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Have you ever dreamt of living within the magic bubble of Disney? We will take a room in the Castle, please! While you can do that right now at Golden Oak, a private neighborhood at Disney World, Disney itself is building another neighborhood on the opposite coast. Over in Coachella Valley, California, Disney is creating a first-of-its-kind neighborhood. Cotino, a Storyliving Community, has been making progress over the course of the year, and Disney has just shared new photos of the construction of this new community. Disney has been posting journal entries on the Disney Parks Blog to update the progress of Cotino. The newest journal entry showed what some of the model homes are looking like, as residents will soon be able to move into Cotino in just a few months. @Disney The award-winning homebuilder Shea Homes is building the first two model homes. Disney shared that touches are being made on the interiors of these homes, but the exteriors are coming along. Three different model homes are currently under construction that are “part of different design collections infused with Disney magic thanks to creative direction from Disney Imagineers.” ©Disney | Cotino Shea Homes is building the first two of the models. Below, on the left, that house is part of the Cotino Agrarian Collection, which “features natural materials like stone and timber paired with more contemporary shapes to create a charming yet modern style.” On the right side, that home is part of the Cotino Oasis Collection, which has “an exterior design inspired by the iconic, renowned mid-century modern architecture the area is known for.” ©Disney While not as far along as the other two models, Woodbridge Pacific Group has started on the model that is part of the Cotino Aspiron Collection. The design of this home is “all about the artistic momentum of the Valley today. These homes will feature modern materials like glass and concrete, with pops of playful color, to exude warmth and style with artistic flair.” ©Disney While these three models are still under construction, the model homes built by Shea Homes are expected to open in just a few weeks! Not only will this community feature beautiful homes, but there will also be a community park called Longtable Park designed for those 55+ to enjoy. There will also be an Artisan’s Club, a voluntary club that will feature Cotino Bay for members and their guests to take a dip in. And if members are hungry, they can stop by Architect’s Fork. The Club is currently under construction, and Disney says they plan to share more behind-the-scenes looks soon. ©Disney We are interested in seeing how the rest of the community’s construction goes. Keep following along with the Disney Food Blog for more Disney news, tips, and updates! Storyliving by Disney Is Coming to North Carolina. What Should We Expect? Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Would you want to live in a Storyliving Community? Let us know in the comments!The post NEW LOOK at Disney's First Residential Community -- Cotino first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Can you believe Halloween is just a few short months away! Magic Kingdom Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party has already begun in Disney World and will continue on select dates through October 31st. Halloween decorations have taken over Magic Kingdom (and we love it) — now we just have to wait for those cooler temperatures to arrive and then it’ll really be fall! Which also means it’ll be time for long sleeves (or, we won’t be baking in them), which also means some different park essentials are needed. There are some amazing new Disney Halloween souvenirs available online, and we highly recommend grabbing them ASAP before they’re gone! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. The Perfect Sweatshirt! ©Disney This adorable Mickey Mouse Halloween Pullover Sweatshirt is perfect for anyone who loves Mickey Mouse and Halloween. Both the front and back feature Mickey in his spooky Halloween skeleton costume — we love that on the back of it you can see his fun little cape! Check it out here! Get Ready to Layer Up! ©Disney If you’re a fan of layering your outfits, then the Mickey Mouse Halloween Cardigan is perfect for you! It’s orange and black and features Mickey on both the front and back. It’s also great because you could keep the cardigan in your bag until it gets a little chillier at night! Add it to your cart! Fans of Spooky & Christmas Vibes ©Disney For fans of The Nightmare Before Christmas, or just those who love to mix spooky vibes with the holidays, The Nightmare Before Christmas Loungefly Ear Headband is calling your name! These feature Jack and Sally on one side and Lock, Shock, and Barrel, Dr. Finkelstein, and the Mayor. Plus, they come with a detachable bow that features even MORE of your favorite characters from the film! Grab it right here! We’re always here to bring you the latest Disney merchandise news, so stay tuned to DFB! Check out more of our favorite items over on our Amazon Storefront! What’s your favorite way to celebrate the holidays in Disney World? Tell us in the comments! The post EVERYONE Is Going to Be Wearing Disney's New Halloween Souvenir This Year first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Envision Life In Cotino Community With A Street Level Virtual TourView the full article

Disney has once again found itself in a precarious legal situation. Storm clouds over the Magic Kingdom… Disney has been making headlines recently for things other than parks and entertainment announcements. There have been some shocking twists and turns in the wrongful death lawsuit Disney is involved with due to a possible allergy-related death at Disney World, and this is fresh off the heels of Disney doling out $9.5 million to Disneyland Magic Key Passholders after settling a lawsuit. Well, the Walt Disney Company is back in the limelight again thanks to a new “stampede” lawsuit. According to a report from Fox 35 Orlando, Disney is being hit with a lawsuit from a tourist who was knocked over and injured at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom on June 25th, 2024. Labeling this a “stampede” incident, the plaintiff, DebraO’Steen, and her attorneys at Morgan & Morgan filed a negligence suit last week. Crowds at Magic Kingdom O’Steen, who was visiting Disney World from Pennsylvania, said she was rushed by a crowd that knocked her over on what she called a “packed and extremely busy” day. The crowd — which was apparently caused by an event gathering at the park — was not controlled properly by Disney World staff, per O’Steen and her lawyers’ accusations. The two events that day were the Festival of Fantasy Parade and the Happily Ever After fireworks spectacular, but which event the incident took place before has not been specified. Fireworks crowds Per the lawsuit and Fox 35, O’Steen is claiming she suffered “bodily and terminal injury, mental and physical pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, hospitalization expenses, and past lost wages.” The lawsuit is demanding damages and a trial by jury. Main Street While Disney installs security measures such as uniformed police officers, specially-trained hazard detection canines, security checks, and more, the lawsuit claims negligence by Disney and poor crowd control “ahead of the event” that resulted in O’Steen’s injuries. People waiting for Festival of Fantasy We’ll keep you posted on updates from this story as well as all the latest Disney World news so stay tuned right here at DFB. UPDATE: Disney Waives Right to Arbitration In Wrongful Death Lawsuit 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 The post NEWS: Disney World Sued for Negligence After "Stampede" Incident Leads to Injury first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Have you made your Park Pass Reservations for your next Disney World trip? Disney World Annual Pass If you’re heading to the parks with date-based tickets, you won’t need to reserve your dates in advance, but select groups are still required to make Park Passes. Among those groups are Disney World Annual Passholders, and if you’re a Passholder heading to the parks soon, we’ve got a warning for you! When we first checked Disney Park Pass availability on the morning of Tuesday, August 20th, Park Passes were completely sold out for Annual Passholders on August 24th at Animal Kingdom specifically. This was a particularly odd occurrence, because Animal Kingdom typically isn’t the first or second park to “fill up” for the day. The Tree of Life in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Later in the day, we checked the calendar again, and there was once again availability for that date in Animal Kingdom. Keep in mind that availability can change throughout the day and especially throughout the week leading up to the date you want to visit, so it’s important to keep checking back. If you’re hoping to head to Animal Kingdom on August 24th, you may want to go ahead and book those passes now. Pandora However, if a day is filled up for a specific park and you still want to stop by, there might be a way for you to go! For Annual Passholders, Park Passes aren’t required if you want to visit the parks after 2PM (excluding Magic Kingdom on Saturdays and Sundays), so you could just wait and pop into Animal Kingdom in the afternoon if it fills up again. Animal Kingdom The other option is to make a Disney Park Pass reservation for a different park and then to immediately Park Hop to your desired location. This can take extra time with travel between the parks, and you’ll have to physically scan in at the first park before going to the second, but it’s a trick that works if your second park isn’t “at capacity” for the day. Expedition Everest Ultimately, our best advice for those who find their date is booked up is that you should keep checking availability leading up to your trip. Refresh the screen, try booking your Park Passes one at a time, and check on multiple days. Often, this is how we score those hard-to-get passes! Annual Pass We’ll keep you in the loop with any more Annual Passholder news, so stay tuned to DFB for the latest! Click Here to Learn More About How Park Passes Work! 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 When is your next visit to Animal Kingdom? Tell us in the comments! The post Why You May Want to AVOID Disney’s Animal Kingdom on August 24th first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Seasons screamings! It’s never too early to start enjoying gingerbread, especially when it’s inspired by none other than “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Available now at Disneyland Park for the Halloween and holiday season, the Haunted Mansion has gotten a festive makeover from Santa Jack, more commonly known as the Pumpkin King, Jack Skellington. As you venture further into the mansion, you’ll notice the sweet smell of gingerbread, which means one thing – the return of the beloved gingerbread display! This year’s creation is brand new and I’m happy to share a glimpse into how this HOWL-iday display was made, including some dazzling details on the story behind the house and its characters. Let’s look behind the curtain. The Story Behind the Creation Nestled in the ballroom of the mansion lies the gingerbread house and this year, Jack Skellington, or should we say Santa Jack, has recruited Dr. Finkelstein, Halloween Town’s resident mad scientist, to conjure up some ideas for this year’s creation. And boy, did he deliver! As Dr. Finkelstein used his mad scientist expertise, he incorporated some of his experiments into the gingerbread house. Along with his trusted assistant Igor, he’s brought his own Gigantic Gingerbread Zombie, Lil’ Franky, to life! Well, almost. The doctor and his partner are testing out different tweaks to complete the transformation. And unfortunately for Lil’ Franky, that involves his head popping off and on – what a headache. As you venture into Haunted Mansion Holiday this season, be on the lookout for this haunted haunt and Dr. Finkelstein’s creations. Frightfully Fun Facts This gingerbread display was quite the task to bring to life. Not only for the Disneyland Resort culinary teams, but also the technology teams, Disneyland Live Entertainment, and the Disneyland Bakery who crafted this mesmerizing creation. In fact, it took over 150 hours – yes, you heard that right – to build and program the animation and lighting. And that’s not even including the hours spent baking the tasty pieces that bring it all together. I’ve gathered some mind-blowing facts to show just how much goes into making (and baking) this 5-foot-tall, 6-foot-wide display a reality. 60 Pounds of Gingerbread 50 Pounds of Powdered Sugar 10 Pounds of Egg Whites 30 Pounds of Rolled Fondant 5 Pounds of Crystal Sugar 10 Pounds of Chocolate More than 240 Hours Spent Creating 2 Hidden Mickeys Get a first-hand look at what bringing all this work together is like with this one-of-a-kind timelapse of the teams creating this year’s Haunted Mansion Holiday Gingerbread House! The work these teams do is truly incredible. I can’t wait to see what they do in the future! For even more Halloween (and foodie) fun, check out this year’s Foodie Guides to both Halloween Time and Plaza de la Familia at Disneyland Resort. Want to stay up to date on all the tasty tidbits? Check out Disney Eats news and stories and be sure to follow us @DisneyEats on Instagram and Facebook. (Note: All offerings are subject to change and availability.) The post Disney Eats: The Making of the Haunted Mansion Holiday Gingerbread House appeared first on Disney Parks Blog. View the full article

The Disney Adventure will bring many firsts to the Disney Cruise Line fleet when it sets sail in 2025 – the first ship to be based in Singapore, the first ship to have its own castle at sea and the first ship to welcome aboard the Merc with a Mouth, Deadpool! Making his grand Disney Cruise Line debut, Deadpool will be among a legendary line-up of Marvel Super Heroes and Villains who take the stage in Avengers Assemble! This epic entertainment experience will feature jaw-dropping stunts and unbelievable special effects during an action-packed battle of good vs. evil. During the show, guests will witness first-hand the unbelievable powers of Spider-Man, Iron Man, Captain America, Black Widow, Thor, Black Panther, The Scarlet Witch, Ms. Marvel, Loki, Red Skull, Taskmaster and more. Avengers Assemble! is one of the signature shows coming to the Garden Stage onboard the Disney Adventure. Complete with three-deck-high LED screens, special effects and innovative theatrical tools, the cutting-edge Garden Stage will delight guests of all ages throughout each day of their voyage. The Garden Stage will be located within Disney Imagination Garden, the emotional heart and central hub of the Disney Adventure that will transport guests into the pages of beloved Disney stories alongside their favorite characters. More high-energy shows, character appearances and magical surprises are planned for families sailing on the Disney Adventure in 2025. Make sure to follow along on the Disney Parks Blog for the latest news. The post Deadpool Heading to the High Seas for the First Time on Disney Cruise Line appeared first on Disney Parks Blog. View the full article

An enchanting valley, blooming with beloved stories, will welcome guests onboard the Disney Adventure, Disney Cruise Line’s new ship sailing out of Singapore in 2025. Disney Imagination Garden, one of seven uniquely themed areas coming to the Disney Adventure, will transport guests into the pages of well-loved Disney stories alongside their favorite characters. The vibrant, open-air space will be the emotional heart and central hub of the Disney Adventure. Planted within the garden, guests will discover a state-of-the art theatrical stage, two tasty quick-service eateries, an alluring bar and a selection of garden-view staterooms. The Adventure Begins: Exploring Disney Imagination Garden Recalling the pages of a classic pop-up storybook, Disney Imagination Garden’s playful, paper cut-out styled landscapes will be embellished with decorative foliage of blossoming flowers, shaped topiaries, tall trees and cascading vines. Among the decorative greenery and trellises, guests will be able to spot a mix of popular characters, iconography and fan-favorite Easter eggs from Disney, Pixar and Marvel stories. Families staying in designated Garden View staterooms, an all-new room category for Disney Cruise Line, will have access to a verandah providing unmatched views of the ship’s garden.The space will be anchored on one end by the theatrical Garden Stage and a charming courtyard on the other. A large, open “lawn” area will lead to a large staircase, framed by adorned arches and layers of leafy tree branches spotted with hanging lanterns, that will create amphitheater-style seating perfect for enjoying live entertainment on the Garden Stage — including Avengers Assemble!, an action-packed signature stage show starring Marvel Super Heroes and Villains. At the top of the grand staircase, guests will discover a quaint courtyard surrounded by lofty trees designed to look like storybook cut-outs featuring a few familiar animal pals. See anyone familiar? Orchestrating the courtyard’s symphony of storytelling will be a topiary of Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey Mouse with his wand held high as if conjuring this magical garden where beloved characters and stories bloom to life. Fit for Royalty: Disney Cruise Line’s First Castle at Sea Presiding over Disney Imagination Garden will be a stunning storybook castle showpiece soaring three decks tall. This beautiful artwork is inspired by castles, both real and imagined, from Disney stories and theme parks across the globe. Look closely to find nods to the Walt Disney Pictures castle, Sleeping Beauty’s castle at Disneyland Paris and Rapunzel’s castle, as well as influences from sketches done by legendary Disney artists such as Herbert Ryman, Frank Armitage and Eyvind Earle. The Disney Imagination Garden castle will sit above a decorative waterfall surrounded by a wave motif to celebrate Disney Cruise Line’s first castle at sea. At the Family Table: Showcasing Regional Cuisines Disney Imagination Garden will be home to two quick-service eateries inspired by the animated worlds of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “The Jungle Book” and “Moana.” With options for indoor and outdoor seating at both locations, guests who opt to dine on either patio will also have a view of the Garden Stage to enjoy that day’s entertainment. Mowgli’s Eatery – Serving Indian cuisine, including vegetarian and regional dishes with a special Disney twist, this casual eatery will be inspired by Mowgli’s epic journey in “The Jungle Book.” Gramma Tala’s Kitchen – This inviting quick service restaurant will be inspired by the vibrant scenery and island flair of “Moana” with an imaginative menu showcasing the diverse flavors found throughout the Pacific and Asia. We can’t wait to share more details with you about this incredible new ship as the Disney Adventure gets ready to set sail in 2025! Keep an eye right here on the Disney Parks Blog for the latest updates. The post Take a (Virtual) Stroll Through Disney Imagination Garden, Coming to the Disney Adventure appeared first on Disney Parks Blog. View the full article

The Hungry Bear is almost back! Hungry Bear Earlier this year, Disney announced that Disneyland’s Hungry Bear restaurant would be renamed the Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree, complete with a brand new Country Bears theme. On our most recent trip to the park, we found a major sign that the restaurant is almost here! In mid-August 2024, we noticed that a BRAND NEW sign for the new Hungry Bear had gone up at the “Happiest Place on Earth.” The new Hungry Bear sign! The new sign bears (sorry we couldn’t resist) the restaurant’s new name, compared with the classic hive dripping honey and buzzing bees hovering around it The rethemed Hungry Bear has us buzzing with excitement. According to Disney, the new restaurant’s theme will revolve around the Country Bears “putting their own twist on it with the Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree. After touring from coast to coast performing their tunes, Henry, Wendell, Big Al, and the rest of the gang have put together some of the favorite regional barbecue dishes they discovered along the way, just for you. You’ll want to try these bites, including the mouthwatering Smoked Barbecue Combo Platter with a selection of house-smoked meats, which will also be available on mobile order. For those music fans out there, you can feast upon these finger-lickin’ dishes as you enjoy some of the Country Bears’ greatest hits! “ ©Disney The rethemed restaurant will mark the iconic Country Bears’ return to Disneyland. They had previously starred in a West Coast version of the Country Bear Jamboree that opened in 1972, just a year after the Walt Disney World version debuted. However, the show’s Disneyland version never reached the same heights of popularity as its Orlando and Tokyo counterparts, and it closed in 2001 to make room for Anaheim’s installation of The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. ©Disney The reimagined, Country Bear-themed Hungry Bear Barbecue Jamboree seems to be close to opening at Disneyland. Stay tuned to DFB for further details. The Country Bear Musical Jamboree Officially Reopened Following Ride OVERHAUL in Magic Kingdom Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Are you excited to try the new version of the Hungry Bear? Let us know in the comments below. The post SPOTTED: Disney's New Country Bear Jamboree Restaurant Takes BIG STEP Toward Opening first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Halloween Horror Nights are coming soon to Universal Orlando! Universal Orlando These spooky Halloween events will get your blood pumping and your breathing racing. If you like to be frightened and enjoy the darker things in life, then the Halloween nights are certainly for you! The Halloween Horror Nights begin on August 30th in Orlando and are sure to frighten your socks off. There are haunted houses, scare zones, entertainment, and more. Plus, there are exclusive souvenirs that will become available BEFORE the events begin. Universal released a “shriek peek” at what’s coming, so let’s check it out! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. The all-new Halloween Horror Night Tribute Store at Hollywood Studios Orland will open on August 28th! According to Universal, you’ll enter “a dystopian city where an ancient evil has been unleashed.” You will “venture through a variety of haunted urban-themed locations, from an abandoned warehouse to a creepy subway station and beyond, while shopping for the latest Halloween Horror Nights merchandise and treats.” Universal Orlando The new merchandise collection looks AWESOME! First, there’s a new popcorn bucket! Lil’ Boo is an adorable yet creepy baby pumpkin, and this year you can get your popcorn fix with him. ©Universal There’s a whole collection of new items featuring neon colors and skulls. You’ll find shot glasses, candles, coasters, and more! ©Universal There’s even a very cool bucket hat featuring neon colors and rings on the brim. ©Universal Your favorite creepy doll Chucky is back with his own collection as well along with A Quiet Place! There’s an updated Chucky popcorn bucket featuring new phrases and a tumbler featuring the Bride of Chucky. ©Universal A Quiet Place is showcased on a new scented candle. ©Universal If you’re a Ghostbusters fan, then you won’t want to miss the new varsity jacket and more from the new collection! ©Universal Plus, there will be several new t-shirts available featuring your favorite scary movies such as Universal Monsters and Universal Monsters: Eternal Bloodlines… ©Universal …and Blumhouse’s M3GAN, The Black Phone, and The Purge. These iconic films will have their own haunted houses! ©Universal You can also shop Universal’s new t-shirts on Amazon! ©Universal You can shop the new 2024 designs as well as older designs now on Amazon. ©Universal To shop all of Universal’s Halloween Horror Night t-shirts, click the link below! Check Out the Latest Halloween Horror Night Tees Here! We’re so excited for these spooky events! We’re ready to get our socks scared off. If you’re a fan of Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando, keep following DFB for more frightening coverage! Universal Debuts Preview of Ride Vehicle For Epic Universe’s NEW Roller Coaster Read more: DFB's complete guide to Universal’s Epic Universe >> Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Are you going to Halloween Horror Nights this year? Let us know in the comments! The post A NEW Popcorn Bucket Is Coming to Universal and We Think You're Going To Love It first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Universal has been making great progress on their new Epic Universe theme park which is expected to open in Orlando in 2025. Lots of rides have been testing and we have gotten LOTS of details about what to expect in each of the themed lands. Epic Universe ©Universal If building one new theme park isn’t enough, Universal has also been toying with the idea of building a brand-new theme park in the United Kingdom. This plan has been brewing for a bit, but we just got an update on the status! At the end of 2023, Universal announced that they had purchased land in Bedford Borough, UK that they were considering building a new park on. They bought almost 500 acres of land, with the option to buy an additional 60 acres. Universal Orlando In June 2024, they released more details about their plans for this new park including that they were planning on building a 500-room hotel and dining area. It was estimated that the new park would generate nearly $50 billion pounds (about $63 billion U.S. dollars) in economic benefits for the entire country, bring in 20,000 jobs during construction, and create 8,000 jobs once it is complete. Universal was projecting that the project would take around six years to complete. Universal Studios Hollywood Now, there is another update regarding the potential for a Universal Park in the United Kingdom. According to the Financial Times, Universal is currently discussing tax and infrastructure incentives with British politicians. Universal’s decision on whether they will continue to move forward with building a multibillion-pound resort in Bedford will likely be determined by these discussions on incentives with government officials. Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure It is currently expected that Universal will make a final decision on building a United Kingdom theme park by the end of the year. If the negotiations between Universal and government authorities are not successful, Universal may consider other European locations to build the new theme park. Universal’s Islands of Adventure We will continue to keep you updated as we learn more about this potential new Universal theme park. Meanwhile, make sure to stay tuned to DFB for all your theme parks news! Check out EVERYTHING Universal has announced about their new Epic Universe theme park! 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 of Universal’s plan to build a theme park in the UK? Let us know in the comments! The post UPDATE On Universal’s New Theme Park in the UK first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

When it comes to being Disney fans, there are some things that really just make our hearts sing. Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland It might be the latest movie or even an old classic, or a brand-new ride that gets your adrenaline going. We’re lucky that we get to experience the magic of Disney every day, and we love being able to bring you along with us! We recently got the opportunity to go to an event that was all about Disney Princesses — so let’s check it out. We got to celebrate all things Disney Princesses at Disneyland recently and had SUCH a fun time! The event kicked off with us getting a sneak peek at some new Disney Princess souvenirs and merchandise that’s currently available to shop in stores and online. Disney Princess event The Disney Princess Create Your World campaign inspires fans to use their imagination, embrace creativity, and believe in their potential — just like the Princesses do! We got to see new dolls… Dolls …plenty of LEGO sets we want to get our hands on… Legos …Loungefly backpacks, Funko! pops… Toys …even kids’ costumes… Costumes …and a large Rapunzel doll. Life size Rapunzel Check out this Disney Princess kitchen play set! We would have loved this as a kid. An adorable playset Not only did we get to preview these merchandise items, but we also got to hear from some actual Disney Princesses and Legends! That’s right — we got to see and hear Paige O’Hara (Belle), Linda Larkin (Jasmine), Jodi Benson (Ariel), and Anika Noni Rose (Tiana) speak during the event. Real princesses! Next, we got to go on a tour of Sleeping Beauty Castle! The Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough allows you to explore passageways where you can view Princess Aurora’s story through dioramas. Sleeping Beauty Castle tour The dioramas are REALLY cool — they’re 3D and in typical Disney fashion feature sound and special effects. It’s a seriously underrated experience you should check out the next time you’re at Disneyland! How cool are these dioramas? To find the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough, head to the west side of the castle in Fantasyland, where you’ll see a storybook open to a page announcing the birth of Aurora. From there, you can follow along with the story! Just look! In the meantime, we’ll be keeping an eye on the latest and greatest Disney news and updates from coast to coast. Don’t forget to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more! Check Out Disney’s World Princess Week Treats You Can Get Around the Parks! 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 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 invited by Disney to attend this event. Note that when we attend events as media 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 You Won't BELIEVE Which Disney Celebrities We Just Saw! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Need some Disney World essentials? Head to Amazon ASAP. ©Shutterstock Packing for Disney World can be a bit overwhelming. However, there are some essential items necessary for theme park days and hotel room nights, and several of them are available on AMAZON right now. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Thinking about signing up for Amazon Prime? Have a FREE Trial: First Up, the Frogg Togg Poncho! FROGG TOGGS Poncho We have tried A LOT of ponchos at Walt Disney World over the years, and this is BY FAR our favorite. This poncho — available on Amazon in multiple colors, including this striking hot pink — had several features that we simply adored. The material allowed the rain to slip right off, and between that and the lack of sleeves, we didn’t feel steamed or hot underneath. On top of that, the poncho was large enough that our backpack was able to fit underneath it comfortably, while still keeping the bag and our back completely covered from the rain. Packing bag If all that wasn’t enough, the poncho even came with a waterproof storage bag, meaning we were able to quickly pack it up and throw it in our backpack as soon as the storm ended without worrying about anything in there getting wet. VIEW ON AMAZON Stock Up on Cooling Towels We’ve tried them! These Sukeen cooling towels are “made of high-density cooling mesh microfiber, soft and skin-friendly. which is super absorbent, breathable and hyper-evaporative. This ice towel adopts physical cooling by the evaporation of water molecules.” To activate the towel, all you’ll need to do is “soak it with water, wring it out and shake it several times. The hyper-evaporative towel will chill you down instantly, and the magical cooling effect can last up to several hours.” VIEW ON AMAZON Stay Cool with this Portable Neck Fan Keep Cool Available on Amazon in multiple colors and styles, this bladeless neck fan “will not pinch hair or cut your fingers, ensuring safe use for long hair people, children and the elderly. The fan is “constructed of soft and comfortable material, ergonomically designed, light and comfortable and skin-friendly.” VIEW ON AMAZON Bring It ALL Together With this Value Pack ©Amazon This theme park essentials kit features a fanny pack, a collapsible water bottle, three emergency ponchos, a USB-powered fan, a cooling towel, and a reusable straw. VIEW ON AMAZON Finally, You’re Hotel Room Will be Incomplete Without the Power Strip Our Favorite Extension Cord for Disney World This flat power strip features 3 outlets, 2 USB-A ports, and 2 USB-C ports, which can charge up to 7 devices at the same time. This makes it perfect for a Disney hotel room, where outlet space is often at a premium, especially on family vacations. VIEW ON AMAZON These items are ESSENTIAL for any Disney World vacation. Stay tuned to DFB for more! Looking for more? Check Out Our Amazon Storefront!The post 5 Disney Essentials You'll Regret Not Buying From Amazon Today first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s Halloween season in Disney World, and we’re eating a LOT of treats! Mickey pumpkin wreath in Magic Kingdom From snacks available during the daytime in the parks to treats from Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, we’ve been pretty busy with trying a LOT of special eats. And during a recent visit to Magic Kingdom, we added another to that list! We stopped by The Lunching Pad recently to try out the seasonal Jalapeño Popper Dog! For a limited time, this treat is joining the other specialty hot dogs at The Lunching Pad. It’s on the menu for a limited time! For $14.79 you get an all-beef hot dog topped with sriracha cream cheese, crispy onions, bacon, and Hades relish. It’s quite the creation! It comes with a bag of chips on the side. Hot dog and chips As far as the taste goes, it has a decent low heat to it. If you’re a fan of a mild salsa or a jalapeño heat, you’ll enjoy the relish, because it’s the hottest part of the hot dog. The sriracha cream cheese is SO creamy, which adds a nice texture, and it was probably our favorite of the toppings. It’s a beauty! The bacon bits and crispy onions add a nice crunch to the mix. Honestly, this was pretty delicious and we’d try it again! If you’re a hot dog fan and don’t mind a little heat, we’d recommend you try it out. Inside the dog That’s a wrap on our review of this particular snack, but make sure to check out our reviews of all the other Halloween snacks in Disney World before you have your vacation! We’ll keep you in the loop with any other new treats, so stay tuned to DFB. Click Here to See All Our Halloween Snack Reviews! IT'S SPOOK-TACULAR! Get ready for the spookiest season of the year at Disney World with our guide -- Halloween at Disney World: DFB's Spook-tacular Guide! From the thrills of Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party to the enchanting resort decorations that'll send shivers down your spine, our guide is packed with tips and tricks to help you squeeze every ounce of ghoulish fun out of your visit. Plus, we've got the inside scoop on all the limited-time-only bone-chilling activities happening across the parks! Get the Halloween at Disney World: DFB's Spook-tacular Guide to make your frightfully delightful adventure even more magical! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Halloween at Walt Disney World Get ALL the Info on Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Check Out the Disney x Halloween Items You Can Get at Target Right Now Photos AND Reviews: ALL the Fall and Halloween Treats in Disney World! Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click Here to Subscribe Would you try this hot dog? Tell us in the comments! The post Yes, We’re Obsessed With This New HOT DOG in Disney World (and You Should Be Too!) first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If driving to Disney World is how you get to the Most Magical Place on Earth, then you know just how important it is to find CHEAP gas prices before you hit the road. Disney World Gas prices fluctuate like the wind, which can make it difficult to budget ahead of your trip. And, depending on where it is you’re coming from, sometimes driving can be just as expensive as flying. But, we have good news for Floridians and those planning on driving to Disney World soon! Good news for Floridians and those who drive to Disney World! After briefly rising 7 cents last week, gas prices have now dropped to their lowest point in two months, according to AAA. Gas is getting expensive! The state average on Sunday, August 18th was $3.31 per gallon — 2 cents less than last week, and 12 cents less than one month ago. Not only that, but it’s also 53 cents less than the same time last year. In addition, the state average is 33 cents below the overall high of $3.64 per gallon so far this year. Gas Station in Hollywood Studios AAA spokesperson Mark Jenkins said, “The price of crude continues to influence prices at the pump…Oil prices increased early last week on renewed optimism about the U.S. economy after a July domestic consumer spending report was better than analysts expected. By the end of the week, however, weak economic data from China caused oil prices to soften.” West Palm Beach and Boca Raton have the highest gas prices at $3.49 per gallon, while the current Orlando average was hovering around $3.25 on Monday afternoon. Speedway Gas Station Outside of Magic Kingdom This is likely welcome news for many, as back in April, gas prices reached $3.62 across the state. This was 11 cents more per gallon than Florida gas pumps saw this time last year. The springtime high for 2023, however, was $3.72. Prices have slowly been falling, with a $3.36/gallon average throughout July, and prices even lower at the pumps now. Disney World gas station in March 2022 Ultimately, though, it’s a good idea to check average gas prices before you head out on your trip so you know what to expect. And, if you’ll be driving to Disney World soon, you might want to consider budgeting some extra dough for gas — you never know when those prices might creep back up! ©Spectrum News Don’t forget that once you arrive at Disney World, you can drive yourself around or opt to take Disney’s free transportation services. There are buses, boats, the iconic monorail, and the Skyliner as well! Disney World’s Skyliner is a ride! If you’re looking for some help planning your next trip to Disney World — we know just who to call! While we have all the best tips, tricks, and more, a Disney Travel Agent like our friends over at Small World Vacations can plan your trip for you from beginning to end — and make sure you’re getting the absolute best deals, too! We’ll keep an eye on the latest gas prices so you know what to expect when you’re driving to Disney World next. In the meantime, make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for all your vacation planning needs! Click here to check out some of Disney’s FREE transportation options! Travel Updates, Tips, and Tricks Complete Guide to Booking the CHEAPEST Flight to Disney World What to Do if Your Flight to Disney World Is Canceled Our Best Tips For Flying Through the Orlando International Airport Step-by-Step Guide: How to Get to Disney World From the Orlando Airport You’re SLEEPING on These Packing Hacks Air Travel Tips That’ll Change Your Life 8 Catastrophic Travel Mistakes and How to Solve Them The Airline with the MOST Flight Delays and Cancellations This Small Change Will Save You From Lost Luggage The Best Disney Luggage for 2023 21 Things a Former Flight Attendant Needs You To Know 7 Highest-Rated Travel Items on Amazon Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click Here to Subscribe Do you drive to Disney World? Tell us in the comments. The post GOOD NEWS for People Who Drive to Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s almost time! Time to eat and drink around the world and enjoy the BEST food EPCOT has to offer. 2023 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Yep, the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival starts soon: it begins on August 29th and runs through November 23rd. During the festival, you’ll have a chance to sample food and drinks from a TON of food booths all over World Showcase, as well as some new special festival foods at existing EPCOT eateries. Then there’s the Eat to the Beat concert series, where you can jam out with your favorite band while you wine and dine. If you’re attending the 2024 festival, we’ve got the best tips you may not know about! So whether you’ve been to the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival before or if this is your first time at the festival, we’re sharing our best tips to guarantee you have a great time. Plan ahead We cannot stress the importance of planning ahead — yes, pick out what foods you want to eat BEFORE you get to the festival. Trust us, there are a TON of choices, and if you wait until you get to EPCOT and just try to wing it, you’re going to get overwhelmed fast AND you might miss out on things you really wanted to try. There are SO many foods to choose from The best way to make a game plan for the festival? Be sure to grab the DFB Food & Wine Festival Guide, which has everything you need to plan your time at the festival. We’ve got all the food booths listed out, and you can choose your priorities before you ever set foot in the park. FULL LIST of Eats on the Cheese Crawl at EPCOT’s 2024 Food and Wine Festival BYOT (Bring Your Own Tray)+ If you’re planning on ordering multiple items from a food booth, you’re going to need a tray to carry them all. You can get inexpensive trays from Amazon, and trust us — this is a LIFESAVER. Unless you have extra helping hands, a tray will let you carry all the food and drinks you order. But it’s not the ONLY thing you need. Get a Tray! You’ll probably also want to bring your own reusable silverware. Why? Well, although plastic silverware is generally available around each booth, the dispensers occasionally run out (although they are refilled often). You’ll also just save time by bringing your own. We also highly recommend bringing reusable straws, too — Disney is doing away with plastic straws and if you don’t like drinking out of cardboard straws or the agave straws (that we think add a strange flavor to drinks), bring your own. The Internet HATED These EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Dishes, but They Are Returning in 2024 Anyway Stay hydrated Yes, we’re going to tell you to stay hydrated — are you surprised? This is always our biggest piece of advice when it comes to visiting Disney World. The Florida heat and humidity is NO JOKE — and you can start feeling the effects of it pretty fast. Drinking water will help you deal with the heat. Water Fountain Refill Station This is especially true, though, for the festival, especially if you’re drinking alcohol. If you’re drinking around the festival, you’ll dehydrate even faster, so it’s important to keep drinking water every chance you get. Bring a water bottle to the parks, fill it up at the water refill stations, and ask for that free cup of water at quick service locations. The ONLY Shirt You Need For the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival Is HERE Buy Disney gift cards You can get Disney gift cards before your trip or you can buy scannable gift cards on wristbands at the festival. If you buy a gift card for a certain amount, you can stick to that amount for your festival budget. This is a great way to make sure you don’t overspend (because it is VERY easy). Food and Wine Festival Wristlet Gift Card 2023 We particularly like the little gift cards on the wristbands because they are so convenient to use at the festival. An ICONIC Booth Is MISSING from the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival This Year…Sort Of Bring cash Okay, so now that we’ve told you to bring a gift card, we’re also going to suggest you have some cash on hand…just in case. We’ve seen some of the credit card and gift card readers go down…usually during storms. During these times, cash is king for making those food and drink purchases. Cashier at food booth Sure, you’ll find an ATM in the parks, but you’ll pay a hefty fee to use them. If you DO need an ATM, though, there are two in EPCOT: one near the World Showcase bridge (that bridge that leads to World Showcase from World Celebration) and one near the main EPCOT entrance. Why We’re Getting Worried About the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Don’t make reservations for dining Yes, EPCOT has some incredible restaurants, but you do NOT want to eat at any of them during the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival. Why? Because then you’ll fill up and not be able to check out all the food booths you might want to visit. So we always suggest skipping the advance dining reservations and just eating around the festival instead. Le Cellier There is SO much to eat at the festival, and you honestly don’t want to miss out on it by filling up at a restaurant. Le Cellier, Biergarten, and all those other great World Showcase restaurants will just have to wait. The 5 NEW Booths Coming to the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival Don’t go on weekends Whatever you do, try not to visit the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival on the weekends. This is when the locals go to the festival, meaning EPCOT will be extra crowded and chaotic. You’ll find yourself standing in long lines for food, and, yes, things have even been known to get a little rowdier than normal, particularly on weekend nights. Avoid crowds by avoiding weekends Visit the festival during the week instead — trust us, you’ll have a much more pleasant time with fewer crowds and shorter lines. One HUGE Change Is Coming to the 2024 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival! We hope these tips help you have a great time at the 2024 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival. And as always, stay tuned to DFB for more! Click here for ALL the menus for the 2024 Food & 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 attending the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival this year? Let us know in the comments! The post 7 Top Secret Tips for the 2024 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’ve got big news, runDisney fans! ©Disney January is just around the corner when you really think about it, especially if you’re training to run in the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend happening January 8th-12th, 2025. With the race just a few short months away, Disney has just released what the medals will look like for those who complete the races! There are multiple different races that take place over the course of the Marathon Weekend, including the 5K! This is 3.1 miles, and the completer medal features none other than our favorite pup, Pluto. ©Disney Next up is the 10K which is 6.2 miles! This completer medal features our favorite mischievous brothers — Chip and Dale! ©Disney The Half Marathon completer medal features Donald Duck and Daisy Duck, both celebrating you completing the 13.1 mile course! ©Disney And of course, the Marathon completer medal features none other than Mickey and Minnie themselves! Who else would you want to see after completing that challenging 26.2 mile course? ©Disney If you complete two races with a total of 39.3 miles, you’ll also receive the Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge medal, which is celebrating its 20th Anniversary! ©Disney Lastly, you can get a medal for completing the Dopey Challenge, which you’ll receive if you complete all four races, which is 48.6 miles! And this isn’t just any medal — the top of it actually flips down to reveal Dopey holding multiple medals, just like you will be! ©Disney Looking for more recent runDisney news? Check out our posts below! More Recent runDisney News! Medals Revealed for 2025 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend!Themes Announced for 2025 Springtime Surprise Event in Disney WorldSNEAK PEEK at Disney’s NEW Medals for the Wine & Dine Half Marathon WeekendIf I Were You, I’d Avoid Magic Kingdom on These 4 Days in FebruaryTHEMES Announced for the 2025 runDisney Princess Half Marathon Weekend! Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney World news! Get the full schedule of upcoming runDisney events 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 ever run a runDisney race? Tell us in the comments! The post Medals Revealed for 2025 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There is nothing quite like the feeling when you first arrive to Orlando for your Disney World vacation! You have your whole trip ahead of you and you can’t wait to get to the parks. Orlando Airport While there are a couple of options to get to Orlando, a popular choice is flying into the Orlando International Airport. As a result, you can probably guess that the Orlando International Airport sees quite a few passengers traveling through it, but just how many may surprise you! If you fly to Disney World, you may be very familiar with the Orlando International Airport. While it is one of two airports that are within a somewhat close proximity to Disney World, it has definitely become the most popular choice for getting to the theme parks. A report was just released that details just how BUSY the Orlando International Airport has become. Orlando International Airport The Airports Council International North America (ACI-NA) recently released their 2023 Traffic Summary. This report summarizes data about “passenger, cargo, and aircraft operations data from 275 North American airports.” In this report, Orlando International Airport (MCO) was ranked as the 7th busiest airport in the United States for passenger traffic. MCO over a 15% increase in passenger traffic which was the largest growth for U.S. airports. Globally, Orlando International Airport ranks 18th among international traffic totals. ©ACI-NA In 2023, Orlando International Airport had a total of over 57 million passengers. That is a whole lot of people going through one spot! While the Orlando International Airport is the seventh busiest airport in the United States, we have lots of tips to make your trip through the airport easier. First, make sure to utilize the 3-2-1- rule. The 3-2-1 rule asks that passengers arrive to the airport at least three hours before their flight, head to security at least two hours before their flight, and arrive at the gate at least one hour prior to departure. Terminal C at Orlando International Airport Additionally, you can take advantage of a reserved spot in security. To reserve your spot, you can use a FREE service called MCO Reserve powered by CLEAR. The service is available from 5AM-5PM, so you can use this service if your flight is set to depart between 6:30AM and 8:30PM. You can make reservations for MCO Reserve up to three days before your flight departs. Orlando Airport TSA Lines You can also take advantage of reserved parking. You can reserve your spot on the airport’s website or on the airport’s mobile app. To reserve a spot, you just need to log-in, put in your vehicle information, and pay for the spot. You will receive a QR code that will give you access to level 4 of Parking Garage C. Orlando International Airport Finally, make sure you have two apps downloaded ahead of your trip. We suggest having the Orlando International Airport app and the app for the airline you are flying on. On the Orlando International Airport app you can save your parking location, get current security wait times, see any airport updates, and find dining and shopping locations. On your airline’s app you can check on any delays or cancellations through the app, as well as see up-to-date gate information. Be prepared for your flight! Be prepared and make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to navigate the Orlando International Airport. Plus, having additional time means you can also spend time exploring the airport and not having to rush around. Stay tuned to DFB for all your Disney World news! We have the solutions for two frustrating Orlando Airport problems! Read more right here! Travel Updates, Tips, and Tricks Complete Guide to Booking the CHEAPEST Flight to Disney World What to Do if Your Flight to Disney World Is Canceled Our Best Tips For Flying Through the Orlando International Airport Step-by-Step Guide: How to Get to Disney World From the Orlando Airport You’re SLEEPING on These Packing Hacks Air Travel Tips That’ll Change Your Life 8 Catastrophic Travel Mistakes and How to Solve Them The Airline with the MOST Flight Delays and Cancellations This Small Change Will Save You From Lost Luggage The Best Disney Luggage for 2023 21 Things a Former Flight Attendant Needs You To Know 7 Highest-Rated Travel Items on Amazon Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click Here to Subscribe What is your preferred method to get to Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post Orlando International Airport Ranks in the Top 10 Busiest Airports in the U.S. first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Well, let’s just say that a WHOLE lot of EVERYTHING is going on in Magic Kingdom right now. Jungle Cruise A new ride, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, just opened. Country Bear Jamboree just reopened with a brand new show. Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America are about to get replaced with a new Cars land. A new Villains land will be coming soon behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. A new Pirates of the Caribbean tavern is on the way! Whew! Like we said, it’s a lot! Well, something else is happening in Magic Kingdom soon, too: a classic attraction will be temporarily closing. As we previously told you, the classic attraction Jungle Cruise in Adventureland will be closing temporarily on August 26th for refurbishment. The ride will reopen towards the end of the Halloween season on October 17th. World Famous Jungle Cruise We have noticed though, that Jungle Cruise is not currently on the list of rides open during both Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. It’s unclear if the ride will be available at the parties after it reopens in October, but there will be some parties after its reopening date. We’re also expecting the ride to get its annual holiday overlay, Jingle Cruise, in November. Jingle Cruise Just a few years ago, the Jungle Cruise had some BIG ride changes with updated scenes and storylines. This is likely just routine maintenance to make sure that the ride is ready for the busy holiday season. Jungle Cruise If you find yourself missing the Jungle Cruise puns during this time, be sure to make a dining reservation for Skipper Canteen, a HIGHLY underrated restaurant that’s Jungle Cruise-themed. The servers there (along with the food names) are sure to give you all the fun and groan-worthy puns you need to tide you over while the ride is closed. Skipper Canteen We’ll be keeping an eye out for more ride updates, so stay tuned to DFB for more. Every Cast Member at Jungle Cruise is BEGGING You Not to Break This One Rule 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 this affect your upcoming Disney World trip? Let us know in the comments! The post WARNING: Disney World's Jungle Cruise Is CLOSING in One Week first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’re not-so-patiently waiting for TWO new dining locations at one Disney World hotel! Disney’s BoardWalk Inn Disney’s BoardWalk has been working on both The Cake Bake Shop and Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs for a while now, and we’ve been following the construction closely. Now, one of those locations has made significant progress! Is Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs coming soon? Well, during a recent visit to the BoardWalk, we noticed that the construction hedges had been removed from the site! These were briefly removed back in June, but they went back up shortly after. Walls are down, baby! Now that those hedges have been removed again, we can see the full stand with its signage, ordering windows, and pickup spots. There seem to be two places for pickup — one on the front of the building and one on the side. The side pickup window The same is true for the ordering locations — there looks to be one on the side and one on the front. But the real kicker is that the side ordering window has a first glimpse at the MENU! The ordering window and the menu! The menu listed on the building currently has a variety of options, including everything from classic corn dogs to lemonade to cotton candy. You can even order a full meal! For corn dog options, you can get the Classic Dog, the Pickle Dog, the Kids Dog, the Mexican Street Dog, or the Golden Dragon. For beverages, they have regular lemonade and strawberry lemonade, and then you can order either pink vanilla or pineapple cotton candy. Yum, yum, and YUM That looks like a pretty full menu! If you want to make it a meal, you can add lemonade to any corn dog for $2 off. They also sell other drink options and chips. But those of you who are Disneyland Resort fans know that this isn’t the first Disney location of Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs! In Anaheim, you’ll also find a Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs at Downtown Disney. Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs The Downtown Disney menu also offers the classic, the Kid Dog, the Golden Dragon, and the Pickle Corn Dog. However, they don’t have the specialty lemonade or the Mexican Street Dog. This location does offer many specialty flavors that rotate throughout the year, so we wonder if we’ll get the same in Disney World. Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs menu in Disneyland Resort We can’t wait to stop by this spot when it officially opens — we’ll be on the lookout for any indication of that date, so stay tuned to DFB for the latest! Click Here to Learn More About the New Snack Spot! 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 try out this new spot when it opens? Tell us in the comments! The post FIRST LOOK at the MENU for New Corn Dog Stand in Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

After all the announcements at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, we’re gearing up for some BIG changes coming to Disney World. Spaceship Earth With additions like a Villains Land and a Monsters, Inc. Land on the horizon, there’s going to be quite a bit to explore in the future. Unfortunately, it’ll likely take some time for these projects to be completed. The good news is that one of Disney World’s big updates is already underway, and it’s set to open next year! Test Track in EPCOT closed in June of this year to receive a major overhaul. This isn’t your regular ride refurbishment — nope, the attraction will be getting a new storyline and new ride vehicles before its reopening in 2025. Test Track During the Disney Experiences showcase at D23, we got a little more information about the changes coming to the ride. The updated version of Test Track “will celebrate today’s innovation while highlighting the past, present, and future.” The queue is getting six different exhibits that celebrate the vehicles (and the people behind the vehicles) that “push the envelope and help get people to our next chapter in our motion journey.” Reimagining concept art ©Disney New show scenes will be added throughout the ride to celebrate transportation technology and how this age of mobility connects everyone. Disney says we will, “Enjoy a joy ride through scenes focusing on onboard technology, customization and personalization.” At the end of the ride, you’ll take a trip through a “scenic outdoor route reminding us all of the joys of driving, taking in the world around us, and spending quality time with friends and family.” ©Disney It’s that last description that has fans of the old version of Test Track getting worried. If you’ll recall, the ride used to take visitors on a “sim car test” where you would design a car and then go through a course to test things like the capability and efficiency of your vehicle. The ride ended with a climactic “power test” where you’d reach top speed as you did a lap around the outside of the ride building. Power Test launch But with this new description of a “scenic outdoor route” where we’re reminded of the “joys of driving,” it doesn’t exactly sound like a high-speed thrill ride. In fact, it sounds more like Disney’s describing a Sunday afternoon drive. You know, the kind where you roll slowly through your hometown with the windows down on a nice day? Yeah, that’s not really the same vibe as the old Test Track. On the Power Test Ultimately, Disney hasn’t given specifics yet on the top speed of the ride or what EXACTLY will happen during that final lap around the building. We’ve got our fingers crossed that we’ll get to keep the speed element, but we’ll have to wait and see. And maybe one of those “joys of driving” is going 65 mph in an open-top car? We sure think so! The former final lap on Test Track We’ll continue to bring you more news and updates about ongoing projects in Disney World, so stay tuned to DFB for the latest. Click Here to Learn More About the Test Track Changes! 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 the changes coming to Test Track? Tell us in the comments! The post Is Test Track Getting SLOWER? Disney's NEW Hints Have Some Fans Worried. first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Where do you go when you need that midday caffeine pick-me-up or the morning cup of Joe? Fun fact: Coffee tastes BETTER by a Castle! For Disney World fans, you typically have two choices — either Joffrey’s or Starbucks. And if you’re one of those Starbucks fanatics, we’ve got some exciting teasers about seasonal drinks coming soon. Bring on the falltime treats! Starbucks has been posting some rather cryptic things on Instagram that we think need decoding! Three different videos have appeared in recent days that seem to tease fall flavors. Starbucks on the West Side of Disney Springs First up, we’ve got this strange video of two people grilling corn…except it turns into candy corn? People in the comments are very intrigued by the possibility of candy corn-flavored beverages coming to Starbucks. Alas, Starbucks hasn’t yet released details about when these new fall drinks could drop or what they will be. We can’t wait to check out the lineup! Typically, these seasonal beverages will also be offered at Starbucks locations in the Disney parks — what’s more magical than a delicious coffee on Main Street, U.S.A.? We’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for an official announcement from the company, so stay tuned to DFB. Click Here to Check Out One of Our Starbucks Reviews! 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 order at Starbucks? Tell us in the comments! The post Uhhh Starbucks, Is This Announcement Something We Need to DECODE? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Hey, friends! Are you looking to take your little on to Disney? Do you feel like you have 1000 questions and 2000 worries about what to do and what could go wrong? Disneyland Don’t worry — I’ve been in your shoes, and I’m here to HELP! Not only have I been working here at DFB for over 5 years but I also used to be a Cast Member. So, I happen to know Disney like the back of my hand. BUT I don’t live right next door to Disney. I actually live all the way in Texas. So, I only get to go to the parks every now and then. Because of that, I have to pack and prepare for a Disney trip like most of you likely have to do as well. SO, when I took my then 10 month old to Disneyland for the first time, I had so many questions and stresses. And honestly, I learned quite a few lessons the hard way. I’m here to share some of those struggles so you can avoid then when you take your little(s) to Disney! Expect the Unexpected If you’re a parent, then you obviously know that babies and children can be pretty unpredictable, especially when they are in a new place. Will they want to ride in the stroller? Who knows. Will they want to be held? Who knows. Will they want to crawl or walk around? Probably because that happens to be pretty darn stressful for us parents at Disney. Going in with the mindset that things might not go as planned and knowing that your little is going to have plans of their own is the best way to set yourself up for success! So sleepy I seriously wasn’t prepared for Emmitt, my son, to want to be down trying to explore at Disneyland as much as he did. He wasn’t walking at the time but was a very quick crawler. He also loved pulling up on things and standing as much as he could. For some reason, I thought he was going to be so chill and just would want to snuggle in the stroller and look around at all of the pretty scenery. Well, I was WRONG. Very wrong. And if you know Disney, you know there aren’t too many areas where it’s easy for a baby to crawl around. This lead to quite a bit of frustration and was something that I wish I would have planned for a bit more. He loved the castle so much! Lesson: Expect your littles to really want to get down and explore. This is all so new to them. They will want to look but they might want to touch and feel as well. What I learned: If I were to take an infant to Disney again, I’d bring a few more pairs of shoes/socks so they aren’t caught barefoot when they want to explore. I’d also bring a travel blanket or picnic blanket so there’s a nice cozy spot for them to explore. We spent a lot of time in Toon Town on the grassy area but in the mornings, the turf was really wet and Emmitt would end up soaking wet! Clean Those Hands! So, on the last day of our trip, Emmitt became really fussy. I thought he was likely just exhausted from all the go, go, go. But NOPE. When we woke up to head home the next day, we figured out that he had actually caught a really bad tummy bug that had my entire family sick for a week after we got back home. He had been touching all kinds of stuff throughout our trip, and I honestly hadn’t done the best job at making sure his paci and hands were squeaky clean. See those hands! Gotta touch it all lol The next time we go to the parks, I plan on washing my hands and Emmitt’s every time someone in our group stops for the bathroom, even if we don’t need to go. I am also going to set a few little alarms to remind me to clean his paci and to put on some hand sanitizer just to add an extra layer of caution. The days are so fast paced, so I’m hoping little alarms will really help remind me to clean his paci and will help keep those germs away! Lesson: Germs exist, even at the Happiest Place on Earth. (No duh, I know. But my baby getting sick was the last worry I had on my mind when taking him to the parks.) What I learned: Overdo it when it comes to keeping your babies hands and paci clean! You might spend a lot of time at the Baby Care Center I expected to be at the Baby Care Center every now and then but I truly felt like I lived at the Baby Care Centers on my trip. This was OK because the Baby Care Centers truly are nice but I got pretty lonely. Of course, I could have nursed and changed Emmitt elsewhere but this was just the most private and cleanest spot to do it. Also, at Disneyland, you don’t feel like you’re walking forever and ever to get the Baby Care Centers since the parks aren’t insanely huge. But if you are planning to feed and change your baby at the Baby Care Center, maybe download a few Disney movies on your phone or something. Then you can still feel connected to the magic while you’re having to step away for a bit! Baby Care Center What I didn’t realize and wanted to share for any moms that are needing to pump while in the parks is that Disney cannot store your milk. So if you are needing to keep milk cool, you’re going to need to find a way to preserve it on your own! Lesson: Bringing a baby to the parks can feel kinda of lonely. Lesson I learned: Find other ways to feel connected to the magic while you’re feeding your little. Listen to some Disney tunes or watch a Disney movie on your phone. Oh, and if you’re a pumping mama, have a plan for your milk! These are just a few of the lessons I learned about taking my little to Disney for the first time. I’m taking him to Disney World for the very first time this fall, so I can’t wait to come back to share all my takes and all the lessons I learn! 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 tips do you have for taking a baby to Disney World? Let us know in the comments below! The post 3 Lessons I Learned the Hard Way About Taking a Baby to Disney first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

As you can imagine, the D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event dropped some massive Disney parks news and left us shook! Magic Kingdom I mean, we were all “ready” and waiting for the Horizons — Disney Experiences Showcase on August 10th, but truthfully, we weren’t ready. But instead of recapping everything that went down, we want to focus on Magic Kingdom right now as it got a LOT of announcements. We found out about projects like the new nighttime parade, Villains Land, and even Cars Land and they’re all coming to Magic Kingdom sooner than you think! Speaking of the Cars Land, once we found out about where it would be located, you could say that Disney fans are quite divided on the HUGE Frontierland overhaul that’s a coming! So, just to catch us all up to speed, Disney did officially announce where the brand-news Cars land will be located in Magic Kingdom. ©Disney Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America and will be transformed into this brand-new land coming to the park. That means that Cars land will be located in Frontierland and that makes sense as Disney will, and I quote, “put our guests in the driver’s seat as we—quite literally—explore a new frontier in Frontierland.” We tried to figure out the exact location by zooming into current Magic Kingdom map and comparing it to the concept art released by Disney. We circled with a red line where we expect the new Cars area to be. Map of where the new Cars area will be As further confirmation, there is this one building near the bottom of the concept art that looks a lot like the current Liberty Square Riverboat building. Concept Art Moving right along, the new Cars Land in Magic Kingdom will include have two Cars attractions. The first one will have us racing through the mountains and along wild terrains, all while trying to dodge geysers and splashing through mud holes. Cars is coming to Magic Kingdom! ©Disney And the second attraction will be more family-friendly (more appropriate for our smaller racers). ©Disney So, as we were saying, all these announcements have DEFINITELY sparked some emotions in Disney fans and left many divided. For example, DFB reader @masenmotivates shared, “Turning Tomorrowland Speedway into a Cars themed space makes a lot more sense to me.” There is nothing exciting about this @dradisney shared the same sentiments and expanded them with, “So many problems. First: Cars theme doesn’t fit at Frontierland TIMELINE. Second: With so many land available, why not beyond Thunder Mountain? Third: why not place the cars rally at tomorrow land, where tomorrow land speed way is? Don’t tell me we will get a new brand rally attraction but speedway will still remain on TOMORROW land? Tomorrow land wasn’t suppose to bring the freshness of tomorrow? Why place race cars in a time where there were horses, wagons and nostalgia? Where is the Magic Kingdom that doesn’t mix storylines and has an underground tunnel made initially to don’t mess with the immersion? Why not place this in Hollywood Studios?” Tomorrowland Speedway @vincent_devecchis agreed with, “This is gonna ruin a thematic cohesion of the land. You’re gonna walk out of haunted mansion and boom there’s gonna be talking cars plus the river area kind of cools down the park. If it’s just cement it’s gonna get super hot.” I’m sure that is something that Disney will have to consider as that river does naturally help cool down that side of the park. Tom Sawyer Island Then @letsplayschool shared, “Super sad about what’s being replaced and taken away. Excited for the new – just wish it wasn’t taking away such classics…. ”. That’s always the unfortunate thing about projects like this — something old tends to give way for something new. Tom Sawyer Island Lastly, we have @anthonynunzioviscuse who shared, “This is horrible. Walt not only enjoyed but intended for areas of the park to be passive enjoyment. He loved the west. He loved the stories of America. Tom Sawyer island is a much needed “respite” from the crowds and stimulation of the works themselves. It’s a quiet reflection and place to spend some family time. It’s also a huge piece of living history in the Magic Kingdom. That matters. It isn’t just an add on to the Disney World experience, it IS Disney world. On a personal note, my wife and I said our vows in a cavern of Tom Sawyer island and it means so much to us to be able to take our children to a beautiful, nature filled nostalgic area that I myself grew up visiting with my father. I’m so sad about this.” Dead Man’s Grotto on Tom Sawyer Island We do know that the construction on this new land is to begin in early 2025, so if you would like to take one more trip on The Rivers of America or explore all the goodness of Tom Sawyer Island one last time, the clock is ticking! We’ll be watching for more details as this new project begins at Magic Kingdom and all the other new projects around the Disney World parks. Keep following DFB for all the latest Disney news! NEWS: Disney Files First Permit for Tom Sawyer Island Cars Land Transformation at Magic Kingdom 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 the new Cars Land in Magic Kingdom? Let us know in the comments! The post "So Many Problems." Disney Fans Are DIVIDED On Magic Kingdom's HUGE Frontierland Overhaul first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Looking for the perfect Disney-inspired souvenir to add to your collection? We can help. Cinderella Castle Whether you’re a pirate, princess, pirate princess, superhero, or any other kind of Disney fan, chances are there’s a piece of merchandise out there for you — and we know just where to find it. When you’re getting ready to head out on your next trip to Disney World or Disneyland, there’s only ONE place to get new merch. Celebrate International Bow Day on August 19th by shopping our Disney Food Blog Bad to the Bow collection! The design features nine different bows, all inspired by your favorite Disney Princesses and their gowns like Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Tiana, Rapunzel, and more. DFB Bad to the Bow There are plenty of different apparel options to choose from like tees and crewneck sweatshirts… DFB Bad to the Bow …and even shirts for your little ones, too! DFB Bad to the Bow If you’re not in the market for any new clothes, get your hands on kitchen and home decor instead. We love this Bad to the Bow can glass that’s just perfect for that morning cup of iced coffee. It even comes with a lid and straw for when you need to take it on the go, too! DFB Bad to the Bow Shop the DFB Bad to the Bow Collection by clicking here and the link below! We’ve got TONS of merchandise and more on our DFB Store and you can shop so many different designs depending on what you’re into. Plus, if you ask us, it’s never too early to start checking things off your holiday gift list! SHOP THE COLLECTION HERE In the meantime, we’re always looking to bring you the latest and greatest Disney news — whether it’s about the next best souvenir or not! Make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog so you don’t miss a thing. 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 When are you heading to the parks next? Tell us in the comments. The post It's Official -- We Know Which Shirt You're Wearing on Your Next Disney World Trip first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article