All Activity

Welcome to the official ship’s log for the Disney Adventure. As a blog reader, you’re invited to follow along on this page for an exclusive look at how this new ship comes to life. This archive will document the important milestones of the Disney Adventure’s journey, which is setting sail from Singapore starting December 15, 2025. The Disney Adventure Marks New Construction Milestone Today, April 19th, 2025, Captain Mickey Mouse and Captain Minnie Mouse, joined by cheering spectators, welcomed the Disney Adventure as it floated out of Meyer Werft’s hall in Wismar, Germany, and into the shipyard harbor. The moment was celebrated with fireworks as a tugboat carefully guided the ship’s bow out of the building, eventually docking in the location where it will stay for the next few months while the team continues construction on what will be the largest vessel in the Disney Cruise Line fleet. The team has an exciting few weeks ahead as they begin making some major updates to the ship’s exterior. One of the most anticipated milestones is the installation of the iconic Disney Cruise Line funnels on the upper decks. But this time, it’s not just the classic two funnels—Disney Adventure will feature four funnels! And there’s more magic on the horizon. Soon, we will start to see the addition of the iconic yellow lifeboats on the sides of the ship and thrilling new attractions, including Marvel Landing’s Groot Galaxy Spin and Disney Cruise Line’s first-ever coaster, Ironcycle Test Run. This exciting construction milestone brings the Disney Adventure one step closer to setting sail—and to welcoming guests later this year in Singapore! Stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog for more updates on the Disney Adventure as the journey continues. Ahoy! More Disney Adventure awaits Marvel, Duffy, and Jack Sparrow Debut on Disney Adventure READ MORE Must-Do Experiences on board the Disney Adventure READ MORE Stroll through the Imagination Garden READ MORE The post Disney Adventure Updates: Latest Ship Brings New Magic to the High Seas appeared first on Disney Parks Blog. View the full article

It’s time to stop sleeping on one of the most underrated (and budget-friendly) food spots in Disney World. River Roost If you’ve ever wandered around Port Orleans Riverside, you may have walked right past River Roost without realizing it’s home to some seriously solid eats. This cozy lounge usually flies under the radar thanks to its chill vibe and old-school interior — but now it’s bringing some heat (literally) with a new menu addition that’s too good not to talk about. So here’s the deal: River Roost Lounge — yes, the same place where you can catch Yeeha Bob’s piano show—just added Andouille Nachos to its menu. And for $13, you’re getting a mountain of food that’s loaded with flavor and very generous on toppings. River Roost Appetizer Menu These nachos come stacked with andouille and red bean chili, cheese sauce, trinity pico, and sour cream, all layered over corn tortilla chips. But that’s not even the whole story — ours also came topped with pickled jalapeños and cilantro, which weren’t mentioned on the menu but totally brought the whole thing together. Andouille Nachos We’re not going to sugarcoat it: these things are spicy. Like, drink-an-entire-glass-of-water-after-four-chips kind of spicy. The chili has that classic Cajun heat that builds with every bite, and it really brings the fire. If you’re sensitive to spice, you might want to tread lightly here. But if you’re a fan of bold flavor and a little burn, this might just be your new favorite Disney World snack. They’re loaded down with toppings! Let’s talk texture. The chips were crunchy and held up well under the weight of all the toppings — at least at first. Like with most nachos, the top layer was where the party was, while the bottom layer was a little more “chip and cheese soup.” If you’re sharing, just make sure everyone grabs a top-layer chip early on. Or, you know, don’t share. We wouldn’t blame you. Andouille Nachos As far as portion size goes, this is definitely enough to share between two people — or keep all to yourself and call it dinner. At $13, it’s a solid deal compared to what you’ll pay for similar snacks elsewhere on property. And considering the lounge setting, you can sit back, relax, maybe catch some live music, and enjoy a meal without the typical quick-service chaos. River Roost If you’re already staying at Port Orleans Riverside (or even French Quarter—it’s a short walk), you’ve got no excuse not to swing by and give these a shot. And if you’re not staying there? We don’t know that these are worth the trip but if you’re already heading over for some beignets then it is totally worth stopping by. With so many Disney dining spots getting more expensive and more competitive, it’s refreshing to find something this good that doesn’t break the bank — or require a reservation. We’ll be on the lookout for any restaurant updates from Disney World and beyond. Make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest Disney news and more! The Best Restaurants in Disney World in 2025 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 Hollywood Studios Restaurants The Best Animal Kingdom Restaurants The Best Disney Springs 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 eaten at River Roost? Let us know in the comments! The post The Most Affordable Disney World Restaurant You Overlooked Is Now Offering Andouille Nachos first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Something HUGE is happening this weekend in Japan, and yes, we really wish we were there. ©Disney Star Wars Celebration Japan has kicked off, and Star Wars fans from around the world are celebrating their love for a galaxy far, far away. But Star Wars Celebration is MORE than just a celebration — it’s also where Disney and Lucasfilm drop some of their biggest announcements about current and upcoming Star Wars projects. And well, let’s just say, Disney wasted NO TIME making those big announcements — so we’re going to sum them all up for you here. Star Wars: Starfighter will debut in theaters on Memorial Day 2027. The Mandalorian and Grogu The Mandalorian and Grogu star Pedro Pascal, along with Jon Favreau and Grogu, took to the Star Wars Celebration stage and announced that Sigourney Weaver would be joining the Star Wars universe in the film. Although Weaver admitted that she hadn’t seen the Disney+ The Mandalorian series when approached for the role, she became a fan quickly. ©Reedpop “When I watched [The Mandalorian], I fell in love with all the characters, especially this guy,” she said, gesturing to Pascal. “And of course Grogu stole my heart.” (Same, girl, same). The Mandalorian and Grogu will premiere in theaters in 2026. Darth Maul Animated Series A new animated series is also coming to Disney+. Maul: Shadow Lord will see Sam Witwer, who has voiced the character in other Star Wars projects, reprise his role as Darth Maul. The new series will be set after The Clone Wars with Maul rising up to lead new underworld factions (does that mean we finally get to see the beginning of Crimson Dawn as mentioned in Solo:A Star Wars Story?). ©Disney The new series is currently in production and will premiere on Disney+ in 2026. Other Star Wars Announcements Of course, these are just the biggest announcements. Disney also mentioned that Light & Magic season 2 is now streaming on Disney+, and revealed new covers for upcoming Star Wars manga, novels, and art books. Some new Hasbro figures were also revealed, as well as a new story pack for the Star Wars: Outlaws video game.  Star Wars will also soon be coming to the mobile game, Monopoly Go, on May 1st. Plus, a new K-2SO LEGO set is on the way. Young Jedi Adventures will return for season 3 in the fall on Disney+, and the Star Wars: Beyond Victory – A Mixed Reality Playset is coming soon. In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Star Wars news, so stay tuned for more. Disney Just Released 3 NEW Starbucks Mugs 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! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments! The post 🚨ALERT! Disney Just Made 8 HUGE ‘Star Wars’ Announcements🚨 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World has got some MAJOR secrets they’ve been hiding from you! Did you know these secrets? New character meet and greets that are totally free, how to walk up and get a table at the hottest restaurants, and how to get some seriously secret discounts — Disney World can sometimes play things too close to the vest. We’re here to change that. Get ready to learn about some juicy Disney secrets that you can take advantage of during your next visit! From freebies to activities that seem illegal (but aren’t), we’re spilling the tea! You Can Meet Disney Characters For FREE Best be sitting down for this big reveal, friends — because it’s not just gonna save you money. It’s also gonna save you TIME. Hey Mickey! For the past few years, Disney characters have popped up at random times around the hotels — meaning you don’t even need a park ticket OR a character dining reservation in order to take a picture with a legit Disney friend. We’ll see Daisy Duck playing lawn games around the Riviera, we’ll see Goofy waving from a Wilderness Lodge balcony, we might even catch Chip and Dale causing a little chaos inside that ever-so-classy Grand Floridian lobby. It’s Daisy! But meeting characters outside the parks has always been more of a happy little accident rather than something you can predict…until NOW. Recently, we’ve been seeing signs starting to pop up around resorts (like over at Port Orleans French Quarter and Wilderness Lodge) that directly state when character meet and greets will be happening around the hotels. Character Meet and Greet sign at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort We haven’t seen these signs pop up at EVERY resort, but it looks like it’s a new trend that’s becoming more and more frequent around the Disney hotels. Keep in mind that these resort meet and greets won’t be listed on the My Disney Experience app — so you’ll need to keep your eyes open for these specific signs if you wanna know the exact times and days of the week that you’ll be able to meet some of Disney’s most popular characters. How To Get Snack And Soda Discounts Psst. Get this. Not everyone has to pay full price for ALL drinks and snacks on Disney property. If a place is considered a retail shop on Disney grounds, then Annual Passholders, DVC members, and Disney Visa cardholders will more than likely be able to get discounts on not just merch, but the snacks and drinks available there, too. Self-service Beverage Station With an annual pass, you can get extra discounts at shops like: Disney’s Candy Cauldron in Disney Springs Goofy’s Candy Company (also in Disney Springs) Karamell Kuche in EPCOT Zuri’s Sweet Shop at Animal Kingdom Main Street Confectionery at Magic Kingdom Most of the Disney resort gift shops (a GREAT hack for soda goblins — since we can get 20% off bottled soda using our annual pass) And several other locations, too! We bet you can smell this photo Keep in mind that discounts vary depending on your membership program. To find out where your specific exclusive savings will apply, check the Disney World website for passholder discounts, check the Disney Rewards website for Disney Visa perks, and check the Disney Vacation Club website for DVC deals. How To Get Into Space 220 Without Reservations Space 220 (over in EPCOT’s World Discovery area) has been around now since 2021 but still continues to be one of the most popular dining reservations inside the park (as well as one of the most EXPENSIVE). However, we’ve been able to get into the restaurant with NO reservations and NO prix fixe prices. Space 220 We went over to Space 220, just to see if there was any walk-up availability for a party of one for the Space 220 bar. And guess what? There was IMMEDIATE seating. Mind you, this was around noon, so we were fully expecting to have our name added to a walk-up waitlist. And yet the cast members got us right onto that Stellavator and up to the Centauri Space Station, STAT. Space 220 elevator We’re not saying that this is going to be the same situation for you — especially if you’ve got more members in your group to accommodate. But while we were sitting at the bar, we saw a family of four (two adults, two kids) happily munching away on apps and enjoying the space views behind us. Most Disney lounges do NOT allow kiddos to sit up at the bar, but Space 220 has created an exception to that rule. The view is cool While we were at Space 220, we ordered some shrimp wonton tacos and a glass of water, and we are happy to announce that we got to do the WHOLE Space 220 experience for under $20. (Instead of the $79 per person you’ll have to fork over if you book the main restaurant seating area during dinner time.) Sure, we had a much more limited menu to choose from — and we were seated a little further away from the main windows — but we still saw everything just fine and felt more than satisfied with the experience. Flight Bites and Drinks from Space 220 Lounge If you don’t have ressies for Space 220 but you still wanna experience this space-centered restaurant, try walking up to the host stand and asking about bar availability. Even if you’re put on a wait list, you’ll still be able to go back into the park and explore for a bit while waiting for a text saying it’s your turn to shoot up into space! Don’t Trust Disney’s Opening Timelines Disney’s got a LOT of new stuff in the works. But before you get your hopes up about seeing any of these new attractions during your next visit, we wanna remind y’all that no Disney release date is ever completely set in stone — ESPECIALLY the release dates that are really, REALLY vague. ©Disney We’ve seen Disney push back a lot of opening dates before… like how Roundup Rodeo BBQ in Hollywood Studios was originally supposed to open in 2020. And THEN it was supposed to open in 2022. But REALLY it opened in March of 2023. Roundup Rodeo BBQ The Cake Bake Shop at Boardwalk Inn had similar pushbacks. Originally, it was supposed to open in late 2023, but it didn’t officially open until fall 2024. And “The Little Mermaid Musical Adventure” stage show that was originally slated to open in fall 2024 has since been pushed back to summer 2025. The Cake Bake Shop Disney’s opening timelines change fairly frequently. And that’s not because Disney wants to get us all worked up and angry, but sometimes a pushback is necessary if there are any delays and hiccups that happen for a project, or if the project simply needs a bit more time to work out the kinks before going live for the public. ©Disney Once Disney puts out a specific opening DATe for a project, you’re gonna have a much better idea of if a project will be open by the time your vacation kicks off. But if you’re not seeing a specific opening timeline just yet for something and your trip is quickly approaching, we wouldn’t necessarily get your hopes up about seeing it go live during your visit. Test Track construction You can always push back your trip if you want to improve your chances of seeing a new attraction go live by the time your trip kicks off (if you’ve got the wiggle room in your schedule, that is). But otherwise, just make sure you stick with us and we’ll let you know once we find out the specifics regarding when a Disney attraction is specifically slated to open. The Transport Troubles Over At Saratoga Springs You know those really cool treehouse villas over at Saratoga Springs Resort? The ones where you and up to 9 guests can hang out in a space that’s eye-level with the trees? Yeah. These rooms are really cool. But they do come with their fair share of transportation problems. Treehouse Villas If you’re planning on booking a treehouse at Saratoga, your group is only allowed to park ONE car per treehouse. That can be a major snag if you truly are using this room to house a group of 9 guests. Fortunately, if your group is made up of more than one vehicle, Saratoga isn’t just going to turn your group away and say, “Sorry, Charlie — get rid of your extra cars and THEN we’ll talk.” You’ll just need to park any additional vehicles in the main area of the resort — outside the Carriage House (which is a good distance away from the treehouses themselves. Just something to keep in mind). Another snafu? Saratoga Springs doesn’t let rideshares into the treehouse area. So, once again, if you’re trying to book a rideshare to get you anywhere, you’re gonna have to travel a good distance over to the Carriage House if you’re looking to hitch a ride. Carriage House And here’s the FINAL kicker: Saratoga’s treehouses do NOT have their own bus routes. So unless you have one car that’s parked nearby and that’s ALL you’re gonna rely on when it comes to getting you from place to place, you will need to plan on walking over to the nearest bus stop (which in this case would be the Grandstand area). Treehouses? Super cool. Transportation struggles? Eh. Not so much. The Disney Springs Hot Air Balloon Is Not Always A Guarantee Yes, we want the Disney Springs’ hot air balloon to let us down…But AFTER we’ve already been up in the air. And yet, sometimes it has to for our own safety. Disney Springs The Aerophile is the big blue tethered hot air balloon that’s become a pretty iconic part of the Disney Springs area. For $30 per adult, you can soar up high — 400 feet above the shopping district — for an 8-minute look at Disney from a bird’s eye view. Disney Springs Some may think the price is worth it, some may not, and some may not have a say one way or another because the Aerophile won’t be open on the day of their visit. If it’s storming OR if the wind that day exceeds 22 mph, the Aerophile will NOT take people up. Aerophile But the good news here is that you can check ahead of time to find out if this attraction is something that you can keep on your itinerary for the day. Just call 407-938-9433 to find out if the Aerophile is going to stay open or search for the Aerophile on your My Disney Experience app and see if the page lists that the balloon is “temporarily closed” or not. Disney Springs Want to learn about MORE Disney World secrets? Stay tuned right here at DFB for all the latest tips, tricks, reviews, updates, and more! 9 Secret Shortcuts We Always Use in Disney World What are some of your favorite Disney World secrets? Let us know in the comments! The post 6 Secrets Disney World Doesn't Want You to Know first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Are you planning on taking a cruise soon? Disney Wish at Castaway Cay Cruising can be such a fun and relaxing vacation (and totally different from visiting theme parks like Disney World and Universal Orlando). Whether you choose to go on a cruise with Disney Cruise Line (and there are PLENTY of ships to choose from with more on the way) or another carrier, there’s a proposed Hawaiian tax you might need to know about because it could make your vacation more expensive. According to Hawaii News Now, the state of Hawaii has passed bills in both houses that will place a per-person fee on cruise ship passengers or add an 11 percent tax on ship cabins, similar to fees already paid by hotels and vacation rentals. Attorneys for the cruise industry have sent a letter to Hawaii’s attorney general and lawmakers threatening a lawsuit if these taxes go into effect. Hawaii Norwegian Cruise Line executive vice president and general counsel Daniel Farkas said that maritime law, as covered in the U.S. Constitution, prohibits these kind of taxes beyond what it costs for space and services while a ship is in harbor. He said, “It’s simply unconstitutional. It’s black and white. It has to do with uniformity as to when a vessel pulls into port. It’s simply so that everyone is treated equally.” ©Norwegian Cruise Lines However, Hawaii House Tourism Committee Chair Rep. Adrian Tam said, “The Supreme Court also made a very clear that we cannot give preferential treatment. All we’re asking for them is to pay their fair share. It should be a no-brainer. They are benefiting from Hawaii’s natural beauty.” Naturally, the increased cost could be passed on to passengers, although Farkas suggests that if the tax is put in place, cruise lines might stop visiting Hawaii. Tam disagreed, though, stating that the proposed taxes are affordable and will go towards protecting Hawaii’s environment. Temple in Oahu The next step to determine how much more the state will tax cruises will involve negotiations between Hawaii’s House and Senate in conference committee. Stay tuned to DFB for more. Is a Trip to Disney World MORE Expensive than a Trip to Hawaii? We Break It Down. What You Need to Know About Disney Cruise Line Learn All About Disney Cruise Line and Its Various Ships Explore Disney’s Mega Cruise Ship – The Wish A Full List of What You CAN’T Bring on a Disney Cruise These Are the BEST Times to Book Your Disney Cruise The Best Ways to SAVE SPACE in Your Tiny Cruise Cabin 10 Things You NEED on Your Next Cruise (That You Won’t Think to Pack!) What It’s Like to Live on a Cruise Ship for 6 Months Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe What do you think? Let us know in the comments! The post NEWS: NEW Proposed Hawaii Tax Could Cause MAJOR Price Increases for Cruises first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Have you ever stayed at the non-Disney Disney hotels? Swan and Dolphin Hotel We’re talking about the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels, located in the EPCOT Resort area. These hotels get many of the same perks as staying at a Disney World Deluxe Resort, but they’re typically a little bit cheaper because they’re owned by Marriott instead of Disney. If you’re planning to stay there soon, you should know that the Dolphin Hotel just made some big announcements! Shula’s Steakhouse Is Closing As part of some big updates to the Dolphin, Shula’s Steak House is closing permanently. Shula’s is named after the location’s original owner and American football legend, the late Don Shula. Reservations are currently available through June 14th, 2025. Shula’s Steak House The restaurant has been around since 1995, and its theme celebrates the Miami Dolphins’ 1972 perfect season. We’ll definitely miss it, but something NEW is coming in its place. Learn More About the Shula’s Steak House Closing Here! A New Restaurant Is Coming Soon What’s replacing Shula’s? It’s a new Michael Mina restaurant! Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina will be getting its third location in Florida, with the other two located in Miami and Delray Beach. ©The Mina Group There’s not a set opening date for the restaurant yet, but it’s expected to arrive mid-summer. Michael Mina has multiple Michelin stars, so we can’t wait to experience some more fine dining in Disney World! Learn More About the New Restaurant Here! New Restaurant Menu Revealed And on top of the news about the new restaurant, we also got some details about the dining location’s menu! It will have a “reimagined modern take on the quintessential American steakhouse” with premium cuts of beef and seafood infused with global flavors, along with decadent signature desserts and world-class beverage offerings. Bourbon Steak in Orange County We recently visited the Bourbon Steak location in Orange County, LA. Our meal was absolutely delicious, and now we’re even more hyped for this spot to come to the Dolphin! We already have several restaurants from Michelin-starred chefs in Disney World, and they’re some of our favorite spots. You can read our full Bourbon Steak review here! And if you’re heading to Disney World soon, check out our video with best restaurants for 2025! Stay tuned to DFB for more restaurant news. We’ll keep you in the loop! Click Here to See Game-Changing Updates Announced for Disney Hotels! 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! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Would you try this restaurant? Tell us in the comments! The post ALERT! A Popular Disney World Hotel Just Released 3 MAJOR News Updates first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Hey, friends! We’re back with another DFB Video covering all the latest Disney news! The Black Panther! We got a FIRST LOOK at EVERYTHING coming to Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Disney Destiny. Disney released a sneak peek at the new villains show coming to Hollywood Studios, the newest Universal hotel is OPEN (aka the one INSIDE EPIC UNIVERSE), and more. All the latest Disney Parks news is coming up right now on DFB Guide. By the way, have you subscribed yet? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to the channel and never miss a single episode! http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/subscribe.png So check out the video and then let us know: Which Disney news of the week are you the most excited about? The post DFB Video: Latest Disney News: Preview of Disney Destiny, New Song for Villains Show & MORE! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’ve all been there — scrolling through Amazon, trying to prep for a big trip, wondering, “Do I need this weird travel thing I’ve never used before?” ©Amazon Travel gadgets can seem like a good idea in theory, especially when you’re heading to Disney and trying to make your trip as smooth as possible. But not everything with “travel” slapped on the label is worth it. Let’s talk about a few Amazon travel gadgets that honestly just aren’t worth your time or money — and what you might want to bring instead. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Foot Hammock We’ve seen these floating around Amazon — literally. They’re little footrests that hook onto your tray table to create a sort of foot “swing” while you fly. Sounds cozy, right? ©Amazon Reality check: unless you’re flying internationally or taking a long-haul flight, you’re probably not going to use this. Most domestic flights don’t give you enough legroom to make a foot hammock feel like anything but cramped. It’s another thing to carry and set up for not much payoff. Travel-Size Everything Unless you’re packing ultra-light and going carry-on only, there’s no real reason to swap out your full-size shampoo for a doll-sized version. Travel-Size Hand Sanitizer Most hotels (and even Disney resorts) offer toiletries, and if you’re checking a bag anyway, save yourself the stress and just pack your regular stuff. Neck Pillow Fill it with clothes! It feels like a “must-have,” right? Everyone has one looped around their suitcase handle. But hear us out: one option if you’re already planning to bring layers is to skip the bulky neck pillow and just bring a packable jacket. You can roll it up and use it for neck support, lumbar support, or even as a mini pillow in the park. Another option is this packing cube neck pillow. You can fill it up with clothes and get the same benefit as a regular neck pillow. We love the one above from Target. Get it here! Camera In 2025, your phone is likely a better camera than most of the “travel cameras” out there. Yehtta Instant Digital Camera Unless you’re a professional photographer, there’s no reason to lug around a separate device. iPhones and Androids take incredible photos now—plus, they’re easier to upload, share, and edit on the go. We will say though, we do love to bring little cameras for kiddos so they can join in on the photo taking fun. Flip Flops Don’t do this to yourself. Flip flops might seem like a good idea for water rides or pool days, but they’re not made for walking around EPCOT all day. Instead, go for a solid pair of sandals that actually support your feet. ©Amazon We love the Teva Women’s Original Universal Sandal. These sandals are not only cute, they’re also made for walking, getting wet, and everything in between. They’re ideal for all-day wear, water rides, and walking around Disney all day. Get it here! Books Unless you’re committed to reading one specific paperback on your trip, don’t pack physical books. They’re heavy, bulky, and not super practical when you’re trying to travel light. We recommend going with an Amazon Kindle or even a tablet like an iPad. ©Amazon The Kindle (16 GB) is compact, distraction-free, and super easy on the eyes—even in bright sunlight. Plus, it holds thousands of books, lasts for weeks on a single charge, and fits in basically any bag. Get it here! Big, Bulky Backpack A huge backpack might seem like a smart way to carry everything you need into the parks. But it quickly becomes a backache, especially when you’re waiting in long lines or squeezing into ride vehicles. Instead, grab a sling bag or belt bag. Sling Bag It’s cute, it’s functional, and it’ll save your shoulders by the end of the day. Get it here! In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest deals on Disney products, so stay tuned for more. Looking for more Disney Essentials? Check out our Amazon Storefront!The post These Amazon Travel Gadgets Aren't Worth Your Time or Money first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We could spend hours upon hours at Universal Orlando Resort’s brand-new theme park, Epic Universe (and in fact, we have)! But, it’s not just the theme park we’re busy exploring, because three brand-new hotels have opened their doors along with the new park. Look at that VIEW! Of course, we’re mostly excited about all the FOOD! We stopped by Flora Taverna at the Universal Helios Grand Hotel to see what they’re serving up for dinner. Let’s dive into everything you need to know! Atmosphere Flora Taverna offers “a full breakfast buffet and Mediterranean comfort foods” as well as “an open kitchen, live cooking, pizza oven, open grills, and a gyros station.” It has a “light and airy atmosphere” and stunning views of Epic Universe. It really feels like you’ve been transported to the Mediterranean when you’re here! Flora Taverna But enough about the restaurant — what’s on the menu here?! Menu During dinner service, Flora Taverna serves up a wide variety of dishes inspired by Mediterranean classics. There are starters like calamari and eggplant, plus salads, wood-fired pizzas, pastas, entrees, and more. Flora Taverna menu You’ll also find plenty of sides, a few desserts, and a wide selection of cocktails, mocktails, beer, and wine. More menu items And now, onto the main event — the food! Eats We kicked things off with the Crispy Pita Salad for $21. This comes with crispy pita chips, chilled baby gem lettuce, shaved onion, avocado, tomato, radish, sumac, and vinaigrette. The first thing we noticed was how good this smelled when it came out — it was really acidic and bright. The sumac reminded us of cinnamon without being too strong. It was a bit odd at first, but it wasn’t bad, and we ended up enjoying the flavors after a while. As far as the crispy pita goes, we could eat an entire bowl full of them. The salad itself was fresh and had good flavors, but we don’t know that it was worth $21. Crispy Pita Salad For our first entree, we ordered the Rigatoni. This is made with cream of prosecco, pesto, spinach, and shaved reggiano for $28. This is definitely going to be a safe option for most people who might not want to be too adventurous with their meal. It was pretty basic, but it was a solid dish. The pasta was cooked well, and the pesto wasn’t too overpowering — the main flavor we got was from the cheese. Rigatoni We ordered the Florida Water Red Snapper Whole Fish, which comes at Market Price, and in our case, was $52. This, along with the other fish option on the menu, comes with house-made sauces to complement your whole fish. You get a choice of two out of: ladolemono (olive oil and lemon juice), chimichurri, zhug, and tahini sauce. We opted for the tahini and ladolemono. This was excellent, and we LOVED the salt crust on the outside of the fish. The salt was a larger kernel, which was rad and made for a fun textural experience. The fish was super fresh but not fishy at all; it was just light and flaky. The skin had a nice texture, and it all pulled apart very easily. The tahini was nutty and creamy, but the ladolemono was bright and fresh. Both were excellent. Florida Snapper We were accidentally served the Mediterranean Branzino Whole Fish, and so we just had to review it, too. Normally, this is also served at Market Price, which was $62 at the time we dined. This was also very flaky. The skin did not pull apart as easily as the snapper’s did, but it was still nice. It wasn’t chewy, and it wasn’t very fishy, which was appreciated. Both fish had the same sauces on the side, and they were both, again, excellent with the branzino. Mediterranean Branzino Next up, we tried the Black Angus Beef Tenderloin Kebab for $43. This comes with gremolata, confit tomato, and a choice of side (we chose the server’s recommended whipped potatoes). The meat was charred really nicely without being bitter or burnt, and there was salt on the outside, which balanced the rest of the spices really well. It was super tender and juicy and pink on the inside, and was a generous portion — definitely enough to share. The gremolata was fresh and herbaceous and paired really well with the charred meat. Angus Beef Kebab We LOVED the potatoes and probably ate way too much. We could have only eaten these and been happy. They were creamy and had a great texture, even when they were cold. Cheesy. Very garlicky. Garlic and herbs on top. 10/10 so good. Order the potatoes. No regrets. On the side For dessert, we picked up the Baklava, which is served with a Labneh & Apricot Gelato for $14. This was very crunchy and tough, but SO good. Very nutty. We enjoyed the honey coming through, and it was sweet but not overly so. It was a good balance. The ice cream was made with labneh, a yogurt, and it reminded me more of a cream cheese ice cream, if that makes sense. Baklava We also tried the Olive Oil Cake for $14, which comes with mascarpone cream, lemon sorbet, basil coulis, and citrus salad. This was our favorite of the desserts we tried for dinner. The olive oil was not super in your face — it was incredibly light. It was a really good balance — bright and lemony, and then with the lemon sorbet, it was really good. The cake was soft and fluffy. A little dense since it’s olive oil, but super easy to eat. We loved it. Olive Oil Cake Last, but certainly not least, we grabbed the Pistachio & Raspberry Cheesecake with crushed nuts for $14. This was a pretty traditional cheesecake with a great texture. It held up well on our fork without losing any structural integrity. The raspberry was mild and not overly tart, and also very nutty with the pistachio and crushed nuts. We liked the crunchy layer on top, which was also really pretty. Pistachio & Raspberry Cheesecake That’s a lot of food! Now, onto the drinks. Drinks To drink, we had the Basil Bees Knees for $17. This is made with Hendrick’s Gin, lemon juice, honey syrup, basil, and orange bitters. WOO! This was very strong. It’s VERY good when you get a whiff of the basil with the drink. We enjoyed it once we smooshed up the basil in the drink. It mellowed out and made it more balanced. It was very acidic originally, so the smashed basil helped balance things out. It was sweet, tart, and herby. Basil Bee’s Knees The Athens Sour is made with Angel’s Envy Helios Barrel Selection, lemon juice, grapefruit, and pinot noir cordial, egg white, and orange bitters for $17. This was very citrus-forward. It had a dried orange slice and lemon peel on top, so you got a ton of that on the nose as you tasted it. That citrus-forward taste continued with a lemon, grapefruit, and Pinot Noir cordial that is a house-made syrup for this drink. There were some orange bitters there as well, so you’re getting the picture — a whole citrus explosion here with the bourbon and then egg white for some slip. This was pretty sweet for a bourbon drink, but not overly sweet. Athens Sour We also grabbed the Uvo Anana for $18. This comes with Grey Goose Vodka, Cointreau, lemon and pineapple cordial, and white grape juice. This was a very mild drink. Great for those who don’t like the taste of alcohol or are new to drinking. The pineapple tasted very fresh and sweet — not artificial pineapple at all. The pineapple’s sweetness cut the alcohol taste — it almost reminded us of DOLE Whip. It was sweet but not too sweet, and had a bit of tartness from the lemon and Cointreau. Uvo Anana Flora Taverna, you’ve done it again. Nosh or Not This Epic Universe restaurant is a must-visit if… You’re looking for an elevated meal served in a gorgeous atmosphere. You enjoy Mediterranean flavors or are interested in branching out. You’re a seafood fan or just a fan of really excellent dishes. You should skip this Epic Universe spot if… You’re looking for something quick and simple. You have picky eaters in your group. You don’t want to spend a whole lot of money. Flora Taverna Overall Well, we’re certainly not surprised considering how much we enjoyed breakfast and lunch at Flora Taverna, but dinner was no different. The cocktails were standouts, and the food here is so fresh and of such good quality that it’s hard to not enjoy everything that’s served to you. Our favorites were the snapper and kebab, but those whipped potatoes will be dancing around our dreams forever. In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for more restaurant updates from Epic Universe, Universal Orlando, and beyond. Make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest theme park news and more! See Our Flora Taverna Lunch Review HERE Read more: DFB's complete guide to Universal’s Epic Universe >> Will you be checking out this new restaurant? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: We Tried Flora Taverna for Dinner at Universal's Helios Grand Hotel first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Universal’s newest hotel, Helios Grand Hotel, is open now, and we’re checking out everything there is to offer! Universal Helios Grand Hotel That includes the rooms, the view into Epic Universe, and, of course, the dining! One of the dining spots inside this new location is a table-service restaurant called Flora Taverna, and we’re checking out what breakfast is like (and if it’s worth the reservation)! Atmosphere Flora Taverna offers “a full breakfast buffet and Mediterranean comfort foods” as well as “an open kitchen, live cooking, pizza oven, open grills, and a gyros station.” It’s described as having a “light and airy atmosphere” and stunning views of Epic Universe, and after seeing it for ourselves, we do agree with that! Flora Taverna But what’s on the menu here? We’re about to find out! Menu For breakfast, you will find a buffet option available for $36. The Sunrise Buffet includes artisanal pastries, made-to-order omelets, pancakes, fruit salads, charcuterie, scrambled eggs, bacon, roasted vegetables, and the buffet also includes your drink — coffee, tea, and juice. We think this is a good deal for those who really love a lot of fruit in their breakfast or whoa are looking to drink juice especially, because in comparing prices, coffee is $6 and juice is $8, so making the leap to the buffet price with drink included is a good deal compared to an entree and a beverage. Breakfast Menu Additionally, you’ll find options like the Morning Indulgence, egg dishes, healthier options, and more. Now, onto the main event — the food! Eats First up, we grabbed the Baklava French Toast for $25. This is made with Crushed Pistachio and Dried Roses, and we chose this one because it seemed the most unusual and out of the box. This was presented beautifully and wasn’t overly sweet, and the real star here was the addition of the pistachios. Baklava French Toast Not only did they add a sweet, nutty flavor and aroma, but they also added a crunchy texture that went very well with the creamier texture of the baklava French toast. We also appreciated the serving size of this, and feel that if you like a sweet breakfast, this will be a dish you enjoy. Our reporter isn’t usually a sweet breakfast fan, but felt that if they were in the right mood, they could eat a whole plate of this. So overall, we were impressed! Delicious! We also tried the Helios Grand Breakfast for $27, which comes with two cage-free eggs prepared to your liking, artisanal toast, your choice of applewood smoked bacon, country pork sausage or apple chicken sausage, and your choice of breakfast potatoes or seasonal fruit. Helios Grand Breakfast This was a traditional American breakfast, but we particularly appreciated that fruit was available as a side here without an additional cost. We did decide to opt for the potatoes, though. They were cooked with red and green bell peppers, and they were fantastically done — crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Potatoes We picked up on the black pepper flavor the most, but in the best way, because we did feel they were seasoned very well. Since the bell peppers are cut so large, they are easy to pick out, which we appreciated. We ordered our eggs to be over medium, and they came out perfect! Eggs For our meat, we chose the Apple Chicken Sausage, and while we didn’t dislike it, it was very heavy on the sausage flavor and lacked the sweetness from the apple that we had hoped to taste. Apple Chicken Sausage We also ordered Sourdough Toast, but as it was the first day the restaurant was open to the public, we were informed they didn’t have it available just yet, and were instead brought English Muffins. These were tasty, and overall, we enjoyed the whole plate, but we do feel it was a bit overpriced and would sit better in the $23–$25 range. English Muffins Finally, we tried the Shawarma Spiced Beef Hash for $29. This is made with a poached cage-free egg, locally grown tomato, charred onion, roasted potatoes, and zhug. This is one of the restaurant’s specialty breakfast items, and we understand why! The egg was poached perfectly, and the beef (which tasted like tenderloin to us) was tender, and along with the shawarma pieces, it was all very warm and comforting. Shawarma Spiced Beef Hash We also loved the roasted potatoes, which were different than our other breakfast potatoes as these were more like baby potatoes, but they were brilliantly done all the same. The combination of them with the tomato and charred onion was a fantastic mix of sweet and savory flavors. Perfectly poached egg! We honestly would consider coming over here just to eat before heading into the park if we were staying at the hotel! We think it’s a really solid option and would highly recommend it for those looking for a great breakfast option, especially if you lean more towards a savory breakfast. Nosh or Not This Universal restaurant is a must-visit if… You’re staying at Helios Grand Hotel You’re looking for a great breakfast option that will start your day off on the right foot You love savory breakfast options You should skip this Universal spot if… You prefer really sweet breakfast options You’re looking for a quick meal before jumping into the parks and having a full day You’re planning on going to an attraction within half an hour after (the food is heavier than in other places!) Overall What really stood out to us about this experience, more than just the food (which we really did enjoy!), was just how excited the staff is for the opening of Epic Universe and for guests to experience the park. They’re full of recommendations, both for dishes in the restaurant and for what’s in the park, as all of them have experienced Team Member previews. Flora Taverna The staff was also extremely accommodating, going above and beyond multiple times. Our server came over to tell us that the kitchen was a little backed up and our food would take a few minutes longer, which was completely fine, but she offered us a complimentary cappuccino and continued to ask if there was anything she could bring to the table while we waited. It’s clear that everyone here has been well-trained, and overall, the experience at the restaurant far exceeded our expectations in every way. It’s beautiful in here! In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for more restaurant updates from Universal Orlando and beyond. Make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest news! REVIEW: We Tried the NEW Burning Blade Tavern at Universal’s Epic Universe Read more: DFB's complete guide to Universal’s Epic Universe >> 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! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What would you grab from this restaurant? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: We Ate Breakfast at the NEW Flora Taverna Restaurant in the Universal Helios Grand Hotel first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Whether or not you’re a Disney World expert, it’s never a bad idea to get caught up with the latest trends and tips! Welcome to Disney World! We visit Disney World every day, and sometimes we even spend the night! We’ve gotten pretty familiar with all of the Disney World hotels over the years, and that’s led us to accumulate some pretty great tips — including ways to save money during your stay! Depending on the length of your stay, you should be ready to shell out some serious dough when it comes to staying at a Disney World hotel. With that said, there are actually several ways you can save a few bucks and — in some cases — hundreds of dollars. Grand Floridian Stay at a Good Neighbor Hotel While Disney owns MANY hotels on property, they also partner with local hotels in the area. These hotels are lovingly referred to as Good Neighbor Hotels. ©Homewood Suites by Hilton Orlando These hotels will generally be much more inexpensive than the Disney-owned ones, and many of them still give you park perks like Early Entry and transportation. Swan and Dolphin Hotels One of our absolute favorites is the Swan and Dolphin Resort, which offers a prime location near the parks, fantastic dining options, park perks, and a lovely stay overall. Apply Deals After Purchasing You’ve locked in your vacation package and now you’re done planning, right? Not so fast, my friends! Cinderella Castle If you have an existing Disney World reservation, you can still add on new deals, so it’s important to stay up-to-date on what’s being offered. First, check the check the special offers on the Disney World website regarding places to stay. Review the offers and make sure your stay qualifies, and then follow the prompts to apply the offer to your reservation. You will likely need to log into your My Disney Experience account to modify the reservation. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Island Tower Be advised that adding a deal could affect what you initially wanted to do with your reservation. Some deals apply to certain rooms or hotels. If you have any questions, concerns, or issues, give Disney World a call and a Cast Member can assist you. Stay Close to the Parks Before selecting a hotel, do a little bit of homework and see which hotels are close to the theme parks. Disney World is spread out, so each hotel will have ideal proximity to certain parks and unfortunate distance to others. Fireworks deck at California Grill You should also get familiar with the transportation offered at each resort. We recommend staying at hotels that are closer or more accessible to parks you plan on spending the most time at. Monorail at the Contemporary Resort Why? Time is money, and you will get the most out of your vacation if you’re not spending an uncomfortable amount of time traveling. Take Advantage of the Disney Visa If you’re a Disney Visa Cardmember, you can get hotel deals! Cardmembers can use the Disney Rewards Redemption Card at select restaurants, retail and hotel locations at Disney Resorts all over the country. ©Disney Disney Visa Cardmembers can also get several hotel perks such as discounts on room rates in addition to savings on dining and merch. ©Disney At Disney World, Cardmembers can save up to 30-35% on select rooms. At Disneyland, they can save 30% on select premium rooms at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa or the Disneyland Hotel during specific booking periods. Cardmembers can also save 35% off select rooms at the Aulani Resort & Spa. Rent DVC Points If you’ve ever wanted to live like a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) member without paying DVC prices, you can rent points! DVC Villa at Wilderness Lodge Many Disney hotels have DVC villas that are essentially timeshares that you can rent if you’re a member or buy points. You can book rooms at DVC hotels directly through Disney, or rent points through a service like David’s Vacation Club Rentals. Renting points can help you save money and you might end up spending 30-50% LESS than it would cost you to book the room directly through Disney, especially when it comes to studios. ©Disney Essentially, you’re paying the DVC member to use their points, so you’re costs will naturally be less. Know When to Go While Disney World no longer has a true off-season, there are times of the year where it is cheaper to visit. Empty Hollywood Studios Typically, you may see lower prices in January, early February, and September. As always, monitor discounts and travel trends to truly stay in the know regarding the best times to visit Disney World. Main Street, U.S.A. What are some ways you save money on your Disney World hotel stays? Let us know in the comments and continue to follow us here at DFB for more Disney World tips! CONFESSION TIME: Two of My Favorite Disney Hotels AREN’T Disney Hotels 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! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What methods would you recommend for folks looking to cut Disney World hotel costs? Let us know in the comments! The post Only Expert-Level Disney Adults Know About This Secret Trick to Cut Hotel Costs first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Bluey fans, get ready — because something brand new just dropped, and if you’ve got little ones who can’t get enough of the Heeler family, you’re gonna want to jump on this. ©Bluey There are five brand-new Bluey LEGO sets up on Amazon RIGHT NOW. They’re all available for pre-order, and honestly, they’re super cute. If you’ve got a Bluey lover at home (or you’re like us and kind of obsessed yourself), these sets are going to be the perfect way to bring the show to life. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. All of these sets can be purchased now but won’t ship until June 1! Check out this Bluey’s Beach & Family Car Trip LEGO Set ©Amazon First up, let’s talk about this Bluey’s Beach & Family Car Trip set. This one screams summer fun. It comes with Bluey, Bingo, and Mum (Chilli), and they’re all packed into their iconic car with two surfboards on top and a trunk loaded up for the beach. We’re talking sandcastles, a palm tree, beach umbrella, a crab (yes, a crab!), and even a sand-mermaid tail you can put a character into. There’s even a flip-open roof so you can pop the characters in and out easily, and a cooler in the back because, you know, snacks are essential. Get it here! Check out this Bluey’s Family House LEGO Set ©Amazon Next, you’ve got to check out this Bluey’s Family House set. This one is stacked with details, and it comes with all four family members — Bluey, Bingo, Mum (Chilli), and Dad (Bandit). The house is modular, meaning you can move the rooms around to play in different ways. Inside, you’ll find everything from a piano and dollhouse to a full kitchen setup and even a Chattermax in the kids’ attic room. There’s also a garden complete with a hot dog, pizza, and Jeremy the gnome — yes, they really included Jeremy. Get it here! Check out this Playground Fun with Bluey and Chloe LEGO Set ©Amazon Next, let’s talk about this Playground Fun with Bluey and Chloe set. This one is a smaller set, but it’s packed with bright colors and playground energy. It features Bluey and Chloe at the park with a jungle gym, slide, seesaw, and even a spinning pelican ride. There’s also a tower with a telescope and a picnic area. Get it here! Check out this Ice Cream Trip with Bluey LEGO DUPLO Set ©Amazon This Ice Cream Trip with Bluey set is for the younger crew, and it’s adorable. Bluey and her dad are off to get ice cream, and the car is just big enough for both of them to ride in. Kids can stack the scoops to match numbers, sort by color, and work on fine motor skills while pretending they’re off on a treat run. Plus, who doesn’t love a LEGO ice cream cone? Get it here! Check out this Bluey’s Family House with Memory Game LEGO DUPLO Set ©Amazon Lastly, we’ve got this Bluey’s Family House with Memory Game set. Okay, so this one is kind of genius. Not only do you get a DUPLO version of Bluey’s family house and three characters (Bluey, Bingo, and Mum), but there’s also a built-in memory game. Parents hide pieces behind the house windows, then toddlers spin a wheel to figure out what they need to find. It’s a mix of imaginative play and a matching game — great for keeping little ones engaged and developing skills. Get it here! In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest deals on Disney products, so stay tuned for more. Did you know we have a Disney-themed Amazon Storefront? Check it out!The post 5 NEW Bluey LEGO Toys are Available on Amazon NOW! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’re planning a trip to Disney World, you’ve probably figure out the basics like your budget, how long you’re staying, where you’re staying, what theme park tickets you need, and maybe even where to eat (so important, that last one!). MCO Airport But you’ll still have to figure out HOW to get to Disney World. For many, that means flying into Orlando International Airport. The good news is that new flights are added to Orlando International Airport today, and most recently seven new flights have been announced for the airport. So we’ve told you about a lot of these flights, but we wanted to give you the full rundown in case you missed any. Now, let’s get started. We’ll start with Breeze Airways, which will be starting service to Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina, on May 9th, as well as service to Greensboro, North Carolina, on June 6th and service to Key West on June 12th. Yep, Breeze is betting BIG on Orlando International Airport. ©Breeze Airways If you’re wanting to get away from Orlando and head to Disneyland Paris, you might want to know that Air France is starting service to Paris, France, on May 21st. ©Air France Spirit Airlines has announced two new flights to and from Orlando International Airport. You’ll be able to fly from Chattanooga, TN, beginning on June 4th, and from Columbia, SC, from June 5th. Spirit Airlines at Orlando Airport Southwest Airlines (which is currently undergoing some MAJOR changes) will be flying to Orlando from Sarasota, Fort Myers, and West Palm Beach, FL on August 5th. ©Southwest Airlines This fall, Iberia will fly to and from Madrid, Spain, beginning on October 26th, pending government approval. Likewise, LATAM will be starting service to and from Lima, Peru, on October 26th, also pending government approval. ©Iberia Airlines So why are there so many new flights to Orlando? Well, some airlines pulled planes from their inventory during the COVID-19 pandemic and were waiting for new planes. The new planes are now being added back to fleets and allowing airlines to expand their routes. Stay tuned to DFB for more. 5 Changes Announced for Orlando Airport DON'T DO IT ALONE! 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 GET MORE INFO What do you think? Let us know in the comments! The post 7 NEW Flights Are Coming to Orlando International Airport first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Unless you’ve been living under a pretty large rock for the last 8 months when it comes to Disney World news, you’re aware that Hollywood Studios is about to go through some MASSIVE changes. ©Disney The entire Grand Avenue area of the park, including Muppet*Vision 3D, PizzeRizzo, and Mama Melrose, is going to close to make way for a brand new land based around Monsters, Inc. While we’re ecstatic for Monstropolis – – seriously, we’ve been daydreaming about that door coaster since 2001 — we’re going to miss the original Muppets area of the park. Before saying goodbye to area known as Muppet Courtyard forever, we decided to take a look at some of the magnificently manic Muppet easter eggs hidden throughout the area. Our first stop is at the marquee attraction, Muppet*Vision 3D. The queue for this classic film — the final Muppets project that creator Jim Henson worked on during his lifetime — is full of small references and in-jokes and Muppet-style gags. ©The Jim Henson Company For instance, when you enter the building, look to your left and you’ll see a security window with a sign reading “Back in 5 minutes — key is under the mat.” Sure enough, there’s a mat on the floor, and if you lift it, you’ll find a key embedded in the floor. A more niche Disney in-joke can be found in the queue. When you reach the pre-show room featuring the video screens and props, look above you’re head. You’ll see a net holding crates of Jell-O hangs from up above, AKA“A net full of Jello” AKA a reference to legendary Mouseketeer and 1960s Disney actress Annette Funicello. Wocka Wocka Indeed ©The Muppets Moving over to PizzeRizzo, the eatery “owned” by Rizzo the Rat, we can find a massive example of Muppet-style humor outside the building. Right above the outdoor balcony seating area, you can see a sign pointing to the restaurant that says, “This City’s Top Rated Pizza” in neon yellow lettering… but when NIGHT rolls around, some of the letters flash on and off. And whenever they’re off, the sign instead reads “it’s rat pizza”! PizzeRizzo In addition, the restaurant features a slew of Muppet references and decorations adorning its walls, including in the upstairs “party room.” If you want to catch any of these references in person though, you’ll need to act fast as Muppet*Vision 3D and PizzeRizzo will both be closing on June 8th, meaning the VERY LAST DAY you can experience them will be June 7th. Looking for the perfect tee to wear when you say goodbye to Muppet*Vision and PizzeRizzo? We have the PERFECT shirt! Rat Pizza! However, another of the area’s mainstays is closing even sooner. Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano has an EARLIER expiration date, closing forever on May 10th. While this family Italian restaurant may not officially Muppet-themed, we’re still counting it thanks to the earliest blue sky plans for the restaurant. See, back in the early 1990s, Disney was planning to build an entire Muppet Land in the then Disney-MGM Studios, including a Rizzo-themed Italian restaurant (some ideas never die it seems) that would feature basic animatronic versions of Rizzo and his brethren delivering patrons’ food. After Henson’s passing, the restaurant lost the Muppet theme and became Mama Melrose, though a long-running theme park urban legend claims that the tracks for the delivery rats is still visible in the restaurant’s ceiling. Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano While the tracks may or may not exist, what Mama Melrose does have is a large collection of vintage photos lining its walls, many from the park’s earliest days, including celebrities who visited the park and interacted with characters including the long-gone Roger Rabbit. We’re hoping some of these photos can find new homes around the park, but just in case they can’t, you still have just about a month left to catch a glimpse of them at the restaurant. Tables and chairs While the Muppets will still be part of Hollywood Studios thanks to their upcoming ”takeover” of the Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster (hopefully including a new larger are chock-full of Muppet easter eggs) the original Muppet area of the park — and all its history — is set to disappear forever in the next few months. Stay tuned to DFB for more looks at Disney history. 4 Disney’s Hollywood Studios Restaurants the Experts Refuse to Book 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! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Which of these Muppets easter eggs will you miss the most? Let us know in the comments below. The post 6 Muppets Secrets To Find in Disney World BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

A brand-new Disney Loungefly collection is making our Tangled dreams come true! ©Disney The latest Disney Loungefly collaboration celebrates the 15th anniversary of Tangled with a new collection featuring iconic characters from the film, including Rapunzel, Flynn Rider, and Pascal. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Check out the NEW Rapunzel Loungefly ©Loungefly First up, we have this classic Loungefly featuring Rapunzel and Pascal along with a large pile of books. The Loungefly-exclusive bag features adjustable shoulder straps, a front zipper pocket, an enamel zipper charm, side drop pockets, and shiny gold hardware. SHOP HERE We LOVE this Rapunzel and Flynn Lantern Loungefly ©Loungefly This Loungefly celebrates one of the romantic scenes in any Disney film: Flynn and Rapunzel sailing through the lantern festival. In addition to the typical Loungefly accouterments, the bag features LED lights to allow the lanterns to glow! SHOP HERE Behold the new Lantern Drawstring Mini-Backpack ©Loungefly If you want to celebrate the Lantern Festival in a bit more understated way, there’s also this drawstring bag, which captures the design essence of the lantern, complete with the same decorative details. SHOP HERE This Snuggly Ducking Crossbody is so fun! ©Loungefly The next piece recreates the Snuggly Ducking sign in intricate, faux-wood design detail. Bonus points if you wear this while visiting the real Snuggly Ducking at Tokyo DisneySea’s Fantasy Springs. SHOP HERE Grab the matching Pascal Wristlet! ©Loungefly This wristlet features Pascal backed by a belt of flowers, and comes equipped with faux leather construction, a detachable wrist strap, zippered closure, shiny gold hardware, 7 card slot, die-cut ID window, appliqué, embossed, and printed details, and coordinating inside lining. SHOP HERE If you’re a Tangled fan, you should hop over to Loungefly’s website ASAP to check out the EXCLUSIVE collection! Stay tuned to DFB for more coverage of Disney’s latest offerings. Looking for more Disney essentials? Head to our Amazon Storefront.The post Loungefly’s EXCLUSIVE New ‘Tangled’ Collection Is ONLINE Now! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

A lot just dropped in the world of Disney news — and if you blinked, you probably missed something. Disney World We’ve got a wild mix of updates from free food deals to major ride changes, new bars, and one surprisingly cheap hotel deal for Disney+ subscribers. Whether you’re booking a trip from the UK, a die-hard fan of villains, or just want to sip cocktails in a Victorian birdcage, there’s something here that could totally change your Disney World plans. Let’s break down everything you need to know about the seven big updates Disney just dropped. Here’s what’s going on: FREE Dining Plan is Coming Back…But There’s a Catch Yes, you read that right — FREE Disney Dining is back! But before you start packing your bags, here’s the catch: this particular deal is only for UK and Ireland visitors booking 2026 vacations. Animal Kingdom Lodge If that’s you, congrats — you’re in for a serious perk. When you book a qualifying Disney Resort Hotel + Ticket Package for dates between January 7th and December 19th, 2026, everyone in your party gets a free Disney Dining Plan. That includes meals, drinks (yep, alcohol if you’re 21+), and access to over 170+ dining locations across the resort — from quick snacks to character meals. This deal opens for bookings on April 29th, 2025, and includes other perks like: A 14-Day Ticket for the price of a 7-Day Park Hopper included Memory Maker ($210 value) Savings up to €300 on select packages €65 deposit to lock it in This is a HUGE value (Disney claims it’s worth €1,273 per adult), but remember — it’s only for UK/Ireland guests and only for 2026 arrivals. Hotel Rooms from $99 for Disney+ Subscribers Yep, Disney+ subscribers just got another perk: special summer hotel rates starting at $99 per night. This deal applies to select Disney World resorts for stays between June 29th and July 31st, 2025, and it’s kind of wild how good some of these prices are: $99 for All-Star Sports $169 for Port Orleans – Riverside (Woods View Rooms) $229 for Cars Family Suites at Art of Animation $249 for Deluxe Studios at Saratoga Springs $339 for Savanna View at Animal Kingdom Lodge Disney’s Pop Century Resort To book, you need to show proof of your Disney+ subscription and meet the 2-night minimum. Some room types are excluded, and this deal is super limited, so if this sounds like your summer vacay — jump on it fast. Test Track is Getting a Glow-Up Disney Imagineering just shared a sneak peek at the new Test Track…and it’s definitely getting a whole new vibe. ©Disney The ride vehicles are getting a darker, sleeker look to match the updated theme, along with new interiors — including updated seats and graphics. And according to Imagineering, this is just the beginning of the transformation. ©Disney || New vehicle wraps No word yet on the exact date when the full overhaul will debut other than late this summer, but we’re officially hyped. Skyliner Closure Confirmed for January 2026 The Skyliner is going down for its usual annual maintenance — but not until January 25th to the 31st, 2026. This is pretty standard (although it skipped 2025), so it’s not a shock, but if you’re staying at a Skyliner resort like Pop Century, Art of Animation, Caribbean Beach, or Riviera, this might affect your plans. Skyliner During this window, Disney will offer bus transportation, but keep in mind: travel times may be longer, and buses will likely be more crowded. If having easy park access is a priority for you (especially to EPCOT or Hollywood Studios), consider alternative resorts or be ready for some extra travel time. Villains Take Center Stage at Hollywood Studios Disney shared a close-up look at some of the stars of the brand-new show coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios — Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After — and it officially opens May 27th, 2025. ©Disney The show stars Maleficent, Captain Hook, and Cruella De Vil, and it’s all about them pleading their case on why they were wronged in their stories. You, the audience, get to decide who got the worst deal. Expect surprise appearances from other villains and plenty of dramatic flair. ©Disney It’s replacing the Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy on Sunset Boulevard, so if you’re a villain fan or just love live entertainment, this is definitely worth checking out. New Lobby Bar at Grand Floridian The Grand Floridian is getting a brand-new lobby bar, and it’s looking super classy. Inspired by the hotel’s iconic birdcage design, the bar will feature intricate Victorian-style details — stained glass, brass accents, murals of birds — and yes, you’ll be able to sip your cocktail while listening to the live pianist in the lobby. ©Disney Based on the concept art, the new bar is replacing the existing birdcage area. Disney hasn’t shared the drink menu yet, but you can expect an elevated, relaxing vibe. Definitely one to keep an eye on. Goodbye Shula’s, Hello Bourbon Steak After nearly 30 years, Shula’s Steak House at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel is closing — but it’s making way for something very exciting. Shula’s Steakhouse Coming mid-summer 2025: Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina. If you’re into elevated steakhouse experiences, this is a big deal. Michael Mina is a James Beard Award-winning chef with a serious culinary rep, and this new spot promises to bring a more modern, luxe vibe to the Dolphin’s already impressive food scene. ©The Mina Group Shula’s will take reservations through June 14th, so if you want one last dinner there, make it happen soon. That’s the latest—and yeah, it was a lot. Between limited-time deals, permanent closures, and brand-new entertainment, Disney’s clearly making some moves heading into 2025 and 2026. Don’t want to go through all of the stress of booking your Disney World trip alone? Reach out to our friends at Small World Vacations! Their experienced agents monitor your reservation for possible future savings, compare discounts and figure out which one works best for your travel party, dates, resort, and touring plans. And, they share expert tips and first-hand advice with you about your magical vacation. In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more. NEWS: Destination D23 Tickets Are On Sale NOW Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What announcement are you most excited (or shocked) about? Let us know in the comments! The post Heads Up! Disney Just Made 7 NEW Announcements first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Universal Helios Grand Hotel has officially opened! Look at that VIEW! This brand-new resort is the third resort that was built specifically for the Epic Universe expansion. Both Universal Stella Nova and Terra Luna Resort opened a bit earlier. There are plenty of places to grab a bite to eat at Helios Grand Hotel, and we are taking you along for a meal at Lotus Lagoon! Atmosphere Universal Helios Grand Hotel is “Mediterranean-inspired” and offers stunning views of Universal’s new park, Epic Universe. If you are hanging out near the hotel’s pool, you can grab a drink and a bite to eat at Lotus Lagoon. Lotus Lagoon bar This pool bar serves frozen cocktails, cold beer, and fountain drinks. The menu also includes snacks and appetizers that you can eat either at the open-air restaurant or right from your pool chair! Menu As we mentioned, Lotus Lagoon isn’t just a pool bar — you can order from quite a large dining menu here too. There are appetizers, salads, handhelds, and specialty entrees… Lotus Lagoon menu …in addition to a fun lineup of signature cocktails and mocktails… Plenty of cocktails …plus seltzers, wine, and beer. Beer and wine Now that we know what’s on the menu, let’s see what we’re noshing on today. Eats First up, we ordered the Chips and Dip for $19. This comes with smashed avocado, Aleppo pepper, sunflower seeds, and Extra Virgin Olive Oil, served with pita chips. This is a vegan item on the menu and was recommended by our server. It’s essentially kind of a guacamole, but a Mediterranean guacamole, almost. But it is essentially a guacamole dip, and this was very, very good. If we were looking for a light bite, we could just make a meal of this, especially at lunchtime. It came with pita chips that were toasted, so these were not your teeny tiny pita chips. These were triangles that had been cut out of a pita, and they were pretty sizable. They are seasoned, and that is that’s delightful because it adds so much flavor to what you’re eating here. Chips and Dip They are well seasoned with some Mediterranean spices, but there’s nothing spicy about this. There is some Aleppo in the form of dried red pepper flakes on top, but they’re not super hot. The smashed avocado cools that down very well. This was not blended smoothly, and there were chunks of avocado in it. So, if you like a blended dip or you have a textural thing where that’s what you want to eat, you might have a little bit of an issue. A tasty snack For the main event, we picked up The Goddess Burger for $25. This comes with a double black angus beef patty, herb mayo, cheddar cheese, caramelized onion, tomato, bibb lettuce, and bacon. We couldn’t leave Helios Grand without trying a burger here — you know, burgers are our life, and we’ve got to try them everywhere. This was recommended by our server as one of the favorite things on the menu. The Goddess Burger is made with two thin patties, not quite smashed, like where they’re crispy from being smashed on the grill, but pretty thin patties — so a double burger. The Goddess Burger We were wowed by this burger! We found the herb mayo to be pretty garlic-forward, but also pretty fresh and very flavorful, which, along with the caramelized onions and the bacon, contributed most of the flavor here. We probably would have liked a little sharper cheese because these patties are thin, and they are pretty much cooked to well done. We would say ours were more of a medium well. There was a little bit of pink in the middle of the patties, but it’s not a burger cooked to order temperature. Goddess Burger It was a brioche bun, and we always enjoy that on a restaurant burger, since it’s slightly sweet and soft. The burger came with your choice of sweet potato fries or regular fries. We opted for sweet potato because we hadn’t seen those on another menu. They were good. They were standard. We wouldn’t say there was anything special about them, but they were good. We would say this at $25 is decent for what you’re getting. You’re obviously getting quality meat, and that’s no different than you would have at another resort, and we love that it’s a decent-sized burger, which would make it shareable for a light lunch. Sweet potato fries Drinks The Wild Berry Sour cocktail is $19 and comes with Grey Goose Vodka, lemon sour, passion fruit, blackberries, and club soda. This one was recommended by our bartender along with a couple of others, but this one stood out to us as being different than what we’ve tasted here at the hotel so far. It starts with the bartender muddling a couple of fresh blackberries, which added great flavor throughout the cocktail. There is lemon sour, which adds some nice acid along with passion fruit, for some more sweet here and then it’s topped off with some club soda, so there’s a little fizz to go along with it that makes it a nice sip for sitting outside. It was $19, which is probably a little steep for a cocktail, but no different than the prices that you might pay other places, especially because this one was hand-mixed and muddled and all those good things. Wild Berry Sour We also tried the Prosecco Popsicle ($19). This is made with Lunetta Prosecco and a La Palette Gourmet Popsicle with your choice of flavors, including mango, strawberry, pineapple, raspberry basil, wild berry, and more. We got raspberry basil. This was so fun! It’s a glass of prosecco with a popsicle upended in it. You stir it, let the popsicle kind of melt and drip into your prosecco, flavoring the prosecco. It kind of has that mimosa vibe, where you’ve got a fruit juice and the prosecco by the time that you’re done. The popsicles here are a standout — we were told they’re made locally by a small business here in the Orlando area. The drink is served in a white wine glass because you have to have room for the popsicle and you can’t do that with a champagne flute. That can mean that your bubbles might expire a little sooner than they would in a champagne flute, but we didn’t have any qualms about that or problems with that. Prosecco Popsicle So, is Lotus Lagoon worth a stop at the Helios Grand Hotel? Nosh or Not You should stop by Lotus Lagoon if… You’re hanging out at the pool and are looking for some delicious drinks and eats You want to enjoy being outside with nice views while you dine You should skip Lotus Lagoon if… You don’t want to eat outside near the pool You’re looking for a more formal meal Overall This pool bar is nice and shaded, and a pleasant place to be overlooking the pool, but not right in line with the pool. It’s up a little level. There are tables and chairs to sit in, as well as quite a bit of space at the round bar in the center of the structure. It is all under a roof, which is great and makes it nice and shady and cooler. We’re very impressed with the beverage development and cocktails. Even the pool bar has its own cocktail menu, not repeating the cocktail scene at the Flora Taverna Bar or at Bar Helios. There are about 10 handcrafted, hand-mixed cocktails here, and we will definitely be back to try more! Welcome to Helios Grand Hotel We’ll be on the lookout for more updates from Helios Grand Hotel and Epic Universe. In the meantime, make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest theme park news and more! See Which 2 Universal Hotels Beat Out Disney as the Best in Orlando! Read more: DFB's complete guide to Universal’s Epic Universe >> Do you have a trip planned to visit Universal Orlando this year? Let us know in the comments!The post REVIEW: We Tried the NEW Lotus Lagoon Restaurant at Universal's Helios Grand Hotel first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Easter is this weekend, and Disney World, for lack of a better term, is hopping! Hollywood Studios Crowds There are tons of special treats to try out when you’re in the parks this weekend to celebrate. You can enjoy the Easter Parade and say hello to Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny in Magic Kingdom, and don’t forget to check out the Easter Egg displays around Disney World Hotels! However, if you were hoping to save some time in line this weekend, we’ve got some bad news. Lightning Lane Premier Pass is one of the most expensive ways to skip the lines in Disney World, but people seem to be loving it all the same. Unlike Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass, which require you to select specific attractions and return times in advance, Lightning Lane Premier Pass allows you to skip the lines at almost every single attraction in ONE park at any time you’d like. ©Disney This means that if you purchase a Lightning Lane Premier Pass for Magic Kingdom, you can skip the line for nearly every attraction in the park once without needing to make any reservation ahead of time. If you were thinking of utilizing this for your trip this weekend over the Easter holiday, your plans may need to change. Galaxy’s Edge Lightning Lane Premier Pass is completely sold out today, Friday, April 18th, and is very limited in the near future. ©Disney As for Saturday, April 19th, only EPCOT is still available for a whopping $249 per person. ©Disney Following that, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios are available from April 20th–22nd, but Magic Kingdom is entirely sold out. ©Disney This likely also means that Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass will be in high demand as well, so keep that in mind as you’re looking to book them. Your best bet will be booking as far in advance as you can (3 days prior to your trip for non-hotel guests, 7 days in advance for hotel guests), so set those alarms! Don’t want to go through all of the stress of booking your Disney World trip alone? Reach out to our friends at Small World Vacations! Their experienced agents monitor your reservation for possible future savings, compare discounts and figure out which one works best for your travel party, dates, resort, and touring plans. And, they share expert tips and first-hand advice with you about your magical vacation. Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney World news to help you plan your vacation! Everything You Need to Know About Lightning Lanes in Disney World DON'T DO IT ALONE! 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 GET MORE INFO Do you use Lightning Lane in Disney World? Tell us in the comments! The post NEWS: Disney World's Lightning Lane Premier Pass Is SOLD OUT For The Easter Holiday first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’re always on the hunt for the best Disney essentials we can get for a smoking deal. We found the best seven Disney finds you’re going to love. We always love finding Disney merch! All of these items are on sale, as much as 69% off! Let’s check them out. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Cra-Z-Art Disney Crystal Surprise Series 1 ©Amazon For less than $3, you can get this adorable mystery collection with different Disney figurines inside. There are twelve different characters to collect, and they come with slime or play sand. SHOP ON AMAZON FOR $2 Disney Munchlings Squeeze-A-Munch Large Lemon Sceneted Winnie ©Amazon Eek! We love Munchlings, and this Winnie the Pooh is a lemon-scented dessert. It’s 10 inches tall and the perfect size to cuddle. SHOP ON AMAZON LESS THAN $5 Wet Brush Disney Belle ©Amazon Beauty and the Beast lovers will need this super cute brush. It has Belle and her books and is great for wet or damaged hair. SHOP ON AMAZON FOR 50% OFF Disney Junior Minnie Mouse Bowdazzling Dress-Up and Pretend Play Trunk ©Amazon This dress-up set includes four tops, three skirts, one headband, two bows, two hair ribbons, one necklace, three rings, three bracelets, one sticker sheet, and a reusable cardboard trunk. There’s so much to play with! SHOP ON AMAZON FOR LESS THAN $10 Small Sling Bag Crossbody We love this bag This is one of our favorite bags, and we can’t believe it’s less than $9 right now! It fits our essentials for heading to Disney World, and everything is close by when we need it. SHOP ON AMAZON FOR LESS THAN $10 INIU Portable Charger, Slimmest Power Bank INIU Portable Charger Another one of our favorites is one sale! We use these every day in the parks, and we love how small they are to fit in our bags. SHOP ON AMAZON FOR 36% OFF Loungefly Princess Leia Star Wars Bag ©Amazon A Loungefly bag at 50% off? Say less! This Princess Leia bag would look so cute at Galaxy’s Edge, and you truly can’t beat the price. SHOP ON AMAZON FOR 50% OFF These are our favorite on-sale items right now, and we’re obsessed with them. Follow the Disney Food Blog to stay up to date and find the best Disney deals for your next trip. Like what you’re seeing and looking for more? Check out our Amazon Storefront with all of our favorite finds!The post The 7 Absolute Best Disney Amazon Deals to Shop in April -- Starting at first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Marvel Studios has released a NEW trailer for Fantastic Four: First Steps, and it introduces a version of an iconic Marvel character who has never appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe — the Silver Surfer. ©Marvel According to the film’s official synopsis, Fantastic Four: First Steps is “set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world.” The story is centered around Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm as they face a daunting challenge. The group must balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond and defend Earth from a space god. Watch the NEW trailer below! The new trailer puts the world of the film – – a 1960s-flavored alternate Earth in the MCU Multiverse — on full display, depicting the titular heroes as a mixture of superheroes and celebrities. However, all is not well for Marvel’s “First Family” in the trailer. A large amount of the clip is dedicated to the coming threat of Galactus, the “Eater of Worlds”, and his herald, the Silver Surfer, and the world’s reliance on the Fantastic Four to save them from destruction. In addition, the clip reveals that Susan Storm is pregnant with her and Reed’s first child, who Marvel Comics fans know as the near-omnipotent Franklin Richards. ©Marvel Overall, the clip’s tone seems to imply that the optimistic world of the team may not survive the end of the film, which would put it in line with some fan theories regarding how Avengers: Doomsday and its sequel Secret Wars may play out. The film, which is directed by Matt Shakman, stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as the heroes, Reed “Mr. Fantastic” Richards, Susan “The Invisible Woman” Storm, Johnny “The Human Torch” Storm, and Ben “The Thing” Grimm respectively. Ralph Ineson and Julia Garner also star as Galactus and the Shalla-Bal version of the Silver Surfer. ©Disney Fantastic Four: First Steps is scheduled to premiere in theaters on July 25th. Stay tuned to DFB for further coverage of the upcoming MCU film. Disney Shares Behind-the-Scenes Look at 3 NEW Marvel Attractions Opening This December 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! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Are you excited for Fantastic Four: First Steps? Let us know in the comments below! The post NEWS: Marvel Just Debuted NEW Silver Surfer in ‘Fantastic Four’ Trailer first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

SeaWorld Orlando has set an opening day for its Arctic-based Expedition Odyssey attraction and the public debut of the Pacific walrus calf rescued in Alaska. The ride and orphaned animal named Uki will join the theme park lineup on May 1, SeaWorld announced Friday. Expedition Odyssey is a flying-theater type ride that will virtually transport visitors through glaciers, over the tundra and into the depths of the Arctic Ocean. The exclusive footage — shown on a curved screen 50 feet in diameter — includes encounters with orcas, beluga whales, polar bears, seals and walruses. The scenes were filmed in three two-week excursions spread over a year. The new attraction, located in the former Wild Arctic space, is “an adventure unlike anything our guests have experienced before, combining thrilling, immersive storytelling with powerful, real-world animal connections,” Jon Peterson, park president, said in a news release. “The newest addition to our park is unlike anything we have ever done before and brings to life the wonder of the Arctic in a way only SeaWorld can do.” Ride previews for SeaWorld annual passholders will begin April 26, starting with the platinum level cardholders. More levels are added daily through April 30, leading up to the grand opening. The height requirement will be 39 inches, SeaWorld said. SeaWorld worked with Mack Rides, a German company, for the flying theater, which is a style called Airific. For the film, it worked with UK-based Mousetrap Media and Norway-based PolarX. The post-show experience for the new ride will feature an Arctic-animal habitat, including Uki, the walrus calf rescued by the Alaska SeaLife Center and declared non-releasable. She has been under the care of SeaWorld’s animal-care experts since September. Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. BlueSky: @themeparksdb. Threads account: @dbevil. X account: @themeparks. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters. View the full article

There is so much happening in Magic Kingdom! Cinderella Castle The Villains are getting ready to move in, Lightning McQueen is revving his engine, and now, a favorite of ours has changed again! Let’s snack on something sweet while we wait for construction to start over in the theme park. Over at The Friar’s Nook, you can get some classic hot dogs, loaded tater tots, hand pies, and some delicious sweet treats! It’s a great quick stop for picky eaters themed to the Disney classic Robin Hood (although a lot of people don’t know that). The Friar’s Nook One of our favorite items is the Apple Cider Doughnuts with caramel sauce for $6.49! These donuts were just added to the menu earlier this month, and they looked… intriguing. The donuts when they first launched! While we enjoyed the taste, it was just a bit hard to get past that interesting shade of green, and it seems other people agreed. Luckily for us, they’ve changed these sweet treats already! The green is gone. The new donuts! They are so much more appetizing without the green! They smelled like a fresh apple pie once we picked them up. Our reporter said the smell made her mouth water! They were nice and fluffy with a great crunch on the outside. The inside! We really enjoyed the bits of apple baked into the dough, which added a great textural element to the donuts. The sauce was still delicious, but we do wish there were more. We would love to see an additional side of caramel. We also think grabbing a side of vanilla ice cream from Storybook Treats next-door would make this even better, almost like an apple pie a la mode. A bit of ice cream! Overall, we really enjoyed these even more without the green coloring. While we love an attempt at creativity, we think the green coloring needs to stick with Halloween! WE KNOW – there are SO many great snacks at Disney World! How do you choose (we don’t want to choose but will blow our budget on Day 1 otherwise)? We’ve got you covered! We have reviewed nearly EVERY snack available at Disney World, and we’ve written a series of DFB Guides about them! Check out our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining + Snacks Bundle for all the details you need to plan your snackin’ and spending. You can even download them to your smartphone – it’ll be like we’re right there with you in the parks! DFB Guides We can’t wait to try even more treats throughout the Disney parks, so be sure to keep following DFB for more reviews and snack hacks. Best Snacks at Magic Kingdom in Disney World for 2025 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! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What is your favorite Magic Kingdom dessert? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: "My Mouth Was Watering" A Magic Kingdom Snack Just Got Even Better first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s certainly no secret that there’s plenty to see, eat, drink, and do at the brand-new Epic Universe theme park at Universal Orlando Resort. Burning Blade Tavern We’ve made our way around the five themed lands, and Dark Universe might just be our favorite of them all. Here, visitors will “encounter everything from the experiments of Dr. Victoria Frankenstein to the shadowy landscape where monsters roam in a world of myth and mystery.” And that includes checking out the Burning Blade Tavern! Atmosphere Found in Dark Universe, The Burning Blade Tavern is a quick-service restaurant that pays homage to the iconic windmill from Universal’s 1931 classic, Frankenstein! The Tavern gives diners the chance to eat in an “old mill which Darkmoor Village’s monster hunters have transformed into their hangout.” Burning Blade Tavern But don’t be SCARED… Instead of monsters being portrayed as heroes (as will be the case at Das Stakehaus), The Burning Blade Tavern shines the spotlight on hunters who protect regular folk from these legendary beasts. Entrance Since this is a quick-service restaurant, you can order from the bartenders or Epic Universe team members stationed at the counters, but you can also mobile order and pick up your food from a nearby pickup window. It’s dark in here! Surrounded by trophy heads of conquered monsters, diners will be able to enjoy a menu of burgers, pretzels (including the “Hunter’s Garlic Stake”), and specialty beverages while they listen to tales of victory from the hunters themselves! Inside seating In addition to indoor seating, there’s also a section of outside seating should you prefer being able to actually see what you’re eating! Outside seating But enough about the restaurant — what’s on the menu here?! Menu At the Burning Blade Tavern, you’ll find a selection of specialty drinks (like the Monocane and the Pure of Heart) and draft beer (like the Reaper’s Reserve brown ale and the Darkthorne Mead). But, you can also get some enticing eats like a burger, loaded potato, grilled chicken, and some other fun bites. Burning Blade Tavern menu And now, onto the main event — the food! Eats To kick things off, we grabbed the Hunter’s Garlic Stake for $8.99. This is a crispy garlic butter pretzel with garlic dipping sauce — which is essentially music to our ears. We had high hopes for the garlic stake, but it was a little too tame for us. It’s definitely got garlic on it — but not as much as you might expect. The garlic was strong in flavor, but there was less of it than what you might get on garlic knots from your local pizza joint. Same goes for the butter — it was there, but there could have been more. The pretzel itself had a decent flavor, but it was a bit on the tough side — we would have liked it to be more pillowy. Hunter’s Garlic Stake The garlic dipping sauce was tangy and buttery and definitely helped elevate this snack a bit. We also grabbed the Burning Cheddar Bites for $11.99, which are described as crispy fried poppers with sriracha ranch. Burning Cheddar Bites These cheddar cheese bites are incredible and definitely shareable. If you love Taco Bell, this is your dish. The burnt cheddar bites have a cheddar cheese consistency similar to what Taco Bell uses in their quesadillas, or at least that’s what it reminded us of. There’s definitely some heat to these that sneaks up on you if you’re not careful. The perfect dip The sriracha ranch sauce is also reminiscent of what Taco Bell uses in their quesadillas. These were warm, cheesy, and poppable. We could have eaten 300 of them, probably Look at that cheese! For the main event, we picked up the Burning Blade Burger made from a 4-oz. black angus patty with American cheese, caramelized onions, jalapeño bacon on a potato bun for $12.99. Burning Blade Burger This wasn’t the best burger we’ve ever had — even by theme park standards. This one was more of a medium or medium-well consistency, and it had some charred or grilled flavor going on with the patty, which we really enjoyed. The cheese was great — nice and melty, and the bacon had a crunchy consistency while still having some chew to it. Not super big The onions were nice and caramelized, but there weren’t many of them. The black bun was a bit hard to get over at first, but it kind of looked purple on the inside when you actually cut into it. Luckily, it was a normal potato bun that wasn’t anything to write home about. The chips served on the side were also quite familiar; they tasted like Lays Potato Chips (and probably were) so they weren’t too exciting, but they did the job. A solid burger! Enough about the food, we’ve gotta wash it all down with something right?! Drinks To wash everything down, we grabbed the Darkthorne Mead for $14. This is a blackcurrant-boysenberry session mead infused with pink peppercorn. Darkthorne Mead The Darkthorne Mead might be our new favorite drink of all time — for real! We almost wish it wasn’t alcoholic because we could chug this stuff, no joke. It’s got a grape-like flavor, and it’s kind of a fluorescent bluish purple, like an indigo. It’s got a great presentation and is served to you cold. This drink is a 10 out of 10, and we wish we could give it way, way, way more points. This is our new favorite drink Nosh or Not This Epic Universe restaurant is a must-visit if… You love all things Universal Monsters and want to experience all of Dark Universe. You’re looking for specialty drinks or beers. You’re in the mood for a snack while you’re in Darkmoor. You should skip this Epic Universe spot if… You’re looking for a sit-down meal. You’re really hungry and want a wide selection of eats. You want to be able to see what you’re eating while still being inside. Overall We were really impressed with Burning Blade Tavern! To us, this seems like a spot that is best for drinks and light bites while you’re still making your way around Epic Universe. It’s relatively quick — at least when we visited — which makes it a great pit stop for sustenance before you continue your day. We didn’t love the burger, but the mead, cheddar bites, and garlic stake were worth making another trip! Full spread at Burning Blade Tavern In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for more restaurant updates from Epic Universe, Universal Orlando Resort, and beyond. Make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest theme park news and more! A Definitive Ranking of Everything To Do in Dark Universe Read more: DFB's complete guide to Universal’s Epic Universe >> Have you eaten at this Epic Universe restaurant before? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: We Tried the NEW Burning Blade Tavern at Universal's Epic Universe first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There’s so much more to Mobile Order than just skipping the line. Mobile Order pickup We’ve tested pretty much every Mobile Order trick in the book during our Disney World visits — and let me tell you, some of these hacks have totally changed how we eat in the parks. Whether you’re a park open-to-close kind of person or someone who takes mid-day breaks back at the resort, there’s a Mobile Order strategy that can save you time, stress, and maybe even your sanity. Here are five of our absolute favorite Mobile Order tips that we swear by. Hit “I’m Here” Before You’re Actually There Look, we’re not saying to lie to the app… but if you hit “I’m Here” about five minutes before you actually walk up to the restaurant, it can make a huge difference. By the time you are there, your food’s probably already being prepped or ready to grab. Mobile Order window It might not sound like much, but five minutes here and there adds up — especially on those days when your whole schedule is go-go-go. Just make sure you’re close enough that you’re not leaving your food sitting too long. No one likes soggy fries. Order Early and Schedule Like a Pro This one is a game changer if you’re someone who doesn’t like leaving things up to chance. Instead of trying to order food right when you’re hungry (along with the rest of the park), hop on the My Disney Experience app earlier in the day and place a Mobile Order for your lunch or dinner in advance. ©Disney You’ll be able to scroll through available pickup windows and choose one that works for you. We’ve locked in popular times at places like Columbia Harbour House or Woody’s Lunch Box hours in advance, then strolled up at mealtime with zero stress. No scrambling, no hangry vibes. Mobile Order Takeout From Table Service Spots Yep, a few table service restaurants at Disney World now let you order their food to go — and honestly, we’re shocked more people aren’t using this. You can Mobile Order from places like Sanaa at Animal Kingdom Lodge or Kona Café at the Polynesian, pick it up, and eat wherever you want. ©Disney Want to have a little picnic outside? Cool. Want to bring your food back to your room in your pajamas? Even better. This is a solid option for anyone who doesn’t want to lock into a full sit-down dining experience but still wants something a step above standard quick service. Use the Filters (Seriously, Just Do It) When you first go to place a Mobile Order, the list of options can be… overwhelming. The app will usually default to what’s nearby or sort things by location, but here’s the key: use the filters. There’s a little “Filters” button in the top left corner of the Mobile Order screen, and it’s a small but mighty feature. ©Disney || The filters button is in the top left corner You can filter by location, but the real MVPs are “Nearby” and “Available Now.” These are lifesavers when you’re trying to grab something quickly without endlessly scrolling through every restaurant on property. ©Disney || Mobile Order page is now refined to show what is available to order now We use these filters constantly when we’re hopping between parks or just trying to find a snack we don’t have to wait 45 minutes to pick up. End Your Day With a Sweet Exit Strategy After a long day at Magic Kingdom, the last thing most people want to do is wait in another line for snacks. But what if we told you that you could Mobile Order from the Main Street Confectionery on your way out? It’s true — and it’s one of our favorite under-the-radar tricks. You can schedule an order ahead of time and just pop in to pick up your treats as you leave the park. This is especially clutch if you’re trying to catch the fireworks from Main Street — just order right before or during the show, then grab your goodies and go. We love the Main Street Confectionery! Mobile Order at Disney World isn’t just about skipping a line — it’s about knowing how to use the system to work for you. These five hacks are the ones we come back to again and again, and they’ve helped us eat better, save time, and avoid more than a few hangry meltdowns. Whether you’re a Disney first-timer or a seasoned passholder, there’s something here that can make your trip a little smoother. For more Disney hacks like these, make sure to continue to follow along with DFB! This Disney World Snack Trick Feels Illegal 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! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What are your best tips and tricks for using Mobile Order at Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post I've Tried Every Mobile Order Hack for Disney World, and I'm Sharing My 5 Favorites first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Something BIG is changing in Disney World, and it could affect your upcoming Disney World hotel stay. Typhoon Lagoon As you may know, Disney World hotel guests get some pretty good perks. That includes Early Theme Park Entry for those staying at ALL Disney World hotels, as well as Extended Evening Hours for those staying in Deluxe hotels. However, there’s a new perk that just started this year, which guests can also take advantage of for FREE. Heads up; that perk is changing a little on May 1st. Let’s talk about it. Disney World hotel guests can currently get free tickets to Disney World’s water parks on the day of their arrival. Right now, that means that hotel guests can visit Blizzard Beach water park. Although Disney World has TWO water parks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon), we haven’t seen both open at the same time since 2020. Generally, Disney will close one water park for refurbishment while the other is open. Blizzard Beach On May 1st, though, Blizzard Beach will be closing for refurbishment, while Typhoon Lagoon will reopen. If you’re visiting Disney World on May 1st, the water park perk will be available at Typhoon Lagoon. Typhoon Lagoon HOWEVER, that will change on May 21st when Blizzard Beach will reopen, while Typhoon Lagoon remains open, making it the first time in six years that both water parks will be open at the same time. That means if you’re staying at a Disney World hotel on May 21st or later, you’ll be able to choose which water park you want to visit for FREE on the day of check-in. Castaway Creek at Typhoon Lagoon You’ll probably want to go ahead and start thinking over which water park you’ll want to visit before you head to Disney World if you’re going to be staying at a Disney World hotel. For the first time since this new perk was announced, you’ll have options. Don’t want to go through all of the stress of booking your Disney World trip alone? Reach out to our friends at Small World Vacations! Their experienced agents monitor your reservation for possible future savings, compare discounts and figure out which one works best for your travel party, dates, resort, and touring plans. And, they share expert tips and first-hand advice with you about your magical vacation. Stay tuned to DFB for more. Typhoon Lagoon vs. Blizzard Beach — Disney World Water Parks Showdown 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! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Which water park do you prefer? Share with us in the comments! The post ALERT! HUGE Hotel Perk Change Coming SOON to Disney World (and You’re Gonna LOVE It!) first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article