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Are you ready for your trip to Disney World? Magic Kingdom Now we love Disney World, all the parks, and the resorts, but let’s be honest, not everything there is all sunshine and rainbows. Talking about that, there’s this trend we’ve been noticing that’s really been curling all our collective stomachs and we wanted to pick your brains to find out how you felt about it! Well, we asked and you delivered! We reached out to our followers on Facebook to ask: “Do you feel like Disney World is DIRTIER now than it was before?” We had quite a few people leave their opinions in the comments! What do you think? Now, let’s dive into some of your top responses! The “Yes” Team First up, we’ve got a solid group of you who think that Disney World is definitely dirtier now than it was before. EPCOT To this point, DFB reader Liann started off the conversation by sharing, “Unfortunately yes. I remember 2016,2017 and 2019, you wouldn’t even see a full garbage can. This trip I saw garbage on the ground, in the bushes in Epcot etc.” And he’s not alone. Tyler chimed with, “I remember they’d touch up paint after closing. Fresh and clean! Not so much anymore.” Animal Kingdom Then we’ve got Nicole, who added, “It’s because people are disrespectful and expect cast members to be their maids. The amount of trash I see people just leave everywhere is astonishing. The last time I was at Fantasmic I was in shock at the trash everywhere because people can’t just take it and throw it away.” The “No” Crew Next up, there’s a sizeable group of you who think Disney World is doing just fine when it comes to the overall cleanliness. Canada Pavilion at EPCOT First up, DFB reader Brooklyn shared, “Was there last September it was fine… I don’t ever remember it being dirty or not kept… I noticed in all the years it’s very rare people leave a mess… I think for the most part people are respectful.” Lisa added, “No, I was there today and it was perfectly clean.” Then Racer shared, “No, I don’t think so although I keep hearing about cockroaches. I’ve never seen them there and I hope I never do. They need to stop letting people bring in so much food from outside and keep groceries in the rooms.” Morocco Pavilion We have Jacquie wrapping this one up with, “I guess I’m lucky. I have visited so many times and it has always been clean. If anything, the restrooms are cleaner now. As far as trash on the grounds, perhaps some people are more careless.” The “Hmm… It’s Complicated” Squad Lastly, we have a bit more complicated feelings surrounding the cleanliness of Disney World. Hollywood Studios For example, we had DFB reader Kim share, “bit less clean but still cleaner than other parks I’ve been to. I saw it mostly in the restrooms during my last visit.” Then Carolyn added, “Maybe. But it’s not the fault of the cast members. It’s the fault of rude guests.” Angela continued the conversation with, “It’s definitely different… also many of the customers don’t show a level of respect for the parks, resorts and restaurants. Sad.” Magic Kingdom Those were just some of your thoughts on whether Disney World has become dirtier than it was before, and we want to hear more from you! Until then, keep it right here for all the latest Disney news! Also, follow us on Facebook to join in on the next discussion. I’m Sorry, Are We Just Gonna IGNORE This ABANDONED Disney World Hotel Restaurant? 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 thoughts on Disney World cleanliness? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! The post Disney Fans Reveal the One DISGUSTING Change That’s Hit Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There is another festival that starts at Disney World this weekend, but it is not at EPCOT. Raglan Road While the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival just started, another festival will be happening this weekend at Disney Springs! The Great Irish Hooley will be returning for Labor Day weekend at Ragland Road from August 30th to September 2nd. Of course, we have to talk about this FUN event, so let’s go! This festival celebrates Irish song, dance, food, and drink. This boutique music festival offers both Irish and world music, all at Raglan Road! A Hooley is a Gaelic term for a lively party with music, entertainment, and fun! Raglan Road The best part? There is no charge to attend the festival! All the fun officially began Friday afternoon on August 30th and will end late on Monday, which is Labor Day. The event is popular, so reservations are recommended. You can make advance dining reservations through the My Disney Experience app as well as OpenTable. Raglan Road in Disney Springs If you are interested in live music, this year’s line-up includes Bandits on the Run, Cassie and Maggie, The Byrne Brothers, Men of Aran, Northern Crossing, and The Connemara Ramblers. ©Raglan Road A specialty Hooley cocktail is debuting this year, too, and you can get it as both an alcoholic drink or mocktail: The Wild Rosy is made with Glendalough Wild Rose Gin, Rockeys Botanical Liqueur, homemade rosemary syrup, lemon Pellegrino, and Fever Tree premium tonic, while the Not So Wild Rosy is made with Seedlip Garden 108 (non-alcoholic) spirit, homemade rosemary syrup, lemon Pelligrino, and Fever Tree premium tonic. ©Raglan Road You can’t have a celebration without food. The Raglan Road all-day menu will be available during the event, featuring some of your Raglan Road favorites, like Braised Be Beef, Fish & Chips, OMG Burger, and more. OMG Burger Some new food will also be debuting as of September 9th, including new brunch items, When Ireland Dates America (bacon and cabbage mac ‘n cheese bites, maple glazed Bakers bacon, carrot and cabbage slaw, and pickled red cabbage puree) and Steak Agus Eggs (steak and fried egg on a cheddar and buttermilk biscuit waffle, caramelized onion, sauteed wild mushrooms, chimichurri butter, and maple glaze). The Shepherd Went Vegan will have a new recipe: three bean and lentil mild chili casserole with bulgur wheat, root vegetables, topped with olive oil mashed potatoes with a fire roasted pepper and cherry tomato gravy. Butternut Squash Gnocchi will make its menu debut later in September. It’s made with butternut squash gnocchi, white wine butter sauce, sauteed leeks, confit tomatoes, mushroom tempura, brown bread, and pumpkin seed granola. ©Raglan Road There is even complimentary Celtic face painting! If you are looking to catch an Irish dancing performance, the Raglan Road Irish Dancers will be performing throughout the event! However, the Hooley isn’t the ONLY celebration happening at Raglan Road. Ireland will be meeting Germany for the new Oktoberfeis. This is Raglan Road’s Irish Oktoberfest event, which happens from September 9th through October 6th. Raglan Road is releasing a new Bavarian Irish-style pumpkin ale named “Octoberfeis” in collaboration with Crooked Can Brewing Co. just for the event! ©Raglan Road A special new menu of Oktoberfeis foods will also be offered as an a la carte or three-course dining experience. That menu includes a Potato Pretzel with beer-braised caramelized onion and cheese sauce… ©Raglan Road …and Pork Chop Schnitzel with crispy skin on fried potato wedges, mustard cream sauce, pear, and shallot relish with fine-grated Parmesan. ©Raglan Road For a sweet ending, you’ll be able to order the Apple Strudel with vanilla custard and vanilla mascarpone with oat crumble. ©Raglan Road Next door, at Cookes of Dublin will also be participating in Oktoberfeis, serving the Bavarian Irish Pumpkin Ale in a can and offering a Pork Schnitzel Sandwich with pickled slaw, pear chutney, wholegrain mustard mayonnaise, and crispy fried onions. ©Raglan Road For a full schedule of all the fun going on at Raglan Road, you can check out the Raglan Road website here! A NEW Bar Is Opening Soon in Disney Springs! 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 Will you be checking out The Great Irish Hooley Festival this weekend? Let us know in the comments! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were sent press materials by Raglan Road from a media preview of The Great Irish Hooley. Note that when we attend events as media or are sent press materials, we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ The post It’s BACK! Disney World Is Hosting a POPULAR Festival You Can Attend WITHOUT a Park Ticket first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There’s a NEW place to get sweet treats in Disney World! Swan & Dolphin What better way to cap off an amazing day in Disney World than with a sweet treat?? We love having snack options available around the Disney World hotels so we don’t have to worry about traveling too far after walking around the parks all day. And now, a NEW dessert spot has popped up at one of our favorite places to stay! The snack truck will offer a section of treats and beverages on Friday and Saturday evenings, weather permitting. We’re all for having as many snacking options nearby as possible, so we love the idea of a bonus treat truck! ©Walt Disney Swan & Dolphin According to the post, the sweets truck only serves on Friday and Saturday evenings and the hours are subject to change. But if you happen to stop by when the snack truck isn’t serving, don’t worry — there are some other places to get sweets nearby! You could check out The Fountain for a decadent milkshake, or Fuel for a grab-and-go option. Coco Loco Shake from The Fountain We’ll continue to be on the lookout for more food news from around the Disney parks and resorts, so stay tuned to DFB for all of the latest updates! 12 Tricky NEW Disney World Hotel Hacks 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’s your favorite dessert spot in Disney World? Share with us in the comments! The post Something NEW Is Coming to Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Hotel, and You’re Gonna LOVE It! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Planning a trip to Disney World can be quite the challenge when it comes to where you’re going to stay. Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Let’s just say that you have plenty of options to choose from (there are more than 25 hotels). For sake of argument, let’s pretend that you’ve already booked your Disney World hotel. Now what? So glad you asked. We want to try and help you out by bringing you a whole list of Disney World hotel hacks for your viewing (and planning) pleasure! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Let’s get right into our 12 Disney World hotel hacks! Find The BEST Hotel Rooms, Resort-Wide Booking a Disney World hotel is a no-brainer especially if you’re after those perks like convenient transportation and being super close to the parks. But even at resorts that promise these perks, you might end up in a room that’s quite a hike away from actually being able to use them. Art of Animation But don’t worry because we’ve got your back. We’ve done the legwork (literally) to find the most convenient rooms across all the Disney World resorts. We hit the ground running to locate the best rooms that maximize those perks, and I mean we counted the steps to these rooms so you don’t have to. Skyliner Resorts Art of Animation: Nemo Buildings are where it’s at. Rooms 5514, 5513, 4540, and 4539 are about 127 steps from the Skyliner. Pop Century: The 60s buildings are prime. Specifically, rooms 5111, 5112, 4161, and 4162 are just 130 steps away. Caribbean Beach: Rooms 4104 and 4102 (Jamaica buildings) are 194 steps via the pathway, but cut through the grass, and rooms 4130 and 4131 are only 130 steps away. Aruba’s rooms 5509 and 5510 are 164 steps from the Riviera Skyliner. Riviera Resort: Rooms 5509 and 5510 are a quick 94 steps from the entrance to the Hollywood Studios side of the Skyliner. If EPCOT is your main destination, Disney’s Beach Club Resort is practically on top of it (no Skyliner needed). The closest room, 1501, is just 245 steps from the International Gateway. Disney’s Beach Club Resort The Monorail Resorts If you’re all about Magic Kingdom, the closest rooms are at Bay Lake Tower (part of the Contemporary Resort). Rooms 7111, 7109, 7132, and 7134 are about 1,006 steps from the gates, with 7132 and 7134 also being close to the main building and elevators. Also, they have an exterior exit door nearby that can give you access to the bus station walking path. Get Party Tickets EARLY As you know, Disney’s got a number of parties throughout the year. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is happening right now (on select nights from August 9th to October 31st, 2024) and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will be coming on select nights from November 8th to December 20th, 2024. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Disney loves rewarding their resort guests with early access to party tickets. So, if you want first dibs, especially at lower prices, you’re going to want to book your Disney hotel stay before those early ticket release dates. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party In addition to those staying a Disney Resort, those staying at the Swan, Dolphin, or Shades of Green also get early ticket access. Find the CHEAPEST Food Options for Your Family All of the Disney World resorts have a ton of dining options, but if you’re hunting for the cheapest eats on the property that still taste great and feed the whole crew, we’ve got you covered. The best bang for your buck at most Disney resort over the quick services are going to be the family-sized pizzas. They run about $20+ and can easily feed a family of four. Trail’s End Restaurant If you’re looking for something other than pizza, at Fort Wilderness, Trail’s End offers family meal deals like a full slab of BBQ ribs with sides for $32, or an 8-piece fried chicken meal for $29. These meals can stretch to feed 3-4 people, especially if you’ve got kiddos who zero in on the mac and cheese. Also, Sebastian’s Bistro at Caribbean Beach has stepped up its game and now offers the cheapest all-you-can-eat meal on property for $38 per adult and $20 per child. Sebastian’s Bistro If you’re really looking to save, you might want to consider ordering food via delivery apps like Grubhub, Uber Eats, or DoorDash. They’ll bring your food straight to your resort, but remember to factor in delivery fees, service fees, and tips to see if it’s really a better deal. Kroger Delivery If you need groceries, try Kroger Delivery through their app. They’ve got a distribution center near Disney, which means that you can stock up without leaving your hotel. Just be sure to stay around the hotel when your order’s expected, or you can have it dropped off at the front desk (though Disney charges $6 for this service). Stay at a Cheaper Resort but Take Advantage of the Deluxe Offers For starters, you don’t need to drop $500+ a night to get a taste of the deluxe Disney experience. Even if you book a stay at a value or moderate resort, you can still hop over to one of the deluxe resorts during your trip. Disney’s got you covered with free transportation from their parks or Disney Springs, so you can easily check out the shops, restaurants, and activities at a deluxe resort. You won’t have access to their pools, gyms, or the extended evening hours in the parks, but that’s a small trade-off. Coronado Springs Want to channel your inner Hannah Montana and get the best of both worlds? You can totally experience that Disney deluxe life without the premium price tag by trying one of these three options: Option 1: Book a room at Gran Destino at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort (a moderate resort). Gran Destino brings all the deluxe vibes with its luxurious setup, including awesome pools, two gyms, and table-service dining galore. (Plus, there’s a rooftop fireworks-view lounge, Dahlia Lounge!) It’s also the only moderate resort on Disney property that offers Club-Level stays. What’s so great about Club-Level rooms? Along with personalized concierge service, you’ll also get complimentary food and drinks! Many guests even plan a meal or two in the lounge, which can help offset the cost of the upgrade. At Gran Destino’s Chronos Lounge, you’ll find continental breakfast in the morning, snacks and beverages in the afternoon, and tapas (aka small bites), wine, beer, and cocktails in the evenings. And the best part is that Gran Destino’s Club-Level rooms are often cheaper than a standard room at a deluxe resort. The only downside is that since Coronado Springs is still considered a moderate resort, you won’t get those Extended Evening Hours perks. Option 2: Try a “split stay.” A split stay means that you book one Disney resort for the start of your trip and then transfer to another resort during the same vacation. This way, you can enjoy a deluxe resort room (and all the perks like Extended Evening Hours) for a day or two, then save money by staying at a more affordable value resort for the rest of your trip. The great thing about this is that you don’t have to worry about lugging your stuff around either as Disney will transfer your luggage to your next resort for you! (Just let Bell Services know you’re switching hotels, fill out a quick form, and they’ll handle the rest.) Swan & Dolphin Option 3: Snag a room at the Swan and Dolphin. The Swan and Dolphin hotels are owned by Marriott but partnered with Disney, so you’ll get similar perks to a Disney deluxe resort at a typically lower price. If you’re in the Marriott Bonvoy program, you’ll also earn rewards for your stay and can use points to book future stays, saving even more cash. Even though it’s not Disney-owned, you’ll still get Early Theme Park Entry (30 minutes before the park opens) and Extended Evening Hours. You’ll be staying in the heart of the EPCOT resort area, so you can easily walk to EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and other nearby resorts, or take a Friendship Boat if you’re not feeling the walk. Plus, you’ve got access to some fantastic dining spots that a lot of Disney guests don’t even know about, like Rosa Mexicano, Todd English’s Bluezoo, The Fountain, and self-serve Dole Whip at Fuel. Book a Hotel With Free Food Just a heads up, this hack is going to take you outside the Disney bubble because, unfortunately, Disney World resorts don’t offer free breakfast. Whether you’re staying at a value, moderate, or deluxe hotel, you’ll have to shell out for your morning bacon and eggs. The only exception is staying Club Level, where breakfast is included with your private lounge access. But if you’re not about that Club Level price tag and still want a complimentary breakfast, you can score one at some non-Disney hotels nearby. It might take a bit of research, but it’s worth it. Drury Plaza Hotel near Disney Springs One of our absolute faves is the Drury Plaza Lake Buena Vista, located in the Disney Springs area. Not only do they serve up a free continental breakfast every morning (Mickey waffle station, anyone?), but there’s also more where that came from. Our Mickey Waffle Drury Plaza also offers a complimentary 5:30 PM “kickback” meal with snacks, cold drinks, beer, wine, mixed drinks, and more every night. While the menu changes daily, you can expect options like salad, soup, chili, pasta, baked potatoes, nachos, and sliders. It’s enough to count as a full dinner, meaning you’re saving serious cash on not just one meal, but two! Find the 24 Hour Refill Stations If you’re planning on getting a resort refill mug for your Disney World stay? Here’s a hack to make sure you get your money’s worth. First, let’s break down the deal with Disney’s refillable mugs. These 16 oz. insulated mugs are sold at Disney hotels’ main counter service spots and come free if you add the Disney Dining Plan to your vacation package. Once you’ve got one, you can enjoy unlimited free refills on fountain drinks, coffee, and tea at participating beverage locations across Disney hotels for up to 14 days. Refillable Mug Keep in mind that this only applies to Disney hotels, not the parks. But feel free to bring your mug along as you explore different resorts because refill stations are scattered across all Disney hotels, so you can grab a drink wherever you are. Here’s the real kicker, while many drink stations close early with the restaurants, some resort pool bars have refill stations that stay open 24/7. That means you can get your soda fix any time, day or night. A few 24-hour refill stations we’ve found recently include: Petals Pool Bar at Pop Century Resort Banana Cabana at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Drop Off Pool Bar at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Use one of these SECRET Hotel Discounts And we’re back at the Swan and Dolphin because there are even more ways to save on your stay here. Let’s dive into these discounts! AAA/CAA Members can save up to 25% on the best available rate at booking. The same discount applies to Law Enforcement, Military Personnel, Government Employees, Teachers, School Support Staff, and senior citizens (62+). Healthcare Heroes like Nurses, Doctors, Firefighters, Paramedics, and Medical Personnel get a special appreciation rate, which changes depending on the time of year. Florida Residents and Disney World Annual Passholders can save up to 30% off regular rates. Anyone can save up to 20% by booking a pre-paid, non-refundable room in 2024. Also if you’re traveling with a crew and need more than one room, you can book a second guest room for up to 25% off a regular rate. Swan and Dolphin Remember that Disney’s resorts also regularly promote special offers and discounts on their website, so always check the site for deals before booking at full price! See a Hotel Parade! A parade at a Disney World resort? Say what? There are actually TWO resort parades you might be able to catch during your Disney stay, depending on when you visit. It’s starting! The first is at Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter during their Mardi Gras celebrations. During Mardi Gras, these New Orleans-inspired resorts go all out with special events, including the Port Orleans Mardi Gras Pargo Parade. This year, the parade started at 10 AM EST near Building 80 at Port Orleans Riverside and wound through the resort, ending in the French Quarter courtyard. The parade is a blast, featuring jazz bands, character appearances (like Princess Tiana in a horse-drawn carriage), and golf carts decked out as parade floats (made by resort guests!). You can even vote for your favorite float after the parade. And yes, there are plenty of Mardi Gras beads to collect in a family-friendly way. Halloween Golf Cart Parade Extravaganza The second option is at Fort Wilderness, where you could see one of THREE seasonal golf cart parades: Fourth of July, Halloween, or Christmas. These parades are guest-led, meaning campground guests started them as a fun vacation tradition, and now they’re a Fort Wilderness staple. The parades usually kick off at the hitching area near the front entrance and follow the road through the Meadow section, passing by the judge’s tent where floats are scored based on creativity and theme. The top six floats are chosen by the judges, and campground guests vote for the overall winner. Want in on the fun? To participate, you have to be staying at Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. A week before the parade, sign up at the Bike Barn to get your lineup spot and order number. After that, just follow Disney’s rules to ensure everyone’s safety. As for spectating, that’s trickier. This parade is super popular, so only guests staying at the campground can watch. No reservation, no parade-viewing for you. Pack for SUCCESS Listen, I get it. Keeping your hotel room organized might not be your top priority on a Disney World trip, but there are some super handy items that have made our stays way more convenient and organized by default. Take compression packing cubes, for example. These things are game-changers! They work like vacuum sealers for your clothes. If you’ve got bulky items or just a ton of stuff to pack, these cubes help you squeeze everything into your suitcase without sacrificing your favorite outfits. ©Amazon Plus, at the end of your trip (when your stuff somehow magically expands), you can cram everything back into those cubes, avoiding the dreaded vacation Tetris as you try to repack. View on Amazon Another pro tip? Bring a foldable hamper. It keeps all your dirty laundry in one spot, making packing to go home easier. ©Amazon Also, you can use it to carry your clothes down to the laundry facilities available at every Disney World resort. View on Amazon Speaking of laundry, one of the best parts about Disney’s laundry facilities is that you don’t have to babysit your clothes! Download the LaundryView app, which notifies you when your laundry is done. So, while your clothes are getting clean, you can go for a swim or grab a Dole Whip instead of watching your laundry spin. Okay, let’s talk about your nightstand. One of the best ways we’ve found to avoid clutter is by investing in a 3-in-1 charging station, like the one we found on Amazon for Apple users. ©Amazon This nifty gadget charges your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods all at once, so no more tangled wires. View on Amazon Also, you’ll want to consider packing a small, flat power strip with USB ports to plug in your charging station and your MagicBand+ if you’re using one. ©Amazon This way, all your devices will be fully charged and ready for a day at the parks. View on Amazon Prioritize Reservations for NEW Resort Restaurants If you didn’t know, there are some fresh new restaurants popping up at Disney resorts, and even more on the way! In the “new and now open” category, we’ve got the reimagined character dining buffet at 1900 Park Fare in the Grand Floridian Resort. 1900 Park Fare Coming soon, there’s The Cake Bake Shop, expected to open at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn later this year. (Fingers crossed—it’s been delayed a few times, but we’re hopeful!) So, here’s the deal, “New” in Disney World terms means “popular,” and that means reservations are going to fill up fast. So, make sure you’re on top of booking those advance dining reservations as soon as you can. Cake Bake Shop Construction Typically, you can start booking Disney dining reservations 60 days before your meal, but if you’re staying at a Disney World hotel, you get a little extra magic. You can book reservations up to 60 days in advance plus the length of your stay (up to 10 days). This means you could snag a table at 1900 Park Fare up to 70 days ahead of time if you’re staying at a Disney resort (again depending on how long your trip is). This gives you a better shot at grabbing those high-demand tables before they’re all gone. Take a Fireworks Cruise Some of the Disney World hotels offer a way to make the nighttime fireworks even more magical and private! Now, Fireworks cruises might not be brand new, but they’re a fresh way to see the show from a whole new perspective. Fireworks Cruise Here’s what you’re in for: You’ll board a 25-foot pontoon that comfortably fits up to 10 guests. Each cruise comes with a captain, snacks, drinks, piped-in music, and if you’re celebrating something special, you can request banners and balloons at no extra cost. Why not, right? Ferrytale Fireworks The fireworks you’ll see depend on where your cruise departs from. If your boat leaves from the Contemporary, Polynesian Village, Grand Floridian, Fort Wilderness, or Wilderness Lodge, you’ll catch the Happily Ever After show over Magic Kingdom. If you set sail from the Yacht and Beach Club marina, you’ll get to see EPCOT’s latest fireworks spectacular, Luminous: The Symphony of Us, which just debuted this past December as part of Disney’s 100th Anniversary celebration. Expect a mix of fireworks, fountains, lasers, and classic Disney tunes. Prices for these cruises start at $449 plus tax and vary depending on the day. To book, call (407) 939-7529 before your trip. Self-Serve Dole Whip Did you know that the power to control how much Dole Whip you swirl into your bowl is now in your hands?! Can you handle that kind of responsibility? Over at the Swan and Dolphin’s grab-and-go spot called Fuel (located on the Dolphin side), you’ll find sandwiches, specialty coffees, and other elevated snacks, and they’ve got a DIY froyo bar too. Fuel There are tons of flavors to choose from like dulce de leche, New York Cheesecake, Strawberry and Mango Sunrise. But the real gem is that you can score that classic Pineapple Dole Whip straight from the self-serve machines. You can even mix it up with a Pineapple Dole Whip and Sweet Coconut swirl and then pile on whatever toppings your heart desires! All the toppings! Dole Whip freedom never tasted so sweet, right? Just keep in mind that Fuel charges by the ounce (68 cents per ounce, to be exact), so if you get a little too swirl-happy, you might end up with quite a pricey treat! Fuel Froyo If you want to learn all about the different Disney World hotels and their unique offerings, check out the link below! Which Disney World Resort Hotel is Best for YOU? Keep it right here at DFB for all things 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 What are some of your favorite Disney World hotel hacks? Let us know in the comments! The post 12 Tricky NEW Disney World Hotel Hacks 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 Alps Full Spread The 2024 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival has officially kicked off, we know when construction will begin on the Avengers Campus EXPANSION in Disney California Adventure, a beloved missing Disney snack is BACK and so much 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: 2024 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival & MORE! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Sunshine Seasons in EPCOT‘s The Land Pavilion has joined in the Food & Wine Festival fun this year with a special drink! Sunshine Seasons Sunshine Seasons is one of the of the permanent EPCOT locations that also join in on the festival fun with exclusive, limited-time snacks. Come with us to check out this year’s Food & Wine Festival addition! Menu Over at Sunshine Seasons, you’ll find a special festival-edition shake — the Caramel Apple Milk Shake for $10.99 made with Artisanal gelato, pâte brisée, whipped cream, candy apple cake, and caramel drizzle. Drinks It was a very nice reprieve to step inside the beautiful air conditioning of The Land Pavilion to grab this milkshake, which, right off the bat, LOOKED amazing! Caramel Apple Milk Shake The cake pop on top genuinely looked like a caramel apple, which we thought was so cute! Adorable! We will admit though that it fell off the stick before we could cut it to get a photo, so beware! Whoops! And the pastry ring underneath the cake pop was impressive, too! It really brought the whole treat together. The pastry ring! So it looked great, but how did it taste? Well, we’re sorry to say that our reporter’s exact words called this treat “sad,” and they recommend skipping it and getting an Apple Chai drink from Starbucks instead. OVERALL Ouch! That’s not what we wanted to hear. In this case, we didn’t get a ton of apple or caramel flavor, so it was a pretty bland shake. Even the cool design of the cake pop and pastry ring couldn’t save it because we weren’t impressed with those either. Yeah, we recommend skipping That’s it for the festival offerings at Sunshine Seasons, but there’s a LOT more where that came from! Trying to plan the PERFECT trip to the 2024 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival? We’ll be keeping you updated on all of the latest. Click our links below for the information you need to know: Learn about the Eat to the Beat Concert Series and Dining Packages Check out ALL of the 2024 Food & Wine Booth Menus One HUGE Change Is Coming to the 2024 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival! Click here to see FULL reviews of EVERY. SINGLE. BOOTH. at the Food & Wine Festival! And don’t forget to pick up our 2024 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival e-book! See more details about the book below. IT'S WINE & DINE TIME! Food & Wine Festival can be a bummer. You stand in line waiting for what looks like the perfect treat, and it's a bust. But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE EPCOT Food & Wine Festival experience. If you're planning a day or a week at the festival, we've got every performance, activity, and tasty nosh detailed out so you can make the most of your time and money. Listen, it's a tough job eating and documenting the nearly 200 bites and sips, but we do it all for YOU! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Learn More About the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival! Food and Wine Festival 101 Eat to the Beat Concert Updates EPCOT Food and Wine Festival - Fans Facebook Page Wine and Dine Half Marathon Details Get More Updates, Tips, and Tricks to Help You Conquer the Food & Wine Festival Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Would you try this festival treat? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: This EPCOT Restaurant’s Food and Wine Dessert Just Broke Our Hearts a Little first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’ve ever been strolling around World Showcase during the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival and came across a very, very, VERY long line surrounding one of the Festival Marketplace Food Booths… 2024 Booth … then it’s quite possible that you’re already familiar with the Canada Booth! This fan-favorite booth celebrating the cuisine of our neighbors to the North is a popular destination for just about every guest at the 2024 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival. And since we are reviewing every single Food Booth at the Festival, we’re just as excited as you probably are to see if this beloved Booth lives up to the hype (as evidenced by those long lines) once again this year. Menu For all the excitement surrounding the Canada Booth, there are only two food items on the menu again this year, and both are returning favorites: the Cheddar Cheese and Bacon Soup and the Filet Mignon. 2024 Canada Food Booth Menu To accompany the dishes are a beer and a wine option: Collective Arts Brewing Audio/Visual Lager and Château des Charmes Cabernet Sauvignon. The question, of course, is whether these items stand up once again to their already stellar reputation… Trying to plan the PERFECT trip to the 2024 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival? We’ll be keeping you updated on all of the latest. Click our links below for the information you need to know: Learn about the Eat to the Beat Concert Series and Dining Packages Check out ALL of the 2024 Food & Wine Booth Menus Find ALL of our EPCOT Food and Wine Festival REVIEWS right here! And don’t forget to pick up our 2024 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival e-book! See more details about the book below. IT'S WINE & DINE TIME! Food & Wine Festival can be a bummer. You stand in line waiting for what looks like the perfect treat, and it's a bust. But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE EPCOT Food & Wine Festival experience. If you're planning a day or a week at the festival, we've got every performance, activity, and tasty nosh detailed out so you can make the most of your time and money. Listen, it's a tough job eating and documenting the nearly 200 bites and sips, but we do it all for YOU! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Learn More About the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival! Food and Wine Festival 101 Eat to the Beat Concert Updates EPCOT Food and Wine Festival - Fans Facebook Page Wine and Dine Half Marathon Details Get More Updates, Tips, and Tricks to Help You Conquer the Food & Wine Festival Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What items from this booth would you most want to try? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: If You Have To Spend in EPCOT, Don’t Spend It On THIS. first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We just got news that Disney World will be getting eight new rides! D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event These new attractions are spread across the Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. While EPCOT is not getting any new attractions, Test Track 3.0 will open in 2025, and there will be a brand new Spaceship Earth Lounge! As for the new rides, we are a little worried that two of them will fall victim to the theme park ride screen epidemic. Some new Disney attractions have been using screens more and more instead of physical sets. Sometimes, the screens are necessary, like at Toy Story Mania or when rides like Na’vi River Journey or Rise of the Resistance go into B Mode. Other times, people feel that the screens are not enough. Toy Story Mania One of the most recent examples of this is when Tiana’a Bayou Adventure opened in Magic Kingdom at the end of June. Many people were disappointed to see that this attraction used screens and had animated versions of Tiana, Louis, and Mama Odie. While there is no doubt the animatronics in Tiana’s Bayou Adventure are super impressive, fans were hoping that this ride would not have screens as its predecessor, Splash Mountain, did not utilize screens. Mama Odie Two of the eight newly announced attractions concern us. A highly rumored attraction, the Monsters Inc. Door Coaster, will finally be built in Hollywood Studios. It will be Disney World’s first suspended roller coaster. At D23, we got a look at some concept art as well as a physical model. Those doors look like they’re on a screen, not real doors. ©Disney Trust us: We have started to learn not to trust concept art, as sometimes the final product is far off from what the concept art shows. While the concept art does not give too many details, we wonder if the door effect on this coaster will be done using screens. The doors to the left seem to be physical doors ©Disney Currently, at Disney California Adventure, the slow-moving dark ride Monsters Inc.: Mike and Sulley to the Rescue uses mirrors and physical doors to give the effect that there are more doors than there actually are. Mike and Sulley to the Rescue! We have our fingers crossed that this attraction will use more physical props rather than screens. Monsters Inc. coaster Animal Kingdom is receiving a huge overhaul as the Tree of Life will be home to a new show called Zootopia: Better Zoogether. DinoLand U.S.A. will be re-themed into a Tropical Americas-themed land named Pueblo Esperanza. Pueblo Esperanza Model Within this new land, there will be three brand-new attractions. Indiana Jones will take over DINOSAUR, and there will be a brand-new Encanto ride and a brand-new carousel. Here’s a look at the carousel on the Tropical Americas model! Out of these three attractions, we are concerned that the Encanto ride will use more screens rather than animatronics. Once again, we do not have much to go off of besides the few pieces of concept art. The one piece of concept art inside the ride shows the whole Family Madrigal, plus some animals. Encanto Concept Art While we are not saying it can’t happen, it seems very unlikely for Disney to make all these characters into animatronics and to have them all in one place close together. We are thinking that if this concept art remains true to the final product, it is likely that this scene will use a screen. Model of the Casita ride We will have to wait and see as more details about these projects are announced. Regardless of whether they have screens or not, we are still super excited that there will be new offerings at Disney World in the coming years. EVERY MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT for the Disney Parks from D23 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 new attraction are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments!The post Why We're Worried About 2 NEW Disney World Attractions first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’re looking for something a little more intense than Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in Disney World, then you may be planning to head to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort this year! It’s time! Halloween Horror Nights, or HHN, is certainly NOT for the faint of heart! If you’ve never been to one of these events before, you may be in for a surprise if you don’t know what you’re getting into. But that’s why we’re here! If you’re heading to the event this year, here’s everything you need to know so you’re not caught off guard! The Basics Halloween Horror Nights runs on Wednesday-Sunday nights August 30th-November 3rd, 2024. The park will close for regular ticketed Universal guests around 5PM, and the event officially runs from 6:30PM-2AM (we recommend arriving around 45 minutes before the official start time because gates tend to open early)! Only guests with special tickets purchased for Halloween Horror Nights will have access to the after hours event, and some nights are known to sell out! Or you can line up early inside the park with a Scream Early ticket! There are four different ticket types to choose from, which can all be bought online ahead of the event (which is what’s recommended). They are: Halloween Horror Nights Single-Night Ticket: Allows access to the event on one night of your choosing (made at the time of booking) and starts at $82.99 per person Halloween Horror Nights Express Pass: This can be purchased ON TOP of a regular ticket. It allows you to skip the line for every haunted house once throughout the night! Begins at $129.99 per person Halloween Horror Nights R.I.P. Tour: An add-on that allows you a look behind the scenes — starts at $359.99 per person Halloween Horror Nights Behind-the-Screams: Unmasking the Horror Tour: Allows daytime access into the park to tour 3 or 6 haunted houses and get a look behind the scenes — valid park admission NOT required and starts at $99.99 per person Scream Early Ticket: This is an additional purchase ON TOP of a regular ticket. Enjoy the park from 3PM-5PM and then line up for a house in a Stay & Scream area. Signs for the houses Multi-night tickets are also an option, but they sell out quickly! These options are: The Rush of Fear Pass: Provides entry to the first 18 event nights. The Frequent Fear Pass: Access to every Sunday through Thursday, plus the first weekend. The Frequent Fear Plus Pass: Includes entry every Sunday through Friday, plus the first and last Saturday. The Ultimate Frequent Fear Pass: Grants access to EVERY night of the event, along with complimentary regular parking after 5 p.m. on all event nights. Haunted Houses & Scare Zones The Haunted Houses are the main draw of the event (but certainly not the only!). This year there are 10 haunted houses to explore, but keep in mind that lines for these get VERY long. You’ll want to prioritize what your top houses are to ensure you can make it through those if you’re not using an express pass. Major Sweets Candy Factory This year’s houses are: A Quiet Place Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Insidious: The Further Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines Monstruos: The Monsters of Latin America Slaughter Sinema 2 The Museum: Deadly Exhibits Major Sweets Candy Factory Goblin’s Feast Triplets of Terror Wait times can get pretty high! In addition to the Houses, you’ll also walk past 5 scare zones spread throughout the resort! These do not have any official lines, as the zones are active throughout the whole night. Torture Faire Scare Zone The scare zones this year are: Enter the Blumhouse Duality of Fear Demon Queens Swamp of the Undead Torture Faire Scare Zone Again, these aren’t for the faint of heart, so remember that before you go into each House or Scare Zone! Other Entertainment But that’s not all! In addition to the Houses and Scare Zones, you can also ride tons of Universal Orlando’s most popular attractions with little to no waits! The rides that will be open during this event are: Revenge of the Mummy Harry Potter and the Escape From Gringotts MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit Gringotts You’ll also find some incredible live entertainment during the night, such as the Nightmare Fuel: Nocturnal Circus show! This is described on the Universal Orlando website as “a new nightmare that carries with it a sinister curse” where you’re “trapped in a thrilling spectacle of pyro and aerialists to the beat of pulse pounding rock rhythms.” Over at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Diagon Alley, you can also encounter Death Eaters on select nights! They wander around Diagon Alley, not afraid to scare anyone in their sight. ©Universal Food It’s not Halloween Horror Nights without special food offerings around the park! There are TONS of exclusive eats you can only get during the event that you won’t want to miss! While some restaurants will continue to have their regular menus during the event, you can find special eats at the following locations: Major Sweets Candy Factory Kiosk Ghostbusters Frozen Empire Kiosk Goblins Feast Kiosk Insidious: The Further Kiosk Monstruos – The Monsters of Latin America Kiosk A Quiet Place Kiosk Triplets of Terror Kiosk Slaughter Sinema 2 Kiosk Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines Kiosk Halloween Horror Nights Tribute Store Dreamwork’s Imagination Cafe TODAY Cafe San Francisco Pastry Company Various Tent/Cart locations throughout the park Treat case at the Tribute Store Merchandise And as if you haven’t already spent enough money, you need to commemorate the event with a souvenir, right? While you can find select exclusive merchandise online, you’ll also want to check out the following shops for this special merchandise! Inside this year’s Tribute Store Halloween Horror Nights Tribute Store (THIS is the jackpot, friends, don’t miss exploring this store!) Five and Dime Kwik-E-Mart MIB Gear The Film Vault ©Universal San Francisco Candy Factory Sahara Traders Simpsons Games Supply Vault Universal Studios Store ©Universal Diagon Alley Shops Borgin & Burkes ©Universal We’re always here to keep you updated on the latest Universal Orlando news, so stay tuned to DFB! 10 Signs You Should SKIP Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Are you a fan of Halloween Horror Nights? Tell us in the comments! The post EVERYTHING You Need to Know About Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando in 2024! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Seafood lovers, listen up! Coastal Eats We’re checking out a Marketplace Food Booth made just for you at the 2024 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival. We’re at Coastal Eats, and while you’ll find a few more seafood bites around the Festival (like the Grilled Bushberry Spiced Shrimp Skewer at the Australia Booth and the Tostada de Camarones with tempura battered shrimp at the Mexico Booth), Coastal Eats is the only booth entirely dedicated to seafood, and we’re here to bring you our complete review. Menu Even though Coastal Eats is a back from previous years, neither dish from last year — including the Oysters Rockefeller — has made a return. But we think folks might forgive that fact when they realize that LOBSTER is on the menu, with the Roasted Warm Water Lobster Tail! Also on the food menu is a Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail. Drinks are a different story, as the Boyd & Blair Pomegranate Codder is back again, and the cocktail is joined on the menu by Wildly Brut Cuvée. This is also one of the select Booths where you can pick up the souvenir CORKCICLE Stemless Flute. Alrighty! Let’s all grab a lobster bib and dig in! Eats The Roasted Warm Water Lobster Tail with garlic butter has made its way to Coastal Eats! Now, a Lobster Tail was available at the aptly named Lobster Landing Booth a few years ago. But you may recall that lobster disappeared completely from Festival menus in 2022 and remained unavailable in 2023. Now, however, it has made a comeback to the tune of $13. This was a DELICIOUS lobster tail. There was a solid amount of meat, especially for the $13 price point, and we loved the butter it came with. If you’re a seafood fan, we’d definitely recommend checking it out! While the Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail with cocktail sauce is new to Coastal Eats, it was available last year at the Bubbles & Brine Booth with a slightly different presentation. Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail with cocktail sauce The Shrimp Cocktail is up for grabs for $13. These were probably the best shrimp we had at the festival. They were perfectly chilled and nicely meaty. The cocktail sauce wasn’t overly spicy, which should be ideal for most people. All that said though, we probably wouldn’t recommend going out of your way for this dish, especially given the lobster dish available for the same price point. Drinks Previously known as the Cape Codder, the Boyd & Blair Pomegranate Codder returns again this year for $12. Boyd & Blair Pomegranate Codder This was similar to a Vodka Cranberry, though with pomegranate flavor. Relatively basic, though that’s probably the kind of refreshing treat many would want in the Florida sun. You may also opt for the Wildly Brut Cuvée for $7. Coastal Eats is also one of the locations where you can pick up a Food and Wine Festival souvenir: the CORKCICLE Stemless Flute! Stemless! You can pick one up for $24. OVERALL Overall, Coastal Eats was neither a major miss nor a major a hit. Seafood lovers may want to make a trip for the lobster, but in general, this isn’t a booth we’d recommend prioritizing if you had to the festival. Coastal Eats Full Spread Trying to plan the PERFECT trip to the 2024 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival? We’ll be keeping you updated on all of the latest. Click our links below for the information you need to know: Learn about the Eat to the Beat Concert Series and Dining Packages Check out ALL of the 2024 Food & Wine Booth Menus Find ALL of our EPCOT Food and Wine Festival REVIEWS right here! And don’t forget to pick up our 2024 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival e-book! See more details about the book below. IT'S WINE & DINE TIME! Food & Wine Festival can be a bummer. You stand in line waiting for what looks like the perfect treat, and it's a bust. But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE EPCOT Food & Wine Festival experience. If you're planning a day or a week at the festival, we've got every performance, activity, and tasty nosh detailed out so you can make the most of your time and money. Listen, it's a tough job eating and documenting the nearly 200 bites and sips, but we do it all for YOU! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Learn More About the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival! Food and Wine Festival 101 Eat to the Beat Concert Updates EPCOT Food and Wine Festival - Fans Facebook Page Wine and Dine Half Marathon Details Get More Updates, Tips, and Tricks to Help You Conquer the Food & Wine Festival Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What items from this booth would you most want to try? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: Budget for This EPCOT Festival Booth and That’s ALL first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Aaah, Magic Kingdom… Home to whimsical spinning teacups and soaring elephants, 999 Happy Haunts, and a Fairytale Hall full of Disney Princesses. It’s where you can end your day inspired to find your very own “Happily Ever After,” and look forward to “A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow.” From Fantasyland to Adventureland to Tomorrowland and beyond, it’s a place where dreams come true! But WAIT… Cinderella Castle in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Do you feel it? A sense of foreboding? Perhaps the presence of something evil lurking this way… If so, that might just be because Disney Villains are coming to Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in a BIG WAY! Disney has officially announced that Magic Kingdom is expanding the theme park with a brand new Villains Land. And if you are one of the MANY fans who is already gearing up to channel your inner baddie in this new area, you are likely wondering WHEN this new addition is opening in Walt Disney World’s original park. D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event took place in early August 2024, and of all the HUGE announcements that were dropped during the weekend, perhaps the biggest of all was the reveal by Josh D’Amaro, Disney Experiences Chairman that Villains Land is indeed coming to Magic Kingdom. Villains Land — Who The “dark and thorny” new land — or perhaps we should say, new LAIR — will be home to those famously evil Disney Villains and might make happily ever “feel like just a distant dream,” according to D’Amaro. It’s Maleficent! Though Disney has not yet revealed exactly which dastardly Disney ne’er-do-wells might be coming to Villains Land, we have been having fun making some guesses based on both the land’s concept art, as well as possible hints dropped during the announcement. For instance, when D’Amaro made the initial announcement, he also teased: “Be prepared, you poor unfortunate souls, it’s going to be a fearless new vision for what a Disney experience can be.” “Be Prepared….” What does that make you think of? It sure brings Scar from The Lion King to mind for me. And, of course, “Poor Unfortunate Souls” just so happens to be Ursula’s show-stopping number in The Little Mermaid. Ursula at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party And, maybe it’s just us, but far off in the distance of the Land’s concept art, there appears to be a castle high on some pointed rocks. Villains Land coming to Magic Kingdom ©Disney By the looks of it, perhaps this is Maleficent’s castle towering high above the land? While we await official word, it’s fun to dream about who we might encounter. All of this begs the question… who would YOU most like to see in Villains Land? Take a DEEP DIVE into the Villains Land concept art HERE. Villains Land — What So, what’s coming to Villains Land? Disney has shared that TWO major attractions, along with new dining and shopping experiences will be presented “on an incredibly twisted grand scale.” Villains Land Concept Art ©Disney We await official details on the new attractions, eateries, and beyond. BUT… in looking very closely at the concept art, our little eyes have spied what we believe to be tracks for a possible roller coaster. Is Villains Land in Disney World Getting A CAVERN COASTER? Let’s talk about it… Villains Land — Where Even before the official announcement confirming Villains Land, in September of 2022, Disney first publicly floated a “blue sky” project — “Beyond Big Thunder Mountain” — that would potentially bring a NEW land (or possibly lands) to Magic Kingdom. Just as the name of the then-mystery project implies, there is some land past Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (which is located in Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland) that has been deemed suitable for new construction. RCID Comprehensive Plan map and map of Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland Just days following the official confirmation of Villains Land (on August 12th, 2024, to be exact), Disney confirmed that Villains Land will indeed be set “BEYOND Big Thunder Mountain!” Villains Land — When Okay! NOW we’re at the WHEN… When will Villains Land open in Magic Kingdom? Disney has not revealed a timeline for the completion of this massive park expansion (which also includes the addition of a Cars-themed area to Frontierland). However, based on recent major expansions to the Disney World theme parks, we can wager a few educated guesses. For example, a possible reference is the timeline for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which is located in Disneyland park and Disney World’s Hollywood Studios. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios Construction on the Star Wars land began in April 2016 in both Disneyland and Disney World. In Disneyland, it opened three years later in May 2019, and in Disney World, it opened four years later in August 2019. That said, Galaxy’s Edge was initially announced in August 2015. So within the next five years could be a potential timeline for the opening of Villains Land. Now, you may be thinking, “Hey, I tuned in to all the MAJOR Disney news from the D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, so I know that a whole new land is coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and that’s supposed to open in 2027. So what’s the hold up in Magic Kingdom?” Pueblo Esperanza Concept Art ©Disney Great question! The difference here is that the new Animal Kingdom land based on The Tropical Americas — which will be called Pueblo Esperanza — is ultimately a transformation of an existing land: what is now DinoLand, U.S.A. is being rethemed into Pueblo Esperanza, and one of the new attractions coming to the land will be a transformation of an already existing attraction, as well. (DINOSAUR is being rethemed into a brand new Indiana Jones attraction.) So breaking new ground complete with all-new construction will likely lend to a longer timeline. What we can say with certainty is that work for Villains Land is already in progress! The Evil Queen is EXCITED (or some other less happy emotion) about VILLAINS LAND! In April 2024, for instance, Disney confirmed that permits were going to be filed for storm drainage and other foundational work for what what then simply referred to as “Beyond Big Thunder Mountain.” Additionally, at the D23 event, D’Amaro stressed that “plans are drawn” and “dirt is moving” for the major initiatives presented on that weekend chock full of breaking news. You see, Villains Land wasn’t the only major expansion announced for Disney World… not by a long shot. Check out our YouTube video below to see it ALL! (P.S. There’s a LOT. So, as AJ says, “Buckle up!”) 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 pumped about Villains Land coming to Magic Kingdom? Please let us know with a comment! The post When Is Villains Land Opening in Disney World? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We came. We saw. We conquered. Yes, we survived the first day of the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival, but our tummies are TIRED. In case you missed it, we spent an entire day in EPCOT enjoying all the festival has to eat and drink. We also checked out some festival entertainment and spent a lot of time writing reviews of every single food booth at the festival (and that was A LOT). However, did you know that some of the festival foods are eligible for the Disney Dining Plan? Yes, you can use snack credits from the Disney Dining Plan on many festival eats. However, we’re going to tell you which foods will give you the most bang for your Disney Dining Plan buck. For those not familiar with the Disney Dining Plan, it’s basically a way to pre-pay for your food at Disney World before your trip. Two plans are available, but both come with a certain number of snack credits determined by how long you’re staying in Disney World. You can read all about the Disney Dining Plan here. One thing you might not know, though, is that those snack credits can be used on select eats at the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival. You’ll see the DDP logo beside the items you can use snack credits for. The DDP symbol appears beside the food items you can use snack credits for. However, some of these items are a waste of your snack credits because you’re not getting as much value for them. So if you really want to use those snack credits for festival food, we’re going to tell you about the highest-priced eats you should use those for at the festival. Our thinking is that anything above $8 is a good use of a snack credit. So here’s what you should use snack credits for at the festival: Bramblewood Bites: Grilled Bison with butternut squash purée, roasted mushrooms, and huckleberry gastrique (Gluten/Wheat Friendly) – $8.75 Canada: Filet Mignon with mushrooms, Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs mashed potatoes, and Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs butter (Gluten/Wheat Friendly) – $9.75 China: Crispy Duck Bao Bun with hoisin sauce – $8.25 Crispy Duck Bao Bun Coastal Eats: Roasted Warm Water Lobster Tail with garlic butter – $13.00 Coastal Eats: Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail with cocktail sauce (Gluten/Wheat Friendly) – $13.00 Earth Eats: Red Wine-braised Beef Short Rib with goat cheese polenta, puttanesca sauce, shaved pecorino, and petit herbs (Gluten/Wheat Friendly) (New) – $8.50 The Fry Basket: Fry Flight (Gluten/Wheat Friendly) – $8.00 (Truffle-Parmesan Fries, Barbeque Bacon Fries with smoked aïoli, and Sweet Potato Casserole Fries with candied pecans, toasted marshmallow cream, and bourbon maple syrup) Fry Flight Italy: Polpettine Toscane: Beef meatballs, rosemary focaccia, and pomodoro sauce (New) – $8.50 Japan: Wagyu Temaki Sushi: Hand-held sushi with sweet and savory American Wagyu beef topped with Takana Japanese pickles and spicy mayo sauce (New) – $9.50 Japan: Eel Temaki Sushi: Hand-held sushi with grilled eel, egg crumbles, cucumber, and pickled daikon radish served with eel sauce (New) – $9.50 Wagyu Temaki Sushi So if you want those snack credits to do more for you when you’re at the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival, consider using them on these eats. Stay tuned to DFB for more. EVERYTHING You Need to Eat and Drink at the 2024 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival IT'S WINE & DINE TIME! Food & Wine Festival can be a bummer. You stand in line waiting for what looks like the perfect treat, and it's a bust. But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE EPCOT Food & Wine Festival experience. If you're planning a day or a week at the festival, we've got every performance, activity, and tasty nosh detailed out so you can make the most of your time and money. Listen, it's a tough job eating and documenting the nearly 200 bites and sips, but we do it all for YOU! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Learn More About the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival! Food and Wine Festival 101 Eat to the Beat Concert Updates EPCOT Food and Wine Festival - Fans Facebook Page Wine and Dine Half Marathon Details Get More Updates, Tips, and Tricks to Help You Conquer the Food & Wine Festival Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Will you be using the Disney Dining Plan at the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival? Let us know in the comments! The post Best Festival Snacks for the Disney Dining Plan first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

TikTok is all the rage right now, except we are not talking about the app… Captain Hook’s Ship Instead, we are talking about Tick Tock, the crocodile from Peter Pan! Peter Pan’s Flight just re-opened in Disney World, and if you are a fan of Peter Pan like we are, then you should check out DFB’s brand new merchandise line inspired by Croc himself, Tick Tock! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. This merchandise line features more than just t-shirts. We also have mugs, tote bags, and phone cases! Let’s take a look! Peter Pan’s Flight in Disney World Get this Tick Tock Inspired Tote Bag Tick Tock Croc Tote Bag If you need a new park bag or want to add a touch of Disney to your everyday life, this Tick Tock Croc tote is perfect! Get it Here! Need a New Phone Case? Check Out This One! Phone Case As part of this collection, we even have a Tick Tock Croc phone case. It comes in a variety of case styles for iPhone, Google Pixel, and Samsung phones. View Here! Need a Mug for Your Morning Coffee? We Have a Tick Tock One Here! Tick Tock Mug Whether you need a cup of coffee to kick start your day or you need a mid-day pick me up, this Tick Tock Croc mug will add a hint of pixie dust to your day to keep you fueled to finish your day strong! Shop Here! Check Out this Cold Drink Tick Tock Cup! Tick Tock Glass If you prefer a cold beverage like cold brew or a soda as a pick me up, then we also have this Tick Tock glass cup option as well as the mug! This cup style is super popular right now. Shop Here! Take a Look at this Adorable Pocket T-Shirt! Tick Tock Croc Shirt This Tick Tock Croc pocket tee is great to wear for a day spent in Fantasyland and of course riding Peter Pan’s Flight! This shirt even comes in a variety of colors! Purchase Here! We know that Tick Tock does not always get the love he deserves so we wanted to make sure to show him off in this brand new merchandise line! Shop Our Amazon Storefront!The post Peter Pan Fans, This New Merchandise Collection Was Designed Just for You! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Alright. We’re gonna say it. Jack Skellington? He’s a little spooky! Although he makes a great Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party host, there’s something about his tall, looming presence that sends a shiver down our spine. Anyone else?! Jack and Sally Well, Jack is BACK at the 2024 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party this year, and this year, he brought a SCARY addition to the Magic Kingdom! Wait until you see the new souvenir EVERYONE is talking about online right now. Disney just announced that a NEW souvenir is coming to Magic Kingdom! Look out for the Scary Teddy Premium Popcorn Bucket, which will debut on September 2nd exclusively at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. ©Disney If you don’t recognize this little guy, he’s from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas movie. The popcorn bucket comes with a black carrying strap, too. If you know anything about Tim Burton movies, you know that this popcorn bucket fits right in with the dark, dramatic style of Burton’s characters. Yeah, this might be the SCARIEST popcorn bucket Disney has ever made. Jollywood Nights entertainment Disney hasn’t shared a price yet, but we expect this to be available at various popcorn carts around Magic Kingdom. Don’t forget — it’s a party exclusive, so you need a Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party ticket to be able to purchase this bucket. Oh, and it will be coming to Disneyland Resort “later,” too! In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more. We’re Trying A CREEPY Clam Flatbread in Disney World — And We’re Not Sure How We Feel About It 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 do you think about this new bucket? Let us know in the comments! The post We Hope You're Sitting Down Because This Is the SCARIEST Disney Popcorn Bucket We've Ever Seen first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Who’s up for a game of Hide and Seek at the 2024 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival? Actually, wait. Let me try that again… Who’s up for a game of Hide and SQUEAK?! The EPCOT Food & Wine Festival is here! I sure hope you are, because the Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak scavenger hunt is BACK for the run of the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival (which is ON as of today through November 23rd, 2024)! This family-friendly activity is a great way to add in some extra fun as you make your way around the park to snack and sip at the Festival’s Marketplace Food Booths. (OH, and you can win a prize, while you’re at it!) We’re here to show you how it’s done with our Complete Guide to Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak! So, what are we up to? We’re searching for RATS (in the form of statuettes) around World Showcase. The rat in question is none other than the Food and Wine Festival’s mascot, Remy from Ratatouille. (But, of course!) And don’t worry… should you choose to search for Remy during your own Food and Wine Festival adventures, you’ll start your journey with a helpful tool that provides hints for where you should look. To begin, purchase a Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak scavenger hunt from one of the following locations: Disney Traders (on the World Showcase Promenade) Port of Entry (on the World Showcase Promenade) Creations Shop World Traveler at International Gateway Festival Merchandise Kiosks Remy’s Ratatouille Hide ‘n Squeak sign The price is $9.99. You’ll see that the map gives you an idea of locations where you can specifically search for Remy. Remy’s Ratatouille Hide ‘n Squeak The map comes with a page of stickers that you’ll use to mark your progress as you complete the scavenger hunt. Each sticker coincides with a Remy statue hiding in World Showcase. Once you find a statue, just place the sticker that matches that statue on the map in the corresponding location. Remy’s Ratatouille Hide ‘n Squeak Stickers If you don’t buy the map, it’s still fun to keep an eye out for the Remy statuettes around World Showcase! They’re themed to their location for a bit of extra Food and Wine Festival flair! That said, if you forego the purchase of a map, you will not be eligible to collect a prize after you complete the scavenger hunt. Okay, that’s the scoop to start. So, once you’ve got your map, it’s time to search for Remy… or make that Remys! Remy is hiding in 14 locations around World Showcase. When you spot a statue, you’ll put the correlating sticker on the correct location on your map. Here’s an example of what you’re looking for: There he is! Now that you’re finished, you’ll bring your completed map back to Creations Shop, Disney Traders, or World Traveler at International Gateway. There, you can pick up your prize! This year’s prize is a fun bowl! You get your choice of one bowl for every complete map you turn in. There’s a Chef Minnie Bowl… Chef Minnie Bowl …a Chef Figment Bowl… Chef Figment Bowl …a Chef Mickey Bowl… Chef Mickey Bowl …and a Chef Remy Bowl. Chef Remy Bowl We hope you’ve had a blast with us as we’ve covered EVERYTHING in EPCOT on the first day of the 2024 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival! If you’re planning a trip of your own to enjoy everything the Festival has to offer, you can click any of links below for the information you need to know: Learn about the Eat to the Beat Concert Series and Dining Packages Check out ALL of the 2024 Food & Wine Booth Menus Find ALL of our Food and Wine Festival Food Booth REVIEWS here! And don’t forget to pick up our 2024 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival e-book! See more details about our Guide below. IT'S WINE & DINE TIME! Food & Wine Festival can be a bummer. You stand in line waiting for what looks like the perfect treat, and it's a bust. But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE EPCOT Food & Wine Festival experience. If you're planning a day or a week at the festival, we've got every performance, activity, and tasty nosh detailed out so you can make the most of your time and money. Listen, it's a tough job eating and documenting the nearly 200 bites and sips, but we do it all for YOU! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Learn More About the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival! Food and Wine Festival 101 Eat to the Beat Concert Updates EPCOT Food and Wine Festival - Fans Facebook Page Wine and Dine Half Marathon Details Get More Updates, Tips, and Tricks to Help You Conquer the Food & Wine Festival Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Are you going to this year’s Food & Wine Festival? Let us know in the comments! The post You're Gonna LOVE the PRIZE for the Scavenger Hunt at the 2024 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World has recently added a new hotel perk to some resorts. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort If you have stayed at a Disney World hotel within the last year or so, you may have noticed a Mickey Mouse touchscreen device on the nightstand. This is called “Hey, Disney!” and it acts as your personal assistant to help make your stay even easier! “Hey, Disney!” was created by Amazon and uses the same technology that Alexa uses, but it is Disney-fied. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. To get a free Amazon Prime trial, click the box below! Amazon and Disney World hotels sell the case that is put on the “Hey, Disney!”, but now you can make your Alexa even more magical by having the “Hey, Disney!” software! Here is how! Hey Disney! If you have an Amazon Echo, Purchase the “Hey, Disney” Subscription Here If you already have an Amazon Echo, you are already a step ahead of the game! You can easily just purchase the “Hey, Disney” subscription and add it to the device you already have! It is only $5.99 a year, and can be renewed annually. Hey Disney! Purchase the Subscription Here! Need an Amazon Echo? Get the “Hey, Disney!” Bundle The “Hey, Disney” Bundle is a great deal because it includes an Amazon Echo, a Mickey Mouse stand for your Echo, as well as one year of the “Hey, Disney!” subscription! ©Amazon Get the Bundle Here! To learn how to set up your “Hey, Disney!” device and to learn more about “Hey Disney!” you can click here! We think that this is so cool that you can have a piece of a Disney World hotel in your own home to help make you feel closer to the magic! Shop Our Amazon Storefront!The post You Can Have Your Own "Hey, Disney!" at Home -- Here's How! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Hear ye, hear ye! We’ve been busy celebrating World Princess Week with pixie-dusted products, digital surprises and so much more. But if you’re ready to dive deeper into your own royal adventure, you’re in the right place. You may have already discovered which Disney Princess is most like you. Now, channel your inner Princess friend with this quiz! How to play: Based on your response to each prompt, follow the arrows until you reach the end. Princess Friend Quiz Results Hei Hei If you got Hei Hei, you’re probably the comedic relief of your friend group. While you may sometimes act impulsive — and a little chaotic! — things always work out in the end. People look up to you for your optimism and carefree spirit. Lumière Like Lumière, your charisma makes you instantly approachable. And while you love to be social, you never care too much what others think of you. Instead, your unique personality, strong opinions, and ability to think outside of the box shine through. Pascal If you’re a perfect blend of sassy and sweet, you’re just like Pascal! You’re fiercely loyal and protective towards those you cherish. You embrace change and are always up for an adventure, especially if your friends are by your side. Jaq & Gus You probably have a bit of a creative side and love working as part of a team. Your friends love you because you’re both a helping hand and a listening ear. Even when you’re underestimated, you find a solution to the toughest problems. Louis If you got Louis, you’re a dreamer with a passion for life! While you may be a little fearful at times, you’re a people person who connects with others wherever you go. You lean on your friends to support you through life’s ups and downs, and they do the same for you. Flounder You probably have a tight-knit group of friends you’ve been close to for a very long time. Your found family loves that you support them no matter what! Like Flounder, you’re a rule follower, and your moral compass leads those around you in the right direction. More Disney Quizzes to Try Which Disney Princess Are You? Which Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Critter Are You? Which Pixar Best Friend Duo Are You? The post QUIZ: Which Disney Princess Friend Are You? appeared first on Disney Parks Blog. View the full article

We’ve been down the rabbit hole of Disney makeup many times. We’ve tested eyeshadows, foundations, and mascara in the middle of a hot summer day in Disney World. It’s not easy to find a cute, affordable, and user-friendly makeup product — trust us! Alice Well, if you’re looking for one simple way to knock out all of your makeup shopping at once, you’ve come to the right place. We spotted a FUN Alice in Wonderland-themed makeup kit that is PERFECT for Disney fans and those looking for a way to simplify their rotuine. Let’s take a look! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Amazon has the FULL Alice in Wonderland PR Box from wet n wild! wet n wild Alice in Wonderland palette This set is filled with Disney-inspired makeup products! From a colorful eyeshadow palette to a blush, bronzer, and highlighter trio, you can create a full makeup look with one package of items. Here’s a look at all the shades! The set comes with 15 (!!!) items, and for the price, that’s a GREAT value! (pssst. There’s also a 10% off coupon on Amazon RIGHT NOW!) There are some pretty shimmer shades in here! We love the way that those neutral matte shades can work with any makeup look. It’s so versatile! View on Amazon From the fun Disney-themed packaging to the shimmery highlights included here, this would make an excellent gift! wet n wild Alice in Wonderland highlighter palette You can swipe your brush across the full row of shades or tap your brush into just one shade — the possibilities with this one palette alone are endless! So shimmery and bright! We like to use this highlight on our cheekbones and on our eyelids for a little extra shimmer. View on Amazon The set even comes with a travel mirror! wet n wild Alice in Wonderland mirror This one is great to throw in your park bag for a visit to Disney World. Plus, the Cheshire Cat is so cute! So cute! This is great for touching up your makeup when you’re on the go. View on Amazon The set also comes with a liquid eyeliner AND a glitter mascara. wet n wild Alice in Wonderland eyeliner If you like light, bright eye makeup, you can really liven up your makeup with these products. View on Amazon We love to toss this lip gloss in our bag, too! wet n wild Alice in Wonderland lip gloss The shade is perfect for both your cheeks AND your lips! We love a makeup product that can be used in several ways, don’t you? View on Amazon In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney products, so stay tuned for more. Check out our Amazon Storefront for more Disney items!! The post I Accidentally Spent Hours Scrolling Amazon for Disney Gifts, and I Found a WINNER! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s time for MIMOSAS at the 2024 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival! Come with us as we visit the Shimmering Sips booth! Shimmering Sips Booth 2024 Oh…you’re still here? Alright, well then let’s go over ALL the details you need to know. The 2024 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival has started, and that means we’ve got lots of eats and drinks to grab, merchandise items to check out, and entertainment to see. But now we’re heading to one spot in particular — the Shimmering Sips booth — to let you know what items here are worth your visit! Menu Over at the Shimmering Sips booth, you’ll find, well, mostly sips! You can get a guava cake here along with various mimosas, and a mimosa flight(!). This is also the spot where you’ll get your completer prize if you get enough qualifying dishes in the cheese crawl (Emile’s Fromage Montage). 2024 Shimmering Sips Food Booth Menu Now that we’ve taken a quick look at the menu, let’s get into the full review of what you can get here. That’s it for this booth, but there’s a LOT more where that came from! Click here to see FULL reviews of EVERY. SINGLE. BOOTH. at the Food & Wine Festival! Trying to plan the PERFECT trip to the 2024 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival? We’ll be keeping you updated on all of the latest. Click our links below for the information you need to know: Learn about the Eat to the Beat Concert Series and Dining Packages Check out ALL of the 2024 Food & Wine Booth Menus One HUGE Change Is Coming to the 2024 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival! And don’t forget to pick up our 2024 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival e-book! See more details about the book below. IT'S WINE & DINE TIME! Food & Wine Festival can be a bummer. You stand in line waiting for what looks like the perfect treat, and it's a bust. But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE EPCOT Food & Wine Festival experience. If you're planning a day or a week at the festival, we've got every performance, activity, and tasty nosh detailed out so you can make the most of your time and money. Listen, it's a tough job eating and documenting the nearly 200 bites and sips, but we do it all for YOU! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Learn More About the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival! Food and Wine Festival 101 Eat to the Beat Concert Updates EPCOT Food and Wine Festival - Fans Facebook Page Wine and Dine Half Marathon Details Get More Updates, Tips, and Tricks to Help You Conquer the Food & Wine Festival Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What items from this booth would you most want to try? Tell us in the comments! The post There's One BIG Reason To Visit the Shimmering Sips Booth in EPCOT! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Let’s face it — when you’re in Disney World you’re surrounded by tons of snacks seemingly everywhere you turn. But while Disney’s busy churning out some funky, cute, and downright bizarre snacks where do you turn when you’re just looking for something familiar that stands the test of time? Funnel Cakes!! Luckily you’ve come to just the right Disney World food experts! It’s true we’ve tried it all, and when we’re really looking for something that we can count on, there’s one place that comes to mind first! Epic Eats is located along Echo Lake in Disney’s Hollywood Studios and is also conveniently located near the entrance to Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. It’s been a fan favorite for years and serves just the right amount of treats to keep consistent but it had been a while since we had ventured over for a quick snack — so we decided it was time. Epic Eats One of our favorite hacks about this snack stops location is that since it’s right by the entrance to the show, it’s very easy to pick up a funnel cake just before entering the queue to be seated and enjoy it for a tasty treat and show! Atmosphere This restaurant is basically a glorified snack stand but don’t let that fool you! They’ve got an order and pick up window where your food and drinks will be presented to you once you’ve paid and that’s really all that it needs. Epic Eats You’ll find self service utensils and napkins nearby that you can grab at your convenience, too! Menu The menu here isn’t terrible extensive but it’s effective. It’s mostly funnel cakes and ice cream, with a few alcoholic beverages along with a few fountain soda options and water. Menu The menu is posted on both sides of the windows where you’ll order and pick up making reviewing the menu a breeze before you order! From time to time, this restaurant will also offer limited-time treats as Disney World rolls them out as well — especially around holidays and special events. Drinks For this review we decided to pick up the Rum Island Breeze cocktail. This drink will cost you $15 and has quite the island vibe to it. Rum Island Breeze It holds a light taste of watermelon flavoring against a coconut flavored rum and maybe even a hint of banana. It tastes like it’s premixed and given that the restaurant is smaller we could see why this would be most effective to do, but we found it just as refreshing as any drink you could have mixed on the spot would be. Fruity! It might not be the best drink to pick up here and for the price we think the walk over to the neighboring Oasis Canteen (which is more of a bar) would serve you better in the long run. Eats So then it was time to dig into our snacks! As we mentioned earlier Epic Eats is mostly defined as a funnel cake spot so guess what we ordered — that’s right funnel cakes (with an ‘s’). We kicked off our taste fest with a classic Funnel Cake with Strawberry Topping and Soft-Serve Vanilla Ice Cream for $8.49. Funnel Cake with Strawberry Topping and Soft-Serve Vanilla Ice Cream It’s a crispy and soft funnel cake topped with vanilla soft-serve and strawberries. Getting her “good” side The strawberry topping is lightly coated in juices that helps make them just slippery enough to bring out their sweeter side when you bite into them. Ours were so juicy and and it didn’t taste like there’s a lot of artificial flavoring added to them to help strengthen its flavor. Delicious bite Since we couldn’t leave you just hanging, we also tried out the dueling version of this funnel cake here at Epic Eats (that’s probably equally as popular if not more). The Funnel Cake with Cookies ‘n Cream and Soft-Serve Vanilla Ice Cream can also be snagged for $8.49! Funnel Cake with Cookies ‘n Cream and Soft-Serve Vanilla Ice Cream This version of the funnel cakes served here is the same size as the other fun funnel cake option just with different toppings. However, if you’re a huge Mickey and/or chocolate lover, this one’s for you! The creamy vanilla soft-serve ice cream is smothered in warm gooey chocolate sauce and adorned with two Oreo cookies that make the shape of Mickey’s ears when they stick out from the side of the ice cream swirl. Look at the little ears! All the toppings meld together as nicely as you’ve probably imagined it already and as it melts the chocolate syrup slinks down to settle in the funnel cake pieces. If you’re really wanting to dig into that chocolate, you’ll want to make that your first priority! A winning combination of toppings Honestly this one is equally just as great as the strawberry topped funnel cake, and really just comes down to which flavor sounds better on the day you’re ordering — you simply can’t go wrong with either of them! Overall This place will serve you well when you’re looking for a quick spot to stop by for a snack. While the menu isn’t terribly extensive, its consistent and sometimes that’s even better than trying out Disney World’s latest wacky new treat! Is it really… epic? On this particular day we felt especially drawn to the strawberries (maybe because we were holding on to the last of the summer vibes) but as we mentioned before you really can’t go wrong with either of these options, but we will recommend you plan on splitting it with at least one other person! Nosh or Not? Journey on over to Epic Eats if… Your best snack dreams are loaded funnel cakes. Seriously, it just doesn’t get more of a heavenly combination and this place is calling your name! You’re not looking for a full meal, but really need something more filling than an ice cream bar. This is a great (almost savory) sweet combo of a snack AND as we mentioned before there are several shows around the park you CAN take snacks into. You’re looking for a great use of a DDP snack credit or really trying to stretch the snack budget! Yes, not only are these snacks currently one of the BEST values for a snack entitlement on the Disney Dining Plan, their sharability makes them each super budget friendly and we think that speaks volumes. Your expedition will lead you elsewhere if… You’ve just gotta get some air conditioning! There’s practically no seating for this restaurant aside from a small set up nearby, so if you’re needing a spell of good ole A/C, you’ll have to grab it elsewhere. You’re looking for a snack with a stellar walkability score. Listen, while we love these funnel cakes they are big, and topped with lots of melty things. We’d recommend picking one up if you’re able to dedicate some time to staying seated for a bit while snacking on it. There’s just not much to the menu here. Correct, the menu here is tiny but mighty so if funnel cakes are just not quite the snack you’re feeling at the moment, you might be limited to just drinks and whatever limited items might be available at the time. We’ve eaten everywhere you can think of at Disney World! While you’re here, check out a few of our most recent reviews below and stay tuned with us at Disney Food Blog for even more! REVIEW: Is a Hand-Dipped Corn Dog at Disney World Worth the Hype? 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! Are you team Cookies ‘n Cream or Team Strawberry Topping on your funnel cake? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: Should Disney RETIRE These Old Snacks? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Are you a “rope drop” kind of Disney fan or a “stay late” kind of Disney fan? Cinderella Castle at night If you’re a night owl, there are plenty of ways to spend time in the parks after hours. From holiday parties to Extended Evening Hours — but one of our favorite ways to get our late night on is at After Hours events! They’re returning in 2025 and Magic Kingdom is promising something special! Disney After Hours events are returning to Disney World in 2025! These limited-ticket events are great for enjoying low crowds and low wait times at popular attractions. They’ve been announced to return to Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios so far — but something particularly exciting will be returning to the Magic Kingdom After Hours events. Cinderella Castle at night Disney revealed that during Magic Kingdom After Hours, the 50th anniversary fireworks show, Enchantment, will be performed! This means that folks who visit Magic Kingdom during these special events will be able to see both the Happily Ever After fireworks show and Enchantment on the same night — pretty cool if you ask us. Magic Kingdom Fireworks In 2025, the events will kick off on January 6th at Magic Kingdom, January 22nd at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and February 27th at EPCOT. Magic Kingdom and EPCOT will have After Hours from 10PM-1AM, while Hollywood Studios will offer the event from 9:30PM-12:30AM (except for March 26th and April 1st, where Hollywood Studios will have the same hours as the other two). Enchantment At Magic Kingdom, you’ll be able to experience many of your favorite attractions, including TRON Lightcycle / Run and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, both available with a standby queue. Here’s the list of dates for that park: January 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th February 3rd, 10th, 17th, and 24th March 3rd, 17th, 24th, and 31st April 7th and 28th May 5th, 12th, and 19th Enchantment We can’t wait to check out this returning Magic Kingdom fireworks show once it comes back — so make sure you check back here for a full look. In the meantime, we’ll be on the hunt for the latest updates and news from Disney World. Don’t forget to stay tuned for more! Learn More About After Hours Coming to Disney World in 2025 Here Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Have you been to After Hours at Disney World before? Tell us in the comments. The post Magic Kingdom Just Announced HUGE Fireworks NEWS! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Downtown Disney at Disneyland Resort is undergoing a massive transformation. Downtown Disney We’ve already seen parts of it come to fruition with the new Din Tai Fung restaurant, Paseo, Centrico, and Tiendita from Chef Jose Andres, and more. But, it doesn’t sound like Disney has plans to stop this transformation anytime soon because we’ve got even more restaurants and shops to tell you about! NEW restaurants, shops, and more have been announced for Downtown Disney Anaheim and we’ve got all the details! Let’s get into it. This winter, Avengers Reserve will open with all sorts of merchandise dedicated to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and the rest of the Marvel gang. This shop will feature favorite characters and stories with collectibles, apparel, accessories, toys, and comics. ©Disney Also opening this winter, the D-Lander Shop will be a “fresh, quintessentially Southern California boutique celebrating trend-forward fashions for Disneyland fans” and will feature apparel, accessories, and jewelry. ©Disney Marceline’s Confectionery will be transformed into Disney Wonderful World of Sweets and will offer churro toffee, caramel apples, sour balls, lollipops and even freshly made Werther’s Original Caramel popcorn! This shop will also open this winter and will feature an exhibition kitchen. ©Disney The Kawaii Slime Cart will be a new addition this fall and will bring “an imaginative array of clime concoctions and toys in a multitude of different textures, colors, scents and glittery mix-ins” for all the fun you could possibly have. ©Disney And, Chef Joe Isidori will be bringing his talents to Downtown Disney with a new steakhouse and barbecue eatery. The steakhouse will have “a warm and sophisticated ambiance with a menu highlighting prime cuts of beef, chops, fresh seafood, sandwiches and chopped salad…” ©Disney …while the barbecue spot will “take a culinary approach to quick-service, offering traditional BBQ dishes such as pulled pork, beef brisket and smoked wings that incorporate unique spices and house-made sauces.” There will also be a prominent outdoor bar. ©Disney Earl of Sandwich has also announced a new concept — The Carnaby Tavern. The second floor of the new space will be an homage to the ’60s “British Invasion” pop and rock bands from the United Kingdom with a patio and full bar. The east side location of Earl of Sandwich will be closing in 2025 so construction can begin on Porto’s Bakery! ©Disney In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for more news from Downtown Disney, so stay tuned to Disney Food Blog for the latest updates! Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe When are you heading to Disneyland next? Tell us in the comments. The post NEWS: 3 NEW Restaurants and Shops Announced for Downtown Disney first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’ve been to Disney World a lot over the past years! Magic Kingdom We’ve also seen a thing or two at each of the four parks and the resort hotels, and we’ve picked up a secret or two along the way. Speaking of secrets, we’ve got one about the Magic Kingdom that we probably shouldn’t be telling you, but we’re throwing caution to the wind for this one. Let’s dive right in! “So, what’s this juicy tidbit about Magic Kingdom?” I hear you saying. We’ll I’m glad you asked. We could be divulging insider info about some attraction or maybe the snacks around Magic Kingdom, and those are all well and good, but today we want to share where the best spot to watch the fireworks is (and you won’t find it on Main Street)! Magic Kingdom fireworks The Sleigh at Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe Alright, so this first one on our list is a spot that’s really quite sneaky and can be a challenge to pull off, but if you can, it’s definitely worth it. We’re talking about sitting in the sleigh that’s parked right outside Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in Liberty Square. Yep, you read that right. It’s a whole sleigh. Sleigh at Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe While this spot is technically more of a photo op, if you time it right and get cozy in that sleigh, you’ll feel like you’re starring in your own Disney Christmas movie. Trust us, this one’s a must-try if you want to sprinkle some Christmas magic into your day. Big Thunder Mountain & Seven Dwarfs Mine Train This next one applies to two rides — Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. They’re both amazing attractions in their own right just about any time of the day, but when it comes to catching the fireworks while you’re riding either of these, it’s about timing. Ride this DURING the fireworks — you get a show AND a ride! Both rides give you stunning views of the park, especially during sunset and/or when the fireworks are starting to light up the sky. Can you just imagine cresting a hill on Thunder Mountain just as the sky bursts into color? Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Or gliding through the enchanted land on Mine Train with a backdrop of shimmering lights. Honestly, it’s pure Disney magic from two very different but equally epic angles. The PeopleMover Alright, this one might be the best-kept secret in Tomorrowland. You’ve probably passed by the PeopleMover a million times and thought, “Eh, maybe later.” But here’s why it should be on your must-do list: it’s the perfect spot to get a view of the fireworks from multiple angles, all while chilling in your seat. PeopleMover Also, since you’re going to be riding it at night, you’ll get to see the TRON Lightcycle/Run lights in all their glowing glory. Plus, it’s a low-key place to rest your feet and recharge without missing out on any of the magic. We love catching the fireworks from the PeopleMover. It’s a whole vibe. The WDW Railroad Station Platform Now, this one’s a bit of a gamble, but if you can make it happen, it’s worth it. The WDW Railroad Station platform can be a great spot to catch the fireworks, but it’s not always accessible because Disney sometimes reserves it for special events. Main Street, U.S.A. train station When it’s open, though, it’s like having your own private viewing deck. The perspective from up there is just different enough to make the show feel fresh, especially if you’ve seen it before. There’s just something pretty iconic about watching the fireworks from up there. Other Unique Fireworks Perspectives If you’ve seen the fireworks from Main Street or right in front of Cinderella Castle a few times (or a dozen), it’s time to switch it up. Watching from behind the castle in Fantasyland gives you a totally different perspective. You won’t be able to see the projections on the castle, but what you will get is an immersive experience surrounded by fireworks in every direction. It’s like being in the middle of the magic. Fantasyland at night Another spot you’ll want to checkout is the bridge/boardwalk in Frontierland. Now, you’re not always going to get the perfect view of the castle, but it’s a really great backup spot especially if the crowds are too wild on Main Street. Plus, you’ll have a bit more breathing room to enjoy the show without all the elbow-to-elbow madness. Frontierland at night There you have it, some of the Magic Kingdom secrets we probably shouldn’t be telling you but couldn’t resist sharing. How about you share some of your secret tips in the comments below? Until then, we’re always keeping our eyes and ears open for all the latest Disney news, so keep following DFB for more! ALERT: An EXTREMELY Special Parade Is Happening in Magic Kingdom This Week! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Where is your favorite spot to watch the fireworks at Magic Kingdom? Let us know in the comments! The post The Disney World SECRET We Shouldn't Be Telling You first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

From swirling sweets and Super Hero supplies to even more places to nosh, we’re bubbling with lots more news on what’s coming to Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort! Several new shopping and dining experiences are adding to the exciting evolution of this dynamic district, and we’re thrilled to tell you all about it! Avengers Reserve, an All-New Shop, Landing in Downtown Disney at Disneyland Resort Coming this winter, an all-new shopping destination will open in the district, celebrating the unique fandom and stories of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and all their amazing friends! Avengers Reserve will feature favorite characters and stories through collectibles, apparel, accessories, toys and comics. Curated assortments will make this a must-visit for fans of all ages. D-Lander Shop to Feature Stylish New Collections Also coming this winter, the D-Lander Shop will be a fresh, quintessentially Southern California boutique celebrating trend-forward fashions for Disneyland fans, offering a stylish collection of apparel, accessories and jewelry. Marceline’s Confectionery to Transform into Disney Wonderful World of Sweets Marceline’s Confectionery is being reimagined and expanded into the Disney Wonderful World of Sweets, a whimsical candy, sweets and treats shop featuring tasty favorites such as churro toffee, caramel apples, sour balls, lollipops, packaged confections and freshly made Werther’s Original Caramel popcorn! You’ll be able to watch these delectable delights being handmade from an exhibition kitchen viewable from the promenade. This shop will also open this winter, and in the meantime, you may visit the Marceline’s Confectionery cart to pick up yummy goodies! Super Cute Kawaii Slime Cart Coming This Fall Stretch it, fold it, squeeze it, twist it! The cutest slime ever — Kawaii Slime — is coming to a cart this fall in Downtown Disney District. “Kawaii” means cute in Japanese, and this company puts cute in everything they do! This mom-owned business brings an imaginative array of slime concoctions and toys in a multitude of different textures, colors, scents and glittery mix-ins for kids and kids at heart to play with over and over again! Steakhouse and BBQ Restaurants from Michelin-Starred Chef Joe Isidori We have more juicy details on two new restaurant concepts – a steakhouse and a barbecue eatery – that are in the works for Downtown Disney District from Michelin-starred Chef Joe Isidori. The full-service steakhouse will have a warm and sophisticated ambiance with a menu highlighting prime cuts of beef, chops, fresh seafood, sandwiches and chopped salads. Bourbon connoisseurs and mixology enthusiasts may enjoy an inventive selection of expertly crafted cocktails. The adjacent barbecue spot will take a culinary approach to quick-service, offering traditional BBQ dishes such as pulled pork, beef brisket and smoked wings that incorporate unique spices and house-made sauces. A prominent outdoor bar will feature a wide selection of craft beers and a medley of moonshine cocktails. Chef Isidori’s most recent culinary successes include Arthur & Sons, with locations in New York and the Hamptons, and JOTORO Kitchen & Tequila Bar in Tampa, Fla. As we previously mentioned, these two eateries will be located on the footprint of the former Tortilla Jo’s. Stay tuned for more mouthwatering details! Earl of Sandwich Announces New Restaurant Concept – The Carnaby Tavern Earl of Sandwich fans, we have news for you! As we previously shared, an all-new Earl of Sandwich is being developed in Downtown Disney District. In addition to a light and airy Earl of Sandwich planned for the ground level, the second floor will be home to an all-new table service concept, The Carnaby Tavern. The Carnaby Tavern is being designed as an homage to the swinging ‘60s “British Invasion” pop and rock bands from the U.K. The restaurant will feature a patio with an indoor/outdoor full-service bar. We look forward to sharing more details in the future! As we look forward to this all-new Earl of Sandwich offering, the Earl’s location on the east side of the district will close in 2025, so construction may begin on Porto’s Bakery. For now, you can satisfy your cravings at the Earl of Sandwich and Earl of Sandwich Tavern at the east side location or at the new pop-up pod near Star Wars Trading Post on the west end of the district. Both serve all of your favorites including hot sandwiches, wraps, salads and sweets. While we’re gearing up for these fantastic projects on the horizon, there’s still so much for you to do, see, explore and enjoy right now throughout Downtown Disney District. No two visits are ever the same, so we look forward to welcoming you, your family and friends back often for even more fun! Keep your eye on the Disney Parks Blog for the latest updates and be sure to check out our new @DowntownDisney account on Instagram! The post Announcing New Shops, Eateries Coming to Downtown Disney District appeared first on Disney Parks Blog. View the full article

‘Tis the season… Disneyland Believe it or not, the holidays are almost here. While Halloween Time has essentially just begun at Disneyland, we can’t help but think ahead to the Christmas season that follows right behind it! Disney recently released some first looks at all the new holiday experiences and returning festive favorites coming back to the resort this year. Let’s dive in! Disneyland’s holiday celebrations will kick off on November 15th, which will also mark the long-awaited West Coast opening day for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. ©Disney Kids and adults alike will be delighted to know that Santa Claus will be appearing at several locations around the Disneyland Resort. These include Disneyland’s Fantasyland Theatre at Disneyland, where Santa and certain Disney characters will meet with guests. In addition, the theatre will also feature “cookie decorating, craft making, storytelling, and atmospheric music throughout the day.” Santa will also appear at California Adventure’s Redwood Creek Challenge, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, the Disneyland Hotel, and the Pixar Place Hotel through December 24th. Santa! Speaking of Disney characters, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Clarabelle Cow, Donald Duck, and Daisy Duck will be appearing on Main Street in brand-new holiday costumes. According to Disney, these new looks will be “reminiscent of writing warm letters to loved ones during the holidays.” ©Disney Other new offerings include the Chip and Dale’s Ornament Trail at the Downtown Disney District. Guests will be able to search for ornaments hidden among the holiday trees throughout Downtown Disney. You’ll also be able to purchase an activity map at select shopping locations in Downtown Disney and Disneyland’s hotels, which you can redeem for a collectible holiday souvenir at World of Disney or Disney’s Pin Traders. Beginning on November 19th, you’ll be able to enjoy Mickey’s Holiday Pajama Party breakfast and brunch at Storytellers Cafe at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. This event will feature holiday-themed meals, seasonal décor, and special characters donning new pajamas. This is in addition to Goofy’s Kitchen Celebrates the Holidays!, which will be returning to the Disneyland Hotel. Reservations for both will be available soon. As you would expect, there will also be a litany of new Holiday merchandise available resort-wide, including sweaters, Loungeflys, and ears. ©Disney In addition to all of these new offerings, many longtime favorites are returning to Disneyland this holiday season. These include the resort’s traditional decorations, the Christmas Fantasy Parade at Disneyland, each park’s Holiday night time spectacular (Believe…In Holiday Magic at Disneyland and World of Color – Season of Light at California Adventure), and the always popular holiday overlays of “it’s a small world” Holiday, Haunted Mansion Holiday, Mater’s Jingle Jamboree, and Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl. Haunted Mansion Holiday is BACK! The Festival of Holidays will return to California Adventure and feature a “diverse season of celebrations in Southern California with a wide range of flavorful food and beverages, a variety of live entertainment and more.” The park will also once again be home to Disney ¡Viva Navidad!, which includes “daily crafts, live music, menu items and décor inspired by Latin American traditions – with a dash of Disney flair.” Characters including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, The Three Caballeros, and Mirabel from Encanto will be featured during ¡Viva Navidad!. © Disney On the hotel front, the Grand Californian Hotel will feature a massive gingerbread house on display, and all of the property’s hotels will feature “festive in-room celebrations available for purchase and special activities and entertainment during the holidays. “ Finally, you’ll be able to experience “snowfall” at various spots across the resort, including along the Rivers of America, outside of “it’s a small world” Holiday, and on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland, as well as the at the west end of Downtown Disney. Disneyland Disneyland’s holiday celebrations will kick off on November 15th and run through January 6th, 2025. Stay tuned to DFB for further coverage of the resort’s holiday offerings. 50 Easy Tricks That Make Disneyland So Much Better 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’s your favorite element of the holidays at Disneyland? Let us know in the comments below. The post NEWS: Disney Confirms 5 NEW Holiday Additions for 2024! first appeared on the disney food blog. 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