Disney4me

We are back with a NEW treat in Disney World! To celebrate Mufasa: The Lion King debuting in theaters on December 20th, Disney World released FIVE exclusive treats. Amorette’s Patisserie Of course, you know we have to give them a try, so we are heading over to Amorette’s Patisserie to try one of the new desserts. Amorette’s Patisserie is located in the Town Center area of Disney Springs. It is a French-style bakery that serves up a variety of pastries, cakes, and other treats. We are here to grab the Mufasa Cake Bar! This bar contains a cinnamon-vanilla mouse and vanilla chiffon with caramel chocolate-coated feuilletine crunch dipped in dark chocolate. You can get it for $8.25. Mufasa Cake Bar Upon first impression, we were taken aback by the Mufasa cut-out on the front. For some reason, it seems a bit out of place against the decorations behind it. We felt like we were being stared down by a cake bar, and it was just a bit weird. He looks just as confused as we are! Did we just have a moment with a fake lion? Don’t judge… Mufasa Cake Bar Once we made it past the lion’s face staring into our soul, it was time to see how this treat tasted. This bar is PACKED with cinnamon flavor. You will have to really enjoy cinnamon to enjoy this cake bar. It isn’t a hint of cinnamon, but rather, it is a gingerbread-esque amount of cinnamon. Is he staring at you or me? Beyond the cinnamon flavor, you will also taste a lot of chocolate. The cake bar has a very doughy consistency. The cake bar doesn’t have layers; the ingredients are combined together in one cake bar center. Inisde the Mufasa Cake Bar Overall, we really enjoyed the cake bar and it was one of the better cake bars we have tried. BUT, you will need to like cinnamon if you are going to grab this cake bar; you have been warned! We tasted cinnamon in our mouths for quite a while afterward. We will also be heading to Animal Kingdom to try some of the other new Mufasa treats, so check back for those reviews! Mufasa Cake Bars We have a passion for Disney food, and we have eaten EVERYWHERE in Disney World. However, we aren’t stopping there. We are constantly revisiting locations and trying new food, so stay tuned to DFB for even more Disney food reviews! This Disney World Restaurant Served My Food on a Miniature Mine Cart. Need I Say More? 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! Will you be grabbing the Mufasa Cake Bar? Let us know in the comments! The post REVIEW: This New Disney World Treat Stared Straight Into Our Soul. It Was Weird. first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

He’s mischievous. He’s sassy. He’s also the sweetest and most lovable alien in Disney World. Stitch is a Disney icon! Stitch! Over the past few years, it seems like Disney REALLY leaned into the Stitch craze. It felt like everywhere you turned, Stitch was there. He was taking over Cinderella Castle (yes, he really did cover it with toilet paper), attacking snacks, and crashing other Disney stories. But could 2025 mark a new era? We found an interesting sign that could indicate Disney is FINALLY ditching Stitch. For a little background, Disney likes to create 12-part merchandise collections that release one month at a time. There was the Stitch Attacks Snacks collection… Stitch Attacks Snacks Stitch and Angel Snow Cone Plushes …and even a Stitch Crashes Disney collection. This was a weird one. Pocahontas and Peter Pan Stitch Crashes Disney Plushes! But this year, Disney is FINALLY moving away from the Stitch collections. In fact, in a new 2025 merchandise preview, we learned that a Winnie the Pooh Pin of the Month Series will debut in January! Each month throughout 2025, Disney will release another pin to add to the collection. You can see a sneak peek at a few of the designs below! ©Disney Looking more closely, it looks like Pooh will join his Hundred Acre Wood friends on all sorts of adventures. We can’t wait to see the full collection! ©Disney The map also has some yet-to-be-revealed designs, and if you look closely, it looks like there could be a Tigger pin in the collection! ©Disney We love ya, Stitch, but it feels SO GOOD to see a different character take the lead for 2025. Does this mean more Winnie the Pooh merchandise is on the way? We’ll have to wait and see. Considering Disney just released these…unique hats (and they SOLD OUT online), it seems like people are really into Winnie the Pooh right now. ©Disney In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more. Hot Take Ahead It’s Officially Time for Disney to Bench Stitch Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What do you think about this new trend? Let us know in the comments! The post Finally! Disney Is Ditching Stitch. first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Okay, so we’ll admit that we’re a sucker for a good food truck. Gideon’s Okay, well, we’re a sucker for anything related to food, but there’s something fun about food trucks. Now, you may not know, but Disney Springs has several food trucks that pretty much stay parked in the area year-round. But a special NEW food truck has arrived in Orlando, and we’re excited because it’s affiliated with one of our favorite cookie spots, Gideon’s Bakehouse. Lewis did, however, hint at other fixed locations coming to the area. As we mentioned, this is an early preview of the food truck, but Gideon’s is hoping to have the food truck officially ready by summer 2025. If you’re interested, you can also purchase a cute Stuart & Bonnie’s tote bag while supplies last. For the record, we waited 225 minutes in line, with 141 of those minutes after the truck opened. There were still about 100 people in line when we left. Whew! But for good food? WORTH IT. Let’s go! Of course, you KNOW us, so we picked up some goodies. We tried the Cuban Gelato Sandwich… Cuban Gelato Sandwich …the Icebox Citrus Tart… Icebox Citrus Tart …Bonnie’s Shortbread… Bonnie’s shortbread …Florida a la Mode… Florida a la Mode …and Stuart’s Soda Pop. Stuart’s Soda Pop You’ll want to stay tuned to DFB for more soon because we’ll be back with reviews of EVERYTHING we tried! We Tried 3 Controversial Cake Slices Over $20 at Disney World’s Most Popular Restaurants 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 a Gideon’s Bakehouse food truck? Let us know in the comments! The post The Longest Line in Orlando Today Is NOT at Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

What Disney fan doesn’t love finding their favorite items online? ©Amazon You don’t have to wait until you’re back in the parks to buy Disney items. Just look on Amazon! We found 9 Disney items on sale right now on Amazon today so let’s take a look. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Get Disney Recipes for 40% Off Right Now ©Amazon With this Official Disney Parks Cookbook, you will find 101 recipes from some of Disney’s most delicious and iconic food and beverages. You’ll find an assortment of appetizers, main courses, sides, desserts, and even drinks from table-service and quick-service establishments at the Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Cruise Line ships, and Disney Vacation Club resorts. You can even make your own Mickey Mouse Beignets! View on Amazon Add Some Disney Style With These Earrings for 60% Off! ©Amazon These Mickey and Minnie Stud Earrings are the perfect Disney addition to any outfit. With their instantly recognizable icons, they are decorated with each character’s signature outfits– Minnie’s red bow and polka dot dress, and Mickey’s classic red shorts. View on Amazon LEGO Fans, Don’t Miss This Simba Set! ©Amazon Kids ages 6 and up can build this Simba the Lion King Cub set that’s ready for imaginative role play and makes a fun display afterwards. The figure has a rotating head with movable legs and tail, and it can be posed either standing up or sitting down! It is also 10% off right now! View on Amazon Get Your Family to Enjoy This Family Fun Game Together! ©Amazon Beat the Parents is a “kids vs. parents”, Disney-themed game of fun drawing and active challenges. Your teams will go head-to-head, using their Disney knowledge to get the right answer! Who will win bragging rights until the next game? We love adding this to your family game night rotation! View on Amazon Feel the Speed with 33% Off of Lightning McQueen Toy! ©Amazon Get your Ka-Chow ready to head to the winner’s circle with this Lightning McQueen toy car! It comes ready to play out of the box. It has simple and convenient recharging abilities with USB technology. Batteries are included for the remote controller so no need to buy some! View on Amazon 5 Pack of Squishmallows for Over 60% Off! ©Amazo Celebrate Disney’s 100 Years of Wonder with this classic character plush box set! You can add these classic characters, including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, the Cheshire Cat, Stitch, and Tinker Bell, to your Squishmallow collection. These Disney collectibles are perfect to snuggle with during long car rides and sleepovers and can bring some Disney fun. View on Amazon Go Wild With This Mickey Dinosaur Playset for 20% Off! ©Amazon This set includes a toy vehicle, a Mickey Mouse figure, a Donald Duck figure, 2 Triceratops figures, 2 T.Rex figures, 2 Apatosaurus figures, a telescoping seat, a spyglass, a trailer, a tree, a plant, and 2 play rocks. It’s also easy to take it with you on the go for a good distraction toy for little ones! View on Amazon Snuggle Up With Tigger for 33% Off! ©Amazon This understuffed, huggably floppy seated Tigger stuffed animal features soft orange and yellow plush with embroidered accents. Tigger also has soft quilted cotton jersey textures on his ears and feet.It is also machine washable, which parents know is key! View on Amazon Get Villainous for 26% Off! ©Amazon With this Villainous game, you can play as Disney’s King Candy or Shere Khan and encounter all the henchmen and heroes from the Disney films Wreck-It Ralph and The Jungle Book. You can also combine Sugar and Spite with characters from any Disney Villainous product for 2-4 player games View on Amazon We are adding new Disney items daily to our Amazon Storefront, so be sure to check it out! Click Here for Our Amazon Storefront! The post 9 Disney Items On Sale for Less Than On Amazon Today first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Last year was wild: the Steamboat Willie version of Mickey Mouse entered the public domain and folks wasted NO time taking advantage of it. Weighted Steamboat Willie Plush We saw a Steamboat Willie horror movie that had been in the works for a while just waiting for this version of Mickey to enter the public domain. Following that, a video game development company announced a new horror title, called Infestation: Origin, a co-op survival game. Adult Swim also posted a video making fun of the fact that Mickey was now up for grabs. Well, now, another version of Mickey Mouse will soon have its copyright expire, sending it to the public domain. The Karnival Kid, which featured Mickey Mouse speaking for the very first time, will enter the public domain in 2025. Several other Mickey shorts also become public domain, meaning that the copyright has expired and those versions of the character can be used by the general public without permission or payment to Disney. ©Disney Some high profile comics character will also be entering public domain in 1925, including Popeye, who first appeared in a newspaper strip in 1929. However, only this version of Popeye is available to the public for free use — this wasn’t the version of the character with the grumbly voice or that ate spinach. This doesn’t apply to Robin Williams’ turn as the character in the 1980 Popeye movie either. ©Paramount Another famous comic character entering public domain in 2025 is Tintin, which first appeared in the U.S. in 1929. However, the version of the character with the bright red hair didn’t appear until later, so that version is still protected by copyright law. That includes the version seen in Stephen Spielberg’s 2011 movie, The Adventures of Tintin. ©Paramount Other notable works entering public domain in 2025 include William Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury, John Steinbeck’s A Cup of Gold, Virginia Woolf’s essay “A Room of One’s Own,” Alfred Hitchcock’s Blackmail, John Ford’s The Black Watch, Cecil B. DeMille’s Dynamite, and more. Stay tuned to DFB for more. 3 Ways Mickey Mouse Has Been Defiled Since Becoming Public Domain 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? Let us know in the comments! The post NEWS: 'Karnival Kid' Mickey Mouse Will Enter Public Domain Soon first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It is hard to believe that it is almost 2025! We have already started our New Year’s resolutions, and of course, we are including lots of Disney World trips as one of our goals. Animal Kingdom A new year brings lots of new changes, and we are rounding up some of the biggest changes coming to Florida and Disney World travel in 2025. Be REAL ID Ready! One of the biggest changes coming in 2025 that will impact your travel is regarding your ID. Beginning May 7th, 2025, U.S. travelers must be REAL ID compliant to board domestic flights. To find out if you are REAL ID compliant, check if your ID has a gold or black star in the upper portion of the card. If you don’t have that star on your ID, you must visit your state’s driver’s licensing agency to get a REAL ID before using it for travel. ©Department of Homeland Security Car Rentals Are Getting More Expensive If you are renting a car from the Orlando International Airport, be prepared that the rental will be a bit more expensive in 2025. The Customer Facility Charge (CFC) increase was implemented in November 2024, and will be sticking around into 2025. The daily rate went from $6 to $9. Even though it is not a huge increase, it is something to be aware of. This is not the only fee you will pay when renting a car either. Disney World! “An airport car rental includes additional fees like a Concession Recovery Fee, Energy Recovery Fee, Florida Surcharge, Vehicle License Fee, and Waste Tire & Battery Fee. Fees alone for a weeklong rental of an SUV from MCO can total more than $150.” Potentially Higher Travel Volume You might also notice an increase in travel volume to Orlando next year as Universal’s Epic Universe is officially opening. This brand-new theme park will be opening on May 22nd, 2025. It will be drawing in some large crowds and you might feel an increase in volume if you are traveling to Orlando after it has opened. Epic Universe Model This higher volume may also affect the roadways in Orlando. If you are driving around the Universal and Disney areas, you may want to add some extra time in case there is more traffic than normal. New Restaurants Coming to Orlando Airport Finally, the Orlando International Airport will also be getting some changes in 2025. More than 40 restaurants and stores will be coming to the Orlando Airport, including eight local restaurants! Renovations for the restaurants and stores are expected to start in mid-2025, so you will see some additional construction during that time, and you may even be able to shop or dine somewhere new towards the end of 2025. ©Orlando International Airport Looking for some of our best travel tips for your Disney World vacation? Well, we’ve got you covered with 50 essential Disney World travel tips: Stay tuned to DFB for all your Disney World and travel news! Check out the 3 mistakes you are making at the Orlando Airport! 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 trips do you have planned in 2025? Let us know in the comments! The post The Big Changes Coming to Florida and Disney World Travel in 2025 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s the holiday season, and one of our favorite traditions here at DFB is enjoying all the traditional baked goods! Merry Christmas! This year, the TSA has shared a reminder for the holidays that you are welcome to bring solid foods such as cookies, cakes, pies, and brownies through security checkpoints at airports. However, if a food item you plan to take with you on a flight spills, spreads, sprays, pumps, or pours, you’ll need to pack it in your checked bag! They also suggest packing a bit of extra tissue paper in with your baked goods as extra padding as they are going through security. The TSA also shared that its officers love cookies and baked goods as much as anyone and five officers shared their personal cookie recipes! White Chocolate Chip Ube Cookies Recipe shared by TSA Officer Ciaran Persch from Pennsylvania’s Harrisburg International Airport (MDT). Ingredients 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 tbsp cornstarch 3 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1 1/4 cup brown sugar 15 oz ube jam (Also called ube halaya, which you can find at most Asian grocery stores) 1 large egg at room temperature 1 large egg yolk at room temperature 2 tbsp ube extract 1 cup white chocolate chips Recipe In a medium-sized bowl, whisk all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. Beat unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar on medium-high speed until well-blended. Add ube jam, extract to the mixture, and continue beating until incorporated. Add eggs and beat until combined. Add flour mixture to ube mixture in thirds and beat until no more streaks of flour remain. Scrape the bottom of the bowl as you go. Stir in the white chocolate chips. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill the batter for at least three hours. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop roughly two tablespoons of the dough and roll into balls. Place the balls onto the cookie sheet with about two inches of space around each ball. Bake for 10 to 11 minutes or until the cookies are set. Allow to cool completely. Orange Creamsicle Cookies Recipe shared by TSA Officer Susan Smoot from West Virginia’s Raleigh County Memorial Airport (BKW). Ingredients 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened 8 ounces cream cheese softened 1 egg 1/2 teaspoon orange extract 1 box orange cake mix 1 cup powdered sugar 1 cup white chocolate chips orange food coloring (optional) Recipe Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter, orange extract, cream cheese, and egg with a mixer until smooth. Add the cake mix and mix well. (Add orange food coloring if desired until the cookie dough reaches your desired orange color.) Stir the white chocolate chips into the cookie dough. Refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes. (Do not skip this step.) Form the dough into 24 balls. Roll each in powdered sugar and place on the lined cookie sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Pete’s Mom’s Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe shared by TSA Officer Kelli Herreid from West Virginia’s Greenbrier Valley Airport (LWB). Ingredients 2 1/4 cups flour 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup white sugar 2 tsp cream of tartar 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 1 egg 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup shortening 1 tsp vanilla 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips Recipe Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all dry ingredients except chocolate chips; set aside. Combine butter, shortening, sugars, and vanilla. Beat until creamy. Add egg and mix until well incorporated. Add dry ingredients and mix. Stir in chocolate chips. Bake the dough in rounded tablespoons on an ungreased baking sheet for 9 to 11 minutes or until the edges are brown. Banana Spice Cookies Recipe shared by TSA Officer Roslyn Sears from Baltimore Washington International/Thurgood Marshall Airport. Ingredients 1/4 cup shortening 1/4 cup butter 1 cup brown sugar 2 eggs 2 mashed bananas 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp salt 1/2 tsp cinnamon ¼ tsp cloves 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional) Recipe Mix shortening, butter, eggs, sugar, and bananas. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Cover and chill for one hour. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a cookie sheet. Place hand-rolled balls of dough, about one rounded teaspoon each, onto a cookie sheet at a distance of two inches apart. Bake for eight to 10 minutes. Makes three to four dozen depending on the size of the hand-rolled balls of dough. Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies (makes one dozen large cookies) Recipe shared by TSA Officer Tanya Smeltz from Virginia’s Lynchburg Regional Airport. Ingredients 1 cup butter, room temperature 1 1/4 cups light brown sugar 1/2 cup granulated sugar 2 large eggs at room temperature 2 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp k\Kosher salt 1tbsp cornstarch 3 cups all-purpose flour 2 1/4 cups milk chocolate chips, plus more to press into the top of the dough after baking Recipe Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix the butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar on medium speed for 3 minutes. Add the eggs, vanilla, baking soda, salt, and cornstarch and mix for 1 minute. Turn the mixer to low and mix in the flour until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips. Portion out a rounded 1/3 cup of cookie dough and roll it into a ball. Break the cookie dough ball in half, turn the dough so the jagged broken edge is facing up, and then press back together to create a craggy top. Place dough onto the prepared baking sheet 3 inches apart. Officer Smeltz recommends baking just five cookies at a time since they are large. Bake for 10 to 11 minutes until the edges and tops are slightly golden. Press additional chocolate chips on top of the baked cookies. Allow to cool on the cookie sheet for five minutes, and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. We seriously love cookies! These cookies sound AMAZING! We hope you enjoy them and have safe holiday travels! For more food news, keep following DFB! EXCLUSIVE: Disney Reveals 3 Fan-Favorite Recipes from EPCOT Festivals Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Are you going to try any of these recipes? Let us know in the comments! The post CHEERFUL COOKIE NEWS: The Transportation Security Administration Shares 5 Holiday Cookie Recipes first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

2025 is on the way, and there are a lot of changes coming to Disney World. EPCOT Tons of construction will be beginning in Disney World this upcoming year, which means that the parks are certainly going to look different. If you’re planning to spend a lot of time in EPCOT this upcoming year, beware — crowds will likely be heavier than we’ve seen in recent years for a multitude of different reasons! A LACK of Construction In 2025, Animal Kingdom and Magic Kingdom are currently slated to have the most construction, with construction headed for Hollywood Studios likely later in the year. While Test Track is currently behind walls right now, it’ll be opening up this coming summer (and we’ll talk more about that in a second!), meaning that EPCOT will be the park with the LEAST amount of construction! EPCOT This is stark difference to just a few years ago when EPCOT was nearly ALL construction walls and the other three parks were mostly devoid of any blockages. We guess it was about time that EPCOT had its moment in the spotlight as one of the most put-together (when it comes to looks) parks in the resort after being wall-cot for so many years. Many guests who visit frequently may choose to visit the park with fewer walls to make their walking a little easier. Test Track 3.0 is Opening! Speaking of Test Track, the new version of this ride (its third edition) is set to open to the public in late summer 2025! Guests who have missed this attraction will very likely find themselves booking trips to visit the updated attraction either right when it opens, or soon after. Construction at Test Track November 28th So far from what we’ve been able to see of construction behind walls (from riding on the Monorail — no unauthorized visits or photos on our part!), it looks like the attraction still has its single rider line, so if you’ve got no interest in seeing the updated queue and just want to get to ride the new attraction ASAP, single rider will be the way to go! Spaceship Earth Lounge There’s also a new lounge coming to EPCOT in 2025, which is extra special to those who love Spaceship Earth! This new lounge, inspired by and set near the iconic attraction, will be opening in late spring 2025. ©Disney While EPCOT often has festivals going on, there are a few weeks throughout the year where festivals aren’t taking place, and so this will (hopefully) add another great spot to eat in the park! Not only that, it looks like from the concept art it’ll be a fantastic location to see stunning views of the park during the day or at night, but it’ll be a prime spot for fireworks! Gran Fiesta Tour…Update? Disney recently announced that Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros would be closing for a months-long refurbishment on January 6th. It’s currently set to reopen on March 15th. Gran Fiesta Tour The thing is, we don’t really know why this ride is closing! We’re assuming it’s just for regular maintenance, but we know we’ll be curious to see how the ride has changed (if at all) when it reopens, and we know we won’t be the only ones! So if you’re visiting in March, the Mexico Pavilion may be a little busier than you expected. EPCOT Festivals Now, this isn’t a new reason for why the parks will be busy, but EPCOT festivals almost always attract large crowds to the parks! While some of the biggest crowds are often on the opening and closing weekends, or just weekends in general, festivals are a big reason why the park, and World Showcase in particular, are jam packed during festivals. Festival of the Holidays Crowds We’ll be here to keep you updated on all the latest Disney World news into 2025 and throughout the whole year, so stay tuned to DFB! NEWS: Disney World Just Confirmed an EPCOT Attraction’s PERMANENT Status Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What are you most looking forward to experiencing in EPCOT this upcoming year? Tell us in the comments! The post 5 Big Reasons EPCOT Will Be More Crowded in 2025 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

I’m the kind of person who could get lost in their own house. I have literally NO sense of direction, and I don’t drive anywhere I haven’t been to at least a dozen times without using Google Maps and navigation. So we know just how big Disney World is, right? And although the parks are laid out in a way that sort of makes sense (well, not you, Hollywood Studios), I can still get lost. Imagine if you’re someone like me with no sense of direction who’s never been to the parks before? Well, there’s a handy Google Maps feature the DFB team just uncovered that could make navigating the parks a lot easier — if you plan ahead. So, something I occasionally do when I can’t be in Disney World is look at it on maps (and then dream about being there). Now, I often look at the parks via Google Maps and then use the Satellite View to see actual details from the parks from a bird’s eye view. But did you know you can navigate through Disney World via the Google Maps Street View feature? ©Google If you need to learn your way around the parks, you can literally use Street View to learn how to get from Point A to Point B in the parks. Just click on one of the blue lines on the map to get started. This way, you can virtually walk around Magic Kingdom like you’re really there. You can take a virtual walk down Main Street, U.S.A., if you want. ©Google However, if you’ve been to Disney World recently or know about recent events, you’ll recognize that some of these photos are outdated (for example, Cinderella’s Castle is wearing its old colors and not its new colors from a few years ago). So, that could be a downside of using Street View like this. We tried this in other parks, too — we walked around Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios through Google Maps Street View. ©Google How about a stroll around Spaceship Earth in EPCOT? Yep, you can do that, too! ©Google And, of course, I like to walk through my FAVORITE park, Animal Kingdom, every chance I get. Did you know you can virtually walk through the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail? Yep, you can! ©Google So what about resorts? Well, we looked at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, which is HUGE. If you need to learn your way around ANY resort, this is the one. Well, we were out of luck — you can’t virtually walk around the resorts with Street View, but you can see photos of important spots, like hotel lobbies, dining, etc. That’s still pretty cool, though, and you can see those in 360 degrees. However, if you want to learn your way around the parks or if you just want to revisit the parks when you’re not there, like I often do, Google Street View is a fun way to bring that magic into your home whenever you want. Stay tuned to DFB for more. This $25 Upgrade is a Disney World Game Changer! 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 used Google Street View to visit Disney World virtually? Let us know in the comments! The post Not to Be Dramatic, but This Disney World Map Hack Just Changed My Life first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Isn’t it wild how close we are to 2025?! Welcome to the Most Magical Place on Earth! And if you’re planning a Disney World trip in 2025, you’re going to want to brace yourself. Three of the four parks – Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios – are about to enter construction chaos. Big changes are coming, which is exciting in the long term, but in the short term? It’s going to be a mess. Let’s break down why these parks might have you reaching for an extra churro (or three) to cope. Animal Kingdom If you haven’t heard, DinoLand U.S.A. is going to be going the way of the dinosaur and it all starts on January 13th, 2025. The short of it is that entire area is closing to make way for the brand-new Tropical Americas land. While this transformation is super exciting, it does mean our favorite construction walls will be back and we’ll have limited access to the area for quite some time. Here’s a glimpse at what is coming: Encanto Ride: an all-new Encanto-themed ride with the family Madrigal inside the enchanted Casita. ©Disney Indiana Jones attraction: will have a brand new story which will set it apart from any other Indiana Jones ride in existence. ©Disney And if that wasn’t enough, over on Discovery Island, Zootopia: Better Zoogether! will be replacing “It’s Tough to Be a Bug” at the Tree of Life Theater by winter 2025. ©Disney While these updates sound fantastic, the reality is that Animal Kingdom will feel smaller and busier than ever. Closing DinoLand U.S.A. is like cutting off an entire section of the park, which will leave fewer attractions to absorb the crowds. Combine that with construction noise and visual clutter, and you’ve got a recipe for some very crowded walkways. Hollywood Studios Hollywood Studios is also undergoing a major transformation. The Muppets Courtyard is closing permanently to make room for the brand-new Monsters, Inc. Land. While that is exciting, if you’re a Muppet’s fan, it’s a bittersweet announcement. ©Disney But wait, there’s more! Rock ’n’ Rollercoaster is getting re-themed into a Muppets-themed coaster. ©Disney Similar to Animal Kingdom, during this construction phase, the park is going to feel…chaotic. Hollywood Studios is already notorious for its bottlenecks. Now, add in closures, re-routing, and construction walls, and you’ve got a logistical nightmare. Magic Kingdom Magic Kingdom has some of the biggest changes on the horizon, and in 2025, the park will essentially be a construction zone. Here’s the short on what’s happening: Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America are closing forever. These areas are being replaced by a new Cars-themed area. ‘Cars’ area in Magic Kingdom ©Disney Villains Land is being built beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. ©Disney Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will close on January 6th, 2025, for a refurbishment lasting over a year. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Astro Orbiter will also close for refurbishment starting January 13th and will reopen in the summer of 2025. The old Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade is being replaced by a DVC lounge. ©Disney If you’re doing the math, that’s a lot of closures. While we can’t wait to see what Disney has planned, construction on this scale is going to create a lot of headaches for guests. Between rerouted pathways, blocked views, and increased congestion in Frontierland and Liberty Square, it’s going to take some serious patience to navigate Magic Kingdom in 2025. Magic Kingdom What This Means for Your Disney Trip Here’s the bottom line: 2025 is going to be an “interesting” year to visit Disney World. With three parks undergoing significant construction, you’ll need to manage your expectations. Ride closures, construction walls, and heavier crowds in the remaining open areas will definitely make planning a bit trickier than usual. So, if you do decide to visit, here are some tips: Plan Ahead: Stay updated on which attractions will be open during your visit. Book a Shorter Trip: With fewer rides available, you might not need extra days to experience everything. You might want to Focus on EPCOT: Since EPCOT isn’t facing the same level of chaos, it might be the easiest park to enjoy in 2025. At the end of the day, 2025 could still be your year, so you might want to pack some extra patience, and maybe your best pair of walking shoes. Until then, be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney World news! NEW Food Booth Announced for the 2025 EPCOT Festival of the Arts 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 Why 3 Disney World Parks Are Going to Be a Hot Mess in 2025 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’ve ever flown to Disney World with a flight to Orlando International Airport, you might have noticed that it’s a pretty busy airport. Orlando International Airport This is why we’re always offering our best tips on how best to navigate the airport and suggesting things like using MCO Reserve, as well as getting to the airport EARLY if you’re on a flight departing from Orlando. It IS one of the busiest airports in the U.S., after all. However, have you ever wondered which particular route is the BUSIEST going to and from Orlando? Well, we’re going to tell you! According to OAG, the busiest flight route to and from Orlando, as well as the busiest in the entire U.S., is the route to and from Orlando and Atlanta. Approximately 3,474,713 plane seats have been filled for that route in 2024. That is a LOT of people making that journey to and from Atlanta! ©OAG This probably has a lot to do with Atlanta being a hub for many connecting flights to Orlando, especially for those of us who can’t get a direct flight to and from Orlando (or want to save a bit of money by taking a connecting flight instead). We’ve connected in Atlanta DOZENS of times on our way to Disney World. Atlanta is also a major hub for Delta Airlines. Orlando International Airport It’s no secret that Orlando International Airport can get really busy, especially this time of year. You’ll want to remember some important tips that will make flying during the holiday season more pleasant. First, arrive at the airport at least three hours before your and be at the security checkpoint at least two hours before your departure time. You’ll also want to be at your gate an hour before your flight departs. This is known as the 3-2-1 rule. Orlando International Airport Stay tuned to DFB for more. This Subtle Orlando Airport CHANGE Is Going to Mess Up My Disney World Trip 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? Do you fly the Atlanta to Orlando route often? Let us know in the comments! The post Do You Know the Absolute Busiest Flight From Orlando? You Might Be on It! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

A BRAND NEW hotel has opened in Disney World, but is this luxurious tropical-inspired getaway worth the price tag? Or are you better off spending your money somewhere else? You had us at Nachos We’re taking you inside the new Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Check out our video below: Disney World’s BRAND NEW Hotel — Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort 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 World resort of all time? Tell us in the comments. The post DFB Video: Disney World's BRAND NEW Hotel -- Island Tower at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Aloha! The Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows has officially opened! Island Tower Disney World’s newest resort is a new Disney Vacation Club addition next to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Previously, it was home to the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show, which closed in March of 2020. This new hotel is home to stunning views of Seven Seas Lagoon, has a Moana-themed splash pad, and a brand new restaurant! While all of this is super exciting, unfortunately, this new hotel is not all that it seems, as we have some bad news about the Island Tower. The Island Tower officially opened on December 17th, and we have checked out everything! There is no denying that this hotel is beautiful, but just like any new project, it does have its flaws, and we were left disappointed in a few areas. Island Tower lobby Generic Theming of Rooms A complaint that we have seen recently is that Disney is taking a step away from the classic Disney theming that they are known for and taking steps towards a more generic and modern theming of rooms. Deluxe Studio While this is the standard in the hotel industry, Disney charges a premium for its hotels and resorts so that you can expect a unique stay. While the new rooms at the Island Tower are clean and modern, they lack the Disney touch and are comparable to rooms at a Hilton or Marriot. This nook is so nice What we will say is that pictures do NOT do the room justice; we were actually shocked by the vibe of the room in person versus the pictures. So yes, while we are taking a few points off for the rooms looking a bit generic in photos, we will say the vibe of the room does feel a bit less generic once you are in it yourself. Bathroom in Deluxe Studio Not All Views are Created Equal While the pool and Wailulu Bar & Grill offer beautiful views of Seven Seas Lagoon and the Magic Kingdom, not all room views are created equal. We didn’t love this view Depending on which room you book, your balcony may overlook the parking lot, the Grand Floridian, or the golf course. While this can be a bummer, this is not unusual, as this is pretty standard for Disney Vacation Club Resorts. Take Bay Lake Tower, for example. Park View rooms will cost you more points, whereas Bay Lake View rooms will be middle-tier points, and Standard View rooms will run you the least amount of points. So if you want a better view, you will have to splurge by spending more. Views will vary We Miss its Predecessor While Walt Disney did say, “Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.” the same goes for Disney World; we can’t help but wish that Disney included some form of live entertainment along with the opening of the Island Tower. Island Tower As we mentioned, the Island Tower took over the previous home of the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show, which was a Luau. It would have been nice for Disney to include some part of the show still to make this DVC resort stand out. Old Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show Sign Breakfast is Only ‘Grab and Go’ For the moment, if you are looking to grab breakfast before heading into the parks, Wailulu Bar & Grill only offers a limited ‘Grab and Go’ breakfast menu. If you are looking for a table service meal or warm entrees, you will have to head over to the Great Ceremonial House. Breakfast menu It Does Not Smell Like the Great Ceremonial House Each resort has its own scent, especially the monorail resorts, and we were shocked that the Island Tower does not have the Polynesian smell! Come on, Disney, get it together and start pumping in that delicious tropical scent! Great Ceremonial House Transportation is Not Convenient Since the Island Tower is an extension of the Polynesian Village Resort, if you want to use Disney transportation, you will have to head on over to the Great Ceremonial House to catch the bus, boat, or monorail, which is not super convenient. For the time being, Uber and Lyft only pick up at the Great Ceremonial House as well, so this can be a bit of a pain if you are not bringing or renting a car. Monorail at the Polynesian While we do have a few gripes with this new hotel, we can’t deny it is beautiful, and it is still in its first few days of operation, so who knows what changes might be ahead! To stay up to date on all the latest Disney news, make sure to continue to follow along with Disney Food Blog! FIRST LOOK at the Fireworks Views in the NEW Island Tower Hotel at Disney World Want More Details About Disney World’s Hotels? Ranking of ALL of Disney World’s Hotels The “I’m So Tired; Just Tell Me What To Do” Guide To Choosing the Perfect Disney World Hotel 13 Critical Things You’re FORGETTING About When Booking a Disney World Hotel 8 Gadgets You Need for Your Disney World Hotel Room The Surprising Things You Won’t Find in Your Disney World Hotel Room The Secret Way to Stay in Disney World’s Hotels for LESS! What's New at the Disney World Hotels All About Disney World's Resort Hotel Refillable Mugs Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney World hotel news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Will you be booking a stay at the Island Tower? Let us know in the comments! The post We've Got Some BAD News About Disney World's New Hotel first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Every week, we report the average Disney World wait times in every park so that you can be prepared for your next trip to Orlando! Magic Kingdom Disney World’s average wait times were surprisingly low this week (considering we’re so close to Christmas), though the Magic Kingdom’s TRON Lightcycle / Run topped the list with the highest average wait at the resort. This was one of the (shockingly) few instances where the wait time averaged over an hour. Don’t believe us? Take a look at this week’s average wait times! Magic Kingdom Wait Times Wait times at Magic Kingdom saw a jump this week, led by the ever-busy TRON Lightcycle / Run, which increased all the way up to 63 minutes. (REMINDER: Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is currently only available with virtual queue and Lightning Lanes.) TRON Lightcycle / Run ©Disney TRON Lightcycle / Run — 63 minutes Seven Dwarfs Mine Train — 48 minutes Jingle Cruise — 43 minutes Peter Pan’s Flight — 40 minutes Space Mountain — 33 minutes Haunted Mansion — 30 minutes Big Thunder Mountain Railroad — 27 minutes Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh — 24 minutes Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin — 21 minutes Astro Orbiter — 19 minutes We LOVE this ride! Pirates of the Caribbean — 18 minutes Enchanted Tales with Belle — 17 minutes “it’s a small world” — 15 minutes Mickey’s PhilharMagic — 15 minutes Magic Carpets of Aladdin — 13 minutes Barnstormer featuring the Great Goofini — 12 minutes Country Bear Musical Jamboree — 13 minutes Tomorrowland Speedway Dumbo the Flying Elephant — 12 minutes Tomorrowland Speedway — 11 minutes Enchanted Tiki Room — 11 minutes Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover — 11 minutes Mad Tea Party — 10 minutes Prince Charming Regal Carrousel — 9 minutes Carousel of Progress Carousel of Progress — 5 minutes Tom Sawyer Island — 5 minutes Liberty Square Riverboat — 4 minutes Hall of Presidents — 2 minutes BREAKING: Closure Announced For Yet Another Magic Kingdom Attraction EPCOT Wait Times The wait times in EPCOT remained stable, especially at the top of the list, with Remy’s and Frozen being the only waits to even approach an hour. (NOTE: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind does not currently use a standby queue, so it’s not included here.) Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure — 50 minutes Frozen Ever After — 47 minutes Soarin’ — 29 minutes Living with the Land — 25 minutes We know what is coming next! Mission: SPACE — 16 minutes Turtle Talk with Crush — 15 minutes Spaceship Earth — 13 minutes The Seas with Nemo and Friends — 12 minutes Journey into Imagination — 11 minutes Gran Fiesta Tour — 11 minutes Test Track is currently closed for refurbishment. Awesome Planet, American Adventure, Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along, Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival, Impressions de France, and Reflections of China had no wait times this week. The Complicated Reason Why This EPCOT Restaurant Is Still Sitting Empty Animal Kingdom Wait Times Animal Kingdom’s Flight of Passage dipped again, this time falling out of the resort’s top spot. Flight of Passage (Yep, it’s in there) Avatar Flight of Passage — 56 minutes Na’vi River Journey — 42 minutes Kilimanjaro Safaris — 36 minutes A giraffe on Kilimanjaro Safaris Expedition Everest — 25 minutes Dinosaur — 17 minutes It’s Tough to Be a Bug — 10 minutes TriceraTop Spin — 6 minutes Kali River Rapids — 6 minutes The Boneyard — 0 A NEW Nighttime Show Has Arrived at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Hollywood Studios Wait Times Over in Hollywood Studios, Slinky Dog Dash remained on top, with a wait time of 55 minutes. Slinky Dog Dash Slinky Dog Dash — 55 minutes Rise of the Resistance — 51 minutes Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster — 48 minutes Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway — 40 minutes Toy Story Mania Toy Story Mania — 35 minutes Tower of Terror — 35 minutes Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run — 29 minutes Alien Swirling Saucers — 21 minutes Muppet*Vision 3D — 10 minutes Star Tours — 7 minutes Walt Disney Presents — 3 minutes 3 Game-Changing Updates Announced for Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2025 Stay tuned to DFB for more updates from Disney World! Your Disney World Trip Will Be SO Much Better if You Take Advantage of This 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 How long would you wait for your favorite ride? Let us know in the comments below! The post Disney World’s Average Wait Times Just Took a Surprising Turn first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We are still finding new details on the newest Disney Cruise ship! Aladdin and Jasmine on the Disney Treasure The Disney Treasure recently had its first sailing, and we were lucky enough to hop on board! There were so many amazing dining options, specialty bars, and Disney pals on board. We have found so many little things we have loved on board, but this subtle detail surprised us. The Disney Treasure has so many hidden details it would take us days to talk about them all! From the hidden Haunted Mansion Parlor secrets to every little detail in the staterooms, we have had so much fun searching through Disney’s newest cruise ship. One of our favorite details? The bugs! Inside Stateroom Normally, if you see a bug on your stateroom door, it’s a little alarming, right? Luckily for us, these bugs aren’t real. On board the Disney Treasure, there are several different styles of staterooms like Encanto, Up, Finding Nemo, Pocahontas, Luca, and Aladdin. Each of these different rooms has hooks outside of the rooms where you’ll find your room keys when you first get on board. We got a butterfly at our Encanto room! Where you’ll find your Key to the World cards. For the Aladdin-themed rooms, you’ll find a scarab beetle outside of your door, which is a bug! Isn’t it so cute? We get that not everyone would be thrilled to see a little buggy on their door when they first get on board, but what if we told you these bugs are magical? Look at this little guy! In many cultures, like Ancient Egypt, the scarab beetle has a lot more meaning than just a crawling critter. You’ll find these bugs throughout hieroglyphs, statues, sculptures, and more when you’re diving into the history. In Ancient Egypt, these bugs represented immortality and protection. I don’t know about you, but we personally love that our room might be extra protected. Scarab Brooch ©Egypt Museum People often wore a scarab beetle to protect from illnesses, which we all probably need while we’re on a swaying ship eating a bit too much! There were many meetings attributed to this powerful little beetle, like the fact that it was a symbol of regeneration and birth, it represented the sun god, Ra, and the morning sun god, Khepri, and it was a seal for religious and personal purposes, too. Jafar even used a scarab to find the Cave of Wonders in Aladdin. ©Disney The use of the scarab as a magical and powerful symbol bled over into Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cultures as well, but it’s fair to say they are widely-known thanks to their significance in Ancient Egypt. So, does knowing this bit of ancient history make you feel a bit better about the bug on your door before heading into your Aladdin-themed stateroom? We sure hope so! The Aladdin room! This is just one example of the amazing and thoughtful details you can find throughout the Disney Treasure cruise ship! While we loved our Encanto-themed room, if we head back onto the boat, we might request the Aladdin rooms just for that bit of extra magic before we head into our room. Don’t forget to keep following Disney Food Blog for your latest news on the Disney Cruise Line. Check out this FULL TOUR of the Aladdin and Pocahontas Rooms On The Disney Treasure HERE What You Need to Know About Disney Cruise Line Learn All About Disney Cruise Line and Its Various Ships Explore Disney’s Mega Cruise Ship – The Wish A Full List of What You CAN’T Bring on a Disney Cruise These Are the BEST Times to Book Your Disney Cruise The Best Ways to SAVE SPACE in Your Tiny Cruise Cabin 10 Things You NEED on Your Next Cruise (That You Won’t Think to Pack!) What It’s Like to Live on a Cruise Ship for 6 Months Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe Did you know about these magical bugs? Tell us in the comments! The post The Bug You Actually WANT on Your Disney Cruise Line Door first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It might be winter in Florida, but we’re celebrating the reopening of a pool at Disney World! Port Orleans — French Quarter A pool at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort—French Quarter briefly closed, but it is once again open to hotel guests! Not too many people might be going swimming in December, but it’s still good to see these refurbishments come to an end. Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter The Doubloon Lagoon Pool has been closed this past week! Doubloon Lagoon Pool Luckily, it was only closed for a few days and has now reopened! Guests can now enjoy Doubloon Lagoon Pool, the multiple leisure pools, or Ol’ Man Island Pool at Port Orleans Riverside. We’re excited about this reopening, but other attractions are still closed at Disney World. Keep reading to find out what will remain closed the week of December 21st through December 28th! Happy holidays and Merry Christmas! Magic Kingdom Swiss Family Treehouse The Swiss Family Treehouse at Magic Kingdom is based on the classic movie Swiss Family Robinson and is a fun tree-climbing experience at the park. Swiss Family Treehouse construction This attraction has been undergoing a month-long refurbishment and was supposed to reopen on December 21st. However, it did NOT reopen. Scaffolding and screens still cover this attraction. The Disney World website shows hours for it starting on December 23rd, so you can likely expect it to open that day. If you and your kiddos are looking for a place to climb around for now, head over to Tom Sawyer Island instead. Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade We had to say goodbye to an opening day attraction on June 23rd. The Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade is closed The Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade was around for generations and provided simple fun to all who played. Now, the attraction has closed to make room for a new Disney Vacation Club lounge. This lounge will be the third in Disney World, joining one in EPCOT and one at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Disney has not yet announced when the new lounge will open. Disney Files Permit for Construction at Magic Kingdom Snack Spot Tomorrowland Terrace Tomorrowland Terrace is a quick-service restaurant that has been closed since the 2020 pandemic-related closures, but even before that, this spot was only occasionally open. Tomorrowland Terrace Once in a while, you’ll see the dining room open as a rest area (and it’s still being used for the Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Parties), but it’s usually all roped off and empty. Tomorrowland Terrace Disney hasn’t announced when this spot could finally reopen, but we’ll be watching for updates. If you’re looking for a nice spot to hang out in Disney World and sit down for a rest, this could be it! Disney Begins Clearing Land Ahead of Big Magic Kingdom Expansion EPCOT Test Track Test Track closed on June 17th, and Disney is giving this ride a BIG makeover! ©Disney Disney has shared that the new version of Test Track will take inspiration from the old ride, World of Motion, that was originally there when the park opened in 1982. Disney shared more details at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Experience, and an updated opening timeline was just announced! We’ll be able to ride Test Track once again in late summer 2025. Disney Shares NEW LOOK at EPCOT’s Reimagined Test Track Attraction Restaurant Marrakesh Restaurant Marrakesh is currently closed as a dining location in the Morocco pavilion of EPCOT’s World Showcase, and there’s no word yet on when the restaurant could fully reopen. Restaurant Marrakesh building Occasionally, we’ll see it open as a lounge or Kidcot Fun Stop. So, if you’re in the Morocco Pavilion, check it out to see if it’s open. We’re watching for updates on when the full restaurant could reopen! NEW Food Booth Announced for the 2025 EPCOT Festival of the Arts Hollywood Studios Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy The Cars-themed show featuring Lighting McQueen permanently closed on October 8th, 2024, to make way for a brand-new Villains show. Sunset Showcase The Cars show was previously housed in the Sunset Showcase building, but the last day for guests to enjoy it was October 7th. The new Villains show is supposed to debut in the summer of 2025. We’re always watching for more details about the new show, and we recently spotted a casting call for Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook, and Maleficent! Say Goodbye to One of Our FAVORITE Bathrooms in Disney’s Hollywood Studios Voyage of the Little Mermaid Voyage of the Little Mermaid is currently closed in Disney World. But we recently spotted some construction walls up at the building along with a new permit filed! Voyage of the Little Mermaid Disney is going to introduce a new, updated show in this spot, though it will still be themed to the animated movie The Little Mermaid! The new show will be called “The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure,” and it is now coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Summer 2025. The Little Mermaid: A Musical Adventure Disney still hasn’t announced an official opening date for the new show, but it has been postponed from its Fall 2024 opening timeline. It will be a “fully reimagined theatrical production inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios classic.” NEW LOOK at “The Little Mermaid” Show Coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios! Typhoon Lagoon Blizzard Beach officially welcomed guests back on November 4th! That same day, Typhoon Lagoon closed its gates for the season. Typhoon Lagoon Typhoon Lagoon will likely be closed throughout the winter until sometime in the spring. Disney has been having one water park open at a time seasonally since 2020. In the meantime, you can enjoy the slopes at Blizzard Beach this winter! Click here to learn all about Blizzard Beach Disney World Hotels World Premiere Food Court — Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort The World Premiere Food Court at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort has been undergoing refurbishment since July. World Premiere Food Court This food court closed for refurbishment on July 1st and was set to reopen on July 31st. Currently, the Disney World website only lists the Rialto coffee shop as being closed for refurbishment until the end of December 2024. Everything POP Shopping & Dining — Disney’s Pop Century Resort The Everything Pop Food Court will continue its refurbishment for the time being. Everything POP! Since July 29th, Everything Pop has been getting some work done. The refurbishment was supposed to end on September 29th. However, it was extended to November 30th, and now it has been extended AGAIN until April 2025. The new extension only notes that the coffee shop is still closed. We recently visited the food court, and it’s looking great! There is far less construction, and almost everything is open and available again. This is a big improvement, and it’s great that people staying here have most dining shopping options available to them once again. Disney’s BoardWalk Resort The Inn Leisure Pool at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort is currently closed for refurbishment! Inn Leisure Pool Construction This closure is expected to last until late December, but in the meantime, you can swim in one of the other two pools at this hotel, the Luna Park Pool or the Villas Leisure Pool. Disney World’s Newest Hotel Addition Has Some SPECTACULAR Fireworks Views — Here’s the Secret Looking for more resources to help you get ready for your upcoming trip? Check out these posts to learn all about Disney World’s rides: 10 Rides to AVOID in Disney World if You Struggle with Motion Sickness What It Takes to CHANGE a Disney World Ride 9 of the SCARIEST Rides in Disney World, According to YOU! A FULL LIST of the Thrill Rides in Disney World! The Ultimate Guide to the BEST and WORST Seats On EVERY Magic Kingdom Ride We’ll keep you updated with all the latest news, so stay tuned to DFB. Full List of Important Disney World Closures You Should Plan Around in 2025 Planning a Trip to Disney World? We’ve Got Everything You Need to Know The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Disney World Vacation A Month-by-Month Guide to Planning Your Disney World Trip Tips, Hints, Lists, and Videos for Planning the BEST Disney World Trip Learn About the Disney Park Pass System The Ultimate Disney World Packing List Everything You Need to Know About Lightning Lanes Insider SECRETS for Your First Trip to Disney World A Complete Look at the Current Disney Discounts and Deals The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click Here to Subscribe When is your next Disney World vacation? Let us know in the comments! The post ALERT! A Disney World Hotel Pool CLOSURE Is Coming to an END first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

This is a special time to be visiting Disney World. Animal Kingdom We’ve already told you how incredible the holiday season can be here, after all, what with the decorations, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and Jollywood Nights, and the holiday snacks (the best part, IMHO). We also love visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom this time of year because we get to see the Merry Menagerie. However, there’s also a special nighttime show that gets a holiday update, but this year, ANOTHER update was added to the show (hint: it might have you working on your roar). The best part of this nighttime show is that you don’t have to stake out a spot to see it. It’s visible all the way back to the Island Mercantile shop and everything is basically downhill from the tree, so you’ll get perfect viewing just about anywhere in that area. He’s adorable Tree of Life Awakenings is worth waiting around for, so be sure to catch it before you leave Animal Kingdom at night. Stay tuned to DFB for more. WINTER Is the Best Time of Year to Visit This Disney World Park. CHANGE MY MIND. 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? Have you ever watched this show? Let us know in the comments! The post Something NEW Just Arrived at Disney's Animal Kingdom first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Extra, extra, read all about it! Seriously, we’re sure Disney World hasn’t had a wink of sleep because it has dropped so many new updates this week. If you’ve missed out, this is your chance to catch up! Cinderella Castle I’m back again with another round of WHAT’S NEW UPDATES AT DISNEY WORLD, a rundown on all the epic news and updates that happened at Disney World this past week. This week, we got the 4-1-1 on another CLOSURE announced for a Magic Kingdom attraction, a NEW food booth coming to the 2025 EPCOT International Festival of The Arts, and the opening of a NEW hotel! Let’s check it out. BREAKING: Closure Announced For Yet Another Magic Kingdom Attraction Quite a few attractions will be CLOSING in Disney World in 2025. Magic Kingdom Some attractions will be closing permanently to make way for other offerings, like Tom Sawyer Island, Liberty Square Riverboat, and TriceraTop Spin. But outside of the permanent closures, there will also be a few attractions that close for refurbishment… and now another one has been added to the list! Hall of Presidents As expected, the Hall of Presidents has now been added to Disney World’s list of upcoming refurbishments. The show will close on January 20th to be updated, and there is currently no reopening date listed. Hall of Presidents For those who don’t know, the Hall of Presidents is a show that features animatronics of every single United States president, telling the story of our country’s history. Whenever a new president is elected, the show will close to get updated with the animatronic of that person. The current president’s animatronic is always featured prominently at the front of the stage, and they get a speaking part during the show. The seal of the United States This closure will come after two other Magic Kingdom attractions close on January 6th, 2025 — Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Astro Orbiter. The former will be closed until 2026 while the latter will be closed until summer 2025. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Phew, so many closures announced and the new year hasn’t even started! 7 Disney World Rides That Will Permanently Close in 2025 — Click Here! NEW Food Booth Announced for the 2025 EPCOT Festival of the Arts Something NEW is coming to the 2025 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts! 2024 EPCOT Festival of the Arts Each year, EPCOT hosts several seasonal festivals, including the Food and Wine Festival, the Flower and Garden Festival, the Festival of the Arts, and the Festival of the Holidays (which is happening NOW). These events always seem to brighten up the park — and we never get tired of snacking around the World Showcase. Well, from January 17th to February 24th, the Festival of the Arts will be BACK with some new and returning snacks and drinks. In fact, Disney just confirmed that a NEW food booth will be at the festival! Spaceship Earth Over in CommuniCore Plaza, Disney recently started a new tradition during its seasonal EPCOT festivals. Each season, the kitchen near CommuniCore Hall transforms to match the theme of the current EPCOT festival. Right now, for example, this booth is called Experimental Prototype Cookies of Tomorrow, and it serves (you guessed it) holiday cookies. For the Festival of the Arts, EPCOT will host the Opening Bites Food Studio! EPCOT Festival of the Arts We still don’t have the official menu for this new food booth yet, but Disney hinted, “This menu is all about paying homage to the foods and drinks immortalized onstage.” Could we get some Broadway-themed bites? Maybe a Lion King or Aladdin snack? We can’t wait to see! 2024 Festival Favorites Speaking of new additions, Disney also revealed that a new Artful Photo Op is coming soon! These are basically giant recreations of iconic works of art that YOU can step inside. We know that a few returning favorites will appear, like Luncheon of the Boating Party by Pierre-August Renoir and Edvard Munch’s The Scream. Additionally, a new Artful Photo Op will debut starring Moana! This news comes just in time to celebrate the new movie, Moana 2. ‘Luncheon of the Boating Party’ Photo Op We are so excited about what the 2025 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts has in store! Learn more about the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts here! A NEW Hotel Opened in Disney World and We’re Sharing EVERYTHING The day has FINALLY come! Island Tower construction For months, we’ve been patiently watching as the new Disney Vacation Club (DVC) tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, called Island Tower, has taken shape, and the time has finally come for us to step inside for the very first time. There are new dining options to explore, a new pool and splash pad, and of course, new rooms! Island Tower Atmosphere The atmosphere of Island Tower is similar to the theming of the rest of the existing Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, but it does have its own flair. Many fans aren’t big on the new look, while others have said they’ve loved it! Island Tower lobby From the outside of the resort, we do agree with some guests who have said that the building looks a little plain, but we think the foliage and additional theming additions do help a bit. Exterior Inside the building, you’ll find lots of stunning artwork in bright colors. These displays really help to bring the Polynesian vibe. It’s gorgeous! These pieces of art are especially prominent in the lobby area, with tall displays that fill the space. We could sit here and relax all day long! There is beautiful art all around the lobby But what about other offerings? Dining The new dining option at this tower is Wailulu Bar & Grill, which is a mix between a walk-up pool bar and table service restaurant. You’ll get to look at views of Cinderella Castle and Seven Seas Lagoon while you dine! Wailulu Bar & Grill There’s an all-day lunch and dinner menu available, as well as on-the-go options for breakfast. Wailulu Bar & Grill We’ll be sharing full reviews of the meals at this restaurant soon, so stay tuned to DFB! Their menu has some Polynesian inspiration. Wailulu Breakfast Menu On opening morning, there were already a few people at the bar to grab breakfast. This spot is likely going to be popular since it’s the building’s only dining location. Wailulu atmosphere We ordered a few different grab-and-go options to start our morning. We’re really hyped to try the Pineapple-Coconut Bread! Our breakfast spread But that’s not all! Entertainment While there’s a new fitness center available at Island Tower, there’s also a new pool and splash pad! This new pool is called Cove Pool and is complete with a sandy beach area, whirlpool spa, and gorgeous views of Seven Seas Lagoon. Cove Pool There are plenty of spots to lounge near the pool. We could totally see ourselves spending a relaxing resort day out here! Lounge areas near the pool Little ones can enjoy Moana’s Voyage, a splash pad boasting a full-size sculpture of Moana and her iconic canoe. Moana’s Voyage Seriously, your kids are going to love this splash pad! That Moana sculpture is SO accurate. Moana! But what about the accommodations here? Rooms What do these new rooms look like at Island Tower though? That’s one of the most important aspects since it’s where you’ll be staying, right? We got to check them out for ourselves firsthand! Bed area We stepped into one of the Deluxe Studios for a tour, and while the rooms are small, they pack quite a few offerings in the space. There’s both a queen bed and a Murphy bed that turns into a couch. Stunning artwork again Since these are DVC rooms, you get a kitchenette, complete with a mini fridge and microwave. There’s a decent amount of cabinet storage. Kitchenette The bathroom is fairly small, with a door to close off the toilet and shower. We love that blue water-like tile, though! Bathroom The vanity is actually hidden behind the door to the room. It’s the first thing you come to when you walk inside. Vanity area This hotel is absolutely beautiful and we are so excited to have it be a new addition to Disney World! A SECRET Disney World Shortcut Has FINALLY Reopened Of course, that’s not all that happened! There are plenty of things that happen every single day at Disney World. Check out EVERYTHING by clicking through the links below! Our reporters and writers keep these pages updated with all the latest things that take place in the parks — from merchandise drops to new menu items. See for yourself! WHAT'S NEW AT DISNEY? Check out our daily updates on all the happenings around Disney World and Disneyland! Magic Kingdom EPCOT Hollywood Studios Animal Kingdom Disney Hotels Disney Springs Disneyland In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more. Looking for more big Disney World news? 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 What do you think of these big Disney World updates? Let us know in the comments! The post A New Closure, a New Food Booth, and a New Hotel? The Latest in Disney World News! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We spend a lot of time talking about Disney World restaurants…but what about the snack stands?! Spaceship Earth at EPCOT There are seemingly hundreds of little snack stands throughout the parks, each with a different menu and theme. Some of them harbor secretly delicious treats, while others are home to just the basics. And recently, I visited one of Disney World’s most classic snack spots to do a full review! Atmosphere For this review, I’m taking you with me to Fife & Drum Tavern in EPCOT! This little snack spot is located at the front of the American Adventure Pavilion, serving some classic American snacks and one unique treat. Fife & Drum Tavern The little brick building is made up of two windows and an outdoor kiosk. The ordering process may change depending on the day that you visit, but when I stopped by, it was pretty busy. They had me place my order at the kiosk and then pick up my food at the windows. The Tavern! The menu here is pretty small, so their condiment station is as well. Next to the building, you’ll find utensils, napkins, ketchup, and mustard. It’s a simple spread! Condiments As for seating, there are some tables nearby around the American Adventure fountain, as well as some that are shared with Regal Eagle Smokehouse. They’re all picnic-style tables, and many of them have umbrellas for a little bit of shade. Seating If it’s raining, you can always try taking your food inside to Regal Eagle, or heading to the picnic tables across the pavilion near the restrooms — those are under an awning. But I’ll be the first to admit…seating is not this snack stand’s strong suit! More seating Now let’s take a look at that menu! Menu The menu here is pretty short, and most of the options are basic snacks, like popcorn, hot dogs, slushies, soft serve ice cream, and Mickey pretzels. You can also order bottled beverages here, as well as a few different alcoholic options. Menu However, the two standout items here are the turkey leg and the American Dream. There are only a select number of spots in Disney World where you can get a turkey leg, and this is one of them! As for the American Dream, it’s a unique slushy and ice cream mix that’s ONLY available at Fife & Drum. Eats For my meal, I ordered three different items, starting with that American Dream! I’ve never personally tried this treat until now, but it’s a favorite for a few people on our team. It’s made with Frozen Fanta Wild Cherry, vanilla soft serve, and Frozen Fanta Blue Raspberry slushy. Layered like an American flag! (*chants* USA! USA!) American Dream This will cost you $7, so it’s a bit more expensive than a regular slushy (which is $6.25), but I personally thought the upgrade was worth it! The slushy parts melt faster than the ice cream, so you kind of end up drinking it in the order of blue raspberry, cherry, then vanilla ice cream. The ice cream can be hard to suck through the straw until it starts to melt, but once it does, you get a float-like consistency with a bit of that carbonated Fanta goodness. It’s such a simple treat, but it’s a lot of fun in execution, and I think it would be SPECTACULAR on a hot day. Your kids will probably love this! I think I’ll be adding it into my personal rotation from now on. It holds together surprisingly well! And if we’re going for classic American fare, you know I had to try the basic Hot Dog and Chips meal. It’s just a simple beef hot dog with a bag of classic Lay’s chips for $11. This really just made me feel like I was eating dinner at a ball park, and after I tasted the hot dog, I went to the condiment station and loaded it up with ketchup and mustard for the traditional experience. Hot Dog Meal If you’re planning to order a hot dog in Disney World, you should know that there are typically two different kinds. One is the type you’ll find at quick service restaurants like Casey’s Corner or Friar’s Nook — it’s an all-beef hot dog that’s about an inch in diameter and served on a large bun (clearly made to be loaded down with toppings). On the other hand, some snack stands and hot dog carts will instead sell THIS type of hot dog, which is much more similar to what you’d buy at the store and make yourself. A manageable size. And of the two options, I like this hot dog a lot more. The beef flavor isn’t quite as overwhelming, and because of its more proportionate size, it’s easy to eat just topped with simple ketchup and mustard. It was cooked all the way through, had a little bit of chew, and a very nice, soft bun. Good ratio of dog to bun overall. However, for $11, I do think you could probably find a slightly more interesting meal in EPCOT. Nothin’ more American than a hot dog And rounding out my meal, I snagged a Soft Serve Waffle Cone for dessert! (“Wait, Lydia, didn’t the American Dream count as dessert?” you may ask. And I answer — no, that was a beverage. Completely different. I don’t make the rules.) This cone is available for $6.50, and you can get it in vanilla, chocolate, or swirl. Rounding out the meal with some ice cream! Of course, I got swirl, because Hannah Montana gives the best advice (best of both worlds, people). And you know what? I was shockingly impressed with this ice cream. I’m a bit of a soft serve snob, and much of the soft serve that you get in Disney World can be lackluster — lumpy and airy instead of creamy and smooth. So far, my favorite spot to get soft serve in the parks has been the truck in Anandapur in Animal Kingdom, and this cone comes very close to being as good as that one! The soft serve was creamy, smooth, and rich. The chocolate and vanilla flavors both had some depth, but weren’t too sugary or overwhelming. Quite delicious, if you ask me. It was shockingly good soft serve, y’all. So how does Fife & Drum stack up? Overall In the end, I was fairly impressed with my visit to this snack spot. Their unique item was fun and original without being too complicated, and their basic snacks were better than they’ve been in other places around Disney World. The spread Now, this probably isn’t the spot that I’m recommending for lunch or dinner, simply because of the limited menu and the fact that there are much more interesting foods in EPCOT. But it’s a great place to grab a midday snack! Nosh or Not? Don your colonial garb and dine at the Fife & Drum if… You want to try the American Dream. As I mentioned above, this snack stand is the only place where you can order that particular treat, and it was honestly pretty fun and delicious! You want some basic Disney snacks. Just craving a Mickey pretzel or want to try the infamous turkey leg? This is a good spot to stop, considering most of the other World Showcase pavilions don’t sell those basic snacks. You need to eat something FAST. If you’re in a rush and you need to pick up snacks on the go or just grab a hot dog/turkey leg to munch on at a picnic table, this is your place! I was able to get through my meal here incredibly quickly — probably a good bit faster than indoor quick service spots. Experience other culinary adventures and dine elsewhere in the World Showcase if… You want to try something unique or interesting. If you’re an American, the menu here is probably going to feel pretty basic to you. For more unique and interesting eats, see one of the other countries — they all have their own snack stands! You want a dining experience. This spot doesn’t really have a special theme, an interesting menu, or a fun atmosphere, so if you’re hoping for any of those things, I suggest booking a table service meal in EPCOT instead. You have picky eaters (who don’t like hot dogs and turkey). While the menu options here may appeal to some picky eaters, others will be completely turned off. There’s not a lot of variety overall. Fife & Drum That’s a wrap on my visit to Fife & Drum — thanks for coming along! We’ll make sure to keep you in the loop with any more food reviews from Disney World. Click Here for Our List of BEST EPCOT Restaurants! 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 been to Fife & Drum? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: This Basic EPCOT Snack Spot Weirdly Impressed Me first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney Springs is seriously underrated. Disney Springs From shopping and dining to entertainment, there is so much to do and see in Disney’s shopping and dining district! We have our favorites, but it seems like one of Disney’s newer restaurants might have gotten even better. Disney Springs has tons of restaurants that we sing the praises of, but one of our recent favorites is Summer House on the Lake. Summer House opened last year and has been a consistent hit with our team. Summer House on the Lake This restaurant features Californian-inspired cuisine with a matching atmosphere throughout. The outdoor porch offers beautiful views of Disney Springs while you sip on their signature Summer House Rosé! ©Summer House on the Lake This spot has been bringing just the right vibes for the past year, but this new menu has potentially made this great spot even better. The brand-new Martini Hour is available right now at Summer House, and we are ready to get in the car to race to Disney Springs just to try it out! For $10 each, you can grab the espresso martini, the fin collins martini, or a classic martini. ©Summer House on the Lake Personally, we’ll be grabbing the espresso martini for a little pick-me-up, but if you’re more of a wine or beer drinker, they also have that! You can grab a glass of red, white, or rosé for $5, which is over half-off compared to their lunch and dinner pricing per glass. Rotating beers are $4 each. ©Summer House on the Lake For some smaller bites, you can try the mixed nuts or summer house tostadas for $6 each. If you need something a little more substantial, they have two saucy chicken tenders for $9, bottomless truffle fries for $10, and a prime cheeseburger for $14. ©Summer House on the Lake None of that tickles your fancy? You can also grab a tomato sauce and mozzarella pizza for $12 with the option to add sausage, pepperoni, or spicy giardiniera for $3 each. ©Summer House on the Lake Summer House is a great place if you’re looking for relaxed atmospheres, light and tasty bites, and nice wines to sip on. If you don’t have the time for a sit-down, there is also a cookie walk-up bar where you can get drinks to go and as many cookies as your heart desires. Cookies! We can’t wait to put this martini hour to the test to see if it’s worth the price. As always, keep following Disney Food Blog for all of your Disney food updates and news. Find Our Ultimate Guide To Disney Springs Here! Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide The Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants The Best EPCOT Restaurant Restaurants The Best Hollywood Studios Restaurants The Best Animal Kingdom Restaurants The Best Disney Springs Restaurants Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Are you going to test this out? Tell us in the comments! The post NEW MENU ALERT! One of Our Favorite Restaurants Just Got a Upgrade in Disney Springs first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The holiday season isn’t just one of the busiest seasons in Disney World. It’s also one of the busiest seasons at Orlando International Airport (with a lot of those folks coming TO Disney World). Orlando International Airport Now, flying during the holidays comes with its own share of challenges, including dealing with crowds and making sure you get to where you’re going when winter weather takes a turn for the worst. Well, if you’re flying into or out of Orlando International Airport today, you might find yourself spending more time at the airport than you had hoped for: over 230 flights are currently delayed. According to FlightAware, 236 flights are currently delayed at Orlando International Airport, while eight flights have been canceled. What’s telling is that these delays are affecting nearly every airline that flies into the airport. This number continues to increase, so the number of delays are likely to be even higher as the day progresses. ©FlightAware So, what’s behind all these delays? According to ABC News, wintry weather could be to blame, which is causing issues at some of the largest airports in the U.S. A ground stop was issued for Chicago O’Hare Airport due to snowy and icy conditions; as of 11:30PM ET on Friday evening, almost 10,000 flights had already been delayed nationwide, with over 500 cancellations. Orlando International Airport According to NBC 7 San Diego, dense fog has delayed flights at that airport. There are also weather-related delays happening at other major airports, including Newark, JFK, and LaGuardia. All these delays basically put airlines behind, especially if those planes are eventually headed to Orlando, resulting in even more delays at the Orlando International Airport (it’s sort of like a trickle-down effect). Orlando Airport If you’re flying today, especially into or out of Orlando International Airport, you’ll want to set up a way for your airline to notify you if your flight is delayed. It’s also good to keep an eye on your airline’s app on your mobile device for any updates (and enable notifications). Also, you need to remind yourself of the 3-2-1 travel rule when flying during the holidays: Be at the ticket counter at least 3 hours before your flight. Be at the security checkpoint at least 2 hours before your departure time. Be at the gate at least 1 hour before your departure time. Stay tuned to DFB for more. Our Best Tips For Flying Through the Orlando International Airport 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 Do these flight delays affect your trip? Let us know in the comments! The post NEWS: Over 230 Flights Are DELAYED at Orlando International Airport first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Picture this: You’re planning your dream Disney World trip, and suddenly you’re faced with the age-old dilemma – what bag should you bring? Look at everything it holds! You need something that can hold all your essentials, won’t weigh you down, and won’t break the bank. Enter the Small Crescent Crossbody Bag, the latest trend that’s sweeping through the Disney parks faster than you can say “bibbidi-bobbidi-boo.” DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. This compact wonder is turning heads and solving problems for Disney-goers everywhere. With its sleek design, water-resistant material, and a price tag that’ll make your wallet breathe a sigh of relief, it’s no wonder this bag is becoming the must-have accessory for your next magical adventure. Let’s dive into why this $15 marvel is suddenly on everyone’s Disney packing list! “Is This Bag Mary Poppins’ Long-Lost Cousin?” Alright, let’s talk specs. This little wonder measures in at a modest 12″ x 3.5″ x 6″, but don’t let its size fool you. Like Mary Poppins’ iconic carpet bag, this crescent-shaped marvel seems to defy the laws of physics when it comes to capacity. Crafted from durable and soft nylon fabric, this bag is ready to weather whatever your Disney day throws at it. From unexpected Florida downpours to accidental ice cream spills, the water-resistant material has got you covered. The adjustable shoulder strap, measuring a comfortable 1.18″ wide, ensures you can wear it just the way you like it – high, low, or anywhere in between. It can fit all your park day essentials! But wait, there’s more! This bag isn’t just a one-trick pony. With its durable zipper closure and two inner compartments, it’s like having your own personal organizer. Keys, phone, park tickets, and that emergency stash of Mickey-shaped snacks – everything has its place. And here’s the kicker – this bag isn’t just for Disney. It’s a chameleon of accessories, seamlessly transitioning from park hopping to work commutes, shopping sprees, date nights, and even beach trips. Talk about getting more bang for your buck! View on Amazon This bag’s material is tougher than your resolve to stick to your Disney snack budget – ©Amazon “My Other Bags Are Jealous of This One’s Disney World Stamina” Let’s face it, a day at Disney World is like running a marathon while juggling – you need gear that can keep up. This Small Crescent Crossbody Bag is like the Olympic athlete of Disney bags, and here’s why: First off, its compact size is perfect for navigating crowded park pathways and squeezing into tight spaces on rides. No more awkward “excuse me” moments as you try to maneuver a bulky backpack through the queue for Space Mountain. Despite its small stature, this bag is a lightweight champion. The water-resistant material is a godsend in the unpredictable Florida weather – whether it’s a sudden downpour or a splash from Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, your belongings stay dry. We love this bag! Our team put this bag through its paces, and the results were impressive. It’s great for carrying essentials and even has room for a few extras. If you’re not a fan of belt bags, this is your perfect alternative. And for those EPCOT festival enthusiasts, it’s ideal for stashing your festival booklet and a few snacks. Now, no bag is perfect (though this one comes pretty close). If you’re the type who packs for every possible scenario, you might find the capacity a bit limiting. And on busy days when it’s packed to the brim, you might need to adjust it on your shoulder occasionally. But let’s be real – these are small prices to pay for a bag that’s more reliable than Genie+ on a busy day. Buy Yours Here “This Bag Organizes My Disney Day Better Than I Ever Could” Let’s talk organization, because this bag is basically the Marie Kondo of Disney accessories. With two inner compartments, it’s like having a personal assistant keeping your stuff in check. In one section, you can stash your phone, wallet, and keys – you know, the essentials that you don’t want to be fumbling for when you’re trying to grab a quick photo with Mickey. The other compartment? That’s your Disney command center. Park maps, a small tube of sunscreen, and maybe even a compact fan for those sweltering Florida afternoons. A look inside But here’s where it gets really good – there’s still room for the important stuff. And by important stuff, I mean snacks and small souvenirs. Because let’s be honest, no Disney trip is complete without impulse-buying at least one pair of Mickey ears. The practicality of this bag for theme park use is off the charts. Need to grab your MagicBand quickly? No problem. Want to stash that receipt from your latest Disney merch haul? Easy peasy. The secure zipper closure means you don’t have to worry about anything falling out on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. And let’s not forget about the adjustable strap. Whether you want to wear it crossbody for hands-free fun, or shortened as a shoulder bag for a quick dash to catch the parade, this bag adapts faster than Chameleon Mickey changes colors. Get Organized Here “From Fantasyland to Future World: A Day in the Life of This $15 Wonder” Imagine a bag that’s as versatile as Disney World itself – that’s this Small Crescent Crossbody for you. Let’s take a whirlwind tour of how this bag holds up across the parks: In Magic Kingdom, it’s compact enough to navigate the tightest queues. Whether you’re squeezing through the winding paths of Peter Pan’s Flight or finding your spot for the fireworks, this bag stays close without getting in the way. Heading to EPCOT? This bag is perfect for carrying your Festival of the Arts passport or Food Wine Festival booklet. It’s like having a personal sommelier on your shoulder, minus the fancy bow tie. The Crescent Bag At Hollywood Studios, you’ll appreciate the hands-free convenience as you gesticulate wildly, trying to use the Force in Galaxy’s Edge. And when you’re screaming your lungs out on Tower of Terror, you won’t have to worry about your belongings taking a separate trip to the Twilight Zone. Animal Kingdom puts bags to the test with its wild adventures, but this one’s water-resistant material laughs in the face of Kali River Rapids. It’s ready for every safari, trek, and expedition you can throw at it. Our DFB team put this bag through its paces, and it passed with flying colors. It’s comfortable for extended wear, easily fitting park essentials and then some. Whether you’re park-hopping or settling in for a long day of magical memories, this bag keeps up without weighing you down. Adventure Awaits – Buy Now “The Price Tag That Made My Disney Budget Smile” Let’s talk money, honey, because this bag is a budget’s best friend. At around $15, it’s probably less than your last Mickey pretzel and ice cream combo. But unlike that snack, this bag keeps on giving long after your Disney trip is over. When it comes to value, this bag is like finding an extra FastPass in your pocket. It’s durable enough to withstand the rigors of park hopping, yet versatile enough to use in your everyday life. From Disney adventures to grocery runs, this bag transitions smoother than Cinderella’s carriage at midnight. Love ya, Crescent Bag Compare it to other park bag options, and you’ll see why it’s a standout. Designer park bags can set you back hundreds, and even “budget” options often creep into the $30-$50 range. This little champion gives you all the functionality at a fraction of the price. For Disney enthusiasts and frequent travelers, the long-term value is clear. It’s a bag that can accompany you on countless adventures, both in and out of the parks. And at this price point, you won’t be heartbroken if it eventually succumbs to one too many trips through Splash Mountain. Grab This Deal Now It’s Not Magic, But It’s Pretty Close: Why This Bag Is a Disney Must-Have As we wrap up our magical tour of the Small Crescent Crossbody Bag, let’s recap why this $15 wonder is casting a spell on Disney-goers everywhere: 1. Compact yet spacious design that Mary Poppins would approve of 2. Water-resistant material ready for any Disney adventure 3. Versatile enough for park hopping or everyday use 4. Organizes your essentials better than Cinderella’s mice 5. A price tag that’s more attractive than Prince Charming This bag is perfect for the Disney enthusiast who values practicality, comfort, and affordability. It’s ideal for those who prefer traveling light but still want to carry all the essentials. Whether you’re a solo traveler, a couple on a Disney date, or a parent trying to keep it all together, this bag has got your back (quite literally). However, if you’re the type who packs for every possible scenario or needs to carry gear for a large family, you might need to look at larger options. But for most Disney-goers, this bag hits the sweet spot of functionality and convenience. The Small Crescent Crossbody Bag might be the current star of the show, but the world of Disney accessories is always evolving. Keep your eyes peeled for more reviews and recommendations from the DFB team. We’re always on the lookout for the latest and greatest items to enhance your Disney World experience. From innovative park bags to must-have travel gadgets, we’ve got you covered. And remember, for all your Disney essentials, be sure to check out the DFB Amazon storefront. It’s like a treasure trove of magical must-haves, curated by our team of Disney experts. Looking for More Disney World essentials? Check out our DFB Amazon Storefront Happy shopping, and may your next Disney trip be filled with magic, memories, and perfectly packed bags! The post The Bag That Everyone Is Suddenly Bringing to Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

A lot will be changing at Magic Kingdom in the upcoming years! Magic Kingdom A new Villains land is getting added to the park, a new Pirates of the Caribbean lounge is being created, a new nighttime parade will debut in 2025, and two new Cars attractions will be replacing Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America. A few months ago, Disney filed a permit that appeared to be for the early stages of construction for these two Cars attractions. Then, in September, the South Florida Water Management District requested some additional information for the permit, and now we have an update on the status of this permit! In August, Disney filed the first permit for the Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America area for “Construction of a stormwater management master treatment facility to provide stormwater quality treatment for improvements within Canal L407/L407A and L405 Basins within the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.” It essentially sounded like they will need to build a treatment facility for stormwater that will be drained from the area where the new attractions will be going. Permit number 48-00714-Pv However, in September, the South Florida Water Management District requested additional information for the permit. An additional letter was then sent on December 3rd, giving Disney 10 days to get that information and correct the permit to the district, or the permit would be denied. The Central Florida Tourism District responded with its own letter, requesting a 60-day extension for Disney to respond to the original request. This request was granted, and now there is a new update. ©Central Florida Tourism District As an update to this request, Disney has responded to the letter asking for additional information. All questions have been answered with the additional information needed. The new information also included two new maps to go along with the permit. New map Here’s a look at the second map. Second map At this point, the South Florida Water Management District has 30 days to review the new information and to ask for any more information they may need or make a decision. Construction is unlikely to begin until this permit has been approved. When it does begin, we’ll be seeing two new attractions take shape over the future. There will be a fast-paced ride through the mountains of the frontier… Coming to Frontierland at Magic Kingdom, a new area themed to Pixar Animation Studios’ “Cars” will leave Radiator Springs and head to the wilderness with two new attractions including an off-road race. …along with a family friendly race. Coming to Frontierland at Magic Kingdom, a new area themed to Pixar Animation Studios’ “Cars” will leave Radiator Springs and head to the wilderness with two new attractions including an off-road race. We’ll be watching for more updates to this permit and others being filed around Disney World for all the exciting changes coming in the next few years! For more Disney news, keep following DFB! Disney Files Permit for Construction at Magic Kingdom Snack Spot Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Are you looking forward to these two new attractions coming to Magic Kingdom? Let us know in the comments! The post If This Magic Kingdom Permit Gets Approved, Disney Will Be One Step CLOSER to Starting a HUGE Project first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Did you know that Disney just opened up a whole brand-new hotel? Island Tower Of course we’re talking about the Disney Vacation Club property called the Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort! This property is really quite stunning, and we’ve had a chance to experience the grounds, the amenities, dining options, and even the rooms. We’ve loved our time here, but there has been one thing that really astonished us about Disney World’s newest hotel, and we’ve gotta talk with you about it! As we were saying, while there’s so much to fall head over heels for at this new hotel, one thing truly astonished us – and not in a good way. Let’s talk about transportation. Island Tower Now, if you’re a frequent Disney-goer, you know how vital good transportation is to your Disney World experience. After all, who wants to spend the majority of their precious park time trekking across a vast resort to catch a bus or monorail? That’s where the Island Tower at the Polynesian feels like it’s missing the mark. Island Tower Despite all the glamour and excitement surrounding this new property (it officially opened just a few days ago, on December 17, 2024), we were surprised to find a glaring lack of convenient transportation options. Here’s the scoop: the Island Tower doesn’t have its own dedicated bus stop. Yep, you read that right. Guests staying here will need to trek back to the main Polynesian Village Resort area to catch buses or access the monorail. Directions to the Monorail at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Now, here at DFB, we’re not ones to shy away from a leisurely stroll, especially when the grounds are as gorgeous as those at the Polynesian. But after a long day at the parks, when your feet are begging for a break, a long hike back to the transportation options isn’t exactly the move. This makes things especially tricky if you’re trying to make rope drop at Magic Kingdom or hustle back for a midday nap. Walking Path For a hotel this high-end, we were honestly expecting something a little more streamlined. Maybe a separate bus stop? Or a more direct path to the transportation hub? As it stands, the lack of easy transportation access is a definite drawback for this otherwise spectacular addition to the Polynesian. Island Tower Honestly, we can definitely see the appeal of calling a Minnie Van or rideshare service from the Island Tower instead of hoofing it back to the main transportation hub. But that’s an added cost and not exactly ideal when Disney’s selling you on the convenience of their resorts. That view, though! Does this mean you should skip the Island Tower altogether? Not necessarily! This place is gorgeous, and its location still gives you access to the monorail (if you’re willing to make the walk), plus all the dining and amenities of the Polynesian. It’s just something to keep in mind when planning your stay. Island Tower Hopefully, Disney finds a way to address this issue in the future, because the Island Tower deserves to shine without any logistical hiccups. For now, if you’re planning a stay here, bring comfy shoes (or budget for a Minnie Van). Trust us, your feet will thank you! We’ll be sure to keep you updated on all the latest news coming from this new Island Tower, so stay tuned to DFB! FIRST LOOK Inside the Rooms at Disney’s NEW Island Tower Hotel 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 the Island Tower in 2025? Tell us in the comments! The post The One Thing That Astonished Us About Disney World's Newest Hotel first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Y’all. It has been a ROUGH year for a lot of TV shows, even those you think might’ve been successful (sometimes it’s hard to tell because streamers aren’t so forthcoming with their numbers). ©FX When shows like Netflix’s Dead Boy Detectives gets the axe, you start to worry. But it’s not just streaming subscription services that are canceling shows. Nope, networks have really jumped on the show cancellation trend, too. We previously learned about cancellations on CBS and other networks, but we’ve now got one to tell you about that just happened on FX: The Old Man will not be returning for a third season. According to Variety, The Old Man has been canceled after two seasons on FX. The series was based on a novel by Thomas Perry and starred Jeff Bridges as a former CIA operative. During the show’s first season, the series followed his character, Dan Chase, after he killed a home intruder and went into hiding. The second season revolved around Chase working to recover his daughter, who was kidnapped by an Afghan tribal leader. ©FX The show also starred John Lithgow, Alia Shawkat, and Navid Negahban. The season 1 cast also featured E.J. Bonilla and Bill Heck, while season 2 included Jacqueline Antaramian, Amy Brenneman, and Gbenga Akinnagbe. The show premiered in June 2022 and was a critical success and seemed popular enough. Season 2 also seemed to maintain a positive response from critics and viewers, but the show’s audience did decline between seasons, possibly due to a long hiatus. ©FX We’ll keep an eye out for more cancellation announcements, so 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? Did you watch this show? Let us know in the comments! The post Another Popular TV Series Is CANCELED After 2 Seasons first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article