoid this at the Orlando International Airport So when are the BEST days to fly for Labor Day weekend to avoid crowds and higher flight prices? Try to leave a little earlier for your trip, say on the Tuesday or Wednesday before Labor Day weekend. However, the Saturday of that weekend also tends to be a better time to fly. If you want to avoid crowds and higher flight prices to come home, aim for the Sunday of that weekend. Orlando International Airport So if you’re planning on visiting Disney World that weekend, you might want to think a little differently from everyone else if you want to avoid crowded airports and higher flight prices. If you can’t help flying on the busiest days, though, you can save yourself a lot of trouble by using our best tips for flying through Orlando International Airport. Stay tuned to DFB for more! Arrive early during busy travel seasons If you want to do some planning before your flight (or even on the plane!), check out our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining. The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2023 We’ve compiled all of our BEST tips and tricks from years of Disney World travel into one eBook that you can download to your tablet or smartphone and take with you! We’re offering our readers 25% off with code WDW2023. See How Traveling to Disney World Is About to Get Easier Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you -- they've literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They're DFB's recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!) So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/customemailexample.jpg Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Will you be visiting Disney World over Labor Day weekend? Let us know in the comments! The post What NOT To Do If You’re Going to Disney World Over Labor Day Weekend first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Give Kids The World is bringing back their popular An Evening with… series, and this year there are some exciting speakers! ©Give Kids the World Give Kids The World Village, a nonprofit “storybook resort” in Central Florida, treats kids with critical illnesses and their families to weeklong, cost-free vacations. For the past few years, they have also hosted the Night of a Million Lights holiday light spectacular, the proceeds of which help to continue providing vacations for those families. This month, its An Evening with… series returns with three speakers, and we have a discount code for you! On Saturday, August 12th, An Evening with Pat Sajak will take place at the Give Kids the World Village. Pat Sajak, who just announced his retirement after 41 seasons of hosting Wheel of Fortune, will host a Q&A session and discuss his career. ©Give Kids The World Village VIP guests will also have the opportunity to participate in a meet-and-greet with autographs and photo opportunities. A few of these VIP tickets remain. The VIP experience begins at 5:30PM, and doors open at 6:30PM for general admission with the main event starting at 7:00PM. Click here to get your tickets for An Evening with Pat Sajak On Saturday, August 26th, Give Kids the World Village will host An Evening with Linda Larkin and Jonathan Freeman –the stars of Aladdin! Linda Larkin (the voice of Princess Jasmine) and Jonathan Freeman (the voice of Jafar) will be live on stage together as they talk about their experiences behind the scenes as Disney voice actors. ©Give Kids The World Village VIP packages are available for this night as well — the meet-and-greet starts at 5:30PM and doors open at 6:30PM for general admission with the main event starting at 7:00PM. Click here to get your tickets for An Evening with Linda Larkin and Jonathan Freeman Parking is FREE for these events, and we have a special discount code for you. Just use code “GKTW50” at checkout. In the meantime, stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney news! OPENING DELAYED for the Brightline Train Coming to the Orlando Airport Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! Save 25% on the 2023 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining with code WDW2023. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Which of these stars are you most excited to hear from? Let us know in the comments below! The post Wait. You Can Meet ICONIC Disney Stars For a Great Cause? Sign Us Up! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Dining in Disney World can certainly be done on a whim. And we do love to grab a new treat when we see one! 50’s Prime Time Cafe However, when we have a full day planned, we like to have the best eats in mind before we get to a Walt Disney World theme park. After all, it’s important to spend our dining budget on the best Disney food. That’s why we researched all the food that the restaurants in Disney’s Hollywood Studios have to offer so that you aren’t led astray! Whether you are in need of a snack or meal, we’ve narrowed down everything you need to eat in Disney’s Hollywood Studios during your 2023 vacation! Come along with us to see the best eats in Hollywood Studios. Don’t forget to check to see if the restaurant you choose has Mobile Order available. That can save you time because you won’t have to wait in line to order! Snacks When you need a little something to fill up that empty stomach space, it’s probably snack time! Wookiee Cookie Available at Backlot Express, the Wookiee Cookie is two oatmeal cookies, sandwiched with a vanilla cream filling, and garnished with a chocolate piece made to look like Chewbacca’s sash. If you love oatmeal creme pies as much as we do, this is definitely an elevated version that you should sample on your next day at Hollywood Studios. The Wookiee Cookie at Backlot Express The Wookiee definitely wins with this delicious (and adorable) concoction! Carrot Cake Cookie While this DFB-Favorite treat originally debuted at the permanently closed Writer’s Stop, the beloved Carrot Cake Cookie currently resides at The Trolley Car Cafe. Carrot Cake Cookie This iconic cookie has sweet cream cheese frosting between two carrot cake-inspired cookies. And while it’s big enough to share, we won’t judge if you keep it ALL to yourself. Bavarian Pretzel With limited indoor seating, BaseLine Tap House is a fun watering hole (with seriously delicious beer!) to people-watch along Grand Avenue. No matter what we choose to sip, we recommend the Bavarian Pretzel for a delectable munchie! Enjoy a snack at BaseLine! Served with spicy mustard and a fantastic beer cheese fondue, this is another huge snack to share (or NOT). Cold Brew Black Caf Whether you’re taking the official DFB Disney World Coffee Crawl or just need a quick jolt of caffeine in Galaxy’s Edge, you don’t want to miss the Cold Brew Black Caf at Kat Saka’s Kettle. We’re cuckoo for this drink This is a Joffrey’s Cold Brew topped with Sweet Cream Cheese and Chocolate Puffs. We recommend mixing it up a bit so that the flavors become perfectly balanced. Recipe: Make the Original Carrot Cake Cookie from Disney’s Writer’s Stop at Home! Quick Service Looking for a quick meal? The Quick Service restaurants at Disney’s Hollywood Studios offer some unique items for lunch and dinner. Take a look! Ronto Wrap Another out of this world stop — Ronto Roasters — can be found in Galaxy’s Edge. Here, you’ll want to order a Ronto Wrap! Ronto Wrap The Ronto Wrap is roasted pork, grilled pork sausage, peppercorn sauce, and slaw all wrapped up in pita bread. While this dish can be hit or miss, when it’s good, it’s absolutely delicious! “Totchos” Woody’s Lunch Box serves up “Totchos”. The corn chips add a nice crunchy texture, and the cheese and sour cream make this dish all melty, creamy, and delicious. “Totchos” A batch of potato barrels (tater tots) are loaded up with chili, cheese, corn chips and more tasty garnishes to create this dish straight from Andy’s backyard! Lunch Box Tart While in Toy Story Land, watch for seasonal versions of the popular Lunch Box Tart at Woody’s Lunch Box. We love the flaky pastry — it’s usually baked perfectly! Hot Chocolate Lunch Box Tart These little tarts are comparable to that of Pop–Tarts® and Disney loves to experiment with new flavor combinations. Buffalo Chicken Bowl We like to stop at Fairfax Fare for a Buffalo Chicken Bowl — made with chicken breast nuggets tossed in buffalo sauce, topped with coleslaw, and served on mashed potatoes in a waffle bowl. Buffalo Chicken Bowl Get this fun and unique meal option when you’re on Sunset Boulevard. Tacos Getting hungry? Put in a Mobile Order for Pork Carnitas or Shrimp Tacos at the underrated restaurant, ABC Commissary. Pork Carnitas Tacos If you LOVE some spice, you will love these! Fill up with one of these great tasting meals. Disney Recipe: It’s Time for TOTCHOS from Woody’s Lunch Box in Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios! Table Service When dining at Table Service restaurants in Hollywood Studios, we have three venues that we’re recommending today. Let’s take a look at some delicious menu items at 50’s Prime Time Cafe, The Hollywood Brown Derby, and Roundup Rodeo BBQ. Fried Herb and Garlic Cheese This appetizer of Fried Herb and Garlic Cheese is served with raspberry sauce, grapes, and apples. On our last visit at 50’s Prime Time Cafe, we also got strawberries! Fried Herb & Garlic Cheese Our only wish — that this dish was large enough for an entree! Peanut Butter & Jelly Milk Shake 50’s Prime Time Cafe also serves up one of our favorite Disney milkshakes. The Peanut Butter & Jelly Milk Shake is a novelty but it’s also smooth, creamy, and delicious. This is a MUST If you love peanut butter and jelly, this beverage is for you! Our Famous Cobb Salad At Hollywood Brown Derby, one of the most talked about dishes is the Cobb Salad. YUM. This is no ordinary salad, including Spit-Roasted Turkey, Finely Chopped Greens, Bacon, Egg, Tomatoes, Avocado, Chives, Crumbled Blue Cheese, and Cobb Dressing. With each bite, you’ll be treated to a variety of flavors! Grapefruit Cake A Brown Derby original, the Grapefruit Cake is an absolutely classic for fans of grapefruit. Grapefruit Cake This dessert is a masterpiece of flavors dispersed inside layers of vanilla sponge cake! BBQ Platter In Toy Story Land, we like to rustle up some grub at Roundup Rodeo BBQ. That is a LOT of meat Served family-style, the House-Smoked BBQ Platter is brought to your table with an assortment of deliciousness! You’ll get Evil Dr. Smoked Ribs, Buttercup’s Beef Brisket, There’s a Sausage in my Boot — Fire-grilled Pork Sausage, and BBQ Chicken with Style. The Prospector’s Homemade Cheddar Biscuits with Sweet Pepper Jelly One of our favorite eats at Roundup Rodeo BBQ is found in the bread service. Cheddar Biscuits These biscuits are the perfect balance of bread and cheese — and the jelly is the perfect tangy mix of sweet and spicy. DIY Disney Recipe: Peanut Butter and Jelly Milkshake from 50’s Prime Time Cafe Dining in Disney’s Hollywood Studios enhances your park experience! With so many decadent sweets and delicious meals, hungry guests don’t have to settle for typical theme park food. Instead, sample some of the BEST EATS that Hollywood Studios has to offer. Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide The Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants The Best EPCOT Restaurant Restaurants The Best Restaurants in Disney’s Hollywood Studios The Best Restaurants in Disney’s Animal Kingdom The Best Disney Springs Restaurants The Best (and Worst) Disney World Hotel Restaurants Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What is your go-to food at Hollywood Studios? Did we leave a favorite off our list? Chime in!The post Everything You Need to Eat in Hollywood Studios in 2023 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you don’t think fries can be sexy, you’ve never had good fries. Fries! Disney World is a HOT SPOT for sexy snacks, and yes, sexy fries are included. Our team has a few favorite locations to grab these amazingly delicious french fries, and we just can’t keep gatekeeping them anymore. So, get yourself all dressed up, put on your favorite pair of ears, and get ready for a hot date with some fries. This post is gonna highlight our top FIVE favorite fries at Disney World — in no particular order. If you’ve never had these, this is your sign to grab them as soon as humanly possible. If you HAVE had these, this is your sign to grab them again. Let’s go! Loaded Burnt Ends Fries at Regal Eagle Smokehouse These loaded fries are like, three favorite snacks in one. For $12.99, you can get these Seasoned French Fries with Burnt Ends, Macaroni & Cheese, and Beer-battered Onion Rings. Burnt Ends Fries at Regal Eagle This hearty dish could make for a whole meal. The fries and onion rings are loaded with delicious seasoning, but the creaminess of the macaroni and cheese really balances it out. Also, good meals tend to make a mess, so grab a fork and napkin. Chicken Guy! Fries Chicken Guy! is home to quite a few delicious options, but some of the DFB Team would argue that the fries at this Disney Springs eatery are just as good — if not better — than the chicken. These are just the basic fries that you can order at Chicken Guy!, but trust us. They are anything BUT basic. They’re also only $2.99. Chicken Guy Fries They’re nice and crispy and come with the perfect amount of the Chicken Guy! signature seasoning. Oh, and you can choose one (or more, we won’t judge) of the 22 sauces available to dunk your fries. Mr. Kamal’s Seasoned French Fries Mr. Kamal’s is a snack stand in Disney’s Animal Kingdom located between Asia and Africa. Here, you can get the Seasoned French Fries, which is one of our FAVORITE snacks to get at Disney World. They used to be served with Curried Honey Mustard and Korean Chili Ketchup. Now, they’re served with Sriracha Mayonnaise. Seasoned Fries with Srirarcha Mayo This snack is $5.99, and while we’re sad about the loss of those delicious sauces, the dish is still just as good. Steakhouse 71 Fries Steakhouse 71 at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is an experience in itself. If you order fries along with your meal, you’ll get the garlic-parmesan waffle fries, chimichurri, and truffle aïoli. YUM These fries are DELICIOUS, and they’re one of our favorite parts about this restaurant. They’re available as sides for both lunch and dinner. Truffle Fries at Enchanted Rose At the Enchanted Rose Lounge at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, you can grab a variety of small plates alongside your beverage of choice. One of these options is the Truffle Fries. Truffle Fries For $14, you can grab these crispy fried potatoes, which are topped with Shaved Black Truffles and 18-Month Aged Parmesan. They’re seriously delicious, and we’ve gotten them again and again. Well, folks, those are, in our opinion, the sexiest fries in the biz. We’ll be sure to keep you all updated if anything new makes it’s way onto Disney Food Blog’s Sexiest Fries Alive list, so make sure to follow along for more! Are you a fry fanatic? Click here to check out Fry Basket — EPCOT’S Food and Wine Festival booth that features all things FRIES! 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! Have you tried any of these sexy fries before? Let us know in the comments! The post The SEXIEST Fries in Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article