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When you’re planning your next Disney World vacation, there are lots of things to consider. Cinderella Castle You have to plan your travel, hotel, park tickets, dining plans, and much more. If you’re trying to plan your vacation on a budget, there’s even more to consider to ensure you stick to it. The costs of travel, hotels, food, souvenirs, and lots of other options all play a big part in how much you’ll end up spending on your vacation. So, when you’re planning your next vacation, we suggest asking yourself these four questions to help you stick to your budget and feel like you’ve done everything you want to do! Do I want to use Lightning Lanes? Lightning Lanes are the skip-the-line add-on that you can purchase for each day you’re in the parks. There are three ways to purchase Lightning Lanes — Lightning Lane Multi Pass, Lightning Lane Single Pass, and Lightning Lane Premier Pass. Multi Pass gives you access to a variety of rides at each park. Single Pass is purchased for one ride only, and Premier Pass is the most expensive pass that includes every Lightning Lane ride at the park that you purchase. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Lightning Lane When you purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you can make up to three Lightning Lane selections prior to your trip. For those staying at a Disney-owned hotel and select other hotels, you can make these selections at 7AM EST up to seven days in advance of your check-in day for your entire stay (up to 14 days), while all other guests will be able to purchase and select their first 3 Lightning Lane Multi Passes three days ahead of their trip (still starting at 7AM EST). Once you’re inside the park, you can make MORE selections once you’ve used up one of the Lightning Lanes that you’ve got pre-booked, and you can continue making new selections throughout the day each time you use another Lightning Lane. That way, you’ve got THREE in your back pocket at ALL TIMES. Lightning Lane at Expedition Everest You can also make Single Pass purchases ahead of your visit, which do NOT count as part of your three Multi Pass pre-selections. So you can still purchase up to TWO MORE Lightning Lanes in Single Pass format (for those premium, a la carte ride purchases, like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in EPCOT and Rise of the Resistance in Hollywood Studios, just to name a couple) and have up to FIVE LIGHTNING LANES already selected for each day if you wanna go this route. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Lightning Lane Premier Pass does NOT require any additional planning once you’ve purchased it for the one park you want to use it at(you can only purchase it for one park per day). Once you’ve purchased it, up to 7 days in advance of your trip for the extent of your trip (up to 14 days), you can just go to the rides without selecting a specific time, and it includes every Multi Pass and Single Pass rides in the park you purchased. However, Premier Pass is the most expensive option of the three Lightning Lane options. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure lines Each of these Lightning Lane options uses flex pricing, which means the price for each park varies each day. Once you’ve purchased Multi Pass for one park, you can park hop and use it in the other three parks. Single Passes can only be used at the one ride you purchase, and Premier Pass is only for the one park you purchased. If you’re considering purchasing Lightning Lanes on your vacation, we suggest checking out our several YouTube videos on the subject to help you make your decision easier! Am I going to need Advance Dining Reservations? Depending of where you want to eat on your vacation, you may need Advance Dining Reservations. This is usually true if you want to eat at table-service restaurants that are very popular, such as Cinderella’s Royal Table, ‘Ohana, and other character restaurants. However, if you only plan to eat at quick-service restaurants (which typically cost less), then you would not need to worry about getting reservations. Cinderella’s Royal Table If you know that you want to eat at one of these table-service restaurants, mark on your calendar what day will put you at 60 days BEFORE the first day of your vacation, because that’ll be the absolute EARLIEST you can start booking Advance Dining Reservations. If you’re not planning on staying at a Disney-owned or select other hotel during your trip, then you’ll need to wake up each morning, for each 60 days out marker, to secure MORE dining reservations for every day of your visit. ‘Ohana HOWEVER, if you’re staying as a hotel guest at a Disney hotel or select other hotels (Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin, Swan Reserve, or Shades of Green), you’ll only have to get up early ONCE before your trip, since you’ll be allowed to make your bookings 60 days in advance, PLUS the length of your stay (no longer than 10 days). It’s also a good idea to be on the Disney World website or My Disney Experience app EARLIER than when dining reservations are supposed to go live. The booking window opens up for ADRs on the website at 6AM EST daily. That being said, it’s not unheard of for these reservations to go live even EARLIER (by 15-30 minutes), depending on the day. What are my highest priority rides and attractions? There’s a HIGH chance you won’t be able to do EVERYTHING inside the parks, but that doesn’t mean you can’t figure out ahead of time what you want your park “must dos” to be. Plus, if you choose to purchase Lightning Lanes, you’re chances of doing MORE may significantly increase, so keep that in mind as you’re deciding what your highest priorities are. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad We suggest creating a list of your top priority rides for each park, that way when you get done with each of those, you’ll feel like you had a successful day. And if you get to extra, it’ll be an even sweeter day! You can find full lists of every attraction at our pages for Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Do I really NEED a park hopper ticket? Park Hoppers SEEM like a good idea in theory. You get to do and see MORE parks in Disney World, all within a single day or two. Depending on the time of year you visit, how long you’re planning to visit, and which parks you were originally planning to visit, a park hopper add-on can cost between $65-$85+ per ticket. And they CAN be a good idea, especially if you’re going on a weekend getaway to the parks and only have a single day or two to spare. EPCOT But they can also be more of a hassle than they’re worth, especially if you’ve got the vacation time to FULLY explore each park as is. So, before you automatically jump into getting that park hopper add-on, decide how much time you wanna spend in each of the parks, and what you really want to accomplish in each park, as well. You might even find that, on your weekend getaway, you’d rather spend one-or-two full days in one-or-two parks rather than have to leave any particular one to try and squeeze in all four. Animal Kingdom You can ALWAYS change your mind once you arrive and add that park hopper upgrade whenever you get to Disney World if you decide you want it at the last-minute. HOWEVER, just keep in mind that the park hopper add-on does not get cheaper if you add it later on in your trip. So, if you decide to get park hoppers on day 3 of your 5-day park ticket visit, you’re still gonna have to pay for that park hopping privilege for all 5 days even though you’ve already knocked out days 1 and 2. So it might be better to just buy it up front beforehand if you’re contemplating it and have it for ALL your park days, just in case you wanna use it, since it’ll cost ya the same either way. We hope these questions, tips, and tricks help you have a magical vacation! If you need help planning, we suggest our friends over at Small World Vacations. They have tons of experience helping people have the best Disney World vacations. Plus, their services are completely free to you! As you plan your next Disney World trip, keep following DFB for more tips! The Big Changes Coming to Florida and Disney World Travel in 2025 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 Are you planning a Disney World vacation? Let us know in the comments! The post 4 VITAL Questions To Ask Yourself When Planning a 2025 Disney World Trip first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Will you be visiting Disney World in January? EPCOT January is certainly a great time to visit. The holiday crowds usually disappear by the first week of the month, plus you usually get cooler weather (and sometimes, it’s even COLD). The EPCOT Festival of the Arts also starts on January 17th, so there’s that, too! However, there is one weekend in January when you should avoid EPCOT altogether — and we’re going to tell you about it. The Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend is January 8th through 12th, and yes, that could bring some crowds to the park. However, that’s not why we’re telling you to skip EPCOT that weekend. Here’s the thing: on two of the race days, January 10th and 11th, EPCOT doesn’t open until 10AM — one hour later than it usually opens. That’s because the marathon goes THROUGH EPCOT, which gives the runners the chance to get through the park before it opens. EPCOT entrance So that means if you visit EPCOT on those days, you’ll get one less hour in the park — and who wants that? So you’ll want to plan accordingly if you’ll be in Disney World that weekend. If you do end up seeing some runners throughout the weekend, be sure to cheer them on! Spaceship Earth So, what else can you expect on a race weekend? Well, you will certainly see more crowds in the parks, although it won’t be anything like the crowds we see on holidays. You’ll just need to be a little extra patient and consider purchasing Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass if you don’t want to wait in long ride standby lines. Stay tuned to DFB for more. Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Will you be in Disney World for the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend? Let us know in the comments! The post This Is the WORST Weekend To Visit EPCOT first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Are you already planning out your 2025 trip to Disney World? Magic Kingdom As we all know, Magic Kingdom is usually the crown jewel of a Disney vacation, but I’m here to drop some truth that might make you rethink your park priorities next year. There’s one major, frustrating reason you might want to skip Magic Kingdom altogether in 2025. Let’s talk about it! As we were saying, there’s this one frustrating reason you might want to skip out on heading to Magic Kingdom altogether in 2025: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will be CLOSED for over a year. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad You heard it right. One of the most iconic attractions in all of Disney World (the wildest ride in the wilderness) is shutting down for a massive refurbishment starting January 6th, 2025, and it won’t reopen until sometime in 2026. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad For many of us Disney fans, Big Thunder is a quintessential part of the Magic Kingdom experience, and without it, Frontierland feels like…well, not much of a land at all. And it’s not just Big Thunder. The whole area will be buzzing with construction, closures, and changes that might make your 2025 visit feel more like you’re navigating a construction zone than a magical day at the park. What’s Going on in Frontierland? Like we said, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad isn’t the only part of Frontierland that’s seeing major changes in 2025. Disney is in the middle of a big transformation project, and it’s going to have a huge impact on the park experience: Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America Are Closing Permanently: These classic attractions will make way for a brand-new Cars-themed area, which will definitely expand Frontierland in a whole new direction. Villains Land Construction Is Underway: Beyond Big Thunder Mountain, Disney is working on the all-new Villains land. If you’re coming in 2025, and the noise, walls, and disruption are most likely going to be impossible to ignore. DVC Lounge Replacing the old Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade: Over in the heart of Frontierland, the former Shootin’ Arcade is being replaced with a Disney Vacation Club lounge. Why This Matters for Your Trip If Big Thunder was just one piece of the puzzle, maybe the magic of Magic Kingdom would still outweigh the inconvenience, but with so many closures and construction projects happening all at once, the park really might feel like it’s missing the sparkle we all know and love. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad To be honest, Frontierland will essentially be half a land in 2025. Big Thunder Mountain is out of commission, Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America are disappearing. Add in the construction walls for Villains Land, and this once-bustling part of Magic Kingdom is going to feel pretty lifeless. The endangered Tom Sawyer Island What’s left to do? Sure, you’ve got Country Bear Jamboree and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, but without Big Thunder anchoring the land, it’s just not the same. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Meanwhile, the added strain on other parts of the park can’t be ignored. Fewer attractions mean longer lines at everything else, from Peter Pan’s Flight to Jungle Cruise. On that note, it’s also worth noting that Astro Orbiter will also be closed for part of 2025. It’s scheduled for refurbishment from January 13th until summer. Astro Orbiter Is Magic Kingdom Skippable in 2025? Well, with Big Thunder Mountain Railroad closed and so much construction going on, your day at Magic Kingdom could end up feeling more frustrating than magical. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad That being said, if you’ve never been to Disney World before or are traveling with young kids, Magic Kingdom might still be worth the visit. It is home to classics like Cinderella Castle, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Haunted Mansion. But for repeat visitors or anyone who wants to maximize their time, this might be the year to prioritize other parks instead. Until then, be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney World news! Magic Kingdom Is Already SOLD OUT for 3 Dates in 2025! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Will you be visiting Disney World in 2025? Tell us in the comments! The post The One Frustrating Reason You Should SKIP Magic Kingdom in 2025 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’re visiting Disney World, the My Disney Experience app will be your new best friend — because you’ll be using it for EVERYTHING. EPCOT You can use the app to check-in to your hotel room, unlock your hotel room door, Mobile Order food, use Mobile Check-Out for souvenirs, and purchasing and booking your Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass reservations. Speaking of Lightning Lanes, we just uncovered a feature that will come in SUPER handy when you’re in the parks and want to keep tabs on all those Lightning Lanes you’ve booked. So let’s say you’ve booked some Lightning Lanes in Magic Kingdom. Sure, you can view a list of the three you can have booked at any given time, but did you know you can also view those on the map in My Disney Experience? ©Disney Now, this could come in super handy if you’re not familiar with navigating the parks and want to make sure you’re not doing a lot of backtracking when you’re hitting up those Lightning Lanes. So, you could look at those times and then plan the best route to take to get to each Lightning Lane. You’ll also be able to see those dining reservation times on the app, too. ©Disney Another thing we found really cool is that these times stay on the map for the entirety of the three-hour return. So you’ll be able to plan out a chunk of your day accordingly, which is ALWAYS helpful. ©Disney So, if you find yourself in Disney World and are trying to figure out the best way to knock out your Lightning Lanes without a lot of extra walking, be sure to look at the map on the My Disney Experience app — you can do this by clicking on the location icon at the bottom of the screen when you open the app. You can also use the “Filter” link at the top of the map to choose which park you’d like to see. ©Disney Looking for more information on how to use the My Disney Experience app? You can learn all about it here. Stay tuned to DFB for more. How To Use the Virtual Assistant Feature on the My Disney Experience App 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 this feature? Will this be helpful during your next trip? Let us know in the comments! The post Not to Be Dramatic, but This Disney World App Hack Just Changed My Life first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Joyous #Kwanzaa from #WaltDisneyWorld Resort. We love when a celebration comes together!View the full article

Classic attractions are closing, new attractions are in the works, and there are LOTS of seasonal events you WON’T wanna miss. Disney California Adventure Today’s ULTIMATE Disney California Adventure guide for 2025 just might BLOW your MIND. Check out our video below: The ULTIMATE Guide to Disney California Adventure in 2025 Are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes! And stay tuned for more theme park news! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What is your favorite Disney California Adventure snack of all time? Tell us in the comments. The post DFB Video: The ULTIMATE Guide to Disney California Adventure in 2025 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Another celebrity was spotted at a Disney park! Sleeping Beauty Castle Sneaking a peek at celebrities at Disney, pinning down their unique park outfits and trends, and hearing them become part of Disney entertainment while visiting can make for a fun and unforgettable experience. One celeb recently took their family to Disneyland and shared a TON of adorable photos from the trip. In fact, it felt like we’d spent the whole day with their family! We love it when we spot a celebrity at a Disney park having fun with their families (just like us)! And, when you mix in the sights, sounds, decor, and smells of the holidays at Disneyland, it’s an unforgettable combination. Sleeping Beauty Castle Decorated for Christmas You might know Alison Holker from So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing With The Stars pro, or the host of your favorite HGTV show, but it looks like Holker and her family were able to clear out their busy schedules to fit in some family bonding time at Disneyland for Christmas! Holker posted a few family photos in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle with the caption, “Christmas at Disney the perfect way to bring in the holiday spirit.” ©Instagram In the photo, she also tagged Adam Edmunds (her boyfriend) along with their combined crew of kiddos. It looks like the kids were especially enjoying their time riding rides like Rise of the Resistance… ©Instagram …taking on the Radiator Springs Racers… ©Instagram …walking down the middle of Tomorrowland together… ©Instagram …and showing off their Minnie ears! ©Instagram It seems like Holker and her family had a splendid time enjoying Disneyland for the holidays, and it’s fun getting a peek into their family vacation albums — it’s just like when we post our memories online. We’re always keeping up with the latest news, updates, and changes at Disney! Be sure you’re following along with us at Disney Food Blog so you don’t miss them all. CONFIRMED: Limited-Time Ticket Offers Announced for Disneyland! 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 spotted a celebrity in Disneyland? Tell us all about your experience in the comments below! The post Celebrity SPOTTED! You Won’t Believe Who Just Rode Disney’s Rise of the Resistance Attraction first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Well, it’s official — Magic Kingdom is about to become a big ‘ole mess of construction. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad You’d think we’d be used to so much construction after the LOOONNG EPCOT transformation, but we’re really worried about what that means for Magic Kingdom. It’s going to be bad enough seeing all that construction where Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island is to make way for the Frontierland Cars expansion, and we know there are going to be a lot of construction walls to walk around. However, we’re noticing a trend in some construction happening already behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad that’s setting an unsightly trend. So we recently noticed that construction had started on SOMETHING behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Now, we know that the new Villains land coming to Magic Kingdom will be located in that area, but we’re not sure if this construction has anything to do with that. It could have more to do with whatever is going to happen to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad during its year-long closure. We’ve already spotted some construction Well, we’ve been checking up on progress of whatever is going on over there, and let’s just say, things look busy. There’s a crane there now. Not only that, but the crane is pretty visible even outside the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad queue. Now that’s…odd. Disney usually goes to great lengths to hide things like this with scrims or whatever. This is a bit of an eyesore But nope, this thing is just THERE and Disney isn’t even trying to keep it a secret. It just looks SO out of place. It’s just THERE It’s also a big eyesore over at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Since when did they have cranes in the bayou? It completely ruins the skyline of the ride. Crane invading the skyline of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure However, this isn’t just a problem we’re seeing in Frontierland. You can even spot the crane in Fantasyland. Rapunzel’s Tower seems a little less magical with a crane beside it… Ew But wait…there’s more. You can even see it in Liberty Square. Um…what about keeping to the historical accuracy of this land? Liberty Square takes great lengths to be historically accurate, so this is kinda’ a disappointment, y’all. Even in Liberty Square? We think this is a little weird because Disney used to be very careful about what’s seen when there’s construction happening in the parks. Now, we know a crane is super hard to hide, but this isn’t something we’ve seen often in the parks and we’re a little surprised the crane has been there, photo bombing our Magic Kingdom pictures, for almost a week already. We hope this isn’t a sign to come of what Magic Kingdom will look like over the next few years. We’re excited about all the new things coming to the park, but we were also SO relieved when the work in EPCOT was finished. Magic Kingdom is the park people think of when they think of Disney World, and we’d hate for it to be a little less magical because of ugly construction equipment being seen almost everywhere in the park. We’ll be keeping an eye on it and getting you updates, so stay tuned to DFB for more. Will There Actually Be TWO COASTERS in Disney World’s Villains Land? 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? Would this deter you from wanting to visit Magic Kingdom? Let us know in the comments! The post NOBODY Expected This To Happen on Big Thunder Mountain in Magic Kingdom first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It has been a rough year being a TV fan. That’s because some of our favorite shows have been given the axe. ©Disney Some shows never even had a chance to get their footing, while others were canceled after just a few seasons. All the streamers and networks have been busy canceling TV series, too, and even Disney’s properties haven’t been immune. On Disney+ and Disney Channel alone, we’ve seen a total of four cancellations, with another coming from ABC. Ouch. So let’s get into the shows that won’t be getting any future seasons. So we’re looking at shows canceled by Disney+, Disney Channel, and ABC, but let’s just say both FX and Hulu had their share of cancellations, too, which we may get into at a later date. For now, let’s get on with it. Disney Channel Villains of Valley View In October, Variety reported that Disney had canceled Villains of Valley View after two seasons on the Disney Channel. The comedy show followed a family of supervillains forced to hide their powers and live like normal people in a suburb. ©Disney Here’s the show’s official description: “When teen supervillain Havoc stands up against the leader of all villains, he threatens to destroy her and her family – which forces them to change their identities and hide out in a suburb of Texas. With the help of their über-happy new neighbor Hartley, Havoc (now Amy), her brother Chaos (now Jake) and the rest of her family, will have to hide their powers and abandon their reckless villain ways in favor of something they’ve fought against all their lives… being good.” Secrets of Sulphur Springs The time travel mystery drama Secrets of Sulphur Springs aired for three seasons before the show was canceled. The series followed a 12-year-old boy, Griffin, who had his world upended when his parents decided to move to Chicago to take over an abandoned hotel. The hotel has a secret portal, though, that allows Griffin and his friend, Harper, to travel in time. ©Disney During their travels, the two friends begin to untangle some of the town’s mysteries, including the strange disappearance of a girl who had once been in the hotel when it had been part of a summer camp. Disney+ The Acolyte Disney decided to cancel the Star Wars TV show, The Acolyte after just one season. The Acolyte was set FAR before the events of Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace and followed a pair of twins as their lives lead them apart: one choosing the Dark Side, the other having failed training as a Jedi. ©Disney The series saw some a lot of backlash (a lot of it coming from toxic fandom), but it also had a drop in views after its first episode. According to Variety, Disney wasn’t happy with the cost of the show versus its performance. American Born Chinese Another show that Disney delivered the axe to was American Born Chinese, a series based the graphic novel of the same name. The show was canceled after one season. The show followed the trials of an American teenager whose life is changed when he becomes best friends with the son of a mythological god. ©Disney At the time, it was reported that Disney was a fan of how creative the series was, but it didn’t have the viewership to justify giving it a second season. At the time, the showrunners had said they would shop it around to other streamers and networks. ABC Not Dead Yet According to The Hollywood Reporter, ABC decided not to continue with the series Not Dead Yet after two seasons. The show followed a woman who takes a job as an obituary writer — she later discovers that she can see and hear the people she writes about. ©ABC Of ABC’s three half-hour comedies that were airing at the time, Not Dead Yet had the smallest audience when looking at Nielsen’s seven-day ratings, which is probably why it was canceled. Going into the New Year, we’re sure to learn about more cancellations (January seems to be a popular month for those announcements), so we’ll keep an eye out for more from Disney. Stay tuned to DFB for more. Why Hulu Canceled 4 Shows 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 these cancellations? Let us know in the comments! The post Every Disney Show CANCELED in 2024 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Happy #Hanukkah! 🕎 We hope your celebration is warm, bright & filled with memories. #WaltDisneyWorldView the full article

Merry Christmas! Did you get any Amazon gift cards? Maybe a little cash from Santa? Well, we know just how to spend it! Merry Christmas! We searched the internet for the most popular Disney items for pretty much any Disney fan. No matter your age, we have something for you! Now, come with us, and let’s see what’s available on Amazon now. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. The Disney Princess Cookbook ©Amazon Is anyone else tired of the same rotation of dinner recipes? Mix things up with a new Disney-themed cookbook! This one has 50 beginner-friendly recipes, including dishes like Rapunzel-inspired Frying Pan Eggs, Tiana-inspired Bayou Meatloaf, Moana-inspired Te Fiti Tropical Punch, and more. View on Amazon Loungefly Stained Glass Collection: Belle Mini-Backpack with Ear Attachment ©Amazon This backpack is GORGEOUS! The design features a beautiful Belle-themed stained glass motif, complete with the Beast, Mrs. Potts, Chip, Lumiere, and Cogsworth! The Loungefly mini-backpack is made of vegan leather, includes a front zipper compartment, side pockets, and adjustable back straps. View on Amazon Disney Inside Out 2 Mood Cubes ©Amazon Calling all LEGO fans! This set is for YOU. The new Inside Out 2 set comes with two mood cubes, nine changeable mood plates, a display stand, and Joy and Anxiety LEGO mini-figures. The best part is that you can switch up the emotions based on your mood. View on Amazon Disney Mickey Toodles Talk’n Toolbelt ©Amazon This is one of the hottest toys on Amazon right now! The Pretend play tool kit includes an interchangeable screwdriver (Phillips & flathead), adjustable wrench, pliers, hammer, and an adjustable tool belt with a pocket. It’s perfect for all the little projects your little one can imagine. View on Amazon Disney Mickey and the Gang Sweatshirt ©Amazon This simple sweatshirt comes in five colors, so there’s something for everyone! If you want it to fit slightly oversized, we recommend sizing up. The Fab Five design is a classic — it will go with just about any outfit. View on Amazon In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more. Check out our Amazon Storefront for more Disney items!! The post Just Say Goodbye to Your Money Now. You're Gonna Need ALL of These New Disney Souvenirs on Amazon! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

2025 is going to be a BUSY year for Disney World! EPCOT Quite a few rides will be closing in 2025, with a mix of refurbishments and permanent closures due to construction projects. That means you’ve got to check those calendars before your vacation to make sure your favorite attraction is still operating! And now, we can add another ride to the list of those that will be unavailable. Disney has confirmed that Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros will be closing for refurbishment on January 6th, 2025. Currently, it has a scheduled reopening date of March 15th, so it’ll be down for more than two months. Mexico Pavilion For those who haven’t checked out this ride before, it’s located in the pyramid in the Mexico Pavilion, next to San Angel Inn Restaurante. Because it’s kind of hidden in the back of the pavilion, many people miss it on their first trip to the park. It’s your quintessential Disney dark ride, with a boat tour that travels around Mexico while you, Jose Carioca, and Panchito search for Donald Duck. Gran Fiesta Tour This ride doesn’t often close for refurbishment, but we have experienced some technical difficulties with it in the past. One of the most famous snafus this ride had in the past few years was when the Donald Duck animatronic was briefly removed and replaced with a houseplant in a sombrero. Truly iconic. Mr. Donald Plant We’ll make sure to keep an eye on the calendar and this ride to see if it reopens on time. This is one of several refurbishments in the early part of 2025, including Kali River Rapids, Hall of Presidents, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Astro Orbiter. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Stay tuned to DFB for the latest updates on closures in Disney World! We’ll keep you in the loop. The Best Times to Go to Disney World in 2025 — Click Here! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Are you going to EPCOT in 2025? Tell us in the comments! The post NEWS: Disney Confirms a Surprising 2-Month Closure Starts in 12 Days in EPCOT first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Let’s take a journey together back to the year 2019. Baby Yoda, also known as Grogu, is taking the internet by storm, and we are crying in the theaters at the end of Avengers: Endgame. But, that is not all that was happening in 2019. ©Disney Disney also made a huge announcement about a new ride that was expected to be built in EPCOT. However, here we are five years later and the ride is no closer to being built. Back in August 2019, Disney announced that a Mary Poppins attraction would be making its way to the UK Pavilion at EPCOT. We were screaming supercalifragilisticexpialidocious at the thought that we could ride an attraction featuring Mary Poppins. The new attraction was supposed to allow guests to “step in time down Cherry Tree Land past Admiral Boom’s house, then enter Number 17, home of the Banks family.” Mary Poppins attraction concept art But, now we have been through multiple D23 Expos and numerous earnings calls, and we haven’t heard anything specific about this attraction ACTUALLY coming to EPCOT anymore. We saw a few pieces of concept art when the ride was first announced, but Disney has been pretty silent on the project ever since. In March 2022, Disney released a statement that the project had become “postponed” along with other projects like the retheming of Spaceship Earth. We also noticed that the Mary Poppins attraction was removed from the video in the EPCOT Experience. Mary Poppins Attraction ©Disney Other than that, we haven’t heard much about this scrapped attraction. The Mary Poppins attraction was postponed as Disney was recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. CEO Bob Chapek also stated at the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders that they would be taking “a pause on capital-intensive projects.” Technically, Disney hasn’t officially released that it has been canceled, but with the ever-growing list of expansions and rethemes they have announced WILL happen, we are not sure that the Mary Poppins attraction will ever actually come to fruition. Mary Poppins meeting in EPCOT However, you truly never know with Disney, and we might still hear that the Mary Poppins attraction will be built after all! Only time will tell, and of course, we will be keeping an eye out for any news and updates about the Disney parks. Stay tuned to DFB for all your Disney news! Why hasn’t Disney revamped these abandoned attractions? Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Are you still hoping the Mary Poppins attraction will be built? Let us know in the comments! The post The Complicated Reason Why 'Mary Poppins' Hasn't Taken Over the UK Pavilion in EPCOT first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Even more menu changes keep popping up around Disney World’s restaurants and they seem to be shaking up the norm! Full spread of food We’ve been on a very lucky streak lately of new menu updates that have completely knocked it out of the park for us with flavors and variety including a few fun holiday items. So when we learned that a quiet change had been made to another Disney World restaurant’s menu we knew we needed to investigate! Would this be the restaurant to break our streak? Let’s find out! You’ll find Terralina Crafted Italian within The Landing of Disney Springs. While it might have a newer name, you might know this restaurant best as its former version of Portobello Country Italian Trattoria. Since its multi-million-dollar refurbishment and new name, both Chef Tony Mantuano and Executive Chef Claudio Daggio returned to the restaurant to craft a dining experience and menu “reminiscent of an Italian home.” Terralina Crafted Italian The result of the refurbishment to the restaurant which was inspired by Italy’s Lake District, features several cozy dining rooms with homely decor, an open kitchen, and an outdoor veranda bar that’s ideal for those warm nights where you just want to sit and enjoy the atmosphere with a good meal. Atmosphere As we touched on earlier this entire restaurant is built to help you feel like you’re one of the family stepping into an Italian home for a hearty meal. As you make your way inside your eyes are immediately met by the host stand where you’re checked in for your reservation right by a roaring fireplace! Check in When your table is ready and you’ve peeled yourself away from the plush seating you’re guided to your table throughout the restaurant passing rooms with large table placements fit for big parties and gatherings… Larger tables …to booth style seats with dimmer lighting… Booths …an open bar with ample seating on multiple sides… Inside bar …and you could even make your way into the back of the restaurant where you can feast your eyes on towering chandeliers and exposed brick areas. Dining rooms You might even spot a decorative wine cellar… Wine bottles on display …or a few family portraits surrounding you, too! You’re like family here But the real gem to this restaurant lies outside where you can take in the quiet waters… Terralina outdoor seating. …yet lively atmosphere that makes up Disney Springs! Menu The menu here is heavily Italian themed (as you probably could have guessed) with antipasti, pasta, from the garden and hearth selections, and pizza… Top of the front menu sandwiches, sides, and add-ons. Even more to the front On the back you’ll find the cocktails and beer selections… Back of the menu …as well as spritz, cocktails, seltzers and ciders. Bottom of the back menu There’s a separate kid’s menu… ©Disney …complete with their own array of dessert selections. ©Disney And an impressive line of beverages including wines by the glass and wine flights…. Front top of the wine options …along with Italian whites and reds. Even more! The back of the wine list carries on the remaining options of sparkling, rosé, old world wines… Back of the wine list …and new world wines! The remaining selections WHEW! That’s quite an extensive list of choices and rivals the likes of its neighboring Disney Springs restaurants. Eats We knew we were in for a big meal today so we decided to take things slow. As we were seated we were treated to complimentary water glasses and Focaccia bread service. Bread service The focaccia was soft and fluffy yet had a tougher, baked exterior to the edges. It was nice, but nothing super impressive as this is an Italian staple for breads. Fluffy The first to arrive to the table was the Mozzarella-stuffed Rice Balls. These little slices of heaven will cost you $17 for the plate and are billed accordingly with their name. They’re truly gooey mozzarella stuffed into fried rice balls that are topped with thin shavings of parmesan and a side of tomato-basil sauce for dipping or drizzling. Mozzarella-stuffed Rice Balls While the premise of this starter dish sounds divine, it wasn’t the taste we took issue with but the practicality of the rice balls holding together. We found ours to be very delicate (even after sitting for a while for a full photo shoot). Cutting them open was one feat… Inside of the rice ball …but attempting to dip them into the sauce was another and they just instantly fell apart with half of our bite refusing to resurface from its dip. That ended in disaster The majority of the flavor on these came from the mozzarella stuffing and the contrast of the parmesan shavings on its own, but felt like a pretty standard yet less crispy mozzarella stick when dipped into the sauce which was mostly a bland tomato flavor. Next on our list to try was one of the new dishes — the Terralina Penne Alfredo! Terralina Penne Alfredo This dish is made of penne alfredo pasta tossed with chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and peas which will cost you $29. Admittedly we were a bit in sticker shock over the price and braced ourselves to expect a high quality dish that would completely “wow” us. What we discovered however, was not exactly that. While there were parts of the penne alfredo that were good like the toppings of the chicken, tomatoes, and peas, we really felt the pasta lacked in overall flavor. A fork full It really needed more of the alfredo sauce to really set this dish apart and when we tasted the penne pasta, it was apparent the pasta was overcooked and overly flexible and tasted like it was just lifted out of the water it was cooking in and served. It was time to turn our attention to the new Crafted Burger next. Crafted Burger Now this was a dish that commanded our devotion right out of the gate. It’s made of ground chuck and brisket cooked to your preferred temperature, arugula, tomato, pickled red onion, melted cheddar, and chili-sage aioli all on a toasted bun served with housemade truffle potato chips and garlic pickles for $23. If you want to trade out the sides you can substitute a baby greens Salad or Italian fries for an upcharge. Just the burger Honestly, this was the best thing we tasted all night here and you might not expect that at first glance from an Italian restaurant. The cheddar cheese seemed to melt and meld with the perfectly cooked beef and smokey brisket flavors while the fresh veggies lent a helping hand into crafting an artisanal burger experience. Cross section of the burger The fries we were served with this dish didn’t scream housemade truffle potato chips… Regular fries? ….but they were served with a side of parmesan… Parmesan …good for sprinkling over the fries (or your burger to your liking), as well as some ketchup. And a side of ketchup The garlic pickles were served on the side which was a bit odd, because we would have loved to have seen how they worked into the initial flavors of the burger, but they were just middle of the road for us with a good snap to them when you took a bite. Garlic pickles We hope you’ve saved room for dessert because we still have one last course to get through! We opted to try out the Espresso Crème Brûlée for this visit. It will set you back a cool $12. Espresso Crème Brûlée It’s your standard crème brûlée with an espresso twist to it, that sounded like a good idea until we took a big ole bite of it. Needless to say the combination of the sweet dessert we know and love coupled with a start taste of espresso was just too much going on for our taste buds to make sense of and it turned out to be a total pass for us. This was just bizarre tasting While were sure there’s an audience for this particular pairing in a dessert, we clearly were not prepared for how strong that espresso taste was make its way to the prominent flavor and had a tough time enjoying the remainder of the dessert after just a few bites in. Overall Overall we set out for a meal at a beautifully curated Italian restaurant and walked away with only a few of the dishes to our liking from the night. We found it incredibly strange that we would like the Crafted Burger over the heavily Italian meal courses, but in the end, that’s really what we gravitated most to. Our whole meal If you’re really looking for the best Italian meal Disney World has to offer, this probably isn’t it. It’s a solid option to try in a pinch if you’re really craving Italian food, but we’re not convinced we’d spring for the newest menu items right away if we had to do it over again. Nosh or Not? We’d recommend stopping in for a meal at Terralina Crafted Italian if… You’re big on themed restaurants. This places is loaded to make you feel like you stepped through the doors into an Italian family’s kitchen and taken in as one of their own. You’re making your way around all Disney World has to offer for restaurants. This is certainly another notable restaurant to check off your dining list if you’re aiming to “do it all” over time. A scenic view is your ideal dining experience! Ask to be seated outside near the water for the best views in the house. We’d recommend grabbing a meal elsewhere if… Great Italian food is what you’re really craving. Admittedly, our authentic Italian experienced was lacking so if you’re really wanting great Italian food that will have you gabbing about it for months or longer, you probably want to try out another Italian restaurant Disney World has to offer. An elevated dining experience is your ideal meal. This restaurant certainly carries a more relaxed yet cozy vibe, so if you’re looking for a sophisticated and elevated dining experience you might do better at one of Disney World’s signature dining restaurants. You’re not keen on leaving Disney World’s parks to go out of your way for dinner. This restaurant is a bit tucked away in the corner of Disney Springs but we could totally see someone opting not to leave their chosen park to make the venture out here for Italian food you could find at several different restaurants throughout Disney World (and probably just as good quality-wise if not better where you currently are). We’re always on the hunt for the best meals around Disney World so you can make the best decisions on where to spend your vacation time and money, too! Be sure to click the links below to read some of our most recent reviews and stay tuned with us at Disney Food Blog to stay updated on all of our upcoming reviews. REVIEW: You Should LEAVE Magic Kingdom To Visit Disney World’s NEWEST Restaurant Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide The Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants The Best EPCOT Restaurant Restaurants The Best Hollywood Studios Restaurants The Best Animal Kingdom Restaurants The Best Disney Springs Restaurants Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Have you eaten at Terralina Crafted Italian? Leave your review in the comments below! The post REVIEW: We Ate A 4-Course Italian Meal At Disney World -- And We Were Shocked at What We Liked Best first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

In 2024, we’ve seen a lot in regards to The Walt Disney Company. Cinderella Castle We had a new Disney Cruise Line set sail, we saw World of Frozen open in Hong Kong Disneyland, and a lot of closures were announced. As we reflect on this past year, there is one word that really stands out to us. But before we tell you, here are some of the runner-ups. According to Oxford University Press, “brain rot” is the word of the year for 2024. This is described as “the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material (now particularly online content) considered to be trivial or unchallenging. We set out to ask our team what they thought the word of the year was in terms of Disney. Magic Kingdom Our team threw around “Pass” for all of the Genie+, Lightning Lane Pass, and Premier Pass changes we saw this year. Disney Genie+ is now Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Individual Lightning Lanes are now Lightning Lane Single Pass. And, on October 30th, 2024, a third, all-inclusive option was introduced: Lightning Lane Premier Pass. ©Disney “Villains” was also tossed around. In case you missed the BIGGEST piece of Disney news all year, Villains Land is coming to Magic Kingdom. Disney shared, “The new Villains Land coming to Magic Kingdom will feature fan-favorite Disney Villains from popular Walt Disney Animation Studios films and two new attractions.” Say WHAT?! We’re getting two NEW villain rides, people! Villains Land ©Disney There is also a new villains show coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This new show is taking over Sunset Showcase, the building that once held Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy. The Cars-themed show permanently closed its doors on October 7th, and the new Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After will premiere in the summer of 2025! ©Disney We also happened to notice two words Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, often uses in investor calls and interviews that he does — Bullish and Turbocharged. On April 3rd, 2024, Disney held its Annual Shareholder Meeting, where we learned more about a new Avatar theme park project and got some confirmation on a few upcoming films. The word of the day? TURBOCHARGED! We heard Iger use the word during the question-and-answer portion of the meeting and later spotted the word pop up in more Disney content published that same day. In fact, Iger went so far as to call it a “tremendous turbocharge” when discussing Disney’s plans. ©Disney Ok, ok, we won’t keep you waiting any longer. The Disney word of the year is EXPANSION. Thanks to D23 this year, we heard a LOT about new expansions and offerings coming to both Disneyland and Disney World. On the shortlist, Disney World is getting a Monsters, Inc. area in Hollywood Studios… ©Disney …Magic Kingdom is getting Cars Land, a new nighttime parade, a Pirates of the Caribbean tavern, and the previously mentioned, Villains Land… ‘Cars’ area in Magic Kingdom ©Disney … Animal Kingdom is getting a completely new land, Tropical Americas, now called Pueblo Esperanza… ©Disney and EPCOT is getting a new Spaceship Earth lounge. ©Disney As for Disneyland, we got confirmation on the new e-ticket Marvel attraction, a Coco ride, and the Avatar expansion. ©Disney So, as you can see, expansion is the perfect word of the year. So why are all of these amazing projects potentially a bad thing for Disney Adults? Well, with all the expansion will come construction and walls. It wasn’t that long ago when we had construction walls up right in the middle of EPCOT and they were frustrating to navigate around. CommuniCore Plaza With these major projects, we will be seeing construction for a while. Just remember, when you get annoyed at the construction walls, it means that something greater is coming! Magic Kingdom We are excited for all of the expansions coming and we will keep you updated on all things Disney. Be sure to follow us here at DFB for more! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What word would you use to describe Disney in 2024? Let us know in the comments below. The post Sorry, Disney Adults, This Is the REAL Word of the Year first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s Christmas time in Disney World! Christmas tree in Magic Kingdom It’s no secret that the crowds flock to Disney World during this time of year. The decorations, special snacks, and after hours events are hard to resist so we get it. How does Christmas Day compare to the entire holiday season? Let’s check out how the parks are looking! It’s no surprise we found crowds in Disney World! We started the day parking at the Transportation and Ticket Center, which was pretty backed up from the moment we pulled up. Backed up at parking! However, lines were moving pretty well — we got in line at 8:17 and were through by 8:31! However, then we reached a very long line at security — it went all the way back to the tunnel! Despite its imposing look, it only took us nine minutes to get through, which was a relief. Security Line! Getting onto the Express Monorail only took 6 minutes, which isn’t bad at all for such a busy day. Headed to the Monorail! Main Street U.S.A. welcomed us home and it turns out we weren’t the only ones spending our Christmas morning in Magic Kingdom. The park certainly felt very crowded, and we knew we were in for an interesting day! Christmas Day Crowds! By 9:30AM, Jingle Cruise in Adventureland was at a 55 minute wait while Pirates of the Caribbean was sitting at only 20! Jingle Cruise Over in Fantasyland, Peter Pan’s Flight was sitting at 50 minutes, while Seven Dwarfs Mine Train had jumped to 70 minutes. While these are bound to go up throughout the day, these aren’t too bad to start out with! Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Don’t forget that you can watch Mickey’s Once Upon A Time Christmas Parade at noon today! Typically, this parade is only available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, but the week of Christmas, the parade begins showing for regular day guests as well. Mickey in the Christmas Parade at Magic Kingdom Crowds between Christmas time and New Years Eve tend to pick up so be prepared if you’re headed to Disney this week! Don’t forget to keep following DisneyFoodBlog for the latest Disney news and updates. Find all of the 2024 Holiday treats in Disney World Here! DON'T MISS A MOMENT OF HOLIDAY MAGIC Holidays at Disney World: DFB's Merriest Guide is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World. It includes all the must-have information for navigating the holiday season at Disney World, including: The COMPLETE schedule of events for the Holiday Season How to avoid the crowds on Disney World's busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!) ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM. And, of course, we'll tell you where to eat! Save 20% on the Holidays at Disney World: DFB's Merriest Guide with code PEPPERMINT. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW MORE Disney World Holiday INFO! Learn About Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Get the Latest Information About the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays Get All the Details About Disney Jollywood Nights Everything You Need to Know About Disney World Holiday Dining and Events Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest holiday news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! How are you spending your holiday? Tell us in the comments! The post Christmas Crowds Have Arrived in Disney World -- Check Them Out With Us! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

SEVENTEEN Performs “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” | Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day ParadeView the full article

BIG changes are coming at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Disney’s Animal Kingdom At D23 this year, we got a better look at the Tropical Americas. This land will take over the existing Dinoland USA meaning that the beloved Dinosaur ride is coming to extinction. We’re here to tell you when it will close and take a closer look at what is coming in its place. Work on the new Tropical Americas land, now called Pueblo Esperanza, at Disney’s Animal Kingdom was announced to begin in the fall of 2024, so, likely, Disney has already begun behind-the-scenes preparations. In fact, we’ve seen permits filed for the area hinting at this. @Disney While Disney may have already started some work, the rides and attractions are currently still open as of writing (December 9th, 2024). But the attractions and restaurants in DinoLand will be closing in waves for construction to begin. Dinosaur in Animal Kingdom Disney did recently share that you can still ride Dinosaur and “get that dino” through 2025, hinting that this popular ride will be closing sometime in 2026. While we haven’t been given the exact date of its closure yet, we at least have a whole year to ride it before it’s gone. Have You Seen the Movie? We will miss this jerky (Did we ride Dinosaur or just go to the chiropractor?) beloved attraction that brought us so many catchphrases like “helllllooooooo there!” and “They’re not gonna make it!”. But, as always, Disney is giving us something to look forward to. Definitely not our dino! So, what’s taking up a new home in the attraction location? An Indiana Jones ride will be a new adventure ride, different from the one currently at Disneyland and other Disney parks around the world. It will feature a brand-new story following “the man with the hat” during a time when he has “recently discovered a perfectly preserved Maya temple, and that can only mean one thing: it’s time to explore it.” ©Disney Indy has heard rumors about a mythical creature deep within the temple — and he’s got to see it for himself. We will be brought along on the adventure… but will there be snakes? We’ll just have to wait and see. Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland That’s not all that we can anticipate from Pueblo Esperanza. It will also include an Encanto ride and a new carousel. Disney has also begun focusing on incorporating more of its IP (Intellectual Property) into its parks, so this change to adding more attractions from several Disney movies makes sense to accomplish this goal. Disney’s Animal Kingdom We are excited about what is to come at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. For the latest Disney news, be sure to follow us at DFB. 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 How do you feel about Dinosaur leaving Animal Kingdom? Tell us below. The post When Is Dinosaur Closing in Disney World, and What New Ride Is Replacing It? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Ready or not, 2025 is practically HERE! Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway in Disneyland Which means YOU need to start getting ready for that BIG Disneyland trip that you’re gonna be taking next year — and STAT. (Hmm… I think I know JUST the video that can help you out with that… THIS ONE!) Check out our video below: The ULTIMATE Guide to Disneyland in 2025 Are you a DFB Video subscriber? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to our channel and catch up on ALL of our latest episodes! And stay tuned for more theme park news! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What is your favorite Disneyland snack of all time? Tell us in the comments. The post DFB Video: The ULTIMATE Guide to Disneyland in 2025 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’ve dined in some strange and unique places in Disney World! Hollywood Studios We’ve eaten inside of cars, next to aquariums, and even in space. Disney knows how to do themed dining, and so when we got the chance to go to a restaurant that feels like dining in mom’s kitchen, we were like “Sign us UP!” The only catch? They might yell at us! Over in Hollywood Studios, you’ll find some pretty good restaurants. Here you’ll find a variety of quick service and table service restaurants, character dining, and snack stands. But something just sounds good about some home-cooked food that will make you feel like you’re right at home and for that, we head to 50’s Prime Time Cafe. Hollywood Studios Located on Echo Lake, you’ll spot a revolving sign with neon colors and you will know you are in the right place. 50’s Prime Time Cafe will transport you back to the 1950s with its checked flooring, wood paneling, and old-school wallpaper. The menu items include fantastic fried chicken, pot roast, meatloaf, and other favorites from your childhood. Wherever you’re seated, you’re within eyeshot of an old black-and-white set showing mid-century TV favorites. You can’t get much more fun than this! So what’s the catch? 50’s Prime Time Cafe When you’re here, you’re family (for better or for worse). Because at 50’s Prime Time Cafe, you’re back in Mom’s kitchen being served by your cousin, uncle, or some other “family member!” And just like at your family’s house, you got to mind your manners! 50’s Prime Time Cafe Your servers will get on to you for having your elbows on the table and using your cell phone. On our last visit, we had to ask for paper in a pen because we use our phone to take notes. Cousin Kim brought us a 3-foot-long paper just to be silly. We have also seen other customers get called out by servers and while it’s all in good fun, it sure makes us sweat every time we go! Cousin Kim and her jokes! If you don’t like attention being drawn to you in public, this can really give you some anxious thoughts. You might even be worried about doing something wrong during your meal. Of course, if you don’t want to participate in the shenanigans, you can tell your server that you’d like to simply observe. They’ll be happy to respect that request. Clean Plate Club We don’t think that should stop you from coming here to grab some good food and enjoy watching others get scolded by their “aunts and uncles”. We also suggest if you want to eat here AND see Fantasmic!, the nighttime show at Hollywood Studios, you should look into grabbing a dining reservation for Fantasmic! Dining Package. The Fantasmic! Dining Package offers a meal at a participating restaurant in Disney’s Hollywood Studios AND reserved seating for a showing of the popular Fantasmic! Nighttime Spectacular. Read More About Fantasmic! Dining Packages Here! 50’s Prime Time For more Disney restaurant reviews and news, follow us at DFB! We love sharing our knowledge to help make your Disney vacations easier. 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! What is one restaurant you won’t go to at Disney World? Tell us below in the comments. The post This Popular Disney’s Hollywood Studios Restaurant Gave Me Serious Anxiety, and I Know I'm Not the Only One first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Who wouldn’t want to live in a fairytale castle? Especially a fairy tale castle that is less than an hour away from Disney World. ©EXP Realty Well, if you happen to have $2.2 million to spare, you can make that dream a reality and you can live in a castle that is just 35 minutes away from Disney World! A new Orlando home was just listed on the market, and it is a DREAM home if we have ever seen one! The house has 4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, and is 4,680 square feet of pure magic. Not only does the outside of the house look like an actual CASTLE, but just wait until you see the inside! ©EXP Realty Before we get too far into this house, it definitely has a style that is all its own. According to Mansion Global, the home was built in 1991 by Steven Larry Kearns. He built the castle for his wife, Marlene Kearns. The Kearns sold the castle in 2005 for $550,000, and then it was sold again in 2006 for $800,000. The current owners have lived in the house for almost 20 years and have been making improvements since they purchased it. ©EXP Realty The current owners have added window lead work and even imported wood from Sri Lanka. You will find lots of interesting spots throughout the home, including this second-floor room that overlooks one of the bedrooms. While it may not be the most practical space, the woodwork is gorgeous and we could see oursevles reading a book up here! ©EXP Realty The wood tones continue into the kitchen, and you will even find a bay of windows that overlooks lots of greenery. While we were hoping for a bit more extravagant details in the kitchen, we were so intrigued by one of the bathrooms. ©EXP Realty This bathroom is giving us lots of knight vibes. The metal wall with the metal sink on top of a barrel. A conversation starter, for sure. We love that there is even a copper goblet holding some of the bathroom toiletries! ©EXP Realty Now, let’s head to the backyard! We are loving all the plants, especially the ones that are flowing over the balconies. The perfect spot for a Romeo and Juliet reenactment, “O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?” ©EXP Realty But we saved the best for last. The house also boasts an idyllic pool and we can already imagine ourselves in lougning in the hot tub, enjoying a cocktail, and admiring our CASTLE. We will probably be dreaming about this house for a while! ©EXP Realty We love the details and how luxurious this house feels. While the house won’t be for everyone, we are sure whoever ends up buying it will be living a life fit for royalty! Stay tuned to DFB for all your Disney news! Find out how much homes INSIDE Disney World cost! 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 this house? Let us know in the comments! The post Do You Have .2 Million to Spare? Then You Could Live in a Fairy Tale Castle Near Disney World! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Merry #Christmas! Have you looked under the 🎄 yet? #WaltDisneyWorld #Disney #DisneyParksView the full article

Y’ALL. WE DID IT. 2025 is nearly here! Magic Kingdom It’s been quite the year for Disney, but they aren’t slowing down any time soon. Whether you’re a long-time fan or planning your first trip, there’s something new to look forward to across the parks. From ride closures to EPCOT festivals (hooray!) and beyond, here’s a look at what will be different at Disney World in the first month of 2025! If you’re heading to Disney World soon, be sure to check out our planning worksheets. You can click the image below to get our list and make sure you don’t forget a thing! Check out what you can look forward to in January at Disney World! Say Goodbye to 5 Disney World Rides (For Now) January is FULL of closures, both temporary and permanent. The following are the temporary closures so if your eyes skipped ahead to read “Big Thunder…” and you freaked out, don’t worry! We’re starting with the refurbishments. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Starting in Magic Kingdom, we’ll have to say farewell to “The Wildest Ride in the Wilderness” for at least one year. The ride is scheduled to close on January 6th, 2025, and won’t reopen until 2026. Sigh… Big Thunder Mountain Railroad About this closure, Disney says that the ride will reopen “with a little bit of new magic in 2026.” It’s unclear exactly what that means at this time — will there be new special effects like the Disneyland version? Something totally different? We’ll have to wait and see. The PROBLEM with the Year-Long Closure of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom Astro Orbiter On the same day, another ride will shut down temporarily. That’s Astro Orbiter over in Tomorrowland! Astro Orbiter The closure is not quite as long as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, however, it will still last several months. Disney says they expect it to be back up in summer of 2025. Yes, the park will be down at least two rides! Lengthy Magic Kingdom Ride Closure Just Announced Kali River Rapids As expected, Kali River Rapids in Disney’s Animal Kingdom will temporarily close for routine maintenance on January 6th, 2025. Kali River Rapids Each year around this time, the water rides close for some TLC. There aren’t many people trying to ride them while it’s cold! A Disney World Ride Is Temporarily CLOSING in January Gran Fiesta Tour The Three Caballeros will be taking a 2-month siesta starting on January 6th as well! The iconic Mexico pavilion boat ride is also receiving some refurbishment work. Gran Fiesta Tour starring The Three Caballeros Luckily Disney has already given us a reopening date of March 15th, 2025. These are subject to change but it shows us the light at the end of the tunnel! Iconic EPCOT Ride Announces 2-Month Closure Hall of Presidents And finally, the Hall of Presidents will be closing on January 20th. This closure happens each time a new President of the United States is elected. Hall of Presidents There is no reopening date on the Disney World calendar just yet. Closure Announced For Yet Another Magic Kingdom Attraction Say Goodbye to DinoLand (Forever) We’re sorry…but it’s time to move onto the permanent closures. January marks the end of an era because part of DinoLand will be closing forever. It’s almost time to say goodbye This closure includes TriceraTop Spin, Fossil Fun Games, and Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures. You have through January 12th to say your final goodbyes to this area of the park. Disney confirmed that the land’s main attraction, DINOSAUR, will remain open through 2025 so you’ve got a bit more time to process its inevitable closure. Dr. Grant Seeker will be unemployed soon In case you missed it, DinoLand is being replaced with a Tropical Americas-themed land called Pueblo Esperanza. The land will feature attractions around Indiana Jones and Encanto! It’s expected to open in 2027 so expect a LOT of construction walls in this area of the park until then. Close-Up Look At NEW Encanto Ride Announced for Disney World! Festival of the Arts EPCOT’s first festival of 2025 is, of course, the iconic Festival of the Arts! This festival is a fan-favorite and although it is short, so much is packed into it. It’s a must-do! EPCOT Festival of the Arts This event will run from January 17th to February 14th, 2025 and you can expect everything you know and love about EPCOT festivals. Food booths (including this new booth that was recently announced), a food crawl with a free prize, the Figment scavenger hunt, photo ops, interactive art experiences, entertainment, and so much more. Everything You Need to Know for the 2025 EPCOT Festival of the Arts After Hours Events Are Back! Have you ever wanted to stay inside a Disney World park AFTER is closes? Soon you can! In January, Disney World is bringing back the popular After Hours events to Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios! Cinderella Castle at night Magic Kingdom’s events begin on January 6th and are available on select nights through May 19th. More interested in Hollywood Studios? You can buy tickets for events happening from January 22nd to September 3rd. Minnie Mouse at Hollywood Studios After Hours Tickets are on sale now and there are many perks to going. Some people even purchase After Hours tickets in lieu of a regular park ticket! That’s because lines are super short at popular rides due to the limited capacity. You can also meet rare characters and get complimentary snacks! Prices vary but if you haven’t tried these before, 2025 might be the year to try it out. The 2 BEST Dates to Buy After Hours Tickets in Disney’s Hollywood Studios Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Disney World’s biggest runDisney event of the year is happening from January 8th-12th! Each day, there will be a new race from a 5K all the way to the main event — the marathon! Marathon Weekend Crowds (2023) Thousands of people come to Disney World to do this event, but it can be fun even if you decide to watch. It’s also important to note that these events can impact the park hours. For example, on January 11th and 12th, EPCOT will open at 10AM instead of the typical 9AM. ©Disney This race has been sold out since tickets went on sale. However, if you’ve ever wanted to see Disney World in a totally different way, we recommend doing a runDisney race in the future! FIRST LOOK at the Walt Disney World 2025 Marathon Weekend Merchandise Want to book a trip to Disney World? We’ve got a hack for you! Check out our friends over at Small World Vacations to help you plan the perfect trip — you won’t regret it! 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 Those are some of the major changes coming to Disney World in January! Disney World will continue to change and update and DFB will be here to keep you in the loop! 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 visiting Disney World in January? What are you looking forward to? Let us know in the comments! The post 9 Major Changes Coming to Disney World in January first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Uh oh! You’ve forgotten to make a reservation for a restaurant in EPCOT, and now you’re scrambling to find a decent place to enjoy a nice meal. EPCOT While it’s true that most restaurants around EPCOT can fill up quickly with reservations, especially during heavier seasons like when special dining packages might be offered, there are a few tried and true restaurants we like to turn to when we’re feeling a bit spontaneous. We recently set out for a meal at one of these options that has a bit of a divisive reputation for its quirky menu, and we’ve got to admit its newest offerings probably aren’t going to bring unity. As you find yourself making your way around EPCOT’s World Showcase, you’ve probably stopped to marvel at this massive restaurant. It’s hard to ignore the Nine Dragons Restaurant in the China Pavilion. Nine Dragons Restaurant But, this restaurant does offer more than meets the eye! The menu offers a mix of Cantonese, Mongolian, Szechuan, Hunan and Kiangche-style eats. Its a lovely restaurant to dine in, but it certainly seems to have created mixed reviews for itself within its most recent menu updates. Atmosphere This is a HUGE restaurant to walk up to, and it really looks very ornate with a commanding presence. We think it was also dealt a pretty sweet hand with its location as it’s very easily viewable by those who are strolling by around the World Showcase. Nine Dragons Restaurant sign The outside doesn’t overdo the decor though, and there is a condensed version of the menu highlights featured outside for curious passersby. Highlight menu outside As you walk in, you’ll find the host stand in the waiting room with its jade colored walls and columns. This is also where you’ll find the connecting door to the bathrooms for the restaurant (which are shared with the neighboring Lotus Blossom Café. Waiting area and bathrooms When it was our turn to be seated, we were welcomed and walked through the main dining room that was enveloped with the natural sunlight beaming into the windows on the backside of the restaurant. It was a little bit overcast this particular day, so it wasn’t too much sunlight to be blinded or annoy us during our meal, but just enough to really give it a nice touch to the lively dining area. Dining room The restaurant’s dining rooms are sectioned off with a main room… Main dining room small tables …a slimmer dining area divided by an interesting wall divider… Smaller dining area …and a back room with a more intimate feel. Back of the restaurant Along the wall closest to where the Cast Members entered and exited from the kitchen you’ll find 9 small windows, each decorated with a single colorful glass dragon inside! These are very neat to look at, and we’d encourage you at some point to get up and see all of their tiny details up-close! Dragons! For as large of a space as the dining room is, it wasn’t very loud inside — even with the restaurant playing light orchestral music overhead. Menu When we were seated at our table, our server presented us with a double-sided paper menu. The front side features selections of appetizers, entrées, and the restaurant’s kids menu… Appetizers, entrées, kids menu …while the back side features the non-alcoholic beverages, hot drinks, and wines. Beverages, hot drinks, and wine Another smaller tabletop menu folded out in an A-frame to detail the dessert options on one side… Desserts …along with the cocktail and beer selections on the opposite side. Cocktails and beer But since we’d been following the latest menu updates to hit Disney World, we knew exactly what we planned to order. Eats We couldn’t wait to show you everything we ordered all at once, so here it is! We ended up opting for the Chicken Pot Stickers, the new Glazed Prawns with Pistachios, the also new Smoked Duck Fried Rice, and a Strawberry Crepe Cake to top it all off. Our entire meal But let’s not get ahead of ourselves — let’s start with our appetizer! The Chicken Pot Stickers are made of pan-fried chicken dumplings, cabbage, and dumpling sauce and will cost you $10. Chicken Pot Stickers The dumplings were well cooked which resulted in some of the outside being a bit crispier, for the most part the dumpling was chewy and soft enough to cut into easily without compromising the rest of the dumpling’s structure. Inside of the pot sticker The overall flavor leaned a bit toward the bland side from the chewier chicken packed inside along with the crunch of the cabbage, but where this dish made up for it was in the drizzle of the tangy dumpling sauce with sesame seeds. While it wasn’t anything we’re raving about, it was a decent start to meal with something comfortable and familiar to our taste buds, we just wish they had kicked that flavor up another notch. Solid appetizer Next up, we tried a new menu item. The Glazed Prawns with Pistachios is made of lightly-fried glazed prawn, roasted pistachio, honey mustard sauce and this dish will cost you $32. Glazed Prawns with Pistachio and a side of white rice At first glance dish is BIG and those prawns aren’t your average scrawny shrimp either. They’re tossed in a glaze that’s very thin and a bit on the runny side, but its flavor is what intrigued us most about it. It reminded us of a honey mustard glaze. The prawns themselves are gigantic, and you get a hefty portion of them! They’re plump while still giving that hint of seafood brine when you dig into them, and with the glaze they’re really enjoyable. Just the prawns This dish is also served with a side of white rice which comes in its own cup. While we could appreciate the separation for someone who’s not a fan of mixing their food flavors together, it felt a little weird separating them. Served with a side of white rice We would have ideally liked to have seen the glazed prawns sitting on a bed of white rice, rather than having to dip into the rice, then grab a prawn. So plump! Overall though, we really liked this meal and the extra crunch of the crushed pistachios weren’t super helpful in terms of flavor but added a nice texture to the prawns. Another look The Smoked Duck Fried Rice was next up on our list of “new” to try! This dish is made of smoked ducked breast, egg fried rice, hoisin sauce and costs a whopping $35! Smoked Duck Fried Rice Yeah, it’s a huge bowl and honestly what struck us first is how this should have been listed as a shareable entree option. However, that fried rice smelled so good wafting in our direction, and we were so ready to try it out! Very gamey This one was a big disappointment for us. We realize it’s going to take a special kind of palate to appreciate duck in general but this gamey, smoked duck breast really didn’t please us. It was extra chewy, and there wasn’t a whole lot of hoisin sauce. We recommend asking for extra because without it, this meal feels dry and lacking in flavor. We’re sure there’s a target customer base for this dish, but on this day at least, we weren’t it. To round out our meal, we chose the Strawberry Crepe Cake for dessert. This slice is made of layers of light and soft crepes with strawberry cream — it costs $13. Strawberry Crepe Cake It’s on the tinier side for a $13 dessert, but we were hopeful that it would make up for it in flavor. As you take a bite into this piece of cake you can almost taste the ridges of each crepe layer that makes up the cake. It has a soft, sweet strawberry taste, and there’s a dollop of strawberry sauce spread on the side of the slice that we found ourselves dipping our fork into before grabbing a new bite. Just a bite! Overall it was a unique dessert that we’re glad to have had the opportunity to try, but we also could see those who are texture-averse having a hard time enjoying it. But for us, at the end of the day, cake was cake and while it was dry in parts, the strawberry flavor kept things light enough that we didn’t mind. Overall Overall for this meal we walked away full but not entirely satisfied. Another dragon The newer dishes couldn’t have been more different from each other, and we’re not certain the combo of the two back to back worked for our tastebuds. We were also disappointed to hear that a few other menu offerings were retired to make way for these new eats and found the dessert menu pretty basic with just 3 options. Nosh or Not? We’d recommend you stop by for a meal at Nine Dragons Restaurant if… You’re feeling adventurous and want to try a few newer menu items. Several of the dishes we tried during this review were new to the menu so if you’re looking to switch your your typical EPCOT eats, this might be just the change you’re craving. You’re really into Chinese food. If you’re experiencing a hankering that only a Chinese dish can satisfy, then this is certainly the better China restaurant of the two in EPCOT to choose. You’re looking for a meal with a view. The backside of the restaurant features giant cascading windows large enough to see the World Showcase Lagoon through. This makes it a pretty popular restaurant for late evening meals and an even more popular option to request when dining here for a chance to view the nightly fireworks from your seat. We wouldn’t recommend you visit Nine Dragons Restaurant if… Well…you’re just not into Chinese food. The menu here is entirely made of Chinese-inspired eats and drinks. If that doesn’t sound appealing you’ll have a hard time finding an alternative to eat here. You’re not a fan of gamey rice dishes. Yes, this restaurant does serve some gamer dishes, take the Smoked Duck Fried Rice we tried today for example. If you’re not into to meats that align with this taste, then you’ll probably end up with a dish that’s pretty basic that you could have paid a lot less for elsewhere. You’re BIG on variety. Now, don’t get us wrong here. Nine Dragons Restaurant certainly has variety to their menu but admittedly their menu offerings aren’t terribly extensive. We’re constantly updating our views and trying out the newest snacks, eats, drinks and more around Disney World! Make sure you’re following along with us at Disney Food Blog for all the latest. REVIEW: NEW Menu Items Have Landed at a Controversial Disney’s Hollywood Studios Restaurant 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! What are you ordering on your next visit to Nine Dragons Restaurant? Tell us in the comments below! The post REVIEW: This EPCOT Restaurant Has a Flashy Location and a New Menu, But We Still Can't Recommend It first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If there’s one thing we know about The Walt Disney Company, it’s that they like to keep us on our toes. You never know what Disney might announce! Who would have guessed that a Villains show is coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios?! From Magic Kingdom to EPCOT to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, every single Disney park will change in 2025. What does that mean for you? Well, your trips will change, too! Cinderella Castle If you’re planning a Disney World trip in 2025, you’re going to want to listen carefully. Three of the four parks – Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios – are about to become complete construction zones. In a few years, these big changes will totally enhance Disney World. But for the next few months…it’s going to be, well, a mess. These are the biggest news drops that will change your trips to Disney World in 2025. Hollywood Studios Monsters, Inc. Land Let’s start with the park we’re expecting the most…chaos. Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be undergoing a major transformation. The Muppets Courtyard is closing permanently (sad!) to make way for the new Monsters, Inc. Land. ©Disney We still don’t have an exact closing date, but construction on this new land is planned to start in 2025. This means at least several parts, but more likely ALL, of Muppets Courtyard will close in 2025. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Re-theme But wait; there’s more! Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster is getting re-themed into a Muppets-themed coaster. Yes, really. The Muppets may be getting kicked out of the Muppets Courtyard, but they are not getting evicted from Hollywood Studios altogether. Disney didn’t share a timeline for this one either, but construction could start in 2025. For now, we will just have to wait and see! ©Disney While this park is under construction, we expect the park to feel a little more crowded and anticipate some bottlenecks. Let’s just say we are excited for all the new projects to come to an end (before they even begin!). Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After Back in October, Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy permanently closed. This area will soon be used for a brand-new Disney Villains stage show called “Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After.” Villains are taking over Disney’s Hollywood Studios! ©Disney We don’t know much about this show yet, but Disney did hint that the show is set to feature some of your favorite Disney Villains, like Captain Hook, Maleficent, and Cruella De Vil. They will transform the stage into the “mysterious, reflective realm of the Magic Mirror” and perform live music and dances. ©Disney We cannot WAIT to see this! The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure Waaay back when Disney’s Hollywood Studios reopened after the pandemic, Voyage of the Little Mermaid did not reopen. Eventually, Disney announced that a NEW show would take its place. The new show will be titled “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure,” and after a slight edit to the original timeline, the show will officially open this summer! The Little Mermaid: A Musical Adventure This show will use a combination of live actors, puppets, digital animation, and live motion capture to replicate the show’s underwater setting. The Little Mermaid: A Musical Adventure Plus, the show will have two NEW songs that weren’t part of the previous show: “Daughters of Triton” and “Kiss the Girl.” Disney’s Animal Kingdom Dinoland U.S.A. Closing Say goodbye to the dinosaurs! Dinoland U.S.A. is officially closing, and the phased closures start on January 13th, 2025. This area is closing to make way for a brand-new Tropical Americas land called Pueblo Esperanza. There will be a new Encanto ride, set inside the enchanted Casita… ©Disney …an Indiana Jones attraction, which will have a brand new story… ©Disney …a carousel attraction for little ones, and so much more. We can’t wait to see how Disney is able to transform this space. Pueblo Esperanza Carousel Concept Art ©Disney It’s Tough to Be a Bug Closure That’s not the only part of the park getting an update, though! Over on Discovery Island, a new Zootopia: Better Zoogether! show will replace It’s Tough to Be a Bug at the Tree of Life Theater. While we don’t have an exact date, Dsiney hinted this should be ready by winter 2025. ©Disney The good news is that there are some FUN additions on the horizon. The bad news is that Animal Kingdom will feel smaller and busier than ever while Dinoland is under construction. Magic Kingdom Magic Kingdom will see some of the BIGGEST changes, so be prepared for a total construction zone. First, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will close on January 6th, 2025. This ride will be down for refurbishment for over a year. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Speaking of Big Thunder, a HUGE new Villains Land is coming “beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.” We’ve spotted some cranes in the area, so this could be under construction as we speak. See the crane? Villains Land will feature fan-favorite Disney Villains from popular Walt Disney Animation Studios films and two new attractions. TWO new rides! ©Disney Oh, and there’s more. Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America are permanently closing. These areas will be replaced by a new Cars-themed area. This new expansion in Magic Kingdom will include the addition of two Cars attractions. The first one will have you racing through the mountains and along wild terrains, all while trying to dodge geysers and splashing through mud holes. While the second attraction will be more family-friendly and geared for smaller racers. ‘Cars’ area in Magic Kingdom ©Disney Get ready for a new DVC lounge, too. This one will take over the old Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade. ©Disney Phew! That’s a LOT. Be prepared for big crowds, ride closures, and lots and lots of construction walls. We suggest being super strategic about how you spend your days in the parks — and if you want to avoid construction, go to EPCOT! In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more. FULL LIST of What’s OPENING in Disney World in 2025 Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Will you be visiting Disney World in 2025? Let us know in the comments! The post The BIGGEST News Drops That Will Change Your 2025 Disney World Trip first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article