Walt Disney World is getting curiouser and curiouser these days. Of course, that may be thanks to the new Alice in Wonderland collection by Kate Spade New York that’s now available! There are seven items in this collection that are perfect for the Wonderland fan! Let’s take a closer look… no magic needed! Kate Spade New York Alice in Wonderland Cheshire Cat Backpack — $198.00 The Cheshire Cat flashes his mischievous grin on this black medium-sized backpack. The Kate Spade […]
Before we dive into those tips, we want to make sure you know Disney World’s current face mask policy.
First of All: Know the New Policy
It can get a little confusing trying to figure out when you can have your face covering on vs. off! That’s why you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the new rules. Masks are required at ALL indoor locations — that includes stores, restaurants, and rides. They’re also required on all attractions (both indoors and outdoors), as well as in any ride queue.
You’ll need to wear a mask on this ride!
Now, what qualifies as a “ride queue?” After all, lines have been stretching far past their normal points due to social distancing. Based on our conversations with Cast Members, it’s our understanding that the new mask policy is enforced once you’re in the “official” queue (for example, when you pass under the sign for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train). In the overflow queue, guests can have their masks off.
Masks are required once you get up here!
Lastly,you are now able to eat and drink while walking — as long as you’re outdoors and not in an official ride queue. And if you have any questions or confusion, just ask a nearby Cast Member. This policy is new, and we’re all trying to navigate it together!
If you’re constantly taking your mask on and off between indoor and outdoor locations, it can become difficult to keep track of it. That’s why we recommend bringing a mask chain! They attach to the mask’s ear loops and make it super easy to pull your mask up or down quickly. Trust us — they’re a lifesaver (especially for the kiddos!).
You’re not gonna want to lose these!
Now, you can find cheap mask chains before you arrive on property, but if you’re on the hunt for some in Disney World, we’ve got you covered! We’ve spotted them in House of Good Fortune at EPCOT’s China Pavilion for $6.95 apiece.
The mannequin has a mask chain!
Rockin’ a mask chain is probably THE easiest way to keep track of your face covering when you’re moving it around so much. Sure, you can just keep it down below your chin, but that tends to pull on your ears after a while. We recommend investing in a mask chain!
Yes, that mask chain is really helpful when it comes to keeping track of your mask…but hey, accidents happen. Especially with the little ones! It’s surprisingly easy to lose or drop your mask — not to mention, it could get soaked on Splash Mountain, sweaty after a few hours in the Florida sun…the possibilities are endless.
Ever lost one of these?
That’s why a few extra masks are a park bag essential. Stow ’em in a Ziploc bag or cosmetics bag to keep them clean and all in one place. Then, whip one out if you need it!
Pack some extras!
If you forget to pack extra masks, Disney does sell them in most of their gift shops. You’ll also find a vending machine with masks at the entrance to the parks! But if you want to save some money and show up extra prepared, just pack your own.
If you’re going without your mask while outdoors, you’re going to — ya know — have people actually looking at your face. So make sure you bring some chapstick for your lips! And if you like to wear makeup, bring some of that for touch-ups, too. By lifting your mask up and down all day, you’re going to rub it off your face, and you’ll need to reapply frequently.
Hello Kitty Chapstick
Put a small lipstick, concealer, and chapstick in your park bag for easy access. You’ll want to feel refreshed throughout the day — especially during those hot and sweaty summer months!
Most importantly, you’ll want to remain courteous to others as everyone adjusts to this new policy. And don’t forget that hand sanitizer! We’ll be sure to keep you posted if these rules change further — and we’ll bring you plenty of tips along the way — so stay tuned to DFB!
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.
These studded rainbow ears are new TODAY, and they’re perfect for summer!
Studded Rainbow Ears
The bow features purple, orange, blue, and more…
Check out that bow!
…while the ears are navy with colorful gems. And just look how they sparkle in the sun!
Gems for DAYS.
We found ’em for $29.99 in Rock Around the Shop (that’s the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster gift shop!). We’ll be sure to keep an eye out for them elsewhere in the parks, too, in case you want a pair for yourself. Good luck snagging these new ears, and stay tuned to DFB for more 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.
Mike adventured through Disneyland yesterday and spotted some new merchandise arrivals at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge including new plushes in the Toydarian Toymaker and some imports from Mandalore. We start off our journey through Batuu exploring Toydarian Toymaker, where the new plushes that were announced a while back have made their debut. Mike was able to spot fan-favorite […]
Just in time for Pride Month, a colorful new Minnie Mouse ear headband has arrived at Walt Disney World. This rainbow ear headband is the perfect addition to the rainbow pride merchandise collection. Rainbow Ear Headband – $29.99 We found the ear headband in the Emporium at Magic Kingdom. The base of the headband and ears is dark blue velvet. The ears are covered in small gemstones. The bow is a rainbow of colors. The inside of the headband is […]
Earlier this year, Prince Charming Regal Carrousel joined the long list of repainting projects around the Magic Kingdom in anticipation of the park’s 50th anniversary this fall. The Cinderella vignettes were restored, and the gold leaf filigree around them repainted. The gold leaf around the vignettes is clean and shiny, making some of the other gold embellishments look dull, like the eagles around the inner circle of the carousel. Four eagles have been removed, presumably for repainting. On the right, […]
Up to this point, replica lightsabers have consisted of a hilt piece and a non-collapsible plastic blade piece. The blade has to be manually attached to and detached from the hilt, so there’s never a cool lightsaber extension moment like you see in the Star Wars films.
Way back in 2018, a patent was published that had been filed by Disney Enterprises for a “sword device with retractable, internally illuminated blade.” Hmm…that sounds an awful lot like a lightsaber to us.
Ahsoka Tano White Lightsaber Hilts
The patent is currently classified as an invention pertaining to “Toy swords or similar toy weapons; Toy shields.” The background even directly mentions lightsabers saying, “In some stories, these energy swords are called lightsabers, and a typical lightsaber in a film is depicted as including a metal hilt that allows the lightsaber to be a handheld weapon. The hilt is activated by the character in the film to project a brightly lit energy blade…”
But we know what you’re asking — HOW DOES IT WORK?! Essentially this tech creates the extending lightsaber blade effect using two long plastic semi-cylinders. These pieces are rolled onto spools so that they can be contained in the lightsaber hilt.
When a user activates the lightsaber (by hitting a button), a motor quickly unspools the plastic; think of it like blowing a party blower on New Years’! As the plastic uncoils, it passes through an opening that forces it into the blade shape, and the two sides of the plastic meet to form one cylinder in a long blade shape outside of the hilt.
As the plastic unfurls, it pulls with it an end cap and a light source strip in the center of the two pieces of plastic. The result is a light source suspended in the center of the cylindrical blade shape. The light turns on when the blade is activated and helps to create the extension effect.
When a user (or Jedi) is done with their lightsaber, they can deactivate the blade. The process then reverses with the two plastic blade sides, the light strip, and the end cap spooling back into the hilt.
Of course, this all happens pretty quickly so that the effect is hard to detect if you’re looking at it from a reasonable distance. That’s a pretty neat optical illusion! Who knew we would get to see extending and retracting lightsabers in person one day!
Disney calls this device “a special effects device” in the patent. So, it could be possible that the lightsaber will be used to provide the lightsaber effect in live shows in Disney theme parks. Initially, at least, we do know this fancy-pants lightsaber will be seen at the Star Wars Hotel — Galactic Starcruiser.
Lightsabers!
Still, this tech is technically safe for consumers and the patent is classified in “Toy swords or similar toy weapons; Toy shields.” So, if these blades are “toys” could we be snagging these new and improved lightsabers as souvenirs from Disney parks soon? Maybe.
Inside Savi’s Workshop
As for Star Wars movies, this tech is cool but it still won’t do the trick when it comes to creating realistic lightsaber battles. It seems likely the tech could potentially be for Cast Members only, at least initially. The tech is cool but it’s also relatively delicate-looking (at least compared to those hard plastic blades we currently have). Kids and adults alike can confidently whack their current lightsabers into each other in a “battle” with little fear of breaking the toy. With this delicate expanding tech, it seems too easy for the blades to get damaged by guests. That would likely leave many unhappy guests who shelled out what would surely be a pretty penny for the special toy. It’s certainly possible the tech could be sold to guests, but that remains to be seen.
As for the movies? It’s likely the films will continue to use CGI combined with practical effects to create the lightsaber that we see on the big screen. Well, we’ll be patiently waiting to see these lightsabers in real life. In the meantime, stay tuned to DFB for all the Disney tech updates and more!
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.
Reader @findusinparadise on Instagram was able to capture the EPCOT fireworks TESTING last night!
Credit: @findusinparadise on Instagram
According from her, this testing took place around midnight, and was visible by the Speedway near Disney’s BoardWalk Resort. There weren’t too many fireworks — and they were pretty spaced out — but they did still light up the sky!
We’ll keep an eye out for any further news and be sure to keep ya posted! No matter what they mean, we sure are happy to see fireworks BACK in Disney World — even if it’s just for a few moments. Stay tuned to DFB for more 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.
Shanghai Disney Resort shared photos of the “Dream Garden” which has opened to the public, featuring a floral model of Shanghai Disneyland’s Enchanted Storybook Castle. What’s Happening: The Tenth China Flower Expo in Shanghai has opened today, featuring a floral model of Shanghai Disneyland’s Enchanted Storybook Castle at the center of the “Dream Garden.” Located in […]
