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It is finally time to go down the bayou with Tiana and all of her friends at Disneyland! Tiana’s Bayou Adventure While Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opened in Disney World over the summer, Disneyland’s version of the ride opened today! With the opening of this attraction, Bayou Country, which was re-imagined from Critter Country, is also officially complete! We are here on opening day, and we were surprised by the crowd levels in Bayou Country on this attraction’s opening day. Just like in Disney World, to manage lines at this new attraction, you must obtain a Virtual Queue or purchase a Lightning Lane Multi Pass to ride for the time being. There is no standby line. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Testing The good news is that you get THREE chances a day to obtain a Virtual Queue, unlike Disney World. At Disneyland, you can enter the queue from outside the park at 7AM. Then you can try again inside the park at both 1PM and 4PM. Opening day crowds Here is a crowd check for the opening day of both this attraction and land! Early in the morning, the virtual queues sold out super quickly, which led us to believe we were in for a busy, crowded day! As the morning rides progressed and the boarding groups started to be called, we noticed the ride went down for a few hours, interrupting the flow of the crowds that had gathered just outside of the ride. Morning crowds at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure It took a bit, but eventually, the ride reopened, and still, the crowds didn’t appear to be too bad, despite the ride having been closed for a few hours. When the next virtual queue opened up, we got a much lower boarding group than we anticipated. Not quite the crowds we anticipated Unfortunately, the virtual queue’s boarding groups paused boarding again, and despite the delays, the crowds still didn’t seem so bad. Waiting for the ride Of course, we’re also aware this is just day one of the newest Disney ride to open, so we could expect to see the crowds start growing over the weekend, and as word gets out, the ride is capable of staying open longer throughout the day. We are here to check out everything in Bayou Country as well as try some new menu items at Tiana’s Palace in New Orleans Square, so make sure to stay tuned to Disney Food Blog to stay up to date on all the latest Disney news! FIRST LOOK Inside a NEW Disney Store Open Now! 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 Will you be visiting Disneyland to check out Bayou Country? Let us know in the comments! The post A SURPRISING Look at Disney's Opening Day Tiana's Bayou Adventure CROWDS first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you remember when the castle at Magic Kingdom was decorated as a cake for it’s 25th anniversary, then you might be nostalgic for some Disney things that don’t exist anymore. ©Disney Maybe you are still calling Disney Springs, “Downtown Disney”, which it hasn’t been called that since 2015. Do you miss the giant Tower of Terror billboard that moved on World Drive? When you’ve been going to the parks for a long time, you see things come and go. We recently asked our readers what they would love to see back regarding souvenirs; their answers will take you down memory lane! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. We asked our readers “Which extinct souvenir do you desperately wish Disney World would bring back?”. Thank you to everyone who took us on a nostalgic walk through the ’90s and early 2000’s. Let’s see how many of their answers you remember! Pal Mickey ©Disney/D23 Disney sold the Pal Mickey in the early to mid-2000s. This interactive Mickey Plush wasn’t only a cuddly toy; it was also designed to provide location-based information and play interactive games while inside the parks. Evolving technology quickly outstripped the Pal Mickey hardware, and by the time smartphones became ubiquitous, Pal Mickey was a thing of the past. But gosh, he was adorable! Our readers are beginning Disney to bring this one back. Large Snow Globes ©DisneyStore Our reader, Cheryl, said “the beautiful snow globes.” and she wasn’t the only one. 10% of the answers on the question were reminiscing for the snow globes. While they are limited, we did find this 2024 Mickey and Minnie Snow Globe online. View on The Disney Store Antenna Toppers ©Amazon Another one fans shared a lot was the antenna toppers. If you don’t remember these, they were very popular in the early 2000s and came in different Disney characters. I vividly remember my parents buying them when I was a kid. While they don’t sell them in the parks anymore, we did find these Mickey and Minnie Antenna Toppers online. View on Amazon Character Watches ©Disney Our reader, Tina, reminded us of character watches that were popular back then. While you can still find some now, like this Winnie the Pooh Citizens Watch, the characters are more limited. However, if you are still wanting that classic Disney feel, this watch would definitely fit that vibe. View on The Disney Store Dated Ornaments ©DisneyStore Lindsay, a reader, mentioned “having year dates ornaments available all year long”. We totally understand wanting an ornament with your vacation year even if you are going in the summer and not around the holidays. We found this 2024 Mickey and Minnie Holiday Sketchbook Ornament online. Buying ornaments online after your vacation could be beneficial. You wouldn’t have to worry about it breaking while you’re in the parks carrying it around or traveling back home with it. View on The Disney Store Mr. Potato Head ©Amazon Ok, this is speaking to our childhood right here! Mr. Potato Head was a toy everyone had or at least it feels like that. While we haven’t spotted these in the parks in a while, we did find one online! Grab your own Mr. Potato Head online at Amazon. View on Amazon Whatever your nostalgic souvenir is, try finding it online! You never know what you could find that would bring back those old memories. Wanting More Disney Deals? See Our Amazon Storefront! The post Fans Are Desperate for Disney World to Bring Back This Souvenir first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

WATCH LIVE: The Disney Treasure Christening | Disney Cruise LineView the full article

It’s beginning to look a lot more like Christmas at Disney World! Christmas is starting! We’ve donned our festive outfits to attend Disney World’s holiday parties, tried fun holiday treats around the parks and hotels, and even taken on the challenge of hunting down over two dozen Christmas trees at Disney Springs! If that wasn’t enough to lift your spirits into something merry and bright, we have the PERFECT activity for you to check out. One of our favorite things to do around Disney World during the holidays is take the road less traveled and create our own fun day by visiting all of the nearby Disney hotels. Why? To check out the unique Christmas trees and decorations! It’s usually a full day (or several days) of fun spent searching for lights, festive decor, and ornaments on each themed Christmas tree. Little character trees at the lobby Gingerbread House inside Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort It’s also a free activity to do, making it a great option for those traveling solo or with a group of all ages. Let’s take a look at some of the hotels where we’ve recently spotted 2024 Christmas tree displays! Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort First up on our list is Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort! You’ll find this hotel’s tree in the Great Ceremonial House, a.k.a. the main lobby. Christmas tree at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort This tree is gorgeous and filled with all the island-esque elements you can imagine! We spotted fruit… Pineapple …sea life… Turtle! … and beautiful flowers! Flowers That’s not the only festival decor here, though! We also spotted some fun wreaths hung at the windows! Christmas wreath You’ll also find a few pieces of garland decked throughout the lobby… Garland around the lobby …and as you enter the lobby and look to the side, you will see a festive motif to welcome you through the door! By the entrance doors It’s a fun, tropical take on Christmas, and we ADORE the decorations! Disney’s Contemporary Resort Next on our holiday tour is Disney’s Contemporary Resort and this one’s a SIGHT! This hotel’s Christmas tree is so tall it is literally located outside. OOH, Christmas tree! You can take a quick peek at it as you’re coming around the monorail, but you can’t truly appreciate the scale until you’re at ground level. This gigantic tree is gorgeous and decked out in larger-than-life ornaments and ribbons! So large But if you thought this was the only tree around at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, guess again because there are actually a few more! As you head towards the porte cochere, you’ll find the meticulously hung garland strung just under the hidden Mickeys. So cute! As you make your way inside, the check-in desk of the lobby is decorated, too. Lobby decorations There are even a few smaller trees over by the front entrance of the hotel… Tree by the entrance doors …and by the entrance of Steakhouse 71 on the opposite side of the lobby, completely adorned with (you guessed it) ornaments with a contemporary appeal. A 3rd tree Don’t they look fabulous?! Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort Our last stop around the monorail loop is at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, and it didn’t disappoint! Garland hung from the stairs We spotted several smaller Christmas trees on display by the ornate marble floor. What a welcome! Trees! While we stopped to admire them, we also got a chance to take a look at a few of the Victorian-style ornaments that cover the trees, like this snowflake ornament and velvet bow… Snowflake ornament …and these little kids! Adorable ornament But the greatest one of all here stands in the center lobby just out front of the Gingerbread House, and it is MASSIVE! Lobby Christmas tree We actually had to walk around the entire lobby up top just to get a good look at it from all sides. You’ll want to walk around to get a good look at it Wow, the holidays really are a special time to visit the Disney World hotels, and we think you should work some time into your schedule to see them for yourself. We’re covering all of the holiday happenings around Disney World! Be sure to stay tuned with us at Disney Food Blog for all the latest. You Don’t Want to Skip This FREE Disney World Holiday Experience 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! Which of Disney World’s holiday offerings are a must for you? Tell us in the comments below! The post NEWS: The MASSIVE Christmas Trees at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Hotels Are HERE! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Is your brain feeling fried from working all day? Find yourself daydreaming about Disney? Magic Kingdom While we can’t bring you to the Disney parks, we can allow you to take a shopping break! For Christmas or just for an end of the week pick me up for yourself, we’ve got you covered! Here are some Disney finds and just some seriously cool things we found on the internet this week. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Want to try out Amazon Prime this holiday season? Get a FREE trial below! Stinky Fridge? Try These Refrigerator Deorderizers! ©Amazon With the holidays coming up, we all know we will have a refrigerator full of leftovers. So to help fight all of those smells, grab this refrigerator deodorizer. How does it work? It decomposes harmful gases into water molecules, eliminates the odors at the source, maintains a fresh odorless refrigerator, and keeps the foods fresh longer. For less than $25, your family will thank you! View on Amazon Check Out These Digital Thermostats! ©Amazon If you’re like me, the weather can fluctuate this time of year with cool nights and warm days. We installed these in our home and it has changed my life. I used to have to get up in the middle of the night to turn up the heat, but now, these regulate the temperatures for me. You can save up to 23% off your energy bill with these as well. View on Amazon Mickey Mouse Mood Light ©Amazon How adorable is this Mickey mood light? At 6″ high, this little guy, your favorite mouse has arrived in the form of this mood light. Functions as an adorable Mickey Mouse figurine when not lit, making for an adorable display on your desk or shelf. The light operates via the 5-foot USB cable (included), complete with an in-line on/off switch for added convenience. It also has a nifty 15-minute auto-shutoff feature makes it a great night light. View on Amazon Smart WiFi Towel Rack Warmer ©Amazon Who else hates getting out of a nice, warm shower to grab their towel and immediately get cold? With this WiFi Warming Towel rack, you’ll feel like you’re at the spa. You Ssmply voice command to control our smart towel warmer via Alexa or Google Home. Turn the towel warmer on or off from anywhere in the world with your smartphone using the SmartLife app. View on Amazon Automatic Curtain Opener ©Amazon Help make waking up easier with these automatic curtain openers. Hang it up, install the positioning magnets, and connect to our app. 3 simple steps for smart curtains in any room. These are also very quiet allowing for a gentle wake up. View on Amazon Mickey Mouse Mug and Warmer ©Amazon Keep your coffee warm until you actually have time to finish it with this Mickey Mouse Mug and Warmer set. Get distracted by work? Do your kids need you to help them while enjoying coffee? Grab one of these and never come back to a cold cup of coffee again. View on Amazon Black & Decker Cocktail Maker ©Amazon Bring the bar to your home with this Black + Decker Cocktail maker. Make mixologist-crafted cocktails from the comfort of your own home in three easy steps: insert a cocktail capsule, select drink strength, press mix, and enjoy. You can even select your drink strength with the turn of a dial. Choose from mocktails, light, regular, and strong. The cocktail maker connects directly to five standard 750ml liquor bottles, loaded upright, so you can drink and display your choice of liquor. View on Amazon Lightsaber Chop Sticks ©Amazon Use the force while you dine at home with these Lightsaber Chop Sticks. For under $10, you can choose between a variety of colors to eat with. These would make a great gift this holiday season to any Star Wars fan. View on Amazon UV Nail Lamp ©Amazon Sometimes going to the nail salon is inconvenient. Between waiting to be seen, waiting for your nails to dry, and finding time in the day, it can get pretty annoying. Grab this UV Nail Lamp to do your nails at home this holiday season. Right now, it is 50% off so hurry! View on Amazon Disney Villains Tarot Deck ©Amazon Disney’s most iconic villains have taken over tarot in this dastardly take on a traditional 78-card deck. Featuring the notorious ne’er-do-wells from classic animated films like 101 Dalmatians, The Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty, and more, this tarot deck reimagines Cruella de Vil, Ursula, Maleficent, and the whole motley crew in original illustrations based on classic tarot iconography. Including both the Major and Minor Arcana, the set also comes with a helpful guidebook with explanations of each card’s meaning, as well as simple spreads for easy readings. View on Amazon Need Some More Distraction? Check Out Our Amazon Storefront!The post Need to Take a Break This Afternoon? We Gotchu. first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is officially open at Disneyland Resort, bringing riders along a musical journey inspired by Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “The Princess and the Frog” filled with familiar faces, new friends and a thrilling 50-foot descent. Keep reading to find out how some of your favorite celebrities – including the voice talent from the film: Anika Noni Rose, Jenifer Lewis and Michael-Leon Wooley – rang in the debut of this family-friendly attraction! Anika Noni Rose, Jenifer Lewis and Michael-Leon Wooley Disney Animation’s “The Princess and the Frog” cast Anika Noni Rose, Jenifer Lewis and Michael-Leon Wooley were on hand for the opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disneyland Resort. Princess Tiana and Louis the Alligator even joined them for a celebratory moment dancing to swinging melodies from the Jambalaya Jazz Band over on Orleans Street in New Orleans Square. Anika and Jenifer were joined by composer and singer-songwriter PJ Morton to deliver a joyful performance aboard the Mark Twain Riverboat during the official dedication of the opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Disneyland. Jenifer and Michael-Leon also experienced the magic of the attraction as they went through the bayou on the exhilarating musical adventure together. They even saw some familiar faces including Mama Odie and gator pal Louis! Tia Mowry In the nearby New Orleans Square, Tia Mowry (in an outfit inspired by Boo from Pixar Animation Studios’ “Monsters, Inc.”) posed with Princess Tiana and then stopped by Tiana’s Palace for some New Orleans- inspired dishes, including gumbo, red beans and rice, and of course beignets! Yvette Nicole Brown Yvette Nicole Brown made her way over to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure after stopping by Eudora’s Chic Boutique Featuring Tiana’s Gourmet Secrets in New Orleans Square, where she browsed through home goods, clothing, accessories and even found Tiana’s Cookbook. Jaime Camil Jaime Camil also dropped into the bayou for a day at Disneyland Resort to enjoy Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. He even saw Louis during his visit! The post It’s a Joyful Celebration! See How Stars Celebrated Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Opening at Disneyland appeared first on Disney Parks Blog. View the full article

A NEW LAND inspired by the Tropical Americas is coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom park in 2027. Say goodbye to Dinoland U.S.A. and hello to Pueblo Esperanza! Animal Kingdom Get ready for a lush, vibrant new land in Disney World filled with music, characters, and adventures. We’re still waiting on a few key details, like the opening date, but we do know that Dinoland (the land that Pueblo Esperanza will replace) will close in phases. Speaking of Dinoland, though, I have some questions about the logistics of this expansion project. OK, so for context, I should preface this by saying that I am a former Disney World Cast Member, and I still keep in touch with several coworkers from the parks. After Disney confirmed that Dinoland U.S.A. would be transformed into Pueblo Esperanza, people (including Disney Cast Members) started asking a LOT of questions. For starters — how’s this gonna work?! Dinoland, U.S.A. Pueblo Esperanza will be a new 11-acre section of the park. For comparison, Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios is about the same size. The new land will highlight the Tropical Americas through the stories of Encanto and Indiana Jones. Pueblo Esperanza will become home to two signature attractions — an Encanto ride featuring the Madrigal family and a new Indiana Jones adventure ride! Disney is also adding a carousel ride as an option for people of all ages. Pueblo Esperanza Carousel Concept Art ©Disney The updated land will feature classic Spanish-style architecture and a large hacienda, which will also serve as one of the largest quick-service restaurants at Disney World. We have a feeling that this new restaurant will take over Restaurantosaurus, but Disney hasn’t confirmed the location yet. Take a DEEP DIVE into the Pueblo Esperanza Carousel concept art HERE! The retheming of this section of the park is part of Disney’s $60 billion project to update and expand the Disney parks. TL;DR? Disney is about to spend a bunch of money on a bunch of big projects. Pueblo Esperanza Model If everything goes according to plan, Pueblo Esperanza should open in 2027. As part of the phased closure of the land, the last day to ride TriceraTop Spin, visit Fossil Fun Games, and see Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures is January 12th, 2025. Construction walls will go up around these areas on January 13th. We’re still waiting for closing dates for DINOSAUR, the Boneyard, Restaurantosaurus, Dino-Bite Snacks, and Trilo-Bites. Trilo-Bites Now, back to the logistics of it all. While this major project is being called an “expansion,” it’s worth noting that there isn’t actually much room to expand. Here’s a look at Dinoland via Google Maps. That big white building in the center of the photo is the Dinosaur attraction, and directly behind it is a big lake. ©Google Maps Here’s a closer look at the area we’re working with here. Disney Cast Members (especially those who work at Disney’s Animal Kingdom) have a lot of questions about how Disney plans to fit all its new attractions in this relatively small area. Unless Disney plans to tap into the lake area (which seems highly unlikely), it seems like Pueblo Esperanza will use pretty much the same footprint as Dinoland — there’s simply nowhere to expand! ©Apple Maps Additionally, we spotted some permits for Buena Vista Construction Company — a construction company that Disney itself owns and operates from Disney World property. The permits were vague, simply stating, “Provide labor, material and/or electrical for construction.” What’s interesting, though, is that the addresses listed on the permits match up with three separate buildings in an area that is currently backstage at Dinoland. Could these permits be related to new construction, or are they just preparing the area for construction? It’s hard to say! Map of planned construction areas If Disney really does want to expand this land, it seems like some backstage buildings might be in jeopardy. For now, we’ll have to wait and see! In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more. The Tropical Americas — An Encanto Transformation in Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What do you think about this expansion? Let us know in the comments! The post I’m a Former Disney World Cast Member, and I Am CONFUSED by This Expansion Announcement first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Whether you’re a Broadway fan, a movie buff, or have seen the viral marketing for it — you probably know all about the Wicked movie releasing on November 22nd. ©Universal Well, Universal Studios is getting in on the festivities by featuring all sorts of Wicked offerings around the parks — including a brand-new Wicked: The Experience! We got the chance to check it out before it officially opens and are bringing you along for a sneak peek! Wicked: The Experience will be a hit with fans at Universal Orlando Resort when it officially opens on Saturday, November 16th! This all-new, immersive experience invites you to step into the world of Wicked before the film hits theaters on November 22nd. We got the chance to preview Wicked: The Experience before it opened and are giving you a sneak peek! Follow along to see characters, costumes, eats and drinks, merch, and more. Wicked: The Experience We kicked things off with a meet and greet with the two main characters from the film — Elphaba and Glinda! You’ll be able to chat and take pictures with these two while Wicked: The Experience is around. Elphaba and Glinda meet and greet There are TONS of costumes and props on display throughout the experience, including this gown of Glinda’s… Glinda’s costume …an outfit of Elphaba’s… Elphaba’s costume …and even a costume from Nessa, Elphaba’s sister. There are SO many different costumes and props from the movie to explore! Nessa’s costume Not only that, but you’ll find lots and lots of merchandise — everything from apparel and accessories to home goods and more — in the experience as well. Lots of merch! We love this Wicked-themed tumbler… Love this cup! …and this Emerald City Spirit Jersey! Spirit Jersey We were able to try a few of the eats and drinks available throughout Universal Orlando as part of the Wicked event as well, starting with the Ozvocado Toast! This is an artisan-style black bread with smashed avocado, sweety drop peppers, pickled onions, and feta cheese. Eats We also tried the Strawberriful Waffle — a pearled sugar waffle with strawberry whipped topping, strawberry cream crumbs & sparkle dust. Consider this our official petition to have more sparkle dust in our lives. Waffle We had the Shimmering Spritz to wash it all down… Drink …and the Perfectly Pink Donut for dessert! Donut You’ll find Wicked: The Experience inside Universal Studios Florida just steps away from the front gate — follow the yellow brick road into the fantastical Land of Oz to visit iconic Wicked locations from Shiz University to the Emerald City. Make sure you check out the costume and prop replicas created by the designers from the film on display, immersive photo opportunities, spectacular scenic and theming, and an exciting variety of new merchandise including elevated apparel, home goods, accessories, toys, and more. In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for the latest updates from Universal Orlando and more theme parks. Make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more news! These NEW ‘Wicked’ Starbucks Mugs Are About to Go VIRAL — Here’s Where to Find Them Read more: DFB's complete guide to Universal’s Epic Universe >> Will you be checking out the Wicked Experience? Tell us in the comments! Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Universal Orlando to attend their media preview of the Wicked Experience. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ The post SNEAK PEEK at a BRAND-NEW Experience Coming to Universal Orlando first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Okay, so not EVERYTHING goes according to plan in Disney World. Disney’s Hollywood Studios We’ve seen everything from ride evacuations to extended ride closures to characters having funny “oops” moments. Sometimes we even see a few funny things happen while we’re riding rides and something goes wrong. We’ll also NEVER forget plant Donald (he’s something of a legend here at DFB now). But last night, Disney’s Hollywood Studios was having some ISSUES, and we just had to share. DFB Reader Amanda shared a story with us about last night’s 9:30PM performance of Fantasmic! in Hollywood Studios. Now, we’ll let you know ahead of time that the dragon is fine — it did NOT catch fire (because, well, it happened with Disneyland’s version of the show). However, the dragon did not make its way back to the mountain in time at the end of the show, which changed the show a bit. Fantasmic! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios This impacted the rest of the show. The boat did not do its firework twirl sequence during the finale, the water kept going (both screens were up the entire time). According to Amanda, you could still see the dragon at stage left pretty much the whole time. Oops. Fantasmic! Finale At the very end, though, Mickey came out a different way and did not go up to the center of the mountain like he usually does. He remained on stage left, and then ran off after “some imagination, huh?” Okay, so those not familiar with the show might not have caught all this, but if you know the show, that could’ve been pretty funny. Fantasmic! || ©Disney So yes, even with Disney’s nighttime entertainment, sometimes things don’t work the way they’re supposed to. However, Disney Cast Members are seasoned professionals and the show will continue to go on as long as its safe to do so. So they improvise. Thanks to our readers for reaching out and telling us about these moments! Stay tuned to DFB for more. We Just Watched Disney World’s Newest Show and We 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 Have you ever caught a moment like this when watching a Disney show? Let us know in the comments! The post Disney’s Hollywood Studios Was on the Struggle Bus Last Night first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

We are less than two months away from the start of 2025! Magic Kingdom Disney World will see significant changes when the new year rolls around. The first round of closures will hit DinoLand U.S.A., and we can expect to see construction start on projects in all four parks. So many new offerings will open, including two new lounges, Test Track 3.0, Zootopia: Better Zoogether, Disney Starlight, The Little Mermaid—A Musical Adventure, and the Disney Villains stage show. Whew! That is a lot of change in one year! While Disney World is the one calling the shots on changes, we want to throw our hat in the ring as we hope these four things change in Disney World in 2025! It can be hard to deal with change, especially when it sometimes means having to let go of the past, like Tom Sawyer Island and DinoLand U.S.A., to welcome the new. While some Disney World changes have been controversial, we feel our four suggestions will be more well-liked. The endangered Tom Sawyer Island We Hope for No More Virtual Queue at Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Currently, only two attractions at Disney World use the Virtual Queue system, Cosmic Rewind, and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. TRON Lightcycle / Run officially stopped using the system a few months ago. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Now, it is unlikely that Disney would do away with the Virtual Queue system as it is a way to manage lines for some of their most popular attractions, but we have a feeling that it may be time to say goodbye to the Cosmic Rewind Virtual Queue. When May of 2025 rolls around, Cosmic Rewind will have been using Virtual Queue for THREE YEARS! As it stands right now, Cosmic Rewind holds the record for having Virtual Queue the longest. We hope Disney finally decides to say goodbye to Virtual Queue for this attraction. Cosmic Rewind Loading Area We Hope Both Water Parks Operate at the Same Time Currently, Disney World only has one water park open at a time, but believe it or not, Disney used to actually have both Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon open together during the summer months! Typhoon Lagoon Blizzard Beach just took over for Typhoon Lagoon and will be the water park open for now. In 2025, the new hotel water park perk starts. Guests staying at a Disney World resort will receive free admission to one of Disney World’s water parks (depending on which is open at the time) on their check-in day. While this perk is a great way to spend time waiting for your room to be ready, we fear that this could cause large crowds if only one water park is open at a time. Blizzard Beach We will have to wait and see how this perk works and what the crowds look like, but we have our fingers crossed that Disney World will at least have both parks open for the summer months. Summit Plummet at Blizzard Beach We Hope Disney World Brings Back More Free Perks While the water park perk for hotel guests is a good start, we miss free MagicBands and free airport transportation! We miss the Magical Express. Now, we know that Lightning Lanes will never be free like FastPass+ once was, but we really hope that Disney either brings back some of the old free hotel perks or supplements them with new perks. ©Disney — Once upon a time, Disney hotel guests used to be able to choose a free MagicBand. We Hope Disney World Gets Rid of the Park Pass Reservation System When Disney World reopened after the pandemic, it introduced Park Passes to manage crowds in the parks. But now, Park Passes pretty much only affect Annual Passholders. Disney World Annual Pass While Disney World has relaxed some of these restrictions and introduced Good-to-Go Days, we are ready to see Park Passes disappear! Magic Kingdom Annual Passholder Entrance We will have to wait and see if Disney decides to implement some of our ideas in 2025. What we do know is that there is so much on the horizon at Disney World in 2025 and beyond, so make sure to continue to follow along with Disney Food Blog to stay up to date on all the latest Disney news! 2025 Dates You Should Know If You’re a Disney World Fan 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 hope changes at Disney World in 2025? Let us know in the comments!The post 4 Things We Hope Disney World Changes in 2025 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

It’s time to see what Grandma is cookin’ up this year for the 2024 Disney California Adventure Festival of Holidays! Grandma’s Recipes You see, Grandma’s Recipes is a Festive Food Marketplace Booth (one of 7 at this year’s Festival) — and we’re visiting every single one of them to bring you our full reviews so you can know which ones are a must-stop for you during your Festival of Holidays experience! Menu Grandma has kept things short and sweet this year, with two food items on the menu and one drink. For food, the returning Barbacoa Tamal de Res has been joined by the new Cookie Dough Yule Log. Grandma’s Receipes menu And to drink, Grandma is serving a Café de Olla Cold Brew. So gather round the table, family! Let’s dig in! Eats As mentioned, the Barbacoa Tamal de Res is back this year! Barbacoa Tamal de Res It’s presented with Oaxaca cheese, tomatillo salsa, and crema, and costs $9.25. Barbacoa Tamal de Res This dish was VERRRY tasty! But we’re warning you, the tomatilla salsa has a good kick of heat to it when you dig in, which we think surpasses some of the most recent levels of spiciness that we’ve come to know from Disneyland lately. If you’re not a fan of more than a low-level of spice, then this probably isn’t a dish you’re going to enjoy. The meat inside of the tamale was well seasoned, and the standouts here were the cheese mixed with the crema, which made for a glorious bite of flavor when you got them all mixed together! The price for this one felt fair for what you get, and we were satisfied. Making its debut this year is the Cookie Dough Yule Log for $8. Cookie Dough Yule Log I don’t know about you, but my family food gatherings have never included a sweet treat crafted and filled with chocolate chip cookie dough and white chocolate mousse, then covered with chocolate buttercream. (If yours have, though, I hope you’ll consider inviting me over next year!) Cookie Dough Yule Log Cookie dough lovers, look out — this one is a match made in holiday heaven for you! The cookie dough in this one really ties everything together. The chocolate in the center wasn’t overpowering, which we were a bit concerned about at first glance. The buttercream used in this one is really soft and cuts down the chocolate flavor. It’s also topped with some festive sprinkles and a white chocolate cookie, which made it feel like a quintessential SoCal holiday treat. It’s also dense enough that we thought it could pass for a shareable snack, and we can’t wait to grab it again and share it with a friend! Drinks At this point in the festivities, it’s time for a little caffeine fix, don’t you think? That’s where the Café de Olla Cold Brew comes in for $8.25. Café de Olla Cold Brew It’s made with Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Co. Mexico Origin Coffee, low-fat and condensed milk, house-made spiced syrup with star anise, clove, and cinnamon, then topped with a chocolate dulce de leche sweet cream. The finishing touch is a mini-pan dulce for garnish! Café de Olla Cold Brew Admittedly, our reporter isn’t a huge fan of Joffrey’s Coffee cold brew, so a big part of this drink is that you’ll need to be a fan of its taste. However, the first thing we felt we needed to do with this drink was give it a quick stir. Otherwise, you’re going to end up with a massive dose of Dolce de Leche right off the bat. Even when we mixed it, that was still the most prominent flavor of this drink, which was fine, but we did find it a bit odd. The cookie topping was almost like a sugary donut, which almost acted as its own standalone snack — talk about a fun bonus! OVERALL Overall, we were impressed with the quality of the dishes here, and they got our stamp of approval. The Yuletide Log, though, was the star here, and we’d even go as far as saying it’s one of the best of the festival. The coffee drink was a bit in the middle of the road for us, but both of the dishes here were exceptional. Grandma’s Recipes Full Spread That’s it from Grandma’s Recipes, but there’s a LOT more where that came from! Click here to see FULL menus and food photos of EVERY. SINGLE. BOOTH. at the Festival of Holidays at Disneyland Resort! Trying to plan the PERFECT trip to the Festival? We’ll be keeping you updated on all of the latest. Click our links below for the information you need to know: See our full page on the Disney California Adventure Festival of Holidays here Check out ALL of the Festival menus here See our FULL REVIEW of EVERY Festival of Holidays BOOTH here! And stay tuned for more Disney news! 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 Will you be visiting the Festival of Holidays? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: Grandma's Recipes at the 2024 Disney California Adventure Festival of Holidays first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Are you ready for some holiday-themed sliders?! Then come along with us as we head to Winter Sliderland at the DCA Festival of Holidays. Winter Sliderland 2024 The 2024 Disney California Adventure Festival of Holidays has officially kicked off and we’re checking out EVERYTHING. You’ll be able to visit the festival from now through January 6th, 2025, to enjoy some amazing food and drinks, check out some holiday entertainment, and more! We’re going to focus on food right now, though, because we’re heading over to the Winter Sliderland booth. Menu If you haven’t figured it out, the Winter Sliderland booth is ALL about sliders. This year’s menu features one brand-new slider and a returning slider. 2024 Menu Now that we’ve taken a look at the menu, let’s dive into the food itself! Eats First up, we grabbed the returning Beef Brisket Slider with smoked onions and horseradish ketchup on a pretzel roll, which is priced at $9.25. We tried this last year and we thought the brisket was hearty and packed with flavor. Beef Brisket Slider with smoked onions and horseradish ketchup on a pretzel roll There’s a very distinct smoked taste to this sandwich, which is excellent. The horseradish ketchup isn’t as horseradish-heavy as we wanted it to be — it’s more of a sweet ketchup taste. The pretzel roll is amazing. It has salt on top, is very, very light and airy, and not tough or hard or anything like that. The beef brisket is moist and has a good smoked taste to it as well. It all goes really well together. Next up is this year’s new slider addition — the Al Pastor Pork & Pineapple Slider on corn brioche, also priced at $9.25. Al Pastor Slider We weren’t as big of fans of this one. The corn brioche bun is very dry and flaky — it had like a very dry and crumbly consistency to it, and we didn’t taste corn at all. We’re not sure if it was supposed to taste like cornbread, but that’s kind of what we were expecting. The pork and the pineapple go really well together, there is a slight kick to the sandwich. The cream sauce on top of it tastes more like a ranch than an aioli. The flavors go well together, but the bun was just disappointing. Drinks There are FOUR new drinks at Winter Sliderland this year! First up is the Cookies and Cream Hazelnut Hot Cocoa made with Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Co. hot chocolate with cookies and cream flavors, melted chocolate, hazelnut purée, and Irish cream syrup garnished with strawberry whipped cream. This is a non-boozy drink and is priced at $6.50. You can get a boozy version featuring Irish cream liqueur for $17.00. Cookies and Cream Hazelnut Hot Cocoa This one is a hit! We definitely tasted the strawberry — it has a tartness in the whipped cream. It pairs perfectly with the melted chocolate taste and just a traditional hot cocoa with and it’s really, really tasty, very sweet. So if you don’t like too sweet of a drink you might want to skip this as it’s definitely a very, very sweet drink. Next, is another non-boozy drink the Jelly Donut Punch made with Apricot Nectar, house-made raspberry and strawberry jam syrup, cookie butter, and lemon juice garnished with a skewered powdered sugar donut hole. This is priced at $7.50. Jelly Donut Punch This has to be the best drink for us! It was utterly delicious. The donut was super moist and the sugar on top was delicious. We love the punch itself as well — we could taste the apricot, the raspberry, and the strawberry. It was sweet light and airy. We didn’t taste any cookie butter, but that doesn’t mean it’s not delicious. We absolutely are obsessed with this drink and wish that it would be here year-round because it’s that good. Finally, Winter Sliderland is serving up a Hot Butter Pecan Bourbon Cocktail made with bourbon, apple cider, butter, and butter pecan syrups garnished with a bitters apple butter pecan foam for $17.50. 2024 Disney California Adventure Festival of Holidays Holy bourbon, Batman. This was strong. It is served hot, which makes the bourbon taste a little bit more bitter and strong. We could taste the apple butter pecan foam and that was really, really good. It’s a sweet drink. It’s very strong — but you might want to skip if you don’t like the bourbon taste, especially in a hot bourbon drink. OVERALL This booth was a hit for us! We loved the brisket slider and thought the Al Pastor slider had some solid potential to be great. The drinks here are definitely unique — we loved the hot cocoa and the punch. Stop by this booth if you’re looking for some hearty eats and strong drinks! Full Spread 2024 That’s it for this booth, but there’s a LOT more where that came from! Click here to see FULL menus and food photos of EVERY. SINGLE. BOOTH. at the Festival of Holidays at Disneyland Resort! Trying to plan the PERFECT trip to the Festival? We’ll be keeping you updated on all of the latest. Click our links below for the information you need to know: See our full page on the Disney California Adventure Festival of Holidays here Check out ALL of the Festival menus here And stay tuned for more Disney news! 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 Will you be visiting the Festival of Holidays? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: Winter Sliderland at the 2024 Disney California Adventure Festival of Holidays first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Welcome, Foolish Mortals. We’re about to talk about Disney World’s Haunted Mansion. Haunted Mansion Now, the Haunted Mansion in Magic Kingdom is one of our FAVORITE rides in Disney World, and it doesn’t even have to be spooky season for us to enjoy it. We’ve seen a LOT of changes happening at Haunted Mansion over the past few years. Most recently, Candle Man was added (and only Haunted Mansion EXPERTS understand who and what that is). However, Disney World’s version of the ride also recently got the infamous Hatbox Ghost, an addition that still remains controversial with many fans. Well, something ELSE just changed at Haunted Mansion — and we can’t wait to see what everyone thinks about it. Stay tuned to DFB for more. BEWARE of the Loading Zone on These Two Disney World Rides Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What do you think of these changes? Let us know in the comments! The post 👻NEWS: Something NEW Arrived at the Haunted Mansion in Magic Kingdom!👻 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Man, Disney sure loves to keep us on our toes especially when it comes to the Magic Kingdom. Magic Kingdom As you know, earlier this year Disney rocked our worlds with the announcement of the new Villains land coming to Magic Kingdom, and now they’ve just shared with us which of the biggest and baddest villains are going to call the new land home. But amidst all the fanfare over the roster of baddies that’ll be there, there’s one very notable name missing, so you know we’ve gotta talk about it! As we were saying, Disney is going to bring to life the brand-new Villains Land to Magic Kingdom. We even know that it will be located essentially right behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. One of the things we didn’t know was which baddies would be calling this new land home. ©Disney Well, at D23 Brazil, Disney finally revealed which villains will be in the new land. Even though we don’t know how they’ll be featured, you won’t be disappointed by who’s on the list. Thanks to @omelete on X, we can see the Queen of Hearts, Jafar, the Evil Queen, Yzma, Cruella, Captain Hook, Maleficent, Gaston, Mother Gothel, Ursula, Hades, Chernabog, and Maleficent as a Dragon. ©omelete Now, by no means are we knocking this grouping of baddies. No, no, no. They’re definitely in a league of their own. That being said, if there’s any villain who could add some serious style and swagger to this cast, it’s Dr. Facilier, with his dark magic, slick moves, and unforgettable New Orleans vibe. That begs the question: why didn’t he make the cut for Villains Land? Dr. Facilier in EPCOT I mean, for many, Dr. Facilier’s absence stings even more because they were already disappointed when he didn’t make the cut for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Given that The Princess and the Frog is set in New Orleans, a city known for its mystery and magic, Dr. Facilier seemed like it would have been a perfect fit for the ride’s storyline. But instead, he was absent from the ride. What Is He Up To? With Villains Land on the way, many have been crossing their fingers that Dr. Facilier would finally get the recognition he deserves. He’s the kind of character who could easily have his own spooky ride or even a themed restaurant (could you imagine a “shadowy” speakeasy-style café?!). But alas, Disney’s official list doesn’t include him, which has many wondering why the studio keeps leaving out one of their most stylish and mysterious villains. Dr. Facilier I guess it all highlights a bigger question about how Disney picks and chooses which villains get the spotlight. Characters like Maleficent, Ursula, and Captain Hook make sense as they’re some of the most well-known and long-standing villains in Disney’s repertoire. But as Disney expands its theme parks to include a new generation of fans, there’s has to be enough room to bring in villains like Facilier, who embody the cool, modern vibe that today’s audiences love. Dr. Facilier Who knows. Maybe Disney’s keeping a Dr. Facilier announcement close to the vest to surprise us later, but until then, we’ll have to keep rooting for Dr. Facilier from the sidelines. In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more. We Found a BIG Clue About a NEW Villains Attraction Coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW How do you feel about Dr. Facilier not making the cut? Let us know in the comments! The post The One Popular Villain That's MISSING From Disney World's Huge Announcement first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Drop On In! Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is now open at #Disneyland Park! ✨👑View the full article

“Raindrops on roses, and whiskers on kittens…” C’mon, sing it with me — you know you want to! “These are a few of my Favorite Things!” Favorite Things booth Here at the 2024 Disney California Adventure Festival of Holidays, though, Favorite Things isn’t actually referring to bright copper kettles, warm woolen mittens, or brown paper packages. It’s the name of one of Festive Foods Marketplaces (also known as Booths) at this year’s Festival of Holidays. And we’re visiting ALL of the Booths to bring you our full reviews of each one, so join us as we find out which Favorite Things have come to the Festival of Holidays! Menu First on the list of those Favorite Things is a returning Festival dish: the Braised Pork Belly Adobo. It’s joined by the new Sticky Toffee Pudding Macaron. Menu The new Spiced Coconut Cocktail is the drink offering here. Ready? Here we go! Eats Let’s start with the Braised Pork Belly Adobo, served with garlic rice. This returning dish is $9.50. This is so tasty and the pork belly is nice and tender with a great flavor. We also loved the crunch on top that’s almost like a pork rind. The chicharron is also on top, plus you have that nice, garlicky rice — both make for a nice mix. Braised Pork Belly Adobo with garlic rice The Sticky Toffee Pudding Macaron is new this year for $8. While Mickey-shaped macarons aren’t necessarily a new addition to Disney California Adventure Festivals, this version is filled with vanilla buttercream, date cake, and salted toffee sauce. This is probably one of the best holiday macarons Disney has created. Sticky Toffee Pudding Macaron It’s not too sweet and has that nice salted toffee flavor, along with the chocolate and vanilla buttercream — all the flavors work so well. Also, JUST LOOK AT IT. It’s adorable. Drinks Now, I don’t know about you, but some of the ingredients making up the new Spiced Coconut Cocktail for $17.50 are definitely a few of our favorite things: dark rum, spice tea, coconut purée, and evaporated and condensed milks are garnished with nutmeg and a wafer stick. Spiced Coconut Cocktail This cocktail tastes like Christmas, especially with the spices. The coconut flavor is the most predominant here, followed by the rum. The nutmeg just adds a hint of that holiday spiciness. OVERALL We found some of our Favorite Things at this booth, including snacks and a drink we’d order again. The macaron is a must, if only for the photos, but it’s quite tasty, too. This is one food booth you’ll want to put on your “must-visit” list when you visit the festival. Full Spread 2024 That’s it from Favorite Things, but there’s a LOT more where that came from! Click here to see FULL menus and food photos of EVERY. SINGLE. BOOTH. at the Festival of Holidays at Disneyland Resort! Trying to plan the PERFECT trip to the Festival? We’ll be keeping you updated on all of the latest. Click our links below for the information you need to know: See our full page on the Disney California Adventure Festival of Holidays here Check out ALL of the Festival menus here See our FULL REVIEW of EVERY Festival of Holidays BOOTH here! 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 Will you be visiting the Festival of Holidays? Tell us in the comments! The post Review: Favorite Things at the 2024 Disney California Adventure Festival of Holidays first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

“Baby, It’s Cold Outside… ” Wait, what? That song isn’t the kind of “Holiday Duet” they’re referring to at the Disney California Adventure Festival of Holidays? Holiday Duets 2024 As it turns out… NOPE! Holiday Duets is one of 7 Festive Foods Marketplaces (also known as Booths) at this year’s Festival of Holidays, and the name refers to “perfect pairings” and also directly references a specific dish on the menu. So, as we’re visiting ALL of the Booths to bring you our full reviews of each one, please join us as we check out exactly what these kinds of Holiday Duets are all about! Menu Three food dishes make up the menu at Holiday Duets: the new Chorizo Queso Fundido Mac & Cheese is joined by the returning Savory Kugel Mac & Cheese. The Holiday Duet, meanwhile, is a half portion of each of those mac & cheese dishes! Holiday Duets Menu If you’re thinking “Hmmm, it sure would be handy to have something to wash down ALL of that with,” then you can do so with the Cranberry Christmas Mule! Grab a fork and your appetite, because we’re digging in! Eats The new Chorizo Queso Fundido Mac & Cheese is complete with tortilla crunch. This bowl of mac costs $9. This dish is actually vegetarian which definitely surprised us as the “meat” on top tasted just like real meat. It has a bit of a kick to it, but nothing crazy. We really enjoyed texture that the tortilla crunch on top added. They reminded us of Fritos and added a great crunch to the dish. With this bowl all mixed up, we were impressed with all the flavors and thought this was a unique dish. Chorizo Queso Fundido Mac & Cheese Next up was the Savory Kugel Mac & Cheese which is finished with herb breadcrumbs, sour cream, and chives. Savory Kugel Mac & Cheese This dish is $8.50. It is very tasty but also very rich! The mac & cheese is super creamy, and the dish is definitely heavy on the sour cream. We really enjoyed it, but you will want to make sure you are ready for a rich dish. Can’t decide between the two mac & cheese bowls? No problem! You can order The Holiday Duet for $9.25, which serves up a half portion each of the Chorizo Queso Fundido Mac & Cheese AND the Savory Kugel Mac & Cheese together! Drinks If you’re a fan of gin, you might consider ordering the Cranberry Christmas Mule. It costs $17.50. Cranberry Christmas Mule This twist on a classic vodka Mule features gin, elderflower and ginger liqueurs, cherry purée, and cranberry & lime juices. It’s topped with a citrus hard seltzer and the finishing touch is a lime wedge gummy. Cheers! Cranberry Christmas Mule This drink was the perfect Christmas beverage! It was one of our favorite drinks of the day, as the balance of all the flavors was great. The combination of the cherry, cranberry, and lime flavors worked well, and the drink was on the sweeter side, but not too sweet. It was easy to drink, and it didn’t taste too much like alcohol. OVERALL We enjoyed everything we got at this booth! The Chorizo Queso Fundido Mac & Cheese was a surprise for us and definitely felt like a more unique dish. If you are looking for a rich mac & cheese, definitely check out the Savory Kugel Mac & Cheese. The Cranberry Christmas Mule was one of our favorites we tried, and it really did taste like Christmas in a cup! Holiday Duets 2024 That’s it from Holiday Duets, but there’s a LOT more where that came from! Click here to see FULL menus and food photos of EVERY. SINGLE. BOOTH. at the Festival of Holidays at Disneyland Resort! Trying to plan the PERFECT trip to the Festival? We’ll be keeping you updated on all of the latest. Click our links below for the information you need to know: See our full page on the Disney California Adventure Festival of Holidays here Check out ALL of the Festival menus here See our FULL REVIEW of EVERY Festival of Holidays BOOTH here! And stay tuned for more Disney news! 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 Will you be visiting the Festival of Holidays? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: Holiday Duets at the 2024 Disney California Adventure Festival of Holidays first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’re heading to Disney World, let’s talk about how you can save some money!! Target As we were saying, we’re always on the lookout to help you save a buck on Disney World essentials and other items, and this time, we’re making sure that if you’re looking for Disney gift cards, that you know a couple different ways to save some cash on ’em! DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Get a Disney Gift Card — Various Amounts (Email Delivery) ©Sam’s West, Inc. First up, when you think of discounted Disney gift cards, Sam’s Club might not be the first place on your mind. But let me tell you, Sam’s Club always have discounted options and often run huge doorbusters where you can save BIG. So especially if you’re a Sam’s Club member, don’t forget to check them out! Grab them here! Get a Disney Gift Card — Various Amounts (Email Delivery) ©Target Next, let’s hop on over to Target! Again, you might think of Target for Disney merch, but they’ve also got a great way for you to save on Disney gift cards. ©Target We’re talking about the Target Circle Card! You can this card it to save 5% on all your purchases at Target (not just gift cards) before a Disney trip! And of course, you can redeem the Disney gift cards at Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, Disney Cruise Line, the Disney Parks, Disney Store US locations, DisneyStore.com, and more! Grab them here! Get a Disney Gift Card — Various Amounts (Email Delivery) ©BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc. Lasts up, if you haven’t thought about hitting up BJ’s for discounted Disney gift cards, well, here’s your notification to do so! Just like Sam’s Club, BJ’s often runs sales where you can get some truly massive deals, which means you’ll have to check them out often! Grab them here! We’re going to keep bringing you the latest Target deal news this week, so stay tuned to DFB! Check out our Amazon Storefront for more of our favorite Disney items!The post 3 PERFECT Ways to Find Discounted Disney Gift Cards first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Disney World is always changing, which, while exciting, can also mean some bittersweet moments when some of our favorite attractions close down to make way for the new. Magic Kingdom There is a lot coming to Disney World in the coming years, so we wanted to round up the permanent closures that we are expecting Disney World to announce next year! For starters, Disney World will likely announce a closing date for the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island in Magic Kingdom towards the beginning of 2025. Disney has announced the construction is expected to begin on the new Cars attractions in early 2025, and these new attractions will be located where the Rivers of America is currently. Rivers of America So not only will we be getting a closing date announcement, but based on Disney’s announcements, this area will also be closing sometime in 2025. This means that Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat will be permanently closing, so make sure you get your final rides and trips in soon! Views from Tom Sawyer Island Next up, the rest of DinoLand, U.S.A. will also likely be closing in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This area of Animal Kingdom is being rethemed to a Tropical Americas-themed land called Pueblo Esperanza. While the new land isn’t expected to open until 2027, the first phase of closures for DinoLand, U.S.A., has already been announced, and we will likely find out when the rest of DinoLand, including DINOSAUR, will be closing. DinoLand, U.S.A. The last day for TriceraTop Spin, Fossil Fun Games, and Chester & Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures at Animal Kingdom is January 12th, 2025. We are still waiting for Disney to announce when the rest of DinoLand is closing, but we expect it to be sometime in 2025. Make sure you fit in your last rides on DINOSAUR soon! TriceraTop Spin We can also expect to see It’s Tough to Be a Bug close permanently next year to make way for the new Zootopia show. Zootopia: Better Zoogether! is expected to make its debut in the winter of 2025, so if that is the case, then It’s Tough to Be a Bug will have its final show sometime in 2025. It’s Tough to be a Bug! Finally, we may also find out a closure date for parts of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. A new Monsters, Inc. Land will be coming to Hollywood Studios and construction is expected to begin in 2026. We still don’t know exactly where this new land will be located, but the current contenders include the Muppets area or Animation Courtyard. Disney hasn’t given us any clues about where this new land will be though, so those are just our guesses, and we are keeping our eyes peeled for any additional news! While we likely won’t see any closures happening in 2025, we are thinking Disney might announce the closing date in 2025. Disney’s Hollywood Studios While it is hard to know that some of our beloved attractions will be permanently closing soon, we are also excited to see all the new attractions and experiences that will be coming to Disney World in the coming years. If you want to learn more about ALL of Disney’s announcements that will change Disney World forever, make sure you check out this video: Make sure to stay tuned to DFB for all your Disney World news! Check out EVERY major Disney Parks announcement that was made at the D23 Expo this year! 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 Which new experience are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments! The post 4 Permanent Closures Disney World Could Announce in 2025 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

So we’re guessing there’s a good chance that if you’re reading this, you’re probably also a Disney+ subscriber. ©Disney That’s because we’re all massive Disney fans, and we all have Disney+ subscriptions, too, so we can get our fix of Disney movies, Star Wars movies and TV shows, ALL THE MARVEL, and Disney Channel shows anytime we want (seriously, sometimes you just want to watch The Muppet Christmas Carol even if it’s June, right?). Well, if you ARE a Disney+ subscriber, you can now get early access to some pretty sweet merchandise. DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission. Yep, Disney+ subscribers can now get an early opportunity to grab some Home Alone merchandise, as well as Deadpool & Wolverine souvenirs. Subscription DOES have its perks, right? Get The Home Alone ”Aaahhh!!!” Pullover Sweatshirt For Kids ©Disney EVERYONE knows the classic moment in Home Alone when Kevin screams into the void because he’s left home alone for Christmas. This sweatshirt features that iconic moment with a repeating pattern of Kevin’s cry, as well as Kevin’s iconic pose. Buy at The Disney Store Buy the Deadpool & Wolverine T-Shirt ©Disney Celebrate THE movie of the year with this fun t-shirt that shows Wolverine following a lineup of a variety of Deadpools in a parade to their destiny. This all-cotton shirt is the perfect way to show your love for these two iconic Marvel characters. Buy at The Disney Store Get the Home Alone “Kevin!” Shirt For Adults ©Disney Kevin has the WORST parents ever, but they do realize eventually that they’ve left him home alone for Christmas. This short has the Home Alone logo on one side, but the back recreates the moment when Kevin’s mom realizes what she’s done. Oops. Buy at The Disney Store Buy the Wolverine Baseball Cap ©Disney Show your love for Wolverine with this fun Baseball Cap that mimics his costume. The hat features faux leather appliqués with embroidered accents. There are even “claw” prints on the bill. Buy at The Disney Store If you want to grab these items early, you have until November 26th to grab them early. Check out our Amazon store for deals on Disney souvenirs and essentialsThe post Disney+ Subscribers Just Got a NEW Shopping Perk! first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

2025 is only a few months away, but we already know there’s a lot of change coming to Disney World this next year. Animal Kingdom Entrance There are construction projects beginning in every single Disney World park (unless some get pushed to 2026, which is always a possibility), Test Track will be reopening with its new reimagined theme sometime in 2025, and of course, that’s not counting the changes that haven’t been announced yet (and these days it feels like Disney almost always has an announcement up their sleeve). But all of these changes don’t necessarily mean we’ll see MORE crowds in the Disney World parks — here’s why we think we could see FEWER crowds in Disney World in 2025. Epic Universe Yep, you knew it would be on here. Universal Orlando is unveiling their MASSIVE new theme park, consisting of 5 different lands and numerous new attractions. The new park will open on May 22nd, 2025 and many fans have already got their tickets, and others are planning trips in the new year already. With so much excitement happening across the pond, it’s very likely a lot of typical Disney World visitors may choose to skip out on the Most Magical Place on Earth for 2025 and visit Universal Orlando instead. Or they may choose to have fewer days at Disney World so they can explore Epic Universe. ©Universal This is especially true since, at the time of writing, single day tickets to Epic Universe are not yet available to the general public (although they will be available before the park opens, according to Universal), so families are needing to book multi-day tickets or ticket + hotel packages to confirm they’ll be able to visit for their preferred dates in 2025. Construction While we’re very excited for all the new additions Disney World is adding to their parks, the reality is that a TON of it is scheduled to begin in 2025. Again, there are projects beginning in EACH park, some massive (like entire new lands and overhauls of existing areas) and some are smaller (like new lounges in Magic Kingdom and EPCOT), but regardless, those are a LOT of construction walls we’ll be seeing for a large part of the new year. The new Tropical Americas land coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom lets guests explore a preserved Maya temple – and the ensuing adventure – alongside Indiana Jones. It’ll be like Wallcot all over again, but this time across all the parks, and that’s not ideal for a lot of families. They may find themselves getting confused on how to get around with all the walls, or be frustrated that there are fewer attractions available (more on that idea in a second). We also don’t exactly know when some of these projects are set to begin, but we DO know that many of them are set to begin in 2025 but not OPEN until 2026 or 2027 at the earliest, and going to the parks in the year BEFORE a lot of new attractions open up isn’t a lot of people’s cup of tea. Why Not Wait? Speaking of the above, if we know that a ton of new attractions and offerings are opening in Disney World in 2026 and 2027, many guests may choose to just hold off on their trip another year or two and wait to go when all of these new offerings are available to experience. A new show inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios film “Zootopia” will debut next winter in Discovery Island at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. However, it’s likely that you’ll be dealing with many more crowds if you wait until these new areas of the parks are open, as many people may choose to take this route. But let’s say a new park offering opens in March 2026 and you decide to go in September, some of the hype may have calmed by then. With so many new additions coming though, it will be hard to plan around these openings until they’re all announced and all our ducks are in a row! Let’s Talk About Those Prices Now, this one’s a little spicy, we’re not gonna lie, but we have to bring it up because it’s true. As the past few years have gone on, Disney has made some choices that have made many guests choose to vacation elsewhere. For many, it’s because the price to go to Disney World is now too expensive, and many families aren’t able to save up in a reasonable amount of time to take their kids at the ages they’re looking to. Disney World’s Magic Kingdom For others, they feel that what Disney has shown to create in the past few years (we’re looking at you Communicore Hall & Plaza) is not worth the constant upcharges that continue year after year. Price increases are now not only yearly, they often happen MULTIPLE times throughout the year on some items or experiences, and many guests are just simply not willing to pay an arm and a leg when they don’t feel there’s anything substantially new to constitute those prices. Disney’s Animal Kingdom One thing’s for sure though — we know we’ll be going to Disney World EVERY day in 2025 to make sure we’re bringing you all the latest news, so be sure to stay tuned to DFB! Why is Disney World Opening Two Lounges…and No Restaurants…in 2025? Planning a Trip to Disney World? We’ve Got Everything You Need to Know The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Disney World Vacation A Month-by-Month Guide to Planning Your Disney World Trip Tips, Hints, Lists, and Videos for Planning the BEST Disney World Trip Learn About the Disney Park Pass System The Ultimate Disney World Packing List Everything You Need to Know About Lightning Lanes Insider SECRETS for Your First Trip to Disney World A Complete Look at the Current Disney Discounts and Deals The ONLY Disney Dining Planning Tool You’ll Need Is Here – Get the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining! Join the DFB Newsletter to Get All the Latest Disney News Delivered Right to Your Inbox! Click Here to Subscribe Are you planning to go to Disney World in 2025? Tell us in the comments! The post 4 Big Reasons Disney World Crowds Could Be Lower in 2025 first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’re looking to get away, setting sail with Disney Cruise Line is a great way to do it! ©Disney You get to experience a Disney vacation while also exploring other destinations around the globe. But, we have a word of warning if you’re heading to some specific destinations — on a Disney cruise or otherwise — as the U.S. State Department has issued new travel advisories. The U.S. State Department has issued new travel advisories for some countries in the Caribbean — including a couple of Disney Cruise Line destinations. Disney Magic Cruise Ship A Level 1 travel advisory has been issued for Grenada — especially on the islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique due to varying stages of recovery from Hurricane Beryl in July 2024. The Level 1 warning says to “Exercise Normal Precautions” and that some restaurants, hotels, and other businesses may be impacted. This is a Disney Cruise Line destination, so if you’ve got an upcoming trip make sure you keep this in mind. Disney Magic Cruise Ship Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is also under a Level 1 travel advisory due to the continued impacts of Hurricane Beryl. The islands of Canouan, Mayreau, Palm Island, and Union Island are all in varying stages of recovery from the storm. Bermuda — which is also a Disney cruise destination — has also received a Level 1 travel advisory, warning travelers to “Exercise Normal Precautions” on this tropical island as well. Disney Wish docked at Castaway Cay The State Department has four levels of travel advisories. Level 1 says to “Exercise Normal Precautions,” Level 2 says to “Exercise Increased Caution,” Level 3 says to “Reconsider Travel,” and Level 4 urges “Do Not Travel.” Luckily, the advisories that were recently issued are the lowest level, but this is something to still be aware of if you’ve got an upcoming vacation. ©State Department If you’re planning on visiting these destinations with Disney Cruise Line, keep in mind that those ports are generally very safe to visit! In the meantime, we’ll be sure to keep an eye out for additional travel advisories that may impact your vacations. Make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog so you don’t miss any important updates! ALERT: State Department Warns Travelers About These Disney Destinations Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Have you been to any of these destinations? Tell us in the comments. The post NEWS: U.S. State Department Issues Travel Advisories for 2 Disney Cruise Destinations first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

A Twist on Tradition is back at the DCA Festival of Holidays this year, taking our favorite holiday eats and giving them a festive TWIST! A Twist on Tradition 2024 It’s officially time for the 2024 Disney California Adventure Festival of Holidays! This festival lasts from now through January 6th, 2025, and it brings lots of tasty eats and drinks to the park. Wondering just what you can eat at the Twist on Tradition booth? Well, we’ve checked it out and now we’re sharing our FULL thoughts. Menu Over at the Twist on Tradition booth, you’ll find two new dishes and a returning drink! 2024 menu Now that we’ve taken a look at the menu, let’s dive into the food itself! Eats First up, we grabbed the NEW Barbecue Pulled Pork Cornbread Bake with creamy slaw. This new snack costs $9. Barbecue Pulled Pork Cornbread Bake with creamy slaw We thought was one of the best of the festival this year — hands down! The cornbread was super sweet and the barbecue sauce was a little tangy but nothing too strong. The cornbread had actual pieces of corn inside it served warm with the slaw that was really solid. Barbecue Pulled Pork Cornbread Bake with creamy slaw It was pretty mild tasting but a safe bet for something fresh. Next, we checked out the other new dish, the Turkey Galantine Croissant Muffin Slider with herb mayo and cranberry marmalade which is priced at $9. Turkey Galantine Croissant Muffin Slider This one was a little dry but the turkey and cranberry marmalade were really good, but our initial thoughts were hung up on how peppery it was. Turkey Galantine Croissant Muffin Slider with herb mayo and cranberry marmalade However, after further examination we found the culprit of that peppery tang to be the herb mayo within it. Drinks There’s just one drink on the menu this year — the returning Berry Pomegranate Paloma which is made with Blanco Tequila, blueberry purée, lime, cranberry and pomegranate juices, and agave syrup topped with Fresca and garnished with a chili-lime rim and orange wheel and is priced at $18.00. Last year this drink was on the menu at Grandma’s Recipes. Berry Pomegranate Paloma This one wasn’t very strong until we stirred it up and then it was MUCH stronger — which we would hope would be the case for such an expensive drink! We found it to be fresh and fruity thanks to all the lime, cranberry, and blueberry working together to give it a sweet and tart taste. Berry Pomegranate Paloma The chili-lime rim of Tajin with a fresh orange slice was the perfect compliment to this drink! OVERALL Overall we really enjoyed this booth and think if you really want to spend your money for the festival on one of the most solid booths offered this year, Twist On Tradition is an excellent choice! Full Spread 2024 That’s it for this booth, but there’s a LOT more where that came from! Click here to see FULL menus and food photos of EVERY. SINGLE. BOOTH. at the Festival of Holidays at Disneyland Resort! Trying to plan the PERFECT trip to the Festival? We’ll be keeping you updated on all of the latest. Click our links below for the information you need to know: See our full page on the Disney California Adventure Festival of Holidays here Check out ALL of the Festival menus here And stay tuned for more Disney news! 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 Will you be visiting the Festival of Holidays? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: A Twist on Tradition at the 2024 Disney California Adventure Festival of Holidays first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

If you’re at Disney California Adventure for Disneyland Resort’s Festival of Holidays and you’re wondering where you can find 1) Brews and 2) Bites… then you’re in the right place! 2024 Booth The 2024 Disney California Adventure Festival of Holidays is ON through January 6th, 2025, and — just like our holiday celebrations back home — FOOD is a major part of the festivities! So we’re making a stop at the Brews & Bites Booth to bring you our full review (just like we’re doing with ALL of the Festive Foods Marketplaces at the Festival of Holidays)! Menu Okay, we have a bit of semantics to address before we dive in: At the Brews & Bites Festive Foods Marketplace (or Booth, as the Marketplaces are better known), the emphasis is definitely on the Brews, with only ONE “Bite” to be found… 2024 Brews and Bites Menu This year, the new Chicken Chicharrón takes the food spotlight. But you can pair it with one — or more — of several Brews, which is where the variety really kicks in. We’ll delve into the specifics below, but you can order a full-size beer or try an assortment of four with either the Festive Beer Flight or the Holiday Beer Flight. The new Passion Fruit Rose Lassi is also up for grabs. Okay! Let’s drink some brews and have a bite, shall we? Eats For our bite, we have the Chicken Chicharrón served with basmati rice, herb chutney, and masala drizzle. Chicken Chicharrón with basmati rice, herb chutney and masala drizzle This new dish is $8.00. It’s kind of got an Indian and Mediterranean taste going on thanks to the herbs and spices — there’s a little bit of a kick to the dish, and the chicken was nice and crispy. The rice had a lot of really pronounced flavor — it had a nice little citrus flair to it with the chutney and the masala drizzle. Very tangy, very tasty, and a combination of flavors we weren’t typically used to — which was pleasantly surprising. All the flavors went so well together! Chicken Chicharrón with basmati rice, herb chutney, and masala drizzle Luckily, there are plenty of drinks to wet our whistle with at this booth! Drinks Before we get into the Brews, we’re trying the new Passion Fruit Rose Lassi for $7.50. It’s made with passion fruit nectar, yogurt, rose and honey syrups, and the finishing touch is a rose petal garnish. Passion Fruit Rose Lassi The flavors were there with this drink, but it just didn’t seem quite right. It was a little too yogurt-heavy for our liking and just tasted like we were drinking a Go-Gurt. But, had there been more of the passionfruit and rose flavors, we think this would be a solid drink. It was very much like a rose dipped in milk, which some people might be into — but it probably isn’t for everyone. Passion Fruit Rose Lassi Okay, NOW AT LAST, let’s sip those BREWS! We’re doing this through the two available Flights: the Festive Beer Flight and the Holiday Beer Flight. The Festive Beer Flight costs $18.50. This Flight includes Stone Brewing Company Pilsner ($16.25 individually), Garage Brewing Co. Churro Ale ($17.75 individually), Dust Bowl Brewing Company Winter Wonder IPA ($17.75 individually), and Naughty Sauce Noble Ale Works Golden Stout ($16.25 individually). Festive Beer Flight The Stone Brewing Company Pilsner is very light — definitely a great beer for drinking as you walk around a theme park as it’s extremely smooth. The Garage Brewing Co. Churro Ale really does taste like you’re drinking a churro — it’s very tasty but very sweet. It’s on the thicker side for an ale, but is still smooth. The Dust Bowl Brewing Company Winter Wonder IPA is definitely heavy on the hops like you can typically find with IPAs. It has some spiciness to it that reminds us of winter, living up to its name. And finally, the Naughty Sauce Noble Ale Works Golden Stout is true to its name despite being a lighter stout. It’s very thick and has a woody, earthy taste to it and wasn’t our favorite. The Holiday Beer Flight is $19.00. It features LA Bodega Jamaica Hard Seltzer (which can be purchased on its own for $17.75), Green Cheek Beer Co. Hops for the Holidays IPA ($17.75 individually), Altamont Beer Works Juice Above the Clouds Double IPA ($17.75 individually), and Great Notion Brewing Single Stack Stout ($17.75 individually). Holiday Beer Flight The LA Bodega Jamaica Hard Seltzer was delicious — very fruity and light. It was tangy and not too sweet. The Green Cheek Beer Co. Hops for the Holidays IPA was super drinkable — it reminded us more of a wheat beer like Blue Moon rather than an IPA since it was on the citrusy side. The Great Notion Brewing Single Stack Stout is a coffee stout, and it’s very coffee-forward. It’s a pretty thick stout. Finally, the Altamont Beer Works Juice Above the Clouds Double IPA is definitely more boozy at 9% ABV, and it’s strong flavor proves it. It’s a heavier IPA and pretty hoppy as well, which might not be for everyone. So, what are our final thoughts on this booth? OVERALL You should certainly stop by this booth if you’re looking for lots of options when it comes to brews, and the Chicken Chicharrón was a surprising hit for us! We probably wouldn’t get the lassi again, but it would make for an interesting drink if you’re looking for something different. Brews & Bites That’s it from Brews & Bites, but there’s a LOT more where that came from! Click here to see FULL menus and food photos of EVERY. SINGLE. BOOTH. at the Festival of Holidays at Disneyland Resort! Trying to plan the PERFECT trip to the Festival? We’ll be keeping you updated on all of the latest. Click our links below for the information you need to know: See our full page on the Disney California Adventure Festival of Holidays here Check out ALL of the Festival menus here See our FULL REVIEW of EVERY Festival of Holidays BOOTH here! And stay tuned for more Disney news! 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 Will you be visiting the Festival of Holidays? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: Brews & Bites at the 2024 Disney California Adventure Festival of Holidays first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article

Merry Mashups has returned to the Disney California Adventure Festival of Holidays for 2024, and this year, it’s serving up two new dishes! Merry Mashups The 2024 Disney California Adventure Festival of Holidays has officially begun, and there is so much to eat and do. From now through January 6th, 2025, you can try all the tasty eats and drinks your heart desires, watch unique entertainment, and more! Wondering just what you can eat at the Merry Mashups booth? We just tried everything there and are giving you our FULL thoughts. Menu Over at the Merry Mashups booth you’ll find two new food items — a Holiday Mash Bowl: Chicken, cheddar mashed potatoes, and turkey gravy with cranberry stuffing crunch and the M&M’S Peanut Butter Fudge Cake: Chocolate fudge cake filled with peanut praline and M&M’S Peanut Butter Minis, glazed with salted peanut butter, and topped with vanilla Chantilly crème. Now that we’ve seen the menu, it’s time to EAT! Eats First up, we checked out the Holiday Mash for $8.75. This NEW menu item is filled with chicken, cheddar mashed potatoes, and turkey gravy, with a cranberry stuffing crunch. Good news — we liked this one! It’s a tad salty, but then again, this is theme park food we’re talking about. You really can’t go wrong with mashed potatoes and chicken! Holiday Mash Bowl That said, there wasn’t a whole lot of gravy or stuffing here, but still, we quite enjoyed this dish. It’s a nice, warm, comfort food for the holiday season, and we enjoyed this dish! YUM! For dessert we noshed on the M&M’S Peanut Butter Fudge Cake for $7.50. This is another new dish for 2024, and it’s a chocolate fudge cake filled with peanut praline and M&M’S Peanut Butter Minis, glazed with salted peanut butter, and topped with vanilla Chantilly crème. Tempted? Us too. This was AMAZING but so, so, so, so rich. M&M’S Peanut Butter Fudge Cake The M&M’S Peanut Butter Minis reminded us of Reese’s Pieces, so if you love peanut butter and sweet treats, this is a must-buy. The top layer of peanut butter was essentially a really thick peanut butter, while the peanut praline had a nice crunch. Ugh — this is such a rich, heavenly dessert. Be prepared to share; this thing is FUDGY. M&M’S Peanut Butter Fudge Cake Drinks This year’s menu includes one drink — a Glacier Margarita made with Blanco tequila, blue curaçao, coconut syrup, lime and white cranberry juice, and rosemary syrup garnished with champagne bubble candies on a skewer. This drink was found at A Twist on Tradition booth in 2023. Glacier Margarita The drink is well-balanced and sweet, but be sure to mix your drink to really let all the ingredients blend together. OVERALL This booth did NOT disappoint! From the hearty bowl to the rich, decadent dessert, we thoroughly enjoyed our meal here. There are a few things we truly love to eat and will never skip, like peanut butter, potatoes, and chocolate, and this booth has it ALL! Bravo, Disney! Merry Mashups full spread That’s it for this booth, but there’s a LOT more where that came from! Click here to see FULL menus and food photos of EVERY. SINGLE. BOOTH. at the Festival of Holidays at Disneyland Resort! Trying to plan the PERFECT trip to the Festival? We’ll be keeping you updated on all of the latest. Click our links below for the information you need to know: See our full page on the Disney California Adventure Festival of Holidays here Check out ALL of the Festival menus here And stay tuned for more Disney news! 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 Will you be visiting the Festival of Holidays? Tell us in the comments! The post REVIEW: Merry Mashups at the 2024 Disney California Adventure Festival of Holidays first appeared on the disney food blog. View the full article