Welcome to another busy weekend at the Universal Orlando Resort! The parks have been a lot busier lately, but today really wasn’t as crowded as we expected. We started our day at Universal Studios Florida and discovered that hand sanitizer is now optional on attractions. Previously, guests were given hand sanitizer to use before boarding ride vehicles, but now it is no longer required. Wait times were low around the park in the morning, but we noticed Hagrid’s Magical Creatures […]
We’re back with a round-up of the latest news from Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, with a range of interesting stories including the reopening of Disneyland Hotel, extended hours, and Matterhorn’s refurbishment. Plus, we’ll look at the evolving health safety rules, and what’s likely to happen on June 15, 2021 with face masks, physical distancing, […]
Good morning from Magic Kingdom, as we enter week number two of relaxed mask rules. We’re seeing more changes as a result of that, not to mention the usual construction, food, and merchandise changes around the parks. Let’s see what’s new! First off, despite the incident yesterday with a service vehicle striking the Magic Kingdom monorail track, both lines were operating this morning. Temperature checks were also eliminated last Saturday, which has resulted in this mask vending machine being given […]
On the Everglazed website, there is an “Order” tab at the top. When you click on that, it takes you to this box that says “Come back soon to skip the line by ordering here.” A more convenient way to grab some incredible donuts? Count us in!
We’ve seen long lines and virtual queues at Everglazed before, so this will be an awesome perk for guests to skip the line!
Everglazed!
There is no date currently listed for when this will be available, but we’ll continue to watch for the order-ahead feature to go live. Stay tuned to DFB for the latest in Disney food!
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.
Even if you’re not in school anymore, you might love to learn new things.
Mickey Mouse
Well, we have GREAT news. You can learn new things alongside some of your favorite Disney characters and themes with classes inspired by Disney! We’re taking you through some online classes you can take RIGHT NOW to satisfy your yearn to learn!
Imagineering in a Box is a series of FREE online courses created in a partnership between Disney and Khan Academy. The courses have Imagineers from around the world telling you how they dreamed up, and then BUILT some of your favorite Disney attractions, animatronics, and more.
Outschool is a platform that offers video chat classes from real teachers and one teacher is offering a lesson called Disney STEAM: The Magic Kingdom. Ages 8 through 13 can learn how Imagineers at Disney World use STEAM / STEM concepts to create magical experiences for park guests through 5 project-based lessons.
Looking to learn to code? Well, there is a super fun way that you can do so! Disney Codeillusion is a collab between Life is Tech! and Disney that “blends entertainment with education” to teach HTML, CSS, JavaScript and Processing via Media Art, Game Development and Web Design.
4. Character Design with Personality: 4 Core Concepts for Creating Better Characters with Tom Bancroft
Want to learn some art skills? Who better to learn from than the creator of Mulan and Mushu Tom Bancroft! On Skillshare you can learn 4 Core Concepts for Creating Better Characters!
This class could be great for anyone who makes characters like Comic book artists, Comic Strip Artists, Animators, Children’s Book artists, and Video game designers. Sign up on Skillshare and give it a shot!
Also on Skillshare is a segment called Animators Teaching Animation where you can learn how to animate walk cycles if you’re looking to animate characters, this could be some seriously valuable info.
For a more casual course in drawing Disney-style, you can learn to draw a lot of your favorite characters for free on Youtube. Check out this lesson on drawing Stitch!
This is How To Series from Disney Parks and it features real Disney character artists!
Similar to the How To Series is the Disney DIYs by Disney Family but instead of character drawings, you’ll be doing crafts that are big fun for the whole family — like this Baby Yoda Pumpkin!
These classes are also FREE on Youtube and there are a bunch of them. All you need are the supplies!
Disney actually offers a few official business classes for leaders and those providing service to customers through the Disney Institute. Classes include:
Get cooking with the chef from one of our favorite restuarants in Disney Springs! Chef Art Smith is the mind behind the menu at Homecomin’ and you can learn some of his favorite recipes straight from him!
Just head on over to the chef’s Instagram and check out the Instagram TV postings. In 2020, Chef Art Smith did a BUNCH of little classes on how to cook!
runDisney has got a handful of awesome recipes for runners — spoiler alert though, you don’t need to be a runner to enjoy these eats! The best part of cooking classes? You get to eat when you’re done!
Plus, these have the benefit of being another free Youtube option.
If you’ve got a Peloton bike, you might be pretty jazzed to know there are actually Disney-themed classes! If you search “Disney” in your search for Pelaton rides, you’ll find a BUNCH of classes that include your favorite Disney tunes.
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.
Although the parks are only available to California residents right now, anyone can visit Downtown Disney for some dining and shopping. And soon, you’ll be able to grab some cupcakes again at Downtown Disney, because Sprinkles finally has a reopening date!
Speaking of #RealCelebrations… Our bakery in the Downtown Disney District is officially open TOMORROW. Place your pre-order online or stop by for cupcakes, cookies, chocolates and other Sprinkles treats. We really cannot wait to see you! pic.twitter.com/AA1dujb859
So if you’re in the mood for some cupcakes or if you’ve missed Sprinkles while they were closed, you can grab some delicious cupcakes starting May 24th! We’ll be sure to check it out next time we’re there and give you all the latest updates you need to know. Stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney food news!
Hello to all our DFB Friends! We’re where we always are — at Disney World!
Slinky Dog Dash
And while we’ve been eyeing some new merchandise, eating some snacks, and watching Harmonious testing, we’ve also just been enjoying our time at the parks! But it’s been a BUSY weekend, so we thought we’d share some photos with you to show you what it’s like.
EPCOT
Of all the parks, EPCOT certainly felt the most crowded. We’ll admit that we haven’t seen this many people there in a LONG time.
Walking into Disney’s Hollywood Studios revealed quite a few crowds, too.
Walking into Hollywood Studios
Toy Story Land was pretty busy.
Toy Story Land crowds
However, wait times weren’t that bad! Toy Story Mania had about a 40-minute wait. The line is also still socially distanced, so it looks longer than others where the distancing markers have been removed.
This line is still socially distanced
And, honestly, the crowds in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge weren’t TOO bad compared to other areas in the park. The wait time for Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run was 60 minutes, though.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
The wait time for Muppet*Vision 3D was only 10 minutes!
Walk right on in!
We’d expect a longer wait for something that provides a place to sit AND air conditioning (it’s hot out, y’all).
Disney’s Animal Kingdom was probably the least crowded park this weekend. Right now, this is THE park to go to when you get tired of the crowds because there is plenty of room to spread out.
Not too bad at all.
There was still a long line for Na’vi River Journey, though — guests had a 40-minute wait. But we’ve seen it a LOT longer, so that’s not TOO bad.
Pandora
Guests only had to wait 25 minutes for Dinosaur, though. Let’s go get that dino!
Dinosaur
Considering how hot it’s been this weekend, we expected a longer line at Kali River Rapids, but it was only about 20 minutes when we passed. This ride WILL get you wet, so it’s pretty popular in the summer!
Kali River Rapids
Overall, it seems like EPCOT is the busiest park this weekend, and that might have something to do with guests enjoying the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival. But we’ll keep tracking the crowds and let you know what they’re like throughout the summer!
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.
The recent end of outdoor masking at Walt Disney World means changes are happening across the resort. One such change is the removal of physical distancing markers from extended outdoor queues. Physical distancing markers have been removed from extended queues at Slinky Dog Dash and Toy Story Mania in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The Slinky Dog Dash extended queue is often long. With the removal of the physical distancing markers, the line is more condensed. When markers are removed, they leave […]
Universal Orlando introduced fans to a new velociraptor that is now available for guests to meet in Jurassic Park’s Raptor Encounter at Islands of Adventure. What’s Happening: Universal Orlando took to Instagram earlier today to show off the newest Velociraptor in their herd now available for guests to see at the Raptor Encounter at Universal’s Islands of […]
Astro Orbiter has reopened at Disneyland with new physical distancing measures, as is standard throughout Disneyland Resort. The queue for Astro Orbiter is full of distancing markers six feet apart. If it gets too long, the queue does extend into the pathways of Tomorrowland. Thankfully, the ride experience hasn’t changed much. Astro Orbiter is already designed for just one to three people in the same party to share a rocket. Cast Members are loading every rocket. Face masks are required […]
