If you are thinking about visiting Disney World for the 50th anniversary, you’ve probably started making plans.

Plans for a 2021 Disney World visit typically include park passes, hotel reservations, and theme park tickets. But with the 50th Anniversary being a BIG event, you’ll want to get started on that trip planning very early. So, recently we took a look at Disney World resort hotel availabilities and pricing for the 50th anniversary, right around October 1st, 2021. What does hotel availability look like right now? What spots are already booked up and what’s still available (if anything)? We’re breaking it all down for you here!

More Disney World hotels have reopened recently, and some are set to reopen soon. But, some hotels remain closed with no reopening date in sight and Disney World is increasing capacity in the parks. Couple all of that with the added draw of the 50th Anniversary celebrations (including new fireworks, a new cavalcade, a new daytime show, and more) — we expect a LOT of people will all be vying for a room at the hotels that are open.

So, if you haven’t already booked your hotel reservations for the kick off of the 50th Anniversary celebrations, what’s available for you to book right now?

Current Availability

When we checked for a potential reservation for 2 adults from September 30th through October 3rd, we found a lot of resorts were already unavailable, including many moderate resorts like Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and the Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort.

Even some deluxe resorts, like Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, didn’t show any availability.

When we checked on the value resorts, all of them were unavailable, including the Fort Wilderness Campsites. The value resorts are a great option if you want to save money, so you might have to adjust your hotel budget or dates a bit if you planned on staying at a value resort during this time.

The resort hotels that were still available when we searched were on the pricier end and mostly in the deluxe category. We sorted the list by price and (as of when we checked on June 25th) this is what was available from least to most expensive.

The cheapest option we found was Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, which was priced at an average of $540.67 per night. There was also some availability at the Animal Kingdom Villas (Kidani Village) and Saratoga Springs.

Want walking access to EPCOT for the anniversary celebrations so you can check out the park’s new nighttime spectacular, Harmonious, when it debuts on October 1st? Then you could stay at the Yacht Club Resort but it’ll set you back about $762.00 per night. Coronado Springs, the Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa…

…and the Grand Floridian itself also had some availability.

Granted, these hotels have their advantages. Disney’s Grand Floridian, for example, can be one of the best non-in-park locations to view Magic Kingdom fireworks. Staying there could get you some great (non-in-park) views of Magic Kingdom’s NEW 50th anniversary fireworks show, Enchantment. But, it’ll cost ya!!

Basically, when we checked recently, availability was extremely low, especially for anyone looking to stay at Disney World on a tighter budget.

What to Do If You Haven’t Booked Yet

So, if you haven’t booked your trip yet and you aren’t willing to pay the price for any of these hotels what can you do? 

Well, there are a few options. First, you could keep a close eye on Disney’s reservations page to see if anything opens up. It’s possible that more rooms will become available in the future if Disney opens more hotels, people cancel their trips, or Disney is otherwise able to open up more rooms.

Second, you could look at hotels near Disney that are not owned or operated by Disney. You could still have walking access to EPCOT, for example, if you decided to stay at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts. Or, you could check out the Disney Springs Resort Area hotels, which can often provide you with great Disney benefits at a cheaper price.

Click here to see how Disney World hotel prices compare to off-property resorts.

Third, you could look at hotels that are a bit further away from Disney World or consider renting a place through services like Air B&B.

Fourth, you could look at staying at a Disney Vacation Club hotel by renting points (as opposed to booking through Disney directly). We can’t speak to what availability is with that or the exact cost, but you could reach out to our friends over at David’s Vacation Club Rentals to see what’s available (tell them we say “hello!”).

Finally, to help with all of this planning you could work with a travel agent. A travel agent can take a look at what options are available for you, see if there are any discounts you can take advantage of, and make helpful recommendations.

We recommend our friends over at Small World Vacations. Their agents have a wealth of knowledge about Disney World and their services are also totally FREE so it won’t cost you anything extra to get their fantastic help!

Also, keep in mind that Disney World’s 50th Anniversary celebrations will be kicking off on October 1st, but the celebrations will last for 18 months!! So even if you can’t plan a trip for October 1st, you might be able to book a vacation for another time within the celebration time span so you can still experience all the extra anniversary magic.

If you are planning a trip to Disney World for the debut of the 50th anniversary, be sure to start planing your trip ASAP! Keep checking back with us here at DFB for ALL the tips and tricks you need to conquer your next trip to Disney World.

Click here for 3 HUGE tips for snagging hard-to-get reservations in Disney World!

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Will you be booking a Disney resort hotel for the 50th anniversary? Let us know in the comments!

The post What Does Hotel Availability and Pricing Look Like for Disney World’s 50th Anniversary? first appeared on the disney food blog.

There is SO much construction going on at Disney World that it’s hard to keep track of it all!

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is getting a major overhaul (and Moana-inspired rooms), and Disney’s Contemporary Resort is getting an Incredibles-themed update, along with a reimagining of one of its restaurants, The Wave…of American Flavors.

And although The Contemporary has so much construction going on now that it looks like a hot mess, there’s still more work to do. The lobby is also getting an update! And that means that it will have to close to guests — and that’s happening soon! A message on the Disney World website for the resort is informing guests that from July 16th to September 2021, the first floor lobby will be closed.

Guests who need front desk and concierge services are being instructed to go to the second floor. Disney also encourages guests to use the Online Check-in and Direct-to-Room Services when they arrive at the hotel.

Guests who have planned stays at the Contemporary might also want to be prepared for noise as construction continues there. Also, a Cast Member previously told us that the Main Tower Guest Rooms would be undergoing construction as of September (although that date could change). So that’s something to consider if you’re planning a stay here this year — honestly, it might be best to book a room somewhere else until the construction is complete.

As always, we’ll stay on top of the latest construction updates at Disney World and let you know about any details that could affect your next Disney World trip.

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Don’t Miss Out on Any Disney Fun!

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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.

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Use code WDW2021 at check-out for 25% off the cover price today!

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Do you have a stay at the Contemporary anytime soon? Let us know in the comments!

 

The post You NEED To Know About This Upcoming Lobby Change If You’re Staying at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Soon! first appeared on the disney food blog.

Even though Disney World welcomed back guests last July, several restaurants still have yet to reopen.

That includes fan-favorite Magic Kingdom spot Casey’s Corner, known for its famous hot dog creations. We’ve recently seen several signs that Casey’s Corner could be preparing to reopen soon, including updates to the menu online and the return of tables and chairs inside the restaurant.

And while Casey’s Corner still hasn’t been given an opening date, we spotted yet another sign today that a reopening could be coming soon.

The restaurant is currently still closed, but today we saw Cast Members inside Casey’s Corner in their uniforms (or “costumes,” as Disney calls them)!

We’ve been missing our Casey’s Corner fix SOOOO much over the last year, so we’ll definitely be keeping a close eye out for any other news on an official reopening!

Stop Skipping These Disney World Restaurants

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What is your go-to Magic Kingdom restaurant? Let us know in the comments!

The post Does This Mean Casey’s Corner is Even Closer to Reopening in Disney World? first appeared on the disney food blog.

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Disney and Loungefly’s signature backpacks are coveted (and stylish!) pieces of Disney merch. From Steamboat Willie to Loki, if it’s Disney, there’s a Loungefly bag for it!

Usually, we spot these bags in the parks, shops, or shopDisney but recently, we spotted a villainous Loungefly on Amazon that’s going fast!

We spotted the Maleficent Loungefly on Amazon! Available for $90, this bag is made from faux leather and features Maleficent with Princess Aurora in her clutches!

On the straps are thorns and the color palette is a subtle nod to Maleficent’s color scheme!

Inside is a pattern featuring Maleficent in both human and dragon form, her pet raven, and Prince Phillip (the colors remind me of Haunted Mansion!).

Remember, these bags are going fast! At the time of writing this post, there are only eight bags left in stock on Amazon, so grab yours quick!

Click here to shop the Maleficent Loungefly! 

With so many cute Loungeflys coming out, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney merch news! Stay tuned here for more!

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What do you think of the Maleficent Loungefly? Let us know in the comments! 

The post A VERY Limited Number of the New Loungefly Maleficent Bags Are Available on Amazon! first appeared on the disney food blog.

It’s always a great day in the parks when a beloved dining location reopens to guests! And, today has brought us the official return of the Eight Spoon Cafe in Disney’s Animal Kingdom!

While the Eight Spoon Cafe may not seem super intriguing, it’s one of our favorite snack places with amazing pulled pork and mac you don’t want to miss! In honor of its reopening, of course, we’re taking you with us to try bites from the menu once again.

Eight Spoon Cafe has a combination of sweet and savory available to guests with items like its classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese, Baked Macaroni and Cheese with Pulled Pork, and Pulled Pork – Jelly Doughnut Sandwich (which happens to be a 2019 Animal Kingdom Tasting Sampler).

There’s also a Mickey Pretzel with Cheese, Assorted Chips, and several beverages available on the menu, but we’re going for big stops at Eight Spoon!

After we ordered all of our food, we had to take a second to admire just how AMAZING that baked mac and cheese and tender pulled pork looked.

Time to eat at Eight Spoon Cafe in Animal Kingdom! pic.twitter.com/fbHlHnZGgN

— AJ Wolfe (@DisneyFoodBlog) June 27, 2021

Eight Spoon has two options of Baked Mac and Cheese for those looking for the iconic snack on its own or a unique options mixed up with pulled pork! The baked mac was just as creamy and incredible as ever. But, the portion seemed a lot smaller than usual when we picked up ours! While that could have just been the portion we happened to be given, Eight Spoon’s mac is much more snack-sized for $4.49 compared to the entrée style version at Flame Tree BBQ.

The pulled pork version of the mac, on the other hand, actually reminded us a lot of Flame Tree BBQ’s version! The biggest differences were that Eight Spoon’s version was a smaller portion topped with coleslaw, pickles, and barbecue sauce, whereas Flame Tree uses coleslaw and onion rings.

Regardless, Eight Spoon doesn’t fail when it comes to incredible Pulled Pork Mac as each part of the snack meshed together wonderfully. The cheese mellowed out the flavor of the pork, while the barbecue sauce added a little kick! And, the coleslaw and pickled added that well-needed crunch to the otherwise softer mac for $6.79.

Can you BELIEVE all that cheesy, pork-covered goodness?!

Baked Macaroni & Cheese with Pulled Pork from Eight Spoon Cafe in Animal Kingdom! pic.twitter.com/WZsplqt7JA

— AJ Wolfe (@DisneyFoodBlog) June 27, 2021

Also on the menu, the Pulled Pork Jelly Doughnut Sandwich might sound like a strange combination. But, let us tell you that it WORKS! The savory and the sweet are a great combination as the salty pork complements the jelly.

When we asked what flavor the jelly was, a Cast Member told us that it was grape as the doughnuts were ordered directly from Krispy Kreme as “grape jelly donuts.” However, it tasted a LOT like strawberry or raspberry when we tried it (and the color was more red than a darker purple)! We REALLY didn’t get any sort of grape flavor from the jelly. So…it’s a bit of a mystery to us.

So, there’s a bit of a mixed opinion on what flavor jelly you might have with your sandwich. BUT, if you aren’t a fan of jelly in general, you might want to skip this sandwich and opt for something more like the Everglazed’s Donut Burger since the jelly is definitely heavy-handed.

Pulled Pork – Jelly Doughnut Sandwich from Eight Spoon Cafe in Animal Kingdom! pic.twitter.com/cGsxE3wJML

— AJ Wolfe (@DisneyFoodBlog) June 27, 2021

Adding some of the mac and cheese did curb some of the jelly flavor, though, to balance out the flavors! And, since the sandwich is only $6.99, this Pulled Pork Jelly Doughnut Sandwich and Baked Mac and Cheese combo might be the way to go for cheesy, sweet, and savory flavors!

Mac and cheese fans will want to take the time out of their busy day in Disney’s Animal Kingdom to stop by Eight Spoon. It’s a great spot for a quick snack, rather than having to use Mobile Order at other spots like Flame Tree BBQ. The baked mac and cheese, along with the Pulled Pork Jelly Doughnut Sandwich, are more on the unique side of snacks available in the parks. And, they’re fantastic choices, if you’re looking for something different than your regular run-of-the-mill popcorn or ice cream bar!

Eight Spoon is just as great as we remembered, and we’re thrilled to have it back again! And, you can try some of the quick-service location’s famous menu items for yourself every day from 10:30AM to 2:30PM. As we continue to make our way around the parks, be sure to stay tuned with DFB for the latest Disney entertainment and news coming soon!

Stitch had a glitch with this new treat in Disney World!

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What’s your favorite quick-service restaurant in Disney World? Let us know in the comments below!

 

The post FULL REVIEW: There’s a Mystery Pulled Pork Doughnut at Eight Spoon Cafe in Animal Kingdom first appeared on the disney food blog.

At Disney World there’s usually something to do for everyone, whether you’re into thrill rides, calm rides, watching a show, or eating every snack.

Disney World offers quite a few rides with no height requirements, meaning people of all heights and ages (even babies!) can visit these attractions. If you ever wanted an extensive list of every no height limit attraction at Disney, we’ve got you covered.

Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom is the park that has by far the most rides and attractions with no height requirements. Let’s sort this out by land.

Fantasyland

If you want to visit the area of Magic Kingdom with the most accessible by height rides, Fantasyland is your spot. Dumbo the Flying Elephant lets you fly in the sky as Dumbo above Storybook Circus. With the play area now reopened, Dumbo even provides a fun distraction for kids (and adults) waiting in line.

The Mad Tea Party is an iconic Disney World ride in which you get to listen to music from Alice in Wonderland and spin around and around (the spinning is up to you!) in your own human-sized teacup.

Under the Sea – Journey of The Little Mermaid allows you to relive scenes from the movie The Little Mermaid, both under the sea and on land. And you don’t even have to get wet!

Travel through Hundred Acre Wood and don’t let the Heffalumps and Woozles steal your honey in The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.

Another iconic Disney ride is the Prince Charming Regal Carrousel. Inspired by Cinderella, you can spin around on a horse of your choice while listening to your favorite Disney songs.

Mickey’s PhilharMagic is a 12-minute long 3D show with many favorite Disney characters such as Mickey and Donald.

Peter Pan’s Flight often has one of the longest waits of any of these rides. Ride in a pirate ship over London and Neverland and enjoy scenes from Peter Pan.

And last, but not least for Fantasyland is “it’s a small world,” the boat ride with the repetitive song people seem to either love or hate.

After our trip to Fantasyland, let’s take a quick detour to Liberty Square, where there are only three attractions with no height requirements.

Liberty Square

Experience 999 happy haunts in the Haunted Mansion, where you will be escorted by your ghost host in a mansion filled with ghosts and ghouls.

The Liberty Square Riverboat takes you on the Liberty Belle for a ride along the Rivers of America, along with scenes of America from over 100 years ago.

The Hall of Presidents is a 25-minute show covering the history of America’s leaders, along with Animatronic Presidents.

Now that we’ve covered Liberty Square, it’s time to make our way to Adventureland!

Adventureland

In Adventureland, we start out with the Swiss Family Treehouse, which allows people to explore a huge treehouse inspired by the movie Swiss Family Robinson. At the top, you get a great view of Adventureland and the Jungle Cruise River!

The Magic Carpets of Aladdin are similar to Dumbo, but with this theme, you get to ride on a magic carpet and overlook all of Adventureland!

In the Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Room…or as it’s better known, Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, enjoy a 10-minute show featuring singing tropical birds, beautiful flowers, and Tiki gods.

The Country Bear Jamboree is an 18-minute show in Grizzly Hall with 18 singing bears. As it is one of the last attractions Walt Disney himself helped originate, it is an important part of Magic Kingdom.

The Jungle Cruise takes you on a 10-minute ride along the Amazon River, the shores of the African Congo, the Nile River, and the Mekong River. Your guide may have some clever observations to note along the way.

Voyage past Dead Man’s Cove on Pirates of the Caribbean, and try to spot Jack Sparrow along the way!

Now that we’ve finished exploring Adventureland, let’s check out Frontierland!

Frontierland

The only attraction with no height requirement in Frontierland is Tom Sawyer Island. Inspired by Mark Twain’s stories, a raft takes you across the Rivers of America to Tom’s Landing to explore the entire island however you like. When you’re ready to leave, another raft brings you back to shore.

Now let’s jump to the future for Tomorrowland!

Tomorrowland

In Tomorrowland, you can defeat Zurg with your very own laser on Buzz Lightyear’s Ranger Spin!

The Astro Orbiter spins you WAY above Tomorrowland in your own spaceship surrounded by planets.

The Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover may be on the more relaxing side of the ride spectrum. The PeopleMover is a 10-minute long ride tour of Tomorrowland, giving you a great view of Cinderella Castle and Space Mountain.

Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress takes you through 4 generations of progress throughout the 20th century. It is also the longest ride in all of Disney World, coming in at 20 minutes and 45 seconds!

And lastly for Magic Kingdom is the Walt Disney World Railroad, which takes you for a tour of Magic Kingdom and has stations on Main Street, in Fantasyland, and Frontierland. If you complete the full tour, it takes 20 minutes!

And that’s it for Magic Kingdom! Should we make our way to EPCOT?

EPCOT

EPCOT is filled with quite a bit to do in addition to rides (like eat), but here’s a list of attractions with no height requirements!

Future World

Let’s start out with Spaceship Earth, which takes you from the Stone Age to modern-day, all while listening to Dame Judi Dench’s voice.

The Seas with Nemo & Friends is based on Disney and Pixar’s Finding Nemo and, well, you guessed it, you have to find Nemo! After the ride, you can walk around to explore the Coral Reefs, fish, sea turtles, sharks, rays, and even manatees!

Living with the Land is a calm boat ride that gives you an inner look at how Disney grows their own crops! You will also see fruits and veggies from all over the world.

Journey Into Imagination With Figment lets you meet Figment, a mischievous purple dragon, who interferes with your tour of the Imagination Institute. After the ride, the “What If” Labs are an interactive play area for anyone who’s a little curious about imagination.

The Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival explores 3 different films in 4D for an 18-minute show.

That’s all for Future World, so now let’s explore the World Showcase.

World Showcase

In the World Showcase, there is no shortage of exhibits to explore in each country. There are also some short films that allow you to explore the countries on screen. Canada Far and Wide in Circle-Vision 360 is a 12-minute presentation of Canada.

In the France Pavilion, you can sing along at the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along for a 15-minute film featuring songs from the animated movie Beauty and the Beast.

Impressions de France is another attraction in the France Pavilion, an 18-minute film all about France.

All the way at the American Pavilion, you can watch The American Adventure, a 30-minute show about America’s past.

At the China Pavilion, you can view Reflections of China, a 14-minute Circle-Vision 360 film about ancient and modern China.

In the Norway Pavilion, we can explore the snowy land of Arendelle with Elsa, Anna, Olaf, and Sven in Frozen Ever After.

And at our last stop in EPCOT, the Mexico Pavilion brings us to the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros, a gentle boat ride through Mexico featuring Donald, Panchito, and Jose.

It’s time for Disney’s Hollywood Studios! Let’s take the Disney Skyliner there.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Let’s go straight to Hollywood Boulevard.

Hollywood Boulevard

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway takes you through an adventure with Mickey and Minnie after your train (with train conductor Goofy) runs off the rails.

Hollywood Studios has several different lands, one of which is Animation Courtyard.

Animation Courtyard

Walt Disney Presents is a 15-minute documentary screening of Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream, which features some of Walt Disney’s life.

Now we’re off to Toy Story Land!

Toy Story Land

Toy Story Mania! is the only ride with no height requirement in Toy Story Land. This ride lets you blast moving targets while wearing 3D glasses.

After Toy Story Land, we zoom past Batuu to Grand Avenue.

Grand Avenue

Muppet*Vision 3D is a film AND live-action experience! Enjoy watching when everything goes wrong for the muppets as hijinks ensue.

Straight from Grand Avenue, we head to Echo Lake!

Echo Lake

Vacation Fun – An Original Animated Short with Mickey & Minnie is, well…exactly what it says it is. An original animated short and a great way to escape the Florida heat briefly.

And lastly, we make our way to Sunset Boulevard.

Sunset Boulevard

At Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy, Lightning tries to demonstrate all his skills and not everything goes according to plan.

And that’s all there is for Hollywood Studios! It’s finally time for Disney’s Animal Kingdom!

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Let’s begin by heading to Pandora.

Pandora

The Na’vi River Journey is a boat cruise through Pandora’s glowing rainforest at night.

And that’s it for Pandora. Next up…Africa!

Africa

The Kilimanjaro Safaris is one of the longest rides in Disney World at 18 minutes and 30 seconds, and you get to explore the African savanna and view real, live animals!

A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King is a modified version of the musical extravaganza Festival of the Lion King, featuring some differences in choreography.

Goodbye, Africa. Hello, Asia!

Asia

Feathered Friends in Flight! is a live show featuring exotic birds. They have performance times throughout the day.

On to our last stop, Discovery Island!

Discovery Island

The last attraction with no height requirement that we will talk about today is It’s Tough to be a Bug!, which is a 3D film of what life is like as a bug, involving some interactive moments.

And that’s all folks! That is every ride and attraction in Disney World with NO height requirement. Next time someone asks you for the best things to do with young kids, you’ll look like a Disney expert! As always, stick with DFB for all the best tips about navigating all things Disney!

Check out what’s NEW in EPCOT!

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Would you ride any of these rides? Let us know in the comments!

The post EVERY Disney World Ride Without a Height Requirement first appeared on the disney food blog.