There are dozens of Disney hotels to stay at in Walt Disney World, and everyone’s got their own favorites.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve asked YOU, our readers, about whether certain Disney attractions and restaurants are overrated or underrated, and today we’re tackling Disney World resort hotels! Will Disney’s Grand Floridian Hotel be voted as totally underrated? Or will Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter and its tasty beignets be overrated? YOU voted and now we’ve got the results!

A few weeks ago, we put up a few polls on our Instagram asking you whether certain Disney World hotels were overrated or underrated, and THOUSANDS of you responded! Some of your answers totally surprised us, but others were definitely understandable. Let’s start with some value resorts!

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort — overrated or underrated? You may be thinking “it’s just a value resort, nothing special.” But there are many family suite-style rooms, Disney icons that are larger than life, a unique food court, and some seriously cool pools. When you take all of that into consideration it makes sense why 61% of you think that Art of Animation is underrated!

From the incredible theming in the Cars section of this resort, to the Big Blue Pool, and all the cool animation facts spread throughout the Resort, we totally get why many of you feel this is an underrated resort. Sure, it’s not as fancy as something like Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (more on that hotel in a minute), but it’s colorful, fun, and full of amazing photo ops.

Whether you’ve got kids or you’re a child at heart, this is a resort that is fantastic to stay at and even fun just to walk around.

Click here to check out the holiday decorations at Art of Animation!

Okay, so Art of Animation may be underrated, but what about the Disney’s All-Star Resorts which include Disney’s All-Star Movies, All-Star Sports, and All-Star Music Resorts? Are those also some underrated spots to stay at? 40% of you thought so, but 60% said no way! In this case, OVER 14,000 of you let us know that you feel the All-Star Resorts are totally overrated. 

Again, these are value resorts so if you’re expecting something a bit more refined, this is not the best bet for you. Because of their value resort prices, these hotels are also often quite full — especially when there’s a sports or cheerleading competition going on at The ESPN Wide World of Sports complex.

Kids will likely find the over-the-top decorations here to be quite fun and the resorts can be great in a pinch when you’re looking for somewhere relatively inexpensive to stay at, but it’s certainly not a deluxe experience. The food courts in the hotels sometimes have some fun cupcakes or other items, but overall they serve pretty standard food court food that’ll do the trick but won’t have you amazed.

Overall it seems most of you feel like these hotels are just overrated.

Click here to see when All-Star Movies will be reopening!

Things were much more even, however, when we asked about Disney’s Pop Century Resort. About 13,000 of you said this hotel was underrated, while just over 11,000 voted for overrated.

While Pop Century is a value resort, its rooms have all been refurbished giving them a much more modern look, which adds some value to this hotel experience overall. And while some things, like the food court here, can be a bit more basic in terms of options, it seems the overall feel of the resort, its fun decor, and other aspects pushed it just slightly into the underrated category.

The fact that it is a relatively short walk away from Art of Animation probably also helps, as it gives guests staying at this hotel a whole other resort full of options in terms of shopping, dining, and even walk-around entertainment value.

Click here to see the holiday decorations at Pop Century!

But, what if you don’t want the traditional hotel experience? What if you want to enjoy some time in the great outdoors. Well, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground may be just what you need, and according to OVER 18,000 of our readers, this resort is totally UNDERRATED!

If you aren’t a big camper, you may have never even considered staying at this hotel, but this spot really has a LOT to offer, so we can totally see why so many readers felt it was underrated. If you visit during the holidays or Halloween, you can drive around and check out ALL of the amazing decorations that the campers put up near their campsites. You can also go horseback riding, take archery lessons, go on a fishing excursion, enjoy some fried chicken, and more!

Many may discount this hotel as one that’s just a campsite, but it really is more than that. If you’ve never stayed or visited Fort Wilderness before, it may be something you want to check out in the future.

From the wilderness, we move over to the French Quarter. If you’ve never woken up at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter and walked just the few steps over to the main check-in building to stuff your face with ALL the beignets you can eat, have you really lived? We think not! And apparently, quite a few of you, 77% in fact, think that this resort as a whole is totally underrated!

French Quarter is one of the smaller hotels in Disney World, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Its small size actually means it feels much more quaint, sometimes feels less full, and is more convenient to get around. The rooms are pretty spacious, there is a beautiful waterway in the back of the resort with boats running to Disney Springs, and you can even walk all the way over to Port Orleans Riverside.

French Quarter is not open at the moment, but we are definitely hoping this resort will reopen soon so we can enjoy some delicious beignets and a peaceful walk around the hotel.

Okay, so many of you feel French Quarter is underrated, but what about Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa? 58% of you actually felt this hotel is overrated!

We found this somewhat surprising since the resort has a walkway to Disney Springs, which makes it really easy to stop by and get in some of your favorite snacks and meals from those delicious Disney Springs spot.

Saratoga Springs isn’t exactly an inexpensive hotel, though, and it doesn’t really have any big Disney theming so perhaps that’s why some felt that this hotel isn’t quite what others may hype it up to be.

Click here to see what’s new at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort!

The results were very different, however, for Disney’s BoardWalk Inn where 70% of you felt like the resort is underrated!

BoardWalk definitely has quite a few unique benefits including its location on Disney’s BoardWalk, with easy access to several restaurants. It’s also a relatively short walk away from EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios and has boat access to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios also.

It has also got a pool with a signature (but somewhat creepy) slide! The resort’s iconic clown slide is undergoing refurbishment at the moment though and it appears the clown may be saying goodbye, so we’ll definitely keep an eye out for updates on that! Also, it’s worth noting that the BoardWalk Inn remains closed, but the Disney Vacation Club Villas at the BoardWalk are currently open!

Click here to see what’s new at Disney’s BoardWalk Villas!

Finally, we’ve reached our results for two of Disney’s most iconic resorts! First, we’ll tackle Disney’s Contemporary Resort. It’s unique look and monorail access make this hotel one of Disney’s most special options for your stay. But, despite all of these things, 56% of our readers who also feel like the Contemporary Resort is overrated! WOW!

The rooms at the Contemporary will certainly cost you a pretty penny, so if you simply feel that its benefits are not worth that high price, we can understand why you would feel this spot is overrated. But, for others, we’re sure that the walking access or monorail access to Magic Kingdom are priceless.

But, the results for our poll on Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa made it clear that a “deluxe resort” designation doesn’t necessarily mean a resort is all it’s built up to be. In fact, 65% of our readers told us that they feel the Grand Floridian is just overrated.

Again, while for some the monorail access and now walkway access to Magic Kingdom may make this a total win, for others the price just isn’t worth it, and we can understand why that would be. Again, like the Contemporary, a night here is flat out expensive most of the time. And while the classic, sophisticated, and just beautiful look of the hotel overall is wonderful, its benefits may just not be enough to justify that high price for some.

Well, those are the results from our polls. Where do you fall on these questions? Is the Grand Floridian a family favorite for you that you’ll always love, or do you agree with our readers that it’s overrated?

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Let us know whether you agree or disagree with these results in the comments below!

The post Are These Disney World Hotels Overrated or Underrated? See What Thousands of People Think! first appeared on the disney food blog.

Guess what? We’ve got MORE DEALS for you!

It’s Cyber Monday and we’ve been showing you great Disney deals ALL DAY. From Amazon deals to BoxLunch discounts and more, we’re LOVING the savings. And now, we’re bringing you some of our favorite items from Walmart’s Cyber Monday sale!

Unsurprisingly, the first thing that caught our attention was this Star Wars: The Mandalorian Baby Yoda Pillow Buddy for $12.88 (sale price!). Look at his little robes!

The only thing this sweet plush is missing is a snack — a cup of soup, a blue cookie, some weird eggs, or maybe just chicken nuggies.

Click here to buy the Star Wars: The Mandalorian Baby Yoda Pillow Buddy!

If you’ve got a Disney Junior fan in your house, you might want to swing for the Doc McStuffins Baby All-in-One Nursery for $49.97.

This set is the TOTAL package. Playing doctor will never be the same, especially since Doc McStuffins is basically an expert.

Want to buy the Doc McStuffins Baby All-in-One Nursery? Click here!

Get dancing! Take a look at the Mickey Mouse Hot Dog Dance Break Plush for $29.97. Those boogying kiddos? They totally get how exciting this guy is.

This Mickey plays music AND dances along with it. Did we mention he’s downright adorable?

To buy the Mickey Mouse Hot Dog Dance Break Plush, click here!

Another great set on this list could be the next step to outfitting your playroom for fun, games, and activities. What a great choice for an Anna and Elsa fan!

The Disney Frozen 2 4-Piece Playroom Set by Delta Children includes a table and two chair set and a three-shelf playhouse bookcase for $59.

Click here to buy the Disney Frozen 2 4-Piece Playroom Set by Delta Children!

Tots might have a great time cruising around on a little Disney-themed train. We’re loving this super cute Disney Mickey Mouse 6-Volt Powered Train with Tracks and Caboose for $49.

There are not many of these left so HURRY if you want to snag one!

Want to buy the Disney Mickey Mouse 6-Volt Powered Train? Click here!

Got a little singer in your household? You can help them belt it out along with Elsa with the Magic In Motion Queen Elsa Doll for $44.84.

She sings “Show Yourself!”

To buy the Disney Frozen 2 Magic In Motion Queen Elsa Feature Doll, click here!

Check out this Minnie Mouse High Back Chair for $39.99. We love kid-sized chairs; they’re almost as cute as the littles who sit with them!

Plus, this one has Minnie Mouse on it! We looooove it.

Click here to buy the Minnie Mouse High Back Chair!

And finally, there’s this Color Wonder Mess Free Frozen 2 Coloring Set for $5.88. 18 pages of fun Frozen pages and the best part is, there’s no mess!

Everything a kid needs to get their color on is included. So perfect!

Want to buy the Color Wonder Mess Free Frozen 2 Coloring Set? Click here!

Hopefully, we can check a few gifts off our list with these deals! Stay tuned to DFB today to explore more Disney Cyber Monday deals and as always, stay tuned for the latest news!

Click here for MORE Disney Cyber Monday deals!

Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!

What do you think of these fun and ON-SALE products? Tell us in the comments! 

The post Get Your Kids’ Christmas Gifts COVERED With Disney Cyber Monday Deals at Walmart! first appeared on the disney food blog.

We are assembling all of our superhero gear and getting ready to fight some villains and save the day over at Avengers Campus, which is coming to Disneyland Resort and Disneyland Paris.

We’ve seen and learned about some amazing details about the new attractions coming to this land, and even got to see it from inside Disney California Adventure Park when Buena Vista Street reopened. But, we don’t have to wait until Avengers Campus opens to snag some great superhero merch!

Earlier, we shared that Spider-Bots (special toys originally developed for the land) and more Avengers Campus merchandise would be available in Downtown Disney soon! But, before the items go on sale to the general public, Passholders get a chance to grab some of the merch a little bit early! Today, we’re stopping by the exclusive Passholder shopping event and giving you ALL the details about these awesome items!

Spider-Bots and the latest WEB (The Worldwide Engineering Brigade) apparel from Avengers Campus is now available in Downtown Disney at Disneyland Resort for Annual Passholders. From November 30th through December 3rd, Passholders will have the ability to purchase some of this awesome merchandise at a special pre-sale event at the former ESPN Zone. You can learn more about this special event and try to make a reservation for yourself by clicking here.

Today, we stopped by this special shopping event and got a peek at the super cool Avengers Campus merchandise. Let’s take a look at what we found!

Ahhhh! Look what we spotted in Downtown Disney! Read more about the Spider Bots here – https://t.co/IPCFlSOVCz pic.twitter.com/JGufyFALqn

— AJ Wolfe (@DisneyFoodBlog) November 30, 2020

 

 

First, and maybe most importantly, the Spider-Bot: Interactive Remote Control Bot was available!

If you are or know a huge Marvel fan, this toy is a MUST-HAVE! The bots can crawl backward and forward, crouch, spin 360°, battle other Spider-Bots, blast off their shields, and more!

On their own, Spider Bots move around but they will battle each other. When one loses, their head pops off! There will eventually be add- ons & bots for other Avengers with special abilities like Black Panther, Iron Man, etc! pic.twitter.com/eNkbtAy4bs

— AJ Wolfe (@DisneyFoodBlog) November 30, 2020

 

 

You can grab this friendly sidekick for $79.99.

But, the Spider-Bot wasn’t alone. At this shopping event, there was also lots of Avengers Campus apparel available. We found a black Avengers Campus Baseball Cap for $29.99…

…an Avengers Campus Men’s Performance Tee for $39.99…

…Avengers Campus Performance Black Zip Hoodie for $64.99…

…an Avengers Campus Women’s Performance Tee for $39.99…

…and an Avengers Campus Performance Gray Zip-Up for $64.99.

The designs on these items were simple but in the best way possible. They’ll all allow you to show off your love for the Avengers and superheroes without being really flashy or overly busy. They’re fun but classic looking enough to fit perfectly into any great adult wardrobe.

Looking for more Avengers merch? We also found a WEB Labs Patch on its own for $9.99.

Whether you’re getting ready for Avengers Campus and stocking up on these items for yourself, or you’re looking for the perfect gift for the Marvel fan in your life, we think these would all be great. Annual Passholders can try to register for the special shopping event and try to snag these items early.

Not an Annual Passholder? No worries — on December 4th, Spider-Bots and other Avengers Campus merch will be available for everyone to purchase at World of Disney and the Disneyland Resort Backlot Premiere Shop!

We’ll definitely keep an eye out for this new merch once it’s available for everyone to snag and we’ll be on the lookout for more Avengers Campus updates. Stay tuned for all the latest!

Click here to read more about Avengers Campus!

Check out more Disneyland Food Reviews Here!!

Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!

 

Will you be heading to Disneyland Resort to grab any of this new merch? Let us know in the comments!

The post PHOTOS: Avengers Campus Merchandise (Including Spider-Bots) Are NOW Available at Disneyland Resort! first appeared on the disney food blog.

We’ve seen a lot of changes at Disney World hotels since Disney World reopened this summer.

From face covering requirements to new policies about Disney’s Magical Express to new social distancing guidelines, Disney World and its resort hotels are a lot different now.

But what can Disney World resort hotel guests expect in 2021? Here are 6 hotel updates you need to know for the New Year!

1. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Makeover

Disney’s Polynesian Resort has been getting a massive refurbishment, including a new entryway, and is set to fully reopen in summer 2021. The hotel including the guest rooms are going through a HUGE change… it’ll now be Moana-themed! Say goodbye to the classic Hawaiian room theme of old, and say hello to something a little more Disney!

The new rooms will include “a Pacific Ocean-inspired color palette, as well as details, patterns, and textures from Disney’s Moana.”

We’re expecting lots of swirling patterns and textures like those on Moana’s skirt! Maybe they’ll even throw in a few things inspired by Maui’s tattoos! No one knows how far it goes! Work has already begun on the resort and we are eager to find out an official reopening date.

Do keep in mind that the Villas and Bungalows are open at this time along with locations like Kona Cafe and Capt. Cooks. But at this time, the Polynesian’s monorail station is currently closed.  

Learn more about the new Moana theme at the Polynesian

2. Grand Floridian Walkway to Magic Kingdom

In case you missed it, we’ve been following the construction of the walkway between the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa to the Magic Kingdom, and guess what? It’s finally open! So if you’re at the Grand Floridian and want to bypass other modes of transportation or just want to take a leisurely stroll to Magic Kingdom (or vice versa) you’re in luck! Just follow the signs to find it.

If you’re coming FROM the Grand Floridian, you go through security at the boat docks. Although it took us about 15-20 minutes to walk it, you definitely can’t fault the amazing view.

We do suggest taking another mode of transportation if the weather is questionable since the walk can take a bit!

The gate at the main bridge locks around an hour to an hour and a half after Magic Kingdom closes, and there is ample lighting for guests who want to take the path at night.

See more photos of the Grand Floridian Walkway here! 

3. Some Hotels Still Haven’t Reopened

In addition to the Polynesian Resort, some hotels at Disney World haven’t reopened yet. Although Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort is closed right now, it is scheduled to reopen on February 9th, 2021. The following hotels, though, still don’t have solid reopening dates:

• Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Animal Kingdom Villas Jambo House
• All-Star Sports Resort
• All-Star Music Resort
• Beach Club Resort
• Boardwalk Inn
• Wilderness Lodge
• Port Orleans Resort

However, Disney Vacation Club rooms are open at the following hotels, although the resorts themselves are still technically “closed:”

• Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village
• Boulder Ridge Villas and Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Beach Club Villas
• Boardwalk Villas
• Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows

We’re keeping an eye out for when some of these hotels might reopen, and we’ll let you know the details as soon as we have them!

Learn more about what hotels and attractions are closed

4. Room Service Is Unavailable at Most Resorts

It’s always nice to come back to your hotel room at the end of a long day at the parks and have food brought to your room, but at the moment, room service is still unavailable at most Disney World resort hotels. Now we said “most” and not “all,” because we were pleasantly surprised when we recently learned that In-Room Dining is available at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort! If this is a concern of yours, be sure to check with a Cast Member to see if room service is available at your hotel before booking there.

No worries though, even if room service is unavailable, you have options. First, many quick-service restaurants have Mobile Order: you just place on the My Disney Experience app, pick it up, and take it back to your room to relax and dine. And several resort Table Service restaurants have the Mobile Order To Go option, which works exactly the same way!

It is possible, though, that room service will eventually return next year to more resorts, and if that happens, we’ll let you know.

In the meantime, learn more about Mobile Order Table Service To Go! 

5. Getting Into Disney Hotels Isn’t the Same As It Used to Be

If you’re checking into a hotel, Disney encourages you to use the My Disney Experience app to bypass the check-in desk. The app will allow you to get your room number, as well as let you use your phone as your room key (although MagicBands still work, too).

However, resort hopping is definitely not the same. If you want to visit a hotel that you’re not staying at, you will likely need a confirmed dining reservation to get in or an order placed on Mobile Order.

It really depends on which hotel you are trying to hop to and the mode of transportation you take to get there. We’ve had different experiences depending on the Cast Members at the resorts. However, we recommend grabbing a dining reservation or Mobile Order to ensure you can enter the resort.

Can You Still Resort Hop in Disney World?

6. Certain Parts of the Monorail Aren’t Open

If you’re looking to use the Monorail for much of your park transportation, you’ll want to consider the fact that parts of the Monorail are not running. As noted above, the Polynesian Village Resort station is completely closed down while that hotel gets a refurbishment.

The Monorail is also still not available for EPCOT. However, you can still catch the Skyliner to and from EPCOT. And of course, bus transportation to and from the parks is available at all resorts.

Looking for more info? Check out the BEST Disney World hotels for 2021 in our video below.

Overall, the experience of staying at a Disney World hotel is the same. But there are a few changes surrounding the hotels themselves that you need to know about, especially if you’re booking a trip next year. We know that planning a Disney trip is a little different right now, so please let us know you’re questions and concerns and we will do our best to get you the info you need!

Check out more Disney World changes that you NEED to know for 2021.

Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!

Are you visiting Disney World in 2021? Let us know in the comments!

The post 6 Disney World Hotel UPDATES to Know For 2021 first appeared on the disney food blog.

The Taste of EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays has officially kicked off for the season!

We’ve been busy trying all the new treats and sweets at each Holiday Kitchen in World Showcase. Now, other EPCOT locations have joined in the festivities! Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie bakes up some beautiful desserts and French pastries throughout the year. The bakery is currently serving a traditional Bûche de Noël aux Trois Chocolats for the season!

We recently tried the Maple Bûche de Noël at the Yukon Holiday Kitchen. The idea is similar in that they are both inspired by the traditional Yule Log dessert. The cake served at Les Halles is made with different ingredients and looks quite different as well. This Bûche de Noël is made with three chocolate creams and a chocolate crunch biscuit.

The Bûche de Noël is incredibly chocolatey. The tastes we experienced were chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate! This isn’t too surprising as the description lists three chocolates in the ingredients. This dessert is absolutely meant for guests who love chocolate!

We couldn’t find the advertised “crunch” anywhere with the chocolate mousse dessert. We wished we experienced a different texture or perhaps another flavor to balance out the mousse. There are a lot of good treats at the Festival of the Holidays so you have plenty of options if you don’t prefer the taste of pure chocolate.

The Bûche de Noël is $6.75. We do think there are more inspired treats to try at the festival this year. That said, the Bûche de Noël was made well and with good ingredients. We will continue to try all of the treats this holiday season, so stay tuned for our reviews!

Check out our Best of the Fest reviews for Festival of the Holidays!

Have you tried the Buche de Noel yet? Let us know in the comments!

The post Review! Disney World’s Bûche de Noël is LOADED with Chocolate…and Not Much Else! first appeared on the disney food blog.

When you think about the glitz and glamour of tinsel town and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you may not think of tropical drinks. But, a favorite lounge inside Hollywood Studios, known more for its sophisticated martinis, is now serving two holiday cocktails with a tropical twist.

The Brown Derby Lounge is a favorite lounge among many Disney fans. Normally this lounge has a great menu of sophisticated handcrafted cocktails and small plates featuring some of the best flavors offered in the Hollywood Brown Derby Restaurant. Sadly, this lounge is currently only operating as a walk-up bar for to-go drinks. The irony is that you cannot walk around and sip on your drink; you need to be stationary due to COVID-19 precautions.

Right now two tropical holiday cocktails are offered: Hollywood Lights and Christmas on the Beach. Both feature rum, pineapple juice, and cranberry juice, and come with a glow cube – of course. At $15.00 they are priced on average with specialty cocktails that include the glow cube. Chrissy on our team selected the Christmas on the Beach cocktail.

With Parrot Bay Coconut Rum and Blue Curaçao, this drink is full of tropical vibes. The cranberry juice adds a little holiday touch, but the pineapple juice keeps it tropical. If you’re looking to celebrate the season in true tropical style then this drink is perfect for you.

If you’re visiting Walt Disney World this holiday season, make sure you have holiday magic at your fingertips. Become a TouringPlans Subscriber and gain access to our Lines app. Our Lines app users save 2-3 hours on average per day in the parks, so you’ll have more time to savor the magic of this festive season.

Have you ever grabbed a cocktail at Brown Derby Lounge? Which of these holiday drinks sounds best to you?

The post REVIEW – An Unexpected Tropical Holiday Cocktail at Disney’s Hollywood Studios appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.