Capacity at the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror increased today. Separate parties are now seated together, with one seat between. All rows are being used. Let’s take a look at how the ride vehicles are being loaded. Cast Members are now fully filling the loading area. Less than three feet separates guests. The first row plexiglass has been removed to make boarding faster. The plexiglass divider remains in the third row. One open seat separated us from other guests. What […]
As Disney World continues to keep health and safety its priority, guests will no longer be required to undergo temperature checks upon entering the parks, resorts, and Disney Springs.
The temperature check tents were still up when we arrived at the parks, but they were empty and guests were able to pass through.
Empty!
We’ll be sure to keep you updated on everything you need to know about the other upcoming changes we see in Disney World soon. And, you can stay tuned with DFB for the latest Disney news!
Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!
With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!
With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.
Disney made this announcement last night after many guests had likely gone to bed or otherwise been unable to see it. So for many guests at the parks this morning, this news was a surprise! We spotted many guests on their phones looking up what was going on or asking others.
We started our morning noting that temperature checks, which Disney had announced would be phased out soon…have been. The tents remained but AdventHealth workers weren’t here checking any temperatures. We saw this at the Transportation and Ticket Center…
No More Temp Checks
…and at Hollywood Studios.
Empty!
Most guests had masks on getting IN to the parks. In fact, on our trip on the Ferry Boat to Magic Kingdom, aCast Member was asking guests to please keep them on while on the boat.
Keep Your Mask ON Here!
In the parks, we witnessed MOST guests wearing their mask as they went through the park entrances. Some were not though. A Cast Member we spoke with said guests are not required to have them on while entering, as they are outside.
Entrance
Over at Hollywood Studios, a Cast Member with a loudspeaker was letting guests know about the policy change as they entered.
Cast Member Alerting Policy Change
Signage has been updated at entrances to no longer specify masks outside, but does note guests ARE still required to wear masks indoors and on attractions.
New Signs
We noticed, of the guests that left their masks on while entering, many stopped to remove them once past the entrance.
Hollywood Studios
Many guests on Main Street were taking theirs off. We’d say we saw probably about 30% leaving their masks on.
No more masks
We popped in the Emporium in Magic Kingdom to see how the change looked. There, a Cast Member was alerting guests as they entered that their masks needed to be back on. If you’re curious how bathroom breaks are being handled (they are indoors, after all) most guests we’ve seen have been putting their masks on before hitting the bathroom.
Emporium
At outdoor food locations though, like Westward Ho, we noticed guests ordering mask-free.
Westward Ho
Remember that now, being able to have a mask off outdoors means guests can potentially eat and drink while walking without a mask again. We spotted a number of guests doing just that. This appears to be allowed under the new policy.
Hollywood Studios
As for rides, you currently need to have a mask on while in line and riding an attraction. On most rides we spotted a Cast Member at the entrance altering guests they need a mask on to get in line. We’ve seen a number of guests leaving masks in strollers and having to rush back to get theirs!
Peter Pan’s Flight
We spoke with a Cast Member who let us know the policy, as they understood it, is that masks are not required and guests can eat and drink in line only while in overflow lines but NOT the “real” lines (so basically the long distanced lines extending PAST the real lines are OK). Once guests enter the ACTUAL line (so once you go under the gates at Haunted Mansion or once you get in the real line at the front of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train where a Cast Member greets you, for instance, masks need to be used and eating and drinking must stop).
Guests can be mask-free in overflow lines
This IS the first day, so answers as to where masks need to be used in line seem to vary a bit from Cast Member to Cast Member. If a Cast MEmber asks you to stop eating or drinking in line or put your mask on, listen to them. Just know it’s possible it could take a few days for them all to get on the same page for individual rides.
Cast Member Telling Guests to Put On Masks for the Caroussel
Speaking of Cast Members, all of them that we’ve seen have been still wearing masks. We’ve seen Cast Members that work completely outdoors still wearing them so, at this time, this policy change only seems to be for guests.
This is a VERY new policy so it will likely take a bit for guests to settle into it. So remember, if you plan to go indoors at all (a gift shop, transportation, or restaurant, for instance) or plan to ride a ride, pop that mask back on! We’ll continue to update you with these new HUGE changes as the day goes on!
Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!
With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!
With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.
If you’ve been following along with DFB for a while now (or honestly even a few days), you probably know that one of our favorite parts of Disney World is the snacks.
There’s nothing like enjoying a Mickey Pretzel in front of Cinderella Castle (no matter HOW expensive!)
Seriously, we’ve made it our JOB to eat our way through Disney World. And, while we’ve had TONS of great snacks, some can cost a pretty penny. So, today we’re talking about the MOST expensive ones and we’ll even touch on why you shouldn’t count them out just because they’re costly!
Now, keep in mind that, when the Disney Dining Plan is around (which it isn’t right now), some of these foods qualify as a snack option, while others you’ll have to pay out of pocket for. Because Disney has yet to offer the dining plan since reopening, we’re going to cover a mix of them both since you’ll have to shell cash for all these right now.
Fresh Fruit Waffle Sandwich
First up is the Fresh Fruit Waffle Sandwich from Sleepy Hollow in Magic Kingdom. This one is filling, tasty, and entirely shareable (though we’re not often willing to share it). It costs $8.29, which is pretty expensive for a waffle covered in Nutella and fruit, but we come back to it again and again. In fact, we love it so much that we made it even BETTER (and more expensive) and combined it with ice cream to make one of the food hacks we are most proud of.
Fresh Fruit Nutella Waffle Sandwich
Now the availability of this guy can change at Magic Kingdom but right now it is only being served until 11AM!
Next, we have the Ronto Wrap from Ronto Roasters in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. This is basically a super expensive hot dog, but we talk about it a lot here at DFB because it is probably one of the best savory snack options when you’re traveling to the planet of Batuu. The original Ronto Wrap comes with Roasted Pork, Grilled Pork Sausage, Peppercorn Sauce, and Tangy Slaw, Wrapped in Pita. And, it’s all really good but will cost you $12.99 (!!). That’s one expensive fancy hot dog.
This wrap might change your life
There are a few other versions of the Ronto Wrap including two breakfast options (one of which is plant-based) and another lunch option that is also plant-based, but the cheapest you’ll be able to snag one of these is $11.49. Each one is priced differently, so be sure you’re checking the menu if you’re hoping to save that $1.50.
Over at Disney Springs, Amorette’s Patisserie serves up some pretty expensive (and decadent) desserts. And, while we find that many of their cakes fall flat when it comes to flavors, the ones that do stand up to the taste test are thePetit Cakes. That’s not to say that they won’t cost you a pretty penny though. This is one of the highest-priced snacks on this list, costing $20.
Princess cakes…
Though these cakes are named “petit,” they are big enough to share between two to four people, plus, inside they feature a variety of unique flavors among all the layers. And, the outside always looks pretty cool — for the entire series of WandaVisionon Disney+, they released a new themed petit cake, and they’ve made a variety of other petit cakes with different Disney characters.
We’re staying at Disney Springs for this next one! Gideon’s Bakehouse opened at the beginning of this year and has since become a VERY popular place to visit, with waits of up to 7 HOURS just for some cookies. And, are they worth all the hype? Definitely — though, they are a bit pricier than other Disney cookies. Each cookie costs $6, but when you take into account that they’re GIANT half-pound cookies, it’s really not that bad of a deal. They also come in a bunch of different unique flavors, plus you can pick up a decadent slice of cake or cold brew when you stop by!
PB Chocolate Swirl Cookie
One interesting thing about the price here is that you can actually get them CHEAPER without a super long wait at their Central Orlando location. That’s right, these cookies got the Disney price markup and cost $1 more than the original Gideon’s Bakehouse location. But, we don’t care, we’re happy to stock up on these tasty cookies for the extra price.
The other Disney Springs stop that is serving up some super sweet snacks is the new Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew. This new donut shop features over-the-top sugar-filled donuts that are more dessert than they are donuts. And, snagging one of these photogenic (and tasty) snacks is going to cost you more than your average donut at $4.50 or $5.50 each. Do the math and that’s $60 for a dozen of the decked-out donuts (!!).
Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookie Donut
So, is this cost really that much for a super cute donut, or are we just being dramatic? We put on our Disney food research hat and did a deep dive into the cost of donuts from other popular shops. The result? These donuts are PRICEY at Disney World — Voodoo Donuts in Universal is probably one of the most comparable shops for how decadent these donuts are, but still those donuts range in price from a little over a dollar to almost $4. And, it’s evident just how expensive the Everglazed donuts are when you compare the price to the HUGE specialty donuts at Joffrey’s in the parks for $5. So, you have to really want these donuts in Disney Springs if you’re going to shell out the cash.
Alright all you galactic travelers, this next one’s for you! Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has become one of the most popular places to visit at Disney World, with park passes for Disney’s Hollywood Studios booking up almost THREE months in advance during popular times of the year. And, while there is a lot to explore during your visit to Batuu, the food is one of the more unique aspects. Star Wars fans are sure to recognize the Blue Milk and Green Milk from the movies and here, you can give it a try — it’ll just cost you quite a few “credits.”
Green and Blue Milk Coolers
You’re basically paying for the “cool” factor, with each drink costing a whopping $7.99. And, if you can’t tell by the picture, the serving size is rather small. All that being said, if you’re into the Star Wars scene this is definitely worth giving a try so you can feel just like Luke Skywalker downing his Blue Milk. Both are non-dairy and plant-based (made with coconut and rice milks). The Blue Milk is made with dragon fruit, pineapple, lime, and watermelon and the Green Milk has more citrusy flavors with mandarin orange, passion fruit, grapefruit, and orange blossom.
Our next expensive snack takes us to TWO different locations in Disney World. You can find Poutines at both EPCOT and Disney Springs right now, and the price can really vary based on which spot you’re at. Over at Disney Springs, you’ll find a variety of different seasonal flavors at The Daily Poutine all for around $10. And, the other place you can get your loaded fries fix is the Refreshment Port in EPCOT.
Classic Poutine from The Daily Poutine
At EPCOT you can normally find the Traditional Poutine which is made with French Fries, Beef Gravy, and Cheese Curds for $7.50, but we’ve also seen seasonal poutines pop up for EPCOT festivals. These specialty ones are usually priced even higher between $9.50 to $10.50. Keep in mind that the serving size for the poutines at Disney World is definitely large enough to share and, if you love yourself some fries with toppings, this snack is a great one to splurge on.
If you’re a fan of charcuterie boards, there is certainly no shortage of those in Disney World. But, not all charcuterie boards are created equal. These loaded snack trays will normally cost you a pretty penny since it is made to be shared between two or more people, but there’s one that we just can’t get behind. Oga’s Cantina is a popular bar located in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The restaurant serves up a selection of unique cocktails and also has a small snack menu, which is how we arrive at the Happabore Sampler.
Oga’s Cantina Charcuterie
This is a charcuterie board that includes Cured and Roasted Meats, Cheese, Pork Cracklings and costs a whopping $21. Unless you’re really into SPAM, pork rinds, pre-shredded string cheese, and other random meats and cheeses that you could probably find at your local supermarket, this one just isn’t worth the Disney price.
Next up, we have an ice cream sundae that can usually be found at a few different locations in Disney World. And, this isn’t your average Disney ice cream, it’s ice cream served IN Mickey or Minnie pants (though now that we say it…that sounds a little weird). The Mickey or Minnie Sink can be found at Beaches and Cream at Disney’s Beach Club Resort currently but has also been available at the Main Street Ice Cream Parlor (which is temporarily closed) in Magic Kingdom in the past. It comes with vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice cream topped with pineapple, strawberry, hot fudge, peanut butter, whipped cream, Oreo cookies, chewy brownie, an assortment of sprinkles and morsels and cherries — all for the cost of $23.
Minnie Kitchen Sink Sundae
For comparison’s sake, the same restaurant sells a traditional sundae with two scoops of ice cream with three toppings for $10. So, you’re mostly paying for the souvenir sink on this one. But, hey, it is pretty cute…if you’re into eating out of Disney character pants that is.
Now for one of the more famous snacks at Walt Disney World — the Jumbo Turkey Leg. Most Disney fans either love them or hate them and they can’t be convinced otherwise. And, if you’re in camp “I love Jumbo Turkey Legs” then you better get ready to cough up some cash. Currently, you can find the snack at a few different locations, with Disney’s Hollywood Studios being the only park that you won’t be able to chow down on some meat. What’s interesting is that the price you’ll pay is pretty different depending on where you are.
Turkey Leg!
In Magic Kingdom, you can pick up a Turkey Leg at Liberty Square Market after 11AM for $12.49. And, this is the cheapest place you’ll find the snack (we know, expensive!). Tortuga Tavern and Prince Eric’s Village Market have also sold this snack with a side of chips for $14.49 previously, though both are currently closed. Right now, you can snag it at Sleepy Hollow in the evenings.
Over at EPCOT, you’ll find the Turkey Leg at Fife & Drum Tavern in The American Adventure for $13.25. And, the most expensive spot to snack on this is in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. When it is open, Yak & Yeti Quality Beverages often serves the Turkey Leg with chips for $15.99 (!!). So, you have to REALLY love this Disney snack to make it worth the cost.
Back in December, the price for two spring rolls of your choosing was $7.50, but they recently got a BIG price increase and now cost $9.50 for two. But, don’t get us wrong, we’re just sifting through our pockets for an extra $2 now because nothing can keep us from these tasty rolls.
Next up we’re talking about Disney pretzels! No, not the Mickey-shaped ones, we’re talking about the GIANT Colossal Pretzelthat can be found at Pongu Pongu inPandora — The World of Avatarat Disney’s Animal Kindom. Now, this one may not be in the shape of Mickey’s head, but it is just about the size of OUR head! Seriously, it’s huge! And, it comes with a side of beer cheese, which really sells us on it.
Colossal Pretzel Oooh
This one is going to cost you $10.49 which a little (okay, a lot) more than the traditional Mickey Pretzels. But the pretzel itself is larger plus you’ll get that side of delicious cheese!
We’re headed over to EPCOT’s World Showcase for this next expensive Disney World snack. If you find yourself hungry in the Mexico Pavilion, you might stop by Choza de Margarita to grab a small bite. And, one of our favorites on the menu is the Empanadas de Barbacoa. These are Empanadas filled with Barbacoa beef, topped with chipotle sauce, crema Mexicana, and queso fresco, and then served with a side of corn esquites. The Corn Esquites are even dusted with some chili-lime salt — YUM!
Empanada de Barbacoa
The snack costs $10.50, which is more in line with the price of a reasonable meal at Disney World, but we still can’t resist the snack! Be warned though, these are so tasty that you can end up downing them REAL fast (especially if you’re enjoying a signature cocktail, which costs about $12.75) and wind up wanting more. We’re not saying that we’ve never gotten back in line and spent another $10.50 for more…but we totally have.
You can find quite a few different varieties of cinnamon rolls around Walt Disney World and, while the option at Gaston’s Tavern in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom gets a lot of the glory, there’s one that we think is even MORE impressive — and it’s priced accordingly! We’re talking about the Colossal Cinnamon Roll and what makes this one worthy of our love is the Mickey-shaped deliciousness that lies inside.
You know that we can’t resist Dole Whip, and somehow Disney managed to make one of our favorite snacks even BETTER by putting it on top of a CAKE. We’re talking about the Dole Whip Upside Down Cake from Aloha Isle in Magic Kingdom. This snack always makes our top value picks for your Disney Dining Plan snack credit and, while both the dining plan AND this snack aren’t around right now, this is a dining tip to store in your back pocket for later.
Pineapple Upside Down Cake with Dole Whip at Aloha Isle
The Dole Whip Upside Down Cake is a pineapple cake topped with a big serving of pineapple Dole Whip and it costs $6.99 when it is on the menu. The dessert is pretty giant, so it’s a good one to share, and the combination of the soft serve with the cake just might make Dole Whip haters like the treat!
Alright, we’re bringing it full circle with this last expensive eat — we started with a loaded waffle and we’re ending it with loaded Funnel Cakes (okay, don’t @ us, they’re both carb bases!). Funnel Cakes and theme parks seem to go hand-in-hand, but Disney likes to do things just a little better than your average carnival and loads up the classic dessert with TONS of different toppings and has a price tag to match.
Over in EPCOT, you can find a Cookies n’ Cream Funnel Cakethat is topped with sugar, vanilla ice cream, crushed cookies, and chocolate sauce at the Funnel Cakes Stand. And, all those toppings are going to cost you a whopping $12 (!!).
Cookies & Cream Funnel Cake
If you’re willing to skip the overload of toppings, you can also find a Funnel Cake with Strawberry Topping and Soft-serve Vanilla Ice Cream or Funnel Cake with Cookies ‘n Cream and Soft-serve Vanilla Ice Cream at Epic Eats in Disney’s Hollywood Studios for $8.49 each. It’s hard to believe that we can say that this is the “cheaper” option being that it is close to $9, but hey, at least you can share it between a few people!
So, we know they’re expensive, but are they WORTH the price tag? We’re helping you out and telling you why we’re willing to shell out $10 for a giant pretzel the size of our face! Check them out in our DFB YouTube video below!
And if you love this video, there’s plenty more for you to enjoy over on our DFB YouTube Channel!
By the way, have you subscribed yet? If you hit the button below, you can subscribe to the channel and never miss a single episode!
Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!
With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!
With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.
But we’ve noticed that some rides feel short, while others feel quite long. Some feel like they’re over in the blink of an eye (Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, we’re looking at you!), while others are great for a nap (okay, we’ll admit we’ve snoozed on PeopleMover). But which rides are actually the longest? We’re about to break it down for you!
So when we were looking at actual ride times, we decided to focus exclusively on rides. Yes, there are other experiences at Disney World that are longer (like the movies at many of EPCOT’s pavilions), but this list is for things that actually move.
We are only listing rides that are 10 minutes or longer. However, it’s important to keep in mind that when you’re on these longer rides, you’re losing time at the parks to do other things. Keep in mind how a long ride (including waiting in line!) can impact your day and plan your rides accordingly.
Magic Kingdom
It should come as no secret that the longest ride in all of Disney World is at Magic Kingdom, and that’s Carousel of Progress, which clocks in at 20 minutes and 45 seconds. And yes, this IS a ride, because you’re on a slow-moving carousel, so it totally counts! It’s also a great break from the Florida heat, because this carousel-which-is-also-a-theatre is indoors in air-conditioning, and, on some really hot days, there’s nothing better than that.
Carousel of Progress
However, the Walt Disney World Railroad is also a nice long ride — it takes 20 minutes to make its way around the park. As of this writing, though, the railroad is currently still closed, but when it reopens and your feet need a rest (or if you want a non-walking way to get to other parts of the park), hop on the train and let it do the work for you!
The Walt Disney Railroad
So how do the rest of the rides fare at Magic Kingdom? Here’s the complete breakdown:
EPCOT is home to a lot of long movies in air-conditioned theaters, but there are also some rides where you can take a nice long break, too. Starting with Spaceship Earth, you not only go inside the big sphere at EPCOT but is also 15 minutes long! (We think this is totally one of those rides that does NOT feel as long as it actually is!)
Hello, EPCOT Ball!
The second-longest ride is one of our favorites, the highly underrated Living With The Land — there’s nothing like a relaxing boat ride that’s almost 14 minutes long to make you feel much better about your day. And it’s a chance to see some of your EPCOT food being grown before you eat it!
Only one ride qualifies as “long” at Hollywood Studios, and it’sRise of the Resistance in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. But you can’t just get in line for this one — you’ve got to get a boarding pass, and they’re sometimes (OK, like every single day) hard to come by.
Don’t let them know you’re with the Resistance!
The “ride” clocks in at 18 minutes — that includes the preshows. (In reality, the true ride portion — where you board a transport vehicle — is only about 4 minutes long!) If you’re interested in this ride, though (and trust us, you won’t want to nap through ANY of it), here are some tips on how to score that boarding pass.
Last but not least, we come to Animal Kingdom, and most of the rides here are short, although you could spend HOURS just wandering through the Maharajah Jungle Trek, Discovery Island Trails, and Gorilla Falls Exploration Trails looking at the animals. But for a nice chance to rest your feet AND see some animals, Kilimanjaro Safaris is the way to go.
Rhino we saw on Kilimanjaro Safaris!
The Safari is 18 minutes and 30 seconds long, and you have the opportunity to see LOADS of animals. And the best part? You can ride it over and over and it’s different each time depending on the time of day (some animals are more active at night, for example). And animals can always be counted on to do unexpected things, which always makes each ride a unique experience.
So there you have it, the longest rides at Disney World. So don’t forget to take a moment to hop on any of these rides to put up your feet, relax, and take it all on while you’re at Disney World. (P.S. — wanna know the ride with the SHORTEST ride time? The Barnstormer in Magic Kingdom. It comes in at just near a minute long!)
Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!
With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!
With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.
This enchanting ship is absolutely stunning and we are so excited to announce that the Grand Hall, aboard the Disney Wish, will be offered as the newest Disney’s Fairy Tale Wedding venue.
We are in the parks today today for the first time since Disney ended the outdoor mask requirement at Walt Disney World. Guests no longer have to wear masks while outdoors. Despite the policy change, Cast Members are asking guests to pull up their masks in some outdoor queues. At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, we saw this in action at Toy Story Mania and Slinky Dog Dash. Guests in the extended outdoor Toy Story Mania queue were not required to wear […]
Although the Walt Disney World Resort made the groundbreaking decision yesterday to end the mask mandate outdoors for Guests, the Disneyland Resort issued a statement today clarifying that their outdoor mask requirement remains in place, per State of California regulations regarding theme parks. The clarification came from a Disney spokesperson, who said: “Disneyland Resort’s current guidelines, which require all guests (ages 2 and older) and Cast Members to wear face coverings, remain in effect until further notice. Policies will be […]
Have you heard the big news? Face coverings are no longer required outdoors for Guests in Walt Disney World! But what will this mean for Cast Members working in outdoor locations? Goodbye, outdoor masking! Disney just announced that Guests will no longer be required to wear a face covering when outdoors in Walt Disney World. […]
