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The Disney Parks online store continues its attraction poster T-shirt series this month with a salute to the Haunted Mansion. These Hanes Beefy-T shirts will be sold online from October 6-12, 2014. I did some digging to learn more about the original designs that inspired Disney Design Group Artist Richard Terpstra when creating these two shirts. The original poster for the Disneyland park attraction was created in 1969 by Ken Chapman and Marc Davis. In 1971, artist George Jensen adapted the original Disneyland poster for the Walt Disney World Resort attraction poster. You can see a few more poster images from this classic Disney attraction in my favorite book, “Poster Art of the Disney Parks” by Vanessa Hunt and Danny Handke. You can now find this book on our Disney Parks online store. To order the shirts, visit http://www.DisneyStore.com/ParkEvents starting October 6. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. There will also be a special promotion offering two shirts for $40.00 (plus tax). The shirts are normally $24.95 each. Haunted Mansion Attraction Poster T-Shirts Coming to Disney Parks Online Store October 6-12, 2014 by Steven Miller: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

Need something to brighten up that commute, motivate you on that walk or run, or get you through another grueling gym workout? We have just the thing! We’ve just released our latest DFB Podcast episode. And since it’s our 21st episode, we thought we needed a little celebrating! What’s It About?Let’s hit the bars! OK, OK, this is Disney World, so most are family-friendly, and you can find some truly amazing food and drinks when you step inside. It’s the perfect way to relax and unwind away from the sensory overload of the Disney parks. In this episode, AJ and Brad cover some of their favorite Disney bars and lounges on both coasts, and give you lots of reasons why you may want to check a few out. Head over for a listen and let us know your picks for great bars and lounges at Disney Parks and Resorts. We also answer two listener questions and ask for new ones — so get those questions ready! Here’s the Podcast page for Episode 21. And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast via RSS or on iTunes! We Love the Amazing Fondue from the Territory Lounge at Disney’s World’s Wilderness Lodge! Take a listen and as always, let us know what you think! And don’t forget — the podcast has its own Twitter account — tweet us at @DFBPodcast! What are your favorite Disney bars and lounges? Let us know in the comments below! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com!Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on TwitterBecome a Facebook Fan Related posts: DFB Podcast Episode 4 Now Available: Best Disney Restaurants for AtmosphereDFB Podcast Episode 11: Disney Holidays!DFB Podcast Episode 18: Disney Food Year in Review View the full article

This week, our “Learn to Draw” series is focusing on a character who is a perfect fit for the month of October – it’s Jack Skellington! Character artist Brian James Fichtner from Animation Academy at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is here to give you step-by-step directions on creating the perfect pumpkin king. Let’s do it! For more animation tutorials, visit the links below: Learn to Draw Oswald the Lucky Rabbit at Disney’s Art of Animation ResortLearn How to Draw “Frozen’s” Anna at Disney’s Hollywood StudiosLearn to Draw Disney Characters at Animation Academy at Disney’s Hollywood StudiosDo You Want to Draw a Snowman? Learn How at Disney’s Hollywood StudiosLearn to Draw Jack Skellington at Disney’s Hollywood Studios by Jennifer Fickley-Baker: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

This week, our “Learn to Draw” series is focusing on a character who is a perfect fit for the month of October – it's Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas! We come to...From:Disney ParksViews:3176162ratingsTime:08:31More inTravel & Events

You can’t concentrate at work because you’re too busy dreaming of Castaway Cay.You find yourself whistling “when you wish upon a star” at 5pm and imagining yourself at the Sail Away celebration. Your Throwback Thursday posts are all photos from your last Disney cruise.You can’t eat a meal without dessert, especially since every night you dream about Palo’s chocolate soufflé.You are considering replacing your home’s windows with portholes and redecorating with a nautical motif. Your friends wonder why you keep talking like a pirate and looking for excuses to wear your pantaloons and eye patch.You make towel animals and leave chocolates on your kids’ pillows each night. You hope every knock on your door is your stateroom host arriving to make your bed and tidy up your house.Disney cruisers, what else can you add to this list? Eight Signs You Are Craving a Disney Cruise by Jonathan Frontado: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

This week we celebrated the anniversary of the opening of Walt Disney World Resort, and 43 years later it’s still bringing magical memories to guests from all over the world. In honor of this week’s milestone, here’s an aerial view of Magic Kingdom Park and the surrounding resort area in early 1971. Read on for more posts about Magic Kingdom in the “Vintage Walt Disney World” series: Vintage Walt Disney World: A Classic Game of Baseball Vintage Walt Disney World: It’s Off To Work We Go Vintage Walt Disney World: ‘The Three Caballeros’ at Magic Kingdom Park Vintage Walt Disney World: Happy Birthday, Magic Kingdom Park! by Nate Rasmussen: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

A favorite place to dine at Walt Disney World is Epcot’s World Showcase. Learn About: Biergarten RestaurantEpcot Restaurants Disney World Restaurants With unique restaurants featuring tastes from around the globe, Epcot offers a smorgasbord of dining locations. Today, guest author Rebecca Elliott shares her dinner experience at the Biergarten located in the Germany pavilion. Prost! Epcot is designed to replicate a permanent World’s Fair with pavilions dedicated to innovation and international culture. Future World highlights technology while the World Showcase, on the other side of World Showcase Lagoon, celebrates international culture. The Charming Biergarten Entry Way There are 11 pavilions in the World Showcase, each themed and dedicated to a specific country. The décor can be old fashioned and kitschy, but the cast members, many of whom travel from their home countries to work in the World Showcase, give it an air of authenticity. The restaurants are by far the main attraction. Many pavilions have two or more restaurants that serve food inspired by their representative countries. I say “inspired” because the food is not necessarily authentic, but it has elements of authentic dishes and is served in a fun atmosphere with incredible theming. Instead of dining at our usual spot (Chefs de France in the France pavilion), my family and I decided to try something completely new on our most recent visit. This is how we found ourselves at Biergarten in the Germany pavilion. When You Step Into the Dining Room, You Are Transported to a Lively Oktoberfest Party AtmosphereBiergarten is located in the back of the Germany pavilion, which is the fourth pavilion in if you enter the World Showcase from Future World and start from the left. Disney’s original plan was to feature a boat ride here, similar to the one at the Norway pavilion, but these plans fell through. The main entrance of the boat ride is now the dining area for Biergarten. The setting for Biergarten is a quaint Bavarian village celebrating Oktoberfest. You are seated in the town square at communal tables, ready to enjoy traditional German music and food. It is dusk (no matter what time of day you eat), and the atmosphere is celebratory. Stage Area and Seating We checked in with a cast member at the hostess desk outside the restaurant who reminded us that seating would be shared at communal tables and asked if we were okay with this. We said we were, and made our way to the waiting area. When our buzzer went off a few minutes later, we were corralled with two other families by a sweet hostess wearing a dirndl who reminded us again that seating would be shared. This was the second time since we arrived that we were told we’d be seated with people we didn’t know at our table. My family and I were fine with this. It seemed to lend itself to the Oktoberfest atmosphere and offered a fun way to meet other Disney enthusiasts. Seating Area and Old World Charm One of the families immediately had a problem when we were seated. They wanted to sit across from each other, but because of the odd numbers in the other families, it didn’t work out. My husband and I offered to break up our party, but they chose to go with the original setting and sulk instead. This bugged me, because we were told several times that we would be sharing a table. Why not go with the flow and join the fun? A Traditional Oompa Band Performs The whole time we ate, we were entertained by a traditional oompah band. I’ve heard that the same family has been putting on this show for years. They were a delight, playing all the traditional German instruments, including the accordion and the alpenhorn. They even played “It’s a Small World” on the bells. Playing “It’s a Small World” on the Bells There is a dance floor in front of the stage, and the crowd is encouraged to sing and dance along. Children especially enjoyed this. Dancing the Night Away EatsWe were quickly greeted by our server, a German gentleman in lederhosen who took great delight in explaining the buffet and describing the foods we could expect there. Before letting us loose, he took our drink order. In true Oktoberfest tradition, guests were encouraged to order beer by the liter! Our tablemates did just that. Liter of Beer at Biergarten We all headed to the buffet, which was stocked with traditional German food and some not so traditional foods to accommodate the less adventurous. The buffet is two-sided, and the left and right lines are almost identical, so don’t be worried that you’re missing something on the other side. Some Traditional German Cold Salads Including Sausage Salad (left) and Herring Salad (right) First up were the cold salads. There were several to choose from, with a variety of tastes and textures, from creamy and mild to crisp and tangy. A Variety of Cold Salads Including Cabbage Salad, Bean Salad, Beet Salad, Chopped Tomato Salad and Cucumber Salad This is also where we found the rolls, including Biergarten’s famous pretzel rolls, which I swear I could eat by the basket full. Yummy Rolls, Including Biergarten’s Famous Pretzel Rolls Next came the hot items. Many traditional German dishes were represented, including schnitzel, spaetzle, rouladen, and different sausages with sauerkraut. There were also items like roast chicken and green beans for those feeling less adventurous. They needn’t worry – nothing is spiced too strongly. There is a nice selection of sauces and chutneys if you feel your dish needs a little extra oomph. Brown Gravy, Spaetzle and Green Beans Pork Schnitzel and Zesty Paprika Sauce Fresh Cod in Mustard Cream Sauce and Roast Chicken Roasted Potatoes and German Sausages with Sauerkraut Carving Station with Roast Pork and German Meatloaf Traditional Beef Rouladen Pot Roast Bavarian Style, Potato Dumplings, and Brussel Sprouts with Bacon Vinagrette Red Cabbage and Nudel Gratin Top Your Selections with a Variety of Chutneys and Sauces Just when we thought we couldn’t eat another bite, we sampled some desserts. There were many to choose from, including some traditional German delights like apple strudel and linzer squares (both delicious). There were also shot glasses filled with Bavarian cream that could be topped with strawberry compote. My daughter loved those! Traditional Apple Strudel Mmmm…. Linzer Squares… OverallBiergarten is a festive restaurant with an abundant selection of German-inspired dishes. There is enough variety on the all-you-can-eat buffet for everyone to find something to enjoy. Our early reservation ensured the selections were well-stocked and the staff was friendly and attentive. The only challenge was not having any control over who was seated at our table, and we ended up with a couple of duds. If you are looking for a quiet, romantic meal, or if the thought of sharing a meal with people you don’t know is not your cup of tea, Biergarten is not your best choice. If you like polka music and have a penchant for schnitzel and spaetzle, you’ll have a great time! Rebecca Elliott writes and hosts the food blog Home Cooks Unite! She is a dedicated foodie and Disney enthusiast whose latest trip to the Magic Kingdom included some incredible dining experiences. Has your family dined at Biergarten? Share your experiences in the comments below! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com!Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on TwitterBecome a Facebook Fan Related posts: Guest Review: Biergarten in Epcot’s Germany PavilionReview: Biergarten in Epcot’s GermanyDisney Food Pics of the Week: Epcot’s Germany Pavilion View the full article

"The cast of Disney's “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” talks about their first experience at a Disney Park. The cast in this video star alongside Jennifer...From:Disney ParksViews:175540ratingsTime:01:03More inTravel & Events

Halloween Time is upon us at Disneyland Park, and that means the return of seasonal fan favorite, Haunted Mansion Holiday. Each year, Jack Skellington takes over the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland...From:Disney ParksViews:8658148ratingsTime:00:59More inTravel & Events

Remember a while back when Disney was making waves in tech circles for, well, food reasons? At that time, several tech outlets were all abuzz with the news that Disney had filed a patent application for an “interactive cake”. We did a post about what seemed like a fun adventure with food, since we couldn’t figure out how we’d approach interacting with a cake (other than eating it with wild abandon, of course), we studied the pics and did our best to imagine the end result. Cakes and Patents…Patents and Cakes Well, this week, Disney has finally let the cat out of the bag as it introduced Disney Wedding Cake Projection Cake Mapping at its Fairytale Weddings Expo. And it actually looks pretty cool. Disney Introduces Cake Mapping Basically, Disney has taken technology that looks similar to what it uses in its nightly slideshows at Magic Kingdom and Disneyland, and reduced it in size. The video sequence is then projected on the blank slate of a wedding cake. Couples still have the option to customize the inside of the cake with delicious fillings and flavors. The video is customizable as well, with the aim to tell a couple’s unique story. Want to see the effect in action? Check out these videos for a cool demonstration of the technology! The first one is a Disney-made promo of the system. The second is from someone who saw the technology at a recent expo. Currently, guests who would like to add Cake Mapping to their wedding festivities will need to book their special day at the Walt Disney World Resort, and opt for a Wishes Collection wedding. It will be interesting to see how Disney applies the technology in the future, and if Cake Mapping will be the Next Big Thing for big celebrations. I’m wondering how we might be able to Cake Map my next Butterfinger Cupcake. Does Cake Mapping bring additional WOW factor to a Disney wedding, do you think? Let us know your thoughts in comments below! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com!Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on TwitterBecome a Facebook Fan Related posts: Guest Review: Disney Fairy Tale Wedding Reception Food and Wedding CakeGuest Review: Wedding Tasting — Choosing the Food (and Cake!) for Your Disney WeddingDisney Launches Food & Wine Festival App View the full article

Show Your Disney Side: Under The Sea (Canada) | Disney Parks Now, everyone in your family can share that side of them that laughs more, screams more and just plain lives life to the fullest—their Disney side. So why wait? Come show your Disney side...From:Disney ParksViews:268259ratingsTime:00:31More inTravel & Events View the full article

Montrer votre côté Disney: Sous La Mer (Canada Francais) | Disney Parks Il n'y a pas de meilleur endroit pour découvrir votre côté Disney qu'un parc Disney. Planifiez votre visite dès maintenant. http://di.sn/qnz À propos des parcs Disney : À présent, chacun...From:Disney ParksViews:30ratingsTime:00:31More inTravel & Events View the full article

Darden CEO Clarence Otis will get nearly $36 million in severance in cash, stocks and other benefits when he leaves the embattled restaurant chain later this year. View the full article

Three months ago, we shared the story of two loggerhead sea turtles that lumbered ashore under the cover of darkness to lay their eggs on the beach by Disney’s Vero Beach Resort. Lots of sea turtles nest like this elsewhere in Florida, but these two particular turtles are special. As you might have guessed, this was our first introduction to Anna and Elsa, our two loggerhead turtle princesses! Anna and Elsa made their debut the following morning at Olaf’s Beach Party as Disney’s Vero Beach Resort team hosted an annual Tour de Turtles event! After being outfitted with satellite transmitters so that researchers can continue to track their movements, Anna and Elsa ‘let it go’ and began their trek back to the ocean. Both turtles, along with the other turtle competitors in this year’s Tour de Turtles, are swimming to raise awareness about the threats that sea turtles face. Anna is raising awareness about artificial light pollution on nesting beaches, and Elsa is raising awareness about plastic debris littering our oceans. Is Anna following her big sister, Elsa, just as she did in Disney’s Frozen? Check out tourdeturtles.org to see where they are now! A few months have passed since we bid farewell to Anna and Elsa as they began their migratory journey to their foraging grounds. Meanwhile, many sea turtle nests are scattered across the beach, quietly incubating under the surface of the sand. Loggerhead sea turtle nests contain an average of 115 ping pong ball sized eggs. (The photo below depicts a life size model shown at this year’s event.) Both Anna and Elsa’s nests hatched during the past week, and we are happy to report some great news! As the younger sister, Anna is a smaller turtle. Her nest had 72 eggs, 68 of which resulted in little hatchlings that successfully made it to the ocean. (The photo below shows Disney sea turtle biologists counting the eggshells after Anna’s nest hatched.) That means that 94% of Anna’s hatchlings were successful, just like their brave mother! (If we’re giving out letter grades, she gets an ‘A+’ for ‘Anna’ and the success of her hatchlings, of course.) Elsa, the big sister to Anna, produced a larger nest of 127 eggs, of which 115 hatched! Elsa even returned two weeks after Tour de Turtles to nest again on our beach, and that nest is still incubating. We’re thrilled that both Anna and Elsa’s nests were so successful. Please join us in wishing the little hatchlings the best of luck as they begin their first big adventure in the ‘big ol’ blue’! On your next trip to the beach, you can help sea turtles like Anna and Elsa. Thousands of sea turtles accidentally swallow plastic debris that travels to the ocean through storm drains or flies from landfills, mistaking the small pieces for food. Pick up litter and you might save a turtle’s life! Wildlife Wednesday: Baby Sea Turtles Hatch from Anna & Elsa’s Nests at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort! by Anne Savage, Ph.D.: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

All three members of the Dallas ambulance crew exposed to a patient who developed Ebola have tested negative for the virus, the City of Dallas said on Wednesday. View the full article

A security contractor with a gun and three prior convictions for assault and battery was allowed on an elevator with President Barack Obama during a Sept. 16 trip to Atlanta, violating Secret Service protocols, according to three people familiar with the incident. View the full article

Fall Weather Dish from Chef Scott Hunnel at Victoria & Albert’s | Walt Disney World Resort Watch as Chef Hunnel from Victoria & Albert's at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa kindly shares this pan-seared sablefish that you can make at home! For the complete recipe, visit...From:Disney ParksViews:30ratingsTime:02:37More inTravel & Events View the full article

Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is the crème de la crème of Disney restaurants – the only AAA Five-Diamond restaurant in Central Florida, and home to Chef Scott Hunnel, a James Beard Award-nominated pro who runs the small kitchen with his finely tuned team. With only 53 coveted seats in the dining room, plus the opulent (and even smaller) Queen Victoria’s Room and private Chef’s Table in the kitchen, we can’t all get a reservation, but Chef Hunnel kindly shares this pan-seared sablefish that you can make at home. It’s the sort of dish that tastes simple but takes some care to prepare. At Victoria & Albert’s, this dish is served with beautifully sculpted baby vegetables and garnished with delicate fried carrot curls. Sablefish is also known as black cod and butterfish. If you can’t find sablefish, a good substitution is Chilean sea bass. And if you can’t find Zellwood sweet corn, any fresh corn will work. Pan-Seared Sablefish with Fingerling Potatoes and Zellwood Corn Serves 4 Corn Relish 2 ears Zellwood sweet cornOlive oil, for roasting corn and sautéing vegetables1/2 sweet red pepper1/2 red onion, diced small1 teaspoon toasted cuminCoarse salt, freshly ground black pepper, to taste1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oilZellwood Corn Sauce 2 tablespoons olive oil1/2 onion, diced1/2 leek, white part only, diced1 stalk celery1 teaspoon minced garlic8 ears Zellwood corn, kernels removed1 cup white wine1 quart corn stock or chicken stock1 bouquet garni (thyme, parsley, bay leaves, and peppercorns tied together with string) 1 cup heavy creamCoarse salt, freshly ground black pepper, to taste6 tablespoons butterFingerling Potatoes 1 pound fingerling potatoesOlive oil, for sautéingCoarse salt, freshly ground black pepper, to taste1 tablespoon minced fresh chivesSablefish 1/2 cup olive oil4 (5-ounce) portions sablefish Fresh white pepper, Maldon sea salt, to tasteFor corn relish: Husk corn and lightly brush with olive oil. Heat a saute pan or grill over medium-high heat.Place corn in pan and rotate every few minutes using tongs. Baste with a little olive oil, as needed. Cook 7 to 10 minutes, or until corn is charred and tender. (If charring too fast, lower heat slightly.) Cool and slice kernels from the cob. Set aside. Preheat oven to 425°F. Halve pepper lengthwise; remove stems, seeds, and membranes. Place cut side down on foil-lined baking sheet. Roast 20 to 25 minutes, or until skins are blistered. Carefully bring foil up and around the pepper halves to enclose. Let stand 15 minutes, or until cool enough to handle. Loosen edges of skins from pepper halves with a sharp knife. Slowly pull off skin and discard. Dice one-half into 1/2-inch pieces. Set aside.Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a small saute pan. Saute corn, pepper, and onion until soft. Stir in cumin and season to taste. Remove from heat and toss with extra virgin olive oil. Set aside until ready to serve.For Zellwood corn sauce: Heat saute pan over medium heat. Saute onion, leeks, and celery for 1 minute.Add garlic and corn, and cook for 10 minutes. Stir in white wine, scraping bits from bottom of pan. Add stock and bouquet garni; reduce heat and simmer 35 to 40 minutes. Stir in heavy cream and season to taste.Remove from heat, purée with immersion blender, and strain through a chinois or china cap. Stir in butter. Keep warm until ready to serve. For fingerling potatoes: Wash and quarter fingerling potatoes. Place in saucepan and cover with water over high heat. Cook 4 to 5 minutes, or until tender, depending on size of potatoes. Remove from heat and cool under running water. Heat olive oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add potatoes and cook until golden and crispy, turn and cooking about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with chives. Keep warm until ready to serve. For sablefish: Preheat oven to 400°F. Heat olive oil in sauté pan over high heat.Season sablefish with salt and pepper. Place skin side down in pan and sauté for 1 minute or until golden brown. Turn and sauté for 1 minute. Roast in oven for about 2 minutes, or until desired doneness. To serve: Place roasted fingerling potatoes in center of plate and top with fish.Drizzle Zellwood corn sauce around fish and potatoes; top fish with corn relish. Perfect Dish for Fall Weather from Chef Scott Hunnel at Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa by Pam Brandon: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article

The Olympia High School student who was found dead nearly a week after she disappeared from her Ocoee-area home would have turned 17 years old today. View the full article

It’s been just over a year now since the Gardens Kiosk opened in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Learn About: Gardens KioskAnimal Kingdom Disney World RestaurantsThis kiosk (found not too far from Flame Tree Barbecue) is unique in that its focus is on providing snack options for guests with special dietary needs or restrictions. You might know it by its unofficial name: the “Allergy Kiosk,” earned not only for having treats that are free of the most common food allergens, but also because guests can receive information from the friendly and knowledgeable Cast Members about dining all over Animal Kingdom in light of restrictions. (Oh, and also because of the “Allergy Dining Tips” sign above the menu ). Along with various pre-packaged food items, this is the main location at Disney World where you can find Babycakes items since the Babycakes store in Downtown Disney closed in order to accommodate construction for Disney Springs. I grabbed two Babycakes treats, though you’ll just see them labeled as Gluten-Free Vegan Doughnuts and Gluten-Free Cupcakes on the menu. Gardens Kiosk Menu The Gluten-Free Cupcakes come in packages of four minis, and they are not unique to Animal Kingdom. You can still find these in several Resort Quick Service locations, including (but not limited to) Art of Animation’s Landscape of Flavors and Beach Club’s Marketplace. Babycakes Brownie Cupcakes The full name of “Brownie Cupcakes” is what you’ll find on the underside of the package. Brownie Cupcakes info on package And ultimately, as you can tell, the texture and chocolate flavor (along with the mini chocolate chips) much more closely resemble brownies than cake. Brownie Cupcake So, that may come as a small surprise to some who see only the item name on the menu. The other surprise is the nice, subtle hint of mint that compliments the chocolate in the brownie. For the Gluten-Free Vegan Donuts, choices are chocolate-covered and – the one I went with — cinnamon sugar. Cinnamon Sugar Donut Cinnamon Sugar Donut package info This donut was pleasantly flavorful with a great coating of cinnamon sugar that also offered a nice bit of crunch. I was most curious about the texture, since I wasn’t sure how being gluten-free would affect it. Cinnamon Sugar donut texture As it turns out, not much at all . I found it to be a little denser than your typical cake-style doughnut, and that’s the only difference I could note. But the best indicator might not come from me… My husband is the beneficiary of much of what I can’t finish in the parks. When he tried the doughnut, he didn’t know it was gluten-free, and was really surprised when I told him. He just thought it was a great cake doughnut. I made a return trip a few days later to give their cold treat a try: “Tofutti” Dairy-Free Ice Cream. When I placed my order, I was expecting one of those mini ice cream cups. You know, like the old school kind that come in packs of ten or so, with a little wooden spoon attached to the peel-off lid? When the Cast Member placed it in front of me, I just said, “Whoa… it’s a whole PINT?” Good thing I had a friend with me! Pint (!) of Tofutti Honestly, this really doesn’t seem realistic for a family visiting the park unless they’re all ready to share the pint right then and there. This obviously isn’t a treat that you’re going to stash away in your bag and carry with you throughout the day; I imagine a lot of partially-eaten Tofutti containers get tossed regularly. That said, at $4.29 a pint, it’s probably not too far off the cost of an ice cream sundae elsewhere in the parks. So if you DO have a couple of kiddos or family members who are able to share, it’s an option. Nutritional info on Tofutti carton Tofutti is its own brand and by no means unique to Disney World, but for those who haven’t tried it (I hadn’t prior to this trip), it’s pretty much what you’d hope it would be: a cool, creamy way to scratch a chocolate itch. From a consistency standpoint, I thought it was just about on par with regular ice cream made with milk. Tofutti chocolate ice cream I must admit that ever since the Gardens Kiosk opened, I’ve been hoping to see other locations like this open in the other parks. But so far, it remains an anomaly. Still, Disney World continues to make efforts towards providing options and ease for guests with special dietary needs (like those test menus in Hollywood Studios), and we’ll look forward to seeing how these efforts continue to expand in the future. Looking for the biggest bang for your snack buck while you’re in Animal Kingdom?Check out the newly updated for 2014/15 DFB Guide to Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios Snacks e-Book for the low-down on all the treats and snack eats in these two parks! The hot off the presses Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios guide to everything snacks is full of over 250 reviews and color photos to make sure you make the best use of your dollars in Disney world. Get yours today! Or, opt to get our specially-priced bundle of snack guides for all four parks, along with the 2013 DFB Guide to WDW Dining. Have you made a stop at the Gardens Kiosk? Please let us know about your experience with a comment! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com!Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on TwitterBecome a Facebook Fan Related posts: News! New Menu at “Allergy” Kiosk in Disney’s Animal Kingdom (And You Can Still Get Babycakes!)Review! New Vegetarian Fare and Allergy Kiosk at Disney’s Animal KingdomNews! Disney’s Animal Kingdom to Debut Kiosk for Guests with Special Dietary Needs View the full article

As you crawl along Interstate 4 on your way to or from work today, you may notice some people wearing bright vests and digging holes by the side of the road. View the full article

Deanna Price donned a red shirt Monday night signifying solidarity with more than 100 other concerned parents and teachers who were geared up to vent a laundry list of frustrations to Lake County School Board members. View the full article

The Mills 50 business district was awarded two of the city’s Orlando Main Street district awards on Tuesday evening, for its Dragon Parade Lunar Festival and its dumpster art project. Following is the list of the 2014 awards: View the full article

One man had a heart attack walking from his camp. A woman bled to death from cirrhosis. Two people died of cancer. And a 31-year-old man with schizophrenia was found drowned in a downtown Orlando lake — the result of an apparent suicide. View the full article

If your little ones love water, the Menehune Bridge will be a favorite destination at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa. This 2,200 square foot interactive water play zone designed for keiki under 48 inches features two junior-sized water slides, spinning gourds and a climbing wall! As with most water activities in the resort’s Waikolohe Valley, it is free to guests. During a visit to Aulani, Cultural Advisor Kahulu De Santos shared with me the Menehune legend that provides the inspiration for this aquatic play structure. I’m excited to pass the story along as part of our “Unforgettable Details of Aulani” series. According to Hawaiian legend, a boy named Laka went searching for his chief-father after his mysterious disappearance. His grandmother told him to “go to the mountains and look for the tree that has leaves shaped like the Hilo moon – such is the tree for a canoe.” He took his grandmother’s advice and found and fell the tree just before sunset. When he woke the next day to work on his new canoe, the tree he cut down was mysteriously gone! This trickery happened to Laka several times, until he decided to dig a small trench and hide alongside the tree trunk. While hiding, he found the culprits taking his trees – a pair of Menehune! Once caught, they pleaded forgiveness for their mischievous actions and promised to build Laka a canoe. That evening, a multitude of Menehune carried the canoe down the mountain to Laka’s beachside home. Upon their arrival, a marvelous feast ensued and the mischievous Menehune were forgiven. Menehune Bridge celebrates the legend of Laka’s canoe but also encourages aquatic mayhem – inspired by the Menehune, of course. If you want to get a fun view of Laka’s canoe, stand beneath it as it fills with water. Be patient – you’ll be in for a surprise! What are your keiki looking forward to most during your vacation to Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa? Tell us in the comments below! For more from the “Unforgettable Details of Aulani” series, visit the posts below: Unforgettable Details of Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa: Menehune Adventure TrailUnforgettable Details of Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa: Beginning a Journey at Laniwai SpaUnforgettable Details of Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa: Imagineer Joe Rohde on Design and InspirationUnforgettable Details of Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa: Menehune Bridge by Tyler Slater: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog View the full article