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Seeing celebrities in Disney World is always fun because they get to have the same fun and make magical memories just like we can! Magic Kingdom Over the years, we’ve seen many celebrities have fun with their family and friends in the parks — most recently we spotted an iconic couple dressed in style as they walked around the parks, someone rode Flight of Passage and loved it, and another celebrity held a mini pep rally in EPCOT. But now, one of our absolute favorite triple-threat celebrities had a blast in the Most Magical Place on Earth and we LOVE that for him! Jordan Fisher, most known in the Disney world for his vocals on the iconic Happily Ever After song that plays during the iconic fireworks show of the same name in Magic Kingdom each night, just visited Disney World and seems to have had an amazing time! Disney shared a photo of him with Tiana’s Bayou Adventure… ©Disney …but he also shared some personal photos of his own of other experiences he had on his trip with his wife, Ellie Fisher. @jordanfisher on Instagram His caption indicated that the trip was just for the two of them, saying “mom and dad got away.” We’re so glad it looks like they had a wonderful time on their trip! @jordanfisher on Instagram We love seeing that they got to experience one of the most popular rides in the park right now, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. However, we must ask — Jordan, how did you look SO calm on that ride? That’s not an easy feat! @jordanfisher on Instagram Getting ready to go on your own trip and are making sure you have everything planned out? Check out the most recent news from the parks below! Three Huge Hotel Changes Have Been Announced for Disney World in 2025 DFB Video: Latest Disney News: Lightning Lane Multi Pass is HERE, Rare Meet and Greets & More! Cooling Towel Vs Neck Fan — Which One Is Better for Disney World? NEWS: Disney Treasure Shares NEW LOOK at 2 BIG Additions 2 Suspicious Things Disney Has Done Ahead of the HUGE August 10th News Drop EPCOT We’re in the Disney World parks every single day and bringing you all the latest news, so be sure to stay tuned to DFB! People fly this airline to Disney World all the time, and it’s CHANGING — our readers have THOUGHTS 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 celebrity would you love to see in Disney World? Tell us in the comments! The post Celebrity SPOTTED in Disney World! Guess Who Just Rode Cosmic Rewind first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Around these parts, we definitely love a live show at Disney World! Let the Magic Begin! Over the years, we’ve seen shows come and go, but tomorrow, two stage shows will be coming back to the Magic Kingdom! We’re so excited. Let’s go over the details! You read it right. Both Let The Magic Begin AND Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire are returning to Magic Kingdom Tomorrow, Sunday, July 28th! ©Disney Let the Magic Begin is a show that happens bright and early at 8:55AM on the Cinderella Castle stage in front of the castle. Mickey, Minnie and their friends welcome you to Magic Kingdom and wish you a magical day. Let the Magic Begin! Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire also takes place on the Cinderella Castle stage in front of the castle at 10:00AM, 11:10AM, 12:45PM, 1:45PM, and 4:00PM. ©Disney In this one, keep on the lookout for friends like Tiana, Naveen, Rapunzel, Flynn, Anna, Elsa, Olaf, and more! Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire These shows are so fun and cute, and we’re stoked to see them return to the Magic Kingdom. Until then, for more Disney news, keep following DFB! A RARE Character Meet and Greet Has Returned to Magic Kingdom After FOUR YEARS Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Are you excited to see these stage shows on your next Disney World visit? Let us know in the comments below. The post Don't Forget About This Magic Kingdom CHANGE Starting Tomorrow! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

D23 Members, get ready for NEW discounts. D23 is HERE! Members of Disney’s fan club D23 can often find discounts at Disney locations and events. Right now — in the lead-up to D23’s massive Ultimate Fan Event in August — Gold Members or festival attendees will be able to find two massive discounts timed for the convention at a major Anaheim resort. The first of the discounts located at the Westin Anaheim Resort can be found at their signature restaurant. The hotel’s Tangerine Room — a restaurant specializing in “modern Californian cuisine that celebrates seasonal ingredients and local flavors” — is offering one complimentary dessert with the purchase of an entrée… ©D23 The offer can only be redeemed in person, and requires guests to “present their D23 Gold Membership card OR this year’s D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event credentials with the purchase of two or more entrees and enjoy a complimentary dessert.” The second Westin offer can be found at the hotel’s Blossom Cafe & Market. According to the hotel, those who visit the market during the D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event from August 9th through the 11th will receive 15% off their food and beverage purchases when they present their D23 Gold Membership card or D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event Badge. ©D23 The offer includes all made-to-order and prepackaged food items. Like the Tangerine Room offer, this one must be redeemed in person as well and guests must “mention (the) promotion at checkout and present their D23 Gold Membership card OR this year’s D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event credentials to redeem the offer.” According to Disney, the 2024 D23 event has been” reimagined to be more expansive and more immersive than ever before, with three packed days of showcases with stars and storytellers, sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes moments, thrilling performances, shopping, surprises, and more.” ©Disney From August 9th through August 11th, D23 Gold Members and those attending the D23 Ultimate Fan Event can find two massive discounts at the Westin Anaheim Resort. Stay tuned to DFB for further updates on D23. Disney Teases 7 HUGE Announcements for D23 — The Biggest Fan Event of the Year Travel Updates, Tips, and Tricks Complete Guide to Booking the CHEAPEST Flight to Disney World What to Do if Your Flight to Disney World Is Canceled Our Best Tips For Flying Through the Orlando International Airport Step-by-Step Guide: How to Get to Disney World From the Orlando Airport You’re SLEEPING on These Packing Hacks Air Travel Tips That’ll Change Your Life 8 Catastrophic Travel Mistakes and How to Solve Them The Airline with the MOST Flight Delays and Cancellations This Small Change Will Save You From Lost Luggage The Best Disney Luggage for 2023 21 Things a Former Flight Attendant Needs You To Know 7 Highest-Rated Travel Items on Amazon Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click Here to Subscribe Are you looking forward to this year’s D23 event? Let us know in the comments below. The post 🚨 2 EXCLUSIVE Discounts Revealed for D23 Members 🚨 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We’re HUGE fans of some of the classic dining spots around Disney World, and Magic Kingdom is home to some old favorites! Between the classic rides, classic characters, and classic restaurants at this park, there’s plenty to keep us busy at Magic Kingdom. But one of our favorite things to do is sit down for a nice, filling meal. And that’s exactly what we’re doing today! Dessert! In our continuous journey to visit every single Disney World restaurant, we’ve had some real winners and some that didn’t leave much of a lasting impression on us at all. So, that gave us an idea — would a beloved Magic Kingdom restaurant STILL stand up to the test of time? While there is table seating throughout, there are also booth-type seating setups, but we were seated at a standalone table. Seating Once we were seated, we were offered menus. Menu The menu here includes all the food you care to enjoy, served right to your table! You’ll start with the Declaration Salad and bread with butter, followed by the Patriot’s Platter of your main foods, and you’ll wrap things up with the famous Oooey Gooey Toffee Cake dessert. Liberty Tree Tavern Menu You can also purchase a selection of specialty wines and non-alcoholic beverages separately to add to your meal. Beverage menu Plus, there are plenty of fountain sodas, milk, teas, and juices. Drinks To start us off, we decided to order a few drinks to get in the spirit. We opted for the Tavern Punch as a non-alcoholic option and the Gold Rush to try something with alcohol in it! To keep it simple, though, let’s talk about the most interesting first — the Tavern Punch. This drink is made of frozen lemon-flavored Dole Whip and Sprite and cost us $9. Tavern Punch If you’re already interested in how it looks, it tastes even better! Before it melted into a full liquid, the lemon Dole Whip and fizzy Sprite combo tasted almost like lemon Italian Ice. We found it to be delightful and a solid bet if you find yourself on the fence about ordering it, especially if you’re into trying out different Dole Whip flavors. Then, we turned our attention to the Gold Rush. This spirit is made of Elijah Craig 12yr Kentucky Straight Bourbon, lemon juice, and honey garnished with crystalized ginger and cost us $17. Gold Rush Admittedly, our initial thoughts about it were that we were about to pay a hefty price tag for a measly drink with a little bit of alcohol, but boy, were we wrong! This is no wimpy drink by any stretch of the imagination, and if you’re an avid bourbon enthusiast who likes a more commanding taste, this is a great option! Eats Now, it’s time to get started chowing down. As we mentioned before, the main dining options for the meal have already been preselected for you. To dine here, the meal itself will cost you $42 for adults and $23 for kids ages 3-9. For appetizers, we were offered the Declaration Salad and house-made rolls. Let’s get started! The salad is made of mixed greens, apples, cranberries, and shredded cheese tossed with the restaurant’s house-made dressing! Declaration Salad We loved this salad, and for a house-made dressing, it really hit the spot. The mixed greens were what we’ve come to expect from Disney World, and on their own, they wouldn’t have been much to describe, but when they were woken up with the added flavors from the fruity apple and cranberry, the flavor really popped! So crunchy The rolls were divine! If you’re familiar with a Parker House-style roll, that’s basically what these were, with some additional butter and spices rubbed on top. Rolls They were pillowy, soft, and curved when you smushed them, and you could see the golden color of the added butter baked into the edges. Pure bread perfection, and we know Disney World bread! When our main course was ready, it was served all together. Allow us to introduce you to the Patriot’s Platter, made of roasted turkey, pot roast, and oven-roasted pork with herbed stuffing. Patriot’s Platter Our plate also included mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables, which, in our case, were green beans. Sides We also got a house-made macaroni & cheese. Mac & Cheese In addition to the platter, we were served a house-made gravy to accompany our meats. House-made gravy If it doesn’t look like it by now, our table was full! We had several reporters helping to tackle this huge meal, and it took every single one of us by surprise at how much the food filled our table! Admittedly, this is where we had to bid the rest of the Declaration Salad goodbye and dig into our next eats. Time to dig in! We’re going to tell you about it all just like it’s served — at the same time! We found the meats to be well cooked, juicy, and have incredible flavor (we especially liked the pot roast and pork). Pairing it with the herbed stuffing, which was just sticky enough, and the cranberry sauce served on the side really made us feel like we were sitting down to eat a traditional Thanksgiving feast. A plate of our own The veggies between the gravy-smothered mushrooms and the green beans were cooked just right to bring out the best of their flavors. We got to digging into the mashed potatoes so fast that we almost forgot to try the house-made gravy over them! Just look at that perfection This was more like a turkey gravy than a beef-based gravy. It still had good flavor and paired very well with the stuffing. Pot roast The mac & cheese was super creamy and cheesy and probably the highlight of our meal (we know, don’t judge us, we’re obsessed with Disney World’s mac & cheese options). Honestly, this version has put other versions of plain ol’ mac & cheese to shame, and we could have eaten our weight’s worth. It’s too bad we couldn’t fit more in with this main meal because once we started slowing down, we realized we STILL needed to save a little bit of room for dessert! The Oooey Gooey Toffee Cake is this restaurant’s staple dessert, and it’s not hard to see why. In short, it’s a toffee cake covered in vanilla ice cream, drizzled with warm chocolate and caramel, and topped with caramel chips. Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake You’ve really got to have a sweet tooth for this one because it divided our entire team! While we started off really strong, we fear those extra caramel chip toppings may have been our kryptonite — or was it the toffee pieces sticking to our back teeth? From the other side Either way, this dessert is almost screaming to be shared because the one thing we all could agree on was that you’d have to be a brave, strong person to tackle it solo! Just a bite As the ice cream cascaded over the toffee cake and the chocolate drizzle melted into the toppings, we found ourselves in a whirlwind of warm chocolate and caramel flavors that just kept getting sweeter with each bite. If there ever was such a treat we absolutely had to walk away from because we just couldn’t take the sweetness overload, we fear this was our match. Overall We think this precious restaurant should be protected at all costs. The meal here is filling and delightful, and there’s hardly any way you’re leaving here with an empty stomach. Turkey If you’ve not grabbed the side of your mouth as you’re leaving Liberty Tree Tavern, did you even eat any of the Oooey Gooey Toffee Cake? We think not! Nosh or Not? Declare yourself part of the feast at Liberty Tree Tavern if… You’re ready to taste a classic Thanksgiving in Disney World. This meal had all the flavors and familiarity of home, and we think that’s worth its weight in gold! Picky eaters — you’re safe here! Seriously, while it’s not a full buffet, the menu here isn’t terribly adventurous or kicked up a notch with extra spices and seasoning, making it a great fit for picky eaters. Your meal HAS to be worth the price. We had a hard time finding fault with this meal from the theming to the service to the quality of our food and drinks, and we think it’s a pretty solid bet for you to make too when choosing where you want to eat in Disney World next. Respectfully decline the invitation to join in if… You prefer an a la carte or single entree. While you can certainly portion out your own meal into an individual plate, the main course is served family-style, so you might find food touching other food here. The menu here seems too boring. Sure, there’s an interesting dessert here (that tastes just as great), but if you’re not as impressed with the rest of the menu and find it a bit boring, well, there are other interesting eats at other restaurants. Eating a super filling meal and then returning to the heat just doesn’t sound appealing. This is pretty self-explanatory, but we’ve gotten feedback from readers before who choose not to eat heavy meals while visiting the parks and prefer to snack or pick up lighter bites in the heat. We’re ALWAYS eating our way around Disney World (even if we’ve dined there before)! We’re working hard to update our reviews to help you make the best choices for dining options on your next Disney World trip! While you’re here, check out a few more of our reviews below and stay tuned with us at Disney Food Blog for even more! REVIEW: Does This EPCOT Restaurant Really Deserve Its Poor Reputation? We Found Out! Need Disney Restaurant Advice? We’ve Got EVERYTHING You Need to Know The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! See Our Complete Disney World Restaurants Guide The Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants The Best EPCOT Restaurant Restaurants The Best Hollywood Studios Restaurants The Best Animal Kingdom Restaurants The Best Disney Springs Restaurants Check Out Dozens of Disney Dining Tips and Tools Learn All About Tipping at Disney Restaurants How to Use Mobile Order in Disney World Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney food news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Have you ever dined at Liberty Tree Tavern in Magic Kingdom? Tell us all about your experience in the comments below! The post REVIEW: We Came to This Famous Magic Kingdom Restaurant for the Dessert, but STAYED for the Bizarre Tomato Baby first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Deciding what to wear to Disney World is VERY difficult — we get it! Magic Kingdom Trust us, we’ve been there. You’re tearing through your closet, trying to find the outfit pieces that will be cute yet functional for long days walking around the parks. However, sometimes you decide to take a risk, which can be great! …Or it may turn into a bit of a disaster. Many Disney World fans think these particular fashion choices are quite the faux pas, so here’s how you can avoid them! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Now, to preface, you wear whatever YOU would like to Disney World and whatever you’ll be comfortable in! However, there are some situations you need to prepare for, some of them that specifically stem from what you choose to wear, so we’re just giving you these as a heads-up! Getting Soaked If you’re in Disney World on a rainy day and don’t have any rain gear, it’s almost a guarantee that unless you take cover JUST in time and stay there, you very well may get soaked. And there’s nothing wrong with that…as long as your outfit can hold up when it’s soaking wet. Storm over EPCOT We’ve seen firsthand that people who have worn these adorable and elegant outfits to Disney World look incredible, but then they get wet, and things go downhill really fast. Now, we’re not telling you to NOT wear these outfits, but we are saying that if your outfit isn’t water-friendly, you need to bring some kind of rain gear with you to keep yourself dry without needing to hide inside for (potentially) hours. We personally love the Cosowe Ponchos! ©Amazon This is a fantastic product to keep you dry all day as you walk through the parks, and it’s cheaper than buying a poncho in Disney World, which will rip easily and, therefore, ruin its effectiveness. Plus, you can grab the clear ones, so your outfit can still be seen! Don’t miss it! However, if you’re looking for something REALLY sturdy and don’t care as much about your outfit being seen, we also love the FROGG TOGGS Poncho! FROGG TOGGS Poncho This thing is AMAZING. Water practically rolls right off of it, and it’s dry almost the moment you step out of the rain! Check it out! Wearing Something That Chafes You No need to be embarrassed! It’s happened to most of us out there. Chafing doesn’t just happen in one area either — it can happen almost anywhere on your body. Chafing often comes from the type of clothes you’re wearing in the parks, but the strap of your bag could also chafe your arms, OR your ears could chafe the sides of your head. Animal Kingdom Again, we’re not necessarily saying to avoid wearing anything that could chafe you (because that’s a LOT of different items and hey, Disney World is hot and we totally get wanting to wear as few layers as possible sometimes), but this is where being prepared comes in handy. We absolutely recommend carrying around the Megababe Thigh Rescue Anti-Chafe Stick! ©Amazon This stuff will SAVE YOU! We’ve had many members of our team swear by it. Even those of us who don’t typically chafe keep some on our bag for the off chance that something changes that day and our skin gets irritated. You just rub a little bit on wherever you need it, and you’re good to go! Add it to your cart! Wearing Fancy/Impractical Shoes For the WHOLE Day We totally understand packing a pair of fancy heels or shoes for a special dining reservation you have in Disney World the evening of your trip, but make no mistake — wearing impractical shoes for your ENTIRE day is a major mistake. Crowds You’ll be doing MILES of walking each day of your Disney World trip, and you won’t want to be doing it in heels or uncomfortable shoes. Again, we’ve been there and are BEGGING you to not make the same mistake we have, but if you do (or if you wear good shoes but your skin blisters anyway), it’s best to be prepared with some Moleskin. ©Amazon These are thick (but not too thick) bandages that come in multiple different sizes and shapes to best fit where you need it. It’ll protect your skin from further irritation which is VERY important! Grab some here! Wearing A Universal Shirt in Disney World This one is a little silly, but it’s on this list for a reason. Many people who come to visit Disney World from far away, or who haven’t done a ton of research may be confused on what’s actually in the parks. We can’t tell you how many times we’ve overheard people wondering where Harry Potter land or Jurassic Park is in the parks, and the truth is that they’re nowhere — those are over at Universal Orlando. Hogwarts at Universal’s Islands of Adventure While Universal Orlando is very close to Disney World in retrospect (only about half an hour away at most), they’re two completely different companies with different IP and attractions. So every time we see a Universal Orlando shirt, or a shirt based on their IP or attractions, in Disney World, we can’t help but cringe a little bit. Harry Potter Hogsmeade at Universal Studios And now we know we’re not alone in this! A lot of our readers feel the same way and would feel the same if they saw a Disney World shirt in Universal Orlando. No Harry Potter here! We’re always here to help you prepare for your next Disney World trip, so stay tuned to DFB! Check out our Amazon Storefront for more of our Disney World essentials! What else would you add to this list? Tell us in the comments! The post Over 60% of Disney Fans Agree this Outfit is a Theme Park Fashion Faux Pas first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’re traveling through the Orlando International Airport soon, we’ve got an important update that could impact your plans. Orlando International Airport From delays and cancellations to policy changes, there can be a lot to stay on top of when it comes to flying. That’s why we try to keep an eye out for any unexpected changes so you aren’t caught off guard when traveling for your vacation! There are several different transportation options when traveling to and from the Orlando International Airport. Of course, there are options like Uber and car rentals. But if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly choice, you could take LYNX, the public transit provider for Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties. Lynx Bus The LYNX buses offer regular service to and from the Orlando International Airport with stops at major destinations around the city. In fact, in April, LYNX even added an express route between the airport and Disney Springs. But if you’re planning to use this service on an upcoming trip, we’ve got an important update about a temporary change! Lynx Bus Due to airport construction, the regular LYNX bus bays A38-A41 will be closed from Monday, July 29th, until noon on Wednesday, July 31st. During that time, LYNX will instead use the bays A35-A37. If the temporary bays are occupied when a bus arrives, it will loop back around to ensure safe passenger pickup. Lynx bus If you are planning to use a LYNX bus to or from the airport during next week’s closure, be sure to keep this temporary change in mind so you’re heading to the correct bus bay! Inside Lynx bus We’ll continue to be on the lookout for more news that could impact your upcoming travel plans, so stay tuned to DFB for all of the latest updates! Gen Z Is IGNORING This Travel Trend 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 go-to transportation method for getting to and from the Orlando airport? Let us know in the comments! The post WARNING: Airport Construction Could Impact Your Upcoming Disney World Trip! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney has already started gearing up for the 2024 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival and we can’t wait! 2023 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival This summertime festival is the BIGGEST one of the year, bringing tons of food booths, a concert series, and all kinds of themed entertainment to the park. Disney has been keeping the full list of booths and menus a secret, but we’ve already gotta share some bad news about this year’s Food & Wine Festival! The EPCOT Food & Wine Festival will be here before we know it and we can’t wait! But, if you’re planning a trip to this year’s festival, we do have some bad news we’ve gotta share with you — which doesn’t mean you can’t still have a good time, but it does mean you might want to be a bit more prepared. Let’s get into it! It’s Shorter This Year This year, the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival will officially begin on August 29th and run through November 23rd! This is shorter than we’ve seen in recent years — for example, in 2023, the festival dates were July 27th through November 18th. That’s a whole month shorter in 2024 than in 2023! But, this isn’t exactly all that surprising, and we’ll tell you why. EPCOT Food & Wine Festival 2023 This festival timeline is more consistent with the timeline from before the COVID-19-related closures. In 2019, the Food and Wine Festival ran from August 29th through November 23rd, and the Flower and Garden Festival ran from March 6th to June 3rd. You might notice that the dates for this year are exactly the same as in 2019 — before Disney changed things up by extending the festival. This is something to keep in mind if you’re planning a trip, though! It’s HOT! We know — this isn’t shocking, and it certainly isn’t exclusive to the 2024 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival, either. But we think people seriously underestimate just how oppressively hot it can get at Disney World — especially if you’re planning on going right when the festival kicks off. You might be prepared for 95-degree weather, but are you prepared to eat hot cheese soup in 95-degree weather? Spaceship Earth We always recommend sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen, plenty of water (don’t get dehydrated, people!), and taking breaks in the air conditioning or shade when you can. This is especially true if you plan on doing some imbibing of alcohol during your festival day! Ride Closures Could Mean Long Lines Test Track is currently closed for refurbishment! Disney hasn’t released too many details about what the ride experience will be like just yet, but, they did mention that it will take inspiration from World of Motion, the ride that was originally there when the park opened in 1982. But, as far as the Food and Wine Festival goes, this might have an impact on lines at food booths! Test Track Since Test Track is one of the more popular parks at EPCOT, it usually garners quite a line — meaning it can hold a ton of park visitors at once. With this ride being closed, all those people are going to have to go somewhere and that might end up being the line for the booth you want. ©Disney Of course, the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival is a beloved tradition that keeps people coming back year after year, and for good reason! But, if you follow our tips and tricks you can still have the best time! Speaking of which… If you’re planning your trip to the Food & Wine Festival and want to make sure you don’t miss out on any of the fun, make sure to check out our DFB Guide to the Food & Wine Festival! We’ve compiled all of our knowledge from decades of visiting this festival and included tons of helpful tips for you to use so you can plan the perfect trip. We also have lots of fun Food & Wine Festival merch — like t-shirts, tank tops, and sweatshirts — on our DFB store online! Check those out here! Food and Wine Vibes! We’ll make sure to keep you in the loop with more festival news, so stay tuned to DFB for the latest! We’ll be there on the first day of the festival to try ALL the booths and share our reviews. Learn More About the Food & Wine Festival Here! IT'S WINE & DINE TIME! Food & Wine Festival can be a bummer. You stand in line waiting for what looks like the perfect treat, and it's a bust. But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE EPCOT Food & Wine Festival experience. If you're planning a day or a week at the festival, we've got every performance, activity, and tasty nosh detailed out so you can make the most of your time and money. Listen, it's a tough job eating and documenting the nearly 200 bites and sips, but we do it all for YOU! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Learn More About the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival! Food and Wine Festival 101 Eat to the Beat Concert Updates EPCOT Food and Wine Festival - Fans Facebook Page Wine and Dine Half Marathon Details Get More Updates, Tips, and Tricks to Help You Conquer the Food & Wine Festival Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! Are you going to the Food & Wine Festival this year? Tell us in the comments. The post We’ve Gotta Share Some BAD NEWS About the 2024 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Southwest Airlines recently made a big announcement that will change the way the airline operates after 50 years. Southwest plane Trying to find an airline to fly to Disney World can be tough, and if you are planning on flying Southwest, you are going to want to know about this MASSIVE change. Southwest Airlines is known to provide budget-friendly flights, as well as open seating, and the best part – TWO FREE checked bags! While the free checked bags are sticking around, there are major changes coming to the boarding process as well as seat selection. Southwest recently announced that they will no longer offer open seating starting in 2025. Previously, those flying Southwest would check in 24 hours before their flight to receive a boarding group. Depending on how quick you were, you would get assigned into groups A, B, or C. Groups A and B have a better chance of sitting where you wish, but group A was the most desirable since you and your party could all likely sit together. If you get boarding group C, it can be hard to keep your party together and you would most likely get stuck with a middle seat. Southwest Cabin But now Southwest Airlines is saying goodbye to open seating and will have customers choose their seats at the time of booking. Southwest will also offer seats with more leg room which, of course, comes as an up-charge. Flying Southwest The news is not all bad. The company said it would also start flying red-eye routes to help with efficiency, which could mean more flight options. The shift in the boarding process came after customer feedback, as the number one complaint was open seating. Southwest plane As frequent Southwest flyers ourselves, we wanted to ask our readers how they felt about this new seating change. Southwest Airlines One reader told us that they are “not thrilled.” This reader said that they exclusively fly Southwest, and they don’t know if they will “have any motivation to remain loyal to them, especially if they start costing the same [as other airlines].” Southwest Counter at MCO Another reader pointed out that they do not know any people who were actual Southwest customers who had an issue with open seating. With this change, they personally would never fly them because of it, but they admitted that they felt that they were never Southwest’s target customer. Southwest Also upset with the change, a reader said, “Now they’ll just be like every other airline. Nickel and diming you for an assigned seat. This is the #1 reason we always fly Southwest, but now there won’t be any motivation to remain loyal.” Southwest Some of our readers are happy with this change! One reader said that “I, for one am glad they will be going for assigned seating! By having an assigned seat, it takes the stress out of boarding. Also happy about the shift, a reader said, “I love this! Their open-boarding policy adds so much stress to families with kids over 6 traveling together.” Southwest A reader who is excited about the change shared that they were excited that they would now be guaranteed to sit next to their wife instead of being between two strangers for a flight. Southwest Airplane We will have to wait and see what this new pricing will look like once Southwest rolls out its new seating policy sometime in 2025. If you need any help with air travel or booking any parts of your vacation, you can reach out to our friends at Small World Vacation! Our Best Tips for Flying Through the Orlando Airport DON'T DO IT ALONE! Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you -- they've literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They're DFB's recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!) So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you GET MORE INFO Will you still be flying Southwest after this change? Let us know in the comments! The post "Now They'll Just Be Like Every Other Airline" -- Travelers Have THOUGHTS on Southwest Boarding Process Change first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Can you believe it? It’s back-to-school time already! ©Disney Getting the kids ready to go off to school after having the whole summer off can get pretty stressful (we get it!). You’ve got to double and triple-check to make sure you’re packing all the right things they’ll need for the day. You’ve got to be thinking of notebooks, lunch boxes, pencils, and crayons. We haven’t even talked about how they’ll be carrying all of these supplies and if these kids are headed off to grade school or college! It’s more than enough to have your head spinning. But don’t worry! That’s what we’re here for. To that point, we wanted to talk about a “hidden” Disney school essentials store that just opened up on Amazon! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Remember, you can get free, fast shipping with an Amazon Prime membership, so sign up for a FREE trial below. Let’s get right into the Disney Back-To-School essentials that are available on Amazon right now! First up, let’s start by exploring all the offerings in this brand-new Disney Back-To-School shop on Amazon. Amazon has the shop broken up by regular back-to-school supplies and college essentials! ©Amazon This shop has everything you need from apparel, backpacks, lunch boxes, supplies, and more! Shop this Simple Modern Disney Toddler Backpack ©Amazon First up, if there’s one thing your kiddo is absolutely going to need, it’s a backpack, especially one that’s got some of their favorite Disney characters on it like how this one’s got an all-over pattern of Elsa from Frozen. It’s got a padded tablet sleeve, a large zip-closure front pocket, a zip-closure stash pocket, and two expandable bottle sleeves on the sides, so basically all the room they will need for their daily essentials. View on Amazon Shop this Loungefly Disney Winnie the Pooh Plush Journal for 16% OFF ©Amazon Here’s a look at the inside: ©Amazon Next, you know they’re going to need to write things down, and could there be a more perfect journal for them than one featuring Winnie the Pooh (the answer is 100% no. It’s perfect). Winnie’s adorable face takes up the entire cover. The journal is covered in soft yellow and red sherpa material which continues onto the back, where there’s an extra zipped compartment too! View on Amazon Shop this Simple Modern Disney Mickey Mouse Kids Water Bottle with Straw Lid for 15% OFF ©Amazon Next, you can’t forget about hydration. That’s where a reusable kids’ bottle covered with the one and only Mickey Mouse, comes in super handy. This one is leakproof, dishwasher-safe, and it’s insulated which will keep your kids’ drinks at the right temperature for hours. View on Amazon Next, let’s dive into the offerings in this brand-new Disney off to college shop for the kids heading off to college. ©Amazon This shop has everything you need from apparel, accessories, supplies, and more! Shop this Disney Hercules Mt. Olympus Arrow Wood Wall Decor ©Amazon Next, if your kid needs some wall decor for their new dorm room, why not consider a piece from their favorite Disney animated movie — Hercules. This one will give them the subtle inspiration they need to always go the distance, and it will remind them of their time watching the film back at home. View on Amazon Shop this Bones Coffee Company Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Collector’s Box Whole Coffee Beans (Pack of 5) ©Amazon Here’s a look at the inside of the box: ©Amazon Next, each of us knows that one thing a new college kid needs is coffee. Definitely coffee. It doesn’t hurt that this set is themed after their favorite “spooky” animated movie of all time — Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. This pack of five comes with medium-roasted whole beans and the box will be a perfect addition to their room’s Halloween decor. View on Amazon Shop this Trends International Gallery Pops Disney Minnie Mouse Expressions Wall Art Bundle (4-Pack) for 10% OFF ©Amazon Lastly, if their dorm room wall feels a bit bare, why not spruce it up with a gallery of pictures of their Disney BFF Minnie Mouse? It’s a subtle and not too over-the-top way of elevating their decor and showing off their love for their bestie Minnie. View on Amazon We’ll continue to keep you updated with any and all Disney news and updates, so make sure to follow along for more. Click here to view our Amazon Storefront The post A Hidden Disney School Essentials Store Just Opened on Amazon! Shop It HERE. first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Marvel’s Deadpool & Wolverine officially made its debut in theaters on Friday, July 26th. Deadpool & Wolverine in Disney California Adventure There has been a ton of hype about Marvel’s latest release, Deadpool & Wolverine. The movie features the two superhero icons teaming up to safeguard the multiverse in an odd-couple pairing, and it’s off to a strong start at the box office in its first weekend. But if you prefer to watch new releases from the comfort of your own couch, you might be wondering — when will Deadpool & Wolverine be available on Disney+? Here’s what we know! Disney doesn’t have an exact formula for the timeline of when new theatrical releases make their way to Disney+, but we have started to see a pattern emerge with many of the recent major movies. ©Disney Let’s look at Wish as one of the most recent examples. Disney released Wish in theaters during Thanksgiving weekend of 2023, in honor of the company’s 100th anniversary. The movie then premiered on Disney+ on April 3rd, 2024, about 4 months after it came out in theaters. Asha from Wish Another much-hyped animated movie example is Pixar’s Elemental, which premiered in theaters on June 16th, 2023, and was added to Disney+ on September 13th, 2023, just under 3 months later. Pixar ‘Elemental’ Photo Op in Hollywood Studios So, with recent animated releases following a pattern of about 3-4 months between theatrical and streaming releases, have Marvel movies shown the same trend? It appears so! Take the most recent example, The Marvels, which premiered in theaters on November 10th, 2023, and came to Disney+ on February 7th, 2024, just under 3 months later. ©Marvel Before that, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 showed almost the exact same pattern, with a theatrical release on May 5th, 2023, and a streaming release on August 2nd, 2023, about 3 months later. If we look back at one more recent Marvel movie, the pattern continues — Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania debuted on Disney+ on May 17th, 2023, exactly 3 months after its February 17th, 2023 release in theaters. Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Dance-Off With that pattern in mind, it’s likely that Deadpool & Wolverine will probably come to Disney+ in about 3 months, which would mean sometime in late October or early November of 2024. No official streaming date has been announced, but based on the relatively consistent pattern we’ve seen, that’s what we expect to happen in this case too! ©Marvel We’ll be on the lookout for an announcement confirming when Deadpool & Wolverine will be available to stream on Disney+, so stay tuned to DFB for the latest updates! It’s Rare That Disney News Shocks Me, but This Huge Character Announcement Is AMAZING! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW The post When Will 'Deadpool & Wolverine' Be on Disney+? Here's What We Know! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Test Track is currently in the process of being re-imagined…again! Test Track is now Closed This EPCOT attraction closed in June to be reimagined into a third iteration. The re-theme seems to be inspired by Test Track’s predecessor, World of Motion. While no opening date has been confirmed for the attraction, it seems that even more progress has been made on Test Track. While we do know that the re-theme is inspired by World of Motion, all we really have to go on is the concept art that Disney released. It seems that the front of Test Track will get new lighting elements, be opened up more, and have a new sign. Construction walls are up Based on the concept art, the inside of the attraction is also changing a lot. Test Track 2.0 was futuristic and barer, but the concept art for this new version seems to include trees as you ride along the track. Reimagining concept art ©Disney The permit filed earlier this month was to “install set elements,” which we think could be elements like the trees shown in the concept art. ©Disney And now, another new permit has been filed! This permit was also filed by the Jon Richards Company. They have worked on other Disney World Attractions. Most recently, they installed the signs for the brand new Country Bear Jamboree show that re-opened in Magic Kingdom earlier this month. Country Bear Jamboree The company has also worked on ToonTown in Disneyland and Cars Land in California Adventure as well as Animal Kingdom in Disney World. They have even worked with Universal on Seuss Landing and plenty of other projects with Disney! ToonTown This second permit is similar to the first and also deals with installing set elements. Test Track We are happy to see that progress is moving along, and we can’t wait to get more details about this new version of Test Track! As always, stay tuned to Disney Food Blog so you don’t miss a thing about all the latest Disney news, including updates about Test Track 3.0. What Else is Closed at Disney World? Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Are you excited for this new version of Test Track? Let us know in the comments!The post ALERT! Another Permit Has Been Filed for Test Track at Disney World first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Blink and 2025 will be here and that means your Disney World trip will be here, too! Disney’s Yacht Club Resort Being that 2025 is right around the corner, we’ve got no time to waste! Before you go doing things like booking the hotel, we’ve got to talk about some of the huge hotel changes that are coming up in 2025 that could affect your trip! Let’s go! Let’s jump right into the three hotel changes that are coming to Disney World in 2025 that you need to know about! Let’s go! Bay Lake Tower First up, Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort will be undergoing room refurbishment work from September 2024 to September 2025. ©Disney That means, if you decide to stay at the Contemporary, you’re going to be seeing and hearing construction work in Bay Lake Tower. Also, be aware that you might have to take detours on your way in and out of the resort. Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts Stormalong Bay and Shipwreck Pool (which are shared by Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts) will be undergoing routine maintenance from January 2025 to June 2025. ©Disney These are some of the top-rated pools at the Disney World resorts. In the meantime, the Tidal, Admiral, and Dunes Cove leisure pools will still be open, so you’ll still be able to get a relaxing day at the pool during your trip. Why You (Probably) Shouldn’t Stay at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort in 2025 A Water Park Welcome If you’re looking to come to Disney World in 2025, that’ll be right in time for a pretty great deal. Disney World shared that in 2025, anyone staying at Disney Resorts (including DVC properties) will get a FREE park ticket to the water parks on their arrival day. ©Disney You’ll be able to use this perk at either Blizzard Beach Water Park or Typhoon Lagoon Water Park and only on your check-in day. Also, it looks like this benefit is only available for those with check-in dates from January 1st to December 31st, 2025. Blizzard Beach Water Park Again, if you’re coming in 2025, make sure to take advantage of this deal. Disney World is in Florida and a day at the water park is totally worth it. Learn more about this offer here! Those are just a couple of the hotel changes coming in 2025 at Disney World that you should plan around. Until then, keep it right here at DFB for the latest Disney news! Two Warnings For Your 2025 Disney World Hotel Stay Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Will you be visiting Disney World in 2025? Let us know in the comments. The post Three Huge Hotel Changes Have Been Announced for Disney World in 2025 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you are thinking about visiting Disney World in February, you may want to avoid Magic Kingdom. Magic Kingdom February tends to be a slower season at Disney World, but is there really even a slow season in Disney World anymore? Winter break is over, and fewer families are taking vacations since kids are back in school, but it could be different in February of 2025. February has two holidays: Valentine’s Day is on Friday, February 14th, and President’s Day is on Monday, February 17th. Happy Valentine’s Day from Mickey and Minnie This means that this upcoming February will have a four-day weekend, which means that people could take this as an opportunity to visit Disney World over the long weekend. Clarabelle and Horace Magic Kingdom tends to be the more popular park, and during a long weekend, we can expect to see crowds in Magic Kingdom. Last year, we saw did not see crowds on the initial President’s Day holiday, but instead saw them two days after, which could mean that there could still be crowds after the holiday weekend is over, because right after the holiday weekend, another popular Disney World event takes place. Crowds at Magic Kingdom After the long weekend, people will be coming to Disney World to participate in the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend, which takes place from February 20th to 24th. ©Disney You can expect higher crowd levels in the parks, as runners will most likely flock to the parks after their races. You can also expect certain roads to be closed during race weekend to accommodate the race route and ensure the runners’ safety. When it gets closer to race weekend, we will make sure to update you on any potential road closures. Princess Half Marathon Weekend (2023) While a four-day weekend is a great excuse to visit Disney World and be prepared for larger crowds, don’t worry; we have plenty of tips to help you beat the crowds and still enjoy your day in the parks! Magic Kingdom Crowds Remember to book advance dining reservations, which can be made up to 60 days before your trip. Speaking of food, while you are in the parks, remember to utilize Mobile Order to save time waiting in line. Mobile Order pickup One of our best tips for beating the crowds in Magic Kingdom is to leave during lunch. Yep! You heard that right! Take the Resort Monorail and head to a Monorail hotel to have lunch. There are so many great options, and it is a good way for you to take a break from the crowds and get some AC! Please stand clear of the doors. Por favor manténgase alejado de las puertas. Disney World’s skip-the-line system has just changed, and if you are a resort guest, you will be able to make your Lightning Lane Multi and Single Pass selections seven days in advance! If you are not staying at a Disney World resort, you can make selections three days in advance. By reserving your Lighting Lane selections in advance, you can get a head start on the crowds. Disney World Lightning Lanes have CHANGED We will say that crowds have started to become unpredictable, so just keep in mind that February 2025 has both a four-day weekend and a race weekend at Disney World while you are making your plans. As always, stay tuned to DFB for more Disney news, updates, and tips! The Secret to Overcoming Crowds During Peak Vacation Season 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 February of 2025? Let us know in the comments! The post If I Were You, I'd Avoid Magic Kingdom on These 4 Days in February first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World has a BRAND NEW skip the line service, BIG changes are coming to Southwest Airlines soon, a character we NEVER thought we would see in a Disney park has made it to Avengers Campus and more. EPCOT All of the latest theme park news is coming up right now on DFB Guide. Check out our video below: Latest Disney News: Lightning Lane Multi Pass is HERE, Rare Meet and Greets & More!  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’s your favorite recent change in Disney World? Let us know in the comments! The post DFB Video: Latest Disney News: Lightning Lane Multi Pass is HERE, Rare Meet and Greets & More! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There is a new character in Magic Kingdom! Magic Kingdom If you stroll the streets of Liberty Square, you may know about the doll in the window and the boy that we nicknamed “Tomato Baby” in Liberty Tree Tavern. Well, now there is a new character in town, but similar to the doll and “Tomato Baby,” this character is not the typical walk-around character that you may be used to meeting in the park. We noticed that when the window starts to glow blue, the projector is turning on which means Ichabod Crane’s arrival is imminent. Blue glow from the projector We are so happy that Disney is continuing to add small details like this throughout the parks. It keeps the magic alive and is a fun new experience for visitors to walk by! We were sure excited to see him pop up! Ichabod Crane So, if you are headed to the Haunted Mansion or are stopping by Liberty Tree Tavern for a delicious American-esque Thanksgiving meal, then make sure to stop and say hello to Ichabod Crane! As always, stay tuned to DFB for more Disney news, tips, and tricks! 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 addition? Let us know in the comments! The post This Is Easily the Best New Thing to Do in Magic Kingdom Right Now first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Deadpool & Wolverine have taken over the internet and media. ©Marvel Studios The two unlikely friends have teamed up to bring us one fantastic movie. The new chapter of Deadpool hit theaters on July 26th as the first time both characters have been part of Disney since Disney purchased 20th Century Fox. Both of these guys are unlikely Disney characters as they’re, ah, rough around the edges, and you might not expect to see them in any Disney park soon. However, that’s EXACTLY where we found both Deadpool and Wolverine — Disney California Adventure (and boy, was it worth it)! We were thoroughly impressed by Deadpool and this 12-minute show, as we should have assumed we would be. There were lots of Marvel and Disney jokes, but the whole thing was kid-friendly just like Disney promised. It was pretty funny and entertaining, and we were excited to see that Wolverine did make an appearance! Wolverine came out too! The area was crowded, as lots of people hoped to hear these stories. While the show lasted less than 15 minutes, we would recommend getting there 45 minutes to an hour early to grab a good spot. Those at the front of the audience were asked to take seats around 10 minutes before show time. If you’re fine with standing in the back, then getting there 15 minutes early is perfectly fine. There were a lot of people there! Since Story Time with Deadpool is a show, you aren’t able to meet Deadpool and Wolverine during it. They did show up in Avengers Campus about an hour later where you could see them again a little more up close. Deadpool and Wolverine in Avengers Campus The two characters may be found roaming around Avengers Campus for a limited time, so if these are your two favorite Marvel characters, head to Disney California Adventure soon! You may be able to meet them or see them in their show. Deadpool telling stories Be sure to head to a theater near you to see the new movie and all the excitement it has in store! For more Disney news, keep following DFB! Why You SHOULDN’T Stay in a Disney Hotel at Disneyland Resort Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe Have you seen the new Deadpool & Wolverine movie? Let us know what you thought in the comments! (But no spoilers, please!) The post I Am Shocked (and Grateful) That Disney Let These 2 Characters Into a Park first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

I go to Disney World all the time for my job, and that means I’ve eaten a LOT of theme park food. Like, WAY more than the average person. Regal Eagle food In fact, I’m currently on a mission to eat at all the quick service restaurants in Disney World, and I’ve checked off a large portion of the list so far. But even though I’ve tried dozens of spots, there are some places that I definitely avoid after that initial visit. Why? Well, it’s not the food! La Cantina de San Angel First, I’m kicking off this list with the restaurant that was the inspiration for this article — La Cantina de San Angel. This quick service spot in the Mexico Pavilion is often one I skip because it doesn’t offer Mobile Order and the line can get long, but that’s not the real reason I added it to this list. Why do I avoid La Cantina? Because of the BIRDS. La Cantina de San Angel La Cantina is absolutely overrun with wildlife, specifically birds. And it seems to be more of a problem here than at other restaurants in the World Showcase. Unfortunately, every time I’m there, some random parkgoer refuses to abide by the posted signage and decides to feed the birds, which makes them more aggressive in their endeavors to seek human food. During one visit, this led to a bird literally LEAPING up onto my table and stealing my nachos straight from the bowl. I nearly passed out right then and there! La Cantina So, dear people of Disney World, I BEG of you — stop feeding the birds and for the love of all that is good, stop encouraging your children to feed the wildlife as well. I just want to eat my nachos in peace and now I have to avoid La Cantina entirely. The Lunching Pad Heading over to Magic Kingdom, I have to mention The Lunching Pad as a restaurant that I typically avoid. Why? Because the seating options are absolutely TERRIBLE. Since the restaurant is located smack dab in the middle of Tomorrowland, the tables are often taken up by random families who aren’t eating there. The Lunching Pad On top of that, most of those tables are in direct sunlight with no air conditioning or fans. It’s BRUTAL out there in the summer. Does anyone really want to eat a hot dog while boiling in the Florida sun? Yeah, me neither. Dockside Diner At Hollywood Studios, Dockside Diner has a very similar problem! It’s also a restaurant out in the open where tables get taken up by random passers-by. The bonus here is that most of the tables have umbrellas for a tiny bit of shade. Dockside Diner However, the tables are cramped together and the umbrellas are on the smaller side, so often only one side of the table gets shaded at a time. This is also a hot dog restaurant, so without the shade or the air conditioning, it’s not exactly the best experience. Woody’s Lunch Box And last but not least, I’m going to throw in a seemingly wild choice — Woody’s Lunch Box. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE the food at Woody’s Lunch Box and I would eat it often if I could…but this restaurant is just too dang popular for me to eat here on a regular basis. Totchos When I’m visiting the parks for work, I’m often not thinking about planning my lunch really far in advance, but that’s what you have to do if you want to snag a Mobile Order at Woody’s Lunch Box. On top of that, I can never seem to find a place to sit when I dine here, no matter the time of day! So unless I want to make my Mobile Order 2 hours in advance and eat my totchos standing up at a trash can, I typically end up skipping Woody’s Lunch Box. (However, I highly recommend it for those of you who are heading here for vacation!) Woody’s Lunch Box Full Spread We’ll make sure to share any more dining tips or advice for navigating Disney World, so stay tuned to DFB for all of the latest. The Best Disney World Restaurants for Dinner in 2024 — 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 Do you avoid any restaurants in Disney World? Tell us in the comments! The post I Go to Disney World Every Week and I REFUSE to Eat at These Restaurants (But Not for the Reason You Think) first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

With how hot the weather is right now, it may seem impossible to think that winter is just a few months away, but it’s true! Disney Springs during the holidays When the holidays arrive in Disney World this year, you can buy a ticket for the special After Hours events in Magic Kingdom (Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party) and Disney’s Hollywood Studios (Jollywood Nights), but there are also special experiences in Disney Springs you won’t want to miss out on. And one of the most popular experiences in the shopping and dining district has just released tickets you’ll want to grab ASAP! At Maria & Enzo’s Italian Ristorante, you can experience a wonderful Breakfast With Santa experience that families have loved in years past. The time has now come to book your slot for this coveted experience in 2024! ©Maria and Enzo’s This year, Breakfast With Santa at Maria & Enzo’s will take place at 9:30AM, 9:45AM, and 10AM on December 14th, 15th, and 21st-24th. Yes, that’s it (now you see why we say to book ASAP)! In addition to meeting and taking a photo with Santa (plus getting to meet some of Santa’s elves!), you can experience: A family-style breakfast experience Takeaway treats to bring home Holiday carolers inside the restaurant A Prosecco Mimosa for those 21+ The tree at Breakfast with Santa Tickets are $69 for adults and $45 for children, plus tax and gratuity when booking the Gold tier and $79 for adults and $45 for children, plus tax and gratuity when booking at the Platinum tier, which offers a better seat during the earliest seating time. Platinum tier will also see Santa before Gold tier, but all who purchase a ticket will see Santa. Maria & Enzo’s We’ve seen this sell out fast in past years, so we don’t suggest delaying long if you know this is a holiday offering you’d like to experience! Book tickets here! Looking for more recent holiday news? Look no further! More Recent Holiday News! Tickets Are on Sale NOW for Breakfast With a POPULAR Character in Disney Springs!ALERT! See a Sneak Peek of Disney World’s NEW Holiday SouvenirsYou Can Only Get THIS Special Disney World Snack TWICE Each YearREMINDER: Tickets for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Go On Sale TOMORROW!I’m Sorry, Are We Just Going To Ignore This LIFE-CHANGING Disney’s Hollywood Studios Announcement?! We’ll be keeping you updated on all the latest Disney World holiday news, so stay tuned to DFB! A popular dining option is RETURNING to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party this year! DON'T MISS A MOMENT OF HOLIDAY MAGIC Holidays at Disney World: DFB's Merriest Guide is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World. It includes all the must-have information for navigating the holiday season at Disney World, including: The COMPLETE schedule of events for the Holiday Season How to avoid the crowds on Disney World's busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!) ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM. And, of course, we'll tell you where to eat! Save 20% on the Holidays at Disney World: DFB's Merriest Guide with code PEPPERMINT. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW MORE Disney World Holiday INFO! Learn About Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Get the Latest Information About the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays Get All the Details About Disney Jollywood Nights Everything You Need to Know About Disney World Holiday Dining and Events Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest holiday news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! What’s your favorite holiday activity in Disney World? Tell us in the comments! The post Tickets Are on Sale NOW for Breakfast With a POPULAR Character in Disney Springs! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Who’s ready to SAVE on Disney merch?! Loungefly Wall at the Emporium in Magic Kingdom We love scoring a good deal on souvenirs online, and we know our readers do as well! That’s why we’ve rounded up some of the best deals from the Disney Store online this week. Let’s check them out! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Winnie the Pooh Backpack Winnie the Pooh and Friends Loungefly mini backpack First up, there’s a deal for 40% toys, clothing, and more, which includes this adorable Winnie the Pooh and Friends Loungefly Backpack. With the embroidered flowers and buzzing bees, it’s the perfect bag for spring and summer trips to the parks! SNAG THE WINNIE THE POOH BAG HERE! Cinderella Castle Playset ©Disney Missing Cinderella Castle after your Disney World trip? Then order this Cinderella Castle Playset online for your little ones. It’s discounted right now and comes with figurines of Mickey and Friends, plus a tiny model of Dumbo the Flying Elephant. CLICK HERE TO SHOP THE PLAYSET! Star Wars Hoth Starbucks Mug Hoth Starbucks Mug If you absolutely NEED that morning boost of caffeine and you’re a Star Wars fan, then this Starbucks Hoth Mug is a must-add to your collection. It’s on sale right now with a limited-time offer. SHOP HERE TO SNAG THE HOTH MUG! Cars Backpack ©Disney It’s back-to-school season, and Disney’s offering a 20% discount when you spend $60+ on back-to-school essentials. That means it’s time to snag backpacks, like this Cars Backpack! It has multiple zipper pockets and clips on the front, so you can attach the matching lunchbox (sold separately). CLICK HERE TO GRAB THE CARS BACKPACK! Disney Princess Backpack ©Disney If you’ve got a princess fan in the family, you can use the same deal to get this Disney Princess Backpack before school starts. It has plenty of storage and features several fan-favorite princesses on the front, including Belle, Moana, Tiana, and more. WANT THE DISNEY PRINCESS BAG? GET IT HERE! Mickey Mouse Ear Headband for Adults ©Disney There’s nothing quite like a classic pair of Mickey Ears to complete a Disney parks outfit. These black faux leather ones will match almost anything and add that perfect touch of Disney-ness to your style. You can even get them customized at select locations or add your own flair, like hand-tied ribbons! CLICK HERE TO SNAG THE OG MICKEY EARS! Cinderella Ear Headband Cinderella Minnie ears If you’ve been searching for ages for the perfect pair of princess-themed ears, we’ve got them right here! The Cinderella Minnie Ear Headband has beautiful gold accents (including one of Cinderella’s pumpkin coach!) and a shiny, iridescent bow to top it off. Make sure to snap your pic in front of the castle when you wear these in Disney World! GET THE CINDERELLA EARS ONLINE HERE! Mickey Mouse Halloween Plush ©Disney Spooky season is sneaking up on us, and you can start stocking up on your decor by snagging this Mickey Mouse Halloween Plush for $20 with any purchase. He has a festive green and purple suit with a matching pumpkin hat — how cute! SHOP THE MICKEY MOUSE HALLOWEEN PLUSH HERE! Minnie Mouse Halloween Plush ©Disney If you’re more of a Minnie Mouse fan, the same deal applies to the Minnie Mouse Halloween Plush. She has a coordinating outfit in shades of green, purple, and orange, with a pumpkin-topped bow. SHOP THE MINNIE MOUSE HALLOWEEN PLUSH HERE! Avengers Loungefly Backpack ©Disney Gearing up for a visit to Avengers Campus? If so, you can snag this Marvel Avengers Loungefly Backpack for $50 with any purchase through the Disney Store. It has cartoon faces of some of the original Avengers and multiple zip pockets for your belongings. CLICK HERE TO GET THE AVENGERS LOUNGEFLY BACKPACK! The Lion King 30th Anniversary Key ©Disney Collectible keys used to be all the rage, and if you’re still into that hobby, you can snag the Lion King 30th Anniversary Collectible Key. It has an African-inspired design with tribal prints and shadow outlines of the movie’s characters. Right now it’s $5.99 with any purchase. CLICK HERE TO GET THE LION KING COLLECTIBLE KEY! Monsters University Backpack ©Disney And last but not least, we’ve got to talk about the deal on this Monsters University Backpack. It’s $20 with any purchase from the Disney Store, and this would be a great school bag for Disney and Pixar fans out there. SNAG THE MONSTERS UNIVERSITY BACKPACK ONLINE HERE! That’s a wrap on this week’s Disney Store deals — stay tuned to DFB for more updates on the hottest merchandise! Click Here to Shop Disney Merchandise on Amazon!The post ALERT! Over 600 (!!!) Disney Souvenirs Are 40% Off NOW first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

The recent mid-year announcements surrounding this year’s EPCOT Festival of the Holidays, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and Disney Jollywood Nights can only mean ONE THING: Disney World is GEARING UP for the 2024 Holiday Season! HAPPY HOLIDAYS from Disney World! And how about YOU? Does all this news make you excited to plan your own yuletide festivities in The Most Magical Place on Earth? If so, one of the most important things you can tackle at the beginning of any kind of vacation planning is your budget… and that’s especially true of traveling during the Most Wonderful (and, alas, Most Expensive) time of the year. To that end, we’re breaking down a budget to find out exactly how much it costs to visit Disney World over the Christmas holiday. But Ho-Ho-HOLD ON! Before we begin, let’s note some logistics… To plan out this budget, we’re taking a hypothetical family of 4 to Disney World from December 23rd through December 26th, 2024. (This year, December 25th — Christmas Day — falls on a Wednesday.) Santa at Hollywood Studios DFB PRO TIP: Fret not, my friends. Santa Claus absolutely knows how to find folks who travel to Disney World during his midnight ride! Our Festive Family: The Traveling Party Our traveling family is comprised of two adults, one 12-year-old child, and one 6-year-old child. In regards to Disney pricing, please be aware that any guest age 10 and older is considered an Adult, and Children are ages 3 to 9. (When it comes to a Disney World vacation package, guests under 3 years old do not require theme park tickets, and are not eligible to participate in the Disney Dining Plan). So, just keep in mind that our family’s 12-year-old is priced as an Adult for vacation components such as park tickets and the Disney Dining Plan, while our 6-year-old is priced as a Child. We’re going to Disney World! Our crew will arrive at Disney World early on the 23rd and depart late on the 26th, which means all four family members will need Disney World theme park tickets for all 4 days, a hotel for 3 nights, and food for all 4 days. We’ll look at those components, of course, and we’ll also consider a few optional extras as well. Depending on where you live, transportation to and from Orlando can be one of the biggest expenses to factor into your budget. Granted, some folks live within a doable driving distance from Disney World. But our hypothetical family will be flying, so we’re pricing out plane tickets and will include that expense as part of the budget. Time to start filling this puppy with some spare change! WHO’S READY FOR SOME MATH?! Yeah, okay, me neither… but doesn’t knowing that it’s Disney math make it just a wee bit more fun? Flights “I’M GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!” And “I’M GETTING THERE BY PLANE!” (That’s the lesser known slogan ! ) Let’s check out airplane ticket prices. Of course, if you’re driving, you’ll want to factor in the cost of gas for your journey. Orlando International Airport We scoped out a variety of airports and airlines (and looked at a few different major cities) to price out our family’s plane tickets using the airlines’ websites to research the cost. Each price below represents a round-trip ticket to the Orlando International Airport (MCO) for one person, with flights departing on the morning of December 23rd (as available) and returning on the evening of December 26th (as available). Here are the pricing examples we researched: Chicago Midway to Orlando International Airport: Delta Air Lines – $684; Frontier Airlines – $398; Southwest Airlines – $688 Los Angeles to Orlando International Airport: American Airlines – $717; Delta Air Lines – $693; Spirit Airlines (*Red Eye both ways) – $744; Southwest Airlines – $846 Atlanta to Orlando International Airport: Delta Air Lines – $408; American Airlines – $388; Frontier Airlines – $268; Southwest Airlines – $310 Obviously, the cost to fly varies greatly depending on the family’s home airport. For the purpose of this post, let’s say the family is flying out of Chicago and has chosen Frontier Airlines, which will cost them $398 per person, resulting in a total cost to fly round-trip to Disney World of $1592. We also need to factor in an additional item: the cost of transportation to and from Orlando International Airport and Disney World. Mears Connect Driven by Sunshine Options include — but aren’t limited to — taxis, rideshares such as Uber and Lyft, and a $2 bus each way through Lynx. Our example family is opting to book the Mears Connect (Driven by Sunshine) Standard Service for the cost of $121.00 roundtrip. (The breakdown is $16 per adult each way, and $13 per child ages 3 to 9 each way.) Click HERE for more information about Orlando International Airport! Total Cost So Far (Plane Tickets and Airport Transportation): $1,713 Disney World Park Tickets It’s time to gear up for celebrating the holiday in the parks, and for that, the family will need Disney World theme park tickets! Disney World Theme Park Ticket Cards Disney World tickets operate with variable (or surge) pricing based on both the park of choice and the date, so while 1-day tickets start at $109 per day for adults (ages 10+), you can expect to see higher prices around the holidays based on higher demand for the season. The good news is that multi-day tickets (as opposed to single-day) bring the price per day down a bit. Multi-Day Ticket Pricing in December ©Disney There are a few options for Disney World park tickets. You can choose a single-park ticket, which allows you to visit 1 park each day. Or you may opt for a Park Hopper ticket, which means you can visit multiple parks in a single day (up to all 4 theme parks, if you like). Now, there are also options such as Park Hopper Plus which grant access to Disney World’s water parks and more, but since the focus here is experiencing the holidays, we’re not exploring those (though you can check out all of the various ticket options here). The best option will depend on your personal preference and how much time you have in Disney World. The price for a ticket is a bit lower for children ages 3 to 9. However, we need to factor tax into the price. For the family of 4, we priced a 4-day ticket with admission to 1 park per day (without Park Hopping included), with the total coming to $2,704.78 (including tax). When we add Park Hopper, the total increases to $3109.49. Animal Kingdom The family will be in Disney World for 4 days with plans to spend a day in each of Disney World’s four theme parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, so we’re going with the 1-park-per-day ticket option. Keep in mind that if you’re going to be in Disney World for just a couple of days but still want to visit every park, you’ll need to purchase a ticket with the Park Hopper benefit. Here’s Your Guide to TICKETS at Disney World Total Cost So Far (With Flights): $4,417.78 Total Cost So Far (Without Flights): $2,704.78 Disney World Resort Hotel Reservations Okay, now we’re figuring out exactly where Santa will be able to locate our family to fill those stockings on Christmas Eve. That’s right… we’re choosing a HOTEL! Christmas at the Grand Floridian Four people can easily be accommodated in a single Disney World hotel room. Of course, we should note that, for the purposes of this post, we are ONLY looking into Disney World Resort hotels (which come with some guest-exclusive perks like Early Theme Park Entry). Early Entry That said, there is certainly no shortage of hotels including the Disney Springs hotel options on Disney World property plus others close by. Booking a non-Disney-owned hotel could certainly save some money; you may just need to factor in transportation to and from the parks if your particular hotel doesn’t offer a free shuttle service, or parking for the theme parks if you intend to drive your own car. For our example, however, we’re looking at one hotel in each of Disney World’s three Resort categories: Value, Moderate, and Deluxe. The Deluxe hotels are almost always the most expensive, but guests at these hotels do get some extra perks, including access to Extended Evening Hours. Deluxe hotels also often (though not always) boast the best transportation and closest proximity to the parks. For example, all three hotels on the Magic Kingdom Monorail loop (including Disney’s Contemporary Resort, which you’ll see in our list below) are Deluxe Resorts. Christmastime at the Contemporary Here’s a breakdown of the prices at various Disney World hotels for a visit with the family checking in on December 23rd and checking out on December 26th, 2024. (Don’t forget: you can still visit a Disney World park on your check out day: simply ask the front desk to hold your luggage through Bell Services until you come back to pick it up!) Value Hotel — Disney’s Pop Century Resort (Standard Room): $346/night; after taxes and fees, the total comes to $1,168.88 Moderate Hotel — Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — Riverside (Standard Room): $431/night; after taxes and fees, the total comes to $1,454.64 Deluxe Hotel — Disney’s Contemporary Resort (Garden Wing Room — Resort View): $946/night; after taxes and fees, ​​the total comes to $3,192.75 For this trip, the family is booking Pop Century Resort for $1,168.88. Holiday decorations at Disney’s Pop Century Resort In addition to this being the most affordable option, guests at this hotel can take advantage of the Disney Skyliner, which provides transportation to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. (This unique transportation option is also available from Disney’s Art of Animation, Disney’s Riviera, and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, which serves as the hub for the entire Skyliner system.) SOMETHING TO NOTE*: For the purposes of this post, we have priced out individual room rates for the Disney World hotels mentioned above (unconnected to any sort of Vacation Package). So this does NOT account for any Specials Offers or discounts for which you might be eligible. Wilderness Lodge Christmas tree For example, you can currently book discounted hotel rooms and free Park Hopper benefits on select dates beginning October 6th through December 25th. With this deal, you can save up to 30% on hotel rooms most nights from November 24th to December 25th, 2024. Additionally, you can save up to 20% on most Sunday to Thursday nights from October 6th to November 21st, 2024. You can also get free Park Hopper benefits when you take advantage of this offer and upgrade to a Walt Disney Travel Company room-and-ticket package. The Walt Disney Travel Company room-and-ticket package must include non-discounted 4-day (or longer) date-based theme park tickets to qualify. FIND COMPLETE DETAILS for this deal HERE. BTW, you might consider talking to our friends over at Small World Vacations. Their travel agents can keep you posted on any discounts you may be eligible for at no extra cost to you! Additionally, certain guests (such as Disney World Annual Passholders or Florida Residents) may be eligible for other room-only discounts. You can check out our Disney Deals and Discounts page to find all the latest options for your trip during the holidays or anytime! We keep track of ALL the Disney World Resort hotel discounts HERE! For now, here is the running total of individually priced trip components so far… Total Cost So Far (With Flights): $5,586.66 Total Cost So Far (Without Flights): $3,873.66 Dining It’s time to factor in prices for one of our FAVORITE parts of any Disney World vacation, no matter the time of year: FOOD! Paying Out-of-Pocket There is no shortage of great places to eat all over the theme parks, hotels, and Disney Springs (especially during the HOLIDAYS!). A full Thanksgiving spread at Liberty Tree Tavern Let’s say that the family brought their own breakfast or perhaps had groceries delivered to their hotel. So, for the purposes of this budget, we’re going to look at the cost to feed a family of 4 at 1 Quick Service restaurant and 1 Table Service restaurant every day for four days. (Again, one member of our family is 6 years old, and is therefore eligible to select options from Kids’ Menus at restaurants all around the Resort.) There are so many ways to plan dining in Disney World. Maybe you’d rather have 2 quick-service meals and a few snacks; or maybe you’d opt for a less expensive hotel and splurge on several table-service meals, including a Character Meal or perhaps a Signature restaurant. The Grand Ballroom in Magic Kingdom’s Be Our Guest Restaurant – A Signature Restaurant Basically, though, having a single quick-service meal and a single table-service meal is a fairly standard game plan when it comes to keeping costs reasonable while enjoying great food. Check out the BEST Disney World restaurants HERE! Generally, you can budget about $16 per person for a meal at a Quick Service restaurant (averaging out the cost of 3 adult meals and one Kids meal) and about $35 per adult for a meal at a Table Service restaurant, and $16 per child ages 3 to 9. For Quick Service examples, the family could each get something like Corn Dog Nuggets, fries, and a soda at Casey’s Corner in Magic Kingdom for $20.57. On another day, they may each grab the famous Totchos and a drink from Woody’s Lunch Box in Disney’s Hollywood Studios for a total of $14.98. Many Quick Service locations offer Kids’ Meals (such as Woody’s Lunch Box), which include a side item and drink and are typically under $10. EATS at Casey’s Corner! For a Table Service meal, our family might visit the Jungle Skipper Canteen in Magic Kingdom, where adults may choose entrées like “Tastes Like Chicken” Because It Is for $28 or “Hardy Har Char” Siu Pork for $29. And they might dine at La Hacienda de San Angel in EPCOT and order Tacos de Camarones for $32 or perhaps Alambre de Res (Seared Tenderloin) for $35.00. Kids’ Meals at table-service restaurants tend to be $16 per child or less. “Tastes Like Chicken” Because It Is With our general plan of $16 per person for each Quick Service meal, $35 per adult for each Table Service meal (to include wiggle room for non-alcoholic beverages), and $16 per child for each Table Service meal, that brings our dining total to $740. We’re going to add in a bit more for snacks (because who doesn’t want snacks?) and round up to $820 total. But there is — as of January of 2024 — another way to go about this… Total Cost So Far (With Flights): $6406.66 Total Cost So Far (Without Flights): $4,693.66 Disney Dining Plan The Disney Dining Plan made its return following a lengthy hiatus on January 9th, 2024. Disney currently offers two versions of the Disney Dining Plan for different budgets and dining tastes. Plans are an optional add-on to your Disney World trip (including a stay at a Disney owned-and-operated hotel). Steakhouse 71 Stack Burger Inclusions and pricing for each plan are as follows: Disney Quick Service Dining Plan Each person on the meal plan will receive credits for the following, per night: Two Quick Service meals (entrée or combo meal at lunch and dinner and a beverage); Guests under 21 years of age can choose one non-alcoholic beverage (including specialty beverages for guests 10 years old and over — i.e. Artisanal Milk Shakes, Fresh Smoothies, Premium Hot Chocolates, or Soda, Coffee or Tea — where offered). Guests 21 and older can can choose either one non-alcoholic beverage (including specialty beverages where offered) or one single serving mixed cocktail, beer, or wine (where offered) within their meal entitlement. One snack/nonalcoholic drink One Resort Refillable Resort drink mug per person, per package 2024 Cost: $57.01 per adult per night ages 10 and up $23.83 per child per night age 3 to 9 Disney Dining Plan (also called Standard Disney Dining Plan) Each person on the meal plan will receive credits for the following, per night: One table service entrée, dessert (lunch and dinner only), OR full buffet; Guests under 21 years of age can choose one non-alcoholic beverage with their Quick Service and Table Service meal (including specialty beverages for guests 10 years old and over — i.e. Artisanal Milk Shakes, Fresh Smoothies, Premium Hot Chocolates, or Soda, Coffee or Tea — where offered). Guests 21 and older can can choose either one non-alcoholic beverage (including specialty beverages where offered) or one single serving mixed cocktail, beer, or wine (where offered) within their meal entitlement. One quick service meal, including entrée OR combo meal; Guests under 21 years of age can choose one non-alcoholic beverage with their Quick Service and Table Service meal (including specialty beverages for guests 10 years old and over — i.e. Artisanal Milk Shakes, Fresh Smoothies, Premium Hot Chocolates, or Soda, Coffee or Tea — where offered). Guests 21 and older can can choose either one non-alcoholic beverage (including specialty beverages where offered) or one single serving mixed cocktail, beer, or wine (where offered) within their meal entitlement. One snack/nonalcoholic drink One Resort refillable drink mug per person, per package 2024 Cost: $94.28 per adult per night ages 10 and up $29.69 per child per night age 3 to 9 The prices for each Plan as seen above above are shown per guest, per night. If our family opts for the Standard Disney Dining Plan, it will add $1250.12 to their vacation cost. Click HERE to find a full list of 2024 Disney Dining Plan Restaurants and Meal Credit Requirements Yes, the Standard Dining Plan is obviously more expensive, in this instance, than the out of pocket costs as seen in the example above. However, there are meal inclusions to consider such as alcoholic beverages for of-age guests (and specialty beverages like milkshakes). And the Standard Dining Plan also opens up options such as using a Table Service meal credit to dine at select Character Meals such as Minnie’s Holiday Dine at Hollywood and Vine Restaurant in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Minnie’s Holiday Dine What is known year-’round as Minnie’s Seasonal Dine presents the chance to meet and greet Minnie, Mickey, Goofy, and Pluto in seasonal outfits during a buffet meal that likewise presents food options that fit the season, too! As with other specialty dining options, this meal comes at a higher cost of $63 per adult, and $40 per child ages 3 to 9… but on the Standard Disney Dining Plan, it “costs” no more Table Service meal credits than a traditional Table Service meal, such as La Hacienda de San Angel as mentioned above. THIS is where your willingness to sit down and do some number-crunching comes into play, so you can determine whether or not your group can maximize the value of the Disney Dining Plan. We’ve also assembled some additional resources to help you think it through: Why You Definitely Should Buy the Disney Dining Plan in 2024 Why You Definitely Shouldn’t Buy the Disney Dining Plan in 2024 Is the Disney Dining Plan Worth It in 2024? Total Cost with Out-of-Pocket Food (and Flights): $6406.66 Total Cost with Out-of-Pocket Food (without Flights): $4,693.66 Total Cost with Standard Disney Dining Plan (and Flights): $6836.78 Total Cost with Standard Disney Dining Plan (without Flights): $5123.78 And that’s it! We’ve covered all the bases and then some, and it’s looking like a very merry holiday in Disney World indeed, complete with flights, a hotel reservation, park tickets, and a food budget. Now let’s say you’re considering your own Disney yuletide shindig… there are a few extra options and items to consider that may increase the cost if you’d like to factor these into to your budget. However, as you’ll see with our first items, some seasonal offerings are only available on select dates a bit earlier in the season. And guests who visit earlier in the season (before Christmas through New Year’s), will likely find lower costs for budget factors including flights, hotels, and theme park tickets. Let’s check out a few additions you may want to factor into the budget beyond those basics… Extra-Ticket Holiday Events Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party This year, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party takes place in Magic Kingdom on select nights from November 8th through December 20th. Sad news: this means that our hypothetical family of 4 will miss the event, since they will fly in on the 23rd… but you may very well be planning to party with Mickey and the gang during your trip! Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party The required tickets for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party range in price from $169 to $219 for adults (ages 10 and up) and $159 to $209 for children (ages 9 and under). Prices vary by date, and are generally more expensive on the weekends or the closer you get to December 20th. Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Guests with tickets to the event can enter Magic Kingdom starting at 4PM (even if they don’t have a park ticket), and the party lasts from 7PM to midnight. Once inside, guests enjoy plenty of festive fun only available at the Party. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party features special shows like Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration! Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade is another merry highlight of the Party (complete with Santa Claus and the famous Marching Band of Toy Soldiers), as is the Holiday Fireworks spectacular: Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks! Click HERE for ALL the info you need for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party! Even though our example family cannot attend, we still want to present the total for a family of four (still with 3 guests at adult pricing and one at child pricing) for your reference. Including tax, the total to attend the Party on December 20th (which is one of the dates at maximum price) is $922.31 with tax included. Of course, if you visit earlier in the season (on November 11th, for instance, which is one of the minimum priced evenings) the cost including tax is less, coming in at $709.31. If you are hoping to attend Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, you can buy your tickets now! Disney Jollywood Nights Disney Jollywood Nights is another separately ticketed event that will take place on thirteen select nights from November 9th through December 21st, 2024 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. As part of the event, guests can view the Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! nighttime fireworks and projections spectacular, enjoy exclusive treats, meet OVER 20 rare characters, and more! Jollywood Nights The required tickets for Jollywood Nights range in price from $159 to $179. Prices vary by date, and are generally reach the highest price on Saturday evenings, as well as most dates in December. Also, be aware that ticket prices are the same for both adults and children ages 3-9. Get the WHOLE SCOOP on Jollywood Nights HERE! Again, even though our example family cannot attend due to their chosen travel dates, we still want to present the total for a family of four for your reference. Including tax, the total to attend Jollywood Nights for most dates in December is $179, so the total is $762.56. P.S. Tickets are also available for Disney Jollywood Nights now!  Lightning Lanes An additional, but optional, way to maximize your time in the parks is by purchasing Lightning Lane access for attractions. Lightning Lane Multi-Pass and Lightning Lane Single Pass allow guests to bypass standby lines at select rides in the parks and instead enter the Lightning Lines. Kali River Rapids Lightning Lane sign in Disney’s Animal Kingdom You can read all about Lightning Lanes here, and you can get an idea for pricing for the service here (which, like tickets, varies by date) to consider if this is an expense you would like to add into your vacation budget. Other Items to Consider A few other things you may want to consider include the cost of merchandise in the parks and stroller rentals for a younger one (or perhaps mobility assistance rentals) if needed for your party. Disney World rental strollers Single Stroller rentals cost $15 per day for a single day or $13 per day for multiple days. (If you have two little ones, Double Strollers are available for $31 per day for a single day or $27 per day for multiple days.) Wheelchair rentals cost $12 per day for a single day or $10 per day for multiple days. ECVs (Electric Conveyance Vehicles) are also an option, coming in at $65 per day. Learn more about Stroller Rentals in Disney World here. Souvenirs in the parks can cost as little as under $5 for small trinkets and as high as thousands of dollars for designer collections! Green Holly and Flower Mickey Christmas Bulb Of course, you can’t go wrong with a classic Disney World souvenir like Minnie Mouse Ears (averaging around $35) or perhaps a lovely Christmas tree ornament (around $25) to commemorate your holiday visit. It’s best to set a souvenir budget before your trip so that you don’t accidentally spend more than you intend. Ways to Save WHEW! We’ve discussed a LOT, haven’t we? And our trip costs are… also A LOT. But stick with me… there are ways to save money to bring those costs down. You could: Travel earlier in the season, if possible for your family, to avoid higher pricing for park tickets, hotels, and Lightning Lane access on those most in-demand dates. (Remember, the holiday festivities begin in most of the parks on November 8th, save for EPCOT, which will begin to celebrate on November 29th); Choose the Quick Service Dining Plan over the Standard Dining Plan; or, if paying out of pocket for food, opt for more Quick Service meals over Table Service meals; Consider hotels off of Disney property, or consider Disney Springs Area hotels. And, above all, remember that there are promotions and discounts for which your group may be eligible… even during the holiday season. Again, we have provided costs of the various aspects of the trip above individually — your group may be eligible for Vacation Package discounts, room-only discounts, or other promotions. Our friends at Small World Vacations can assist you in creating a magical and affordable vacation, no matter the time of year you travel. But if you are heading to Disney World for the Holiday Season, we absolutely wish you a VERY MERRY one, indeed! DON'T DO IT ALONE! Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you -- they've literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They're DFB's recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!) So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you GET MORE INFO DON'T MISS A MOMENT OF HOLIDAY MAGIC Holidays at Disney World: DFB's Merriest Guide is a one-of-a-kind resource that will help you get the most out of your holiday vacation at Walt Disney World. It includes all the must-have information for navigating the holiday season at Disney World, including: The COMPLETE schedule of events for the Holiday Season How to avoid the crowds on Disney World's busiest days (and when Disney World closes their parks due to capacity!) ALL of the events, activities, and holiday additions in Walt Disney World. ALL. OF. THEM. And, of course, we'll tell you where to eat! Save 20% on the Holidays at Disney World: DFB's Merriest Guide with code PEPPERMINT. GET YOUR GUIDE NOW MORE Disney World Holiday INFO! Learn About Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Get the Latest Information About the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays Get All the Details About Disney Jollywood Nights Everything You Need to Know About Disney World Holiday Dining and Events Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest holiday news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! The post How Much It Costs to Do Christmas in Disney World in 2024 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Halloween Horror Nights starts in Universal Orlando SOON, people! @Universal Studios Can you believe it’s almost time for this frightening event again? Halloween Horror Nights certainly isn’t for the faint of heart, but it’s perfect for those who love to be scared. If part of the reason you love the event is because of the exciting merchandise that gets released, we have a SNEAK PEEK you need to see! TWO new merchandise items inspired by the Chucky franchise are coming SOON! First up is the Halloween Horror Nights 2024 Chucky Tumbler for $27. The cup features Chucky himself (of course) along with the words “Good Guys” and “He wants you for a best friend.” At the bottom are “playing cards” that are significant to Chucky and the franchise, AND it has a blood dripping effect, making it perfect for horror fans! ©Universal You’ll also be able to grab the Halloween Horror Nights 2024 Animated Chucky Popcorn Bucket for $43.99! Why is it so expensive, you ask? This isn’t just any popcorn bucket — it has glowing and blinking eyes AND when you speak to Chucky, he’ll even speak back to you! SUPER spooky if you ask us, making him perfect for Halloween Horror Nights. ©Universal The tumbler will be available at both Universal Orlando and Universal Hollywood, while the popcorn bucket will be available at Universal Orlando, Universal Hollywood, AND Universal Singapore! Both items will be making their debut at the Universal Products & Experiences booth at Midsummer Scream later this week, so be on the lookout! More Recent Halloween Horror Nights News! EEK! Universal Is Debuting NEW Halloween Horror Nights Souvenirs, and They Might Give Me NightmaresBREAKING: A NEW Haunted House Has Been Revealed for Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights in 202410 Signs You Should SKIP Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Disney WorldUniversal Orlando Announced TWO Halloween Horror Nights Houses, Trick-Or-Treating, and MoreALL the Disney NEWS and REVIEWS This Week (PLUS A Super Popular VIDEO)! Halloween Horror Nights runs select nights August 30th through November 3rd. This specially ticketed events offers guests an opportunity to enter the park after it closes to be spooked beyond belief at the 5 Scare Zones around Universal Studios, as well as in the 10 differently themed Haunted Houses. Tickets are available right now, and we recommend grabbing them sooner rather than later if you’re interested! ©Universal Be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest Disney parks and Universal Orlando news! Check out this NEW Universal Orlando ticket deal before it’s gone! 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 seeing this year at Halloween Horror Nights? Tell us in the comments! The post EEK! Universal Is Debuting NEW Halloween Horror Nights Souvenirs, and They Might Give Me Nightmares first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World just keeps changing, and it’s hard to keep up! Pop Century Resort Recently, a new ride opened in Magic Kingdom, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, and a classic ride, Country Bear Jamboree, reopened with a new show. That park is also getting a huge expansion. Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be getting an update, too, while two new restaurants are being built over at Disney’s BoardWalk Hotel. We’ve also seen some recent pool closures at Disney World hotels, but an entire food court at one hotel is going to be affected by construction soon. We were recently informed by some of our readers that Disney sent emails to hotel guests letting them know about work to be done at the food court at Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Everything Pop. The food court, which is located in the Classic Hall building (where you’ll find the lobby) is the hotel’s main dining spot. An email from Disney regarding Pop Century The email states that the Everything Pop Food Court will be getting refreshed, but that it will remain open while work is being done. Note that all hotel guests will need to use Mobile Order in the My Disney Experience app to place their food and drink orders there. Seating will also still be available in the dining room. Everything Pop This information is also on the Disney World website on the Pop Century page. Note that the work is set to begin on July 29th and run through September 29th. Since the food court remains open, we don’t think it should impact the menu too much. ©Disney Because Pop Century is part of the Skyliner line, you also can take a quick ride on that mode of transportation to grab food at any of the EPCOT Resorts (Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, and the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin), Disney’s Caribbean Resort, and Disney’s Riviera Resort. So you’ll have plenty of convenient food options if you feel like leaving your hotel! Skyliner Station at Disney’s Pop Century and Art of Animation Resorts Stay tuned to DFB for more. Hold up for a sec! Before you plan your next trip to Disney World, check out our DFB Guide Everything Bundle here. You will get ALL of our best-selling eBooks with details on Disney World Dining, EPCOT Festivals, the BEST snacks in each park, and soooooo many tips and tricks we’ve learned over decades of visiting our happy place. The Best Disney World Restaurants for Dinner for 2024 Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Will this impact your next Disney World trip? Let us know in the comments! The post A Word of WARNING if You’re Staying at Disney’s Pop Century Resort Soon first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

A NEW Marvel movie just hit theaters and fans are pumped! ©Marvel Studios Deadpool & Wolverine is in theaters now, and Disney’s celebrating in a few different ways. There’s special merchandise and even character meets in one Disney park. But now we’ve got a BONUS surprise! It was previously announced that for the movie’s release, Deadpool would be meeting for a limited time in Disney California Adventure. Wade Wilson himself will be roaming Avengers Campus throughout the day and you can stop to talk with him or pose for a photo! ©Disney But now, Disney has added an extra surprise to the news — Wolverine with be WITH Deadpool, roaming Avengers Campus as well! Starting July 26th, both superheroes will be available in the park. Disney says, “From his favorite cozy reading chair, guests can join Deadpool as he reads from his big book of super special stories. These family-friendly tales delight, charm, and inspire in the way only Deadpool can. And keep an eye out for Wolverine who may be dropping by ‘Story Time with Deadpool.'” ©Disney Also, for a limited time, you’ll want to look out for Deadpool and Wolverine appearing in select entertainment offerings around Avengers Campus, including “Avengers Assemble!” and “Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Dance Off!” Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Dance-Off Nearby at the Collector’s Warehouse, you’ll find select merchandise themed to the new film, and at Pym Test Kitchen, you can try the Deadpool & Wolverine-inspired chimichangas for a limited time. There’s so much to see in Avengers Campus if you’re a fan of the new film! Pym Test Kitchen We’ll make sure to keep you in the loop if any other announcements are made relating to this new movie, so stay tuned to DFB for the latest updates. We’ve got you covered with all of it! Click Here to Learn All About Avengers Campus! Want to Learn More About Disneyland? Check Out the Links Below! DFB Disneyland Restaurants Guide Disney Genie and How to Use it in Disneyland What You Need to Know About the Theme Park Reservation System for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Closures and Construction at Disneyland Learn All About Disneyland Park See What Marvelous Stuff You’ll Find at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure Learn About Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure Get All the Details About the Disneyland Mobile App Everything You Need to Know About Mobile Order in Disneyland Learn More About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program Full Details About the Holiday Season in Disneyland Full Details About Halloween Time at Disneyland Get Some STRANGE Tips for Disneyland Click HERE to Check Out Lots of Other DFB Posts About Disneyland Join the DFB Newsletter To Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click here to Subscribe What do you think of this new character offering? Tell us in the comments! The post It’s Rare That Disney News Shocks Me, but This Huge Character Announcement Is AMAZING! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s no secret that Disney World is hot in the…well, most of the year, honestly! Magic Kingdom It feels like summer in Central Florida drags on and on with the intense heat and the suffocating humidity, plus those near-daily rainstorms. But over the years, we’ve definitely learned some ways to manage that weather when we’re in the theme parks (we have to go every day, after all!). And recently, I tested out two popular methods of cooling down to see which one came out on top. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Cooling Towels First up, I tried the Sukeen Cooling Towels from Amazon. These come in a multi-pack with individual bags and carabiner clips. The microfiber cloths use a combination of evaporation and absorption to keep your body cool while you’re wearing them. The 4-pack of cooling towels To use the towel, I first had to wet it in a bathroom sink, then ring it out and “snap” it to activate the cooling. When it was freshly wet, it actually did a great job of keeping me cool. To continue that, I had to wet it about every hour to an hour and a half. Cooling towel in EPCOT If I was walking in the direct sun, it would lose its cooling power after a few minutes. The other big downside is that it kept my shirt and backpack straps pretty damp throughout the day. Stopping at the bathroom frequently to re-wet it was somewhat inconvenient, and honestly, it made me feel just a little bit dorky to wear, even though it worked fairly well. They get a little darker when wet. Ultimately, I think that this is an OK way to keep cool if you are willing to stop and to look a bit dorky throughout the day. GET THE COOLING TOWELS HERE! Neck Fans The other item I tried in the park was a neck fan! I actually tried two different versions of this one — the JISULIFE Portable Neck Fan and the ASNUG Portable Neck Fan. Of the two, the JISULIFE ended up being my favorite because of its features and battery life. Neck fan For the neck fans, you’ll need to charge them ahead of use. I recommend doing this overnight because they take several hours to charge. The JISULIFE fan ended up lasting me a little over halfway through my park day running on high. It has three speeds and the highest of those three is the best for keeping cool, plus it’s not much louder than the lower speeds. Neck fans The neck fans mostly blow air towards your chin and neck, without cooling the rest of your face or the middle of your body. And when I wore my hair down with them on, I had problems with them sucking in strands of hair (not really a problem if you wear your hair up or have short hair, though.) JISULIFE neck fan Ultimately, the neck fans helped to keep cool a little bit, but I wish the battery life were a bit longer and the stationary position made it difficult to cool other parts of my body. Not a bad option, but maybe not my favorite SNAG THE JISULIFE NECK FAN HERE! Conclusion In the end, I don’t know that either of these options is my perfect solution for keeping cool in the parks. If I had to choose between the two, the neck fan was certainly more convenient and less cumbersome throughout the day. Personal Neck Fan I personally prefer handheld fans (with or without misters) because they offer a bit more flexibility than the neck fans and still do a good job at keeping cool. But we do know that many parents and those traveling to the parks prefer to be hands free, and both of these are solid options for that! However, if you choose either the neck fans or the cooling towels, I think you’ll likely end up being a bit cooler in the parks than the people who have nothing. Cooling towels We’ll keep you in the loop with more tips and tricks for the parks, so stay tuned to DFB! Click Here to Shop Disney Merch on Amazon!The post Cooling Towel Vs Neck Fan -- Which One Is Better for Disney World? first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

There’s MORE amazing stuff hiding in Disney World that goes beyond just Cinderella Castle and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. But in order to FIND these marvelous things, we’re going to Disney Springs! Disney Springs Today, we’re looking at ALL sorts of Disney Springs activities for ALL vacation types. Whether you’re looking for high end food or good food on the dime, the newest experiences or the classic must-sees, something to entertain the kiddos or something for a hot date night — you NAME it — there’s a little something for EVERYONE inside Disney Springs. So let’s see if we can build a FULL Disney day for YOU inside this shopping district alone. A NEW Drone Show! Look up in the sky! Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s…. A LOT of colorful drones, hovering above Lake Buena Vista! A new drone show “Disney Dreams That Soar” debuted on May 24th. But here’s the catch — it’s only gonna be here for a limited time. So you’ll need to visit Disney’s shopping district by September 2nd if you don’t want to miss out on this exclusive experience! Disney Dreams That Soar The drone show is a late-night perk for those still hanging out at Disney Springs once the sun goes down, so if you’re gonna stick around Disney Springs LATE to catch “Disney Dreams That Soar,” plan your next park day accordingly (and consider hitting the snooze button the next morning to catch up on those zzzs). A GIANT Paella If you’re looking for the ULTIMATE sharable entree to split with your WHOLE family (and maybe even the family sitting next to you, too), Jaleo has JUST the ticket. Jaleo’s Paella y Arroces (Paella and Rice) is a MASSIVE portion of paella for the entire table. You’ve got a few different options to choose from — like the chicken, or veggie, or shrimp, or ribeye… But here’s the REAL kicker. Because this dish is so LARGE and can serve 4-5+ guests easily, it takes a while to cook. So expect to wait 45+ minutes before you finally get to dig in (which is why we highly recommend putting in your order for this option shortly after you’re seated). When your paella is ready, a whole spectacle takes place. A bell is rung and ALL the servers (not just your server, but ALL of them) shout, “PAELLA”. This is a fun, unique, and super tasty option to try if you’re wanting a nice dinner to share with your group in Disney Springs, but the prices are a little… less fun. Paellas like this range between $130-$250. (But if you’re splitting the bill between multiple folks in your group, then it may be a little less of a sticker shock for ya.) NEW Patios With AMAZING Views We LOVE finding new places to dine in the Disney scene. But what makes a new dining experience even BETTER is when the restaurant has picture-perfect VIEWS to go along with the food. Which is why Summer House on the Lake has quickly become a new favorite stop for us. Summer House on the Lake is a sit down restaurant that serves California-inspired bites, house-made rosés, Cali-Mexi Brunch on the weekends, and fresh-baked desserts (which you can ALSO pick up to-go over at their Cookie Bar). If you decide you wanna dine at this restaurant, you’ll be able to enjoy your meal inside one of Summer House’s three expansive rooms. In the front of the restaurant, you’ll find an outdoor patio, sunroom with a few high-top tables, and one of the two bars. The main dining room is situated toward the back of the restaurant, and is not only laden with booths and tables, but is also decorated with lots of greenery and natural light. And finally, there’s the back porch — which definitely has the best views across the water! Summer House on the Lake More than likely, you’ll be able to request your seating preference, but keep in mind that there’s always the possibility that you’ll just have to take what you can get IF the restaurant winds up being uber busy on the day of your visit. Secret Phrases That Unlock Limited Time Treats Just how BADLY do you want a Gideon’s Bakehouse secret baked good that only LIMITED people will have access to ordering? Because they’re gonna make you WORK for it. Gideon’s Bakehouse sells an ASSORTMENT of cookies and cakes throughout the entire year. But, every now and then, they make a super limited batch of a specific flavor — and only those who know the secret password will actually be able to order that flavor (while supplies last). More than likely, you’ll see this secret password featured somewhere on Gideon’s social media page — either as a specific post or hidden in their stories. So Gideon’s DOES reward their followers with the rare stuff for following their accounts! This year, Gideon’s had a SECRET Fluffernutter cake released in mid-April that you could only order IF you said the secret phrase: “Fluffernutter, Fluffernutter, Fluffernutter.” (It’s like “Beetlejuice,” but instead of summoning a dead guy, you get to buy cake.) AND on Valentine’s Day, you could order one of Gideon’s red velvet snack cakes by saying the phrase “I love you.” (Awww — I probably could’ve GUESSED that!) So if you’re gonna be in Disney Springs in the future, it may be worth peeking at Gideon’s social pages — just in case a super-special treat releases while you’re there that YOU need the code for! Make Advance Dining Reservations BEFORE 60 Days! Ready to CHEAT your way to Disney Dining victory? Here’s how to make it happen in Disney Springs: Since most restaurants inside Disney Springs are not directly owned by Disney but, instead, are owned by a third-party company, the Disney World website isn’t the ONLY place you can book dining reservations for these experiences. You can ALSO book dining ressies for Disney Springs restaurants on opentable.com. So…how early CAN you book? Well, it depends on the restaurant! For example, you might be able to reserve your table for Wine Bar George in Disney Springs up to a year in advance. (I don’t think you’ll NEED to worry about booking it THAT far in advance but, hey, it COULD be an option!) A TON of other Disney Springs restaurants let you book between 60 days and 6 months out — such as Paddlefish, The Boathouse, The Edison, and Morimoto Asia. And the BEST part about opentable? Even IF you’re not finding reservation availability on the My Disney Experience website, that doesn’t mean you won’t still find it on opentable. (So always check BOTH website, just to increase your chances of getting those reservations secured) On-Site Repairs If you purchase a shirt or pants or some other fashionable item from the Uniqlo store in Disney Springs — but said item experiences a wardrobe malfunction while you’re out and about — Uniqlo can actually give your poor threads a bit of a fixer-upper to make ‘em good as new again! For $5, you can take your damaged Uniqlo-branded clothes to the shop for on-site repairs. According to the website, this includes “button replacement and other fixes for jeans, down jackets, shirts, and sweaters.” A Taste Of Ireland What you see inside the Raglan Road table service is basically a little slice of Ireland smack-dab in the sunshine-y state of Florida. And I mean that. This place is as legit as they come — not just because of the food, river dancing, and Guinness Beer, but because of the FURNITURE decorating the place, too. Even if you don’t sit at one of the bars in this establishment, you’ll still wanna take a moment to appreciate the bars themselves. The bars lining the inside of Raglan Road are 130 years old and were brought to the U.S. straight from Ireland! (Doesn’t get much more authentic than THAT!) Naan Bread Service Bread is amazing, period. (No further questions, please.) And that’s why I’m ALWAYS down to split a bread service with someone — especially if it’s a NEW bread service, like the one you can order over at EET! EET is a new Quick Service located in The Marketplace section, right next to the 12 Days of Christmas store and the back entrance to Disney Springs. Here, you’ll be able to try Indian cuisine with a modern twist. And while this restaurant has quite a few options for you to choose from, you’ll wanna turn towards the shareables part of the menu if you wanna find the bread service option. This bread service comes with buttered naan, garlic naan, pimento whipped paneer cheese, masala vegetable sticks, Indian pickle, coriander honey, and various chutneys. A piece of the naan The full bread service is $20 — which (in my personal opinion), is a bit on the pricey side…especially since you only get two pieces of naan with that. BUT it IS really delicious, easy to split with someone else, and a great option for bread service fanatics! If you’re looking for a cheaper way to try at least one serving of naan (minus all the accompaniments) you can order single slices of the bread in a la carte fashion, instead, for around $5-$7. So Many LOADED Fries My love of bread AND loaded fries is immeasurable — so thank goodness Disney Springs provides them BOTH. So where can you find the BEST loaded fries inside this shopping district? I was literally MADE to answer this question! Back at the new quick service, EET, you can order the Tandoori Poutine for $16 — which is made with chaat masala fries, tandoori chicken, white cheddar curds, and rich tomato butter sauce. At The Daily Poutine kiosk (near Amorette’s Patisserie), you can grab a VARIETY of different loaded fry options all year round (including the classic beef and cheddar cheese curds poutine, as well as a few seasonal varieties, too) for just over $10. BTW, many of y’all in the comments have declared Disney’s poutine as “FAUX”tine — since it’s not TRULY like the Canadain classic stuff at ALL… so I’ll respect your wishes and refer to it that way from here on out. JUST for you. AND then there’s the Splitsville Luxury Lanes loaded fries that MANY of y’all are missing out on by SKIPPING the whole “dining and bowling experience.” The loaded fries here are $14 and come smothered with queso blanco, bacon, ranch, scallions, and “love.” (Hey — the Splitsville menu said it, not me. But… I wouldn’t necessarily disagree.) The Splitsville menu also says this loaded fry option does serve two or more people, so you’ll DEFINITELY have plenty of fries for EVERYONE in your group to try. ALSO — keep in mind that you DON’T have to bowl in order to dine at Splitsville, and vice-versa. While many folks do come here to experience both, you can always make reservations for ONE experience instead if you’d rather just get the fries but skip out on knocking some pins down in the afternoon. A PhotoPass Studio If you’ve purchased the Memory Maker add-on to your trip — and you’re trying to squeeze in as many PhotoPass Opportunities to get your money’s worth out of the service — then I need to tell you about the photopass spot you can find hiding over at Disney Springs, too! The Disney PhotoPass Studio is located in the Marketplace area (sandwiched between Marketplace Co-Op and Ghirardelli Soda Fountain Chocolate Shop). It’s pretty easy to walk on past if you’re not looking for it — but when you DO find it, this is a little photo studio where you can choose your virtual backdrop, maybe a prop or two, and take a few family photos that you can access through your Memory Maker. Just like a regular photopass stop in the parks, you don’t need a reservation for this studio (and, oftentimes, you won’t really have to worry about much of a wait, either). After you’re done with your session, you can see your pictures IMMEDIATELY at the viewing stations off to the side. AND if you DIDN’T get the Memory Maker add-on, no worries! You can still purchase these photos at an individual price point once you get back home, OR you can buy and print them RIGHT there in the studio to take with ya! An Allergy-Friendly Bakery Just because your diet looks different from the diets of other folks in your group doesn’t mean you have to give up munching a delectable dessert during your Disney Springs shopping spree. Erin McKenna’s bakery won’t stand for that. Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC is a fairly small quick-service that specializes in sweets and treats made to serve, “…the underserved people with gluten, dairy, egg, and soy sensitivities…” Their goal? To make “eating vegan and gluten-free fun and delicious.” But the very best part about these desserts is that the recipes have been created to feel and taste like regular treats instead of treats modified to be “allergy friendly.” So go ahead! Choose a cupcake, whoopie pie, tea cake, cinnamon roll, cookie — whatever your heart desires (and do so worry-free)! Jock Lindsey’s Knick-Knacks If you’re someone who REALLY appreciates a dining establishment LACED with Imagineering, storytelling, AND lots of fun Easter Eggs, then you’ve GOTTA prioritize at least ONE visit to Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar. Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar, according to Imagineering Lore, is the waterfront property that belongs to Indiana Jones’ trusted pilot, Jock Lindsey. Apparently, Jock discovered this waterfront property in 1938 as he flew with Indiana over Florida on the hunt for the Fountain of Youth. He returned to the area in the 1940s to set up a small business — Jock Lindsey’s “Air Tours” — which offered scenic plane tours across the state. Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar Diving Bell booth — all decked out for Christmas And now? Well, NOW we’re left with the Hangar where Jock also used to host his Society of Explorers and Adventurers friends. This Hangar Bar doesn’t take reservations, so seating is first-come, first served. But while you’re here, be sure to really appreciate all the DETAILS that highlight Jock’s aviation career over the years. Because there’s a WHOLE lot of ‘em! You’ll see his life’s story told through pictures, banners, trophies, newspaper clippings, hanging mechanical tools, and collected artifacts. AND — if you’re lucky — you might even be able to grab a seat inside the lounge’s DIVING BELL booth (IF it’s free and available during your visit). Use Your Rewards Points Inside the Disney Parks, all your built-up Starbucks rewards points aren’t gonna do you a lick of good (since these locations SELL Starbucks items but aren’t LEGIT Starbucks storefronts). BUT here’s the good news, all you Disney Springs shoppers! Both Starbucks locations inside Disney Springs ARE legit storefronts — meaning you can use your Starbucks stars, refillable mugs, or any other Starbucks-app perks at either Disney Springs location! (And you can MOBILE ORDER from these locations, too via the Starbucks App — unlike you can inside the Disney Parks.) Finding Bathrooms (Outside Of The Restaurants) If you’re on the hunt for a quick potty break WITHOUT having to go into a restaurant and pay for food to use one of theirs, HERE are a few places where you can find reliable facilities around the shopping district: In the Marketplace section, there’s restrooms (and companion restrooms) to the left of Disney’s Wonderful World of Memories shop (that’s the one attached to The Art of Disney Store) The BIG World of Disney has restrooms outside on the right-hand side of the shop (right across from Amorette’s Patisserie) If you walk to the backside of the Starbucks storefront over on the West Side of the shopping district, you’ll find bathrooms hiding out (which can be a good potty stop for anyone planning to eat at one of the food trucks in Exposition Park) And over in Town Center, inside the little alleyway leading up to the Disney bus stop, you’ll find some private restrooms tucked away, outta sight outta mind. Again — these aren’t the ONLY restrooms inside the Disney Springs shopping district that aren’t directly linked to one of the restaurants here, so if you’re looking for more, check out the “Restrooms” page on the Disney World website. An Ornament JUST For YOU! It’s Christmas 365 days a year if you happen to visit the Disney Days of Christmas store at Disney Springs. But no matter what time of the year you visit during, you may wanna make a pilgrimage out this direction for one of my favorite souvenir options of all time — a personalized ornament! For painted ornaments, you can get a name, year, OR number printed for an extra $5 — with $5 more for every word or art piece you choose to add on top of that. OR you can get the month, date, AND year of your trip visit, all for an additional $15. (You’ve also got a LOT of different shiny ink colors to choose from, too! So choose wisely!) And it’s not just ornaments that the Disney Days of Christmas Store can personalize. They can also add some extra “bling” to select Mickey Ears styles AND celebration buttons, too! Celebration buttons — for honeymoons, anniversaries, birthdays, graduations, or just ANY sort of event you’re wanting to celebrate, really — can be picked up at the lobby of your resort OR at any of the guest relations buildings at the front of the parks. For absolutely 0 dollars and 0 cents. But if you swing by the Disney Days of Christmas shop, they can style your button JUST like they would your ornament — for an extra $5. Flavors Of Florida This is seriously SUCH an underrated event is Disney Springs — BUT if you come here for it in the summer, it ALMOST makes enduring the Floridian heat worth it. (…Almost.) Flavors of Florida kicks off in Disney Springs every summer, bringing with it some fresh and citrusy seasonal eats to several restaurants around the shopping district. This event usually starts up on July 1st and lasts until the end of August, and features HUNDREDS of limited time cuisine and sips, plus cooking demonstrations, and more. And NEW in 2024 are Flavors of Florida Pairing Events at beloved spots like Wine Bar George, The Edison, Paddlefish, and MORE! Photo Ops With An Unexpected Character It’s not Mickey Mouse. It’s not Minnie. It’s not Pluto or Daisy or Donald or really ANY Disney character, for that matter. No, at Disney Springs, you can meet and take pictures with… The Coca-Cola Polar Bear! Over at the Coca Cola Store, you’ll find THREE floors completely dedicated to the carbonated beverage company. This means lots of souvenirs, a Rooftop Coca-Cola bar, AND a photo op with the 7-foot mascot himself. You can find the Polar Bear mascot photo op on the store’s second floor — BUT, just a heads up, he’s not ALWAYS out and available to take pictures with. The Disney website encourages all guests who wanna know our arctic friend’s specific meet-and-greet hours of the day to call the store directly and ask about them at (407) 560-0107. And SPEAKING of interesting meet and greets, did you know that you can typically meet an M&M over at the M&M’s Store, too? You can say “hello” to Yellow for me! Usually, the M&M characters greet guests every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 12-8PM. Club Cool: Disney Springs Edition If you’re a fan of the International drinks samples at Club Cool over in EPCOT, then I’ve got a FUN surprise for yooo-ooou… You can order FULL SIZES of your favorite Club Cool drinks, over at the Coca-Cola Rooftop Bar! Unfortunately, you’re not gonna find free soda samples here like you will in EPCOT… HOWEVER, you can order several popular Club Cool soda flavors (for a price) in 16oz, 20oz, or 24oz cups! Not EVERY Club Cool flavor may be available at the time of your visit, but most commonly you’ll find options like the VegitaBeta, the Sprite Cucumber, the Inca Cola, or — everyone’s FAAAAAVORITE — the BEVERLY. (Yeah, can you BELIEVE it? There are actually people out there who ENJOY Beverly enough to BUY it. If you’re one of those people, let me know in the comments. Because I KNOW y’all are hiding out there SOMEWHERE.) Happy Hours! What time is it? It’s HAPPY HOUR! (At least, it’s happy hour SOMEWHERE in Disney Springs. You just gotta know where to look!) Happy Hour offerings update pretty regularly, but here are just a couple of the happy hours you can find in the shopping district DAILY: Paradiso 37 has $8 house margaritas and $7 domestic draft beers from 11AM-4PM (AND 9PM-11PM); available at the bar or To Go only STK Orlando has happy hour at the bar, lounge, and patio every day from 2:30PM to 5:30 PM and Sunday through Thursday 10PM to Close. Offers vary. We’ve got all the updated Happy Hours across the Springs featured in our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining ebook, too — sooooo… that’s just another reason why you might wanna check it out while you’re over at dfbstore.com! Custom Latte Art Grabbing a Joffrey’s Coffee is already special to the Disney World scene. But if you wanna amp up your Joffrey’s coffee experience from “special” to “AMAZINGLY special,” then you might wanna consider splurging an extra 50 cents on some custom latte art! Orange Bird Art At the flagship Joffrey’s Coffee and Tea Company store in The Landing Area of Disney Springs, you can get specialty foam art to jazz up any ol’ cappuccino or latte of your choice. There are TWO ways to go about this: 1) You can download the Ripples App and follow the step-by step instructions, or 2) You can use the Ripples App that’s already downloaded on the Joffrey’s store tablet and follow the prompts from there. Seasonal Snacks Disney Springs features NEW flavors inside their restaurants ALL THE TIME. Sometimes seasonally, sometimes monthly, sometimes even for one weekend only. So no matter WHEN you visit, you’re bound to run into a different offering than you experienced LAST time. Just to give you a FEW (VERY few) examples… Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar transforms into Jock Lindsey’s HOLIDAY bar toward the end of the year — bringing with it new festive drinks and eats. Each month, we see NEW dessert flavors pop up for locations like Gideon’s Bakehouse, Salt and Straw, Swirls on the Water, and Sprinkles Cupcakes. AND on Thanksgiving, certain restaurants — like Maria and Enzo’s, Homecomin’, Raglan Road, City Works Eatery and Pour House, Planet Hollywood, and Wine Bar George — will have ONE DAY ONLY Thanksgiving cuisine featured on the menu for any families looking to keep things semi-traditional during their Thanksgiving holiday in Disney World. Follow The Parking Lights! Okay, this is just a silly little thing — but a NIFTY silly little thing, at that! When you’re parking in one of the Disney Springs parking garages, you won’t have to second guess whether a row inside the parking garage is completely filled or not. Each individual parking spot will have a light hanging up above it. If you see any of those lights are bright green instead of red, that means the space is free and yours for the taking! Again — this ain’t just a Disney-specific invention, or anything; SEVERAL parking garages across the states have lights in their parking garages, too. BUT it’s nice to know that when you are trying to park at Disney Springs, you don’t have to worry about it being a guessing game. Just be like a moth and FOLLOW THE LIGHTS! A “Secret” Tunnel Okay, so maybe Enzo’s Hideaway isn’t as “secret” as the name suggests. But the concept of getting a drink inside a “secret tunnel” over at Disney Springs may STILL have flown under your radar. According to Imagineering Lore, Enzo’s Hideaway Tunnel Bar is located in “what were said to be rum-running tunnels,” just below the Italian restaurant, Maria and Enzo’s. This so-called speakeasy is inspired by the aperitivo bars in Rome (and, better yet, also inspired by the true Florida history of rum-running). Along with Enzo’s immersive theming (including graffiti on the walls and empty liquor bottles lining the shelves), the restaurant serves Prohibition-era style cocktails (ie: “Giggle Water”) along with a full menu of Roman dishes featuring pastas, paninis, and cured meat-and-cheese platters to share. A Cupcake ATM Now THIS is the sweetest transaction you’re ever gonna make! Disney Springs’ specialty cupcake shop, Sprinkles, has a Pepto Bismol-colored Cupcake ATM located right outside its building. If you wanna make a cupcake purchase (without going in the shop and purchasing one the ol’ fashioned way), just choose your confections of choice on the ATM screen, choose your quantities, and then proceed to check out! It’s easy as pie! (Or, rather, easy as “cake,” in this case!) Turkey Legs MINUS The Park Ticket SO MANY FOLKS forget about the fact that you can, indeed, get a GIANT TURKEY LEG outside of the Disney parks…. Including US. We forget about that, too. But you most certainly CAN get one over at The Smokehouse quick service window, just outside of the House of Blues restaurant. Full spread The Turkey Legs here are pretty much that same Ren-Faire style hunk of meat on the bone that most folks either love or hate. They’re GIANT, smoky, a little bit crispy, and a whole lotta salty. Weekend Brunches! I am in my BRUNCH ERA, y’all — so let’s talk about Disney Springs’ various brunch options! Several of Disney Springs’ table service restaurants host weekend brunches all year long. Here are a few of the shopping district’s ”best of” options that you might wanna add to your weekend vacation schedule: A Bayou Brunch is served on Saturdays and Sundays over at The House of Blues (with options like chicken and waffles and a made-to-order omelet station) A Rise ‘n Shine Brunch is served inside the Homecomin’ restaurant on Saturdays and Sunday (including items like the hushpuppy Benedict and southern poutine, topped with a fried egg) The Wine Country Brunch happens at Wine Bar George on Saturdays and Sundays — giving you the chance to pair your morning Dole Whip Frozcato with a fried chicken biscuit or steak and eggs STK Orlando is one of the FEW Disney brunch locations left that still has a bottomless mimosa/Bloody Mary option. But there are TWO rules you have to follow if you wanna parktake in that endless option. Rule #1: You MUST order an entree along with your mimosa/Mary. And Rule #2: You only have 90 minutes to enjoy those bottomless drinks before you’re gonna be cut off by your server. The Boathouse has a Captain’s Sing a Long Brunch on Sundays where dueling piano players will be tickling the ivories and taking requests while you chow down on a Biscoff Cookie Waffle or Avocado Toast! And — if you wanna check out my personal favorite brunch stop — Raglan Road has their Rollicking Raglan Brunch served on Saturdays and Sundays, featuring live music and specialty options such as (but not limited to) the ever-so-sweet pancakes diaspora (with creme fraiche, maple syrup, and mixed berry compote) as well as the ever-so-savory All This… And Eggs On Top (made with pulled slow-braised beef, potato hash with sautéed mushrooms, green onions, and mushroom ketchup, topped with two sunny-side up eggs) Click here to see the ultimate guide to the best breakfast in Disney Springs. Eat Signature Dining CHEAPER Look, I love Morimoto Asia. I love its fancy vibes and expansive menu and wagyu beef. (I ESPECIALLY love its wagyu beef.) But realistically, I ain’t gonna be paying top dollar to sit down and eat a nice meal at Morimoto Asia each time I’m shopping around Disney Springs. Which is why I’m SO GLAD Morimoto Asia Street Food exists. Morimoto Asia Street Food is on the patio of the main restaurant and features quick street food options such as Pork Egg Rolls, Ginger Chicken Ramen, Morimoto Baby Ribs, and other Morimoto selections that provide you with a similar tasting experience that you’d get if you were dining at the signature restaurant itself. And the best part about this place? You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to munch here. Most of the street food on the menu ranges in price between $6-$14, depending on whatcha get. Moonshine Cocktails I’m not always the biggest Moonshine fan, but Homecomin’ has found a way to convince me otherwise. Homecomin’ has five unique “Shines on Tap” (with an occasional extra shine cocktail thrown on the list every now and then for a limited time — depending on the season. ) But the MAIN shine players here typically include: The RumShine Punch, the Strawberry Lemonade, the Sweet Tea Shine, the Moonshine Margarita, and the Blue Hooch (aka: the strongest shine on the list — made with Blue Flame moonshine, lemon-infused moonshine, blue curacao, house-made simple syrup, fresh lemon juice, and a splash of Sprite). Shine Flight Each Shine on Tap is gonna cost ya $15, but if you’re having a hard time narrowing down WHICH shine you wanna try, you can always order the Shine Flight instead for $36 to try a small pour of all five! Exclusive Irish Parties Raglan Road likes to keep the celebrations going ALL YEAR LONG. So if you’re planning on dining at this Irish pub during your next visit, be aware of THESE Raglan Road annual events: During Labor Day weekend, Raglan Road holds their Great Irish Hooley Musical Festival — which is a filled with lots of singing, dancing, entertainment, and limited time food and drink offerings. Every St. Patrick’s Day, Raglan Road gets in touch with their green side by offering even MORE limited time food, drink, and performances — exclusive to the holiday. AND on World Whiskey Day (towards the end of May), Raglan Road likes to join in on the fun with their limited time whiskey deals (where you can typically try a flight of four select whiskeys from around the world for $30!) A Shop Full Of Cards If you’re still a fan of snail mail and greeting cards (which you SHOULD be — those things are HEARTFELT, yo), then you’re REALLY gonna get a kick outta the Love Pop store front. The little store is in the Town Center area — located next to Ron Jon Surf Shop — and is a store completely dedicated to cutesy/crafty 3D pop up cards for any and every occasion. But Lovepop doesn’t JUST sell cards. They also have these fun paper flower bouquets, too — which are the PERFECT gift for your partner who just can’t keep a houseplant alive no matter WHAT they do. Karaoke! Forget about those private karaoke room experiences — It’s time to really SHOW OFF your VOICE to ALL the other Disney Springs guests who are gathered at Stargazers Bar! Every Wednesday night, from 7-11PM, you can join in on an evening of karaoke sing-a-longs at Planet Hollywood’s attached outdoor bar. Stargazers is first come, first perform — so if you REALLY wanna do this and make your big Disney World debut, plan to get to the bar a little early so you can make sure you can sign up for a good karaoke time slot. And if you stop by Stargazers on a Friday/Saturday evening instead, you can enjoy live PROFESSIONAL music. Customizable Cases And MagicBands Marketplace Co-Op is like a little shopping district all on its own, housing different shops and brands that rotate out on occasion to make room for something else. But what’s stood the test of time inside the Marketplace is the D-Tech on Demand area, located towards the front of the store (and to your left). D-Tech on Demand gives YOU the chance to either purchase one of their pre-made tech accessories (like a phone case or magicband), OR customize your very own. Just station yourself at one of the many touchscreens, create a gadget or gizmo you can be proud of, then send it on its merry-little-way to be printed right there in the shop! Usually, it takes these custom pieces around 30 minutes to finish printing, so make sure to keep hold of your receipt and hand it back to the D-Tech cast member once it’s time for you to return and pick your creation up! Customizable Treats Caramel Apples. Rice Krispy Treats. Marshmallows. Cake pops. What do each of these sweet treats have in common? You can make them into your very OWN creation over at Goofy’s Candy Company! To do this, you’ll grab a customizable card, put your name at the top, then select your treat, your dipping flavor, and your topping. (You can also add extra toppings for a dollar each, if you’re having trouble deciding on just one.) Soar Above The Springs HELLO, DOWN THERE! The Disney Springs’ Aerophile is a tethered hot air balloon that lifts you up, up, UP above the shopping district for a unique point of view! Disney Springs The entire ride is 8 minutes long and costs $30 for adults, and $25 for kiddos. (So for a family of four — with two adults, two kids — you’re talking about a $110 balloon ride… for eight minutes.) Face Painting Kiosk Lookie there! Just like how you can find face painting inside the Disney World parks for a more affordable makeover opportunity than what you’d find at, say, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Magic Kingdom, you can also find a face-painting kiosk inside Disney Springs, too! If you don’t want something painted on your face — but you still wanna partake in some artistic fun — the cast members at this face paint kiosk can also hook you up with a temporary tattoo or henna design. Just let ‘em know what you’re looking for! This Disney Springs face painting kiosk is located right outside the Marketplace Co-Op area (to the left of the store). Build-A-Dino If you’ve ever wanted to be a proud parent of a stuffed prehistoric creature with beady black eyes, well…… Now’s your chance! Inside the T-Rex cafe and to your right, you’ll find a small Dino-centric gift shop where you can Build-A-Dino (So basically it’s like build-a-bear back at your hometown mall, but all the animals you get to choose from are extinct IRL). You pick a Dino, stuff it up with fluff, get it a little outfit, and choose its name. It’s adorable. You can also add fun little extras too — like give it a sound or add a SMELL. (Don’t worry. All good smells. Nothing like the infamous Figment skunk smell, or anything — though wouldn’t THAT be something?) Nightly Fiestas Paradiso 37 isn’t exactly our #1 spot to dine in Disney Springs. (It might not even rank in our top 50, if I’m being honest with ya.) BUT that doesn’t mean Paradiso doesn’t know how to have a good time! If you’re coming to Disney Springs to PARTY-HARTY, hit up the Paradiso 37 bar after the sun sets so you can listen to its live, high-energy Latin music! Once you order a spirit from the bar’s Wall of Tequila — featuring over 75 different tequila-types — you can start dancing the night away with your partner on the Paradiso dance floor! Just keep in mind that if you’re NOT all about that nightlife entertainment, this party scene might start feeling a bit TOO lively for you. (Not, like, in an out-of-control type of way — because this is STILL Disney we’re talking about here — but more in a “loud-and-crowded” kind of way.) High Roller Cocktails There’s a SECRET rewards program that you can join over at The Edison. But you can’t join it officially until you’ve ordered your first High Roller Cocktail. High Roller Cocktails are these pricey specialty drinks (that’ll run you $32-$38 PER DRINK… because they’re BOUJEE, I guess). But whenever you order one of these drinks, you’ll be given a high roller gold coin. And you can KEEP that li’l gold coin forever and ever, if you want to — BUT once you collect 4 gold coins, you can turn those in and get a fifth drink FREE! Yeah… it’s a pretty pricey investment for a single drink payoff. (BUT if you and your group are planning on ordering multiple high roller drinks anyways, you might be able to rack up enough gold coins for a FINAL high roller cocktail to share!) Biggest. Drinks. EVER. And since we’re already AT The Edison, let’s talk about ANOTHER unique cocktail option you may wanna try (though you’re DEFINITELY gonna need some friends to help ya out with this one.) Samantha Sterling Punch Bowl The Edison brings the party straight to your table with their PUNCH BOWL option, where you can order select specialty cocktails as a WHOLE punch bowl — ladle and all — for $100 to share amongst your friends and family Kiddie Rides Wait… RIDES?? In DISNEY SPRINGS?? Aren’t those just reserved for the PARKS?? Well, to be fair, the rides here aren’t gonna be on par with Dumbo the Flying Elephant or Peter Pan’s Flight, or anything — BUT there are technically two rides over in The Marketplace section that your kiddos can try… for an extra fee. The first is the Marketplace Carousel — which is just your classic, ornate carousel-style ride that plays Disney tunes while you spin. One ride will put ya back $5, but one adult may ride for free IF they’re accompanying a kid who’s under 42 inches tall. And the second is the Marketplace Train Express — which is this little green-and-red locomotive that takes kids around a short railroad track loop right outside of the Pin Traders gift shop. Again, one ride = $5, but this time one adult may ride for free IF they’re accompanying a kid who’s under 36 inches tall. Christmas Offerings! Disney Springs is a GREAT spot to get a taste of Disney’s holiday season without paying a whole lotta money to do so. The shopping district has a lot in store for us throughout the merry months of November/December! The Christmas Tree Stroll is a free activity where you can “stroll” around custom-decorated holiday, Disney-themed trees placed all throughout Disney Springs! The Bride! You can find Santa inside the Once Upon a Toy gift shop in the Disney Springs Marketplace! (A Virtual Queue is often used for this location — so just be aware that you might have to join it yourself to meet the jolly ol’ elf.) There might also be opportunities where you can DINE with Santa at select Disney Springs restaurants — like Maria and Enzo’s and T-Rex. As you continue to shop your way around Disney Springs, be on the lookout for various streetmosphere — like Toy Soldier stilt walkers, snowflake skaters, and tunes spun by DJs! And as the cherry on top of all this merriment and fun, from time to time in the evenings, magical Floridan “snow” falls upon the Town Center. Quick note: While these holiday activities were available last year, they’re not guaranteed to happen THIS year too — so make sure to check back in with us when it gets closer to the season! Douglas Fir Douglas Fir is a little Christmas tree who likes to come out around the holiday season too. But he’s no ORDINARY Christmas tree. He’s a COOL Christmas tree. This li’l guy actually ROLLS around Disney Springs and TALKS to window shoppers. So if you’re coming around the holidays, be on the lookout for Douglas Fir (or at least WATCH OUT for him — because he’s a speedy li’l guy who’s got places to BE. We love him! Note: We also spotted the little guy dressed up with citrus ornaments during Flavors of Florida! Discounted Amphicar Tours It’s 50% boat, 50% car, and 100% a good time. You can take a 20 minute captain-guided amphicar ride out on Lake Buena Vista before or after your Boathouse meal. Okay, so you TECHNICALLY don’t have to eat at the Boathouse if you wanna ride in an amphicar — you can make reservations for this experience over at the Boathouse Boatique (which is the restaurant’s attached gift shop). However, eating at the Boathouse may actually SAVE you money on your amphicar tour. Y’see, this retro-styled, aquatic cars are NOT cheap. A 20 minute ride will cost $125 per car (which can accommodate up to 3-4 people). If you’re planning on eating at The Boathouse BEFORE your ride, you can save $25 on your amphicar tour when you spend $50 or more at the restaurant (OR the Boutique gift shop, for that matter)! Just make sure to present your valid receipt to the Boatique to get those savings applied. Art Walks! As you make your way around all the different shops and restaurants lining Disney Springs, be sure to stop and appreciate the art you might find in the nooks and crannies along the way! Disney Springs is always showcasing local art, as well as artists from across the globe, through the various Disney Springs’ Art Walks. These stories and vibrant pieces will be strewn all throughout the Town Square area — so be on the lookout for them (and keep those cameras at-the-ready)! Boat Transportation You know what Disney Springs is seriously lacking? A good beignet spot! Luckily, the shopping district can help lead us to one that’s not too terribly far away. You just gotta take a boat to get there! When you’re ready to head out of Disney Springs for a bit to track down some powdered-sugar and fried goodness, head to the Marketplace Dock and hop aboard one of the Riverboats for a complimentary ride over to Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter. Sassagoula Riverboats The boat ride is an attraction in and of itself. Not only will you get a lovely view across Lake Buena Vista (without having to pay $125 for an amphicar — no offense, amphicars), but you’ll also get to listen to piped in jazzy tunes. For those fab beignets, jump out at the French Quarter dock and head into Scat Cat’s Club for a mix of beignet options — ranging from sweet to savory, and even BOOZY. OR if you’re on the hunt for maybe a table service restaurant that specializes in Southern Louisiana favorites (like jambalaya and shrimp and grits), just keep taking that boat on down to the Riverside section of the Port Orleans resort area to dine at Boatwright’s Dining Hall for dinner! There’s also boat transportation from Disney Springs and to the Old Key West/Saratoga Springs DVC resorts, too — so make sure you’re in the correct line for the correct resort boat when you’re planning on traveling over to one of these specific hotels. Free Live Music When you visit Disney Springs, you’ll more than likely hear live music or see a live performance happening SOMEWHERE around the shopping district. Oftentimes, you can catch live entertainment at the Disney Spring AdventHealth Waterside Stage (in front of the LARGE World of Disney store) as well as the Waterview Park Stage (near The BOATHOUSE) — but, really, musical acts pop up nearly ANYWHERE around the Springs. We’ve seen rap battles, violinists, acoustic guitar players, even strolling piano performances. You’ve just gotta keep your ears open and let the music guide ya! Disney Springs Kids Club SPEAKING of free entertainment over at the Waterview Park Stage, here’s an offering SPECIFICALLY for all you kiddos out there! Every Saturday (at 10:30 AM, 11:15 AM, and noon) families can take part in the Disney Springs Kids Club. During this time, kids can directly interact with the entertainment taking place on the outdoor stage by participating in dance parties, creating music with bongos or maracas, playing games (like hula hoop or limbo), or just simply standing back and watching the excitement unfold around them — whatever they prefer! An Animated Evening Drawn to Life is a separate-ticket stage show inside Disney Springs that combines Disney animation with the truly unique acrobatic performances of the Cirque du Soleil team. This show REALLY tugs at your emotions. The story is heart-wrenching, the stunts are nail-biting, and the sets are mind-blowing. BUT unlike many shows that you’ll find scattered about the shopping district, this one will cost ya a pretty penny to see. Adult tickets range from $75 – $209 each, depending on your seats. Meet and greet! Now, if you REALLY wanna go all-out with your Drawn to Life show experience, you can invest in one of the animated evening prix-fixe dining packages, available at select Disney Springs restaurants. So here’s how this dining package works: First, you’ll choose one out of the 13 participating Disney Springs restaurants to dine at 2 hours before or after the show. Then, you’ll pay either an extra $45 per ticket OR $65 per ticket (on top of that regular ticket price) to dine on a specialty Animated Evening prix-fixe menu. Most of the restaurants on the list hit that $45 mark — including sit-down locations such as Jaleo, Raglan Road, and Terralina Crafted Italian. But the three restaurants that’ll set ya back $65 instead are Paddlefish, The Edison, and Wolfgang Puck. Even MORE Plant-Based Snacks And Treats Erin McKenna’s Bakery may specialize in vegan treats, but all you plant-based eaters out there won’t be stuck just eating desserts and desserts alone during your Disney Springs day. There are LOTS of fast food and sit down restaurants in Disney Springs that are ready to cater to your specific dietary needs. And because these menus switch up often, you might find something new each time you visit! So what are a few solid Disney Springs dining choices that you plant-based eaters out there might wanna try? Ironically enough, D-Luxe Burger could be a solid choice for you, thanks to their Plant-Based Burger with Plant-based Gouda, Pickles, Lettuce, and Tomato served on a Parker House Roll. ALSO ironically, The Polite Pig (which is usually most known for its smoked meats) has some AWESOME plant-based market sides that you could honestly make a whole meal out of — like the bbq cauliflower, the grilled street corn, and the crispy brussels sprouts. Raglan Road has a fun option (called The Shepherd Went Vegan) — which is basically a plant-based version of a shepherd’s pie. Even Blaze Fast Fire’d Pizza has plant based pizza (thanks to their vegan cheese option)! If you’re unsure whether or not a Disney Springs restaurant will have plant based options that you’re gonna enjoy, don’t be afraid to call the restaurant and ask ahead of time! The host at the front of the restaurant should also be able to help ya out, too (or at least be able to grab a server/manager inside the restaurant that can answer any dietary questions you need cleared up before you dine)! Big-Name Concerts House of Blues keeps the party pumpin’ at night LONG! There are TWO parts of this rustic-wooden restaurant. The first part is the main dining room area — where you’ll get to enjoy a nice sit down meal for lunch or dinner. And the SECOND part is right NEXT to the main restaurant building, which is simply known as the “club.” This is where House of Blues puts on frequent ticketed music events for a rotating lineup of artists. You DON’T have to eat at House of Blues in order to see one of the shows — and vice-versa — but, man, they sure do pair well together! You can find the restaurant’s full show schedule on the House of Blues website to see WHO will be playing here NEXT. Can you believe there are even MORE things hiding out in the Disney Springs area that you’ve never even heard of? No joke — we’re only scratching the surface here, friends! So stay tuned for even MORE fun surprises, hidden secrets, and recommendations to come! Before you click off to start planning a Disney Springs itinerary for yourself, don’t forget to grab our FREE Disney Springs quick guide over at disneyfoodblog.com/DISNEYSPRINGS! Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What are your favorite activities at Disney Springs? The post 50 Amazing Things You Never Knew Were In Disney Springs first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article