After many walks through the park seeing the construction progress walls blocking off a new eatery, the long awaited debut of EPCOT’s Gelateria Toscana has arrived. Located in EPCOT’s Italy pavilion in World Showcase, Gelateria Toscana features walk-up windows in which to order your delicious treats and beverages. To give park fans an idea of where the new gelateria […]
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Disneyland Resort has announced that Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel will be reopening to Guests starting on June 15, 2021. More dining locations are also opening over at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa including Napa Rose and Storytellers Café, starting May 28, 2021. What’s Happening: Disney Parks Blog announced that Guests will be able to start booking […]
The post Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel reopening on June 15 with more dining options coming to Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa appeared first on LaughingPlace.com.
Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 9th, and CBS is celebrating with a special Mother’s Day episode of Let’s Make a Deal. Laughing Place is pleased to offer an advance clip from this special episode, airing Friday, May 7th (check local listings for time). Hosted by Wayne Brady, in this clip, he switches places with announcer […]
The post Exclusive Clip: Mother’s Day Episode of “Let’s Make a Deal” Includes Hilarious Surprises for Contestants appeared first on LaughingPlace.com.
When Disneyland Resort reopened to Californians, guests staying at the resort’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa no longer had access to the special Disney California Adventure park entrance that had been a staple of the hotel since 2001. Disney has now announced that the special entrance will return for Disneyland Resort hotel guests to use. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, guests staying at the Grand Californian could take advantage of the hotel’s dedicated entrance to Disney California Adventure. This gate was […]
The post Disney California Adventure Theme Park Entrance at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel Reopening Later This Month appeared first on WDW News Today.
Part of our day-to-day in-park research includes revisiting restaurants to ensure our dining reviews are up to date. I recently went to Cookes of Dublin at Disney Springs to try out some of their classic Irish-inspired food.
Cookes of Dublin is located at Disney Springs right next to Raglan Road. It is a counter service restaurant with a small seating area inside and few tables outside as well. Right next to it there is also a small bar with additional outdoor seating if you want to eat your food and have a few drinks as well.
The menu at Cookes of Dublin includes a variety of entrees such as their famous fish and chips ($12.95), slow roasted pork ($15), sandwiches ($15), and burgers ($15). There is also a kids menu with similar options and a small selection of desserts ($6). The menu is not very adventurous so there is something here for everyone, but if you or anyone in your party is looking for any vegetarian or vegan options you might want to steer clear. Gluten-free options are available upon request.
I ended up ordering the famous fish and chips for $12.95. You only get one piece of fish but the piece they give you is substantial. The fish was cooked perfectly with a nice crunchy outside and a flaky inside. The chips are thick with a soft center just like you would see traditionally served with a meal like this.
For dessert I ordered the raspberry and white chocolate blondie ($6). This is thick and more like a piece of fudge as supposed to a brownie and could easily be split between two people. I was looking forward to trying this but the taste was off for me in regards to the white chocolate.
We have ratings and rankings for every Walt Disney World dining location and Cookes of Dublin has a 90% thumbs up rating, and is ranked #41 out of 109 counter service restaurants.
I would recommend Cookes of Dublin if you are looking for fare similar to Raglan Road but want a quick meal. It’s definitely a good option for families as there is a good variety of entrees here and the prices are not too high. As for dessert I would recommend going elsewhere at Disney Springs since there are better options.
Cookes of Dublin offers discounts to annual passholders (10%) Monday through Thursday only.
Have you dined at Cookes of Dublin? What is your favorite thing to order? Let us know in the comments!
The post Cookes of Dublin at Disney Springs Provides Quick and Satisfying Food appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.
It has just been announced that Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel will reopen and welcome back guests starting June 15, 2021, with limited capacity. Guests can also look forward to the return of some favorite dining locations, including Napa Rose and Storytellers Café, starting May 28, 2021, at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. The Disneyland Hotel will reopen at a later date. Guests can book room reservations starting May 6, 2021, and make Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel their perfect summer destination! As part of […]
The post BREAKING: Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel Reopens June 15th, Napa Rose and Storytellers Cafe Opening Later This Month appeared first on WDW News Today.
A Pirates of the Caribbean Skeleton Funko POP! Figure that was revealed a few months ago is set to hit shopDisney in a matter of days on May 10th. What’s Happening: Back in February as part of the Funko Virtual Con, Funko revealed several new Funko POP! Figures that would be released at the upcoming Emerald […]
The post Pirates of The Caribbean Funko POP To Hit shopDisney on 5/10 appeared first on LaughingPlace.com.
StarWars.com revealed a first look at the LEGO Star Wars: The Bad Batch Attack Shuttle coming August 1. What’s Happening: A new LEGO set based on the new Disney+ series Star Wars: The Bad Batch Attack Shuttle is coming August 1, 2021. You can pre-order the set now for $99.99. The set includes six minifigures — Hunter, Tech, […]
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Guess what guys? It’s May!
Just another beautiful day in Disney!
We’re almost halfway through the year, and what an eventful year it has been so far! We’ve had a TON of Disney news to report in the past few months, and so many things have changed since 2020 — but there are still more changes to come. Today, we’re sharing our list of the top things you need to know about Disney World in May 2021, so you can be prepared for an awesome vacation!
If you decide to hop on Jungle Cruise at Magic Kingdom, then you’ll probably notice things looking a little different than they did before! The ride is currently getting a cohesive storyline throughout, which includes the addition of a few new scenes.
©Disney | One of the new scenes coming soon!
You may notice some older parts of the ride have been changed, but don’t worry, it’s still going to be just as funny (if not funnier) as it was before! Your skippers will still make those same painfully corny jokes. 
Back at the beginning of April, Disney World updated its mask policy regarding outdoor photos. Now, guests who are outdoors, stationary, and physically distanced from others may remove their face covering to take pictures.
You Can See the Guest Holding Their Mask in Their Hand
This new policy doesn’t apply to indoor photos or ride photos, but you may notice PhotoPass photographers following these new rules at popular outdoor picture spots.
Ahead of Walt Disney World and Magic Kingdom’s 50th Anniversary, Cinderella Castle is getting a fancy makeover. The decorations are already going up all over the turrets and walls, and they are beautiful!
Look at that fancy decor!
The other park icons will be getting celebratory updates as well, and we’ll be looking out for those changes in the next few months. For now, we’re content with taking pictures of Cinderella Castle all decked out in gold and iridescent accents!
The EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival has been going on since March, but it’s not even close to ending yet! The festival doesn’t wrap up until July, so we have yet another month full of festival fun.
Frushi: Strawberry, Pineapple, and Cantaloupe wrapped in Sweet Rice and Pink Soy Wrap served with Whipped Cream, Drizzled Berry Sauce, and Toasted Coconut
If you’re stopping by the park soon, make sure to check out our list of festival favorites, or take a look at our reviews for each food booth. There are LOTS of delicious dishes to try, so you’ll probably want to take a look at the list before you arrive.
Sadly, many of our favorite restaurants around Walt Disney World are still closed. For example, we haven’t yet been able to dine at Casey’s Corner in Magic Kingdom.
This sign makes us sad.
If you’re planning your dining for your upcoming trip, make sure to check our list of what’s open/closed in the parks to stay up-to-date. You’d hate to plan for eating at your favorite place, only to show up and be disappointed that it’s closed.
And besides the restaurants that are still closed, there are several resorts in that boat as well! Both All-Star Music and All-Star Sports are unavailable at this time, along with Port Orleans — Riverside and Port Orleans — French Quarter.
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter
Several other resorts on Disney property are partially opened, with Disney Vacation Club rooms available, but the main part of the hotel still unavailable. This is the case currently at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge, BoardWalk Inn, and Beach Club Resort. Beach Club will reopen on May 30th and the Poly will reopen this summer.
Ever since the parks reopened, there has been one BIG thing missing — the entertainment! Now, one of Disney World’s most popular shows is returning this month.
Festival of the Lion King
Festival of the Lion King at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is coming back in mid-May, although an exact opening date hasn’t been shared yet. You know that we’ll be there on reopening day, singing “Circle of Life” at the top of our lungs and crying happy tears!
Yes, friends, we’re getting into Florida’s summer months, where it’s threatening to reach triple digits daily. The sun is scorching and there’s a high likelihood of rain, so you’ll want to be prepared with sunscreen and ponchos.
That sun is brutal!
Just looking at the weather for the first week of May, we’re already at a low temp in the 70s and a high in the 90s, so we expect that it will continue to climb from there. Couple that with the humidity, and you’ll need to make sure that you stay hydrated and take plenty of breaks throughout the day!
Things at Disney World are getting busy again, and we’re starting to see even more restaurants reopening. In May, you can expect Tusker House Restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom to reopen soon with a modified character dining experience. And although Chef Mickey’s at Disney’s Contemporary Resort has been open for breakfast for some time (with characters), it will now also be open for dinner as of May 16th.
Chef Mickey
At Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Cape May Cafe will reopen on May 18th.
After a statement from a local official suggesting that temperature checks are not recommended in Florida’s Orange County, there is a BIG change coming to temperature checks at Disney World. Disney World’s website was recently updated to note that they will be phasing out temperature screenings for both Cast Members and guests.
Temperature Check at Blizzard Beach
Onsite temperature screenings will be getting phased out as of May 8th for Cast Members and as of May 16th for Guests.
That’s everything you need to know going into May at Walt Disney World! Stay tuned to DFB for all the latest news and updates straight from the parks.
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.
Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today!
Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose. 
Have you ever been to Disney World in May?
The post 10 Big Things You Need to Know About Disney World in May 2021 first appeared on the disney food blog.
There are all kinds of delicious treats to enjoy in Disney World, especially throughout World Showcase at EPCOT. But soon a NEW spot will be serving up unique snacks for everyone to enjoy!
Time for a Trip To EPCOT!
Recently, we got a look at the menu and other details for the new gelato kiosk — Gelateria Toscana — coming to EPCOT’s Italy pavilion and now we’ve got a major update on when everyone will get to enjoy it!!
Starting TODAY at 12:30PM (ET), Gelateria Toscana will be open for all guests to enjoy!!
It’s Opening!!
We got the chance to stop by and see the building today a little bit early thanks to a special media preview of this spot.
A Look at the Menu
Here’s a look at the stand and its ordering windows.
Let’s Get Some Gelato!
There is a designated line to the side of the building…
A Look at the Line
…with some social distancing markers.
Look for Those Distancing Markers
The menu includes a variety of gelati flavors, some sorbetti, gelati floats…
What Would You Pick?
…gelati creations, and some other items including a Mocha Tiramisu, Cannoli, and Zeppole.
More Menu Items
We got to try some of the items today!
The Spread!
We’ll be bringing you a FULL review of Gelateria Toscana soon, so be on the lookout for that! But for now, if you’re looking to try some of these treats, you’ll be able to head over there and grab them for yourself starting at 12:30PM 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.
Click here to order your copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining E-book with code WDW2021 to save 25% off the cover price today!
Our guides are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose.
Will you be trying anything from this spot in the future? 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 Disney World to attend their media preview of Gelateria Toscana. 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
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